10-Q 1 sry10q32004.htm Surety Capital 10Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-QSB

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE

ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________ TO ___________.

Commission file number 001-12818

SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE    75-2065607 
(State or other jurisdiction of    (IRS Employer 
incorporation or organization)    Identification number) 

1501 SUMMIT AVENUE, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102

(Address of principal executive offices) 817-335-5955 (Issuer's telephone number)

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [X] No [ ]

Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format Yes [ ] No [X]

Common stock outstanding on September 30, 2004: 11,320,973 shares

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

        SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION     
        INDEX     
            Page No. 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION     
ITEM    1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)     
Consolidated Balance Sheets    3 
Consolidated Statements of Operations    4 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income    5 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity    5 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow    6 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    7 
ITEM    2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition     
        and Results of Operations    15 
ITEM    3.    Controls and Procedures    26 
 
PART II    - OTHER INFORMATION     
ITEM    1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    27 
ITEM    4.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities    27 
ITEM    5.    Other    28 
ITEM    6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    28 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
September 30 
December 31, 
   
2004 
2003 


   
(Unaudited) 
Assets:   
Cash and due from banks   
$ 2,746,000 
$ 7,704,000 
Federal funds sold   
- 
6,722,000 


Total cash and cash equivalents   
2,746,000 
14,426,000 
Interest-bearing time deposits in other financial institutions   
25,000 
28,000 
Securities available for sale, at fair value   
768,000 
1,581,000 
Loans, net   
45,258,000 
65,494,000 
Premises and equipment, net   
2,099,000 
4,659,000 
Accrued interest receivable   
169,000 
306,000 
Other real estate and repossessed assets   
1,719,000 
2,109,000 
Goodwill, net   
1,009,000 
2,537,000 
Other assets   
537,000 
299,000 


 
Total assets   
$ 54,330,000 
$ 91,439,000 


 
Liabilities:   
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits   
$ 13,356,000 
$ 18,383,000 
Savings, NOW and money market accounts   
4,544,000 
23,618,000 
Time deposits, $100,000 and over   
10,696,000 
14,302,000 
Other time deposits   
17,249,000 
25,135,000 


Total deposits   
45,845,000 
81,438,000 
Convertible subordinated debt   
4,350,000 
4,350,000 
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   
1,870,000 
1,889,000 


Total liabilities   
52,065,000 
87,677,000 


 
Shareholders' Equity:   
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued   
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized,   
11,400,809 issued at September 30, 2004; 10,006,080 issued   
at December 31, 2003   
114,000 
100,000 
Additional paid-in capital   
18,103,000 
18,086,000 
Accumulated deficit   
(15,577,000) 
(14,047,000) 
Treasury stock, 79,836 shares at cost   
(375,000) 
(375,000) 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   
- 
(2,000) 

Total shareholders' equity   
2,265,000 
3,762,000 


 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   
$ 54,330,000 
$ 91,439,000 


 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.   

3

SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
       
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended 

 
 

   
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
       
2004 
2003 
2004 
2003 

 



 
Interest income:       
Loans, including fees    $   
950,000 
$ 
1,294,000 
$ 
3,019,000 
$ 
4,086,000 
Securities, all taxable       
3,000 
21,000 
35,000 
104,000 
Federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits       
3,000 
31,000 
12,000 
95,000 

 



Total interest income       
956,000 
1,346,000 
3,066,000 
4,285,000 
 
Interest expense:       
Deposits       
260,000 
407,000 
746,000 
1,314,000 
Borrowings       
81,000 
98,000 
294,000 
294,000 
 



Total interest expense       
341,000 
505,000 
1,040,000 
1,608,000 
 



Net interest income       
615,000 
841,000 
2,026,000 
2,677,000 
Provision for credit losses       
743,000 
- 
1,276,000 
- 
 



Net interest income after provision for credit       
losses       
(128,000) 
841,000 
750,000 
2,677,000 
 
Noninterest income:       
Service charges on deposit accounts       
94,000 
149,000 
282,000 
460,000 
Other fee income       
4,000 
10,000 
20,000 
20,000 
Gain (loss) on sale of other real estate owned       
- 
- 
41,000 
- 
Gain (loss) on sale of branches       
(76,000) 
- 
265,000 
- 
Other income       
221,000 
       
(91,000) 
7,000 
314,000 

 



Total noninterest income       
(69,000) 
380,000 
615,000 
794,000 
 
Noninterest expense:       
Salaries and employee benefits       
437,000 
596,000 
1,262,000 
2,078,000 
Occupancy and equipment       
107,000 
268,000 
372,000 
745,000 
Other expenses       
494,000 
441,000 
1,261,000 
1,185,000 
 



Total noninterest expense       
1,038,000 
1,305,000 
2,895,000 
4,008,000 
 



 
Net loss before income taxes       
(1,235,000) 
(84,000) 
(1,530,000) 
(537,000) 
Income tax (benefit)       
- 
- 
- 
- 
 



 
Net income (loss)       
$ (1,235,000) 
$ 
(84,000) 
$ (1,530,000) 
$ 
(537,000) 
 



 
Net income (loss) per share - Basic    $   
(0.11) 
$ 
(0.01) 
$ 
(0.14) 
$ 
(0.05) 
 
 

 

 

 
Net income (loss) per share - Diluted    $   
(0.11) 
$ 
(0.01) 
$ 
(0.14) 
$ 
(0.05) 
 
 

 

 

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.       

SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended 


 
   
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
   
2004 
2003 
2004 
2003 




 
Net loss   
$ (1,235,000) 
$ (84,000) 
$ 
(1,530,000) 
$ (537,000) 
Other comprehensive income (loss):   
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale   
securities arising during the period, net of taxes   
- 
(88,000) 
2,000 
(87,000) 




Comprehensive loss   
$ (1,235,000) 
$ (172,000) 
$ 
(1,528,000) 
$ (624,000) 




See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.   

SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(Unaudited)

   
Nine Months Ended 



   
September 30 
September 30 
   
2004 
2003 

 

Balance at December 31, 2003 and 2002   
$ 
3,762,000 
$ 
4,627,000 
Net loss   
(1,530,000) 
(537,000) 
Change in fair value of securities available-for-sale, net of tax   
2,000 
(87,000) 
Issuance of common stock   
31,000 
- 



Balance at end of period   
$ 
2,265,000 
$ 
4,003,000 



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.   

5

(Unaudited)                 
       
Nine Months Ended 

 
   
September 30, 
September 30, 
   
2004 
2003 

 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES   
Net loss   
$ 
(1,530,000) 
$ 
(537,000) 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided   
by operating activities   
Provision for credit losses   
1,276,000 
Depreciation   
105,000 
FHLB stock dividends   
(13,000) 
TIB stock dividends   
(3,000) 
Net gain on sale of branches   
(265,000) 
Net (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of assets   
(41,000) 
Other   
- 
(1,673,000) 
Changes in other assets and liabilities   
Accrued interest receivable   
137,000 
Other assets   
(238,000) 
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   
69,000 
 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities   
$ 
(503,000) 
$ 
(2,210,000) 
 
Net change in loans   
$ 
2,071,000 
$ 
2,193,000 
Securities available for sale   
Purchases   
(198,000) 
(480,000) 
Maturities and repayments   
1,009,000 
2,780,000 
Decrease in interest bearing time deposits, net   
3,000 
- 
Expenditures for property and equipment   
(240,000) 
(7,000) 
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment   
2,476,000 
- 
Proceeds for the sale of other real estate owned   
1,440,000 
223,000 
Net expenditures from the disposal of branches   
(18,565,000) 
- 
 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities   
$ 
(12,004,000) 
$ 
4,709,000 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES   
Net change in deposits   
$ 
796,000 
$ 
(7,997,000) 
Borrowing from the FHLB   
6,700,000 
- 
Repayment of borrowing from FHLB   
(6,700,000) 
- 
Issuance of common stock   
31,000 
- 
 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities   
   
$ 
827,000 
$ 
(7,997,000) 
 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents   
$ 
(11,680,000) 
$ 
(5,498,000) 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year   
$ 
14,426,000 
$ 
18,411,000 
 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period   
$ 
2,746,000 
$ 
12,914,000 
 

 

 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES   
Cash paid for interest   
$ 
774,000 
$ 
1,350,000 
Significant non-cash transactions:   
Transfers of repossessed collateral to other real estate owned   
$ 
1,023,000 
$ 
2,218,000 
Financed sales of other real estate owned   
$ 
2,347,000 

6

SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Surety Capital Corporation (the "Holding Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Surety Bank, National Association (the "Bank"), together, with the Holding Company, referred to as the "Company". All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

These interim financial statements are unaudited and reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company at September 30, 2004, and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All such adjustments are normal and recurring in nature. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions of Form 10-QSB and, therefore, do not purport to contain all necessary financial disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles that might otherwise be necessary in the circumstances, and should be read in conjunction with financial statements, and notes thereto, of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2003, included in its annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (the "2003 Form 10-KSB"). Please refer to the accounting policies of the Company described in the notes to financial statements contained in the 2003 Form 10-KSB. The Company has consistently followed these policies in preparing this Form 10-QSB.

Some items in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets." Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets of an acquired business, was amortized on a straight-line method up to fifteen years prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Effective January 1, 2002, goodwill is no longer amortized but tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount should be assessed. Impairment, if any, for goodwill is recognized as a permanent charge to non-interest expense. Management has determined that there is no goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2003.

The Company applies the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and related interpretations, in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans. Under Opinion 25, compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the market price of the Company's stock at the date of the grant above the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. No compensation expense is recognized when the exercise price is equal to the market value of the stock on the day of grant. The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") published SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS No. 123) on January 1, 1996 which encourages, but does not require, companies to recognize compensation expense for grants of stock, stock options and other equity instruments to employees based on new fair value accounting rules. Companies that choose not to adopt the new rules will continue to apply the existing rules, but will be required to disclose pro forma net income under the new method.

7

SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

The following table reflects charges calculated under SFAS No. 123 for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2004 and 2003.

       
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended 
   


 
   
September 30 
 
September 30 
 
September 30 
 
September 30 
   
2004 
 
2003 
 
2004 
 
2003 




Net loss                                 
 
As reported   
$ 
(1,235,000) 
$ 
(84,000) 
$ 
(1,530,000) 
$ (537,000) 
Pro forma   
(1,235,000) 
(84,000) 
(1,530,000) 
(537,000) 
 
Net loss per share   
As reported   
Basic   
$ 
(.11) 
$ 
(.01) 
$ 
(.14) 
$ 
(.05) 
Diluted   
$ 
(.11) 
$ 
(.01) 
$ 
(.14) 
$ 
(.05) 
Pro forma   
Basic   
$ 
(.11) 
$ 
(.01) 
$ 
(.14) 
$ 
(.05) 
Diluted   
$ 
(.11) 
$ 
(.01) 
$ 
(.14) 
$ 
(.05) 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The Company has incurred significant losses, is operating under a Consent Order with the OCC and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Reserve Board and is in default on the interest payments on the subordinated debt. The appropriateness of using the going concern basis is dependent upon the Company's ability to improve profitability through increasing marketing efforts, introducing new deposit products, emphasizing loan growth and reducing non-interest expense. In addition, the Company must meet the requirements of the Consent Order and Memorandum of Understanding, both of which are discussed in further detail below in Part II, Item 1 under the heading "Legal Proceedings". The uncertainty of these conditions raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Note 2. Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share is computed in accordance with SFAS No. 128, which requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") for entities with complex capital structures. Basic EPS is based on net income divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the dilutive effect of stock options granted using the treasury stock method.

Earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the year. The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for basic and diluted earnings per share computations was as follows:

   
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended 


   
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
   
2004 
2003 
2004 
2003 




 
Weighted average shares outstanding   
10,890,392 
9,926,244 
10,803,500 
9,926,244 
Basic   
- 
- 
- 
- 
Effect of stock options   
- 
- 
- 
- 




Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted   
10,890,392 
9,926,244 
10,803,500 
9,926,244 




8

The Company reported a net loss for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003. Accordingly, the dilutive effect of stock options is not considered in the net loss per share calculations for these periods.

Note 3. Securities                                     
 
Securities available-for-sale consisted of the following:                             
 
           
Gross 
 
Gross 
     
Estimated 
   
Amortized 
 
Unrealized 
 
Unrealized 
     
Fair 
   
Cost 
 
Gains 
 
(Losses) 
     
Value 



 
 
September 30, 2004                                     
U. S. Government agencies and corporations   
$ 
- 
$ 
- 
$ 
- 
$ 
- 
Mortgage-backed securities   
- 
- 
- 
- 
Other securities   
768,000 
- 
- 
768,000 
 
 
Total   
$ 
768,000 
$ 
- 
$ 
- 
$ 
768,000 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2003   
U. S. Government agencies and corporations   
$ 
501,000 
$ 
2,000 
$ 
- 
$ 
503,000 
Mortgage-backed securities   
254,000 
- 
(4,000) 
250,000 
Other securities   
828,000 
- 
- 
828,000 
 

 

 

 
 

Total   
$ 
1,583,000 
$ 
2,000 
$ 
(4,000) 
$ 
1,581,000 
 

 

 

 
 


There were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of shareholders' equity at December 31, 2003 or September 30, 2004.

Mortgage-backed securities are backed by pools of mortgages that are insured or guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Government National Mortgage Association. Other securities include stock holdings in Independent Bankers Financial Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB").

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities available for sale at September 30, 2004 by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations. Mortgage-backed securities and other securities are shown separately since they are not due at a single maturity date.

       
Estimated 
       
Amortized 
Fair 
       
Cost 
Value 
 
 
Due within one year                 
Due after one year through five years   
$ 
- 
$ 
- 
Due after five years through ten years   
- 
- 
Mortgaged-backed securities   
- 
- 
Other securities   
768,000 
768,000 


Total Securities   
$ 
768,000 
$ 
768,000 

9

There were no sales of securities available-for-sale during the three-month period ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. However, various bonds were called and principal payments were received on mortgage-backed securities during the three-month periods then ended.

Note 4. Loans                                     
Loans consisted of the following:                                     
       
September 30 
  December 31,         
       
2004 
  2003         


Real estate loans       
$ 
29,170,000 
$ 
44,866,000 
       
Insurance premium financing       
5,097,000 
5,353,000 
       
Commercial loans       
7,925,000 
10,901,000 
       
Consumer loans       
4,945,000 
6,077,000 
       
Accounts receivable factoring       
- 
127,000 
       

 

Total gross loans       
47,137,000 
67,324,000 
       
Unearned interest       
(143,000) 
(142,000) 
       
Allowance for credit losses       
(1,736,000) 
(1,688,000) 
       

 

Loans, net       
$ 
45,258,000 
$ 
65,494,000 
       

 

 
Activity in the allowance for credit losses on loans was as follows:                 
   
Three Months Ended 
 
Nine Months Ended 


   
September 30 
     
September 30 
 
September 30 
 
September 30 
   
2004 
     
2003 
 
2004 
 
2003 




Beginning balance   
$ 
1,302,000 
$ 
1,578,000 
$ 
1,688,000 
$ 
1,461,000 
Provision for credit losses   
743,000 
- 
1,276,000 
- 
Charge-offs   
(385,000) 
(92,000) 
(1,748,000) 
(187,000) 
Recoveries   
76,000 
180,000 
520,000 
392,000 




Ending balance   
$ 
1,736,000 
$ 
1,666,000 
$ 
1,736,000 
$ 
1,666,000 





Note 5. Convertible Subordinated Debt and Notes Payable

On March 31, 1998, the Holding Company issued $4,350,000 in 9% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2008 (the "Notes"), pursuant to an indenture between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago, Illinois, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Holding Company. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 9% per annum until maturity. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on March 31 and September 30 of each year. No principal payments are due until maturity on March 31, 2008.

10

The Company did not pay the interest due March 31, 2002, September 30, 2002, March 31, 2003, September 30, 2003, March 31, 2004, or September 30, 2004. In February 2002, the Company notified holders of its convertible debt that it will not have funds to make future interest payments and offered the holders certain options as alternatives to interest payments. As of September 30, 2004, no agreement had been reached as to any restructuring of the convertible debt. The amount of the interest in arrears is $1,174,500.

The amount of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the Company, including the Bank's deposits. Upon the occurrence of certain events involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership or similar proceedings of the Company, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal of the Notes, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. As discussed in further detail below in Item 2 under the heading "Analysis of Financial Condition", one holder has threatened to file an involuntary petition in bankruptcy against the Company.

The Notes are not subject to mandatory redemption or sinking fund provision. At any time after March 31, 2002 and prior to maturity, the Notes are redeemable for cash at the option of the Company, on at least 30 but not more than 60 days notice, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices set forth in the table below, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.

If Redeemed During    Percentage of 
12 months Ended    Principal 
March 31,    Amount 


 
2004    104% 
2005    103% 
2006    102% 
2007    101% 
2008    100% 

In October and November 2001, certain current and former members of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and one employee loaned the Company $297,746 to enable the Company to meet its cash obligations. $37,746 of the promissory notes evidencing the loans advanced in 2001 matured December 31, 2001 and was due to a company in which a former director held an interest. This note was settled in January 2002 with payment of $25,000. During 2002, an additional $195,000 was lent to the Company. $95,000 and $320,000 of the promissory notes were converted into common stock during the years ending December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. A total of 438,392 and 888,885 shares of common stock were issued upon conversion of the above notes payable in 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Note 6. Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk and Concentration of Credit Risk

Some financial instruments, such as loan commitments, credit lines, and letters of credit are issued in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of customers. These are agreements to provide credit or to support the credit of others, as long as conditions established in the contract are met. These agreements usually have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being used, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Off-balance-sheet risk to credit loss exists up to the face amount of these instruments, although material losses are not anticipated. The same credit policies are used to make such commitments as are used for loans, including obtaining collateral at exercise of the commitment.

11

Financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 included unfunded loan commitments of $2,078,000 and $3,741,000 and letters of credit of $175,000 and $234,000, respectively.

Federal funds sold totaled $0 and $6,722,000 at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. These funds represent uncollateralized loans, in varying amounts, to other commercial banks with which the Company has correspondent relationships. The Company maintains deposits with other financial institutions in amounts that exceed federal deposit insurance coverage. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risks on cash and cash equivalents.

The Company has geographic concentrations of credit in its principal market areas of Grayson, and Tarrant Counties, Texas. Additionally, the Company has a significant concentration of credit, based upon like collateral. Insurance Premium Finance ("IPF") loans, secured by the residual value of unearned insurance premiums, comprised $5,097,000 or 10.8%, and $5,353,000, or 8.0%, of gross loans at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

Note 7. Other Non-interest Expense                             
 
Other non-interest expense consisted of the following:                         
 
   
Three Months Ended 
Nine Months Ended 

 
 
   
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
September 30 
   
2004 
2003 
2004 
2003 




 
Legal, audit and other professional services   
$ 238,000 
$ 
110,000 
$ 
424,000 
$ 
315,000 
Postage and delivery   
39,000 
40,000 
86,000 
124,000 
Telephone   
2,000 
19,000 
43,000 
70,000 
Office supplies   
20,000 
45,000 
55,000 
85,000 
Amortization of debt issuance costs   
6,000 
- 
26,000 
21,000 
Insurance   
41,000 
65,000 
147,000 
140,000 
FDIC and OCC assessments   
34,000 
58,000 
171,000 
116,000 
Other   
114,000 
104,000 
309,000 
314,000 




Total other non-interest expense   
$ 494,000 
$ 
441,000 
$ 
1,261,000 
$ 
1,185,000 





12

Note 8. Business Segments

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described above in Note 1. The Company evaluates segment performance based on interest income and profit or loss from operations.

           
Insurance 
       
   
Community 
 
Premium 
       
   
Banking 
 
Financing 
     
Total 



 
 
Nine month period ended September 30,   
2004:   
Net interest income   
$ 
1,508,000 
$ 
518,000 
$ 
2,026,000 
Provision for credit losses   
1,276,000 
- 
1,276,000 
Noninterest income   
603,000 
12,000 
615,000 
Noninterest expense   
2,509,000 
386,000 
2,895,000 




Net income (loss)   
$ 
(1,674,000) 
$ 
144,000 
$ 
(1,530,000) 
 
Nine month period ended September 30,   
2003:   
Net interest income   
$ 
1,858,000 
$ 
819,000 
$ 
2,677,000 
Provision for credit losses   
- 
- 
- 
Noninterest income   
794,000 
- 
794,000 
Noninterest expense   
3,513,000 
495,000 
4,008,000 



Net income (loss)   
$ 
(852,000) 
$ 
315,000 
$ 
(537,000) 
 
Three month period ended September 30,   
2004:   
Net interest income   
$ 
526,000 
$ 
89,000 
$ 
615,000 
Provision for credit losses   
743,000 
- 
743,000 
Noninterest income   
(69,000) 
- 
(69,000) 
Noninterest expense   
903,000 
135,000 
1,038,000 



Net income (loss)   
$ 
(1,189,000) 
$ 
(46,000) 
$ 
(1,235,000) 
 
Three month period ended September 30,   
2003:   
Net interest income   
$ 
567,000 
$ 
274,000 
$ 
841,000 
Provision for credit losses   
- 
- 
- 
Noninterest income   
380,000 
- 
380,000 
Noninterest expense   
1,160,000 
145,000 
1,305,000 



Net income (loss)   
$ 
(203,000) 
$ 
119,000 
$ 
(84,000) 
 
At September 30, 2004   
Loans, gross   
$ 
42,040,000 
$ 
5,097,000 
$ 
47,137,000 
Total assets   
$ 
49,233,000 
$ 
5,097,000 
$ 
54,330,000 
 
At December 31, 2003   
Loans, gross   
$ 
61,971,000 
$ 
5,353,000 
$ 
67,324,000 
Total assets   
$ 
86,020,000 
$ 
5,419,000 
$ 
91,439,000 

13

Note 9. Current Developments

On July 29, 2004, the Bank announced that it had applied to the Texas State Department of Banking to convert its charter to a Texas state charter. Both the Texas State Department of Banking and the Bank's shareholders must approve the charter conversion prior to it taking effect. The Holding Company is the only shareholder of the Bank and has approved the conversion. The name of the Bank after it converts to a state bank charter would be "Surety Bank". Except for the change in the form of the charter and the resulting regulatory oversight by the Texas Department of Banking, no major changes in the operation of the Bank are contemplated. The Board believes that the Bank can operate more effectively and efficiently as a state bank. If the conversion is consummated and as a part of the conversion, all shares of stock in the Bank would be cancelled and an identical number of shares of stock in the state bank would be issued. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the state bank after the proposed conversion would be owned by the Holding Company, so there would be no new or different shareholders. There would be no change of facilities as a result of the conversion; the Bank would continue to operate from the same facilities and locations as a state bank that it currently operates from as a national bank. The directors and the executive officers of the Bank at the time of the conversion would continue to serve as directors and executive officers and hold the same positions with the state bank after the conversion.

Note 10. FHLB Advances

FHLB advances of approximately $4,700,000 were made to the Bank during January 2004 as a result of the sale of four of the Bank's branches in the San Antonio, Texas area (the "San Antonio Branches"). The advances have been subsequently repaid and no balance remained at September 30, 2004.

14

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

OVERVIEW

The following discussion focuses on the consolidated financial condition of the Company at September 30, 2004 compared to December 31, 2003, and the consolidated results of operations for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 2004 compared to the same periods in 2003. The purpose of this discussion is to provide the reader with a more thorough understanding of the consolidated financial statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes.

The Bank currently operates under a Consent Order with U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC"), dated June 22, 2004 (the "Consent Order"). Among other requirements, the Bank's Board of Directors must (i) complete the comprehensive strategic plan and submit it no latter than January 31, 2005 (as amended) to the Director for Special Supervision of the OCC, (ii) submit an improved capital plan, and (iii) appoint a new president and a new senior loan officer. If the Bank fails to achieve compliance with all of (i), (ii) or (iii) within the time limits (including any duly granted extensions of time), the Consent Order provides for the Bank to develop and submit to the Director for Special Supervision of the OCC for his review and prior determination of no supervisory objection, a contingency plan, which shall detail the Board's proposal to sell or merge the Bank, or liquidate the Bank under 12 U.S.C. 181 at no loss or cost to the Federal Deposit Insurance Fund. If the Director advises the Bank that he does not take supervisory objection to the contingency plan, the Board shall immediately implement, and shall thereafter ensure adherence to, the terms of the contingency plan, unless the Bank has received written correspondence from the Director indicating that the Bank has identified a new capable President and new capable Senior Loan Officer. In order to be deemed acceptable, the contingency plan must at a minimum call for the execution of a definitive agreement to sell or merge the Bank or a shareholder vote to enter into liquidation under 12 U.S.C. 181 within ninety days of receipt of the Director's supervisory non-objection. The OCC states the Bank has not complied with the requirements to identify a new capable President and new capable Senior Loan Officer and on September 2, 2004 requested the Board to provide this contingency plan. The Director received the Company's contingency plan on September 29, 2004. The Director stated what was submitted was not satisfactory and on November 5, 2004 the Director received another plan. The Director rejected it. On November 23, 2004 the Director was presented another capable President, John Mackey, who has subsequently been temporarily approved a President and Director by the Director on November 30, 2004. During December, 2004 James Champion was submitted to the Director as a capable Senior Loan Officer, which the Director temporarily approved. The Director has temporarily waived the implementation of the contingency plan requirement until he has had time to consider formal approval of the Bank's proposed President and Senior Lending Officer.

Further, the Holding Company is without significant assets other than its ownership of all the common stock of the Bank and is dependant upon dividends received from the Bank in order to meet its cash obligations, including service on the convertible debt under the Notes. Pursuant to the provisions of the Company's agreement with the OCC, among other restrictions, the Bank is precluded from declaring and paying any dividends without prior OCC approval. The Company received OCC approval to reduce the Bank's surplus in 2000 and received loans from certain employees and Board members during 2001 to help the Company meet its cash obligations. However, there have been no approvals by the OCC for future reductions in the Bank's surplus, payment of dividends or other upstream of capital by the Bank to the Holding Company which have been requested, nor have there been future commitments by any employee, officer or director to loan the Holding Company additional funds. Accordingly, the Company has no source of funds to pay interest on the Notes or provide other working capital.

15

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should" or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors that could have material adverse effects on the operations and future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, the following:

- The ability of the Company to comply with the terms of the Consent Order with the OCC entered into on June 22, 2004 as more fully discussed below under "Regulatory Relations".

- The ability of the Company to retain key executives and employees and the difficulty that the Company may experience in replacing key executives and employees in an effective manner.

- The ability of the Company to grow despite the reduction in the number of branches and overall size resulting from the January 2004 sale of the San Antonio Branches.

- The effects of changes in interest rates (including the effects of changes in the rate of prepayments of the Company's assets) and the policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

- The strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Company conducts its operations which may be less favorable than expected and may result in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality and value of the Company's assets.

- The economic impact of past and any future terrorist attacks, acts of war or threats thereof and the response of the United States (which may include military action) to any such threats and attacks.

- The costs, effects and outcomes of existing or future litigation.

16

- The effects of, and changes in, federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies affecting banking, securities, insurance and monetary and financial matters.

- The ability of the Company to compete with other financial institutions as effectively as the Company currently intends due to increases in competitive pressures in the financial services sector.

-      The inability of the Company to obtain new customers and to retain existing customers.
 
-      The timely development and acceptance of products and services, including products and services offered through alternative delivery channels such as the Internet.
 

- Technological changes implemented by the Company and by other parties, including third party vendors, which may be more difficult or more expensive than anticipated or which may have unforeseen consequences to the Company and its customers.

-      The ability of the Company to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems.
 
-      Consumer spending and saving habits which may change in a manner that affects the Company's business adversely
 

- Business combinations and the integration of acquired businesses that may be more difficult or expensive than expected.

- Changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

- The ability of the Company to manage the risks associated with the foregoing as well as its inability to meet its obligations under the Notes, including interest payments that became due March 31, 2002 and subsequent periods which the Company has not made.

- The ability of the Bank to convert from a national to a state bank, such conversion depending on the approval and review of the Bank's application by the Texas State Department of Banking and the approval of the shareholders.

- The ability of the Bank to get OCC approval on a president and chief lending officer.

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including other factors that could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

REGULATORY RELATIONS

ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE OCC. See Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING: On October 28, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU") with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"). Under the MOU, the Company is not permitted to declare or pay any corporate dividends or incur any additional debt without the prior approval of the FRB. Also, the Company was required to develop and submit to the FRB a written three-year capital plan, a plan to service the Company's existing debt without incurring any additional debt, and written procedures designed to strengthen and maintain the Company's internal records and controls to ensure that future regulatory reports are filed in a timely and accurate manner. Finally, the Company is mandated under the MOU to comply fully with all formal and informal supervisory actions that have been or may be imposed on the Bank by the OCC. The Company has not yet met any of its interest payment obligations on the $4,350,000 convertible subordinated debt under the Notes since missing the payment that was due March 31, 2002. The FRB may take formal action including requiring that capital be increased or that the Company divest the Bank.

17

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AGREEMENT. The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("The Exchange Act"). The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") investigated the Company and others with respect to various accounting irregularities found by the Company in its IPF division during an internal audit of the division conducted in 1999 and the first quarter of 2000. Upon finding the irregularities, the Company reported them to the SEC, the OCC as well as certain other legal authorities. The Company fully cooperated with the SEC as well as bank regulatory agencies involved in investigating the irregularities. In February 2002, the SEC issued a finding that the Company violated certain sections of the Exchange Act.

In March 2002, the Company entered into a settlement with the SEC. In connection with the settlement, the Company acknowledged certain reporting and internal control deficiencies and agreed to cease and desist from the stipulated violations in the future. The Company and the Bank no longer employ the persons directly responsible for managing the IPF division during the period when the diversions occurred and the Company no longer uses the services of the accounting firm auditing the Company at that time. None of the current members of the Company or Bank's Boards of Directors served in those capacities during the period when the violations of the Exchange Act occurred.

DEPENDENCE ON BANK. The Holding Company is without significant assets other than its ownership of all the common stock of the Bank. The Holding Company is dependent upon dividends received from the Bank in order to meet its cash obligations, including debt service on the Notes. The Bank is currently precluded from declaring and paying any dividends without prior OCC approval and no approval has been obtained. On March 28, 2000, the OCC approved a reduction in the Bank's surplus in the amount of $500,000 that enabled the Company to meet debt service obligations under the Notes and pay for other operating expenses through March 31, 2000. During 2001, certain Board members lent the Company $195,000 under noninterest bearing notes convertible into shares of unregistered restricted stock and purchased shares of newly issued restricted stock for $351,900 to enable the Company to meet its cash obligations, including interest payments on the Notes. During 2002, the Company issued 655,000 shares of unregistered restricted common stock for $68,100 and converted $95,000 of non-interest bearing notes into 438,392 shares of unregistered restricted common stock. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company recorded $15,000 received in 2003 to pay corporate expenses for the issuance of 833,333 shares of unregistered restricted common stock. $10,000 was received from directors of the Company. During September 2004, the Company received $16,000 to pay corporate expenses for the issuance of an additional 561,396 shares of unregistered restricted common stock. $10,000 was received from officers and directors of the Company. There are no future commitments by any officer or director to loan the Company funds or purchase the Company's stock and there have been no approvals by the OCC for future reductions in the Bank's surplus, payment of dividends or other upstream of capital by the Bank to the Company. Accordingly, the Company has no source of funds to pay interest on the Notes or provide other working capital needs. Further, as discussed below under the heading "Analysis of Financial Condition", one holder has threatened to file an involuntary petition in bankruptcy against the Company. See also the discussion below under the heading "Liquidity".

18

APPLICATION TO CONVERT TO A STATE CHARTER. On July 29, 2004, the Bank announced that it had applied to the Texas State Department of Banking to convert its charter to a Texas state charter. The Texas State Department of Banking must approve the charter conversion prior to it taking effect. The Company, the only Bank shareholder, has approved the conversion. The name of the Bank after it converts to a state bank charter will be "Surety Bank". Except for the change in the form of the charter and the resulting regulatory oversight by the Texas Department of Banking, no major changes in the operation of the Bank are contemplated. The reason for the conversion is because the Board believes that the Bank can operate more effectively and efficiently as a state bank. If the conversion is consummated and as a part of the conversion, all shares of stock in the Bank would be cancelled and an identical number of shares of stock in the state bank would be issued. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the state bank after conversion would be owned by the Holding Company, so there would be no new or different shareholders. There would be no change of facilities as a result of the conversion; the Bank would continue to operate from the same facilities and locations as a state bank that it currently operates from as a national bank. The directors and executive officers of the Bank at the time of conversion would continue to hold the same positions with the state bank after the conversion. Appropriate notification would be made with the OCC, FDIC, and any other required applications or notification will be made.

ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company's assets totaled $54.3 million at September 30, 2004, representing a $37.1 million, or 40.6%, decrease compared to $91.4 million at December 31, 2003. Cash and cash equivalents declined $11.7 million, securities available for sale declined $813,000. The decline in cash and securities were related to the sale of the San Antonio Branches.

Net loans decreased $20.2 million, or 30.9%, from $65.5 million at December 31, 2003 to $45.3 million at September 30, 2004, principally as a result of the sale of the San Antonio branches. IPF loans decreased $256,000, or 4.8%, from December 31, 2003. Real estate loans decreased $15.7 million, or 35.09%, due primarily to the sale of the San Antonio Branches. Commercial loans also decreased $3.0 million, or 27.39%, due primarily to the sale of the San Antonio Branches and to normal repayments. Loans, net as a percentage of total deposits, were 98.7% at September 30, 2004 compared to 80.4% at December 31, 2003.

Other real estate owned and repossessed assets decreased $390,000 to $1.7 million at September 30, 2004. During the second quarter, the company sold two apartment buildings. The Bank recognized $41,000 of the gain in the second quarter and deferred $140,000.

Total deposits were $45.8 million at September 30, 2004, a $35.6 million decrease, or 43.7%, from December 31, 2003. Non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $5.0 million to $13.4 million and represented 29.1% of total deposits at September 30, 2004 compared to $18.4 million, or 22.6% of total deposits, at December 31, 2003. Savings, NOW and money market accounts decreased $19.1 million or 80.8% . All these decreases were primarily due to the sale of the San Antonio Branches.

Time deposits decreased $11.5 million, or 29.1% from December 31, 2003. Time deposits made up 61.0% of the deposit portfolio at September 30, 2004 compared to 48.4% at December 31, 2003. Substantially all of the Company's time deposits mature in less than five years and are obtained from customers in the Company's primary market. Based on past experience and the Company's prevailing pricing strategies, management believes a substantial percentage of such deposits will renew with the Company at maturity. If there is a significant deviation from historical experience, the Company can utilize borrowings from the FHLB as an alternative to this source of funds. The Bank had $2.9 million in brokered deposits at September 30, 2004 but is no longer accepting brokered deposits.

19

Convertible subordinated debt under the Notes totaled $4.350 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The Notes were issued on March 31, 1998 to provide funds to finance the acquisition of TexStar National Bank and bear interest at a rate of 9% per annum until maturity. No principal payments are due until maturity on March 31, 2008, while interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually. The Company has not met any of its interest payment obligations under the Notes since missing the payment that was due March 31, 2002. In February 2002, the Company notified the holders of the Notes that it will not have funds to make future interest payments and offered the holders certain options as alternatives to interest payments. As of September 30, 2004, no agreement had been reached as to any restructuring of the convertible debt. Management does not know if it will be successful in these negotiations. The amount of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the Company, including the Bank's deposits. Upon the occurrence of certain events involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership or similar proceedings of the Company, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal of the notes, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable.

COMPARISON OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

NET INCOME. General economic conditions, the monetary and fiscal policies of federal agencies and the regulatory policies of agencies that regulate financial institutions affect the operating results of the Company. Interest rates on competing investments and general market rates of interest influence the Company's cost of funds. Lending activities are influenced by the demand for various types of loans, which in turn is affected by the interest rates at which such loans are made, general economic conditions and the availability of funds for lending activities.

The Company's net income is primarily dependent upon its net interest income, which is the difference between interest income generated on interest-earning assets and interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Provisions for credit losses, service charges, gains on the sale of assets and other income, noninterest expense and income taxes also affect net income.

In January 2004, the Company sold the San Antonio Branches at a profit of approximately $265,000. The effects of the branch sales had a material positive effect on first or second quarter results of operations.

The Company experienced a $1.235 million net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2004 ($0.11 per share) compared to a $84,000 ($0.01 per share) net loss for the same period in 2003. There was a provision for credit loss of $743,000 and a receivable write-off on the sale of the San Antonio area branches of $76,000 in the September, 2004 quarter compared to $0.0 in 2003. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded a net loss of $1,530,000 ($0.14 per share) compared to a $537,000 loss ($0.05 per share) during the same period of 2003. There was a gain on the sale of other real estate owned of $41,000, the gain on the sale of the San Antonio Branches of $265,000 and a provision for credit losses of $1,276,000 in 2004 compared to $0.0 during the same period of 2003.

20

The Company did not record any tax benefit from the losses because the Company cannot be reasonably certain that it will receive a future income tax benefit. At September 30, 2004, total other real estate owned and repossessed assets were $1.7 million and loans on non-accrual status were $1.7 million. These non-performing assets represented $3.4 million or 6.2% of total assets. The Bank has entered into contracts to sell two of these properties contingent upon the buyer's completion of its due diligence to its satisfaction. The value of these two properties as recorded on the Bank's books is approximately $1.5 million or 88.2% of the total other real estate owned and repossessed assets as of September 30, 2004.

NET INTEREST INCOME: Net interest income is the largest component of the Company's income and is affected by the interest rate environment and the volume and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

For the three months ended September 30, 2004, net interest income decreased $226,000 to $615,000, or 26.9%, compared to $841,000 during the same period last year. This resulted from a decrease in total interest income of $390,000 being partially offset by a reduction in interest expense of $164,000 during the same period.

The decrease in total interest income was primarily due to the sale in January, 2004 of the four branches in the San Antonio. While average loans outstanding during the comparative time periods decreased approximately $20 million due to the branch sale in January, 2004, the weighted average yield on the loan portfolio increased to approximately 7.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2004 from approximately 7.6% for the same period in 2003. Interest and dividends earned on investment securities and interest earned on federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits also decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2004 as compared with the same period 2003, decreasing $18,000 and $28,000, respectively. These decreases were due to reduced invested balances due to the cash disbursement required from the sale of the San Antonio Branches. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2004, net interest income declined $651,000 to $2,026,000 for 2004 against $2,677,000 for 2003. This resulted from a decrease in total interest income of $1,219,000 being partially offset by a reduction in interest expense of $568,000 during the same time period. The net interest margin was 4.89% during the nine month period ended September 30, 2004, representing a 72 basis point increase from the prior year. Interest and fees on loans decreased from $4,086,000 for nine months ended September 30, 2003 to $3,019,000 for the same period in 2004, a decrease of $1,067,000. Average loans outstanding during the nine month period decreased approximately $18.6 million in 2004 from the prior year. The weighted average yield on the loan portfolio increased approximately 3 basis points to 7.78% during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to 2003. Interest and dividends earned on investment securities and interest earned on federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits decreased $152,000 for nine months September 30, 2004 compared to 2003. All of the above was due primarily to the sale of the San Antonio Branches.

Total interest expense also decreased as a result of the sale of the San Antonio Branches. Interest expense decreased $164,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2004 to $341,000 from $505,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The Company's cost of funds increased 41 basis points to 3.23% for the three months ended September 30, 2004 versus 2.82% for the same period in 2003. This resulted from general rate increases caused by Federal Reserve action on short-term rates.

Interest expense decreased from $1,608,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 to $1,040,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, a decrease of $568,000. This reduction was principally caused by reduced volume due to the sale of the San Antonio Branches and offset to some extent by higher rates. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Bank had approximately $28.7 million less in interest bearing deposit accounts than for the same period in 2003. This was primarily due to the sale of the San Antonio Branches. The Bank's cost of funds increased approximately 13 basis points to 2.98% for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to the same period in 2003. This increase was due to the deposit mix experienced in the first nine months of 2004 as compared to 2003. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Bank borrowed short-term funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas. The average outstanding balance on these borrowed funds for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $2,054,000 with a weighted average cost of approximately 1.11% . This borrowing was required to complete the sale of the San Antonio Branches. As mentioned above, at September 30, 2004, there were no borrowings by the Bank from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

21

The Company remains asset sensitive, whereby its interest-earning assets will generally re-price more quickly than its interest-bearing liabilities. Therefore, the Company's net interest margin will generally increase in periods of rising market interest rates and will decrease in periods of declining market interest rates. However, in a rising interest rate environment, the Company may need to increase rates to attract and retain deposits.

ALLOWANCE AND PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses in an amount that, in management's judgment, is more than adequate to absorb reasonably foreseeable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors, including the performance of the Company's loan portfolio, the economy, changes in real estate values and interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. The provision for loan losses is determined by management as the amount to be added to the allowance for loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted to bring the allowance to a level that is considered adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the provision is based on management's quarterly review of the loan portfolio and consideration of such factors as historical loss experience, general prevailing economic conditions, changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio and specific borrower considerations, including the ability of the borrower to repay the loan and the estimated value of the underlying collateral.

All lending activity contains risks of loan losses and the Company recognizes these credit risks as a necessary element of its business activity. One of the primary objectives of the loan review function is to make recommendations to management as to both specific loss reserves and overall portfolio loss reserves.

The loss provision for the September 30, 2004 quarter was determined by management with assistance of outside consultants combined with an examination by the OCC. During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the Company experienced loan losses of $309,000, net of recoveries. During the same period in 2003 recoveries exceeded chargeoffs resulting in net loan recoveries. Loan losses net of recovery were $1,228,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to a net recovery of previously charged-off loans of $205,000 during the first nine months of 2003. The allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2004 was $1,736,000, or 3.7% of period end gross loans, versus $1,688,000, or 2.5% of period end gross loans at December 31, 2003.

22

Nonperforming loans, defined as loans past due ninety days or more and loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued, totaled $1,659,000 at September 30, 2004, a decrease of $187,000 from $1,846,000 at December 31, 2003. Non-accrual loans and loans past due over 90 days and still on accrual totaled $1,715,000 at September 30, 2004 compared to $3,216,000 at December 31, 2003, a decrease of $1,501,000. Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans, net, were 3.6% at September 30, 2004 and 4.8%, at December 31, 2003.

While management believes that it uses the best information available to determine the allowance for estimated loan losses, unforeseen market conditions could result in adjustments to the allowance for estimated loan losses and net earnings could be significantly affected if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in determining the allowance.

NON-INTEREST INCOME: Non-interest income totaled $(69,000) for the three months ended September 30, 2004, compared to $380,000 in the third quarter of 2003, a decrease of $449,000. This decrease is primarily due to the OCC's mandated gain deferral on the sale of certain real estate and the write-off of receivables allocated with the sale of the San Antonio branches. This decline included a decrease in service charges on deposit accounts of $55,000 during the same time period. This decrease was due to the sale of the San Antonio Branches.

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2004, total non-interest income decreased $179,000. In addition to the transactions described above for the third quarter, other income includes a $265,000 gain realized on the sale of the San Antonio Branches. Service charges on deposit accounts decreased $178,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 due to the sale of the San Antonio Branches.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE. Noninterest expense totaled $1,038,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $267,000, or 20.5% from the same period in 2003. This decrease was the result of decreases in salaries and employee benefit expense and occupancy and equipment expense primarily due to the sale of the San Antonio Branches. Salaries and employee benefit expense totaled $437,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2004, a decrease of $159,000 from $596,000 for the same three-month period in 2003. Occupancy and equipment expense decreased $161,000 during the third quarter of 2004 to $107,000 from $268,000 during the same time period last year. Both decreases were primarily the result of the sale of the San Antonio Branches. These reductions were partially offset by an increase in other expenses of $53,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2004 as compared with September 30, 2003. This increase was primarily due to increases in OCC assessment fees and FDIC insurance premiums.

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2004, non-interest expense declined $1,113,000 as compared to September 30, 2003. Salary and employee benefit expenses declined $816,000 or 39.3% and occupancy and equipment expenses decreased $373,000, or 50.1% during the same time period for the reasons noted above. Other expense remained basically unchanged, increasing $76,000 during the nine month period ending September 30, 2004 as compared with the same time period last year. The Company's efficiency ratio was 124.0% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 compared to 134.0% for the comparable period of 2003. The efficiency ratio measures the percentage of total revenues from operations, on a taxable equivalent basis excluding securities gains and other nonrecurring gains, absorbed by non-interest expense generated from ongoing operations. Expressed differently, for every dollar of operating revenue the Company generated in the first half of 2004, the Company incurred $1.24 in operating expenses. The Company's efficiency ratios compare unfavorably to other financial institutions in the Company's peer group. The Company is restructuring its operations after the sale of the San Antonio Branches and continues to operate two full service branches. Management believes that it has established an infrastructure which will allow it to grow with only modest increases in overhead expenses, and that its efficiency ratio will improve as interest rates improve.

23

INCOME TAXES. The Company recorded no income tax benefits during 2004 or 2003 because of the uncertainty of returning to profitability.

LIQUIDITY

Liquidity is the ability of the Bank to fund customers' needs for borrowing and deposit withdrawals. The purpose of liquidity management is to assure sufficient cash flow to meet all of the financial commitments and to capitalize on opportunities for business expansion. This ability depends on the institution's financial strength, asset quality and types of deposit and investment instruments offered to its customers. The Bank's principal sources of funds are deposits, loan and securities repayments, maturities of securities, sales of securities available for sale and other funds provided by operations. The Bank also has the ability to borrow from the FHLB. Finally, the Bank can sell any of its performing loans through participation agreements to other financial institutions. While scheduled loan repayments and maturing investments are relatively predictable, deposit flows and early loan and mortgage-backed security prepayments are more influenced by interest rates, general economic conditions and competition. The Bank maintains investments in liquid assets based upon management's assessment of (1) need for funds, (2) expected deposit flows, (3) yields available on short-term liquid assets and (4) objectives of the asset/liability management program.

Cash and cash equivalents were $2,746,000 at September 30, 2004 and represented 5.0% of total assets and 6.0% of total deposits compared to 15.8% of total assets and 17.7% of total deposits at December 31, 2003. The Bank has the ability to borrow funds from the FHLB should the Bank need to supplement its future liquidity needs in order to meet deposit flows, loan demand or to fund investment opportunities. Management believes the Bank's liquidity position is adequate based on its core deposits, the stability of its other funding sources and the support provided by its capital base.

The Company, as a holding company, is without significant assets other than its ownership of all the common stock of the Bank and is entirely dependent upon dividends received from the Bank or borrowings from its officers and directors in order to meet its cash obligations, including debt service on the $4,350,000 under the Notes. Under the Consent Order, the Bank is currently precluded from declaring and paying any dividends without prior OCC approval. The Company has no source of funds to pay the interest that is past due on the debt or future interest requirements.

The Company has not yet met any of its interest payment obligations on the Notes since missing the payment that was due March 31, 2002. In February 2002, the Company notified holders of the Notes that it will not have funds to make future interest payments and offered the holders certain options as alternatives to interest payments. As of September 30, 2004, no agreement had been reached as to any restructuring of the Notes. There are no commitments by any of the Board members to lend additional funds. Accordingly, the Company does not have the financial means to service the interest payments on the Notes.

24

CAPITAL RESOURCES

Total shareholders' equity was $2,265,000 at September 30, 2004, representing a $1,497,000 or 39.8% decrease from December 31, 2003.

The Bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Bank regulators monitor capital adequacy very closely and consider it an important factor in ensuring the safety of depositors' accounts. As a result, bank regulators have established standard risk-based capital ratios that measure the amount of an institution's capital in relation to the degree of risk contained in the balance sheet, as well as off-balance sheet exposure. Federal law requires each federal banking regulatory agency to take prompt corrective action to resolve problems of insured depository institutions including, but not limited to, those that fall below one or more prescribed capital ratios. According to the regulations, institutions whose Tier I and total capital ratios meet or exceed 6.0% and 10.0% of risk-weighted assets, respectively, are considered "well capitalized." Institutions whose Tier I and total capital ratios meet or exceed 4.0% and 8.0% of risk-weighted assets, respectively, are considered "adequately capitalized." Tier I capital is shareholders' equity excluding the unrealized gain or loss on securities classified as available for sale and intangible assets. Tier II capital, or total capital, includes Tier I capital plus the allowance for loan losses not to exceed 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. Risk-weighted assets are the Bank's total assets after such assets are assessed for risk and assigned a weighting factor based on their inherent risk. In addition to the risk-weighted ratios, all institutions are required to maintain Tier I leverage ratios of at least 5.0% to be considered "well capitalized" and 4.0% to be considered "adequately capitalized." The leverage ratio is defined as Tier I capital divided by average adjusted assets for the most recent quarter.

As discussed above, the Bank is subject to more stringent capital requirements under the Consent Order. The table below sets forth consolidated and Bank-only actual capital levels in addition to the capital requirements under the Consent Order and prompt corrective action regulations.

   
Minimum 
   
Requirements 
   
to be Well 
   
Required 
Capitalized 
   
Actual Period-end Capital Ratios 
under 
For Capital 
under Prompt 
   
September
   
30,
December 31, 
Consent 
Adequacy 
Action 
   
2004 
2003 
Order 
Purposes 
Requirements 





 
Leverage Ratio 
Tier I capital to average assets 
Consolidated 
1.95% 
1.10% 
Bank 
12.11% 
6.80% 
8.00% 
4.00% 
5.00% 
Risk-Based Capital Ratios 
Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets 
Consolidated 
2.48% 
1.31% 
Bank 
15.44% 
7.81%
6.00% 
4.00% 
6.00%
Tier II capital to risk-weighted assets 
Consolidated 
4.95%
2.61%
Bank 
16.73% 
8.97% 
12.00% 
8.00% 
10.00% 

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ITEM 3. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company performed an evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported.

During the period covered by this report, the Company made the following changes in its internal controls:

(1) At December 31, 2003, the balance of the outstanding IPF loan trial balance was not being reconciled to the amount included on the general ledger and a difference of $398,000 was noted. Because the IPF activity is significant for the Company, reconciliations between the IPF trial balance and the general ledger should be prepared on a monthly basis, at a minimum, and any differences researched and corrected in a timely manner. The Company had subsequently engaged an individual on a contract basis to supervise its accounting department. As a result of this engagement, the IPF trial balance is now reconciled to the general ledger on a daily basis.

(2) Entries for activity on the Holding Company's separate general ledger, although few in number, were neither timely nor complete. Such entries should be made for the Holding Company monthly to reflect its assets, liabilities, and expenses and to provide support for the balances in the consolidated financial statements. The Holding Company's financial statements are maintained complete and up to date currently.

(3) The activity in employee accounts was not being reviewed by anyone at the Bank. The Company's Management has implemented procedures in May 2004 to begin reviewing a sample of employee accounts on a monthly basis month to determine if there is any unusual activity that should be investigated.

There have been no other significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Company's internal controls during the Company's past fiscal quarter or subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE OCC. The Board of Directors of the Bank has entered into three arrangements with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Two formal agreements were dated November 19, 1998 and February 18, 2003. A Consent Order was entered into June 22, 2004. The Bank has not been in compliance with all of the requirements of any of these arrangements, including the Consent Order. The Consent Order is filed as an Exhibit.

The Consent Order requires the Bank to take certain actions within a set timetable to improve the Bank's operations. If the Bank fails to achieve compliance within the time limits (including any duly granted extensions of time), the Consent Order provides for the Bank to develop and submit to the Director for Special Supervision of the OCC for his review and prior determination of no supervisory objection, a contingency plan, which shall detail the Board's proposal to sell or merge the Bank, or liquidate the Bank under 12 U.S.C. 181 at no loss or cost to the Federal Deposit Insurance Fund. After the Director has advised the Bank that he does not take supervisory objection to the contingency plan, the Board shall immediately implement, and shall thereafter ensure adherence to, the terms of the contingency plan, unless the Bank has received written correspondence from the Director indicating that the Bank has identified a new capable President and new capable Senior Loan Officer. In order to be deemed acceptable, the contingency plan must at a minimum call for the execution of a definitive agreement to sell or merge the Bank or a shareholder vote to enter into liquidation under 12 U.S.C. 181 within ninety days of receipt of the Director's supervisory non-objection. The OCC states the Bank has not complied with the requirements to identify a new capable President and new capable Senior Loan Officer and on September 2, 2004 requested the Board to provide this contingency plan. The Director received the Company's contingency plan on September 29, 2004. The Director stated that was submitted was not satisfactory and on November 5, 2004 the Director received another plan. The Director rejected it. On November 23, 2004 the Director was presented another capable President, John H. Mackey, who has subsequently been temporarily approved as President and Director by the Director on November 30, 2004. During December, 2004 James Champion was submitted to the Director as a capable Senior Loan Officer, which the Director temporarily approved. The Director has temporarily waived the implementation of the contingency plan requirement until he has had time to formally approve the new President and the new Senior Loan Officer who have been submitted to him.

The Company is not currently engaged in any other material legal proceedings. From time to time, the Bank is a party to legal proceedings within the ordinary course of business wherein it enforces its security interest in loans, and other matters of similar nature.

ITEM 4. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Although no default has been declared, the Company did not pay interest that was due March 31, 2002, September 30, 2002, March 31, 2003, September 30, 2003, March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2004 on $4,350,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible debt issued under the Notes. Part I contains statements about the 9% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Notes"). Only the specific statements about the Notes, the arrearage in payments of interest due and the possible consequences of default are incorporated in this Item 3. The specific statements are located in Part I, in Item 1, Note 5 to the financial statements and in Item 2, under the following headings: Management's Discussion and Analysis, Overview, Dependence on the Bank, Financial Condition and Liquidity.

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ITEM 5. OTHER

Richard Abrams, Chairman and CEO of Surety Bank, N.A. has resigned effective November 30, 2004. John H. Mackey has been appointed interim President and CEO pending regulatory approval by the OCC. Mr. Mackey was most recently President and Director of Heritage Bank, SSB, Terrell, Texas, prior to its sale in 2004. Mr. Mackey has 30 years of banking experience, including 15 years as President and CEO.

On December 10, 2004 Stephen Oeffner resigned from the Board of Directors of Surety Capital Corporation but has remained the Chairman of the Board of Surety Bank, N.A. On December 15, 2004 Glenn Forbes resigned from the Board of Directors of Surety Capital Corporation but has remained a Director of and the Chairman of the Compliance Committee of the Board of Surety Bank, N.A. On December 14, 2004 Vicki Dickerson resigned from the Board of Directors of Surety Capital Corporation but has remained a member of the Board of Surety Bank, N.A.

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K         
(a) EXHIBITS         

 

EXHIBIT NUMBER 
DESCRIPTION
PAGE NUMBER
4.01  Form of Common Stock certificate(specimen) Filed with the Company's Form 10-K dated December 31, 1993 and incorporated by reference herein.
4.01  Form of Common Stock certificate(specimen) Filed with the Company's Form 10-K dated December 31, 1993 and incorporated by reference herein.
4.01  Form of Common Stock certificate(specimen) Filed with the Company's Form 10-K dated December 31, 1993 and incorporated by reference herein.
4.02 Indenture dated as of March 31, 1998 between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago, Illinois, as trustee Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,1998 and  incorporated by reference herein.
4.03 Form of Notes (included in Exhibit 4.02) Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,1998 and  incorporated by reference herein.
4.04 Form of Note Purchase Agreements dated March 31, 1998 Filed with the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-57601 on Form S-3 and  incorporated by reference herein.
10.01 Branch Purchase and Assumption Agreement entered into with W. Marvin Rush as Agent for the organizers of TexStar Bank on October 31, 2003 Filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2003 and incorporated by reference herein.
11 Statement Regarding the Computation of Earnings Per Share Reference is hereby made to the Consolidated Statements of Operations on page 4 and Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 8 hereof
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive 31 Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) 32
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial 33 Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) 34
32.1 Certification of the chief executive 35 officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 36
32.2 Certification of the chief financial 36 officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 37
99.1 Consent Order Filed with the Company's Form 10-QSB, as amended, on August 25, 2004.
     

28

(b)      REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
  1)      The Company filed a Form 8-K August 5, 2004 reporting that the bank subsidiary had filed an application to convert from a national to a state charter.
 
  2)      The Company filed a Form 8-K August 17, 2004 reporting a change in the Registrant's certifying accountant.
29

3) SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 28, 2004
Surety Capital Corporation

By: /s/ Richard Abrams

------------------------------------------------------
Richard Abrams, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

30

 

By: /s/ Tim Raso

------------------------------------------------------
Tim Raso, President and Chief Operating Officer

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT

NUMBER

DESCRIPTION
PAGE NUMBER
4.01  Form of Common Stock certificate(specimen) Filed with the Company's Form 10-K dated December 31, 1993 and incorporated by reference herein.
4.02 Indenture dated as of March 31, 1998 between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago, Illinois, as trustee Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,1998 and  incorporated by reference herein.
4.03 Form of Notes (included in Exhibit 4.02) Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,1998 and  incorporated by reference herein.
4.04 Form of Note Purchase Agreements dated March 31, 1998 Filed with the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-57601 on Form S-3 and  incorporated by reference herein.
10.01 Branch Purchase and Assumption Agreement entered into with W. Marvin Rush as Agent for the organizers of TexStar Bank on October 31, 2003 Filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2003 and incorporated by reference herein.
11 Statement Regarding the Computation of Earnings Per Share Reference is hereby made to the Consolidated Statements of Operations on page 4 and Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 8 hereof
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive 31 Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) 32
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial 33 Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) 34
32.1 Certification of the chief executive 35 officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 36
32.2 Certification of the chief financial 36 officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 37
99.1 Consent Order Filed with the Company's Form 10-QSB, as amended, on August 25, 2004.
     

 

31

 

Exhibit 31.1

I, Richard Abrams, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Surety Capital Corporation, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of Surety Capital Corporation
 
2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 

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

4. The small business issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the small business issuer and have:

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

b) [intentionally omitted]

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the small business issuer's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the small business issuer's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting; and

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

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

32

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: December 28, 2004    /s/ Richard Abrams     
    ------------------------------ 
    Richard Abrams,CEO &    Chairman 

 

33

 

Exhibit 31.2

I, Tim Raso, the Chief Operations Officer, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of Surety Capital Corporation;
 
2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

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

4. The small business issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the small business issuer and have:

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

b) [intentionally omitted]

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the small business issuer's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the small business issuer's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting; and

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

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

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: December 28, 2004    /s/ Tim Raso 
    -------------------------------- 
    Tim Raso 
    Chief Operating Officer 

34

 

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Surety Capital Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-QSB for the period ending September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Richard N. Abrams, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

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

/s/ Richard Abrams
---------------------------------
Richard Abrams
Chief Executive Officer
And Chairman of the Board
December 28, 2004

This certification is made solely for the purposes of 18 U.S.C Section 1350 and is subject to the knowledge standard contained therein, and not for any other purpose.

35

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Surety Capital Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-QSB for the period ending September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Tim Raso, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

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

/s/ Tim Raso
---------------------------------
Tim Raso
Chief Operating Officer
December 28, 2004

This certification is made solely for the purposes of 18 U.S.C Section 1350 and is subject to the knowledge standard contained therein, and not for any other purpose.

36