Note 12 - Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

12.     Income Taxes

     For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the current and deferred amounts of the income tax expense are summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Current:
Federal	$	62,254		$	44,263	$	26,548
State		23,295			17,081		10,905
	$	85,549		$	61,344	$	37,453
Deferred:
Federal		(11,162	)		3,755		10,133
State		(3,952	)		1,029		3,675
	$	(15,114	)	$	4,784	$	13,808
Total income tax expense/(benefit)	$	70,435		$	66,128	$	51,261

Temporary differences between the amounts reported in the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities give rise to deferred taxes. Net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2013, and at December 31, 2012, are included in other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and are as follows:

	As of December 31,
	2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Deferred Tax Assets
Loan loss allowance, due to differences in computation of bad debts	$	89,560		$	100,774
Write-down on equity securities and venture capital investments		2,857			3,374
Share-based compensation		13,573			16,120
State tax		6,493			4,479
Non-accrual interest		3,968			3,208
Write-down on other real estate owned		8,595			10,302
Accrual for bonuses		3,380			432
Accrual for litigation		2,415			2,415
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps		-			175
Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale, net		21,569			-
Other, net		4,214			2,937
Gross deferred tax assets		156,624			144,216
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Core deposit intangibles		-			(1,632	)
Investment in aircraft financing trust and venture capital partnerships		-			(19,684	)
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale, net		-			(338	)
Basis difference in acquired assets		(3,138	)		(3,145	)
Dividends on Federal Home Loan Bank common stock		(2,986	)		(3,071	)
Other, net		(2,773	)		(1,939	)
Gross deferred tax liabilities		(8,897	)		(29,809	)
Valuation allowance		(1,263	)		(2,125	)
Net deferred tax assets	$	146,464		$	112,282

Amounts for the current year are based upon estimates and assumptions and could vary from amounts shown on the tax returns as filed.

In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize all benefits related to these deductible temporary differences except for $1.3 million of state deferred taxes for a portion of the capital losses related to the Company’s former investments in the preferred stock of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had income tax refunds receivables of $8.6 million and $12.4 million, respectively. These income tax receivables are included in other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2013, the Company had Federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $1.1 million which expire through 2022. The Federal net operating loss carry-forwards were acquired in connection with the Company’s acquisition of United Heritage Bank.

At both December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no unrecognized tax benefits. During 2012, the Company reversed its unrecognized tax benefits during the filing of the Company’s 2011 tax returns, During 2011, the Company paid $0.1 million of state taxes previously recorded in unrecognized tax benefits. The Company had accrued interest and penalties of less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

The Company’s tax returns are open for audits by the Internal Revenue Service back to 2010 and by the California Franchise Tax Board back to 2003. The Company is under audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for the years 2003 to 2007. As the Company is presently under audit by a number of tax authorities, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits could change significantly over the next twelve months. The Company does not expect that any such changes would have a material impact on its annual effective tax rate.

Income tax expense results in effective tax rates that differ from the statutory Federal income tax rate for the years indicated as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013					2012					2011
	(In thousands)
Tax provision at Federal statutory rate	$	67,752		35.0	%	$	64,248		35.0	%	$	52,994		35.0	%
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit		12,573		6.5			11,772		6.4			9,477		6.3
Interest on obligations of state and political subdivisions, which are exempt from Federal taxation		(348	)	(0.2	)		(1,456	)	(0.8	)		(1,476	)	(1.0	)
Low income housing and other tax credits		(10,056	)	(5.2	)		(9,353	)	(5.1	)		(10,087	)	(6.6	)
Other, net		514		0.3			917		0.5			353		0.2
Total income tax expense/(benefit)	$	70,435		36.4	%	$	66,128		36.0	%	$	51,261		33.9	%