Shareholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders’ Equity

Dividends Paid

The Bank paid to the Company cash dividends in the aggregate amounts of $18.2 million and $7.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Bank is regulated by the FDIC and the DFPI. Absent approval from the Commissioner of the DFPI, 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 February 25, 2021 the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2.0 million shares of the Company's common stock (the 2021 Repurchase Plan), which approximated 6.7% of the shares outstanding as of the approval date. The actual timing of any share repurchases can be determined by the Company's management and therefore the total value of the shares to be purchased under the 2021 Repurchase Plan is subject to change. The 2021 Repurchase Plan has no expiration date (in accordance with applicable laws and regulations). During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company repurchased 150,000 and zero shares with market values of $7.0 million and $0, respectively.

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 exercise price, if applicable, and the tax withholding on such shares. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, exercising option holders tendered zero shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock in connection with option exercises.

Employees also tendered 12,381 and zero shares in connection with the tax withholding requirements of other share based awards during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In total, shares of the Company's common stock tendered had market values of $0.62 million and $0 during the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, 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 2021 Stock Repurchase Plans.