10-Q 1 a08-14108_110q.htm 10-Q

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2008

 

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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

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

 

11,814,716

Class

 

Outstanding on May 9, 2008

 

 



 

FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP

INDEX

 

 

 

Part I – Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial
Condition (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(unaudited) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)(2007 restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
about Market Risk

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

 

 

 

 

Part II – Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities
and Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

 

 

 

2



 

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)

 

 

 

March 31,
2008

 

December 31,
2007

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

36,301

 

$

46,676

 

Federal funds sold

 

1,280

 

0

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

37,581

 

46,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities, available for sale, at fair value (with amortized cost of $24,745 in 2008 and $24,856 in 2007)

 

25,135

 

25,114

 

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

7,043

 

7,042

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock – at cost

 

15,322

 

8,487

 

Loans, net of allowance for losses of $33,580 in 2008 and $22,771 in 2007

 

2,166,153

 

2,020,217

 

Premises and equipment, net of depreciation and amortization of $5,405 in 2008 and $5,076 in 2007

 

5,374

 

5,438

 

Accrued interest receivable and other assets

 

64,493

 

61,341

 

Total Assets

 

$

2,321,101

 

$

2,174,315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing

 

$

400,099

 

$

418,220

 

Interest bearing:

 

 

 

 

 

Other deposits

 

61,746

 

58,173

 

Money market deposits

 

920,613

 

951,488

 

Time deposits

 

313,450

 

293,196

 

Total deposits

 

1,695,908

 

1,721,077

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased

 

0

 

20,955

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

326,000

 

135,000

 

Note payable

 

75

 

113

 

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

 

20,790

 

22,034

 

Subordinated debentures

 

100,517

 

100,517

 

Total Liabilities

 

2,143,290

 

1,999,696

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock – no par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; Outstanding 11,815,000 (2008) and 11,926,000 (2007)

 

44,444

 

46,096

 

Unearned ESOP shares; 24,000 (2008) and 36,000 (2007)

 

(71

)

(107

)

Total common stock-no par value; outstanding 11,791,000 (2008) and 11,890,000 (2007)

 

44,373

 

45,989

 

Retained earnings

 

133,212

 

128,480

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

226

 

150

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

177,811

 

174,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

2,321,101

 

$

2,174,315

 

 

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 Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

INTEREST INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on loans

 

$

40,296

 

$

40,938

 

Interest on investment securities

 

359

 

237

 

Interest on deposits in financial institutions

 

72

 

59

 

Interest on federal funds sold

 

68

 

91

 

Total interest income

 

40,795

 

41,325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on deposits

 

11,067

 

11,523

 

Interest on subordinated debentures

 

1,616

 

1,683

 

Interest on FHLB advances

 

1,708

 

1,595

 

Interest on other borrowings

 

8

 

6

 

Total interest expense

 

14,399

 

14,807

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

26,396

 

26,518

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

 

10,790

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

15,606

 

26,518

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER OPERATING INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

Customer service fees

 

1,924

 

1,495

 

Other – net

 

3,247

 

872

 

Total other operating income

 

5,171

 

2,367

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and related benefits

 

9,486

 

9,021

 

Occupancy expense

 

969

 

819

 

Equipment expense

 

433

 

373

 

Promotion expense

 

136

 

131

 

Professional service expense

 

850

 

782

 

Customer service expense

 

458

 

542

 

Supplies and communication expense

 

389

 

352

 

Other

 

(179

)

1,299

 

Total other operating expenses

 

12,542

 

13,319

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

8,235

 

15,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

3,500

 

6,575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

4,735

 

$

8,991

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 5)

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.40

 

$

0.74

 

Diluted

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.69

 

 

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)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007
as Restated
(See Note 9)

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

4,735

 

$

8,991

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

10,790

 

0

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

329

 

243

 

Amortization of investment securities premiums and discounts – net

 

7

 

42

 

Stock compensation costs

 

116

 

144

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends

 

(118

)

(186

)

Net gain on sale/disposal of premises and equipment

 

0

 

(108

)

Net loss on sale of investment security

 

0

 

29

 

Decrease in accrued interest receivable and other assets

 

79

 

137

 

(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable and other liabilities

 

(1,219

)

3,610

 

Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised

 

(25

)

(255

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

14,694

 

12,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in interest–bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

(1

)

0

 

Purchases of investment securities

 

(247

)

(5,257

)

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities

 

352

 

2,482

 

(Purchase) redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

 

(6,717

)

1,624

 

Net increase in loans

 

(156,726

)

(18,225

)

Purchase of CRA investments included in other assets

 

(3,287

)

(388

)

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment

 

0

 

108

 

Purchases of premises and equipment

 

(265

)

(750

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(166,891

)

(20,406

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in non-interest bearing deposits and other interest bearing deposits

 

(45,423

)

(37,137

)

Net increase(decrease) in time deposits

 

20,254

 

(3,693

)

Decrease in note payable

 

(38

)

(37

)

(Decrease) increase in Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

191,000

 

(20,000

)

Decrease in federal funds purchased

 

(20,955

)

0

 

Stock options exercised

 

12

 

124

 

Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised

 

25

 

255

 

Common stock repurchased and retired

 

(1,978

)

0

 

Common stock issued

 

205

 

371

 

Net cash provided (used by) by financing activities

 

143,102

 

(60,117

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(9,095

)

(67,876

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

46,676

 

175,994

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

37,581

 

$

108,118

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

14,349

 

$

14,883

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

800

 

$

2,200

 

 

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

March 31, 2008

(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.

 

In the opinion of the Company, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all 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 2007 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

NOTE 2: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

EITF 06-4 – In September 2006, the EITF issued EITF 06-4, Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements, which requires employers to recognize an obligation associated with endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that extend into the employee’s postretirement period.  EITF 06-4 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2007.  The adoption of this guidance has not had a material impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

SFAS No. 157 – In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which provides a definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard applies when GAAP requires or allows assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, and therefore, does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstance.  SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an arm’s length transaction between market participants in the markets where we conduct business.  SFAS 157 clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions.  The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets and the lowest priority to data lacking transparency.  The level of the reliability of inputs utilized for fair value calculations drives the extent of disclosure requirements of the valuation methodologies used under the standard.  SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years.  The provisions of SFAS 157 should be applied prospectively, except for certain financial instruments for which the standard should be applied retrospectively.  The adoption of this guidance has not had a material impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

 

SFAS No. 159 – In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. SFAS No. 159 would allow the Company a one-time irrevocable election to measure certain financial assets and liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value and report the unrealized gains and losses on the elected items in earnings

 

6



 

at each subsequent reporting date.  This Statement requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the company’s choice to use fair value on its earnings.  SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The Company has elected not to measure any new financial instruments at fair value, as permitted in SFAS No. 159, but to continue recording its financial instruments in accordance with current practice.

 

SFAS No. 141(R) – In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (SFAS 141(R), which replaces FASB Statement No. 141, Business Combinations.  SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquiring company (1) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any
non-controlling interest in the acquiree, (2) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and (3) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.  SFAS 141(R) is effective for business combinations occurring on or after the beginning of the fiscal year beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and applies to all transactions or other events in which the Company obtains control in one or more businesses.  Management will assess transactions on a case-by-case basis as they occur.

 

SFAS No. 160 – In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an Amendment of ARB No. 51.  This Statement requires that noncontrolling or minority interests in subsidiaries be presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parents’ equity, and that the amount of the consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of income.  SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  Management does not expect this guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

NOTE 3: Allowance for Loan Losses

 

An analysis of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – beginning of year

 

$

22,771

 

$

20,624

 

Provision for loan losses

 

10,790

 

 

 

Loans charged off

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for unfunded loan commitments and lines of credit

 

19

 

(9

)

Recoveries on loans previously charged off

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – end of period

 

$

33,580

 

$

20,694

 

 

Management believes the allowance for loan losses as of March 31, 2008, is adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Management’s estimates of the allowance are subject to potential adjustment by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the California Department of Financial Institutions upon examination of the Bank by such authorities.

 

At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the recorded investment in impaired loans was $49,461,000 and $2,012,000, with specific reserves of $9,579,000 and $20,000,

 

7



 

respectively. All loans for which impairment had been recognized had a related specific reserve at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

 

The average recorded investment in impaired loans during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $16,131,000, and $26,000, respectively. No interest income on impaired loans was recognized for cash payments received in the first quarter of 2008 or 2007.  Forgone interest on impaired loans is not material to the results of operations of the Company.

 

NOTE 4: Fair Value Disclosures

 

SFAS No. 157 was implemented by the Company effective January 1, 2008.  SFAS No. 157 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the use of fair value inputs used in valuation methodologies into the following three levels:

 

Level 1:  Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

 

Level 2:  Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

Level 3:  Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

 

The following is a description of the Company’s valuation methodologies used to measure and disclose the fair values of its financial assets and liabilities on a recurring or nonrecurring basis:

 

Investment securities available for sale:  Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  Fair value measurement is based on quoted prices, when available, or the prices of other securities with similar characteristics.  Level 1 securities include both U.S. Treasury and U.S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities, and Level 2 securities are comprised of U.S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities.

 

Loans:  The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis.  However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to collateral dependent loans are recorded to reflect partial write-downs based on the observable market price or current appraised value of the collateral, when available, or estimates using Level 3 inputs based on internally customized valuation criteria.  As of March 31, 2008 all fair value adjustments to collateral dependent loans were recorded based on estimates of the underlying fair value of the collateral using Level 3 inputs based on internally customized valuation criteria.

 

The balances of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008 were as follows (in $1,000s):

 

 

 

Total

 

Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale

 

$

25,135

 

$

1,246

 

$

23,889

 

 

8



 

The balances of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of March 31, 2008 were as follows (in $1,000s):

 

 

 

Total

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

Total Gains
(Losses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impaired Loans

 

$

38,170

 

$

38,170

 

$

(8,516

)

 

Certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include long-lived assets and foreclosed assets.  SFAS No. 157 is applicable to these fair value measurements beginning January 1, 2009.

 

NOTE 5: 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 March 31, 2008

 

 

 

Income
(Numerator)

 

Weighted Average
Shares
(Denominator)

 

Per
Share
Amount

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

4,735,000

 

11,812,000

 

$

0.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of outstanding options(1)

 

 

 

899,000

 

(0.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

4,735,000

 

12,711,000

 

$

0.37

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

 

 

 

Income (Numerator)

 

Weighted Average Shares
(Denominator)

 

Per
Share
Amount

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

8,991,000

 

12,216,000

 

$

0.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of outstanding options(2)

 

 

 

863,000

 

(0.05

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

8,991,000

 

13,079,000

 

$

0.69

 

 


(1)                                Excludes 200,000 weighted average options outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2008 for which the exercise price exceeded the average market price of the Company’s common stock during the period.

 

(2)                                There were no options excluded from the dilutive EPS.

 

9



 

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 for 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 both August 2007 and February 2008, the Company granted options to buy up to 45,000 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 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

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 all plans, options may be granted at a price not less than the fair market value of the stock at the date of the grant.

 

A summary of the award activity under the stock option plans as of March 31, 2008 and changes during the 3-month period is presented below:

 

 

 

Shares
(in
thousands)

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (In
thousands)

 

Outstanding – January 1, 2008

 

1,854

 

$

6.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

45

 

16.70

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(4

)

2.92

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding – March 31, 2008

 

1,895

 

$

6.59

 

4.99 years

 

$

18,588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested or expected to vest at March 31,2008

 

1,513

 

$

6.07

 

4.88 years

 

$

24,809

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at March 31, 2008

 

1,451

 

$

4.62

 

4.53 years

 

$

17,094

 

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $61,000 and $607,000, respectively.  The total fair value of shares vested during the three month periods ended both March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $49,000.

 

As of March 31, 2008, there was $1,948,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation awards granted under the stock option plans.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.89 years.  The Company received $12,000 and $124,000 cash from the exercise of stock options during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007, respectively.

 

For the three month period ended March 31, 2008, stock based compensation expense reduced income before taxes by $116,000 and reduced net income by $67,000.  This

 

10



 

additional expense reduced both basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.01 for the three months ended March 31, 2008.  Cash provided by operating activities decreased by $25,000 and cash provided by financing activities increased by an identical amount for the first quarter 2008 related to excess tax benefits from stock-based arrangements.

 

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, stock based compensation expense reduced income before taxes by $144,000 and reduced net income by $84,000.  This additional expense reduced both basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.01 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Cash provided by operating activities decreased by $255,000 and cash provided by financing activities increased by an identical amount for the first quarter 2007 related to excess tax benefits from stock-based arrangements.

 

NOTE 6: Commitments and Contingencies

 

As of March 31, 2008, the Bank had a total of $13,258,000 standby letters of credit outstanding.  No losses are anticipated as a result of these transactions.

 

NOTE 7: Comprehensive Income

 

The Company’s comprehensive income includes all items, which comprise net income plus the unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities.  For the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s comprehensive income, net of taxes, was as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

 

March 31, 2007

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

4,735

 

$

8,991

 

Other comprehensive income

 

76

 

226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

4,811

 

$

9,217

 

 

NOTE 8: Operating Segment Reports

 

Management has evaluated the Company’s overall operation and determined that its business consists of certain reportable business segments as of March 31, 2008 and 2007:  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 operations also includes 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.

 

Trust Administrative Services - The principal business activity of the Bank’s division, Trust Administration Services (referred to as “Administrative Services” or “TAS”) is providing administrative services for self-directed retirement plans.  The primary source of revenue for this segment is fee income from self-directed accounts.  The segment’s principal expenses consist of personnel, rent, data processing, and other general and administrative expenses.

 

11



 

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 March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were $1,386,000 and $1,110,000 respectively, and total assets of Trust Services at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were $89,000 and $96,000, respectively.  The remaining assets reflected on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of the Company are associated with core banking operations.

 

A table showing the net income (loss) for the core banking operations, administrative services, and trust services for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2008

 

 

 

Core
Banking
Operations

 

Administrative
Services

 

Trust
Services

 

Combined
Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

26,396

 

 

 

$

26,396

 

Provision for loan losses

 

10,790

 

 

 

10,790

 

Other operating income

 

3,965

 

$

607

 

$

599

 

5,171

 

Other operating expenses

 

11,507

 

735

 

300

 

12,542

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

3,428

 

(54

)

126

 

3,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

4,636

 

$

(74

)

$

173

 

$

4,735

 

 

 

 

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2007

 

 

 

Core
Banking
Operations

 

Administrative
Services

 

Trust
Services

 

Combined
Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

26,518

 

 

 

 

 

$

26,518

 

Provision for loan losses

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

Other operating income

 

1,292

 

$

563

 

$

512

 

2,367

 

Other operating expenses

 

12,344

 

670

 

305

 

13,319

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

6,533

 

(45

)

87

 

6,575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

8,933

 

$

(62

)

$

120

 

$

8,991

 

 

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

 

Note 9: RESTATEMENT

 

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company identified a classification error in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007 where the Company classified the purchase of CRA investments as an operating activity rather than an investing activity. The following summarizes the effects of the restatement on the consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007:

 

12



 

 

 

Three Months ended
March 31, 2007

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

As
Restated

 

Previously
Reported

 

Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivables and other assets

 

$

137

 

$

(251

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

12,647

 

12,259

 

Purchases of CRA investments included in other assets

 

(388

)

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(20,406

)

(20,018

)

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(67,876

)

(67,876

)

 

As noted in the table above, this restatement does not change the overall decrease in cash & cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 

13



 

ITEM 2MANAGEMENT’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.  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, 2007.  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 1.  Business” contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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 March 31, 2008 total assets were $2,321,101,000 compared to $2,174,315,000 at December 31, 2007, an increase of $146,786,000 or 6.8% and the March 31, 2008 asset level represents an increase compared to the $2,027,235,000 that existed on the same date in 2007.  Total deposits decreased by $25,169,000 or 1.5% from $1,721,077,000 at the end of 2007 to $1,695,908,000 at March 31, 2008.  Overall deposits decreased with deposit growth in time and other deposits and deposit reductions in non-interest bearing and money market deposits.  There were several changes in the composition of the Bank’s assets during the first quarter of 2008.  The Bank’s core loan portfolio grew by $145,936,000 during the three-month period, bringing the Bank’s total loans, net of allowance for losses, to $2,166,153,000 at March 31, 2008 from the December 31, 2007 total of $2,020,217,000.  The combined effect of the increase in loans and the decrease in deposits was a decrease in the level of total liquid assets (cash and due from banks, Federal funds sold and

 

14



 

investment securities).  Investment securities increased by $21,000, while cash and cash equivalents (cash and due from banks and Federal funds sold) decreased by $9,095,000.

 

The Company earned net income of $4,735,000 in the first quarter of 2008, compared to earnings of $8,991,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 

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 and interest 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 2007, in the first three months of 2008 the Company’s continued growth efforts resulted in an increase in interest earning assets, including loans.  The Bank’s core loan portfolio increased during the first three months of 2008.

 

Total interest income decreased by $530,000 (1.3%) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 although total average earning assets were higher (16.5%) in 2008 than in 2007.  The majority of the decrease in interest income arises from a substantial decrease of $642,000 (1.6%) in interest on loans from $40,938,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $40,296,000 for the same period in 2008. Although interest income decreased, it was mitigated by an increase in the loan portfolio of $342,627,000 (18.8%) from March 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008, interest income was primarily affected by the Federal Reserve’s series of interest rate decreases.  For the three months ended March 31, 2008, interest expense on deposits decreased by $456,000 (4.0%) to $11,067,000 from the 2007 level of $11,523,000 despite an increase in total deposits of $108,979,000 (6.9%) from March 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008.  The increases in deposits were primarily in money market deposits and time deposits, while other deposits also showed increases and non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts decreased.  For the three months ended March 31, 2008, interest expense on subordinated debentures decreased by $67,000 (4.0%) to $1,616,000 from the 2007 level of $1,683,000 due to a decrease in interest rates during the period.  For the three months ended March 31, 2008 interest expense on FHLB advances increased by $113,000 (7.1%) to $1,708,000 from the 2007 level of $1,595,000 due to a combination of an increase of $156,000,000 in FHLB advances at March 31, 2008 compared to March 31, 2007 and a decrease in interest rates during the period.  The net result was a decrease in net interest income of $122,000 (0.5%), from $26,518,000 in the first quarter of 2007 to $26,396,000 for the first three months of 2008.

 

Interest Rates and Interest Differential

 

The following table sets forth the daily 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 March 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income
(2)

 

Average
Yield/
Rate %

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Income (2)

 

Average
Yield/
Rate %

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans (1)

 

$

2,129,698

 

$

40,296

 

7.61

%

$

1,831,040

 

$

40,938

 

9.07

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities

 

28,232

 

359

 

5.11

%

23,550

 

237

 

4.08

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

7,036

 

72

 

4.12

%

5,004

 

59

 

4.78

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal funds sold

 

8,827

 

68

 

3.10

%

6,765

 

91

 

5.46

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Interest Earning Assets

 

$

2,173,793

 

$

40,795

 

7.55

%

$

1,866,359

 

$

41,325

 

8.98

%

 

 

 

For the Three Month Period Ended March 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Expense

 

Yield/
Rate %

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest
Expense

 

Yield/
Rate %

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Bearing Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other deposits

 

$

60,522

 

$

266

 

1.77

%

$

55,609

 

$

325

 

2.37

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market accounts

 

961,673

 

7,283

 

3.05

%

873,343

 

8,315

 

3.86

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits

 

302,063

 

3,518

 

4.68

%

231,273

 

2,883

 

5.06

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subordinated debentures

 

100,517

 

1,616

 

6.47

%

92,785

 

1,683

 

7.36

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FHLB advances

 

221,780

 

1,708

 

3.10

%

118,578

 

1,595

 

5.46

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other borrowings

 

734

 

8

 

4.38

%

407

 

6

 

5.98

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Interest Bearing Liabilities

 

$

1,647,289

 

$

14,399

 

3.52

%

$

1,371,995

 

$

14,807

 

4.38

%

 


(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 quarter of $25,194,000 in 2008 and $21,507,000 in 2007 and is not net of deferred loan fees, which had an average balance in the first quarter of $7,397,000 in 2008 and $7,563,000 in 2007.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Includes loan fees in the first quarter of $2,273,000 in 2008 and $2,668,000 in 2007.

 

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

 

16



 

 

 

For the Three Month
Period Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest income (1)

 

$

40,795

 

$

41,325

 

Total interest expense

 

14,399

 

14,807

 

Net interest earnings

 

$

26,396

 

$

26,518

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average interest earning assets

 

$

2,173,793

 

$

1,866,359

 

Average interest bearing liabilities

 

$

1,647,289

 

$

1,371,995

 

Net yield on average interest earning assets

 

4.88

%

5.76

%

 


(1)                                  Includes loan fees in the first quarter of $2,273,000 in 2008 and $2,668,000 in 2007.

 

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)
For the Three Month Periods
Ended March 31, 2008 over 2007

 

 

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Income (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans (2)

 

$

26,558

 

$

(27,200

)

$

(642

)

Interest bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

42

 

(29

)

13

 

Investment securities

 

54

 

68

 

122

 

Federal funds sold

 

55

 

(78

)

(23

)

Total interest earning assets

 

$

26,709

 

$

(27,239

)

$

(530

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other deposits

 

$

31

 

$

(90

)

$

(59

)

Money market

 

949

 

(1,981

)

(1,032

)

Time

 

835

 

(200

)

635

 

Subordinates debentures

 

148

 

(215

)

(67

)

FHLB advances

 

224

 

(111

)

113

 

Other borrowings

 

3

 

(1

)

2

 

Total interest bearing liabilities

 

$

2,190

 

$

(2,598

)

$

(408

)

 

17



 


(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 first quarter of $2,273,000 in 2008 and $2,668,000 in 2007.

 

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

 

18



 

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

 

The second major element in the Company’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 and concerns with the economic climate and its potential impact, the allowance for losses was $33,580,000 and $22,771,000 (or 1.53% and 1.11% of gross outstanding loans) at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  There was a $10,790,000 total provision for loan losses, including $9,035,000 related to impaired loans, during the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, compared to no provision for the same period of 2007.  For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company generated no net loan charge-offs.  The Company had loan recoveries of $-0- and $79,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Company has identified nine loans having an aggregate average balance of $16,131,000 which it concluded were impaired under SFAS No. 114.  By comparison, for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company had identified loans having an aggregate average balance of $26,000, which it concluded were impaired under SFAS No. 114.  The total of impaired loans, primarily secured by first deeds of trust on real estate, at March 31, 2008 was $49,461,000.  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 March 31, 2008 totaled $9,579,000 for the loans as a group.

 

OTHER OPERATING INCOME

 

Other operating income rose to $5,171,000 in the first quarter of 2008 from $2,367,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  During the first quarter of 2008, the Company realized a gain of $2,758,000 on the redemption of restricted stock of Visa Inc., which results in the majority of the increase in other operating income over the first quarter of 2007.  The Bank’s Trust Administration Services division that provides administrative and custodial services to self-directed retirement plans, had revenue which increased from $563,000 in first quarter of 2007 to $607,000 in the first quarter of 2008. 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 $599,000 in first quarter of 2008 and $512,000 in first quarter of 2007.  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 increased to $397,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 in contrast with $134,000 in the corresponding period of 2007.  During the first three months of 2008, no gains or losses on sales of premises and equipment were realized.  In contrast, during the first three months of 2007 gains of $108,000 and no losses on sales of premises and equipment were realized.  No gains or losses on securities sales were realized in the first quarter of 2008.  In comparison, no gains and $29,000 in losses on securities sales were realized in the first quarter of 2007.

 

OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES

 

Overall, other operating expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period of 2007.  Other operating expenses decreased to a total of $12,542,000 for the first quarter of 2008 from $13,319,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Included in other operating expenses during the first quarter of 2008 is a reversal of a litigation accrual of $2,232,000 further described below.

 

19



 

Salary and related benefits increased by $465,000, rising from a total of $9,021,000 for the first quarter of 2007 to $9,486,000 for the same period in 2008. The increase in this expense category principally reflects the increases in staffing in the main office and the regional offices as part of the Company’s growth initiative and also reflects employee salary adjustments.  The total of all other operating expenses declined in 2008 compared to the prior year, decreasing from $4,298,000 for the first quarter of 2007 to $3,056,000 for the first three months of 2008.  Included in all other operating expenses during the first quarter of 2008 is a reversal of a litigation accrual of $2,232,000 further described below.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company recorded a charge of $2,232,000 for its share of contingent liabilities relating to settlement of lawsuits by Visa Inc.  This charge was reversed in the first quarter of 2008 after the successful completion of the Visa Inc. IPO, where a portion of the proceeds from the IPO funded an escrow account expected to be used for litigation settlement/claims, reducing all other operating expenses.

 

The combined effects of the above-described factors resulted in income before taxes of $8,235,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $15,566,000 for the first quarter of 2007.  In the first quarter, the Company’s provision for taxes decreased from $6,575,000 in 2007 to $3,500,000 in 2008.  This brought net income for the first quarter of 2008 to $4,735,000 compared to $8,991,000 for the same period in 2007.

 

Investment Securities

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of securities available for sale as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
(Losses)

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U. S. Treasury securities

 

$

248

 

$

 

$

 

$

248

 

U. S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities

 

24,497

 

513

 

(123

)

24,887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,745

 

$

513

 

$

(123

)

$

25,135

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U. S. Treasury securities

 

$

249

 

$

 

$

 

$

249

 

U. S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities

 

24,607

 

290

 

(32

)

24,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,856

 

$

290

 

$

(32

)

$

25,114

 

 

LOAN PORTFOLIO

 

The loan portfolio consisted of the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

March 31,
2008

 

December 31,
2007

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial loans

 

$

264,038

 

$

255,077

 

Real estate constructions loans

 

654,537

 

591,334

 

Real estate loans

 

1,283,438

 

1,199,070

 

Government guaranteed loans

 

1,923

 

2,661

 

Other loans

 

3,089

 

2,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Loans

 

2,207,025

 

2,050,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less – Allowances for loan losses

 

(33,580

)

(22,771

)

Deferred loan fees

 

(7,292

)

(7,566

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Loans

 

$

2,166,153

 

$

2,020,217

 

 

20



 

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.

 

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, 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 March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had $1,018,890,000 and $976,808,000 of short-and medium-term “mini-perm” 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.

 

Certain customers of the Bank control various separate legal entities representing, in the aggregate, significant borrowing concentration, including as much as $153,000,000, as of March 31, 2008.  While each individual loan is separately and independently underwritten, and while the majority of such loans are secured by commercial real property, these borrowing concentrations nevertheless present certain risks.

 

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 4.1% of total deposits at March 31, 2008.  This level represents a decrease from the 4.6% liquidity level, which existed on December 31, 2007.  In addition, at March 31, 2008, some $1,923,000 of the Bank’s total loans consisted of government guaranteed loans, which represent an additional 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 127.7% and 117.4% as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, 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 $326,000,000 at March 31, 2008 and were secured by loans available as collateral at the FHLB.  As of March 31, 2008, the Bank has additional borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank of $76,000,000.

 

Total shareholders’ equity was $177,811,000 and $174,619,000 as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The Company’s and the Bank’s capital ratios for those dates in comparison with regulatory capital requirements were as follows:

 

21



 

 

 

March 31,
2008

 

December
31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leverage Ratio (Tier I Capital To Average Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory requirement

 

4.00

%

4.00

%

Company

 

10.54

%

10.86

%

Bank

 

11.37

%

11.67

%

 

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

 

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:

 

 

 

March 31,
2008

 

December
31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tier I Capital to Risk Weighted Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory requirement

 

4.00

%

4.00

%

Company

 

9.48

%

9.89

%

Bank

 

10.34

%

10.67

%

 

 

 

March 31,
2008

 

December
31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Capital To Average Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory requirement

 

8.00

%

8.00

%

Company

 

12.27

%

12.56

%

Bank

 

11.48

%

11.67

%

 

At March 31, 2008, the Company and the Bank meet all applicable capital ratio standards and believe that they will continue to meet all applicable capital standards.

 

During July 2005, as a result of an examination by the FDIC and the California Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) of First Regional Bank (the Bank), the Bank had identified certain deficiencies and other concerns principally relating to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). At the same time, the Bank noted that it had taken corrective action directed toward achieving full compliance with BSA and addressing the other concerns so identified. The Bank further noted that it believed that the Bank’s corrective action had addressed the majority of such concerns. The Bank later announced that it had entered into an informal agreement with the FDIC and DFI with respect to such corrective action.

 

At the conclusion of an examination by the FDIC and DFI of the Bank in 2007, the FDIC and DFI noted that the Bank had satisfactorily addressed the specific BSA concerns previously identified which were the subject of the informal agreement. However, at the same time, the FDIC focused on a previously unidentified BSA concern relating to the Bank’s program of providing custodial services to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) administered by non-bank third parties.

 

22



 

As a result, the Bank resigned as custodian from all individual retirement accounts administered by non-bank third parties during the first quarter of 2008 and will complete the process of terminating these accounts in the second quarter of 2008. While this will mean the loss of approximately $40 million in deposits, the Bank concluded that such action was advisable because the cost of performing enhanced BSA and custodial compliance work would render the business unprofitable.

 

Notwithstanding the fact that the Bank expects all such accounts to be terminated in the near future, the Bank enter into a cease and desist order with the FDIC, principally addressing the Bank’s BSA duties in connection with such third party administered retirement accounts. While the Bank questioned the need for such a cease and desist order, the Bank concluded that it was advisable for the Bank to enter into, rather than undertake a formal challenge to, the requested cease and desist order, particularly in light of the imminent departure of all such accounts, which the Bank expects will completely resolve all associated BSA concerns. While no financial penalties have been or are expected to be assessed in connection with the claimed deficiencies, and the Company does not expect such development 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 will not require further action if the Bank fails to comply with the terms of the cease and desist order or otherwise fails to correct the deficiencies identified.

 

As previously noted, the third party administered IRA account program being terminated is separate and apart from the Bank’s Trust Administration Services Division whereby the Bank (rather than non-bank third parties) provides administrative services on behalf of self-directed individual retirement accounts.

 

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 our business in our contractual obligations during the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

 

BORROWINGS

 

Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures

 

During 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002 and 2001, the Company established First Regional Statutory Trusts I through VIII (collectively, the “Trusts”), statutory business trusts and 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 2007, 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 $100,517,000 at March 31, 2008 and at December 31, 2007. 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

 

23



 

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 March 31, 2008, and thus the relative sensitivity of the Bank’s net interest income to changes in the overall level of interest rates.

 

24



 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One month

 

Six months

 

One year

 

 

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

Floating

 

Less than

 

but less
than

 

but less
than

 

but less
than

 

Five
years

 

interest
earning

 

 

 

Category

 

Rate

 

one month

 

six months

 

one year

 

five years

 

or more

 

or bearing

 

Total

 

Federal funds sold

 

$

1,280

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

1,280

 

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

 

0

 

0

 

7,043

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

7,043

 

Investment securities

 

0

 

0

 

1,247

 

0

 

2,667

 

21,221

 

0

 

25,135

 

Subtotal

 

1,280

 

0

 

8,290

 

0

 

2,667

 

21,221

 

0

 

33,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans, net of allowance for losses

 

2,009,905

 

125

 

6,550

 

130

 

146,690

 

2,753

 

0

 

2,166,153

 

Total earning assets

 

2,011,185

 

125

 

14,840

 

130

 

149,357

 

23,974

 

0

 

2,199,611

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

36,301

 

36,301

 

Premises and equipment

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

5,374

 

5,374

 

Other real estate owned

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

 

15,322

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

15,322

 

Other assets

 

0

 

0

 

15,000

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

49,493

 

64,493

 

Total non-earning assets

 

15,322

 

0

 

15,000

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

91,168

 

121,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

2,026,507

 

$

125

 

$

29,840

 

$

130

 

$

149,357

 

$

23,974

 

$

91,168

 

$

2,321,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

$

0

 

$

326,000

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

326,000

 

Federal Funds Purchased

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

Subtotal

 

0

 

326,000

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

326,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other deposits

 

61,746

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

61,746

 

Money market deposits

 

920,613

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

920,613

 

Time deposits

 

0

 

71,140

 

135,388

 

106,443

 

479

 

0

 

0

 

313,450

 

Subordinated debentures

 

0

 

0

 

100,517

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

100,517

 

Total interest bearing liabilities

 

982,359

 

397,140

 

235,905

 

106,443

 

479

 

0

 

0

 

1,722,326

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demand deposits

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

400,099

 

400,099

 

Note payable

 

0

 

75

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

75

 

Other liabilities

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

20,790

 

20,790

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

177,811

 

177,811

 

Total non-interest bearing liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

0

 

75

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

598,700

 

598,775

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

982,359

 

$

397,215

 

$

235,905

 

$

106,443

 

$

479

 

$

0

 

$

598,700

 

$

2,321,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAP

 

$

1,044,148

 

$

(397,090

)

$

(206,065

)

$

(106,313

)

$

148,878

 

$

23,974

 

$

(507,532

)

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative GAP

 

$

1,044,148

 

$

647,058

 

$

440,993

 

$

334,680

 

$

483,558

 

$

507,532

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

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.

 

25



 

The Bank’s investment portfolio continues to include high quality, low risk securities, including U.S. Treasury or Government Sponsored Enterprise 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 during the first quarter of 2008.  In comparison, no gains and $29,000 in losses on securities sales were realized during the first quarter of 2007.  At March 31, 2008, the Company’s investment portfolio contained $513,000 in gross unrealized gains and $123,000 in gross unrealized losses, a net gain of $390,000 for unrealized net gains of $226,000, net of tax.  By comparison, as of March 31, 2007, the Bank’s investment portfolio contained $417,000 in gross unrealized gains and gross unrealized losses of $73,000, for a net unrealized gain net of tax expense of $200,000.  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 March 31, 2008.  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 March 31, 2008 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, except for the following:

 

At December 31, 2007 management concluded that a material weakness existed in that the Company did not maintain effective operation of internal control over the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which resulted in a material adjustment to the consolidated cash flows statements for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 related to cash flows pertaining to CRA investments.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Company strengthened the control procedures surrounding the review and classification of cash flows by performing a thorough review of FASB Statement No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows, to ensure the proper classification of cash flows pertaining to CRA investments.  Based on the foregoing, the Company’s management has concluded that the material weakness has been remediated and its disclosure controls and procedures are now effective.

 

26



 

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 litigation to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors associated with the Company’s business activities, which are discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. These include risks associated with the Company’s financial and operating results and with an investment in the Company’s common stock, and have not changed materially from those disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

On July 30, 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved and adopted a share repurchase program authorizing First Regional to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares, or approximately 8%, of its outstanding common stock through July 30 2008.  The repurchase program authorizes the Company to purchase shares from time to time in the open market, depending on market price and other considerations.  The timing of purchases and the prices to be paid are at the discretion of management.  All repurchased shares are expected to be retired.  The repurchase program is intended to be structured to conform with the safe harbor provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-18.

 

Repurchases of the Company’s securities during the first quarter of 2008 are as follows:

 

Month Ended

 

Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased

 

Weighted
Average
Price Paid
per Share

 

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program

 

January 31, 2008

 

116,000

 

$

17.11

 

116,000

 

February 29, 2008

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

Total

 

116,000

 

$

17.11

 

116,000

 

 

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

 

The following is a table of exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

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

 

27



 

31.3

 

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

 

 

 

32

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

28



 

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:

May 12, 2008

 

/s/ H. Anthony Gartshore

 

 

 

 

H. Anthony Gartshore,

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Date:

May 12, 2008

 

/s/ Thomas E. McCullough

 

 

 

 

Thomas E. McCullough, Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

May 12, 2008

 

/s/ Elizabeth Thompson

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Thompson, Chief Financial Officer

 



 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

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