Shareholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Note 19 – Shareholders’ Equity

Dividends Paid

The Bank paid to the Company cash dividends in the aggregate amounts of $3,680,000 and $2,120,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively. The Bank is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the State of California Department of Business Oversight. Absent approval from the Commissioner of the Department of Business Oversight, 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. Under this law, at December 31, 2015, the Bank may pay cash dividends of $73,297,000.

Stock Repurchase Plan

On August 21, 2007, the Board of Directors adopted a plan to repurchase, as conditions warrant, up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market. The timing of purchases and the exact number of shares to be purchased will depend on market conditions. The 500,000 shares authorized for repurchase under this stock repurchase plan represented approximately 3.2% of the Company’s 15,814,662 outstanding common shares as of August 21, 2007. This stock repurchase plan has no expiration date. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had repurchased 166,600 shares under this plan.

Stock Repurchased Under Equity Compensation Plans

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, employees tendered 0 and 21,461 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock with market value of $0, and $509,000, respectively, in lieu of cash to exercise options to purchase shares of the Company’s stock and to pay income taxes related to such exercises as permitted by the Company’s shareholder-approved equity compensation plans. 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. Stock repurchased under equity incentive plans are not included in the total of stock repurchased under the stock repurchase plan announced on August 21, 2007.