-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IeedGsOLOR1Ca7OZ6f5N7Lhwh5EKu3MKpmorwUQ1rqyExQ1cmfxHvK8i+abkp5nw CiW+HBH83ikCAUDgVaRKFw== 0001445116-09-000029.txt : 20090813 0001445116-09-000029.hdr.sgml : 20090813 20090813151358 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001445116-09-000029 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20090630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20090813 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090813 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST BANKS, INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000710507 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 431175538 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MO FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-31610 FILM NUMBER: 091010211 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 135 N MERAMEC CITY: ST LOUIS STATE: MO ZIP: 63105 BUSINESS PHONE: 3148544600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 135 N MERAMEC CITY: ST LOUIS STATE: MO ZIP: 63105 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FIRST BANKS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940805 10-Q 1 d77574_10q.htm FORM 10-Q Unassociated Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to ________

Commission File Number: 0-20632

FIRST BANKS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

MISSOURI
 
43-1175538
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

135 North Meramec, Clayton, Missouri
 
63105
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)

(314) 854-4600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)



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.
x Yes     o No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
o Yes     x No
 
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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
  Non-accelerated filer x  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  o Yes     x No
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class
 
Shares Outstanding
 at July 31, 2009
     
Common Stock, $250.00 par value
 
23,661




 
 

 
First Banks, Inc.

Table of Contents

 
Page
       
PART I.  FINANCIAL NFORMATION    
         
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements:
   
         
   
1
 
         
   
2
 
         
   
3
 
         
   
4
 
         
   
5
 
         
 
Item 2.
31
 
         
 
Item 3.
55
 
         
 
Item 4.
55
 
           
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION    
         
 
Item 1.
56
 
         
 
Item 4.
56
 
         
 
Item 6.
56
 
         
57
 
 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 – Financial Statements

First Banks, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets – (Unaudited)
(dollars expressed in thousands, except share and per share data)

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
ASSETS
           
             
Cash and cash equivalents:
           
Cash and due from banks
  $ 147,654       166,161  
Short-term investments
    725,825       676,155  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    873,479       842,316  
Investment securities:
               
Available for sale
    676,288       605,014  
Held to maturity (fair value of $15,767 and $18,507, respectively)
    15,050       17,912  
Total investment securities
    691,338       622,926  
Loans:
               
Commercial, financial and agricultural
    2,456,057       2,575,505  
Real estate construction and development
    1,238,616       1,572,212  
Real estate mortgage
    4,349,177       4,336,368  
Consumer and installment
    70,951       77,877  
Loans held for sale
    88,823       38,720  
Total loans
    8,203,624       8,600,682  
Unearned discount
    (6,576 )     (7,707 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (287,317 )     (220,214 )
Net loans
    7,909,731       8,372,761  
Bank premises and equipment, net
    233,164       236,528  
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    305,073       306,800  
Bank-owned life insurance
    26,207       118,825  
Deferred income taxes
    20,901       36,851  
Other real estate
    156,944       91,524  
Other assets
    178,828       154,623  
Total assets
  $ 10,395,665       10,783,154  
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Deposits:
               
Noninterest-bearing demand
  $ 1,337,821       1,241,916  
Interest-bearing demand
    929,224       935,805  
Savings and money market
    2,893,479       2,777,285  
Time deposits of $100 or more
    1,214,335       1,254,652  
Other time deposits
    2,334,486       2,531,862  
Total deposits
    8,709,345       8,741,520  
Other borrowings
    439,758       575,133  
Subordinated debentures
    353,866       353,828  
Deferred income taxes
    29,615       45,565  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    68,379       70,753  
Total liabilities
    9,600,963       9,786,799  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock:
               
$1.00 par value, 4,689,830 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
           
Class A convertible, adjustable rate, $20.00 par value, 750,000 shares authorized, 641,082 shares issued and outstanding
    12,822       12,822  
Class B adjustable rate, $1.50 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 160,505 shares issued and outstanding
    241       241  
Class C fixed rate, cumulative, perpetual, $1.00 par value, 295,400 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
    279,692       278,057  
Class D fixed rate, cumulative, perpetual, $1.00 par value, 14,770 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
    17,343       17,343  
Common stock, $250.00 par value, 25,000 shares authorized, 23,661 shares issued and outstanding
    5,915       5,915  
Additional paid-in capital
    12,480       9,685  
Retained earnings
    345,989       536,714  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    316       6,195  
Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    674,798       866,972  
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
    119,904       129,383  
Total stockholders’ equity
    794,702       996,355  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 10,395,665       10,783,154  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
First Banks, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations – (Unaudited)
(dollars expressed in thousands, except share and per share data)

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Interest income:
                       
Interest and fees on loans
  $ 109,677       138,142       221,229       290,864  
Investment securities
    7,191       9,457       14,668       20,877  
Short-term investments
    394       154       904       316  
Total interest income
    117,262       147,753       236,801       312,057  
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits:
                               
Interest-bearing demand
    467       1,321       920       3,353  
Savings and money market
    7,386       14,417       17,641       31,944  
Time deposits of $100 or more
    9,732       13,016       20,208       29,785  
Other time deposits
    18,506       22,728       38,559       50,515  
Other borrowings
    1,677       3,859       4,018       7,787  
Notes payable
    18       696       37       1,265  
Subordinated debentures
    4,304       4,933       8,810       11,098  
Total interest expense
    42,090       60,970       90,193       135,747  
Net interest income
    75,172       86,783       146,608       176,310  
Provision for loan losses
    112,000       84,053       220,000       130,000  
Net interest (loss) income after provision for loan losses
    (36,828 )     2,730       (73,392 )     46,310  
Noninterest income:
                               
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees
    14,052       13,071       27,223       25,173  
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
    3,357       968       7,470       2,648  
Net gain (loss) on investment securities
    652       (5,784 )     1,184       (4,623 )
Bank-owned life insurance investment income
    196       724       562       1,697  
Investment management income
    531       686       1,058       2,042  
Insurance fee and commission income
    1,915       1,930       4,157       3,904  
Net (loss) gain on derivative instruments
          (1,646 )     401       1,786  
Increase (decrease) in fair value of servicing rights
    283       555       (1,702 )     (1,204 )
Loan servicing fees
    2,189       2,085       4,437       4,216  
Gain on extinguishment of term repurchase agreement
                      5,000  
Other
    3,987       6,302       7,872       11,363  
Total noninterest income
    27,162       18,891       52,662       52,002  
Noninterest expense:
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    31,398       37,099       64,126       77,669  
Occupancy, net of rental income
    9,349       8,969       19,000       18,914  
Furniture and equipment
    4,996       5,473       10,220       10,902  
Postage, printing and supplies
    1,343       1,688       2,695       3,334  
Information technology fees
    7,813       9,052       16,042       18,391  
Legal, examination and professional fees
    4,069       4,488       8,186       7,302  
Amortization of intangible assets
    2,328       2,785       4,666       5,561  
Advertising and business development
    569       1,983       1,542       3,447  
FDIC insurance
    10,009       2,066       14,103       3,013  
Expenses on other real estate
    2,984       1,253       7,503       1,873  
Other
    8,656       9,786       16,281       17,660  
Total noninterest expense
    83,514       84,642       164,364       168,066  
Loss before provision (benefit) for income taxes
    (93,180 )     (63,021 )     (185,094 )     (69,754 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    2,972       (23,137 )     2,458       (25,142 )
Net loss
    (96,152 )     (39,884 )     (187,552 )     (44,612 )
Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
    (2,833 )     33       (4,827 )     178  
Net loss attributable to First Banks, Inc.
  $ (93,319 )     (39,917 )     (182,725 )     (44,790 )
                                 
Net loss available to common stockholders
  $ (98,298 )     (40,049 )     (192,738 )     (45,118 )
                                 
Basic loss per common share
  $ (4,154.41 )     (1,692.61 )     (8,145.81 )     (1,906.87 )
                                 
Diluted loss per common share
  $ (4,154.41 )     (1,692.61 )     (8,145.81 )     (1,906.87 )
                                 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
    23,661       23,661       23,661       23,661  

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

First Banks, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
and Comprehensive Income (Loss) – (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and Year Ended December 31, 2008
(dollars expressed in thousands, except per share data)

   
First Banks, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
             
   
Preferred
   
Common
   
Additional Paid-In
   
Retained
   
Accu-
mulated
Other
Compre-
hensive Income
   
Non-controlling
   
Total Stock-
holders’
 
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
(Loss)
   
Interest
   
Equity
 
                                           
Balance, December 31, 2007
  $ 13,063       5,915       9,685       818,343       (4,929 )     5,544       847,621  
Comprehensive loss:
                                                       
Net loss
                      (287,155 )           (1,158 )     (288,313 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                                       
Unrealized gains on investment securities, net of tax
                            6,043             6,043  
Reclassification adjustment for investment securities losses included in net loss, net of tax
                            5,694             5,694  
Change in unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of tax
                            1,745             1,745  
Reclassification adjustment for establishment of  deferred tax asset valuation allowance on derivatives
                            (1,707 )           (1,707 )
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax
                            (651 )           (651 )
Total comprehensive loss
                                                    (277,189 )
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership
                                  124,997       124,997  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
                      6,312                   6,312  
Issuance of Class C Preferred Stock
    278,057                                     278,057  
Issuance of Class D Preferred Stock
    17,343                                     17,343  
Preferred stock dividends declared
                      (786 )                 (786 )
Balance, December 31, 2008
    308,463       5,915       9,685       536,714       6,195       129,383       996,355  
Comprehensive loss:
                                                       
Net loss
                      (182,725 )           (4,827 )     (187,552 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                                       
Unrealized gains on investment securities, net of tax
                            1,386             1,386  
Reclassification adjustment for investment securities gains included in net loss, net of tax
                            (770 )           (770 )
Change in unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of tax
                            (4,516 )           (4,516 )
Amortization of net loss related to pension plan liability, net of tax
                            69             69  
Reclassification adjustments for deferred tax asset valuation allowance
                            (2,048 )           (2,048 )
Total comprehensive loss
                                                     (193,431
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in SBLS LLC
                2,795                   (4,652 )     (1,857 )
Accretion of discount on preferred stock
    1,635                   (1,635 )                  
Preferred stock dividends declared
                      (6,365 )                 (6,365 )
Balance, June 30, 2009
   310,098       5,915       12,480       345,989       316       119,904       794,702  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
First Banks, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – (Unaudited)
(dollars expressed in thousands)

   
Six Months Ended
 June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net loss attributable to First Banks, Inc.
  $ (182,725 )     (44,790 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization of bank premises and equipment
    11,904       12,310  
Amortization of intangible assets
    4,666       5,561  
Originations of loans held for sale
    (372,363 )     (123,468 )
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
    328,077       160,920  
Payments received on loans held for sale
    1,109       12,828  
Provision for loan losses
    220,000       130,000  
Benefit for current income taxes
    (31,131 )     (15,087 )
Benefit for deferred income taxes
    (44,150 )     (10,627 )
Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance
    77,739       572  
Decrease in accrued interest receivable
    3,326       10,215  
Decrease in accrued interest payable
    (3,332 )     (4,422 )
Decrease in current income taxes receivable
    62,050       3,066  
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
    (7,470 )     (2,648 )
Net (gain) loss on investment securities
    (1,184 )     4,623  
Net gain on derivative instruments
    (401 )     (1,786 )
Decrease in fair value of servicing rights
    1,702       1,204  
Gain on extinguishment of term repurchase agreement
          (5,000 )
Other operating activities, net
    12,024       4,602  
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
    (4,827 )     178  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    75,014       138,251  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Cash paid for earn-out consideration to Adrian N. Baker & Company
    (2,939 )     (2,920 )
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale
    94,237       127,384  
Maturities of investment securities available for sale
    132,947       186,179  
Maturities of investment securities held to maturity
    2,852       1,216  
Purchases of investment securities available for sale
    (296,577 )     (22,519 )
Purchases of investment securities held to maturity
          (1,557 )
Proceeds from sales of commercial loans held for sale
    1,366       3,421  
Net decrease (increase) in loans
    183,223       (301,466 )
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
    6,137       3,471  
Purchases of bank premises and equipment
    (8,909 )     (12,837 )
Net proceeds from sales of other real estate owned
    19,256       5,685  
Cash paid for purchase of noncontrolling interest in SBLS LLC
    (1,616 )      
Cash received for noncontrolling interest in FB Holdings, LLC
          85,000  
Other investing activities, net
    87       2,497  
Net cash provided by investing activities
    130,064       73,554  
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Increase in demand, savings and money market deposits
    205,518       200,688  
Decrease in time deposits
    (237,693 )     (500,018 )
Decrease in Federal Reserve Bank advances
    (100,000 )      
(Decrease) increase in Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    (34 )     299,914  
Decrease in federal funds purchased
          (76,500 )
Decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (35,341 )     (35,389 )
Advances drawn on notes payable
          55,000  
Repayments of notes payable
          (64,000 )
Payment of preferred stock dividends
    (6,365 )     (328 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (173,915 )     (120,633 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    31,163       91,172  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    842,316       231,675  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 873,479       322,847  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
               
Interest on liabilities
  $ 93,525       141,162  
Income taxes
    (61,924 )     (5,259 )
Noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $       6,312  
Loans transferred to other real estate
    94,660       17,382  
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 

First Banks, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1) 
Basis of Presentation
 
The consolidated financial statements of First Banks, Inc. and subsidiaries (First Banks or the Company) are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in the 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and conform to predominant practices within the banking industry. Management of First Banks has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods presented herein, have been included. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009.
 
In connection with the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, First Banks has evaluated subsequent events after the consolidated balance sheet date of June 30, 2009 through August 13, 2009, the date the financial statements were issued, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 165 – Subsequent Events.
 
Principles of Consolidation.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and its subsidiaries, giving effect to the noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries, as more fully described below, and in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications of 2008 amounts have been made to conform to the 2009 presentation.
 
First Banks operates through its wholly owned subsidiary bank holding company, The San Francisco Company (SFC), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and its wholly owned subsidiary holding company, Coast Financial Holdings, Inc. (CFHI), headquartered in Bradenton, Florida.
 
Prior to First Banks’ acquisition of CFHI in November 2007, First Bank, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, was a wholly owned banking subsidiary of SFC. In November 2007, First Banks completed its acquisition of CFHI and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Coast Bank of Florida (Coast Bank). The issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Coast Bank were exchanged for newly issued and outstanding shares of non-voting Series B common stock of First Bank, and Coast Bank was merged with and into First Bank. As a result, SFC is the owner of 100% of the voting Series A outstanding shares of common stock of First Bank and CFHI is the owner of 100% of the non-voting Series B outstanding shares of common stock of First Bank. Thus, First Bank is 96.82% owned by SFC and 3.18% owned by CFHI.
 
First Bank operates through its branch banking offices and subsidiaries: First Bank Business Capital, Inc.; Missouri Valley Partners, Inc. (MVP); Adrian N. Baker & Company (ANB); Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, UPAC of California, Inc. (collectively, UPAC); Small Business Loan Source LLC (SBLS LLC), FB Holdings, LLC (FB Holdings) and ILSIS, Inc. All of the subsidiaries are wholly owned as of June 30, 2009, except FB Holdings, which was 53.23% owned by First Bank and 46.77% owned by First Capital America, Inc. (FCA), as further described in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. On April 30, 2009, First Bank and FCA entered into a Purchase Agreement providing for FCA to sell its 17.45% ownership interest in SBLS LLC to First Bank. As such, effective April 30, 2009, First Bank owned 100.0% of SBLS LLC, as further described in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
FB Holdings and SBLS LLC (prior to the its acquisition by First Bank on April 30, 2009, as discussed above) are included in the consolidated financial statements with the noncontrolling ownership interest reported as a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets as “noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” and the earnings or loss, net of tax, attributable to the noncontrolling ownership interest, reported as “net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Significant Accounting Policies. On January 1, 2009, First Banks implemented SFAS No. 160 – Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB 51. SFAS No. 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 requires entities to classify noncontrolling interests as a component of stockholders’


equity and requires subsequent changes in ownership interests in a subsidiary to be accounted for as an equity transaction. Additionally, SFAS No. 160 requires entities to recognize a gain or loss upon the loss of control of a subsidiary and to remeasure any ownership interest retained at fair value on that date. SFAS No. 160 also requires expanded disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 was effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which are required to be applied retrospectively. The implementation of SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009 resulted in the noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries of $129.4 million being reclassified from a liability to a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets.
 
Regulatory Matters.  In connection with the most recent regular examinations of the Company and First Bank by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRB) and the Missouri Division of Finance (MDOF), the Company and First Bank entered into informal agreements with each regulatory agency. On September 18, 2008, First Bank and its Board of Directors entered into an informal agreement with the FRB and the MDOF. In addition, on October 2, 2008, the Company and its Board of Directors entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the FRB. Each of the agreements is characterized by regulatory authorities as an informal action that is neither published nor made publicly available by the agencies and is used when circumstances warrant a milder form of action than a formal supervisory action, such as a cease and desist order.
 
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with the FRB, the Company agreed, among other things, to provide certain information to the FRB including, but not limited to, financial performance updates, notice of plans to materially change its fundamental business and notice to issue trust preferred securities or raise additional equity capital. In addition, the Company agreed not to declare any dividends on its common or preferred stock or make any distributions of interest or other sums on its trust preferred securities without the prior approval of the FRB.
 
First Bank, under its agreement with the MDOF and the FRB, has agreed to, among other things, prepare and submit plans and reports to the agencies regarding certain matters including, but not limited to, the performance of First Bank’s loan portfolio. In addition, First Bank agreed not to declare or pay any dividends or make certain other payments without the prior consent of the MDOF and the FRB and to maintain its Tier 1 capital ratio at no less than 7.00%. As further described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, at June 30, 2009, First Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio was 8.89%, or approximately $166.7 million over the minimum level required by the agreement.
 
The Company and First Bank were in full compliance with all provisions of the respective informal agreements as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, and are committed to endeavoring to meet the requirements of the agreements in a timely manner.
 
On August 10, 2009, First Banks announced its intention to defer its regularly scheduled interest payments on its outstanding junior subordinated notes relating to its $345.0 million of trust preferred securities beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October 2009. The terms of the junior subordinated notes and the related trust indentures allow First Banks to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without default or penalty. During the deferral period, First Banks may not, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase its common stock or preferred stock nor make any payment on outstanding debt obligations that rank equally with or junior to the junior subordinated notes. Accordingly, First Banks also intends to suspend the payment of cash dividends on its outstanding common stock and preferred stock beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly dividend payments on the preferred stock that would otherwise have been made in August and September 2009, as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
(2) 
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
 
Securities Available for Sale.  The amortized cost, contractual maturity, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of investment securities available for sale at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Maturity
   
Total
   
Gross
         
Weighted
 
   
1 Year
     1-5      5-10    
After
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Average
 
   
or Less
   
Years
   
Years
   
10 Years
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
June 30, 2009:
                                                         
Carrying value:
                                                         
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
  $ 782       26,608       6,822             34,212       65       (504 )     33,773       2.65 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,691       28,646       34,583       490,866       555,786       5,385       (2,883 )     558,288       4.44  
State and political subdivisions
    3,424       8,067       5,573       468       17,532       334       (49 )     17,817       4.13  
Equity investments
                      16,983       16,983       21       (1,476 )     15,528       2.91  
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock (no stated maturity)
    50,882                         50,882                   50,882       4.04  
Total
  $ 56,779       63,321       46,978       508,317       675,395       5,805       (4,912 )     676,288       4.27  
Fair value:
                                                                       
Debt securities
  $ 5,964       63,406       47,511       492,997                                          
Equity securities
    50,882                   15,528                                          
Total
  $ 56,846       63,406       47,511       508,525                                          
                                                                         
Weighted average yield
    4.10 %     3.32 %     4.19 %     4.42 %                                        
                                                                         
December 31, 2008:
                                                                       
Carrying value:
                                                                       
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
  $ 779       499       485             1,763       83             1,846       5.35 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    2,376       17,594       35,804       461,634       517,408       3,171       (3,448 )     517,131       5.14  
State and political subdivisions
    4,687       9,246       6,565       584       21,082       229       (102 )     21,209       4.17  
Equity investments
                      16,984       16,984       12             16,996       4.00  
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock (no stated maturity)
    47,832                         47,832                   47,832       4.70  
Total
  $ 55,674       27,339       42,854       479,202       605,069       3,495       (3,550 )     605,014       5.04  
Fair value:
                                                                       
Debt securities
  $ 7,918       27,706       43,491       461,071                                          
Equity securities
    47,832                   16,996                                          
Total
  $ 55,750       27,706       43,491       478,067                                          
Weighted average yield
    4.69 %     4.22 %     4.30 %     5.19 %                                        
 
Securities Held to Maturity.  The amortized cost, contractual maturity, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of investment securities held to maturity at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Maturity
   
Total
   
Gross
         
Weighted
 
   
1 Year
     1-5      5-10    
After
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Average
 
   
or Less
   
Years
   
Years
   
10 Years
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
June 30, 2009:
                                                         
Carrying value:
                                                         
Mortgage-backed securities
  $       6,613       1,789       2,636       11,038       450             11,488       5.29 %
State and political subdivisions
    320       1,514       645       1,533       4,012       267             4,279       5.35  
Total
  $ 320       8,127       2,434       4,169       15,050       717             15,767       5.31  
Fair value:
                                                                       
Debt securities
  $ 322       8,498       2,518       4,429                                          
                                                                         
Weighted average yield
    3.15 %     4.31 %     4.68 %     6.13 %                                        
                                                                         
December 31, 2008:
                                                                       
Carrying value:
                                                                       
Mortgage-backed securities
  $             7,417       4,265       11,682       338             12,020       5.13 %
State and political subdivisions
    1,964       1,849       625       1,792       6,230       258       (1 )     6,487       4.97  
Total
  $ 1,964       1,849       8,042       6,057       17,912       596       (1 )     18,507       5.07  
Fair value:
                                                                       
Debt securities
  $ 1,974       1,900       8,299       6,334                                          
                                                                         
Weighted average yield
    4.19 %     4.12 %     5.10 %     5.62 %                                        

 

 
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities were $94.2 million and $127.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Gross realized gains and gross realized losses on available-for-sale investment securities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Gross realized gains on sales
  $ 1,272       507       1,790       1,375  
Gross realized losses on sales
    (620 )           (621 )     (4 )
Gross realized gains on calls
          91       15       388  
Other-than-temporary impairment
          (6,382 )           (6,382 )
Net realized gains (losses)
  $ 652       (5,784 )     1,184       (4,623 )
 
Gross unrealized losses on investment securities and the fair value of the related securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Less than 12 months
    12 months or more      Total  
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Available for sale:
                                   
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
  $ 31,427       (504 )                 31,427       (504 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    169,193       (2,705 )     2,140       (178 )     171,333       (2,883 )
State and political subdivisions
    1,084       (29 )     270       (20 )     1,354       (49 )
Equity investments
    4,806       (1,476 )                 4,806       (1,476 )
Total
  $ 206,510       (4,714 )     2,410       (198 )     208,920       (4,912 )
                                                 
Held to maturity:
                                               
State and political subdivisions
  $                                

   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Available for sale:
                                   
Mortgage-backed securities
  $ 123,944       (1,711 )     114,600       (1,737 )     238,544       (3,448 )
State and political subdivisions
    4,479       (101 )     25       (1 )     4,504       (102 )
Total
  $ 128,423       (1,812 )     114,625       (1,738 )     243,048       (3,550 )
                                                 
Held to maturity:
                                               
State and political subdivisions
  $ 202       (1 )                 202       (1 )
 
First Banks did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale debt or equity securities in earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. First Banks recognized other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale equity securities of $6.4 million in earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 on an equity investment in the common stock of a single company in the financial services industry, which management considers to have been primarily caused by economic events impacting the financial services industry as a whole.
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies and mortgage-backed securities – The unrealized losses on investments in mortgage-backed securities and other agency securities were caused by fluctuations in interest rates. The contractual terms of these securities are guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises. It is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost. Because the decline in fair value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit loss, and because First Banks does not intend to sell the debt securities and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the debt securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis or maturity, these investments are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired.
 
State and political subdivisions – The unrealized losses on investments in state and political subdivisions were caused by fluctuations in interest rates. It is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost. Because the decline in fair value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit loss, and because First Banks does not intend to sell the debt securities and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the debt securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis or maturity, these investments are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired.


Equity investments – The unrealized losses on investments in equity investments at June 30, 2009 consisted of an unrealized loss of $1.5 million on an investment in the common stock of two companies in the financial services industry which management considers to have been caused by economic events affecting the financial services industry as a whole. First Banks’ investment in these companies was in an unrealized loss position for approximately six months through June 30, 2009. First Banks does not believe the unrealized losses are other-than-temporary at June 30, 2009.
 
(3) 
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net of amortization, were comprised of the following at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Gross
Carrying
Amount
   
 
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Gross
 Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Amortized intangible assets:
                       
Core deposit intangibles (1)
  $ 41,410       (24,541 )     53,916       (33,251 )
Customer list intangibles
    23,320       (4,650 )     23,320       (3,903 )
Other intangibles (2)
    2,210       (1,643 )     2,385       (1,695 )
Total
  $ 66,940       (30,834 )     79,621       (38,849 )
                                 
Unamortized intangible assets:
                               
Goodwill
  $ 268,967               266,028          
 
_________________
 
(1)
The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for core deposit intangibles at June 30, 2009 have been reduced by $12.5 million related to core deposit intangibles associated with certain acquisitions that became fully amortized in December 2008.
 
(2)
The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for other intangibles at June 30, 2009 have been reduced by $175,000 related to other intangibles associated with certain acquisitions that became fully amortized in May 2009.
 
Amortization of intangible assets was $2.3 million and $4.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $2.8 million and $5.6 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Amortization of intangible assets, including amortization of core deposit intangibles, customer list intangibles and other intangibles has been estimated in the following table, and does not take into consideration any potential future acquisitions or branch office purchases.

 
    (dollars expressed in thousands)
Year ending December 31:
     
2009 remaining
  $ 4,614  
2010
    8,852  
2011
    6,674  
2012
    2,459  
2013
    1,524  
2014
    1,473  
Thereafter
    10,510  
Total
  $ 36,106  
 
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 266,028       264,379       266,028       263,747  
Goodwill acquired during the period (1)
    2,939       2,920       2,939       2,920  
Acquisition-related adjustments (2)
          (1,221 )           (589 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 268,967       266,078       268,967       266,078  
 
_________________
 
(1)
Goodwill acquired during 2009 and 2008 pertains to additional earn-out consideration associated with the acquisition of ANB in March 2006.
 
(2)
Acquisition-related adjustments include additional purchase accounting adjustments for prior years’ acquisitions necessary to appropriately adjust preliminary goodwill recorded at the time of the acquisition, which was based upon current estimates available at that time, to reflect the receipt of additional valuation data. Acquisition-related adjustments recorded in 2008 pertain to the acquisition of CFHI in November 2007.
 
 

The Company’s annual measurement date for its goodwill impairment test is December 31. First Banks engaged an independent valuation firm to assist in computing the fair value estimate for the impairment assessment by utilizing two separate valuation methodologies and applying a weighted average to each methodology in order to determine fair value for its single reporting unit, First Bank. The valuation methodologies utilized a comparison of the average price to book value of comparable businesses and a discounted cash flow valuation technique. As a result of this independent third party valuation, the Company concluded that the carrying value of its single reporting unit exceeded its fair value at December 31, 2008.
 
Because the carrying value of First Banks’ reporting unit exceeded the estimated fair value at December 31, 2008, First Banks engaged the same independent valuation firm to assist in computing the fair value of First Bank’s assets and liabilities in order to determine the implied fair value of First Bank’s goodwill at December 31, 2008. Management compared the implied fair value of First Bank’s goodwill, as determined by the independent valuation firm, with its carrying value, and concluded that there was no goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2008.
 
There was no goodwill impairment recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. In the current environment, however, forecasting cash flows, credit losses and growth in addition to valuing First Bank’s assets with any degree of assurance is very difficult and subject to significant changes. Accordingly, due to volatile market conditions, First Bank has concluded that it is possible that goodwill may become impaired in future periods.
 
(4) 
Servicing Rights
 
Mortgage Banking Activities.  At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, First Banks serviced mortgage loans for others totaling $1.15 billion and $1.09 billion, respectively. Changes in mortgage servicing rights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 7,841       14,169       7,418       5,290  
Re-measurement to fair value upon election to measure  servicing rights at fair value under SFAS No. 156
                      9,538  
Originated mortgage servicing rights
    2,486       998       3,628       1,673  
Change in fair value resulting from changes in valuation  inputs or assumptions used in valuation model (1)
    1,431       1,235       1,615       551  
Other changes in fair value (2)
    (1,072 )     (435 )     (1,975 )     (1,085 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 10,686       15,967       10,686       15,967  
 
_________________
 
(1)
The change in fair value resulting from changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in valuation model primarily reflects the change in discount rates and prepayment speed assumptions, primarily due to changes in interest rates.
 
(2)
Other changes in fair value reflect changes due to the collection/realization of expected cash flows over time.
 
Other Servicing Activities.  At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, First Banks serviced United States Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for others totaling $233.4 million and $221.5 million, respectively. Changes in SBA servicing rights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 7,905       9,310       8,963       7,468  
Re-measurement to fair value upon election to measure servicing rights at fair value under SFAS No. 156
                      905  
Originated SBA servicing rights
    294       691       502       2,053  
Change in fair value resulting from changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in valuation model (1)
    316       134       (593 )     15  
Other changes in fair value (2)
    (392 )     (379 )     (749 )     (685 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 8,123       9,756       8,123       9,756  
 
_________________
 
(1)
The change in fair value resulting from changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in valuation model primarily reflects the change in discount rates and prepayment speed assumptions, primarily due to changes in interest rates.
 
(2)
Other changes in fair value reflect changes due to the collection/realization of expected cash flows over time.
 

(5) 
Loss Per Common Share
 
The following is a reconciliation of basic and diluted loss per share (EPS) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
                         
Basic:
                       
Net loss attributable to First Banks, Inc.
  $ (93,319 )     (39,917 )     (182,725 )     (44,790 )
Preferred stock dividends declared and undeclared
    (4,157 )     (132 )     (8,378 )     (328 )
Accretion of discount on preferred stock
    (822 )           (1,635 )      
Net loss available to First Banks, Inc. common stockholders
  $ (98,298 )     (40,049 )     (192,738 )     (45,118 )
                                 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
    23,661       23,661       23,661       23,661  
                                 
Basic loss per common share
  $ (4,154.41 )     (1,692.61 )     (8,145.81 )     (1,906.87 )
                                 
Diluted:
                               
Net loss available to First Banks, Inc. common stockholders
  $ (98,298 )     (40,049 )     (192,738 )     (45,118 )
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Class A convertible preferred stock
                       
Diluted EPS – net loss available to First Banks, Inc.
    common stockholders
  $ (98,298 )     (40,049 )     (192,738 )     (45,118 )
                                 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
    23,661       23,661       23,661       23,661  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Class A convertible preferred stock
                       
                                 
Weighted average diluted shares of common stock outstanding
    23,661       23,661       23,661       23,661  
                                 
Diluted loss per common share
  $ (4,154.41 )     (1,692.61 )     (8,145.81 )     (1,906.87 )
 
(6) 
Transactions With Related Parties
 
First Services, L.P. (First Services), a limited partnership indirectly owned by First Banks’ Chairman and members of his immediate family, provides information technology, item processing and various related services to First Banks, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Fees paid under agreements with First Services were $7.5 million and $15.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $8.6 million and $17.2 million for the comparable periods in 2008. First Services leases information technology and other equipment from First Bank. First Services paid First Bank rental fees for the use of that equipment of $760,000 and $1.5 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $801,000 and $1.9 million for the comparable periods in 2008. In addition, First Services paid approximately $464,000 and $928,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $463,000 and $927,000 for the comparable periods in 2008, in rental payments for occupancy of certain First Bank premises from which business is conducted.
 
First Brokerage America, L.L.C. (First Brokerage), a limited liability company indirectly owned by First Banks’ Chairman and members of his immediate family, received approximately $1.2 million and $2.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $1.9 million and $3.6 million for the comparable periods in 2008, in gross commissions paid by unaffiliated third-party companies. The commissions received were primarily in connection with the sales of annuities, securities and other insurance products to customers of First Bank. First Brokerage paid approximately $48,000 and $108,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $75,000 and $120,000 for the comparable periods in 2008, to First Bank in rental payments for occupancy of certain First Bank premises from which brokerage business is conducted.
 
First Bank leases certain of its in-store branch offices and automated teller machine (ATM) sites from Dierbergs Markets, Inc., a grocery store chain headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri that is owned and operated by the brother of First Banks’ Chairman and members of his immediate family. Total rent expense incurred by First Bank under the lease obligation contracts was $108,000 and $216,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $105,000 and $204,000 for the comparable periods in 2008.
 
In June 2005, FCA, a corporation owned by First Banks’ Chairman and members of his immediate family, became a 49.0% owner of SBLS LLC in exchange for $7.4 million pursuant to a written option agreement with First Bank. In January and June 2007, First Bank contributed $4.0 million and $7.8 million, respectively, to SBLS LLC in the form


of additional capital contributions, thereby increasing First Bank’s ownership of SBLS LLC to 76.0% and decreasing FCA’s ownership to 24.0%. On March 31, 2009, First Bank contributed $5.0 million to SBLS LLC in the form of an additional capital contribution, thereby increasing First Bank’s ownership of SBLS LLC to 82.55% and decreasing FCA’s ownership to 17.45%.
 
On April 30, 2009, First Bank and FCA entered into a Purchase Agreement providing for FCA to sell its 17.45% ownership interest in SBLS LLC to First Bank for a purchase price consisting of (i) an initial payment to be made on or before May 15, 2009 of an amount equal to 50% of the carrying value of FCA’s ownership interest in SBLS LLC as of April 30, 2009, as reflected within the financial statements of First Banks, which represented an estimate agreed to by First Bank and FCA of the fair market value of FCA’s ownership interest in SBLS LLC, and (ii) an adjustment in the purchase price to reflect such fair market value, based upon an appraisal of such value to be performed by an independent third party mutually acceptable to First Bank and FCA. As such, effective April 30, 2009, First Bank owned 100% of SBLS LLC. On May 14, 2009, First Bank made an initial payment of $1.6 million to FCA, representing 50% of the carrying value of FCA’s ownership interest in SBLS LLC as of April 30, 2009. Subsequent to May 14, 2009, First Bank obtained an appraisal of SBLS LLC from an independent third party indicating the fair market value of FCA’s ownership interest to be $1.9 million as of April 30, 2009, or $241,000 greater than the initial payment. The additional amount of $241,000 due to FCA, which was reflected in accrued and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2009, was paid in July 2009. As a result of the purchase of FCA’s minority interest in SBLS LLC, First Banks recorded an increase in additional paid-in-capital with a corresponding decrease in noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries of $2.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2009.
 
In September 2008, SBLS LLC executed a Promissory Note with First Bank that provided a $75.0 million unsecured revolving line of credit with a maturity date of September 30, 2009. This Promissory Note renewed the existing promissory note that matured on September 30, 2008. Interest was payable monthly in arrears on the outstanding loan balance at a current rate equal to the 30-day London Interbank Offered Rate plus 40 basis points. On January 1, 2009, SBLS LLC executed an Amended Promissory Note with First Bank, which modified the interest payable monthly in arrears on the outstanding loan balance to a current rate equal to the First Bank internal Commercial Cost of Funds Rate, which was 3.84% and 3.58% for the first and second quarters of 2009, respectively. The balance of advances under the respective agreements was $61.6 million and $66.2 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Interest expense recorded by SBLS LLC under the respective agreements was $607,000 and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $431,000 and $992,000 for the comparable periods in 2008. The balance of the advances and the related interest expense recognized by SBLS LLC are eliminated for purposes of the consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2008, First Banks formed FB Holdings, a limited liability company organized in the State of Missouri. FB Holdings operates as a majority-owned subsidiary of First Bank and was formed for the primary purpose of holding and managing certain nonperforming loans and assets to allow the liquidation of such assets at a time that is more economically advantageous to First Bank and to permit an efficient vehicle for the investment of additional capital by the Company’s sole owner of its Class A and Class B preferred stock. During 2008, First Bank contributed cash of $9.0 million and nonperforming loans and assets with a fair value of approximately $133.3 million, and FCA contributed cash of $125.0 million to FB Holdings. As a result, First Bank owned 53.23% and FCA owned the remaining 46.77% of FB Holdings as of June 30, 2009. The contribution of cash by FCA is reflected as a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets and, consequently, increased the Company’s and First Bank’s total risk-based capital ratios under existing regulatory guidelines.
 
FB Holdings entered into a Services Agreement with First Banks and First Bank effective May 30, 2008. The Services Agreement relates to various services provided to FB Holdings by First Banks and First Bank, including loan servicing and special assets services as well as various other financial, legal, human resources and property management services. Fees paid under the Services Agreement by FB Holdings were $144,000 and $329,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.
 
In May 2008, First Banks entered into a Revolving Credit Note and a Stock Pledge Agreement with Investors of America Limited Partnership (Investors of America, LP), as amended on August 11, 2008 (the Credit Agreement), as further described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. Investors of America, LP is a Nevada limited partnership that was created by and for the benefit of First Banks’ Chairman and members of his immediate family. The Credit Agreement matured on June 30, 2009. There were no advances outstanding under the Credit Agreement at June 30, 2009 or December 31, 2008. Interest expense, comprised of commitment fees, recorded by First Banks under the Credit Agreement was $18,000 and $37,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. Interest expense, including commitment fees, was $239,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.

 
First Bank has had in the past, and may have in the future, loan transactions in the ordinary course of business with its directors and/or their affiliates. These loan transactions have been on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. Loans to directors, their affiliates and executive officers of First Banks, Inc. were approximately $48.1 million and $49.0 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. First Bank does not extend credit to its officers or to officers of First Banks, Inc., except extensions of credit secured by mortgages on personal residences, loans to purchase automobiles, personal credit card accounts and deposit account overdraft protection under a plan whereby a credit limit has been established in accordance with First Bank’s standard credit criteria.
 
(7) 
Regulatory Capital
 
First Banks and First Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal and state banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on First Banks’ financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, First Banks and First Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. In addition, First Bank is currently required to maintain its Tier 1 capital ratio at no less than 7.00% in accordance with the provisions of its agreement entered into with the MDOF and the FRB, as further described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements and under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Regulatory Matters.” At June 30, 2009, First Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.89% was approximately $166.7 million over the minimum level required by the agreement.
 
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require First Banks and First Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. Management believes, as of June 30, 2009, First Banks and First Bank were well capitalized. As of June 30, 2009, the most recent notification from First Banks’ primary regulator categorized First Banks and First Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, First Banks and First Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following table.
 
At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, First Banks’ and First Bank’s required and actual capital ratios were as follows:
 
   
Actual
    For
Capital
Adequacy Purposes
    To be Well
Capitalized Under
Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
 
   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
         
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
         
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
             
                                     
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
                                   
First Banks
  $ 945,969       10.72 %   $ 1,148,407       12.11 %     8.0 %     10.0 %
First Bank
    896,163       10.17       1,042,948       11.01       8.0       10.0  
                                                 
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
                                               
First Banks
    593,439       6.73       841,152       8.87       4.0       6.0  
First Bank
    783,766       8.89       923,318       9.75       4.0       6.0  
                                                 
Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
                                               
First Banks
    593,439       5.89       841,152       8.04       3.0       5.0  
First Bank
    783,766       7.79       923,318       8.85       3.0       5.0  
 
In March 2005, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) adopted a final rule, Risk-Based Capital Standards: Trust Preferred Securities and the Definition of Capital, which allows for the continued limited inclusion of trust preferred securities in Tier 1 capital. The Federal Reserve’s final rule limits restricted core capital elements to 25% of the sum of all core capital elements, including restricted core capital elements, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability. Amounts of restricted core capital elements in excess of these limits may generally be included in Tier 2 capital. Specifically, amounts of qualifying trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock in excess of the 25% limit may be included in Tier 2 capital, but will be limited, together with subordinated debt and limited-life preferred stock, to 50% of Tier 1 capital. In addition, the final rule provides that in the last five years before the maturity of the underlying subordinated note, the outstanding


amount of the associated trust preferred securities is to be excluded from Tier 1 capital and included in Tier 2 capital, subject to one-fifth amortization per year. The final rule provided for a five-year transition period, ending March 31, 2009, for the application of the quantitative limits. On March 16, 2009, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule that delays the effective date for the application of the quantitative limits to March 31, 2011. Until March 31, 2011, the aggregate amount of qualifying cumulative perpetual preferred stock and qualifying trust preferred securities that may be included in Tier 1 capital is limited to 25% of the sum of the following core capital elements: qualifying common stockholders’ equity, qualifying noncumulative and cumulative perpetual preferred stock, qualifying noncontrolling interest in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries and qualifying trust preferred securities. First Banks has determined that the Federal Reserve’s final rules that will be effective in March 2011, if implemented as of June 30, 2009, would reduce First Banks’ total capital (to risk-weighted assets), Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets) and Tier 1 capital (to average assets) to 9.84%, 5.71% and 5.00%, respectively. The final rules that will be effective in March 2011, if implemented as of June 30, 2009, would not have an impact on First Bank’s regulatory capital ratios.
 
First Bank is restricted by various state and federal regulations as to the amount of dividends that are available for payment to First Banks.  Under the most restrictive of these requirements, the payment of dividends is limited in any calendar year to the net profit of the current year combined with the retained net profits of the preceding two years.  Permission must be obtained for dividends exceeding these amounts. Based on the current level of earnings, permission must be obtained for any payment of dividends from First Bank to First Banks, Inc.  Furthermore, First Bank, under its agreement with the MDOF and the FRB, has agreed, among other things, not to declare or pay any dividends or make certain other payments without the prior consent of the MDOF and the FRB, as further described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
(8) 
Business Segment Results
 
First Banks’ business segment is First Bank. The reportable business segment is consistent with the management structure of First Banks, First Bank and the internal reporting system that monitors performance. First Bank provides similar products and services in its defined geographic areas through its branch network. The products and services offered include a broad range of commercial and personal deposit products, including demand, savings, money market and time deposit accounts. In addition, First Bank markets combined basic services for various customer groups, including packaged accounts for more affluent customers, and sweep accounts, lock-box deposits and cash management products for commercial customers. First Bank also offers consumer and commercial loans. Consumer lending includes residential real estate, home equity and installment lending. Commercial lending includes commercial, financial and agricultural loans, real estate construction and development loans, commercial real estate loans, small business lending, asset-based loans, trade financing and insurance premium financing. Other financial services include mortgage banking, debit cards, brokerage services, employee benefit and commercial and personal insurance services, internet banking, remote deposit, ATMs, telephone banking, safe deposit boxes, and trust, private banking and institutional money management services. The revenues generated by First Bank and its subsidiaries consist primarily of interest income, generated from the loan and investment security portfolios, service charges and fees generated from deposit products and services, and fees generated by First Banks’ mortgage banking, insurance, and trust, private banking and institutional money management business units. First Banks’ products and services are offered to customers primarily within its respective geographic areas, which include eastern Missouri, Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, southern and northern California, Houston and Dallas, Texas and Florida’s Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Certain loan products are available nationwide.


The business segment results are consistent with First Banks’ internal reporting system and, in all material respects, with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and practices predominant in the banking industry. The business segment results are summarized as follows:
 
         
Corporate, Other
       
         
and Intercompany
       
   
First Bank
   
Reclassifications
   
Consolidated Totals
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                                     
Balance sheet information:
                                   
                                     
Investment securities
  $ 677,331       607,443       14,007       15,483       691,338       622,926  
Loans, net of unearned discount
    8,197,048       8,592,975                   8,197,048       8,592,975  
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    305,073       306,800                   305,073       306,800  
Total assets
    10,377,824       10,756,737       17,841       26,417       10,395,665       10,783,154  
Deposits
    8,759,060       8,843,901       (49,715 )     (102,381 )     8,709,345       8,741,520  
Other borrowings
    439,758       575,133                   439,758       575,133  
Subordinated debentures
                353,866       353,828       353,866       353,828  
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,094,428       1,240,940       (299,726 )     (244,585 )     794,702       996,355  

   
First Bank
   
Corporate, Other
and Intercompany
Reclassifications
   
Consolidated Totals
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                                     
Income statement information:
                                   
                                     
Interest income
  $ 117,127       147,531       135       222       117,262       147,753  
Interest expense
    37,850       55,353       4,240       5,617       42,090       60,970  
Net interest income
    79,277       92,178       (4,105 )     (5,395 )     75,172       86,783  
Provision for loan losses
    112,000       84,053                   112,000       84,053  
Net interest (loss) income after provision for loan losses
    (32,723 )     8,125       (4,105 )     (5,395 )     (36,828 )     2,730  
Noninterest income
    27,160       25,435       2       (6,544 )     27,162       18,891  
Amortization of intangible assets
    2,328       2,785                   2,328       2,785  
Other noninterest expense
    81,087       79,840       99       2,017       81,186       81,857  
Loss before provision (benefit) for income taxes
    (88,978 )     (49,065 )     (4,202 )     (13,956 )     (93,180 )     (63,021 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    2,639       (18,239 )     333       (4,898 )     2,972       (23,137 )
Net loss
    (91,617 )     (30,826 )     (4,535 )     (9,058 )     (96,152 )     (39,884 )
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
    (2,833 )     33                   (2,833 )     33  
Net loss attributable to First Banks,  Inc.
  $ (88,784 )     (30,859 )     (4,535 )     (9,058 )     (93,319 )     (39,917 )

   
First Bank
   
Corporate, Other
and Intercompany
Reclassifications
   
Consolidated Totals
 
   
Six Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                                     
Income statement information:
                                   
                                     
Interest income
  $ 236,543       311,579       258       478       236,801       312,057  
Interest expense
    81,527       123,413       8,666       12,334       90,193       135,747  
Net interest income
    155,016       188,166       (8,408 )     (11,856 )     146,608       176,310  
Provision for loan losses
    220,000       130,000                   220,000       130,000  
Net interest (loss) income after provision for loan losses
    (64,984 )     58,166       (8,408 )     (11,856 )     (73,392 )     46,310  
Noninterest income
    52,658       58,732       4       (6,730 )     52,662       52,002  
Amortization of intangible assets
    4,666       5,561                   4,666       5,561  
Other noninterest expense
    160,158       158,331       (460 )     4,174       159,698       162,505  
Loss before provision (benefit) for income taxes
    (177,150 )     (46,994 )     (7,944 )     (22,760 )     (185,094 )     (69,754 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    2,172       (17,152 )     286       (7,990 )     2,458       (25,142 )
Net loss
    (179,322 )     (29,842 )     (8,230 )     (14,770 )     (187,552 )     (44,612 )
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
    (4,827 )     178                   (4,827 )     178  
Net loss attributable to First Banks, Inc.
  $ (174,495 )     (30,020 )     (8,230 )     (14,770 )     (182,725 )     (44,790 )

 
(9)
Other Borrowings and Notes Payable
 
Other Borrowings.  Other borrowings were comprised of the following at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
           
Daily
  $ 119,082       154,423  
Term
    120,000       120,000  
FRB borrowings (1)
          100,000  
FHLB advances (2)
    200,676       200,710  
Total
  $ 439,758       575,133  

 
________________________
 
(1)
In November 2008, First Bank entered into a $100.0 million borrowing with the FRB upon termination of a $100.0 million FHLB advance, and subsequently renewed the borrowing at maturity in December 2008 at a fixed interest rate of 0.42%. First Bank repaid this borrowing upon maturity in February 2009.
 
(2)
In January 2008, First Bank entered into a $100.0 million Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advance that was scheduled to mature in July 2009 at a fixed interest rate of 2.53%. In March 2009, First Bank prepaid this $100.0 million FHLB advance and incurred a prepayment penalty of $357,000. The prepayment penalty was recorded as interest expense on other borrowings in the consolidated statements of operations. In July 2008, First Bank entered into a $100.0 million FHLB advance at a fixed interest rate of 2.92%. First Bank repaid this advance upon maturity in February 2009. In April 2009, First Bank entered into two $100.0 million FHLB advances that mature in April 2010 and April 2011 at fixed interest rates of 1.69% and 1.77%, respectively.
 
The maturity date, par amount, interest rate and interest rate floor strike price on First Bank’s term repurchase agreement as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:

     
Interest
Interest Rate Floor
Maturity Date
 
Par Amount
Rate
Strike Price
   
(dollars expressed
   
 
 
in thousands)
   
         
April 12, 2012 (1)
  120,000
3.36%
 
________________________
 
(1)
On March 31, 2008, First Bank restructured its $100.0 million term repurchase agreement. The primary modifications were to:  (a) increase the borrowing amount to $120.0 million; (b) extend the maturity date from October 12, 2010 to April 12, 2012; (c) convert the interest rate from a variable rate to a fixed rate of 3.36%, with interest to be paid quarterly beginning on April 12, 2008; and (d) terminate the embedded interest rate floor agreements contained within the term repurchase agreement. These modifications resulted in a pre-tax gain of $5.0 million, which was recorded as noninterest income in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Notes Payable.  In May 2008, First Banks entered into a Credit Agreement with Investors of America, LP that provided a $30.0 million secured revolving line of credit to be utilized for general working capital needs and capital investments in subsidiaries, as further described in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. The Credit Agreement matured on June 30, 2009. There were no advances outstanding under the Credit Agreement at maturity on June 30, 2009 or December 31, 2008.
 
(10)
Subordinated Debentures
 
First Banks has formed or assumed various affiliated Delaware or Connecticut statutory and business trusts (collectively, the Trusts) that were created for the sole purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. The trust preferred securities were issued in private placements, with the exception of First Preferred Capital Trust IV, which was issued in a publicly underwritten offering. First Banks owns all of the common securities of the Trusts. The gross proceeds of the offerings were used by the Trusts to purchase variable rate or fixed rate subordinated debentures from First Banks. The subordinated debentures are the sole asset of the Trusts. In connection with the issuance of the trust preferred securities, First Banks made certain guarantees and commitments that, in the aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by First Banks of the obligations of the Trusts under the trust preferred securities. First Banks’ distributions accrued on the subordinated debentures were $3.7 million and $7.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $5.0 million and $11.1 million for the comparable periods in 2008, and are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The structure of the trust preferred securities currently satisfies the regulatory requirements for inclusion, subject to certain limitations, in First Banks’ capital base.
 

A summary of the subordinated debentures issued to the Trusts in conjunction with the trust preferred securities offerings at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
               
Trust
       
   
Maturity
Call
 
Interest
   
Preferred
   
Subordinated
 
Name of Trust
Issuance Date
Date
Date (1)
 
Rate (2)
   
Securities
   
Debentures
 
                         
Variable Rate
                       
First Bank Statutory Trust II
September 2004
September 20, 2034
September 20, 2009
    + 205.0 bp   $ 20,000     $ 20,619  
Royal Oaks Capital Trust I
October 2004
January 7, 2035
January 7, 2010
    + 240.0 bp     4,000       4,124  
First Bank Statutory Trust III
November 2004
December 15, 2034
December 15, 2009
    + 218.0 bp     40,000       41,238  
First Bank Statutory Trust IV
March 2006
March 15, 2036
March 15, 2011
    + 142.0 bp     40,000       41,238  
First Bank Statutory Trust V
April 2006
June 15, 2036
June 15, 2011
    + 145.0 bp     20,000       20,619  
First Bank Statutory Trust VI
June 2006
July 7, 2036
July 7, 2011
    + 165.0 bp (3a)     25,000       25,774  
First Bank Statutory Trust VII 
December 2006
December 15, 2036
December 15, 2011
    + 185.0 bp (3b)     50,000       51,547  
First Bank Statutory Trust VIII 
February 2007
March 30, 2037
March 30, 2012
    + 161.0 bp (3c)     25,000       25,774  
First Bank Statutory Trust X
August 2007
September 15, 2037
September 15, 2012
    + 230.0 bp     15,000       15,464  
First Bank Statutory Trust IX 
September 2007
December 15, 2037
December 15, 2012
    + 225.0 bp (3d)     25,000       25,774  
First Bank Statutory Trust XI
September 2007
December 15, 2037
December 15, 2012
    + 285.0 bp     10,000       10,310  
                               
Fixed Rate
                             
First Bank Statutory Trust
March 2003
March 20, 2033
March 20, 2008
    8.10 %     25,000       25,774  
First Preferred Capital Trust IV
April 2003
June 30, 2033
June 30, 2008
    8.15 %     46,000       47,423  
_________________
(1)
The subordinated debentures are callable at the option of First Banks on the call date shown at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
(2)
The interest rates paid on the trust preferred securities are based on either a variable rate or a fixed rate. The variable rate for the outstanding subordinated debentures is based on the three-month LIBOR plus the basis point spread shown.
(3)
In March 2008, First Banks executed four interest rate swap agreements, which have been designated as cash flow hedges, to effectively convert the interest payments on these subordinated debentures from variable rate to fixed rate to the respective call dates as follows:
 
(a)
$25.0 million notional amount with a maturity date of July 7, 2011 that converts the interest rate from a variable rate of LIBOR plus 165 basis points to a fixed rate of 4.40%;
 
(b)
$50.0 million notional amount with a maturity date of December 15, 2011 that converts the interest rate from a variable rate of LIBOR plus 185 basis points to a fixed rate of 4.905%;
 
(c)
$25.0 million notional amount with a maturity date of March 30, 2012 that converts the interest rate from a variable rate of LIBOR plus 161 basis points to a fixed rate of 4.71%; and
 
(d)
$25.0 million notional amount with a maturity date of December 15, 2012 that converts the interest rate from a variable rate of LIBOR plus 225 basis points to a fixed rate of 5.565%.
 
Under its Memorandum of Understanding with the FRB, First Banks agreed, among other things, to provide certain information to the FRB, including, but not limited to, prior notice regarding the issuance of additional trust preferred securities. First Banks also agreed not to make any distributions of interest or other sums on its outstanding trust preferred securities without the prior approval of the FRB, as further described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. On August 10, 2009, First Banks announced its intention to defer its regularly scheduled interest payments on its outstanding junior subordinated notes relating to its $345.0 million of trust preferred securities beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October 2009, as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. The terms of the junior subordinated notes and the related trust indentures allow First Banks to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without default or penalty. During the deferral period, the respective trusts will suspend the declaration and payment of dividends on the trust preferred securities.
 
(11) 
Stockholders’ Equity
 
There is no established public trading market for First Banks’ common stock. Various trusts, which were established by and are administered by and for the benefit of First Banks’ Chairman of the Board and members of his immediate family, own all of the voting stock of First Banks.
 
First Banks has four classes of preferred stock outstanding. The Class A preferred stock is convertible into shares of common stock at a rate based on the ratio of the par value of the preferred stock to the current market value of the common stock at the date of conversion, to be determined by independent appraisal at the time of conversion.  Shares of Class A preferred stock may be redeemed by First Banks at any time at 105.0% of par value.  The Class B preferred stock may not be redeemed or converted.  The holders of the Class A and Class B preferred stock have full voting rights. Dividends on the Class A and Class B preferred stock are adjustable quarterly based on the highest of the Treasury Bill Rate or the Ten Year Constant Maturity Rate for the two-week period immediately preceding the beginning of the quarter. This rate shall not be less than 6.0% nor more than 12.0% on the Class A preferred stock, or less than 7.0% nor more than 15.0% on the Class B preferred stock. The annualized dividend rate for the Class A preferred stock and the Class B preferred stock is 6.0% and 7.0%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
 

On December 31, 2008, First Banks issued 295,400 shares of Class C Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (Class C Preferred Stock) and 14,770 shares of Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (Class D Preferred Stock) to the United States Department of the Treasury (U.S. Treasury) in conjunction with the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program’s Capital Purchase Program (TARP). The Class C Preferred Stock has a par value of $1.00 per share and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The holders of the Class C Preferred Stock have no voting rights except in certain limited circumstances. The Class C Preferred Stock carries an annual dividend rate equal to 5% for the first five years and the annual dividend rate increases to 9% thereafter, payable quarterly in arrears beginning February 15, 2009. The Class D Preferred Stock has a par value of $1.00 per share and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The holders of the Class D Preferred Stock have no voting rights except in certain limited circumstances. The Class D Preferred Stock carries an annual dividend rate equal to 9%, payable quarterly in arrears beginning February 15, 2009. The Class C Preferred Stock and the Class D Preferred Stock qualify as Tier 1 capital. Effective February 17, 2009, the Class C Preferred Stock and the Class D Preferred Stock may be redeemed at any time without penalty and without the need to raise new capital, subject to the U.S. Treasury’s consultation with the Company’s primary regulatory agency. The Class D Preferred Stock may not be redeemed until all of the outstanding shares of the Class C Preferred Stock have been redeemed.
 
First Banks allocated the total proceeds received under the TARP of $295.4 million to the Class C Preferred Stock and the Class D Preferred Stock based on the relative fair values of the respective classes of preferred stock at the time of issuance. The discount on the Class C Preferred Stock of $17.3 million is being accreted to retained earnings on a level-yield basis over five years, consistent with management’s estimates of the life of the preferred stock. Accretion of the discount on the Class C Preferred Stock was $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
 
The redemption of any issue of preferred stock requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, the agreement that First Banks entered into with the U.S. Treasury associated with the issuance of the Class C and D Preferred Stock contains limitations on certain actions of First Banks, including, but not limited to, payment of dividends and redemptions and acquisitions of First Banks’ equity securities. In addition, First Banks, under its Memorandum of Understanding with the FRB, has agreed, among other things, to provide certain information to the FRB including, but not limited to, notice of plans to materially change its fundamental business and notice to raise additional equity capital.  In addition, First Banks agreed not to declare any dividends on its common or preferred stock without the prior approval of the FRB, as further described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. On August 10, 2009, First Banks announced its intention to defer its regularly scheduled interest payments on its outstanding junior subordinated notes relating to its $345.0 million of trust preferred securities beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October 2009. During the deferral period, First Banks may not, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase its common stock or preferred stock nor make any payment on outstanding debt obligations that rank equally with or junior to the junior subordinated notes. Accordingly, First Banks also intends to suspend the payment of cash dividends on its outstanding common stock and preferred stock beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly dividend payments on the preferred stock that would otherwise have been made in August and September 2009, as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
On January 1, 2009, First Banks implemented SFAS No. 160 – Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB 51, which resulted in the reclassification of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries of $129.4 million from a liability to a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets, as further described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
As a result of the purchase of FCA’s minority interest in SBLS LLC, First Banks recorded an increase in additional paid-in-capital of $2.8 million and a decrease in noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries of $4.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2009, as further described in Note 1 and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.


The following table presents the transactions affecting accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included in shareholders’ equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Net loss
  $ (96,152 )     (39,884 )     (187,552 )     (44,612 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale investment securities, net of tax
    (2,227 )     (14,622 )     1,386       (1,572 )
Reclassification adjustment for available-for-sale investment securities (gains) losses included in net loss, net of tax
    (424 )     3,759       (770 )     3,005  
Reclassification adjustment for deferred tax asset valuation allowance on investment securities
    589             332        
Change in unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net of tax
    (1,676 )     (2,119 )     (4,516 )     3,201  
Reclassification adjustment for deferred tax asset valuation allowance on derivative instruments
    (2,280     —        (2,431     —   
Amortization of net loss related to pension liability, net of tax
    33             69        
Reclassification adjustment for deferred tax asset valuation allowance on pension liability
    51             51        
Comprehensive loss
    (102,086 )     (52,866 )     (193,431 )     (39,978 )
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
    (2,833 )     33       (4,827 )     178  
Comprehensive loss attributable to First Banks, Inc.
  $ (99,253 )     (52,899 )     (188,604 )     (40,156 )
 
First Banks did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale debt or equity securities in earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. First Banks recognized other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale equity securities of $6.4 million in earnings in the second quarter of 2008, as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
(12)
Income Taxes
 
The realization of First Banks’ net deferred tax assets is based on the expectation of future taxable income and the utilization of tax planning strategies.  First Banks recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2008. The deferred tax asset valuation allowance was recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Under SFAS No. 109, the Company is required to assess whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized. Pursuant to SFAS No. 109, concluding that a deferred tax asset valuation allowance is not required is difficult when there is significant evidence which is objective and verifiable, such as the lack of recoverable taxes, an excess of reversing deductible differences over reversing taxable differences and cumulative losses in recent years.  If, in the future, the Company generates taxable income on a sustained basis, management’s conclusion regarding the need for a deferred tax asset valuation allowance could change, resulting in the reversal of a portion or all of such deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
 
A summary of First Banks’ deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 is as follows:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
             
Gross deferred tax assets
  $ 258,692       196,903  
Valuation allowance
    (237,791 )     (160,052 )
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
    20,901       36,851  
Deferred tax liabilities
    29,615       45,565  
Net deferred tax liabilities
  $ (8,714 )     (8,714 )

 
The Company’s valuation allowance was $237.8 million and $160.1 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, for federal income tax purposes, First Banks had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $200.6 million and $105.8 million, respectively.


At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, First Banks’ liability for uncertain tax positions, excluding interest and penalties, was $3.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective income tax rate was $1.7 and $1.6 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, First Banks recorded additional liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits of $137,000 that, if recognized, would decrease the provision for income taxes by $89,000.
 
It is First Banks’ policy to separately disclose any interest or penalties arising from the application of federal or state income taxes. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits is included in interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are included in noninterest expense. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, interest accrued for unrecognized tax positions was $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The Company recorded interest expense of $63,000 and $126,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $279,000 and $430,000 for the comparable periods in 2008. There were no penalties for unrecognized tax positions accrued at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, nor did First Banks recognize any expense for penalties during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
 
First Banks continually evaluates the unrecognized tax benefits associated with its uncertain tax positions.  It is reasonably possible that the total unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2009 could decrease by approximately $85,000 during the remainder of the year, as a result of the lapse of statutes of limitations and potential settlements with the federal and state taxing authorities, of which the impact to the provision for income taxes is estimated to be approximately $85,000. It is also reasonably possible that this decrease could be substantially offset by new matters arising during the same period.
 
First Banks files consolidated and separate income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in various state jurisdictions. Management of First Banks believes the accrual for tax liabilities is adequate for all open audit years based on its assessment of many factors, including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions. First Banks’ federal income tax returns through 2004 have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and except for changes to 2003 from the carryback of a 2008 casualty loss, there are no open issues for years prior to 2005.  Currently, the IRS is examining First Bank’s federal income tax returns for the years 2003 and 2005 through 2008.  These years contain matters that could be subject to differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, timing or inclusion of revenue and expenses. The Company has recorded a tax benefit only for those positions that meet the “more likely than not” standard. First Banks’ current estimate of the resolution of various state examinations, none of which are in process, is reflected in accrued income taxes; however, final settlement of the examinations or changes in First Banks’ estimate may result in future income tax expense or benefit.  First Bank has executed a waiver for the statute of limitations extending the period for the 2005 tax year to December 31, 2010.
 
(13) 
Fair Value Disclosures
 
In accordance with SFAS No. 157, financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value subsequent to initial recognition are grouped into three levels of inputs or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the reliability of assumptions used to determine fair value. The three input levels of the valuation hierarchy are as follows:
 
Level 1 Inputs –
Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments in active markets.
 
Level 2 Inputs –
Valuation is based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
 
Level 3 Inputs –
Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market.  These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
 
The following describes valuation methodologies used to measure financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value, as well as the general classification of such financial instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
 
Available-for-sale investment securities.  Available-for-sale investment securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Available-for-sale investment securities included in Level 1 are valued using quoted market prices. Where quoted market prices are unavailable, the fair value included in Level 2 is based on quoted market prices of


comparable instruments obtained from independent pricing vendors based on recent trading activity and other relevant information.
 
Loans held for sale.  Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value on a recurring basis. The determination of fair value is based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments obtained from independent pricing vendors based on recent trading activity and other relevant information. Other loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market value, which is determined on an individual loan basis. The fair value is based on the prices secondary markets are offering for portfolios with similar characteristics. The Company classifies mortgage loans held for sale subjected to recurring fair value adjustments as recurring Level 2. The Company classifies other loans held for sale subjected to nonrecurring fair value adjustments as nonrecurring Level 2.
 
Loans.  The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, a loan is considered impaired and an allowance for loan losses is established. Loans are considered impaired when, in the judgment of management based on current information and events, it is probable that payment of all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement will not be collected. Acquired impaired loans are classified as nonaccrual loans and are initially measured at fair value with no allocated allowance for loan losses. An allowance for loan losses is recorded to the extent there is further credit deterioration subsequent to acquisition date. In accordance with SFAS No. 157, impaired loans where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. Once a loan is identified as impaired, management measures the impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 114 – Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.  Impairment is measured by reference to an observable market price, if one exists, the expected future cash flows of an impaired loan discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or the fair value of the collateral for a collateral-dependent loan.  In most cases, First Banks measures fair value based on the value of the collateral securing the loan.  Collateral may be in the form of real estate or personal property, including equipment and inventory. The vast majority of the collateral is real estate. The value of the collateral is determined based on third party appraisals as well as internal estimates. These measurements are classified as Level 3.
 
Derivative instruments.  Substantially all derivative instruments utilized by the Company are traded in over-the-counter markets where quoted market prices are not readily available. Derivative instruments utilized by the Company include interest rate swap agreements, interest rate floor and cap agreements, interest rate lock commitments and forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities. For these derivative instruments, fair value is based on market observable inputs utilizing pricing systems and valuation models, and where applicable, the values are compared to the market values calculated independently by the respective counterparties. The Company classifies its derivative instruments as Level 2.
 
Servicing rights.  Servicing rights are valued based on valuation models that utilize assumptions based on the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans, including principal balance, interest rate, weighted average life, cost to service and estimated prepayment speeds. The valuation models estimate the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The Company classifies its servicing rights as Level 3.
 
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.  The Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan is recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The unfunded plan allows participants to hypothetically invest in various specified investment options such as equity funds, international stock funds, capital appreciation funds, money market funds, bond funds, mid-cap value funds and growth funds. The nonqualified deferred compensation plan liability is valued based on quoted market prices of the underlying investments. The Company classifies its nonqualified deferred compensation plan liability as Level 1.


Items Measured on a Recurring Basis.  Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are reflected in the following table:
 
   
Fair Value Measurements
 
   
June 30, 2009
 
       
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Assets:
                       
Available-for-sale investment securities:
                       
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
  $       33,773             33,773  
Mortgage-backed securities
          558,288             558,288  
State and political subdivisions
          17,817             17,817  
Equity investments
    4,850       10,678             15,528  
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock
          50,882             50,882  
Mortgage loans held for sale
          71,359             71,359  
Derivative instruments
          1,342             1,342  
Servicing rights
                18,809       18,809  
Total
  $ 4,850       744,139       18,809       767,798  
Liabilities:
                               
Derivative instruments
  $       4,193             4,193  
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan
    7,952                   7,952  
Total
  $ 7,952       4,193             12,145  

   
Fair Value Measurements
 
   
December 31, 2008
 
                         
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Assets:
                       
Available-for-sale investment securities:
                       
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
  $       1,846             1,846  
Mortgage-backed securities
          517,131             517,131  
State and political subdivisions
          21,209             21,209  
Equity investments
    6,318       10,678             16,996  
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock
          47,832             47,832  
Mortgage loans held for sale
          18,483             18,483  
Derivative instruments
          583             583  
Servicing rights
                16,381       16,381  
Total
  $ 6,318       617,762       16,381       640,461  
Liabilities:
                               
Derivative instruments
  $       4,953             4,953  
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan
    7,676                   7,676  
Total
  $ 7,676       4,953             12,629  
 

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 assets measured on a recurring basis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:

   
Servicing Rights
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 15,746       23,479       16,381       12,758  
Impact of election to measure servicing rights at fair value under SFAS No. 156
                      10,443  
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
                               
Included in earnings (1)
    283       555       (1,702 )     (1,204 )
Included in other comprehensive income
                       
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    2,780       1,689       4,130       3,726  
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
                       
Balance, end of period
  $ 18,809       25,723       18,809       25,723  
 
_________________
 
(1)
Gains or losses (realized/unrealized) are included in noninterest income in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Items Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis.  From time to time, First Banks measures certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These include assets that are measured at the lower of cost or market value that were recognized at fair value below cost at the end of the period. Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are reflected in the following table:
 
   
Fair Value Measurements
 
   
June 30, 2009
 
                         
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Assets:
                       
Loans held for sale
  $       17,464             17,464  
Impaired loans
                404,402       404,402  
Total
  $       17,464       404,402       421,866  
 
   
Fair Value Measurements
 
   
December 31, 2008
 
                         
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Assets:
                       
Loans held for sale
  $       20,237             20,237  
Impaired loans
                382,105       382,105  
Total
  $       20,237       382,105       402,342  
 
Non-Financial Assets and Non-Financial Liabilities. Certain non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include other real estate (upon initial recognition or subsequent impairment), non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured at fair value in the second step of a goodwill impairment test, and intangible assets and other non-financial long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment.
 
During the first six months of 2009, certain other real estate, upon initial recognition, was re-measured and reported at fair value through a charge-off to the allowance for loan losses based upon the estimated fair value of the other real estate. The fair value of other real estate, upon initial recognition, is estimated using Level 3 inputs based on third-party appraisals, and where applicable, discounted based on management’s judgment taking into account current market conditions, distressed or forced sale price comparisons and other factors in effect at the time of valuation. Other real estate measured at fair value upon initial recognition totaled $94.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2009. In addition to other real estate measured at fair value upon initial recognition, First Banks recorded write-downs to the balance of other real estate of $589,000 and $1.2 million to noninterest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. Other real estate was $156.9 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $91.5 million at December 31, 2008.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments.  The fair value of financial instruments is management’s estimate of the values at which the instruments could be exchanged in a transaction between willing parties. These estimates are
 

subjective and may vary significantly from amounts that would be realized in actual transactions. In addition, other significant assets are not considered financial assets including servicing assets, deferred income tax assets, bank premises and equipment and goodwill and other intangible assets. Furthermore, the income taxes that would be incurred if First Banks were to realize any of the unrealized gains or unrealized losses indicated between the estimated fair values and corresponding carrying values could have a significant effect on the fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of the estimates.
 
The following summarizes the methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair value of all other financial instruments:
 
Cash and cash equivalents and accrued interest receivable: The carrying values reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value.
 
Held-to-maturity investment securities: The fair value of held-to-maturity investment securities is based on quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.
 
Loans: The fair value of all other loans held for portfolio was estimated utilizing discounted cash flow calculations. These cash flow calculations include assumptions for prepayment estimates over the loans’ remaining life, considerations for the current interest rate environment compared to the weighted average rate of the loan portfolio, a credit risk component based on the historical and expected performance of each portfolio and a liquidity adjustment related to the current market environment.
 
Loans held for sale: The fair value of loans held for sale, which is the amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets, is based on quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.
 
Bank-owned life insurance: The fair value of bank-owned life insurance is based on quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.
 
Deposits: The fair value of deposits generally payable on demand (i.e., noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing demand, and savings and money market accounts) is considered equal to their respective carrying amounts as reported in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of demand deposits does not include the benefit that results from the low-cost funding provided by deposit liabilities compared to the cost of borrowing funds in the market. The fair value disclosed for time deposits was estimated utilizing a discounted cash flow calculation that applied interest rates currently being offered on similar deposits to a schedule of aggregated monthly maturities of time deposits. If the estimated fair value is lower than the carrying value, the carrying value is reported as the fair value of time deposits.
 
Other borrowings, notes payable and accrued interest payable: The carrying values reported in the consolidated balance sheets for variable rate borrowings approximate fair value. The fair value of fixed rate borrowings is based on quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is based on discounting contractual maturities using an estimate of current market rates for similar instruments.
 
Subordinated debentures: The fair value of subordinated debentures is based on quoted market prices where available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments: The fair value of commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees is based on estimated probable credit losses.
 

The estimated fair value of First Banks’ financial instruments at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was as follows:
 
   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
Estimated
Fair Value
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Financial Assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 873,479       873,479       842,316       842,316  
Investment securities:
                               
Available for sale
    676,288       676,288       605,014       605,014  
Held to maturity
    15,050       15,767       17,912       18,507  
Loans held for portfolio
    7,820,908       7,202,644       8,334,041       7,683,098  
Loans held for sale
    88,823       88,823       38,720       38,720  
Derivative instruments
    1,342       1,342       583       583  
Bank-owned life insurance
    26,207       26,207       118,825       118,825  
Accrued interest receivable
    32,511       32,511       35,773       35,773  
                                 
Financial Liabilities:
                               
Deposits:
                               
Noninterest-bearing demand
  $ 1,337,821       1,337,821       1,241,916       1,241,916  
Interest-bearing demand
    929,224       929,224       935,805       935,805  
Savings and money market
    2,893,479       2,893,479       2,777,285       2,777,285  
Time deposits
    3,548,821       3,586,097       3,786,514       3,832,495  
Other borrowings
    439,758       445,820       575,133       576,021  
Derivative instruments
    4,193       4,193       4,953       4,953  
Accrued interest payable
    9,293       9,293       12,561       12,561  
Subordinated debentures
    353,866       269,946       353,828       269,946  
                                 
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments:
                               
Commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees
  $ (453 )     (453 )     (419 )     (419 )
 
(14)
Derivative Financial Instruments
 
First Banks utilizes derivative financial instruments to assist in the management of interest rate sensitivity by modifying the re-pricing, maturity and option characteristics of certain assets and liabilities. Derivative financial instruments held by First Banks as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are summarized as follows:

   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Notional
   
Credit
   
Notional
   
Credit
 
   
Amount
   
Exposure
   
Amount
   
Exposure
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Cash flow hedges – subordinated debentures
  $ 125,000             125,000        
Customer interest rate swap agreements
    59,696       318       16,000       85  
Interest rate lock commitments
    44,000       584       48,700       831  
Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities
    99,900       511       40,300        
 
The notional amounts of derivative financial instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, therefore, are not a measure of First Banks’ credit exposure through its use of these instruments. The credit exposure represents the loss First Banks would incur in the event the counterparties failed completely to perform according to the terms of the derivative financial instruments and the collateral held to support the credit exposure was of no value. First Banks’ credit exposure on interest rate swaps with financial institution counterparties is limited to the net fair value and related accrued interest receivable reduced by the amount of collateral pledged by the counterparty. First Banks’ credit exposure on customer interest rate swap agreements is limited to the net fair value and related accrued interest receivable. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, First Banks had pledged cash of $3.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, as collateral in connection with its interest rate swap agreements on subordinated debentures. Collateral requirements are monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary.
 
Cash Flow Hedges – Subordinated Debentures.  First Banks has entered into four interest rate swap agreements, which have been designated as cash flow hedges, with the objective of stabilizing the long-term cost of capital and cash flow, and accordingly, net interest expense on subordinated debentures to the respective call dates of certain subordinated debentures. These swap agreements provide for First Banks to receive an adjustable rate of interest


equivalent to the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.65%, 1.85%, 1.61% and 2.25%, and pay a fixed rate of interest. The terms of the swap agreements provide for First Banks to pay and receive interest on a quarterly basis.
 
The amount receivable by First Banks under these swap agreements was $254,000 and $528,000 at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and the amount payable by First Banks under these swap agreements was $437,000 and $451,000 at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 
The maturity dates, notional amounts, interest rates paid and received and fair value of First Banks’ interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges on certain subordinated debentures as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Notional
   
Interest Rate
   
Interest Rate
   
Fair
 
Maturity Date
 
Amount
   
Paid
   
Received
   
Value
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
June 30, 2009:
                       
July 7, 2011
  $ 25,000       4.40 %     2.78 %   $ (702 )
December 15, 2011
    50,000       4.91       2.48       (1,596 )
March 30, 2012
    25,000       4.71       2.21       (783 )
December 15, 2012
    25,000       5.57       2.88       (865 )
    $ 125,000       4.90       2.57     $ (3,946 )
December 31, 2008:
                               
July 7, 2011
  $ 25,000       4.40 %     6.40 %   $ (575 )
December 15, 2011
    50,000       4.91       3.85       (1,945 )
March 30, 2012
    25,000       4.71       3.08       (1,048 )
December 15, 2012
    25,000       5.57       4.25       (1,308 )
    $ 125,000       4.90       4.29     $ (4,876 )
 
Cash Flow Hedges – Loans.  First Banks entered into the following interest rate swap agreements, which have been designated as cash flow hedges, to effectively lengthen the repricing characteristics of certain loans to correspond more closely with their funding source with the objective of stabilizing cash flow, and accordingly, net interest income over time:
 
Ø  
In September 2006, First Banks entered into a $200.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate swap agreement and a $200.0 million notional amount four-year interest rate swap agreement.  The underlying hedged assets were certain variable rate loans within First Banks’ commercial loan portfolio. The swap agreements provided for First Banks to receive a fixed rate of interest and pay an adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the weighted average prime lending rate minus 2.86%. The terms of the swap agreements provided for First Banks to pay and receive interest on a quarterly basis. In December 2008, First Banks terminated these swap agreements. The pre-tax gain of $20.8 million, in aggregate, is being amortized as an increase to interest and fees on loans in the consolidated statements of operations over the remaining terms of the respective interest rate swap agreements, which had contractual maturity dates of September 18, 2009 and September 20, 2010.
 
For interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into interest income or interest expense in the same period the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in the cash flow hedge’s gain or loss is recorded in noninterest income on each monthly measurement date. First Banks did not recognize any ineffectiveness related to interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. The net cash flows on these interest rate swap agreements are recorded as an adjustment to interest income or interest expense of the related asset or liability being hedged.
 
Customer Interest Rate Swap Agreements.  First Bank offers interest rate swap agreements to certain customers to assist in hedging their risks of adverse changes in interest rates. First Bank serves as an intermediary between its customers and the financial markets. Each interest rate swap agreement between First Bank and its customers is offset by an interest rate swap agreement between First Bank and various counterparties. These interest rate swap agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value are recognized in noninterest income on a monthly basis. Each customer contract is paired with an offsetting contract, and as such, there is no significant impact to net income (loss). The notional amount of these interest rate swap agreements at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $59.7 million and $16.0 million, respectively.


Interest Rate Floor Agreements.  In September 2005, First Bank entered into a $100.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate floor agreement in conjunction with its interest rate risk management program. The interest rate floor agreement provided for First Bank to receive a quarterly fixed rate of interest of 5.00% should the three-month LIBOR equal or fall below the strike price of 2.00%. In August 2006, First Bank entered into a $200.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate floor agreement in conjunction with the restructuring of one of First Bank’s $100.0 million term repurchase agreements, as further described below, to further stabilize net interest income in the event of a declining rate scenario. The interest rate floor agreement provided for First Bank to receive a quarterly adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the differential between the strike price of 4.00% and the three-month LIBOR should the three-month LIBOR equal or fall below the strike price. In May 2008, First Bank terminated its interest rate floor agreements to modify its overall hedge position in accordance with its interest rate risk management program, and did not incur any gains or losses in conjunction with the termination of these interest rate floor agreements. Changes in the fair value of interest rate floor agreements are recognized in noninterest income.
 
Interest Rate Floor Agreements Embedded in Term Repurchase Agreements.  First Bank has a term repurchase agreement under a master repurchase agreement with an unaffiliated third party, as further described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. The underlying securities associated with the term repurchase agreement are agency collateralized mortgage obligation securities and are held by other financial institutions under safekeeping agreements. The term repurchase agreement was entered into with the objective of stabilizing net interest income over time, further protecting the net interest margin against changes in interest rates and providing funding for security purchases. The term repurchase agreement had a borrowing amount of $100.0 million, a maturity date of October 12, 2010, and contained an embedded interest rate floor agreement which was terminated in 2008. The interest rate floor agreement included within the term repurchase agreement represented an embedded derivative instrument which, in accordance with existing accounting literature governing derivative instruments, was not required to be separated from the term repurchase agreement and accounted for separately as a derivative financial instrument. As such, the term repurchase agreement is reflected in other borrowings in the consolidated balance sheets and the related interest expense is reflected as interest expense on other borrowings in the consolidated statements of operations. In March 2008, First Bank restructured its existing $100.0 million term repurchase agreement. The primary modifications were to: (a) increase the borrowing amount from $100.0 million to $120.0 million; (b) extend the maturity date from October 12, 2010 to April 12, 2012; (c) convert the interest rate from a variable rate tied to LIBOR to a fixed rate of 3.36%; and (d) terminate the embedded interest rate floor agreement contained within the term repurchase agreement. These modifications resulted in a pre-tax gain of $5.0 million, which is reflected in noninterest income in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Interest Rate Lock Commitments / Forward Commitments to Sell Mortgage-Backed Securities. Derivative financial instruments issued by First Banks consist of interest rate lock commitments to originate fixed-rate loans to be sold. Commitments to originate fixed-rate loans consist primarily of residential real estate loans. These net loan commitments and loans held for sale are hedged with forward contracts to sell mortgage-backed securities, which expire in September 2009. The fair value of the interest rate lock commitments, which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, was an unrealized gain of $584,000 and $831,000 at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The fair value of the forward contracts to sell mortgage-backed securities, which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, was an unrealized gain of $511,000 and an unrealized loss of $325,000 at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Changes in the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities are recognized in noninterest income.


The following table summarizes derivative financial instruments held by First Banks, their estimated fair values and their location in the consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 
June 30, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
 
 
Balance Sheet
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet
 
Fair Value
 
 
Location
 
Gain (Loss)
 
Location
 
Gain (Loss)
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133:
               
                 
Cash flow hedges – subordinated debentures
Other liabilities
  $ (3,946 )
Other liabilities
    (4,876 )
                     
Derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133:
                   
                     
Customer interest rate swap agreements
Other assets
  $ 247  
Other assets
    76  
Interest rate lock commitments
Other assets
    584  
Other assets
    831  
Forward commitments to sell
                   
 
mortgage-backed securities
Other assets
    511  
Other assets
    (325 )
Total derivatives in other assets
 
  $ 1,342         582  
                     
Customer interest rate swap agreements
Other liabilities
  $ (247 )
Other liabilities
    (76 )
 
The following table summarizes amounts included in the consolidated statements of operations and in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 related to interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133:
                       
                         
Cash flow hedges – loans:
                       
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest income on loans
  $ 3,939       2,967       7,877       4,767  
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income
          (4,583 )           5,805  
                                 
Cash flow hedges – subordinated debentures:
                               
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense on subordinated debentures
    591       93       1,019       107  
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income
    770       4,196       (89 )     3,779  
 
The unamortized gain related to the fair value of the cash flow hedges on loans terminated in December 2008 in accumulated other comprehensive income was $11.6 million and $19.5 million on a gross basis and $7.5 million and $12.7 million, net of tax, at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income related to cash flow hedges on subordinated debentures was $3.9 million and $4.9 million on a gross basis and $2.6 million and $3.2 million, net of tax, at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.


The following table summarizes amounts included in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 related to non-hedging derivative instruments:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133:
                       
                         
Customer interest rate swap agreements:
                       
Net (loss) gain on derivative instruments
  $             401        
                                 
Interest rate floor agreements:
                               
Net (loss) gain on derivative instruments
          (1,646 )           1,786  
                                 
Interest rate floor agreements embedded in Term
                               
Repurchase Agreements:
                               
Gain on extinguishment of term repurchase agreement
                      5,000  
                                 
Interest rate lock commitments:
                               
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
    (1,331 )     11       (247 )     139  
                                 
Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
    2,184       1,858       836       691  

(15)
Contingent Liabilities
 
In October 2000, First Banks entered into two continuing guaranty contracts. For value received, and for the purpose of inducing a pension fund and its trustees and a welfare fund and its trustees (the Funds) to conduct business with MVP, First Bank’s institutional investment management subsidiary, First Banks irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed payment of and promised to pay to each of the Funds any amounts up to the sum of $5.0 million to the extent MVP is liable to the Funds for a breach of the Investment Management Agreements (including the Investment Policy Statement and Investment Guidelines), by and between MVP and the Funds and/or any violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by MVP resulting in liability to the Funds. The guaranties are continuing guaranties of all obligations that may arise for transactions occurring prior to termination of the Investment Management Agreements and are coexistent with the term of the Investment Management Agreements. The Investment Management Agreements have no specified term but may be terminated at any time upon written notice by the Trustees or, at First Banks’ option, upon thirty days written notice to the Trustees. In the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreements, such termination shall have no effect on the liability of First Banks with respect to obligations incurred before such termination. The obligations of First Banks are joint and several with those of MVP. First Banks does not have any recourse provisions that would enable it to recover from third parties any amounts paid under the contracts nor does First Banks hold any assets as collateral that, upon occurrence of a required payment under the contract, could be liquidated to recover all or a portion of the amount(s) paid. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, First Banks had not recorded a liability for the obligations associated with these guaranty contracts as the likelihood that First Banks will be required to make payments under the contracts is remote.
 
CFHI Securities Litigation.  Prior to acquisition by First Banks, CFHI and certain of its present and former officers were named as defendants in three purported class action complaints filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division (the Court) alleging violations of the federal securities laws, the first of which was filed with the Court on March 20, 2007 (the Securities Actions). On June 22, 2007, the Court entered an order pursuant to which the Court (i) consolidated the Securities Actions, with the matter proceeding under the docket for Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania v. Brian P. Peters, et al., Case No. 8:07-cv-429-T-26-EAJ and (ii) appointed Troy Ratcliff and Daniel Altenburg (the Lead Plaintiffs) as lead plaintiffs pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
Subsequent to the disposition of certain preliminary motions filed by plaintiffs and defendants, on April 2, 2008, the Lead Plaintiffs and an additional plaintiff, St. Denis J. Villere & Co., LLC, filed a second consolidated amended class action complaint (the Amended Complaint). The Amended complaint named as defendants (i) certain former officers and members of CFHI’s board of directors, (ii) the underwriters of CFHI’s October 5, 2005 public offering of common stock, and (iii) CFHI’s external auditors.
 
The Amended Complaint was brought on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of CFHI’s common stock between January 21, 2005 and January 22, 2007. In general, the Amended Complaint alleges that CFHI’s United States
 


Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and public statements contained misstatements and omissions regarding its residential construction-to-permanent lending operations and, more specifically, regarding a home builder and its affiliates, and also alleges that CFHI’s financial statements violated U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Amended Complaint asserts claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. On August 30, 2007, the Lead Plaintiffs filed a notice with the Court voluntarily dismissing their claims against Anne V. Lee and Justin D. Locke without prejudice.
 
On or about February 17, 2009, CFHI and the plaintiffs entered into an agreement for the settlement of the Securities Actions. Pursuant to the agreement, CFHI and its insurer will pay an amount in settlement of the claims, and CFHI, the former officer and director defendants, and the underwriter defendants will be released and dismissed with prejudice from the action. In accordance with the agreement, on March 16, 2009, CFHI paid its allocation of the settlement in the amount of $750,000, which was recorded as other expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008. On May 29, 2009, the settlement was approved by the Court and all claims were dismissed.
 
Other.  In the ordinary course of business, First Banks and its subsidiaries become involved in legal proceedings other than those discussed above. Management, in consultation with legal counsel, believes the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of First Banks and/or its subsidiaries.
 
As further described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company and First Bank have entered into informal agreements with the MDOF and the FRB.
 
(16) 
Subsequent Events
 
On August 7, 2009, First Bank entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (Agreement) with Sterling Bank, headquartered in Houston, Texas, providing for the sale of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities of its Texas franchise to Sterling Bank. Under the terms of the Agreement, Sterling Bank is to assume approximately $500.0 million of deposits associated with First Bank’s 19 Texas retail branches, including certain commercial deposit relationships, for a premium of 6.0%, or approximately $30.0 million. Sterling Bank is also expected to purchase in excess of $230.0 million of loans as well as certain other assets, including premises and equipment associated with First Bank’s Texas operations. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and certain closing conditions, is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2009.
 
On August 10, 2009, First Banks announced its intention to defer its regularly scheduled interest payments on its outstanding junior subordinated notes relating to its $345.0 million of trust preferred securities. The terms of the junior subordinated notes and the related trust indentures allow First Banks to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without default or penalty. During the deferral period, the respective trusts will suspend the declaration and payment of dividends on the trust preferred securities. The deferral of these payments will begin with the regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October 2009. First Banks will send notices to the appropriate parties under each of the respective indentures. During the deferral period, First Banks may not, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase its common stock or preferred stock nor make any payment on outstanding debt obligations that rank equally with or junior to the junior subordinated notes. Accordingly, First Banks also intends to suspend the payment of cash dividends on its outstanding common stock and preferred stock beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly dividend payments on the preferred stock that would otherwise have been made in August and September 2009.
 
These subsequent events were disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2009.

 
Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results
 
The discussion set forth in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified through the use of words such as: “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” or words of similar meaning or future or conditional terms such as: “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “likely,” “probably,” or “possibly.” Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to estimates or projections with respect to our future financial condition, and expected or anticipated revenues with respect to our results of operations and our business. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, not all of which can be predicted or anticipated. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein include market conditions as well as conditions affecting the banking industry generally and factors having a specific impact on us, including but not limited to the following, which are not necessarily presented in order of likelihood or significance of impact:
 
Ø  
The threat of future terrorist activities, existing and potential wars and/or military actions related thereto, and domestic responses to terrorism or threats of terrorism;
 
Ø  
The effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including, but not limited to, the interest rate policies of the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program and the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program and Troubled Asset Repurchase Program authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008;
 
Ø  
The current stresses in the financial and residential real estate markets, including possible continued deterioration in property values;
 
Ø  
Possible changes in interest rates may increase funding costs and reduce earning asset yields, thus reducing margins;
 
Ø  
Possible changes in general economic and business conditions in the United States in general and particularly in the communities and market segments we serve;
 
Ø  
Volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets;
 
Ø  
Government intervention in the U.S. financial system;
 
Ø  
Changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits;
 
Ø  
The impact of laws and regulations applicable to us and changes therein;
 
Ø  
The impact of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and other accounting standard setters;
 
Ø  
The impact of litigation generally and specifically arising out of our efforts to collect outstanding customer loans;
 
Ø  
Competitive conditions in the markets in which we conduct our operations, including competition from banking and non-banking companies with substantially greater resources than us, some of which may offer and develop products and services not offered by us;
 
Ø  
Our ability to control the composition of our loan portfolio without adversely affecting interest income;
 
Ø  
Possible changes in the creditworthiness of customers and the possible impairment of collectability of loans;
 
Ø  
The geographic dispersion of our offices;
 
Ø  
The impact our hedging activities may have on our operating results;
 
Ø  
The highly regulated environment in which we operate;
 
Ø  
Regulatory actions that impact First Banks, Inc. and First Bank, including the regulatory agreements entered into between the Company, First Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Missouri Division of Finance; and
 
Ø  
Our ability to respond to changes in technology or an interruption or breach in security of our information systems.
 
With regard to our efforts to grow through acquisitions, factors that could affect the accuracy or completeness of forward-looking statements contained herein include:
 
Ø  
The competition of larger acquirers with greater resources;
 
Ø  
Fluctuations in the prices at which acquisition targets may be available for sale;
 
Ø  
The impact of making acquisitions without using our common stock;
 
Ø  
Possible asset quality issues, pending litigation, unknown liabilities and/or integration issues with the businesses that we have acquired; and
 
Ø  
The impact of the regulatory agreements between the Company, First Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Missouri Division of Finance.
 
For discussion of these and other risk factors that may impact these forward-looking statements, please refer to our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2009. We do not have a duty to and will not update these forward-looking statements. Readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should therefore consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on these statements.

 
General
 
We are a registered bank holding company incorporated in Missouri in 1978 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. We operate through our wholly owned subsidiary bank holding company, The San Francisco Company, or SFC, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri; our wholly owned subsidiary holding company, Coast Financial Holdings, Inc., or CFHI, headquartered in Bradenton, Florida; and SFC’s majority-owned subsidiary bank, First Bank, also headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. First Bank operates through its branch banking offices and its subsidiaries, as listed below:
 
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First Bank Business Capital, Inc.;
Ø  
Missouri Valley Partners, Inc., or MVP;
Ø  
Adrian N. Baker & Company, or Adrian Baker;
Ø  
Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, UPAC of California, Inc., collectively UPAC;
Ø  
Small Business Loan Source LLC, or SBLS LLC;
Ø  
FB Holdings, LLC, or FB Holdings; and
Ø  
ILSIS, Inc.

First Bank’s subsidiaries are wholly owned except FB Holdings, which is 53.23% owned by First Bank and 46.77% owned by First Capital America, Inc., or FCA, as of June 30, 2009.
 
On April 30, 2009, First Bank and FCA entered into a Purchase Agreement providing for FCA to sell its 17.45% ownership interest in SBLS LLC to First Bank, as further described in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.  As such, effective April 30, 2009, First Bank owns 100% of SBLS LLC.
 
At June 30, 2009, we had assets of $10.40 billion, loans, net of unearned discount, of $8.20 billion, deposits of $8.71 billion and stockholders’ equity of $794.7 million, and we currently operate 210 branch banking offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Texas.
 
Through First Bank, we offer a broad range of financial services, including commercial and personal deposit products, commercial and consumer lending, and many other financial products and services. Commercial and personal deposit products include demand, savings, money market and time deposit accounts. In addition, we market combined basic services for various customer groups, including packaged accounts for more affluent customers, and sweep accounts, lock-box deposits and cash management products for commercial customers. Commercial lending includes commercial, financial and agricultural loans, real estate construction and development loans, commercial real estate loans, small business lending, asset-based loans, trade financing and insurance premium financing. Consumer lending includes residential real estate, home equity and installment lending. Other financial services include mortgage banking, debit cards, brokerage services, employee benefit and commercial and personal insurance services, internet banking, remote deposit, automated teller machines, telephone banking, safe deposit boxes, and trust, private banking and institutional money management services. The revenues generated by First Bank and its subsidiaries consist primarily of interest income, generated from the loan and investment security portfolios, service charges and fees generated from deposit products and services, and fees and commissions generated by our mortgage banking, insurance, and trust, private banking and institutional money management business units. Our extensive line of products and services are offered to customers primarily within our geographic areas, which include eastern Missouri, Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, southern and northern California, Houston and Dallas, Texas, and Florida’s Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Certain loan products are available nationwide. On August 7, 2009, First Bank entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement with Sterling Bank, headquartered in Houston, Texas, providing for the sale of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities of our Texas franchise to Sterling Bank, as further described in Note 16 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
Primary responsibility for managing our banking unit rests with the officers and directors of each unit, but we centralize many of our overall corporate policies, procedures and administrative functions and provide centralized operational support functions for our subsidiaries. This practice allows us to achieve various operating efficiencies while allowing our banking units to focus on customer service.
 
Regulatory Matters.  In connection with the most recent regular examinations of the Company and First Bank by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, or FRB, and the State of Missouri Division of Finance, or the MDOF, the Company and First Bank entered into informal agreements with each agency. On September 18, 2008, First Bank and its Board of Directors entered into an informal agreement with the FRB and the MDOF. In addition, on October 2, 2008, the Company and its Board of Directors entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the FRB.  Each of the agreements is characterized by regulatory authorities as an informal action that is neither published nor made
 

publicly available by the agencies and is used when circumstances warrant a milder form of action than a formal supervisory action, such as a cease and desist order.
 
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with the FRB, the Company agreed, among other things, to provide certain information to the FRB including, but not limited to, financial performance updates, notice of plans to materially change its fundamental business and notice to issue trust preferred securities or raise additional equity capital.  In addition, the Company agreed not to declare any dividends on its common or preferred stock or make any distributions of interest or other sums on its trust preferred securities without the prior approval of the FRB. The Company received the approval of the FRB to declare the regular quarterly dividends on its preferred stock that were paid in May and June 2009 and to make its regular quarterly interest payments on its outstanding subordinated debentures for further payment to the individual holders of the respective underlying trust preferred securities in June and July 2009. However, we are not able to predict whether the FRB will approve future payment requests.
 
First Bank, under its agreement with the MDOF and the FRB, has agreed to, among other things, prepare and submit plans and reports to the agencies regarding certain matters including, but not limited to, the performance of First Bank’s loan portfolio. In addition, First Bank agreed not to declare or pay any dividends or make certain other payments without the prior consent of the MDOF and the FRB and to maintain its Tier 1 capital ratio at no less than 7.00%. As further described in Note 7 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements, at June 30, 2009, First Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio was 8.89%, or approximately $166.7 million over the minimum level required by the agreement. As further described in Note 1 and Note 6 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements, our management has concluded that the Company and First Bank were in full compliance with all provisions of the respective informal agreements as of June 30, 2009. In addition, the Company and First Bank are committed to endeavoring to meet the requirements of the agreements in a timely manner.
 
On August 10, 2009, we announced our intention to defer our regularly scheduled interest payments on our outstanding junior subordinated notes relating to our $345.0 million of trust preferred securities beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October 2009. The terms of the junior subordinated notes and the related trust indentures allow us to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without default or penalty. During the deferral period, we may not, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase our common stock or preferred stock nor make any payment on outstanding debt obligations that rank equally with or junior to the junior subordinated notes. Accordingly, we also intend to suspend the payment of cash dividends on our outstanding common stock and preferred stock beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly dividend payments on our preferred stock that would otherwise have been made in August and September 2009, as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
Financial Condition
 
Total assets decreased $387.5 million to $10.40 billion at June 30, 2009, from $10.78 billion at December 31, 2008. The decrease in our total assets was primarily attributable to decreases in our loan portfolio, bank-owned life insurance and deferred income taxes, partially offset by increases in cash and short-term investments, our investment securities portfolio, other real estate and other assets.
 
Cash and cash equivalents increased $31.2 million to $873.5 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $842.3 million at December 31, 2008. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily attributable to a decrease in our loan portfolio, partially offset by an increase in our investment securities portfolio and decreases in deposits and other borrowings.
 
Investment securities increased $68.4 million to $691.3 million at June 30, 2009, from $622.9 million at December 31, 2008. We used cash and cash equivalents to increase our available-for-sale investment securities portfolio throughout the first six months of 2009.
 
Loans, net of unearned discount, decreased $395.9 million to $8.20 billion at June 30, 2009, from $8.59 billion at December 31, 2008, reflecting  loan charge-offs of $159.0 million, transfers to other real estate of $94.7 million, as further discussed below, and other loan activity, including repayments and refinancing within our real estate mortgage portfolio, partially offset by increased volumes of loans held for sale pending sale into the secondary mortgage loan market. The decrease in our real estate construction and development portfolio of $333.6 million during 2009 is commensurate with our strategy of reducing our exposure to real estate loans in light of current market conditions in which many of our market sectors have experienced significant declines in real estate values, as further discussed under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.”
 
Bank-owned life insurance, or BOLI, decreased $92.6 million to $26.2 million at June 30, 2009, from $118.8 million at December 31, 2008. We terminated our largest BOLI policy in June 2009, resulting in a reduction in the carrying value of BOLI of approximately $93.1 million and a corresponding increase in accounts receivable, which


is reflected in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2009.  In July 2009, we received an initial cash payment of $90.6 million from the liquidation of the underlying assets associated with the terminated BOLI policy.
 
Other real estate increased $65.4 million to $156.9 million at June 30, 2009, from $91.5 million at December 31, 2008 reflecting substantially higher foreclosure activity, primarily of real estate construction and development loans, driven by continued weak economic conditions in certain of our market areas.
 
Other assets increased $24.2 million to $178.8 million at June 30, 2009, from $154.6 million at December 31, 2008. The increase is primarily attributable to a receivable of $93.1 million associated with the termination of our largest BOLI policy in June 2009, as previously discussed, partially offset by a refund of approximately $62.0 million of federal income taxes received in the second quarter of 2009, which was classified as an income tax receivable within other assets in our consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2008.
 
Deposits decreased $32.2 million to $8.71 billion at June 30, 2009, from $8.74 billion at December 31, 2008. Time deposits decreased $237.7 million during the first six months of 2009, of which $104.0 million reflects a decline in deposits in the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service, or CDARS. The reduction in CDARS deposits is primarily due to management’s decision to use CDARS for placement of customer deposits and thereby earn fee income, rather than using CDARS to acquire time deposits from other banks. The decrease in time deposits was partially offset by organic growth in noninterest-bearing demand deposits and savings and money market deposits of $95.9 million and $116.2 million, respectively, through our deposit development programs, including marketing campaigns coupled with enhanced product and service offerings.
 
Other borrowings, which are comprised of securities sold under agreements to repurchase, Federal Home Loan Bank, or FHLB, advances, Federal Reserve, or FRB, borrowings and federal funds purchased, decreased $135.4 million to $439.8 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $575.1 million at December 31, 2008. We utilized excess liquidity from cash and short-term investments during the first quarter of 2009 to payoff $200.0 million in FHLB advances and $100.0 million in FRB borrowings.  During the second quarter of 2009, we entered into $200.0 million in FHLB advances, as further discussed under “—Liquidity.”  In addition, our securities sold under agreements to repurchase declined by $35.3 million during the first six months of 2009 primarily due to a reduction in customer balances associated with this product segment.
 
Total stockholders’ equity, including noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries, was $794.7 million and $996.4 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, reflecting a decrease of $201.7 million during the first six months of 2009. The decrease for 2009 was primarily attributable to:
 
Ø  
A net loss of $182.7 million;
 
Ø  
Dividends declared of $328,000 on our Class A and Class B preferred stock;
 
Ø  
Dividends declared of $6.0 million on our Class C and Class D preferred stock;
 
Ø  
An increase of $2.8 million in additional paid-in capital as a result of the purchase of FCA’s minority interest in SBLS LLC, as further described in Note 1 and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements;

Ø  
A decrease of $5.9 million in accumulated other comprehensive income primarily due to changes in unrealized gains and losses on our derivative financial instruments and investment securities; and
 
Ø  
A decrease in noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries of $9.5 million, reflecting a decrease of $4.8 million associated with net losses in FB Holdings and SBLS LLC in addition to a decrease of $4.7 million associated with the purchase of FCA’s minority interest in SBLS LLC.
 
Results of Operations
 
Net Income.  We recorded a net loss of $93.3 million and $182.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to a net loss of $39.9 million and $44.8 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The net losses reflect the following:
 
Ø  
A provision for loan losses of $112.0 million and $220.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $84.1 million and $130.0 million for the comparable periods in 2008;
 
Ø  
Net interest income of $75.2 million and $146.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $86.8 million and $176.3 million for the comparable periods in 2008, which resulted in a decline in our net interest margin to 3.16% and 3.08% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 3.55% and 3.60% for the comparable periods in 2008;
 

Ø  
Noninterest income of $27.2 million and $52.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $18.9 million and $52.0 million for the comparable periods in 2008;
 
Ø  
Noninterest expense of $83.5 million and $164.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $84.6 million and $168.1 million for the comparable periods in 2008; and
 
Ø  
A provision for income taxes of $3.0 million and $2.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to a benefit for income taxes of $23.1 million and $25.1 million for the comparable periods in 2008.
 
The increase in our provision for loan losses in 2009 was primarily driven by increased net loan charge-offs and declining asset quality trends throughout our loan portfolio as a result of continued weak economic conditions and significant declines in real estate values, as further discussed under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.” The decline in our net interest income and our net interest margin was primarily attributable to an increase in nonaccrual loans during 2009 and a 400 basis point decrease, in aggregate, in the prime lending rate in 2008, coupled with a significant decline in the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, during the same period, partially offset by a decrease in deposit and other interest-bearing liability costs. We are currently in an asset-sensitive balance sheet position, and as such, interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have an immediate short-term negative effect on our net interest income and net interest margin until we can fully re-price our deposits to reflect current market interest rates. See further discussion under “—Net Interest Income.”
 
The increase in our noninterest income primarily resulted from increases in service charges on deposits and customer service fees, increased gains on loans sold and held for sale and increases in gains on investment securities; partially offset by a pre-tax gain of $5.0 million recorded on the extinguishment of a term repurchase agreement in the first quarter of 2008 and a gain of $1.8 million on the sale of various state tax credits in the second quarter of 2008. See further discussion under “—Noninterest Income.”
 
The decrease in noninterest expense primarily resulted from reductions in salaries and employee benefits expense attributable to profit improvement initiatives and certain staffing reductions completed in 2008 and in the first six months of 2009, and a reduction in information technology fees. These decreases were partially offset by increased FDIC insurance assessment premiums; legal, examination and professional fees; and expenses on other real estate properties, as further discussed under “—Noninterest Expense.”
 
The increase in the provision for income taxes primarily resulted from the consolidated net operating loss due to existing federal and state net operating loss carryforwards on which the realization of the related tax benefits is not “more likely than not,” as further discussed under “—Provision for Income Taxes” and in Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Net Interest Income.  Net interest income, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to $75.4 million and $147.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $87.1 million and $177.0 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Our net interest margin declined to 3.16% and 3.08% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 3.55% and 3.60% for the comparable periods in 2008. Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and interest paid on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is affected by the level and composition of assets and liabilities, as well as the general level of interest rates and changes in interest rates. Interest income expressed on a tax-equivalent basis includes the additional amount of interest income that would have been earned if our investment in certain tax-exempt interest-earning assets had been made in assets subject to federal, state and local income taxes yielding the same after-tax income. Net interest margin is determined by dividing net interest income computed on a tax-equivalent basis by average interest-earning assets. The interest rate spread is the difference between the average tax-equivalent yield earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
 
We attribute the decline in our net interest margin and net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the same periods in 2008 to an increase in the average amount of our nonperforming loans in addition to significant declines in the prime lending rate that began in September 2007 and continued throughout 2008 and the decline in LIBOR during 2008 and 2009, as further discussed below. Our balance sheet is presently asset sensitive, and as such, our net interest margin is negatively impacted with each interest rate cut as our loan portfolio re-prices on an immediate basis; whereas we are unable to immediately re-price our deposit portfolio to current market interest rates, thereby resulting in a compression of our net interest margin. The average yield earned on our interest-earning assets decreased 110 and 139 basis points to 4.93% and 4.97% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 6.03% and 6.36% for the same periods in 2008, while the average rate paid on our interest-bearing liabilities decreased 76 and 93 basis points to 2.09% and 2.23% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 2.85% and 3.16% for the same periods in 2008. Our average


interest-earning assets decreased $312.7 million and $268.1 million to $9.56 billion and $9.62 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $9.87 billion and $9.89 billion for the comparable periods in 2008, primarily attributable to decreases in average loans and average investment securities, partially offset by an increase in average short-term investments. Average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $505.5 million and $483.4 million to $8.09 billion and $8.16 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $8.60 billion and $8.64 billion for the comparable periods in 2008. Our net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 was positively impacted by an increase in earnings on our interest rate swap agreements that were entered into in conjunction with our interest rate risk management program, as further discussed below. Our net interest margin for the second quarter of 2009 increased 16 basis points from our net interest margin of 3.00% for the first quarter of 2009, primarily attributable to a decline in the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities of 28 basis points, partially offset by a decrease in the yield on our interest-earning assets of eight basis points.
 
Interest income on our loan portfolio, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to $109.8 million and $221.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $138.3 million and $291.2 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Average loans, net of unearned discount, decreased $696.5 million and $551.9 million to $8.35 billion and $8.45 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $9.05 billion and $9.00 billion for the comparable periods in 2008. The decrease in average loans primarily reflects a decrease in internal growth, loan charge-offs and transfers of certain loans to other real estate. The yield on our loan portfolio decreased 88 and 122 basis points to 5.27% and 5.29% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 6.15% and 6.51% for the comparable periods in 2008. The yield on our loan portfolio continues to be adversely impacted by the decrease in the prime lending rate throughout 2008 to historically low levels and the significant decrease in the LIBOR rate throughout 2008 and 2009, as a significant portion of our loan portfolio is priced to the prime lending and LIBOR rate indices. Furthermore, the yield on our loan portfolio continues to be adversely impacted by the significant increase in the average level of nonaccrual loans, as further discussed under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.” Our nonaccrual loans decreased our average yield on loans by approximately 35 and 33 basis points during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to approximately 28 and 24 basis points during the comparable periods in 2008. Interest income on our loan portfolio was positively impacted by income associated with our interest rate swap agreements of $3.9 million and $7.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $3.0 million and $4.8 million for the same periods in 2008. During 2009, we have been re-pricing our loan portfolio to be more reflective of current market conditions by implementing interest rate floors and increasing margins to prime lending and LIBOR rates in accordance with the respective borrower’s credit risk profile.
 
Interest income on our investment securities, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, was $7.3 million and $15.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $9.6 million and $21.2 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Average investment securities were $683.9 million and $671.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $791.2 million and $866.8 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The reduction in our average investment securities reflects the utilization of funds provided by maturities and sales of investment securities to increase our average short-term investments. The yield earned on our investment portfolio was 4.30% and 4.49% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 4.90% and 4.93% for the comparable periods in 2008, reflecting the decline in short-term interest rates.
 
Interest income on our short-term investments was $394,000 and $904,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $154,000 and $316,000 for the comparable periods in 2008. Average short-term investments were $522.9 million and $504.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $31.8 million and $25.0 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The increase in the average balance of short-term investments was primarily due to a higher level of liquidity in the first six months of 2009 as compared to 2008. The yield earned on our short-term investments was 0.30% and 0.36% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 1.95% and 2.54% for the comparable periods in 2008, reflecting a significant decline in short-term interest rates. The majority of funds in our short-term investments during 2009 were maintained in our correspondent bank account with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which currently earns 0.25%.
 
Interest expense on our interest-bearing deposits decreased to $36.1 million and $77.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $51.5 million and $115.6 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Average interest-bearing deposits decreased to $7.36 billion and $7.39 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $7.59 billion and $7.68 billion for the comparable periods in 2008, reflecting anticipated run-off of higher rate certificates of deposits, partially offset by organic growth through deposit development programs. The mix of our deposit portfolio volumes reflects a shift from time deposits to savings and money market deposits. The decrease in average interest-bearing deposits for the first six months of


2009 compared to the same period in 2008 is comprised of decreases in average time deposits of $273.4 million and decreases in average interest-bearing demand deposits of $45.2 million; partially offset by an increase in average savings and money market deposits of $30.6 million. The Florida region accounted for $161.6 million of the decrease in our average time deposits, which was anticipated as part of our planned post-acquisition strategy to improve the net interest margin in this region. These time deposits carried substantially higher interest rates than those throughout our other markets. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our deposit portfolio was 1.97% and 2.11% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 2.73% and 3.03% for the comparable periods in 2008, and 2.25% for the first quarter of 2009, reflective of the declining interest rate environment, an anticipated run-off of higher rate certificates of deposit and our efforts to reduce deposit costs across our deposit portfolio. The weighted average rate paid on our time deposit portfolio declined to 3.17% and 3.27% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from 3.84% and 4.14% for the comparable periods in 2008; the average rate paid on our savings and money market deposit portfolio declined to 1.04% and 1.26% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from 2.02% and 2.30% for the comparable periods in 2008; and the average rate paid on our interest-bearing demand deposits declined to 0.20% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, from 0.55% and 0.68% for the comparable periods in 2008, respectively. We anticipate continued reductions in our deposit costs throughout 2009 as certain of our certificates of deposit and money market accounts re-price from promotional rates to current market interest rates.
 
Interest expense on our other borrowings was $1.7 million and $4.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $3.9 million and $7.8 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Average other borrowings were $378.6 million and $417.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $611.6 million and $571.4 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our other borrowings was 1.78% and 1.94% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 2.54% and 2.74% for the comparable periods in 2008. The decrease in the weighted average rate paid on our other borrowings reflects the reduction in short-term interest rates during the periods, as previously discussed.
 
Interest expense on our notes payable was $18,000 and $37,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $696,000 and $1.3 million for the comparable periods in 2008. We did not have any balances outstanding under our notes payable during 2009. Our notes payable averaged $42.5 million and $41.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our notes payable was 6.58% and 6.20% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The weighted average rate paid on our notes payable includes unused commitment, arrangement and renewal fees. Exclusive of these fees, the weighted average rate paid on our notes payable was 4.60% and 4.63% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The decrease in our average notes payable during the periods is attributable to contractual payments and additional prepayments made on our outstanding notes payable. Specifically, during the second quarter of 2008, we were advanced $30.0 million under a new secured revolving line of credit with an affiliated entity and utilized the proceeds of the advance to terminate and repay in full all of the obligations under our former secured credit facility with a group of unaffiliated financial institutions. During the third quarter of 2008, we repaid in full the outstanding balance on our new secured revolving line of credit.  Subsequent to that time, we did not borrow any additional funds on the new secured line of credit, which matured on June 30, 2009, as further discussed in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Interest expense on our subordinated debentures was $4.3 million and $8.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $4.9 million and $11.1 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Average subordinated debentures were $353.9 million and $353.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $353.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our subordinated debentures was 4.88% and 5.02% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 5.61% and 6.31% for the comparable periods in 2008. The aggregate weighted average rates and the level of interest expense reflect: (a) the reduction in LIBOR rates, and the impact to the related spreads to LIBOR during the periods; and (b) the entrance into four interest rate swap agreements with a notional amount of $125.0 million in aggregate during March 2008 that effectively converted the interest payments on certain of our subordinated debentures from a variable rate to a fixed rate, as further described under “—Interest Rate Risk Management” and in Note 10 and Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements. At June 30, 2009, a total of $282.5 million, or 79.4%, of our subordinated debentures were variable rate, of which $128.9 million, or 36.2%, were effectively converted to fixed rates through the respective call dates upon entrance into the interest rate swap agreements discussed above. Interest expense on subordinated debentures includes interest expense associated with our interest rate swap agreements of $591,000 and $1.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $93,000 and $107,000 for the comparable periods in 2008.


The following table sets forth, on a tax-equivalent basis, certain information relating to our average balance sheets, and reflects the average yield earned on our interest-earning assets, the average cost of our interest-bearing liabilities and the resulting net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
         
Interest
               
Interest
               
Interest
               
Interest
       
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
 
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                                                                         
ASSETS
                                                                       
                                                                         
Interest-earning assets:
                                                                       
Loans (1)(2)(3)(4)
  $ 8,349,589       109,769       5.27 %   $ 9,046,080       138,290       6.15 %   $ 8,446,557       221,415       5.29 %   $ 8,998,416       291,182       6.51 %
Investment securities (4)
    683,938       7,329       4.30       791,206       9,635       4.90       671,185       14,960       4.49       866,807       21,237       4.93  
Short-term investments
    522,867       394       0.30       31,770       154       1.95       504,334       904       0.36       24,991       316       2.54  
Total interest-earning assets
    9,556,394       117,492       4.93       9,869,056       148,079       6.03       9,622,076       237,279       4.97       9,890,214       312,735       6.36  
Nonearning assets
    825,115                       904,886                       859,953                       918,862                  
Total assets
  $ 10,381,509                     $ 10,773,942                     $ 10,482,029                     $ 10,809,076                  
                                                                                                 
LIABILITIES AND
                                                                                               
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                                                                               
                                                                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                                                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                                                                               
Interest-bearing demand
  $ 952,081       467       0.20 %   $ 972,832       1,321       0.55 %   $ 940,700       920       0.20 %   $ 985,914       3,353       0.68 %
Savings and money market
    2,838,233       7,386       1.04       2,872,992       14,417       2.02       2,821,611       17,641       1.26       2,791,048       31,944       2.30  
Time deposits of $100 or more
    1,216,202       9,732       3.21       1,333,043       13,016       3.93       1,230,892       20,208       3.31       1,415,813       29,785       4.23  
Other time deposits
    2,351,878       18,506       3.16       2,409,569       22,728       3.79       2,395,941       38,559       3.25       2,484,457       50,515       4.09  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    7,358,394       36,091       1.97       7,588,436       51,482       2.73       7,389,144       77,328       2.11       7,677,232       115,597       3.03  
Other borrowings
    378,570       1,677       1.78       611,619       3,859       2.54       416,988       4,018       1.94       571,417       7,787       2.74  
Notes payable (5)
          18             42,525       696       6.58             37             40,999       1,265       6.20  
Subordinated debentures (3)
    353,857       4,304       4.88       353,781       4,933       5.61       353,848       8,810       5.02       353,771       11,098       6.31  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    8,090,821       42,090       2.09       8,596,361       60,970       2.85       8,159,980       90,193       2.23       8,643,419       135,747       3.16  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
                                                                                               
Demand deposits
    1,315,541                       1,225,073                       1,285,832                       1,210,424                  
Other liabilities
    100,937                       91,858                       107,795                       99,570                  
Total liabilities
    9,507,299                       9,913,292                       9,553,607                       9,953,413                  
Stockholders’ equity
    874,210                       860,650                       928,422                       855,663                  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 10,381,509                     $ 10,773,942                     $ 10,482,029                     $ 10,809,076                  
                                                                                                 
Net interest income
            75,402                       87,109                       147,086                       176,988          
Interest rate spread
                    2.84                       3.18                       2.74                       3.20  
Net interest margin (6)
                    3.16 %                     3.55 %                     3.08 %                     3.60 %
____________________
(1) 
For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in the average loan amounts.
(2) 
Interest income on loans includes loan fees.
(3) 
Interest income and interest expense include the effects of interest rate swap agreements.
(4)
Information is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 35%. The tax-equivalent adjustments were approximately $230,000 and $478,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and $326,000 and $678,000 for the comparable periods in 2008.
(5)
Interest expense on our notes payable includes commitment, arrangement and renewal fees. Exclusive of these fees, the interest rates paid were 4.60% and 4.63% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively.
(6) 
Net interest margin is the ratio of net interest income (expressed on a tax-equivalent basis) to average interest-earning assets.
 

The following table indicates, on a tax-equivalent basis, the change in interest income and interest expense that is attributable to the change in average volume and change in average rates, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2008. The change in interest due to the combined rate/volume variance has been allocated to rate and volume changes in proportion to the dollar amounts of the change in each.
 
   
Increase (Decrease) Attributable to Change in:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Compared to 2008
   
Compared to 2008
 
               
Net
               
Net
 
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Change
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Change
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Interest earned on:
                                   
Loans: (1) (2) (3)
                                   
Taxable
  $ (9,996 )     (18,365 )     (28,361 )     (17,093 )     (52,297 )     (69,390 )
Tax-exempt (4)
    (30 )     (130 )     (160 )     (73 )     (304 )     (377 )
Investment securities:
                                               
Taxable
    (1,105 )     (1,087 )     (2,192 )     (4,287 )     (1,796 )     (6,083 )
Tax-exempt (4)
    (136 )     22       (114 )     (250 )     56       (194 )
Short-term investments
    475       (235 )     240       1,080       (492 )     588  
Total interest income
    (10,792 )     (19,795 )     (30,587 )     (20,623 )     (54,833 )     (75,456 )
Interest paid on:
                                               
Interest-bearing demand deposits
    (28 )     (826 )     (854 )     (148 )     (2,285 )     (2,433 )
Savings and money market deposits
    (171 )     (6,860 )     (7,031 )     342       (14,645 )     (14,303 )
Time deposits
    (1,583 )     (5,923 )     (7,506 )     (5,387 )     (16,146 )     (21,533 )
Other borrowings
    (1,222 )     (960 )     (2,182 )     (1,812 )     (1,957 )     (3,769 )
Notes payable (5)
    (339 )     (339 )     (678 )     (614 )     (614 )     (1,228 )
Subordinated debentures (3)
    1       (630 )     (629 )     2       (2,290 )     (2,288 )
Total interest expense
    (3,342 )     (15,538 )     (18,880 )     (7,617 )     (37,937 )     (45,554 )
Net interest income
  $ (7,450 )     (4,257 )     (11,707 )     (13,006 )     (16,896 )     (29,902 )
________________________
(1)
For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in the average loan amounts.
(2)
Interest income on loans includes loan fees.
(3)
Interest income and interest expense include the effect of interest rate swap agreements.
(4)
Information is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 35%.
(5)
Interest expense on our notes payable includes commitment, arrangement and renewal fees.
 
Provision for Loan Losses.  We recorded a provision for loan losses of $112.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $84.1 million for the comparable period in 2008. We recorded a provision for loan losses of $220.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $130.0 million for the comparable period in 2008. The increase in the provision for loan losses was primarily driven by increased net loan charge-offs and declining asset quality trends throughout our loan portfolio as a result of continued weak economic conditions and significant declines in real estate values, as further discussed under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.”
 
Our nonperforming loans were $494.4 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $475.7 million at March 31, 2009 and $442.4 million at December 31, 2008. Our net loan charge-offs were $81.2 million and $152.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $68.3 million and $97.4 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Our annualized net loan charge-offs were 3.90% and 3.65% of average loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 3.04% and 2.18% for the same periods in 2008. Loan charge-offs were $84.2 million and $159.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $69.6 million and $100.9 million for the comparable periods in 2008, and loan recoveries were $3.0 million and $6.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $1.3 million and $3.5 million for the comparable periods in 2008, as further discussed under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.”.
 
Tables summarizing nonperforming assets, past due loans and charge-off and recovery experience are presented under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.”
 
Noninterest Income.   Noninterest income was $27.2 million and $52.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $18.9 million and $52.0 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Noninterest income consists primarily of service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees, mortgage-banking revenues, investment management income, insurance fee and commission income, net gains (losses) on investment securities and derivative instruments, changes in the fair value of servicing rights, loan servicing fees and other income.
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees increased to $14.1 million and $27.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $13.1 million and $25.2 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The increase in service charges and customer service fees is primarily attributable to an increase in retail non-sufficient funds and returned check fee income as well as an increase in commercial service charges resulting from our efforts to control fee waivers and a decrease in the earnings credit rate due to the decline in short-term interest rates throughout the periods.
 
Gains on loans sold and held for sale increased to $3.4 million and $7.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $968,000 and $2.6 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in the volume of mortgage loans originated and subsequently sold in the secondary market resulting from increased levels of refinancing of one-to-four family residential real estate loans in light of declining mortgage interest rates experienced during the first six months of 2009.
 
We recorded net gains on investment securities of $652,000 and $1.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to net losses on investment securities of $5.8 million and $4.6 million for the comparable periods in 2008. During the first six months of 2009, we sold certain available-for-sale investment securities that carried relatively high risk-weightings for regulatory capital purposes and repositioned a portion of our investment securities portfolio to lower risk-weighted investments. We recognized other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities of $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2008 on an equity investment in the common stock of a single company in the financial services industry, which management considers to have been primarily caused by economic events impacting the financial services industry as a whole. This impairment loss was partially offset by a gain of approximately $867,000 on the sale of approximately $81.5 million of mortgage-backed available-for-sale investment securities during the first quarter of 2008.
 
BOLI investment income was $196,000 and $562,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $724,000 and $1.7 million for the same periods in 2008. The decrease reflects the performance of the underlying investments associated with the insurance contracts, which is directly correlated to the portfolio mix of investments, the crediting rate associated with the embedded stable value protection program and overall market conditions. In June 2009, we terminated our largest insurance policy resulting in a reduction in the carrying value of our BOLI investment of approximately $93.1 million, as previously discussed. We did not record any gain or loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 as a result of the termination of this insurance policy.
 
Investment management income generated by MVP, our institutional money management subsidiary, was $531,000 and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $686,000 and $2.0 million for the same periods in 2008, reflecting decreased portfolio management fee income associated with a decline in assets under management.
 
Insurance fee and commission income generated by Adrian Baker, our insurance brokerage agency, was $1.9 million and $4.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $1.9 million and $3.9 million for the comparable periods in 2008, reflecting higher customer volumes and contingency fees earned from certain insurance underwriters partially offset by reduced premium rates attributable to the overall soft insurance market conditions experienced in the industry.
 
We recorded net gains of zero and $401,000 on derivative instruments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.  We recorded net losses of $1.6 million and net gains of $1.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The net gain for 2009 is attributable to income generated from the issuance of customer interest rate swap agreements in the first quarter of 2009. The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and the net gain for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were primarily attributable to changes in the fair value of our interest rate floor agreements. In May 2008, we terminated our $300.0 million interest rate floor agreements to modify our overall hedge position in accordance with our interest rate risk management program. We did not incur any gains or losses in conjunction with the termination of our interest rate floor agreements, as further described under “—Interest Rate Risk Management” and in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
We recorded a net gain of $283,000 and a net loss of $1.7 million associated with changes in the fair value of mortgage and SBA servicing rights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. We recorded a net gain of $555,000 and a net loss of $1.2 million associated with changes in the fair value of mortgage and SBA servicing rights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The changes in the fair value of mortgage and SBA servicing rights during the periods reflect changes in mortgage interest rates and the related changes in estimated prepayment speeds. The change also reflects changes in cash flow assumptions on the underlying SBA loans in the serviced portfolio. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, mortgage interest rates increased and estimated prepayment speeds declined resulting in a net gain for this time period.
 

Loan servicing fees were $2.2 million and $4.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $2.1 million and $4.2 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The fees are primarily attributable to fee income generated from the servicing of real estate mortgage loans owned by investors and originated by our mortgage banking division, as well as SBA loans to small business concerns. The increase is due to an increase in the balance of loans serviced, partially offset by increased interest shortfall on serviced residential mortgage loans attributable to accelerated payoffs due to increased refinancing levels. Interest shortfall represents the difference between the interest collected from a loan servicing customer upon prepayment of the loan and the full month of interest that is required to be remitted to the security owner.
 
In March 2008, we restructured a $100.0 million term repurchase agreement, which included the following primary modifications: (a) increased the borrowing amount to $120.0 million; (b) extended the maturity date from October 12, 2010 to April 12, 2012; (c) converted the interest rate from a variable rate to a fixed rate of 3.36%; and (d) terminated the embedded interest rate floor agreements contained within the term repurchase agreement. These modifications resulted in the recognition of the pre-tax gain of $5.0 million recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2008, as further described in Note 9 and Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Other income was $4.0 million and $7.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $6.3 million and $11.4 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The decrease is primarily attributable to the following:
 
Ø  
Recoveries of certain loan principal balances that had been previously charged off by the financial institutions prior to their acquisition by First Banks of $67,000 and $94,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $686,000 and $1.5 million for the same periods in 2008;
 
Ø  
Income of $1.8 million recognized in the second quarter of 2008 on the sale of various state tax credits; and
 
Ø  
A gain recognized in the first quarter of 2008 on the Visa, Inc., or Visa, initial public offering of $743,000, representing the cash payment received in exchange for a portion of our membership interest in Visa as a result of Visa’s initial public offering; partially offset by
 
Ø  
Gains on sales of other real estate of $737,000 and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to losses on sales of other real estate of $170,000 and $290,000 for the comparable periods in 2008.
 
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense was $83.5 million and $164.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $84.6 million and $168.1 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The decrease in noninterest expense was primarily attributable to our continued efforts to improve our expense levels through certain profit improvement initiatives that were implemented throughout 2008 and 2009, partially offset by increased FDIC insurance assessment premiums and expenses associated with the increased level of nonperforming assets, including expenses on other real estate properties and professional fees.
 
Salaries and employee benefits expense decreased to $31.4 million and $64.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $37.1 million and $77.7 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The overall decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense is primarily attributable to certain staff reductions during 2008 and during the first six months of 2009. Our total full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) decreased to approximately 2,140 at June 30, 2009, from 2,200 at December 31, 2008 and 2,340 at June 30, 2008, representing a decrease of 2.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense also reflects a decline in incentive compensation expense commensurate with our earnings performance and a decline in other benefits expenses including our 401(k) matching contribution which was eliminated, effective April 1, 2009.
 
Occupancy, net of rental income, and furniture and equipment expense was $14.3 million and $29.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $14.4 million and $29.8 million for the same periods in 2008. The decrease in 2009 reflects reduced furniture, fixtures and equipment expenditures associated with prior expansion activities and certain branch closures, partially offset by an increase in real estate property taxes as well as occupancy related expenses as a result of standard rental increases pursuant to existing lease obligations at several of our branch banking and operations facilities.
 
Postage, printing and supplies expense decreased to $1.3 million and $2.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $1.7 million and $3.3 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The decrease in 2009 reflects a decrease in office supplies and check printing expenses resulting from profit improvement initiatives.

Information technology and item processing fees decreased to $7.8 million and $16.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $9.1 million and $18.4 million for the comparable periods in 2008. As more fully described in Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements, First Services, L.P., a limited partnership indirectly owned by our Chairman and members of his immediate family, provides information technology and


various operational support services to our subsidiaries and us. Information technology fees also include fees paid to outside servicers associated with our mortgage lending and trust divisions, our small business lending and institutional money management subsidiaries, and Adrian Baker and UPAC. The decrease in information technology fees is primarily due to the implementation of certain profit improvement initiatives and negotiated fee reductions with First Services, L.P.
 
Legal, examination and professional fees were $4.1 million and $8.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $4.5 million and $7.3 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008, primarily reflects higher legal expenses related to collection and foreclosure efforts associated with the increase in nonperforming assets, partially offset by expenses incurred in the prior year related to internal investigations, including the investigation commissioned by our Audit Committee regarding certain matters associated with the mortgage banking division and the resulting restatement of our consolidated financial statements. The decrease for the three months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008, reflects expenses incurred in the prior year related to internal investigations and ongoing litigation matters, including those assumed through the acquisition of Coast Bank of Florida; partially offset by higher legal expenses related to the increase in nonperforming assets. We anticipate legal, examination and professional fees will remain at higher than historical levels until economic conditions stabilize as a result of higher legal and professional fees associated with foreclosure efforts on problem loans, other collection efforts and ongoing litigation matters.
 
Amortization of intangible assets decreased to $2.3 million and $4.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $2.8 million and $5.6 million for the comparable periods in 2008, attributable to the completion of the amortization period of certain core deposit and other intangible assets.
 
Advertising and business development expense decreased to $569,000 and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $2.0 million and $3.4 million for the comparable periods in 2008, reflecting certain profit improvement initiatives and management’s efforts to reduce these expenditures in light of the current economic environment.
 
FDIC insurance expense increased to $10.0 million and $14.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $2.1 million and $3.0 million for the comparable periods in 2008. We had built up several million dollars of credits through previous acquisitions that were utilized to offset FDIC insurance premiums and were depleted in 2008. Our premium rates increased in the first quarter of 2009 and again in the second quarter of 2009, and are expected to continue to increase in the future based on our risk assessment rating in addition to recent developments within the banking industry, including the failure of other financial institutions. In May 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule imposing a special assessment of five basis points on each FDIC-insured depository institution’s assets minus its Tier 1 capital as of June 30, 2009, to be collected on September 30, 2009. We recorded expense of $4.8 million related to the special assessment during the second quarter of 2009.
 
Expenses on other real estate increased to $3.0 million and $7.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, from $1.3 million and $1.9 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The increase in other real estate expenses is primarily attributable to expenses associated with increased foreclosure activity, including current and delinquent real estate taxes paid on other real estate properties as well as other property preservation related expenses. The balance of our other real estate properties increased to $156.9 million at June 30, 2009, from $145.8 million at March 31, 2009, $91.5 million at December 31, 2008 and $20.0 million at June 30, 2008. We expect the level of write-downs and expenses on our other real estate properties to remain at elevated levels in the near term as a result of the increase in our other real estate balances and the expected future transfer of certain of our nonperforming loans into our other real estate portfolio.
 
Other expense was $8.7 million and $16.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $9.8 million and $17.7 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Other expense encompasses numerous general and administrative expenses including communications, insurance, freight and courier services, correspondent bank charges, loan expenses, miscellaneous losses and recoveries, memberships and subscriptions, transfer agent fees, sales taxes and travel, meals and entertainment. The decrease in other expense is attributable to profit improvement initiatives and management’s efforts to reduce overall expense levels, partially offset by an increase in overdraft losses, and an increase in loan expenses attributable to collection efforts related to asset quality matters.
 
Provision for Income Taxes. We recorded a provision for income taxes of $3.0 million and $2.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to a benefit for income taxes of $23.1 million and $25.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The increase in the provision for income taxes primarily resulted from the consolidated net operating loss due to existing federal and state net


operating loss carryforwards on which the realization of the related tax benefits is not “more likely than not,” as further described in Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Interest Rate Risk Management
 
We utilize derivative financial instruments to assist in our management of interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing, maturity and option characteristics of certain assets and liabilities. We also sell interest rate swap agreements to certain customers who wish to modify their interest rate risk.  We offset the interest rate risk of these swap agreements by simultaneously purchasing matching interest rate swap agreements with offsetting pay/receive rates from other financial institutions.  Because of the matching terms of the offsetting agreements, the net effect of the changes in the fair value of the paired swaps is minimal.
 
The derivative financial instruments we held as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are summarized as follows:
 

   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Notional
   
Credit
   
Notional
   
Credit
 
   
Amount
   
Exposure
   
Amount
   
Exposure
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Cash flow hedges – subordinated debentures
  $ 125,000             125,000        
Customer interest rate swap agreements
    59,696             16,000        
Interest rate lock commitments
    44,000       584       48,700       831  
Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities
    99,900       511       40,300        

We realized net interest income on our derivative financial instruments of $3.3 million and $6.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $2.9 million and $4.7 million for the comparable periods in 2008. The earnings associated with our derivative financial instruments reflect the interest rate environment during these periods as well as the overall level of our derivative instruments throughout these periods.
 
We recorded net gains of zero and $401,000 on derivative instruments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, attributable to income generated from the issuance of our customer interest rate swap agreements. We recorded net losses of $1.6 million and net gains of $1.8 million on derivative instruments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and the net gain for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were primarily attributable to changes in the fair value of our interest rate floor agreements. In May 2008, we terminated our $300.0 million interest rate floor agreements to modify our overall hedge position in accordance with our interest rate risk management program.
 
Our derivative financial instruments are more fully described in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.

Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses
 
Interest earned on our loan portfolio represents the principal source of income for First Bank. Interest and fees on loans were 93.5% and 93.4% of our total interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 93.5% and 93.2% for the comparable periods in 2008.
 
Loans, net of unearned discount, decreased $395.9 million to $8.20 billion, or 78.9% of our assets, at June 30, 2009, compared to $8.59 billion, or 79.7% of our assets, at December 31, 2008. The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
             
Commercial, financial and agricultural
  $ 2,456,057       2,575,505  
Real estate construction and development
    1,238,616       1,572,212  
Real estate mortgage:
               
One-to-four family residential
    1,450,678       1,553,366  
Multi-family residential
    241,803       220,404  
Commercial real estate
    2,656,696       2,562,598  
Consumer and installment, net of unearned discount
    64,375       70,170  
Loans held for sale
    88,823       38,720  
Loans, net of unearned discount
    8,197,048       8,592,975  


We attribute the net decrease in our loan portfolio during the first six months of 2009 primarily to:
 
Ø  
A decrease of $119.4 million in our commercial, financial and agricultural portfolio, reflecting a decline in internal loan production within this portfolio and loan charge-offs of $51.4 million, primarily comprised of three significant charge-offs totaling approximately $36.2 million, as further discussed below;
 
Ø  
A decrease of $333.6 million in our real estate construction and development portfolio primarily resulting from our efforts to reduce the exposure in our construction and development portfolio in light of the current economic environment within our market areas. The decrease during the first six months of 2009 reflects loan charge-offs of $48.1 million, transfers to other real estate and other loan activity, including transfers of loans from real estate construction and development to commercial real estate and multi-family residential real estate in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Of the remaining balance in our real estate construction and development portfolio of $1.24 billion, $227.4 million, or 18.4%, is on nonaccrual status at June 30, 2009. The following table summarizes the composition of our real estate construction and development portfolio by region as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Northern California
  $ 133,886       234,942  
Southern California
    470,699       504,354  
Chicago
    154,700       185,054  
Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri
    193,884       230,254  
Texas
    205,567       283,993  
Florida
    16,816       37,242  
Other
    63,064       96,373  
Total
  $ 1,238,616       1,572,212  
 
Within our real estate construction and development portfolio, we have experienced the most distress in our Northern and Southern California and Chicago regions. Of the remaining Northern California portfolio balance of $133.9 million, $47.3 million, or 35.3%, of loans were in a nonperforming status as of June 30, 2009; of the remaining Southern California portfolio balance of $470.7 million, $76.4 million, or 16.2%, of loans were in a nonperforming status as of June 30, 2009; and of the remaining Chicago portfolio balance of $154.7 million, $59.6 million, or 38.5%, of loans were in a nonperforming status as of June 30, 2009. We also experienced continued distress within our Florida and metropolitan St. Louis regions, as further discussed below; and
 
Ø  
A decrease of $102.7 million in our one-to-four family residential real estate loan portfolio primarily attributable to loan charge-offs of $51.8 million, transfers to other real estate and payments, partially offset by an increase in our home equity loan portfolio of $19.4 million. The following table summarizes the composition of our one-to-four family residential real estate loan portfolio as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
             
One-to-four family residential real estate:
           
Non-Mortgage Division portfolio
  $ 421,084       455,545  
Mortgage Division portfolio, excluding Florida
    377,975       427,821  
Florida Mortgage Division portfolio
    202,104       239,906  
Home equity portfolio
    449,515       430,094  
Total
  $ 1,450,678       1,553,366  
 
We have not incurred significant losses or delinquencies within our Non-Mortgage Division loan portfolio, which consists of prime mortgage loans originated to customers from our retail branch banking network.
 
Our Mortgage Division portfolio, excluding Florida, consists of both prime mortgage loans and Alt A and sub-prime mortgage loans. At June 30, 2009, approximately $188.7 million of the Mortgage Division portfolio consisted of prime mortgages and the remaining $189.3 million consisted of Alt A and sub-prime mortgages. We continue to experience significant distress within this portfolio of loans. We recorded net loan charge-offs of $23.2 million on this portfolio for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as a result of charging these loans down to 67.5% of current appraised values at the time these loans became nonperforming loans, which represents an estimate of average sale transactions based on ongoing sale activity. As of June 30, 2009, approximately 23.6% of this portfolio is delinquent or restructured,


consisting of loans 30-89 days delinquent of $14.0 million, restructured loans of $19.6 million and nonaccrual loans of $55.4 million.
 
Our Florida portfolio was acquired in the CFHI acquisition. We incurred net loan charge-offs of $20.8 million on this portfolio during the first six months of 2009. As of June 30, 2009, approximately 22.6% of the Florida portfolio is delinquent or restructured, consisting of loans 30-89 days delinquent of $10.7 million, restructured loans of $6.1 million and nonaccrual loans of $28.9 million.
 
Our home equity portfolio consists of prime loans originated to customers from our retail branch banking network. We have not incurred significant losses or delinquencies within this portfolio of loans.
 
These decreases in our loan portfolio were partially offset by:
 
Ø  
An increase of $94.1 million in our commercial real estate loan portfolio primarily due to transfers of loans from real estate construction and development to commercial real estate upon completion of the construction of the underlying projects related to such loans, partially offset by our efforts to reduce our exposure to commercial real estate in the current economic environment and loan charge-offs of $6.9 million;
 
Ø  
An increase of $50.1 million in our loans held for sale portfolio resulting from increased levels of refinancing of one-to-four family residential real estate loans in light of lower mortgage interest rates during the first six months of 2009, coupled with the timing of increased loan originations and subsequent sales in the secondary mortgage market; and
 
Ø  
An increase of $21.4 million in multi-family residential real estate loans primarily attributable to transfers of loans from real estate construction and development to multi-family residential real estate upon completion of the construction of the underlying projects related to such loans.
 
The overall change in the mix of our loan portfolio is commensurate with our strategy of reducing our exposure to real estate, particularly construction and land development, in the current economic environment in which many of our market sectors have experienced significant declines in real estate values.
 
Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, restructured loans and other real estate. The following table presents the categories of nonperforming assets and certain ratios as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural:
           
Nonaccrual
  $ 81,456       40,647  
Real estate construction and development:
               
Nonaccrual
    227,362       270,444  
Real estate mortgage:
               
One-to-four family residential:
               
Nonaccrual
    102,160       83,140  
Restructured
    25,734       24,641  
Multi-family residential:
               
Nonaccrual
    4,379       545  
Commercial real estate:
               
Nonaccrual
    53,119       23,009  
Consumer and installment:
               
Nonaccrual
    154        
Total nonperforming loans
    494,364       442,426  
Other real estate
    156,944       91,524  
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 651,308       533,950  
                 
Loans, net of unearned discount
  $ 8,197,048       8,592,975  
                 
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing
  $ 41,897       7,094  
                 
Ratio of:
               
Allowance for loan losses to loans
    3.51 %     2.56 %
Nonperforming loans to loans
    6.03       5.15  
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans
    58.12       49.77  
Nonperforming assets to loans and other real estate
    7.80       6.15  


Nonperforming loans, consisting of loans on nonaccrual status and certain restructured loans, were $494.4 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $475.7 million at March 31, 2009 and $442.4 million at December 31, 2008. Nonperforming loans were 6.03% of loans, net of unearned discount, at June 30, 2009, compared to 5.65% at March 31, 2009 and 5.15% at December 31, 2008. Other real estate owned increased to $156.9 million at June 30, 2009, from $145.8 million at March 31, 2009 and $91.5 million at December 31, 2008. Our nonperforming assets, consisting of nonperforming loans and other real estate owned, were $651.3 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $621.5 million at March 31, 2009 and $534.0 million at December 31, 2008. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest increased to $41.9 million at June 30, 2009, from $7.3 million at March 31, 2009 and $7.1 million at December 31, 2008.
 
Our nonperforming assets at June 30, 2009 included $15.9 million of nonaccrual loans and $87.3 million of other real estate owned, or $103.2 million of nonperforming assets, held by FB Holdings, a subsidiary of First Bank which is 46.77% owned by FCA, an affiliated entity. As such, FB Holdings owned approximately 15.9% of our nonperforming assets at June 30, 2009. Our nonperforming assets at December 31, 2008 included $61.0 million of nonaccrual loans and $51.9 million of other real estate owned, or $112.9 million of nonperforming assets, in aggregate, held by FB Holdings, and as such, FCA owned approximately 21.1% of our nonperforming assets at December 31, 2008.
 
Nonperforming assets increased $117.4 million, or 22.0%, to $651.3 million at June 30, 2009 from nonperforming assets of $534.0 million at December 31, 2008. The following table summarizes the composition of our nonperforming assets by region / business segment at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
             
Mortgage Division, excluding Florida
  $ 85,614       67,591  
Florida
    71,851       81,303  
Northern California real estate
    114,018       103,325  
Southern California real estate
    86,044       77,349  
Chicago real estate
    64,202       46,272  
Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri real estate
    50,739       56,031  
Texas real estate
    30,230       27,143  
First Bank Business Capital, Inc.
    11,733       24,501  
Northern California commercial and industrial
    23,217       861  
Southern California commercial and industrial
    31,774       3,007  
Texas commercial and industrial
    27,002       4,566  
Other
    54,884       42,001  
   Total nonperforming assets
  $ 651,308       533,950  
 
We attribute the $117.4 million increase in our nonperforming assets during the first six months of 2009 to the following:

Ø  
An increase in nonaccrual loans of $40.8 million in our commercial, financial and agricultural portfolio primarily resulting from continued weak economic conditions nationwide, including: (a) the additions of individual credits of $10.0 million, net of a $10.7 million charge-off, and $12.5 million in our Northern California region placed on nonaccrual status; (b) the addition of a single $20.0 million credit in our Southern California market placed on nonaccrual status, net of a $10.0 million charge-off; (c) an increase in nonaccrual loans of $21.0 million in our Texas region, primarily attributable to the addition of a single $16.5 million credit placed on nonaccrual status; partially offset by (d) loan charge-offs of $15.5 million recorded in the first six months of 2009 on a single credit relationship in our First Bank Business Capital, Inc. subsidiary, which was on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2008;
 
Ø  
An increase in nonaccrual loans of $30.1 million in our commercial real estate portfolio primarily driven by continued weak economic conditions and significant declines in real estate values;
 
Ø  
An overall net increase in nonaccrual loans of $19.0 million in our one-to-four family residential real estate loan portfolio primarily driven by current market conditions and the overall deterioration of Alt A and sub-prime residential mortgage loan products experienced throughout the mortgage banking industry. Our one-to-four family residential nonaccrual loans in our Mortgage Banking division, excluding Florida, increased $16.9 million, from $38.5 million at December 31, 2008 to $55.4 million at June 30, 2009. Our one-to-four family residential nonaccrual loans in our Florida region decreased $1.8 million, from $30.7 million at December 31, 2008 to $28.9 million at June 30, 2009. The remaining increase in our one-to-four family residential nonaccrual loans of $3.9 million occurred in our Non-Mortgage division portfolio;
 

Ø  
An increase in one-to-four family restructured loans of $1.1 million to $25.7 million at June 30, 2009, consisting of total restructured loans of $29.8 million, partially offset by $4.1 million of restructured loans classified as nonaccrual in the one-to-four family residential real estate loan category. Restructured loans (not classified as nonaccrual) within our mortgage banking division and Florida region were $19.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively, at June 30, 2009. Throughout 2008 and the first six months of 2009, certain one-to-four family residential mortgage loans in our Florida region and mortgage banking division, primarily located in California, were restructured, whereby the contractual interest rate was reduced over a certain time period due to concentrated efforts to work with borrowers to facilitate appropriate loan terms in light of ongoing market conditions and individual borrower circumstances. As of June 30, 2009, we had total restructured loans of $29.8 million, of which $4.1 million, or 13.6%, were on nonaccrual status and $2.6 million, or 8.7% were delinquent. As such, 22.3% of our restructured loans were delinquent or on nonaccrual status at June 30, 2009;
 
Ø  
An increase in nonaccrual loans of $3.8 million in our multi-family residential real estate mortgage loans portfolio; and
 
Ø  
An increase in other real estate owned of $65.4 million to $156.9 million at June 30, 2009, primarily resulting from the foreclosure of real estate construction and development loans throughout the first six months of 2009.
 
These increases in nonperforming asset levels were partially offset by:
 
Ø  
A decrease in nonaccrual loans of $43.1 million in our real estate construction and development loan portfolio primarily driven by loan charge-offs of $48.1 million and transfers to other real estate, partially offset by additional asset quality deterioration within this portfolio. We continue to experience deterioration in our real estate construction and development portfolio as a result of weak economic conditions and significant continued declines in real estate values and we expect these trends to continue until market conditions stabilize, both on a nationwide basis and in our primary market areas.
 
We expect the declining and unstable market conditions associated with our one-to-four family residential mortgage loan portfolio, our real estate construction and development portfolio and our commercial real estate portfolio to continue, which will likely continue to impact the overall level of our nonperforming loans, loan charge-offs and provision for loan losses and other real estate balances associated with these segments of our loan portfolio.
 
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest increased to $41.9 million at June 30, 2009, from $7.3 million at March 31, 2009 and $7.1 million at December 31, 2008, respectively. The increase in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest is primarily attributable to two credit relationships totaling approximately $32.0 million in aggregate that were considered problem loans and were renewed subsequent to June 30, 2009. Under our loan policy, loans are placed on nonaccrual status once principal or interest payments become 90 days past due. However, individual loan officers may submit written requests for approval to continue the accrual of interest on loans that become 90 days past due. These requests may be submitted for approval consistent with the authority levels provided in our credit approval policies, and they are only granted if an expected near term future event, such as a pending renewal or expected payoff, exists at the time the loan becomes 90 days past due. If the expected near term future event does not occur as anticipated, the loan is then placed on nonaccrual status. Management considers the nonperforming loan trends in its overall assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.
 
The outstanding balance and carrying amount of impaired loans acquired in acquisitions was $9.5 million and $3.0 million at June 30, 2009, respectively, and $57.9 million and $30.4 million at June 30, 2008, respectively. Changes in the carrying amount of impaired loans acquired in acquisitions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 4,443       42,067       9,997       46,003  
Transfers to other real estate
    (517 )     (2,883 )     (3,291 )     (5,206 )
Loans charged-off
    (641 )     (3,672 )     (3,189 )     (5,060 )
Payments and settlements
    (244 )     (5,129 )     (476 )     (5,354 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 3,041       30,383       3,041       30,383  
 
 
There was no allowance for loan losses related to these loans as these loans were recorded at lower of cost or fair value at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. As the loans were classified as nonaccrual loans, there was no accretable yield related to these loans at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
 
Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans, net of unearned discount, was 3.51% at June 30, 2009, 3.05% at March 31, 2009, and 2.56% at December 31, 2008. The increase in this ratio is primarily due to the increase in nonperforming and other problem loans, which increased our provision for loan losses, and the overall reduction in the balance of our loan portfolio during the six months ended June 30, 2009. Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 58.12%, 53.93%, and 49.77% at June 30, 2009, March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Our allowance for loan losses increased to $287.3 million at June 30, 2009, from $256.6 million at March 31, 2009 and $220.2 million at December 31, 2008.
 
Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, and 2008 were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 256,551       185,184       220,214       168,391  
Loans charged-off:
                               
Commercial, financial and agricultural
    (27,245 )     (3,851 )     (51,356 )     (5,616 )
Real estate construction and development
    (30,149 )     (50,679 )     (48,139 )     (68,402 )
Real estate mortgage:
                               
One-to-four family residential loans
    (23,041 )     (12,381 )     (51,818 )     (23,724 )
Multi-family residential loans
    (304 )     (19 )     (304 )     (19 )
Commercial real estate loans
    (3,159 )     (2,244 )     (6,851 )     (2,429 )
Consumer and installment
    (322 )     (392 )     (566 )     (715 )
Total loans charged-off
    (84,220 )     (69,566 )     (159,034 )     (100,905 )
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
                               
Commercial financial and agricultural
    1,786       889       2,442       2,343  
Real estate construction and development
    215       144       666       540  
Real estate mortgage:
                               
One-to-four family residential loans
    695       48       1,842       229  
Multi-family residential loans
          2             2  
Commercial real estate loans
    240       112       1,061       184  
Consumer and installment
    50       91       126       173  
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
    2,986       1,286       6,137       3,471  
Net loans charged-off
    (81,234 )     (68,280 )     (152,897 )     (97,434 )
Provision for loan losses
    112,000       84,053       220,000       130,000  
Balance, end of period
  $ 287,317       200,957       287,317       200,957  

We recorded net loan charge-offs of $81.2 million and $152.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to $68.3 million and $97.4 million for the comparable periods in 2008. Our annualized net loan charge-offs as a percentage of average loans was 3.65% for the first six months of 2009, compared to 2.18% for the comparable period in 2008. The following table summarizes the composition of our net loan charge-offs (recoveries) by region / business segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                         
Mortgage Division, excluding Florida
  $ 12,481       9,225       23,188       18,766  
Florida
    15,124       5,985       34,980       8,302  
Northern California real estate
    6,082       41,394       9,766       57,276  
Southern California real estate
    4,401       1,034       10,853       1,034  
Chicago real estate
    11,837       (2 )     15,226       (2 )
Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri real estate
    110       996       (7 )     994  
Texas real estate
    390       2,814       2,020       3,223  
First Bank Business Capital, Inc.
    8,225       (91 )     18,695       (91 )
Northern California commercial and industrial
    11,403       (12 )     11,400       (21 )
Southern California commercial and industrial
    439       699       10,553       1,246  
Other
    10,742       6,238       16,223       6,707  
Total net loan charge-offs
  $ 81,234       68,280       152,897       97,434  
 
 
We attribute the increase in our net loan charge-offs to the following:
 
Ø  
Net loan charge-offs of $25.5 million and $48.9 million recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, associated with our commercial, financial and agricultural portfolio, compared to $3.0 million and $3.3 million for the comparable periods in 2008, reflecting declining market conditions within certain sectors of this portfolio that began in the first quarter of 2009. Specifically in this portfolio, we recorded $15.5 million in aggregate loan charge-offs on a single credit in our First Bank Business Capital, Inc. subsidiary during the first six months of 2009, as well as a $10.7 million loan charge-off on a single credit in our Northern California market area that went on nonaccrual status during the second quarter of 2009, and a $10.0 million loan charge-off on a single credit in our Southern California market area that went on nonaccrual status during the first quarter of 2009;
 
Ø  
Net loan charge-offs of $29.9 million and $47.5 million recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, associated with our real estate construction and development portfolio, compared to $50.5 million and $67.9 million for the comparable periods in 2008. We continue to experience significant distress and drastically declining market conditions within our Northern and Southern California, Chicago and St. Louis real estate markets, resulting in increased developer inventories, slower lot and home sales and significantly declining real estate values;
 
Ø  
Net loan charge-offs of $12.5 million and $23.2 million recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, associated with our mortgage division, excluding Florida, compared to $9.2 million and $18.8 million for the comparable periods in 2008; and
 
Ø  
Net loan charge-offs of $15.1 million and $35.0 million recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, associated with our Florida region, compared to $6.0 million and $8.3 million for the comparable periods in 2008, including $6.8 million and $20.8 million, and $220,000 and $407,000, of net loan charge-offs, respectively, on our Florida one-to-four family residential portfolio.
 
We continue to experience deterioration in our one-to-four family residential portfolios as a result of weak economic conditions in the nationwide housing markets, increasing unemployment rates and significant declines in real estate values in all of our markets. Should real estate values further decline as a result of current economic conditions, we may continue to experience deterioration within our loan portfolio, and as a result, continued increased loan charge-offs.
 
We continue to closely monitor our loan portfolio and address the ongoing challenges posed by the severely weakened economic environment that has directly impacted and continues to impact many of our market segments. Specifically, we continue to focus on loan portfolio segments in which we have experienced significant loan charge-offs and on loan portfolio segments that could generate additional loan charge-offs in the future, such as commercial real estate. We consider these factors in our overall assessment of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses.
 
As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, $433.1 million and $224.1 million, respectively, of loans not included in the nonperforming assets table above were identified by management as having potential credit problems, or problem loans. The increase in the level of problem loans during 2009 reflects continued weak economic conditions in the nationwide housing markets, increasing unemployment rates and ongoing significant declines in real estate values in all of our markets. We continue our efforts to reduce nonperforming and problem loans and re-define our overall strategy and business plans with respect to our loan portfolio as deemed necessary in light of ongoing and dramatic changes in market conditions in the markets in which we operate.
 
Our credit management policies and procedures focus on identifying, measuring and controlling credit exposure. These procedures employ a lender-initiated system of rating credits, which is ratified in the loan approval process and subsequently tested in internal credit reviews, external audits and regulatory bank examinations. The system requires the rating of all loans at the time they are originated or acquired, except for homogeneous categories of loans, such as residential real estate mortgage loans and consumer loans. These homogeneous loans are assigned an initial rating based on our experience with each type of loan. We adjust the ratings of the homogeneous loans based on payment experience subsequent to their origination.
 
We include adversely rated credits, including loans requiring close monitoring that would not normally be considered classified credits by our regulators, on our monthly loan watch list. Loans may be added to our watch list for reasons that are temporary and correctable, such as the absence of current financial statements of the borrower or a deficiency in loan documentation. Loans may also be added to our watch list whenever any adverse circumstance is detected which might affect the borrower’s ability to comply with the contractual terms of the loan. The delinquency of a scheduled loan payment, deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition identified in a review of periodic financial statements, a decrease in the value of the collateral securing the loan, or a change in the economic environment within which the borrower operates could initiate the addition of a loan to our watch list.
 

Loans on our watch list require periodic detailed loan status reports prepared by the responsible officer which are discussed in formal meetings with credit review and credit administration staff members. Upgrades and downgrades of loan risk ratings may be initiated by the responsible loan officer. However, upgrades of risk ratings associated with significant credit relationships and/or problem credit relationships may only be made with the concurrence of appropriate regional or senior regional credit officers.
 
Each month, the credit administration department provides management with detailed lists of loans on the watch list and summaries of the entire loan portfolio by risk rating. These are coupled with analyses of changes in the risk profile of the portfolio, changes in past-due and nonperforming loans and changes in watch list and classified loans over time. In this manner, we continually monitor the overall increases or decreases in the level of risk in our loan portfolio. Factors are applied to the loan portfolio for each category of loan risk to determine acceptable levels of allowance for loan losses. Furthermore, management has implemented additional procedures to analyze concentrations in our real estate portfolio in light of current economic and market conditions. These procedures include enhanced reporting to track land, lot, construction and finished inventory levels within our real estate construction and development portfolio. In addition, a quarterly evaluation of each lending unit is performed based on certain factors, such as lending personnel experience, recent credit reviews, loan concentrations and other factors. Based on this evaluation, changes to the allowance for loan losses may be required due to the perceived risk of particular portfolios. In addition, management exercises a certain degree of judgment in its analysis of the overall adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In its analysis, management considers the changes in the portfolio, including growth, composition, the ratio of net loans to total assets, and the economic conditions of the regions in which we operate. Based on this quantitative and qualitative analysis, adjustments are made to the allowance for loan losses. Such adjustments are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
The allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category is a result of the application of our risk rating system augmented by qualitative analysis. The same procedures we employ to determine the overall risk in our loan portfolio and our requirements for the allowance for loan losses determine the distribution of the allowance by loan category. Consequently, the distribution of the allowance will change from period to period due to (a) changes in the aggregate loan balances by loan category; (b) changes in the identified risk in each loan in the portfolio over time, excluding those homogeneous categories of loans such as consumer and installment loans and residential real estate mortgage loans for which risk ratings are changed based on payment performance; and (c) changes in loan concentrations by borrower.
 
Liquidity
 
Our liquidity is the ability to maintain a cash flow that is adequate to fund operations, service debt obligations and meet obligations and other commitments on a timely basis. We receive funds for liquidity from customer deposits, loan payments, maturities of loans and investments, sales of investments and earnings. In addition, we may avail ourselves of other sources of funds by issuing certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more, including certificates issued through the CDARS program, borrowing federal funds, selling securities under agreements to repurchase and utilizing borrowings from the FHLB, the FRB and other borrowings. The aggregate funds acquired from these sources were $1.65 billion and $1.83 billion at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 
The following table presents the maturity structure of these other sources of funds, which consists of certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more and other borrowings at June 30, 2009:
 
   
Certificates of Deposit
of $100,000 or More
   
Other
Borrowings
   
Total
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                   
Three months or less
  $ 406,359       119,082       525,441  
Over three months through six months
    386,255             386,255  
Over six months through twelve months
    284,004       100,000       384,004  
Over twelve months
    137,717       220,676       358,393  
Total
  $ 1,214,335       439,758       1,654,093  

In addition to these sources of funds, First Bank has established a borrowing relationship with the FRB. This borrowing relationship, which is secured primarily by commercial loans, provides an additional liquidity facility that may be utilized for contingency purposes. First Bank’s borrowing capacity under the agreement was approximately $882.8 million and $1.14 billion at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. We had FRB borrowings outstanding of zero and $100.0 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, as further discussed below.
 

In addition, First Bank’s borrowing capacity through its relationship with the FHLB was approximately $837.6 million and $911.1 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The borrowing relationship is secured by one-to-four family residential, multi-family residential and commercial real estate loans. First Bank requests advances and/or repays advances from the FHLB based on its current and future projected liquidity needs. We had FHLB advances outstanding of $200.7 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. Standby letters of credit issued by the FHLB on First Bank’s behalf were $99.5 million and $127.1 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
 
To increase our liquidity in 2008 in light of uncertain market conditions and increased loan funding needs, First Bank entered into four $100.0 million FHLB advances scheduled to mature in November 2008, January 2009, February 2009 and July 2009, at fixed interest rates of 2.23%, 3.16%, 2.92%, and 2.53%, respectively. In September 2008 and November 2008, we prepaid two $100.0 million FHLB advances that were scheduled to mature in November 2008 and January 2009, respectively, and incurred prepayment penalties of $3,000 and $117,000, respectively. In November 2008, we replaced the higher rate FHLB advance with a borrowing of $100.0 million from the FRB with a substantially lower interest rate of 0.42%. In February 2009, funds available from short-term investments were utilized to repay the $100.0 million FHLB advance and the $100.0 million FRB borrowing upon maturity. In March 2009, we prepaid the remaining $100.0 million FHLB advance that was scheduled to mature in July 2009 and incurred a prepayment penalty of $357,000, which was recorded as interest expense on other borrowings, as further described in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. In April 2009, we entered into two $100.0 million FHLB advances that mature in April 2010 and April 2011 at fixed interest rates of 1.69% and 1.77%, respectively. In July 2009, we entered into two $100.0 million FHLB advances that mature in July 2010 and July 2011 at fixed interest rates of 0.85% and 1.49%, respectively, and in August 2009, we entered into a $100.0 million FHLB advance that matures in August 2012 at a fixed interest rate of 2.20%.
 
First Banks had a borrowing relationship with its affiliated entity, Investors of America, LP, which provided for a $30.0 million secured revolving line of credit to be utilized for general working capital needs and capital investments in subsidiaries. This borrowing relationship matured on June 30, 2009, as further described in Note 6 and Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. First Banks did not have any balances outstanding on this borrowing arrangement at June 30, 2009 or December 31, 2008. The Company is currently required to obtain prior approval from the FRB prior to incurring additional debt obligations, in accordance with the provisions of the informal agreements further described under “—Regulatory Matters.”
 
Our loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 94.1% at June 30, 2009, from 98.3% at December 31, 2008. Cash and cash equivalents increased $31.2 million to $873.5 million at June 30, 2009, compared to $842.3 million at December 31, 2008. We continue to closely monitor liquidity and implement actions deemed necessary to maintain an appropriate level of liquidity in light of unstable market conditions, changes in loan funding needs, operating and debt service requirements and current deposit trends.
 
In addition to our owned banking facilities, we have entered into long-term leasing arrangements to support our ongoing activities. The required payments under such commitments and other obligations at June 30, 2009 were as follows:
 
   
Less than
      1-3       3-5    
Over
       
   
1 Year
   
Years
   
Years
   
5 Years
   
Total (1)
 
   
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
                                   
Operating leases
  $ 16,231       27,206       18,513       45,370       107,320  
Certificates of deposit (2)
    3,093,956       426,288       28,013       564       3,548,821  
Other borrowings (2)
    219,082       220,676                   439,758  
Subordinated debentures (2)
                      353,866       353,866  
Preferred stock issued under the TARP (2) (3)
                      310,170       310,170  
Other contractual obligations
    786 (4)     373       244       7       1,410  
Total
  $ 3,330,055       674,543       46,770       709,977       4,761,345  
 
________________
 
(1)
Amounts exclude FIN 48 unrecognized tax liabilities of $3.5 million and related accrued interest expense of $1.1 million for which the timing of payment of such liabilities cannot be reasonably estimated as of June 30, 2009.
 
(2)
Amounts exclude the related interest expense and dividends accrued on these obligations as of June 30, 2009. As further described under “—Regulatory Matters,” we currently may not make any distributions of interest or other sums on our subordinated debentures and related underlying trust preferred securities without the prior approval of the FRB.
 
(3)
Amounts payable upon redemption of the Class C and Class D preferred stock issued under the TARP of $295.4 million and $14.8 million, respectively.
 
(4)
Includes an accrued expense related to our remaining estimated indemnification obligation, as a member bank, to share certain litigation costs of Visa.
 
We agreed, among other things, not to declare or pay any dividends on our common or preferred stock or make any distributions of interest or other sums on our trust preferred securities without the prior approval of the FRB, as


previously discussed under “—Regulatory Matters.”  On August 10, 2009, we announced our intention to defer our regularly scheduled interest payments on our outstanding junior subordinated notes relating to our $345.0 million of trust preferred securities beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October 2009. The terms of the junior subordinated notes and the related trust indentures allow us to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without default or penalty. During the deferral period, we may not, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase our common stock or preferred stock nor make any payment on outstanding debt obligations that rank equally with or junior to our junior subordinated notes. Accordingly, we also intend to suspend the payment of cash dividends on our outstanding common stock and preferred stock beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly dividend payments on our preferred stock that would otherwise have been made in August and September 2009, as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
Management believes the available liquidity will be sufficient to permit the distribution of dividends to us sufficient to meet our operating requirements, both on a short-term and long-term basis.  However, our ability to receive future dividends from First Bank to assist us in meeting our operating requirements, both on a short-term and long-term basis, is subject to regulatory approval, as further described above and under “—Regulatory Matters.”
 
Effects of New Accounting Standards
 
In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 141(R) – Business Combinations. SFAS No. 141(R) significantly changes how entities apply the acquisition method to business combinations. The most significant changes affecting how entities account for business combinations under SFAS No. 141(R) include: (a) the acquisition date is the date the acquirer obtains control; (b) all (and only) identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests in the acquiree are stated at fair value on the acquisition date; (c) assets or liabilities arising from noncontractual contingencies are measured at their acquisition date fair value only if it is more likely than not that they meet the definition of an asset or liability on the acquisition date; (d) adjustments subsequently made to the provisional amounts recorded on the acquisition date are made retroactively during a measurement period not to exceed one year; (e) acquisition-related restructuring costs that do not meet the criteria in SFAS No. 146 – Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, are expensed as incurred; (f) transaction costs are expensed as incurred; (g) reversals of deferred income tax valuation allowances and income tax contingencies are recognized in earnings subsequent to the measurement period; and (h) the allowance for loan losses of an acquiree is not permitted to be recognized by the acquirer. Additionally, SFAS No. 141(R) requires new and modified disclosures surrounding subsequent changes to acquisition-related contingencies, contingent consideration, noncontrolling interests, acquisition-related transaction costs, fair values and cash flows not expected to be collected for acquired loans, and an enhanced goodwill rollforward. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for all business combinations completed on or after January 1, 2009. For business combinations in which the acquisition date was before the effective date, the provisions of SFAS No. 141(R) apply to the subsequent accounting for deferred income tax valuation allowances and income tax contingencies and will require any changes in those amounts to be recorded in earnings. The adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or the disclosures that are presented in our consolidated financial statements.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160 – Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB 51. SFAS No. 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 requires entities to classify noncontrolling interests as a component of stockholders’ equity and requires subsequent changes in ownership interests in a subsidiary to be accounted for as an equity transaction. Additionally, SFAS No. 160 requires entities to recognize a gain or loss upon the loss of control of a subsidiary and to remeasure any ownership interest retained at fair value on that date. SFAS No. 160 also requires expanded disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which are required to be applied retrospectively. We implemented SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009, which resulted in our noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries of $129.4 million at December 31, 2008 being reclassified from a liability to a component of our stockholders’ equity in our consolidated balance sheets.
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161 – Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an Amendment of SFAS No. 133Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 161
 

requires entities to provide greater transparency about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. To meet those objectives, SFAS No. 161 requires (1) qualitative disclosures about objectives for using derivatives by primary underlying risk exposure and by purpose or strategy (fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, and non-hedges), (2) information about the volume of derivative activity in a flexible format that the preparer believes is the most relevant and practicable, (3) tabular disclosures about balance sheet location and gross fair value amounts of derivative instruments, income statement and other comprehensive income location of gain and loss amounts on derivative instruments by type of contract, and (4) disclosures about credit-risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. We implemented SFAS No. 161 on January 1, 2009 and the required disclosures are reported in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position, or FSP, SFAS 157-4 Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly. FSP SFAS 157-4 affirms that the objective of fair value when the market for an asset is not active is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction, and clarifies and includes additional factors for determining whether there has been a significant decrease in market activity for an asset when the market for that asset is not active. FSP SFAS 157-4 requires an entity to base its conclusion about whether a transaction was not orderly on the weight of the evidence. FSP SFAS 157-4 also amended SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, to expand certain disclosure requirements. FSP SFAS 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and is applied prospectively. We adopted the provisions of FSP SFAS 157-4 during the second quarter of 2009, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or the disclosures presented in our consolidated financial statements.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2 Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments. FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2 (i) changes existing guidance for determining whether an impairment is other than temporary to debt securities and (ii) replaces the existing requirement that the entity’s management assert it has both the intent and ability to hold an impaired security until recovery with a requirement that management assert: (a) it does not have the intent to sell the security; and (b) it is more likely than not it will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. Under FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2, declines in the fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses to the extent the impairment is related to credit losses. The amount of the impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income. FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2 are effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and are applied prospectively. We adopted the provisions of FSP 157-4 and SFAS 124-2 during the second quarter of 2009 which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The interim disclosures required by FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2 are reported in Note 2 and Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP SFAS 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board, or APB, Opinion 28-1 – Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments. FSP SFAS 107-1 and APB Opinion 28-1 amend SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, to require an entity to provide disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial information and amends APB Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting, to require those disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods. Under FSP SFAS 107-1 and APB Opinion 28-1, a publicly traded company shall include disclosures about the fair value of its financial instruments whenever it issues summarized financial information for interim reporting periods. In addition, entities must disclose, in the body or in the accompanying notes of its summarized financial information for interim reporting periods and in its financial statements for annual reporting periods, the fair value of all financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value, whether recognized or not recognized in the statement of financial position, as required by SFAS No. 107. FSP SFAS 107-1 is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009 and is applied prospectively. The interim disclosures required by FSP SFAS 107-1 and APB Opinion 28-1 are reported in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165 – Subsequent Events. SFAS No. 165 incorporates accounting and disclosure requirements related to subsequent events into U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, making management directly responsible for subsequent-events accounting and disclosure. SFAS No. 165 sets forth: (a) the period after the balance sheet date during which management shall evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements; (b) the circumstances under which an entity shall recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements; and (c) the disclosures that an entity shall make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. The requirements for subsequent-events accounting and disclosure are not significantly different from those in auditing standards. SFAS No. 165 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. We adopted the
 

provisions of SFAS No. 165 in the second quarter of 2009, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or the disclosures that are presented in our consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166 Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets, an Amendment of SFAS No. 140 – Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. SFAS No. 166 requires more information about transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions and where companies have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. It eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets and requires additional disclosures. SFAS No. 166 is effective for the annual period beginning after November 15, 2009 and for interim periods within the first annual reporting period, and must be applied to transfers occurring on or after the effective date. We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 166, which are not expected to significantly impact our consolidated financial statements or the disclosures that will be presented in our consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167 Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R). SFAS No. 167 amends FIN 46(R) – Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, to change how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated, and requires additional disclosures about involvement with variable interest entities, any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement and how that involvement affects the company’s financial statements. The determination of whether a company is required to consolidate an entity is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. SFAS No. 167 is effective for the annual period beginning after November 15, 2009 and for interim periods within the first annual reporting period. We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 167, which are not expected to significantly impact our consolidated financial statements or the disclosures that will be presented in our consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168 The FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a Replacement of SFAS No. 162 – The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM, or Codification, will become the source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, under authority of federal securities laws, are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. Once effective, the Codification will supersede all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative. SFAS No. 168 is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 168 to determine their impact our consolidated financial statements and the disclosures that will be presented in our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
At December 31, 2008, our risk management program’s simulation model indicated a loss of projected net interest income should interest rates decline. We are “asset-sensitive,” indicating that our assets would generally reprice with changes in interest rates more rapidly than our liabilities, and our simulation model indicates a loss of projected net interest income should interest rates decline. While a decline in interest rates of less than 50 basis points was projected to have a relatively minimal impact on our net interest income, an instantaneous parallel decline in the interest yield curve of 50 basis points indicated a pre-tax projected loss of approximately 3.6% of net interest income, based on assets and liabilities at December 31, 2008. At June 30, 2009, we remain in an “asset-sensitive” position and thus, remain subject to a higher level of risk in a declining interest rate environment. Although we do not anticipate that instantaneous shifts in the yield curve as projected in our simulation model are likely, these are indications of the effects that changes in interest rates would have over time.
 
Our asset-sensitive position, coupled with the effect of cuts in interest rates throughout 2008, has negatively impacted our net interest income and will continue to impact the level of our net interest income throughout 2009, as reflected in our net interest margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the same periods in 2008, and further discussed under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Results of Operations.”
 
Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act. There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1 – Legal Proceedings
 
The information required by this item is set forth in Note 15, Contingent Liabilities, to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries become involved in legal proceedings including litigation arising out of our efforts to collect outstanding loans. It is not uncommon for collection efforts to lead to so-called “lender liability” suits in which borrowers may assert various claims against us. Our management, in consultation with legal counsel, believes the ultimate resolution of these existing proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
As further described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report, the Company and First Bank have entered into informal agreements with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Missouri Division of Finance.
 
Item 4 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the April 23, 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First Banks, Messrs. James F. Dierberg, Allen H. Blake, James A. Cooper, Gordon A. Gundaker, Terrance M. McCarthy, David L. Steward and Douglas H. Yaeger were unanimously re-elected.
 
Item 6 – Exhibits

The exhibits are numbered in accordance with the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

Exhibit Number                                                          Description

31.1
Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Executive Officer – filed herewith.

31.2
Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Financial Officer – filed herewith.

32.1
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer – filed herewith.

32.2
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Financial Officer – filed herewith.


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
 
Date:     August 13, 2009


    FIRST BANKS, INC.  
       
       
   By:
  /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy
 
   
Terrance M. McCarthy
 
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
       
       
   By:
  /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle
 
   
Lisa K. Vansickle
 
   
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
   
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
57

EX-31 2 d77574_ex31-1.htm EXHIBIT 31.1 Unassociated Document
EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY
RULE 13a-14(a) OR RULE 15d-14(a)
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

I, Terrance M. McCarthy, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Report”) of First Banks, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a)  
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Report is being prepared;

 
b)  
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)  
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Report based on such evaluation; and

d)  
Disclosed in this Report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
   
 
FIRST BANKS, INC.
       
       
Date: August 13, 2009
By:
/s/
Terrance M. McCarthy
     
Terrance M. McCarthy
     
President and Chief Executive Officer
     
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
58
 
 
EX-31 3 d77574_ex31-2.htm EXHIBIT 31.2 Unassociated Document

 
EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY
RULE 13a-14(a) OR RULE 15d-14(a)
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

I, Lisa K. Vansickle, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Report”) of First Banks, Inc. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a)  
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Report is being prepared;

b)  
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)  
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Report based on such evaluation; and

d)  
Disclosed in this Report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
   
 
FIRST BANKS, INC.
       
       
Date: August 13, 2009
By:
/s/
Lisa K. Vansickle
     
Lisa K. Vansickle
     
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
     
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
59
EX-32 4 d77574_ex32-1.htm EXHIBIT 32.1 Unassociated Document
  EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350


I, Terrance M. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Banks, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

 
(1)
The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 
Date: August 13, 2009
 
 
By:
/s/ Terrance M. McCarthy  
      Terrance M. McCarthy  
       President and Chief Executive Officer  
   
  (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
60

 
EX-32 5 d77574_ex32-2.htm EXHIBIT 32.2 Unassociated Document
EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350


I, Lisa K. Vansickle, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Banks, Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

 
(1)
The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


Date: August 13, 2009
 
 
By:
/s/ Lisa K. Vansickle  
      Lisa K. Vansickle  
      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer  
   
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
61

 
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