10-Q 1 fbspra331201410-q.htm 10-Q FBSPRA 3.31.2014 10-Q


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 March 31, 2014
 
[   ]
 
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: 001-31610
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.
þ 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).
þ Yes      o 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 þ (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      þ 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 April 30, 2014
Common Stock, $250.00 par value
 
23,661




FIRST BANKS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
Page
PART I.
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
Financial Statements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
Controls and Procedures
 
 
 
 
PART II.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
Risk Factors
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
Other Information
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
Exhibits
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES




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)
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents:
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
112,048

 
92,369

Short-term investments
229,187

 
98,066

Total cash and cash equivalents
341,235

 
190,435

Investment securities:
 
 
 
Available for sale
1,408,172

 
1,611,745

Held to maturity (fair value of $704,977 and $719,183, respectively)
718,672

 
740,186

Total investment securities
2,126,844

 
2,351,931

Loans:
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
632,089

 
600,704

Real estate construction and development
121,237

 
121,662

Real estate mortgage
2,099,442

 
2,091,026

Consumer and installment
17,399

 
18,681

Loans held for sale
21,402

 
25,548

Net deferred loan fees
(588
)
 
(526
)
Total loans
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

Allowance for loan losses
(79,831
)
 
(81,033
)
Net loans
2,811,150

 
2,776,062

Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock
32,148

 
27,357

Bank premises and equipment, net
123,246

 
124,328

Deferred income taxes
330,833

 
315,881

Other real estate
61,485

 
66,702

Other assets
63,618

 
66,287

Total assets
$
5,890,559

 
5,918,983

LIABILITIES
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
1,273,662

 
1,243,545

Interest-bearing demand
699,158

 
679,527

Savings and money market
1,841,905

 
1,844,710

Time deposits of $100 or more
389,675

 
389,056

Other time deposits
638,031

 
657,057

Total deposits
4,842,431

 
4,813,895

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
36,713

 
43,143

Subordinated debentures
354,229

 
354,210

Deferred income taxes
49,609

 
28,397

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
110,271

 
191,082

Total liabilities
5,393,253

 
5,430,727

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock:
 
 
 
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
295,400

 
295,400

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

 
12,480

Retained earnings
48,124

 
42,719

Accumulated other comprehensive income
11,202

 
7,502

Total First Banks, Inc. stockholders’ equity
403,527

 
394,422

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
93,779

 
93,834

Total stockholders’ equity
497,306

 
488,256

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
5,890,559

 
5,918,983

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

1



FIRST BANKS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(dollars expressed in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Interest income:
 
 
 
Interest and fees on loans
$
29,079

 
30,173

Investment securities
12,632

 
13,248

Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock
358

 
303

Short-term investments
120

 
262

Total interest income
42,189

 
43,986

Interest expense:
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand
82

 
76

Savings and money market
744

 
635

Time deposits of $100 or more
486

 
656

Other time deposits
722

 
1,103

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
4

 
3

Subordinated debentures
3,811

 
3,676

Total interest expense
5,849

 
6,149

Net interest income
36,340

 
37,837

Provision for loan losses

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
36,340

 
37,837

Noninterest income:
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees
8,333

 
8,314

Gain on loans sold and held for sale
865

 
1,553

Net gain (loss) on investment securities
1,280

 
(416
)
Net gain on sale of other real estate
442

 
366

(Decrease) increase in fair value of servicing rights
(232
)
 
154

Loan servicing fees
1,711

 
1,717

Other
2,276

 
3,707

Total noninterest income
14,675

 
15,395

Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
19,882

 
19,551

Occupancy, net of rental income
5,784

 
5,834

Furniture and equipment
2,360

 
2,583

Postage, printing and supplies
639

 
628

Information technology fees
5,610

 
5,285

Legal, examination and professional fees
1,291

 
1,663

Advertising and business development
622

 
432

FDIC insurance
1,264

 
1,882

Write-downs and expenses on other real estate
699

 
1,511

Other
4,597

 
4,678

Total noninterest expense
42,748

 
44,047

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes
8,267

 
9,185

Provision for income taxes
2,917

 
365

Net income from continuing operations, net of tax
5,350

 
8,820

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 
(2,064
)
Net income
5,350

 
6,756

Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
(55
)
 
46

Net income attributable to First Banks, Inc.
$
5,405

 
6,710

Preferred stock dividends declared

 
4,881

Accretion of discount on preferred stock

 
898

Net income available to common stockholders
$
5,405

 
931

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations
$
228.43

 
126.59

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations
$
192.46

 
126.59

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
228.43

 
39.35

Diluted earnings per common share
$
192.46

 
39.35

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
23,661

 
23,661

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

2



FIRST BANKS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(dollars expressed in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
$
5,350

 
6,756

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investment securities, net of tax
4,834

 
(2,252
)
Reclassification adjustment for available-for-sale investment securities (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax
(753
)
 
5

Amortization of net unrealized gain associated with reclassification of available-for-sale investment securities to held-to-maturity investment securities, net of tax
(402
)
 
(429
)
Amortization of net loss related to pension liability, net of tax
21

 
30

Reclassification adjustment for deferred tax asset valuation allowance on investment securities

 
(2,146
)
Reclassification adjustment for deferred tax asset valuation allowance on pension liability

 
24

Other comprehensive income (loss)
3,700

 
(4,768
)
Comprehensive income
9,050

 
1,988

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
(55
)
 
46

Comprehensive income attributable to First Banks, Inc.
$
9,105

 
1,942

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



3



FIRST BANKS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
(dollars expressed in thousands)

 
First Banks, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred
Stock
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
 
Non-
controlling
Interest
 
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2012
$
322,163

 
5,915

 
12,480

 
(179,513
)
 
45,259

 
93,655

 
299,959

Net income

 

 

 
6,710

 

 
46

 
6,756

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 
(4,768
)
 

 
(4,768
)
Accretion of discount on preferred stock
898

 

 

 
(898
)
 

 

 

Preferred stock dividends declared

 

 

 
(4,881
)
 

 

 
(4,881
)
Balance, March 31, 2013
$
323,061

 
5,915

 
12,480

 
(178,582
)
 
40,491

 
93,701

 
297,066

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2013
$
325,806

 
5,915

 
12,480

 
42,719

 
7,502

 
93,834

 
488,256

Net income

 

 

 
5,405

 

 
(55
)
 
5,350

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
3,700

 

 
3,700

Balance, March 31, 2014
$
325,806

 
5,915

 
12,480

 
48,124

 
11,202

 
93,779

 
497,306

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


4



FIRST BANKS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income attributable to First Banks, Inc.
$
5,405

 
6,710

Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
(55
)
 
46

Less: net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 
(2,064
)
Net income from continuing operations, net of tax
5,350

 
8,820

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of bank premises and equipment
2,921

 
2,851

Amortization and accretion of investment securities
5,799

 
6,274

Originations of loans held for sale
(35,414
)
 
(87,616
)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
40,278

 
116,735

Provision for current income taxes
283

 
72

Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes
2,634

 
(866
)
Increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowance

 
1,159

Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable
1,711

 
(1,309
)
(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable
(62,685
)
 
3,505

Gain on loans sold and held for sale
(865
)
 
(1,553
)
Net (gain) loss on investment securities
(1,280
)
 
416

Decrease (increase) in fair value of servicing rights
232

 
(154
)
Write-downs on other real estate
97

 
258

Other operating activities, net
(156
)
 
5,570

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities – continuing operations
(41,095
)
 
54,162

Net cash used in operating activities – discontinued operations

 
(1,827
)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(41,095
)
 
52,335

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Net cash paid for sale of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations, net of cash and cash equivalents sold
(15,467
)
 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale
166,320

 
66,507

Maturities of investment securities available for sale
44,399

 
100,629

Maturities of investment securities held to maturity
17,783

 
52,087

Purchases of investment securities available for sale
(250
)
 
(197,735
)
Purchases of investment securities held to maturity
(1,429
)
 
(19,261
)
Net purchases of Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock
(4,791
)
 
(295
)
Proceeds from sales of commercial loans

 
1,343

Net (increase) decrease in loans
(43,645
)
 
44,340

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
2,245

 
3,451

Purchases of bank premises and equipment
(1,923
)
 
(1,354
)
Net proceeds from sales of other real estate
5,876

 
5,033

Other investing activities, net
671

 
303

Net cash provided by investing activities – continuing operations
169,789

 
55,048

Net cash provided by investing activities – discontinued operations

 
372

Net cash provided by investing activities
169,789

 
55,420

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Increase (decrease) in demand, savings and money market deposits
46,943

 
(50,603
)
Decrease in time deposits
(18,407
)
 
(66,755
)
(Decrease) increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase
(6,430
)
 
10,830

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities – continuing operations
22,106

 
(106,528
)
Net cash used in financing activities – discontinued operations

 
(10,614
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
22,106

 
(117,142
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
150,800

 
(9,387
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
190,435

 
518,846

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
341,235

 
509,459

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest on liabilities
$
68,534

 
2,644

Cash paid for income taxes
257

 
2

Noncash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
Reclassification of investment securities from available for sale to held to maturity
$

 
242,540

Loans transferred to other real estate
1,031

 
2,474

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

5



FIRST BANKS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements of First Banks, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and conform to predominant practices within the banking industry. Management of the Company 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 GAAP. 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 months ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014. Certain reclassifications of 2013 amounts have been made to conform to the 2014 presentation. All financial information is reported on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise noted. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion regarding discontinued operations.
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and its subsidiaries, giving effect to the noncontrolling interest in subsidiary, as more fully described below and in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary bank holding company, The San Francisco Company (SFC), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and SFC’s wholly owned subsidiary bank, First Bank, also headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. First Bank operates through its branch banking offices and subsidiaries. All of the subsidiaries are wholly owned as of March 31, 2014 except FB Holdings, LLC (FB Holdings), which is 53.23% owned by First Bank and 46.77% owned by First Capital America, Inc. (FCA), a corporation owned and operated by the Company’s Chairman of the Board and members of his immediate family, including Mr. Michael Dierberg, Vice Chairman of the Company, as further described in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements. FB Holdings is included in the consolidated financial statements and the noncontrolling ownership interest is reported as a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets as “noncontrolling interest in subsidiary” and the earnings or loss, net of tax, attributable to the noncontrolling ownership interest, is reported as “net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary” in the consolidated statements of income.
NOTE 2 DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Discontinued Operations. The assets and liabilities associated with the transactions described (and defined) below were previously reported in the First Bank segment and were sold as part of the Company’s Capital Optimization Plan (Capital Plan). The Company applied discontinued operations accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 205-20, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Discontinued Operations, to the operations of First Bank’s Association Bank Services line of business and Northern Florida Region for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The Company did not allocate any consolidated interest that is not directly attributable to or related to discontinued operations. All financial information in the consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements is reported on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise noted.
Association Bank Services. On May 13, 2013, First Bank entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement that provided for the sale of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities, primarily deposits, of First Bank's Association Bank Services (ABS) line of business, to Union Bank, N.A. (Union Bank), headquartered in San Francisco, California. ABS, previously headquartered in Vallejo, California, provided a full range of services to homeowners associations and community management companies. The transaction was completed on November 22, 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, Union Bank assumed $572.1 million of deposits, as well as certain other liabilities, and paid a premium on certain deposit accounts acquired in the transaction. Union Bank also purchased certain assets, including $20.8 million of loans, at par value. The transaction resulted in a gain of $28.6 million, after the write-off of goodwill of $18.0 million allocated to the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Northern Florida Region. On November 21, 2012, First Bank entered into a Branch Purchase and Assumption Agreement that provided for the sale of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities associated with eight of First Bank’s retail branches located in Pinellas County, Florida to HomeBanc National Association (HomeBanc), headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. The transaction was completed on April 19, 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, HomeBanc assumed $120.3 million of deposits, purchased the premises and equipment, and assumed the leases associated with these eight retail branches. The transaction resulted in a gain of $408,000, after the write-off of goodwill of $700,000 allocated to the Northern Florida Region, during the second quarter of 2013.

6



On April 5, 2013, First Bank closed its three remaining retail branches located in Hillsborough County and in Pasco County. The closure of these three remaining retail branches in the Northern Florida Region resulted in expense of $2.3 million during the second quarter of 2013 attributable to continuing obligations under facility leasing arrangements.
The eight branches sold and three branches closed during the second quarter of 2013 are collectively defined as the Northern Florida Region. First Bank presently continues to operate its remaining eight retail branches in Manatee County’s communities of Bradenton, Palmetto and Longboat Key, Florida.
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2013
 
Association Bank Services
 
Northern Florida
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and fees on loans
$
365

 

 
365

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on deposits
88

 
192

 
280

Net interest income (loss)
277

 
(192
)
 
85

Provision for loan losses

 

 

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
277

 
(192
)
 
85

Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges and customer service fees
41

 
104

 
145

Other
26

 
3

 
29

Total noninterest income
67

 
107

 
174

Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
643

 
579

 
1,222

Occupancy, net of rental income
2

 
455

 
457

Furniture and equipment
12

 
39

 
51

FDIC insurance
204

 
53

 
257

Other
224

 
112

 
336

Total noninterest expense
1,085

 
1,238

 
2,323

Loss from operations of discontinued operations
(741
)
 
(1,323
)
 
(2,064
)
Benefit for income taxes

 

 

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
(741
)
 
(1,323
)
 
(2,064
)



7



NOTE 3 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
 
Maturity
 
Total Amortized Cost
 
Gross
 
 
 
Weighted Average Yield
 
1 Year
 
1-5
 
5-10
 
After
 
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
 
 
or Less
 
Years
 
Years
 
10 Years
 
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Value
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$
8,418

 
30,058

 
20,136

 
132,248

 
190,860

 
4,281

 
(47
)
 
195,094

 
1.37
%
Residential mortgage-backed
282

 
28,277

 
82,445

 
891,319

 
1,002,323

 
13,662

 
(12,540
)
 
1,003,445

 
2.37

Commercial mortgage-backed

 

 
789

 

 
789

 
62

 

 
851

 
4.95

State and political subdivisions
1,367

 
1,681

 
200

 
28,417

 
31,665

 
67

 
(392
)
 
31,340

 
1.23

Corporate notes
5,000

 
121,153

 
45,131

 

 
171,284

 
5,066

 
(599
)
 
175,751

 
2.82

Equity investments

 

 

 
1,750

 
1,750

 

 
(59
)
 
1,691

 
2.13

Total
$
15,067

 
181,169

 
148,701

 
1,053,734

 
1,398,671

 
23,138

 
(13,637
)
 
1,408,172

 
2.26

Fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
15,135

 
186,936

 
148,797

 
1,055,613

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities

 

 

 
1,691

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
15,135

 
186,936

 
148,797

 
1,057,304

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average yield
2.21
%
 
2.39
%
 
2.10
%
 
2.26
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$
8,450

 
40,243

 
88,666

 
135,679

 
273,038

 
3,525

 
(664
)
 
275,899

 
1.34
%
Residential mortgage-backed

 
43,943

 
115,731

 
951,454

 
1,111,128

 
12,873

 
(18,214
)
 
1,105,787

 
2.32

Commercial mortgage-backed

 

 
793

 

 
793

 
63

 

 
856

 
4.94

State and political subdivisions
1,369

 
2,035

 
200

 
28,432

 
32,036

 
81

 
(560
)
 
31,557

 
1.26

Corporate notes
4,980

 
140,575

 
45,132

 

 
190,687

 
5,777

 
(261
)
 
196,203

 
2.69

Equity investments

 

 

 
1,500

 
1,500

 

 
(57
)
 
1,443

 
2.17

Total
$
14,799

 
226,796

 
250,522

 
1,117,065

 
1,609,182

 
22,319

 
(19,756
)
 
1,611,745

 
2.18

Fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
14,927

 
233,338

 
250,860

 
1,111,177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities

 

 

 
1,443

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
14,927

 
233,338

 
250,860

 
1,112,620

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average yield
2.17
%
 
2.23
%
 
1.81
%
 
2.24
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities Held to Maturity. The amortized cost, contractual maturity, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of investment securities held to maturity at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
 
Maturity
 
Total Amortized Cost
 
Gross
 
 
 
Weighted Average Yield
 
1 Year
 
1-5
 
5-10
 
After
 
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
 
 
or Less
 
Years
 
Years
 
10 Years
 
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Value
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$

 

 
14,373

 

 
14,373

 

 
(135
)
 
14,238

 
1.16
%
Residential mortgage-backed

 
79,836

 
115,139

 
507,272

 
702,247

 
622

 
(14,101
)
 
688,768

 
1.91

State and political subdivisions
445

 
574

 

 
1,033

 
2,052

 
1

 
(82
)
 
1,971

 
1.63

Total
$
445

 
80,410

 
129,512

 
508,305

 
718,672

 
623

 
(14,318
)
 
704,977

 
1.89

Fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
445

 
80,347

 
128,038

 
496,147

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average yield
2.85
%
 
2.01
%
 
1.42
%
 
2.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$

 

 
16,119

 

 
16,119

 

 
(153
)
 
15,966

 
1.14
%
Residential mortgage-backed

 
16,327

 
182,933

 
522,504

 
721,764

 
441

 
(21,206
)
 
700,999

 
1.88

State and political subdivisions
640

 
575

 
55

 
1,033

 
2,303

 
2

 
(87
)
 
2,218

 
1.93

Total
$
640

 
16,902

 
199,107

 
523,537

 
740,186

 
443

 
(21,446
)
 
719,183

 
1.86

Fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
642

 
16,926

 
195,647

 
505,968

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average yield
3.32
%
 
2.20
%
 
1.53
%
 
1.97
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8



Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities were $166.3 million and $66.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Gross realized gains and gross realized losses on investment securities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities
$
2,010

 
346

Gross realized losses on sales of available-for-sale securities
(730
)
 
(354
)
Other-than-temporary impairment

 
(408
)
Net realized gain (loss) on investment securities
$
1,280

 
(416
)
Other-than-temporary impairment for the three months ended March 31, 2013 includes impairment of $407,000 recorded during the first quarter of 2013 on a municipal investment security classified as held-to-maturity. Investment securities with a carrying value of $304.8 million and $283.7 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, were pledged in connection with deposits of public and trust funds, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and for other purposes as required by law.
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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were as follows:
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$

 

 
14,670

 
(47
)
 
14,670

 
(47
)
Residential mortgage-backed
355,453

 
(11,046
)
 
25,617

 
(1,494
)
 
381,070

 
(12,540
)
State and political subdivisions
28,025

 
(392
)
 

 

 
28,025

 
(392
)
Corporate notes
19,826

 
(173
)
 
9,574

 
(426
)
 
29,400

 
(599
)
Equity investments
1,691

 
(59
)
 

 

 
1,691

 
(59
)
Total
$
404,995

 
(11,670
)
 
49,861

 
(1,967
)
 
454,856

 
(13,637
)
Held to maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$
14,238

 
(135
)
 

 

 
14,238

 
(135
)
Residential mortgage-backed
551,649

 
(10,990
)
 
84,920

 
(3,111
)
 
636,569

 
(14,101
)
State and political subdivisions
1,041

 
(82
)
 

 

 
1,041

 
(82
)
Total
$
566,928

 
(11,207
)
 
84,920

 
(3,111
)
 
651,848

 
(14,318
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$
16,005

 
(664
)
 

 

 
16,005

 
(664
)
Residential mortgage-backed
511,617

 
(18,119
)
 
5,473

 
(95
)
 
517,090

 
(18,214
)
State and political subdivisions
27,872

 
(560
)
 

 

 
27,872

 
(560
)
Corporate notes
9,959

 
(41
)
 
4,780

 
(220
)
 
14,739

 
(261
)
Equity investments
1,443

 
(57
)
 

 

 
1,443

 
(57
)
Total
$
566,896

 
(19,441
)
 
10,253

 
(315
)
 
577,149

 
(19,756
)
Held to maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$
15,966

 
(153
)
 

 

 
15,966

 
(153
)
Residential mortgage-backed
644,700

 
(20,759
)
 
10,527

 
(447
)
 
655,227

 
(21,206
)
State and political subdivisions
946

 
(87
)
 

 

 
946

 
(87
)
Total
$
661,612

 
(20,999
)
 
10,527

 
(447
)
 
672,139

 
(21,446
)
The Company does not believe the investment securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2014 are other-than-temporarily impaired. The unrealized losses on the investment securities were primarily attributable to 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 the Company does not intend to sell these investments and it is more likely than not that First Bank will not be required to sell these securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis or maturity, these investments are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired. The unrealized losses for investment securities for 12 months or more at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 included 19 and 12 securities, respectively.

9



NOTE 4 LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
The following table summarizes the composition of the loan portfolio at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
632,089

 
600,704

Real estate construction and development
121,237

 
121,662

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
910,513

 
921,488

Multi-family residential
125,116

 
121,304

Commercial real estate
1,063,813

 
1,048,234

Consumer and installment
17,399

 
18,681

Loans held for sale
21,402

 
25,548

Net deferred loan fees
(588
)
 
(526
)
Total loans
$
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

Aging of Loans. The following table presents the aging of loans by loan classification at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
30-59
Days
 
60-89
Days
 
Recorded
Investment
> 90 Days
Accruing
 
Nonaccrual
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
6,879

 
1,165

 

 
13,023

 
21,067

 
611,022

 
632,089

Real estate construction and development

 

 

 
4,642

 
4,642

 
116,595

 
121,237

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
5,568

 
2,928

 
21

 
18,566

 
27,083

 
535,087

 
562,170

Home equity
1,540

 
355

 
232

 
7,097

 
9,224

 
339,119

 
348,343

Multi-family residential

 

 

 
1,638

 
1,638

 
123,478

 
125,116

Commercial real estate
975

 
3

 

 
8,826

 
9,804

 
1,054,009

 
1,063,813

Consumer and installment and net deferred loan fees
82

 
96

 

 
13

 
191

 
16,620

 
16,811

Loans held for sale

 

 

 

 

 
21,402

 
21,402

Total
$
15,044

 
4,547

 
253

 
53,805

 
73,649

 
2,817,332

 
2,890,981

December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
447

 
394

 
80

 
10,523

 
11,444

 
589,260

 
600,704

Real estate construction and development

 

 

 
4,914

 
4,914

 
116,748

 
121,662

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
4,262

 
2,637

 
162

 
20,063

 
27,124

 
545,040

 
572,164

Home equity
2,256

 
963

 
182

 
7,361

 
10,762

 
338,562

 
349,324

Multi-family residential

 

 

 
1,793

 
1,793

 
119,511

 
121,304

Commercial real estate
1,423

 
391

 

 
8,283

 
10,097

 
1,038,137

 
1,048,234

Consumer and installment and net deferred loan fees
87

 
39

 

 
19

 
145

 
18,010

 
18,155

Loans held for sale

 

 

 

 

 
25,548

 
25,548

Total
$
8,475

 
4,424

 
424

 
52,956

 
66,279

 
2,790,816

 
2,857,095

Under the Company’s 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 the Company’s 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.
Credit Quality Indicators. The Company’s 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 the Company’s experience with each type of loan. The Company adjusts the ratings of the homogeneous loans based on payment experience subsequent to their origination.
The Company includes adversely rated credits, including loans requiring close monitoring that would not normally be considered classified credits by the Company’s regulators, on its monthly loan watch list. Loans may be added to the Company’s 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 the Company’s 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

10



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 the Company’s watch list. Loans on the Company’s 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 credit officers.
Under the Company’s risk rating system, special mention loans are those loans that do not currently expose the Company to sufficient risk to warrant classification as substandard, troubled debt restructuring (TDR) or nonaccrual, but possess weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. Substandard loans include those loans characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. A loan is classified as a TDR when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties that lead to the restructuring of a loan, and the Company grants concessions to the borrower in the restructuring that it would not otherwise consider. Loans classified as TDRs which are accruing interest are classified as performing TDRs. Loans classified as TDRs which are not accruing interest are classified as nonperforming TDRs and are included with all other nonaccrual loans for presentation purposes. Loans classified as nonaccrual have all the weaknesses inherent in those loans classified as substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of the currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable. Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass-rated loans.
The following tables present the credit exposure of the loan portfolio by internally assigned credit grade and payment activity as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
Commercial Loan Portfolio
Credit Exposure by Internally Assigned Credit Grade
Commercial
and
Industrial
 
Real Estate
Construction
and
Development
 
Multi-family
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Total
 
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
 
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
593,492

 
43,306

 
95,032

 
1,019,458

 
1,751,288

Special mention
14,690

 
238

 

 
21,775

 
36,703

Substandard
10,884

 
73,051

 
610

 
9,265

 
93,810

Performing troubled debt restructuring

 

 
27,836

 
4,489

 
32,325

Nonaccrual
13,023

 
4,642

 
1,638

 
8,826

 
28,129

Total
$
632,089

 
121,237

 
125,116

 
1,063,813

 
1,942,255

December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
559,243

 
42,429

 
91,001

 
1,001,719

 
1,694,392

Special mention
16,211

 
929

 

 
21,714

 
38,854

Substandard
14,727

 
73,390

 
555

 
11,999

 
100,671

Performing troubled debt restructuring

 

 
27,955

 
4,519

 
32,474

Nonaccrual
10,523

 
4,914

 
1,793

 
8,283

 
25,513

Total
$
600,704

 
121,662

 
121,304

 
1,048,234

 
1,891,904



Consumer Loan Portfolio
Credit Exposure by Payment Activity
Residential Mortgage
 
Home
Equity
 
Consumer
and
Installment and Net Deferred Loan Fees
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
458,330

 
339,119

 
16,620

 
814,069

Substandard
5,688

 
2,127

 
178

 
7,993

Performing troubled debt restructuring
79,586

 

 

 
79,586

Nonaccrual
18,566

 
7,097

 
13

 
25,676

Total
$
562,170

 
348,343

 
16,811

 
927,324

December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
468,642

 
338,562

 
18,010

 
825,214

Substandard
5,306

 
3,401

 
126

 
8,833

Performing troubled debt restructuring
78,153

 

 

 
78,153

Nonaccrual
20,063

 
7,361

 
19

 
27,443

Total
$
572,164

 
349,324

 
18,155

 
939,643

Impaired Loans. Loans deemed to be impaired include performing TDRs and nonaccrual loans. Impaired loans with outstanding balances equal to or greater than $500,000 are evaluated individually for impairment. For these loans, the Company measures the level of impairment based on the present value of the estimated projected cash flows, or if the impaired loans are collateral dependent, the estimated value of the collateral, less applicable selling costs. If the current valuation is lower than the current book

11



balance of the loan, the amount of the difference is evaluated for possible charge-off. In instances where management determines that a charge-off is not appropriate, a specific reserve is established for the individual loan in question. This specific reserve is included as a part of the overall allowance for loan losses.
The following tables present the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance, related allowance for loan losses, average recorded investment and interest income recognized while on impaired status for impaired loans without a related allowance for loan losses and for impaired loans with a related allowance for loan losses by loan classification at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Related
Allowance for
Loan Losses
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With No Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
5,833

 
8,852

 

 
5,273

 

Real estate construction and development
3,085

 
12,851

 

 
3,175

 

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage

 

 

 

 

Home equity

 

 

 

 

Multi-family residential
442

 
709

 

 
444

 

Commercial real estate
6,809

 
9,157

 

 
6,678

 
29

Consumer and installment

 

 

 

 

 
16,169

 
31,569

 

 
15,570

 
29

With A Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
7,190

 
21,094

 
678

 
6,500

 

Real estate construction and development
1,557

 
3,881

 
242

 
1,603

 

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
98,152

 
116,685

 
8,860

 
98,184

 
521

Home equity
7,097

 
8,027

 
1,419

 
7,229

 

Multi-family residential
29,032

 
29,177

 
2,342

 
29,167

 
297

Commercial real estate
6,506

 
10,100

 
994

 
6,381

 
6

Consumer and installment
13

 
13

 

 
16

 

 
149,547

 
188,977

 
14,535

 
149,080

 
824

Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
13,023

 
29,946

 
678

 
11,773

 

Real estate construction and development
4,642

 
16,732

 
242

 
4,778

 

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
98,152

 
116,685

 
8,860

 
98,184

 
521

Home equity
7,097

 
8,027

 
1,419

 
7,229

 

Multi-family residential
29,474

 
29,886

 
2,342

 
29,611

 
297

Commercial real estate
13,315

 
19,257

 
994

 
13,059

 
35

Consumer and installment
13

 
13

 

 
16

 

 
$
165,716

 
220,546

 
14,535

 
164,650

 
853


12



 
Recorded
Investment
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Related
Allowance for
Loan Losses
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With No Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
3,119

 
4,342

 

 
4,270

 
1

Real estate construction and development
3,172

 
12,931

 

 
17,152

 
418

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage

 

 

 

 

Home equity
596

 
632

 

 
564

 

Multi-family residential
443

 
709

 

 
474

 

Commercial real estate
6,884

 
9,221

 

 
11,636

 
273

Consumer and installment

 

 

 

 

 
14,214

 
27,835

 

 
34,096

 
692

With A Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
7,404

 
21,565

 
497

 
10,136

 

Real estate construction and development
1,742

 
4,326

 
294

 
9,419

 

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
98,216

 
118,305

 
9,740

 
102,775

 
2,043

Home equity
6,765

 
7,637

 
1,472

 
6,406

 

Multi-family residential
29,305

 
29,322

 
2,438

 
31,377

 
1,226

Commercial real estate
5,918

 
9,468

 
990

 
10,003

 
26

Consumer and installment
19

 
19

 

 
22

 

 
149,369

 
190,642

 
15,431

 
170,138

 
3,295

Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
10,523

 
25,907

 
497

 
14,406

 
1

Real estate construction and development
4,914

 
17,257

 
294

 
26,571

 
418

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
98,216

 
118,305

 
9,740

 
102,775

 
2,043

Home equity
7,361

 
8,269

 
1,472

 
6,970

 

Multi-family residential
29,748

 
30,031

 
2,438

 
31,851

 
1,226

Commercial real estate
12,802

 
18,689

 
990

 
21,639

 
299

Consumer and installment
19

 
19

 

 
22

 

 
$
163,583

 
218,477

 
15,431

 
204,234

 
3,987

Recorded investment represents the Company’s investment in its impaired loans reduced by cumulative charge-offs recorded against the allowance for loan losses on these same loans. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had recorded charge-offs of $54.8 million and $54.9 million, respectively, on its impaired loans, representing the difference between the unpaid principal balance and the recorded investment reflected in the tables above. The unpaid principal balance represents the principal amount contractually owed to the Company by the borrowers on the impaired loans.
Troubled Debt Restructurings. In the ordinary course of business, the Company modifies loan terms across loan types, including both consumer and commercial loans, for a variety of reasons. Modifications to consumer loans may include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rate, maturity, amortization and financial covenants. In the original underwriting, loan terms are established that represent the then current and projected financial condition of the borrower. Over any period of time, modifications to these loan terms may be required due to changes in the original underwriting assumptions. These changes may include the financial covenants of the borrower as well as underwriting standards.
Loan modifications are generally performed at the request of the borrower, whether commercial or consumer, and may include reductions in interest rates, changes in payments and maturity date extensions. Although the Company does not have formal, standardized loan modification programs for its commercial or consumer loan portfolios, it addresses loan modifications on a case-by-case basis and also participates in the United States Department of the Treasury's (U.S. Treasury) Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). HAMP gives qualifying homeowners an opportunity to refinance into more affordable monthly payments, with the U.S. Treasury compensating the Company for a portion of the reduction in monthly amounts due from borrowers participating in this program. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had $75.7 million and $75.3 million, respectively, of modified loans in the HAMP program.
For a loan modification to be classified as a TDR, all of the following conditions must be present: (1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, (2) the Company makes a concession to the original contractual loan terms and (3) the Company would not consider the concessions but for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulty. Modifications of loan terms to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are made in an attempt to protect as much of the investment in the loan as possible. These modifications are generally made to either prevent a loan from becoming nonaccrual or to return a nonaccrual loan to performing status based on the expectations that the borrower can adequately perform in accordance with the modified terms.

13



The determination of whether a modification should be classified as a TDR requires significant judgment after taking into consideration all facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction. No single characteristic or factor, taken alone, is determinative of whether a modification should be classified as a TDR. The fact that a single characteristic is present is not considered sufficient to overcome the preponderance of contrary evidence. Assuming all of the TDR criteria are met, the Company considers one or more of the following concessions to the loan terms to represent a TDR: (1) a reduction of the stated interest rate, (2) an extension of the maturity date or dates at a stated interest rate lower than the current market rate for a new loan with similar terms or (3) forgiveness of principal or accrued interest.
Loans renegotiated at a rate equal to or greater than that of a new loan with comparable risk at the time the contract is modified are excluded from TDR classification in the calendar years subsequent to the renegotiation if the loan is in compliance with the modified terms for at least six months.
The Company does not accrue interest on any TDRs unless it believes collection of all principal and interest under the modified terms is reasonably assured. Generally, six months of consecutive payment performance by the borrower under the restructured terms is required before a TDR is returned to accrual status. However, the period could vary depending upon the individual facts and circumstances of the loan. TDRs accruing interest are classified as performing TDRs. The following table presents the categories of performing TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Performing Troubled Debt Restructurings:
 
 
 
Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
$
79,586

 
78,153

Multi-family residential
27,836

 
27,955

Commercial real estate
4,489

 
4,519

Total performing troubled debt restructurings
$
111,911

 
110,627

The Company does not accrue interest on TDRs which have been modified for a period less than six months or are not in compliance with the modified terms. These loans are considered nonperforming TDRs and are included with other nonaccrual loans for classification purposes. The following table presents the categories of loans considered nonperforming TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Nonperforming Troubled Debt Restructurings:
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
484

 
711

Real estate construction and development
3,531

 
3,605

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
5,147

 
6,266

Total nonperforming troubled debt restructurings
$
9,162

 
10,582

Both performing and nonperforming TDRs are considered to be impaired loans. When an individual loan is determined to be a TDR, the amount of impairment is based upon the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or the fair value of the underlying collateral less applicable selling costs. The impairment amount is either charged off as a reduction to the allowance for loan losses or provided for as a specific reserve within the allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses allocated to TDRs was $8.1 million and $9.1 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
The following tables present loans classified as TDRs that were modified during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
Number
of
Contracts
 
Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
 
Post-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
 
Number
of
Contracts
 
Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
 
Post-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Loan Modifications Classified as Troubled Debt Restructurings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
 
$

 
$

 
1
 
$
90

 
$
45

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
15
 
2,580

 
2,157

 
10
 
2,223

 
1,898

 
 

14



The following tables present TDRs that defaulted within 12 months of modification during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2014
 
March 31, 2013
 
Number of
Contracts
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Number of
Contracts
 
Recorded
Investment
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Troubled Debt Restructurings That Subsequently Defaulted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
1
 
$
438

 
 

 
 
Upon default of a TDR, which is considered to be 90 days or more past due under the modified terms, impairment is measured based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less applicable selling costs. The impairment amount is either charged off as a reduction to the allowance for loan losses or provided for as a specific reserve within the allowance for loan losses.
Allowance for Loan Losses. Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
81,033

 
91,602

Loans charged-off
(3,447
)
 
(6,883
)
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
2,245

 
3,451

Net loans charged-off
(1,202
)
 
(3,432
)
Provision for loan losses

 

Balance, end of period
$
79,831

 
88,170

The following table represents a summary of changes in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2014:
 
Commercial
and
Industrial
 
Real Estate
Construction
and
Development
 
One-to-
Four-Family
Residential
 
Multi-
Family
Residential
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Consumer
and
Installment
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
13,401

 
7,407

 
32,619

 
5,249

 
22,052

 
305

 
81,033

Charge-offs
(1,622
)
 
(30
)
 
(1,426
)
 
(132
)
 
(188
)
 
(49
)
 
(3,447
)
Recoveries
752

 
600

 
791

 
7

 
57

 
38

 
2,245

Provision (benefit) for loan losses
1,340

 
(891
)
 
(764
)
 
145

 
122

 
48

 

Ending balance
$
13,871

 
7,086

 
31,220

 
5,269

 
22,043

 
342

 
79,831

The following table represents a summary of changes in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2013:
 
Commercial
and
Industrial
 
Real Estate
Construction
and
Development
 
One-to-
Four-Family
Residential
 
Multi-
Family
Residential
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Consumer
and
Installment
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
13,572

 
14,434

 
38,897

 
4,252

 
20,048

 
399

 
91,602

Charge-offs
(676
)
 
(282
)
 
(4,389
)
 
(3
)
 
(1,477
)
 
(56
)
 
(6,883
)
Recoveries
1,067

 
395

 
1,231

 

 
718

 
40

 
3,451

Provision (benefit) for loan losses
205

 
(1,544
)
 
921

 
(47
)
 
431

 
34

 

Ending balance
$
14,168

 
13,003

 
36,660

 
4,202

 
19,720

 
417

 
88,170


15



The following table represents a summary of the impairment method used by loan category at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
Commercial
and
Industrial
 
Real Estate
Construction
and
Development
 
One-to-
Four-Family
Residential
 
Multi-
Family
Residential
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Consumer
and
Installment and Net Deferred Loans Fees
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment
$

 

 
1,421

 
808

 
301

 

 
2,530

Impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment
678

 
242

 
8,858

 
1,534

 
693

 

 
12,005

All other loans collectively evaluated for impairment
13,193

 
6,844

 
20,941

 
2,927

 
21,049

 
342

 
65,296

Total allowance for loan losses
$
13,871

 
7,086

 
31,220

 
5,269

 
22,043

 
342

 
79,831

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment
$
6,190

 
2,881

 
10,515

 
28,483

 
9,012

 

 
57,081

Impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment
6,833

 
1,761

 
94,734

 
991

 
4,303

 
13

 
108,635

All other loans collectively evaluated for impairment
619,066

 
116,595

 
805,264

 
95,642

 
1,050,498

 
16,798

 
2,703,863

Total loans
$
632,089

 
121,237

 
910,513

 
125,116

 
1,063,813

 
16,811

 
2,869,579

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment
$

 
62

 
2,275

 
1,034

 
385

 

 
3,756

Impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment
497

 
232

 
8,937

 
1,404

 
605

 

 
11,675

All other loans collectively evaluated for impairment
12,904

 
7,113

 
21,407

 
2,811

 
21,062

 
305

 
65,602

Total allowance for loan losses
$
13,401

 
7,407

 
32,619

 
5,249

 
22,052

 
305

 
81,033

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment
$
3,480

 
3,440

 
12,276

 
28,641

 
9,168

 

 
57,005

Impaired loans collectively evaluated for impairment
7,043

 
1,474

 
93,301

 
1,107

 
3,634

 
19

 
106,578

All other loans collectively evaluated for impairment
590,181

 
116,748

 
815,911

 
91,556

 
1,035,432

 
18,136

 
2,667,964

Total loans
$
600,704

 
121,662

 
921,488

 
121,304

 
1,048,234

 
18,155

 
2,831,547


NOTE 5 SERVICING RIGHTS
Mortgage Banking Activities. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company serviced mortgage loans for others totaling $1.31 billion and $1.33 billion, respectively. Changes in mortgage servicing rights for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
14,211

 
9,152

Originated mortgage servicing rights
455

 
1,229

Change in fair value resulting from changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in valuation model (1)
151

 
854

Other changes in fair value (2)
(422
)
 
(583
)
Balance, end of period
$
14,395

 
10,652

____________________
(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.

16



Other Servicing Activities. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company serviced United States Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for others totaling $135.8 million and $139.1 million, respectively. Changes in SBA servicing rights for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
4,643

 
5,640

Originated SBA servicing rights

 

Change in fair value resulting from changes in valuation inputs or assumptions used in valuation model (1)
175

 
22

Other changes in fair value (2)
(136
)
 
(139
)
Balance, end of period
$
4,682

 
5,523

____________________
(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.

NOTE 6 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company utilizes derivative instruments to assist in the management of interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing, maturity and option characteristics of certain assets and liabilities. The following table summarizes derivative instruments held by the Company, their notional amount, estimated fair values and their location in the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
Derivatives in Other Assets
 
Notional Amount
 
Fair Value Gain (Loss)
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
$
20,537

 
14,237

 
332

 
217

Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities
27,800

 
29,100

 
14

 
296

Total
$
48,337

 
43,337

 
346

 
513

Interest Rate Lock Commitments / Forward Commitments to Sell Mortgage-Backed Securities. Derivative instruments issued by the Company 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 interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale are hedged with forward contracts to sell mortgage-backed securities, which expire in June 2014.
The following table summarizes amounts included in the consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 related to non-hedging derivative instruments:
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Operations on Derivatives
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Operations on Derivatives
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Interest rate lock commitments
 
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
 
$
115

 
(722
)
Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities
 
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
 
(282
)
 
240


NOTE 7 SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
As of March 31, 2014, the Company had 13 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.
The Company’s distributions accrued on the junior subordinated debentures were $3.8 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. The structure of the trust preferred securities currently satisfies the regulatory requirements for inclusion, subject to certain limitations, in the Company’s capital base, as further discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
In August 2009, the Company announced the deferral of its regularly scheduled interest payments on its outstanding junior subordinated debentures relating to its $345.0 million of trust preferred securities beginning with the regularly scheduled quarterly

17



interest payments that would otherwise have been made in September and October, 2009. The terms of the junior subordinated debentures and the related trust indentures allow the Company to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without triggering a payment default or penalty. The Company had deferred such payments for 18 quarterly periods as of December 31, 2013. The Company had deferred $56.0 million of its regularly scheduled interest payments as of December 31, 2013. In addition, the Company had accrued additional interest expense of $6.7 million as of December 31, 2013 on the regularly scheduled deferred interest payments based on the interest rate in effect for each junior subordinated note issuance in accordance with the respective terms of the underlying agreements. During the deferral period, the respective trusts suspend the declaration and payment of dividends on the trust preferred securities.
During the deferral period, the Company 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 debentures. Accordingly, the Company also suspended 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 8 to the consolidated financial statements.
Under its agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRB), the Company 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. The Company 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 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
On January 31, 2014, the Company received regulatory approval from the FRB, subject to certain conditions, which granted First Bank the authority to pay a dividend to the Company, and the authority to the Company to utilize such funds, for the sole purpose of paying the accumulated deferred interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures issued in connection with the Company's trust preferred securities. In February 2014, First Bank paid a dividend of $70.0 million to the Company and the Company notified the trustees of the trust preferred securities of its intention to pay all cumulative interest that had been deferred on the junior subordinated debentures relating to the trust preferred securities, on the regularly scheduled quarterly payment dates in March and April, 2014. The aggregate amount owed on all of the junior subordinated debentures relating to the trust preferred securities at the respective March and April, 2014 payments totaled $66.4 million. On March 14, 2014, the Company paid interest on the junior subordinated debentures of $66.4 million to the respective trustees, which was subsequently distributed to the trust preferred securities holders on the respective interest payment dates in March and April, 2014.
The Company and First Bank must receive approval from the FRB prior to making any future interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures. The Company is unable to predict whether or when the FRB will grant approval to the Company to make any such future interest payments. Without the payment of dividends from First Bank, the Company currently lacks the source of income and the liquidity to make future interest payments on the junior subordinated debentures associated with its trust preferred securities. Given restrictions placed upon First Bank, including regulatory restrictions, it may not be able to provide the Company with dividends in an amount sufficient to pay the future interest on the trust preferred securities. In such case, the Company would have to pursue alternative funding sources, but there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify and obtain alternative funding due to the uncertainty that such alternative funding sources would be available to the Company on terms and conditions that are acceptable to the Company. Subsequent to the payment made on March 14, 2014, the Company has the ability to enter into future deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without triggering a payment default or penalty.
NOTE 8 STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Common Stock. There is no established public trading market for the Company’s common stock. Various trusts, which were established by and are administered by and for the benefit of the Company’s Chairman of the Board and members of his immediate family (including Mr. Michael Dierberg, Vice Chairman of the Company), own all of the voting stock of the Company.
Preferred Stock. The Company has four classes of preferred stock outstanding. On February 15, 2014, the annual dividend rate on the Class C Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (Class C Preferred Stock) increased from 5% to 9%.
The Company suspended 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. The Company has declared and accrued $68.4 million of its regularly scheduled dividend payments on its Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (Class D Preferred Stock) at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and has accrued an additional $9.4 million of cumulative dividends on such deferred dividend payments at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. As such, the aggregate amount of these deferred and accrued dividend payments was $77.8 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company ceased declaring dividends on its Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock. Previously, the Company had declared and accrued dividends on its Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock

18



quarterly throughout the deferral period. If the Company had continued to declare and accrued dividends on its Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock during the fourth quarter of 2013 and the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company would have accrued an additional $4.1 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of dividend payments, and the Company's aggregate deferred and accrued dividend payments would have been $87.4 million at March 31, 2014. The Company will continue to evaluate whether declaring dividends on its Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock is appropriate in future periods. The Company's cessation of declaring and accruing dividends on its Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock did not have any effect on the terms of the outstanding Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock, including the Company's obligations thereunder.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). The following table summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component, for the three months ended March 31, 2014:
 
 
Investment Securities
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
 
Total
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
10,151

 
(2,649
)
 
7,502

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
 
4,432

 
21

 
4,453

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(753
)
 

 
(753
)
Net current period other comprehensive income
 
3,679

 
21

 
3,700

Balance, end of period
 
$
13,830

 
(2,628
)
 
11,202

The following table summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component, for the three months ended March 31, 2013:
 
 
Investment Securities
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
 
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance
 
Total
 
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
35,186

 
(3,544
)
 
13,617

 
45,259

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
 
(2,681
)
 
30

 
(2,122
)
 
(4,773
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
 
5

 

 

 
5

Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(2,676
)
 
30

 
(2,122
)
 
(4,768
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
32,510

 
(3,514
)
 
11,495

 
40,491


NOTE 9 REGULATORY CAPITAL AND OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
Regulatory Capital. The Company 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 initiate certain actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the operations and financial condition of the Company and First Bank. Under these capital requirements, the Company 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.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company 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, or Tier1 leverage ratio.
The Company was categorized as adequately capitalized under minimum regulatory capital standards established for bank holding companies by the Federal Reserve at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The Company must maintain minimum total capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table below in order to meet the minimum capital adequacy standards.
First Bank was categorized as well capitalized at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 under the prompt corrective action provisions of the regulatory capital standards. First Bank must maintain minimum total capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table below in order to be categorized as well capitalized.

19



At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company's and First Bank’s required and actual capital ratios were as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To be Well
Capitalized
Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
 
Actual
 
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
 
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Banks, Inc.
$
425,829

 
11.73
%
 
$
405,856

 
11.13
%
 
8.0
%
 
N/A

First Bank (1)
679,594

 
18.70

 
734,535

 
20.12

 
8.0

 
10.0
%
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Banks, Inc.
253,332

 
6.98

 
239,868

 
6.58

 
4.0

 
N/A

First Bank (1)
633,700

 
17.43

 
688,427

 
18.86

 
4.0

 
6.0

Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Banks, Inc.
253,332

 
4.51

 
239,868

 
4.12

 
4.0

 
N/A

First Bank (1)
633,700

 
11.30

 
688,427

 
11.77

 
4.0

 
5.0

____________________
(1)
The reduction in First Bank's regulatory capital ratios during the first quarter of 2014 primarily resulted from the payment of a $70 million dividend to the Company, as further described below.
Regulatory Agreements. On March 24, 2010, the Company, SFC and First Bank entered into a Written Agreement (Agreement) with the FRB requiring the Company and First Bank to take certain steps intended to improve their overall financial condition. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company prepared and filed with the FRB a number of specific plans designed to strengthen and/or address the following matters: (i) board oversight over the management and operations of the Company and First Bank; (ii) credit risk management practices; (iii) lending and credit administration policies and procedures; (iv) asset improvement; (v) capital; (vi) earnings and overall financial condition; and (vii) liquidity and funds management.
The Agreement requires, among other things, that the Company and First Bank obtain prior approval from the FRB in order to pay dividends. In addition, the Company must obtain prior approval from the FRB to: (i) take any other form of payment from First Bank representing a reduction in capital of First Bank; (ii) make any distributions of interest, principal or other sums on junior subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities; (iii) incur, increase or guarantee any debt; or (iv) purchase or redeem any shares of the Company’s stock. The FRB has complete discretion to grant any such approval and therefore, it is not known whether the FRB will approve any request. On January 31, 2014, the Company received regulatory approval from the FRB, which granted First Bank the authority to pay a dividend to the Company, and the authority to the Company to utilize such funds, for the sole purpose of paying the accumulated deferred interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures issued in connection with the Company's trust preferred securities. In February 2014, First Bank paid a dividend of $70.0 million to the Company and the Company notified the trustees of the trust preferred securities of its intention to pay all cumulative interest that had been deferred on the junior subordinated debentures relating to its trust preferred securities, on the regularly scheduled quarterly payment dates in March and April, 2014, as further described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company and First Bank submitted a written plan to the FRB to maintain sufficient capital at the Company, on a consolidated basis, and at First Bank, on a standalone basis. In addition, the Agreement also provides that the Company and First Bank must notify the FRB if the regulatory capital ratios of either entity fall below those set forth in the capital plans that were accepted by the FRB, and specifically if First Bank falls below the criteria for being well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. The Company must also notify the FRB before appointing any new directors or senior executive officers or changing the responsibilities of any senior executive officer position. The Agreement also requires the Company and First Bank to comply with certain restrictions regarding indemnification and severance payments although First Bank was notified, as of October 16, 2013, by the FRB that such restriction is no longer applicable to First Bank. The Agreement is specifically enforceable by the FRB in court.
The description of the Agreement above represents a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Agreement which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2010.
Prior to entering into the Agreement on March 24, 2010, the Company and First Bank had entered into a memorandum of understanding and an informal agreement, respectively, with the FRB and the Missouri Division of Finance (MDOF). Each of the agreements were characterized by regulatory authorities as informal actions that were neither published nor made publicly available by the agencies and are used when circumstances warrant a milder form of action than a formal supervisory action, such as a written agreement or cease and desist order. The memorandum of understanding with the FRB was replaced and superseded by the Agreement. The informal agreement with the MDOF, dated September 18, 2008, was terminated effective September 11, 2013.
While the Company and First Bank intend to take such actions as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of the Agreement with the FRB, there can be no assurance that the Company and First Bank will be able to comply fully with the

20



requirements of the Agreement, that compliance with the Agreement will not be more time consuming or more expensive than anticipated, that compliance with the Agreement will enable the Company and First Bank to maintain profitable operations, or that efforts to comply with the Agreement will not have adverse effects on the operations and financial condition of the Company or First Bank. If the Company or First Bank is unable to comply with the terms of the Agreement, the Company and First Bank could become subject to various requirements limiting the ability to develop new business lines, mandating additional capital, and/or requiring the sale of certain assets and liabilities. Failure of the Company or First Bank to meet these conditions could lead to further enforcement action by the regulatory agencies. The terms of any such additional regulatory actions, orders or agreements could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
Basel III Regulatory Capital Reforms. In July, 2013, the Federal Reserve approved revisions to the capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action rules that implement the revised standards of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, commonly called Basel III, and address relevant provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. “Basel III” refers to two consultative documents released by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2009, the rules text released in December 2010, and loss absorbency rules issued in January 2011, which include significant changes to bank capital, leverage and liquidity requirements. The final rule, Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory Capital, Implementation of Basel III, Capital Adequacy, Transition Provisions, Prompt Corrective Action, Standardized Approach for Risk-weighted Assets, Market Discipline and Disclosure Requirements, Advanced Approaches Risk-Based Capital Rule, and Market Risk Capital Rule, incorporates certain revisions to the Basel capital framework, including Basel III and other elements. The final rule increases risk-based capital requirements and makes selected changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets. The final rule:
Includes a new minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets and raises the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio from 4.0% to 6.0% of risk-weighted assets;
Requires institutions to maintain a capital conservation buffer composed of common equity Tier 1 capital of 2.5% above the minimum risk-based capital requirements. Institutions that do not maintain the capital conservation buffer are precluded from: (1) paying dividends and making certain other capital distributions; (2) making interest payments on trust preferred securities (unless the non-payment of interest would otherwise trigger an event of default); and (3) making certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The capital conservation buffer is measured relative to risk-weighted assets and will be phased in over a four-year period beginning on January 1, 2016 with an initial requirement of 0.625% above the minimum capital requirement. The capital conservation buffer subsequently increases to 1.25%, 1.875% and 2.5% on January 1, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively;
Implements new constraints on the inclusion of minority interests, mortgage servicing assets, deferred tax assets and certain investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions in Tier 1 capital;
Increases risk-weightings for past-due loans, certain commercial real estate loans and some equity exposures;
Requires trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock to be phased out of Tier 1 capital for banks with assets greater than $15.0 billion as of December 31, 2009; and
Allows non-advanced banking organizations, such as us, a one-time option to filter certain accumulated other comprehensive income components, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities, out of regulatory capital.
The calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital is different from the calculation of common equity under GAAP. Most significantly for the Company, the Company's net deferred tax assets, which are included in the calculation of common equity under GAAP, will be substantially phased out over time from the required calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes. The net deferred tax assets attributable to net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, which comprised over 88.0% of the Company's net deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2014, are scheduled to be phased out entirely from inclusion in the calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital in 2018. The Company is in the process of more fully evaluating the impact the final Basel III capital rules may have on its regulatory capital levels and capital planning strategies.
In light of the Company's current capital and the future changes in the calculation of regulatory capital as a result of Basel III, absent a substantial increase in qualifying common equity, the Company is not likely to meet the common equity Tier 1 requirement as it will be calculated in 2015, or to meet the common equity Tier 1 requirement as it will be calculated in 2016 when the capital conservation buffer goes into effect. The inability to remain adequately capitalized under the new Basel III capital requirements could materially adversely impact the Company's financial condition, results of operations, and ability to grow. In addition, the inability to meet the capital conservation buffer would preclude the Company from making dividend payments on capital stock and interest payments on trust preferred securities absent a waiver of the Basel III rules by the Federal Reserve when the capital conservation rules become applicable to the Company in 2016.

21



NOTE 10 FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
In accordance with ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” 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.
Impaired 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 the acquisition date. In accordance with ASC Topic 820, 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 ASC Topic 310-10-35, “Receivables.” 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, the Company 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 nonrecurring Level 3.
Other real estate. Certain other real estate, upon initial recognition, is 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. The Company classifies other real estate subjected to nonrecurring fair value adjustments 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 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. The valuation of mortgage and SBA servicing rights is performed by an independent third party. The valuation models estimate the present value of estimated future net servicing income, using market-based discount rate assumptions, and

22



utilize assumptions based on the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans, including principal balance, interest rate, weighted average life, and certain unobservable inputs, including cost to service, estimated prepayment speed rates and default rates. Changes in the fair value of servicing rights occur primarily due to the realization of expected cash flows, as well as changes in valuation inputs and assumptions. Significant increases (decreases) in any of the unobservable inputs would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value of the servicing rights. 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are reflected in the following table:
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Fair Value
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$

 
195,094

 

 
195,094

Residential mortgage-backed

 
1,003,445

 

 
1,003,445

Commercial mortgage-backed

 
851

 

 
851

State and political subdivisions

 
31,340

 

 
31,340

Corporate notes

 
175,751

 

 
175,751

Equity investments
1,691

 

 

 
1,691

Mortgage loans held for sale

 
21,402

 

 
21,402

Derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments

 
332

 

 
332

Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities

 
14

 

 
14

Servicing rights

 

 
19,077

 
19,077

Total
$
1,691

 
1,428,229

 
19,077

 
1,448,997

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nonqualified deferred compensation plan
$
6,294

 

 

 
6,294

 Total
$
6,294

 

 

 
6,294

December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored agencies
$

 
275,899

 

 
275,899

Residential mortgage-backed

 
1,105,787

 

 
1,105,787

Commercial mortgage-backed

 
856

 

 
856

State and political subdivisions

 
31,557

 

 
31,557

Corporate notes

 
196,203

 

 
196,203

Equity investments
1,443

 

 

 
1,443

Mortgage loans held for sale

 
25,548

 

 
25,548

Derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments

 
217

 

 
217

Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities

 
296

 

 
296

Servicing rights

 

 
18,854

 
18,854

Total
$
1,443

 
1,636,363

 
18,854

 
1,656,660

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nonqualified deferred compensation plan
$
6,641

 

 

 
6,641

 Total
$
6,641

 

 

 
6,641

There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

23



The following table presents the changes in Level 3 assets measured on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Servicing Rights
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
18,854

 
14,792

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
 
 
 
Included in earnings (1)
(232
)
 
154

Included in other comprehensive income

 

Issuances
455

 
1,229

Transfers in and/or out of level 3

 

Balance, end of period
$
19,077

 
16,175

____________________
(1)
Gains or losses (realized/unrealized) are included in noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income.
Items Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis. From time to time, the Company 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 March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are reflected in the following table:
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Fair Value
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$

 

 
12,345

 
12,345

Real estate construction and development

 

 
4,400

 
4,400

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage

 

 
89,292

 
89,292

Home equity

 

 
5,678

 
5,678

Multi-family residential

 

 
27,132

 
27,132

Commercial real estate

 

 
12,321

 
12,321

Consumer and installment

 

 
13

 
13

Other real estate

 

 
61,485

 
61,485

Total
$

 

 
212,666

 
212,666

December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$

 

 
10,026

 
10,026

Real estate construction and development

 

 
4,620

 
4,620

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage

 

 
88,476

 
88,476

Home equity

 

 
5,889

 
5,889

Multi-family residential

 

 
27,310

 
27,310

Commercial real estate

 

 
11,812

 
11,812

Consumer and installment

 

 
19

 
19

Other real estate

 

 
66,702

 
66,702

Total
$

 

 
214,854

 
214,854

Non-Financial Assets and Non-Financial Liabilities. Certain non-financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring 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.
Other real estate measured at fair value upon initial recognition totaled $1.0 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition to other real estate measured at fair value upon initial recognition, the Company recorded write-downs to the balance of other real estate of $97,000 and $258,000 to noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

24



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 deferred income tax assets, bank premises and equipment and goodwill. Furthermore, the income taxes that would be incurred if the Company 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. The Company classifies its held-to-maturity investment securities as Level 2.
Loans. The fair value of loans held for portfolio uses an exit price concept and reflects discounts the Company believes are consistent with liquidity discounts in the market place. Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type such as commercial and industrial, real estate construction and development, commercial real estate, one-to-four-family residential real estate, home equity and consumer and installment. The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows, utilizing assumptions for prepayment estimates over the loans’ remaining life and considerations for the current interest rate environment compared to the weighted average rate of the loan portfolio. The fair value analysis also includes other assumptions to estimate fair value, intended to approximate those factors a market participant would use in an orderly transaction, with adjustments for discount rates, interest rates, liquidity, and credit spreads, as appropriate. The Company classifies its loans held for portfolio as Level 3.
FRB and FHLB stock. The carrying values reported in the consolidated balance sheets for FRB and FHLB stock, which are carried at cost, represent redemption value and approximate fair value.
Deposits. The fair value of deposits payable on demand with no stated maturity (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 is estimated utilizing a discounted cash flow calculation that applies 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. The Company classifies its time deposits as Level 3.
Other borrowings 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. The Company classifies its other borrowings, comprised of securities sold under agreements to repurchase, as Level 1. The carrying values reported in the consolidated balance sheets for accrued interest payable approximate fair value.
Subordinated debentures. The fair value of subordinated debentures is based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments. The Company classifies its subordinated debentures as Level 3.
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 Company classifies its off-balance sheet financial instruments as Level 3.

25



The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at March 31, 2014 was as follows:
 
March 31, 2014
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
341,235

 
341,235

 

 

 
341,235

Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale
1,408,172

 
1,691

 
1,406,481

 

 
1,408,172

Held to maturity
718,672

 

 
704,977

 

 
704,977

Loans held for portfolio
2,789,748

 

 

 
2,683,895

 
2,683,895

Loans held for sale
21,402

 

 
21,402

 

 
21,402

FRB and FHLB stock
32,148

 
32,148

 

 

 
32,148

Derivative instruments
346

 

 
346

 

 
346

Accrued interest receivable
16,087

 
16,087

 

 

 
16,087

Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
1,273,662

 
1,273,662

 

 

 
1,273,662

Interest-bearing demand
699,158

 
699,158

 

 

 
699,158

Savings and money market
1,841,905

 
1,841,905

 

 

 
1,841,905

Time deposits
1,027,706

 

 

 
1,027,869

 
1,027,869

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
36,713

 
36,713

 

 

 
36,713

Accrued interest payable
656

 
656

 

 

 
656

Subordinated debentures
354,229

 

 

 
287,981

 
287,981

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees
$
(2,715
)
 

 

 
(2,715
)
 
(2,715
)
The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2013 was as follows:
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
190,435

 
190,435

 

 

 
190,435

Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale
1,611,745

 
1,443

 
1,610,302

 

 
1,611,745

Held to maturity
740,186

 

 
719,183

 

 
719,183

Loans held for portfolio
2,750,514

 

 

 
2,562,160

 
2,562,160

Loans held for sale
25,548

 

 
25,548

 

 
25,548

FRB and FHLB stock
27,357

 
27,357

 

 

 
27,357

Derivative instruments
513

 

 
513

 

 
513

Accrued interest receivable
17,798

 
17,798

 

 

 
17,798

Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
1,243,545

 
1,243,545

 

 

 
1,243,545

Interest-bearing demand
679,527

 
679,527

 

 

 
679,527

Savings and money market
1,844,710

 
1,844,710

 

 

 
1,844,710

Time deposits
1,046,113

 

 

 
1,046,485

 
1,046,485

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
43,143

 
43,143

 

 

 
43,143

Accrued interest payable
63,341

 
63,341

 

 

 
63,341

Subordinated debentures
354,210

 

 

 
242,678

 
242,678

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees
$
(2,715
)
 

 

 
(2,715
)
 
(2,715
)


26



NOTE 11 INCOME TAXES
The realization of the Company’s net deferred tax assets is based on the expectation of future taxable income and the utilization of tax planning strategies. The Company previously had a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. The deferred tax asset valuation allowance was recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Under ASC Topic 740, the Company is required to assess whether it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. Pursuant to ASC Topic 740, 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, excess of reversing deductible differences over reversing taxable differences and cumulative losses in recent years.
In evaluating the ability to recover deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of recent operations. In projecting future taxable income, the Company begins with historical results adjusted for the results of discontinued operations and changes in accounting policies and incorporates assumptions including the amount of future state and federal pre-tax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts and future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates management uses to manage the underlying business.
After analysis of all available positive and negative evidence, the Company reversed substantially all of its valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets, which was reflected as a benefit for income taxes in the consolidated statements of income and as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income during the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, it was more likely than not that substantially all of its net deferred tax assets would be realized in future years. This conclusion was primarily based on projected future taxable income, in addition to cumulative earnings resulting from eight consecutive quarters of profitability (excluding the goodwill impairment charge recognized during the fourth quarter of 2013), significant improvement in asset quality metrics and certain other relevant factors. If the Company’s estimate of realizability of its net deferred tax assets changes in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be recorded, which would either increase or decrease income tax expense in such period.
The valuation allowance reserves for certain state net operating loss carryovers, federal and state tax credits and capital loss carryovers which are projected to expire prior to their utilization, based upon projected taxable income at December 31, 2013. The Company has reserved for this benefit in its valuation allowance but will continue to evaluate the potential future utilization of these items and will record an adjustment to the valuation allowance in the period a change is warranted.
A summary of the Company’s deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Gross deferred tax assets
$
375,092

 
359,261

Unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions
(879
)
 

Valuation allowance
(43,380
)
 
(43,380
)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
330,833

 
315,881

Deferred tax liabilities
49,609

 
28,397

Net deferred tax assets
$
281,224

 
287,484

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, for federal income tax purposes, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $565.9 million and $571.8 million, respectively. For state income tax purposes, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $785.4 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and a related deferred tax asset of $66.7 million and $66.6 million, respectively.

27



NOTE 12 EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
The following is a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (EPS) for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Basic:
 
 
 
Net income from continuing operations attributable to First Banks, Inc.
$
5,405

 
8,774

Preferred stock dividends declared

 
(4,881
)
Accretion of discount on preferred stock

 
(898
)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders
5,405

 
2,995

Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to common stockholders

 
(2,064
)
Net income available to First Banks, Inc. common stockholders
$
5,405

 
931

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
23,661

 
23,661

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share – continuing operations
$
228.43

 
126.59

Basic loss per common share – discontinued operations
$

 
(87.24
)
Basic earnings per common share
$
228.43

 
39.35

 
 
 
 
Diluted:
 
 
 
Net income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders
$
5,405

 
2,995

Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to common stockholders

 
(2,064
)
Net income available to First Banks, Inc. common stockholders
5,405

 
931

Effect of dilutive securities – Class A convertible preferred stock

 

Diluted income available to First Banks, Inc. common stockholders
$
5,405

 
931

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
23,661

 
23,661

Effect of dilutive securities – Class A convertible preferred stock
4,421

 

Weighted average diluted shares of common stock outstanding
28,082

 
23,661

 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share – continuing operations
$
192.46

 
126.59

Diluted loss per common share – discontinued operations
$

 
(87.24
)
Diluted earnings per common share
$
192.46

 
39.35


NOTE 13 BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS
The Company’s business segment is First Bank. The reportable business segment is consistent with the management structure of the Company, 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 and small business lending. Other financial services include mortgage banking, debit cards, brokerage services, internet banking, remote deposit, mobile banking, ATMs, telephone banking, safe deposit boxes, and trust and private banking 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 the Company’s mortgage banking and trust and private banking business units. The Company’s products and services are offered to customers primarily within its geographic areas, which include eastern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern and northern California, and Florida’s Bradenton, Palmetto and Longboat Key communities. Certain loan products are available nationwide.

28



The business segment results are consistent with the Company’s internal reporting system and, in all material respects, with GAAP and practices predominant in the banking industry. The business segment results are summarized as follows:
 
First Bank
 
Corporate, Other and
Intercompany
Reclassifications
 
Consolidated Totals
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Balance sheet information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities
$
2,126,844

 
2,351,931

 

 

 
2,126,844

 
2,351,931

Total loans
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

 

 

 
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

FRB and FHLB stock
32,148

 
27,357

 

 

 
32,148

 
27,357

Total assets
5,836,010

 
5,865,160

 
54,549

 
53,823

 
5,890,559

 
5,918,983

Deposits
4,849,783

 
4,815,792

 
(7,352
)
 
(1,897
)
 
4,842,431

 
4,813,895

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
36,713

 
43,143

 

 

 
36,713

 
43,143

Subordinated debentures

 

 
354,229

 
354,210

 
354,229

 
354,210

Stockholders’ equity
872,845

 
931,561

 
(375,539
)
 
(443,305
)
 
497,306

 
488,256


 
First Bank
 
Corporate, Other and
Intercompany
Reclassifications
 
Consolidated Totals
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Income statement information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
42,189

 
43,986

 

 

 
42,189

 
43,986

Interest expense
2,051

 
2,473

 
3,798

 
3,676

 
5,849

 
6,149

Net interest income (loss)
40,138

 
41,513

 
(3,798
)
 
(3,676
)
 
36,340

 
37,837

Provision for loan losses

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
40,138

 
41,513

 
(3,798
)
 
(3,676
)
 
36,340

 
37,837

Noninterest income
14,559

 
15,284

 
116

 
111

 
14,675

 
15,395

Noninterest expense
42,993

 
43,863

 
(245
)
 
184

 
42,748

 
44,047

Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes
11,704

 
12,934

 
(3,437
)
 
(3,749
)
 
8,267

 
9,185

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
4,120

 
148

 
(1,203
)
 
217

 
2,917

 
365

Net income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax
7,584

 
12,786

 
(2,234
)
 
(3,966
)
 
5,350

 
8,820

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 
(2,064
)
 

 

 

 
(2,064
)
Net income (loss)
7,584

 
10,722

 
(2,234
)
 
(3,966
)
 
5,350

 
6,756

Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
(55
)
 
46

 

 

 
(55
)
 
46

Net income (loss) attributable to First Banks, Inc.
$
7,639

 
10,676

 
(2,234
)
 
(3,966
)
 
5,405

 
6,710

 
 

NOTE 14 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
First Services, L.P. First Services, L.P. (First Services), a limited partnership indirectly owned by the Company’s Chairman and members of his immediate family, including Mr. Michael Dierberg, Vice Chairman of the Company, provides information technology, item processing and various related services to the Company and First Bank. Fees paid under agreements with First Services were $5.3 million and $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. First Services leases information technology and other equipment from First Bank. First Services paid First Bank rental fees for the use of such equipment of $390,000 and $244,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition, First Services paid $435,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 in rental payments to First Bank for occupancy of certain First Bank premises from which business is conducted.
First Services has an Affiliate Services Agreement with the Company and First Bank that relates to various services provided to First Services, including certain human resources, payroll, employee benefit and training services, accounting services, insurance services, vendor payment processing services and advisory services. Fees accrued under the Affiliate Services Agreement by First Services were $60,000 and $46,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
First Brokerage America, L.L.C. First Brokerage America, L.L.C. (First Brokerage), a limited liability company indirectly owned by the Company’s Chairman and members of his immediate family, including Mr. Michael Dierberg, Vice Chairman of the Company, received approximately $1.0 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively,

29



in gross commissions paid by unaffiliated third-party companies. The commissions received primarily resulted from sales of annuities, securities and other insurance products to customers of First Bank. First Brokerage paid approximately $93,000 and $114,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to First Bank in rental payments for occupancy of certain First Bank premises from which brokerage business is conducted.
Dierbergs Markets, Inc. 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 the Company’s Chairman and members of his immediate family. Total rent expense incurred by First Bank under the lease obligation contracts was $126,000 and $122,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
First Capital America, Inc. / FB Holdings, LLC. The Company formed FB Holdings, a limited liability company organized in the state of Missouri, in May 2008. 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 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. First Bank owned 53.23% and FCA, a corporation owned by the Company’s Chairman and members of his immediate family, owned the remaining 46.77% of FB Holdings as of March 31, 2014. FCA's ownership in FB Holdings is reflected as a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets.
Investors of America Limited Partnership. On March 20, 2013, the Company entered into a Revolving Credit Note and a Stock Pledge Agreement (the Credit Agreement) with Investors of America Limited Partnership (Investors of America, LP). Investors of America, LP is a Nevada limited partnership that was created by and for the benefit of the Company’s Chairman and members of his immediate family, including Mr. Michael Dierberg, Vice Chairman of the Company. The Credit Agreement provided for a $5.0 million secured revolving line of credit to be utilized for general working capital needs. This borrowing arrangement, which matured on March 31, 2014, had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 300 basis points. There were no balances outstanding under the Credit Agreement from its origination date through its maturity date.
Loans to Directors, Executive Officers and/or their Affiliates. First Bank has had in the past, and may have in the future, loan transactions in the ordinary course of business with its directors, executive officers and/or their affiliates. These loan transactions have been made 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 the Company were $13.1 million and $12.0 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. First Bank does not extend credit to its officers or to officers of the Company, 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.
Depositary Accounts of Directors, Executive Officers and/or their Affiliates. Certain directors, executive officers and/or their affiliates maintain funds on deposit with First Bank in the ordinary course of business. These deposit transactions include demand, savings and time accounts, and have been established on the same terms, including interest rates, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons.
NOTE 15 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries become involved in legal proceedings, including litigation arising out of the Company’s 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 the Company. From time to time, the Company is party to other legal matters arising in the normal course of business. While some matters pending against the Company specify damages claimed by plaintiffs, others do not seek a specified amount of damages or are at very early stages of the legal process. The Company records a loss accrual for all legal matters for which it deems a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, believes the ultimate resolution of these existing proceedings is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and/or its subsidiaries and the range of possible additional loss in excess of amounts accrued is not material.
The Company and First Bank have entered into agreements with the FRB and MDOF, as further described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. The informal agreement with the MDOF, dated as of September 18, 2008, was terminated effective September 11, 2013.




30



ITEM 2 MANAGEMENTS 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 earnings, including the ability of the Company to remain profitable, 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 factors whose order is not indicative of likelihood or significance of impact:
Our ability to raise sufficient capital and/or maintain capital at levels necessary or desirable to support our operations;
The risks associated with implementing our business strategy;
Regulatory actions that impact First Banks, Inc. and First Bank, including our ability to comply with the terms of the regulatory agreement entered into among First Banks, Inc., First Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, as further discussed under “Overview and Recent Developments – Regulatory Agreements;”
The effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws;
The appropriateness of our allowance for loan losses to absorb the amount of actual losses inherent in our existing loan portfolio;
The accuracy of assumptions underlying the establishment of our allowance for loan losses and the estimation of values of collateral or cash flow projections and the potential resulting impact on the carrying value of various financial assets and liabilities;
Credit risks and risks from concentrations (by geographic area and by industry) within our loan portfolio including certain large individual loans;
Possible changes in the creditworthiness of customers and the possible impairment of collectability of loans;
Liquidity risks;
Implementation of the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will include significant changes to bank capital, leverage and liquidity requirements, as further discussed under “Overview – Basel III Regulatory Capital Reforms;”
The ability to successfully acquire low cost deposits or alternative funding;
Changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
The ability of First Bank to pay dividends to its parent holding company;
Our ability to pay cash dividends on our preferred stock and interest on our junior subordinated debentures;
Possible changes in interest rates may increase our funding costs and reduce earning asset yields, thus reducing our margins;
The ability to attract and retain senior management experienced in the banking and financial services industry;
Changes in the economic environment, competition, or other factors that may influence loan demand, deposit flows, the quality of our loan portfolio and loan and deposit pricing;
The impact on our financial condition of unknown and/or unforeseen liabilities arising from legal or administrative proceedings;
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;
Possible changes in general economic and business conditions in the United States in general and particularly in the communities and market segments we serve;
Volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets;
Government intervention in the U.S. financial system;
The impact of laws and regulations applicable to us and changes therein;
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;
The impact of litigation generally and specifically arising out of our efforts to collect outstanding customer loans;
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;

31



Our ability to control the composition of our loan portfolio without adversely affecting interest income and credit default risk;
The geographic dispersion of our offices;
The highly regulated environment in which we operate; and
Our ability to respond to changes in technology or an interruption or breach in security of our information systems.
Actual events or our actual future results may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to these and other risks, uncertainties and significant factors. For a discussion of these and other risk factors that may impact these forward-looking statements, please refer to our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2014. We wish to caution readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that the foregoing list of important factors may not be all-inclusive and we specifically decline to undertake any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. We do not have a duty to and do not undertake any obligation to 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.

OVERVIEW AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
We, or the Company, 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, and SFC’s wholly owned subsidiary bank, First Bank, also headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. First Bank operates through its branch banking offices and subsidiaries. First Bank’s subsidiaries are wholly owned at March 31, 2014 except for FB Holdings, LLC, or FB Holdings, which is 53.23% owned by First Bank and 46.77% owned by First Capital America, Inc., or FCA, a corporation owned and operated by the Company’s Chairman of the Board and members of his immediate family, including Mr. Michael Dierberg, Vice Chairman of the Company, as further described in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.
First Bank currently operates 130 branch banking offices in eastern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern and northern California, and Florida's Bradenton, Palmetto and Longboat Key communities. 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.
Discontinued Operations. The assets and liabilities associated with the transactions described (and defined) below were previously reported in the First Bank segment and were sold as part of our Capital Optimization Plan, or Capital Plan:
The sale of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities, primarily deposits, of First Bank's Association Bank Services, or ABS, line of business, to Union Bank, N.A., or Union Bank, on November 22, 2013; and
The sale of certain assets and the transfer of certain liabilities associated with eight of First Bank's retail branches located in Pinellas County, Florida to HomeBanc National Association on April 19, 2013 and the closure of First Bank's remaining three retail branches in the Northern Florida region on April 5, 2013. The eight branches sold and the three branches closed are collectively defined as the Northern Florida Region.
We have applied discontinued operations accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 205-20, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Discontinued Operations,” to the operations of our ABS line of business and our Northern Florida Region for the three months ended March 31, 2013. All financial information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is reported on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise noted.
See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for further information regarding discontinued operations.
Basel III Regulatory Capital Reforms. In July, 2013, the Federal Reserve approved revisions to the capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action rules that implement the revised standards of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, commonly called Basel III, and address relevant provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. “Basel III” refers to two consultative documents released by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2009, the rules text released in December 2010, and loss absorbency rules issued in January 2011, which include significant changes to bank capital, leverage and liquidity requirements.
The final rule, Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory Capital, Implementation of Basel III, Capital Adequacy, Transition Provisions, Prompt Corrective Action, Standardized Approach for Risk-weighted Assets, Market Discipline and Disclosure Requirements, Advanced Approaches Risk-Based Capital Rule, and Market Risk Capital Rule, incorporates certain revisions to the Basel capital framework, including Basel III and other elements. The final rule increases risk-based capital requirements and makes selected changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets. The final rule:

32



Includes a new minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets and raises the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio from 4.0% to 6.0% of risk-weighted assets;
Requires institutions to maintain a capital conservation buffer composed of common equity Tier 1 capital of 2.5% above the minimum risk-based capital requirements. Institutions that do not maintain the capital conservation buffer are precluded from: (1) paying dividends and making certain other capital distributions; (2) making interest payments on trust preferred securities (unless the non-payment of interest would otherwise trigger an event of default); and (3) making certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The capital conservation buffer is measured relative to risk-weighted assets and will be phased in over a four-year period beginning on January 1, 2016 with an initial requirement of 0.625% above the minimum capital requirement. The capital conservation buffer subsequently increases to 1.25%, 1.875% and 2.5% on January 1, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively;
Implements new constraints on the inclusion of minority interests, mortgage servicing assets, deferred tax assets and certain investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions in Tier 1 capital;
Increases risk-weightings for past-due loans, certain commercial real estate loans and some equity exposures;
Requires trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock to be phased out of Tier 1 capital for banks with assets greater than $15.0 billion as of December 31, 2009; and
Allows non-advanced banking organizations, such as us, a one-time option to filter certain accumulated other comprehensive income components, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities, out of regulatory capital.
The calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital is different from the calculation of common equity under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Most significantly for the Company, the Company's net deferred tax assets, which are included in the calculation of common equity under GAAP, will be substantially phased out over time from the required calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes. To illustrate the difference between common equity under GAAP and common equity Tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes, the Company’s common equity under GAAP as of March 31, 2014 was $66.5 million, which includes net deferred tax assets of $281.2 million. In 2016, the majority of the Company’s net deferred tax assets will be excluded from the regulatory calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital due to the phase in requirements of the Basel III rules. As a direct result of this exclusion and the phase in of other required changes in the regulatory calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital, if, hypothetically, the Company were to apply the regulatory capital rules applicable in 2016 as of March 31, 2014, the Company’s common equity Tier 1 capital as of March 31, 2014 using the rules applicable in 2016 would be negative $107.7 million, or $174.2 million less than the Company’s common equity under GAAP. The net deferred tax assets attributable to net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, which comprised over 88.0% of the Company's net deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2014, are scheduled to be phased out entirely from inclusion in the calculation of common equity Tier 1 capital in 2018. We are in the process of more fully evaluating the impact the final Basel III capital rules may have on our regulatory capital levels and capital planning strategies.
In light of the Company’s current capital and the future changes in the calculation of regulatory capital as a result of Basel III, absent a substantial increase in qualifying common equity, the Company is not likely to meet the common equity Tier 1 requirement as it will be calculated in 2015, or to meet the common equity Tier 1 requirement as it will be calculated in 2016 when the capital conservation buffer goes into effect. The inability to remain adequately capitalized under the new Basel III capital requirements could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, and ability to grow. In addition, the inability to meet the capital conservation buffer would preclude the Company from making dividend payments on capital stock and interest payments on trust preferred securities absent a waiver of the Basel III rules by the Federal Reserve when the capital conservation rules become applicable to the Company in 2016.
See further information regarding these matters under “Item 1A – Risk Factors.”
Dividend from First Bank and Payment of Interest on Junior Subordinated Debentures. On January 31, 2014, the Company received regulatory approval from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, or FRB, subject to certain conditions, which granted First Bank the authority to pay a dividend to the Company, and the authority to the Company to utilize such funds, for the sole purpose of paying the accumulated deferred interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures issued in connection with the Company's trust preferred securities. In February 2014, First Bank paid a dividend of $70.0 million to the Company. In March 2014, the Company paid interest on all of the junior subordinated debentures of $66.4 million to the respective trustees, which was subsequently distributed to the trust preferred securities holders on the respective interest payment dates in March and April, 2014, as further described in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements.
Regulatory Agreements. On March 24, 2010, the Company, SFC and First Bank entered into a Written Agreement, or Agreement, with the FRB requiring the Company and First Bank to take certain steps intended to improve their overall financial condition. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company prepared and filed with the FRB a number of specific plans designed to strengthen and/or address the following matters: (i) board oversight over the management and operations of the Company and First Bank; (ii)

33



credit risk management practices; (iii) lending and credit administration policies and procedures; (iv) asset improvement; (v) capital; (vi) earnings and overall financial condition; and (vii) liquidity and funds management.
The Agreement requires, among other things, that the Company and First Bank obtain prior approval from the FRB in order to pay dividends. In addition, the Company must obtain prior approval from the FRB to: (i) take any other form of payment from First Bank representing a reduction in capital of First Bank; (ii) make any distributions of interest, principal or other sums on junior subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities; (iii) incur, increase or guarantee any debt; or (iv) purchase or redeem any shares of the Company's stock. The FRB has complete discretion to grant any such approval and therefore, it is not known whether the FRB will approve any request. The FRB has complete discretion to grant any such approval and therefore, it is not known whether the FRB will approve any request. On January 31, 2014, the Company received regulatory approval from the FRB, subject to certain conditions, granting First Bank the authority to pay a dividend to the Company, and authority to the Company to utilize such funds, for the sole purpose of paying the accumulated deferred interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures issued in connection with the Company's trust preferred securities, as previously described above.
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company and First Bank submitted a written plan to the FRB to maintain sufficient capital at the Company, on a consolidated basis, and at First Bank, on a standalone basis. In addition, the Agreement also provides that the Company and First Bank must notify the FRB if the regulatory capital ratios of either entity fall below those set forth in the capital plans that were accepted by the FRB, and specifically if First Bank falls below the criteria for being well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. The Company must also notify the FRB before appointing any new directors or senior executive officers or changing the responsibilities of any senior executive officer position. The Agreement also requires the Company and First Bank to comply with certain restrictions regarding indemnification and severance payments although First Bank was notified, as of October 16, 2013, by the FRB that such restrictions are no longer applicable to First Bank. The Agreement is specifically enforceable by the FRB in court.
The Company and First Bank must furnish periodic progress reports to the FRB regarding compliance with the Agreement. As of the date of this filing, the Company and First Bank have provided progress reports and other reports, as required under the Agreement. The Company and First Bank have received, and may receive in the future, additional requests from the FRB regarding compliance with the Agreement, which may include, but are not limited to, updates and modifications to the Company's Asset Quality Improvement, Profit Improvement and Capital Plans. Management has responded promptly to any such requests and intends to do so in the future. The Agreement will remain in effect until stayed, modified, terminated or suspended by the FRB.
Prior to entering into the Agreement on March 24, 2010, the Company and First Bank had entered into a memorandum of understanding and an informal agreement, respectively, with the FRB and the State of Missouri Division of Finance, or the MDOF. Each of the agreements were characterized by regulatory authorities as informal actions that were neither published nor made publicly available by the agencies and are used when circumstances warrant a milder form of action than a formal supervisory action, such as a written agreement or cease and desist order. The memorandum of understanding with the FRB was replaced and superseded by the Agreement. The informal agreement with the MDOF, dated September 18, 2008, was terminated effective September 11, 2013.
While the Company and First Bank intend to take such actions as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of the Agreement with the FRB, there can be no assurance that the Company and First Bank will be able to comply fully with the requirements of the Agreement, that compliance with the Agreement will not be more time consuming or more expensive than anticipated, that compliance with the Agreement will enable the Company and First Bank to maintain profitable operations, or that efforts to comply with the Agreement will not have adverse effects on the operations and financial condition of the Company or First Bank. If the Company or First Bank is unable to comply with the terms of the Agreement, the Company and First Bank could become subject to various requirements limiting our ability to develop new business lines, mandating additional capital, and/or requiring the sale of certain assets and liabilities. Failure of the Company or First Bank to meet these conditions could lead to further enforcement action by the regulatory agencies. The terms of any such additional regulatory actions, orders or agreements could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview. We recorded net income of $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Our net income reflects the following:
Net interest income of $36.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $37.8 million for the comparable period in 2013, and an increase in our net interest margin to 2.77% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to 2.59% for the comparable period in 2013;
A provision for loan losses of zero for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013;
Noninterest income of $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $15.4 million for the comparable period in 2013;

34



Noninterest expense of $42.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $44.0 million for the comparable period in 2013;
A provision for income taxes of $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $365,000 for the comparable period in 2013;
A net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013; and
A net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary of $55,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary of $46,000 for the comparable period in 2013.
Net Interest Income and Average Balance Sheets. The primary source of our income is net interest income. The following table sets forth, on a tax-equivalent basis, certain information on a continuing operations basis 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 months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
Income/
Expense
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
Income/
Expense
 
Yield/
Rate
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans (1)(2)(3)
$
2,877,153

 
29,091

 
4.10
%
 
$
2,845,660

 
30,186

 
4.30
%
Investment securities (3)
2,222,831

 
12,656

 
2.31

 
2,667,856

 
13,283

 
2.02

FRB and FHLB stock
30,280

 
358

 
4.79

 
27,479

 
303

 
4.47

Short-term investments
189,171

 
120

 
0.26

 
400,047

 
262

 
0.27

Total interest-earning assets
5,319,435

 
42,225

 
3.22

 
5,941,042

 
44,034

 
3.01

Nonearning assets
580,512

 
 
 
 
 
416,768

 
 
 
 
Assets of discontinued operations

 
 
 
 
 
46,502

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
5,899,947

 
 
 
 
 
$
6,404,312

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand
$
675,021

 
82

 
0.05
%
 
$
647,158

 
76

 
0.05
%
Savings and money market
1,843,543

 
744

 
0.16

 
1,858,523

 
635

 
0.14

Time deposits of $100 or more
399,589

 
486

 
0.49

 
418,011

 
656

 
0.64

Other time deposits
645,885

 
722

 
0.45

 
763,583

 
1,103

 
0.59

Total interest-bearing deposits
3,564,038

 
2,034

 
0.23

 
3,687,275

 
2,470

 
0.27

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
39,839

 
4

 
0.04

 
27,695

 
3

 
0.04

Subordinated debentures
354,220

 
3,811

 
4.36

 
354,143

 
3,676

 
4.21

Total interest-bearing liabilities
3,958,097

 
5,849

 
0.60

 
4,069,113

 
6,149

 
0.61

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demand deposits
1,244,380

 
 
 
 
 
1,155,740

 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
202,606

 
 
 
 
 
184,147

 
 
 
 
Liabilities of discontinued operations

 
 
 
 
 
698,279

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities
5,405,083

 
 
 
 
 
6,107,279

 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity
494,864

 
 
 
 
 
297,033

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
5,899,947

 
 
 
 
 
$
6,404,312

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
 
36,376

 
 
 
 
 
37,885

 
 
Interest rate spread
 
 
 
 
2.62

 
 
 
 
 
2.40

Net interest margin (4)
 
 
 
 
2.77
%
 
 
 
 
 
2.59
%
____________________
(1)
For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in the average loan amounts.
(2)
Interest income on loans includes loan fees.
(3)
Information is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 35%. The tax-equivalent adjustments were $36,000 and $48,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(4)
Net interest margin is the ratio of net interest income (expressed on a tax-equivalent basis) to average interest-earning assets.
Our balance sheet is presently asset sensitive, and as such, our net interest margin has been negatively impacted by the low interest rate environment 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. Our asset-sensitive position, coupled with the high level of short-term investments and investment securities as a percentage of our interest-earning assets has negatively impacted our net interest income and is expected to continue to impact the level of our net interest income in the future. We continue our efforts to re-define our overall strategy and business plans with respect to our loan portfolio in light of ongoing changes in market conditions in our markets, focusing on loan growth initiatives.

35



Net interest income, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to $36.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $37.9 million for the comparable period in 2013. Our net interest margin increased 18 basis points to 2.77% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from 2.59% for the comparable period in 2013.
We attribute the increase in our net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013, to an increase in the average yield on investment securities, a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and a reduction in our average short-term investments, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield on loans. We attribute the decrease in our net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013, to a lower average balance of interest-earning assets, primarily resulting from the sale of our ABS line of business in November, 2013. While improved from the three months ended March 31, 2013, our net interest margin is expected to continue to remain at lower than historical levels until loan balances become a higher percentage of our interest-earning assets.
Interest income on our loan portfolio, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. Average loans increased $31.5 million to $2.88 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $2.85 billion for the comparable period in 2013, while the yield on our loan portfolio decreased 20 basis points to 4.10% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from 4.30% for the comparable period in 2013. The increase in average loans primarily reflects increased production loan volumes, particularly in our commercial, financial and agricultural and commercial real estate portfolios, partially offset by loan payoffs and principal payments and the exit of certain of our problem credit relationships. The yield on our loan portfolio continues to be adversely impacted by the lower levels of prime and declining LIBOR interest rates, as a significant portion of our loan portfolio is priced to these indices.
Interest income on our investment securities, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased $627,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. Average investment securities decreased $445.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. The yield earned on our investment securities portfolio increased 29 basis points to 2.31% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to 2.02% for the comparable period in 2013. During 2013, we reinvested proceeds from sales and maturities of certain investment securities into cash and cash equivalents to build liquidity in anticipation of the sale of our ABS line of business, which was completed in November 2013. During the first quarter of 2014, we sold certain investment securities to fund loan growth and to pay all of the cumulative deferred interest on our junior subordinated debentures relating to the Company's trust preferred securities in March 2014. We continue to maintain a high level of investment securities in an effort to support future loan growth opportunities.
Interest income on our short-term investments decreased $142,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. Average short-term investments decreased $210.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. During 2013, we utilized funds available from sales and maturities of investment securities and the decrease in our average total deposits to increase our liquidity position for the sales of our ABS line of business during the fourth quarter of 2013 and our Northern Florida Region during the second quarter of 2013. The yield on our short-term investments was 0.26% and 0.27% for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, reflecting the investment of the majority of funds in our short-term investments in our correspondent bank account with the FRB, which currently earns 0.25%.
Interest expense on our interest-bearing deposits decreased $436,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. Average total deposits decreased $34.6 million to $4.81 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $4.84 billion for the comparable period in 2013. A decrease in average interest-bearing deposits of $123.2 million was partially offset by an increase in average noninterest-bearing deposits of $88.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. The decrease in average interest-bearing deposits primarily reflects anticipated reductions of higher rate certificates of deposit and promotional money market deposits, partially offset by organic growth in demand deposits through deposit development programs, including marketing campaigns and enhanced product and service offerings. The mix in our deposit portfolio volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013, primarily reflects a shift from time deposits and savings and money market deposits to interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand deposits. Decreases in our average time deposits, and savings and money market deposits, of $136.1 million and $15.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013, were partially offset by increases in average interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $27.9 million and $88.6 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our interest-bearing deposit portfolio decreased four basis points to 0.23% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from 0.27% for the comparable period in 2013, reflecting the re-pricing of certificate of deposit accounts to current market interest rates upon maturity. The weighted average rate paid on our time deposit portfolio declined 13 basis points to 0.47% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from 0.60% for the comparable period in 2013.
Interest expense on our junior subordinated debentures increased $135,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our junior subordinated debentures increased to 4.36% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from 4.21% for the comparable period in 2013. The aggregate weighted average rates reflect additional interest expense accrued on the regularly scheduled deferred interest payments on our junior subordinated

36



debentures until we paid all of the cumulative deferred interest to the trustees in March 2014, as further discussed in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements. The additional interest expense accrued on the regularly scheduled deferred interest payments increased the weighted average rate paid on our junior subordinated debentures by approximately 91 and 71 basis points for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Rate / Volume. The following table indicates, on a tax-equivalent basis, the changes in interest income and interest expense on a continuing basis that are attributable to changes in average volume and changes in average rates, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2013. 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
March 31, 2014 Compared to 2013
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net Change
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Interest earned on:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans (1) (2) (3)
$
329

 
(1,424
)
 
(1,095
)
Investment securities (3)
(2,388
)
 
1,761

 
(627
)
FRB and FHLB stock
32

 
23

 
55

Short-term investments
(133
)
 
(9
)
 
(142
)
Total interest income
(2,160
)
 
351

 
(1,809
)
Interest paid on:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand deposits
6

 

 
6

Savings and money market deposits
(4
)
 
113

 
109

Time deposits
(191
)
 
(360
)
 
(551
)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
1

 

 
1

Subordinated debentures
1

 
134

 
135

Total interest expense
(187
)
 
(113
)
 
(300
)
Net interest income
$
(1,973
)
 
464

 
(1,509
)
____________________
(1)
For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in the average loan amounts.
(2)
Interest income on loans includes loan fees.
(3)
Information is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 35%.
Provision for Loan Losses. We did not record a provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, which was attributable to the continued improvement in our overall asset quality levels, as further discussed under “—Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.”
Our nonaccrual loans were $53.8 million at March 31, 2014, compared to $53.0 million at December 31, 2013 and $102.2 million at March 31, 2013, reflecting a 47.4% decrease in nonaccrual loans year-over-year. The decrease in the overall level of nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2014, as compared to March 31, 2013, was primarily driven by the resolution of certain nonaccrual loans, and reflects our continued progress with respect to the implementation of our asset quality improvement initiatives, designed to reduce the overall balance of nonaccrual and other potential problem loans and assets.
Our net loan charge-offs decreased to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $3.4 million for the comparable period in 2013. Our annualized net loan charge-offs were 0.17% and 0.49% of average loans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Loan charge-offs were $3.4 million and $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and loan recoveries were $2.2 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
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 decreased $720,000 to $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $15.4 million for the comparable period in 2013. The decrease in our noninterest income was primarily attributable to reduced gains on loans sold and held for sale and a decline in other income, partially offset by increased gains on investment securities. The following table summarizes noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

37



 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
Increase (Decrease)
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
 
%
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees
$
8,333

 
8,314

 
19

 
0.2
 %
Gain on loans sold and held for sale
865

 
1,553

 
(688
)
 
(44.3
)
Net gain (loss) on investment securities
1,280

 
(416
)
 
1,696

 
407.7

Net gain on sale of other real estate
442

 
366

 
76

 
20.8

(Decrease) increase in fair value of servicing rights
(232
)
 
154

 
(386
)
 
(250.6
)
Loan servicing fees
1,711

 
1,717

 
(6
)
 
(0.3
)
Other
2,276

 
3,707

 
(1,431
)
 
(38.6
)
Total noninterest income
$
14,675

 
15,395

 
(720
)
 
(4.7
)
The decrease in gains on residential mortgage loans sold and held for sale was primarily attributable to a decline in loan production volumes in our mortgage banking division as new interest rate lock commitments decreased to $47.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $98.2 million for the comparable period in 2013. The decline in loan production volume was associated with a decrease in refinancing activity in our mortgage banking division.
The increase in net gains on investment securities was attributable to the sale of certain investment securities during the three months ended March 31, 2014 to fund loan growth and other corporate transactions. The net loss on investment securities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 primarily reflects other-than-temporary impairment of $407,000 recorded on a single municipal investment security classified as held-to-maturity.
The decrease in the fair value of mortgage and SBA servicing rights primarily reflects changes in mortgage interest rates and the related changes in estimated prepayment speeds, as well as changes in cash flow assumptions underlying SBA loans serviced for others.
The decrease in other income was primarily attributable to income of $1.2 million recognized on the call of an SBA loan securitization in the first quarter of 2013.
Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense decreased $1.3 million to $42.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $44.0 million for the comparable period in 2013. The decrease in our noninterest expense was primarily attributable to a lower level of expenses associated with our nonperforming assets and potential problem loans, in addition to decreased FDIC insurance expense, partially offset by an increase in salaries and employee benefits expenses and information technology fees. The following table summarizes noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
Increase (Decrease)
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
 
%
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
$
19,882

 
19,551

 
331

 
1.7
 %
Occupancy, net of rental income, and furniture and equipment
8,144

 
8,417

 
(273
)
 
(3.2
)
Postage, printing and supplies
639

 
628

 
11

 
1.8

Information technology fees
5,610

 
5,285

 
325

 
6.1

Legal, examination and professional fees
1,291

 
1,663

 
(372
)
 
(22.4
)
Advertising and business development
622

 
432

 
190

 
44.0

FDIC insurance
1,264

 
1,882

 
(618
)
 
(32.8
)
Write-downs and expenses on other real estate
699

 
1,511

 
(812
)
 
(53.7
)
Other
4,597

 
4,678

 
(81
)
 
(1.7
)
Total noninterest expense
$
42,748

 
44,047

 
(1,299
)
 
(2.9
)
The increase in salaries and employee benefits expense reflects normal compensation increases, increases in staffing levels in certain key revenue-generating functions and an increase in incentive compensation, partially offset by a decrease in benefits expenses, including medical claims and prescription expenses. We had 1,150 and 1,147 full-time equivalent employees at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, compared to 1,137 at March 31, 2013, excluding discontinued operations.
The increase in information technology fees was associated with a planned investment in the expansion of certain of our information technology and security programs resulting in an increase in the fees paid to First Services, L.P, a limited partnership indirectly owned by our Chairman and members of his immediate family, as more fully described in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.
The decrease in legal, examination and professional fees reflects a decline in legal expenses associated with loan collection activities, divestiture activities and litigation matters in comparison to the level of such expenses during the first three months of 2013.
The decrease in FDIC insurance expense is primarily reflective of a reduction in our assessment rate, effective October 2013.

38



The decrease in write-downs and expenses on other real estate reflects a reduction in the overall number and balance of our other real estate, which decreased to $61.5 million at March 31, 2014, from $66.7 million at December 31, 2013 and $89.0 million at March 31, 2013. Other real estate expenses, exclusive of write-downs, such as taxes, insurance, and repairs and maintenance, decreased $651,000 to $602,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $1.3 million for the comparable period in 2013. Write-downs related to the re-valuation of certain other real estate properties decreased $161,000 to $97,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $258,000 for the comparable period in 2013.
Provision for Income Taxes. We recorded a provision for income taxes of $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $365,000 for the comparable period in 2013. During the fourth quarter of 2013, we reversed substantially all of the valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, previously established in 2008. As such, the first quarter of 2014 reflects the initial period in which a provision for income taxes was recorded in the statements of income without a related deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Total assets decreased $28.4 million to $5.89 billion at March 31, 2014, from $5.92 billion at December 31, 2013. The decrease in our total assets was primarily attributable to a decrease in our investment securities portfolio, partially offset by an increase in cash and cash equivalents and our loan portfolio, as further described below.
Cash and cash equivalents, which are comprised of cash and short-term investments, increased $150.8 million to $341.2 million at March 31, 2014, from $190.4 million at December 31, 2013. The majority of funds in our short-term investments are maintained in our correspondent bank account with the FRB, as further discussed under “—Liquidity Management.” The increase in our cash and cash equivalents was primarily attributable to the following:
A net decrease in our investment securities portfolio of $225.5 million, excluding the fair value adjustment on available-for-sale investment securities;
An increase in deposits of $28.5 million;
Sales of other real estate resulting in the receipt of cash proceeds from these sales of $5.9 million;
Recoveries of loans previously charged off of $2.2 million; and
Cash generated by operating earnings; partially offset by
The payment of $66.4 million of cumulative deferred interest payments on our junior subordinated debentures to the respective trustees in March 2014, which was subsequently distributed to the trust preferred securities holders on the respective interest payment dates in March and April, 2014;
An increase in loans of $38.3 million, exclusive of loan charge-offs and transfers of loans to other real estate;
A payment of $15.5 million in January 2014 associated with the final settlement amount paid to Union Bank in conjunction with the sale of our ABS line of business in November, 2013; and
A net decrease in our daily securities sold under agreements to repurchase of $6.4 million, consisting of changes in our daily repurchase agreements utilized by customers as an alternative deposit product.
Investment securities decreased $225.1 million to $2.13 billion at March 31, 2014, from $2.35 billion at December 31, 2013. The decrease primarily reflects proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities. We sold certain investment securities during the first quarter of 2014 to fund loan growth and other corporate transactions, including the payment of all of the cumulative deferred interest on our junior subordinated debentures relating to the Company's trust preferred securities in March 2014. The decrease is partially offset by an increase in the fair value adjustment on our available-for-sale investment securities of $6.9 million resulting from a decrease in market interest rates during the period. Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities were $166.3 million and proceeds from maturities and/or calls of investment securities were $62.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Loans, net of net deferred loan fees, or total loans, increased $33.9 million to $2.89 billion at March 31, 2014, from $2.86 billion at December 31, 2013. The increase primarily reflects new loan production as a result of successful efforts to expand existing loan relationships and develop new loan relationships, specifically in our commercial, financial and agricultural and commercial real estate portfolios.
Deposits increased $28.5 million to $4.84 billion at March 31, 2014, from $4.81 billion at December 31, 2013. The increase reflects growth in demand deposits of $49.7 million attributable to seasonal fluctuations, partially offset by reductions of certificates of deposit and savings and money market deposits of $18.4 million and $2.8 million, respectively.
Daily securities sold under agreements to repurchase (in connection with cash management activities of our commercial deposit customers) decreased $6.4 million to $36.7 million at March 31, 2014, from $43.1 million at December 31, 2013, reflecting changes in customer balances associated with this product segment.
Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased $80.8 million to $110.3 million at March 31, 2014, from $191.1 million at December 31, 2013. The decrease was attributable to a decrease of $62.7 million in accrued interest payable on our junior

39



subordinated debentures associated with the payment of all of the cumulative deferred interest on our junior subordinated debentures relating to the Company's trust preferred securities in March 2014, as further described in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements. The decrease was also attributable to the final settlement amount of $15.5 million paid to Union Bank in January 2014 in conjunction with the sale of our ABS line of business in November 2013.
Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses
Loan Portfolio Composition. Total loans represented 49.1% of our assets as of March 31, 2014, compared to 48.3% of our assets at December 31, 2013. Total loans increased $33.9 million to $2.89 billion at March 31, 2014 from $2.86 billion at December 31, 2013. The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio by category at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
632,089

 
600,704

Real estate construction and development
121,237

 
121,662

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
910,513

 
921,488

Multi-family residential
125,116

 
121,304

Commercial real estate
1,063,813

 
1,048,234

Consumer and installment
17,399

 
18,681

Loans held for sale
21,402

 
25,548

Net deferred loan fees
(588
)
 
(526
)
Total loans
$
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio by geographic region and/or business segment at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Southern California
$
959,853

 
968,241

Missouri
614,640

 
565,043

Mortgage Banking Division
505,453

 
513,225

Northern California
372,022

 
361,895

Northern and Southern Illinois
226,105

 
224,664

Chicago
88,087

 
91,048

Florida
55,949

 
58,525

Texas
21,467

 
23,705

Other
47,405

 
50,749

Total loans
$
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

The net increase in our loan portfolio during the first three months of 2014 primarily reflects the following:
An increase of $31.4 million, or 5.2%, in our commercial, financial and agricultural portfolio, primarily attributable to new loan production within this portfolio segment;
A decrease of $11.0 million, or 1.2%, in our one-to-four-family residential real estate loan portfolio primarily attributable to principal payments and payoffs on existing loans exceeding new loan production. The following table summarizes the composition of our one-to-four-family residential real estate loan portfolio as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
One-to-four-family residential real estate:
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
$
562,170

 
572,164

Home equity
348,343

 
349,324

Total
$
910,513

 
921,488

An increase of $15.6 million, or 1.5%, in our commercial real estate portfolio primarily attributable to new loan production within this portfolio segment. The following table summarizes the composition of our commercial real estate portfolio by loan type as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

40



 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Commercial real estate:
 
 
 
Owner occupied
$
570,024

 
568,035

Non-owner occupied
473,376

 
461,573

Farmland
20,413

 
18,626

Total
$
1,063,813

 
1,048,234

A decrease of $4.1 million, or 16.2%, in our loans held for sale portfolio primarily resulting from a decline in loan origination volumes and the timing of subsequent sales into the secondary mortgage market.
Nonperforming Assets. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans and other real estate. The following table presents the categories of nonperforming assets and certain ratios as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Nonperforming Assets:
 
 
 
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
13,023

 
10,523

Real estate construction and development
4,642

 
4,914

One-to-four-family residential real estate:
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
18,566

 
20,063

Home equity
7,097

 
7,361

Multi-family residential
1,638

 
1,793

Commercial real estate
8,826

 
8,283

Consumer and installment
13

 
19

Total nonaccrual loans
53,805

 
52,956

Other real estate
61,485

 
66,702

Total nonperforming assets
$
115,290

 
119,658

 
 
 
 
Total loans
$
2,890,981

 
2,857,095

 
 
 
 
Performing troubled debt restructurings
$
111,911

 
110,627

 
 
 
 
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing
$
253

 
424

 
 
 
 
Ratio of:
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses to loans
2.76
%
 
2.84
%
Nonaccrual loans to loans
1.86

 
1.85

Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans
148.37

 
153.02

Nonperforming assets to loans and other real estate
3.90

 
4.09

Our nonperforming assets, consisting of nonaccrual loans and other real estate, decreased $4.4 million, or 3.7%, to $115.3 million at March 31, 2014, from $119.7 million at December 31, 2013, attributable to a decrease in our other real estate, partially offset by an increase in our nonaccrual loans.
The increase in our nonaccrual loans of $849,000, or 1.6%, during the first three months of 2014 was primarily driven by additions to nonaccrual loans during the quarter, primarily in our commercial, financial and agricultural loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, loans identified by management as troubled debt restructurings, or TDRs, aggregating $9.2 million and $10.6 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status and were classified as nonperforming loans.
The decrease in other real estate of $5.2 million, or 7.8%, during the first three months of 2014 was primarily driven by sales of other real estate properties, including a single property with a carrying value of $3.0 million. Of the $61.5 million of other real estate at March 31, 2014, $872,000, $58.4 million and $2.1 million consisted of collateral with the most recent appraisal date being in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The remaining other real estate of $82,000 at March 31, 2014 consisted of collateral with the most recent appraisal date being in 2011 and 2010.

41



Performing Troubled Debt Restructurings. The following table presents the categories of performing TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
$
79,586

 
78,153

Multi-family residential
27,836

 
27,955

Commercial real estate
4,489

 
4,519

Total performing troubled debt restructurings
$
111,911

 
110,627

The increase in performing TDRs of $1.3 million, or 1.2%, during the first three months of 2014 was primarily attributable to an increase in our one-to-four-family residential loan portfolio performing TDRs. Our multi-family residential performing TDRs consist of a single $27.8 million loan relationship in our Chicago region that was restructured during the fourth quarter of 2012. We are closely monitoring this loan relationship, and while facts and circumstances are subject to change in the future, the borrower continued to service this obligation in accordance with the existing terms and conditions of the restructured credit agreement as of March 31, 2014.
Potential Problem Loans. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, loans aggregating $101.8 million and $109.5 million, respectively, which were not classified as nonperforming assets or performing TDRs, were identified by management as having potential credit problems, or potential problem loans. These loans are generally defined as commercial loans having an internally assigned grade of substandard and consumer loans which are greater than 30 days past due. The following table presents the categories of our potential problem loans as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Commercial, financial and agricultural
$
10,884

 
14,727

Real estate construction and development
73,051

 
73,390

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
7,815

 
8,707

Multi-family residential
610

 
555

Commercial real estate
9,265

 
11,999

Consumer and installment
178

 
126

Total potential problem loans
$
101,803

 
109,504

Potential problem loans decreased $7.7 million, or 7.0%, during the first three months of 2014. The decrease in potential problem loans reflects transfers of certain potential problem loans to special mention status, transfers to nonaccrual status and payment activity. Potential problem loans at March 31, 2014 include a $60.5 million real estate construction and development credit relationship in our Southern California region. Based on recent valuations of the underlying collateral securing this loan relationship, we have determined that it is currently adequately secured. We continue to closely monitor this loan relationship, and while the facts and circumstances are subject to change in the future, the borrower continued to service this obligation in accordance with the existing terms and conditions of the credit agreement as of March 31, 2014.
Our credit risk management policies and procedures, as further described under “—Allowance for Loan Losses,” focus on identifying potential problem loans. Potential problem loans may be identified by the assigned lender, the credit administration department or the internal credit review department. Specifically, the originating loan officers have primary responsibility for monitoring and overseeing their respective credit relationships, including, but not limited to: (a) periodic reviews of financial statements; (b) periodic site visits to inspect and evaluate loan collateral; (c) ongoing communication with primary borrower representatives; and (d) appropriately monitoring and adjusting the risk rating of the respective credit relationships should ongoing conditions or circumstances associated with the relationship warrant such adjustments. In addition, in the current weakened economic environment, our credit administration department and our internal credit review department are reviewing all loans with credit exposure over certain thresholds in loan portfolio segments in which we, or other financial institutions, have experienced significant loan charge-offs, such as real estate construction and development and one-to-four-family residential real estate loans, and on loan portfolio segments that appear to be most likely to generate additional loan charge-offs in the future, such as commercial real estate. We include adversely rated credits, including potential problem loans, on our monthly loan watch list. Loans on our watch list require regular detailed loan status reports prepared by the responsible officer which are discussed in formal meetings with internal credit review and credit administration staff members that are generally conducted on a quarterly basis. The primary purpose of these meetings is to closely monitor these loan relationships and further develop, modify and oversee appropriate action plans with respect to the ultimate and timely resolution of the individual loan relationships.
Each loan is assigned an FDIC collateral code at the time of origination which provides management with information regarding the nature and type of the underlying collateral supporting all individual loans, including potential problem loans. Upon

42



identification of a potential problem loan, management makes a determination of the value of the underlying collateral via a third party appraisal and/or an assessment of value from our internal appraisal review department. The estimated value of the underlying collateral is a significant factor in the risk rating and allowance for loan losses allocation assigned to potential problem loans.
Potential problem loans are regularly evaluated for impaired loan status by lenders, the credit administration department and the internal credit review department. When management makes the determination that a loan should be considered impaired, an initial specific reserve is allocated to the impaired loan, if necessary, until the loan is charged down to the appraised value of the underlying collateral, typically within 30 to 90 days of becoming impaired. Management typically utilizes appraisals performed no earlier than 180 days prior to the charge-off, and in most cases, appraisals utilized are dated within 60 days of the charge-off. As such, management typically addresses collateral shortfalls through charge-offs as opposed to recording specific reserves on individual loans. Once a loan is charged down to the appraised value of the underlying collateral, management regularly monitors the carrying value of the loan for any additional deterioration and records additional reserves or charge-offs as necessary. As a general guideline, management orders new appraisals on any impaired loan or other real estate property in which the most recent appraisal is more than 18 months old; however, management also orders new appraisals on impaired loans or other real estate properties if management determines new appraisals are prudent based on many different factors, such as a rapid change in market conditions in a particular region.
Allowance for Loan Losses. Our allowance for loan losses decreased to $79.8 million at March 31, 2014, from $81.0 million at December 31, 2013. The decrease in our allowance for loan losses during the first three months of 2014 was attributable to net charge-offs of $1.2 million.
Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 2.76% and 2.84% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The decrease in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans during the first three months of 2014 was primarily attributable to the decrease in our potential problem loans, which generally require a higher allowance for loan losses relative to the amount of the loans than the remainder of the loan portfolio, in addition to a decrease in our historical net loan charge-off experience as a result of declining charge-off levels during the first three months of 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to previous periods.
Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonaccrual loans was 148.37% and 153.02% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The decrease in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonaccrual loans during the first three months of 2014 was attributable to the slight increase in nonaccrual loans, coupled with the decline in the allowance for loan losses.
The following table summarizes the changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Allowance for loan losses, beginning of period
$
81,033

 
91,602

Loans charged-off:
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
(1,622
)
 
(676
)
Real estate construction and development
(30
)
 
(282
)
Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential:
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
(1,091
)
 
(3,648
)
Home equity
(335
)
 
(741
)
Multi-family residential
(132
)
 
(3
)
Commercial real estate
(188
)
 
(1,477
)
Consumer and installment
(49
)
 
(56
)
Total
(3,447
)
 
(6,883
)
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
 
 
 
Commercial, financial and agricultural
752

 
1,067

Real estate construction and development
600

 
395

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential:
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
582

 
1,134

Home equity
209

 
97

Multi-family residential loans
7

 

Commercial real estate loans
57

 
718

Consumer and installment
38

 
40

Total
2,245

 
3,451

Net loans charged-off
(1,202
)
 
(3,432
)
Provision for loan losses

 

Allowance for loan losses, end of period
$
79,831

 
88,170

Our net loan charge-offs decreased to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $3.4 million for the comparable period in 2013. Our annualized net loan charge-offs as a percentage of average loans were 0.17% and 0.49% for the three months

43



ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During the first three months of 2014, as compared to the comparable period in 2013, we experienced a decrease in net loan charge-offs in all of our loan categories except our commercial, financial and agricultural and multi-family residential loan portfolios. Net loan charge-offs associated with our commercial, financial and agricultural portfolio were $870,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to net loan recoveries of $391,000 for the comparable period in 2013, resulting in an increase in net loan charge-offs for that category of $1.3 million.
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 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 income.
We record charge-offs on nonperforming loans typically within 30 to 90 days of the credit relationship reaching nonperforming loan status. We measure impairment and the resulting charge-off amount based primarily on third party appraisals. As such, rather than carrying specific reserves on nonperforming loans, we generally recognize a loan loss through a charge to the allowance for loan losses once the credit relationship reaches nonperforming loan status.
The allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category is a result of the application of our risk rating system augmented by historical loss data by loan type and other qualitative analysis. Consequently, the distribution of the allowance for loan losses will change from period to period due to the following factors:
Changes in the aggregate loan balances by loan category;
Changes in the identified risk in individual loans in our loan 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;
Changes in historical loss data as a result of recent charge-off experience by loan type; and
Changes in qualitative factors such as changes in economic conditions, the volume of nonaccrual and potential problem loans by loan category and geographical location, and changes in the value of the underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans.
The following table is a summary of the ratio of the allocated allowance for loan losses to loans by category as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Commercial, financial and agricultural
2.19
%
 
2.23
%
Real estate construction and development
5.84

 
6.09

Real estate mortgage:
 
 
 
One-to-four-family residential
3.43

 
3.54

Multi-family residential
4.21

 
4.33

Commercial real estate
2.07

 
2.10

Consumer and installment
2.03

 
1.68

Total
2.76

 
2.84

The changes in the percentage of the allocated allowance for loan losses to loans in these portfolio segments are reflective of changes in the overall level of special mention loans, potential problem loans, performing TDRs and nonaccrual loans within each of these portfolio segments, in addition to other qualitative and quantitative factors, including loan growth in certain portfolio segments.

44



INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT
The maintenance of a satisfactory level of net interest income is a primary factor in our ability to achieve acceptable income levels. However, the maturity and repricing characteristics of our loan and investment portfolios may differ significantly from those within our deposit structure. The nature of the loan and deposit markets within which we operate, and our objectives for business development within those markets at any point in time, influence these characteristics. In addition, the ability of borrowers to repay loans and the possibility of depositors withdrawing funds prior to stated maturity dates introduces divergent option characteristics that fluctuate as interest rates change. These factors cause various elements of our balance sheet to react in different manners and at different times relative to changes in interest rates, typically leading to increases or decreases in net interest income over time. Depending upon the direction and magnitude of interest rate movements and their effect on the specific components of our balance sheet, the effects on net interest income can be substantial. Consequently, it is critical that we establish effective control over our exposure to changes in interest rates. We strive to manage our interest rate risk by:
Maintaining an Asset Liability Committee, or ALCO, responsible to our Board of Directors and Executive Management, to review the overall interest rate risk management activity and approve actions taken to reduce risk;
Employing a financial simulation model to determine our exposure to changes in interest rates;
Coordinating the lending, investing and deposit-generating functions to control the assumption of interest rate risk; and
Utilizing various financial instruments, including derivatives, to offset inherent interest rate risk should it become excessive.
The objective of these procedures is to limit the adverse impact that changes in interest rates may have on our net interest income.
The ALCO has overall responsibility for the effective management of interest rate risk and the approval of policy guidelines. The ALCO includes our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Banking Officer, Director of Risk Management and Audit, and certain other senior officers. The Asset Liability Management Group, which monitors interest rate risk, supports the ALCO, prepares analyses for review by the ALCO and implements actions that are either specifically directed by the ALCO or established by policy guidelines.
In managing sensitivity, we strive to reduce the adverse impact on earnings by managing interest rate risk within internal policy constraints. Our policy is to manage exposure to potential risks associated with changing interest rates by maintaining a balance sheet posture in which annual net interest income is not significantly impacted by reasonably possible near-term changes in interest rates. To measure the effect of interest rate changes, we project our net income over a two-year horizon on a pro forma basis. The analysis assumes various scenarios for increases and decreases in interest rates including both instantaneous and gradual, and parallel and non-parallel, shifts in the yield curve, in varying amounts. For purposes of arriving at reasonably possible near-term changes in interest rates, we include scenarios based on actual changes in interest rates, which have occurred over a two-year period, simulating both a declining and rising interest rate scenario.
We are “asset-sensitive,” indicating that our assets would generally re-price 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 indicates a pre-tax projected loss of approximately 4.9% of net interest income, based on assets and liabilities at March 31, 2014. At March 31, 2014, 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 significant declines in interest rates that began in late 2007 and continued throughout 2008 and 2009 to historically low levels that remain prevalent in the current marketplace, has negatively impacted our net interest income and is expected to continue to impact the level of our net interest income throughout the near future.
We also prepare and review a more traditional interest rate sensitivity position in conjunction with the results of our simulation model. The following table presents the projected maturities and periods to repricing of our rate sensitive assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2014, adjusted to account for anticipated prepayments:

45



 
Three
Months or
Less
 
Over Three
through Six
Months
 
Over Six
through
Twelve
Months
 
Over One
through Five
Years
 
Over Five
Years
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans (1)
$
1,345,506

 
176,242

 
267,342

 
908,617

 
193,274

 
2,890,981

Investment securities
87,274

 
77,025

 
155,414

 
1,153,089

 
654,042

 
2,126,844

FRB and FHLB stock
32,148

 

 

 

 

 
32,148

Short-term investments
229,187

 

 

 

 

 
229,187

Total interest-earning assets
$
1,694,115

 
253,267

 
422,756

 
2,061,706

 
847,316

 
5,279,160

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand deposits
$
258,689

 
160,806

 
104,874

 
76,907

 
97,882

 
699,158

Money market deposits
1,548,021

 

 

 

 

 
1,548,021

Savings deposits
49,960

 
41,144

 
35,266

 
49,960

 
117,554

 
293,884

Time deposits
280,508

 
198,611

 
305,620

 
242,945

 
22

 
1,027,706

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
36,713

 

 

 

 

 
36,713

Subordinated debentures
282,481

 

 

 

 
71,748

 
354,229

Total interest-bearing liabilities
$
2,456,372

 
400,561

 
445,760

 
369,812

 
287,206

 
3,959,711

Interest-sensitivity gap:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Periodic
$
(762,257
)
 
(147,294
)
 
(23,004
)
 
1,691,894

 
560,110

 
1,319,449

Cumulative
(762,257
)
 
(909,551
)
 
(932,555
)
 
759,339

 
1,319,449

 
 
Ratio of interest-sensitive assets to interest-sensitive liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Periodic
0.69

 
0.63

 
0.95

 
5.58

 
2.95

 
1.33

Cumulative
0.69

 
0.68

 
0.72

 
1.21

 
1.33

 
 
____________________
(1)
Loans are presented net of net deferred loan fees.
Management made certain assumptions in preparing the foregoing table. These assumptions included:
Loans will repay at projected repayment rates;
Mortgage-backed securities, included in investment securities, will repay at projected repayment rates;
Interest-bearing demand accounts and savings deposits will behave in a projected manner with regard to their interest rate sensitivity; and
Fixed maturity deposits will not be withdrawn prior to maturity.
A significant variance in actual results from one or more of these assumptions could materially affect the results reflected in the foregoing table.
We were in an overall asset-sensitive position of $1.32 billion, or 22.4% of our total assets at March 31, 2014. We were in an overall liability-sensitive position on a cumulative basis through the twelve-month time horizon of $932.6 million, or 15.8% of our total assets at March 31, 2014.
The interest-sensitivity position is one of several measurements of the impact of interest rate changes on net interest income. Its usefulness in assessing the effect of potential changes in net interest income varies with the constant change in the composition of our assets and liabilities and changes in interest rates. For this reason, we place greater emphasis on our simulation model for monitoring our interest rate risk exposure.
In the past, we have utilized derivative instruments to assist in our management of interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing, maturity and option characteristics of certain assets and liabilities. We may also sell interest rate swap agreement contracts to certain customers who wish to modify their interest rate sensitivity. There were no interest rate swap agreement contracts outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Our derivative instruments are more fully described in Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements.
LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT
First Bank. 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. First Bank receives funds for liquidity from customer deposits, loan payments, maturities of loans and investments, sales of investments and earnings before provision for loan losses. 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 Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service, or CDARS program), selling securities under agreements to repurchase, and utilizing borrowings from the FHLB, the FRB and other borrowings.
As a financial intermediary, we are subject to liquidity risk. We closely monitor our liquidity position through our Liquidity Management Committee and we continue to implement actions deemed necessary to maintain an appropriate level of liquidity in light of ongoing market conditions, changes in loan funding needs, operating and debt service requirements, current deposit trends and events that may occur in conjunction with our Capital Plan. We analyze and manage short-term and long-term liquidity through

46



an ongoing review of internal funding sources, projected cash flows from loans, securities and customer deposits, internal and competitor deposit pricing structures and maturity profiles of current borrowing sources. We utilize planning, management reporting and adverse stress scenarios to monitor sources and uses of funds on a daily basis to assess cash levels to ensure adequate funds are available to meet normal business operating requirements and to supplement liquidity needs to meet unusual demands for funds that may result from an unexpected change in customer deposit levels or potential planned or unexpected liquidity events that may arise from time to time.
Our cash and cash equivalents were $341.2 million and $190.4 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The majority of these funds were maintained in our correspondent bank account with the FRB. The increase in our cash and cash equivalents of $150.8 million is further discussed under “— Financial Condition.”
Our unpledged investment securities decreased $239.2 million to $1.78 billion at March 31, 2014, from $2.02 billion at December 31, 2013, and are mostly comprised of highly liquid and readily marketable available-for-sale investment securities. The combined level of cash and cash equivalents and unpledged investment securities provided us with total available liquidity of $2.12 billion and $2.21 billion at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Our available liquidity of $2.12 billion represents 36.0% of total assets at March 31, 2014, in comparison to $2.21 billion, or 37.3% of total assets, at December 31, 2013. Our loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 59.7% at March 31, 2014 from 59.4% at December 31, 2013.
During the first three months of 2014, we reduced our aggregate funds acquired from other sources of funds by $5.8 million to $426.4 million at March 31, 2014, from $432.2 million at December 31, 2013. These other sources of funds include certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more and other borrowings, which are comprised of daily securities sold under agreements to repurchase. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in our daily repurchase agreements. The following table presents the maturity structure of these other sources of funds at March 31, 2014:
 
Certificates of
Deposit of
$100,000 or More
 
Other
Borrowings
 
Total
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Three months or less
$
106,858

 
36,713

 
143,571

Over three months through six months
73,901

 

 
73,901

Over six months through twelve months
114,726

 

 
114,726

Over twelve months
94,190

 

 
94,190

Total
$
389,675

 
36,713

 
426,388

In addition to these sources of funds, First Bank has established a borrowing relationship with the FRB. First Bank's borrowing capacity through its relationship with the FRB was approximately $300.8 million and $283.9 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. This borrowing relationship, which is secured primarily by commercial loans, provides an additional liquidity facility that may be utilized for contingency liquidity purposes. First Bank did not have any FRB borrowings outstanding at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
First Bank also has a borrowing relationship with the FHLB. First Bank's borrowing capacity through its relationship with the FHLB was approximately $392.5 million and $379.1 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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. First Bank did not have any FHLB advances outstanding at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
As a means of further contingency funding, First Bank may use broker dealers to acquire deposits to fund both short-term and long-term funding needs, including brokered money market accounts, and has available funding, subject to certain limits, through the CDARS program. Exclusive of the CDARS program, First Bank does not generally utilize broker dealers to acquire deposits.
We believe First Bank has sufficient liquidity to meet its current and future near-term liquidity needs; however, no assurance can be made that First Bank's liquidity position will not be materially, adversely affected in the future.
First Banks, Inc. First Banks, Inc. is a separate and distinct legal entity from its subsidiaries. The Company's liquidity position is affected by dividends received from its subsidiaries and the amount of cash and other liquid assets on hand, payment of interest on trust preferred securities and other debt instruments issued by the Company, dividends paid on common and preferred stock (all of which are presently suspended or deferred), capital contributions the Company makes into its subsidiaries, any redemption of debt for cash issued by the Company, and proceeds the Company raises through the issuance of debt and/or equity instruments, if any. The Company's unrestricted cash totaled $7.3 million at March 31, 2014, as compared to $1.9 million at December 31, 2013.
We cannot 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 “Overview and Recent Developments —Regulatory Agreements.”

47



In August 2009, we announced the deferral of our regularly scheduled interest payments on our outstanding junior subordinated debentures 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 debentures and the related trust indentures allow us to defer such payments of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without triggering a payment default or penalty. The Company had deferred such payments for 18 quarterly periods as of December 31, 2013. These deferred payments aggregated $62.7 million at December 31, 2013.
On January 31, 2014, the Company received regulatory approval from the FRB, subject to certain conditions, which granted First Bank the authority to pay a dividend to the Company, and the authority to the Company to utilize such funds, for the sole purpose of paying the accumulated deferred interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures issued in connection with the Company's trust preferred securities. In February 2014, First Bank paid a dividend of $70.0 million to the Company and the Company notified the trustees of the trust preferred securities of its intention to pay all cumulative interest that had been deferred on the junior subordinated debentures relating to our trust preferred securities, on the regularly scheduled quarterly payment dates in March and April, 2014. The aggregate amount owed on all of the junior subordinated debentures relating to our trust preferred securities at the respective March and April, 2014 payment dates was $66.4 million. On March 14, 2014, the Company paid interest on the junior subordinated debentures of $66.4 million to the respective trustees, which was subsequently distributed to the trust preferred securities holders on the respective interest payment dates in March and April, 2014, as further described under “Overview and Recent Developments —Dividend from First Bank and Payment of Interest on Junior Subordinated Debentures” and in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements. Subsequent to this payment, the Company has the ability to enter into future deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods without triggering a payment default or penalty.
The Company and First Bank must receive approval from the FRB prior to making any future interest payments on the Company's outstanding junior subordinated debentures. The Company is unable to predict whether or when the FRB will grant approval to the Company to make any such future interest payments. Without the payment of dividends from First Bank, the Company currently lacks the source of income and the liquidity to make future interest payments on the subordinated debentures associated with its trust preferred securities. Given restrictions placed upon First Bank, including regulatory restrictions, it may not be able to provide the Company with dividends in an amount sufficient to pay the interest on the trust preferred securities. In such case, the Company would have to pursue alternative funding sources, but there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify and obtain alternative funding due to the uncertainty of our ability to access future liquidity through debt markets. The Company's ability to access debt markets on terms satisfactory to us will depend on our financial performance and conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, many of which are outside of our control.
During the period of deferral of interest on our regularly scheduled interest payments on our outstanding junior subordinated debentures relating to our $345.0 million of trust preferred securities, we were not allowed to, among other things and with limited exceptions, pay cash dividends on or repurchase our common stock or preferred stock or make any payment on outstanding debt obligations that rank equally with or junior to our junior subordinated debentures. Accordingly, we also suspended 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 8 to our consolidated financial statements. We have deferred and accrued $68.4 million of regularly scheduled dividend payments on our Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock, and have accrued an additional $9.4 million of cumulative dividends on such deferred dividend payments at March 31, 2014. As such, the aggregate amount of these deferred and accrued dividend payments was $77.8 million at March 31, 2014.
On March 20, 2013, the Company entered into a Revolving Credit Note and a Stock Pledge Agreement with Investors of America Limited Partnership, or Investors of America, LP, as further described in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements. The agreement provided for a $5.0 million secured revolving line of credit to be utilized for general working capital needs and replaced a previous credit agreement that matured on December 31, 2012. This borrowing arrangement, which matured on March 31, 2014, had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 300 basis points, and was intended to supplement, on a contingent basis, the parent company's overall level of unrestricted cash to cover the parent company's projected operating expenses should the parent company's existing cash resources become insufficient in the future. There were no balances outstanding under this borrowing arrangement from its origination date through its maturity date.
The Company's financial position will be adversely affected if it experiences increased liquidity needs and any of the following events occur:
First Bank is unable or prohibited by its regulators to pay future dividends to the Company sufficient to satisfy the Company's operating cash flow needs. The Company's ability to receive future dividends from First Bank to assist the Company in meeting its operating requirements, both on a short-term and long-term basis, is currently subject to regulatory approval, as further described above and under “Overview and Recent Developments —Regulatory Agreements;”
We deem it advisable, or are required by regulatory authorities, to use cash maintained by the Company to support the capital position of First Bank;

48



First Bank fails to remain “well-capitalized” and, accordingly, First Bank is required to pledge additional collateral against its borrowings and is unable to do so. As discussed above, First Bank has no outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2014, with the exception of $36.7 million of daily repurchase agreements utilized by customers as an alternative deposit product, and has substantial borrowing capacity through its relationships with the FHLB and the FRB, as previously discussed; or
The Company has difficulty raising cash through the future issuance of debt or equity instruments or by accessing additional sources of credit, as further described above.
The Company's financial flexibility will be severely constrained if we are unable to maintain our access to funding or if adequate financing on terms acceptable to us is not available in the marketplace. If we are required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to support our business, our revenues may not increase proportionately to cover our costs. In this case, our operating margins would be materially adversely affected. A lack of liquidity and/or cost-effective funding alternatives could lead to the Company's inability to meet its financial commitments and related contractual obligations associated with its junior subordinated debentures, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Other Commitments and Contractual Obligations. We have entered into long-term leasing arrangements and other commitments and contractual obligations in conjunction with our ongoing operating activities. The required payments under such leasing arrangements, other commitments and contractual obligations at March 31, 2014 were as follows:
 
Less Than 1
Year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
Over 5 Years
 
Total (1)
 
(dollars expressed in thousands)
Operating leases
$
8,439

 
12,647

 
6,463

 
10,968

 
38,517

Certificates of deposit (2)
784,030

 
202,760

 
40,894

 
22

 
1,027,706

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
36,713

 

 

 

 
36,713

Subordinated debentures (3)

 

 

 
354,229

 
354,229

Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock (3) (4)

 

 

 
312,743

 
312,743

Other contractual obligations
511

 
4

 

 

 
515

Total
$
829,693

 
215,411

 
47,357

 
677,962

 
1,770,423

____________________
(1)
Amounts exclude ASC Topic 740 unrecognized tax liabilities of $879,000 and related accrued interest expense of $156,000 for which the timing of payment of such liabilities cannot be reasonably estimated as of March 31, 2014.
(2)
Amounts exclude the related accrued interest expense on certificates of deposit of $347,000 as of March 31, 2014.
(3)
Amounts exclude the accrued interest expense on junior subordinated debentures of $199,000 as of March 31, 2014, accrued dividends declared on preferred stock of $77.8 million and undeclared dividends of $9.6 million as of March 31, 2014. As further described under “Overview and Recent Developments –Regulatory Agreements,” we currently may not make any distributions of interest or other sums on our junior subordinated debentures and related underlying trust preferred securities without the prior approval of the FRB.
(4)
Represents amounts payable upon redemption of the Class C Preferred Stock and the Class D Preferred Stock of $295.4 million and $17.3 million, respectively.
EFFECTS OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11 - Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. As a result of applying this ASU, an unrecognized tax benefit is presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss or other tax credit carry-forward when settlement in this manner is available under the tax law. The assessment of whether settlement is available under the tax law is based on facts and circumstances as of the balance sheet reporting date and does not consider future events (i.e., upcoming expiration of related net operating loss carry-forwards). This classification does not affect an entity’s analysis of the realization of its deferred tax assets. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013. We adopted the requirements of this ASU on January 1, 2014, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or results of operations or the disclosures presented in our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-01 - Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) - Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects. This ASU provides guidance on accounting for investments by a reporting entity in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credit. The amendments in this ASU permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). The amendments require new recurring disclosures about all investments in qualified affordable housing projects irrespective of the method used to account for the investments. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU to determine the impact on our consolidated financial statements or results of operations and the disclosures to be presented in our consolidated financial statements.


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ITEM 3 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are included under “Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Interest Rate Risk Management,” appearing on pages 45 through 46 of this report.

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 as of that date to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 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 Part I, Item 1 – Financial Statements, under 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. From time to time, we are party to other legal matters arising in the normal course of business. While some matters pending against us specify damages claimed by plaintiffs, others do not seek a specified amount of damages or are at very early stages of the legal process. We record a loss accrual for all legal matters for which we deem a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We are not presently party to any legal proceedings the resolution of which we believe is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company and First Bank entered into agreements with the FRB and MDOF, as further described under “Item 2 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations —Regulatory Agreements” and in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. The informal agreement with the MDOF was terminated effective September 11, 2013.


ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS
Readers of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should consider certain risk factors in conjunction with the other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Refer to “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the additional risk factors, as described below, for a discussion of these risks.
The Company's common equity calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles is likely to diverge from the Company's common equity Tier 1 Capital as calculated for regulatory purposes. As further described under “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations —Overview and Recent Developments – Basel III Regulatory Capital Reforms,” the Federal Reserve, in July, 2013, promulgated regulations that will impose a new common equity Tier 1 capital requirement that will apply to the Company beginning on January 1, 2015. Absent a substantial increase in qualifying common equity, the Company is not likely to meet the common equity Tier 1 capital requirement as it will be calculated in 2015, or to meet the common equity Tier 1 capital requirement as it will be calculated in 2016 when the capital conservation buffer goes

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into effect. The inability to remain adequately capitalized under the new Basel III capital requirements could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, ability to grow, and could prohibit the payment of dividends on our capital stock and interest on our junior subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities).
The Company’s ability to increase its common equity Tier 1 capital is constrained by the Company’s private ownership structure. As previously described above, absent a substantial increase in qualifying common equity, the Company is not likely to meet the common equity Tier 1 capital requirement as it will be calculated in 2015, or to meet the common equity Tier 1 capital requirement as it will be calculated in 2016 when the capital conservation buffer goes into effect. All of the Company’s common stock is held by trusts created by and for the benefit of Mr. James F. Dierberg and members of his immediate family. The Company cannot issue a meaningful number of additional shares of common stock without an amendment of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation which would require the approval of the holders of common stock. Such holders have indicated their intention to maintain the Company as a privately held institution. Furthermore, applicable law would require continued control of an amount of the Company's capital stock that, in the aggregate, represents 50% of the Company's value by the current holders of the Company’s common stock, Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock in order to avoid limitations on the use of the Company's deferred tax assets. For these reasons, the Company’s ability to substantially increase its common equity Tier 1 capital in order to meet the new Basel III requirements by the time the new rules first become applicable to the Company in 2015 or by the time the capital conservation buffer goes into effect in 2016 is more limited than it otherwise might be for a publicly traded company with widely dispersed ownership.
The Company’s ability to pay dividends on its capital stock may be limited under the terms of the Company’s debt. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had $345.0 million of junior subordinated debentures issued in connection with its outstanding trust preferred securities, as further described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. Payments of principal and interest on the junior subordinated debentures (and the related payments on the trust preferred securities) are conditionally guaranteed by the Company. The rights of the holders of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures are senior in ranking to the rights of the holders of the Company’s common stock and preferred stock. As a result, the Company may only pay dividends on its common stock or preferred stock if the payments on its junior subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) are current and, in the event of its bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, the holders of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures must be satisfied before any distributions can be made to its stockholders.
Holders of the Company’s Common Stock, Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock may have interests that are different from the holders of the Company’s Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock. The holders of the Company’s Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock have limited voting rights. All of the Company’s Common Stock and Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock are held by trusts established by and administered by and for the benefit of Mr. James F. Dierberg and members of his immediate family. The holders of the Company’s Common Stock and Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock may have different interests from the holders of the Company’s Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock and could vote, or not vote, to approve transactions that may be considered desirable by the holders of the Company’s Class C Preferred Stock and Class D Preferred Stock.

ITEM 5 OTHER INFORMATION
On May 12, 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) approved the First Banks, Inc. Executive Officer Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). The Incentive Plan is designed to attract, retain and reward highly qualified executives who are important to the Company’s success and to provide incentives relating directly to the financial performance and long-term growth of the Company. Executive officers and other designated employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan.
Pursuant to the Incentive Plan, participating employees may receive an annual incentive payment, calculated as a percentage of the employee’s annual salary, in cash and/or Partners in Performance Units (“Units”). Any Units so granted are subject to the terms and conditions of the First Banks, Inc. Partners in Performance Plan (the “PiP Plan”), described below. The Compensation Committee shall determine (1) executive officers eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan for the fiscal year; (2) the amount of any potential incentive payment based upon a percentage of each executive officer’s salary; (3) the allocation of the method of payment of any incentive between cash and Units; and (4) the financial performance goals and the weighting of such goals for each executive officer on which an incentive payment may be made. Individual awards will be based on attainment of performance goals comprised of specific components of the following: growth/revenue; earnings/efficiency; asset quality; and risk management/regulatory compliance. The Compensation Committee has the right to exclude significant extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual items when calculating the Company’s financial performance in determining the achievement of financial goals. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer has the right to determine eligibility and amounts and terms of payments for non-executive officer employees under the Incentive Plan.
Any Units paid under the Incentive Plan are subject to the terms and conditions of the PiP Plan. Under the PiP Plan, Units are subject to forfeiture until they vest upon the last day of the two-year period which begins on January 1 of the year in which the

51



Units are granted (unless the Units are granted in the third or fourth quarters of the year in which case the two-year vesting period begins on January 1 of the year following the grant). In addition, if a Unit recipient ceases to be employed by the Company or its affiliates due to death, Disability or Retirement (as such terms are defined in the PiP Plan) prior to the completion of the two-year vesting period, such recipient will become immediately vested as of the date of such death, Disability or Retirement. The value of each Unit will be determined as of the end of the two-year vesting period unless the Units vest as a result of death, Disability or Retirement. Following the determination of the Unit value, the value of the Unit will either be paid to the participant or, if properly elected by the participant, deferred subject to the terms of the Company’s Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. The Unit value is initially computed by subtracting the Base Pretax Net Income from the Company’s Pretax Net Income (as such terms are defined in the PiP Plan) for the applicable two-year vesting period, dividing the difference by one hundred million ($100,000,000), adding $1.00 and rounding the resulting sum to the nearest cent ($0.01). Notwithstanding the results of the initial calculation of the Unit value, the Unit value shall not be less than $0.80 nor more than $1.40. The value of any Unit that vests as a result of death, Disability or Retirement will be $1.00.
Because the amounts to be received under the Incentive Plan and the PiP Plan can only be determined based on the future performance of the Company, it is not possible to determine the benefits that will be received by any employee under either plan at this time.
The summaries of the Incentive Plan and the PiP Plan are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of each plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

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 – furnished herewith.
 
 
 
32.2
 
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Financial Officer – furnished herewith.
 
 
 
10.1*
 
First Banks, Inc. Senior Executive Incentive Plan – filed herewith.
 
 
 
10.2*
 
First Banks, Inc. Partners in Performance Plan – filed herewith.
 
 
 
101
 
Financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – furnished herewith.
 
 
 
*
 
Exhibits designated by an asterisk in the Index to Exhibits relate to management contracts and/or compensatory plans or arrangements.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 15, 2014

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
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


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