10-Q 1 l22671ae10vq.htm FIRSTMERIT 10-Q FIRSTMERIT 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
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 September 30, 2006
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___ to ___
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-10161
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
OHIO
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  34-1339938
(IRS Employer Identification
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 o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer þ      Accelerated filer o      Non-accelerated filer o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO þ
     As of October 31, 2006, 80,083,433 shares, without par value, were outstanding.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

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 1A. RISK FACTORS
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 AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
SIGNATURES
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1


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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         
(In thousands)                  
(Unaudited, except December 31, 2005, which is derived from the   September 30,     December 31,     September 30,  
audited financial statements)   2006     2005     2005  
ASSETS
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 196,116       225,953       216,236  
Investment securities (at fair value) and federal funds sold
    2,372,484       2,546,496       2,679,650  
Loans held for sale
    55,010       42,566       54,243  
Loans:
                       
Commercial loans
    3,733,734       3,519,483       3,503,276  
Mortgage loans
    613,332       628,581       634,914  
Installment loans
    1,622,355       1,524,355       1,578,883  
Home equity loans
    748,307       778,697       765,476  
Credit card loans
    140,143       145,592       140,314  
Leases
    59,476       70,619       72,427  
 
                 
Total loans
    6,917,347       6,667,327       6,695,290  
Less allowance for loan losses
    (88,755 )     (90,661 )     (92,780 )
 
                 
Net loans
    6,828,592       6,576,666       6,602,510  
Premises and equipment, net
    121,008       120,420       115,916  
Goodwill
    139,245       139,245       139,245  
Intangible assets
    3,088       3,756       3,980  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
    502,425       499,257       478,463  
 
                 
Total assets
  $ 10,217,968       10,154,359       10,290,243  
 
                 
 
                       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Deposits:
                       
Demand-non-interest bearing
  $ 1,419,002       1,523,731       1,472,471  
Demand-interest bearing
    784,226       830,248       878,851  
Savings and money market accounts
    2,216,732       2,304,177       2,307,824  
Certificates and other time deposits
    2,969,673       2,575,494       2,692,880  
 
                 
Total deposits
    7,389,633       7,233,650       7,352,026  
 
                 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,269,040       1,426,037       1,465,697  
Wholesale borrowings
    509,129       401,104       352,250  
Accrued taxes, expenses, and other liabilities
    146,783       155,988       147,922  
 
                 
Total liabilities
    9,314,585       9,216,779       9,317,895  
 
                 
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 September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2005
    127,937       127,937       127,937  
Capital surplus
    106,182       108,210       108,711  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (38,143 )     (42,850 )     (33,923 )
Retained earnings
    1,015,249       994,487       990,219  
Treasury stock, at cost, 11,954,829, 9,691,424 and 8,584,782 shares at September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2005, respectively
    (307,842 )     (250,204 )     (220,596 )
 
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    903,383       937,580       972,348  
 
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,217,968       10,154,359       10,290,243  
 
                 
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
                                 
(Unaudited)   Quarters ended     Nine months ended  
(In thousands except per share data)   September 30,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Interest income:
                               
Interest and fees on loans, including held for sale
  $ 129,890       111,169       371,080       317,293  
Interest and dividends on investment securities and federal funds sold
    25,131       26,700       75,283       82,194  
 
                       
Total interest income
    155,021       137,869       446,363       399,487  
 
                       
Interest expense:
                               
Interest on deposits:
                               
Demand-interest bearing
    2,241       1,732       7,186       3,918  
Savings and money market accounts
    13,188       8,700       36,015       22,592  
Certificates and other time deposits
    32,881       21,637       88,308       62,933  
Interest on securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    15,878       12,535       40,758       32,000  
Interest on wholesale borrowings
    5,746       5,559       17,306       16,551  
 
                       
Total interest expense
    69,934       50,163       189,573       137,994  
 
                       
Net interest income
    85,087       87,706       256,790       261,493  
Provision for loan losses
    12,612       9,974       31,877       27,560  
 
                       
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    72,475       77,732       224,913       233,933  
 
                       
Other income:
                               
Trust department income
    5,721       5,515       16,859       16,704  
Service charges on deposits
    19,250       18,561       53,326       51,181  
Credit card fees
    11,251       10,437       33,400       30,371  
ATM and other service fees
    3,301       3,453       9,682       9,710  
Bank owned life insurance income
    3,042       3,074       11,338       9,172  
Investment services and insurance
    2,631       2,226       7,809       7,912  
Investment securities gains, net
    2       40       22       1,887  
Loan sales and servicing income
    1,731       2,076       6,009       4,729  
Other operating income
    2,412       2,464       8,371       11,214  
 
                       
Total other income
    49,341       47,846       146,816       142,880  
 
                       
Other expenses:
                               
Salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits
    43,248       42,149       133,000       122,893  
Net occupancy expense
    6,002       5,567       18,671       17,984  
Equipment expense
    3,097       2,962       8,969       9,149  
Stationery, supplies and postage
    2,423       2,559       7,279       7,504  
Bankcard, loan processing and other costs
    7,459       5,802       20,703       16,970  
Professional services
    5,470       2,632       11,971       8,625  
Amortization of intangibles
    222       222       667       667  
Other operating expense
    9,062       17,033       42,840       50,442  
 
                       
Total other expenses
    76,983       78,926       244,100       234,234  
 
                       
Income before federal income tax expense
    44,833       46,652       127,629       142,579  
Federal income tax expense
    13,629       10,058       38,800       39,752  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 31,204       36,594       88,829       102,827  
 
                       
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
                               
Unrealized securities’ holding gain (loss), net of taxes
    23,868       (14,541 )     5,468       (19,156 )
Unrealized hedging gain (loss), net of taxes
    3       295       (747 )     851  
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes
                      (183 )
Less: reclassification adjustment for securities’ gains losses realized in net income, net of taxes
    1       26       14       1,227  
 
                       
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
    23,870       (14,272 )     4,707       (19,715 )
 
                       
Comprehensive income
  $ 55,074       22,322       93,536       83,112  
 
                       
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 31,204       36,594       88,829       102,827  
 
                       
Net income used in diluted EPS calculation
  $ 31,209       36,601       88,844       102,848  
 
                       
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic
    80,066       83,489       80,140       83,727  
 
                       
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted
    80,262       83,978       80,365       84,105  
 
                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.39       0.44       1.11       1.23  
 
                       
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.39       0.43       1.11       1.22  
 
                       
Dividend per share
  $ 0.29       0.28       0.85       0.82  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 


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FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                 
    Nine months ended September 30,  
(Unaudited)   2006     2005  
    (In thousands)  
Operating Activities
               
Net income
  $ 88,829       102,827  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Provision for loan losses
    31,877       27,560  
Provision for depreciation and amortization
    10,981       10,139  
Amortization of investment securities premiums, net
    1,699       3,407  
Accretion of income for lease financing
    (2,828 )     (3,419 )
Gains on sales and calls of investment securities, net
    (22 )     (1,887 )
Increase in interest receivable
    (4,796 )     (1,868 )
Increase in interest payable
    10,469       5,861  
Increase (decrease) in employee pension liability
    6,221       (11,541 )
Increase in bank owned life insurance
    (7,320 )     (9,173 )
Increase (decrease) in Ohio franchise tax payable
    (10,629 )     11,033  
Originations of loans held for sale
    (234,468 )     (303,784 )
Proceeds from sales of loans, primarily mortgage loans sold in the secondary mortgage markets
    229,279       296,810  
(Gains) losses on sales of loans, net
    (138 )     1,124  
Amortization of intangible assets
    667       667  
Other changes
    (4,450 )     (8,877 )
 
           
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    115,371       118,879  
Investing Activities
               
Dispositions of investment securities:
               
Available-for-sale — sales
          87,524  
Available-for-sale — maturities
    642,518       381,115  
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
    (461,793 )     (316,990 )
Net increase in loans and leases, excluding sales
    (288,841 )     (290,864 )
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (13,651 )     (6,014 )
Sales of premises and equipment
    2,082       1,157  
 
           
 
               
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (119,685 )     (144,072 )
Financing Activities
               
Net increase (decrease) in demand accounts
    (150,751 )     39,184  
Net decrease in savings and money market accounts
    (87,445 )     (76,686 )
Net increase in certificates and other time deposits
    394,179       24,081  
Net increase (decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (156,997 )     129,226  
Net increase in wholesale borrowings
    108,025       49,868  
Cash dividends — common
    (68,067 )     (69,410 )
Purchase of treasury shares
    (65,430 )     (30,604 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, conversion of debentures or conversion of preferred stock
    963       6,718  
 
           
 
               
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    (25,523 )     72,377  
 
           
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (29,837 )     47,184  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    225,953       169,052  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 196,116       216,236  
 
           
 
               
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest, net of amounts capitalized
  $ 108,136       77,569  
 
           
Federal income taxes
  $ 37,770       30,030  
 
           
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
September 30, 2006 (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
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, FMT, Inc., SF Development Corp and Realty Facility Holdings XV, L.L.C.
     The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2005 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 September 30, 2006 and 2005 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 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, 2005.
     Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current reporting presentation.
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements -During February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Standards (“SFAS”) No. 156 “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets,” which amends SFAS No. 140 “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities” with respect to the accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. This statement requires that all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities be initially measured at fair value. Should a company not elect to use the fair value method for subsequent measurement, the company would continue to use the amortization method previously required by SFAS No. 140, under which the servicing asset or servicing liability is amortized and periodically evaluated for impairment. SFAS No. 156 permits, but does not require, the subsequent measurement of separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities at fair value. SFAS No.156 is effective for the first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, but permits earlier adoption. Management has not elected to early adopt and does not anticipate that adoption will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
     During February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155 “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” which amends SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and SFAS No. 140 “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that

 


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otherwise would require bifurcation. It also clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only strips are not subject to the requirements of SFAS No. 133 and establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of the entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. Management is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 155 and does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
     On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”). This interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. This interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Management is currently evaluating the impact of FIN 48 and does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
     On July 13, 2006 the FASB also issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 13-2, “Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction.” This FSP amends SFAS No. 13 to require a lessor in a leveraged-lease transaction to recalculate the leveraged lease for the effect of a change or projected change in the timing of cash flows relating to income taxes that are generated by the leveraged lease. Management is currently evaluating the impact of FSP FAS 13-2 and does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
     During September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This standard establishes a standard definition for fair value, establishes a framework under generally accepted accounting principles for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Corporation has not yet assessed the impact of adopting SFAS No. 157.
     During September 2006, The FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R).” This standard requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur as a component of comprehensive income. The standard also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position.
     The requirement to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan is effective as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006. The Corporation will utilize the required prospective transition method of adoption. The requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end

 


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statement of financial position is effective for the fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. Although the Corporation's primary qualified pension plan is fully funded on an ERISA funding basis, the December 31, 2006 adoption of this statement is currently expected to reduce stockholders’ equity, net of tax, by approximately $45 million to $50 million due to the requirement in SFAS No. 158 that an employer recognize any previously unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity.
     During September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (SAB 108), “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.” SAB 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior year unadjusted errors in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of materiality assessments. It is effective for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2007. Management is currently evaluating the impact of SAB 108 and does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
3. 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:
                                 
    September 30, 2006  
            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Available for sale:
                               
U.S. Government agency obligations
  $ 892,116       412       16,932       875,596  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    132,159       2,117       33       134,243  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,150,847       520       38,692       1,112,675  
Other securities
    248,382       2,967       1,379       249,970  
 
                       
 
  $ 2,423,504       6,016       57,036       2,372,484  
 
                       
                 
    Book Value     Fair Value  
Due in one year or less
  $ 330,507       326,367  
Due after one year through five years
    1,822,233       1,773,279  
Due after five years through ten years
    110,046       108,649  
Due after ten years
    160,718       164,189  
 
           
 
  $ 2,423,504       2,372,484  
 
           

 


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    December 31, 2005  
            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Available for sale:
                               
U.S. Government agency obligations
  $ 926,459       1       22,056       904,404  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
    92,378       1,512       53       93,837  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,338,694       819       39,964       1,299,549  
Other securities
    248,376       2,071       1,741       248,706  
 
                       
 
  $ 2,605,907       4,403       63,814       2,546,496  
 
                       
                 
            Fair  
    Book Value     Value  
Due in one year or less
  $ 150,505       149,204  
Due after one year through five years
    2,158,175       2,101,053  
Due after five years through ten years
    178,355       176,118  
Due after ten years
    118,872       120,121  
 
           
 
  $ 2,605,907       2,546,496  
 
           
                                 
    September 30, 2005  
            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Available for sale:
                               
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  
 
                       
                 
            Fair  
    Book Value     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  
 
           
     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.

 


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     The carrying amount of investment securities pledged to secure trust and public deposits and for purposes required or permitted by law amounted to approximately $1.9 billion at September 30, 2006, $1.9 billion at December 31, 2005, and $2.2 billion at September 30, 2005.
     At September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2005, the Corporation’s investment in Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) common stock was $8.6 million for each period. At September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2005, the Corporation’s investment in Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock amounted to $112.8 million, $108.1 million and $106.5 million, respectively and is 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 FASB Staff Position (“FSP) No. FAS 115-1. 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 September 30, 2006  
    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. Government agency obligations
  $ 30,033       (27 )     745,151       (16,905 )     39       775,184       (16,932 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
                2,315       (33 )     4       2,315       (33 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    38,613       (800 )     1,025,683       (37,892 )     60       1,064,296       (38,692 )
Other securities
                60,915       (1,379 )     6       60,915       (1,379 )
 
                                         
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 68,646       (827 )     1,834,064       (56,209 )     109       1,902,710       (57,036 )
 
                                         
                                                         
    At December 31, 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. Government agency obligations
  $ 289,001       (5,361 )     615,319       (16,695 )     33       904,320       (22,056 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    3,795       (11 )     1,988       (42 )     3       5,783       (53 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    420,506       (7,630 )     834,827       (32,334 )     41       1,255,333       (39,964 )
Other securities
    79,095       (1,232 )     14,403       (509 )     3       93,498       (1,741 )
 
                                         
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 792,397       (14,234 )     1,466,537       (49,580 )     80       2,258,934       (63,814 )
 
                                         
                                                         
    At September 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
  $ 244       (6 )                       244       (6 )
U.S. Government agency obligations
    412,097       (5,809 )     517,478       (13,274 )     29       929,575       (19,083 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    4,601       (18 )     1,718       (22 )     2       6,319       (40 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    673,039       (10,751 )     666,976       (23,983 )     33       1,340,015       (34,734 )
Other securities
    70,744       (986 )     14,314       (597 )     3       85,058       (1,583 )
 
                                         
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 1,160,725       (17,570 )     1,200,486       (37,876 )     67       2,361,211       (55,446 )
 
                                         
     4. 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.
     The activity within the ALL for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and the full year ended December 31, 2005 is shown in the following table:

 


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                    Nine     Nine        
    Quarter ended     Quarter ended     months ended     months ended     Year ended  
    September 30,     September 30,     September 30,     September 30,     December 31,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005     2005  
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period
  $ 87,727       92,808       90,661       97,296       97,296  
Loans charged off:
                                       
Commercial
    6,731       2,805       22,883       11,458       19,349  
Mortgage
    459       400       1,157       1,082       1,721  
Installment
    4,832       6,187       15,386       20,244       29,307  
Home equity
    1,112       1,918       2,878       3,241       4,340  
Credit cards
    2,315       2,652       6,040       7,734       11,320  
Leases
    4       245       61       2,610       3,068  
 
                             
Total charge-offs
  $ 15,453       14,207       48,405       46,369       69,105  
 
                             
Recoveries:
                                       
Commercial
    566       698       2,948       2,910       4,166  
Mortgage
    9       70       95       177       190  
Installment
    2,219       2,312       8,330       7,617       9,495  
Home equity
    333       317       1,018       928       1,302  
Credit cards
    585       549       1,619       1,859       2,348  
Manufactured housing
    102       153       372       507       710  
Leases
    55       106       240       295       439  
 
                             
Total recoveries
  $ 3,869       4,205       14,622       14,293       18,650  
 
                             
 
                                       
Net charge-offs
  $ 11,584       10,002       33,783       32,076       50,455  
Provision for loan losses
    12,612       9,974       31,877       27,560       43,820  
 
                             
Allowance for loan losses-end of period
  $ 88,755       92,780       88,755       92,780       90,661  
 
                             
     Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 4 (Allowance for Loan Losses) in the 2005 Form 10-K, as amended, more fully describe the components of the allowance for loan loss model.

 


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5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets — The following table summarizes goodwill and intangible assets:
                                                                         
    At September 30, 2006     At December 31, 2005     At September 30, 2005  
    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       7,049       3,088       10,137       6,381       3,756       10,137       6,157       3,980  
 
                                                     
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 ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. The following table shows the estimated future amortization expense for deposit base intangible assets based on existing asset balances at December 31, 2005:
     For the years ended:
         
December 31, 2006
  $ 889  
December 31, 2007
    889  
December 31, 2008
    573  
December 31, 2009
    347  
December 31, 2010
    347  
     During the first quarter of 2006, 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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6. Earnings per share — The reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the treasury stock method and presented as follows:
                                 
                    Nine     Nine  
    Quarter ended     Quarter ended     months ended     months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
BASIC EPS:
                               
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 31,204       36,594       88,829       102,827  
 
                       
 
                               
Average common shares outstanding
    80,066       83,489       80,140       83,727  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per share — basic
  $ 0.39       0.44       1.11       1.23  
 
                       
 
                               
DILUTED EPS:
                               
 
                               
Net income available to common shares
  $ 31,204       36,594       88,829       102,827  
Add: interest expense on convertible bonds
    5       7       15       21  
 
                       
 
    31,209       36,601       88,844       102,848  
 
                       
Avg common shares outstanding
    80,066       83,489       80,140       83,727  
Add: Equivalents from stock options and restricted stock
    149       437       176       325  
Add: Equivalents-convertible bonds
    47       52       49       53  
 
                       
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding
    80,262       83,978       80,365       84,105  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share — diluted
  $ 0.39       0.43       1.11       1.22  
 
                       
     For the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, options to purchase 6.7 million and 0.9 million shares, respectively, were outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were antidilutive.
     On January 20, 2006 the Corporation entered into an accelerated share repurchase arrangement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase 2.5 million common shares. The initial price paid per common share was $25.97. The repurchased common shares were subject to a volume weighted average share price during the repurchase period that ended on March 29, 2006. The 103,728 shares received by the Corporation as a purchase price adjustment at settlement, as well as the repurchased common shares, were reflected in treasury stock on the consolidated balance sheet to be used solely to satisfy the obligations of the Corporation under its various employee stock option, thrift savings, purchase programs or other corporate purposes.
7. 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.

 


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     The Corporation’s business is conducted solely in the United States of America. The following tables present a summary of financial results as of and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and the full year ended December 31, 2005:
                                                                 
                    Parent Company and Other        
    Supercommunity Banking   Subsidiaries   Eliminations   FirstMerit Consolidated
September 30, 2006   3rd Qtr   YTD   3rd Qtr   YTD   3rd Qtr   YTD   3rd Qtr   YTD
OPERATIONS (thousands) :
                                                               
Net interest income
  $ 83,033       250,791       30,659       86,708       (28,605 )     (80,709 )     85,087       256,790  
Provision for loan losses
    12,611       31,924       1       (47 )                 12,612       31,877  
Other income
    49,349       146,824       (8 )     (8 )                 49,341       146,816  
Other expenses
    75,010       238,453       1,976       5,641       (3 )     6       76,983       244,100  
Net income
    30,933       88,575       32,638       93,235       (32,367 )     (92,981 )     31,204       88,829  
AVERAGES (millions) :
                                                               
Assets
  $ 10,021       9,994       1,200       1,183       (1,082 )     (1,079 )     10,139       10,098  
Loans
    6,842       6,754       3       4                   6,845       6,758  
Earning assets
    9,245       9,218       1,053       1,047       (1,048 )     (1,042 )     9,250       9,223  
Deposits
    7,390       7,401                   (34 )     (36 )     7,356       7,365  
Shareholders’ equity
    728       722       1,065       1,059       (904 )     (898 )     889       883  
                                 
            Parent Company and Other        
    Supercommunity Banking   Subsidiaries   Eliminations   FirstMerit Consolidated
December 31, 2005   YTD   YTD   YTD   YTD
OPERATIONS (thousands) :
                               
Net interest income
  $ 342,089       200,687       (193,781 )     348,995  
Provision for loan losses
    43,853       (33 )           43,820  
Other income
    190,056       410             190,466  
Other expenses
    309,213       4,287       8       313,508  
Net income
    128,427       137,933       (135,877 )     130,483  
AVERAGES (millions) :
                               
Assets
  $ 10,177       1,253       (1,165 )     10,265  
Loans
    6,605       6             6,611  
Earning assets
    9,418       1,116       (1,100 )     9,434  
Deposits
    7,334             (36 )     7,298  
Shareholders’ equity
    800       1,151       (984 )     967  
                                                                 
                    Parent Company and Other        
    Supercommunity Banking   Subsidiaries   Eliminations   FirstMerit Consolidated
September 30, 2005   3rd Qtr   YTD   3rd Qtr   YTD   3rd Qtr   YTD   3rd Qtr   YTD
OPERATIONS (thousands) :
                                                               
Net interest income
  $ 85,946       256,498       25,250       78,279       (23,490 )     (73,284 )     87,706       261,493  
Provision for loan losses
    10,051       27,637       (77 )     (77 )                 9,974       27,560  
Other income
    47,736       142,455       110       425                   47,846       142,880  
Other expenses
    77,952       230,717       974       3,510             7       78,926       234,234  
Net income
    35,951       101,522       38,606       108,232       (37,963 )     (106,927 )     36,594       102,827  
AVERAGES (millions) :
                                                               
Assets
  $ 10,207       10,198       1,259       1,255       (1,170 )     (1,170 )     10,296       10,283  
Loans
    6,640       6,575       6       5                   6,646       6,580  
Earning assets
    9,448       9,441       1,129       1,120       (1,112 )     (1,103 )     9,465       9,458  
Deposits
    7,275       7,345                   (29 )     (38 )     7,246       7,307  
Shareholders’ equity
    813       804       1,159       1,155       (998 )     (988 )     974       971  
8. 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 September 30, 2006, 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. Substantially all of the

 


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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 swaps convert the fixed interest rate of commercial real estate construction loans and the fixed interest rate of manditorily redeemable preferred securities to a variable interest rate basis. All of the interest rate swaps associated with the fixed-rate commercial loan swap program 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, 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. The remaining hedges do 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.
     During 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 other operating expense. It is anticipated that the hedges will prove to be effective. A correlation analysis performed at quarter-end verified that the hedges were effective. The Corporation has not entered into any new forward swap agreements, and the last swap matured in August, 2006.
     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 accounted for utilizing the long-haul method of accounting and any hedge ineffectiveness is reported in other operating expense.

 


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9. 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:
                                 
    Pension Benefits  
                    Nine     Nine  
    Quarter ended     Quarter ended     months ended     months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost
                               
Service Cost
  $ 1,702       1,597       5,243       4,791  
Interest Cost
    2,354       2,206       6,919       6,620  
Expected return on assets
    (2,849 )     (2,875 )     (8,524 )     (8,626 )
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs
    45       57       135       170  
Cumulative net loss
    1,389       863       4,349       2,588  
 
                       
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 2,641       1,848       8,122       5,543  
 
                       
                                 
    Postretirement Benefits  
                    Nine     Nine  
    Quarter ended     Quarter ended     months ended     months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Components of Net Periodic Postretirement Cost
                               
Service Cost
  $ 187       201       560       604  
Interest Cost
    416       386       1,247       1,157  
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs
    (135 )     (135 )     (406 )     (406 )
Cumulative net loss
    107       24       322       72  
 
                       
Net periodic postretirement cost
  $ 575       476       1,723       1,427  
 
                       
     The Corporation does not anticipate making a contribution to the pension plan during 2006.
     On May 18, 2006 the Corporation’s Board of Directors approved freezing the current defined benefit pension plan for non-vested employees and closed it to new entrants after December 31, 2006. Participants vested in the current pension plan as of December 31, 2006 will remain participants in the existing pension plan. A new defined contribution plan was also approved for non-vested employees and new hires as of January 1, 2007. These plan amendments qualify as a curtailment of the defined benefit pension plan, the impact of which was a $1.4 million gain that was recognized by a direct reduction of the plan’s cumulative net loss with no impact on current period earnings.

 


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10. Share-Based Compensation — The Corporation’s 1987, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2006 Stock and Equity Plans (the “Plans”) provide stock options and restricted stock awards to certain key employees (and to all full-time employees in the case of the 1999, 2002 and 2006 Plans) for up to 10,512,471 common shares of the Corporation. In addition, the 2002 and 2006 Plans provide for the granting of non-qualified stock options and nonvested (restricted) shares to certain non-employee directors of the Corporation. Outstanding options under these Plans are generally not exercisable for twelve months from date of grant.
     Options under these Plans are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Corporation’s stock at the date of grant; those option awards generally vest based on 3 years of continuous service and have a 10 year contractual term. Options granted as incentive stock options must be exercised within ten years and options granted as non-qualified stock options have terms established by the Compensation Committee of the Board and approved by the non-employee directors of the Board. Upon termination, options are cancelable within defined periods based upon the reason for termination of employment.
     The Corporation adopted the FASB’s SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” (SFAS No. 123(R)) on the required effective date, January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective transition method provided for under the standard. SFAS 123(R) required an entity to recognize as compensation expense the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation granted to employees within the income statement using a fair-value-based method, eliminating the intrinsic value method of accounting previously permissible under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB No. 25) and related interpretations. The Corporation previously elected to use APB No. 25 and adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation -— Transition and Disclosure.”
     Pro forma information regarding net income and earning per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 is presented below as if the Corporation had accounted for all stock-based compensation under the fair value method of SFAS No. 123. The financial statements for the prior interim periods and fiscal years do not reflect any compensation expense calculated under the fair-value method.

 


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    Quarter     Nine months  
    ended     ended  
    September 30, 2005     September 30, 2005  
Net income, as reported
  $ 36,594       102,827  
Deduct: total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (1,005 )     (2,731 )
 
           
Pro forma net income
  $ 35,589       100,096  
 
           
Pro forma EPS — Basic
  $ 0.43       1.20  
Pro forma EPS — Diluted
  $ 0.42       1.19  
Reported EPS — Basic
  $ 0.44       1.23  
Reported EPS — Diluted
  $ 0.43       1.22  
 
               
Assumptions:
               
 
               
Dividend yield
    4.12 %     4.02 %
Expected volatility
    25.60 %     28.42 %
Risk free interest rate
    3.97 - 4.26 %     3.77 - 4.26 %
Expected lives
  4.85 Years   4.97 Years
     Certain of the Corporation’s share-based award grants contain terms that provide for a graded vesting schedule whereby portions of the award vest in increments over the requisite service period. As provided for under SFAS No. 123(R), the Corporation has elected to recognize compensation expense for awards with graded vesting schedule on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. SFAS No. 123(R) requires companies to recognize compensation expense based on the estimated number of stock options and awards for which service is to be rendered. Upon stock option exercise or stock unit conversion, it is the policy of the Corporation to issue shares from treasury stock.
     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. Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from historical volatility of the Corporation’s stock, and other factors. The Corporation uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination with the valuation model. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of the option valuation model and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding; the range given below results from certain groups of employees exhibiting different behavior. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

 


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    Nine Months Ended   Year Ended
    September 30, 2006   December 31, 2005
Assumptions:
               
Dividend yield
    4.24 %     4.02 %
Expected volatility
    23.51 %     28.39 %
Risk free interest rate
    4.87 %     3.77 - 4.38 %
Expected lives
  4.92 years     5 years
     On December 27, 2005, with the approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, the Corporation accelerated the vesting of unvested out-of-the-money stock options (“Options”) outstanding under the Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan.
     The decision to accelerate these Options was made primarily to reduce non-cash compensation expense that would have been recorded in the Corporation’s income statement in future periods upon the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized under the 2002 Plan to prescribe the time of the exercise of stock options and to accelerate the time at which stock options become exercisable. As a result of this decision, the Corporation reduced the after-tax stock option expense it would have been required to record by approximately $2.3 million in 2006 and $1.5 million in 2007.
     As a result of this vesting acceleration, options to purchase approximately 1.7 million shares became exercisable immediately. These Options would have vested through February 2008. Based upon the Corporation’s closing price of $26.32, on December 27, 2005, all of the Options accelerated were out-of-the-money, that is, the Options’ exercise price was greater than the current market value of the Corporation’s stock. The number of shares, exercise prices and terms of the Options, subject to acceleration, remain the same.
     A summary of stock option activity under the Plans as of September 30, 2006, and changes during the nine months then ended is as follows:
                                 
                    Weighted-Average        
            Weighted-Average     Remaining     Aggregate Intrinsic  
Options   Shares (000’s)     Exercise Price     Contractual Term     Value (000’s)  
Outstanding at January 1, 2006
    7,495     $ 25.66                  
Granted
    510       24.15                  
Exercised
    (58 )     16.46                  
Forfeited
    (38 )     25.20                  
Expired
    (332 )     26.67                  
 
                             
Outstanding at September 30, 2006
    7,577       25.58       5.52     $ 3,698  
 
                         
 
                               
Exercisable at September 30, 2006
    6,793     $ 25.70       5.21     $ 3,425  
 
                       
     The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $4.20. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the

 


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nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.5 million. Cash received from options exercised under all share-based payment arrangement for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $1.0 million. The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from option exercise of the share-based payment arrangements totaled $0.2 million.
     The Corporation has a policy of repurchasing shares on the open market to satisfy share option exercises. During the first quarter of 2006 the Corporation repurchased 2.6 million common shares which Management estimates will be adequate to cover option exercises for the full year.
     At September 30, 2006, there was $1.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options granted under the Plans which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.14 years.
     A summary of the status of the Corporation’s nonvested shares as of December 31, 2005, and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, is as follows:
                 
            Weighted-Average  
            Grant-Date  
Nonvested (restricted) Shares   Shares (000’s)     Fair Value  
Nonvested at January 1, 2006
    68     $ 24.52  
Granted
    295       24.00  
Vested
    (32 )     24.05  
Forfeited or expired
    (11 )     24.27  
 
             
Nonvested at September 30, 2006
    320     $ 24.09  
 
           
     As of September 30, 2006, there was $4.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested (restricted) share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.8 million.
     In accordance with the Corporation’s stock option and nonvested (restricted) shares plans, employee participants that are 55 or older and have 15 years of service are eligible to retire. At retirement, all unvested awards immediately vest. As required by SFAS 123(R), the Corporation began accelerating the recognition of compensation costs for share-based awards granted to retirement-eligible employees and employees who become retirement-eligible prior to full vesting of the awards. Compensation cost for awards granted or modified after the adoption of SFAS 123(R) will be recognized over a period to the date an employee first becomes eligible for retirement. In accordance with this change in policy, share-based compensation for the nine months ending September 30, 2006 included expense of $3.2 million for share-based compensation that was granted to retirement-eligible employee participants.
     The total share-based compensation expense recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $5.1 million and the related tax benefit thereto was $1.5 million.

 


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11. Contingencies — The nature of the Corporation’s business results in a certain amount of litigation. Accordingly, the Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to various 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 will not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
12. Shareholder Rights Plan - On July 18, 2006, the Shareholder Rights Agreement dated October 21, 1993, between the Corporation and FirstMerit Bank, N.A., as amended and restated on May 20, 1998 (the “Rights Agreement”), expired by its terms. The Rights Agreement had been filed as Exhibit 4 to the Form 8-A/A filed by the Corporation on June 22, 1998. The Rights Agreement is more fully described in Note 21 in the 2005 Form 10-K, as amended.

 


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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)   September 30, 2006     December 31, 2005     September 30, 2005  
    Average             Average     Average             Average     Average             Average  
    Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
ASSETS
                                                                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 185,628                       194,485                       197,412                  
Investment securities and federal funds sold:
                                                                       
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government agency obligations (taxable)
    1,993,447       20,012       3.98 %     2,416,360       91,814       3.80 %     2,408,219       22,621       3.73 %
Obligations of states and political subdivisions (tax exempt)
    114,805       1,925       6.65 %     99,487       6,707       6.74 %     99,273       1,638       6.55 %
Other securities and federal funds sold
    252,242       3,924       6.17 %     255,568       12,291       4.81 %     257,232       3,056       4.71 %
 
                                                           
 
                                                                       
Total investment securities and federal funds sold
    2,360,494       25,861       4.35 %     2,771,415       110,812       4.00 %     2,764,724       27,315       3.92 %
 
                                                                       
Loans held for sale
    44,682       812       7.21 %     52,740       2,854       5.41 %     54,452       660       4.81 %
Loans
    6,844,593       129,111       7.48 %     6,610,509       430,402       6.51 %     6,646,112       110,535       6.60 %
 
                                                           
 
                                                                       
Total earning assets
    9,249,769       155,784       6.68 %     9,434,664       544,068       5.77 %     9,465,288       138,510       5.81 %
 
                                                                       
Allowance for loan losses
    (87,127 )                     (94,118 )                     (91,852 )                
Other assets
    790,586                       729,398                       724,979                  
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                       
Total assets
  $ 10,138,856                       10,264,429                       10,295,827                  
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                                                       
Deposits:
                                                                       
Demand — non-interest bearing
  $ 1,407,653                   1,466,106                   1,457,487              
Demand — interest bearing
    794,886       2,241       1.12 %     827,829       5,871       0.71 %     838,549       1,732       0.82 %
Savings and money market accounts
    2,246,386       13,188       2.33 %     2,356,813       32,944       1.40 %     2,333,331       8,700       1.48 %
Certificates and other time deposits
    2,906,952       32,881       4.49 %     2,647,908       86,764       3.28 %     2,616,195       21,637       3.28 %
 
                                                           
 
                                                                       
Total deposits
    7,355,877       48,310       2.61 %     7,298,656       125,579       1.72 %     7,245,562       32,069       1.76 %
 
                                                                       
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,357,746       15,878       4.64 %     1,409,135       45,423       3.22 %     1,478,857       12,535       3.36 %
Wholesale borrowings
    367,640       5,746       6.20 %     431,787       21,449       4.97 %     442,035       5,559       4.99 %
 
                                                           
 
                                                                       
Total interest bearing liabilities
    7,673,610       69,934       3.62 %     7,673,472       192,451       2.51 %     7,708,967       50,163       2.58 %
 
                                                                       
Other liabilities
    168,752                       158,125                       155,226                  
 
                                                                       
Shareholders’ equity
    888,841                       966,726                       974,147                  
 
                                                                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,138,856                       10,264,429                       10,295,827                  
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                       
Net yield on earning assets
  $ 9,249,769       85,850       3.68 %     9,434,664       351,617       3.73 %     9,465,288       88,347       3.70 %
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Interest rate spread
                    3.06 %                     3.26 %                     3.22 %
 
                                                                 
 
Notes:   Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans have been adjusted to a fully-taxable equivalent basis.
 
    Nonaccrual loans have been included in the average balances.

 


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FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES   Nine months ended     Nine months ended  
(Dollars in thousands)   September 30, 2006     September 30, 2005  
    Average             Average     Average             Average  
    Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
ASSETS
                                               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 189,498                       195,259                  
Investment securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government agency obligations (taxable)
    2,069,081       60,962       3.94 %     2,466,768       70,161       3.80 %
Obligations of states and political subdivisions (tax exempt)
    97,946       4,942       6.75 %     100,192       5,074       6.77 %
Other securities
    250,036       11,276       6.03 %     256,348       8,856       4.62 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total investment securities and federal funds sold
    2,417,063       77,180       4.27 %     2,823,308       84,091       3.98 %
Loans held for sale
    48,014       2,409       6.71 %     54,036       2,092       5.18 %
Loans
    6,758,157       368,772       7.30 %     6,580,351       315,276       6.41 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total earning assets
    9,223,234       448,361       6.50 %     9,457,695       401,459       5.68 %
 
                                               
Allowance for loan losses
    (87,968 )                     (94,860 )                
Other assets
    772,828                       725,220                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Total assets
  $ 10,097,592                       10,283,314                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                               
Deposits:
                                               
Demand — non-interest bearing
  $ 1,441,568                   1,458,499              
Demand — interest bearing
    836,024       7,186       1.15 %     831,475       3,918       0.63 %
Savings and money market accounts
    2,273,132       36,015       2.12 %     2,364,997       22,592       1.28 %
Certificates and other time deposits
    2,814,488       88,308       4.19 %     2,652,000       62,933       3.17 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total deposits
    7,365,212       131,509       2.39 %     7,306,971       89,443       1.64 %
 
                                               
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,288,694       40,758       4.23 %     1,397,472       32,000       3.06 %
Wholesale borrowings
    390,495       17,306       5.93 %     450,870       16,551       4.91 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest bearing liabilities
    7,602,833       189,573       3.33 %     7,696,814       137,994       2.40 %
 
                                               
Other liabilities
    170,479                       156,553                  
 
                                               
Shareholders’ equity
    882,712                       971,448                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 10,097,592                       10,283,314                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Net yield on earning assets
  $ 9,223,234       258,788       3.75 %     9,457,695       263,465       3.72 %
 
                                   
 
                                               
Interest rate spread
                    3.17 %                     3.28 %
 
                                           
 
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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SUMMARY
     FirstMerit Corporation reported third quarter 2006 net income of $31.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. This compares with $36.6 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2005. Returns on average common equity (“ROE”) and average assets (“ROA”) for the third quarter 2006 were 13.93% and 1.22%, respectively, compared with 14.90% and 1.41% for the third quarter 2005.
     For the first nine months of 2006, the Company reported net income of $88.8 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared with $102.8 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2005.
     Total revenue, defined as net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis plus noninterest income net of securities transactions, totaled $135.2 million for the third quarter 2006, compared with $136.2 million reported in the third quarter 2005. FTE net interest income was $85.9 million for the third quarter 2006, a decline of $2.5 million, or 2.83%, compared with the year-ago quarter. During the quarter the net interest margin contracted 2 basis points to 3.68%, compared with the third quarter 2005.
     The net interest margin in the third quarter 2006 contracted 10 basis points, to 3.68%, compared with the second quarter 2006, pressured by shifting customer preference for higher yielding core deposit products as well as reversals in non-accrual interest that reduced the net interest margin by two basis points. The average loan portfolio increased $114.1 million, or 1.69%, compared with the prior quarter and $198.5 million, or 2.99%, compared with the third quarter 2005. During the third quarter 2006 average commercial loan growth of $71.9 million, or 2.00%, and average installment loan growth of $66.8 million, or 4.38%, were the main drivers of portfolio growth over the prior quarter, while average commercial loan growth of $233.8 million, or 6.79%, drove the increase in year-over-year quarterly loan balances.
     Average deposits were $7.36 billion during the 2006 third quarter, up $110.3 million, or 1.52%, from the same period last year. Average certificates of deposit (“CDs”) increased $290.8 million or 11.11%, compared to the prior year quarter, as part of a mix shift in liability funding largely due to customer preferences for higher yielding deposit accounts. With this shift in customer preference, average demand deposit account and average money market account balances declined a respective $93.5 million, or 4.07%, and $86.9 million, or 3.73%, compared with the third quarter 2005. Average investment securities decreased $404.2 million, or 14.62%, in the third quarter 2006 compared with the third quarter 2005. Cash flow from the maturing investment portfolio funded loan growth and was used to pay down wholesale borrowings, stabilizing the balance sheet during a period of eight target rate increases to federal funds by the Federal Open Market Committee. Average wholesale borrowings and securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased $195.5 million, or 10.18%, in the third quarter 2006, compared with the third quarter 2005.
     Noninterest income excluding securities transactions totaled $49.3 million for the third quarter 2006, compared with $47.8 million for the third quarter 2005, an increase of $1.5 million, or 3.12%. The primary drivers of this increase were in credit card fees, up $.8 million, or 7.80%, and service charges on deposits, up $0.7 million, or 3.71%, due in part to new fee strategies. Investment services and insurance fees increased $0.4 million, or 18.19%, and trust department income increased $0.2 million, or 3.74%, offsetting a $0.3 million, or 16.62%, decline in loan sales and servicing income. Other income, net of securities gains, as a percentage of net revenue for the third quarter was 36.50% compared with 35.11% for the same quarter one

 


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year ago. Net revenue is defined as net interest income, on a FTE basis, plus other income, less gains from securities sales.
     Other (non-interest) expenses totaled $77.0 million for the third quarter 2006 compared with $78.9 million for the third quarter 2005, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 2.46%. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, increases in operating costs compared to the third quarter 2005 occurred as follows: salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits rose $1.1 million, or 2.61%, primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in share-based compensation expense, as well as $0.7 million additional expense associated with organizational restructurings offset by a $0.5 million reduction in incentive compensation; bankcard, loan processing and other costs increased $1.7 million primarily attributable to volume increases in loans outstanding and higher credit card activity; professional services increased $2.8 million due in part to the one time buy-out of a consulting contract at a discounted rate as part of the Company’s expense reduction initiative; other operating expense decreased $8.0 million primarily attributable to $9.5 million of settlements of non-income tax examinations; offset by the funding of $3.0 million to a charitable trust with the formation of FirstMerit Foundation. The efficiency ratio for the third quarter 2006 was 56.78%, compared with 57.81% for the third quarter 2005.
     Net charge-offs totaled $11.6 million in the third quarter 2006, compared with $10.0 million for the third quarter 2005, or 0.67% and 0.60% of average loans, respectively. Compared with the second quarter 2006, net charge-offs improved by $1.4 million, from 0.78%. As of September 30, 2006, nonperforming assets were $72.5 million, or 1.05%, of period-end loans plus other real estate, compared with $72.3 million, or 1.08%, at September 30, 2005. Nonperforming assets increased $13.7 million from June 30, 2006. Included in the nonperforming portfolio was a $7.1 million loan which was placed on nonaccrual during the quarter and reclassified as held for sale. This loan was sold on October 16, 2006.
     The Company recorded $12.6 million of loan loss provision in the third quarter 2006, compared with loan loss provision of $10.0 million in the third quarter 2005.
     At September 30, 2006, the allowance for loan losses was 1.28% of period end loans, compared with 1.36% at December 31, 2005 and 1.39% at September 30, 2005. The allowance for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments. For comparative purposes the allowance for credit losses was 1.37% at September 30, 2006, compared with 1.45% at December 31, 2005 and 1.48% at September 30, 2005.
     Assets at September 30, 2006, totaled $10.2 billion, down 0.70% from $10.3 billion at September 30, 2005. Period-end loan growth of $222.1 million, or 3.32%, was driven by growth in the commercial lending portfolio which increased $230.5 million, or 6.58%. Deposits totaled $7.4 billion at September 30, 2006, an increase of $37.6 million, or 0.51% from September 30, 2005. Growth in CDs, up $276.8 million, or 10.28%, offset declines in all other core deposit account balances over that time period.
     Shareholders’ equity was $903.4 million at September 30, 2006. The Company’s capital position remains strong as tangible equity to assets was 7.55% at quarter-end. The common dividend per share paid in the third quarter 2006 was $0.29, a $0.01 increase from the third quarter 2005.

 


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RESULTS OF OPERATION
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 September 30, 2006 was $85.1 million compared to $87.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $256.8 million compared to $261.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. For the purpose of this remaining discussion, net interest income is presented on an 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 measure widely used by financial services organizations. The FTE adjustment was $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the quarters ending September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
     FTE net interest income for the quarter ended September, 2006 was $85.9 million compared to $88.3 million for the three months ended September, 2005. The $2.5 million decrease in FTE net interest income occurred because the $19.8 million increase in interest expense, compared to the same quarter last year, was more than the $17.3 million increase in interest income during the same period.
     FTE net interest income for the nine months ended September, 2006 was $258.8 million compared to $263.5 million for the nine months ended September, 2005. The $4.7 million decrease in FTE net interest income occurred because the $51.6 million increase in interest expense, compared to the same period last year, was more than the $46.9 million increase in interest income during the same period.

 


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     As illustrated in the following rate/volume analysis table, interest income and interest expense both increased due to the rising interest rate environment.
                                                 
    Quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005     Nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005  
RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS   Increases (Decreases)     Increases (Decreases)  
(Dollars in thousands)   Volume     Rate     Total     Volume     Rate     Total  
INTEREST INCOME — FTE
                                               
Investment securities
  $ (4,067 )     2,531       (1,536 )     (12,466 )     5,445       (7,021 )
Loans held for sale
    (135 )     287       152       (252 )     569       317  
Loans
    3,382       15,193       18,575       8,712       44,784       53,496  
Federal funds sold
          82       82       48       62       110  
 
                                   
Total interest income — FTE
  $ (820 )     18,093       17,273       (3,958 )     50,860       46,902  
 
                                   
INTEREST EXPENSE
                                               
Demand deposits-interest bearing
  $ (94 )     603       509       21       3,247       3,268  
Savings and money market accounts
    (335 )     4,823       4,488       (909 )     14,332       13,423  
Certificates of deposits and other time deposits
    2,610       8,634       11,244       4,054       21,321       25,375  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (1,095 )     4,438       3,343       (2,651 )     11,409       8,758  
Wholesale borrowings
    (1,029 )     1,215       186       (2,397 )     3,152       755  
 
                                   
Total interest expense
  $ 57       19,713       19,770       (1,882 )     53,461       51,579  
 
                                   
Net interest income — FTE
  $ (877 )     (1,620 )     (2,497 )     (2,076 )     (2,601 )     (4,677 )
 
                                   
     As illustrated in the preceding table, the increased amount of interest income recorded in the 2006 third quarter compared to the same 2005 period was primarily rate driven as higher yields on loans increased interest income by $15.2 million during those periods. The table also depicts a similar three-month increase in interest expense, again caused by the continued rise in interest rates from 2005 through the third quarter of 2006. The higher rates paid on customer deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in the 2006 quarter compared to the same 2005 period increased interest expense by $18.5 million. The nine-month changes were also primarily rate driven as the higher yield on loans increased interest income by $44.8 million while the increase in rates paid on deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase increased interest expense by $50.3 million.
Net Interest Margin
     The following table provides 2006 FTE net interest income and net interest margin totals as well as 2005 comparative amounts:
                                 
    Quarters ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Dollars in thousands)   2006     2005     2006     2005  
Net interest income
  $ 85,087       87,706       256,790       261,493  
Tax equivalent adjustment
    763       641       2,000       1,972  
 
                       
Net interest income — FTE
  $ 85,850       88,347       258,790       263,465  
 
                       
 
                               
Average earning assets
  $ 9,249,769       9,465,288       9,223,234       9,457,695  
 
                       
Net interest margin — FTE
    3.68 %     3.70 %     3.75 %     3.72 %
 
                       

 


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     Average loans outstanding for the current year and prior year third quarters totaled $6.8 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively. Increases in average loan balances from third quarter 2005 to the third quarter this year occurred in commercial and home equity loans while mortgage loans, installment loans, credit card loans, and leases declined. Efforts to grow loans outstanding continue to be tempered by the less than robust economy that currently exists in the Corporation’s primary lending areas.
     Specific changes in average loans outstanding, compared to the third quarter 2005, were as follows: commercial loans were up $233.8 million or 6.79%; home equity loans, as a result of targeted marketing, rose $0.6 million or 0.07%; credit card loans were down $1.8 million or 1.25%; installment loans, both direct and indirect, were down $1.9 million or 0.12%; mortgage loans were down $22.0 million or 3.43%; and leases were down $10.2 million, or 13.93%. The majority of fixed-rate mortgage loan originations are sold to investors through the secondary mortgage loan market. Average outstanding loans for the 2006 and 2005 third quarters equaled 74.00% and 70.22% of average earning assets, respectively.
     Average deposits were $7.36 billion during the 2006 third quarter, up $110.3 million, or 1.52%, from the same period last year. For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, average core deposits (which are defined as checking accounts, savings accounts and money market savings products) decreased $180.4 million, or 3.9%, and represented 60.48% of total average deposits, compared to 63.89% for the 2005 third quarter. Average certificates of deposit (“CDs”) increased $290.8 million, or 11.11%, compared to the prior year quarter due to marketing promotion during the 2006 third quarter. Average wholesale borrowings decreased $74.4 million and as a percentage of total interest-bearing funds equaled 4.79% for the 2006 third quarter and 5.73% for the same quarter one year ago. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased $121.1 million and as a percentage of total interest bearing funds equaled 17.69% for the 2006 third quarter and 19.18% for the 2005 third quarter. Average interest-bearing liabilities funded 82.96% of average earning assets in the current year quarter and 81.44% during the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
Other Income
     Other (non-interest) income for the quarter totaled $49.3 million, an increase of $1.5 million from the $47.8 million earned during the same period one year ago.
     Other income, net of securities gains, as a percentage of net revenue for the third quarter was 36.50%, compared to 35.11% for the same quarter one year ago. Net revenue is defined as net interest income, on a FTE basis, plus other income, less gains from securities sales.
     The primary changes in other income for the 2006 third quarter as compared to the third quarter of 2005, were as follows: trust department income was $5.7 million, up 3.74%; service charges on deposit accounts totaled $19.3 million, up 3.71% due in part to new fee strategies; credit card fees increased $0.8 million or 7.80%; investment services and insurance fees increased $0.4 million, or 18.19%; loan sales and servicing income was $1.7 million, a decrease of $0.3 million or 16.62%; there were no significant sales of investment securities during the third quarter of 2006 or 2005; and other operating income was virtually unchanged from the 2005 third quarter.

 


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     The change in other income, net of security gains, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was an increase of $4.8 million. The principal components were: trust department income was $16.9 million, up 0.93%; service charges on deposit accounts totaled $53.3 million, up 4.19% due in part to new fee strategies initiated in the third quarter of 2005; credit card fees increased $3.3 million or 9.97%; loan sales and servicing income was $6.0 million an increase of $1.3 million or 27.07% primarily from the gain on the sale of nonperforming assets that occurred in the second quarter of 2006; income from bank owned life insurance increased $2.2 million or 23.62% due to death benefit proceeds in the second quarter of 2006; investment services and insurance fees decreased $0.1 million or 1.30% primarily due to the sale of the credit life portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2005; investment security gains were down $1.9 million since there were no significant sales of investments securities in the nine months ended September 30, 2006; and other operating income decreased $2.8 million or 25.35% primarily due to a one time settlement of manufactured housing contractual obligations of $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2005.
     A significant component of loan sales and servicing income is the income derived from mortgage servicing activities. The following is a summary of changes in capitalized mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”), net of accumulated amortization and valuation allowance, included in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets:
                                         
    Quarter ended     Quarter ended     Quarter ended     Quarter ended     Quarter ended  
    September 30,     June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,  
(Dollars in thousands)   2006     2006     2006     2005     2005  
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 20,025       19,945       19,971       19,523       18,635  
Addition of mortgage servicing rights
    524       814       723       1,230       1,657  
Amortization
    (772 )     (734 )     (773 )     (786 )     (825 )
Changes in valuation allowance
                24       4       56  
 
                             
Balance at end of period
  $ 19,777       20,025       19,945       19,971       19,523  
 
                             
     On a quarterly basis, the Corporation assesses its MSRs for impairment based on their current fair value. As permitted, the Corporation disaggregates its MSRs 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, $24 thousand and $30 thousand at September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2005, 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 $2.0 billion, $2.1 billion and $2.0 billion of mortgage loans at September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005, and September 30, 2005, 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.

 


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Other Expenses
     Other (non-interest) expenses totaled $77.0 million for the third quarter 2006 compared to $78.9 million for the same 2005 quarter, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 2.46%.
     For the three months ended September 30, 2006, increases in operating costs compared to the second quarter 2005 occurred as follows: salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits rose $1.1 million, primarily due to the $0.9 million increase in share-based compensation expense, as well as $0.8 million additional expense associated with severance expenses of organizational restructurings offset by a $1.2 million reduction in incentive compensation; bankcard, loan processing and other costs increased $1.7 million, primarily attributable to the increase in loans outstanding and higher credit card activity; professional services increased $2.8 million due in part to the one time buy-out of a consulting contract of $1.4 million; other operating expense decreased $8.0 million primarily attributable to reserve reversals of $9.5 million relating to favorable settlements of non-income state tax examinations; offset by the funding of $3.0 million to a charitable trust with the formation of FirstMerit Foundation.
     For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, other (non-interest) expenses totaled $244.1 million compared to $234.2 million for the same 2005 quarter, an increase of $9.9 million or 4.21%. Increases in operating costs compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005 occurred as follows: salaries, wages, pension and employee benefits rose $10.1 million, primarily due to increased pension benefits expense of $2.8 million, as well as $4.5 million of share-based compensation expense and $2.1 million additional expense associated with severance expenses of organizational restructurings; bankcard, loan processing and other costs increased $3.7 million primarily attributable to the increase in loans outstanding and higher credit card activity; professional services increased $3.3 million due to the buy-out of a consulting contract; other operating expense decreased $7.6 million primarily attributable reserve reversals of $9.5 million relating to favorable settlements of non-income state tax examinations, offset by the funding of $3.0 million to a charitable trust with the formation of FirstMerit Foundation; while other categories of expense remain relatively consistent.
     The efficiency ratio of 56.78% for third quarter 2006 improved 103 basis points over the efficiency ratio of 57.81% recorded for the third quarter, 2005. The efficiency ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2006 indicates 56.78 cents of operating costs were spent in order to generate each dollar of net revenue.
Federal Income Taxes
     Federal income tax expense was $13.6 million and $10.06 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The effective federal income tax rate for the third quarter 2006 was 30.4%, compared to 21.56% for the same quarter 2005. During the third quarter of 2005, tax reserves, which had been established for tax years no longer subject to review because the tax statute expired, were released. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, the effective tax rate was 30.40% and 27.88%. Additional federal income tax information is contained in Note 11 (Federal Income Taxes) in the 2005 Form 10-K, as amended.

 


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FINANCIAL CONDITION
Investment Securities
     The September 30, 2006 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 included in this report.
     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
     The allowance for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.
                         
    Quarter ended     Year Ended     Quarter ended  
Allowance for Loan Losses   September 30,     December 31,     September 30,  
(In thousands)   2006     2005     2005  
Allowance for loan losses-beginning of period
  $ 87,727       97,296       92,808  
Provision for loan losses
    12,612       43,820       9,974  
Loans charged off
    (15,453 )     (69,105 )     (14,207 )
Recoveries on loans previously charged off
    3,869       18,650       4,205  
 
                 
Allowance for loan losses-end of period
  $ 88,755       90,661       92,780  
 
                 
 
                       
Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments
                       
 
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 5,716       5,774       5,785  
Provision for credit losses
    591       298       72  
 
                 
Balance at end of period
  $ 6,307       6,072       5,857  
 
                 
 
                       
Allowance for Credit Losses
  $ 95,062       96,733       98,637  
 
                 
 
                       
Annualized net charge-offs as a % of average loans
    0.67 %     0.76 %     0.60 %
 
                 
 
                       
Allowance for loan losses:
                       
As a percentage of loans outstanding
    1.28 %     1.36 %     1.39 %
 
                 
As a percentage of nonperforming loans
    143.73 %     145.61 %     221.46 %
 
                 
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs
    1.93 X     1.80 X     2.34 X
 
                 
 
                       
Allowance for credit losses:
                       
As a percentage of loans outstanding
    1.37 %     1.45 %     1.48 %
 
                 
As a percentage of nonperforming loans
    153.94 %     155.36 %     235.44 %
 
                 
As a multiple of annualized net charge offs
    2.07 X     1.92 X     2.49 X
 
                 
     The allowance for credit losses decreased $1.7 million from December 31, 2005 to September 30, 2006, and decreased $3.6 million from September 30, 2005 to September 30,

 


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2006. The decrease for both periods was attributable to an overall improvement in risk factors in the commercial loan and installment loan portfolios, partially offset by the deterioration of risk factors in the commercial real estate loan and residential mortgage loan portfolios. The following tables show this overall trend in increased credit quality for consumer loans and decreased credit quality for commercial loans by specific asset and risk categories.
                                                                 
    At September 30, 2006  
    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
  $ 20,321       24,287                                     44,608  
Allowance
    5,510       4,394                                     9,904  
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                                               
Credit risk-graded loans
                                                               
Grade 1 loan balance
    18,761       2,592                                             21,353  
Grade 1 allowance
    64       2                                             66  
Grade 2 loan balance
    153,377       100,147       9,487                                       263,011  
Grade 2 allowance
    833       397       59                                       1,289  
Grade 3 loan balance
    363,783       398,463       16,159                                       778,405  
Grade 3 allowance
    2,374       2,182       120                                       4,676  
Grade 4 loan balance
    878,161       1,533,606       27,829                                       2,439,596  
Grade 4 allowance
    12,950       13,720       738                                       27,408  
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance
    57,041       87,810       501                                       145,352  
Grade 5 allowance
    2,731       2,723       27                                       5,481  
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance
    54,020       40,748       2,509                                       97,277  
Grade 6 allowance
    5,598       2,775       297                                       8,670  
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance
    347       270                                             617  
Grade 7 allowance
    120       35                                             155  
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                                               
Current loan balances
                    2,715       1,604,263       745,426       135,628       581,486       3,069,518  
Current loans allowance
                    11       15,037       2,051       3,346       2,628       23,073  
30 days past due loan balance
                    181       12,466       1,673       1,711       13,727       29,758  
30 days past due allowance
                    2       1,099       144       602       359       2,206  
60 days past due loan balance
                    62       3,690       602       1,090       4,625       10,069  
60 days past due allowance
                    2       942       135       622       413       2,114  
90+ days past due loan balance
                    33       1,936       606       1,714       13,494       17,783  
90+ days past due allowance
                    3       885       233       1,458       1,134       3,713  
 
                                               
Total loans
  $ 1,545,811       2,187,923       59,476       1,622,355       748,307       140,143       613,332       6,917,347  
 
                                               
Total Allowance for Loan Losses
  $ 30,180       26,228       1,259       17,963       2,563       6,028       4,534       88,755  
 
                                               

 


Table of Contents

                                                                 
    At December 31, 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
  $ 27,515       18,254                                     45,769  
Allowance
    4,534       2,851                                     7,385  
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                                               
Credit risk-graded loans
                                                               
Grade 1 loan balance
    16,353       2,233                                             18,586  
Grade 1 allowance
    64       3                                             67  
Grade 2 loan balance
    159,785       99,392       3,643                                       262,820  
Grade 2 allowance
    1,297       341       33                                       1,671  
Grade 3 loan balance
    244,116       355,950       25,245                                       625,311  
Grade 3 allowance
    2,008       1,583       231                                       3,822  
Grade 4 loan balance
    851,968       1,514,990       31,428                                       2,398,386  
Grade 4 allowance
    15,600       11,387       1,018                                       28,005  
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance
    58,878       46,657       127                                       105,662  
Grade 5 allowance
    3,463       1,110       8                                       4,581  
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance
    69,358       53,333       3,111                                       125,802  
Grade 6 allowance
    8,265       3,089       413                                       11,767  
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance
    324       377                                             701  
Grade 7 allowance
    117       40                                             157  
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                                               
Current loan balances
                    6,687       1,500,694       775,912       141,888       597,705       3,022,886  
Current loans allowance
                    95       18,962       1,918       4,014       969       25,958  
30 days past due loan balance
                    250       15,574       1,764       1,453       14,461       33,502  
30 days past due allowance
                    8       1,456       108       545       133       2,250  
60 days past due loan balance
                    75       5,296       511       1,154       4,569       11,605  
60 days past due allowance
                    9       1,401       87       699       133       2,329  
90+ days past due loan balance
                    53       2,791       510       1,097       11,846       16,297  
90+ days past due allowance
                    16       1,377       155       975       146       2,669  
 
                                               
Total loans
  $ 1,428,297       2,091,186       70,619       1,524,355       778,697       145,592       628,581       6,667,327  
 
                                               
Total Allowance for Loan Losses
  $ 35,348       20,404       1,831       23,196       2,268       6,233       1,381       90,661  
 
                                               

 


Table of Contents

                                                                 
    At September 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
  $ 10,679       14,326                                     25,005  
Allowance
    2,215       1,564                                     3,779  
Collective Loan Impairment Components:
                                                               
Credit risk-graded loans Grade 1 loan balance
    23,910       1,187                                             25,097  
Grade 1 allowance
    94       2                                             96  
Grade 2 loan balance
    160,350       93,782       13,408                                       267,540  
Grade 2 allowance
    1,351       324       124                                       1,799  
Grade 3 loan balance
    252,093       344,193       18,330                                       614,616  
Grade 3 allowance
    2,161       1,493       169                                       3,823  
Grade 4 loan balance
    896,478       1,475,406       28,100                                       2,399,984  
Grade 4 allowance
    17,972       10,967       1,045                                       29,984  
Grade 5 (Special Mention) loan balance
    44,859       41,338       1,185                                       87,382  
Grade 5 allowance
    2,904       978       84                                       3,966  
Grade 6 (Substandard) loan balance
    85,840       57,958       2,063                                       145,861  
Grade 6 allowance
    10,993       3,340       288                                       14,621  
Grade 7 (Doubtful) loan balance
    532       345                                             877  
Grade 7 allowance
    205       44                                             249  
Consumer loans based on payment status:
                                                               
Current loan balances
                    8,956       1,556,167       762,067       136,077       607,586       3,070,853  
Current loans allowance
                    140       19,874       2,157       3,671       1,070       26,912  
30 days past due loan balance
                    288       14,365       2,132       1,505       11,994       30,284  
30 days past due allowance
                    9       1,278       136       533       125       2,081  
60 days past due loan balance
                    68       4,953       708       1,223       2,733       9,685  
60 days past due allowance
                    8       1,267       135       689       90       2,189  
90+ days past due loan balance
                    29       3,398       569       1,509       12,601       18,106  
90+ days past due allowance
                    8       1,625       194       1,229       225       3,281  
 
                                               
Total loans
  $ 1,474,741       2,028,535       72,427       1,578,883       765,476       140,314       634,914       6,695,290  
 
                                               
Total Allowance for Loan Losses
  $ 37,895       18,712       1,875       24,044       2,622       6,122       1,510       92,780  
 
                                               
     Total charge-offs were $15.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 up $1.2 million, or 8.77%, from the year ago quarter and $2.0 million or 4.39% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Criticized commercial assets (“individually impaired,” “special mention,” “substandard” and “doubtful”) increased $28.7 million and accounted for 7.54% of total commercial loans for the 2006 third quarter compared with criticized commercial asset levels of 7.18% at September 30, 2005. The Corporation’s long-term trend of improving charge-off levels was interrupted by a loan that was charged down and reclassified as held-for-sale.
     Installment, home equity and credit card charge-offs were down $2.5 million from the prior year quarter reflecting the minimal negative residual impact from the October 2005 bankruptcy legislative change. Loans past due 90 days or more accruing interest were down $1.2 million or 7.11% from the linked quarter ended June 30, 2006 and down $6.4 million or 28.62% from year ago quarter ended September 30, 2006 reflecting the favorable trends in the retail portfolio.

 


Table of Contents

Loans
     Total loans outstanding at September 30, 2006 were $6.9 million compared to $6.7 billion at December 31, 2005 and $6.7 billion at September 30, 2005.
     The commercial loan portfolio for the 2006 third quarter increased by 6.58% over the prior year third quarter, but continues to be impacted by lower demand for credit in our region. While the Corporation originated $81.5 million of mortgage loans in the third quarter 2006, compared to $160.7 million in same quarter of 2005, and $509.9 million for the full year ended December 31, 2005, the majority of these loans were fixed rate mortgages which were 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 September 30, 2006 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2005 can be found under the Net Interest Income sub-caption in this report.
                         
    As of     As of     As of  
    September 30,     December 31,     September 30,  
(Dollars in thousands)   2006     2005     2005  
Commercial loans
  $ 3,733,734       3,519,483       3,503,276  
Mortgage loans
    613,332       628,581       634,914  
Installment loans
    1,622,355       1,524,355       1,578,883  
Home equity loans
    748,307       778,697       765,476  
Credit card loans
    140,143       145,592       140,314  
Leases
    59,476       70,619       72,427  
 
                 
Total Loans
  $ 6,917,347       6,667,327       6,695,290  
 
                 
          Expected cash flow and interest rate information for commercial loans is presented in the following table:
         
    As of  
    September 30, 2006  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Due in one year or less
  $ 1,589,076  
Due after one year but within five years
    1,744,029  
Due after five years
    400,629  
 
     
Totals
  $ 3,733,734  
 
     
 
       
Due after one year with a predetermined fixed interest rate
  $ 1,031,339  
Due after one year with a floating interest rate
    1,113,319  
 
     
Totals
  $ 2,144,658  
 
     
          The Corporation has interest rate hedge strategy in place that swaps fixed interest rate commercial real estate loans to a variable interest rate basis. At September 30, 2006, $474.5 million of fixed rate commercial real estate loans were hedged. This strategy is more fully described in Footnote 8, Accounting for Derivatives, in these consolidated financial statements.

 


Table of Contents

     The following table summarizes the Corporation’s nonperforming assets:
                         
    September 30,     December 31,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2005  
            (Dollars in thousands)          
Nonperforming commercial loans
  $ 52,621       54,176       34,144  
Other nonaccrual loans:
    9,132       8,086       7,751  
 
                 
Total nonperforming loans
    61,753       62,262       41,895  
Other real estate (“ORE”)
    10,711       9,995       9,503  
 
                 
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 72,464       72,257       51,398  
 
                 
 
                       
Loans past due 90 day or more accruing interest
  $ 15,311       17,931       21,451  
 
                 
Total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and ORE
    1.05 %     1.08 %     0.77 %
 
                 
     The allowance for credit losses covers nonperforming loans by 153.94% at September 30, 2006 compared to 235.44% at the end of the prior year quarter. This increase is primarily attributable to the increase in nonperforming commercial loans. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of the 2005 Form 10-K, as amended for a summary of the Corporation’s nonaccrual and charge-off policies.
     The following table is a nonaccrual commercial loan flow analysis:
                                         
    Period End  
(Dollars in thousands)   3Q06     2Q06     1Q06     4Q05     3Q05  
Nonaccrual commercial loans beginning of period
  $ 41,927       56,258       54,176       34,144       38,124  
 
                                       
Credit Actions:
                                       
New
    31,619       6,652       10,259       29,778       4,848  
Loan and lease losses
    (4,006 )     (1,927 )     (3,385 )     (3,005 )     (2,722 )
Charged down
    (2,725 )     (5,079 )     (2,681 )     (5,285 )     (253 )
Return to accruing status
    (773 )     (2,260 )     (368 )     (1,179 )     (228 )
Payments and tranfers to ORE
    (13,421 )     (2,864 )     (1,743 )     (277 )     (5,625 )
Sales
          (8,853 )                  
 
                             
Nonaccrual commercial loans end of period
  $ 52,621       41,927       56,258       54,176       34,144  
 
                             
     Nonaccrual commercial loans have decreased $3.6 million from the first quarter of 2006 but increased $10.7 million over the second quarter of 2006. As reflected above, $8.9 million of nonaccrual loans were sold in April 2006. The majority of the short-term increase at September 30, 2006 was caused by a single $7.1 million loan which was placed on nonaccrual at quarter-end and reclassified as held-for-sale. This loan was sold on October 18, 2006.

 


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  
    September 30, 2006     December 31, 2005     September 30, 2005  
    Average     Average     Average     Average     Average     Average  
    Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  
                    (Dollars in thousands)                  
Non-interest DDA
  $ 1,407,653             1,466,106             1,457,487        
Interest-bearing DDA
    794,886       1.12 %     827,829       0.71 %     838,549       0.82 %
Savings and money market accounts
    2,246,386       2.33 %     2,356,813       1.40 %     2,333,331       1.48 %
CDs and other time deposits
    2,906,952       4.49 %     2,647,908       3.28 %     2,616,195       3.28 %
 
                                         
Total customer deposits
  $ 7,355,877       2.61 %     7,298,656       1.72 %     7,245,562       1.76 %
 
                                               
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,357,746       4.64 %     1,409,135       3.22 %     1,478,857       3.36 %
Wholesale borrowings
    367,640       6.20 %     431,787       4.97 %     442,035       4.99 %
 
                                         
Total funds
  $ 9,081,263               9,139,578               9,166,454          
 
                                         
     Interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand deposits, on a combined basis, averaged $2.2 billion during the 2006 third quarter, down $93.5 million, or 4.07%, from the third quarter 2005. Savings deposits, including money market savings accounts, averaged $2.2 billion, $86.9 million or 3.73% lower than the year ago quarter. The sum of demand and savings accounts, often referred to as “core deposits,” dropped $180.4 million, or 3.90%, and represented 60.48% of total average deposits for the third quarter 2006, compared to 63.89% last year. The drop was attributable to intense competition for core deposits within the Corporation’s regional banking areas.
     The weighted-average yield paid on interest-bearing core deposits during the quarter at 2.03% was 71 basis points more than last year’s average core deposits rate. Average CDs, still the largest individual component of deposits, totaled $2.9 billion for the third quarter, up 11.11% from the same quarter last year. Average rates paid on CDs rose 121 basis points from 3.28% in the 2005 quarter to 4.49% this year. On a percentage basis, average CDs were 37.88% and 33.94%, respectively, of total interest-bearing funds for the September 30, 2006 and 2005 quarters.
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase decreased to 17.69% of interest-bearing funds during the three months ended September 30, 2006 from 19.18% for the September 30, 2005 quarter. Interest-bearing liabilities funded 82.96% of average earning assets during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 and 81.44% during the quarter ended September 30, 2005. Wholesale funds decreased to 4.79% of interest-bearing funds during the third quarter 2006 from 5.73% in the year ago quarter. In summary, the decrease in average core deposits during the

 


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quarter compared to the same period in 2005 was partially offset by the decrease in higher rate wholesale borrowings. The funding mix from higher priced wholesale borrowings towards less expensive CDs has helped to mitigate the effect of the flat yield curve and support the net interest margin.
     The following table summarizes scheduled maturities of CDs of $100 thousand or more (“Jumbo CDs”) that were outstanding as of September 30, 2006:
         
Maturing in:   Amount  
    (In thousands)  
Under 3 months
  $ 512,662  
3 to 6 months
    232,126  
6 to 12 months
    361,740  
Over 1 year through 3 years
    77,522  
Over 3 years
    42,926  
 
     
 
  $ 1,226,976  
 
     
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.

 


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     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 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 and forecasts of likely interest rate scenarios. Presented below is the Corporation’s interest rate risk profile as of September 30, 2006 and 2005:
     Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage Increase/(Decrease) in Net Interest Income:
                         
    -100 basis points   +100 basis points   +200 basis points
September 30, 2006
    (0.94 %)     0.21 %     0.02 %
September 30, 2005
    (1.54 %)     (0.16 %)     (0.77 %)
     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 ALCO. ALCO 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 September 30, 2006 and 2005:

 


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     Immediate Change in Rates and Resulting Percentage Increase/(Decrease) in EVE:
                         
    -100 basis points   +100 basis points   +200 basis points
September 30, 2006
    (3.61 %)     1.28 %     1.03 %
September 30, 2005
    (2.99 %)     0.41 %     (0.66 %)
Capital Resources
     Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2006 totaled $903.4 million compared to $937.6 million at December 31, 2005 and $972.35 million at September 30, 2005.
     The following table reflects the various measures of capital:
                                                 
    September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
    2006   2005   2005
                    (Dollars in thousands)                
Consolidated
                                               
Total equity
  $ 903,383       8.84 %     937,580       9.23 %     972,348       9.45 %
Common equity
    903,383       8.84 %     937,580       9.23 %     972,348       9.45 %
Tangible common equity (a)
    761,050       7.55 %     794,579       7.93 %     829,125       8.17 %
Tier 1 capital (b)
    820,643       10.13 %     858,879       10.60 %     883,300       10.95 %
Total risk-based capital (c)
    1,006,659       12.43 %     1,075,987       13.28 %     1,101,967       13.67 %
Leverage (d)
    820,643       8.15 %     858,879       8.48 %     883,300       8.67 %
 
                                               
Bank Only
                                               
Total equity
  $ 738,306       7.23 %     712,378       7.02 %     804,382       7.83 %
Common equity
    738,306       7.23 %     712,378       7.02 %     804,382       7.83 %
Tangible common equity (a)
    595,973       5.92 %     569,377       5.69 %     661,159       6.53 %
Tier 1 capital (b)
    742,438       9.18 %     722,814       8.94 %     807,028       10.00 %
Total risk-based capital (c)
    925,588       11.45 %     937,233       11.59 %     1,025,685       12.69 %
Leverage (d)
  $ 742,438       7.38 %     722,814       7.15 %     807,028       7.92 %
 
(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.
 
(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.

 


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     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 September 30, 2006, the Corporation’s risk-based capital equaled 12.43% of risk-adjusted assets, exceeding minimum guidelines.
     The cash dividend of $0.29 per share paid in the third quarter has an indicated annual rate of $1.16 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. 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 deposit issued through brokers. Liquidity is also provided by unencumbered, or unpledged, investment securities that totaled $525.8 million at September 30, 2006.
     Funding Trends for the Quarter — During the three months ended September 30, 2006, total average deposits decreased $70.1 million from the previous quarter and $3.7 million of higher rate wholesale borrowings were repaid.
     Parent Company Liquidity — The Corporation manages its liquidity principally through dividends from the bank subsidiary. During the second quarter ended September 30, 2006, FirstMerit Bank paid FirstMerit Corporation $24.0 million in dividends. As of September 30, 2006, FirstMerit Bank had an additional $16.6 million available to pay dividends without regulatory approval.

 


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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 2005 Form 10-K, as amended, provide 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 2005 Form 10-K, as amended. Accounting for mortgage servicing rights was also discussed in the 2005 Form 10-K, as amended, 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 2005 Form 10-K, as amended. 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 2005 Form 10-K, as amended as well as Note 10 (Benefit Plans) in the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
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 8 (Accounting for Derivatives) to the consolidated financial statements included in this report and in Note 17 to the 2005 Form 10-K, as amended. There have been no significant changes since December 31, 2005.
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 2005 Form 10-K, as amended.

 


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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.
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 any or all such actions will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or shareholders’ equity of the Corporation.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
     There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K as amended.

 


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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 shares during the third quarter of the 2006 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 June 30, 2006:
                            396,272  
 
July 1, 2006 - July 31, 2006
                      396,272  
August 1, 2006 - August 31, 2006
          $               396,272  
September 1, 2006 - September 30, 2006
                      396,272  
 
                       
 
Balance as of September 30, 2006:
    0     $         0       396,272  
 
                       
 
(1)   On January 19, 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 3 million shares (the “New Repurchase Plan”). The New Repurchase Plan superseded all other repurchase programs, including that authorized by the Board of Directors on July 15, 2004 (the “Prior Repurchase Plan”). The Corporation had purchased all of the shares it was authorized to acquire under the Prior Repurchase Plan.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

 


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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits
     
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 8-K filed by the registrant on April 9, 1998)
 
   
31.1
  Rule 13a-14(a)/Section 302 Certification of Paul G. Greig, 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 Paul G. Greig, Chief Executive Officer of FirstMerit Corporation, and Terrence E. Bichsel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FirstMerit Corporation

 


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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 (duly authorized officer of registrant and principal financial officer)   
 
Date: November 8, 2006