Dividend Restrictions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Disclosure of Restrictions on Dividends, Loans and Advances Disclosure [Abstract]

Dividend Restrictions

Dividend Restrictions

The Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") has stated that, generally, a bank holding company should not maintain a rate of distributions to shareholders unless its available net income has been sufficient to fully fund the distributions, and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the bank holding company's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. As a Louisiana corporation, First Guaranty is restricted under the Louisiana corporate law from paying dividends under certain conditions.

First Guaranty Bank may not pay dividends or distribute capital assets if it is in default on any assessment due to the FDIC. First Guaranty Bank is also subject to regulations that impose minimum regulatory capital and minimum state law earnings requirements that affect the amount of cash available for distribution. In addition, under the Louisiana Banking Law, dividends may not be paid if it would reduce the unimpaired surplus below 50% of outstanding capital stock in any year.

The Bank is restricted under applicable laws in the payment of dividends to an amount equal to current year earnings plus undistributed earnings for the immediately preceding year, unless prior permission is received from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions for the State of Louisiana. Dividends payable by the Bank in 2021 without permission will be limited to 2021 earnings plus the undistributed earnings of $5.7 million from 2020.

Accordingly, at January 1, 2021, $223.1 million of First Guaranty's equity in the net assets of the Bank was restricted. In addition, dividends paid by the Bank to First Guaranty would be prohibited if the effect thereof would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced below applicable minimum capital requirements.