Item 1. Business
Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”), headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, is a Montana corporation incorporated in 2004 as a successor corporation to the Delaware corporation originally incorporated in 1990. The Company is a publicly-traded company and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol GBCI. The Company provides commercial banking services from 129 locations in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Washington through its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Glacier Bank (“Bank”). The Company offers a wide range of banking products and services, including transaction and savings deposits, real estate, commercial, agriculture, and consumer loans and mortgage origination services. The Company serves individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, community organizations and public entities. For information regarding the Company’s lending, investment and funding activities, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Subsidiaries
The Company includes the parent holding company and nine wholly-owned subsidiaries which consist of the Bank and eight non-bank subsidiaries. The eight non-bank subsidiaries include GBCI Other Real Estate Owned (“GORE”) and seven trust subsidiaries. The Company formed GORE to isolate certain foreclosed properties for administrative purposes and the remaining properties are currently held for sale. GORE is included in the Bank operating segment due to its insignificant activity. The Company owns the following trust subsidiaries, each of which issued trust preferred securities as Tier 1 capital instruments: Glacier Capital Trust II, Glacier Capital Trust III, Glacier Capital Trust IV, Citizens (ID) Statutory Trust I, Bank of the San Juans Bancorporation Trust I, First Company Statutory Trust 2001, and First Company Statutory Trust 2003. The trust subsidiaries are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2014, none of the Company’s subsidiaries were engaged in any operations in foreign countries.
In 2012, the Company combined its multiple bank subsidiaries into a single bank subsidiary, Glacier Bank. The bank subsidiaries now operate as separate divisions within the Bank, using the same names and management teams as before the combination. Prior to the combination of the bank subsidiaries, the Company considered each of its bank subsidiaries, GORE, and the parent holding company to be its operating segments. Subsequent to the combination of the bank subsidiaries, the Company considered the Bank to be its sole operating segment.
The Company provides full service brokerage services (selling products such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, limited partnerships, annuities and other insurance products) through Raymond James Financial Services, a non-affiliated company. The Company shares in the commissions generated, without devoting significant employee time to this portion of the business.
Recent and Pending Acquisitions
The Company’s strategy is to profitably grow its business through internal growth and selective acquisitions. The Company continues to look for profitable expansion opportunities in existing markets and new markets in the Rocky Mountain states. During the last five years, the Company has completed the following acquisitions:
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FNBR Holding Corporation (“FNBR”) and its subsidiary, First National Bank of the Rockies, on August 31, 2014;
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North Cascades Bancshares, Inc. (“NCBI”) and its subsidiary, North Cascades National Bank, on July 31, 2013; and
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Wheatland Bankshares, Inc. (“Wheatland”) and its subsidiary, First State Bank, on May 31, 2013
On November 5, 2014, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Montana Community Banks, Inc. (“Community”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Community Bank, Inc., a community bank based in Ronan, Montana. Community provides banking services to individuals and businesses in western Montana, with banking offices located in Missoula, Polson, Ronan and Pablo, Montana. As of December 31, 2014, Community had total assets of $175 million, gross loans of $93.0 million and total deposits of $150 million. All necessary regulatory approvals and waivers have been obtained and closing is anticipated to take place in the first quarter of 2015. The branches of Community will be merged into Glacier Bank and will become part of the Glacier Bank and First Security Bank of Missoula divisions.
Market Area
The Company and the Bank have 129 locations, of which 8 are loan or administration offices, in 45 counties within 6 states including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. The Company and the Bank have 55 locations in Montana, 27 locations in Idaho, 17 locations in Wyoming, 13 locations in Colorado, 4 locations in Utah and 13 locations in Washington.
The market area’s economic base primarily focuses on tourism, construction, mining, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, service industry, and health care. The tourism industry is highly influenced by national parks, ski resorts, significant lakes and rural scenic areas.
Competition
Commercial banking is a highly competitive business and operates in a rapidly changing environment. There are a large number of depository institutions including savings and loans, commercial banks, and credit unions in the markets in which the Company has offices. Competition is also increasing for deposit and lending services from internet-based competitors. Non-depository financial service institutions, primarily in the securities, insurance and retail industries, have also become competitors for retail savings, investment funds and lending activities. In addition to offering competitive interest rates, the principal methods used by the Bank to attract deposits include the offering of a variety of services including on-line banking, mobile banking and convenient office locations and business hours. The primary factors in competing for loans are interest rates and rate adjustment provisions, loan maturities, loan fees, and the quality of service to borrowers and brokers.
Based on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) summary of deposits survey as of June 30, 2014, the Bank has approximately 23 percent of the total FDIC insured deposits in the 13 counties that it services in Montana. In Idaho, the Bank has approximately 7 percent of the deposits in the 9 counties that it services. In Wyoming, the Bank has 26 percent of the deposits in the 8 counties it services. In Colorado, the Bank has 9 percent of the deposits in the 6 counties it services. In Utah, the Bank has 12 percent of the deposits in the 3 counties it services. In Washington, the Bank has 4 percent of the deposits in the 6 counties it services.
Employees
As of December 31, 2014, the Company and the Bank employed 2,030 persons, 1,827 of whom were employed full time and none of whom were represented by a collective bargaining group. The Company and the Bank provide their employees with a comprehensive benefit program, including health, dental and vision insurance, life and accident insurance, long-term disability coverage, vacation and sick leave, 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan and a stock-based compensation plan. The Company considers its employee relations to be excellent. See Note 13 in the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for detailed information regarding employee benefit plans and eligibility requirements.
Board of Directors and Committees
The Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) has the ultimate authority and responsibility for overseeing risk management at the Company. Some aspects of risk oversight are fulfilled at the full Board level and the Board delegates other aspects of its risk oversight function to its committees. The Board has established, among others, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, Compliance Committee and a Risk Oversight Committee. Additional information regarding Board committees is set forth under the heading “Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors - Committee Membership” in the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. The Bank’s Board of Directors presently consists of the same persons serving as Company directors.
Website Access
Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through the Company’s website (www.glacierbancorp.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has filed the material with, or furnished it to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Copies can also be obtained by accessing the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).
Supervision and Regulation
The following discussion provides an overview of certain elements of the extensive regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the Bank. This regulatory framework is primarily designed for the protection of depositors, the federal Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) and the banking system as a whole, rather than specifically for the protection of shareholders. Due to the breadth and growth of this regulatory framework, the costs of compliance continue to increase in order to monitor and satisfy these requirements.
To the extent that this section describes statutory and regulatory provisions, it does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to those provisions. These statutes and regulations, as well as related policies, continue to be subject to change by Congress, state legislatures and federal and state regulators. Changes in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Company, including the interpretation or implementation thereof cannot be predicted and could have a material effect on the Company’s business or operations. Numerous changes to the statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Company have been made or proposed in recent years. Continued efforts to monitor and comply with new regulatory requirements add to the complexity and cost of the Company’s business.
The Company is subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve and regulation by the State of Montana as a Montana corporation. The Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the Montana Department of Administration's Banking and Financial Institutions Division, the FDIC, and, with respect to branches of the Bank outside of Montana, applicable state regulators.
Federal Bank Holding Company Regulation
General. The Company is a bank holding company as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”), due to its ownership of the Bank. As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve. In general, the BHCA limits the business of bank holding companies to owning or controlling banks and engaging in other activities closely related to banking. The Company must also file reports with and provide additional information to the Federal Reserve.
Holding Company Bank Ownership. The BHCA requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before 1) acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership or control of any voting shares of another bank or bank holding company if, after such acquisition, it would own or control more than 5 percent of such shares; 2) acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of another bank or bank holding company; or 3) merging or consolidating with another bank holding company.
Holding Company Control of Non-banks. With some exceptions, the BHCA also prohibits a bank holding company from acquiring or retaining direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5 percent of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company, or from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or providing services for its subsidiaries. The principal exceptions to these prohibitions involve certain non-bank activities that, by federal statute, agency regulation or order, have been identified as activities closely related to the business of banking or of managing or controlling banks.
Transactions with Affiliates. Bank subsidiaries of a bank holding company are subject to restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve Act on extensions of credit to the holding company or its subsidiaries, on investments in securities, and on the use of securities as collateral for loans to any borrower. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) further extended the definition of an “affiliate” and treats credit exposure arising from derivative transactions, securities lending and borrowing transactions as a covered transaction under the regulations. It also expands the scope of covered transactions required to be collateralized, requires collateral to be maintained at all times for covered transactions required to be collateralized, and places limits on acceptable collateral. These regulations and restrictions may limit the Company’s ability to obtain funds from the Bank for its cash needs, including funds for payment of dividends, interest and operational expenses.
Tying Arrangements. The Company is prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, sale or lease of property or furnishing of services. For example, with certain exceptions, neither the Company nor the Bank may condition an extension of credit to a customer on either 1) a requirement that the customer obtain additional services provided by the Company or the Bank or 2) an agreement by the customer to refrain from obtaining other services from a competitor.
Support of Bank Subsidiaries. Under Federal Reserve policy and the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company is expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to the Bank. This means that the Company is required to commit, as necessary, capital and resources to support the Bank. Any capital loans a bank holding company makes to its bank subsidiaries are subordinate to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of the bank subsidiaries.
State Law Restrictions. As a Montana corporation, the Company is subject to certain limitations and restrictions under applicable Montana corporate law. For example, state law restrictions in Montana include limitations and restrictions relating to indemnification of directors, distributions to shareholders, transactions involving directors, officers or interested shareholders, maintenance of books, records and minutes, and observance of certain corporate formalities.
Federal and State Regulation of the Bank
General. Deposits in the Bank, a Montana state-chartered bank with branches in Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, are insured by the FDIC. The Bank is subject to primary supervision, periodic examination and regulation of the FDIC and the Montana Department of Administration's Banking and Financial Institutions Division as the Bank’s primary regulators. These agencies have the authority to prohibit the Bank from engaging in what they believe constitute unsafe or unsound banking practices. In addition, with respect to branches of the Bank outside of Montana, the Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the applicable state banking regulators. The federal laws that apply to the Bank regulate, among other things, the scope of its business, its investments, its reserves against deposits, the timing of the availability of deposited funds, and the nature, amount of, and collateral for loans. Federal laws also regulate community reinvestment and insider credit transactions and impose safety and soundness standards.
Consumer Protection. Although the Bank is not supervised directly by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), its consumer banking activities are subject to regulation by the CFPB. The Bank is subject to a variety of federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations that govern its relationship with consumers including laws and regulations that impose certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which the Bank takes deposits, make and collect loans, and provide other services. In recent years, examination and enforcement by state and federal banking agencies for non-compliance with consumer protection laws and their implementing regulations have increased and become more intense. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may subject the Bank to various penalties, including but not limited to, enforcement actions, injunctions, fines, civil liability, criminal penalties, punitive damages, and the loss of certain contractual rights.
Community Reinvestment. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ("CRA") requires that, in connection with examinations of financial institutions within their jurisdiction, federal bank regulators must evaluate the record of financial institutions in meeting the credit needs of its local communities, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of those banks. A bank’s community reinvestment record is also considered by the applicable banking agencies in evaluating mergers, acquisitions, and applications to open a branch or facility.
Insider Credit Transactions. Banks are also subject to certain restrictions on extensions of credit to executive officers, directors, principal shareholders, and their related interests. Extensions of credit 1) must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are at least as stringent, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not related to the lending bank; and 2) must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. Banks are also subject to certain lending limits and restrictions on overdrafts to insiders. A violation of these restrictions may result in the assessment of substantial civil monetary penalties, regulatory enforcement actions, and other regulatory sanctions. The Dodd-Frank Act and federal regulations place additional restrictions on loans to insiders, and generally prohibits loans to senior officers other than for certain specified purposes.
Regulation of Management. Federal law 1) sets forth circumstances under which officers or directors of a bank may be removed by the institution’s federal supervisory agency; 2) places restraints on lending by a bank to its executive officers, directors, principal shareholders, and their related interests; and 3) generally prohibits management personnel of a bank from serving as directors or in other management positions of another financial institution whose assets exceed a specified amount or which has an office within a specified geographic area.
Safety and Soundness Standards. Certain non-capital safety and soundness standards are also imposed upon banks. These standards cover, among other things, internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, such other operational and managerial standards as the agency determines to be appropriate, and standards for asset quality, earnings and stock valuation. Each insured depository institution must implement a comprehensive written information security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the institution’s size and complexity and the nature and scope of its activities. The information security program must be designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information and ensure the proper disposal of customer and consumer information. An institution that fails to meet these standards may be required to submit a compliance plan, or submit to regulatory sanctions.
Interstate Banking and Branching
The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (“Interstate Act”) together with the Dodd-Frank Act, relaxed prior interstate branching restrictions under federal law by permitting, subject to regulatory approval, state and federally chartered commercial banks to establish branches in states where the laws permit banks chartered in such states to establish branches. The Interstate Act requires regulators to consult with community organizations before permitting an interstate institution to close a branch in a low-income area. Federal bank regulations prohibit banks from using their interstate branches primarily for deposit production and federal bank regulatory agencies have implemented a loan-to-deposit ratio screen to ensure compliance with this prohibition.
Dividends
A principal source of the Company’s cash is from dividends received from the Bank, which are subject to government regulation and limitation on the Bank’s ability to pay dividends. Regulatory authorities may prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends in a manner that would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. In addition, a bank may not pay cash dividends if that payment could reduce the amount of its capital below that necessary to meet minimum applicable regulatory capital requirements. The Bank is subject to Montana state law and cannot declare a dividend greater than the previous two years' net earnings without providing notice to the state regulators. Additionally, current guidance from the Federal Reserve provides, among other things, that dividends per share on the Company’s common stock generally should not exceed earnings per share, measured over the previous four fiscal quarters. The third installment of the Basel Accords (“Basel III”) introduces additional limitations on a bank’s ability to issue dividends by requiring banks to maintain a common equity conservation buffer of at least an additional 2.5 percent of risk-weighted assets over the minimum required capital ratio to avoid restrictions on dividends, redemptions and executive bonus payments. The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement on the payment of cash dividends by bank holding companies which expresses the view that although no specific regulations restrict dividend payments by bank holding companies other than state corporate laws, a bank holding company should not pay cash dividends unless the company’s net income for the past year is sufficient to cover both the cash dividends and a prospective rate of earnings retention that is consistent with the bank holding company’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition.
Capital Adequacy
Regulatory Capital Guidelines. Federal bank regulatory agencies use capital adequacy guidelines in the examination and regulation of bank holding companies and banks. The guidelines are “risk-based,” meaning that they are designed to make capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies. On July 2, 2013, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) approved a final rule (“Final Rule”) to establish a new comprehensive regulatory capital framework for all U.S. financial institutions and their holding companies. The phase-in period for the Final Rule began for the Bank on January 1, 2015, with full compliance with the Final Rule phased in by January 1, 2019. The Final Rule implements the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act and substantially amends the regulatory risk-based capital rules applicable to the Bank. Basel III refers to various documents released by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Effective January 1, 2015, Basel III:
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Creates “Tier 1 Common Equity,” a new measure of regulatory capital closer to pure tangible common equity than the present Tier 1 definition;
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Establishes a required minimum risk-based capital ratio for Tier 1 Common Equity at 4.5 percent and adds a 2.5 percent capital conservation buffer;
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Increases the required Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio to 6.0 percent and the required Total risk-based capital ratio to 8.0 percent;
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Increases the required leverage ratio to 4 percent; and
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Allows for permanent grandfathering of non-qualifying instruments, such as trust preferred securities, issued prior to May 19, 2010 for depository institution holding companies with less than $15 billion in total assets as of year end 2009, subject to a limit of 25 percent of Tier 1 capital.
The new capital rules require the Bank to meet the capital conservation buffer requirement by 2019 in order to avoid constraints on capital distributions, such as dividends and equity repurchases, and certain bonus compensation for executive officers. These new capital rules also change the risk-weights of certain assets for purposes of the risk-based capital ratios and phases out certain instruments as qualifying capital. Mortgage servicing rights, certain deferred tax assets, and investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries over designated percentages of common stock will be deducted from capital, subject to a two-year transition period. In addition, Tier 1 capital will include accumulated other comprehensive income, which includes all unrealized gain and losses on available-for-sale debt and equity securities, subject to a two-year transition period. The Bank, as a non-advanced approaches banking organization, may make a one-time permanent election to continue to exclude these items. Management anticipates that it will elect the opt-out provision to reduce the impact of market volatility on its regulatory capital levels. Basel III also contains specific rules addressing the impact of merger and acquisition activity on the ability of a bank holding company to continue to benefit from the permanent grand-fathering of existing non-qualifying capital instruments in Tier 1 capital.
The application of the Final Rule may result in lower returns on invested capital, require the raising of additional capital or require regulatory action if the Bank were unable to comply with such requirements. In addition, management may be required to modify its business strategy due to the changes to the asset risk-weights for risk-based capital calculations and the requirement to meet the capital conservation buffers. The imposition of liquidity requirements in connection with Basel III could also cause the Bank to increase its holdings of liquid assets, change its business strategy, and make other changes to the terms of its funding. Management believes that, as of December 31, 2014, the Company would meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III capital rules on a fully phased-in basis as if all such requirements were currently in effect.
Regulatory Oversight and Examination
The Federal Reserve conducts periodic inspections of bank holding companies. The supervisory objectives of the inspection program are to ascertain whether the financial strength of a bank holding company is maintained on an ongoing basis and to determine the effects or consequences of transactions between a bank holding company or its non-banking subsidiaries and its bank subsidiaries. For bank holding companies under $10 billion in assets, the inspection type and frequency varies depending on asset size, complexity of the organization, and the bank holding company’s rating at its last inspection.
Banks are subject to periodic examinations by their primary regulators. Bank examinations have evolved from reliance on transaction testing in assessing a bank’s condition to a risk-focused approach. These examinations are extensive and cover the entire breadth of operations of a bank. Generally, safety and soundness examinations occur on an 18-month cycle for banks under $500 million in total assets that are well capitalized and without regulatory issues, and 12-months otherwise. Examinations alternate between the federal and state bank regulatory agency or may occur on a combined schedule. The frequency of consumer compliance and CRA examinations is linked to the size of the institution and its compliance and CRA ratings at its most recent examinations. However, the examination authority of the Federal Reserve and the FDIC allows them to examine supervised banks as frequently as deemed necessary based on the condition of the bank or as a result of certain triggering events.
The federal banking regulators have issued guidance on sound risk management practices for concentrations in commercial real estate lending. The purpose of the guidance is to guide banks in developing risk management practices and capital levels commensurate with the level and nature of real estate concentrations. The banking regulators are directed to examine each bank’s exposure to commercial real estate loans that are dependent on cash flow from the real estate held as collateral and to focus their supervisory resources on institutions that may have significant commercial real estate loan concentration risk. The guidance provides that the strength of an institution’s lending and risk management practices with respect to such concentrations will be taken into account in evaluating capital adequacy and does not specifically limit a bank’s commercial real estate lending to a specified concentration level.
Corporate Governance and Accounting
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Act”) addresses, among other things, corporate governance, auditing and accounting, enhanced and timely disclosure of corporate information, and penalties for non-compliance. Generally, the Act 1) requires chief executive officers and chief financial officers to certify to the accuracy of periodic reports filed with the SEC; 2) imposes specific and enhanced corporate disclosure requirements; 3) accelerates the time frame for reporting of insider transactions and periodic disclosures by public companies; 4) requires companies to adopt and disclose information about corporate governance practices, including whether or not they have adopted a code of ethics for senior financial officers and whether the audit committee includes at least one “audit committee financial expert;” and 5) requires the SEC, based on certain enumerated factors, to regularly and systematically review corporate filings.
As a publicly reporting company, the Company is subject to the requirements of the Act and related rules and regulations issued by the SEC and NASDAQ. After enactment, the Company updated its policies and procedures to comply with the Act’s requirements and has found that such compliance, including compliance with Section 404 of the Act relating to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, has resulted in significant additional expense for the Company. The Company will continue to incur additional expense in its ongoing compliance.
Anti-Terrorism
USA Patriot Act of 2001. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, intended to combat terrorism, was renewed with certain amendments in 2006 (“Patriot Act”). The Patriot Act, in relevant part, 1) prohibits banks from providing correspondent accounts directly to foreign shell banks; 2) imposes due diligence requirements on banks opening or holding accounts for foreign financial institutions or wealthy foreign individuals; 3) requires financial institutions to establish an anti-money-laundering compliance program; and 4) eliminates civil liability for persons who file suspicious activity reports. The Patriot Act also includes provisions providing the government with power to investigate terrorism, including expanded government access to bank account records. Bank regulators are directed to consider a holding company’s and bank’s effectiveness in combating money laundering when ruling on Bank Holding Company Act and Bank Merger Act applications. The Company and the Bank have established compliance programs designed to comply with the Patriot Act requirements.
Financial Services Modernization
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (“GLB Act”) brought about significant changes to the laws affecting banks and bank holding companies. Generally, the GLB Act 1) repeals historical restrictions on preventing banks from affiliating with securities firms; 2) provides a uniform framework for the activities of banks, savings institutions and their holding companies; 3) broadens the activities that may be conducted by national banks and banking subsidiaries of bank holding companies; 4) provides an enhanced framework for protecting the privacy of consumer information and requires notification to consumers of bank privacy policies; and 5) addresses a variety of other legal and regulatory issues affecting both day-to-day operations and long-term activities of financial institutions. The Bank is subject to FDIC regulations implementing the privacy protection provisions of the GLB Act. These regulations require banks to disclose their privacy policy, including informing consumers of their information sharing practices and informing consumers of their rights to opt out of certain practices.
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
In response to market turmoil and financial crises affecting the overall banking system and financial markets in the United States, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”) was enacted on October 3, 2008. EESA provides the U.S. Department of the Treasury with broad authority to implement certain actions intended to help restore stability and liquidity to the U.S. financial markets.
Deposit Insurance
The Bank's deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, up to the maximum applicable limits and are subject to deposit insurance assessments by the FDIC designed to tie what banks pay for deposit insurance to the risks they pose. The Dodd-Frank Act redefined the assessment base used for calculating FDIC deposit insurance assessments by requiring the FDIC to determine deposit insurance assessments based on assets instead of deposits. Assessments are now based on the average consolidated total assets less average tangible equity capital of a financial institution. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act raised the minimum designated reserve ratio (the FDIC is required to set the reserve ratio each year) of the DIF from 1.15 percent to 1.35 percent; requires that the DIF reserve ratio meet 1.35 percent by 2020; and eliminates the requirement that the FDIC pay dividends to insured depository institutions when the reserve ratio exceeds certain thresholds. The FDIC has established a higher reserve ratio of 2 percent as a long-term goal beyond what is required by statute. No institution may pay a dividend if it is in default on its federal deposit insurance assessment. The FDIC may also prohibit any insured institution from engaging in any activity determined by regulation or order to pose a serious risk to the DIF.
The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository institution if it determines after a hearing that the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, order or any condition imposed by an agreement with the FDIC. Management is not aware of any existing circumstances which would result in termination of the deposit insurance of the Bank.
Insurance of Deposit Accounts. The EESA included a provision for a temporary increase from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor in deposit insurance. The temporary increase was made permanent under the Dodd-Frank Act. The FDIC insurance coverage limit applies per depositor, per insured depository institution for each account ownership category. The EESA also temporarily raised the limit on federal deposit insurance coverage to an unlimited amount for non-interest or low-interest bearing demand deposits. Unlimited coverage for non-interest transaction accounts expired December 31, 2012.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act significantly changed the bank regulatory structure and is affecting the lending, deposit, investment, trading and operating activities of financial institutions and their holding companies, including the Company and the Bank. Some of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that may impact the Company's business are summarized below.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires publicly traded companies to provide their shareholders with 1) a non-binding shareholder vote on executive compensation; 2) a non-binding shareholder vote on the frequency of such vote; 3) disclosure of “golden parachute” arrangements in connection with specified change in control transactions; and 4) a non-binding shareholder vote on golden parachute arrangements in connection with these change in control transactions. Except with respect to “smaller reporting companies” and participants in the Capital Purchase Program, the new rules applied to proxy statements relating to annual meetings of shareholders held after January 20, 2011. “Smaller reporting companies,” those with a public float of less than $75 million, are required to include the non-binding shareholder votes on executive compensation and the frequency thereof in proxy statements relating to annual meetings occurring on or after January 21, 2013.
The Dodd-Frank Act generally prohibits a depository institution from converting from a state to federal charter, or vice versa, while it is the subject to an enforcement action unless the depository institution seeks prior approval from its primary regulator and complies with specified procedures to ensure compliance with the enforcement action.
The Dodd-Frank Act repeals the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other accounts.
The Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB and empowered it to exercise broad rulemaking, supervision and enforcement authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws. The Bank is subject to consumer protection regulations issued by the CFPB, but as a financial institution with assets of less than $10 billion, the Bank is generally not subject to supervision and examination by the CFPB. The CFPB has issued and continues to issue numerous regulations under which the Company will continue to incur additional expense in its ongoing compliance with the CFPB regulations, and the Dodd-Frank Act specifically.
Proposed Legislation
The economic and political environment of the past several years has led to a number of proposed legislative, governmental and regulatory initiatives that may significantly impact the banking industry. The CFPB, for example, has already signaled that it will propose additional regulations with respect to debt collection, overdraft protection, arbitration clauses, and mortgage servicing in 2015 which could change the competitive and operating environment in which the Bank operates. Other regulatory initiatives by federal and state banking agencies may also significantly impact the Bank’s business. The Bank cannot predict whether these or any other proposals will be enacted or the ultimate impact of any such initiatives on its operations, competitive situation, financial conditions, or results of operations.
Effects of Federal Government Monetary Policy
The Company’s earnings and growth are affected not only by general economic conditions, but also by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government, particularly the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve implements national monetary policy for such purposes as curbing inflation and combating recession, but its open market operations in U.S. government securities, control of the discount rate applicable to borrowings from the Federal Reserve, and establishment of reserve requirements against certain deposits, influence the growth of bank loans, investments and deposits, and also affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits. The nature and impact of future changes in monetary policies and their impact on the Company or the Bank cannot be predicted with certainty.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in the Company’s common stock involves certain risks. The following is a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s business, financial condition and future results.
Economic conditions in the market areas the Bank serves may adversely impact its earnings and could increase the credit risk associated with its loan portfolio and the value of its investment portfolio.
Substantially all of the Bank’s loans are to businesses and individuals in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Washington, and a softening of the economies in these market areas could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. While both the national economy and local economies in which the Bank operates have improved, a future deterioration in the economy, whether nationally or in the markets it serves would have a negative impact on its business. Any softening in economic conditions could result in the following consequences, any of which could have an adverse impact, which could be material, on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects:
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loan delinquencies may increase;
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problem assets and foreclosures may increase;
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collateral for loans made may decline further in value, in turn reducing customers’ borrowing power, reducing the value of assets and collateral associated with existing loans;
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certain securities within the investment portfolio could become other than temporarily impaired, requiring a write-down through earnings to fair value, thereby reducing equity;
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low cost or non-interest bearing deposits may decrease; and
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demand for loan and other products and services may decrease.
The allowance for loan and lease losses may not be adequate to cover actual loan losses, which could adversely affect earnings.
The Bank maintains an allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL” or “allowance”) in an amount that it believes is adequate to provide for losses in the loan portfolio. While the Bank strives to carefully manage and monitor credit quality and to identify loans that may become non-performing, at any time there are loans included in the portfolio that will result in losses, but that have not been identified as non-performing or potential problem loans. With respect to real estate loans and property taken in satisfaction of such loans (“other real estate owned” or “OREO”), the Bank can be required to recognize significant declines in the value of the underlying real estate collateral or OREO quite suddenly as values are updated through appraisals and evaluations (new or updated) performed in the normal course of monitoring the credit quality of the loans. There are many factors that can cause the value of real estate to decline, including declines in the general real estate market, changes in methodology applied by appraisers, and/or using a different appraiser than was used for the prior appraisal or evaluation. The Bank’s ability to recover on real estate loans by selling or disposing of the underlying real estate collateral is adversely impacted by declining values, which increases the likelihood the Bank will suffer losses on defaulted loans beyond the amounts provided for in the ALLL. This, in turn, could require material increases in the Bank’s provision for loan losses and ALLL. By closely monitoring credit quality, the Bank attempts to identify deteriorating loans before they become non-performing assets and adjust the ALLL accordingly. However, because future events are uncertain, and if difficult economic conditions continue or worsen, there may be loans that deteriorate to a non-performing status in an accelerated time frame. As a result, future additions to the ALLL may be necessary. Because the loan portfolio contains a number of loans with relatively large balances, the deterioration of one or a few of these loans may cause a significant increase in non-performing loans, requiring an increase to the ALLL. Additionally, future significant additions to the ALLL may be required based on changes in the mix of loans comprising the portfolio, changes in the financial condition of borrowers, which may result from changes in economic conditions, or changes in the assumptions used in determining the ALLL. Additionally, federal and state banking regulators, as an integral part of their supervisory function, periodically review the Bank’s loan portfolio and the adequacy of the ALLL. These regulatory authorities may require the Bank to recognize further loan loss provisions or charge-offs based upon their judgments, which may be different from the Bank’s judgments. Any increase in the ALLL could have an adverse effect, which could be material, on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
The Bank has a high concentration of loans secured by real estate, so any future deterioration in the real estate markets could require material increases in the ALLL and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
The Bank has a high degree of concentration in loans secured by real estate. Any future deterioration in the real estate markets could adversely impact borrowers’ ability to repay loans secured by real estate and the value of real estate collateral, thereby increasing the credit risk associated with the loan portfolio. The Bank’s ability to recover on these loans by selling or disposing of the underlying real estate collateral would be adversely impacted by any decline in real estate values, which increases the likelihood that the Bank will suffer losses on defaulted loans secured by real estate beyond the amounts provided for in the ALLL. This, in turn, could require material increases in the ALLL which would adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance the Company will be able to continue paying dividends on the common stock at recent levels.
The Company may not be able to continue paying quarterly dividends, and particularly special dividends which are carefully considered, commensurate with recent levels given that the ability to pay dividends on the Company’s common stock depends on a variety of factors. The payment of quarterly and special dividends is subject to government regulation in that regulatory authorities may prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends that would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. This is heavily based on the Company’s earnings and capital levels which currently are strong. Current guidance from the Federal Reserve provides, among other things, that dividends per share should not exceed earnings per share measured over the previous four fiscal quarters. The Bank is also subject to Montana state law and cannot declare a dividend greater than the previous two years’ net earnings without providing notice to the state. As a result, future dividends will generally depend on the sufficiency of earnings.
The Company may not be able to continue to grow organically or through acquisitions.
Historically, the Company has expanded through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. If market and regulatory conditions remain challenging, the Company may be unable to grow organically or successfully complete or integrate potential future acquisitions. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Company can successfully complete such transactions, since they are subject to regulatory review and approval.
The FDIC has adopted a plan to increase the federal Deposit Insurance Fund, including additional future premium increases and special assessments.
The Dodd-Frank Act broadened the base for FDIC insurance assessments and assessments are now based on the average consolidated total assets less average tangible equity capital of a financial institution. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act established 1.35 percent as the minimum Deposit Insurance Fund reserve ratio. The FDIC has determined that the fund reserve ratio should be 2.0 percent and has adopted a plan under which it will meet the statutory minimum fund reserve ratio of 1.35 percent by the statutory deadline of September 30, 2020. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the FDIC to offset the effect on institutions with assets less than $10 billion of the increase in the statutory minimum fund reserve ratio to 1.35 percent from the former statutory minimum of 1.15 percent. As a result, the deposit insurance assessments to be paid by the Bank could increase.
Despite the FDIC’s actions to restore the DIF, the DIF could suffer additional losses in the future due to failures of insured institutions. There could be additional significant deposit insurance premium increases, special assessments or prepayments in order to restore the insurance fund’s reserve ratio. Any significant premium increases or special assessments could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
The Bank’s loan portfolio mix increases the exposure to credit risks tied to deteriorating conditions.
The loan portfolio contains a high percentage of commercial, commercial real estate, real estate acquisition and development loans in relation to the total loans and total assets. These types of loans have historically been viewed as having more risk of default than residential real estate loans or certain other types of loans or investments. In fact, the FDIC has issued pronouncements alerting banks of its concern about banks with a heavy concentration of commercial real estate loans. These types of loans also typically are larger than residential real estate loans and other commercial loans. Because the Bank’s loan portfolio contains a significant number of commercial and commercial real estate loans with relatively large balances, the deterioration of one or more of these loans may cause a significant increase in non-performing loans. An increase in non-performing loans could result in a loss of earnings from these loans, an increase in the provision for loan losses, or an increase in loan charge-offs, which could have a material adverse impact on results of operations and financial condition.
Non-performing assets could increase, which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
The Bank may experience increases in non-performing assets in the future. Non-performing assets (which include OREO) adversely affect the Company’s net income and financial condition in various ways. The Bank does not record interest income on non-accrual loans or OREO, thereby adversely affecting its income. When the Bank takes collateral in foreclosures and similar proceedings, it is required to mark the related asset to the then fair value of the collateral, less estimated cost to sell, which may result in a charge-off of the value of the asset and lead the Bank to increase the provision for loan losses. An increase in the level of non-performing assets also increases the Bank’s risk profile and may impact the capital levels its regulators believe are appropriate in light of such risks. Further decreases in the value of these assets, or the underlying collateral, or in these borrowers’ performance or financial condition, whether or not due to economic and market conditions beyond the Bank’s control, could adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition, perhaps materially. In addition to the carrying costs to maintain OREO, the resolution of non-performing assets increases the Bank’s loan administration costs generally, and requires significant commitments of time from management and the Company’s directors, which reduces the time they have to focus on profitably growing the Company’s business.
A decline in the fair value of the Bank’s investment portfolio could adversely affect earnings.
The fair value of the Bank’s investment securities could decline as a result of factors including changes in market interest rates, credit quality and credit ratings, lack of market liquidity and other economic conditions. An investment security is impaired if the fair value of the security is less than the carrying value. When a security is impaired, the Bank determines whether the impairment is temporary or other-than-temporary. If an impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized by reducing the amortized cost only for the credit loss associated with the other-than-temporary loss with a corresponding charge to earnings for a like amount. Any such impairment charge would have an adverse effect, which could be material, on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, including its capital.
Concurrent with the Bank’s loan growth over the last two years, the investment portfolio has decreased from 41 percent of total assets at December 31, 2013 to 35 percent of total assets at December 31, 2014. While the Bank believes that the terms of such investments have been kept relatively short, the Bank is subject to elevated interest rate risk exposure if rates were to increase sharply. Further, the change in the mix of the Bank’s assets to more investment securities presents a different type of asset quality risk than the loan portfolio. In addition, in connection with the ongoing monitoring of its investment portfolio, the Bank reclassified obligations of state and local government securities with a fair value of approximately $485 million, inclusive of a net unrealized gain of $4.6 million, from available-for-sale (“AFS”) classification to held-to-maturity (“HTM”) classification. The reclassification occurred on January 1, 2014 and changed the allocation of the Bank’s entire investment portfolio from 100 percent AFS to approximately 85 percent AFS and 15 percent HTM. At December 31, 2014, the investment portfolio consisted of 82 percent AFS and 18 percent HTM. The future impact of this reclassification, if any, on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations will depend on interest rate environments and other factors which are not estimable at this time. While the Company believes a relatively conservative management approach has been applied to the investment portfolio, there is always potential loss exposure under changing economic conditions.
Fluctuating interest rates can adversely affect profitability.
The Bank’s profitability is dependent to a large extent upon net interest income, which is the difference (or “spread”) between the interest earned on loans, investment securities and other interest earning assets and interest paid on deposits, borrowings, and other interest bearing liabilities. Because of the differences in maturities and repricing characteristics of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, changes in interest rates do not produce equivalent changes in interest income earned on interest earning assets and interest paid on interest bearing liabilities. Accordingly, fluctuations in interest rates could adversely affect the Bank’s interest rate spread, and, in turn, profitability. The Bank seeks to manage its interest rate risk within well established policies and guidelines. Generally, the Bank seeks an asset and liability structure that insulates net interest income from large deviations attributable to changes in market rates. However, the Bank’s structures and practices to manage interest rate risk may not be effective in a highly volatile rate environment.
Interest rate swaps expose the Bank to certain risks, and may not be effective in mitigating exposure to changes in interest rates.
The Bank has entered into interest rate swap agreements in order to manage a portion of the interest rate volatility risk. The Bank anticipates that it may enter into additional interest rate swaps. These swap agreements involve other risks, such as the risk that the counterparty may fail to honor its obligations under these arrangements, leaving the Bank vulnerable to interest rate movements. The Bank’s current interest rate swap agreements include bilateral collateral agreements whereby the net fair value position is collateralized by the party in a net liability position. The bilateral collateral agreements reduce the Bank’s counterparty risk exposure. There can be no assurance that these arrangements will be effective in reducing the Bank’s exposure to changes in interest rates.
If goodwill recorded in connection with acquisitions becomes additionally impaired, it could have an adverse impact on earnings and capital.
Accounting standards require the Company to account for acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. Under acquisition accounting, if the purchase price of an acquired company exceeds the fair value of its net assets, the excess is carried on the acquirer’s balance sheet as goodwill. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), goodwill is not amortized but rather is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that a potential impairment exists. The Company's goodwill was not considered impaired as of December 31, 2014 and 2013; however, there can be no assurance that future evaluations of goodwill will not result in findings of additional impairment and write-downs, which could be material. While a non-cash item, additional impairment of goodwill could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, additional impairment of goodwill could subject the Company to regulatory limitations, including the ability to pay dividends on its common stock.
Growth through future acquisitions could, in some circumstances, adversely affect profitability or other performance measures.
During 2014 and in prior years, the Company has been active in acquisitions and may in the future engage in selected acquisitions of additional financial institutions. There are risks associated with any such acquisitions that could adversely affect profitability and other performance measures. These risks include, among other things, incorrectly assessing the asset quality of a financial institution being acquired, discovering compliance or regulatory issues after the acquisition, encountering greater than anticipated cost and use of management time associated with integrating acquired businesses into the Company’s operations, and being unable to profitably deploy funds acquired in an acquisition. The Company may not be able to continue to grow through acquisitions, and if it does, there is a risk of negative impacts of such acquisitions on the Company’s operating results and financial condition.
The Company anticipates that it might issue capital stock in connection with future acquisitions. Acquisitions and related issuances of stock may have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and the percentage ownership of current shareholders.
The Company’s business is heavily dependent on the services of members of the senior management team and proposed changes could have an impact the Company.
The Company believes its success to date has been substantially dependent on the members of the executive management team, in particular the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The unexpected loss of any of these persons could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and future growth prospects. Fortunately, the Company has a decentralized management style with separate Presidents for its Bank divisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CEO has been critical to the Company’s success. As previously announced, the Company is engaged in a search process for management succession at the CEO level. Finding the right person to fit the Company’s unique culture and ensuring a smooth transition, which the Company’s CEO has agreed to be an integral part of, is important to ensure the continued success of the Company.
Competition in the Bank’s market areas may limit future success.
Commercial banking is a highly competitive business and a consolidating industry. The Bank competes with other commercial banks, savings and loans, credit unions, finance, insurance and other non-depository companies operating in its market areas. The Bank is subject to substantial competition for loans and deposits from other financial institutions. Some of its competitors are not subject to the same degree of regulation and restriction as the Bank. Some of the Bank’s competitors have greater financial resources than the Bank. If the Bank is unable to effectively compete in its market areas, the Bank’s business, results of operations and prospects could be adversely affected.
A failure in or breach of the Bank’s operational or security systems, or those of the Bank’s third party service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks, could disrupt business, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage the Company’s reputation, increase costs and cause losses.
The Bank’s operations rely heavily on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information on its computer systems and networks. Any failure, interruption or breach in security or operational integrity of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in the Bank’s online banking system, customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit and loan servicing and other systems. The security and integrity of the Bank’s systems could be threatened by a variety of interruptions or information security breaches, including those caused by computer hacking, cyber attacks, electronic fraudulent activity or attempted theft of financial assets. The Bank cannot assure that any such failures, interruption or security breaches will not occur, or if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. While the Bank has certain protective policies and procedures in place, the nature and sophistication of the threats continue to evolve. The Bank may be required to expend significant additional resources in the future to modify and enhance its protective measures.
Additionally, the Bank faces the risk of operational disruption, failure, termination or capacity constraints of any of the third parties that facilitate its business activities, including exchanges, clearing agents, clearing houses or other financial intermediaries. Such parties could also be the source of an attack on, or breach of, the Bank’s operational systems.
Any failures, interruptions or security breaches in the Bank’s information systems could damage its reputation, result in a loss of customer business, result in a violation of privacy or other laws, or expose the Company to civil litigation, regulatory fines or losses not covered by insurance.
The Company and the Bank operate in a highly regulated environment and changes or increases in, or supervisory enforcement of, banking or other laws and regulations or governmental fiscal or monetary policies could adversely affect the Company.
The Company and the Bank are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by federal and state banking regulators. In addition, as a publicly-traded company, the Company is subject to regulation by the SEC. Any change in applicable regulations or federal, state or local legislation or in policies or interpretations or regulatory approaches to compliance and enforcement, income tax laws and accounting principles could have a substantial impact on the Company and its operations. Changes in laws and regulations may also increase expenses by imposing additional fees or taxes or restrictions on operations. Additional legislation and regulations that could significantly affect powers, authority and operations may be enacted or adopted in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Failure to appropriately comply with any such laws, regulations or principles could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies or damage to the Company’s reputation, all of which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
Regulators have significant discretion and authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of laws or regulations by financial institutions and bank holding companies in the performance of their supervisory and enforcement duties. Existing and proposed federal and state laws and regulations restrict, limit and govern all aspects of the Company’s activities and may affect the ability to expand its business over time, may result in an increase in the Company’s compliance costs, and may affect its ability to attract and retain qualified executive officers and employees. Recently, these powers have been utilized more frequently due to the challenging national, regional and local economic conditions. The exercise of regulatory authority may have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, including limiting the types of financial services and products the Company may offer or increasing the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products. Additionally, the Company’s business is affected significantly by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies, including the Federal Reserve.
The Company cannot accurately predict the full effects of recent legislation or the various other governmental, regulatory, monetary and fiscal initiatives which have been and may be enacted on the financial markets and on the Company. The terms and costs of these activities, or the failure of these actions to help stabilize the financial markets, asset prices, market liquidity and a continuation or worsening of current financial market and economic conditions could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, and the trading price of the Company’s common stock.
The Company has various anti-takeover measures that could impede a takeover.
The Company’s articles of incorporation include certain provisions that could make more difficult the acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest, merger or otherwise. These provisions include a requirement that any “Business Combination” (as defined in the articles of incorporation) be approved by at least 80 percent of the voting power of the then outstanding shares, unless it is either approved by the Company’s Board or certain price and procedural requirements are satisfied. In addition, the authorization of preferred stock, which is intended primarily as a financing tool and not as a defensive measure against takeovers, may potentially be used by management to make more difficult uninvited attempts to acquire control of the Company. These provisions may have the effect of lengthening the time required to acquire control of the Company through a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and may deter any potentially unfriendly offers or other efforts to obtain control of the Company. This could deprive the Company’s shareholders of opportunities to realize a premium for their common stock in the Company, even in circumstances where such action is favored by a majority of the Company’s shareholders.
The impact of Basel III is still uncertain.
The adoption of Basel III established, among other things, a new common equity Tier 1 minimum capital requirement (4.5 percent of risk-weighted assets), increased the minimum Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets requirement (from 4.0 percent to 6.0 percent of risk-weighted assets) and assigns a higher risk weight (150 percent) to exposures that are more than 90 days past due or are on nonaccrual status and to certain commercial real estate facilities that finance the acquisition, development or construction of real property. The Final Rule also requires the Bank to meet the capital conservation buffer requirements of an additional 2.5 percent of common equity Tier 1 capital in order to avoid constraints on capital distributions and certain bonus compensation for executive officers. The Final Rule became effective on January 1, 2015 with the capital conservation buffer requirement phased in beginning January 1, 2016 and ending January 1, 2019.
The application of the Final Rule may result in lower returns on invested capital, require the raising of additional capital or require regulatory action if the Bank were unable to comply with such requirements. In addition, management may be required to modify its business strategy due to the changes to the asset risk-weights for risk-based capital calculations and the requirement to meet the capital conservation buffers. The imposition of liquidity requirements in connection with Basel III could also cause the Bank to increase its holdings of liquid assets, change its business strategy, and make other changes to the terms of its funding. If the Bank were unable to meet the capital conservation buffer requirements required in 2016, the Company’s ability to pay dividends to stockholders may also be limited.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
The following schedule provides information on the Company’s 129 properties as of December 31, 2014:
The Company believes that all of its facilities are well maintained, generally adequate and suitable for the current operations of its business, as well as fully utilized. In the normal course of business, new locations and facility upgrades occur as needed.
For additional information regarding the Company’s premises and equipment and lease obligations, see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in various claims, legal actions and complaints which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance, are without merit or are of such kind, or involve such amounts, that unfavorable disposition would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
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
The Company’s stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol: GBCI. As of December 31, 2014, there were approximately 1,729 shareholders of record for the Company’s common stock. The market range of high and low closing prices for the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated are shown below:
The following table summarizes the Company’s dividends declared per quarter for the periods indicated:
Future cash dividends will depend on a variety of factors, including net income, capital, asset quality, general economic conditions and regulatory considerations. Information regarding the regulation considerations is set forth under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” in “Item 1. Business.”
Unregistered Securities
There have been no securities of the Company sold within the last three years which were not registered under the Securities Act.
Issuer Stock Purchases
The Company made no stock repurchases during 2014.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The Company currently maintains the 2005 Employee Stock Incentive Plan which was approved by the shareholders and provides for the issuance of stock-based compensation to officers, other employees and directors.
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding options and shares reserved for future issuance as of December 31, 2014:
There are no equity compensation plans that have not been approved by the shareholders. For additional information on outstanding stock options and non-vested restricted stock awards, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Stock Performance Graphs
The following graphs compare the yearly cumulative total return of the Company’s common stock over both a five-year and ten-year measurement period with the yearly cumulative total return on the stocks included in 1) the Russell 2000 Index; and 2) the SNL Bank Index comprised of banks and bank holding companies with total assets between $5 billion and $10 billion. Each of the cumulative total returns are computed assuming the reinvestment of dividends at the frequency with which dividends were paid during the applicable years.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following financial data of the Company is derived from the Company’s historical audited financial statements and related notes. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion is intended to provide a more comprehensive review of the Company’s operating results and financial condition than can be obtained from reading the Consolidated Financial Statements alone. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about management’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions that are not historical facts, and other statements identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “should,” “projects,” “seeks,” “estimates” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or the documents incorporated by reference:
•
the risks associated with lending and potential adverse changes of the credit quality of loans in the Company’s portfolio;
•
the risks presented by the lingering economic recovery which could adversely affect credit quality, loan collateral values, OREO values, investment values, liquidity and capital levels, dividends and loan originations;
•
changes in market interest rates, which could adversely affect the Company’s net interest income and profitability;
•
legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company’s business, ability to complete pending or prospective future acquisitions, limit certain sources of revenue, or increase cost of operations;
•
costs or difficulties related to the completion and integration of acquisitions;
•
the goodwill the Company has recorded in connection with acquisitions could become additionally impaired, which may have an adverse impact on earnings and capital;
•
reduced demand for banking products and services;
•
the risks presented by public stock market volatility, which could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock and the ability to raise additional capital or grow the Company through acquisitions;
•
consolidation in the financial services industry in the Company’s markets resulting in the creation of larger financial institutions who may have greater resources could change the competitive landscape;
•
dependence on the CEO, the senior management team and the Presidents of the Bank divisions;
•
potential interruption or breach in security of the Company’s systems; and
•
the Company’s success in managing risks involved in the foregoing.
Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” Please take into account that forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (or documents incorporated by reference, if applicable). The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if it later becomes aware that actual results are likely to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statement.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 COMPARED TO DECEMBER 31, 2013
Highlights and Overview
During the current year, the Company completed the acquisition of FNBR and its subsidiary, First National Bank of the Rockies, which has ten community banking offices in Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs, Meeker, Rangely, Craig, Hayden, and Oak Creek, Colorado. As a result of the FNBR acquisition, the Company has increased its presence in northwestern Colorado and the branches were merged into Glacier Bank and became a part of the Bank of the San Juans division. During the current year, the Company also successfully completed the system conversion for this acquisition, as well as the NCBI and Wheatland acquisitions.
For the second consecutive year, the Company experienced organic loan growth. Excluding acquisitions, loans receivable increased $288 million, or 7 percent, during the current year, with the primary increase in commercial loans which increased $245 million from the prior year end. The increase in the loan portfolio allowed the Company to continue to reduce its lower yielding investment portfolio during the current year. Excluding the acquisitions and wholesale deposits, the Company’s non-interest bearing deposits increased $178 million, or 13 percent, during the current year while interest bearing deposits increased $234 million, or 6 percent. Tangible stockholders’ equity increased $63.4 million, or $0.75 per share, as a result of stock issued in connection with the current year acquisition, earnings retention and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company increased its quarterly dividend twice during 2014 from $0.16 per share to $0.18 per share and declared a special dividend of $0.30 per share for a record dividend of $0.98 per share for 2014 compared to $0.60 per share for 2013.
The Company achieved its 2014 goal of reducing its non-performing assets below $90 million and ended the year at $89.9 million which was a decrease of $19.5 million or, 18 percent, from the prior year end. The improvement in credit quality was also reflected in a decrease of the provision for loan losses of $5.0 million during the current year and a decrease in OREO expenses of $4.6 million.
The Company had record earnings of $113 million for 2014, which was an increase of $17.1 million, or 18 percent over the 2013 net income of $95.6 million. Diluted earnings per share for 2014 was $1.51, an increase of $0.20, or 15 percent, from the prior year diluted earnings per share of $1.31. The net income improvement for 2014 over 2013 was principally due to an increase in interest income from investment securities and the commercial loan portfolio.
The current year $36.3 million increase in interest income was the result of an $18.5 million increase in interest income on investment securities and an $18.2 million increase in commercial loan interest income. The increased yields on investment securities was primarily driven by a decrease in premium amortization (net of discount accretion) on the investment portfolio (“premium amortization”) which was significantly higher in 2013 and had stabilized by the fourth quarter of 2013 and throughout 2014. The increase in interest income on the commercial loan portfolio was primarily attributable to an increase in the volume of commercial loans as the local economies continue to recover from the recession.
The Company’s net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets, on a tax-equivalent basis, of 3.98 percent for the current year increased 50 basis points over the prior year net interest margin of 3.48 percent. The increase was primarily attributed to higher yielding investment securities driven by a decrease in premium amortization and a shift in earning assets to the higher yielding loan portfolio; such changes resulted in a 47 basis points increase in the yield on earning assets. The Company also benefited from a 3 basis points decrease in the total cost of funding as the Company continued to focus on increasing low cost deposit balances, including non-interest bearing deposits.
Looking forward, the Company’s future performance will depend on many factors including economic conditions in the markets the Company serves, interest rate changes, increasing competition for deposits and loans, loan quality and growth, the impact and successful integration of acquisitions, and regulatory burden.
Acquisitions
On August 31, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of FNBR and its subsidiary, First National Bank of the Rockies. The Company incurred $552 thousand of legal and professional expenses in connection with the acquisition during 2014. A bargain purchase gain of $680 thousand resulted from the acquisition which was based on the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. On July 31, 2013, the Company completed the acquisition of NCBI and its subsidiary, North Cascades National Bank. On May 31, 2013, the Company completed the acquisition of Wheatland and its subsidiary, First State Bank. The Company’s results of operations and financial condition include the acquisitions of FNBR, NCBI and Wheatland from the acquisition dates. The following table provides information on the fair value of selected classifications of assets and liabilities acquired:
Financial Condition Analysis
Assets
The following table summarizes the Company’s assets as of the dates indicated:
_______
n/m - not measurable
Total investment securities decreased $314 million, or 10 percent, from December 31, 2013. The Company implemented a strategy in 2013 to reduce the overall size of this portfolio and with the growth in the loan portfolio, the Company had the opportunity to retain higher yielding loans to offset the decrease in the lower yielding investment securities. At December 31, 2014, investment securities represented 35 percent of total assets, compared to 41 percent at December 31, 2013 and 48 percent at December 31, 2012.
Excluding the loans receivable from the FNBR acquisition, the loan portfolio increased $288 million, or 7 percent, since December 31, 2013. Excluding the acquisition, all loan categories experienced growth during 2014 with the largest category in commercial loans which increased $245 million from the prior year. As the local markets continue to recover, opportunities for continued loan growth are available, albeit competition for good quality loans remains strong.
Liabilities
The following table summarizes the liability balances as of the dates indicated, and the amount of change from December 31, 2013:
Excluding the FNBR acquisition, non-interest bearing deposits increased $178 million, or 13 percent, from December 31, 2013. Interest bearing deposits of $4.713 billion at December 31, 2014 included $249 million of wholesale deposits (i.e., brokered deposits classified as NOW, money market deposits and certificate accounts). Excluding the acquisition and an increase of $44.1 million in wholesale deposits, interest bearing deposits at December 31, 2014 increased $234 million, or 6 percent, from a year ago. In addition to the increase in deposit balances, the Company has benefited from a higher than expected increase in the number of checking accounts during the current year. Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances of $297 million at December 31, 2014 decreased $543 million, or 65 percent, from December 31, 2013 as the need for borrowings continued to decrease.
Stockholders’ Equity
The following table summarizes the stockholders’ equity balances as of the dates indicated and the amount of change from December 31, 2013:
Tangible stockholders’ equity increased $63.4 million from a year ago as the result of earnings retention, stock issued in connection with the FNBR acquisition, and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income. Tangible book value per common share of $11.83 increased $0.75 per share from the prior year fourth quarter.
Results of Operations
Performance Summary
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $112.8 million, an increase of $17.2 million, or 18 percent, from the $95.6 million of net income for the same period the prior year. Diluted earnings per share for the current year was $1.51 per share, an increase of $0.20 per share, or 15 percent, from the diluted earnings per share in the prior year.
Income Summary
The following table summarizes revenue for the periods indicated, including the amount and percentage change from December 31, 2013:
Net Interest Income
Interest income for 2014 increased $36.3 million, or 14 percent, from the prior year and was principally due to the decrease in premium amortization on investment securities and increased income from commercial loans. Interest income on investment securities benefited from a reduction of $36.6 million in premium amortization during the current year compared to the prior year. Current year interest income on commercial loans increased $18.2 million, or 14 percent, from the prior year and was primarily the result of an increase in the volume of commercial loans.
Interest expense for the current year decreased $1.8 million, or 6 percent, from the prior year and was primarily attributable to the decreases in interest rates on certificate of deposits and lower volume of borrowings, such benefit partially offset by the increased costs associated with an interest rate swap undertaken to reduce the Company’s sensitivity to rising interest rates. The interest rate swap with a notional amount of $160 million had a three year deferred start with the interest expense accrual period beginning in October 2014 and scheduled to end in October 2021. The total funding cost (including non-interest bearing deposits) for the current year was 39 basis points compared to 42 basis points for the prior year.
The net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets, on a tax-equivalent basis, for 2014 was 3.98 percent, a 50 basis points increase from the net interest margin of 3.48 percent for 2013. The increase in the net interest margin was due to the increased yield on the investment portfolio combined with the shift in earning assets to the higher yielding loan portfolio. The premium amortization for 2014 accounted for a 40 basis points reduction in the net interest margin, compared to an 89 basis points reduction in the net interest margin for the same period last year.
Non-interest Income
Non-interest income of $90.3 million for 2014 decreased $2.7 million, or 3 percent, over last year. Service charges and other fees of $58.8 million for the current year increased $4.3 million, or 8 percent, from the prior year and was primarily the result of an increase in the number of deposit accounts. Gain of $19.8 million on the sale of residential loans for 2014 decreased $8.7 million, or 31 percent, from 2013 as a consequence of the slowdown in refinance activity. Current year other income of $11.9 million, increased $1.5 million, or 15 percent, from the prior year as a result of a current year bargain purchase gain, proceeds from a bank owned life insurance policy, and other income which was partially offset by the decrease in OREO income. Included in other income was operating revenue of $204 thousand from OREO and gain of $2.1 million from the sale of OREO, a combined total of $2.3 million for the current year compared to $3.5 million for the prior year.
Non-interest Expense
The following table summarizes non-interest expense for the periods indicated, including the amount and percentage change from December 31, 2013:
Compensation and employee benefits for 2014 increased $14.4 million, or 14 percent, from last year due to the increased number of employees from the recently acquired banks, additional benefit costs and annual salary increases. Occupancy and equipment expense for 2014 increased $2.6 million, or 11 percent, over the prior year as a result of recent bank acquisitions and increases in equipment expense related to additional information and technology infrastructure. Current year advertising and promotions increased $999 thousand from the prior year primarily from the FNBR acquisition and recent marketing promotions at a number of the Bank divisions. Data processing expense for 2014 increased $2.1 million, or 47 percent, from the prior year as a result of the acquired banks’ outsourced data processing expense, conversion related expenses and general increases in data processing expense. OREO expense of $2.6 million in 2014 decreased $4.6 million, or 64 percent, from last year. OREO expense for the 2014 included $1.4 million of operating expenses, $691 thousand of fair value write-downs, and $442 thousand of loss on sale of OREO. Other expense for the current year increased by $2.8 million, or 7 percent, from the prior year primarily from increases in employee expenses from the recently acquired banks and increases in consulting and advisory services.
Efficiency Ratio
The efficiency ratio was 54.31 percent for 2014 and 54.51 percent for 2013. The improvement in the efficiency ratio was the result of the increase in net interest income from the shift in earning assets from investment securities to the higher yielding loans and decreases in premium amortization on the investment portfolio. Such increases in net interest income outpaced the increase in non-interest expense from compensation expense and the decrease in non-interest income driven by the decrease in refinance activity.
Provision for Loan Losses
The following table summarizes the provision for loan losses, net charge-offs and select ratios relating to the provision for loan losses for the previous eight quarters:
The provision for loan losses was $1.9 million for 2014, a decrease of $5.0 million, or 72 percent, from the prior year. Net charged-off loans during 2014 was $2.5 million, a decrease of $4.9 million from 2013.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 COMPARED TO DECEMBER 31, 2012
Income Summary
The following table summarizes revenue for the periods indicated, including the amount and percentage change from December 31, 2012:
_______
n/m - not measurable
Net Interest Income
Net interest income for 2013 increased $16.8 million, or 8 percent, over the prior year. Interest income for 2013 increased $9.8 million, or 4 percent, from the prior year and was principally due to the increased volume of commercial loans in addition to the decrease in premium amortization on investment securities, which were partially reduced by a decrease in yields within the loan portfolio. During 2013, the Company experienced four consecutive quarters of decreases in premium amortization, compared to significant increases experienced during the preceding seven quarters. Interest income was reduced by $64.1 million in premium amortization on investment securities during 2013 which was a decrease of $7.9 million from the prior year. Interest expense for 2013 decreased $7.0 million, or 19 percent, from the prior year and was primarily attributable to the decreases in interest rates on interest bearing deposits and borrowings. The total funding cost (including non-interest bearing deposits) for 2013 was 42 basis points compared to 55 basis points for the prior year.
The net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, for 2013 was 3.48 percent, an 11 basis points increase from the net interest margin of 3.37 percent for 2012. The net interest margin was benefited by the decreased interest rates on deposits and borrowings. The net interest margin was further supported by the continued shift in earning assets from investment securities to the higher yielding loan portfolio and the increased yield on the investment portfolio. The increased yields on investment securities was driven by lower premium amortization on investment securities. The premium amortization for 2013 accounted for a 90 basis points reduction in the net interest margin, which was a decrease of 14 basis points compared to the 104 basis points reduction in the net interest margin for the prior year.
Non-interest Income
Non-interest income of $93.0 million for 2013 increased $1.6 million, or 2 percent, over the prior year. Service charge fee income increased $4.8 million, or 10 percent, from the prior year which was driven by increases in the number of deposit accounts and changes in internal deposit processing. Gains of $28.5 million on the sale of loans for 2013 decreased $3.7 million, or 12 percent, from the prior year. The Company experienced a slowdown in refinance activity during 2013 as mortgage rates moved up, although, the decrease in gain on sale of loans was more than offset by the decrease in premium amortization on investment securities, both of which were attributable to the continuing slowdown of refinance activity. Other income for 2013 increased $806 thousand, or 8 percent, over the the prior year. Included in other income was operating revenue of $400 thousand from OREO and gains of $3.1 million on the sale of OREO, which combined totaled $3.5 million for 2013 compared to $2.4 million for the prior year.
Non-interest Expense
The following table summarizes non-interest expense for the periods indicated, including the amount and percentage change from December 31, 2012:
Compensation and employee benefits for 2013 increased $8.8 million, or 9 percent, from the prior year. The increase in compensation and employee benefits from the prior year was primarily due to the acquisitions of Wheatland and NCBI and increases in benefit expense and annual merit raises. Outsourced data processing expense increased $1.2 million, or 35 percent, from the prior year primarily from the acquired banks’ outsourced data processing expense. OREO expense of $7.2 million in 2013 decreased $11.8 million, or 62 percent, from the prior year. The OREO expense for 2013 included $2.7 million of operating expenses, $3.6 million of fair value write-downs, and $880 thousand of loss on sale of OREO. Other expense for 2013 increased by $2.8 million, or 8 percent, from the prior year and was attributable to the legal and professional expenses associated with the acquisitions, debit card fraud losses and deposit account losses.
Efficiency Ratio
The efficiency ratio was 54.51 percent for 2013 and 54.02 percent for 2012. Although there was an increase in net interest income during 2013 over the prior year, it was not enough to offset the increase in non-interest expense, excluding OREO expense, resulting in the increased efficiency ratio.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses was $6.9 million for 2013, a decrease of $14.6 million, or 68 percent, from the same period in the prior year. Net charged-off loans during 2013 were $7.4 million, a decrease of $20.8 million from the prior year. Such provision and net charge-off decreases were driven by the continued increase in credit quality that has continued over the prior three years.
ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Investment Activity
On January 1, 2014, the Company redesignated state and local government securities with a fair value of approximately $485 million, inclusive of a net unrealized gain of $4.6 million, from available-for-sale classification to held-to-maturity classification. Investment securities classified as available-for-sale are carried at estimated fair value and investment securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost. Unrealized gains or losses, net of tax, on available-for-sale securities are reflected as an adjustment to other comprehensive income. The Company’s investment securities are summarized below:
The Company’s investment portfolio is primarily comprised of state and local government securities and residential mortgage-backed securities. State and local government securities are largely exempt from federal income tax and the maximum federal statutory rate of 35 percent is used in calculating the Company’s tax-equivalent yields on the tax-exempt securities. Residential mortgage-backed securities are typically short, weighted-average life U.S. agency collateralized mortgage obligations that provide the Company with ongoing liquidity as scheduled and pre-paid principal is received on the securities.
State and local government securities carry different risks that are not as prevalent in other security types. The Company evaluates the investment grade quality of its securities in accordance with regulatory guidance. Investment grade securities are those where the issuer has an adequate capacity to meet the financial commitments under the security for the projected life of the investment. An issuer has an adequate capacity to meet financial commitments if the risk of default by the obligor is low and the full and timely payment of principal and interest are expected. In assessing credit risk, the Company may use credit ratings from Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSRO” entities such as Standard and Poor's [“S&P”] and Moody’s) as support for the evaluation; however, they are not solely relied upon. There have been no significant differences in the Company’s internal evaluation of the creditworthiness of any issuer when compared with the ratings assigned by the NRSROs. The following table stratifies the state and local government securities by the associated NRSRO ratings. The highest issued rating was used to categorize the securities in the table for those securities where the NRSRO ratings were not at the same level.
State and local government securities largely consist of both taxable and tax-exempt general obligation and revenue bonds. The following table stratifies the state and local government securities by the associated security type.
The following table outlines the five states in which the Company owns the highest concentrations of state and local government securities.
The following table presents the carrying amount and weighted-average yield of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2014. Weighted-average yields are based upon the amortized cost of securities and are calculated using the interest method which takes into consideration premium amortization, discount accretion and mortgage-backed securities’ prepayment provisions. Weighted-average yields on tax-exempt investment securities exclude the federal income tax benefit.
Interest income from investment securities consisted of the following:
For additional information on investment securities, see Notes 1 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment on Securities Analysis
Non-marketable equity securities. Of the non-marketable equity securities owned at December 31, 2014, 97 percent consisted of capital stock issued by FHLB of Seattle. Non-marketable equity securities are evaluated for impairment whenever events or circumstances suggest the carrying value may not be recoverable.
The Company’s investment in FHLB stock has limited marketability and is carried at cost, which approximates fair value. With respect to FHLB stock, the Company evaluates such stock for other-than temporary impairment. Such evaluation takes into consideration 1) FHLB deficiency, if any, in meeting applicable regulatory capital targets, including risk-based capital requirements; 2) the significance of any decline in net assets of FHLB as compared to the capital stock amount for FHLB and the time period for any such decline; 3) commitments by FHLB to make payments required by law or regulation and the level of such payments in relation to the operating performance of FHLB; 4) the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on FHLB; and 5) the liquidity position of FHLB.
Based on the Company’s evaluation of its investments in non-marketable equity securities as of December 31, 2014, the Company determined that none of such securities had other-than-temporary impairment.
Debt securities. In evaluating debt securities for other-than-temporary impairment losses, management assesses whether the Company intends to sell the security or if it is more-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security. In so doing, management considers contractual constraints, liquidity, capital, asset / liability management and securities portfolio objectives. For debt securities with limited or inactive markets, the impact of macroeconomic conditions in the U.S. upon fair value estimates includes higher risk-adjusted discount rates and changes in credit ratings provided by NRSROs. In June 2014, Standard and Poor's reaffirmed its AA+ rating of U.S. government long-term debt and the outlook remains stable. In July 2013, Moody's upgraded its outlook to stable from negative while maintaining its Aaa rating on U.S. government long-term debt. In September 2014, Fitch reaffirmed its AAA rating of U.S. government long-term debt and the outlook remains stable. Standard and Poor's, Moody's and Fitch have similar credit ratings and outlooks with respect to certain long-term debt instruments issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and other U.S. government agencies linked to the long-term U.S. debt.
The following table separates investments with an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2014 into two categories: investments purchased prior to 2014 and those purchased during 2014. Of those investments purchased prior to 2014, the fair market value and unrealized gain or loss at December 31, 2013 is also presented.
With respect to severity, the following table provides the number of securities and amount of unrealized loss in the various ranges of unrealized loss as a percent of book value at December 31, 2014:
With respect to the duration of the impaired debt securities, the Company identified 153 securities which have been continuously impaired for the twelve months ending December 31, 2014. The valuation history of such securities in the prior year(s) was also reviewed to determine the number of months in prior year(s) in which the identified securities were in an unrealized loss position.
The following table provides details of the 153 securities which have been continuously impaired for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, including the most notable loss for any one bond in each category.
Based on the Company's analysis of its impaired debt securities as of December 31, 2014, the Company determined that none of such securities had other-than-temporary impairment and the unrealized losses were primarily the result of interest rate changes and market spreads subsequent to acquisition. A substantial portion of the investment securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2014 were issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Government National Mortgage Association and other agencies of the United States government or have credit ratings issued by one or more of the NRSRO entities in the four highest credit rating categories. All of the Company's impaired debt securities at December 31, 2014 have been determined by the Company to be investment grade.
Lending Activity
The Company focuses its lending activities primarily on the following types of loans: 1) first-mortgage, conventional loans secured by residential properties, particularly single-family; 2) commercial lending, including agriculture, that concentrates on targeted businesses; and 3) installment lending for consumer purposes (e.g., home equity, automobile, etc.). Supplemental information regarding the Company’s loan portfolio and credit quality based on regulatory classification is provided in the section captioned “Loans by Regulatory Classification” included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The regulatory classification of loans is based primarily on the type of collateral for the loans. Loan information included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” is based on the Company’s loan segments and classes which is based on the purpose of the loan, unless otherwise noted as a regulatory classification.
The following table summarizes the Company’s loan portfolio as of the dates indicated:
The stated maturities or first repricing term (if applicable) for the loan portfolio at December 31, 2014 was as follows:
Residential Real Estate Lending
The Company’s lending activities consist of the origination of both construction and permanent loans on residential real estate. The Company actively solicits residential real estate loan applications from real estate brokers, contractors, existing customers, customer referrals, and on-line applications. The Company’s lending policies generally limit the maximum loan-to-value ratio on residential mortgage loans to 80 percent of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price. Policies allow for higher loan-to-values with appropriate risk mitigation such as documented compensating factors, credit enhancement, etc. The Company also provides interim construction financing for single-family dwellings. These loans are supported by a term take-out commitment.
Consumer Land or Lot Loans
The Company originates land and lot acquisition loans to borrowers who intend to construct their primary residence on the respective land or lot. These loans are generally for a term of three to five years and are secured by the developed land or lot with the loan to value limited to the lesser of 75 percent of the appraised value or 75 percent of the cost.
Unimproved Land and Land Development Loans
Although the Company has originated very few unimproved land and land development loans during the past five years, the Company may originate such loans on properties intended for residential and commercial use where improved real estate market conditions have occurred. These loans are typically made for a term of 18 months to two years and are secured by the developed property with a loan-to-value not to exceed the lesser of 75 percent of cost or 65 percent of the appraised discounted bulk sale value upon completion of the improvements. The projects under development are inspected on a regular basis and advances are made on a percentage-of-completion basis. The loans are made to borrowers with real estate development experience and appropriate financial strength. Generally, the Company requires that a certain percentage of the development be pre-sold or that construction and term take-out commitments are in place prior to funding the loan. Loans made on unimproved land are generally made for a term of five to ten years with a loan-to-value not to exceed the lesser of 50 percent of appraised value or 50 percent of cost.
Residential Builder Guidance Lines
The Company provides Builder Guidance Lines that are comprised of pre-sold and spec-home construction and lot acquisition loans. The spec-home construction and lot acquisition loans are limited to a specific number and maximum amount. Generally, the individual loans will not exceed a one year maturity. The homes under construction are inspected on a regular basis and advances made on a percentage-of-completion basis.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
Loans are made to purchase, construct and finance commercial real estate properties. These loans are generally made to borrowers who own and will occupy the property and generally have a loan-to-value up to the lesser of 75 percent of the appraised value or 75 percent of the cost and require a minimum 1.2 times debt service coverage margin. Loans to finance investment or income properties are made, but require additional equity and generally have a loan-to-value up to the lesser of 70 percent of appraised value or 70 percent of cost and require a higher debt service coverage margin commensurate with the specific property and projected income.
Consumer Lending
The majority of consumer loans are secured by real estate, automobiles, or other assets. The Company intends to continue making such loans because of their short-term nature, generally between three months and five years. Moreover, interest rates on consumer loans are generally higher than on residential mortgage loans. The Company also originates second mortgage and home equity loans, especially to existing customers in instances where the first and second mortgage loans are less than 80 percent of the current appraised value of the property.
Home Equity Loans
The Company’s home equity loans of $395 million and $366 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, consist of 1-4 family junior lien mortgages and first and junior lien lines of credit secured by residential real estate. At December 31, 2014, the home equity loan portfolio consisted of 70 percent variable interest rate and 30 percent fixed interest rate loans. Approximately 51 percent of the home equity loans were in a first lien status with the remaining 49 percent in junior lien status. Approximately 17 percent of the home equity loans were closed-end amortizing loans and 83 percent were open-end, revolving home equity lines of credit. At December 31, 2013, the home equity loan portfolio consisted of 62 percent variable interest rate and 38 percent fixed interest rate loans. Approximately 49 percent of the home equity loans were in a first lien status with the remaining 51 percent in junior lien status. Approximately 20 percent of the home equity loans were closed-end amortizing loans and 80 percent were open-end, revolving home equity lines of credit.
Prior to 2014, home equity lines of credit were generally originated with maturity terms from 10 to 15 years. At origination, borrowers chose a variable interest rate or fixed interest rate for the full term of the line of credit, or a fixed interest rate for the first 3 or 5 years from the origination date which then converts to a variable interest rate for the remaining term of such home equity lines of credit. During the draw period, a borrower with a variable interest rate term had the option of converting to a fixed interest rate for all or a portion of the remaining term to maturity. Beginning in 2014, home equity lines of credit are originated with maturity terms of 15 years. At origination, borrowers can choose a variable interest rate that changes quarterly, or after the first 3, 5 or 10 years from the origination date.
The draw period for home equity lines of credit usually exists from origination to maturity. During the draw period, the Company has home equity lines of credit where the borrowers pay interest only and home equity lines of credit where borrowers pay principal and interest.
Credit Risk Management
The Company is committed to a conservative management of the credit risk within the loan portfolio, including the early recognition of problem loans. The Company’s credit risk management includes stringent credit policies, individual loan approval limits, limits on concentrations of credit, and committee approval of larger loan requests. Management practices also include regular internal and external credit examinations, identification and review of individual loans and leases experiencing deterioration of credit quality, procedures for the collection of non-performing assets, quarterly monitoring of the loan portfolio, semi-annual review of loans by industry, and periodic stress testing of the loans secured by real estate. Federal and state regulatory safety and soundness examinations are conducted annually.
The Company’s loan policy and credit administration practices establish standards and limits for all extensions of credit that are secured by interests in or liens on real estate, or made for the purpose of financing the construction of real property or other improvements. Ongoing monitoring and review of the loan portfolio is based on current information, including: the borrowers’ and guarantors’ creditworthiness, value of the real estate and other collateral, the project’s performance against projections, and monthly inspections by Company employees or external parties until the real estate project is complete.
Monitoring of the junior lien and home equity lines of credit portfolios includes evaluating payment delinquency, collateral values, bankruptcy notices and foreclosure filings. Additionally, the Company places junior lien mortgages and junior lien home equity lines of credit on non-accrual status when there is evidence that the associated senior lien is 90 days past due or is in the process of foreclosure, regardless of the junior lien delinquency status.
Loan Approval Limits
Individual loan approval limits have been established for each lender based on the loan types and experience of the individual. Each bank division has an Officer Loan Committee consisting of senior lenders and members of senior management. Each of the Bank divisions’ Officer Loan Committees have loan approval authority between $250,000 and $1,000,000. Each of the Bank divisions’ Advisory Boards have loan approval authority up to $2,000,000. Loans exceeding these limits and up to $10,000,000 are subject to approval by the Company’s Executive Loan Committee consisting of the Bank divisions’ senior loan officers and the Company’s Credit Administrator. Loans greater than $10,000,000 are subject to approval by the Bank’s Board of Directors. Under banking laws, loans to one borrower and related entities are limited to a prescribed percentage of the unimpaired capital and surplus of the Bank.
Interest Reserves
Interest reserves are used to periodically advance loan funds to pay interest charges on the outstanding balance of the related loan. As with any extension of credit, the decision to establish a loan-funded interest reserve upon origination of construction loans, including residential construction and land, lot and other construction loans, is based on prudent underwriting, including the feasibility of the project, expected cash flow, creditworthiness of the borrower and guarantors, and the protection provided by the real estate and other underlying collateral. Interest reserves provide an effective means for addressing the cash flow characteristics of construction loans. In response to the downturn in the housing market and potential impact upon construction lending, the Company discourages the creation or continued use of interest reserves.
Interest reserves are advanced provided the related construction loan is performing as expected. Loans with interest reserves may be extended, renewed or restructured only when the related loan continues to perform as expected and meets the prudent underwriting standards identified above. Such renewals, extension or restructuring are not permitted in order to keep the related loan current.
In monitoring the performance and credit quality of a construction loan, the Company assesses the adequacy of any remaining interest reserve, and whether the use of an interest reserve remains appropriate in the presence of emerging weakness and associated risks in the construction loan.
The ongoing accrual and recognition of uncollected interest as income continues only when facts and circumstances continue to reasonably support the contractual payment of principal or interest. Loans are typically designated as non-accrual when the collection of the contractual principal or interest is unlikely and has remained unpaid for ninety days or more. For such loans, the accrual of interest and its capitalization into the loan balance will be discontinued.
The Company had $48.1 million and $56.7 million of loans with interest reserves with remaining reserves of $1.0 million and $385 thousand as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During 2014, the Company extended, renewed or restructured 4 loans with interest reserves, such loans having an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $7.9 million as of December 31, 2014. During 2013, the Company extended, renewed or restructured 27 loans with interest reserves, such loans having an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $13.2 million as of December 31, 2013. Such actions were based on prudent underwriting standards and not to keep the loans current. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had 4 construction loans totaling $1.0 million with interest reserves that are currently non-performing or which are potential problem loans.
Loan Purchases and Sales
Fixed rate, long-term mortgage loans are generally sold in the secondary market. The Company is active in the secondary market, primarily through the origination of conventional, Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs residential mortgages. The sale of loans in the secondary mortgage market reduces the Company’s risk of holding long-term, fixed rate loans during periods of rising rates. In connection with conventional loan sales, the Company typically sells the majority of mortgage loans originated with servicing released. The Company has also been very active in generating commercial Small Business Administration loans, and other commercial loans, with a portion of those loans sold to investors. The Company has not originated any type of subprime mortgages, either for the loan portfolio or for sale to investors. In addition, the Company has not purchased securities that were collateralized with subprime mortgages. The Company does not actively purchase loans from other financial institutions and substantially all of the Company’s loans receivable are with customers in the Company’s geographic market areas.
Loan Origination and Other Fees
In addition to interest earned on loans, the Company receives fees for originating loans. Loan fees generally are a percentage of the principal amount of the loan and are charged to the borrower, and are normally deducted from the proceeds of the loan. Loan origination fees are generally 1.0 percent to 1.5 percent on residential mortgages and 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent on commercial loans. Consumer loans require a fixed fee amount as well as a minimum interest amount. The Company also receives other fees and charges relating to existing loans, which include charges and fees collected in connection with loan modifications.
Appraisal and Evaluation Process
The Company’s loan policy and credit administration practices have adopted and implemented the applicable legal and regulatory requirements, which establishes criteria for obtaining appraisals or evaluations (new or updated), including transactions that are otherwise exempt from the appraisal requirements.
Each of the Bank divisions monitor conditions, including supply and demand factors, in the real estate markets served so they can react quickly to changing market conditions to mitigate potential losses from specific credit exposures within the loan portfolio. Evidence of the following real estate market conditions and trends is obtained from lending personnel and third party sources:
•
demographic indicators, including employment and population trends;
•
foreclosures, vacancy, construction and absorption rates;
•
property sales prices, rental rates, and lease terms;
•
current tax assessments;
•
economic indicators, including trends within the lending areas; and
•
valuation trends, including discount and capitalization rates.
Third party information sources include federal, state, and local governments and agencies thereof, private sector economic data vendors, real estate brokers, licensed agents, sales, rental and foreclosure data tracking services.
The time between ordering an appraisal or evaluation and receipt from third party vendors is typically two to three weeks for residential property and four to six weeks for non-residential property. For real estate properties that are of highly specialized or limited use, significantly complex or large, additional time beyond the typical times may be required for new appraisals or evaluations (new or updated).
As part of the Company’s credit administration and portfolio monitoring practices, the Company’s regular internal and external credit examinations review a significant number of individual loan files. Appraisals and evaluations (new or updated) are reviewed to determine whether the timeliness, methods, assumptions, and findings are reasonable and in compliance with the Company’s loan policy and credit administration practices. Such reviews include the adequacy of the steps taken by the Company to ensure that the individuals who perform appraisals and evaluations (new or updated) are appropriately qualified and are not subject to conflicts of interest. If there are any deficiencies noted in the reviews, they are reported to the Bank’s Board of Directors and prompt corrective action is taken.
Non-performing Assets
The following table summarizes information regarding non-performing assets at the dates indicated:
__________
As of December 31, 2014, non-performing assets have not been reduced by U.S. government guarantees of $3.6 million.
Amounts represent estimated interest income that would have been recognized on loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis as of the end of each period had such loans performed pursuant to contractual terms.
The Company has made significant strides in reducing its non-performing assets since its peak of $270 million at December 31, 2010 through actively and methodically managing or disposing of its non-performing assets. The non-performing assets at December 31, 2014 were $89.9 million, a decrease of $19.5 million, or 18 percent, from a year ago. Land, lot and other construction loans (i.e., regulatory classification) continues to be the largest category and was $47.7 million, or 53 percent, of the non-performing assets at December 31, 2014. The Company has continued to make progress by reducing this category the past few years. Other credit quality measures have also seen improvement over the last few years including early stage delinquencies (accruing loans 30-89 days past due) at December 31, 2014 which decreased $6.2 million, or 19 percent, from the prior year.
Most of the Company’s non-performing assets are secured by real estate, and based on the most current information available to management, including updated appraisals or evaluations (new or updated), the Company believes the value of the underlying real estate collateral is adequate to minimize significant charge-offs or losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the level of its non-performing loans, the values of the underlying real estate and other collateral, and related trends in net charge-offs in determining the adequacy of the ALLL. Through pro-active credit administration, the Company works closely with its borrowers to seek favorable resolution to the extent possible, thereby attempting to minimize net charge-offs or losses to the Company. The Company continues to maintain an adequate allowance while working to reduce non-performing loans.
For non-performing construction loans involving residential structures, the percentage-of-completion exceeds 95 percent at December 31, 2014. For non-performing construction loans involving commercial structures, the percentage-of-completion ranges from projects not started to projects completed at December 31, 2014. During the construction loan term, all construction loan collateral properties are inspected at least monthly, or more frequently as needed, until completion. Draws on construction loans are predicated upon the results of the inspection and advanced based upon a percentage-of-completion basis versus original budget percentages. When construction loans become non-performing and the associated project is not complete, the Company on a case-by-case basis makes the decision to advance additional funds or to initiate collection/foreclosure proceedings. Such decision includes obtaining “as-is” and “at completion” appraisals for consideration of potential increases or decreases in the collateral’s value. The Company also considers the increased costs of monitoring progress to completion, and the related collection/holding period costs should collateral ownership be transferred to the Company. With very limited exception, the Company does not disburse additional funds on non-performing loans. Instead, the Company has proceeded to collection and foreclosure actions in order to reduce the Company’s exposure to loss on such loans.
Construction loans, a regulatory classification, accounted for 43 percent of the Company’s non-accrual loans as of December 31, 2014. Land, lot and other construction loans, a regulatory classification, were 95 percent of the non-accrual construction loans. Of the Company’s $26.8 million of non-accrual construction loans at December 31, 2014, 93 percent of such loans had collateral properties securing the loans in Western Montana and Idaho. With locations and operations in the contiguous northern Rocky Mountain states of Idaho and Montana, the geography and economies of each of these states are predominantly tied to real estate development given the sprawling abundance of timbered valleys and mountainous terrain with significant lakes, streams and watershed areas. Consistent with the lingering economic recovery, the upscale primary, secondary and other housing markets, as well as the associated construction and building industries show improved activity after several years of decline. As the housing market (rental and owner-occupied) and related industries continue to recover from the downturn, the Company continues to reduce its exposure to loss in the land, lot and other construction loan portfolio.
For additional information on accounting policies relating to non-performing assets and impaired loans, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Impaired Loans
Loans are designated impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement and therefore, the Company has serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to fulfill the contractual obligation. Impaired loans include non-performing loans (i.e., non-accrual loans and accruing loans ninety days or more past due) and accruing loans under ninety days past due where it is probable payments will not be received according to the loan agreement (e.g., troubled debt restructuring).
Impaired loans were $161 million and $200 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The ALLL includes specific valuation allowances of $11.6 million and $11.9 million of impaired loans as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Of the total impaired loans at December 31, 2014, there were 23 significant commercial real estate and other commercial loans that accounted for $62.7 million, or 39 percent, of the impaired loans. The 23 loans were collateralized by 127 percent of the loan value, the majority of which had appraisals or evaluations (new or updated) during the last year, such appraisals reviewed at least quarterly taking into account current market conditions. Of the total impaired loans at December 31, 2014, there were 132 loans aggregating $77.1 million, or 48 percent, whereby the borrowers had more than one impaired loan.
Restructured Loans
A restructured loan is considered a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) if the creditor, for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the debtor that it would not otherwise consider. The Company had TDR loans of $103 million and $124 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company’s TDR loans are considered impaired loans of which $33.7 million and $42.5 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are designated as non-accrual.
Each restructured debt is separately negotiated with the borrower and includes terms and conditions that reflect the borrower’s prospective ability to service the debt as modified. The Company discourages the use of the multiple loan strategy when restructuring loans regardless of whether or not the loans are designated as TDRs.
Other Real Estate Owned
The book value prior to the acquisition and transfer of the loan into OREO during 2014 was $12.7 million of which $3.5 million was residential real estate loans, $6.2 million was commercial loans, and $3.0 million was consumer loans. The fair value of the loan collateral acquired in foreclosure during 2014 was $11.5 million of which $3.4 million was residential real estate, $5.4 million was commercial, and $2.7 million was consumer loans. The following table sets forth the changes in OREO for the periods indicated:
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
Determining the adequacy of the ALLL involves a high degree of judgment and is inevitably imprecise as the risk of loss is difficult to quantify. The ALLL methodology is designed to reasonably estimate the probable loan and lease losses within the Company’s loan portfolio. Accordingly, the ALLL is maintained within a range of estimated losses. The determination of the ALLL, including the provision for loan losses and net charge-offs, is a critical accounting estimate that involves management’s judgments about all known relevant internal and external environmental factors that affect loan losses, including the credit risk inherent in the loan portfolio, economic conditions nationally and in the local markets in which the Company operates, changes in collateral values, delinquencies, non-performing assets and net charge-offs. Although the Company continues to actively monitor economic trends, soft economic conditions combined with potential declines in the values of real estate that collateralize most of the Company’s loan portfolio may adversely affect the credit risk and potential for loss to the Company.
The ALLL evaluation is well documented and approved by the Company’s Board. In addition, the policy and procedures for determining the balance of the ALLL are reviewed annually by the Company’s Board, the internal audit department, independent credit reviewers and state and federal bank regulatory agencies.
At the end of each quarter, the Company analyzes its loan portfolio and maintains an ALLL at a level that is appropriate and determined in accordance with GAAP. The allowance consists of a specific valuation allowance component and a general valuation allowance component. The specific valuation allowance component relates to loans that are determined to be impaired. A specific valuation allowance is established when the fair value of a collateral-dependent loan or the present value of the loan’s expected future cash flows (discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate) is lower than the carrying value of the impaired loan. The general valuation allowance component relates to probable credit losses inherent in the balance of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, adjusted for changes in trends and conditions of qualitative or environmental factors.
The Bank divisions’ credit administration reviews their respective loan portfolios to determine which loans are impaired and estimates the specific valuation allowance. The impaired loans and related specific valuation allowance are then provided to the Company’s credit administration for further review and approval. The Company’s credit administration also determines the estimated general valuation allowance and reviews and approves the overall ALLL. The credit administration of the Company exercises significant judgment when evaluating the effect of applicable qualitative or environmental factors on the Company’s historical loss experience for loans not identified as impaired. Quantification of the impact upon the Company’s ALLL is inherently subjective as data for any factor may not be directly applicable, consistently relevant, or reasonably available for management to determine the precise impact of a factor on the collectability of the Company’s loans collectively evaluated for impairment as of each evaluation date. The Company’s credit administration documents its conclusions and rationale for changes that occur in each applicable factor’s weight (i.e., measurement) and ensures that such changes are directionally consistent based on the underlying current trends and conditions for the factor. To have directional consistency, the provision for loan losses and credit quality should generally move in the same direction.
The Company’s model includes thirteen Bank divisions with separate management teams providing substantial local oversight to the lending and credit management function. The Company’s business model affords multiple reviews of larger loans before credit is extended, a significant benefit in mitigating and managing the Company’s credit risk. The geographic dispersion of the market areas in which the Company operates further mitigates the risk of credit loss. While this process is intended to limit credit exposure, there can be no assurance that further problem credits will not arise and additional loan losses incurred, particularly in periods of rapid economic downturns.
The primary responsibility for credit risk assessment and identification of problem loans rests with the loan officer of the account. This continuous process of identifying impaired loans is necessary to support management’s evaluation of the ALLL adequacy. An independent loan review function verifying credit risk ratings evaluates the loan officer and management’s evaluation of the loan portfolio credit quality. The loan review function also assesses the evaluation process and provides an independent analysis of the adequacy of the ALLL.
No assurance can be given that the Company will not, in any particular period, sustain losses that are significant relative to the ALLL amount, or that subsequent evaluations of the loan portfolio applying management’s judgment about then current factors, including economic and regulatory developments, will not require significant changes in the ALLL. Under such circumstances, this could result in enhanced provisions for loan losses. See additional risk factors in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
The following table summarizes the allocation of the ALLL as of the dates indicated:
The following table summarizes the ALLL experience for the periods indicated:
The ALLL was $130 million at December 31, 2014 and remained stable compared to a year ago. The ALLL was 2.89 percent of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2014 compared to 3.21 percent at December 31, 2013.
The Company’s ALLL of $130 million is considered adequate to absorb losses from any class of its loan portfolio. For the periods ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company believes the ALLL is commensurate with the risk in the Company’s loan portfolio and is directionally consistent with the change in the quality of the Company’s loan portfolio.
When applied to the Company’s historical loss experience, the qualitative or environmental factors result in the provision for loan losses being recorded in the period in which the loss has probably occurred. When the loss is confirmed at a later date, a charge-off is recorded. During 2014, loan charge-offs, net of recoveries, exceeded the provision for loan losses by $598 thousand. During the same period in 2013, loan charge-offs, net of recoveries, exceeded the provision for loan losses by $503 thousand.
The Company provides commercial services to individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, community organizations and public entities from 129 locations, including 121 branches, across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. The Rocky Mountain states in which the Company operates has diverse economies and markets that are tied to commodities (crops, livestock, minerals, oil and natural gas), tourism, real estate and land development and an assortment of industries, both manufacturing and service-related. Thus, the changes in the global, national, and local economies are not uniform across the Company’s geographic locations.
There have been improvements in the economic environment during the last year compared to the past several years. The housing recovery is slowly recovering. Home prices continue to increase both nationally and within the Company’s footprint; however, the year-over-year price change continued to slow in all the Company’s states except Montana. Personal income growth has improved in each of the Company’s states. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s composite state coincident indices reflected positive growth in each of the Company’s states, except Wyoming, over the last three months and the six month forecast of the state leading indices projects steady growth in the Company’s footprint. Unemployment rates in each of the Company’s states except Washington remain lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.6 percent for December 2014. Employment growth has remained positive in most industries across the Company’s footprint and the personal bankruptcy filing rate has declined nationally and in each of the Company’s states. Foreclosure starts have continued to decline year-over-year nationally and in each of the Company’s states. The tourism industry and related lodging has continued to be a source of strength for the locations where the Company’s market areas have national parks and similar recreational areas in the market areas served. Overall, the Company has started to see positive signs throughout the various economic indices; however, given the significant recession experienced during 2008 and 2009, the Company is cautiously optimistic that the housing industry will continue to recover. The Company will continue to actively monitor the economy’s impact on its lending portfolio.
In evaluating the need for a specific or general valuation allowance for impaired and unimpaired loans, respectively, within the Company’s construction loan portfolio (i.e., regulatory classification), including residential construction and land, lot and other construction loans, the credit risk related to such loans was considered in the ongoing monitoring of such loans, including assessments based on current information, including appraisals or evaluations (new or updated) of the underlying collateral, expected cash flows and the timing thereof, as well as the estimated cost to sell when such costs are expected to reduce the cash flows available to repay or otherwise satisfy the construction loan. Construction loans were 12 percent and 11 percent of the Company’s total loan portfolio and accounted for 43 percent and 40 percent of the Company’s non-accrual loans at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Collateral securing construction loans includes residential buildings (e.g., single/multi-family and condominiums), commercial buildings, and associated land (e.g., multi-acre parcels and individual lots, with and without shorelines).
The Company’s ALLL consisted of the following components as of the dates indicated:
During 2014, the ALLL decreased by $598 thousand, the net result of a $352 thousand decrease in the specific valuation allowance and a $246 thousand decrease in the general valuation allowance. The specific valuation allowance decreased as the result of a $15.8 million decrease in loans individually reviewed for impairment with a specific impairment. The general valuation allowance remained stable compared to the prior year end even with an increase of $326 million in loans collectively evaluated for impairment, excluding the FNBR acquisition. The stable general valuation allowance resulted from improved historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative or environmental factors from the prior year which was applied to the loans collectively evaluated for impairment.
For additional information regarding the ALLL, its relation to the provision for loan losses and risk related to asset quality, see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Loans by Regulatory Classification
Supplemental information regarding identification of the Company’s loan portfolio and credit quality based on regulatory classification is provided in the following tables. The regulatory classification of loans is based primarily on the type of collateral for the loans. There may be differences when compared to loan tables and loan amounts appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K which reflect the Company’s internal loan segments and classes which are based on the purpose of the loan.
The following table summarizes the Company’s loan portfolio by regulatory classification:
The following tables summarize selected information identified by regulatory classification on the Company’s non-performing assets.
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n/m - not measurable
The following table summarizes net charge-offs at the dates indicated, including identification by regulatory classification:
Sources of Funds
The Company’s deposits have traditionally been the principal source of funds for use in lending and other business purposes. The Company also obtains funds from repayment of loans and investment securities, securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repurchase agreements”), wholesale deposits, advances from FHLB and other borrowings. Loan repayments are a relatively stable source of funds, while interest bearing deposit inflows and outflows are significantly influenced by general interest rate levels and market conditions. Borrowings and advances may be used on a short-term basis to compensate for reductions in normal sources of funds such as deposit inflows at less than projected levels. Borrowings also may be used on a long-term basis to support expanded activities, to match maturities of longer-term assets or manage interest rate risk.
Deposits
The Company has a number of different deposit programs designed to attract both short-term and long-term deposits from the general public by providing a wide selection of accounts and rates. These programs include non-interest bearing demand accounts, interest bearing checking, regular statement savings, money market deposit accounts, fixed rate certificates of deposit with maturities ranging from three months to five years, negotiated-rate jumbo certificates, and individual retirement accounts. These deposits are obtained primarily from individual and business residents of the Bank’s geographic market areas. In addition, wholesale deposits are obtained through various programs and include brokered deposits classified as NOW, money market deposit and certificate accounts. The Company’s deposits are summarized below:
The following table summarizes the amounts outstanding at December 31, 2014 for deposits of $100,000 and greater, according to the time remaining to maturity. Included in certificates of deposit are brokered certificates of deposit of $15.6 million. Included in demand deposits are brokered deposits of $233 million.
For additional information on deposits, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Repurchase Agreements, FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings
The Company borrows money through repurchase agreements. This process involves the selling of one or more of the securities in the Company’s investment portfolio and simultaneously entering into an agreement to repurchase that same securities at an agreed upon later date, typically overnight. A rate of interest is paid for the agreed period of time. Through a policy adopted by the Bank’s Board of Directors, the Bank enters into repurchase agreements with local municipalities, and certain customers, and have adopted procedures designed to ensure proper transfer of title and safekeeping of the underlying securities. In addition to retail repurchase agreements, the Company enters into wholesale repurchase agreements as additional funding sources. The Company has not entered into reverse repurchase agreements.
The Bank is a member of the FHLB of Seattle which is one of twelve banks that comprise the FHLB system. As a member of FHLB, the Bank may borrow from FHLB on the security of FHLB stock, which the Bank is required to own as a member. The borrowings are collateralized by eligible categories of loans and investment securities (principally, securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government and its agencies), provided certain standards related to credit-worthiness have been met. Advances are made pursuant to several different credit programs, each of which has its own interest rates and range of maturities. Depending on the program, limitations on the amount of advances are based either on a fixed percentage of an institution’s total assets or on FHLB’s assessment of the institution’s credit-worthiness. FHLB advances fluctuate to meet seasonal and other withdrawals of deposits and to expand lending or investment opportunities of the Company.
Additionally, the Company has other sources of secured and unsecured borrowing lines from various sources that may be used from time to time.
For additional information concerning the Company’s borrowings, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Short-term borrowings
A critical component of the Company’s liquidity and capital resources is access to short-term borrowings to fund its operations. Short-term borrowings are accompanied by increased risks managed by the Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”) such as rate increases or unfavorable change in terms which would make it more costly to obtain future short-term borrowings. The Company’s short-term borrowing sources include FHLB advances, federal funds purchased and retail and wholesale repurchase agreements. The Company also has access to the short-term discount window borrowing programs (i.e., primary credit) of the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”). FHLB advances and certain other short-term borrowings may be renewed as long-term borrowings to decrease certain risks such as liquidity or interest rate risk; however, the reduction in risks are weighed against the increased cost of funds and other risks.
The following table provides information relating to short-term borrowings which consists of borrowings that mature within one year of period end:
Subordinated Debentures
In addition to funds obtained in the ordinary course of business, the Company formed or acquired financing subsidiaries for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities that entitle the investor to receive cumulative cash distributions thereon. The subordinated debentures outstanding as of December 31, 2014 were $126 million, including fair value adjustments from prior acquisitions. For additional information regarding the subordinated debentures, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In the normal course of business, there may be various outstanding commitments to obtain funding and to extend credit, such as letters of credit and un-advanced loan commitments, which are not reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company does not anticipate any material losses as a result of these transactions. For the schedules of outstanding commitments, see Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
The following table represents the Company’s contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014:
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1 Represents non-interest bearing deposits and NOW, savings, and money market accounts.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the possibility that the Company will not be able to fund present and future obligations as they come due because of an inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate funding at a reasonable cost. The objective of liquidity management is to maintain cash flows adequate to meet current and future needs for credit demand, deposit withdrawals, maturing liabilities and corporate operating expenses. Effective liquidity management entails three elements:
1.
Assessing on an ongoing basis, the current and expected future needs for funds, and ensuring that sufficient funds or access to funds exist to meet those needs at the appropriate time.
2.
Providing for an adequate cushion of liquidity to meet unanticipated cash flow needs that may arise from potential adverse circumstances ranging from high probability/low severity events to low probability/high severity.
3.
Balancing the benefits between providing for adequate liquidity to mitigate potential adverse events and the cost of that liquidity.
The Company has a wide range of versatility in managing the liquidity and asset/liability mix. The Company’s ALCO meets regularly to assess liquidity risk, among other matters. The Company monitors liquidity and contingency funding alternatives through management reports of liquid assets (e.g., investment securities), both unencumbered and pledged, as well as borrowing capacity, both secured and unsecured, including off-balance sheet funding sources. The Company evaluates its potential funding needs across alternative scenarios and maintains contingency funding plans consistent with the Company’s access to diversified sources of contingent funding.
The following table identifies certain liquidity sources and capacity available to the Company at December 31, 2014:
Capital Resources
Maintaining capital strength continues to be a long-term objective of the Company. Abundant capital is necessary to sustain growth, provide protection against unanticipated declines in asset values, and to safeguard the funds of depositors. Capital is also a source of funds for loan demand and enables the Company to effectively manage its assets and liabilities. The Company has the capacity to issue 117,187,500 shares of common stock of which 75,026,092 have been issued as of December 31, 2014. The Company also has the capacity to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock of which none have been issued as of December 31, 2014. Conversely, the Company may decide to utilize a portion of its strong capital position, as it has done in the past, to repurchase shares of its outstanding common stock, depending on market price and other relevant considerations.
In July 2013, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the OCC approved the Final Rule to establish a new comprehensive regulatory capital framework with a phase-in period beginning on January 1, 2015 and ending on January 1, 2019. The Final Rule implements the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act and substantially amends the regulatory risk-based capital rules applicable to the Company. The Company has evaluated the impact of the Final Rule and believes that, as of December 31, 2014, the Company would meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III capital rules on a fully phased-in basis as if all such requirements were currently in effect.
The Federal Reserve has adopted capital adequacy guidelines that are used to assess the adequacy of capital in supervising a bank holding company. The Company and the Bank were considered well capitalized by their respective regulators as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. There are no conditions or events after December 31, 2014 that management believes have changed the Company’s or the Bank’s risk-based capital category.
The following table illustrates the Federal Reserve’s capital adequacy guidelines and the Company’s compliance with those guidelines as of December 31, 2014.
For additional information regarding regulatory capital, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Federal and State Income Taxes
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return using the accrual method of accounting. All required tax returns have been timely filed. Financial institutions are subject to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, in the same general manner as other corporations.
Under Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Utah law, financial institutions are subject to a corporation income tax, which incorporates or is substantially similar to applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The corporation income tax is imposed on federal taxable income, subject to certain adjustments. State taxes are incurred at the rate of 6.75 percent in Montana, 7.4 percent in Idaho, 5 percent in Utah and 4.63 percent in Colorado. Wyoming and Washington do not impose a corporate income tax.
Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $35.9 million and $30.0 million, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 24.2 percent and 23.9 percent, respectively. The primary reason for the current and prior years low effective tax rate is the amount of tax-exempt investment income and federal income tax credits. The tax-exempt income was $47.1 million and $42.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The federal income tax credit benefits were $3.9 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Company has equity investments in Certified Development Entities which have received allocations of New Markets Tax Credits (“NMTC”). Administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the NMTC program is aimed at stimulating economic and community development and job creation in low-income communities. The federal income tax credits received are claimed over a seven-year credit allowance period. The Company also has equity investments in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits which are indirect federal subsidies used to finance the development of affordable rental housing for low-income households. The federal income tax credits are claimed over a ten-year credit allowance period. The Company has investments in Qualified Zone Academy and Qualified School Construction bonds whereby the Company receives quarterly federal income tax credits in lieu of taxable interest income until the investment securities mature. The federal income tax credits on these investment securities are subject to federal and state income tax.
Following is a list of expected federal income tax credits to be received in the years indicated.
See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information.
Average Balance Sheet
The following schedule provides 1) the total dollar amount of interest and dividend income of the Company for earning assets and the average yields; 2) the total dollar amount of interest expense on interest bearing liabilities and the average rates; 3) net interest and dividend income and interest rate spread; and 4) net interest margin (tax-equivalent).
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Total loans are gross of the ALLL, net of unearned income, and include loans held for sale. Non-accrual loans are included in the average volume for the entire period.
Includes tax effect of $21.5 million, $19.0 million and $16.7 million on tax-exempt investment income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Includes tax effect of $1.5 million on investment income tax credits for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Wholesale deposits include brokered deposits classified as NOW, money market deposit and certificate accounts.
Rate/Volume Analysis
Net interest income can be evaluated from the perspective of relative dollars of change in each period. Interest income and interest expense, which are the components of net interest income, are shown in the following table on the basis of the amount of any increases (or decreases) attributable to changes in the dollar levels of the Company’s interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities (“volume”) and the yields earned and rates paid on such assets and liabilities (“rate”). The change in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rates has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.
Net interest income (tax-equivalent) increased $40.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Similar to the prior year, the increase in current year net interest income primarily resulted from higher yielding investment securities due to a significant decrease in premium amortization and the growth of the Company’s commercial loan portfolio. The decrease in interest expense was driven by lower yields on certificate accounts and lower volume of FHLB advances as a result of the continued increase in deposits.
Net interest income (tax-equivalent) increased $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The increase in interest income was driven by the increased yields and volume of investment securities and increased volume of the commercial loan portfolio. Additionally, the Company was able to lower interest expense by continuing to reduce deposit and borrowing interest rates.
Effect of inflation and changing prices
GAAP often requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without consideration for change in relative purchasing power over time due to inflation. Virtually all assets of the Company are monetary in nature; therefore, interest rates generally have a more significant impact on a company’s performance than does the effect of inflation.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP often requires management to use significant judgments as well as subjective and/or complex measurements in making estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The Company considers its accounting policies for the ALLL, goodwill and fair value measurements to be critical accounting policies. The application of these policies has a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and financial results could differ significantly if different judgments or estimates were to be applied.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
For information regarding the ALLL, its relation to the provision for loan losses and risk related to asset quality, see the section captioned “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses” included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Notes 1 and 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Goodwill
For information on goodwill, see Notes 1 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Fair Value Measurements
For information on fair value measurements, see Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards
New authoritative accounting guidance that has either been issued or is effective during 2014 or 2015 and may possibly have a material impact on the Company includes amendments to: Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification™ (“ASC”) Subtopic 310-40, Receivables - Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure, FASB ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing, FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, FASB ASC Subtopic 310-40, Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors and FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. For additional information on the topics and the impact on the Company see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The disclosures set forth in this item are qualified by the section captioned “Forward-Looking Statements” included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates/prices such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and equity prices. The Company’s primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the potential for loss of future earnings resulting from adverse changes in the level of interest rates. Interest rate risk results from many factors and could have a significant impact on the Company’s net interest income, which is the Company primary source of net income. Net interest income is affected by changes in interest rates, the relationship between rates on interest bearing assets and liabilities, the impact of the interest fluctuations on asset prepayments and the mix of interest bearing assets and liabilities.
Although interest rate risk is inherent in the banking industry, banks are expected to have sound risk management practices in place to measure, monitor and control interest rate exposures. The objective of interest rate risk management is to contain the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. The process involves identification and management of the sensitivity of net interest income to changing interest rates. Managing interest rate risk is not an exact science. The interval between repricing of interest rates of assets and liabilities changes from day to day as the assets and liabilities change.
The ongoing monitoring and management of this risk is an important component of the Company’s asset/liability management process which is governed by policies established by the Company’s Board that are reviewed and approved annually. The Board delegates responsibility for carrying out the asset/liability management policies to the Bank’s ALCO. In this capacity, the ALCO develops guidelines and strategies impacting the Company’s asset/liability management related activities based upon estimated market risk sensitivity, policy limits and overall market interest rate levels and trends. The Company’s goal of its asset and liability management practices is to maintain or increase the level of net interest income within an acceptable level of interest rate risk.
In addition to the risk management practices previously described, the Company has entered into forecasted interest rate swap derivative financial instruments to hedge various interest rate exposures. For more information on the Company’s interest rate swaps, see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Audit Committee, Board of Directors and Stockholders
Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
Kalispell, Montana
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Glacier Bancorp, Inc. as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014. The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. Our audits included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Glacier Bancorp, Inc. as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Glacier Bancorp, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in the 1992 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated February 26, 2015, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ BKD, LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 26, 2015
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Audit Committee, Board of Directors and Stockholders
Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
Kalispell, Montana
We have audited Glacier Bancorp, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in the 1992 Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 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 conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 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 and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
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 reliable financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Because management's assessment and our audit were conducted to meet the reporting requirements of Section 112 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA), our examination of Glacier Bancorp Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting included controls over the preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and with the instructions to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (Form FR Y-9C). 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, 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 and correction of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Glacier Bancorp, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in the 1992 Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of Glacier Bancorp, Inc. and our report dated February 26, 2015, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ BKD, LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 26, 2015
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
General
Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) is a Montana corporation headquartered in Kalispell, Montana. The Company provides a full range of banking services to individuals and businesses in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Washington through its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Glacier Bank (“Bank”). The Company offers a wide range of banking products and services, including transaction and savings deposits, real estate, commercial, agriculture and consumer loans and mortgage origination services. The Company serves individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, community organizations and public entities.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires 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 income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include: 1) the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL” or “allowance”); 2) the valuation of investment securities; 3) the valuation of real estate acquired in connection with foreclosures or in satisfaction of loans; and 4) the evaluation of goodwill impairment. For the determination of the ALLL and real estate valuation estimates, management obtains independent appraisals (new or updated) for significant items. Estimates relating to investment valuations are obtained from independent third parties. Estimates relating to the evaluation of goodwill for impairment are determined based on internal calculations using significant independent party inputs.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the parent holding company and the Bank. The Bank consists of thirteen bank divisions, a treasury division and an information technology division. The treasury division includes the Bank’s investment portfolio and wholesale borrowings and the information technology division includes the Bank’s internal data processing and information technology expenses. Each of the Bank divisions operate under separate names, management teams and directors. The Company considers the Bank to be its sole operating segment as the Bank 1) engages in similar bank business activity from which it earns revenues and incurs expenses; 2) the operating results of the Bank are regularly reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer (i.e., the chief operating decision maker) who makes decisions about resources to be allocated to the Bank; and 3) financial information is available for the Bank. All significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
In August 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of FNBR Holding Corporation (“FNBR”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First National Bank of the Rockies, a community bank based in Grand Junction, Colorado. In July 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of North Cascades Bancshares, Inc. (“NCBI”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, North Cascades National Bank, a community bank based in Chelan, Washington. In May 2013, the Company acquired Wheatland Bankshares, Inc. (“Wheatland”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First State Bank, a community bank based in Wheatland, Wyoming. The transactions were accounted for using the acquisition method, and their results of operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of the acquisition dates.
The Company formed GBCI Other Real Estate (“GORE”) to isolate certain bank foreclosed properties for administrative purposes and the remaining properties are currently held for sale. GORE is included in the Bank operating segment due to its insignificant activity.
The Company owns the following trust subsidiaries, each of which issued trust preferred securities as Tier 1 capital instruments: Glacier Capital Trust II, Glacier Capital Trust III, Glacier Capital Trust IV, Citizens (ID) Statutory Trust I, Bank of the San Juans Bancorporation Trust I, First Company Statutory Trust 2001, and First Company Statutory Trust 2003. The trust subsidiaries are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Pending Acquisition
On November 5, 2014, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Montana Community Banks, Inc. (“Community”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Community Bank, Inc., a community bank based in Ronan, Montana. Community provides banking services to individuals and businesses in western Montana, with banking offices located in Missoula, Polson, Ronan and Pablo, Montana. As of December 31, 2014, Community had total assets of $175,041,000, gross loans of $92,952,000 and total deposits of $149,544,000. All necessary regulatory approvals and waivers have been obtained and closing is anticipated to take place in the first quarter of 2015. The branches of Community will be merged into Glacier Bank and will become part of the Glacier Bank and First Security Bank of Missoula bank divisions.
Variable Interest Entities
A variable interest entity (“VIE”) exists when either 1) the entity’s total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or 2) the entity has equity investors that cannot make significant decisions about the entity’s operations or that do not absorb their proportionate share of the expected losses or receive the expected returns of the entity. In addition, a VIE must be consolidated by the Company if it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, which is the party involved with the VIE that has the power to direct the VIE’s significant activities and will absorb a majority of the expected losses, receive a majority of the expected residual returns, or both. The Company’s VIEs are regularly monitored to determine if any reconsideration events have occurred that could cause the primary beneficiary status to change.
The Company has equity investments in Certified Development Entities (“CDE”) which have received allocations of New Markets Tax Credits (“NMTC”). The Company also has equity investments in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) partnerships. The CDEs and the LIHTC partnerships are VIEs. The underlying activities of the VIEs are community development projects designed primarily to promote community welfare, such as economic rehabilitation and development of low-income areas by providing housing, services, or jobs for residents. The maximum exposure to loss in the VIEs is the amount of equity invested and credit extended by the Company. However, the Company has credit protection in the form of indemnification agreements, guarantees, and collateral arrangements. The primary activities of the VIEs are recognized in commercial loans interest income, other non-interest income and other borrowed funds interest expense on the Company’s statements of operations. Such related cash flows are recognized in loans originated, principal collected on loans and change in other borrowed funds. The Company has evaluated the variable interests held by the Company in each CDE (NMTC) and LIHTC partnership investment and determined that the Company continues to be the primary beneficiary of such VIEs. As the primary beneficiary, the VIEs’ assets, liabilities, and results of operations are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of the VIEs’ assets and liabilities included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Amounts presented in the table above are adjusted for intercompany eliminations. All assets presented can be used only to settle obligations of the consolidated VIEs and all liabilities presented consist of liabilities for which creditors and other beneficial interest holders therein have no recourse to the general credit of the Company.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash held as demand deposits at various banks and the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”), interest bearing deposits, federal funds sold, and liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Investment Securities
Debt securities for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities held primarily for the purpose of selling in the near term are classified as trading securities and are reported at fair market value, with unrealized gains and losses included in income. Debt and equity securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, as a separate component of other comprehensive income. Premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized or accreted into income using a method that approximates the interest method. The objective of the interest method is to calculate periodic interest income at a constant effective yield. The Company does not have any investment securities classified as trading securities.
The Company reviews and analyzes the various risks that may be present within the investment portfolio on an ongoing basis, including market risk and credit risk. Market risk is the risk to an entity’s financial condition resulting from adverse changes in the value of its holdings arising from movements in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices or commodity prices. The Company assesses the market risk of individual securities as well as the investment portfolio as a whole. Credit risk, broadly defined, is the risk that an issuer or counterparty will fail to perform on an obligation. A security is investment grade if the issuer has an adequate capacity to meet its commitment over the expected life of the investment, i.e., the risk of default is low and full and timely repayment of interest and principal is expected. To determine investment grade status for securities, the Company conducts due diligence of the creditworthiness of the issuer or counterparty prior to acquisition and ongoing thereafter consistent with the risk characteristics of the security and the overall risk of the investment portfolio. Credit quality due diligence takes into account the extent to which a security is guaranteed by the U.S. government and other agencies of the U.S. government. The depth of the due diligence is based on the complexity of the structure, the size of the security, and takes into account material positions and specific groups of securities or stratifications for analysis and review of similar risk positions. The due diligence includes consideration of payment performance, collateral adequacy, internal analyses, third party research and analytics, external credit ratings and default statistics.
For additional information relating to investment securities, see Note 3.
Temporary versus Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
The Company assesses individual securities in its investment portfolio for impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant. An investment is impaired if the fair value of the security is less than its carrying value at the financial statement date. If impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized by reducing the amortized cost for the credit loss portion of the impairment with a corresponding charge to earnings for a like amount.
In evaluating impaired securities for other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers 1) the severity and duration of the impairment; 2) the credit ratings of the security; and 3) the overall deal structure, including the Company’s position within the structure, the overall and near term financial performance of the issuer and underlying collateral, delinquencies, defaults, loss severities, recoveries, prepayments, cumulative loss projections, discounted cash flows and fair value estimates.
In evaluating debt securities for other-than-temporary impairment losses, management assesses whether the Company intends to sell the security or if it is more-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security. In so doing, management considers contractual constraints, liquidity, capital, asset / liability management and securities portfolio objectives. If impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary and the Company does not intend to sell a debt security, and it is more-likely-than-not the Company will not be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, it recognizes the credit component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security in earnings and the remaining portion (noncredit portion) in other comprehensive income, net of tax. For held-to-maturity debt securities, the amount of an other-than-temporary impairment recorded in other comprehensive income for the noncredit portion of a previous other-than-temporary impairment is amortized prospectively, as an increase to the carrying amount of the security, over the remaining life of the security on the basis of the timing of future estimated cash flows of the security.
If impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary and the Company intends to sell a debt security or it is more-likely-than-not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, it recognizes the entire amount of the other-than-temporary impairment in earnings.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
For debt securities with other-than-temporary impairment, the previous amortized cost basis less the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings shall be the new amortized cost basis of the security. In subsequent periods, the Company accretes into interest income the difference between the new amortized cost basis and cash flows expected to be collected prospectively over the life of the debt security.
Loans Held for Sale
Loans held for sale generally consist of long-term, fixed rate, conforming, single-family residential real estate loans and are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized by charges to non-interest income. A sale is recognized when the Company surrenders control of the loan and consideration, is received in exchange. A gain is recognized in non-interest income to the extent the sales price exceeds the carrying value of the sold loan.
Loans Receivable
Loans that are intended to be held-to-maturity are reported at the unpaid principal balance less net charge-offs and adjusted for deferred fees and costs on originated loans and unamortized premiums or discounts on acquired loans. Fees and costs on originated loans and premiums or discounts on acquired loans are deferred and subsequently amortized or accreted as a yield adjustment over the expected life of the loan utilizing the interest method. The objective of the interest method is to calculate periodic interest income at a constant effective yield. When a loan is paid off prior to maturity, the remaining fees and costs on originated loans and premiums or discounts on acquired loans are immediately recognized into interest income.
The Company’s loan segments, which are based on the purpose of the loan, include residential real estate, commercial, and consumer loans. The Company’s loan classes, a further disaggregation of segments, include residential real estate loans (residential real estate segment), commercial real estate and other commercial loans (commercial segment), and home equity and other consumer loans (consumer segment).
Loans that are thirty days or more past due based on payments received and applied to the loan are considered delinquent. Loans are designated non-accrual and the accrual of interest is discontinued when the collection of the contractual principal or interest is unlikely. A loan is typically placed on non-accrual when principal or interest is due and has remained unpaid for ninety days or more. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period interest income. Subsequent payments on non-accrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance if doubt remains as to the ultimate collectability of the loan. Interest accruals are not resumed on partially charged-off impaired loans. For other loans on nonaccrual, interest accruals are resumed on such loans only when they are brought fully current with respect to interest and principal and when, in the judgment of management, the loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest.
The Company considers impaired loans to be the primary credit quality indicator for monitoring the credit quality of the loan portfolio. Loans are designated impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement and, therefore, the Company has serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to fulfill the contractual obligation. Impaired loans include non-performing loans (i.e., non-accrual loans and accruing loans ninety days or more past due) and accruing loans under ninety days past due where it is probable payments will not be received according to the loan agreement (e.g., troubled debt restructuring). Interest income on accruing impaired loans is recognized using the interest method. The Company measures impairment on a loan-by-loan basis in the same manner for each class within the loan portfolio. An insignificant delay or shortfall in the amounts of payments would not cause a loan or lease to be considered impaired. The Company determines the significance of payment delays and shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length and reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest due.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
A restructured loan is considered a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) if the creditor, for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the debtor that it would not otherwise consider. The Company periodically enters into restructure agreements with borrowers whereby the loans were previously identified as TDRs. When such circumstances occur, the Company carefully evaluates the facts of the subsequent restructure to determine the appropriate accounting and under certain circumstances it may be acceptable not to account for the subsequently restructured loan as a TDR. When assessing whether a concession has been granted by the Company, any prior forgiveness on a cumulative basis is considered a continuing concession. A TDR loan is considered an impaired loan and a specific valuation allowance is established when the fair value of the collateral-dependent loan or present value of the loan’s expected future cash flows (discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate based on the original contractual rate) is lower than the carrying value of the impaired loan. The Company has made the following types of loan modifications, some of which were considered a TDR:
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Reduction of the stated interest rate for the remaining term of the debt;
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Extension of the maturity date(s) at a stated rate of interest lower than the current market rate for newly originated debt having similar risk characteristics; and
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Reduction of the face amount of the debt as stated in the debt agreements.
The Company recognizes that while borrowers may experience deterioration in their financial condition, many continue to be creditworthy customers who have the willingness and capacity for debt repayment. In determining whether non-restructured or unimpaired loans issued to a single or related party group of borrowers should continue to accrue interest when the borrower has other loans that are impaired or are TDRs, the Company on a quarterly or more frequent basis performs an updated and comprehensive assessment of the willingness and capacity of the borrowers to timely and ultimately repay their total debt obligations, including contingent obligations. Such analysis takes into account current financial information about the borrowers and financially responsible guarantors, if any, including for example:
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analysis of global, i.e., aggregate debt service for total debt obligations;
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assessment of the value and security protection of collateral pledged using current market conditions and alternative market assumptions across a variety of potential future situations; and
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loan structures and related covenants.
For additional information relating to loans, see Note 4.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
Based upon management’s analysis of the Company’s loan portfolio, the balance of the ALLL is an estimate of probable credit losses known and inherent within the Bank’s loan portfolio as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. The ALLL is analyzed at the loan class level and is maintained within a range of estimated losses. Determining the adequacy of the ALLL involves a high degree of judgment and is inevitably imprecise as the risk of loss is difficult to quantify. The determination of the ALLL and the related provision for loan losses is a critical accounting estimate that involves management’s judgments about all known relevant internal and external environmental factors that affect loan losses. The balance of the ALLL is highly dependent upon management’s evaluations of borrowers’ current and prospective performance, appraisals and other variables affecting the quality of the loan portfolio. Individually significant loans and major lending areas are reviewed periodically to determine potential problems at an early date. Changes in management’s estimates and assumptions are reasonably possible and may have a material impact upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, results of operations or capital.
Risk characteristics considered in the ALLL analysis applicable to each loan class within the Company's loan portfolio are as follows:
Residential Real Estate. Residential real estate loans are secured by owner-occupied 1-4 family residences. Repayment of these loans is primarily dependent on the personal income and credit rating of the borrowers. Credit risk in these loans is impacted by economic conditions within the Company’s market areas that affect the value of the property securing the loans and affect the borrowers' personal incomes. Mitigating risk factors for this loan class include a large number of borrowers, geographic dispersion of market areas and the loans are originated for relatively smaller amounts.
Commercial Real Estate. Commercial real estate loans typically involve larger principal amounts, and repayment of these loans is generally dependent on the successful operation of the property securing the loan and / or the business conducted on the property securing the loan. Credit risk in these loans is impacted by the creditworthiness of a borrower, valuation of the property securing the loan and conditions within the local economies in the Company’s diverse, geographic market areas.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Commercial. Commercial loans consist of loans to commercial customers for use in financing working capital needs, equipment purchases and business expansions. The loans in this category are repaid primarily from the cash flow of a borrower’s principal business operation. Credit risk in these loans is driven by creditworthiness of a borrower and the economic conditions that impact the cash flow stability from business operations across the Company’s diverse, geographic market areas.
Home Equity. Home equity loans consist of junior lien mortgages and first and junior lien lines of credit (revolving open-end and amortizing closed-end) secured by owner-occupied 1-4 family residences. Repayment of these loans is primarily dependent on the personal income and credit rating of the borrowers. Credit risk in these loans is impacted by economic conditions within the Company’s market areas that affect the value of the residential property securing the loans and affect the borrowers' personal incomes. Mitigating risk factors for this loan class are a large number of borrowers, geographic dispersion of market areas and the loans are originated for terms that range from 10 years to 15 years.
Other Consumer. The other consumer loan portfolio consists of various short-term loans such as automobile loans and loans for other personal purposes. Repayment of these loans is primarily dependent on the personal income of the borrowers. Credit risk is driven by consumer economic factors (such as unemployment and general economic conditions in the Company’s diverse, geographic market area) and the creditworthiness of a borrower.
The ALLL consists of a specific valuation allowance component and a general valuation allowance component. The specific component relates to loans that are determined to be impaired and individually evaluated for impairment. The Company measures impairment on a loan-by-loan basis based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, except when it is determined that repayment of the loan is expected to be provided solely by the underlying collateral. For impairment based on expected future cash flows, the Company considers all information available as of a measurement date, including past events, current conditions, potential prepayments, and estimated cost to sell when such costs are expected to reduce the cash flows available to repay or otherwise satisfy the loan. For alternative ranges of cash flows, the likelihood of the possible outcomes is considered in determining the best estimate of expected future cash flows. The effective interest rate for a loan restructured in a TDR is based on the original contractual rate. For collateral-dependent loans and real estate loans for which foreclosure or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is probable, impairment is measured by the fair value of the collateral, less estimated cost to sell. The fair value of the collateral is determined primarily based upon appraisal or evaluation of the underlying real property value.
The general valuation allowance component relates to probable credit losses inherent in the balance of the loan portfolio based on historical loss experience, adjusted for changes in trends and conditions of qualitative or environmental factors. The historical loss experience is based on the previous twelve quarters loss experience by loan class adjusted for risk characteristics in the existing loan portfolio. The same trends and conditions are evaluated for each class within the loan portfolio; however, the risk characteristics are weighted separately at the individual class level based on the Company’s judgment and experience.
The changes in trends and conditions evaluated for each class within the loan portfolio include the following:
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Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses;
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Changes in global, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments;
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Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans;
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Changes in experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff;
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Changes in the volume and severity of past due and nonaccrual loans;
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Changes in the quality of the Company’s loan review system;
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Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans;
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The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and
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The effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the Company’s existing portfolio.
The ALLL is increased by provisions for loan losses which are charged to expense. The portions of loan balances determined by management to be uncollectible are charged-off as a reduction of the ALLL and recoveries of amounts previously charged-off are credited as an increase to the ALLL. The Company’s charge-off policy is consistent with bank regulatory standards. Consumer loans generally are charged off when the loan becomes over 120 days delinquent. Real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is classified as real estate owned until such time as it is sold.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
At acquisition date, the assets and liabilities of acquired banks are recorded at their estimated fair values which results in no ALLL carried over from acquired banks. Subsequent to acquisition, an allowance will be recorded on the acquired loan portfolios for further credit deterioration, if any.
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are accounted for at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives or the term of the related lease. The estimated useful life for office buildings is 15 - 40 years and the estimated useful life for furniture, fixtures, and equipment is 3 - 10 years. Interest is capitalized for any significant building projects. For additional information relating to premises and equipment, see Note 5.
Leases
The Company leases certain land, premises and equipment from third parties under operating and capital leases. The lease payments for operating lease agreements are recognized on a straight-line basis. The present value of the future minimum rental payments for capital leases is recognized as an asset when the lease is formed. Lease improvements incurred at the inception of the lease are recorded as an asset and depreciated over the initial term of the lease and lease improvements incurred subsequently are depreciated over the remaining term of the lease. For additional information relating to leases, see Note 5.
Other Real Estate Owned
Property acquired by foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is initially recorded at fair value, less estimated selling cost, at acquisition date (i.e., cost of the property). The Company is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan upon the occurrence of either the Company obtaining legal title to the property or the borrower conveying all interest in the property through a deed-in-lieu or similar agreement. Fair value is determined as the amount that could be reasonably expected in a current sale between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Subsequent to the initial acquisition, if the fair value of the asset, less estimated selling cost, is less than the cost of the property, a loss is recognized in other expense and the asset carrying value is reduced. Gain or loss on disposition of other real estate owned (“OREO”) is recorded in non-interest income or non-interest expense, respectively. In determining the fair value of the properties on the date of transfer and any subsequent estimated losses of net realizable value, the fair value of other real estate acquired by foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is determined primarily based upon appraisal or evaluation of the underlying property value.
Long-lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An asset is deemed impaired if the sum of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. If impaired, an impairment loss is recognized in other expense to reduce the carrying value of the asset to fair value. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, no long-lived assets were considered impaired.
Business Combinations and Intangible Assets
Acquisition accounting requires the total purchase price to be allocated to the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets. Goodwill is recorded if the purchase price exceeds the net fair value of assets acquired and a bargain purchase gain is recorded in other income if the net fair value of assets acquired exceeds the purchase price.
Adjustment of the allocated purchase price may be related to fair value estimates for which all information has not been obtained of the acquired entity known or discovered during the allocation period, the period of time required to identify and measure the fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired in the business combination. The allocation period is generally limited to one year following consummation of a business combination.
Core deposit intangible represents the intangible value of depositor relationships resulting from deposit liabilities assumed in acquisitions and is amortized using an accelerated method based on an estimated runoff of the related deposits. The core deposit intangible is evaluated for impairment and recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable, with any changes in estimated useful life accounted for prospectively over the revised remaining life. For additional information relating to core deposit intangibles, see Note 6.
The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually during the third quarter. The Company has identified that each of the bank divisions are reporting units (i.e., components of the Glacier Bank operating segment) given that each division has a separate management team that regularly reviews its respective division financial information; however, the reporting units are aggregated into a single reporting unit due to the reporting units having similar economic characteristics.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
The goodwill of a reporting unit is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting units below its carrying amount. Examples of events and circumstances that could trigger the need for interim impairment testing include:
•
A significant change in legal factors or in the business climate;
•
An adverse action or assessment by a regulator;
•
Unanticipated competition;
•
A loss of key personnel;
•
A more-likely-than-not expectation that a reporting unit or a significant portion of a reporting unit will be sold or otherwise disposed of; and
•
The testing for recoverability of a significant asset group within a reporting unit.
For the goodwill impairment assessment, the Company has the option, prior to the two-step process, to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. The Company opted to bypass the qualitative assessment for its 2014 and 2013 annual goodwill impairment testing and proceed directly to the two-step goodwill impairment test. The goodwill impairment two-step process requires the Company to make assumptions and judgments regarding fair value. In the first step, the Company calculates an implied fair value based on a control premium analysis. If the implied fair value is less than the carrying value, the second step is completed to compute the impairment amount, if any, by determining the “implied fair value” of goodwill. This determination requires the allocation of the estimated fair value of the reporting units to the assets and liabilities of the reporting units. Any remaining unallocated fair value represents the “implied fair value” of goodwill, which is compared to the corresponding carrying value of goodwill to compute impairment, if any.
For additional information relating to goodwill, see Note 6.
Non-Marketable Equity Securities
Non-marketable equity securities primarily consists of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock. FHLB stock is restricted because such stock may only be sold to FHLB at its par value. Due to restrictive terms, and the lack of a readily determinable market value, FHLB stock is carried at cost. The investments in FHLB stock are required investments related to the Company’s borrowings from FHLB. FHLB obtains its funding primarily through issuance of consolidated obligations of the FHLB system. The U.S. government does not guarantee these obligations, and each of the regional FHLBs are jointly and severally liable for repayment of each other’s debt.
Bank-Owned Life Insurance
The Company maintains bank-owned life insurance policies on certain current and former employees and directors, which are recorded at their cash surrender values as determined by the insurance carriers. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the carrying value associated with these policies is $46,030,000 and $37,617,000, respectively, and is recorded in other assets in the Company’s statements of financial position. The appreciation in the cash surrender value of the policies is recognized as a component of other non-interest income in the Company’s statements of operations.
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
For asset and liability management purposes, the Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to hedge against changes in forecasted cash flows due to interest rate exposures. The interest rate swaps are recognized as assets or liabilities on the Company’s statements of financial condition and measured at fair value. Fair value estimates are obtained from third parties and are based on pricing models. The Company does not enter into interest rate swap agreements for trading or speculative purposes.
The Company takes into account the impact of bilateral collateral and master netting agreements that allows the Company to settle all interest rate swap agreements held with a single counterparty on a net basis, and to offset the net interest rate swap derivative position with the related collateral when recognizing interest rate swap derivative assets and liabilities.
Interest rate swaps are contracts in which a series of interest payments are exchanged over a prescribed period. The notional amount upon which the interest payments are based is not exchanged. The swap agreements are derivative instruments and convert a portion of the Company’s forecasted variable rate debt to a fixed rate (i.e., cash flow hedge) over the payment term of the interest rate swap. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the cash flow hedging instruments is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on derivative instruments, if any, is recognized in earnings. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company’s cash flow hedges were determined to be fully effective.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Interest rate derivative financial instruments receive hedge accounting treatment only if they are designated as a hedge and are expected to be, and are, highly effective in substantially reducing interest rate risk arising from the assets and liabilities identified as exposing the Company to risk. Derivative financial instruments that do not meet specified hedging criteria are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in income. The Company’s interest rate swaps are considered highly effective and currently meet the hedging accounting criteria.
Cash flows resulting from the interest rate derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as hedges of assets and liabilities are classified in the Company’s cash flow statement in the same category as the cash flows of the items being hedged. For additional information relating to interest rate swap agreements, see Note 10.
The Company also has residential real estate derivatives for commitments to fund certain residential real estate loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of residential real estate loans to third party investors on a best efforts basis. It is the Company’s practice to enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of residential real estate loans when interest rate lock commitments are entered into in order to economically hedge the effect of changes in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans. These derivatives are not designated in hedge relationships. Such derivatives are short-term in nature and changes in fair value are not recorded as gains on sale of loans because the change is not significant.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation awards granted, comprised of stock options and restricted stock awards, are valued at fair value and compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period of each award. For additional information relating to stock-based compensation, see Note 12.
Advertising and Promotion
Advertising and promotion costs are recognized in the period incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company’s income tax expense consists of current and deferred income tax expense. Current income tax expense reflects taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period by applying the provisions of enacted tax law to earnings or losses. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred assets and liabilities between periods.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for estimated future income tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in income tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance, if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The term more-likely-than-not means a likelihood of more than fifty percent. The recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date and is subject to the Company’s judgment. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers both positive and negative evidence. For additional information relating to income taxes, see Note 15.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (“OCI”). OCI includes unrealized gains and losses, net of tax effect, on available-for-sale securities and derivatives used for cash flow hedges.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed by including the net increase in shares as if dilutive outstanding stock options were exercised, using the treasury stock method. For additional information relating to earnings per share, see Note 17.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2013 and 2012 financial statements to conform to the 2014 presentation.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Impact of Recent Authoritative Accounting Guidance
The Accounting Standards Codification™ (“ASC”) is the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) officially recognized source of authoritative GAAP applicable to all public and non-public non-governmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the authority of the federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for the Company as an SEC registrant. All other accounting literature is non-authoritative.
In August 2014, FASB amended FASB ASC Subtopic 310-40, Receivables - Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure. The amendment requires that a mortgage loan be derecognized and that a separate other receivable be recognized upon foreclosure if the following conditions are met: 1) The loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure; 2) At the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim; and 3) At the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. Upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor. The amendment is effective for public business entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments using either a prospective transition method or a modified retrospective method as defined in the amendment. The Company has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this amendment and determined there would not be a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In June 2014, FASB amended FASB ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing. The amendments in this Update require the following two accounting changes: 1) change the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions to secured borrowing accounting; and 2) for repurchase finance arrangements, require separate accounting for a transfer of a financial asset executed contemporaneously with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty, which will result in a secured borrowing accounting for the repurchase agreement. The amendments also require certain disclosures for securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repurchase agreements”), securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowings. The accounting changes are effective for public business entities for the first interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early application for public business entities is not permitted. The disclosure changes for repurchase agreements are effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the amendments, but does not expect them to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In May 2014, FASB amended FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments clarify the principals for recognizing revenue and develop a common revenue standard among industries. The new guidance establishes the following core principal: recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for goods or services. Five steps are provided for a company or organization to follow to achieve such core principle. The new guidance also includes a cohesive set of disclosure requirements that will provide users of financial statements with comprehensive information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. For public entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within the reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The entity should apply the amendments using one of two retrospective methods described in the amendment. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the amendments, but does not expect them to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In January 2014, FASB amended FASB ASC Subtopic 310-40, Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors. The amendment clarifies that an in substance repossession foreclosure occurs when a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either 1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure; or 2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendment requires interim and annual disclosure of both 1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor; and 2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The amendment is effective for public business entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments using either a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method as defined in the amendment. The Company has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this amendment and determined there was not a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
In January 2014, FASB amended FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. The amendments permit entities to make an accounting policy election for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented and are effective for public business entities for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the amendments, but does not expect them to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Note 2. Cash on Hand and in Banks
The Bank is required to maintain an average reserve balance with either FRB or in the form of cash on hand. The required reserve balance at December 31, 2014 was $33,177,000.
Note 3. Investment Securities
Effective January 1, 2014, the Company redesignated state and local government securities with a fair value of approximately $484,583,000, inclusive of a net unrealized gain of $4,624,000, from available-for-sale classification to held-to-maturity classification. The Company considers the held-to-maturity classification of these investment securities to be appropriate as it has the positive intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity.
The following tables present the amortized cost, the gross unrealized gains and losses and the fair value of the Company’s investment securities:
Note 3. Investment Securities (continued)
The following table presents the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2014. Actual maturities may differ from expected or contractual maturities since borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.
________
1 Residential mortgage-backed securities, which have prepayment provisions, are not assigned to maturity categories due to fluctuations in their prepayment speeds.
Gain or loss on sale of investment securities consists of the following:
__________
1 The cost of each investment security sold is determined by specific identification.
2 The gain or loss on sale of held-to-maturity investment securities is solely due to securities that were partially or wholly called.
Note 3. Investment Securities (continued)
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had investment securities with carrying values of $1,673,263,000 and $1,635,316,000, respectively, pledged as collateral for FHLB advances, FRB discount window borrowings, repurchase agreements, interest rate swap agreements and deposits of several local government units.
Investment securities with an unrealized loss position are summarized as follows:
Based on an analysis of its investment securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company determined that none of such securities had other-than-temporary impairment and the unrealized losses were primarily the result of interest rate changes and market spreads subsequent to acquisition. The fair value of the investment securities is expected to recover as payments are received and the securities approach maturity. At December 31, 2014, management determined that it did not intend to sell investment securities with unrealized losses, and there was no expected requirement to sell any of its investment securities with unrealized losses before recovery of their amortized cost.
Note 4. Loans Receivable, Net
The Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of three segments: residential real estate, commercial, and consumer and other loans. The loan segments are further disaggregated into the following classes: residential real estate, commercial real estate, other commercial, home equity and other consumer loans. The following tables are presented for each portfolio class of loans receivable and provide information about the ALLL, loans receivable, impaired loans and TDRs.
The following schedules summarize the activity in the ALLL:
Note 4. Loans Receivable, Net (continued)
The following schedules disclose the ALLL and loans receivable:
Substantially all of the Company’s loans receivable are with customers in the Company’s geographic market areas. Although the Company has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of its customers’ ability to honor their obligations is dependent upon the economic performance in the Company’s market areas. The Company is subject to regulatory limits for the amount of loans to any individual borrower and the Company is in compliance with this regulation as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. No borrower had outstanding loans or commitments exceeding 10 percent of the Company’s consolidated stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2014.
Net deferred fees, costs, premiums and discounts of $13,710,000 and $10,662,000 were included in the loans receivable balance at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $2,915,617,000 in variable rate loans and $1,572,478,000 in fixed rate loans. The weighted-average interest rate on loans was 4.86 percent and 5.04 percent at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, loans sold and serviced for others were $133,768,000, $148,376,000, and $116,439,000, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the Company had loans of $2,596,010,000 pledged as collateral for FHLB advances and FRB discount window. There were no significant purchases or sales of loans designated held-to-maturity during 2014 and 2013.
The Company has entered into transactions with its executive officers and directors and their affiliates. The aggregate amount of loans outstanding to such related parties at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $49,446,000 and $35,224,000, respectively. During 2014, new loans to such related parties were $24,380,000, repayments were $9,864,000 and the effect of changes in composition of related parties was $(294,000). In management’s opinion, such loans were made in the ordinary course of business and were made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transaction with other persons.
Note 4. Loans Receivable, Net (continued)
The following schedules disclose the impaired loans:
Interest income recognized on impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was not significant.
Note 4. Loans Receivable, Net (continued)
The following is a loans receivable aging analysis:
Interest income that would have been recorded on non-accrual loans if such loans had been current for the entire period would have been approximately $3,005,000, $4,122,000, and $5,161,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
The following is a summary of the TDRs that occurred during the periods presented and the TDRs that occurred within the previous twelve months that subsequently defaulted during the periods presented:
Note 4. Loans Receivable, Net (continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the majority of TDRs occurred in the commercial real estate class. The concessions granted typically were for extensions of maturity date and a combination of an interest rate reduction, extension of the maturity date, or reduction in the face amount.
In addition to the TDRs that occurred during the period provided in the preceding table, the Company had TDRs with pre-modification loan balances of $12,674,000, $18,345,000 and $39,769,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for which OREO was received in full or partial satisfaction of the loans. The majority of such TDRs for all years was in commercial real estate. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $698,000 of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $2,322,000 of OREO secured by residential real estate properties.
There were $4,263,000 and $2,024,000 of additional unfunded commitments on TDRs outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The amount of charge-offs on TDRs during 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1,361,000, $1,945,000 and $6,271,000, respectively.
Note 5. Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, consist of the following:
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $12,108,000, $10,485,000, and $10,615,000, respectively.
The Company leases certain land, premises and equipment from third parties under operating and capital leases. Total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $2,786,000, $2,912,000, and $2,868,000, respectively. Amortization of building capital lease assets is included in depreciation. The Company has entered into lease transactions with related parties. Rent expense with such related parties for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $146,000, $142,000, and $410,000, respectively.
The total future minimum rental commitments required under operating and capital leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2014 are as follows:
Note 6. Other Intangible Assets and Goodwill
The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s core deposit intangibles:
Core deposit intangibles increased $4,199,000 and $5,739,000 during 2014 and 2013, respectively, due to acquisitions. For additional information relating to acquisitions, see Note 22.
The following schedule discloses the changes in the carrying value of goodwill:
The gross carrying value of goodwill and the accumulated impairment charge consists of the following:
Note 6. Other Intangible Assets and Goodwill (continued)
The Company’s first step in evaluating goodwill for possible impairment is a control premium analysis. The analysis first calculates the market capitalization and then adjusts such value for a control premium range which results in an implied fair value. The control premium range is determined based on historical control premiums for acquisitions that are comparable to the Company and is obtained from an independent third party. The calculated implied fair value is then compared to the book value to determine whether the Company needs to proceed to step two of the goodwill impairment assessment. The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test during the third quarter of 2014 and determined the fair value of the aggregated reporting units exceeded the carrying value, such that the Company’s goodwill was not considered impaired. In recognition there were no events or circumstances that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2014 that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value, the Company did not perform interim testing at December 31, 2014. Changes in the economic environment, operations of the aggregated reporting units, or other factors could result in the decline in the fair value of the aggregated reporting units which could result in a goodwill impairment in the future.
Note 7. Deposits
Time deposits that meet or exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Insurance limit of $250,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were $314,752,000 and $232,783,000, respectively.
The scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows and include $15,699,000 of wholesale deposits as of December 31, 2014:
The Company reclassified $4,385,000 and $3,422,000 of overdraft demand deposits to loans as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company has entered into deposit transactions with its executive officers and directors and their affiliates. The aggregate amount of deposits with such related parties at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $11,263,000 and $12,770,000, respectively.
Note 8. Borrowings
The Company’s repurchase agreements amounted to $397,107,000 and $313,394,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are short-term in nature, and are secured by residential mortgage-backed securities with carrying values of $523,855,000 and $398,447,000, respectively. Securities are pledged to customers at the time of the transaction in an amount at least equal to the outstanding balance and is held in custody accounts by third parties. The fair value of collateral is continually monitored and additional collateral is provided as deemed appropriate.
The Company’s FHLB advances bear a fixed rate of interest and are subject to restrictions or penalties in the event of prepayment. The advances are collateralized by specifically pledged loans and investment securities, FHLB stock owned by the Company, and a blanket assignment of the unpledged qualifying loans and investments. The scheduled maturities of FHLB advances consist of the following:
With respect to $275,000,000 of FHLB advances at December 31, 2014, FHLB holds put options that will be exercised on the quarterly measurement date when 3-month LIBOR is 8 percent or greater. The FHLB put option maturities range from 2015 to 2021 and the interest rates range from 2.73 percent to 3.64 percent.
The Company’s remaining borrowings consisted of capital lease obligations, liens on OREO and other debt obligations through consolidation of certain VIEs. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $255,000,000 in unsecured lines of credit which are typically renewed on an annual basis with various correspondent entities.
Note 9. Subordinated Debentures
Trust preferred securities were issued by the Company’s trust subsidiaries, the common stock of which is wholly-owned by the Company, in conjunction with the Company issuing subordinated debentures to the trust subsidiaries. The terms of the subordinated debentures are the same as the terms of the trust preferred securities. The Company guaranteed the payment of distributions and payments for redemption or liquidation of the trust preferred securities to the extent of funds held by the trust subsidiaries. The obligations of the Company under the subordinated debentures together with the guarantee and other back-up obligations, in the aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the obligations of all trusts under the trust preferred securities.
The trust preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment of the subordinated debentures at their stated maturity date or the earlier redemption in an amount equal to their liquidation amount plus accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption. Interest distributions are payable quarterly. The Company may defer the payment of interest at any time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters provided that the deferral period does not extend past the stated maturity. During any such deferral period, distributions on the trust preferred securities will also be deferred and the Company’s ability to pay dividends on its common shares will be restricted.
Subject to prior approval by the FRB, the trust preferred securities may be redeemed at par prior to maturity at the Company’s option on or after the redemption date. All of the Company’s trust preferred securities have reached the redemption date and could be redeemed at the Company’s option. The trust preferred securities may also be redeemed at any time in whole (but not in part) for the Trusts in the event of unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that result in 1) subsidiary trusts becoming subject to federal income tax on income received on the subordinated debentures; 2) interest payable by the Company on the subordinated debentures becoming non-deductible for federal tax purposes; 3) the requirement for the trusts to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or 4) loss of the ability to treat the trust preferred securities as Tier 1 capital under the FRB capital adequacy guidelines.
Note 9. Subordinated Debentures (continued)
For regulatory purposes, the FRB has allowed bank holding companies to include trust preferred securities in Tier 1 capital up to a certain limit. Provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act require the FRB to exclude trust preferred securities from Tier 1 capital, but a grandfather provision applicable to the Company permits bank holding companies with consolidated assets of less than $15 billion to continue counting existing trust preferred securities as Tier 1 capital until they mature. All of the Company’s trust preferred securities qualified as Tier 1 instruments at December 31, 2014.
The terms of the subordinated debentures, arranged by maturity date, are reflected in the table below. The amounts include fair value adjustments from acquisitions.
Note 10. Derivatives and Hedging Activities
The Company is exposed to certain risk relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments is interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps are entered into to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s forecasted variable rate borrowings. The Company recognizes interest rate swaps as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the statements of financial condition, after taking into account the effects of bilateral collateral and master netting agreements. These agreements allow the Company to settle all interest rate swap agreements held with a single counterparty on a net basis, and to offset net interest rate swap derivative positions with related collateral, where applicable.
The interest rate swaps on variable rate borrowings were designated as cash flow hedges and were over-the-counter contracts. The contracts were entered into by the Company with a single counterparty and the specific agreement of terms were negotiated, including forecasted notional amounts, interest rates and maturity dates. The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty to the agreements. The Company controls the counterparty credit risk by maintaining bilateral collateral agreements and through monitoring policy and procedures. The Company only conducts business with primary dealers and believes that the credit risk inherent in these contracts was not significant.
The Company’s interest rate swap derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:
__________
1 The Company pays the fixed interest rate and the counterparty pays the Company the variable interest rate.
2 No cash will be exchanged prior to the beginning of the payment term.
Note 10. Derivatives and Hedging Activities (continued)
The hedging strategy converts the LIBOR-based variable interest rate on borrowings to a fixed interest rate, thereby protecting the Company from interest rate variability.
On October 21, 2014, the interest rate swap with the $160,000,000 notional amount began its payment term. The Company designated wholesale deposits as the cash flow hedge and these deposits were determined to be fully effective during the current year. As such, no amount of ineffectiveness has been included in the Company’s statements of operations. Therefore, the aggregate fair value of the interest rate swap was recorded in other liabilities with changes recorded in OCI. The Company expects the hedge to remain highly effective during the remaining term of the interest rate swap. Interest expense recorded on this interest rate swap totaled $1,066,000 during 2014 and is reported as a component of interest expense on wholesale deposits. Unless the interest rate swap is terminated during the next year, the Company expects $5,064,000 of the unrealized loss reported in OCI at December 31, 2014 to be reclassified to interest expense during 2015.
The following table presents the pre-tax gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and the Company’s statements of operations relating to the interest rate swap derivative financial instruments:
The following table discloses the offsetting of financial assets and interest rate swap derivative assets:
The following table discloses the offsetting of financial liabilities and interest rate swap derivative liabilities:
Pursuant to the interest rate swap agreements, the Company pledged collateral to the counterparty in the form of investment securities totaling $20,339,000 at December 31, 2014. There was $0 collateral pledged from the counterparty to the Company as of December 31, 2014. There is the possibility that the Company may need to pledge additional collateral in the future if there were declines in the fair value of the interest rate swap derivative financial instruments versus the collateral pledged.
Note 11. Regulatory Capital
The FRB has adopted capital adequacy guidelines pursuant to which it assesses the adequacy of capital in supervising a bank holding company. The following tables illustrate the FRB’s adequacy guidelines and the Company’s and the Bank’s compliance with those guidelines:
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act generally restricts a depository institution from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its bank holding company if the institution would thereafter be capitalized at less than 8 percent Total capital (to risk-weighted assets), 4 percent Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets), or 4 percent Tier 1 capital (to average assets).
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Bank’s capital measures exceeded the well capitalized threshold, which requires Total capital (to risk-weighted assets) of at least 10 percent, Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets) of at least 6 percent, and Tier 1 capital (to average assets) of at least 5 percent. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s and Bank’s financial condition. There are no conditions or events since year end that management believes have changed the Company’s or Bank’s risk-based capital category.
Current guidance from the Federal Reserve provides, among other things, that dividends per share on the Company’s common stock generally should not exceed earnings per share, measured over the previous four fiscal quarters. The Bank is also subject to Montana state law and cannot declare a dividend greater than the previous two years’ net earnings without providing notice to the state.
Note 12. Stock-based Compensation Plan
The Company has a stock-based compensation plan that provides awards to certain full-time employees and directors of the Company. The 2005 Stock Incentive Plan permits the granting of stock options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, and unrestricted shares, deferred share units, and performance awards. At December 31, 2014, the number of shares available to grant to employees and directors under this plan was 4,022,452.
Stock Options
The Company has granted stock options to certain full-time employees and directors of the Company under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. The plan contains provisions authorizing the grant of limited stock rights, which permit the optionee, upon a change in control of the Company, to surrender his or her stock options for cancellation and receive cash or common stock equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the date of the grant. The option price at which the Company’s common stock may be purchased upon exercise of stock options granted under the plans must be at least equal to the per share market value of such stock at the date the option is granted. All stock option shares are adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends. The term of the stock options may not exceed five years from the date the options are granted.
The fair value of stock options granted is estimated at the date of grant using the Black Scholes option-pricing model. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and termination within the valuation model. Employee and director awards, which have dissimilar historical exercise behavior, are considered separately for valuation purposes. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the stock option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant. The stock option grants generally vest upon six months or two years of service for directors and employees, respectively, and generally expire in five years. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility and other factors. There were no stock options granted during 2014, 2013 or 2012.
Compensation expense and the recognized income tax benefit related to stock options for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was not significant. There was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options as of December 31, 2014.
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $778,000, $1,907,000 and $3,000, respectively, and the income tax benefit related to these exercises was $302,000, $742,000 and $1,000. Total cash received from options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $871,000, $4,327,000 and $81,000. Upon exercise of stock options, the shares are issued from the Company’s authorized stock balance.
Changes in shares granted for stock options for the year ended December 31, 2014 are summarized as follows:
The average remaining contractual term on stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2014 is six months. The aggregate intrinsic value of the outstanding and exercisable shares at December 31, 2014 was $11,000.
Restricted Stock Awards
The Company has awarded restricted stock to certain senior officers and directors under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. Common stock issued under restricted stock awards may be issued under the terms of a vesting schedule or with an immediate vest and may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions have lapsed. The recipient does not have voting rights until the restricted stock award has vested. The fair value of the restricted stock awarded is the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the award date.
Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1,603,000, $768,000 and $243,000, respectively, and the recognized income tax benefit related to this expense was $622,000, $299,000 and $96,000. As of December 31, 2014, total unrecognized compensation expense of $2,276,000 related to restricted stock awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.
Note 12. Stock-based Compensation Plan (continued)
The fair value of restricted stock awards that vested during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $953,000, $197,000 and $243,000, respectively, and the income tax benefit related to these awards was $532,000, $77,000 and $96,000, respectively. Upon vesting of restricted stock awards, the shares are issued from the Company’s authorized stock balance.
The following table summarizes the restricted stock award activity for the year ended December 31, 2014:
Note 13. Employee Benefit Plans
The Company provides its employees with a comprehensive benefit program, including health, dental and vision insurance, life and accident insurance, long-term disability coverage, vacation and sick leave, 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan and a stock-based compensation plan. The Company has elected to self-insure certain costs related to employee health, dental and vision benefit programs. Costs resulting from noninsured losses are expensed as incurred. The Company has purchased insurance that limits its exposure on an individual claim basis for the employee health benefit programs. The Company has entered into employment contracts with 25 senior officers that provide benefits under certain conditions following a change in control of the Company.
The Company’s 401(k) plan and profit sharing plan have safe harbor and employer discretionary components. To be considered eligible for the 401(k) and safe harbor components of the profit sharing plan, an employee must be 21 years of age and employed for three full months. Employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan the first day of the month once they have met the eligibility requirements. To be considered eligible for the employer discretionary contribution of the profit sharing plan, an employee must be 21 years of age, worked one full calendar quarter, worked 501 hours in the plan year and be employed as of the last day of the plan year. Participants are at all times fully vested in all contributions.
The profit sharing plan contributions consists of a 3 percent non-elective safe harbor contribution fully funded by the Company and an employer discretionary contribution. The employer discretionary contribution depends on the Company’s profitability. The total profit sharing plan expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $7,107,000, $5,862,000 and $3,974,000 respectively.
The 401(k) plan allows eligible employees to contribute up to 60 percent of their eligible annual compensation up to the limit set annually by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The Company matches an amount equal to 50 percent of the first 6 percent of an employee’s contribution. The Company’s contribution to the 401(k) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $2,246,000, $1,935,000, and $1,751,000, respectively.
The Company has non-funded deferred compensation plans for directors, senior officers and certain nonemployee service providers. The plans provide for participants’ elective deferral of cash payments of up to 50 percent of a participants’ salary and 100 percent of bonuses and directors fees. The total amount deferred for the plans was $591,000, $376,000, and $278,000, for the years ending December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The participant receives an earnings credit at a rate equal to 50 percent of the Company’s return on average equity. The total earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 for the plans was $369,000, $515,000 and $231,000, respectively. In connection with several acquisitions, the Company assumed the obligations of deferred compensation plans for certain key employees. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the liability related to the obligations was $4,810,000 and $5,042,000, respectively, and was included in other liabilities. The total earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 for the acquired plans was insignificant.
Note 13. Employee Benefit Plans (continued)
The Company has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) which is intended to supplement payments due to participants upon retirement under the Company’s other qualified plans. The Company credits the participant’s account on an annual basis for an amount equal to employer contributions that would have otherwise been allocated to the participant’s account under the tax-qualified plans were it not for limitations imposed by the IRS or the participation in the non-funded deferred compensation plan. Eligible employees include participants of the non-funded deferred compensation plan and employees whose benefits were limited as a result of IRS regulations. The Company’s required contribution to the SERP for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $151,000, $76,000, and $47,000, respectively. The participant receives an earnings credit at a rate equal to 50 percent of the Company’s return on average equity. The total earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 for this plan was $59,000, $48,000, and $37,000, respectively.
Note 14. Other Expenses
Other expenses consists of the following:
Note 15. Federal and State Income Taxes
The following is a summary of consolidated income tax expense:
Note 15. Federal and State Income Taxes (continued)
Combined federal and state income tax expense differs from that computed at the federal statutory corporate tax rate as follows:
The tax effect of temporary differences which give rise to a significant portion of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:
Note 15. Federal and State Income Taxes (continued)
The Company has federal income tax credit carryforwards of $845,000 expiring in 2034. The Company has federal net operating loss carryforwards of $9,388,000 expiring between 2029 and 2031. The Company has Colorado net operating loss carryforwards of $17,317,000 expiring between 2029 and 2031.
The Company and the Bank join together in the filing of consolidated income tax returns in the following jurisdictions: federal, Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Utah. Although the Bank has operations in Wyoming and Washington, neither Wyoming nor Washington imposes a corporate-level income tax. All required income tax returns have been timely filed. The following schedule summarizes the years that remain subject to examination as of December 31, 2014:
The Company had no unrecognized income tax benefits as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized income tax benefits in interest expense and penalties are recognized in other expense. Interest expense and penalties recognized with respect to income tax liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was not significant. The Company had no accrued liabilities for the payment of interest or penalties at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
The Company has assessed the need for a valuation allowance and determined that a valuation allowance was not necessary at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The Company believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the Company’s deferred tax assets will be realizable by offsetting future taxable income from reversing taxable temporary differences and anticipated future taxable income (exclusive of reversing temporary differences). In its assessment, the Company considered its strong earnings history, no history of income tax credit carryforwards expiring unused, and no future net operating losses (for tax purposes) are expected.
Retained earnings at December 31, 2014 includes $3,600,000 for which no provision for federal income tax has been made. This amount represents the base year reserve for bad debts, which is essentially an allocation of earnings to pre-1988 bad debt deductions for federal income tax purposes only. This amount is treated as a permanent difference and deferred taxes are not recognized unless it appears that this bad debt reserve will be reduced and thereby result in taxable income in the foreseeable future. The Company is not currently contemplating any changes in its business or operations which would result in a recapture of this reserve for bad debts for federal income tax purposes.
Note 16. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The following table illustrates the activity within accumulated other comprehensive income by component, net of tax:
Note 17. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed by including the net increase in shares as if dilutive outstanding stock options were exercised and restricted stock awards were vested, using the treasury stock method.
Basic and diluted earnings per share has been computed based on the following:
There were 0, 38,915 and 879,525 options excluded from the diluted average outstanding share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively, due to the option exercise price exceeding the market price of the Company’s common stock.
Note 18. Parent Holding Company Information (Condensed)
The following condensed financial information was the unconsolidated information for the parent holding company:
Condensed Statements of Financial Condition
Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
Note 18. Parent Holding Company Information (Condensed) (continued)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Note 19. Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data
Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data is as follows:
Note 20. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. There is a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities
Level 3
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities
Transfers in and out of Level 1 (quoted prices in active markets), Level 2 (significant other observable inputs) and Level 3 (significant unobservable inputs) are recognized on the actual transfer date. There were no transfers between fair value hierarchy levels during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Recurring Measurements
The following is a description of the inputs and valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy. There have been no significant changes in the valuation techniques during the period ended December 31, 2014.
Investment securities, available-for-sale: fair value for available-for-sale securities is estimated by obtaining quoted market prices for identical assets, where available. If such prices are not available, fair value is based on independent asset pricing services and models, the inputs of which are market-based or independently sourced market parameters, including but not limited to, yield curves, interest rates, volatilities, prepayments, defaults, cumulative loss projections, and cash flows. Such securities are classified in Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. Where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, such securities are classified as Level 3 within the hierarchy.
Fair value determinations of available-for-sale securities are the responsibility of the Company’s corporate accounting and treasury departments. The Company obtains fair value estimates from independent third party vendors on a monthly basis. The Company reviews the vendors’ inputs for fair value estimates and the recommended assignments of levels within the fair value hierarchy. The review includes the extent to which markets for investment securities are determined to have limited or no activity, or are judged to be active markets. The Company reviews the extent to which observable and unobservable inputs are used as well as the appropriateness of the underlying assumptions about risk that a market participant would use in active markets, with adjustments for limited or inactive markets. In considering the inputs to the fair value estimates, the Company places less reliance on quotes that are judged to not reflect orderly transactions, or are non-binding indications. In assessing credit risk, the Company reviews payment performance, collateral adequacy, third party research and analyses, credit rating histories and issuers’ financial statements. For those markets determined to be inactive or limited, the valuation techniques used are models for which management has verified that discount rates are appropriately adjusted to reflect illiquidity and credit risk.
Interest rate swap derivative financial instruments: fair values for interest rate swap derivative financial instruments are based upon the estimated amounts to settle the contracts considering current interest rates and are calculated using discounted cash flows that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable market data and, therefore, are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. The inputs used to determine fair value include the 3 month LIBOR forward curve to estimate variable rate cash inflows and the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate to estimate the discount rate. The estimated variable rate cash inflows are compared to the fixed rate outflows and such difference is discounted to a present value to estimate the fair value of the interest rate swaps. The Company also obtains and compares the reasonableness of the pricing from an independent third party.
Note 20. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
The following schedules disclose the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Non-recurring Measurements
The following is a description of the inputs and valuation methodologies used for assets recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy. There have been no significant changes in the valuation techniques during the period ended December 31, 2014.
Other real estate owned: OREO is carried at the lower of fair value at acquisition date or current estimated fair value, less estimated cost to sell. Estimated fair value of OREO is based on appraisals or evaluations (new or updated). OREO is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Collateral-dependent impaired loans, net of ALLL: loans included in the Company’s loan portfolio for which it is probable that the Company will not collect all principal and interest due according to contractual terms are considered impaired. Estimated fair value of collateral-dependent impaired loans is based on the fair value of the collateral, less estimated cost to sell. Collateral-dependent impaired loans are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Note 20. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
The Company’s credit departments review appraisals for OREO and collateral-dependent loans, giving consideration to the highest and best use of the collateral. The appraisal or evaluation (new or updated) is considered the starting point for determining fair value. The valuation techniques used in preparing appraisals or evaluations (new or updated) include the cost approach, income approach, sales comparison approach, or a combination of the preceding valuation techniques. The key inputs used to determine the fair value of the collateral-dependent loans and OREO include selling costs, discounted cash flow rate or capitalization rate, and adjustment to comparables. Valuations and significant inputs obtained by independent sources are reviewed by the Company for accuracy and reasonableness. The Company also considers other factors and events in the environment that may affect the fair value. The appraisals or evaluations (new or updated) are reviewed at least quarterly and more frequently based on current market conditions, including deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition and when property values may be subject to significant volatility. After review and acceptance of the collateral appraisal or evaluation (new or updated), adjustments to the impaired loan or OREO may occur. The Company generally obtains appraisals or evaluations (new or updated) annually.
The following schedules disclose the fair value measurement of assets with a recorded change during the period resulting from re-measuring the assets at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
Note 20. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
Non-recurring Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
The following table presents additional quantitative information about assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:
__________
1 The range for selling costs and adjustments to comparables indicate reductions to the fair value.
Note 20. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following is a description of the methods used to estimate the fair value of all other assets and liabilities recognized at amounts other than fair value.
Cash and cash equivalents: fair value is estimated at book value.
Investment securities, held-to-maturity: fair value for held-to-maturity securities is estimated in the same manner as available-for-sale securities, which is described above.
Loans held for sale: fair value is estimated at book value.
Loans receivable, net of ALLL: fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the rates at which similar notes would be written for the same remaining maturities. The market rates used are based on current rates the Company would impose for similar loans and reflect a market participant assumption about risks associated with non-performance, illiquidity, and the structure and term of the loans along with local economic and market conditions. Estimated fair value of impaired loans is based on the fair value of the collateral, less estimated cost to sell, or the present value of the loan’s expected future cash flows (discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate). All impaired loans are classified as Level 3 and all other loans are classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.
Accrued interest receivable: fair value is estimated at book value.
Non-marketable equity securities: fair value is estimated at book value due to restrictions that limit the sale or transfer of such securities.
Deposits: fair value of term deposits is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using rates of similar deposits with similar maturities. The market rates used were obtained from an independent third party and reviewed by the Company. The rates were the average of current rates offered by the Company’s local competitors. The estimated fair value of demand, NOW, savings, and money market deposits is the book value since rates are regularly adjusted to market rates and transactions are executed at book value daily. Therefore, such deposits are classified in Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Certificate accounts and wholesale deposits are classified as Level 2 within the hierarchy.
FHLB advances: fair value of non-callable FHLB advances is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using rates of similar advances with similar maturities. Such rates were obtained from current rates offered by FHLB. The estimated fair value of callable FHLB advances was obtained from FHLB and the model was reviewed by the Company, including discussions with FHLB.
Repurchase agreements and other borrowed funds: fair value of term repurchase agreements and other term borrowings is estimated based on current repurchase rates and borrowing rates currently available to the Company for repurchases and borrowings with similar terms and maturities. The estimated fair value for overnight repurchase agreements and other borrowings is book value.
Subordinated debentures: fair value of the subordinated debt is estimated by discounting the estimated future cash flows using current estimated market rates. The market rates used were averages of currently traded trust preferred securities with similar characteristics to the Company’s issuances and obtained from an independent third party.
Accrued interest payable: fair value is estimated at book value.
Off-balance sheet financial instruments: commitments to extend credit and letters of credit represent the principal categories of off-balance sheet financial instruments. Rates for these commitments are set at time of loan closing, such that no adjustment is necessary to reflect these commitments at market value. The Company has an insignificant amount of off-balance sheet financial instruments.
Note 20. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
The following schedules present the carrying amounts, estimated fair values and the level within the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments:
Note 21. Contingencies and Commitments
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 its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit, and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.
The Company had the following outstanding commitments:
The Company is a defendant in legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the disposition of pending litigation will not have a material affect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Note 22. Mergers and Acquisitions
On August 31, 2014, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding common stock of FNBR, a privately-owned company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First National Bank of the Rockies, a community bank based in Grand Junction, Colorado. First National Bank of the Rockies provides community banking services to individuals and businesses in northwestern Colorado, with banking offices located in Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs, Meeker, Rangely, Craig, Hayden and Oak Creek. As a result of the acquisition, the Company further diversified its loan and deposit customer base with its increased presence in the state of Colorado. The branches of First National Bank of the Rockies were merged into Glacier Bank and became a part of the Bank of the San Juans division. The consideration paid by the Company to acquire FNBR was $31,817,000, which resulted in the Company issuing 555,732 shares of its common stock and $16,690,000 in cash in exchange for all of FNBR’s outstanding common stock. The fair value of the Company’s common stock shares issued was determined on the basis of the closing market price of the Company’s common stock shares on the August 31, 2014 acquisition date. The Company recorded a $680,000 bargain purchase gain due to the fair value of FNBR’s identifiable net assets exceeding the consideration transferred. The bargain purchase gain is included in other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Before recognizing the bargain purchase gain, the Company reassessed whether it correctly identified and valued each of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The objective of the reassessment process was to ensure that the measurements reflected consideration of all available information as of the acquisition date. The reassessment process included reviewing FNBR’s statement of financial condition to verify that all assets and liabilities had been identified and then re-evaluating and challenging again the procedures and the reasonableness of the significant assumptions utilized in determining the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities with respect to the acquisition date. The Company obtained fair value estimates from independent third party specialists for the significant identifiable assets and liabilities, including loans, investment securities and deposits. Following the reassessment process, the Company concluded that the consideration transferred and all of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed had been properly identified and valued.
On July 31, 2013, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding common stock of NCBI and its wholly-owned subsidiary, North Cascades National Bank, a community bank based in Chelan, Washington. North Cascades Bank provides community banking services to individuals and businesses in central Washington, with banking offices located in Chelan, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Omak, Brewster, Twisp, Okanogan, Grand Coulee and Waterville, Washington. The acquisition expanded the Company’s market into central Washington and further diversified the Company’s loan, customer and deposit base due to the region’s solid economic base of agriculture, fruit processing and tourism. North Cascades Bank operates as a division of the Bank under the name “North Cascades Bank, division of Glacier Bank.” The NCBI acquisition was valued at $30,576,000 and resulted in the Company issuing 687,876 shares of its common stock and $13,833,000 in cash in exchange for all of NCBI’s outstanding common stock shares. The fair value of the Company’s common stock shares issued was determined on the basis of the closing market price of the Company’s common stock shares on the July 31, 2013 acquisition date. The excess of the fair value of consideration transferred over total identifiable net assets was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill arising from the acquisition consists largely of the synergies and economies of scale expected from combining the operations of the Company and NCBI. None of the goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes as the acquisition was accounted for as a tax-free exchange.
Note 22. Mergers and Acquisitions (continued)
On May 31, 2013, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding common stock of Wheatland and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First State Bank, a community bank based in Wheatland, Wyoming. First State Bank provides community banking services to individuals and businesses from banking offices in Wheatland, Torrington and Guernsey, Wyoming. As a result of the acquisition, the Company has increased its presence in the State of Wyoming and further diversified its loan, customer and deposit base with First State Bank’s strong commitment to agriculture. First State Bank operates as a division of the Bank under the name “First State Bank, division of Glacier Bank.” The Wheatland acquisition was valued at $39,315,000 and resulted in the Company issuing 1,455,256 shares of its common stock and $11,025,000 in cash in exchange for all of Wheatland’s outstanding common stock shares. The fair value of the Company’s common stock shares issued was determined on the basis of the closing market price of the Company’s common stock shares on the May 31, 2013 acquisition date. The excess of the fair value of consideration transferred over total identifiable net assets was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill arising from the acquisition consists largely of the synergies and economies of scale expected from combining the operations of the Company and Wheatland. None of the goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes as the acquisition was accounted for as a tax-free exchange.
The assets and liabilities of FNBR, NCBI and Wheatland were recorded on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition at their estimated fair values as of the August 31, 2014, July 31, 2013 and May 31, 2013 acquisition dates, respectively, and their results of operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations since those dates. The following table discloses the calculation of the fair value of the consideration transferred, the total identifiable net assets acquired and the resulting bargain purchase gain or goodwill arising from the FNBR, NCBI and Wheatland acquisitions:
Note 22. Mergers and Acquisitions (continued)
The fair value of the FNBR, NCBI and Wheatland assets acquired includes loans with fair values of $137,488,000, $215,986,000 and $171,199,000, respectively. The gross principal and contractual interest due under the FNBR, NCBI and Wheatland contracts is $146,019,000, $223,949,000 and $176,698,000, respectively, all of which is expected to be collectible.
Core deposit intangible assets related to the FNBR, NCBI and Wheatland acquisitions totaled $4,199,000 with an estimated life of 10 years, $3,660,000 with an estimated life of 10 years, and $2,079,000 with an estimated life of 11 years, respectively.
The Company incurred $552,000 of FNBR third-party acquisition-related costs during the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company incurred $667,000 and $832,000, respectively, of NCBI and Wheatland third-party acquisition-related costs during the year ended December 31, 2013. The expenses are included in other expense in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Total income consisting of net interest income and non-interest income of the acquired operations of FNBR was approximately $6,672,000 and net income was approximately $1,675,000 from August 31, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Total income consisting of net interest income and non-interest income of the acquired operations of NCBI was approximately $6,837,000 and net income was approximately $1,108,000 from July 31, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Total income consisting of net interest income and non-interest income of the acquired operations of Wheatland was approximately $7,946,000 and net income was approximately $2,100,000 from May 31, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidated information of the Company as if the FNBR acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2013:
The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidated information of the Company as if the NCBI and Wheatland acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 2012:
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
There have been no changes or disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that are filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are recorded, processed, summarized and timely reported as provided in the SEC’s rules and forms. As a result of this evaluation, there were no significant changes in the internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as it relates to its financial statements presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes self monitoring mechanisms and actions are taken to correct deficiencies as they are identified.
There are inherent limitations in any internal control, no matter how well designed, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected, including the possibility of circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of an internal control system may vary over time.
Management assessed its internal control structure over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. This assessment was based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the “1992 Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management asserts that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as it relates to its financial statements presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
BKD, LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Such attestation report expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014 and is included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information regarding “Directors and Executive Officers” is set forth under the headings “Election of Directors” and “Management - Executive Officers who are not Directors” of the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement (“Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act” is set forth under the section “Compliance with Section 16(a) Filing Requirements” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding the Company’s audit committee is set forth under the heading “Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors - Committee Membership” in the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.
Consistent with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Company has a Code of Ethics applicable to senior financial officers including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The Code of Ethics can be accessed electronically by visiting the Company’s website at www.glacierbancorp.com. The Code of Ethics is also listed as Exhibit 14 to this report, and is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2003 annual report Form 10-K.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information regarding “Executive Compensation” is set forth under the headings “Compensation of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” is set forth under such heading of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding the “Compensation Committee Report” is set forth under the heading “Report of Compensation Committee” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information regarding “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” is set forth under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information regarding “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence” is set forth under the heading “Transactions with Management” and “Corporate Governance - Director Independence” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information regarding “Principal Accounting Fees and Services” is set forth under the heading “Auditors - Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements and
(2) Financial Statement schedules required to be filed by Item 8 of this report.
(3) The following exhibits are required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and are included as part of this Form 10-K:
__________
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.i. and 3.ii included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10(c) and 10(d) included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 99.1 through 99.3 of the Company’s S-8 Registration Statement (No. 333-125024).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.1 through 10.3 included in the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on January 6, 2015.
5 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 included in the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on October 31, 2012.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14, included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
*
Compensatory Plan or Arrangement
All other financial statement schedules required by Regulation S-X are omitted because they are not applicable, not material or because the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on February 26, 2015.
GLACIER BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ Michael J. Blodnick
Michael J. Blodnick
President and CEO
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on February 26, 2015, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.
/s/ Michael J. Blodnick
President, CEO, and Director
Michael J. Blodnick
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Ron J. Copher
Executive Vice President and CFO
Ron J. Copher
(Principal Financial Accounting Officer)
Board of Directors
/s/ Dallas I. Herron
Chairman
Dallas I. Herron
/s/ Sherry L. Cladouhos
Director
Sherry L. Cladouhos
/s/ James M. English
Director
James M. English
/s/ Allen J. Fetscher
Director
Allen J. Fetscher
/s/ Annie M. Goodwin
Director
Annie M. Goodwin
/s/ Craig A. Langel
Director
Craig A. Langel
/s/ Douglas J. McBride
Director
Douglas J. McBride
/s/ John W. Murdoch
Director
John W. Murdoch