10-Q 1 l14990ae10vq.htm FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION 10-Q FirstMerit Corporation 10-Q
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
June 30, 2005
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-10161
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
OHIO   34-1339938
(State or other jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)   Number)
III CASCADE PLAZA, 7TH FLOOR, AKRON, OHIO
44308-1103
(Address of principal executive offices)
(330) 996-6300
(Telephone Number)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES þ NO
     As of July 29, 2005, 83,544,277 shares of the registrant’s common stock, without par value, were outstanding.
 
 

 


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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Index
SIGNATURES
Exhibit 31.1 CEO Certification
Exhibit 31.2 CFO Certification
Exhibit 32.1 CEO/CFO Certification


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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         
(Unaudited, except December 31, 2004, which is derived from the   June 30,   December 31,   June 30,
audited financial statements)   2005   2004   2004
            (in thousands)        
ASSETS
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 201,240       169,052       216,258  
Investment securities (at fair value) and federal funds sold
    2,829,017       2,862,015       2,973,858  
Loans held for sale
    52,555       48,393       58,862  
Loans
                       
Commercial loans
    3,423,384       3,285,012       3,324,335  
Mortgage loans
    634,777       639,715       627,633  
Installment loans
    1,601,022       1,598,588       1,668,679  
Home equity loans
    737,207       676,230       646,197  
Credit card loans
    138,335       145,042       140,110  
Leases
    76,286       88,496       113,047  
 
                       
Total loans
    6,611,011       6,433,083       6,520,001  
Less allowance for loan losses
    (92,808 )     (97,296 )     (101,569 )
 
                       
Net loans
    6,518,203       6,335,787       6,418,432  
Premises and equipment, net
    118,038       121,198       121,373  
Goodwill
    139,245       139,245       139,245  
Intangible assets
    4,200       4,647       5,091  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
    451,770       442,290       451,028  
 
                       
 
Total assets
  $ 10,314,268       10,122,627       10,384,147  
 
                       
 
                       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
 
                       
Deposits:
                       
Demand-non-interest bearing
  $ 1,439,800       1,470,543       1,400,715  
Demand-interest bearing
    834,315       841,595       804,355  
Savings and money market accounts
    2,350,829       2,384,510       2,498,152  
Certificates and other time deposits
    2,548,913       2,668,799       2,699,578  
 
                       
 
Total deposits
    7,173,857       7,365,447       7,402,800  
 
                       
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,699,337       1,336,471       1,573,492  
Wholesale borrowings
    333,627       300,220       320,367  
Accrued taxes, expenses, and other liabilities
    131,431       139,232       130,393  
 
                       
 
Total liabilities
    9,338,252       9,141,370       9,427,052  
 
                       
 
                       
Commitments and contingencies
                       
 
                       
Shareholders’ equity:
                       
Preferred stock, without par value: authorized and unissued 7,000,000 shares
                 
Preferred stock, Series A, without par value: designated 800,000 shares; none outstanding
                 
Convertible preferred stock, Series B, without par value: designated 220,000 shares; none outstanding
                 
Common stock, without par value: authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued 92,026,350 at June 30, 2005, December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004
    127,937       127,937       127,937  
Capital surplus
    108,736       110,513       110,415  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (19,651 )     (14,208 )     (41,601 )
Retained earnings
    977,052       956,802       943,021  
Treasury stock, at cost, 8,504,487, 7,835,399 and 7,197,488 shares at June 30, 2005, December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively
    (218,058 )     (199,787 )     (182,677 )
 
                       
Total shareholders’ equity
    976,016       981,257       957,095  
 
                       
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,314,268       10,122,627       10,384,147  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 


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FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                                 
    Three months ended   Six months ended
(Unaudited)   June 30   June 30
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In thousands, except per share data)
Interest income:
                               
Interest and fees on loans, including loans held for sale
  $ 105,975       94,126       206,124       190,753  
Interest and dividends on investment securities and federal funds sold
    27,802       28,221       55,494       57,432  
 
                               
Total interest income
    133,777       122,347       261,618       248,185  
 
                               
Interest expense:
                               
Interest on deposits:
                               
Demand-interest bearing
    1,230       503       2,186       869  
Savings and money market accounts
    7,517       4,512       13,892       8,826  
Certificates and other time deposits
    20,696       19,598       41,296       41,229  
Interest on securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    10,624       6,271       19,465       12,409  
Interest on wholesale borrowings
    5,933       4,356       10,992       8,743  
 
                               
Total interest expense
    46,000       35,240       87,831       72,076  
 
                               
Net interest income
    87,777       87,107       173,787       176,109  
Provision for loan losses
    5,972       14,850       17,586       55,240  
 
                               
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    81,805       72,257       156,201       120,869  
 
                               
Other income:
                               
Trust department income
    5,684       5,696       11,189       11,052  
Service charges on deposits
    17,800       15,705       32,620       31,124  
Credit card fees
    10,523       9,546       19,934       18,210  
ATM and other service fees
    3,298       3,071       6,257       5,819  
Bank owned life insurance income
    3,024       3,083       6,098       6,209  
Investment services and insurance
    2,828       3,527       5,686       7,359  
Manufactured housing income
    40       5       142       150  
Investment securities gains, net
    (25 )     1,412       1,847       1,482  
Loan sales and servicing income
    1,520       334       2,653       2,412  
Other operating income
    5,403       3,340       6,147       6,988  
 
                               
Total other income
    50,095       45,719       92,573       90,805  
 
                               
Other expenses:
                               
Salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits
    41,351       39,139       80,744       78,200  
Net occupancy expense
    5,881       5,526       12,417       11,543  
Equipment expense
    3,002       3,323       6,187       6,858  
Stationery, supplies and postage
    2,484       2,577       4,945       5,289  
Bankcard, loan processing and other costs
    5,444       5,988       10,953       11,691  
Professional services
    3,843       3,977       5,993       7,123  
Amortization of intangibles
    222       222       445       445  
Other operating expenses
    17,170       16,784       31,163       33,251  
 
                               
Total other expenses
    79,397       77,536       152,847       154,400  
 
                               
Income before income tax expense
    52,503       40,440       95,927       57,274  
Federal income taxes
    16,358       9,412       29,694       13,540  
 
                               
Net income
  $ 36,145       31,028       66,233       43,734  
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
                               
Unrealized securities’ holding gains (losses), net of taxes
    18,524       (54,037 )     (4,059 )     (31,163 )
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes
                (183 )      
Less: reclassification adjustment for securities’ gains (losses) realized in net income, net of taxes
    (16 )     917       1,201       963  
 
                               
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
    18,540       (54,954 )     (5,443 )     (32,126 )
 
                               
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 54,685       (23,926 )     60,790       11,608  
 
                               
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 36,145       31,028       66,233       43,734  
 
                               
Net income used in diluted EPS calculation
    36,152       31,035       66,247       43,748  
 
                               
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic
    83,603       84,809       83,849       84,789  
 
                               
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted
    83,890       85,149       84,187       85,161  
 
                               
Basic Earnings per Share
  $ 0.43       0.37       0.79       0.52  
 
                               
Diluted Earnings per Share
  $ 0.43       0.36       0.79       0.51  
 
                               
Dividend per Share
  $ 0.27       0.26       0.54       0.52  
 
                               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 
    Six months ended June 30,
(Unaudited)   2005   2004
    (In thousands)
Operating Activities
               
Net income
  $ 66,233       43,734  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Provision for loan losses
    17,586       55,240  
Provision for depreciation and amortization
    6,801       6,835  
Amortization of investment securities premiums, net
    2,198       3,934  
Accretion of income for lease financing
    (2,335 )     (3,927 )
Gains on sales of investment securities, net
    (1,847 )     (1,482 )
Increase in interest receivable
    (1,690 )     (249 )
Increase (decrease) in interest payable
    330       (5,251 )
Increase in other prepaid assets
    (3,175 )     (3,105 )
Increase in bank owned life insurance
    (6,100 )     (6,208 )
Originations of loans held for sale
    (175,771 )     (218,094 )
Proceeds from sales of loans, primarily mortgage loans sold in the secondary mortgage markets
    171,026       223,028  
(Gains) losses on sales of loans, net
    573       (477 )
Amortization of intangible assets
    445       445  
Other changes
    (2,046 )     (9,382 )
 
               
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    72,228       85,041  
Investing Activities
               
Dispositions of investment securities:
               
Available-for-sale — sales
    87,524       117,247  
Available-for-sale — maturities
    249,907       279,674  
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale
    (310,887 )     (362,047 )
Net increase in loans and leases, except sales
    (197,667 )     (9,605 )
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (4,783 )     (9,782 )
Sales of premises and equipment
    1,142       653  
 
               
 
               
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (174,764 )     16,140  
Financing Activities
               
Net increase (decrease) in demand accounts
    (38,023 )     84,982  
Net increase (decrease) in savings and money market accounts
    (33,681 )     36,887  
Net decrease in certificates and other time deposits
    (119,886 )     (221,853 )
Net increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    362,866       47,688  
Net increase in wholesale borrowings
    30,562       10,219  
Cash dividends — common
    (45,983 )     (44,205 )
Purchase of treasury shares
    (25,605 )      
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, conversion of debentures or conversion of preferred stock
    4,474       2,310  
 
               
 
               
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    134,724       (83,972 )
 
               
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    32,188       17,209  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    169,052       199,049  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 201,240       216,258  
 
               
 
               
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest, net of amounts capitalized
  $ 49,660       36,156  
 
               
Federal income taxes
  $ 30,020       22,797  
 
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 


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FirstMerit Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
June 30, 2005 (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
1. Company Organization and Financial Presentation — FirstMerit Corporation (“Corporation”), is a bank holding company whose principal asset is the common stock of its wholly owned subsidiary, FirstMerit Bank, N. A. The Corporation’s other subsidiaries include Citizens Savings Corporation of Stark County, FirstMerit Capital Trust I, FirstMerit Community Development Corporation, FirstMerit Credit Life Insurance Company, FMT, Inc., SF Development Corp and Realty Facility Holdings XV, L.L.C.
     The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2004 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date. The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normally recurring accruals) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation as of June 30, 2005 and 2004 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year or for any future period. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
     Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current reporting presentation.
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements — In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154 (“SFAS 154”) “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” This statement, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3, provides guidance on the accounting for and reporting of accounting changes and error corrections. It establishes, unless impracticable, retrospective application as the required method for reporting a change in accounting principle in the absence of explicit transition requirements specific to the newly adopted accounting principle. This statement is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.
     On July 14, 2005, the FASB issued an exposure draft (“ED”) of a proposed interpretation, “Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” The ED contains proposed guidance on the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions. It also addresses the accrual of any interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties and the classification of liabilities resulting from tax uncertainties on the balance sheet. If issued as a final standard, the guidance should significantly reduce diversity in current practice with respect to tax uncertainties and is likely to result in greater period-to-period income statement volatility as changes in judgment with respect to uncertain tax positions are recognized as discrete items within income-tax expense. Management is currently evaluating the ED and

 


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does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
     On September 30, 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued a final FASB Staff Position, FSP EITF Issue 03-1-1, which delayed the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance included in EITF Issue 03-1 which prescribed the criteria that should be used to determine when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. The disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairments have not been deferred and appear in Footnote 4 (Investment Securities) of these financial statements as well as the 2004 Form 10-K.
     In December 2003, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 03-3 (“SOP 03-3”) “Accounting for Certain Loans of Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.” SOP 03-3 requires acquired loans, including debt securities, to be recorded at the amount of the purchaser’s initial investment and prohibits carrying over valuation allowances from the seller for those individually-evaluated loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination, and it is probable all contractual cash flows on the loan will be unable to be collected. SOP 03-3 also requires the excess of all undiscounted cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition over the purchaser’s initial investment to be recognized as interest income on a level-yield basis over the life of the loan. The guidance is effective for loans acquired in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2004 and did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
     In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure.” SFAS No. 148 is an amendment of SFAS No. 123 (“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”) and provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS No. 148 also requires prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The Corporation currently accounts for stock-based employee compensation under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations. No stock based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Corporation had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock based employee compensation. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used to estimate the fair market value of the options at the date of grant. This model was originally developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have different characteristics from the Corporation’s employee stock options. The model is also sensitive to changes in subjective assumptions, which can materially affect fair value estimates.

 


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    Three   Three   Six   Six
    months   months   months   months
    ended   ended   ended   ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    2005   2004   2005   2004
Net income, as reported
  $ 36,145       31,028       66,233       43,734  
Deduct: total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (937 )     (857 )     (1,682 )     (1,620 )
 
                               
Pro forma net income
  $ 35,208       30,171       64,551       42,114  
 
                               
Pro forma EPS — Basic
  $ 0.42       0.36       0.77       0.50  
Pro forma EPS — Diluted
  $ 0.42       0.35       0.77       0.49  
Reported EPS — Basic
  $ 0.43       0.37       0.79       0.52  
Reported EPS — Diluted
  $ 0.43       0.36       0.79       0.51  
 
                               
Assumptions:
                               
 
                               
Dividend yield
    4.12 %     4.08 %     4.02 %     4.10 %
Expected volatility
    26.72 %     29.91 %     28.48 %     30.00 %
Risk free interest rate
    3.85 - 4.04 %     3.54 - 3.9 %     3.77 - 4.04 %     2.94 - 3.9 %
Expected lives
  5 Years   5 Years   5 Years   5 Years
     In December 2004, the FASB issued a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123R”). This statement superseded APB Opinion No. 25 and its related guidance. SFAS 123R requires companies to expense the fair value of employee stock options and was effective for the first quarter beginning after June 15, 2005. On April 14, 2005, the SEC adopted a new rule that would extend the compliance date until the first quarter of 2006. Management plans to adopt SFAS 123R effective January 1, 2006 and is presently analyzing the alternative transition methods and option pricing models that are available under the new standard.
     In December 2003, President Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (“Modernization Act”), which introduces a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, into law. On May 19, 2004, FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS No. 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” (“FSP FAS No. 106-2”) which provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the new Medicare prescription drug legislation by employers whose prescription drug benefits are actuarially equivalent to the drug benefit under Medicare Part D. The Corporation early adopted this FSP in the first quarter of 2004 and has recognized the effect of the Modernization Act in the calculation of its postretirement benefit liability as of January 1, 2004. This change is more fully described in Note 10 (Benefit Plans) of these consolidated financial statements.

 


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3. Critical Accounting Policies — The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States of America and conform to general practices within the banking industry. Accounting and reporting policies for the allowance for loan losses, income taxes, mortgage servicing rights, derivative instruments and hedging activities, and pension and postretirement benefits are deemed critical since they involve the use of estimates and require significant management judgments. Application of assumptions different than those used by management could result in material changes in the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations. Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 4 (Allowance for Loan Losses), as described in the 2004 Form 10-K, provide considerable detail with regard to the Corporation’s methodology and reporting of the allowance for loan losses. Additional information for income tax accounting is contained within Note 1, as well as in Note 11 (Federal Income Taxes) as described in the 2004 Form 10-K. Accounting for mortgage servicing rights was also discussed in the 2004 Form 10-K in Note 1 and Note 6 (Mortgage Servicing Rights and Mortgage Servicing Activity). Derivative instruments and hedging activities are described more fully in Note 9 (Accounting for Derivatives) in these consolidated financial statements, as well as Note 1, Note 16 (Fair Value Disclosure of Financial Instruments), and Note 17 (Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk) of the 2004 Form 10-K. A description of the plans and the assumptions used to estimate the liabilities for pension and postretirement benefits is described in Note 12 (Benefit Plans) to the 2004 Form 10-K as well as Note 10 (Benefit Plans) in these consolidated financial statements.

 


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4. Investment Securities — All investment securities of the Corporation are classified as available for sale. The available for sale classification provides the Corporation with more flexibility to respond, through the portfolio, to changes in market interest rates, or to increases in loan demand or deposit withdrawals.
     The Components of investment securities are as follows:
                                 
    June 30, 2005
            Gross   Gross    
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair
    Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 747       34       3       778  
U.S. Government agency obligations
    973,290       434       13,200       960,524  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    100,128       2,474       30       102,572  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,526,454       2,090       20,409       1,508,135  
Other securities
    255,805       1,599       1,286       256,118  
 
                               
 
  $ 2,856,424       6,631       34,928       2,828,127  
 
                               
                 
    Book Value   Fair Value
Due in one year or less
  $ 140,094       138,877  
Due after one year through five years
    2,326,571       2,297,868  
Due after five years through ten years
    256,565       256,768  
Due after ten years
    133,194       134,614  
 
               
 
  $ 2,856,424       2,828,127  
 
               
                                 
    December 31, 2004
            Gross   Gross    
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair
    Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 747       35             782  
U.S. Government agency obligations
    869,869       248       10,232       859,885  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    102,052       3,026       29       105,049  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,653,544       6,075       18,076       1,641,543  
Other securities
    253,577       1,064       1,460       253,181  
 
                               
 
  $ 2,879,789       10,448       29,797       2,860,440  
 
                               
                 
    Book Value   Fair Value
Due in one year or less
  $ 106,086       106,168  
Due after one year through five years
    2,453,879       2,433,730  
Due after five years through ten years
    181,261       180,972  
Due after ten years
    138,563       139,570  
 
               
 
  $ 2,879,789       2,860,440  
 
               

 


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    June 30, 2004
            Gross   Gross    
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair
    Cost   Gains   Losses   Value
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 497       26             523  
U.S. Government agency obligations
    813,823       560       17,397       796,986  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    105,178       2,117       493       106,802  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,857,752       6,505       47,726       1,816,531  
Other securities
    258,105       1,216       6,305       253,016  
 
                               
 
  $ 3,035,355       10,424       71,921       2,973,858  
 
                               
                 
    Book Value   Fair Value
Due in one year or less
  $ 100,040       100,459  
Due after one year through five years
    1,846,348       1,813,158  
Due after five years through ten years
    935,951       911,140  
Due after ten years
    153,016       149,101  
 
               
 
  $ 3,035,355       2,973,858  
 
               
     Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities based on the issuers’ rights to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities with remaining maturities over five years consist of mortgage and asset backed securities.
     The carrying amount of investment securities pledged to secure trust and public deposits and for purposes required or permitted by law amounted to approximately $2.0 billion at June 30, 2005, $1.9 billion at December 31, 2004, and $2.0 billion at June 30, 2004.
     At June 30, 2005 and 2004, Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock amounted to $8.6 million, $105.2 million and $8.6 million, $100.7 million, respectively, and are included in other securities in the preceding table. FRB and FHLB stock are classified as a restricted investment, carried at cost, and their value is determined by the ultimate recoverability of par value.
     The following tables show the unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary in accordance with EITF Issue 03-1. Management believes that due to the credit-worthiness of the issuers and the fact that the Corporation has the intent and the ability to hold the securities for the period necessary to recover the cost of the securities, the decline in the fair values is temporary in nature.

 


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    At June 30, 2005
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
                                    No.            
            Unrealized           Unrealized   Securities           Unrealized
Description of Securities   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Impaired   Fair Value   Losses
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 247       (3 )                       247       (3 )
U.S. Government agency obligations
    385,285       (2,057 )     536,901       (11,144 )     30       922,186       (13,201 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    4,633       (13 )     1,724       (6 )     2       6,357       (29 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    526,963       (3,241 )     792,859       (17,168 )     37       1,319,822       (20,409 )
Other securities
    18,243       (245 )     40,723       (1,041 )     6       58,965       (1,286 )
 
                                                       
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 935,371       (5,559 )     1,372,207       (29,369 )     75       2,307,577       (34,928 )
 
                                                       
                                                         
    At December 31, 2004
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
                                    No.            
            Unrealized           Unrealized   Securities           Unrealized
Description of Securities   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Impaired   Fair Value   Losses
U.S. Treasury securities
  $                                      
U.S. Government agency obligations
    536,438       (6,175 )     162,747       (4,057 )     11       699,185       (10,232 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    611       (2 )     1,715       (27 )     2       2,326       (29 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    560,187       (4,160 )     455,784       (13,916 )     21       1,015,971       (18,076 )
Other securities
    14,476       (123 )     40,492       (1,337 )     8       54,968       (1,460 )
 
                                                       
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 1,111,712       (10,460 )     660,738       (19,337 )     42       1,772,450       (29,797 )
 
                                                       
                                                         
    At June 30, 2004
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
                                    No.            
            Unrealized           Unrealized   Securities           Unrealized
Description of Securities   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Impaired   Fair Value   Losses
U.S. Treasury securities
  $                                      
U.S. Government agency obligations
    728,215       (17,405 )     23       (1 )     1       728,238       (17,406 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    13,977       (493 )                       13,977       (493 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,579,534       (47,716 )     100       (1 )     2       1,579,634       (47,717 )
Other securities
    45,981       (631 )     61,145       (5,674 )     11       107,127       (6,305 )
 
                                                       
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 2,367,707       (66,245 )     61,268       (5,676 )     14       2,428,976       (71,921 )
 
                                                       
5. Allowance for loan losses (“ALL”) — The Corporation’s Credit Policy Division manages credit risk by establishing common credit policies for its subsidiary bank, participating in approval of its loans, conducting reviews of loan portfolios, providing centralized consumer underwriting, collections and loan operation services, and overseeing loan workouts. The Corporation’s objective is to minimize losses from its commercial lending activities and to maintain consumer losses at acceptable levels that are stable and consistent with growth and profitability objectives.

 


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     The activity within the ALL for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 and the full year ended December 31, 2004 is shown in the following table:
                                         
                    Six   Six    
    Quarter ended   Quarter ended   months ended   months ended   Year ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   December 31,
    2005   2004   2005   2004   2004
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period
  $ 97,115       113,573       97,296       91,459       91,459  
Loans charged off:
                                       
Commercial
    4,502       9,112       8,653       17,962       25,073  
Mortgage
    415       188       682       292       1,174  
Installment
    6,514       8,135       14,057       18,222       35,958  
Home equity
    571       542       1,323       1,327       3,085  
Credit cards
    2,662       2,941       5,082       5,696       11,254  
Manufactured housing
          27             313       443  
Leases
    758       396       2,365       1,195       2,012  
 
                                       
Total charge-offs
  $ 15,422       21,341       32,162       45,007       78,999  
 
                                       
Recoveries:
                                       
Commercial
    1,184       2,466       2,212       3,364       6,068  
Mortgage
    52       7       107       32       42  
Installment
    2,580       3,194       5,305       6,041       11,545  
Home equity
    318       306       611       681       1,430  
Credit cards
    734       791       1,310       1,474       2,920  
Manufactured housing
    147       255       355       677       1,088  
Leases
    129       139       189       279       491  
 
                                       
Total recoveries
  $ 5,144       7,158       10,089       12,548       23,584  
 
                                       
Net charge-offs
  $ 10,278       14,183       22,073       32,459       55,415  
Allowance related to loans sold
          (12,671 )           (12,671 )     (12,671 )
Provision for loan losses
    5,971       14,850       17,585       55,240       73,923  
 
                                       
Allowance for loan losses-end of period
  $ 92,808       101,569       92,808       101,569       97,296  
 
                                       
 
                                       
Allowance for loan losses:
                                       
As a percentage of loans outstanding
    1.40 %     1.56 %     1.40 %     1.56 %     1.51 %
 
                                       
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs and allowance related to loans sold
    2.25X       1.46X       2.09X       1.30X       1.43X  
 
                                       
     Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 4 (Allowance for Loan Losses) in the 2004 Form 10-K more fully describe the components of the allowance for loan loss model.

 


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6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets – The following table summarizes goodwill and intangible assets:
                                                                         
    At June 30, 2005   At December 31, 2004   At June 30, 2004
    Gross   Accumulated   Net   Gross   Accumulated   Net   Gross   Accumulated   Net
    Amount   Amortization   Amount   Amount   Amortization   Amount   Amount   Amortization   Amount
Amortizable intangible assets:
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Deposit base intangible assets
  $ 10,137       5,935       4,202       10,137       5,490       4,647       10,137       5,045       5,092  
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Unamortizable intangible assets:
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Goodwill
  $ 139,245               139,245       139,245               139,245       139,245               139,245  
 
                                                                       
Amortization expense for intangible assets was $0.22 million for both quarters ending June 30, 2005 and 2004. The following table shows the estimated future amortization expense for deposit base intangible assets, based on existing asset balances at December 31, 2004, for the years ended:
         
December 31, 2005
  $ 889  
December 31, 2006
    889  
December 31, 2007
    889  
December 31, 2008
    573  
December 31, 2009
    347  
     During the first quarter of 2005, the Corporation conducted its annual impairment testing as required by SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and concluded that goodwill was not impaired.

 


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7. Earnings per share — The reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) is presented as follows:
                                 
                    Six   Six
    Quarter ended   Quarter ended   months ended   months ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    2005   2004   2005   2004
BASIC EPS:
                               
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 36,145       31,028       66,233       43,734  
 
                               
 
                               
Average common shares outstanding
    83,603       84,809       83,849       84,789  
 
                               
 
                               
Net income per share — basic
  $ 0.43       0.37       0.79       0.52  
 
                               
 
                               
DILUTED EPS:
                               
 
                               
Net income available to common shares
  $ 36,145       31,028       66,233       43,734  
Add: interest expense on convertible bonds
    7       7       14       14  
 
                               
 
    36,152       31,035       66,247       43,748  
 
                               
Avg common shares outstanding
    83,603       84,809       83,849       84,789  
Add: Equivalents from stock options
    235       285       285       318  
Add: Equivalents-convertible bonds
    52       54       53       54  
 
                               
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding
    83,890       85,148       84,187       85,161  
 
                               
 
                               
Net income per common share — diluted
  $ 0.43       0.36       0.79       0.51  
 
                               
     For the quarters ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, options to purchase 5.88 million and 4.95 million shares, respectively, were outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were antidilutive.
8. Segment Information — The Corporation provides a diversified range of banking and certain nonbanking financial services and products through its various subsidiaries. Management reports the Corporation’s results through its major segment classification, Supercommunity Banking. Included in the Parent Company and Other Subsidiaries category are certain nonbanking affiliates and portions of certain assets, capital, and support functions not specifically identifiable with Supercommunity Banking.
     The Corporation’s business is conducted solely in the United States. The following tables present a summary of financial results as of and for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 and the full year ended December 31, 2004:

 


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                    Parent Company and Other        
June 30, 2005   Supercommunity Banking   Subsidiaries   Eliminations   FirstMerit Consolidated
    2nd Qtr   YTD   2nd Qtr   YTD   2nd Qtr   YTD   2nd Qtr   YTD
OPERATIONS (thousands) :
                                                               
Net interest income
  $ 86,120       170,552       27,234       53,029       (25,577 )     (49,794 )     87,777       173,787  
Provision for loan losses
    5,820       17,586       152                         5,972       17,586  
Other income
    49,933       94,719       162       315                   50,095       95,034  
Other expenses
    78,046       152,765       1,347       2,536       4       7       79,397       155,308  
Net income
  $ 35,938       65,571       38,328       69,626       (38,121 )     (68,964 )     36,145       66,233  
AVERAGES (millions) :
                                                               
Assets
  $ 10,242       10,194       1,248       1,254       (1,161 )     (1,170 )     10,329       10,278  
Loans
    6,597       6,543       4       4                   6,601       6,547  
Earnings assets
    9,473       9,438       1,113       1,114       (1,097 )     (1,098 )     9,489       9,454  
Deposits
    7,357       7,380                   (35 )     (42 )     7,322       7,338  
Shareholders’ equity
  $ 798       799       1,146       1,154       (982 )     (983 )     962       970  
 
                                                               
 
                                                               
                    Parent Company and Other                                
December 31, 2004   Supercommunity Banking   Subsidiaries   Eliminations   FirstMerit Consolidated
 
        YTD         YTD           YTD           YTD
 
                                               
OPERATIONS (thousands) :
                                                               
Net interest income
          $ 345,767               91,634               (86,596 )             350,805  
Provision for loan losses
            73,732               191                             73,923  
Other income
            173,532               753                             174,285  
Other expenses
            311,119               804               6               311,929  
Net income
            100,076               110,784               (107,646 )             103,214  
AVERAGES (millions) :
                                                               
Assets
            10,255               1,270               (1,207 )             10,318  
Loans
            6,490               4                             6,494  
Earnings assets
            9,502               1,100               (1,086 )             9,516  
Deposits
            7,526                             (86 )             7,440  
Shareholders’ equity
            789               1,165               (970 )             984  
                                                                 
                    Parent Company and Other        
June 30, 2004   Supercommunity Banking   Subsidiaries   Eliminations   FirstMerit Consolidated
    2nd Qtr   YTD   2nd Qtr   YTD   2nd Qtr   YTD   2nd Qtr   YTD
OPERATIONS (thousands) :
                                                               
Net interest income
  $ 85,942       173,819       1,155       24,504       10       (22,214 )     87,107       176,109  
Provision for loan losses
    14,911       55,290       (61 )     (50 )                 14,850       55,240  
Other income
    45,548       90,426       171       379                   45,719       90,805  
Other expenses
    77,409       153,887       132       509       (5 )     4       77,536       154,400  
Net income
  $ 30,306       42,260       31,860       45,525       (31,138 )     (44,051 )     31,028       43,734  
AVERAGES (millions) :
                                                               
Assets
  $ 10,342       10,391       1,270       1,292       (1,140 )     (1,223 )     10,472       10,460  
Loans
    6,537       6,529       4       4                   6,541       6,533  
Earnings assets
    9,644       9,641       1,093       1,103       (1,078 )     (1,089 )     9,659       9,655  
Deposits
    7,527       7,531                   (90 )     (91 )     7,437       7,440  
Shareholders’ equity
  $ 727       792       1,163       1,174       (908 )     (974 )     982       992  
9. Accounting for Derivatives — The Corporation follows the provisions of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” as amended by SFAS No. 149, in accounting for its derivative activities. At June 30, 2005, the Corporation had various interest rate swaps in place that were accounted for as fair value hedges under SFAS No. 133 since their purpose is to “swap” fixed interest rate liabilities and assets to a variable interest rate basis. All but one of the interest rate swaps are associated with the Corporation’s fixed-rate commercial loan swap program that was initiated during the first quarter of 2003 and the remaining interest rate swap converts the fixed interest rate of mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities to a

 


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variable rate. All of these interest rate swaps, with the exception of the one associated with the mandatorily redeemable trust preferred securities, qualify for the “shortcut method of accounting” as prescribed in SFAS No. 133. The shortcut method of accounting requires that the hedge and the hedged item meet certain qualifying criteria. If the swap qualifies for the shortcut method of accounting then no hedge ineffectiveness can be assumed and the need to test for ongoing effectiveness is eliminated. For hedges that qualify for the shortcut method of accounting, the fair value of the swap and the fair value of the hedged item are recorded on the balance sheets and statements of income. The remaining hedge does not meet all the criteria necessary to be considered for the shortcut method of accounting. Therefore, the long-haul method of accounting is utilized. The long-haul method of accounting requires periodic testing of hedge effectiveness with the portion of the hedge deemed to be ineffective reported in other operating expense.
     In the third quarter of 2004, the Corporation began entering into forward swap agreements which, in effect, fixed the borrowing costs of certain variable rate liabilities in the future. These transactions do not qualify for the short-cut method of accounting under SFAS No. 133 as previously discussed. The Corporation classifies these transactions as cash flow hedges, with any hedge ineffectiveness being reported in current earnings. It is anticipated that the hedges will prove to be highly effective. A correlation analysis performed at quarter-end verified that the hedges were effective.
     Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Corporation sells originated mortgage loans into the secondary mortgage loan markets. The Corporation maintains a risk management program to protect and manage interest-rate risk and pricing associated with its mortgage commitment pipeline. The Corporation’s mortgage commitment pipeline included interest-rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) that have been extended to borrowers who have applied for loan funding and met certain defined credit and underwriting standards. During the term of the IRLCs, the Corporation is exposed to interest-rate risk, in that the value of the IRLCs may change significantly before the loans close. To mitigate this interest-rate risk, the Corporation enters into various derivatives by selling loans forward to investors using forward commitments. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, the Corporation classifies and accounts for IRLCs as nondesignated derivatives that are recorded at fair value with changes in value recorded to current earnings. The forward sale commitments used to manage the risk on the IRLCs are also classified and accounted for as nondesignated derivatives and, therefore, recorded at fair value with changes recorded to current earnings. During 2003, the Corporation implemented a SFAS No. 133 hedging program for its mortgage loan warehouse to gain protection for the changes in fair value of the mortgage loan warehouse and the forward commitments. As such, both the mortgage loan warehouse and the forward commitments are recorded at fair value with changes in value recorded to current earnings.
     In 2003, the Corporation periodically entered into derivative contracts by purchasing To Be Announced Mortgage Backed Securities (“TBA Securities”) to help mitigate the interest-rate risk associated with its mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”). During the third quarter of 2004, options on treasury securities, options on mortgage-backed securities and swaptions were utilized to enhance the effectiveness of the economic hedge associated with the MSR. Within the “Other Income” section of these consolidated financial statements and Note 6 to the 2004 Form 10-K, the Corporation’s basis for accounting for mortgage servicing rights is discussed in more detail. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, the Corporation classified and

 


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accounted for all three of these instruments as nondesignated derivatives. Accordingly, these securities were recorded at fair value with changes in value recorded to current earnings in loan sales and servicing income. At June 30, 2005 the Corporation did not have any TBA Securities, options, or swaptions outstanding.
10. Benefit Plans — The Corporation sponsors several qualified and nonqualified pension and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees. The net periodic benefit cost is based on estimated values provided by outside actuaries. The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

 


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    Pension Benefits
                    Six   Six
    Quarter ended   Quarter ended   months ended   months ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    2005   2004   2005   2004
Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost
                               
Service Cost
  $ 1,597       1,922       3,194       3,844  
Interest Cost
    2,206       2,057       4,413       4,114  
Expected return on assets
    (2,875 )     (2,851 )     (5,751 )     (5,702 )
Amortization of unrecognized:
                               
Transition (asset)
          (9 )           (18 )
Prior service costs
    57       69       114       138  
Cumulative net (gain) loss
    863       567       1,726       1,134  
 
                               
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 1,848       1,755       3,696       3,510  
 
                               
                                 
    Postretirement Benefits
                    Six   Six
    Quarter ended   Quarter ended   months ended   months ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    2005   2004   2005   2004
Components of Net Periodic Postretirement Cost
                               
Service Cost
  $ 201       192       402       384  
Interest Cost
    386       502       772       1,004  
Amortization of unrecognized:
                               
Transition (asset)
          39             78  
Prior service costs
    (135 )     (102 )     (270 )     (203 )
Cumulative net (gain) loss
    24       92       48       184  
 
                               
Net periodic postretirement cost
  $ 476       723       952       1,447  
 
                               
     The Corporation anticipates making a contribution to the pension plan during the third quarter of 2005; however, Management has not yet completed the evaluation of the most appropriate discount rate and long term rate of return that should be used to determine the appropriate funding level.
     On December 8, 2003, President Bush signed the Modernization Act into law as disclosed in Note 2 of these consolidated financial statements. This law provides for a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to the benefit established by the Modernization Act. The federal subsidy in the Modernization Act resulted in a $1.6 million reduction in our accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. Concurrently during 2004, the Corporation amended its postretirement benefits plan to limit and cap benefits prospectively. The total impact of both changes on our actuarial liability was a decrease of $13.6 million and is being accounted for as an actuarial gain that will be amortized as a reduction of our periodic cost and liability.
11. Contingencies — The nature of the Corporation’s business results in a certain amount of litigation. Accordingly, FirstMerit Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to various

 


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pending and threatened lawsuits in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, is of the opinion that the ultimate liability of such pending matters would not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.

 


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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Fully-tax Equivalent Interest Rates and Interest Differential
                                                                         
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES   Three months ended   Year ended   Three months ended
(Dollars in thousands)   June 30, 2005   December 31, 2004   June 30, 2004
    Average           Average   Average           Average   Average           Average
    Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate
                                 
ASSETS
                                                                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 197,548                       213,994                       226,637                  
Investment securities and federal funds sold:
                                                                       
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government agency obligations (taxable)
    2,478,319       23,722       3.84 %     2,602,317       97,037       3.73 %     2,689,533       24,729       3.70 %
Obligations of states and political subdivisions (tax exempt)
    99,756       1,673       6.73 %     103,402       7,311       7.07 %     104,132       1,825       7.05 %
Other securities and federal funds sold
    255,743       3,037       4.76 %     261,765       9,765       3.73 %     260,990       2,324       3.58 %
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Total investment securities and federal funds sold
    2,833,818       28,432       4.02 %     2,967,484       114,113       3.85 %     3,054,655       28,878       3.80 %
 
                                                                       
Loans held for sale
    54,409       804       5.93 %     55,002       2,089       3.80 %     63,244       633       4.03 %
Loans
    6,601,204       105,196       6.39 %     6,493,472       383,905       5.91 %     6,540,974       93,511       5.75 %
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Total earning assets
    9,489,431       134,432       5.68 %     9,515,958       500,107       5.26 %     9,658,873       123,022       5.12 %
 
                                                                       
Allowance for loan losses
    (96,342 )                     (100,959 )                     (112,120 )                
Other assets
    738,530                       689,312                       698,570                  
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Total assets
  $ 10,329,167                       10,318,305                       10,471,960                  
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                                                       
Deposits:
                                                                       
Demand — non-interest bearing
  $ 1,470,673                   1,398,112                   1,402,273              
Demand — interest bearing
    834,708       1,230       0.59 %     805,419       2,152       0.27 %     814,718       503       0.25 %
Savings and money market accounts
    2,370,280       7,517       1.27 %     2,473,728       19,145       0.77 %     2,492,318       4,512       0.73 %
Certificates and other time deposits
    2,646,199       20,696       3.14 %     2,762,975       81,540       2.95 %     2,727,745       19,598       2.89 %
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Total deposits
    7,321,860       29,443       1.61 %     7,440,234       102,837       1.38 %     7,437,054       24,613       1.33 %
 
                                                                       
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,385,644       10,624       3.08 %     1,447,629       26,259       1.81 %     1,589,014       6,271       1.59 %
Wholesale borrowings
    498,088       5,933       4.78 %     307,867       17,494       5.68 %     320,222       4,356       5.47 %
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Total interest bearing liabilities
    7,734,919       46,000       2.39 %     7,797,618       146,590       1.88 %     7,944,017       35,240       1.78 %
 
                                                                       
Other liabilities
    161,336                       139,046                       143,475                  
 
                                                                       
Shareholders’ equity
    962,239                       983,529                       982,195                  
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,329,167                       10,318,305                       10,471,960                  
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Net yield on earning assets
  $ 9,489,431       88,432       3.74 %     9,515,958       353,517       3.71 %     9,658,873       87,782       3.66 %
 
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Interest rate spread
                    3.30 %                     3.38 %                     3.34 %
 
                                                                       
Note:   Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully-taxable equivalent basis.
     Nonaccrual loans have been included in the average balances.

 


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AVERAGE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) Continued
Fully-tax Equivalent Interest Rates and Interest Differential
                                                 
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES   Six months ended   Six months ended
(Dollars in thousands)   June 30, 2005   June 30, 2004
    Average           Average   Average           Average
    Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate
     
ASSETS
                                               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 194,163                       219,497                  
Investment securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government agency obligations (taxable)
    2,496,528       47,540       3.84 %     2,696,804       50,295       3.75 %
Obligations of states and political subdivisions (tax exempt)
    100,659       3,436       6.88 %     103,293       3,654       7.11 %
Other securities
    253,816       5,743       4.56 %     262,211       4,803       3.68 %
 
                                               
Total investment securities
    2,851,003       56,719       4.01 %     3,062,308       58,752       3.86 %
 
                                               
Federal funds sold
    2,083       57       5.52 %     1,381       7       1.02 %
Loans held for sale
    53,825       1,431       5.36 %     58,626       1,071       3.67 %
Loans
    6,546,926       204,742       6.31 %     6,533,061       189,719       5.84 %
 
                                               
Total earning assets
    9,453,837       262,949       5.61 %     9,655,376       249,549       5.20 %
 
                                               
Allowance for loan losses
    (96,390 )                     (107,920 )                
Other assets
    726,859                       693,421                  
 
                                               
 
                                               
Total assets
  $ 10,278,469                       10,460,374                  
 
                                               
 
                                               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                               
Deposits:
                                               
Demand — non-interest bearing
  $ 1,459,014                   1,366,165              
Demand — interest bearing
    827,879       2,186       0.53 %     791,003       869       0.22 %
Savings and money market accounts
    2,381,092       13,892       1.18 %     2,487,884       8,826       0.71 %
Certificates and other time deposits
    2,670,199       41,296       3.12 %     2,794,536       41,229       2.97 %
 
                                               
Total deposits
    7,338,184       57,374       1.58 %     7,439,588       50,924       1.38 %
 
                                               
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,356,106       19,465       2.89 %     1,568,295       12,409       1.59 %
Wholesale borrowings
    455,357       10,992       4.87 %     315,299       8,743       5.58 %
 
                                               
Total interest bearing liabilities
    7,690,633       87,831       2.30 %     7,957,017       72,076       1.82 %
 
                                               
Other liabilities
    158,804                       145,467                  
 
                                               
Shareholders’ equity
    970,018                       991,725                  
 
                                               
 
                                               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,278,469                       10,460,374                  
 
                                               
 
                                               
Net yield on earning assets
  $ 9,453,837       175,118       3.74 %     9,655,376       177,473       3.70 %
 
                                               
 
                                               
Interest rate spread
                    3.31 %                     3.38 %
 
                                               
Note:   Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully-taxable equivalent basis.
     Nonaccrual loans have been included in the average balances.

 


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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
     The Corporation recorded second quarter 2005 net income of $36.1 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, up from $31.0 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2004. Annualized returns on average common equity (“ROE”) and average assets (“ROA”) for the quarter were 15.07% and 1.40%, respectively, compared with 12.71% and 1.19% for the second quarter of 2004.
     For the first six months of 2005, the Company reported net income of $66.2 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, up from $43.7 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2004. ROE and ROA were 13.77% and 1.30%, respectively, compared with 8.87% and 0.84% for the prior-year period.
     Total revenue, defined as net interest income on a fully-tax equivalent (“FTE”) basis plus non-interest income net of securities transactions, was $138.6 million for the second quarter of 2005, compared with $132.1 million in the prior-year quarter. FTE net interest income increased 0.74% year-over-year, to $88.4 million. The impact of an 8 basis point increase in the net interest margin to 3.74% offset a 1.75% decline in average earning assets to $9.5 billion. The outstanding balance of the investment portfolio declined as a result of the Company’s de-leverage strategy to manage its interest rate risk position, however the yield on the investment portfolio has improved since the second quarter of 2004. Average loans increased 0.92%, to $6.6 billion, with growth tempered by the sale of problem commercial assets. While the loan sales in June of 2004 contributed to declining average loan balances in the third and fourth quarters of 2004, the transactions strengthened the risk profile of the balance sheet.
     Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2005 totaled $50.1 million, compared with $45.7 million for the second quarter of 2004. Excluding securities gains (losses), non-interest income was $50.1 million in the second quarter of 2005 and $44.3 million in the same period last year. The overall increase in noninterest income reflects increased deposit and bankcard fees resulting from the Company’s strategies to generate higher fee income from these business lines and the favorable settlement of certain contractual obligations.
     Noninterest expense totaled $79.4 million for the second quarter of 2005, compared with $77.5 million for the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 2.40%. Advertising and promotion expense increased $1.6 million, compared with the second quarter of 2004 and salary and benefits expense increased $2.2 million, or 5.65%. The efficiency ratio for the quarter was 57.14%, compared with 58.53% for the year ago quarter, reflecting the impact of profitable marketing activity offset slightly by higher compensation expenditures related to improved operating performance during the quarter.
     As of June 30, 2005, nonperforming assets were $54.0 million, or 0.82% of period-end loans plus other real estate, compared with $46.7 million, or 0.71%, as of March 31, 2005, $45.9 million or 0.71% as of December 31, 2004 and $48.8 million or 0.75%, as of June 30, 2004. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2005 were $10.3 million, compared with $14.2 million for the second quarter of 2004, a decline of $3.9 million, or 27.53%. Compared with the previous quarter, net charge-offs decreased $1.5 million, or 12.86%. Annualized net charge-offs to average loans in the second quarter of 2005 improved to 0.62%, compared with 0.74% for the prior quarter and 0.87% for the second quarter of 2004.

 


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     The Company recorded $6.0 million of loan loss provision in the second quarter of 2005, compared with $14.9 million in the second quarter of 2004. In the first quarter of 2005, the loan loss provision was $11.6 million. The reduced loan loss provision was primarily the result of significant improvement in the Company’s level of criticized commercial loans in the second quarter of 2005. This reduction in criticized loans reflects continued strengthening of the overall quality of the loan portfolio and factored into the allowance for loan loss methodology for the period. The allowance for credit losses at June 30, 2005 was 1.49% of period-end loans, compared with 1.59% on March 31, 2005, 1.60% at December 31, 2004 and 1.65% on June 30, 2004.
     Assets at June 30, 2005 totaled $10.3 billion, down 0.67% from June 30, 2004, but up 1.9% from December 31, 2004. Period-end loan growth of $91.0 million, or 1.40%, was driven by commercial loans and home equity loans increasing 2.98% and 14.08%, respectively, to mitigate a 4.05% decline in installment loans and an anticipated 32.52% decline in the leasing portfolio. Investment securities and federal funds sold decreased $144.8 million, or 4.87%, over the same time period, funding the growth of other earning assets.
     Deposits totaled $7.2 billion at June 30, 2005, down 2.6% from December 31, 2004 and 3.09% from June 30, 2004. Time deposits declined $150.7 million, or 5.58%, significantly impacted by the maturation of high-cost brokered CD’s. The Company increased its core deposit concentration to 64.47% of deposits at June 30, 2005, compared with 63.80% at December 31, 2004 and 63.53% at June 30, 2004.
     Shareholders’ equity was $976.0 million on June 30, 2005. The Corporation’s capital position remains strong as tangible equity to assets was 8.19%, compared with 8.39% on December 31, 2004 and 7.94% on June 30, 2004. The common dividend paid during the quarter was $0.27 per share, a $0.01 increase from the prior-year quarter. During the second quarter of 2005 the Company repurchased 145,143 common shares. Period-end common shares outstanding totaled 83.5 million.
Net Interest Income
     Net interest income, the Corporation’s principal source of earnings, is the difference between interest income generated by earning assets (primarily loans and investment securities) and interest paid on interest-bearing funds (namely customer deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and wholesale borrowings). Net interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 was $87.78 million compared to $87.11 million for the three months ended June 2004. The $0.67 million increase in net interest income occurred because the $10.76 million increase in interest expense, compared to the same quarter last year was less than the $11.43 million increase in interest income during the same period. For the purpose of this remaining discussion, net interest income is presented on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis, to provide a comparison among all types of interest earning assets. That is, interest on tax-free securities and tax-exempt loans has been restated as if such interest were taxed at the statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%, adjusted for the non-deductible portion of interest expense incurred to acquire the tax-free assets. Net interest income presented on an FTE basis is a non-GAAP financial

 


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measure widely used by financial services corporations. The FTE adjustment was $0.7 million for both quarters ending June 30, 2005 and 2004.
     FTE net interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 was $88.43 million compared to $87.78 million for the three months ended June 30, 2004. The $0.65 million increase in FTE net interest income occurred because the $10.76 million increase in interest expense, compared to the same quarter last year, was less than the $11.41 million increase in interest income during the same period. As illustrated in the following rate/volume analysis table, interest income and interest expense both increased due to the rising interest rate environment.
     As illustrated in the following table, the increased amount of interest income recorded in the 2005 second quarter compared to the same 2004 period, was primarily rate driven as higher yields on loans increased interest income by $10.82 million during those periods. The table also depicts similar three-month increases in interest expense, again caused by the continued rise in interest rates from 2004 through the second quarter of 2005. The higher rates paid on customer deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in the 2005 quarter compared to the same 2004 period increased interest expense by $10.89 million. The six-month analysis was also primarily rate driven as the higher yield on loans increased interest income by $14.62 while the increase in rates paid on deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase increased interest expense by $17.61 million.
                                                 
    Quarters ended June 30, 2005 and 2004   Six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS   Increases (Decreases)   Increases (Decreases)
(Dollars in thousands)   Volume   Rate   Total   Volume   Rate   Total
INTEREST INCOME — FTE
                                               
Investment securities
  $ (2,138 )     1,652       (486 )     (4,078 )     2,045       (2,033 )
Loans held for sale
    (98 )     269       171       (94 )     454       360  
Loans
    868       10,817       11,685       404       14,619       15,023  
Federal funds sold
    4       36       40       5       45       50  
 
                                               
Total interest income — FTE
  $ (1,364 )     12,774       11,410       (3,763 )     17,163       13,400  
 
                                               
INTEREST EXPENSE
                                               
Demand deposits-interest bearing
  $ 12       715       727       42       1,275       1,317  
Savings and money market accounts
    (231 )     3,236       3,005       (394 )     5,460       5,066  
Certificates of deposits and other time deposits
    (599 )     1,697       1,098       (1,877 )     1,944       67  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (892 )     5,245       4,353       (1,874 )     8,930       7,056  
Wholesale borrowings
    2,174       (597 )     1,577       3,495       (1,246 )     2,249  
 
                                               
Total interest expense
  $ 464       10,296       10,760       (608 )     16,363       15,755  
 
                                               
Net interest income — FTE
  $ (1,828 )     2,478       650       (3,155 )     800       (2,355 )
 
                                               

 


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Net Interest Margin
     The following table provides 2005 FTE net interest income and net interest margin totals as well as 2004 comparative amounts:
                                 
    Quarters ended   Six months ended
    June 30,   June 30,
     (Dollars in thousands)   2005   2004   2005   2004
Net interest income
  $ 87,777       87,107       173,787       176,109  
Tax equivalent adjustment
    655       675       1,331       1,364  
 
                               
Net interest income — FTE
  $ 88,432       87,782       175,118       177,473  
 
                               
 
                               
Average earning assets
  $ 9,489,431       9,658,873       9,453,837       9,655,376  
 
                               
Net interest margin — FTE
    3.74 %     3.66 %     3.74 %     3.70 %
 
                               
     Average loan outstandings for the current year and prior year second quarters totaled $6.60 billion and $6.54 billion, respectively. Increases in average loan balances from second quarter 2004 to second quarter this year occurred in commercial, residential mortgage and home equity loans while installment loans, credit card loans, and leases declined. Efforts to grow loan outstandings continue to be tempered by the less than robust economy that currently exists in the Corporation’s primary lending areas.
     Specific changes in average loan outstandings, compared to second quarter 2004, were as follows: commercial loans up $66.31 million or 1.97%; residential real estate loans up $13.48 million or 2.15%; home equity loans as a result of targeted marketing rose $61.69 million or 9.60%; credit card loans down $3.54 million or 2.50%; installment loans, both direct and indirect, were down $38.89 million or 2.37%; and leases were down $38.82 million, or 32.50%. The majority of fixed-rate mortgage loan originations are sold to investors through the secondary mortgage loan market. Average outstanding loans for the 2005 and 2004 second quarters equaled 69.56% and 67.72% of average earning assets, respectively. The modest increase in this percentage illustrates that liquidity remains high and overall loan demand remains flat.
     Average deposits were $7.32 billion during the 2005 second quarter, down $115,194 million, or 1.55%, from the same period last year. Core deposits, which are defined as checking accounts, savings accounts and money market savings products, declined. For the quarter ended June 30, 2005, average core deposits decreased $33.65 million or 0.71% and represented 63.86% of total average deposits compared to 63.32% for the 2004 second quarter. Average certificates of deposit (“CDs”) declined $81.55 million or 2.99% compared to the prior year quarter. Average wholesale borrowings increased $177.87 million and as a percentage of total interest-bearing funds equaled 6.44% for the 2005 second quarter and 4.03% for the same quarter one year ago. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased $203.37 million and as a percentage of total interest bearing funds equaled 17.91% for the 2005 second quarter and 20.00% for the 2004 second quarter. The decrease in deposits was offset by an increase in

 


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wholesale borrowings. Average interest-bearing liabilities funded 81.51% of average earning assets in the current year quarter and 82.25% during the three months ended June 30, 2004.
     In summary, loan growth over the past six months occurred mainly in higher-yielding commercial, residential mortgages and home equity outstandings, resulting in a lower concentration of leases, installment and credit card loans.
Other Income
     Other (non-interest) income for the quarter totaled $50.10 million, an increase of $4.38 million from the $45.72 million earned during the same period one year ago.
     Other income, net of securities gains, as a percentage of net revenue for the second quarter was 36.17% compared to 33.54% for the same quarter one year ago. Net revenue is defined as net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis, plus other income, less gains from securities sales.
     A principle component of the overall increase in other income was the $1.19 million increase in loan sales and servicing income consisting of: a $0.34 million increase in loan origination fees; a $1.28 million decrease in the mortgage servicing rights valuation allowance and a $0.66 million decrease in the amortization of mortgage servicing rights offset by a $1.09 million decrease in the gain on sale of mortgages.
     The remaining changes in other income, compared to the second quarter last year, were primarily as follows: service charges on deposit accounts totaled $17.80 million, up 13.34% due in part to new fee strategies; credit card fees increased $0.98 million or 10.32%; ATM and other service fees increased $0.23 million or 7.39%; income from bank owned life insurance decreased $0.60 million or 1.91%; investment services and insurance fees decreased $0.70 million. There were no significant sales of investment securities during the second quarter of 2005 compared to the gains of $1.41 million recorded in the second quarter 2004. Other operating income increased $2.06 million. During the fourth quarter of 2001, the Corporation exited the manufactured housing lending business and thereby ceased new originations of manufactured housing loans. In conjunction with the exit of this business, the Corporation recorded a liability for certain contractual obligations. In the second quarter of 2005, settlements were reached on several of the contracts and $2.46 million was recorded in noninterest income.
     A significant component of loan sales and servicing income category is the income derived from mortgage servicing activities. The following is a summary of changes in capitalized Mortgage Servicing Rights (“MSR”), net of accumulated amortization and valuation allowance, included in the consolidated Balance Sheets:

 


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    Quarter ended   Quarter ended   Quarter ended   Quarter ended   Quarter ended
    June 30   March 31   December 31,   September 31,   June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)   2005   2005   2004   2004   2004
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 18,396       18,261       18,099       18,258       16,424  
Addition of mortgage servicing rights
    1,072       703       931       1,117       1,495  
Amortization
    (759 )     (793 )     (877 )     (931 )     (1,422 )
Changes in valuation allowance
    (74 )     225       108       (345 )     1,761  
 
                                       
Balance at end of period
  $ 18,635       18,396       18,261       18,099       18,258  
 
                                       
     On a quarterly basis, the Corporation assesses its capitalized servicing rights for impairment based on their current fair value. As permitted, the Corporation disaggregates its servicing rights portfolio based on loan type and interest rate which are the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans. If any impairment results after current market assumptions are applied, the value of the servicing rights is reduced through the use of a valuation allowance, the balance of which is $0.10 million, $0.2 million, and $0.0 million at June 30, 2005, December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively. The MSRs are amortized over the period of and in proportion to the estimated net servicing revenues.
     These balances represent the rights to service approximately $1.95 billion, $2.03 billion and $2.6 billion of mortgage loans at June 30, 2005, December 31, 2004, and June 30, 2004, respectively. The portfolio primarily consists of conventional mortgages.
     The Corporation continues to focus upon non-interest income (fee income) as a means by which to diversify revenue.
Other Expenses
     Other (non-interest) expenses totaled $79.4 million for the second quarter compared to $77.5 million in 2004, an increase of $1.86 million, or 2.40%.
     For the three months ended June 30, 2005, increases in operating costs compared to second quarter 2004 occurred as follows: salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits, rose $2.21 million, primarily due to additional staff added to revenue-generating positions created to implement strategic revenue initiatives; occupancy expenses rose $0.36 million primarily due to inclement weather during the second quarter; while professional fees decreased $0.13 million.
     The efficiency ratio of 57.14% for second quarter 2005 was better than the efficiency ratio of 58.53% recorded for the second quarter, 2004. The efficiency ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2005 indicates 57.14 cents of operating costs were spent in order to generate each dollar of net revenue.

 


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Federal Income Taxes
     Federal income tax expense totaled $16.36 million and $9.41 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The effective federal income tax rate for second quarter 2005 was 31.2% compared to 23.3% for the same quarter 2004. The increase in effective rate is primarily due to the relative change in pre-tax net income as well as a reduction in tax expense for the 2004 quarter due to the successful resolution of Internal Revenue Service’s review of the Corporation’s tax returns for the years 1999 and 2000. Additional federal income tax information is contained in Note 11 (Federal Income Taxes) in the 2004 Form 10-K.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Investment Securities
     The June 30, 2005 amortized cost and market value of investment securities, including mortgage-backed securities, by average remaining term, are included in Note 4 (Investment Securities) to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
     These securities are purchased within an overall strategy to maximize future earnings taking into account an acceptable level of interest rate risk. While the maturities of the mortgage and asset-backed securities are beyond five years, these instruments provide periodic principal payments and include securities with adjustable interest rates, reducing the interest rate risk associated with longer-term investments.
Allowance for Credit Losses
     During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Corporation reclassified the reserve of unfunded lending commitments from the allowance for loan losses to other liabilities. Amounts presented prior to December 31, 2004 have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. In addition, the provision for credit losses associated with the unfunded lending commitments was reclassified from the provision for loan losses to other expense to conform to the current year presentation. The allowance for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.
     During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, the Corporation strengthened the allowance for loan losses by $22.1 million above net charge-offs. During that quarter, Management observed that rising input costs such as plastic resins, steel and petroleum would impact certain segments of the commercial and industrial loan portfolio. We also observed a higher level of nonaccrual loans from within previously identified criticized loan levels while the economy was in an early stage of recovery. These observations led Management to change some of the assumptions used in the Corporation’s allowance for loan losses methodology by shortening the historical period used for estimating loss migration factors which had the effect of more heavily weighting recent loss history in the portfolio. Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 4

 


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(Allowance for Loan Losses) in the 2004 Form 10-K more fully describes the components of the model.
     During the third quarter of 2004, Management analyzed and subsequently made further refinements to the allowance for loan losses model assumptions and methodology to better reflect current loss expectations. Management averaged the Corporation’s commercial loan five year migration loss ratios with the Corporation’s two year loss ratios to better reflect the new underwriting standards that have been in effect for the last two years. This methodology has been consistently applied to all subsequent periods.
                         
            Year Ended    
    Quarter ended   December 31,   Quarter ended
    June 30, 2005   2004   June 30, 2004
Allowance for Loan Losses
                       
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period
  $ 97,115       91,459       113,573  
Provision for loan losses
    5,971       73,923       14,850  
Loans charged off
    (15,422 )     (78,999 )     (21,341 )
Recoveries on loans previously charged off
    5,144       23,584       7,158  
Allowance related to loans sold
          (12,671 )     (12,671 )
 
                       
Allowance for loan losses-end of period
  $ 92,808       97,296       101,569  
 
                       
 
                       
Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments
                       
 
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 6,479       6,094       6,688  
Provision for credit losses
    (694 )     (320 )     (696 )
 
                       
Balance at end of period
  $ 5,785       5,774       5,992  
 
                       
 
                       
Allowance for Credit Losses
  $ 98,593       103,070       107,561  
 
                       
Annualized net charge-offs and allowance related to loans sold as a % of average loans
    0.62 %     1.05 %     1.65 %
 
                       
 
                       
Allowance for credit losses:
                       
As a percentage of loans outstanding
    1.49 %     1.60 %     1.65 %
 
                       
As a percentage of nonperforming loans
    221.76 %     254.39 %     261.67 %
 
                       
     The allowance for credit losses decreased $4.5 million from December 31, 2004 to June 30, 2005 as compared to a decrease of $9.0 million from June 30, 2004 to June 30, 2005. The overall decrease was attributed to a substantial improvement in criticized assets. During the quarter ended June 30, 2005, $54.0 million of criticized assets were paid off or upgraded. Net charge offs declined $10.4 million for the six months ending June 30, 2005 from six months ending June 30, 2004. The decline in criticized assets coupled with the decline in net charge offs was the primary reason for the $8.9 million reduction in the provision for loans losses at June 30, 2005 from June 30, 2004. The following tables show this overall trend in increased credit quality by specific asset and risk categories.

 


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    At June 30, 2005
    Loan Type
    Commercial   Commercial R/E           Installment   Home Equity   Credit Card   Res Mortgage    
Allowance for Loan Losses Components:   Loans   Loans   Leases   Loans   Loans   Loans   Loans   Total
(In thousands)                                                                
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
                                                               
Loan balance
  $ 13,510       15,694                                       29,204  
Allowance
    3,020       1,993                                       5,013  
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                                               
Credit risk-graded loans
                                                               
Grade 1 loan balance
    27,190       1,378                                             28,568  
Grade 1 allowance
    100       2                                             102  
Grade 2 loan balance
    165,035       95,489       14,581                                       275,105  
Grade 2 allowance
    1,341       285       130                                       1,756  
Grade 3 loan balance
    255,714       319,928       18,231                                       593,873  
Grade 3 allowance
    2,004       1,257       171                                       3,432  
Grade 4 loan balance
    855,271       1,423,441       51,624                                       2,330,336  
Grade 4 allowance
    18,118       9,885       1,200                                       29,203  
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance
    55,682       37,789       594                                       94,065  
Grade 5 allowance
    3,754       708       44                                       4,506  
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance
    80,429       63,398       22                                       143,849  
Grade 6 allowance
    10,956       3,056       3                                       14,015  
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance
    461       493                                             954  
Grade 7 allowance
    179       61                                             240  
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                                               
Current loan balances
                    11,367       1,571,280       733,271       134,284       607,818       3,058,020  
Current loans allowance
                    177       20,765       2,273       3,646       1,070       27,931  
30 days past due loan balance
                    230       13,942       2,657       1,835       11,423       30,087  
30 days past due allowance
                    7       1,155       135       648       125       2,070  
60 days past due loan balance
                    131       4,857       576       948       4,055       10,567  
60 days past due allowance
                    15       1,135       86       523       138       1,897  
90+ days past due loan balance
                    54       2,889       702       1,267       11,471       16,383  
90+ days past due allowance
                    15       1,304       195       1,001       128       2,643  
 
                                                               
Total loans
  $ 1,453,292       1,957,610       96,834       1,592,968       737,206       138,334       634,767       6,611,011  
 
                                                               
Total Allowance for Loan Losses
  $ 39,472       17,247       1,762       24,359       2,689       5,818       1,461       92,808  
 
                                                               

 


Table of Contents

                                                                 
    At December 31, 2004
    Loan Type
    Commercial   Commercial R/E           Installment   Home Equity   Credit Card   Res Mortgage    
Allowance for Loan Losses Components:   Loans   Loans   Leases   Loans   Loans   Loans   Loans   Total
(In thousands)                                                                
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
                                                               
Loan balance
  $ 7,317       14,299       779                               22,395  
Allowance
    2,530       1,561       779                               4,870  
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                                               
Credit risk-graded loans
                                                               
Grade 1 loan balance
    13,912       1,479                                             15,391  
Grade 1 allowance
    46       2                                             48  
Grade 2 loan balance
    156,983       102,607       19,191                                       278,781  
Grade 2 allowance
    1,058       302       142                                       1,502  
Grade 3 loan balance
    233,813       299,103       21,709                                       554,625  
Grade 3 allowance
    1,899       1,120       192                                       3,211  
Grade 4 loan balance
    795,649       1,337,019       48,296                                       2,180,964  
Grade 4 allowance
    17,917       7,820       1,140                                       26,877  
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance
    76,974       48,195       63                                       125,232  
Grade 5 allowance
    5,327       828       5                                       6,160  
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance
    104,121       70,606       4,142                                       178,869  
Grade 6 allowance
    14,175       2,914       614                                       17,703  
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance
    534       586       35                                       1,155  
Grade 7 allowance
    196       82       14                                       292  
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                                               
Current loan balances
                    19,926       1,559,608       671,297       140,666       612,790       3,004,287  
Current loans allowance
                    312       20,645       1,865       4,128       894       27,844  
30 days past due loan balance
                    1,492       21,099       3,079       1,764       13,050       40,484  
30 days past due allowance
                    49       1,705       147       643       131       2,675  
60 days past due loan balance
                    258       6,910       820       1,066       4,938       13,992  
60 days past due allowance
                    30       1,501       114       602       150       2,397  
90+ days past due loan balance
                    228       5,164       1,035       1,544       8,937       16,908  
90+ days past due allowance
                    54       2,094       277       1,197       95       3,717  
 
                                                               
Total loans
  $ 1,389,303       1,873,894       116,119       1,592,781       676,231       145,040       639,715       6,433,083  
 
                                                               
Total Allowance for Loan Losses
  $ 43,148       14,629       3,331       25,945       2,403       6,570       1,270       97,296  
 
                                                               

 


Table of Contents

                                                                 
    At June 30, 2004
    Loan Type
    Commercial   Commercial R/E           Installment   Home Equity   Credit Card   Res Mortgage    
Allowance for Loan Losses Components:   Loans   Loans   Leases   Loans   Loans   Loans   Loans   Total
(In thousands)                                                                
Individually Impaired Loan Component:
                                                               
Loan balance
  $ 9,648       10,965       898                               21,511  
Allowance
    2,410       828       773                               4,011  
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                                               
Credit risk-graded loans
                                                               
Grade 1 loan balance
    12,552       1,976                                             14,528  
Grade 1 allowance
    58       5                                             63  
Grade 2 loan balance
    160,777       117,510       28,342                                       306,629  
Grade 2 allowance
    896       530       170                                       1,596  
Grade 3 loan balance
    230,302       289,080       24,775                                       544,157  
Grade 3 allowance
    3,902       1,657       287                                       5,846  
Grade 4 loan balance
    888,644       1,288,650       53,824                                       2,231,118  
Grade 4 allowance
    21,416       11,624       1,527                                       34,567  
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance
    64,989       51,525       1,889                                       118,403  
Grade 5 allowance
    3,807       880       130                                       4,817  
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance
    116,635       68,369       653                                       185,657  
Grade 6 allowance
    13,347       2,835       87                                       16,269  
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance
    674       553                                             1,227  
Grade 7 allowance
    265       91                                             356  
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                                               
Current loan balances
                    34,742       1,613,408       641,408       134,880       598,331       3,022,769  
Current loans allowance
                    401       19,114       1,817       3,895       724       25,951  
30 days past due loan balance
                    1,802       19,850       2,703       1,993       14,672       41,020  
30 days past due allowance
                    45       1,372       109       717       132       2,375  
60 days past due loan balance
                    391       7,757       1,478       1,300       3,969       14,895  
60 days past due allowance
                    33       1,393       172       720       105       2,423  
90+ days past due loan balance
                    198       4,680       610       1,938       10,661       18,087  
90+ days past due allowance
                    35       1,591       149       1,415       105       3,295  
 
                                                               
Total loans
  $ 1,484,221       1,828,628       147,514       1,645,695       646,199       140,111       627,633       6,520,001  
 
                                                               
Total Allowance for Loan Losses
  $ 46,101       18,450       3,488       23,470       2,247       6,747       1,066       101,569  
 
                                                               

 


Table of Contents

Loans
     Total loan outstandings at June, 2005 were $6.6 billion compared to $6.4 billion at December 31, 2004 and $6.5 billion at June 30, 2004.
     The commercial loan portfolio increased by 2.98% over the prior year quarter, but continues to be impacted by lower demand for credit in our region. While the Corporation originated $126.0 million of mortgage loans in the second quarter 2005, compared to $309.4 million in same quarter of 2004, and $590.9 billion for the full year ended December 31, 2004, the majority of these loans were fixed rate mortgages and sold with servicing rights retained. Further discussion of the Corporation’s loan mix strategy as well as changes in average balances for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2004 can be found in the Net Interest Income section of this document.
                         
    As of   As of   As of
    June 30,   December 31,   June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)   2005   2004   2004
Commercial loans
  $ 3,423,384       3,285,012       3,324,335  
Mortgage loans
    634,777       639,715       627,633  
Installment loans
    1,601,022       1,598,588       1,668,679  
Home equity loans
    737,207       676,230       646,197  
Credit card loans
    138,335       145,042       140,110  
Leases
    76,286       88,496       113,047  
 
                       
Total Loans
  $ 6,611,011       6,433,083       6,520,001  
 
                       
     Expected cash flow and interest rate information for commercial loans is presented in the following table:
         
    As of
    June 30, 2005
    (Dollars in thousands)
Due in one year or less
  $ 1,502,916  
Due after one year but within five years
    1,591,208  
Due after five years
    329,260  
 
       
Totals
  $ 3,423,384  
 
       
 
       
Due after one year with a predetermined fixed interest rate
  $ 966,701  
Due after one year with a floating interest rate
    953,767  
 
       
Totals
  $ 1,920,468  
 
       

 


Table of Contents

     The following table summarizes the Corporation’s nonperforming assets:
                         
    June 30,   December 31,   June 30,
    2005   2004   2004
    (Dollars in thousands)
Nonperforming commercial loans
  $ 38,124       33,831       33,080  
Other nonaccrual loans:
    6,336       6,685       8,025  
 
                       
Total nonperforming loans
    44,460       40,516       41,105  
Other real estate (“ORE”)
    9,525       5,375       7,714  
 
                       
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 53,985       45,891       48,819  
 
                       
 
                       
Loans past due 90 day or more accruing interest
  $ 17,969       20,703       18,387  
 
                       
Total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and ORE
    0.82 %     0.71 %     0.75 %
 
                       
     The $7.3 million increase in nonperforming assets over the linked quarter, is primarily attributable to a $3.0 million assisted living facility that reached nonaccrual status and a $5.0 million golf course community loan that moved to the ORE portfolio offset by a $0.7 million additional reserve on an existing ORE property. Both loans were underwritten several years ago and have been in the criticized loan category for several years. Management does not anticipate a significant loss from either credit. The allowance for credit losses covers nonperforming loans by 221.76% compared to 261.67% at the end of the prior year quarter. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of the 2004 Form 10-K for a summary of the Corporation’s nonaccrual and charge off policies.
     The following table is a nonaccrual commercial loan flow analysis:
                                         
Period End   2Q05   1Q05   4Q04   3Q04   2Q04
            (Dollars in thousands)        
Nonaccrual commercial loans beginning of period
  $ 34,207       33,831       33,812       33,080       71,596  
 
Credit Actions:
                                       
New
    22,498       11,315       13,766       9,094       10,211  
Loan and lease losses
    (3,332 )     (3,904 )     (4,665 )     (1,857 )     (7,253 )
Charged down
    (2,444 )     (1,874 )     (137 )     (1,009 )     (1,859 )
Return to accruing status
    (801 )     (2,130 )     (4,449 )     (345 )     (744 )
Payments
    (12,004 )     (3,031 )     (4,496 )     (5,151 )     (3,937 )
Sales
                            (34,934 )
 
                                       
Nonaccrual commercial loans end of period
  $ 38,124       34,207       33,831       33,812       33,080  
 
                                       

 


Table of Contents

Deposits
     The following schedule illustrates the change in composition of the average balances of deposits and average rates paid for the noted periods:
                                                 
    Quarter Ended   Year Ended   Quarter Ended
    June 30, 2005   December 31, 2004   June 30, 2004
    Average   Average   Average   Average   Average   Average
    Balance   Rate   Balance   Rate   Balance   Rate
    (Dollars in thousands)
Non-interest DDA
  $ 1,470,673             1,398,112             1,402,273        
Interest-bearing DDA
    834,708       0.59 %     805,419       0.27 %     814,718       0.25 %
Savings and money market
    2,370,280       1.27 %     2,473,728       0.77 %     2,492,318       0.73 %
CDs and other time deposits
    2,646,199       3.14 %     2,762,975       2.95 %     2,727,745       2.89 %
 
                                               
Total customer deposits
  $ 7,321,860       1.61 %     7,440,234       1.38 %     7,437,054       1.33 %
 
                                               
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,385,644       3.08 %     1,447,629       1.81 %     1,589,014       1.59 %
Wholesale borrowings
    498,088       4.78 %     307,867       5.68 %     320,222       5.47 %
 
                                               
Total funds
  $ 9,205,592               9,195,730               9,346,290          
 
                                               
     Interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand deposits, on a combined basis, averaged $2.31 billion during the 2005 second quarter, up $88.39 million or 3.99% from second quarter 2004. Savings deposits, including money market savings accounts averaged $2.37 billion, $122.04 million or 4.90% lower than the year ago quarter. The sum of demand and savings accounts, often referred to as “core deposits,” dropped $33.65 million or 0.71%, and represented 63.86% of total average deposits for the second quarter, 2005 compared to 63.32% last year.
     The weighted-average yield paid on interest-bearing core deposits during the quarter at 1.09% was 49 basis points more than last year’s average core deposits rate. Average CDs, still the largest individual component of deposits, totaled $2.65 billion for the second quarter, down 2.99% from the same quarter last year. Average rates paid on CDs rose 25 basis points from 2.89% in the 2004 quarter to 3.14% this year. On a percentage basis, average CDs were 34.21% and 34.34%, respectively, of total interest-bearing funds for the June 30, 2005 and 2004 quarters.
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased to 17.91% of interest-bearing funds during the three months ended June 30, 2005 from 20.00% for the June 30, 2004 quarter. Interest-bearing liabilities funded 81.51% of average earning assets during the quarter ended June 30, 2005 and 82.25% during the quarter ended June 30, 2004. Wholesale funds increased to 6.44% of interest-bearing funds during the second quarter, 2005 from 4.03% in the year ago quarter. In summary, the decrease in average core deposits during the quarter compared to the same period in 2004.

 


Table of Contents

     The following table summarizes scheduled maturities of CDs of $100 thousand or more (“Jumbo CDs”) that were outstanding as of June 30, 2005:
         
Maturing in:   Amount
(Dollars in thousands)        
Under 3 months
  $ 367,160  
3 to 12 months
    311,520  
Over 12 months
    118,638  
 
       
 
  $ 797,318  
 
       
Market Risk
     Market risk refers to potential losses arising from changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices and commodity prices, including the correlation among these factors and their volatility. The Corporation is primarily exposed to interest rate risk as a result of offering a wide array of financial products to its customers.
     Changes in market interest rates may result in changes in the fair market value of the Corporation’s financial instruments, cash flows, and net interest income. The Corporation seeks to achieve consistent growth in net interest income and capital while managing volatility arising from shifts in market interest rates. The Asset and Liability Committee (“ALCO”) oversees market risk management, establishing risk measures, limits, and policy guidelines for managing the amount of interest rate risk and its effect on net interest income and capital. According to these policies, responsibility for measuring and the management of interest rate risk resides in the Corporate Treasury function.
     Interest rate risk on the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheets consists of reprice, option, and basis risks. Reprice risk results from differences in the maturity, or repricing, of asset and liability portfolios. Option risk arises from “embedded options” present in many financial instruments such as loan prepayment options, deposit early withdrawal options and interest rate options. These options allow customers opportunities to benefit when market interest rates change, which typically results in higher net revenue for the Corporation. Basis risk refers to the potential for changes in the underlying relationship between market rates or indices, which subsequently result in a narrowing of profit spread on an earning asset or liability. Basis risk is also present in administered rate liabilities, such as interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts and money market accounts where historical pricing relationships to market rates may change due to the level or directional change in market interest rates.
     The interest rate risk position is measured and monitored using risk management tools, including earnings simulation modeling and economic value of equity sensitivity analysis, which capture both near-term and long-term interest rate risk exposures. Combining the results from these separate risk measurement processes allows a reasonably comprehensive view of short-term and long-term interest rate risk in the Corporation.
     Earnings simulation involves forecasting net interest earnings under a variety of scenarios including changes in the level of interest rates, the shape of the yield curve, and spreads between

 


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market interest rates. The sensitivity of net interest income to changes in interest rates is measured using numerous interest rate scenarios including shocks, gradual ramps, curve flattening, curve steepening as well as forecasts of likely interest rates scenarios. Presented below is the Corporation’s interest rate risk profile as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004:
Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage Increase/(Decrease) in Net Interest Income:
                         
    -100 basis points   +100 basis points   +200 basis points
June 30, 2005
    (2.12 %)     (0.19 %)     (1.31 %)
December 31, 2004
    (2.81 %)     0.36 %     0.25 %
     Modeling the sensitivity of net interest earnings to changes in market interest rates is highly dependent on numerous assumptions incorporated into the modeling process. To the extent that actual performance is different than what was assumed, actual net interest earnings sensitivity may be different than projected. The assumptions used in the models are management’s best estimate based on studies conducted by the ALCO department. The ALCO department uses a data-warehouse to study interest rate risk at a transactional level and uses various ad-hoc reports to refine assumptions continuously. Assumptions and methodologies regarding administered rate liabilities (e.g., savings, money market and interest-bearing checking accounts), balance trends, and repricing relationships reflect management’s best estimate of expected behavior and these assumptions are reviewed regularly.
     The Corporation also has longer-term interest rate risk exposure, which may not be appropriately measured by earnings sensitivity analysis. ALCO uses economic value of equity, or EVE, sensitivity analysis to study the impact of long-term cash flows on earnings and capital. Economic value of equity involves discounting present values of all cash flows on the balance sheet and off balance sheet items under different interest rate scenarios. The discounted present value of all cash flows represents the Corporation’s economic value of equity. The analysis requires modifying the expected cash flows in each interest rate scenario, which will impact the discounted present value. The amount of base-case measurement and its sensitivity to shifts in the yield curve allow management to measure longer-term repricing and option risk in the balance sheet. Presented below is the Corporation’s EVE profile as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004:
Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage Increase/(Decrease) in EVE:
                         
    -100 basis points   +100 basis points   +200 basis points
June 30, 2005
    (2.72 %)     (0.16 %)     (1.77 %)
December 31, 2004
    (0.22 %)     (1.99 %)     (5.57 %)

 


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Capital Resources
     Shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2005 totaled $976.0 million compared to $981.3 million at December 31, 2004 and $957.1 million at June 30, 2004.
The following table reflects the various measures of capital:
                                                 
    June 30,   December 31,   June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)   2005   2004   2004
Consolidated
                                               
Total equity
  $ 976,016       9.46 %     981,257       9.69 %     957,095       9.22 %
 
                                               
Common equity
    976,016       9.46 %     981,257       9.69 %     957,095       9.22 %
 
                                               
Tangible common equity (a)
    832,571       8.19 %     837,365       8.39 %     812,759       7.94 %
 
                                               
Tier 1 capital (b)
    873,672       11.01 %     871,197       11.09 %     871,011       10.98 %
 
                                               
Total risk-based capital (c)
    1,092,262       13.76 %     1,119,095       14.25 %     1,119,913       14.11 %
 
                                               
Leverage (d)
    873,672       8.54 %     871,197       8.72 %     871,011       8.43 %
 
                                               
Bank Only
                                               
Total equity
  $ 805,645       7.83 %     791,486       7.83 %     770,984       7.45 %
 
                                               
 
                                               
Common equity
    805,645       7.83 %     791,486       7.83 %     770,984       7.45 %
 
                                               
Tangible common equity (a)
    662,200       6.53 %     647,594       6.50 %     626,648       6.14 %
 
                                               
Tier 1 capital (b)
    792,486       10.01 %     771,854       9.85 %     773,927       9.77 %
 
                                               
Total risk-based capital (c)
    1,008,606       12.74 %     1,017,214       12.98 %     1,020,429       12.89 %
 
                                               
Leverage (d)
  $ 792,488       7.77 %     771,854       7.75 %     773,927       7.51 %
 
(a)   Common equity less all intangibles; computed as a ratio to total assets less intangible assets.
 
(b)   Shareholders’ equity minus net unrealized holding gains on equity securities, plus or minus net unrealized holding losses or gains on available for sale debt securities, less goodwill; computed as a ratio to risk-adjusted assets, as defined in the 1992 risk-based capital guidelines.

 


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(c)   Tier 1 capital plus qualifying loan loss allowance, computed as a ratio to risk-adjusted assets, as defined in the 1992 risk-based capital guidelines.
 
(d)   Tier 1 capital; computed as a ratio to the latest quarter’s average assets less goodwill.
     The risk-based capital guidelines issued by the Federal Reserve Bank in 1988 require banks to maintain adequate capital equal to 8% of risk-adjusted assets effective December 31, 1993. At June 30, 2005, the Corporation’s risk-based capital equaled 13.76% of risk-adjusted assets, exceeding minimum guidelines.
     The cash dividend of $0.27 paid in the second quarter has an indicated annual rate of $1.08 per share.
Liquidity Risk Management
     Liquidity risk is the possibility of the Corporation being unable to meet current and future financial obligations in a timely manner. Liquidity is managed to ensure stable, reliable and cost-effective sources of funds to satisfy demand for credit, deposit withdrawals and investment opportunities. The Corporation considers core earnings, strong capital ratios and credit quality essential for maintaining high credit ratings, which allow the Corporation cost-effective access to market-based liquidity. The Corporation relies on a large, stable core deposit base and a diversified base of wholesale funding sources to manage liquidity risk.
     The Treasury Group is responsible for identifying, measuring and monitoring the Corporation’s liquidity profile. The position is evaluated daily, weekly and monthly by analyzing the composition of all funding sources, reviewing projected liquidity commitments by future month and identifying sources and uses of funds. The Treasury Group also prepares a contingency funding plan that details the potential erosion of funds in the event of a systemic financial market crisis or institutional-specific stress. In addition, the overall management of the Corporation’s liquidity position is integrated into retail deposit pricing policies to ensure a stable core deposit base.
     The Corporation’s primary source of liquidity is its core deposit base, raised through its retail branch system, along with unencumbered, or unpledged, investment securities and unused wholesale sources of liquidity. The Corporation also has available unused wholesale sources of liquidity, including advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, issuance through dealers in the capital markets and access to certificates of deposits issued through brokers. Liquidity is also provided by unencumbered, or un-pledged investment securities that totaled $746.69 million at quarter end 2005.
     Funding Trends for the Quarter — During the three months ended June 30, 2005, total deposits decreased $191.6 million from the linked quarter as certificates of deposit were allowed to mature without rollover.
     Parent Company Liquidity — The Corporation manages its liquidity principally through dividends from the bank subsidiary. During the second quarter ended June 30, 2005, FirstMerit Bank paid FirstMerit Corporation $23.0 million in dividends. As of June 30, 2005, FirstMerit Bank had an additional $68.8 million available to pay dividends without regulatory approval.

 


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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
     A detailed discussion of the Corporation’s off-balance sheet arrangements, including swaps, hedges, forward swap agreements, IRLCs, TBA securities, options and swaptions is included in Note 9 (Accounting for Derivatives) in these consolidated financial statements and in Note 17 to the 2004 Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Policies
     The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States of America and conform to general practices within the banking industry. Accounting and reporting policies for the allowance for loan losses, income taxes, mortgage servicing rights, derivative instruments and hedging activities, and pension and postretirement benefits are deemed critical since they involve the use of estimates and require significant management judgments. Application of assumptions different than those used by management could result in material changes in the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations. Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 4 (Allowance for Loan Losses), as described in the 2004 Form 10-K, provide considerable detail with regard to the Corporation’s methodology and reporting of the allowance for loan losses. Additional information for income tax accounting is contained within Note 1, as well as in Note 11 (Federal Income Taxes) as described in the 2004 Form 10-K. Accounting for mortgage servicing rights was also discussed in the 2004 Form 10-K in Note 1 and Note 6 (Mortgage Servicing Rights and Mortgage Servicing Activity). Derivative instruments and hedging activities are described more fully in Note 9 (Accounting for Derivatives) in these consolidated financial statements, as well as Note 1, Note 16 (Fair Value Disclosure of Financial Instruments), and Note 17 (Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk) of the 2004 Form 10-K. A description of the plans and the assumptions used to estimate the liabilities for pension and postretirement benefits is described in Note 12 (Benefit Plans) to the 2004 Form 10-K as well as Note 10 (Benefit Plans) in these consolidated financial statements.
Forward-looking Safe-harbor Statement
     The Corporation cautions that any forward-looking statements contained in this report, in a report incorporated by reference to this report or made by management of the Corporation, involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based upon various factors. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied. Reference is made to the section titled “Forward-looking Statements” in the Corporation’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004.

 


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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
     See Market Risk Section in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
     Management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has made an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15.
     During the period covered by the report, there was no change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
     Based upon the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this report, that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 


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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     In the normal course of business, the Corporation is at all times subject to pending and threatened legal actions, some for which the relief or damages sought are substantial. Although the Corporation is not able to predict the outcome of such actions, after reviewing pending and threatened actions with counsel, management believes that the outcome of such actions will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or shareholders’ equity of the Corporation.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
(a)   Not applicable
 
(b)   Not applicable.
     The following table provides information with respect to purchases the Corporation made of its common stock during the first quarter of the 2005 fiscal year:
                                 
                    Total Number of   Maximum
                    Shares Purchased   Number of Shares
                    as Part of Publicly   that May Yet be
    Total Number of   Average Price   Announced Plans   Purchased Under
    Shares Purchased   Paid per Share   or Programs (1)   Plans or Programs
Balance as of March 31, 2005:
                            1,480,828  
 
                               
April 1, 2005 - April 30, 2005
        $             1,480,828  
May 1, 2005 - May 31, 2005
    47,140       25.78       25,000       1,455,828  
June 1, 2005 - June 30, 2005
    98,003       26.60       97,364       1,358,464  
 
                               
 
Balance as of March 31, 2005:
    145,143     $ 25.96       122,364       1,358,464  
 
                               
 
    (2 )                        
 
(1)   On July 15, 2004 the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 3 million shares of its currently outstanding common stock. This repurchase plan supersedes all other repurchase programs and does not have an expiration date.
 
(2)   22,779 of these shares of common stock were either delivered by the option holder with respect to the exercise of stock options or the settlement of performance share awards, or in the case of restricted shares of common stock, withheld to pay income tax or other tax liabilities with respect to the vesting of restricted stock.

 


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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
     On April 20, 2005, the Registrant held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders for which the Board of Directors solicited proxies. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders adopted a proposal, as stated in the Proxy Statement dated March 17, 2005, to elect four Class II Directors. The proposal was voted on and approved by the shareholders. The voting results are as follows:
                         
                    Authority
    For   Against   Withheld
Karen S. Belden
    68,799,702       *       2,417,321  
R. Cary Blair
    68,732,656       *       2,484,367  
Robert W. Briggs
    69,150,992       *       2,066,031  
Clifford J. Isroff
    68,957,688       *       2,259,335  
 
*   Proxies provide that shareholders may either cast a vote for, or abstain from voting for, directors.
     All Class III directors (John C. Blickle, Terry L Haines, Jerry M. Wolf and Gina D. France) and Class I directors (John R. Cochran, Richard Colella, Philip A. Lloyd, II, Roger T. Read and Richard Seaman) continued in their positions.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

 


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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Index
     
Exhibit    
Number    
3.1
  Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of FirstMerit Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 10-K/A filed by the Registrant on April 29, 1999)
 
   
3.2
  Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of FirstMerit Corporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3(b) to the Form 10-K filed by the registrant on April 9, 1998)
 
   
4.1
  Shareholders Rights Agreement dated October 21, 1993, between FirstMerit Corporation and FirstMerit Bank, N.A., as amended and restated May 20, 1998 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4 to the Form 8-A/A filed by the registrant on June 22, 1998)
 
   
4.2
  Instrument of Assumption of Indenture between FirstMerit Corporation and NBD Bank, as Trustee. dated October 23, 1998 regarding FirstMerit Corporation’s 6 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures, due May 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4(b) to the Form 10-Q filed by the registrant on November 13, 1998)
 
   
4.3
  Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1999, between FirstMerit and Firstar Bank Milwaukee, National Association, as Trustee relating to the obligations of the FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to the Form 10-K filed by the Registrant on March 22, 1999)
 
   
4.4
  Indenture dated as of February 13, 1998 between Firstar Bank Milwaukee, National Association, as trustee and Signal Corp (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Form S-4 No. 333-52581-01, filed by FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I, on May 13, 1998)
 
   
4.5
  Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I, dated as of February 13, 1998 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.5 to the Form S-4 No. 333-52581-01, filed by FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I, on May 13, 1998)
 
   
4.6
  Form Capital Security Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.6 to the Form S-4 No. 333-52581-01, filed by FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I, on May 13, 1998)
 
   
4.7
  Series B Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 to the Form S-4 No. 333-52581-01, filed by FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I, on May 13, 1998)
 
   
4.8
  Form of 8.67% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture, Series B (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.7 to the Form S-4 No. 333-52581-01, filed by FirstMerit Capital Trust I, fka Signal Capital Trust I, on May 13, 1998)

 


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Exhibit    
Number    
10.1*
  Executive Cash Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed by the registrant on January 26, 2005)*
 
   
31.1
  Rule 13a-14(a)/Section 302 Certification of John R. Cochran, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FirstMerit Corporation
 
   
31.2
  Rule 13a-14(a)/Section 302 Certification of Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FirstMerit Corporation
 
   
32.1
  Rule 13a-14(b)/Section 906 Certifications of John R. Cochran, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FirstMerit Corporation, and Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FirstMerit Corporation
 
*   Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

 


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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements 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.
             
    FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ TERRENCE E. BICHSEL    
 
           
 
      Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President    
 
      and Chief Financial Officer    
 
           
DATE: August 4, 2005