Shareholders' Equity

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders’ Equity

Dividends Paid

The Bank paid to the Company cash dividends in the aggregate amounts of $12,694,000 and $10,236,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively and $39,448,000 and $18,350,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Bank is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the State of California Department of Business Oversight (DBO). Absent approval from the Commissioner of the DBO, California banking laws generally limit the Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the lesser of (1) retained earnings or (2) net income for the last three fiscal years, less cash distributions paid during such period.

Stock Repurchase Plan

On November 12, 2019 the Board of Directors approved the authorization to repurchase up to 1,525,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the 2019 Repurchase Plan), which approximated 5.0% of the shares outstanding as of the approval date. The actual timing of any share repurchases will be determined by the Company's management and therefore the total value of the shares to be purchased under the program is subject to change. The 2019 Repurchase Plan has no expiration date and during the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company had repurchased no shares. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company repurchased 259,993 and 813,862 shares with a market value of $7,669,000 and $24,809,000, respectively.

In connection with approval of the 2019 Repurchase Plan, the Company’s previous repurchase program adopted on August 21, 2007 (the 2007 Repurchase Plan) was terminated. There were no shares of common stock repurchased under the 2007 Repurchase Plan during 2019.

Stock Repurchased Under Equity Compensation Plans

The Company's shareholder-approved equity compensation plans permit employees to tender recently vested shares in lieu of cash for the payment of withholding taxes on such shares. During the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, employees tendered 0 and 93,755 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock in connection with option exercises. During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, employees tendered 4,668 and 119,914 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock in connection with option exercises. Employees also tendered 11,306 and 15,151 shares in connection with the tax withholding requirements of other share based awards during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 11,439 and 15,242 shares during the six months period ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In total, shares of the Company's common stock tendered had market values of $346,000 and $3,659,000 during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $494,000 and $4,695,000 year to date June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The tendered shares were retired. The market value of tendered shares is the last market trade price at closing on the day an option is exercised or the other share based award vests. Stock repurchased under equity incentive plans are not included in the total of stock repurchased under the 2019 or 2007 Stock Repurchase Plans.