10-Q 1 a06-21739_110q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(D)

 

 

FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Quarter Ended September 30, 2006

Commission File Number 0-10232

FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California

 

95-3582843

State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization

 

IRS Employer Identification Number

 

 

 

1801 Century Park East, Los Angeles, California

 

90067

Address of principal executive offices

 

Zip Code

 

(310) 552-1776

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not applicable

Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report

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 x       No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Large Accelerated filer   o

Accelerated filer   x

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 x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

Indicate the number of shares outstanding in each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, No Par Value

 

12,281,103

Class

 

Outstanding on November 6, 2006

 

 




FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP
INDEX

 

 

 

 

Part

I - Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (unaudited)

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (unaudited)

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

Part

II - Other Information

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

 

 

 




PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(In Thousands Except Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

81,893

 

$

67,964

 

Federal funds sold

 

60,055

 

0

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

141,948

 

67,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities, available for sale, at fair value (with amortized cost of $13,057 in 2006 and $4,200 in 2005)

 

13,066

 

4,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

5,112

 

3,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock – at cost

 

12,748

 

9,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans, net of allowance for losses of $20,131 in 2006 and $17,577 in 2005

 

1,821,654

 

1,688,357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

 

3,793

 

3,581

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest receivable and other assets

 

38,529

 

34,436

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

2,036,850

 

$

1,811,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

Noninterest bearing

 

$

470,492

 

$

446,098

 

Interest bearing:

 

 

 

 

 

Money market deposits

 

836,476

 

735,237

 

Time deposits

 

216,537

 

183,492

 

Other deposits

 

49,182

 

55,394

 

Total deposits

 

1,572,687

 

1,420,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

220,000

 

210,000

 

Note payable

 

300

 

412

 

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

 

14,794

 

13,191

 

Subordinated debentures

 

92,785

 

61,857

 

Total Liabilities

 

1,900,566

 

1,705,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock-no par value, authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding 12,281,000 (2006) and 12,241,000 (2005)

 

51,914

 

49,918

 

Unearned ESOP shares; 95,000 (2006) and 131,000 (2005)

 

(284

)

(391

)

Total common stock-no par value; outstanding 12,186,000 (2006) and 12,110,000 (2005)

 

51,630

 

49,527

 

Retained earnings

 

84,649

 

56,534

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

5

 

(27

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

136,284

 

106,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

2,036,850

 

$

1,811,715

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3




FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In Thousands Except Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

INTEREST INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on loans

 

$

42,141

 

$

28,582

 

$

118,317

 

$

73,166

 

Interest on investment securities

 

147

 

44

 

261

 

164

 

Interest on deposits in financial institutions

 

75

 

19

 

158

 

50

 

Interest on federal funds sold

 

54

 

19

 

129

 

148

 

Total interest income

 

42,417

 

28,664

 

118,865

 

73,528

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on deposits

 

10,756

 

4,629

 

26,968

 

9,787

 

Interest on subordinated debentures

 

1,825

 

639

 

4,509

 

1,759

 

Interest on FHLB advances

 

2,047

 

1,077

 

6,942

 

2,793

 

Interest on other borrowings

 

0

 

3

 

4

 

4

 

Total interest expense

 

14,628

 

6,348

 

38,423

 

14,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

27,789

 

22,316

 

80,442

 

59,185

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

 

0

 

1,505

 

3,891

 

4,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

27,789

 

20,811

 

76,551

 

54,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER OPERATING INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer service fees

 

1,581

 

1,481

 

5,451

 

4,147

 

Other-net

 

349

 

209

 

929

 

599

 

Total other operating income

 

1,930

 

1,690

 

6,380

 

4,746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and related benefits

 

8,116

 

6,437

 

21,895

 

17,327

 

Occupancy expense

 

754

 

597

 

2,058

 

1,991

 

Equipment expense

 

369

 

308

 

997

 

788

 

Promotion expense

 

113

 

140

 

478

 

374

 

Professional service expense

 

864

 

632

 

2,465

 

1,836

 

Customer service expense

 

390

 

355

 

1,119

 

1,043

 

Supply/communication expense

 

339

 

257

 

1,062

 

794

 

Other expenses

 

1,155

 

1,613

 

3,481

 

3,221

 

Total other operating expenses

 

12,100

 

10,339

 

33,555

 

27,374

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

17,619

 

12,162

 

49,376

 

32,352

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

7,580

 

5,158

 

21,260

 

13,731

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

10,039

 

$

7,004

 

$

28,116

 

$

18,621

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE: (Note 3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.58

 

$

2.31

 

$

1.55

 

Diluted

 

$

0.77

 

$

0.54

 

$

2.16

 

$

1.45

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4




FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

28,116

 

$

18,621

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

3,891

 

4,205

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

655

 

596

 

Amortization of investment securities premiums and discounts-net

 

(43

)

(162

)

Stock compensation costs

 

432

 

0

 

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

 

(385

)

0

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends

 

(417

)

(238

)

Net gain on sale/disposal of premises and equipment

 

0

 

(8

)

Increase in accrued interest receivable and other assets

 

(4,112

)

(3,853

)

Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable and other liabilities

 

188

 

(846

)

Increase in taxes payable

 

1,800

 

304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

30,125

 

18,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in interest bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

(1,759

)

(473

)

Purchases of investment securities

 

(10,389

)

(16,259

)

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities

 

1,571

 

15,655

 

(Purchase) redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

 

(2,461

)

1,289

 

Net increase in loans

 

(137,188

)

(354,899

)

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment

 

0

 

20

 

Purchases of premises and equipment

 

(867

)

(1,162

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(151,093

)

(355,829

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in non-interest bearing deposits, and other interest bearing deposits

 

119,421

 

323,887

 

Net increase in time deposits

 

33,045

 

16,775

 

Decrease in note payable

 

(112

)

(112

)

Increase (decrease) in Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

10,000

 

(41,687

)

Issuance of subordinated debentures

 

30,928

 

20,619

 

Stock options exercised

 

233

 

260

 

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

 

385

 

0

 

Other changes in shareholders’ equity

 

1,052

 

821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

194,952

 

320,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

73,984

 

(16,647

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

67,964

 

119,505

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

141,948

 

$

102,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

40,805

 

$

13,911

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

22,282

 

$

17,642

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5




FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2006

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1: Basis of Presentation

 

First Regional Bancorp, a bank holding company (the “Company”), and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, First Regional Bank, a California state-chartered bank (the “Bank”), primarily serve Southern California through their branches. The Company’s primary source of revenue is providing loans to customers, which are predominantly small and midsize businesses.

 

Certain amounts in the 2005 financial statements have been reclassified to be comparable with the classifications used in the 2006 financial statements.

 

In the opinion of the Company, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (which consist only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations for the interim periods. Interim results may not be indicative of annual operations.

 

While the Company believes that the disclosures presented are adequate to make the information not misleading, it is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes included in the Company’s 2005 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

All share and per share information in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the three-for-one stock split approved by the Board of Directors on July 20, 2006. All shareholders of record on July 31, 2006 received two additional shares of common stock for each share held by them at that date. In connection with the stock split, the authorized number of shares was likewise increased from 50 million to 150 million shares, effective August 21, 2006.

 

NOTE 2: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154 – In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (SFAS No. 154), that addresses accounting for changes in accounting principle, changes in accounting estimates, changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions and error correction. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle and error correction unless impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 states an exception to retrospective application when a change in accounting principle, or the method of applying it, may be inseparable from the effect of a change in accounting estimate. When a change in principle is inseparable from a change in estimate, such as depreciation, amortization or depletion, the change to the financial statements is to be presented in a prospective manner. SFAS No. 154 and the required disclosures are effective for accounting changes and error corrections in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R – In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R). This Statement supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, and its related implementation guidance, is a revision of SFAS No. 123, and amends SFAS No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows. This revision of SFAS No. 123 eliminates the ability for public companies to measure share-based compensation transactions at the intrinsic value allowed by APB Opinion No. 25, and requires that such transactions be accounted for based on the grant date fair value of the award. This Statement also amends SFAS No. 95, to require that excess tax benefits be reported as a financing cash inflow rather than as a reduction of taxes paid. Under the intrinsic value method allowed under APB Opinion No. 25, the difference between the quoted market price as of the

6




 

date of the grant and the contractual purchase price of the share is charged to operations over the vesting period, and no compensation expense is recognized for fixed stock options with exercise prices equal to the market price of the stock on the dates of grant. Under the fair value based method as prescribed by SFAS No. 123R, the Company is required to charge the value of all newly granted stock-based compensation to expense over the vesting period based on the computed fair value of the award on the grant date. The Statement does not specify a valuation technique to be used to estimate the fair value but states that the use of option-pricing models such as a lattice model (e.g. a binomial model) or a closed-end model (e.g. the Black-Scholes model) would be acceptable.

 

The Company adopted this Standard effective January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective method, recording compensation expense for all awards granted after the date of adoption and for the unvested portion of previously granted awards that remain outstanding at the date of adoption. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R in prior periods, the impact on net income and earnings per share would have been similar to the pro forma net income and earnings per share in accordance with SFAS No. 123 as disclosed in Note 3.

 

FSP Nos. 115-1 and 124-1 – In November 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position (“FSP”) Nos. FAS 115-1 and 124-1 to address the determination as to when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. This FSP nullified certain requirements of Emerging Issues Task Force 03-1 The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments (EITF 03-1), and references existing other than temporary impairment guidance. Furthermore, this FSP creates a three-step process in determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. The FSP is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The adoption has not had a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

SOP No. 94-6-1 – In December 2005, the FASB issued FSP Statement of Position (“SOP”) 94-6-1, Terms of Loan Products That May Give Rise to a Concentration of Credit Risk, which addresses the circumstances under which the terms of loan products give rise to such risk and the disclosures or other accounting considerations that apply for entities that originate, hold, guarantee, service, or invest in loan products with terms that may give rise to a concentration of credit risk. The guidance under this FSP is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 19, 2005 and for loan products that are determined to represent a concentration of credit risk. Disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, should be provided for all periods presented. The adoption has not had a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

FIN 48 In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”) which supplements SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, by defining the confidence level that a tax position must meet in order to be recognized in the financial statements. The Interpretation requires that the tax effects of a position be recognized only if it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The more-likely-than-not threshold represents a positive assertion by management that a company is entitled to economic benefits of a tax position. If a tax position is not considered more-likely-than-not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits, no benefits of the position are to be recognized. Moreover, the more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period to support continued recognition of a benefit. At adoption, companies must adjust their financial statements to reflect only those tax positions that are more-likely-than-not to be sustained as of the adoption date. Any necessary adjustment would be recorded directly to retained earnings in the period of adoption and reported as a change in accounting principle. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. It is not anticipated that adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 – In September 2006 the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 108 Quantifying Financial Misstatements, which expresses the Staff’s views regarding the process of quantifying financial statement

7




 

misstatements. Registrants are required to quantify the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements. The techniques most commonly used in practice to accumulate and quantify misstatements are generally referred to as the “rollover” (current year income statement perspective) and “iron curtain” (year-end balance perspective) approaches. The financial statements would require adjustment when either approach results in quantifying a misstatement that is material, after considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors. Management does not expect this guidance to have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

SFAS No. 157 – In September 2006 the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 Fair Value Measurements, (SFAS No. 157) which provides a definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 12, 2007, and interim periods within those years. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 should be applied prospectively. Management is assessing the potential impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

NOTE 3: Earnings per Share and Stock Based Compensation

 

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. The computation of diluted earnings per share also considers the number of shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of outstanding common stock options. A reconciliation of the numerator and the denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Average

 

Per

 

 

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Share

 

 

 

(Numerator)

 

(Denominator)

 

Amount

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

10,039,000

 

12,178,163

 

$

0.82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of outstanding options

 

 

 

847,128

 

(0.05

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

10,039,000

 

13,025,291

 

$

0.77

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Average

 

Per

 

 

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Share

 

 

 

(Numerator)

 

(Denominator)

 

Amount

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

7,004,000

 

12,078,630

 

$

0.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of outstanding options

 

 

 

835,401

 

(0.04

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

7,004,000

 

12,914,031

 

$

0.54

 

 

8




 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Average

 

Per

 

 

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Share

 

 

 

(Numerator)

 

(Denominator)

 

Amount

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

28,116,000

 

12,153,387

 

$

2.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of outstanding options

 

 

 

835,429

 

(0.15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

28,116,000

 

12,988,816

 

$

2.16

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Average

 

Per

 

 

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Share

 

 

 

(Numerator)

 

(Denominator)

 

Amount

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

18,621,000

 

12,043,143

 

$

1.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of outstanding options

 

 

 

819,171

 

(0.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

18,621,000

 

12,862,314

 

$

1.45

 

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R, using a modified prospective application. Accordingly, prior period amounts have not been restated. Commencing with the first quarter of 2006, compensation costs includes all share based options granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based upon the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and compensation for all share based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based upon the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R.

 

In the third quarter and the first nine months of 2006, the adoption of SFAS No. 123R resulted in incremental stock-based compensation expense of $144,000 and $432,000, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the incremental stock-based compensation expense caused income before taxes to decrease by $144,000 and $432,000, net income to decrease by $84,000 and $251,000 and basic and diluted earnings per share to each decrease by $0.01 and $0.02 per share.

 

Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company applied APB 25 to account for its stock-based awards. The following table illustrates the pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

9




 

 

Three

 

Nine

 

 

 

Months Ended

 

Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

        2005        

 

        2005        

 

Net income to common shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Reported

 

$

7,004,000

 

$

18,621,000

 

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense, determined under fair value based method, net of related tax effects

 

95,000

 

231,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income

 

$

6,909,000

 

$

18,390,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

0.58

 

$

1.55

 

Pro forma

 

$

0.57

 

$

1.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

0.54

 

$

1.45

 

Pro forma

 

$

0.53

 

$

1.43

 

 

Stock Compensation Plans

 

In May 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a nonqualified employee stock option plan that expires in 2015 and authorizes the issuance of up to 600,000 shares of its common stock upon the exercise of options granted. The plan is intended to allow the Company the ability to grant stock options to persons who had not previously been awarded option grants commensurate with their positions, primarily persons hired since the exhaustion of options available for grant under the Company’s previous stock option plans. The Company’s Board of Directors believes that the plan will assist the Company in attracting and retaining high quality officers and staff, and will provide grantees under the plan with added incentive to achieve high levels of performance and to assist in the effort to increase the Company’s earnings. To date, none of the grants have been made to directors or executive officers of the Company or to directors of the Bank. During May and July 2005, the Company granted options to buy up to 177,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to certain officers of the Company and its subsidiaries. All such granted options will vest over seven years and expire in 2015. The exercise prices of the options granted in 2005 range from $20.50 to $25.00.

 

In 1999, the Company adopted a nonqualified employee stock option plan that authorizes the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of its common stock and expires in 2009.

 

Under both plans, options may be granted at a price not less than the fair market value of the stock at the date of the grant. The grant date fair value is calculated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.

 

No stock options were granted during the first nine months of 2006.

 

The estimated fair value of options granted during May 2005 was $12.25 using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used: no dividend yield, expected volatility of 42 percent, risk-free interest rate of 4.3 percent and expected lives of 10 years. The estimated fair value of options granted during July 2005 was $15.06 using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used: no dividend yield, expected volatility of 42 percent, risk-free interest rate of 4.6 percent and expected lives of 10 years. There were no other options granted during the first nine months of 2005.

 

A summary of the award activity under the stock option plans as of September 30, 2006 and changes during the nine month period is presented below:

10




 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

Number

 

Average

 

 

 

of

 

Exercise

 

 

 

Shares

 

Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2006

 

1,876,000

 

$

5.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(40,000

)

5.80

 

Cancelled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2006

 

1,836,000

 

5.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at end of period

 

1,036,000

 

4.36

 

 

Information pertaining to options outstanding at September 30, 2006, is as follows:

 

Options Outstanding

 

Vested Options

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

Average

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Number

 

Remaining

 

Exercise

 

Number

 

Exercise

 

Outstanding

 

Life

 

Price

 

Exercisable

 

Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

101,000

 

4.34

 

$

2.42

 

49,000

 

$

2.42

 

153,000

 

4.19

 

2.84

 

68,000

 

2.80

 

986,000

 

6.09

 

3.83

 

784,000

 

3.83

 

437,000

 

6.92

 

6.93

 

116,000

 

6.93

 

129,000

 

8.59

 

20.50

 

15,000

 

20.50

 

30,000

 

8.76

 

25.00

 

4,000

 

25.00

 

1,836,000

 

 

 

 

 

1,036,000

 

 

 

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 was $193,000 and $918,000, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 was $663,000 and $1,730,000, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 was $63,000 and $342,000, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 was $0 and $49,000, respectively.

As of September 30, 2006, there was $2,184,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards granted under the stock option plans.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.15 years.  We received $233,000 and $260,000 cash from the exercise of stock options during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

NOTE 4: Commitments and Contingencies

 

As of September 30, 2006 the Bank had a total of $9,029,000 in standby letters of credit outstanding.  No losses are anticipated as a result of these transactions.

 

11




NOTE 5: Comprehensive Income

 

The Company’s comprehensive income includes all items which comprise net income plus the unrealized holding losses and gains on available-for-sale securities.  For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company’s comprehensive income was as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Net income

 

$

10,039

 

$

7,004

 

$

28,116

 

$

18,621

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

121

 

(35

)

32

 

(26

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

10,160

 

$

6,969

 

$

28,148

 

$

18,595

 

 

NOTE 6: Operating Segment Reports

 

Management has evaluated the Company’s overall operation and determined that its business consists of certain reportable business segments as of September 30, 2006 and 2005:  core banking operations, the administrative services in relation to TAS (as defined below), and trust services.  The following describes these three business segments:

 

Core Bank Operations – The principal business activities of this segment are attracting funds from the general public and originating commercial and real estate loans for small and midsize businesses in Southern California.  This segment’s primary sources of revenue are interest income from loans and investment securities and fees earned in connection with loans and deposits.  This segment’s principal expenses consist of interest paid on deposits, personnel, and other general and administrative expenses.  Core banking services also include the Bank’s merchant services operations, which provides credit card deposits and clearing services to retailers and other credit card accepting businesses and which generates fee income.

Administrative Services – During the third quarter of 2006, the business of the Bank’s subsidiary, Trust Administration Services Corp. (“TASC”), was reorganized into a division of the Bank.  The reorganization was effected by transferring all business, operations and duties to perform services from TASC to the Bank.  The principal business activity of the Bank’s Trust Administration Services Division (referred to as “Administrative Services” or “TAS”) is providing administrative services for self-directed retirement plans and accounts throughout the United States.  The primary source of revenue for this segment is fee income from self-directed retirement accounts.  The segment’s principal expenses consist of personnel, rent, data processing and other general and administrative expenses.

Trust Services – The principal business activity of this segment is providing trust services for living trusts, investment agency accounts, IRA rollovers, and all forms of court-related matters. The primary source of revenue for this segment is fee income.  The segment’s principal expenses consist of personnel, data processing, professional service expenses, and other general and administrative expenses.

Total assets of TAS at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were $963,000 and $920,000, respectively and total assets of Trust Services at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were $41,000 and $41,000, respectively.  The remaining assets reflected on the balance sheets of the Company are associated with the core banking operations.

12




The following table shows the operating results (in thousands) for the core banking operations, administrative services, and trust services for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

Three Month Period Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Core Banking

 

Administrative

 

Trust

 

Combined

 

 

 

Operations

 

Services

 

Services

 

Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

27,789

 

 

 

 

 

$

27,789

 

Provision for loan losses

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

Other operating income

 

977

 

$

551

 

$

402

 

1,930

 

Other operating expenses

 

11,407

 

426

 

267

 

12,100

 

Provision for income taxes

 

7,471

 

52

 

57

 

7,580

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,888

 

$

73

 

$

78

 

$

10,039

 

 

 

Three Month Period Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

Core Banking

 

Administrative

 

Trust

 

Combined

 

 

 

Operations

 

Services

 

Services

 

Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

22,316

 

 

 

 

 

$

22,316

 

Provision for loan losses

 

1,505

 

 

 

 

 

1,505

 

Other operating income

 

735

 

$

578

 

$

377

 

1,690

 

Other operating expenses

 

9,958

 

136

 

245

 

10,339

 

Provision for income taxes

 

4,923

 

181

 

54

 

5,158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

6,665

 

$

261

 

$

78

 

$

7,004

 

 

 

Nine Month Period Ended September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Core Banking

 

Administrative

 

Trust

 

Combined

 

 

 

Operations

 

Services

 

Services

 

Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

80,442

 

 

 

 

 

$

80,442

 

Provision for loan losses

 

3,891

 

 

 

 

 

3,891

 

Other operating income

 

3,302

 

$

1,848

 

$

1,230

 

6,380

 

Other operating expenses

 

31,787

 

988

 

780

 

33,555

 

Provision for income taxes

 

20,710

 

361

 

189

 

21,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

27,356

 

$

499

 

$

261

 

$

28,116

 

 

 

Nine Month Period Ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

Core Banking

 

Administrative

 

Trust

 

Combined

 

 

 

Operations

 

Services

 

Services

 

Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

59,185

 

 

 

 

 

$

59,185

 

Provision for loan losses

 

4,205

 

 

 

 

 

4,205

 

Other operating income

 

2,047

 

$

1,712

 

$

987

 

4,746

 

Other operating expenses

 

26,198

 

514

 

662

 

27,374

 

Provision for income taxes

 

13,107

 

491

 

133

 

13,731

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

17,722

 

$

707

 

$

192

 

$

18,621

 

 

In addition, the operations of the administrative services positively affect the results of core banking operations by providing a low-cost source of deposits.

13




ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

SUMMARY

 

First Regional Bancorp did not conduct any significant business activities independent of First Regional Bank and the Bank’s subsidiary, TASC.  The following discussion and analysis relates primarily to the Bank.

For a more complete understanding of the Company and its operations reference should be made to the financial statements included in this report and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.  Certain statements in this report on Form 10-Q constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein may constitute forward-looking statements.  Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations include fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations, and economic conditions and competition in the geographic and business areas in which First Regional Bancorp conducts its operations.  For additional information concerning these factors, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.

The Company has established various accounting policies which govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements. Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management which have a material impact on the carrying value of assets and liabilities; management considers such accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions made by management, actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates that could have a material impact on the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the results of operations of the Company. The Company believes the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its condensed consolidated financial statements. In estimating the allowance for loan losses, management utilizes historical experience as well as other factors including the effect of changes in the local real estate market on collateral values, the effect on the loan portfolio of current economic indicators and their probable impact on borrowers and increases or decreases in nonperforming and impaired loans. Changes in these factors may cause management’s estimate of the allowance to increase or decrease and result in adjustments to the Company’s provision for loan losses.

As of September 30, 2006 total assets were $2,036,850,000 compared to $1,811,715,000 at December 31, 2005, an increase of $225,135,000 or 12.4% and the September 30, 2006 asset level represents a $392,116,000 (23.8%) increase over the $1,644,734,000 that existed on the same date in 2005.  The 2006 asset increase reflects a corresponding increase in total deposits of $152,466,000 or 10.7%, from $1,420,221,000 at the end of 2005 to $1,572,687,000 at September 30, 2006.  While overall deposits increased, the deposit growth was centered primarily in money market deposits while noninterest bearing deposits, time deposits and other deposits also experienced an increase.  Subordinated debentures also increased by $30,928,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. There were several changes in the composition of the Bank’s assets during the first nine months of 2006.  The Bank’s core loan portfolio grew significantly by $133,297,000 during the nine month period, bringing the Bank’s total loans to $1,821,654,000 at September 30, 2006 from the December 31, 2005 total of $1,688,357,000.  The combined effect of the substantial increase in loans and the growth in deposits and subordinated debentures was an increase in the level of total liquid assets (cash and due from banks, Federal funds sold and investment securities).  Investment securities increased by $8.9 million, while cash and cash equivalents (cash and due from banks and Federal funds sold), increased by $74.0 million in order to accommodate the changes that took place in the rest of the balance sheet.

14




The Company earned net income of $10,039,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to earnings of $7,004,000 in the third quarter of 2005. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was earnings of $28,116,000 compared to net income of $18,621,000 for the corresponding period of 2005, an increase of 51%.

NET INTEREST INCOME

 

Net interest income is the excess of interest income earned on interest-earning assets over interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities.  Interest income or expense are determined by the average volume of interest-bearing assets or liabilities, and the average rate of interest earned or paid on those assets or liabilities.  As was the case during 2005, in the first nine months of 2006 the Company’s continued growth efforts resulted in an increase in interest earning assets, including loans.  The Bank’s core loan portfolio increased significantly during the first nine months of 2006.  The Company’s 2006 asset growth reflects a corresponding increase in total deposits resulting in an increase in full service bank branches during 2003 and an increase in personnel in 2005 and 2006.

Total interest income increased by $13,753,000 (48%) for the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, and increased by $45,337,000 (62%) for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to the prior year as total earning assets were substantially higher (26%) in 2006 than in 2005.  The majority of the increase in interest income arises from a substantial increase of $13,559,000 (47%) in interest on loans from $28,582,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to $42,141,000 for the same period in 2006.  Although interest income increased reflecting an increase in the loan portfolio of $326,731,000 (22%) from September 30, 2005 to September 30, 2006, interest income was also affected by the Federal Reserve’s series of interest rate increases.  For the three months ended September 30, 2006 interest expense on deposits increased by $6,127,000 (132%) to $10,756,000 from the 2005 level of $4,629,000 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 interest expense on deposits increased by $17,181,000 (176%) to $26,968,000 from the 2005 level of $9,787,000 due to an increase in total deposits of $231,973,000 (17%) from September 30, 2005 to September 30, 2006. The increases in deposits were primarily in money market deposits, while non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts, time deposits and other deposits also showed increases.  For the three months ended September 30, 2006 interest expense on subordinated debentures increased by $1,186,000 (186%), to $1,825,000 from the 2005 level of $639,000 due to an increase of $30,928,000 in subordinated debentures at September 30, 2006 compared to September 30, 2005 and also due to an increase in interest rates during the period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 interest expense on subordinated debentures increased by $2,750,000 (156%), to $4,509,000 from the 2005 level of $1,759,000 due to the increase in subordinated debentures compared to the prior year and also due to an increase in interest rates during the period. For the three months ended September 30, 2006 interest expense on FHLB advances increased by $970,000 (90%), to $2,047,000 from the 2005 level of $1,077,000 due to an increase of $85,000,000 in FHLB advances at September 30, 2006 compared to the earlier quarter and also due to an increase in interest rates during the period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 interest expense on FHLB advances increased by $4,149,000 (149%), to $6,942,000 from the 2005 level of $2,793,000 due to the increase in FHLB advances compared to the prior year and also due to an increase in interest rates during the period. The net result was an increase in net interest income of $5,473,000 (25%), from $22,316,000 in the third quarter of 2005 to $27,789,000 for the third quarter of 2006 and an increase in net interest income of $21,257,000 (36%), from $59,185,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 to $80,442,000 for the first nine months of 2006.

Interest Rates and Interest Differential

 

The following table sets forth the average balances outstanding for major categories of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabili­ties and the average interest rates earned and paid thereon:

15




 

 

For the Three Month Period Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Balance

 

Interest (2)

 

Yield/Rate (%)

 

Balance

 

Interest (2)

 

Yield/Rate (%)

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Interest earnings assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross loans (1)

 

$

1,833,987

 

$

42,141

 

9.1

%

$

1,440,304

 

$

28,582

 

7.9

%

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

6,886

 

75

 

4.3

%

3,537

 

19

 

2.1

%

Federal funds sold

 

4,836

 

54

 

4.4

%

2,183

 

19

 

3.5

%

Investment securities

 

12,716

 

147

 

4.6

%

7,891

 

44

 

2.2

%

Total earning assets

 

$

1,858,425

 

$

42,417

 

9.1

%

$

1,453,915

 

$

28,664

 

7.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings deposits

 

$

50,860

 

$

229

 

1.8

%

$

39,953

 

$

65

 

0.6

%

Money market accounts

 

839,873

 

8,052

 

3.8

%

586,840

 

3,071

 

2.1

%

Time deposits

 

204,031

 

2,475

 

4.8

%

194,313

 

1,493

 

3.0

%

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

151,250

 

2,047

 

5.4

%

120,761

 

1,077

 

3.5

%

Subordinated debentures

 

92,785

 

1,825

 

7.8

%

41,910

 

639

 

6.0

%

Funds purchased

 

0

 

0

 

0.0

%

102

 

3

 

11.7

%

Total bearing liabilities

 

$

1,338,799

 

$

14,628

 

4.3

%

$

983,879

 

$

6,348

 

2.6

%

 


(1)                                  This figure reflects total loans, including non-accrual loans, and is not net of the allowance for losses, which had an average balance in the third quarter of $21,026,000 in 2006 and $15,620,000 in 2005 and is not net of deferred loan fees, which had an average balance in the third quarter of $8,020,000 in 2006 and $7,008,000 in 2005.

(2)                                  Includes loan fees in the third quarter of $2,526,000 in 2006 and $2,336,000 in 2005.

16




 

 

 

For the Nine Month Period Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Balance

 

Interest (2)

 

Yield/Rate (%)

 

Balance

 

Interest (2)

 

Yield/Rate (%)

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Interest earnings assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross loans (1)

 

$

1,798,773

 

$

118,317

 

8.8

%

$

1,309,550

 

$

73,166

 

7.5

%

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

5,523

 

158

 

3.8

%

3,350

 

50

 

2.0

%

Federal funds sold

 

3,939

 

129

 

4.4

%

7,716

 

148

 

2.6

%

Investment securities

 

8,620

 

261

 

4.0

%

9,160

 

164

 

2.4

%

Total earning assets

 

$

1,816,855

 

$

118,865

 

8.7

%

$

1,329,776

 

$

73,528

 

7.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings deposits

 

$

49,985

 

$

542

 

1.4

%

$

39,873

 

$

145

 

0.5

%

Money market accounts

 

790,425

 

20,290

 

3.4

%

508,406

 

6,223

 

1.6

%

Time deposits

 

189,694

 

6,136

 

4.3

%

175,681

 

3,419

 

2.6

%

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

188,707

 

6,942

 

4.9

%

122,652

 

2,793

 

3.0

%

Subordinated debentures

 

82,816

 

4,509

 

7.3

%

41,465

 

1,759

 

5.7

%

Funds purchased

 

45

 

4

 

11.9

%

155

 

4

 

3.5

%

Total bearing liabilities

 

$

1,301,672

 

$

38,423

 

3.9

%

$

888,232

 

$

14,343

 

2.2

%

 


(1)                                  This figure reflects total loans, including non-accrual loans, and is not net of the allowance for losses, which had an average balance in the first nine months of $20,032,000 in 2006 and $14,183,000 in 2005 and is not net of the deferred loan fees, which had an average balance in the first nine months of $8,020,000 in 2006 and $6,890,000 in 2005.

(2)                                  Includes loan fees in the first nine months of $7,309,000 in 2006 and $6,022,000 in 2005.

The following table shows the net interest earnings and the net yield on average interest earning assets:

 

 

For the Three Month

 

For the Nine Month

 

 

 

Period Ended

 

Period Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Total interest income (1)

 

$

42,417

 

$

28,664

 

$

118,865

 

$

73,528

 

Total interest expense

 

14,628

 

6,348

 

38,423

 

14,343

 

Net interest earnings

 

$

27,789

 

$

22,316

 

$

80,442

 

$

59,185

 

Average interest earning assets

 

$

1,858,425

 

$

1,453,915

 

$

1,816,855

 

$

1,329,776

 

Average interest bearing liabilities

 

$

1,338,799

 

$

983,879

 

$

1,301,672

 

$

888,232

 

Net yield on average interest earning assets

 

5.9

%

6.1

%

5.9

%

6.0

%

 

17




 


(1)                                  Includes loan fees in the third quarter of $2,526,000 in 2006 and $2,336,000 in 2005 and first nine months of $7,309,000 in 2006 and $6,022,000 in 2005.

The following table sets forth changes in interest income and interest expense.  The net change as shown in the column “Net” is segmented into the change attributable to variations in volume and the change attributable to variations in interest rates.  Non-performing loans are included in average loans.

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease)

 

Net Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

For the Three Month Periods

 

For the Nine Month Periods

 

 

 

Ended September 30,

 

Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2006 over 2005

 

2006 over 2005

 

 

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Interest Income (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans (2)

 

$

8,594

 

$

4,965

 

$

13,559

 

$

30,620

 

$

14,531

 

$

45,151

 

Interest-bearing deposits in  financial institutions

 

12

 

44

 

56

 

45

 

63

 

108

 

Federal funds sold

 

28

 

7

 

35

 

43

 

(62

)

(19

)

Investment securities

 

37

 

66

 

103

 

(9

)

106

 

97

 

Total interest earning assets

 

$

8,671

 

$

5,082

 

$

13,753

 

$

30,699

 

$

14,638

 

$

45,337

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other deposits

 

$

22

 

$

142

 

$

164

 

$

45

 

$

352

 

$

397

 

Money market

 

1,700

 

3,281

 

4,981

 

4,724

 

9,343

 

14,067

 

Subordinated debentures

 

957

 

229

 

1,186

 

2,141

 

609

 

2,750

 

Time

 

78

 

904

 

982

 

292

 

2,425

 

2,717

 

FHLB advances

 

318

 

652

 

970

 

1,936

 

2,213

 

4,149

 

Other borrowings

 

(1

)

(2

)

(3

)

0

 

0

 

0

 

Total interest bearing  liabilities

 

$

3,074

 

$

5,206  

 

$

8,280

 

$

9,138

 

$

14,942  

 

$

24,080

 


(1)                                  The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated to the change due to volume and the change due to rate in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each.

(2)                                  Includes loan fees in the third quarter of $2,526,000 in 2006 and $2,336,000 in 2005 and first nine months of $7,309,000 in 2006 and $6,022,000 in 2005.

OTHER OPERATING INCOME

Other operating income rose to $1,930,000 in the third quarter of 2006 from $1,690,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2005.  For the first nine months of 2006 other operating income also increased to $6,380,000 from $4,746,000 for the first nine months of 2005.  Trust Administration Services, a division of the Bank which provides administrative services to self-directed retirement plans, had revenue which was $551,000

18




 

for the third quarter of 2006 and $1,848,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 in contrast with $578,000 in the third quarter of 2005 and $1,712,000 in the first nine months of 2005.  The increase in TAS revenue relates to both an increase in the structure of fees charged to customers and an increase in the number of customer accounts as a result of an aggressive marketing program.  The Bank’s Trust Department, which provides trust services for living trusts, investment agency accounts, IRA rollovers, and all forms of court-related matters, had revenue of $1,230,000 in the first nine months of 2006 and revenue of $987,000 during the first nine months of 2005.  The Bank’s merchant services operation, which provides credit card deposit and clearing services to retailers and other credit card accepting businesses, had revenue that totaled $356,000 for the third quarter of 2006 and $1,111,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 in contrast with $305,000 for the third quarter of 2005 and $866,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  No gains or losses were realized on sales of premises and equipment in the first nine months of 2006.  In contrast, during the first nine months of 2005 $12,000 in gains and $4,000 in losses on sales of premises and equipment were realized.  No gains or losses on securities sales were realized in the first nine months of 2006 or 2005.

OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES

Overall operating expenses increased in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005.  Operating expenses rose to a total of $12,100,000 for the third quarter of 2006 from $10,339,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 operating expenses totaled $33,555,000, an increase from $27,374,000 for the corresponding period in 2005.  While the total expense figures increased primarily due to the increases in overall bank growth, most components continue to be moderated by the effects of an ongoing program of expense control.

Salary and related benefits increased by $1,679,000, rising from a total of $6,437,000 for the third quarter of 2005 to $8,116,000 for the same period in 2006, and also rose for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to $21,895,000 from $17,327,000 for the same period in 2005.  The increase in this expense category principally reflects increases in staffing in the main and regional offices as part of the Company’s growth initiative and also reflects employee salary adjustments.  Occupancy expense rose to $754,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $597,000 in the third quarter of 2005, the increase reflects the rent paid on the various facilities which house the Bank’s regional offices and additional space at the Bank’s headquarters.  The total of all other operating expenses rose in 2006 compared to the prior year, increasing from $8,056,000 for the first nine months of 2005 to $9,602,000 for the same period of 2006.  This increase in other operating expenses relates primarily to the growth of the bank but also includes increases in audit and accounting fees due to the more extensive regulatory requirements applicable to larger companies.  The third quarter all other expenses decreased slightly from $3,305,000 in 2005 to $3,230,000 for the same period of 2006.

The combined effects of the above-described factors resulted in income before taxes of $17,619,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $12,162,000 for the third quarter of 2005.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 income before taxes is $49,376,000 compared to $32,352,000 for the first nine months of the prior year.  In the third quarter, the Company’s provision for taxes increased from $5,158,000 in 2005 to $7,580,000 in 2006.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 the provisions were $21,260,000 compared to $13,731,000 in 2005.  The effective tax rate for the periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 are 43.1% and 42.4%, respectively.  This brought net income for the third quarter of 2006 to $10,039,000 compared to $7,004,000 for the same period in 2005.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 net income was $28,116,000, while net income through September 30, 2005 was $18,621,000.

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of securities available for sale as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 were as follows:

19




 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

 

 

Cost

 

Gains

 

(Losses)

 

Value

 

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities

 

$

245,000

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

245,000

 

U.S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities

 

10,674,000

 

90,000

 

(32,000

)

10,732,000

 

Mutual funds

 

2,138,000

 

0

 

(49,000

)

2,089,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

13,057,000

 

$

90,000

 

$

(81,000

)

$

13,066,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury securities

 

$

249,000

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

249,000

 

U.S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities

 

1,880,000

 

0

 

(11,000

)

1,869,000

 

Mutual funds

 

2,071,000

 

0

 

(35,000

)

2,036,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,200,000

 

$

0

 

$

(46,000

)

$

4,154,000

 

 

LOAN PORTFOLIO AND PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

The loan portfolio consisted of the following at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

Commercial loans

 

$

192,057

 

$

165,224

 

 

Real estate construction loans

 

351,250

 

222,439

 

 

Real estate loans

 

1,298,999

 

1,312,944

 

 

Government guaranteed loans

 

5,349

 

7,369

 

 

Other loans

 

2,164

 

5,881

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Total loans

 

1,849,819

 

1,713,857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less — Allowances for loan losses

 

20,131

 

17,577

 

 

— Deferred loan fees

 

8,034

 

7,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loans

 

$

1,821,654

 

$

1,688,357

 

 

 

Government guaranteed loans represent loans for which the repayment of principal and interest is guaranteed by the U.S. government. The loans bear contractual interest at various rates tied to national prime lending rates.

The Bank’s lending is concentrated in real estate and businesses in Southern California. From time to time, this area has experienced adverse economic conditions. Future declines in the local economy or in real estate values may result in increased losses that cannot reasonably be predicted at this date. No industry constitutes a concentration in the Bank’s portfolio, except the real estate construction industry, and loans secured by multi-family residential properties.

The Bank offers a full range of lending services including commer­cial, real estate, and real estate construction loans. The Bank has developed a substantial portfolio of short- and medium-term “mini-perm” first trust deed loans for income properties as well as specializing in construction lending for moderate-size commercial and residential projects. The Bank also offers commercial loans for commercial and industrial borrowers,

20




 

which includes equipment financing as well as short-term loans. Typically the Bank’s loans are floating rate and have no prepayment penalties.

Interest-only loans allow interest-only payments for a fixed period of time. The loans generally mature at the end of the interest-only period and require a balloon payment. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had $1,117,923,000 and $1,081,523,000 of short-term first trust deed loans for income properties with interest only payments that have a balloon payment at loan maturity. The Bank does not offer residential mortgage products, negative amortization loans, “option-ARMs”, or sub-prime loan products.

Provision for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is intended to reflect the known and unknown risks which are inherent in a loan portfolio.  The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is continually evaluated in light of many factors, including loan loss experience and current economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses is increased by provisions for loan losses, and is decreased by net charge-offs.  Management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate in relation to both existing and potential risks in the loan portfolio.

In determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, management considers such factors as historical loan loss experience, known problem loans, evaluations made by bank regulatory authorities, assessment of economic conditions and other appropriate data to identify the risks in the loan portfolio.

The first major element includes a detailed analysis of the loan portfolio in two phases. The first phase is conducted in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for the Impairment of a Loan.”, as amended by SFAS No. 118, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan – Income Recognition and Disclosures.” Individual loans are reviewed to identify loans for impairment. A loan is impaired when principal and interest are not expected to be collected in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan. Impairment is measured as either the expected future cash flows discounted at each loan’s effective interest rate, the fair value of the loan’s collateral if the loan is collateral dependent, or an observable market price of the loan (if one exists). Upon measuring the impairment, the Bank will insure an appropriate level of allowance is present or established.

Central to the first phase and the Bank’s credit risk management is its loan risk rating system. The originating credit officer assigns borrowers an initial risk rating, which is based primarily on a thorough analysis of each borrower’s financial capacity in conjunction with industry and economic trends. Approvals are made based upon the amount of inherent credit risk specific to the transaction and are reviewed for appropriateness by senior line and credit administration personnel. Credits are monitored by line and credit administration personnel for deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition, which would impact the ability of the borrower to perform under the contract.  Risk ratings are adjusted as necessary.

Based on the risk rating system specific allowances are established in cases where management has identified significant conditions or circumstances related to a credit that management believes indicates the probability that a loss has been incurred. Management performs a detailed analysis of these loans, including, but not limited to, cash flows, appraisals of the collateral, conditions of the marketplace for liquidating the collateral and assessment of the guarantors. Management then determines the inherent loss potential and allocates a portion of the allowance for losses as a specific allowance for each of these credits.

The second phase is conducted by evaluating or segmenting the remainder of the loan portfolio into groups or pools of loans with similar characteristics in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies”. In this second phase, groups or pools of homogeneous loans are reviewed to determine a portfolio allowance. Additionally groups of non-homogeneous loans, such as construction loans are also reviewed to determine a portfolio allowance.  The risk assessment process in this case emphasizes trends in the

21




 

different portfolios for delinquency, loss, and other-behavioral characteristics of the subject portfolios.

The second major element in the Bank’s methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance consists of management’s considerations of all known relevant internal and external factors that may affect a loan’s collectibility. This includes management’s estimates of the amounts necessary for concentrations, economic uncertainties, the volatility of the market value of collateral, and other relevant factors. The relationship of the two major elements of the allowance to the total allowance may fluctuate from period to period.

Reflecting the Company’s ongoing analysis of the risks presented by its loan portfolio, the allowance for losses was $20,131,000 and $17,577,000 (or 1.09% and 1.03% of gross outstanding loans) at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 respectively.  Provisions for loan losses were $0 and $3,891,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, compared to $1,505,000 and $4,205,000 for the same periods of 2005. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $87,000 and $1,028,000, respectively; by comparison, in the first three and nine months of 2005 the Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $0 and $35,000, respectively.  The Company had loan recoveries of $0 and $130,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, the Company has identified loans having an aggregate average balance of $52,000 which it concluded were impaired under SFAS No. 114. By comparison, for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 the Company had identified loans having an aggregate average balance of $4,038,000 which it concluded were impaired under SFAS No. 114. Total impaired loans at September 30, 2006 was $21,000.  The Company’s policy is generally to discontinue the accrual of interest income on impaired loans, and to recognize income on such loans only after the loan principal has been repaid in full and to establish a loss reserve for each of the loans which at September 30, 2006 totaled $12,000 for the loans as a group.

LIQUIDITY, SOURCES OF FUNDS, AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s financial position remains liquid.  Total liquid assets (cash and due from banks, investment securities, federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits in financial institutions) stood at 10.2% of total deposits at September 30, 2006.  This level represents an increase from the 5.3% liquidity level which existed on December 31, 2005.  In addition, at September 30, 2006 some $5.3 million of the Bank’s total loans consisted of government guaranteed loans, which represent a significant source of liquidity due to the active secondary markets which exist for these assets. The ratio of net loans (including government guaranteed loans) to deposits was 116% and 119% as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), which provides an additional source for short and long-term funding.  Borrowings from the FHLB were $220,000,000 at September 30, 2006 and were secured by loans available as collateral at the FHLB.  As of September 30, 2006, the Bank has additional borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank of $530,960,000.

Total shareholders’ equity was $136,284,000 and $106,034,000 as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.  The Company’s and the Bank’s capital ratios for those dates in comparison with regulatory capital requirements were as follows:

 

9-30-06

 

12-31-05

 

Leverage Ratio (Tier I Capital to Average Assets):

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory requirement

 

4.0

%

4.0

%

Company

 

9.3

%

8.4

%

Bank

 

11.3

%

9.6

%

 

The “regulatory requirement” listed represents the level of capital required for Adequately Capitalized status.

 

22




 

In addition, bank regulators have issued risk-adjusted capital guidelines which assign risk weighting to assets and off-balance sheet items and place increased emphasis on common equity.  The Company’s and the Bank’s risk adjusted capital ratios for the dates listed in comparison with the risk adjusted regulatory capital requirements were as follows:

 

9-30-06

 

12-31-05

 

Tier I Capital to Risk-weighted Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory requirement

 

4.0

%

4.0

%

Company

 

8.7

%

7.8

%

Bank

 

10.6

%

8.8

%

 

 

9-30-06

 

12-31-05

 

Total Capital to Risk-weighted Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory requirement

 

8.0

%

8.0

%

Company

 

11.8

%

10.1

%

Bank

 

11.6

%

9.8

%

 

At September 30, 2006, the Company and the Bank exceeded the minimum risk-based capital ratio and leverage ratio required to be “well capitalized”.  The Company and the Bank believe that they will continue to meet all applicable capital standards.

As a result of an examination in 2005 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the California Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”) of the Bank, the Bank identified certain deficiencies and other concerns, principally with respect to the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”).  As a result, the Bank took corrective action directed toward achieving full compliance with BSA and addressing the other concerns so identified.  Subsequently the Bank entered into an informal agreement with the FDIC and DFI with respect to such corrective action.  In 2006 the FDIC and DFI conducted another examination which indicated that, while substantial improvement had been achieved, additional corrections were still required.  In response, the Bank implemented further remedial action, and believes that the corrective action taken to date has fully addressed the regulatory concerns embodied in the informal agreement.  While the Company does not expect such concerns to have a material adverse monetary or other impact on its financial condition or results of operations, no assurance can be given that the FDIC and DFI will not require further action if the Bank fails to maintain full compliance with the terms of the informal agreement.

INFLATION

The impact of inflation on the Company differs significantly from other industries, since virtually all of its assets and liabilities are monetary. During periods of rising inflation, companies with net monetary assets will always experience a reduction in purchasing power.  Inflation continues to have an impact on salary, supply, and rent expenses, but the rate of inflation in general and its impact on these expenses in particular has remained moderate in recent years.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS

There were no material changes outside of the ordinary course of business pertaining to contractual obligations during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

BORROWINGS

Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures

During 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002 and 2001, the Company established First Regional Statutory Trusts I through VI (collectively, the “Trusts”), statutory business trusts and

23




 

wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Trusts were formed for the sole purpose of issuing securities and investing the proceeds thereof in obligations of the Company and engaging in certain other limited activities.

During 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002 and 2001, the Trusts issued Cumulative Preferred Capital Securities (the ”Trust Securities”) in private placement transactions, which represent undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trusts. Concurrent with the issuance of the Trust Securities, the Trusts purchased Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures (the “Debentures”) from the Company, which aggregated $92,785,000 at September 30, 2006 and $61,857,000 at December 31, 2005. After each applicable issuance and purchase, the Company invested a substantial majority of the net proceeds from the applicable sale of Debentures in the Bank as additional paid-in capital to support the Bank’s future growth. The structure of these transactions enabled the Company to obtain additional Tier 1 capital for regulatory reporting purposes while permitting the Company to deduct the payment of future cash distributions for tax purposes. The debentures, must be redeemed within 30 years and are recorded in the liability section of the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America even though they are treated as capital for regulatory purposes.  Holders of the debentures are entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions, payable quarterly in arrears, equal to three-month LIBOR plus an interest factor.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Since customer deposits are the Company’s principal funding source outside of its capital, management has attempted to match rates of its deposits with its investment and loan portfolios as part of its liquidity and asset and liability management policies.  The objective of these policies is to manage the Company’s interest rate sensitivity and limit the fluctuations of net interest income resulting from interest rate changes.  The table which follows indicates the repricing or maturity characteristics of the major categories of the Bank’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2006, and thus the relative sensitivity of the Bank’s net interest income to changes in the overall level of interest rates.

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

One month

 

Six months

 

One year

 

 

 

Non-interest

 

 

 

 

 

Floating

 

Less than

 

but less than

 

but less than

 

but less than

 

Five years

 

earning

 

 

 

Category

 

Rate

 

one month

 

six months

 

one year

 

five years

 

or more

 

or bearing

 

Total

 

Fed funds sold

 

60,055

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

60,055

 

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

0

 

94

 

5,018

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

5,112

 

Investment securities

 

0

 

2,089

 

1,236

 

0

 

0

 

9,741

 

0

 

13,066

 

Subtotal

 

60,055

 

2,183

 

6,254

 

0

 

0

 

9,741

 

0

 

78,233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans, net of allowance for losses

 

1,799,837

 

299

 

4,259

 

6,030

 

11,229

 

0

 

0

 

1,821,654

 

Total earning assets

 

1,859,892

 

2,482

 

10,513

 

6,030

 

11,229

 

9,741

 

0

 

1,899,887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

81,893

 

81,893

 

Premises and equipment

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

3,793

 

3,793

 

Other real estate owned

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

Other assets

 

12,748

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

38,529

 

51,277

 

Total non-earning assets

 

12,748

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

124,215

 

136,963

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

1,872,640

 

2,482

 

10,513

 

6,030

 

11,229

 

9,741

 

124,215

 

2,036,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

0

 

220,000

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

220,000

 

Repurchase agreements

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

Subtotal

 

0

 

220,000

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

220,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other deposits

 

49,182

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

49,182

 

Money market deposits

 

836,476

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

836,476

 

Time deposits

 

0

 

47,827

 

124,311

 

37,227

 

7,172

 

0

 

0

 

216,537

 

Subordinated Debentures

 

0

 

0

 

92,785

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

92,785

 

Total interest bearing liabilities

 

885,658

 

267,827

 

217,096

 

37,227

 

7,172

 

0

 

0

 

1,414,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demand deposits

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

470,492

 

470,492

 

Other liabilities

 

300

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

14,794

 

15,094

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

136,284

 

136,284

 

Total non-interest bearing liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

300

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

621,570

 

621,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

885,958

 

267,827

 

217,096

 

37,227

 

7,172

 

0

 

621,570

 

2,036,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAP

 

986,682

 

(265,345

)

(206,583

)

(31,197

)

4,057

 

9,741

 

(497,355

)

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative GAP

 

986,682

 

721,337

 

514,754

 

483,557

 

487,614

 

497,355

 

0

 

0

 

 

24




 

As the table indicates, the vast majority of the Company’s assets are either floating rate or, if fixed rate, have short maturities.  Since the yields on these assets quickly adjust to reflect changes in the overall level of interest rates, there are no significant unrealized gains or losses with respect to the Company’s assets, nor is there much likelihood of large realized or unrealized gains or losses developing in the future.

The Bank’s investment portfolio continues to be composed of high quality, low risk securities, including U.S. Treasury or Government Sponsored Enterprises debt securities. The balance of the Bank’s investment portfolio contains investments that qualify for CRA investment status.  No gains or losses were recorded on securities sales in the first nine months of 2006 or 2005.  As of September 30, 2006 the Bank’s investment portfolio contained gross unrealized gains of $90,000 and gross unrealized losses of $81,000, for unrealized gain net of tax benefit of $5,000. By comparison, at December 31, 2005 the Company’s investment portfolio contained no gross unrealized gains and $46,000 gross unrealized losses, for unrealized losses net of tax benefit of $27,000. Because the Company’s holdings of securities are intended to serve as a source of liquidity should conditions warrant, the securities have been classified by the Company as “available for sale,” and thus unrealized gains and losses have no effect on the Company’s income statement.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 30, 2006.  Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.  There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

25




 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Litigation

In the ordinary course of business, the Company and the Bank are involved in litigation.  Management does not expect the ultimate outcome of any pending legal proceedings to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

Risk factors associated with the Company’s business activities, including risks associated with the Company’s financial and operating results and with an investment in the Company’s common stock, are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and supplemented in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.  In addition, the Company has added the risk factor set forth below.

Risks Related to Retirement Plan Administration Business

The Bank’s Trust Administration Services Division provides administrative, record-keeping and other services for self-directed retirement plans and accounts for which the Bank serves as sponsor and custodian.  Recently, both the banking and securities regulatory authorities have increased their scrutiny of the retirement plan industry.  This enhanced scrutiny arises from a number of governmental concerns, including investment scams directed at members of the United States’ increasing population of seniors and the potential abuse of retirement accounts to support terrorism financing, money laundering and tax-avoidance schemes.

While the Bank’s involvement in the retirement plan industry is limited to providing custodial and other ministerial services for modest fees, the Bank is sensitive to this enhanced industry-wide scrutiny.  For this reason, the Bank is currently strengthening its risk management program for its retirement plan business.  As a result of increased risk management and screening procedures, and the corresponding paperwork burden imposed on customers, expenses related to this business will rise and, at the same time, the division may lose certain existing or prospective customers.  This may, in turn, lead to a decline in the profitability of the Trust Administration Services Division.  While the Company does not expect these developments to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations, the Bank may be required to take further action if the risk management policies and procedures currently being implemented are later deemed insufficient to address the on-going regulatory concerns.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Form of First Regional Bancorp Indemnity Agreement

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of First Regional Bank Indemnity Agreement

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer furnished pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of the Corporate Secretary furnished pursuant to

 

26




 

 

Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

 

 

31.3

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

 

 

32

 

Certification furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Part II of Form 10-Q are not applicable and have been omitted.

27




 

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.

 

FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2006

 

/s/ Jack A. Sweeney

 

 

 

Jack A. Sweeney, Chairman of the Board

 

 

and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2006

 

/s/ Thomas E. McCullough

 

 

 

Thomas E. McCullough, Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2006

 

/s/ Elizabeth Thompson

 

 

 

Elizabeth Thompson, Chief Financial Officer

 

28




 

Exhibit Index

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Form of First Regional Bancorp Indemnity Agreement

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of First Regional Bank Indemnity Agreement

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer furnished pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of the Corporate Secretary furnished pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

 

 

31.3

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

 

 

32

 

Certification furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

29