10-Q 1 a13-18582_110q.htm 10-Q

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013

 

OR

 

o

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

 

For the transition period from         to        

 

Commission file number 001-11967

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

11-3170868

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification

incorporation or organization)

 

Number)

 

One Astoria Federal Plaza, Lake Success, New York

 

11042-1085

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(516) 327-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all the reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES  x  NO  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES  x  NO  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as these items are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Large accelerated filer x

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer o

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  YES  o  NO  x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Classes of Common Stock

 

Number of Shares Outstanding, October 30, 2013

$0.01 Par Value

 

98,865,122

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited):

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012

2

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

5

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

6

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

33

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

75

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

78

 

 

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

78

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

79

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

80

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

80

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

80

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

80

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

80

 

 

 

Signatures

 

81

 

1



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

137,737

 

 

$

121,473

 

 

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encumbered

 

108,640

 

 

79,851

 

 

Unencumbered

 

307,110

 

 

256,449

 

 

Total available-for-sale securities

 

415,750

 

 

336,300

 

 

Held-to-maturity securities, fair value of $1,896,771 and $1,725,090, respectively:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encumbered

 

1,133,176

 

 

1,133,193

 

 

Unencumbered

 

782,285

 

 

566,948

 

 

Total held-to-maturity securities

 

1,915,461

 

 

1,700,141

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost

 

153,217

 

 

171,194

 

 

Loans held-for-sale, net

 

10,485

 

 

76,306

 

 

Loans receivable

 

12,541,543

 

 

13,223,972

 

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

(143,000

)

 

(145,501

)

 

Loans receivable, net

 

12,398,543

 

 

13,078,471

 

 

Mortgage servicing rights, net

 

10,835

 

 

6,947

 

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

39,650

 

 

41,688

 

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

113,075

 

 

115,632

 

 

Goodwill

 

185,151

 

 

185,151

 

 

Bank owned life insurance

 

421,182

 

 

418,155

 

 

Real estate owned, net

 

34,983

 

 

28,523

 

 

Other assets

 

186,020

 

 

216,661

 

 

Total assets

 

$

16,022,089

 

 

$

16,496,642

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

$

2,562,927

 

 

$

2,802,298

 

 

Money market

 

1,913,607

 

 

1,586,556

 

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

2,133,062

 

 

2,094,733

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

3,450,778

 

 

3,960,371

 

 

Total deposits

 

10,060,374

 

 

10,443,958

 

 

Federal funds purchased

 

285,000

 

 

 

 

Reverse repurchase agreements

 

1,100,000

 

 

1,100,000

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances

 

2,476,000

 

 

2,897,000

 

 

Other borrowings, net

 

248,028

 

 

376,496

 

 

Mortgage escrow funds

 

137,248

 

 

113,101

 

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

257,523

 

 

272,098

 

 

Total liabilities

 

14,564,173

 

 

15,202,653

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series C (150,000 shares authorized; and 135,000 and -0- shares issued and outstanding, respectively)

 

129,796

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value (200,000,000 shares authorized; 166,494,888 shares issued; and 98,865,122 and 98,419,318 shares outstanding, respectively)

 

1,665

 

 

1,665

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

889,546

 

 

884,689

 

 

Retained earnings

 

1,915,736

 

 

1,891,022

 

 

Treasury stock (67,629,766 and 68,075,570 shares, at cost, respectively)

 

(1,397,543

)

 

(1,406,755

)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(80,454

)

 

(73,090

)

 

Unallocated common stock held by ESOP (226,735 and 967,013 shares, respectively)

 

(830

)

 

(3,542

)

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,457,916

 

 

1,293,989

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

16,022,089

 

 

$

16,496,642

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the

 

For the

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage loans

 

$

69,158

 

$

91,490

 

$

222,994

 

$

286,236

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans

 

41,450

 

38,127

 

120,463

 

111,088

 

Consumer and other loans

 

2,175

 

2,309

 

6,611

 

6,944

 

Mortgage-backed and other securities

 

13,247

 

14,453

 

36,003

 

49,445

 

Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts

 

67

 

182

 

192

 

282

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock

 

1,498

 

1,773

 

5,147

 

4,928

 

Total interest income

 

127,595

 

148,334

 

391,410

 

458,923

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

15,156

 

22,119

 

48,166

 

78,479

 

Borrowings

 

26,235

 

40,217

 

88,107

 

119,581

 

Total interest expense

 

41,391

 

62,336

 

136,273

 

198,060

 

Net interest income

 

86,204

 

85,998

 

255,137

 

260,863

 

Provision for loan losses

 

2,541

 

9,500

 

16,193

 

29,500

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

83,663

 

76,498

 

238,944

 

231,363

 

Non-interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer service fees

 

9,550

 

10,487

 

27,718

 

30,480

 

Other loan fees

 

598

 

545

 

1,588

 

1,937

 

Gain on sales of securities

 

 

 

2,057

 

2,477

 

Mortgage banking income, net

 

1,888

 

2,015

 

10,060

 

5,147

 

Income from bank owned life insurance

 

1,972

 

2,446

 

6,211

 

7,073

 

Other

 

1,301

 

1,081

 

4,535

 

4,478

 

Total non-interest income

 

15,309

 

16,574

 

52,169

 

51,592

 

Non-interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

33,879

 

30,758

 

99,262

 

105,060

 

Occupancy, equipment and systems

 

17,022

 

16,758

 

53,669

 

49,992

 

Federal deposit insurance premiums

 

9,166

 

12,533

 

28,359

 

35,600

 

Advertising

 

2,074

 

1,811

 

6,225

 

5,624

 

Extinguishment of debt

 

 

1,212

 

4,266

 

1,212

 

Other

 

10,393

 

9,571

 

26,701

 

29,455

 

Total non-interest expense

 

72,534

 

72,643

 

218,482

 

226,943

 

Income before income tax expense

 

26,438

 

20,429

 

72,631

 

56,012

 

Income tax expense

 

9,514

 

7,074

 

26,190

 

19,837

 

Net income

 

16,924

 

13,355

 

46,441

 

36,175

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

2,194

 

 

5,021

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

14,730

 

$

13,355

 

$

41,420

 

$

36,175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.42

 

$

0.38

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.42

 

$

0.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,199,329

 

95,555,816

 

96,967,052

 

95,303,453

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,199,329

 

95,555,816

 

96,967,052

 

95,303,453

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the

 

For the

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

16,924

 

$

13,355

 

 

$

46,441

 

$

36,175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period

 

(1,286

)

(3,796

)

 

(7,889

)

(3,194

)

Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities included in net income

 

 

 

 

(1,332

)

(1,604

)

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

 

(1,286

)

(3,796

)

 

(9,221

)

(4,798

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment arising during the period

 

 

 

 

 

24,286

 

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

585

 

448

 

 

1,754

 

3,077

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

585

 

448

 

 

1,754

 

27,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service cost adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service cost adjustment arising during the period

 

 

 

 

 

(3,537

)

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

34

 

32

 

 

103

 

67

 

Prior service cost adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

34

 

32

 

 

103

 

(3,470

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification adjustment for loss on cash flow hedge included in net income

 

 

56

 

 

 

151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

 

(667

)

(3,260

)

 

(7,364

)

19,246

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

16,257

 

$

10,095

 

 

$

39,077

 

$

55,421

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

Unallocated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Common

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred

 

Common

 

Paid-in

 

Retained

 

Treasury

 

Comprehensive

 

Stock Held

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

Total

 

Stock

 

Stock

 

Capital

 

Earnings

 

Stock

 

Loss

 

by ESOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

 

$1,293,989

 

$         

 

$1,665

 

 

$884,689

 

$1,891,022

 

$(1,406,755

)

$(73,090

)

 

$   (3,542

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

46,441

 

 

 

 

 

46,441

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(7,364

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,364

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of Preferred Stock, Series C (135,000 shares)

 

129,796

 

129,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.12 per share)

 

(11,750

)

 

 

 

 

(11,750

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends on preferred stock ($37.19 per share)

 

(5,021

)

 

 

 

 

(5,021

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock grants (536,110 shares)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,200

)

(5,878

)

11,078

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeitures of restricted stock (90,306 shares)

 

 

 

 

 

994

 

872

 

(1,866

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

5,272

 

 

 

 

5,222

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(1,296

)

 

 

 

(1,296

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation of ESOP stock

 

7,849

 

 

 

 

5,137

 

 

 

 

 

2,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2013

 

$1,457,916

 

$129,796

 

$1,665

 

 

$889,546

 

$1,915,736

 

$(1,397,543

)

$(80,454

)

 

$    (830

)

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

46,441

 

$

36,175

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Net amortization on loans

 

16,966

 

20,081

 

Net amortization on securities and borrowings

 

13,084

 

11,919

 

Net provision for loan and real estate losses

 

17,135

 

31,995

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,653

 

8,906

 

Net gain on sales of loans and securities

 

(8,595

)

(9,874

)

Net (gain) loss on dispositions of premises and equipment

 

(4

)

62

 

Other asset impairment charges

 

89

 

457

 

Originations of loans held-for-sale

 

(229,041

)

(268,766

)

Proceeds from sales and principal repayments of loans held-for-sale

 

295,076

 

264,432

 

Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP stock

 

13,121

 

10,771

 

Decrease in accrued interest receivable

 

2,038

 

180

 

Mortgage servicing rights amortization and valuation allowance adjustments, net

 

(512

)

3,996

 

Bank owned life insurance income and insurance proceeds received, net

 

(3,027

)

(6,152

)

Decrease in other assets

 

31,534

 

76,824

 

(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

(13,902

)

6,743

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

189,056

 

187,749

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Originations of loans receivable

 

(1,782,858

)

(2,741,316

)

Loan purchases through third parties

 

(348,550

)

(850,905

)

Principal payments on loans receivable

 

2,724,868

 

3,212,449

 

Proceeds from sales of delinquent and non-performing loans

 

18,501

 

21,631

 

Purchases of securities held-to-maturity

 

(828,835

)

(533,031

)

Purchases of securities available-for-sale

 

(221,080

)

(208,195

)

Principal payments on securities held-to-maturity

 

602,321

 

699,899

 

Principal payments on securities available-for-sale

 

86,270

 

166,554

 

Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale

 

41,640

 

54,318

 

Net redemptions (purchases) of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock

 

17,977

 

(50,165

)

Redemption of Astoria Capital Trust I common securities

 

3,866

 

 

Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net

 

29,560

 

48,235

 

Purchases of premises and equipment

 

(6,142

)

(5,899

)

Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment

 

50

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

337,588

 

(186,425

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in deposits

 

(383,584

)

(706,732

)

Net increase in borrowings with original terms of three months or less

 

189,000

 

684,000

 

Proceeds from borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

 

950,000

 

Repayments of borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

(453,866

)

(944,000

)

Cash payments for debt issuance costs

 

 

(2,643

)

Net increase in mortgage escrow funds

 

24,147

 

21,236

 

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

 

135,000

 

 

Cash payments for preferred stock issuance costs

 

(5,204

)

 

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

 

(14,577

)

(20,249

)

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(1,296

)

(2,067

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(510,380

)

(20,455

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

16,264

 

(19,131

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

121,473

 

132,704

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

137,737

 

$

113,573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

137,551

 

$

197,198

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

13,455

 

$

5,524

 

Additions to real estate owned

 

$

36,962

 

$

33,496

 

Loans transferred to held-for-sale

 

$

15,642

 

$

1,982

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1.              Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Astoria Financial Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and its subsidiaries, referred to as Astoria Federal, and AF Insurance Agency, Inc.  As used in this quarterly report, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Astoria Financial Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.  All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

In addition to Astoria Federal and AF Insurance Agency, Inc., we had another subsidiary, Astoria Capital Trust I, which was not consolidated with Astoria Financial Corporation for financial reporting purposes.  On May 14, 2013, we filed a Certificate of Cancellation of Certificate of Trust of Astoria Capital Trust I with the Delaware Secretary of State.  See Note 5 for further discussion of Astoria Capital Trust I.

 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of our financial condition as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, our results of operations and other comprehensive income/loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, changes in our stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.  In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities for the consolidated statements of financial condition as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and amounts of revenues, expenses and other comprehensive income/loss in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.  The results of operations and other comprehensive income/loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations and other comprehensive income/loss to be expected for the remainder of the year.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.  Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

 

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2012 audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

2.     Securities

 

The following tables set forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

(In Thousands)

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE (1) issuance REMICs and CMOs (2)

 

$

300,047

 

$

2,310

 

$

(5,391

)

 

$

296,966

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

8,330

 

67

 

(1

)

 

8,396

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

17,150

 

810

 

(3

)

 

17,957

 

Total residential mortgage-backed securities

 

325,527

 

3,187

 

(5,395

)

 

323,319

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

98,674

 

 

(6,244

)

 

92,430

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

15

 

 

(14

)

 

1

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$

424,216

 

$

3,187

 

$

(11,653

)

 

$

415,750

 

Held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

1,534,021

 

$

16,264

 

$

(21,336

)

 

$

1,528,949

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

4,054

 

69

 

(10

)

 

4,113

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

288,655

 

884

 

(8,235

)

 

281,304

 

Total residential mortgage-backed securities

 

1,826,730

 

17,217

 

(29,581

)

 

1,814,366

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

88,127

 

 

(6,326

)

 

81,801

 

Other

 

604

 

 

 

 

604

 

Total securities held-to-maturity

 

$

1,915,461

 

$

17,217

 

$

(35,907

)

 

$

1,896,771

 

 

(1) Government-sponsored enterprise

(2) Real estate mortgage investment conduits and collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

200,152

 

$

5,258

 

$

(583

)

 

$

204,827

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

11,296

 

9

 

(86

)

 

11,219

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

20,348

 

1,029

 

(2

)

 

21,375

 

Total residential mortgage-backed securities

 

231,796

 

6,296

 

(671

)

 

237,421

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

98,670

 

214

 

(5

)

 

98,879

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

15

 

 

(15

)

 

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$

330,481

 

$

6,510

 

$

(691

)

 

$

336,300

 

Held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

1,693,437

 

$

27,787

 

$

(2,955

)

 

$

1,718,269

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

5,791

 

112

 

 

 

5,903

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

257

 

6

 

(1

)

 

262

 

Total residential mortgage-backed securities

 

1,699,485

 

27,905

 

(2,956

)

 

1,724,434

 

Other

 

656

 

 

 

 

656

 

Total securities held-to-maturity

 

$

1,700,141

 

$

27,905

 

$

(2,956

)

 

$

1,725,090

 

 

8



Table of Contents

 

The following tables set forth the estimated fair values of securities with gross unrealized losses at the dates indicated, segregated between securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months and those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

 

 

Less Than Twelve Months

 

Twelve Months or Longer

 

Total

 

(In Thousands)

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$ 157,497

 

$   (5,193)

 

$ 17,296

 

$    (198)

 

$ 174,793

 

$   (5,391

)

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

 

 

140

 

(1)

 

140

 

(1

)

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

292

 

(1)

 

90

 

(2)

 

382

 

(3

)

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

92,430

 

(6,244)

 

 

 

92,430

 

(6,244

)

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

 

 

1

 

(14)

 

1

 

(14

)

 

Total temporarily impaired securities available-for-sale

 

$ 250,219

 

$ (11,438)

 

$ 17,527

 

$    (215)

 

$ 267,746

 

$ (11,653

)

 

Held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$ 647,583

 

$ (17,525)

 

$ 78,148

 

$ (3,811)

 

$ 725,731

 

$ (21,336

)

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

398

 

(10)

 

 

 

398

 

(10

)

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

182,209

 

(8,234)

 

31

 

(1)

 

182,240

 

(8,235

)

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

81,801

 

(6,326)

 

 

 

81,801

 

(6,326

)

 

Total temporarily impaired securities held-to-maturity

 

$ 911,991

 

$ (32,095)

 

$ 78,179

 

$ (3,812)

 

$ 990,170

 

$ (35,907

)

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Less Than Twelve Months

 

Twelve Months or Longer

 

Total

 

(In Thousands)

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$   67,841

 

$    (583)

 

$       —

 

$     —

 

$  67,841

 

$    (583

)

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

 

 

10,709

 

(86)

 

10,709

 

(86

)

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

57

 

(1)

 

47

 

(1)

 

104

 

(2

)

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

24,995

 

(5)

 

 

 

24,995

 

(5

)

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

 

 

 

(15)

 

 

(15

)

 

Total temporarily impaired securities available-for-sale

 

$   92,893

 

$    (589)

 

$ 10,756

 

$ (102)

 

$ 103,649

 

$    (691

)

 

Held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$ 413,651

 

$ (2,759)

 

$ 12,259

 

$ (196)

 

$ 425,910

 

$ (2,955

)

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

48

 

(1)

 

 

 

48

 

(1

)

 

Total temporarily impaired securities held-to-maturity

 

$ 413,699

 

$ (2,760)

 

$ 12,259

 

$ (196)

 

$ 425,958

 

$ (2,956

)

 

 

We held 91 securities which had an unrealized loss at September 30, 2013 and 41 at December 31, 2012.  At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, substantially all of the securities in an unrealized loss position had a fixed interest rate and the cause of the temporary impairment was directly related to the change in interest rates.  We generally view changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary, which is consistent with our experience.  None of the unrealized losses are related to credit losses.  Therefore, at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the impairments were deemed temporary based on (1) the direct relationship of the decline in fair value to movements in interest rates, (2) the estimated remaining life and high credit quality of the investments and (3) the fact that we had no intention to sell these securities and it was not more likely than not that we would be required to sell these securities before their anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis and we expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, proceeds from sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio totaled $41.6 million resulting in gross realized gains totaling $2.1 million.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, proceeds from sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio totaled $54.3 million, resulting in gross realized gains totaling $2.5 million.

 

At September 30, 2013, available-for-sale debt securities excluding mortgage-backed securities had an amortized cost of $98.7 million, a fair value of $92.4 million and contractual maturities in 2021 and 2022.  At September 30, 2013, held-to-maturity debt securities excluding mortgage-backed securities had an amortized cost of $88.7 million, a fair value of $82.4 million and contractual maturities in 2020 through 2023.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to prepay or call obligations with or without prepayment penalties.

 

At September 30, 2013, we held securities with an amortized cost of $186.8 million which are callable within one year and at various times thereafter.

 

The balance of accrued interest receivable for securities totaled $6.2 million at September 30, 2013 and $5.7 million at December 31, 2012.

 

3.     Loans Held-for-Sale

 

Loans held-for-sale, net, includes fifteen and thirty year fixed rate one-to-four family, or residential, mortgage loans originated for sale that conform to GSE guidelines (conforming loans), as well as certain delinquent and non-performing loans.  Upon our decision to sell certain delinquent and non-performing loans held in portfolio, we reclassify them to held-for-sale at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs.  Non-performing loans held-for-sale included in loans held-for-sale, net of valuation allowances, totaled $884,000 at September 30, 2013 and $3.9 million at December 31, 2012.  Non-performing loans held-for-sale were comprised primarily of multi-family mortgage loans at September 30, 2013.  Substantially all of the non-performing loans held-for-sale were multi-family mortgage loans at December 31, 2012.

 

We sold certain delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans, primarily multi-family and commercial real estate loans, totaling $18.4 million, net of charge-offs of $4.3 million, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $20.4 million, net of charge-offs of $11.0 million, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Net gain on sales of non-performing loans totaled $56,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and $118,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Net loss on sales of non-performing loans totaled $2,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and net gain on sales of non-performing loans totaled $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

We recorded net lower of cost or market write-downs on non-performing loans held-for-sale totaling $54,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and $89,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Net lower of cost or market write-downs on non-performing loans held-for-sale totaled $234,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and $457,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Lower of cost or market write-downs and recoveries on non-performing loans held-for-sale and gains and losses recognized on sales of such loans are included in other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income.

 

10



Table of Contents

 

4.     Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The following tables set forth the composition of our loans receivable portfolio, and an aging analysis by accruing and non-accrual loans, by segment and class at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

 

 

Past Due

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30-59

 

60-89

 

90 Days

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Days

 

Days

 

or More

 

Past Due

 

Current

 

Total

 

Accruing loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

23,479

 

$

6,327

 

$

 

$

29,806

 

$

1,387,347

 

$

1,417,153

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

29,947

 

9,623

 

 

39,570

 

5,408,913

 

5,448,483

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

24,384

 

7,232

 

 

31,616

 

723,406

 

755,022

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

8,635

 

1,997

 

 

10,632

 

348,810

 

359,442

 

Total residential

 

86,445

 

25,179

 

 

111,624

 

7,868,476

 

7,980,100

 

Multi-family

 

8,961

 

1,448

 

 

10,409

 

3,091,944

 

3,102,353

 

Commercial real estate

 

 

1,024

 

55

 

1,079

 

811,128

 

812,207

 

Total mortgage loans

 

95,406

 

27,651

 

55

 

123,112

 

11,771,548

 

11,894,660

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

2,573

 

1,350

 

 

3,923

 

196,121

 

200,044

 

Other

 

60

 

36

 

 

96

 

37,499

 

37,595

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

2,633

 

1,386

 

 

4,019

 

233,620

 

237,639

 

Total accruing loans

 

$

98,039

 

$

29,037

 

$

55

 

$

127,131

 

$

12,005,168

 

$

12,132,299

 

Non-accrual loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

1,863

 

$

 

$

85,019

 

$

86,882

 

$

21,802

 

$

108,684

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

346

 

1,226

 

42,294

 

43,866

 

8,675

 

52,541

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

3,129

 

492

 

91,089

 

94,710

 

29,814

 

124,524

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

1,532

 

129

 

26,289

 

27,950

 

4,719

 

32,669

 

Total residential

 

6,870

 

1,847

 

244,691

 

253,408

 

65,010

 

318,418

 

Multi-family

 

1,030

 

363

 

11,037

 

12,430

 

3,231

 

15,661

 

Commercial real estate

 

 

937

 

1,098

 

2,035

 

8,578

 

10,613

 

Total mortgage loans

 

7,900

 

3,147

 

256,826

 

267,873

 

76,819

 

344,692

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

 

 

6,441

 

6,441

 

32

 

6,473

 

Other

 

 

 

33

 

33

 

 

33

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

 

 

6,474

 

6,474

 

32

 

6,506

 

Total non-accrual loans

 

$

7,900

 

$

3,147

 

$

263,300

 

$

274,347

 

$

76,851

 

$

351,198

 

Total loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

25,342

 

$

6,327

 

$

85,019

 

$

116,688

 

$

1,409,149

 

$

1,525,837

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

30,293

 

10,849

 

42,294

 

83,436

 

5,417,588

 

5,501,024

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

27,513

 

7,724

 

91,089

 

126,326

 

753,220

 

879,546

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

10,167

 

2,126

 

26,289

 

38,582

 

353,529

 

392,111

 

Total residential

 

93,315

 

27,026

 

244,691

 

365,032

 

7,933,486

 

8,298,518

 

Multi-family

 

9,991

 

1,811

 

11,037

 

22,839

 

3,095,175

 

3,118,014

 

Commercial real estate

 

 

1,961

 

1,153

 

3,114

 

819,706

 

822,820

 

Total mortgage loans

 

103,306

 

30,798

 

256,881

 

390,985

 

11,848,367

 

12,239,352

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

2,573

 

1,350

 

6,441

 

10,364

 

196,153

 

206,517

 

Other

 

60

 

36

 

33

 

129

 

37,499

 

37,628

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

2,633

 

1,386

 

6,474

 

10,493

 

233,652

 

244,145

 

Total loans

 

$

105,939

 

$

32,184

 

$

263,355

 

$

401,478

 

$

12,082,019

 

$

12,483,497

 

Net unamortized premiums and deferred loan origination costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

58,046

 

Loans receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,541,543

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(143,000

)

Loans receivable, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,398,543

 

 

11



Table of Contents

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Past Due

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30-59

 

60-89

 

90 Days

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Days

 

Days

 

or More

 

Past Due

 

Current

 

Total

 

Accruing loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

30,520

 

$

8,973

 

$

 

$

39,493

 

$

1,862,382

 

$

1,901,875

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

35,918

 

6,564

 

 

42,482

 

6,218,064

 

6,260,546

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

28,212

 

7,694

 

 

35,906

 

855,907

 

891,813

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

11,780

 

3,893

 

 

15,673

 

350,268

 

365,941

 

Total residential

 

106,430

 

27,124

 

 

133,554

 

9,286,621

 

9,420,175

 

Multi-family

 

21,743

 

5,382

 

 

27,125

 

2,368,895

 

2,396,020

 

Commercial real estate

 

13,536

 

3,126

 

328

 

16,990

 

750,385

 

767,375

 

Total mortgage loans

 

141,709

 

35,632

 

328

 

177,669

 

12,405,901

 

12,583,570

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

3,103

 

1,092

 

 

4,195

 

221,266

 

225,461

 

Other

 

120

 

223

 

 

343

 

31,782

 

32,125

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

3,223

 

1,315

 

 

4,538

 

253,048

 

257,586

 

Total accruing loans

 

$

144,932

 

$

36,947

 

$

328

 

$

182,207

 

$

12,658,949

 

$

12,841,156

 

Non-accrual loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

 

$

677

 

$

97,907

 

$

98,584

 

$

937

 

$

99,521

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

363

 

 

43,014

 

43,377

 

949

 

44,326

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

1,042

 

 

107,254

 

108,296

 

5,186

 

113,482

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

445

 

13

 

32,496

 

32,954

 

768

 

33,722

 

Total residential

 

1,850

 

690

 

280,671

 

283,211

 

7,840

 

291,051

 

Multi-family

 

 

 

7,359

 

7,359

 

3,299

 

10,658

 

Commercial real estate

 

 

 

6,541

 

6,541

 

 

6,541

 

Total mortgage loans

 

1,850

 

690

 

294,571

 

297,111

 

11,139

 

308,250

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

 

 

6,459

 

6,459

 

 

6,459

 

Other

 

 

 

49

 

49

 

 

49

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

 

 

6,508

 

6,508

 

 

6,508

 

Total non-accrual loans

 

$

1,850

 

$

690

 

$

301,079

 

$

303,619

 

$

11,139

 

$

314,758

 

Total loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

30,520

 

$

9,650

 

$

97,907

 

$

138,077

 

$

1,863,319

 

$

2,001,396

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

36,281

 

6,564

 

43,014

 

85,859

 

6,219,013

 

6,304,872

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

29,254

 

7,694

 

107,254

 

144,202

 

861,093

 

1,005,295

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

12,225

 

3,906

 

32,496

 

48,627

 

351,036

 

399,663

 

Total residential

 

108,280

 

27,814

 

280,671

 

416,765

 

9,294,461

 

9,711,226

 

Multi-family

 

21,743

 

5,382

 

7,359

 

34,484

 

2,372,194

 

2,406,678

 

Commercial real estate

 

13,536

 

3,126

 

6,869

 

23,531

 

750,385

 

773,916

 

Total mortgage loans

 

143,559

 

36,322

 

294,899

 

474,780

 

12,417,040

 

12,891,820

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

3,103

 

1,092

 

6,459

 

10,654

 

221,266

 

231,920

 

Other

 

120

 

223

 

49

 

392

 

31,782

 

32,174

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

3,223

 

1,315

 

6,508

 

11,046

 

253,048

 

264,094

 

Total loans

 

$

146,782

 

$

37,637

 

$

301,407

 

$

485,826

 

$

12,670,088

 

$

13,155,914

 

Net unamortized premiums and deferred loan origination costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

68,058

 

Loans receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,223,972

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(145,501

)

Loans receivable, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

13,078,471

 

 

12



Table of Contents

 

We segment our residential mortgage loan portfolio by interest-only and amortizing loans, full documentation and reduced documentation loans and year of origination and analyze our historical loss experience and delinquency levels and trends of these segments.  We analyze multi-family and commercial real estate loans by portfolio, geographic location and year of origination.  We analyze our consumer and other loan portfolio by home equity lines of credit, commercial loans, revolving credit lines and installment loans and perform similar historical loss analyses.

 

Effective in the 2013 first quarter, in addition to residential loans discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, or bankruptcy loans, placed on non-accrual status and reported as non-performing loans as of December 31, 2012, we also included bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 regardless of the delinquency status of the loans, which resulted in an increase in non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  Non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 included $64.3 million of bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due, including $49.9 million which were discharged prior to 2012.  Of the bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due at September 30, 2013, $57.8 million were current, $5.9 million were 30-59 days past due and $535,000 were 60-89 days past due.  Such loans continue to generate interest income on a cash basis as payments are received.  Pursuant to regulatory guidance issued in 2012, bankruptcy loans, in addition to being placed on non-accrual status and reported as non-performing loans, are also reported as loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring, or TDR, and as impaired loans; such loans totaled $88.0 million at September 30, 2013, including bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 of $66.3 million.

 

We analyze our historical loss experience over twelve, fifteen, eighteen and twenty-four month periods.  The loss history used in calculating our quantitative allowance coverage percentages varies based on loan type.  Also, for a particular loan type we may not have sufficient loss history to develop a reasonable estimate of loss and consider our loss experience for other, similar loan types and may evaluate those losses over a longer period than two years.  Additionally, multi-family and commercial real estate loss experience may be adjusted based on the composition of the losses (loan sales, short sales and partial charge-offs).  We update our historical loss analyses quarterly and evaluate the need to modify our quantitative allowances as a result of our updated charge-off and loss analyses.  In the 2013 third quarter, we further updated the method of determining our allowance level by (1) extending our evaluation of loss experience factors to consider trends in such factors over the prior two years for the majority of the loan portfolio, and (2) giving consideration to more detailed modeling techniques as an added factor for multi-family and commercial real estate loans originated since 2010.  We also consider qualitative factors with the purpose of assessing the adequacy of the overall allowance for loan losses as well as the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by portfolio.

 

Allowance adequacy calculations are adjusted quarterly, based on the results of our quantitative and qualitative analyses, to reflect our current estimates of the amount of probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio in determining our allowance for loan losses.  Beginning with the 2013 first quarter, the allowance for loan losses allocated to residential mortgage loans over 180 days delinquent with a charge-off, previously determined within our qualitative analysis, is now determined within our quantitative analysis and presented as attributable to those loans individually evaluated for impairment.  The portion of the allowance allocated to each loan category does not represent the total available to absorb losses which may occur within the loan category, since the total allowance for loan losses is available for losses applicable to the entire loan portfolio.

 

13



Table of Contents

 

The following tables set forth the changes in our allowance for loan losses by loan receivable segment for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Balance at July 1, 2013

 

$

78,788

 

$

40,865

 

$

16,642

 

$

7,605

 

$

143,900

 

Provision charged (credited) to operations

 

7,659

 

(2,521)

 

(2,592)

 

(5)

 

2,541

 

Charge-offs

 

(5,560)

 

(99)

 

(293)

 

(544)

 

(6,496

)

Recoveries

 

2,537

 

 

247

 

271

 

3,055

 

Balance at September 30, 2013

 

$

83,424

 

$

38,245

 

$

14,004

 

$

7,327

 

$

143,000

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2013

 

$

89,267

 

$

35,514

 

$

14,404

 

$

6,316

 

$

145,501

 

Provision charged to operations

 

7,488

 

5,131

 

1,378

 

2,196

 

16,193

 

Charge-offs

 

(20,332)

 

(3,637)

 

(2,313)

 

(1,672)

 

(27,954

)

Recoveries

 

7,001

 

1,237

 

535

 

487

 

9,260

 

Balance at September 30, 2013

 

$

83,424

 

$

38,245

 

$

14,004

 

$

7,327

 

$

143,000

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Balance at July 1, 2012

 

$

87,394

 

$

48,142

 

$

9,109

 

$

3,457

 

$

148,102

 

Provision charged (credited) to operations

 

9,210

 

(6,168)

 

3,828

 

2,630

 

9,500

 

Charge-offs

 

(8,195)

 

(1,233)

 

(1,379)

 

(891)

 

(11,698

)

Recoveries

 

2,355

 

122

 

 

91

 

2,568

 

Balance at September 30, 2012

 

$

90,764

 

$

40,863

 

$

11,558

 

$

5,287

 

$

148,472

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2012

 

$

105,991

 

$

35,422

 

$

11,972

 

$

3,800

 

$

157,185

 

Provision charged to operations

 

16,387

 

8,381

 

1,303

 

3,429

 

29,500

 

Charge-offs

 

(37,598)

 

(3,139)

 

(1,718)

 

(2,367)

 

(44,822

)

Recoveries

 

5,984

 

199

 

1

 

425

 

6,609

 

Balance at September 30, 2012

 

$

90,764

 

$

40,863

 

$

11,558

 

$

5,287

 

$

148,472

 

 

The following table sets forth the balances of our residential interest-only mortgage loans at September 30, 2013 by the period in which such loans are scheduled to enter their amortization period.

 

(In Thousands)

 

Recorded
Investment

 

Amortization scheduled to begin:

 

 

 

Within one year

 

$

229,445

 

More than one year to three years

 

1,334,544

 

More than three years to five years

 

769,974

 

Over five years

 

71,420

 

Total

 

$

2,405,383

 

 

14



Table of Contents

 

The following tables set forth the balances of our residential mortgage and consumer and other loan receivable segments by class and credit quality indicator at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

 

 

Residential Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer and Other Loans

 

 

 

Full Documentation

 

Reduced Documentation

 

Home Equity

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Interest-only

 

Amortizing

 

Interest-only

 

Amortizing

 

Lines of Credit

 

Other

 

Performing

 

$

1,417,153

 

$

5,448,483

 

$

755,022

 

$

359,442

 

$

200,044

 

$

37,595

 

Non-performing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current or past due less than 90 days

 

23,665

 

10,247

 

33,435

 

6,380

 

32

 

 

Past due 90 days or more

 

85,019

 

42,294

 

91,089

 

26,289

 

6,441

 

33

 

Total

 

$

1,525,837

 

$

5,501,024

 

$

879,546

 

$

392,111

 

$

206,517

 

$

37,628

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Residential Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer and Other Loans

 

 

 

Full Documentation

 

Reduced Documentation

 

Home Equity

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Interest-only

 

Amortizing

 

Interest-only

 

Amortizing

 

Lines of Credit

 

Other

 

Performing

 

$

1,901,875

 

$

6,260,546

 

$

891,813

 

$

365,941

 

$

225,461

 

$

32,125

 

Non-performing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current or past due less than 90 days

 

1,614

 

1,312

 

6,228

 

1,226

 

 

 

Past due 90 days or more

 

97,907

 

43,014

 

107,254

 

32,496

 

6,459

 

49

 

Total

 

$

2,001,396

 

$

6,304,872

 

$

1,005,295

 

$

399,663

 

$

231,920

 

$

32,174

 

 

The following table sets forth the balances of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan receivable segments by credit quality indicator at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Multi-Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

Multi-Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

Not criticized

 

$

3,027,701

 

$

 774,515

 

$

 2,271,006

 

$

 706,334

 

Criticized:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special mention

 

20,016

 

8,123

 

54,956

 

28,210

 

Substandard

 

70,297

 

40,182

 

80,716

 

39,372

 

Doubtful

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

3,118,014

 

$

 822,820

 

$

 2,406,678

 

$

 773,916

 

 

The following tables set forth the balances of our loans receivable and the related allowance for loan loss allocation by segment and by the impairment methodology followed in determining the allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

 

$

313,495

 

$

55,391

 

$

17,154

 

$

 

$

386,040

 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

 

7,985,023

 

3,062,623

 

805,666

 

244,145

 

12,097,457

 

Total loans

 

$

8,298,518

 

$

3,118,014

 

$

822,820

 

$

244,145

 

$

12,483,497

 

Allowance for loan losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

 

$

22,265

 

$

2,179

 

$

322

 

$

 

$

24,766

 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

 

61,159

 

36,066

 

13,682

 

7,327

 

118,234

 

Total allowance for loan losses

 

$

83,424

 

$

38,245

 

$

14,004

 

$

7,327

 

$

143,000

 

 

15



Table of Contents

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

 

$

272,146

 

$

56,116

 

$

18,644

 

$

 

$

346,906

 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

 

9,439,080

 

2,350,562

 

755,272

 

264,094

 

12,809,008

 

Total loans

 

$

9,711,226

 

$

2,406,678

 

$

773,916

 

$

264,094

 

$

13,155,914

 

Allowance for loan losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

 

$

1,001

 

$

2,576

 

$

1,469

 

$

 

$

5,046

 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

 

88,266

 

32,938

 

12,935

 

6,316

 

140,455

 

Total allowance for loan losses

 

$

89,267

 

$

35,514

 

$

14,404

 

$

6,316

 

$

145,501

 

 

The following table summarizes information related to our impaired mortgage loans by segment and class at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Unpaid
Principal
Balance

 

Recorded
Investment

 

Related
Allowance

 

Net
Investment

 

Unpaid
Principal
Balance

 

Recorded
Investment

 

Related
Allowance

 

Net
Investment

 

With an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

149,386

 

$

114,923

 

$

(7,797

)

$

107,126

 

$

10,740

 

$

10,740

 

$

(241

)

$

10,499

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

40,794

 

35,014

 

(2,550

)

32,464

 

6,122

 

6,122

 

(347

)

5,775

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

183,353

 

139,472

 

(9,564

)

129,908

 

12,893

 

12,893

 

(277

)

12,616

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

29,062

 

24,086

 

(2,354

)

21,732

 

3,889

 

3,889

 

(136

)

3,753

 

Multi-family

 

23,437

 

23,437

 

(2,179

)

21,258

 

19,704

 

19,704

 

(2,576

)

17,128

 

Commercial real estate

 

6,764

 

6,764

 

(322

)

6,442

 

10,835

 

10,835

 

(1,469

)

9,366

 

Without an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

 

 

 

 

122,275

 

86,607

 

 

86,607

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

 

 

 

 

23,489

 

17,962

 

 

17,962

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

 

 

 

 

166,477

 

116,514

 

 

116,514

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

 

 

 

 

23,419

 

17,419

 

 

17,419

 

Multi-family

 

38,635

 

31,954

 

 

31,954

 

44,341

 

36,412

 

 

36,412

 

Commercial real estate

 

14,830

 

10,390

 

 

10,390

 

13,256

 

7,809

 

 

7,809

 

Total impaired loans

 

$

486,261

 

$

386,040

 

$

(24,766

)

$

361,274

 

$

457,440

 

$

346,906

 

$

(5,046

)

$

341,860

 

 

16



Table of Contents

 

The following tables set forth the average recorded investment, interest income recognized and cash basis interest income related to our impaired mortgage loans by segment and class for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Average
Recorded
Investment

 

Interest
Income
Recognized

 

Cash Basis
Interest
Income

 

Average
Recorded
Investment

 

Interest
Income
Recognized

 

Cash Basis
Interest
Income

 

With an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

107,893

 

$

762

 

$

763

 

$

10,254

 

$

79

 

$

77

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

31,128

 

218

 

220

 

4,210

 

40

 

41

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

144,468

 

1,171

 

1,174

 

10,469

 

130

 

122

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

24,452

 

158

 

152

 

2,272

 

27

 

19

 

Multi-family

 

19,557

 

34

 

169

 

60,560

 

1,146

 

590

 

Commercial real estate

 

7,604

 

56

 

66

 

11,838

 

229

 

97

 

Without an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

9,075

 

 

 

83,722

 

417

 

411

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

2,968

 

 

 

16,611

 

117

 

108

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

 

 

 

118,021

 

742

 

728

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

 

 

 

18,694

 

79

 

69

 

Multi-family

 

31,464

 

401

 

416

 

12,517

 

503

 

227

 

Commercial real estate

 

11,252

 

112

 

131

 

6,623

 

272

 

99

 

Total impaired loans

 

$

389,861

 

$

2,912

 

$

3,091

 

$

355,791

 

$

3,781

 

$

2,588

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Average
Recorded
Investment

 

Interest
Income
Recognized

 

Cash Basis
Interest
Income

 

Average
Recorded
Investment

 

Interest
Income
Recognized

 

Cash Basis
Interest
Income

 

With an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

$

105,931

 

$

2,114

 

$

2,229

 

$

10,360

 

$

247

 

$

247

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

29,465

 

623

 

639

 

4,071

 

121

 

122

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

146,773

 

3,053

 

3,205

 

10,967

 

342

 

345

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

25,424

 

464

 

493

 

2,084

 

86

 

78

 

Multi-family

 

18,975

 

659

 

722

 

55,319

 

2,252

 

1,946

 

Commercial real estate

 

8,692

 

253

 

285

 

13,196

 

430

 

321

 

Without an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

14,433

 

 

 

81,638

 

1,069

 

1,136

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

4,396

 

 

 

17,452

 

221

 

234

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

2,086

 

 

 

115,363

 

1,731

 

1,824

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

 

 

 

17,293

 

291

 

303

 

Multi-family

 

33,294

 

1,165

 

1,229

 

9,168

 

921

 

662

 

Commercial real estate

 

10,118

 

286

 

319

 

4,812

 

541

 

389

 

Total impaired loans

 

$

399,587

 

$

8,617

 

$

9,121

 

$

341,723

 

$

8,252

 

$

7,607

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following tables set forth information about our mortgage loans receivable by segment and class at September 30, 2013 and 2012 which were modified in a TDR during the periods indicated.

 

 

 

Modifications During the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2013

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2012

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

7

 

$   2,128

 

$   2,127

 

2

 

$     355

 

$      354

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

1

 

161

 

161

 

3

 

805

 

786

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

10

 

3,107

 

3,096

 

5

 

2,693

 

2,690

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

2

 

387

 

386

 

 

 

 

Multi-family

 

5

 

3,967

 

3,774

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

 

4

 

6,488

 

5,458

 

3

 

3,437

 

3,325

 

Total

 

29

 

$ 16,238

 

$ 15,002

 

13

 

$  7,290

 

$   7,155

 

 

 

 

Modifications During the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2013

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2012

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

18

 

$   4,579

 

$   4,577

 

6

 

$   1,415

 

$   1,384

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

6

 

1,662

 

1,682

 

3

 

805

 

786

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

28

 

8,957

 

8,921

 

12

 

5,422

 

5,407

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

8

 

2,470

 

2,408

 

5

 

1,950

 

1,840

 

Multi-family

 

8

 

6,751

 

6,228

 

12

 

31,581

 

29,129

 

Commercial real estate

 

7

 

10,443

 

9,125

 

6

 

7,671

 

6,120

 

Total

 

75

 

$ 34,862

 

$ 32,941

 

44

 

$ 48,844

 

$ 44,666

 

 

The following table sets forth information about our mortgage loans receivable by segment and class at September 30, 2013 and 2012 which were modified in a TDR during the twelve months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and had a payment default subsequent to the modification during the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2013

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2012

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2013

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
September 30, 2012

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

14

 

$    3,365

 

 

$        —

 

22

 

$    5,343

 

 

$        —

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

8

 

2,159

 

1

 

485

 

10

 

2,589

 

1

 

485

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

20

 

5,729

 

3

 

1,174

 

24

 

6,707

 

5

 

1,821

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

2

 

303

 

 

 

5

 

880

 

5

 

1,817

 

Multi-family

 

1

 

671

 

1

 

2,062

 

1

 

671

 

2

 

3,743

 

Total

 

45

 

$ 12,227

 

5

 

$  3,721

 

62

 

$  16,190

 

13

 

$    7,866

 

 

For additional information regarding our loans receivable and allowance for loan losses, see “Asset Quality” and “Critical Accounting Policies” in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or “MD&A.”

 

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5.     Borrowings

 

The following table summarizes our borrowings and their weighted average rates at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Federal funds purchased

 

$

285,000

 

0.27%

 

$

 

—%

 

Reverse repurchase agreements

 

1,100,000

 

3.87

 

1,100,000

 

4.32

 

FHLB-NY advances

 

2,476,000

 

1.83

 

2,897,000

 

2.07

 

Other borrowings, net

 

248,028

 

5.00

 

376,496

 

6.62

 

Total borrowings, net

 

$

4,109,028

 

2.46%

 

$

4,373,496

 

3.03%

 

 

Included in our borrowings are various obligations which, by their terms, may be called by the counterparty.  At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had $1.95 billion of callable borrowings, all of which at December 31, 2012 were contractually callable by the counterparty within three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we restructured $1.35 billion of these borrowings with the counterparties, of which $500.0 million were reverse repurchase agreements and $850.0 million were Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, or FHLB-NY, advances, resulting in a reduction in the weighted average interest rate on such borrowings from 4.40% to 3.46% and an extension of terms from a weighted average remaining term at the time of the restructuring of approximately 4 years to approximately 7 years.  The restructuring also extended the contractual call dates on $950.0 million of these borrowings to 2017, on $100.0 million of these borrowings to 2016 and on $200.0 million of these borrowings to 2015.

 

The following table sets forth the contractual maturities of our FHLB-NY advances and our reverse repurchase agreements at September 30, 2013.

 

(In Thousands)

 

FHLB-NY
Advances

 

Reverse
Repurchase
Agreements

 

Contractual Maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve months or less

 

$

776,000

(1)

$

 

Thirteen to twenty-four months

 

100,000

 

 

Twenty-five to thirty-six months

 

750,000

 

 

Thirty-seven to forty-eight months

 

 

600,000

(2)

Forty-nine to sixty months

 

 

200,000

(3)

Over sixty months

 

850,000

(4)

300,000

(5)

Total

 

$

2,476,000

 

$

1,100,000

 

 

(1)

Includes $176.0 million of borrowings due overnight, $350.0 million of borrowings due in less than 30 days, $100.0 million of borrowings due in 30-90 days and $150.0 million of borrowings due after 90 days.

(2)

Callable within the next three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter.

(3)

Callable in 2015.

(4)

Callable in 2017.

(5)

Includes $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable within the next three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter, $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2016 and $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2017.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Our former finance subsidiary, Astoria Capital Trust I, was formed for the purpose of issuing $125.0 million aggregate liquidation amount of 9.75% Capital Securities due November 1, 2029, or Capital Securities, and $3.9 million of common securities (which were the only voting securities of Astoria Capital Trust I and were owned by Astoria Financial Corporation) and used the proceeds to acquire 9.75% Junior Subordinated Debentures, due November 1, 2029,  issued by Astoria Financial Corporation totaling $128.9 million.  The Junior Subordinated Debentures were the sole assets of Astoria Capital Trust I.  The Junior Subordinated Debentures were prepayable, in whole or in part, at our option at declining premiums to November 1, 2019, after which the Junior Subordinated Debentures were prepayable at par value.  The Capital Securities had the same prepayment provisions as the Junior Subordinated Debentures.  On May 10, 2013, we prepaid in whole our Junior Subordinated Debentures, which were included in other borrowings, net, pursuant to the optional prepayment provisions of the indenture at a prepayment price of 103.413% of the $128.9 million aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of repayment.  As a result of the prepayment in whole of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, Astoria Capital Trust I simultaneously applied the proceeds of such prepayment to redeem its Capital Securities, as well as the common securities owned by Astoria Financial Corporation.  The prepayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures resulted in a $4.3 million prepayment charge in the 2013 second quarter for the early extinguishment of this debt.

 

6.     Preferred Stock

 

On March 19, 2013, in a public offering, we sold 5,400,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of our 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, $1.00 par value per share, $1,000 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), or Series C Preferred Stock.  We issued 135,000 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock in connection with the sale of the depositary shares.  The aggregate proceeds from the offering, net of underwriting discounts and other issuance costs, were approximately $129.8 million.

 

The Series C Preferred Stock, and corresponding depositary shares, may be redeemed at our option, in whole or in part, on April 15, 2018, or on any dividend payment date occurring thereafter, at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of any undeclared dividends). The Series C Preferred Stock may also be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at any time upon the occurrence of a “regulatory capital treatment event,” as defined in the certificate of designations included in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March 19, 2013.  The holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, and the corresponding depositary shares, do not have the right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Beginning in July 2013, dividends are payable on the Series C Preferred Stock when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, on a non-cumulative basis quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year at an annual rate of 6.50% on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share.  No dividend shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on our common stock unless the full dividends for the most recently completed dividend period have been declared and paid on our Series C Preferred Stock.  On June 19, 2013, our Board of Directors declared the first quarterly cash dividend on our Series C Preferred Stock aggregating $2.8 million, or $20.94 per share, for the dividend period from the issuance date of March 19, 2013 through and including July 14, 2013, which was paid on July 15, 2013 to stockholders of

 

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record as of June 30, 2013.  On September 18, 2013, our Board of Directors declared the second quarterly cash dividend on our Series C Preferred Stock aggregating $2.2 million, or $16.25 per share, for the quarterly period from July 15, 2013 through and including September 14, 2013, which was paid on October 15, 2013 to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2013.

 

7.     Earnings Per Common Share

 

The following table is a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per common share, or EPS.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net income

 

$ 16,924

 

 

$ 13,355

 

 

$ 46,441

 

 

$ 36,175

 

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

(2,194

)

 

 

 

(5,021

)

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

14,730

 

 

13,355

 

 

41,420

 

 

36,175

 

 

Income allocated to participating securities

 

(195

)

 

(206

)

 

(508

)

 

(250

)

 

Net income allocated to common shareholders

 

$ 14,535

 

 

$ 13,149

 

 

$ 40,912

 

 

$ 35,925

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,199,329

 

 

95,555,816

 

 

96,967,052

 

 

95,303,453

 

 

Dilutive effect of stock options (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,199,329

 

 

95,555,816

 

 

96,967,052

 

 

95,303,453

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$ 0.15

 

 

$ 0.14

 

 

$ 0.42

 

 

$ 0.38

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$ 0.15

 

 

$ 0.14

 

 

$ 0.42

 

 

$ 0.38

 

 

 

(1)

Excludes options to purchase 1,871,935 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2013; options to purchase 5,452,028 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2012; options to purchase 2,215,820 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2013; and options to purchase 5,674,912 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

For EPS computations, unvested shares of restricted common stock represent participating securities.  In contrast, unvested restricted stock units are treated as potential common shares with the dilutive effect calculated using the treasury stock method.  However, the unvested restricted stock units are excluded from the denominator for both the basic and diluted EPS computations until the performance conditions are satisfied.  As a result, unvested restricted stock units were excluded from the EPS computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.  There were no unvested restricted stock units outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.  See Note 10 for additional information about the restricted stock units granted in 2013.

 

8.     Other Comprehensive Income/Loss

 

The following disclosures reflect our adoption, effective January 1, 2013, of the guidance in Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” The guidance in ASU 2013-02 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and is presentation related only.  Our adoption of ASU 2013-02 did not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following tables set forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at the dates indicated and the changes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

(In Thousands)

 

At
June 30, 2013

 

Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income

 

At
September 30, 2013

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

 

$     (484

)

 

$ (1,286

)

 

$  (1,770

)

 

Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(75,946

)

 

585

 

 

(75,361

)

 

Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(3,357

)

 

34

 

 

(3,323

)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$(79,787

)

 

$    (667

)

 

$(80,454

)

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

At
December 31, 2012

 

Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income

 

At
September 30, 2013

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale

 

$   7,451

 

 

$  (9,221

)

 

$   (1,770

)

 

Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(77,115

)

 

1,754

 

 

(75,361

)

 

Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(3,426

)

 

103

 

 

(3,323

)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$(73,090

)

 

$  (7,364

)

 

$ (80,454

)

 

 

The following tables set forth the components of other comprehensive loss for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013

 

(In Thousands)

 

Before Tax
Amount

 

Tax Benefit
(Expense)

 

After Tax
Amount

 

Net unrealized holding loss on securities available-for-sale arising during the period

 

$   (1,984

)

 

$   698

 

 

$  (1,286

)

 

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

903

 

 

(318

)

 

585

 

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

53

 

 

(19

)

 

34

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

$   (1,028

)

 

$   361

 

 

$     (667

)

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013

 

(In Thousands)

 

Before Tax
Amount

 

Tax Benefit
(Expense)

 

After Tax
Amount

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period

 

$  (12,180

)

 

$  4,291

 

 

$  (7,889

)

 

Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities included in net income

 

(2,057

)

 

725

 

 

(1,332

)

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

 

(14,237

)

 

5,016

 

 

(9,221

)

 

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

2,708

 

 

(954

)

 

1,754

 

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

159

 

 

(56

)

 

103

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

$  (11,370

)

 

$  4,006

 

 

$  (7,364

)

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table sets forth information about amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to, and the affected line items in, the consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated.

 

(In Thousands)

 

For the
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013

 

For the
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013

 

Income Statement
Line Item

 

Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities

 

$     —

 

 

$  2,057

 

 

Gain on sales of securities

 

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss (1)

 

(903

)

 

(2,708

)

 

Compensation and benefits

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost (1)

 

(53

)

 

(159

)

 

Compensation and benefits

 

Total reclassifications, before tax

 

(956

)

 

(810

)

 

 

 

Income tax effect

 

337

 

 

285

 

 

Income tax expense

 

Total reclassifications, net of tax

 

$  (619

)

 

$    (525

)

 

Net income

 

 

(1)

These other comprehensive loss components are included in the computations of net periodic cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan.  See Note 9 for additional details.

 

9.     Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

The following tables set forth information regarding the components of net periodic cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Postretirement 
Benefits

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Service cost

 

$       —

 

 

$        —

 

 

$      396

 

 

$    265

 

 

Interest cost

 

2,387

 

 

2,663

 

 

319

 

 

345

 

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(3,188

)

 

(3,109

)

 

 

 

 

 

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

785

 

 

563

 

 

118

 

 

129

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

 

53

 

 

56

 

 

 

 

(6

)

 

Net periodic cost

 

$       37

 

 

$      173

 

 

$      833

 

 

$    733

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Postretirement
Benefits

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Service cost

 

$       —

 

 

$  2,025

 

 

$  1,185

 

 

$    796

 

 

Interest cost

 

7,162

 

 

8,327

 

 

959

 

 

1,034

 

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(9,565

)

 

(8,837

)

 

 

 

 

 

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

2,354

 

 

4,366

 

 

354

 

 

387

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

 

159

 

 

122

 

 

 

 

(18

)

 

Curtailment

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net periodic cost

 

$     110

 

 

$   6,010

 

 

$  2,498

 

 

$ 2,199

 

 

 

Effective April 30, 2012, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employees’ Pension Plan, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Excess Benefit Plan, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Supplemental Benefit Plan and the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Directors’ Retirement Plan were amended to, among other things, change the manner in which benefits were computed for service through April 30, 2012 and to suspend accrual of additional benefits for all of the aforementioned plans effective April 30, 2012.  These

 

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amendments resulted in a significant reduction in net periodic cost for our defined benefit pension plans for periods subsequent to April 30, 2012.

 

10.    Stock Incentive Plans

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 494,420 shares of restricted common stock were granted to select officers under the 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation, or the 2005 Employee Stock Plan, of which 467,070 shares vest one-third per year on or about December 16, beginning December 16, 2013, 1,000 shares vest on December 16, 2013, 6,000 shares vest one-third per year on or about January 7, beginning January 7, 2014, 1,500 shares vest on December 15, 2014, 2,500 shares vest on December 14, 2015 and 16,350 were forfeited as of September 30, 2013.  In the event the grantee terminates his/her employment due to death or disability, or in the event we experience a change in control, as defined and specified in the 2005 Employee Stock Plan, all restricted common stock granted pursuant to such plan immediately vests.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 41,690 shares of restricted common stock were granted to directors under the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, as amended, of which 36,020 remain outstanding at September 30, 2013 and vest 100% in January 2016, although awards immediately vest upon death, disability, mandatory retirement, involuntary termination or a change in control, as such terms are defined in the plan.

 

The following table summarizes restricted common stock activity in our stock incentive plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

Nonvested at January 1, 2013

 

1,146,657

 

 

$  14.87

 

 

Granted

 

536,110

 

 

9.70

 

 

Vested

 

(297,305

)

 

(22.76

)

 

Forfeited

 

(90,306

)

 

(11.00

)

 

Nonvested at September 30, 2013

 

1,295,156

 

 

11.19

 

 

 

In addition to the activity described above, during the 2013 first quarter, 432,300 performance-based restricted stock units were granted to select officers under the 2005 Employee Stock Plan, with a grant date fair value of $9.22 per unit, of which 415,900 units remain outstanding at September 30, 2013.  Each restricted stock unit granted represents a right, under the 2005 Employee Stock Plan, to receive one share of our common stock in the future, subject to meeting certain criteria.  The restricted stock units have specified performance objectives within a specified performance measurement period and no voting or dividend rights prior to vesting and delivery of shares.  The performance measurement period for these restricted stock units is the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 and the vest date is February 1, 2016.  Shares will be issued on the vest date at either 100%, 75%, 50% or 0% of units granted based on actual performance during the performance measurement period.  However, in the event of a change in control during the performance measurement period, the restricted stock units will vest on the change in control date and shares will be issued at 100% of units granted.  Absent a change in control, if a grantee’s employment terminates prior to December 31, 2015 all restricted stock units will be forfeited.  In the event the grantee terminates his/her employment during the period between December 31, 2015 and February 1, 2016 due to death, disability, retirement or a change in control, the grantee will remain entitled to the shares otherwise earned.

 

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Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and totaled $1.2 million, net of taxes of $636,000, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and $3.4 million, net of taxes of $1.9 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Stock-based compensation expense totaled $978,000, net of taxes of $533,000, for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and $2.4 million, net of taxes of $1.3 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  At September 30, 2013, pre-tax compensation cost related to all nonvested awards of restricted common stock and restricted stock units not yet recognized totaled $12.0 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.0 years, which excludes $1.8 million of pre-tax compensation cost related to 65,000 shares of performance-based restricted common stock granted in 2011 and 103,975 performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2013, for which compensation cost will begin to be recognized when the achievement of the performance conditions becomes probable.

 

As a result of the resignation and retirement of several executive officers during the 2012 first quarter, the level of forfeitures in 2012 significantly exceeded our original estimate of restricted common stock forfeitures based on our prior experience.  As a result, we reversed stock-based compensation expense during the 2012 first quarter totaling $569,000, net of taxes of $310,000, representing stock-based compensation expense previously recognized on unvested shares of restricted common stock which will not vest as a result of forfeitures.

 

11.             Fair Value Measurements

 

We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  We group our assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.  These levels are:

 

·

Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

 

 

·

Level 2 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

 

 

·

Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect our own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include the use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques. The results cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the asset or liability.

 

We base our fair values on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, with additional considerations when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased and on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly.  We maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

 

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Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

Our securities available-for-sale portfolio is carried at estimated fair value on a recurring basis, with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity.  Additionally, in connection with our mortgage banking activities we have commitments to fund loans held-for-sale and commitments to sell loans, which are considered free-standing derivative instruments, the fair values of which are not material to our financial condition or results of operations.

 

The following tables set forth the carrying values of our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

Carrying Value at September 30, 2013

 

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$  296,966

 

$

 

$  296,966

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

8,396

 

 

8,396

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

17,957

 

 

17,957

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

92,430

 

 

92,430

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

1

 

1

 

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$  415,750

 

$

1

 

$  415,749

 

 

 

 

Carrying Value at December 31, 2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$  204,827

 

$

 

$  204,827

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

11,219

 

 

11,219

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

21,375

 

 

21,375

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

98,879

 

 

98,879

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

 

 

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$  336,300

 

$

 

$  336,300

 

 

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

Residential mortgage-backed securities comprised 78% of our securities available-for-sale portfolio at September 30, 2013 and 71% at December 31, 2012.  The fair values for these securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service.  Our pricing service uses various modeling techniques to determine pricing for our mortgage-backed securities, including option pricing and discounted cash flow models.  The inputs to these models include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, monthly payment information and collateral performance.  GSE securities, for which an active market exists for similar securities making observable inputs readily available, comprised 97% of our available-for-sale residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio at September 30, 2013 and 95% at December 31, 2012.

 

We review changes in the pricing service fair values from month to month taking into consideration changes in market conditions including changes in mortgage spreads, changes in treasury yields and changes in generic pricing on fifteen and thirty year securities.  Significant

 

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month over month price changes are analyzed further using discounted cash flow models and, on occasion, third party quotes.  Based upon our review of the prices provided by our pricing service, the estimated fair values incorporate observable market inputs commonly used by buyers and sellers of these types of securities at the measurement date in orderly transactions between market participants, and, as such, are classified as Level 2.

 

Obligations of GSEs

Obligations of GSEs comprised 22% of our securities available-for-sale portfolio at September 30, 2013 and 29% at December 31, 2012 and consisted of debt securities issued by GSEs.  The fair values for these securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service.  Our pricing service gathers information from market sources and integrates relative credit information, observed market movements and sector news into their pricing applications and models.  Spread scales, representing credit risk, are created and are based on the new issue market, secondary trading and dealer quotes.  Option adjusted spread, or OAS, models are incorporated to adjust spreads of issues that have early redemption features.  Based upon our review of the prices provided by our pricing service, the estimated fair values incorporate observable market inputs commonly used by buyers and sellers of these types of securities at the measurement date in orderly transactions between market participants, and, as such, are classified as Level 2.

 

Fannie Mae stock

The fair value of the Fannie Mae stock in our available-for-sale securities portfolio is obtained from quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets and, as such, is classified as Level 1.

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

From time to time, we may be required to record at fair value assets or liabilities on a non-recurring basis, such as mortgage servicing rights, or MSR, loans receivable, certain assets held-for-sale and real estate owned, or REO.  These non-recurring fair value adjustments involve the application of lower of cost or market accounting or impairment write-downs of individual assets.

 

The following table sets forth the carrying values of those of our assets which were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at the dates indicated.  The fair value measurements for all of these assets fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

(In Thousands)

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

Non-performing loans held-for-sale, net

 

$        884

 

$     3,881

 

Impaired loans

 

265,698

 

282,723

 

MSR, net

 

10,835

 

6,947

 

REO, net

 

20,903

 

20,796

 

Total

 

$ 298,320

 

$ 314,347

 

 

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The following table provides information regarding the losses recognized on our assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Non-performing loans held-for-sale, net (1)

 

$        567

 

$        696

 

Impaired loans (2)

 

16,698

 

31,555

 

MSR, net (3)

 

 

1,089

 

REO, net (4)

 

2,630

 

3,093

 

Total

 

$  19,895

 

$  36,433

 

 

(1)

Losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses in the case of a write-down upon the reclassification of a loan to held-for-sale. Losses subsequent to the reclassification of a loan to held-for-sale are charged to other non-interest income.

(2)

Losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses.

(3)

Losses are charged to mortgage banking income, net.

(4)

Losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses in the case of a write-down upon the transfer of a loan to REO. Losses subsequent to the transfer of a loan to REO are charged to REO expense which is a component of other non-interest expense.

 

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

Loans-held-for-sale, net (non-performing loans held-for-sale)

Fair values of non-performing loans held-for-sale are estimated through either preliminary bids from potential purchasers of the loans or the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral discounted for factors necessary to solicit acceptable bids, and adjusted as necessary based on management’s experience with sales of similar types of loans and, as such, are classified as Level 3.  Non-performing loans held-for-sale were comprised primarily of multi-family mortgage loans at September 30, 2013.  Substantially all of the non-performing loans held-for-sale were multi-family mortgage loans at December 31, 2012.

 

Loans receivable, net (impaired loans)

Loans which meet certain criteria are evaluated individually for impairment.  A loan is considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Impaired loans were comprised of 81% residential mortgage loans and 19% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans at September 30, 2013 and 78% residential mortgage loans and 22% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans at December 31, 2012.  Impaired loans for which a fair value adjustment was recognized were comprised of 84% residential mortgage loans and 16% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.  Our impaired loans are generally collateral dependent and, as such, are generally carried at the estimated fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs.

 

We obtain updated estimates of collateral values on residential mortgage loans at 180 days past due and earlier in certain instances, including for loans to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy, and, to the extent the loans remain delinquent, annually thereafter.  Updated estimates of collateral value on residential loans are obtained primarily through automated valuation models.  Additionally, our loan servicer performs property inspections to monitor and manage the collateral on our residential loans when they become 45 days past due and monthly thereafter until the foreclosure process is complete.  We obtain updated estimates of collateral

 

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value using third party appraisals on non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate loans when the loans initially become non-performing and annually thereafter and multi-family and commercial real estate loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and annually thereafter.  Appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by our internal certified appraisers.  Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.  The fair values of impaired loans cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the loan and, as such, are classified as Level 3.

 

MSR, net

The right to service loans for others is generally obtained through the sale of residential mortgage loans with servicing retained.  MSR are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value.  The estimated fair value of MSR is obtained through independent third party valuations through an analysis of future cash flows, incorporating estimates of assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value including market discount rates, prepayment speeds, servicing income, servicing costs, default rates and other market driven data, including the market’s perception of future interest rate movements and, as such, are classified as Level 3.  At September 30, 2013, our MSR were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 10.42%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 14.64% and a weighted average life of 5.2 years.  At December 31, 2012, our MSR were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 10.95%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 23.12% and a weighted average life of 3.4 years.  Management reviews the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of MSR to ensure they reflect current and anticipated market conditions.

 

REO, net

REO represents real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, all of which were residential properties at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and is carried, net of allowances for losses, at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs.  The fair value of REO is estimated through current appraisals, in conjunction with a drive-by inspection and comparison of the REO property with similar properties in the area by either a licensed appraiser or real estate broker.  As these properties are actively marketed, estimated fair values are periodically adjusted by management to reflect current market conditions and, as such, are classified as Level 3.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Quoted market prices available in formal trading marketplaces are typically the best evidence of the fair value of financial instruments.  In many cases, financial instruments we hold are not bought or sold in formal trading marketplaces.  Accordingly, fair values are derived or estimated based on a variety of valuation techniques in the absence of quoted market prices.  Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information about the financial instrument.  These estimates do not reflect any possible tax ramifications, estimated transaction costs, or any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time our entire holdings of a particular financial instrument.  Because no market exists for a certain portion of our financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics and other such factors.  These estimates are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision.  Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.  For these

 

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reasons and others, the estimated fair value disclosures presented herein do not represent our entire underlying value.  As such, readers are cautioned in using this information for purposes of evaluating our financial condition and/or value either alone or in comparison with any other company.

 

The following tables set forth the carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments which are carried on the consolidated statements of financial condition at either cost or at lower of cost or fair value in accordance with GAAP, and are not measured or recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

Value

 

Total

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Financial Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities held-to-maturity

 

 

$

1,915,461

 

$

1,896,771

 

$

1,896,771

 

$

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

 

153,217

 

153,217

 

153,217

 

 

Loans held-for-sale, net (1)

 

 

10,485

 

10,866

 

 

10,866

 

Loans receivable, net (1)

 

 

12,398,543

 

12,630,027

 

 

12,630,027

 

MSR, net (1)

 

 

10,835

 

10,838

 

 

10,838

 

Financial Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

 

10,060,374

 

10,140,390

 

10,140,390

 

 

Borrowings, net

 

 

4,109,028

 

4,374,578

 

4,374,578

 

 

 


(1)         Includes assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated Fair Value

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

Value

 

Total

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Financial Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities held-to-maturity

 

 

$

1,700,141

 

$

1,725,090

 

$

1,725,090

 

$

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

 

171,194

 

171,194

 

171,194

 

 

Loans held-for-sale, net (1)

 

 

76,306

 

78,486

 

 

78,486

 

Loans receivable, net (1)

 

 

13,078,471

 

13,311,997

 

 

13,311,997

 

MSR, net (1)

 

 

6,947

 

6,948

 

 

6,948

 

Financial Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

 

10,443,958

 

10,588,073

 

10,588,073

 

 

Borrowings, net

 

 

4,373,496

 

4,857,989

 

4,857,989

 

 

 


(1)         Includes assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

The following is a description of the methods and assumptions used to estimate fair values of our financial instruments which are not measured or recorded at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis.

 

Securities held-to-maturity

The fair values for substantially all of our securities held-to-maturity are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service using similar methods and assumptions as used for our securities available-for-sale which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

FHLB-NY stock

The fair value of FHLB-NY stock is based on redemption at par value.

 

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Loans held-for-sale, net

The fair values of fifteen and thirty year conforming fixed rate residential mortgage loans originated for sale are estimated using an option-based pricing methodology designed to take into account interest rate volatility, which has a significant effect on the value of the options and structural features embedded in loans.  This methodology involves generating simulated interest rates, calculating the OAS of a mortgage-backed security whose price is known, which serves as a benchmark price, and using the benchmark OAS to estimate the pricing for similar mortgage instruments whose prices are not known.

 

Loans receivable, net

Fair values of loans are estimated using an option-based pricing methodology designed to take into account interest rate volatility, which has a significant effect on the value of the options and structural features embedded in loans.  This pricing methodology involves generating simulated interest rates, calculating the OAS of a mortgage-backed security whose price is known, which serves as a benchmark price, and using the benchmark OAS to estimate the pricing for similar mortgage instruments whose prices are not known.

 

This technique of estimating fair value is extremely sensitive to the assumptions and estimates used.  While we have attempted to use assumptions and estimates which are the most reflective of the loan portfolio and the current market, a greater degree of subjectivity is inherent in determining these fair values than for fair values obtained from formal trading marketplaces.  In addition, our valuation method for loans, which is consistent with accounting guidance, does not fully incorporate an exit price approach to fair value.

 

Deposits

The fair values of deposits with no stated maturity, such as savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts, are equal to the amount payable on demand.  The fair values of certificates of deposit are based on discounted contractual cash flows using the weighted average remaining life of the portfolio discounted by the corresponding LIBOR Swap Curve.

 

Borrowings, net

The fair values of borrowings are based upon third party dealers’ estimated market values which are reviewed by management quarterly using an OAS model.

 

Outstanding commitments

Outstanding commitments include commitments to extend credit and unadvanced lines of credit for which fair values were estimated based on an analysis of the interest rates and fees currently charged to enter into similar transactions.  The fair values of these commitments are immaterial to our financial condition.

 

12.             Litigation

 

In the ordinary course of our business, we are routinely made a defendant in or a party to pending or threatened legal actions or proceedings which, in some cases, seek substantial monetary damages from or other forms of relief against us.  In our opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe it unlikely that such actions or proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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City of New York Notice of Determination

By “Notice of Determination” dated September 14, 2010 and August 26, 2011, the City of New York notified us of alleged tax deficiencies in the amount of $13.3 million, including interest and penalties, related to our 2006 through 2008 tax years.  The deficiencies relate to our operation of two subsidiaries of Astoria Federal, Fidata Service Corp., or Fidata, and Astoria Federal Mortgage Corp., or AF Mortgage.  We disagree with the assertion of the tax deficiencies.  Hearings in this matter were held before the New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal, or the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal, in March and April 2013.  The NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal is not expected to render a decision in this matter until the 2014 third quarter.  At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that we will succeed in refuting the City of New York’s position, although defense costs may be significant.  Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2013 with respect to this matter.

 

No assurance can be given as to whether or to what extent we will be required to pay the amount of the tax deficiencies asserted by the City of New York, whether additional tax will be assessed for years subsequent to 2008, that this matter will not be costly to oppose, that this matter will not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations or that, ultimately, any such impact will not be material.

 

Automated Transactions LLC Litigation

In November 2009, an action entitled Automated Transactions LLC v. Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association was commenced in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, or the Southern District Court, against us by Automated Transactions LLC, alleging patent infringement involving integrated banking and transaction machines, including automated teller machines, or ATMs, that we utilize.  The plaintiff sought unspecified monetary damages and an injunction preventing us from continuing to utilize the allegedly infringing machines.  In March 2011, the Southern District Court dismissed all claims against Astoria Financial Corporation but denied our motion to dismiss the claims against Astoria Federal for alleged direct patent infringement.

 

In July 2012, we filed a motion for summary judgment for non-infringement based on a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District affirming the decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, or the Delaware District Court, to grant summary judgment in favor of a defendant in an action involving the same plaintiff making substantially similar allegations with respect to identical and substantially similar patents as those involved in the action against us.  In April 2013, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred this action to the Delaware District Court to be centralized with other cases involving the same plaintiff and common questions of fact.

 

We settled this litigation, and the case was dismissed with prejudice, pursuant to a stipulation and order of dismissal on September 19, 2013.  The settlement was not material to our financial condition or results of operations and will not result in any restrictions or alteration in the use of our ATMs.  We intend to continue to pursue our demands for indemnification from the manufacturer and from the transaction processor utilized with respect to the integrated banking machines.

 

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ITEM 2.                        Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.  These statements may be identified by the use of the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These factors include, without limitation, the following:

 

·                  the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events may be subject to circumstances beyond our control;

·                  there may be increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions;

·                  changes in the interest rate environment may reduce interest margins or affect the value of our investments;

·                  changes in deposit flows, loan demand or real estate values may adversely affect our business;

·                  changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines may cause our financial condition to be perceived differently;

·                  general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which we do business, or conditions in the real estate or securities markets or the banking industry may be less favorable than we currently anticipate;

·                  legislative or regulatory changes, including the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Reform Act, and any actions regarding foreclosures, may adversely affect our business;

·                  enhanced supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the FRB, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;

·                  effects of changes in existing U.S. government or government-sponsored mortgage programs;

·                  technological changes may be more difficult or expensive than we anticipate;

·                  success or consummation of new business initiatives may be more difficult or expensive than we anticipate; or

·                  litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, may be determined adverse to us or may delay the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than we anticipate.

 

We have no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.

 

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Executive Summary

 

The following overview should be read in conjunction with our MD&A in its entirety.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation is a Delaware corporation organized as the unitary savings and loan holding company of Astoria Federal.  As the premier Long Island community bank, our goals are to enhance shareholder value while continuing to build a solid banking franchise.  We focus on growing our core businesses of mortgage portfolio lending and retail banking while maintaining strong asset quality and controlling operating expenses.  We have been developing strategies to diversify earning assets and to increase low cost core deposits.  These strategies include a greater level of participation in the multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage lending markets and, over time, expanding our array of business banking products and services, focusing on small and mid-sized businesses with an emphasis on attracting clients from larger competitors.  We are also exploring the selective expansion of our branch network into Manhattan and additional locations on Long Island.  During the 2013 third quarter, we opened our first business banking office in midtown Manhattan and continue to look for other prime locations to open our first branch in Manhattan from which to better serve and build our business banking relationships.

 

We are impacted by both national and regional economic factors with residential mortgage loans from various regions of the country held in our portfolio and our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio concentrated in the New York metropolitan area.  Although the U.S. economy has shown signs of modest improvement, the operating environment continues to remain challenging.  Interest rates have been at or near historic lows and we expect them to remain low for the near term.  However, long-term interest rates moved higher during the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and into the 2013 third quarter, with the ten year U.S. Treasury rate increasing from 1.63% at May 1, 2013 to 2.49% at the end of June and 2.61% at the end of September.  The national unemployment rate, while remaining high, declined to 7.2% for September 2013, compared to a peak of 10.0% for October 2009, and new job growth, while remaining slow, has continued in 2013.  Softness persists in the housing and real estate markets, although the extent of such softness varies from region to region.  However, we believe market conditions remain favorable in the New York metropolitan area with respect to our multi-family mortgage loan origination activities.

 

In addition to the challenging economic environment in which we compete, the regulation and oversight of our business has changed significantly in recent years.  As described in more detail in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our June 30, 2013 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, certain aspects of the Reform Act continue to have a significant impact on us. In July 2013, the federal bank regulatory agencies, or the Agencies, approved rules that will subject many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation, to consolidated capital requirements which will be phased in with the initial provisions effective for us on January 1, 2015.  The rules also revise the quantity and quality of required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements applicable to Astoria Federal and Astoria Financial Corporation and revise the calculation of risk-weighted assets to enhance their risk sensitivity. We continue to review and prepare for the impact that the Reform Act, the Third Basel Accord adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, or Basel III, capital standards and related rulemaking will have on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Net income available to common shareholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 increased compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting increases in net income which were offset in part by dividends declared on our preferred stock, which was issued in the 2013 first quarter.  The increase in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily reflects a lower provision for loan losses, partially offset by a reduction in non-interest income.  The increase in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was primarily attributable to a decline in the provision for loan losses and a reduction in non-interest expense, partially offset by lower net interest income.

 

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2013 increased slightly compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012 due to a slightly greater reduction in interest expense than the decline in interest income.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decline in interest income exceeded a decline in interest expense, resulting in lower net interest income compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The continued low interest rate environment, coupled with the restructuring of $1.35 billion of borrowings in the 2013 second and third quarters and the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures in the 2013 second quarter, has resulted in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities declining more than the average yield on interest-earning assets and an improvement in our net interest rate spread for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The restructuring of borrowings in 2013 resulted in a 94 basis point decline in the weighted average rate on such borrowings.  For the 2013 third quarter, the decline in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities more than offset the impact of the decline in the average balance of interest-earning assets, resulting in the slight improvement in net interest income compared to the 2012 third quarter.  This improvement in the 2013 third quarter had the impact of lessening the decline in net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The net interest margin also increased for the 2013 third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the 2012 third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

The provision for loan losses for the 2013 third quarter totaled $2.5 million resulting in a provision for loan losses of $16.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $9.5 million for the 2012 third quarter and $29.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decline in the provision for loan losses reflects the continued improvement in net loan charge-offs and delinquent and non-performing loans during the 2013 third quarter, as well as the contraction of the overall loan portfolio.  The allowance for loan losses totaled $143.0 million at September 30, 2013, compared to $145.5 million at December 31, 2012.  While the level of loans past due 90 days or more has continued its downward trend during the first nine months of 2013, we expect the levels will remain somewhat elevated for some time, especially in certain states where judicial foreclosure proceedings are required.  Notwithstanding the decline in total delinquencies, our non-performing loans increased as of September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  This increase was primarily attributable to the inclusion of bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 which were current or less than 90 days past due, which totaled $49.9 million at September 30, 2013, as non-performing loans.  Effective in the 2013 first quarter, in addition to bankruptcy loans placed on non-accrual status and reported as non-performing loans as of December 31, 2012, we also included bankruptcy

 

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loans discharged prior to 2012 regardless of the delinquency status of the loans.  Such loans continue to generate interest income on a cash basis as payments are received.

 

Non-interest income decreased for the 2013 third quarter compared to the 2012 third quarter primarily due to decreases in customer service fees and income from bank owned life insurance.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, non-interest income increased slightly, in relation to the comparable 2012 period, as higher mortgage banking income, net, was substantially offset by lower customer service fees, income from bank owned life insurance, gain on sales of securities and other loan fees.

 

Non-interest expense for the 2013 third quarter was essentially the same as the 2012 third quarter primarily due to lower federal deposit insurance premium expense in 2013 and an extinguishment of debt expense recorded in the 2012 third quarter, the effects of which were substantially offset by increased compensation and benefits expense and other non-interest expense.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, non-interest expense decreased compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  This decline reflects lower federal deposit insurance premium expense, compensation and benefits expense and other non-interest expense, partially offset by increases in occupancy, equipment and systems expense and extinguishment of debt expense.

 

Total assets declined during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily reflecting a decrease in our residential mortgage loan portfolio which was partially offset by increases in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio and our securities portfolio.  At September 30, 2013, our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio represented 32% of our total loan portfolio, up from 24% at December 31, 2012, reflecting our continued focus on the strategic shift in our balance sheet.  The decrease in our residential mortgage loan portfolio is the result of continued elevated levels of mortgage loan repayments which exceeded our origination and purchase volume in the first nine months of 2013.  With historic low interest rates for thirty year fixed rate conforming mortgage loans, which we generally do not retain for our portfolio, such loans continue to be a more attractive alternative for borrowers than the hybrid adjustable rate mortgage loan product that we retain for our portfolio.  Our residential mortgage loan origination and purchase volume continues to be negatively affected by this interest rate environment.

 

Total deposits decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 as a result of a decline in certificates of deposit, partially offset by a net increase in our core deposits, reflecting increases in money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts which more than offset a decline in savings accounts.  At September 30, 2013, core deposits represented 66% of total deposits, up from 62% at December 31, 2012.  Total deposits included $689.6 million of business deposits at September 30, 2013, an increase of 41% since December 31, 2012, substantially all of which were core deposits, reflecting the expansion of our business banking operations, a component of the strategic shift in our balance sheet.  Total borrowings declined since December 31, 2012 reflecting a decline in FHLB-NY advances and the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures, partially offset by our use of short-term federal funds purchased in 2013.

 

Stockholders’ equity increased as of September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  The increase was primarily attributed to the issuance of the preferred stock in the 2013 first quarter

 

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and net income for the first nine months of 2013, partially offset by dividends on common and preferred stock.

 

While the operating environment continues to remain challenging, we are encouraged by the steepening of the yield curve over the last several months which we believe will have positive effects.  We believe higher long-term interest rates should make our residential hybrid ARM loan products more attractive to borrowers and should lead to a continued slowdown of residential loan prepayments, which we have already experienced near the end of the 2013 third quarter.  We believe these factors should lead to a stabilization of our residential mortgage loan portfolio and growth in the total loan portfolio.  A sustained reduction in loan prepayments would also lead to a reduction in the premium amortization expense associated with the loans providing us with yet an additional benefit.  Our focus continues to be on the strategic shift in our balance sheet through the repositioning of assets and liabilities.  We continue to concentrate on growing our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio, reducing certificates of deposit and increasing core deposits, all of which should continue to positively impact the net interest margin.  We expect to continue to add new team members to our business banking operations as well as strategically located new branches from which to service our customers over the coming months.

 

Available Information

 

Our internet website address is www.astoriafederal.com.  Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports can be obtained free of charge from our investor relations website at http://ir.astoriafederal.com.  The above reports are available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC.  Such reports are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by our March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and this report, contains a summary of our significant accounting policies.  Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  Our policies with respect to the methodologies used to determine the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of MSR, judgments regarding goodwill and securities impairment and the estimates related to our pension plans and other postretirement benefits are our most critical accounting policies because they are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations, involve a higher degree of complexity and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments which often require assumptions and estimates about highly uncertain matters.  Actual results may differ from our assumptions, estimates and judgments.  The use of different judgments, assumptions and estimates could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition.  These critical accounting policies are reviewed quarterly with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.  The following description of these policies should be read in conjunction with the corresponding section of our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Allowance for Loan Losses

 

We establish and maintain, through provisions for loan losses, an allowance for loan losses based on our evaluation of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio.  We evaluate the adequacy of our allowance on a quarterly basis.  The allowance is comprised of both valuation allowances related to individual loans and general valuation allowances, although the total allowance for loan losses is available for losses applicable to the entire loan portfolio.

 

In estimating specific allocations, we review loans deemed to be impaired and measure impairment losses based on either the fair value of collateral, the present value of expected future cash flows, or the loan’s observable market price.  A loan is considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include the financial condition of the borrower, payment history, delinquency status, collateral value and the probability of collecting principal and interest payments when due. When an impairment analysis indicates the need for a specific allocation on an individual loan, the amount must be sufficient to cover probable incurred losses at the evaluation date based on the facts and circumstances of the loan.  When available information confirms that specific loans, or portions thereof, are uncollectible, these amounts are promptly charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.

 

Loan reviews are performed by our Asset Review Department quarterly for all loans individually classified by our Asset Classification Committee and are performed annually for multi-family and commercial real estate loans modified in a TDR, residential loans with balances of $1.0 million or greater, multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans with balances of $5.0 million or greater and commercial loans with balances of $500,000 or greater.  Further, multi-family and commercial real estate portfolio management personnel also perform annual reviews for certain multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans with balances under $5.0 million and recommend further review by the Credit and Asset Review Departments as appropriate.  In addition, our Asset Review Department will review annually borrowing relationships whose combined outstanding balance is $5.0 million or greater, with such reviews covering approximately fifty percent of the outstanding principal balance of the loans to such relationships.

 

We obtain updated estimates of collateral values on, and individually evaluate for impairment, residential mortgage loans at 180 days past due and earlier in certain instances, including for loans to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy, and, to the extent the loans remain delinquent, annually thereafter.  Updated estimates of collateral values on residential loans are obtained primarily through automated valuation models. Additionally, our loan servicer performs property inspections to monitor and manage the collateral on our residential loans when they become 45 days past due and monthly thereafter until the foreclosure process is complete. We obtain updated estimates of collateral value using third party appraisals on non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans when the loans initially become non-performing and annually thereafter and multi-family and commercial real estate loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and annually thereafter.  Appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by our internal certified appraisers.  We also obtain updated estimates of collateral value for certain other loans when the Asset Classification Committee believes repayment of such loans may be dependent on the value of the underlying collateral.

 

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Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.

 

Other current and anticipated economic conditions on which our individual valuation allowances rely are the impact that national and/or local economic and business conditions may have on borrowers, the impact that local real estate markets may have on collateral values, the level and direction of interest rates and their combined effect on real estate values and the ability of borrowers to service debt.  For multi-family and commercial real estate loans, additional factors specific to a borrower or the underlying collateral are considered.  These factors include, but are not limited to, the composition of tenancy, occupancy levels for the property, location of the property, cash flow estimates and, to a lesser degree, the existence of personal guarantees.  We also review all regulatory notices, bulletins and memoranda with the purpose of identifying upcoming changes in regulatory conditions which may impact our calculation of individual valuation allowances.  Our primary banking regulator periodically reviews our reserve methodology during regulatory examinations and any comments regarding changes to reserves or loan classifications are considered by management in determining valuation allowances.

 

Pursuant to our policy, loan losses are charged-off in the period the loans, or portions thereof, are deemed uncollectible for the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs or in excess of the present value of expected future cash flows.  Such charge-offs are taken primarily for residential mortgage loans at 180 days past due and annually thereafter.  These partial charge-offs on residential loans impact our credit quality metrics and trends.  The impact of updating the estimates of collateral value and recognizing any required charge-offs is to increase charge-offs and reduce the allowance for loan losses required on these loans.  We also evaluate, for potential charge-offs, loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and impaired multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans when the loans are identified as impaired.

 

The determination of the loans on which full collectibility is not reasonably assured, the estimates of the fair value of the underlying collateral and the assessment of economic and regulatory conditions are subject to assumptions and judgments by management.  Individual valuation allowances and charge-off amounts could differ materially as a result of changes in these assumptions and judgments.

 

Estimated losses for loans that are not individually deemed to be impaired are determined on a loan pool basis using our historical loss experience and various other qualitative factors and comprise our general valuation allowances.  General valuation allowances represent loss allowances that have been established to recognize the inherent risks associated with our lending activities which, unlike individual valuation allowances, have not been allocated to particular loans.  The determination of the adequacy of the general valuation allowances takes into consideration a variety of factors.  We segment our residential mortgage loan portfolio by interest-only and amortizing loans, full documentation and reduced documentation loans and year of origination and analyze our historical loss experience and delinquency levels and trends of these segments.  We analyze multi-family and commercial real estate loans by portfolio, geographic location and year of origination.  We analyze our consumer and other loan portfolio by home equity lines of credit, commercial loans, revolving credit lines and installment loans and perform similar historical loss analyses.  In our analysis of non-performing loans, we consider our aggregate historical loss experience with respect to the ultimate disposition of the underlying

 

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collateral along with the migration of delinquent loans based on the portfolio segments noted above.  These analyses and the resulting loss rates are used as an integral part of our judgment in developing estimated loss percentages to apply to the loan portfolio segments. We monitor credit risk on interest-only hybrid adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM, loans that were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, in the same manner that we monitor credit risk on all interest-only hybrid ARM loans.  We monitor interest rate reset dates of our loan portfolio, in the aggregate, and the current interest rate environment and consider the impact, if any, on borrowers’ ability to continue to make timely principal and interest payments in determining our allowance for loan losses.  We also consider the size, composition, risk profile and delinquency levels of our loan portfolio, as well as our credit administration and asset management procedures.  We monitor property value trends in our market areas by reference to various industry and market reports, economic releases and surveys, and our general and specific knowledge of the real estate markets in which we lend, in order to determine what impact, if any, such trends may have on the level of our general valuation allowances.  In addition, we evaluate and consider the impact that current and anticipated economic and market conditions may have on the loan portfolio and known and inherent risks in the portfolio.  We update our analyses quarterly and continually refine our evaluations as experience provides clearer guidance, our product offerings change and as economic conditions evolve.

 

We analyze our historical loss experience over twelve, fifteen, eighteen and twenty-four month periods. The loss history used in calculating our quantitative allowance coverage percentages varies based on loan type.  Also, for a particular loan type we may not have sufficient loss history to develop a reasonable estimate of loss and consider our loss experience for other, similar loan types and may evaluate those losses over a longer period than two years.  Additionally, multi-family and commercial real estate loss experience may be adjusted based on the composition of the losses (loan sales, short sales and partial charge-offs).  We update our historical loss analyses quarterly and evaluate the need to modify our quantitative allowances as a result of our updated charge-off and loss analyses.

 

We consider qualitative factors with the purpose of assessing the adequacy of the overall allowance for loan losses as well as the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by portfolio.  The qualitative factors we consider generally include, but are not limited to, changes in (1) lending policies and procedures, (2) economic and business conditions and developments that affect collectibility of our loan portfolio, (3) the nature and volume of our loan portfolio and in the terms of loans, (4) the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other staff, (5) the volume and severity of past due, non-accrual and adversely classified loans, (6) the quality of the loan review system, (7) the value of underlying collateral, (8) the existence or effect of any credit concentrations and (9) external factors such as competition and legal or regulatory requirements.  In addition to the nine qualitative factors noted, we also review certain analytical information such as our coverage ratios and peer analysis.

 

We use ratio analyses as a supplemental tool for evaluating the overall reasonableness of the allowance for loan losses.  As such, we consider our asset quality ratios as well as the allowance ratios and coverage percentages set forth in both peer group and regulatory agency data.  We also consider any comments from our primary banking regulator resulting from their review of our general valuation allowance methodology during regulatory examinations.  We consider the observed trends in our asset quality ratios in combination with our primary focus on our historical loss experience and the impact of current economic conditions.  After evaluating these

 

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variables, we determine appropriate allowance coverage percentages for each of our portfolio segments and the appropriate level of our allowance for loan losses.  We do not determine the appropriate level of our allowance for loan losses based exclusively on a single factor or asset quality ratio.  We periodically review the actual performance and charge-off history of our loan portfolio and compare that to our previously determined allowance coverage percentages and individual valuation allowances.  In doing so, we evaluate the impact the previously mentioned variables may have had on the loan portfolio to determine which changes, if any, should be made to our assumptions and analyses.

 

Allowance adequacy calculations are adjusted quarterly, based on the results of our quantitative and qualitative analyses, to reflect our current estimates of the amount of probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio in determining our allowance for loan losses.  Allocations of the allowance to each loan category are adjusted quarterly to reflect probable inherent losses using the same quantitative and qualitative analyses used in connection with the overall allowance adequacy calculations.  Beginning with the 2013 first quarter, the allowance for loan losses allocated to residential mortgage loans over 180 days delinquent with a charge-off, previously determined within our qualitative analysis, is now determined within our quantitative analysis and presented as attributable to those loans individually evaluated for impairment.  The portion of the allowance allocated to each loan category does not represent the total available to absorb losses which may occur within the loan category, since the total allowance for loan losses is available for losses applicable to the entire loan portfolio.

 

As a result of our updated charge-off and loss analyses, we modified certain allowance coverage percentages during each quarter of 2013 to reflect our current estimates of the amount of probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio in determining our general valuation allowances.  In the 2013 third quarter, we further updated the method of determining our allowance level by (1) extending our evaluation of loss experience factors to consider trends in such factors over the prior two years for the majority of the loan portfolio, and (2) giving consideration to more detailed modeling techniques as an added factor for multi-family and commercial real estate loans originated since 2010.  Based on our evaluation of the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of our loan delinquencies and non-performing loans, our loss history, the housing and real estate markets and the current economic environment, we determined that an allowance for loan losses of $143.0 million was appropriate at September 30, 2013, compared to $143.9 million at June 30, 2013 and $145.5 million at December 31, 2012. The provision for loan losses totaled $16.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at the reporting dates.  Actual results could differ from our estimates as a result of changes in economic or market conditions.  Changes in estimates could result in a material change in the allowance for loan losses.  While we believe that the allowance for loan losses has been established and maintained at levels that reflect the risks inherent in our loan portfolio, future adjustments may be necessary if portfolio performance or economic or market conditions differ substantially from the conditions that existed at the time of the initial determinations.

 

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For additional information regarding our allowance for loan losses, see “Provision for Loan Losses” and “Asset Quality” in this document and Part II, Item 7, “MD&A,” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Valuation of MSR

 

The initial asset recognized for originated MSR is measured at fair value.  The fair value of MSR is estimated by reference to current market values of similar loans sold servicing released.  MSR are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income.  We apply the amortization method for measurement of our MSR.  MSR are assessed for impairment based on fair value at each reporting date.  Impairment exists if the carrying value of MSR exceeds the estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of MSR is obtained through independent third party valuations.  MSR impairment, if any, is recognized in a valuation allowance through charges to earnings.  Increases in the fair value of impaired MSR are recognized only up to the amount of the previously recognized valuation allowance.

 

At September 30, 2013, our MSR had an estimated fair value of $10.8 million and were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 10.42%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 14.64% and a weighted average life of 5.2 years.  At December 31, 2012, our MSR had an estimated fair value of $6.9 million and were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 10.95%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 23.12% and a weighted average life of 3.4 years.

 

The fair value of MSR is highly sensitive to changes in assumptions.  Changes in prepayment speed assumptions generally have the most significant impact on the fair value of our MSR.  Generally, as interest rates decline, mortgage loan prepayments accelerate due to increased refinance activity, which results in a decrease in the fair value of MSR.  As interest rates rise, mortgage loan prepayments slow down, which results in an increase in the fair value of MSR.  Thus, any measurement of the fair value of our MSR is limited by the conditions existing and the assumptions utilized as of a particular point in time, and those assumptions may not be appropriate if they are applied at a different point in time.

 

Goodwill Impairment

 

Goodwill is presumed to have an indefinite useful life and is tested, at least annually, for impairment at the reporting unit level.  If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, further evaluation is not necessary.  However, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, further evaluation is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying amount to determine if a write-down of goodwill is required.  Impairment exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

 

For purposes of our goodwill impairment testing, we have identified a single reporting unit.  We consider the quoted market price of our common stock on our impairment testing date as an initial indicator of estimating the fair value of our reporting unit.  We also consider our average stock price, both before and after our impairment test date, as well as market-based control premiums in determining the estimated fair value of our reporting unit.  In addition to our internal goodwill impairment analysis, we periodically obtain a goodwill impairment analysis

 

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from an independent third party valuation firm.  The independent third party utilizes multiple valuation approaches including comparable transactions, control premium, public market peers and discounted cash flow.  Management reviews the assumptions and inputs used in the third party analysis for reasonableness.

 

At September 30, 2013, the carrying amount of our goodwill totaled $185.2 million.  As of September 30, 2013, we performed our annual goodwill impairment test internally and obtained an independent third party analysis and concluded there was no goodwill impairment.  We would test our goodwill for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our reporting unit below its carrying amount.  The identification of additional reporting units, the use of other valuation techniques or changes to the input assumptions used in our analysis or the analysis by our third party valuation firm could result in materially different evaluations of impairment.

 

Securities Impairment

 

Our available-for-sale securities portfolio is carried at estimated fair value with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity.  Debt securities which we have the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried at amortized cost.  The fair values for our securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service.

 

Our securities portfolio is comprised primarily of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by a GSE as issuer.  GSE issuance mortgage-backed securities comprised 92% of our securities portfolio at September 30, 2013.  Non-GSE issuance mortgage-backed securities at September 30, 2013 comprised 1% of our securities portfolio and had an amortized cost of $12.4 million, with 67% classified as available-for-sale and 33% are classified as held-to-maturity.  Substantially all of our non-GSE issuance securities are investment grade securities and have performed similarly to our GSE issuance securities.  Credit quality concerns have not significantly impacted the performance of our non-GSE securities or our ability to obtain reliable prices.  The balance of our securities portfolio is primarily comprised of debt securities issued by GSEs.

 

The fair value of our securities portfolio is primarily impacted by changes in interest rates.  We conduct a periodic review and evaluation of the securities portfolio to determine if a decline in the fair value of any security below its cost basis is other-than-temporary.  Our evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment, or OTTI, considers the duration and severity of the impairment, our assessments of the reason for the decline in value, the likelihood of a near-term recovery and our intent and ability to not sell the securities.  We generally view changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary, which is consistent with our experience.  If such decline is deemed other-than-temporary, the security is written down to a new cost basis and the resulting loss is charged to earnings as a component of non-interest income, except for the amount of the total OTTI for a debt security that does not represent credit losses which is recognized in other comprehensive income/loss, net of applicable taxes.  At September 30, 2013, we held 91 securities with an estimated fair value totaling $1.26 billion which had an unrealized loss totaling $47.6 million.  Of the securities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2013, $95.7 million, with an unrealized loss of $4.0 million, had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than twelve months.  At September 30, 2013, the impairments were

 

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deemed temporary based on (1) the direct relationship of the decline in fair value to movements in interest rates, (2) the estimated remaining life and high credit quality of the investments and (3) the fact that we had no intention to sell these securities and it was not more likely than not that we would be required to sell these securities before their anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis and we expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.

 

Pension Benefits and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

 

Astoria Federal has a qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering employees meeting specified eligibility criteria.  Astoria Federal’s policy is to fund pension costs in accordance with the minimum funding requirement.  In addition, Astoria Federal has non-qualified and unfunded supplemental retirement plans covering certain officers and directors.  Effective April 30, 2012, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employees’ Pension Plan, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Excess Benefit Plan, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Supplemental Benefit Plan and the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Directors’ Retirement Plan were amended to, among other things, change the manner in which benefits were computed for service through April 30, 2012 and to suspend accrual of additional benefits for all of the aforementioned plans effective April 30, 2012.  We also sponsor a health care plan that provides for postretirement medical and dental coverage to select individuals.

 

We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan, which is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation at the measurement date, in other assets or other liabilities in our consolidated statements of financial condition.  Changes in the funded status are recognized through other comprehensive income/loss in the period in which the changes occur.

 

There are several key assumptions which we provide our actuary which have a significant impact on the pension benefits and other postretirement benefit obligations as well as benefits expense.  These include the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets.  We continually review and evaluate all actuarial assumptions affecting the pension benefits and other postretirement benefit plans.  We monitor these rates in relation to the current market interest rate environment and update our actuarial analysis accordingly.

 

The discount rate is used to calculate the present value of the benefit obligations at the measurement date and the expense to be recorded in the following period.  A lower discount rate will result in a higher benefit obligation and expense, while a higher discount rate will result in a lower benefit obligation and expense.  Discount rate assumptions are determined by reference to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve, adjusted for Astoria Federal benefit plan specific cash flows.  We compare these rates to other yield curves and market indices, such as the Mercer Mature Plan Index and Bloomberg AA Discount Curve, for reasonableness and make adjustments, as necessary, so the discount rates used reflect current market data and trends.

 

To determine the expected return on plan assets, we consider the long-term historical return information on plan assets, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets and the historical returns on indices comparable to the fund classes in which the plan invests.

 

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For further information on the actuarial assumptions used for our pension benefits and other postretirement benefit plans and the impact of the 2012 plan amendments, see Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary source of funds is cash provided by principal and interest payments on loans and securities.  The most significant liquidity challenge we face is the variability in cash flows as a result of changes in mortgage refinance activity.  Principal payments on loans and securities totaled $3.41 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $4.08 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in loan and securities repayments for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was primarily due to a decrease in mortgage loan prepayments.  While residential mortgage loan prepayments declined during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, they remained at elevated levels due to historic low interest rates for thirty year fixed rate conforming loans, thereby continuing to make such loans, which we generally do not retain for our portfolio, a more attractive alternative for borrowers than the hybrid ARM loan product that we retain for our portfolio.

 

In addition to cash provided by principal and interest payments on loans and securities, our other sources of funds include cash provided by operating activities, deposits and borrowings.  Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $189.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $187.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Deposits decreased $383.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and decreased $706.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to decreases in certificates of deposit, partially offset by increases in core deposits.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, we continued to allow high cost certificates of deposit to run off, while the increases in low cost core deposits appear to reflect customer preference for the liquidity these types of deposits provide.  In addition, total deposits included business deposits of $689.6 million at September 30, 2013, an increase of 41% since December 31, 2012, substantially all of which were core deposits, reflecting the expansion of our business banking operations, a component of the strategic shift in our balance sheet.  Net borrowings decreased $264.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and increased $687.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in net borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was primarily due to a decrease in FHLB-NY advances and the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures, partially offset by our use of short-term federal funds purchased in 2013.  The increase in net borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was due to an increase in FHLB-NY advances, partially offset by a decrease in reverse repurchase agreements, and reflected our use of term borrowings to help manage interest rate risk.  The growth in core deposits and the declines in certificates of deposit and borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 reflect our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet.  At September 30, 2013, core deposits represented 66% of total deposits, up from 62% at December 31, 2012.

 

Our primary use of funds is for the origination and purchase of mortgage loans and, to a lesser degree, for the purchase of securities.  Gross mortgage loans originated and purchased for portfolio during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 totaled $2.07 billion, compared to

 

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$3.52 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decline was attributable to residential loan originations and purchases which totaled $837.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, of which $492.7 million were residential loan originations and $345.1 million were purchases of individual residential mortgage loans through our third party loan origination program, compared to $2.30 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, of which $1.45 billion were originations and $841.0 million were purchases.  Residential mortgage loan origination and purchase volume for portfolio has been negatively affected for an extended period of time by the historic low interest rates for thirty year fixed rate conforming mortgage loans and the expanded conforming loan limits established by the GSEs resulting in more borrowers opting for thirty year fixed rate conforming mortgage loans, which we generally do not retain for our portfolio, and a reduced demand for the hybrid ARM loan product that we retain for our portfolio.  Multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations totaled $1.23 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, unchanged compared to originations during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting continued strong loan production as we concentrate on growing this portfolio.  Purchases of securities totaled $1.05 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $741.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Our policies and procedures with respect to managing funding and liquidity risk are established to ensure our safe and sound operation in compliance with applicable bank regulatory requirements.  Our liquidity management process is sufficient to meet our daily funding needs and cover both expected and unexpected deviations from normal daily operations.  Processes are in place to appropriately identify, measure, monitor and control liquidity and funding risk.  The primary tools we use for measuring and managing liquidity risk include cash flow projections, diversified funding sources, stress testing, a cushion of liquid assets and contingency funding plans.

 

We maintain liquidity levels to meet our operational needs in the normal course of our business.  The levels of our liquid assets during any given period are dependent on our operating, investing and financing activities.  Cash and due from banks totaled $137.7 million at September 30, 2013 and $121.5 million at December 31, 2012.  At September 30, 2013, we had $1.06 billion in borrowings with a weighted average rate of 0.68% maturing over the next twelve months.  We have the flexibility to either repay or rollover these borrowings as they mature.  Included in our borrowings are various obligations which, by their terms, may be called by the counterparty.  At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had $1.95 billion of callable borrowings, all of which at December 31, 2012 were contractually callable by the counterparty within three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter.  During the 2013 second and third quarters, we restructured $1.35 billion of these borrowings with the counterparties resulting in a reduction in the weighted average interest rate on such borrowings from 4.40% to 3.46% and an extension of terms from a weighted average remaining term at the time of the restructuring of approximately 4 years to approximately 7 years.  The restructuring also extended the contractual call dates on $950.0 million of these borrowings to 2017, on $100.0 million of these borrowings to 2016 and on $200.0 million of these borrowings to 2015.  Of the $1.95 billion of callable borrowings, $700.0 million at September 30, 2013 were contractually callable by the counterparty within three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter.  We believe the potential for these borrowings to be called does not present a liquidity concern as they have above current market coupons and, as such, are not likely to be called absent a significant increase in market interest rates.  In addition, to the extent such borrowings were to be called, we believe we could readily obtain replacement

 

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funding, although such funding may be at higher rates.  At September 30, 2013, FHLB-NY advances totaled $2.48 billion, or 60% of total borrowings.  We do not believe any of our borrowing counterparty concentrations represent a material risk to our liquidity.  See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements (Unaudited),” for additional information on our borrowings.  In addition, we had $1.45 billion of certificates of deposit at September 30, 2013 with a weighted average rate of 0.92% maturing over the next twelve months.  We believe we have the ability to retain or replace a significant portion of such deposits based on our pricing and historical experience.

 

The following table details our borrowing and certificate of deposit maturities and their weighted average rates at September 30, 2013.

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

Certificates of Deposit

(Dollars in Millions)

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

Contractual Maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve months or less

 

$ 1,061

 

0.68%

 

$ 1,453

 

0.92%

Thirteen to thirty-six months

 

850

 

1.11

 

1,749

 

2.08

Thirty-seven to sixty months

 

1,050

(1)

4.16

 

248

 

1.11

Over sixty months

 

1,150

(2)

3.54

 

1

 

1.57

Total

 

$ 4,111

 

2.46%

 

$ 3,451

 

1.52%

 

(1)

 

Includes $600.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average rate of 4.19%, which are callable within the next three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter and $200.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average rate of 3.03%, which are callable in 2015.

(2)

 

Includes $100.0 million of borrowings, with a rate of 4.05%, which are callable within the next three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter, $100.0 million of borrowings, with a rate of 3.66%, which are callable in 2016 and $950.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average rate of 3.47%, which are callable in 2017.

 

We have filed automatic shelf registration statements on Form S-3 with the SEC, which allow us to periodically offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, individually or in any combination, common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, capital securities, guarantees, warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock and units consisting of one or more of the foregoing.  These shelf registration statements provide us with greater capital management flexibility and enable us to more readily access the capital markets in order to pursue growth opportunities that may become available to us in the future or should there be any changes in the regulatory environment that call for increased capital requirements.  Although the shelf registration statements do not limit the amount of the foregoing items that we may offer and sell, our ability and any decision to do so is subject to market conditions and our capital needs.

 

On March 19, 2013, in a public offering, we sold 5,400,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of our 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, $1.00 par value per share, $1,000 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share).  We issued 135,000 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock in connection with the sale of the depositary shares.  The aggregate proceeds from the offering, net of underwriting discounts and other issuance costs, were approximately $129.8 million.

 

The Series C Preferred Stock, and corresponding depositary shares, may be redeemed at our option, in whole or in part, on April 15, 2018, or on any dividend payment date occurring thereafter, at a redemption price of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share),

 

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plus any declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of any undeclared dividends).  The Series C Preferred Stock may also be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at any time upon the occurrence of a “regulatory capital treatment event,” as defined in the certificate of designations included in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March 19, 2013.  The holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, and the corresponding depositary shares, do not have the right to require the redemption or repurchase of the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Additional sources of liquidity at the holding company level have included private issuances of trust preferred securities and senior debt.  Holding company debt obligations are included in other borrowings.  Our ability to continue to access the capital markets for additional financing at favorable terms may be limited by, among other things, market conditions, interest rates, our capital levels, Astoria Federal’s ability to pay dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation, our credit profile and ratings and our business model.

 

Beginning in July 2013, dividends are payable on the Series C Preferred Stock when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, on a non-cumulative basis quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year at an annual rate of 6.50% on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share.  No dividend shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on our common stock unless the full dividends for the most recently completed dividend period have been declared and paid on our Series C Preferred Stock.

 

On May 10, 2013, we prepaid in whole our Junior Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the optional prepayment provisions of the indenture at a prepayment price of 103.413% of the $128.9 million aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of repayment.  As a result of the prepayment in whole of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, Astoria Capital Trust I simultaneously applied the proceeds of such prepayment to redeem its $125.0 million aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities, as well as the $3.9 million of common securities owned by Astoria Financial Corporation.  The prepayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures resulted in a $4.3 million prepayment charge in the 2013 second quarter for the early extinguishment of this debt.  See Note 1 and Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements (Unaudited),” for additional information regarding Astoria Capital Trust I, the Capital Securities and our Junior Subordinated Debentures.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation’s primary uses of funds include payment of dividends on common and preferred stock and payment of interest on its debt obligations.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, Astoria Financial Corporation paid dividends on common stock totaling $11.8 million.  On October 16, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share on shares of our common stock payable on December 2, 2013 to stockholders of record as of November 15, 2013.  On June 19, 2013, our Board of Directors declared the first quarterly cash dividend on our Series C Preferred Stock aggregating $2.8 million, or $20.94 per share, for the dividend period from the issuance date of March 19, 2013 through and including July 14, 2013, which was paid on July 15, 2013 to stockholders of record as of June 30, 2013.  On September 18, 2013, our Board of Directors declared the second quarterly cash dividend on our Series C Preferred Stock aggregating $2.2 million, or $16.25 per share, for the quarterly period from July 15, 2013 through and including September 14, 2013, which was paid on October 15, 2013 to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2013.

 

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Our ability to pay dividends, service our debt obligations and repurchase common stock is dependent primarily upon receipt of capital distributions from Astoria Federal.  Since Astoria Federal is a federally chartered savings association, there are regulatory limits on its ability to make distributions to Astoria Financial Corporation.  See Part I, Item 1, “Regulation and Supervision,” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of these regulatory limits.  Astoria Federal paid dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation totaling $44.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

See “Financial Condition” for further discussion of the changes in stockholders’ equity.

 

At September 30, 2013, our tangible common equity ratio, which represents common stockholders’ equity less goodwill divided by total assets less goodwill, was 7.22%.  At September 30, 2013, Astoria Federal’s capital levels exceeded all of its regulatory capital requirements with a Tangible capital ratio of 9.61%, Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 9.61%, Total risk-based capital ratio of 16.87% and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 15.61%.  As of September 30, 2013, Astoria Federal continues to be a well capitalized institution for all bank regulatory purposes.

 

Pursuant to the Reform Act, we will become subject to new minimum capital requirements.  In July 2013, the Agencies issued rules that will subject many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation, to consolidated capital requirements. The rules also revise the quantity and quality of required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements applicable to Astoria Federal and Astoria Financial Corporation, consistent with the Reform Act and the Basel III capital standards, add a new common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and add an additional common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer, or Conservation Buffer, of 2.50% of risk-weighted assets, to be applied to the new common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and the total risk-based capital ratio.  The rules impose restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary cash bonus payments if the minimum Conservation Buffer is not met. The rules also revise the calculation of risk-weighted assets to enhance their risk sensitivity and phase out trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock as Tier 1 capital. The new minimum regulatory capital ratios and changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets will be phased in to allow banking organizations to meet the new capital standards, with the initial provisions effective for Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Federal on January 1, 2015.  We are continuing to review and prepare for the impact that the Reform Act, Basel III capital standards and related rulemaking will have on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  For additional information, see Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our June 30, 2013 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

 

We are a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of our business in order to meet the financing needs of our customers and in connection with our overall interest rate risk management strategy.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk.  In accordance with GAAP, these instruments are either not recorded in the consolidated financial statements or are recorded in amounts that differ from the notional amounts.  Such instruments primarily include lending commitments and lease commitments.

 

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Lending commitments include commitments to originate and purchase loans and commitments to fund unused lines of credit.  Additionally, in connection with our mortgage banking activities, we have commitments to fund loans held-for-sale and commitments to sell loans which are considered financial derivative instruments.  Commitments to sell loans totaled $27.4 million at September 30, 2013.  The fair values of our mortgage banking derivative instruments are immaterial to our financial condition and results of operations.  We also have contractual obligations related to operating lease commitments which have not changed significantly from December 31, 2012.

 

The following table details our contractual obligations at September 30, 2013.

 

 

 

 

Payments due by period

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

Less than
One Year

 

One to
Three Years

 

Three to
Five Years

 

More than
Five Years

 

On-balance sheet contractual obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

$ 3,300,000

 

$  250,000

 

$ 850,000

 

$ 1,050,000

 

$ 1,150,000

 

Off-balance sheet contractual obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to originate and purchase loans (1)

 

397,794

 

397,794

 

 

 

 

Commitments to fund unused lines of credit (2)

 

180,153

 

180,153

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$ 3,877,947

 

$  827,947

 

$ 850,000

 

$ 1,050,000

 

$ 1,150,000

 

 

(1)         Includes commitments to originate loans held-for-sale of $13.7 million.

(2)         Includes commitments to fund unused home equity lines of credit of $112.4 million.

 

In addition to the contractual obligations previously discussed, we have liabilities for gross unrecognized tax benefits and interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions which have not changed significantly from December 31, 2012.  For further information regarding these liabilities, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  We also have contingent liabilities related to assets sold with recourse and standby letters of credit which have not changed significantly from December 31, 2012.

 

For further information regarding our off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations, see Part II, Item 7, “MD&A,” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Comparison of Financial Condition as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and Operating Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

 

Financial Condition

 

Total assets declined $474.6 million to $16.02 billion at September 30, 2013, from $16.50 billion at December 31, 2012, primarily reflecting a decrease in our residential mortgage loan portfolio which was partially offset by increases in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio and our securities portfolio.

 

Loans receivable, net, decreased $679.9 million to $12.40 billion at September 30, 2013, from $13.08 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 77% of total assets at September 30, 2013. The growth in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio was more than offset by the decline in our residential mortgage loan portfolio resulting in a net decline of $652.5 million in our total mortgage loan portfolio to $12.24 billion at September 30, 2013, compared to $12.89 billion at December 31, 2012.  While our mortgage loan portfolio continues

 

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to consist primarily of residential mortgage loans, at September 30, 2013 our combined multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio represented 32% of our total loan portfolio, up from 24% at December 31, 2012.  This reflects our continued focus on repositioning the asset mix of our balance sheet.  Gross mortgage loans originated and purchased for portfolio during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 declined to $2.07 billion, compared to $3.52 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decline in residential mortgage loan originations and purchases.  Mortgage loan repayments decreased to $2.65 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $3.14 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decreases in mortgage loan repayments for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was primarily due to a decline in residential mortgage loan prepayments, as well as a decline in multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan prepayments.

 

Our residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased $1.41 billion to $8.30 billion at September 30, 2013, from $9.71 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 66% of our total loan portfolio at September 30, 2013.  Residential mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio totaled $837.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, of which $492.7 million were originations and $345.1 million were purchases, compared to $2.30 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, of which $1.45 billion were originations and $841.0 million were purchases.  Residential mortgage loan repayments declined for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, but remain at elevated levels and outpaced our origination and purchase volume during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, resulting in the decline in the portfolio.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the loan-to-value ratio of our residential mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio, at the time of origination or purchase, averaged approximately 65% and the loan amount averaged approximately $720,000.

 

Our multi-family mortgage loan portfolio increased $711.3 million to $3.12 billion at September 30, 2013, from $2.41 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 25% of our total loan portfolio at September 30, 2013.  Our commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio increased $48.9 million to $822.8 million at September 30, 2013, from $773.9 million at December 31, 2012, and represented 7% of our total loan portfolio at September 30, 2013.  Multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations totaled $1.23 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, unchanged compared to originations during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting continued strong loan production as we concentrate on growing these portfolios.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan originations reflected loan balances averaging approximately $2.6 million with a weighted average loan-to-value ratio, at the time of origination, of approximately 46% and a weighted average debt service coverage ratio of approximately 1.76%.

 

Our securities portfolio increased $294.8 million to $2.33 billion, or 15% of total assets, at September 30, 2013, compared to $2.04 billion at December 31, 2012.  This increase reflects purchases totaling $1.05 billion which were in excess of repayments of $688.6 million and sales of $39.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  At September 30, 2013, our securities portfolio was comprised primarily of fixed rate REMIC and CMO securities which had an amortized cost of $1.84 billion, a weighted average current coupon of 3.01%, a weighted average collateral coupon of 4.43% and a weighted average life of 3.9 years.

 

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Deposits decreased $383.6 million to $10.06 billion at September 30, 2013, from $10.44 billion at December 31, 2012, due to a decrease of $509.6 million in certificates of deposit to $3.45 billion at September 30, 2013, partially offset by a net increase of $126.0 million in core deposits.  At September 30, 2013, core deposits totaled $6.61 billion and represented 66% of total deposits, up from 62% of total deposits at December 31, 2012.  This reflects our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet, reducing borrowings and certificates of deposit and increasing core deposits.  Money market accounts increased $327.1 million since December 31, 2012 to $1.91 billion at September 30, 2013.  NOW and demand deposit accounts increased $38.3 million since December 31, 2012 to $2.13 billion at September 30, 2013.  Savings accounts decreased $239.4 million since December 31, 2012 to $2.56 billion at September 30, 2013.  The net increase in core deposits during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 appear to reflect customer preference for the liquidity these types of deposits provide, as well as our efforts to expand our business banking customer base.  At September 30, 2013, total deposits included $689.6 million of business deposits, substantially all of which were core deposits, an increase of 41% since December 31, 2012.

 

Total borrowings, net, decreased $264.5 million to $4.11 billion at September 30, 2013, from $4.37 billion at December 31, 2012.  The decrease in borrowings was primarily due to a decrease of $421.0 million in FHLB-NY advances and the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures, partially offset by our use of short-term federal funds purchased in 2013 which totaled $285.0 million at September 30, 2013.  For further information on the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Stockholders’ equity increased $163.9 million to $1.46 billion at September 30, 2013, from $1.29 billion at December 31, 2012.  The increase in stockholders’ equity was primarily due to the net proceeds of $129.8 million from the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock in the 2013 first quarter, net income of $46.4 million and stock-based compensation and the allocation of employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, stock totaling $13.1 million, partially offset by dividends on common and preferred stock of $16.8 million and other comprehensive loss of $7.4 million.  For further information on the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Results of Operations

 

General

 

Net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2013 increased $1.3 million to $14.7 million, compared to $13.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting an increase of $3.5 million in net income to $16.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $13.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, partially offset by preferred stock dividends declared in the 2013 third quarter totaling $2.2 million.  Diluted EPS was $0.15 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $0.14 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The increase in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily reflects a lower provision for loan losses, partially offset by a reduction in non-interest income.

 

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, net income available to common shareholders increased $5.2 million to $41.4 million, compared to $36.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  This increase reflects an increase of $10.2 million in net income to $46.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $36.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, partially offset by preferred stock dividends declared during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 totaling $5.0 million.  Diluted EPS increased to $0.42 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $0.38 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The increase in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was primarily attributable to a decline in the provision for loan losses and a reduction in non-interest expense, partially offset by lower net interest income.

 

Return on average assets increased to 0.42% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 0.31% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased to 0.38% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 0.28% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The increases in the returns on average assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were due to the increases in net income, coupled with declines in average assets.

 

Return on average common stockholders’ equity increased to 4.47% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 4.14% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased to 4.22% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 3.79% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.   Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity, which represents average common stockholders’ equity less average goodwill, increased to 5.20% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 4.84% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased to 4.91% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 4.44% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The increases in these returns for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, were due to the increases in net income available to common shareholders, partially offset by increases in average common stockholders’ equity.

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income represents the difference between income on interest-earning assets and expense on interest-bearing liabilities.  Net interest income depends primarily upon the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the corresponding interest rates earned or paid. Our net interest income is significantly impacted by changes in interest rates and market yield curves and their related impact on cash flows.  See Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” for further discussion of the potential impact of changes in interest rates on our results of operations.

 

Net interest income increased slightly to $86.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $86.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to a slightly greater reduction in interest expense than the decline in interest income.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decline in interest income exceeded a decline in interest expense resulting in a decrease of $5.8 million in net interest income to $255.1 million, compared to $260.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The continued low interest rate environment, coupled with the restructuring of $1.35 billion of borrowings in the 2013 second

 

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and third quarters and the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures in the 2013 second quarter, has resulted in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities declining more than the average yield on interest-earning assets and an improvement in our net interest rate spread for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The restructuring of borrowings in 2013 resulted in a 94 basis point decline in the weighted average rate on such borrowings.  For the 2013 third quarter, the decline in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities more than offset the impact of the decline in the average balance of interest-earning assets, resulting in the slight improvement in net interest income compared to the 2012 third quarter.  This improvement in the 2013 third quarter had the impact of lessening the decline in net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

The net interest rate spread increased eighteen basis points to 2.20% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 2.02% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased eight basis points to 2.16% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 2.08% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The net interest margin increased nineteen basis points to 2.28% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 2.09% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased eight basis points to 2.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 2.15% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The average balance of net interest-earning assets increased $222.2 million to $934.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $712.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased $199.0 million to $884.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $685.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

The changes in average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their related yields and costs are discussed in greater detail under “Interest Income” and “Interest Expense.”

 

Analysis of Net Interest Income

 

The following tables set forth certain information about the average balances of our assets and liabilities and their related yields and costs for the periods indicated.  Average yields are derived by dividing income by the average balance of the related assets and average costs are derived by dividing expense by the average balance of the related liabilities, for the periods shown.  Average balances are derived from average daily balances.  The yields and costs include amortization of fees, costs, premiums and discounts which are considered adjustments to interest rates.

 

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For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Annualized)

 

 

 

 

 

(Annualized)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

 8,499,231

 

$

 69,158

 

3.25

%

 

$

10,495,563

 

$

 91,490

 

3.49

%

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate

 

3,829,065

 

41,450

 

4.33

 

 

2,908,993

 

38,127

 

5.24

 

 

Consumer and other loans (1)

 

248,529

 

2,175

 

3.50

 

 

271,309

 

2,309

 

3.40

 

 

Total loans

 

12,576,825

 

112,783

 

3.59

 

 

13,675,865

 

131,926

 

3.86

 

 

Mortgage-backed and other securities (2)

 

2,320,896

 

13,247

 

2.28

 

 

2,290,702

 

14,453

 

2.52

 

 

Repurchase agreements and interest- earning cash accounts

 

87,258

 

67

 

0.31

 

 

277,319

 

182

 

0.26

 

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

150,504

 

1,498

 

3.98

 

 

181,792

 

1,773

 

3.90

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

15,135,483

 

127,595

 

3.37

 

 

16,425,678

 

148,334

 

3.61

 

 

Goodwill

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-earning assets

 

738,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

806,010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

 16,059,455

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

17,416,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

$

 2,619,798

 

330

 

0.05

 

 

$

2,843,856

 

710

 

0.10

 

 

Money market

 

1,864,235

 

1,179

 

0.25

 

 

1,406,949

 

2,234

 

0.64

 

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

2,103,436

 

172

 

0.03

 

 

1,943,448

 

228

 

0.05

 

 

Total core deposits

 

6,587,469

 

1,681

 

0.10

 

 

6,194,253

 

3,172

 

0.20

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

3,513,212

 

13,475

 

1.53

 

 

4,428,338

 

18,947

 

1.71

 

 

Total deposits

 

10,100,681

 

15,156

 

0.60

 

 

10,622,591

 

22,119

 

0.83

 

 

Borrowings

 

4,100,528

 

26,235

 

2.56

 

 

5,090,960

 

40,217

 

3.16

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

14,201,209

 

41,391

 

1.17

 

 

15,713,551

 

62,336

 

1.59

 

 

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

409,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

413,756

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

14,610,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,127,307

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,448,736

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,289,532

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

 16,059,455

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

17,416,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income/ net interest rate spread (3)

 

 

 

$

 86,204

 

2.20

%

 

 

 

$

 85,998

 

2.02

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest-earning assets/ net interest margin (4)

 

$

 934,274

 

 

 

2.28

%

 

$

712,127

 

 

 

2.09

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

 

1.07

x

 

 

 

 

 

1.05

x

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

(1)       Mortgage loans and consumer and other loans include loans held-for-sale and non-performing loans and exclude the allowance for loan losses.

(2)       Securities available-for-sale are included at average amortized cost.

(3)       Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on average interest-earning assets and the average cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.

(4)       Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

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For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2013

 

2012

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Annualized)

 

 

 

 

 

(Annualized)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

 9,007,869

 

$

 222,994

 

3.30

%

 

$

 10,589,227

 

$

 286,236

 

3.60

%

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate

 

3,558,759

 

120,463

 

4.51

 

 

2,631,859

 

111,088

 

5.63

 

 

Consumer and other loans (1)

 

256,866

 

6,611

 

3.43

 

 

275,854

 

6,944

 

3.36

 

 

Total loans

 

12,823,494

 

350,068

 

3.64

 

 

13,496,940

 

404,268

 

3.99

 

 

Mortgage-backed and other securities (2)

 

2,190,480

 

36,003

 

2.19

 

 

2,381,407

 

49,445

 

2.77

 

 

Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts

 

93,327

 

192

 

0.27

 

 

160,272

 

282

 

0.23

 

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

154,942

 

5,147

 

4.43

 

 

159,774

 

4,928

 

4.11

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

15,262,243

 

391,410

 

3.42

 

 

16,198,393

 

458,923

 

3.78

 

 

Goodwill

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-earning assets

 

767,235

 

 

 

 

 

 

843,811

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

 16,214,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 17,227,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

$

 2,705,411

 

1,011

 

0.05

 

 

$

 2,825,012

 

4,084

 

0.19

 

 

Money market

 

1,786,764

 

4,409

 

0.33

 

 

1,259,063

 

6,242

 

0.66

 

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

2,095,285

 

518

 

0.03

 

 

1,907,300

 

814

 

0.06

 

 

Total core deposits

 

6,587,460

 

5,938

 

0.12

 

 

5,991,375

 

11,140

 

0.25

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

3,677,032

 

42,228

 

1.53

 

 

4,896,215

 

67,339

 

1.83

 

 

Total deposits

 

10,264,492

 

48,166

 

0.63

 

 

10,887,590

 

78,479

 

0.96

 

 

Borrowings

 

4,113,661

 

88,107

 

2.86

 

 

4,625,679

 

119,581

 

3.45

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

14,378,153

 

136,273

 

1.26

 

 

15,513,269

 

198,060

 

1.70

 

 

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

436,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

442,512

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

14,814,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,955,781

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,399,922

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,271,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

 16,214,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 17,227,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income/ net interest rate spread (3)

 

 

 

$

 255,137

 

2.16

%

 

 

 

$

 260,863

 

2.08

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest-earning assets/ net interest margin (4)

 

$

 884,090

 

 

 

2.23

%

 

$

 685,124

 

 

 

2.15

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

 

1.06

x

 

 

 

 

 

1.04

x

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

(1)       Mortgage loans and consumer and other loans include loans held-for-sale and non-performing loans and exclude the allowance for loan losses.

(2)       Securities available-for-sale are included at average amortized cost.

(3)       Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on average interest-earning assets and the average cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.

(4)       Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

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Rate/Volume Analysis

 

The following table presents the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected our interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated.  Information is provided in each category with respect to (1) the changes attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate), (2) the changes attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume), and (3) the net change.  The changes attributable to the combined impact of volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.

 

 

 

 

Increase (Decrease) for the
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Compared to the
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

 

Increase (Decrease) for the
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Compared to the
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

(In Thousands)

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

  $

 (16,402

)

  $

 (5,930

)

  $

(22,332

)

 

  $

 (40,591

)

  $

 (22,651

)

  $

 (63,242

)

Multi-family and commercial real estate

 

10,690

 

(7,367

)

3,323

 

 

34,246

 

(24,871

)

9,375

 

Consumer and other loans

 

(200

)

66

 

(134

)

 

(478

)

145

 

(333

)

Mortgage-backed and other securities

 

187

 

(1,393

)

(1,206

)

 

(3,722

)

(9,720

)

(13,442

)

Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts

 

(144

)

29

 

(115

)

 

(131

)

41

 

(90

)

FHLB-NY stock

 

(310

)

35

 

(275

)

 

(153

)

372

 

219

 

Total

 

(6,179

)

(14,560

)

(20,739

)

 

(10,829

)

(56,684

)

(67,513

)

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

(52

)

(328

)

(380

)

 

(167

)

(2,906

)

(3,073

)

Money market

 

588

 

(1,643

)

(1,055

)

 

2,006

 

(3,839

)

(1,833

)

NOW and demand deposit

 

24

 

(80

)

(56

)

 

93

 

(389

)

(296

)

Certificates of deposit

 

(3,625

)

(1,847

)

(5,472

)

 

(15,142

)

(9,969

)

(25,111

)

Borrowings

 

(7,076

)

(6,906

)

(13,982

)

 

(12,367

)

(19,107

)

(31,474

)

Total

 

(10,141

)

(10,804

)

(20,945

)

 

(25,577

)

(36,210

)

(61,787

)

Net change in net interest income

 

  $

 3,962

 

  $

 (3,756

)

  $

206

 

 

  $

 14,748

 

  $

 (20,474

)

  $

 (5,726

)

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income decreased $20.7 million to $127.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $148.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 3.37% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 3.61% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $1.29 billion in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $15.14 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $16.43 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets was primarily due to lower average yields on mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities.  The decrease in the average balance of interest-earning assets was primarily due to decreases in the average balances of residential mortgage loans and repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.

 

Interest income on residential mortgage loans decreased $22.3 million to $69.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $91.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease of $2.00 billion in the average balance of such loans, coupled with a decrease in the average yield to 3.25% for the three months ended September 30,

 

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2013, from 3.49% for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the average balance of residential mortgage loans reflects the continued elevated levels of repayments on such loans which have outpaced our originations and purchases over the past year.  The decrease in the average yield on residential mortgage loans was primarily due to new originations and purchases at lower interest rates than the rates on loans repaid over the past year and the impact of the downward repricing of our ARM loans, partially offset by a decline in amortization of net premium and deferred loan origination cost.  While remaining elevated, the levels of prepayments on residential mortgage loans declined during the 2013 third quarter compared to the 2012 third quarter and contributed to a decrease of $1.0 million in net premium and deferred loan origination cost amortization to $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Interest income on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans increased $3.4 million to $41.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $38.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to an increase of $920.1 million in the average balance of such loans, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield to 4.33% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 5.24% for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate loans was attributable to strong levels of originations of such loans which have exceeded repayments over the past year.  The decrease in the average yield on multi-family and commercial real estate loans was primarily due to new originations at interest rates below the weighted average rates of the portfolios, reflecting both the lower interest rate environment and the impact of competitive pricing in our markets, coupled with a decline in prepayment penalties.  Prepayment penalties decreased $269,000 to $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Interest income on mortgage-backed and other securities decreased $1.3 million to $13.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $14.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to a decrease in the average yield to 2.28% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 2.52% for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the average yield on mortgage-backed and other securities was primarily due to repayments on higher yielding securities and purchases of new securities with lower coupons than the weighted average coupon for the portfolio, partially offset by a decline in net premium amortization.  Net premium amortization on mortgage-backed and other securities decreased $1.2 million to $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The average balance of mortgage-backed and other securities increased slightly for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the net premium amortization and the increase in the average balance of mortgage-backed and other securities for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012, reflects a slowdown of repayment activity experienced in the 2013 third quarter due to increases in longer term interest rates beginning in the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and continuing into the 2013 third quarter.

 

Interest income decreased $67.5 million to $391.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $458.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 3.42% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 3.78% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of

 

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$936.2 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $15.26 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $16.20 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the average balance of interest-earning assets was primarily due to decreases in the average balances of residential mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.

 

Interest income on residential mortgage loans decreased $63.2 million to $223.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $286.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease of $1.58 billion in the average balance of such loans, coupled with a decrease in the average yield to 3.30% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 3.60% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Net premium and deferred loan origination cost amortization on residential mortgage loans decreased $2.3 million to $16.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $18.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Interest income on multi-family and commercial real estate loans increased $9.4 million to $120.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $111.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to an increase of $926.9 million in the average balance of such loans, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield to 4.51% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 5.63% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Prepayment penalties decreased $1.7 million to $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $6.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Interest income on mortgage-backed and other securities decreased $13.4 million to $36.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $49.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  This decrease was due to a decrease in the average yield to 2.19% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 2.77% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $190.9 million in the average balance of the portfolio.  Net premium amortization on mortgage-backed and other securities increased $1.5 million to $12.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, contributing to the decline in the average yield on mortgage-backed and other securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The increase in net premium amortization primarily reflects the greater proportion of securities within our portfolio during 2013, compared to 2012, which were purchased at a premium.  Although securities purchases have kept pace with the levels of securities repayments and sales over the past twelve months, during 2012 our securities repayments and sales were in excess of purchases resulting in a declining portfolio balance throughout 2012, which resulted in a lower average balance of the securities portfolio for 2013.

 

Except as otherwise noted, the principal reasons for the changes in the average yields and average balances of the various assets noted above for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are consistent with the principal reasons for the changes noted for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

 

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Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased $20.9 million to $41.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $62.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to decreases in both the average cost and average balance of interest-bearing liabilities.  The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 1.17% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 1.59% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to a decrease in the average cost of borrowings, although the average costs of all deposit liability categories also declined.  The average balance of interest-bearing liabilities decreased $1.51 billion to $14.20 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $15.71 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting decreases in the average balances of borrowings and certificates of deposit, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of core deposits.

 

Interest expense on total deposits decreased $6.9 million to $15.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $22.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.60% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 0.83% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $521.9 million in the average balance of total deposits to $10.10 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $10.62 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the average cost of total deposits reflects decreases in the average costs of all deposit liability categories.  The decrease in the average balance of total deposits was due to a decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit, partially offset by a net increase in the average balance of core deposits.

 

Interest expense on core deposits decreased $1.5 million to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.10% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 0.20% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, partially offset by an increase of $393.2 million in the average balance of such deposits.  The decrease in the average cost and increase in the average balance of core deposits was primarily due to money market accounts.  Interest expense on money market accounts decreased $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012 due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.25% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 0.64% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, partially offset by an increase of $457.3 million in the average balance.

 

Interest expense on certificates of deposit decreased $5.4 million to $13.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $18.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease of $915.1 million in the average balance, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 1.53% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 1.71% for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit was primarily the result of our reduced focus on certificates of deposits reflecting our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet to increase our core deposits and reduce certificates of deposit.  The decrease in the average cost of certificates of deposit reflects the impact of certificates of deposit at higher rates maturing and being replaced at lower interest rates.  During the three months ended September 30, 2013, $453.6 million of certificates of deposit, with a weighted average rate of 0.67% and a weighted average maturity at inception of fifteen months, matured and $303.8 million of certificates of deposit were issued or repriced,

 

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with a weighted average rate of 0.09% and a weighted average maturity at inception of seven months.

 

Interest expense on borrowings decreased $14.0 million to $26.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $40.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, due to declines in both the average balance and average cost of borrowings.  The average balance of borrowings decreased $990.4 million to $4.10 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $5.09 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decline in the average balance of borrowings primarily reflects the reduction in total average assets, coupled with the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures in the 2013 second quarter.  The average cost of borrowings decreased to 2.56% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 3.16% for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The decline in the average cost of borrowings is due in large part to the restructuring of $1.35 billion of borrowings in the 2013 second and third quarters, which resulted in a reduction of the weighted average rate on such borrowings from 4.40% to 3.46%, and the prepayment of our Junior Subordinated Debentures.  The decline in the average balance and average cost of borrowings for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012, also reflects the prepayment in September 2012 of our previously outstanding 5.75% senior unsecured notes with the proceeds from the issuance in June 2012 of our 5.00% senior unsecured notes.

 

Interest expense decreased $61.8 million to $136.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $198.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.26% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 1.70% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $1.13 billion in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $14.38 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $15.51 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Interest expense on total deposits decreased $30.3 million to $48.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $78.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.63% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 0.96% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $623.1 million in the average balance of total deposits to $10.26 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $10.89 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Interest expense on core deposits decreased $5.2 million to $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $11.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.12% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 0.25% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, partially offset by an increase of $596.1 million in the average balance of such deposits.  The decrease in the average cost of core deposits was primarily due to declines in the average costs of money market and savings accounts.  The increase in the average balance of core deposits was due to increases in the average balances of money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts, partially offset by a decline in the average balance of savings accounts.  Interest expense on savings accounts decreased $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012 primarily due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.05% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 0.19% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Interest expense on money market accounts decreased $1.8 million for the

 

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nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012 due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.33% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 0.66% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, partially offset by an increase of $527.7 million in the average balance of such accounts.

 

Interest expense on certificates of deposit decreased $25.1 million to $42.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $67.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease of $1.22 billion in the average balance, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 1.53% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 1.83% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, $1.68 billion of certificates of deposit matured, with a weighted average rate of 0.58% and a weighted average maturity at inception of fourteen months, and $1.13 billion of certificates of deposit were issued or repriced, with a weighted average rate of 0.10% and a weighted average maturity at inception of eight months.

 

Interest expense on borrowings decreased $31.5 million to $88.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $119.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 2.86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 3.45% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $512.0 million in the average balance of borrowings to $4.11 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $4.63 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Except as otherwise noted, the principal reasons for the changes in the average costs and average balances of the various liabilities noted above for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are consistent with the principal reasons for the changes noted for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

We review our allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis.  Material factors considered during our quarterly review are the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of loan delinquencies and non-performing loans, our loss history and our evaluation of the housing and real estate markets and the current economic environment.  We continue to closely monitor the local and national real estate markets and other factors related to risks inherent in our loan portfolio.  We are impacted by both national and regional economic factors with residential mortgage loans from various regions of the country held in our portfolio and our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio concentrated in the New York metropolitan area, which includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  Although the U.S. economy has shown signs of modest improvement, the operating environment continues to remain challenging.  Interest rates have been at or near historic lows and we expect them to remain low for the near term.  However, long-term rates moved higher during the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and into the 2013 third quarter, with the ten year U.S. Treasury rate increasing from 1.63% at May 1, 2013 to 2.49% at the end of June and 2.61% at the end of September.  The national unemployment rate, while remaining high, declined to 7.2% for September 2013, compared to a peak of 10.0% for October 2009 and new job growth, while remaining slow, has continued in 2013.  Softness persists in the housing and real estate markets, although the extent of such softness varies from region to region.  However, we believe market

 

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conditions remain favorable in the New York metropolitan area with respect to our multi-family mortgage loan origination activities.

 

The provision for loan losses totaled $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, resulting in a provision for loan losses of $16.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $9.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and $29.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The decline in the provision for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, reflects the continued improvement in net loan charge-offs and delinquent and non-performing loans during the 2013 third quarter, as well as the contraction of the overall loan portfolio.  Net loan charge-offs declined to $3.4 million, or eleven basis points of average loans outstanding, annualized, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $9.1 million, or twenty-seven basis points of average loans outstanding, annualized, for the three months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting decreases of $2.8 million in net charge-offs on residential mortgage loans and $2.3 million in net charge-offs on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, net loan charge-offs declined to $18.7 million, or nineteen basis points of average loans outstanding, annualized, compared to $38.2 million, or thirty-eight basis points of average loans outstanding, annualized, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to a decline of $18.3 million in net charge-offs on residential mortgage loans.  Loans past due 30-89 days and accruing interest decreased $15.3 million since June 30, 2013 and decreased $54.8 million since December 31, 2012 to $127.1 million at September 30, 2013.  Non-performing loans, which are comprised primarily of mortgage loans, totaled $351.3 million, or 2.80% of total loans, at September 30, 2013, compared to $356.9 million, or 2.82% of total loans, at June 30, 2013 and $315.1 million, or 2.38% of total loans, at December 31, 2012.  Effective in the 2013 first quarter, in addition to bankruptcy loans placed on non-accrual status and reported as non-performing loans as of December 31, 2012, we also included bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 regardless of the delinquency status of the loans which resulted in the increase in non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012, even as loans past due 90 days or more continued to decline to $263.4 million at September 30, 2013, compared to $278.1 million at June 30, 2013 and $301.4 million at December 31, 2012.  Non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 included $64.3 million of bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due, including $49.9 million which were discharged prior to 2012.

 

The allowance for loan losses totaled $143.0 million at September 30, 2013, compared to $143.9 million at June 30, 2013 and $145.5 million at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.14% at September 30, 2013 and at June 30, 2013, compared to 1.10% at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 40.71% at September 30, 2013, compared to 40.32% at June 30, 2013 and 46.18% at December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 was primarily due to the increase in non-performing loans which reflects the addition of the bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 that are current or less than 90 days past due discussed above.  The changes in non-performing loans during any period are taken into account when determining the allowance for loan losses because the allowance coverage percentages we apply to our non-performing loans are generally higher than the allowance coverage percentages applied to our performing loans.  In evaluating our allowance coverage percentages for non-

 

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performing loans, we consider our aggregate historical loss experience with respect to the ultimate disposition of the underlying collateral.

 

When analyzing our asset quality trends and coverage ratios, consideration is given to the accounting for non-performing loans, particularly when reviewing our allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans ratio.  Included in our non-performing loans are residential mortgage loans which are 180 days or more past due for which we update our estimates of collateral values annually.  If the estimated fair value of the loan collateral less estimated selling costs is less than the recorded investment in the loan, a charge-off of the difference is recorded to reduce the loan to its estimated fair value less estimated selling costs.  Therefore, certain losses inherent in our non-performing residential mortgage loans are being recognized through a charge-off at 180 days of delinquency and annually thereafter.  The impact of updating these estimates of collateral value and recognizing any required charge-offs is to increase charge-offs and reduce the allowance for loan losses required on these loans.  Therefore, when reviewing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans, the impact of these charge-offs is considered.  Non-performing loans included residential mortgage loans which were 180 days or more past due totaling $213.6 million, net of $66.7 million in charge-offs related to such loans, at September 30, 2013 and $242.0 million, net of $79.4 million in charge-offs related to such loans, at December 31, 2012.

 

While ratio analyses are used as a supplemental tool for evaluating the overall reasonableness of the allowance for loan losses, the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is ultimately determined by the actual losses and charges recognized in the portfolio.  We update our loss analyses quarterly to ensure that our allowance coverage percentages are adequate and the overall allowance for loan losses is our best estimate of loss as of a particular point in time.  Our 2013 third quarter analysis of loss severity on residential mortgage loans, defined as the ratio of net write-downs taken through disposition of the asset (typically the sale of REO or a short sale) to the loan’s original principal balance, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2013, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 30%, compared to approximately 32% in our 2013 second quarter analysis and 33% in our 2013 first quarter and 2012 fourth quarter analyses.  Our analysis in the 2013 third quarter reviewed residential REO sales and short sales which occurred during the twelve months ended June 30, 2013 and included both full documentation and reduced documentation loans in a variety of states with varying years of origination.  Our 2013 third quarter analysis of charge-offs on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, generally related to sales of certain delinquent and non-performing loans transferred to held-for-sale and loans modified in a TDR, during the twelve months ended June 30, 2013 indicated an average loss severity of approximately 19%, unchanged from our 2013 second quarter analysis and a decline compared to 22% in our 2013 first quarter analysis and 31% in our 2012 fourth quarter analysis.  We consider our average loss severity experience as a gauge in evaluating the overall adequacy of our allowance for loan losses.  However, the uniqueness of each multi-family and commercial real estate loan, particularly multi-family loans within New York City, many of which are rent stabilized, is also factored into our analyses.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was approximately 41% at September 30, 2013, which exceeds our average loss severity experience for our mortgage loan portfolios, supporting our determination that our allowance for loan losses is adequate to cover potential losses.

 

We obtain updated estimates of collateral values on residential mortgage loans at 180 days past due and earlier in certain instances and, to the extent the loans remain delinquent, annually

 

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thereafter.  Updated estimates of collateral values on residential loans are obtained primarily through automated valuation models. Additionally, our loan servicer performs property inspections to monitor and manage the collateral on our residential loans when they become 45 days past due and monthly thereafter until the foreclosure process is complete. We obtain updated estimates of collateral value using third party appraisals on non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans when the loans initially become non-performing and annually thereafter and multi-family and commercial real estate loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and annually thereafter.  Appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by our internal certified appraisers.  We also obtain updated estimates of collateral value for certain other loans when the Asset Classification Committee believes repayment of such loans may be dependent on the value of the underlying collateral. Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.

 

During the 2013 first quarter, total delinquencies decreased $14.7 million since December 31, 2012 and net loan charge-offs decreased compared to the 2012 fourth quarter.  The national unemployment rate was 7.6% for March 2013 and there were job gains for the quarter totaling 504,000 at the time of our analysis.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2013 first quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased slightly compared to December 31, 2012 and totaled $144.3 million at March 31, 2013 which resulted in a provision for loan losses of $9.1 million for the 2013 first quarter.  During the 2013 second quarter, total delinquencies decreased $39.1 million since March 31, 2013, net loan charge-offs decreased compared to the 2013 first quarter, the national unemployment rate remained flat and job gains totaled 589,000 at the time of our analysis.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2013 second quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased slightly compared to March 31, 2013 and totaled $143.9 million at June 30, 2013 which resulted in a provision for loan losses of $4.5 million for the 2013 second quarter and $13.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013.  During the 2013 third quarter, total delinquencies decreased $30.6 million since June 30, 2013.  The national unemployment rate decreased to 7.2% for September 2013 and there were job gains for the quarter totaling 430,000 at the time of our analysis.  Net loan charge-offs decreased for the 2013 third quarter compared to the 2013 second quarter.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2013 third quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased slightly compared to June 30, 2013 and totaled $143.0 million at September 30, 2013 which resulted in a provision for loan losses of $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and $16.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

 

There are no material assumptions relied on by management which have not been made apparent in our disclosures or reflected in our asset quality ratios and activity in the allowance for loan losses.  We believe our allowance for loan losses has been established and maintained at levels that reflect the risks inherent in our loan portfolio, giving consideration to the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of loan delinquencies and non-performing loans, our loss history and our evaluation of the housing and real estate markets and the current economic environment.  The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s

 

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best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

 

For further discussion of the methodology used to determine the allowance for loan losses, see “Critical Accounting Policies-Allowance for Loan Losses” and for further discussion of our loan portfolio composition and non-performing loans, see “Asset Quality” and Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements (Unaudited).”

 

Non-Interest Income

 

Non-interest income decreased $1.3 million to $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $16.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to decreases in customer service fees and income from bank owned life insurance.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, non-interest income increased slightly to $52.2 million, compared to $51.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as higher mortgage banking income, net, was substantially offset by lower customer fees, income from bank owned life insurance, gain on sale of securities and other loan fees.

 

Customer service fees decreased $937,000 to $9.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $10.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and decreased $2.8 million to $27.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $30.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The lower levels of customer service fees in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily reflect declines in overdraft fees related to transaction accounts, coupled with declines in various other customer service fee revenues such as ATM fees, other checking charges, minimum balance fees and commissions on sales of insurance products.

 

Mortgage banking income, net, which includes loan servicing fees, net gain on sales of loans, amortization of MSR and valuation allowance adjustments for the impairment of MSR, increased $5.0 million to $10.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $5.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to recoveries recorded in the valuation allowance for the impairment of MSR for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to provisions recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The recoveries recorded in 2013 were primarily the result of a significant decrease in the estimated weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages and a corresponding increase in the estimated weighted average life of the servicing portfolio at September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 reflecting the increase in U.S. Treasury rates beginning in the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and continuing into the 2013 third quarter.

 

Income from bank owned life insurance decreased $474,000 to $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and decreased $862,000 to $6.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to a decrease in the crediting rate paid on our investment.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the decline in gain on sales of securities reflects a reduction in the volume of securities sold and the decline in other loan fees was primarily due to a decline in late payment charges related to our residential mortgage loan portfolio.

 

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Non-Interest Expense

 

Non-interest expense decreased slightly to $72.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $72.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to lower federal deposit insurance premium expense in 2013 and an extinguishment of debt expense recorded in the 2012 third quarter, the effects of which were substantially offset by increased compensation and benefits expense and other non-interest expense.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, non-interest expense decreased $8.4 million to $218.5 million, from $226.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  This decline reflects lower federal deposit insurance premium expense, compensation and benefits expense and other non-interest expense, partially offset by increases in occupancy, equipment and systems expense and extinguishment of debt expense.  Our percentage of general and administrative expense to average assets, annualized, increased to 1.81% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from 1.67% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and increased to 1.80% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, from 1.76% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The increases in these ratios for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily reflect the declines in average assets for the respective periods, partially offset by the decline in general administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Compensation and benefits expense increased $3.1 million to $33.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, from $30.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to increases in salaries and officer incentive accruals, ESOP expense and the employer matching contribution for the 401(k) incentive savings plan which began in 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compensation and benefits expense decreased $5.8 million to $99.3 million, from $105.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  This reduction in compensation and benefits expense largely relates to the impact of the cost control initiatives implemented in the 2012 first quarter.  Compensation and benefits expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 included one-time net charges totaling $3.4 million associated with these initiatives.  As a result of plan amendments which were approved by our Board of Directors in the 2012 first quarter in conjunction with our overall cost control initiatives, the net periodic cost for our defined benefit pension plans decreased to $110,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Also contributing to the decrease in compensation and benefits expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was a $3.1 million reduction in the 2013 first quarter resulting from a revision in the accrual for compensated absences related to changes in certain compensation policies which became effective January 1, 2013.  Increases in salaries and officer incentive accruals and the employer matching 401(k) contribution in 2013 partially offset the aforementioned declines in compensation and benefits expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Occupancy, equipment and systems expense increased $3.7 million to $53.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $50.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to a one-time charge of $2.5 million recorded in the 2013 first quarter to conform to a straight-line basis the rental expense on operating leases for certain branch locations, coupled with increases in equipment expenses, data processing charges and real estate taxes.

 

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Federal deposit insurance premium expense decreased $3.3 million to $9.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $12.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and decreased $7.2 million to $28.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $35.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, reflecting a reduction in both our assessment base and assessment rate.

 

Extinguishment of debt expense totaled $4.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The charge in 2013 was the result of the prepayment in whole of our Junior Subordinated Debentures in May 2013 using the proceeds from the issuance in March 2013 of our Series C Preferred Stock.  The charge in 2012 was the result of the prepayment of our 5.75% senior unsecured notes in September 2012 using the proceeds from the issuance in June 2012 of our 5.00% senior unsecured notes.

 

Other non-interest expense increased to $10.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $9.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to an increase in REO related expenses, partially offset by declines in OCC assessments and other loan related expenses.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, other non-interest expense decreased $2.8 million to $26.7 million, compared to $29.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to reductions in REO related expenses, OCC assessments and other loan related expenses.  REO related expenses increased to $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to an increase in foreclosure related costs.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, REO related expenses declined to $5.5 million, compared to $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2013, income tax expense totaled $9.5 million, representing an effective tax rate of 36.0%, compared to $7.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, representing an effective tax rate of 34.6%.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, income tax expense totaled $26.2 million, representing an effective tax rate of 36.1%, compared to $19.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, representing an effective tax rate of 35.4%.

 

Asset Quality

 

One of our key operating objectives has been and continues to be to maintain a high level of asset quality.  We continue to employ sound underwriting standards for new loan originations.  Through a variety of strategies, including, but not limited to, collection efforts and the marketing of delinquent and non-performing loans and foreclosed properties, we have been proactive in addressing problem and non-performing assets which, in turn, has helped to maintain the strength of our financial condition.

 

The composition of our loan portfolio by property type has remained relatively consistent over the last several years.  However, as a result of our continuing efforts to reposition the asset mix of our balance sheet, our multi-family mortgage loans increased to represent 25% of our total loan portfolio at September 30, 2013, compared to 18% at December 31, 2012, and our

 

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commercial real estate loans increased to represent 7% of our total loan portfolio, compared to 6% at December 31, 2012.  In contrast, our residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased to represent 66% of our total loan portfolio at September 30, 2013, compared to 74% at December 31, 2012.  At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the remaining 2% of our total loan portfolio was comprised of consumer and other loans.

 

We continue to adhere to prudent underwriting standards.  We underwrite our residential mortgage loans primarily based upon our evaluation of the borrower’s ability to pay.  We do not originate negative amortization loans, payment option loans or other loans with short-term interest-only periods.  Additionally, we do not originate one-year ARM loans.  The ARM loans in our portfolio which currently reprice annually represent hybrid ARM loans (interest-only and amortizing) which have passed their initial fixed rate period.  In 2006, we began underwriting our residential interest-only hybrid ARM loans based on a fully amortizing loan (in effect, underwriting interest-only hybrid ARM loans as if they were amortizing hybrid ARM loans).  Prior to 2007, we would underwrite our residential interest-only hybrid ARM loans using the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate.  In 2007, we began underwriting our residential interest-only hybrid ARM loans at the higher of the fully indexed rate or the initial note rate.  In 2009, we began underwriting our residential interest-only and amortizing hybrid ARM loans at the higher of the fully indexed rate, the initial note rate or 6.00%.  During the 2010 second quarter, we reduced the underwriting interest rate floor from 6.00% to 5.00% to reflect the interest rate environment.  During the 2010 third quarter, we stopped offering interest-only loans.  Our reduced documentation loans are comprised primarily of SIFA (stated income, full asset) loans.  To a lesser extent, reduced documentation loans in our portfolio also include SISA (stated income, stated asset) loans.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we stopped offering reduced documentation loans.

 

Full documentation loans comprised 90% of our total mortgage loan portfolio at September 30, 2013, compared to 89% at December 31, 2012, and comprised 85% of our residential mortgage loan portfolio at September 30, 2013, compared to 86% at December 31, 2012.  The following table provides further details on the composition of our residential mortgage loan portfolio in dollar amounts and percentages of the portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Percent 
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent 
of Total

 

Residential mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only (1)

 

  $

1,525,837

 

18.39%

 

  $

2,001,396

 

20.61%

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

5,501,024

 

66.28

 

6,304,872

 

64.92

 

Reduced documentation interest-only (1)(2)

 

879,546

 

10.60

 

1,005,295

 

10.35

 

Reduced documentation amortizing (2)

 

392,111

 

4.73

 

399,663

 

4.12

 

Total residential mortgage loans

 

  $

8,298,518

 

100.00%

 

  $

9,711,226

 

100.00%

 

 

(1)         Interest-only loans require the borrower to pay interest only during the first ten years of the loan term.  After the tenth anniversary of the loan, principal and interest payments are required to amortize the loan over the remaining loan term.  Includes interest-only hybrid ARM loans originated prior to 2007 which were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, totaling $1.78 billion at September 30, 2013 and $2.18 billion at December 31, 2012.

(2)         Includes SISA loans totaling $201.0 million at September 30, 2013 and $222.7 million at December 31, 2012.

 

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The market does not apply a uniform definition of what constitutes “subprime” lending.  Our reference to subprime lending relies upon the “Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending” issued by the Agencies in June 2007, which further references the “Expanded Guidance for Subprime Lending Programs,” or the Expanded Guidance, issued by the Agencies by press release in January 2001.  In the Expanded Guidance, the Agencies indicated that subprime lending does not refer to individual subprime loans originated and managed, in the ordinary course of business, as exceptions to prime risk selection standards.  The Agencies recognize that many prime loan portfolios will contain such accounts.  The Agencies also excluded prime loans that develop credit problems after acquisition and community development loans from the subprime arena.  According to the Expanded Guidance, subprime loans are other loans to borrowers which display one or more characteristics of reduced payment capacity.  Five specific criteria, which are not intended to be exhaustive and are not meant to define specific parameters for all subprime borrowers and may not match all markets or institutions’ specific subprime definitions, are set forth, including having a credit (FICO) score of 660 or below.  However, we do not associate a particular FICO score with our definition of subprime loans.  Consistent with the guidance provided by the Agencies, we consider subprime loans to be loans to borrowers with a credit history containing one or more of the following at the time of origination: (1) bankruptcy within the last four years; (2) foreclosure within the last two years; or (3) two 30 day mortgage delinquencies in the last twelve months.  In addition, subprime loans generally display the risk layering of the following features: high debt-to-income ratio; low or no cash reserves; loan-to-value ratios over 90%; short-term interest-only periods or negative amortization loan products; or reduced or no documentation loans.  Our current underwriting standards would generally preclude us from originating loans to borrowers with a credit history containing a bankruptcy or a foreclosure within the last five years or two 30 day mortgage delinquencies in the last twelve months.  Based upon the definition and exclusions described above, we are a prime lender.  Within our portfolio of residential mortgage loans, we have loans to borrowers who had FICO scores of 660 or below at the time of origination. However, as a portfolio lender we underwrite our loans considering all credit criteria, as well as collateral value, and do not base our underwriting decisions solely on FICO scores.  Based on our underwriting criteria, particularly the average loan-to-value ratios at origination, we consider our loans to borrowers with FICO scores of 660 or below at origination to be prime loans.

 

At September 30, 2013, our residential mortgage loan portfolio totaled $8.30 billion, of which $860.1 million, or 10%, represented loans to borrowers with FICO scores of 660 or below.  Interest-only loans comprised 64% of the loans to borrowers with FICO scores of 660 or below and 36% were amortizing loans.  In addition, 59% of our loans to borrowers with FICO scores of 660 or below were full documentation loans and 41% were reduced documentation loans.  We believe the aforementioned loans, when originated, were amply collateralized and otherwise conformed to our prime lending standards and do not present a greater risk of loss or other asset quality risk relative to comparable loans in our portfolio to other borrowers with higher credit scores.

 

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Non-Performing Assets

 

The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing assets at the dates indicated.

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

 

Non-performing loans (1):

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

     $

318,418

 

     $

291,051

 

Multi-family

 

15,661

 

10,658

 

Commercial real estate (2)

 

10,668

 

6,869

 

Consumer and other loans

 

6,506

 

6,508

 

Total non-performing loans

 

351,253

 

315,086

 

REO, net (3)

 

34,983

 

28,523

 

Total non-performing assets

 

     $

386,236

 

     $

343,609

 

Non-performing loans to total loans

 

2.80%

 

2.38%

 

Non-performing loans to total assets

 

2.19

 

1.91

 

Non-performing assets to total assets

 

2.41

 

2.08

 

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans

 

40.71

 

46.18

 

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

 

1.14

 

1.10

 

 

(1)

Non-performing loans are comprised primarily of non-accrual loans. Non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 included loans modified in a TDR totaling $117.1 million, of which $84.0 million were less than 90 days past due including $74.6 million which were current. At December 31, 2012, non-performing loans included loans modified in a TDR totaling $32.8 million, of which $13.7 million were less than 90 days past due including $11.1 million which were current. Non-performing loans exclude loans which have been modified in a TDR and are accruing and performing in accordance with the restructured terms for a satisfactory period of time, generally six months. Restructured accruing loans totaled $90.7 million at September 30, 2013 and $98.7 million at December 31, 2012.

(2)

Includes mortgage loans delinquent 90 days or more as to their maturity date but not their interest due and still accruing interest totaling $55,000 at September 30, 2013 and $328,000 at December 31, 2012.

(3)

REO, all of which are residential properties, is net of a valuation allowance which totaled $477,000 at September 30, 2013 and $1.6 million at December 31, 2012.

 

Total non-performing assets increased $42.6 million to $386.2 million at September 30, 2013, from $343.6 million at December 31, 2012, reflecting an increase in non-performing loans, coupled with an increase in REO, net.  The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 2.41% at September 30, 2013, compared to 2.08% at December 31, 2012.  The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 2.80% at September 30, 2013, compared to 2.38% at December 31, 2012.  The increases in these ratios primarily reflect the change in non-performing loans, the most significant component of non-performing assets, which increased $36.2 million to $351.3 million at September 30, 2013, from $315.1 million at December 31, 2012.  Effective in the 2013 first quarter, in addition to bankruptcy loans placed on non-accrual status and reported as non-performing loans and as loans modified in a TDR as of December 31, 2012, we also included bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 regardless of the delinquency status of the loans, as discussed further below, which resulted in an increase in non-performing loans at September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012, even as loans 90 days or more past due continued to decline.  The increase in REO, net, at September 30, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 primarily reflects an increase in the number of loans that shifted from non-performing delinquent loans to REO during the 2013 third quarter.

 

We may agree, in certain instances, to modify the contractual terms of a borrower’s loan.  In cases where such modifications represent a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, the modification is considered a TDR.  Bankruptcy loans are also reported as loans

 

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modified in a TDR, as relief granted by a court is also viewed as a concession to the borrower in the loan agreement.  Loans modified in a TDR are initially placed on non-accrual status regardless of their delinquency status.  Loans modified in a TDR which are included in non-accrual loans totaled $117.1 million at September 30, 2013 and $32.8 million at December 31, 2012, of which $84.0 million at September 30, 2013 and $13.7 million at December 31, 2012 were current or less than 90 days past due.  The increase in restructured non-accrual loans is primarily related to the aforementioned inclusion of bankruptcy loans discharged prior to 2012 effective in the 2013 first quarter.  Bankruptcy loans totaled $88.0 million at September 30, 2013, including $66.3 million which were discharged prior to 2012, and totaled $12.5 million at December 31, 2012.  Of the total bankruptcy loans, $64.3 million were current or less than 90 days past due at September 30, 2013, including $49.9 million which were discharged prior to 2012, and $5.7 million were current or less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2012.  Such loans which are current or less than 90 days past due continue to generate interest income on a cash basis as payments are received.  Loans modified in a TDR, other than bankruptcy loans, remain in non-accrual status until we determine that future collection of principal and interest is reasonably assured, which requires that the borrower demonstrate performance according to the restructured terms generally for a period of six months.  When such loans have complied with the terms of their restructure agreement for a satisfactory period of time, they are excluded from non-performing assets.  Restructured accruing loans totaled $90.7 million at September 30, 2013 and $98.7 million at December 31, 2012.  The decline in restructured accruing loans was primarily attributable to multi-family and commercial real estate loans that were repaid during 2013 and loans that were transferred to held-for-sale and sold during the 2013 first quarter.

 

We discontinue accruing interest on loans when they become 90 days delinquent as to their payment due date, at the time of restructure if the loan is deemed a TDR and certain other loans because of deterioration in financial or other conditions of the borrower.  In addition, we reverse all previously accrued and uncollected interest through a charge to interest income.  While loans are in non-accrual status, interest due is monitored and, presuming we deem the remaining recorded investment in the loan to be fully collectible, income is recognized only to the extent cash is received until a return to accrual status is warranted.  If all non-accrual loans at September 30, 2013 and 2012 had been performing in accordance with their original terms, we would have recorded interest income, with respect to such loans, of $12.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $13.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  This compares to actual payments recorded as interest income, with respect to such loans, of $4.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

We proactively manage our non-performing assets, in part, through the sale of certain delinquent and non-performing loans.  Included in loans held-for-sale, net, are delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans totaling $884,000 at September 30, 2013 and $3.9 million at December 31, 2012.  Such loans are excluded from non-performing loans, non-performing assets and related ratios.

 

In addition to non-performing loans, we had $171.0 million of potential problem loans at September 30, 2013, compared to $191.5 million at December 31, 2012.  Such loans include loans past due 60-89 days and accruing interest and certain other internally adversely classified loans.

 

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Non-performing residential mortgage loans continue to include a greater concentration of reduced documentation loans as compared to the entire residential mortgage loan portfolio.  Reduced documentation loans represented only 15% of the residential mortgage loan portfolio, yet represented 49% of non-performing residential mortgage loans at September 30, 2013.  The following table provides further details on the composition of our non-performing residential mortgage loans in dollar amounts and percentages of the portfolio, at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013

 

At December 31, 2012

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Non-performing residential mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

   $

108,684

 

34.13%

 

   $

99,521

 

34.19%

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

52,541

 

16.50

 

44,326

 

15.23

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

124,524

 

39.11

 

113,482

 

38.99

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

32,669

 

10.26

 

33,722

 

11.59

 

Total non-performing residential mortgage loans (1)

 

   $

318,418

 

100.00%

 

   $

291,051

 

100.00%

 

 

(1)   Includes $73.7 million of loans less than 90 days past due at September 30, 2013, of which $65.0 million were current, and includes $10.4 million of loans less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2012, of which $7.8 million were current.

 

The following table provides details on the geographic composition of both our total and non-performing residential mortgage loans at September 30, 2013.

 

 

 

Residential Mortgage Loans

 

 

At September 30, 2013

(Dollars in Millions)

 

Total Loans

 

Percent of

Total Loans

 

Total

Non-Performing

Loans (1)

 

Percent of

Total

Non-Performing

Loans

 

Non-Performing

Loans

as Percent of

State Totals

 

State:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York

 

   $

2,455.5

 

29.6%

 

   $

51.7

 

16.2%

 

2.11%

 

Connecticut

 

860.0

 

10.4

 

36.0

 

11.3

 

4.19

 

Illinois

 

778.1

 

9.4

 

37.9

 

11.9

 

4.87

 

Massachusetts

 

690.6

 

8.3

 

13.1

 

4.1

 

1.90

 

New Jersey

 

600.1

 

7.2

 

60.2

 

18.9

 

10.03

 

Virginia

 

561.8

 

6.8

 

15.2

 

4.8

 

2.71

 

Maryland

 

506.8

 

6.1

 

40.6

 

12.8

 

8.01

 

California

 

501.6

 

6.0

 

26.6

 

8.4

 

5.30

 

Washington

 

227.3

 

2.7

 

3.2

 

1.0

 

1.41

 

Texas

 

207.7

 

2.5

 

 

 

 

All other states (2) (3)

 

909.0

 

11.0

 

33.9

 

10.6

 

3.73

 

Total

 

   $

8,298.5

 

100.0%

 

   $

318.4

 

100.0%

 

3.84%

 

 

(1)         Includes loans which were current or less than 90 days past due totaling $73.7 million.

(2)         Includes 25 states and Washington, D.C.

(3)         Includes Florida with $152.8 million total loans, of which $14.2 million were non-performing loans.

 

At September 30, 2013, the geographic composition of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio was 98% in the New York metropolitan area and 2% in various other states and the geographic composition of non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans was 93% in the New York metropolitan area, 6% in Pennsylvania and 1% in Massachusetts.

 

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Delinquent Loans

 

The following table shows a comparison of delinquent loans at the dates indicated.  Delinquent loans are reported based on the number of days the loan payments are past due.

 

 

 

30-59 Days
Past Due

 

60-89 Days
Past Due

 

90 Days or More
Past Due

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Number

of

Loans

 

Amount

 

Number

of

Loans

 

Amount

 

Number

of

Loans

 

Amount

 

At September 30, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

326

 

$

93,315

 

80

 

$

27,026

 

808

 

$

244,691

 

Multi-family

 

23

 

9,991

 

7

 

1,811

 

17

 

11,037

 

Commercial real estate

 

 

 

4

 

1,961

 

3

 

1,153

 

Consumer and other loans

 

57

 

2,633

 

24

 

1,386

 

52

 

6,474

 

Total delinquent loans

 

406

 

$

105,939

 

115

 

$

32,184

 

880

 

$

263,355

 

Delinquent loans to total loans

 

 

 

0.84%

 

 

 

0.26%

 

 

 

2.10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

352

 

$

108,280

 

101

 

$

27,814

 

946

 

$

280,671

 

Multi-family

 

39

 

21,743

 

14

 

5,382

 

13

 

7,359

 

Commercial real estate

 

10

 

13,536

 

6

 

3,126

 

6

 

6,869

 

Consumer and other loans

 

82

 

3,223

 

33

 

1,315

 

56

 

6,508

 

Total delinquent loans

 

483

 

$

146,782

 

154

 

$

37,637

 

1,021

 

$

301,407

 

Delinquent loans to total loans

 

 

 

1.11%

 

 

 

0.28%

 

 

 

2.28%

 

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The following table summarizes activity in the allowance for loan losses.

 

(In Thousands)

 

For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2013

 

Balance at January 1, 2013

 

145,501

 

Provision charged to operations

 

16,193

 

Charge-offs:

 

 

 

Residential

 

(20,332)

 

Multi-family

 

(3,637)

 

Commercial real estate

 

(2,313)

 

Consumer and other loans

 

(1,672)

 

Total charge-offs

 

(27,954)

 

Recoveries:

 

 

 

Residential

 

7,001

 

Multi-family

 

1,237

 

Commercial real estate

 

535

 

Consumer and other loans

 

487

 

Total recoveries

 

9,260

 

Net charge-offs (1)

 

(18,694)

 

Balance at September 30, 2013

 

143,000

 

 

(1)         Includes net charge-offs of $4.3 million related to reduced documentation residential mortgage loans and $3.8 million related to certain delinquent and non-performing loans transferred to held-for-sale.

 

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ITEM 3.                  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

As a financial institution, the primary component of our market risk is interest rate risk.  The objective of our interest rate risk management policy is to maintain an appropriate mix and level of assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items to enable us to meet our earnings and/or growth objectives, while maintaining specified minimum capital levels as required by our primary banking regulator, in the case of Astoria Federal, and as established by our Board of Directors.  We use a variety of analyses to monitor, control and adjust our asset and liability positions, primarily interest rate sensitivity gap analysis, or gap analysis, and net interest income sensitivity analysis.  Additional interest rate risk modeling is done by Astoria Federal in conformity with regulatory requirements.

 

Gap Analysis

 

Gap analysis measures the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets anticipated to mature or reprice within specific time periods and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities anticipated to mature or reprice within the same time periods.  Gap analysis does not indicate the impact of general interest rate movements on our net interest income because the actual repricing dates of various assets and liabilities will differ from our estimates and it does not give consideration to the yields and costs of the assets and liabilities or the projected yields and costs to replace or retain those assets and liabilities.  Callable features of certain assets and liabilities, in addition to the foregoing, may also cause actual experience to vary from the analysis.

 

The following table, referred to as the Gap Table, sets forth the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at September 30, 2013 that we anticipate will reprice or mature in each of the future time periods shown using certain assumptions based on our historical experience and other market-based data available to us.  The Gap Table includes $700.0 million of borrowings which are callable within one year and on a quarterly basis thereafter and $200.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2015, all classified according to their maturity dates primarily in the more than three years to five years category; and $1.05 billion of borrowings which are callable in 2016 and 2017 classified according to their maturity dates in the more than five years category.  In addition, the Gap Table includes callable securities with an amortized cost of $186.8 million which are callable within one year and at various times thereafter classified according to their maturity dates in the more than five years category.  The classification of callable borrowings and securities according to their maturity dates is based on our experience with, and expectations of, the behavior of these types of instruments in the current interest rate environment.  As indicated in the Gap Table, our one-year interest rate sensitivity gap at September 30, 2013 was positive 5.53% compared to positive 13.23% at December 31, 2012.  The change in our one-year cumulative gap is primarily due to a decrease in the balances of mortgage loans and securities projected to mature or reprice within one year at September 30, 2013, compared to December 31, 2012, and reflects the decline in the levels of prepayments on our mortgage loan and mortgage-backed securities portfolios that is expected to result from the increase in long-term interest rates, the effects of which we began to experience near the end of the 2013 third quarter.

 

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At September 30, 2013

(Dollars in Thousands)  

 

One Year

or Less

 

More than

One Year

to

Three Years

 

More than

Three Years

to

Five Years

 

More than

Five Years

 

Total

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (1)

 

$

4,219,762

 

$

2,927,420

 

$

3,728,360

 

$

1,103,275

 

$

11,978,817

 

Consumer and other loans (1)

 

205,989

 

16,485

 

14,476

 

689

 

237,639

 

Interest-earning cash accounts

 

110,120

 

 

 

 

110,120

 

Securities available-for-sale

 

73,279

 

70,967

 

91,683

 

183,182

 

419,111

 

Securities held-to-maturity

 

349,018

 

430,242

 

464,054

 

639,275

 

1,882,589

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

 

 

 

153,217

 

153,217

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

4,958,168

 

3,445,114

 

4,298,573

 

2,079,638

 

14,781,493

 

Net unamortized purchase premiums and deferred costs (2)

 

27,997

 

22,258

 

26,953

 

18,815

 

96,023

 

Net interest-earning assets (3)

 

4,986,165

 

3,467,372

 

4,325,526

 

2,098,453

 

14,877,516

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

353,558

 

400,025

 

400,025

 

1,409,319

 

2,562,927

 

Money market

 

1,123,100

 

379,617

 

379,617

 

31,273

 

1,913,607

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

109,484

 

219,016

 

219,016

 

1,585,546

 

2,133,062

 

Certificates of deposit

 

1,453,690

 

1,749,253

 

247,835

 

 

3,450,778

 

Borrowings, net

 

1,060,472

 

848,944

 

1,049,612

 

1,150,000

 

4,109,028

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

4,100,304

 

3,596,855

 

2,296,105

 

4,176,138

 

14,169,402

 

Interest rate sensitivity gap

 

885,861

 

(129,483

)

2,029,421

 

(2,077,685

)

$

708,114

 

Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap

 

$

885,861

 

$

756,378

 

$

2,785,799

 

$

708,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap as a percentage of total assets

 

5.53

%

4.72

%

17.39

%

4.42

%

 

 

Cumulative net interest-earning assets as a percentage of interest- bearing liabilities

 

121.60

%

109.83

%

127.88

%

105.00

%

 

 

 

(1)         Mortgage loans and consumer and other loans include loans held-for-sale and exclude non-performing loans, except non-performing residential loans which are current or less than 90 days past due, and the allowance for loan losses.

(2)         Net unamortized purchase premiums and deferred costs are prorated.

(3)         Includes securities available-for-sale at amortized cost.

 

Net Interest Income Sensitivity Analysis

 

In managing interest rate risk, we also use an internal income simulation model for our net interest income sensitivity analyses.  These analyses measure changes in projected net interest income over various time periods resulting from hypothetical changes in interest rates.  The interest rate scenarios most commonly analyzed reflect gradual and reasonable changes over a specified time period, which is typically one year.  The base net interest income projection utilizes similar assumptions as those reflected in the Gap Table, assumes that cash flows are reinvested in similar assets and liabilities and that interest rates as of the reporting date remain constant over the projection period.  For each alternative interest rate scenario, corresponding changes in the cash flow and repricing assumptions of each financial instrument are made to determine the impact on net interest income.

 

We perform analyses of interest rate increases and decreases of up to 400 basis points (when reasonably practical) over various time horizons although changes in interest rates of 200 basis points over a one year horizon is a more common and reasonable scenario for analytical purposes.  Assuming the entire yield curve was to increase 200 basis points, through quarterly

 

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parallel increments of 50 basis points, our projected net interest income for the twelve month period beginning October 1, 2013 would decrease by approximately 2.32% from the base projection. At December 31, 2012, in the up 200 basis point scenario, our projected net interest income for the twelve month period beginning January 1, 2013 would have increased by approximately 6.16% from the base projection.  The current low interest rate environment prevents us from performing an income simulation for a decline in interest rates of the same magnitude and timing as our rising interest rate simulation, since certain asset yields, liability costs and related indices are below 2.00%.  However, assuming the entire yield curve was to decrease 100 basis points, through quarterly parallel decrements of 25 basis points, our projected net interest income for the twelve month period beginning October 1, 2013 would decrease by approximately 3.11% from the base projection.  At December 31, 2012, in the down 100 basis point scenario, our projected net interest income for the twelve month period beginning January 1, 2013 would have decreased by approximately 5.27% from the base projection.  The down 100 basis point scenarios include some limitations as well since certain indices, yields and costs are already below 1.00%.

 

Various shortcomings are inherent in both gap analyses and net interest income sensitivity analyses.  Certain assumptions may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to market changes.  Similarly, prepayment estimates and similar assumptions are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision.  Changes in interest rates may also affect our operating environment and operating strategies as well as those of our competitors.  In addition, certain adjustable rate assets have limitations on the magnitude of rate changes over specified periods of time.  Accordingly, although our net interest income sensitivity analyses may provide an indication of our interest rate risk exposure, such analyses are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and our actual results will differ.  Additionally, certain assets, liabilities and items of income and expense which may be affected by changes in interest rates, albeit to a much lesser degree, and which do not affect net interest income, are excluded from this analysis.  These include income from bank owned life insurance and changes in the fair value of MSR.  With respect to these items alone, and assuming the entire yield curve was to increase 200 basis points, through quarterly parallel increments of 50 basis points, our projected net income for the twelve month period beginning October 1, 2013 would increase by approximately $3.5 million.  Conversely, assuming the entire yield curve was to decrease 100 basis points, through quarterly parallel decrements of 25 basis points, our projected net income for the twelve month period beginning October 1, 2013 would decrease by approximately $2.6 million with respect to these items alone.

 

For further information regarding our market risk and the limitations of our gap analysis and net interest income sensitivity analysis, see Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” included in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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ITEM 4.                  Controls and Procedures

 

Monte N. Redman, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Frank E. Fusco, our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of September 30, 2013.  Based upon their evaluation, they each found that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

In the ordinary course of our business, we are routinely made a defendant in or a party to pending or threatened legal actions or proceedings which, in some cases, seek substantial monetary damages from or other forms of relief against us.  In our opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe it unlikely that such actions or proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

City of New York Notice of Determination

By “Notice of Determination” dated September 14, 2010 and August 26, 2011, the City of New York notified us of alleged tax deficiencies in the amount of $13.3 million, including interest and penalties, related to our 2006 through 2008 tax years.  The deficiencies relate to our operation of two subsidiaries of Astoria Federal, Fidata and AF Mortgage.  We disagree with the assertion of the tax deficiencies.  Hearings in this matter were held before the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal in March and April 2013.  The NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal is not expected to render a decision in this matter until the 2014 third quarter.  At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that we will succeed in refuting the City of New York’s position, although defense costs may be significant.  Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2013 with respect to this matter.

 

No assurance can be given as to whether or to what extent we will be required to pay the amount of the tax deficiencies asserted by the City of New York, whether additional tax will be assessed for years subsequent to 2008, that this matter will not be costly to oppose, that this matter will not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations or that, ultimately, any such impact will not be material.

 

Automated Transactions LLC Litigation

In November 2009, an action entitled Automated Transactions LLC v. Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association was commenced in the Southern District Court against us by Automated Transactions LLC, alleging patent infringement involving integrated banking and transaction machines, including ATMs that we utilize.  The plaintiff sought unspecified monetary damages and an injunction preventing us from continuing

 

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to utilize the allegedly infringing machines.  In March 2011, the Southern District Court dismissed all claims against Astoria Financial Corporation but denied our motion to dismiss the claims against Astoria Federal for alleged direct patent infringement.

 

In July 2012, we filed a motion for summary judgment for non-infringement based on a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District affirming the decision of the Delaware District Court to grant summary judgment in favor of a defendant in an action involving the same plaintiff making substantially similar allegations with respect to identical and substantially similar patents as those involved in the action against us.  In April 2013, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred this action to the Delaware District Court to be centralized with other cases involving the same plaintiff and common questions of fact.

 

We settled this litigation, and the case was dismissed with prejudice, pursuant to a stipulation and order of dismissal on September 19, 2013.  The settlement was not material to our financial condition or results of operations and will not result in any restrictions or alteration in the use of our ATMs.  We intend to continue to pursue our demands for indemnification from the manufacturer and from the transaction processor utilized with respect to the integrated banking machines.

 

ITEM 1A.                     Risk Factors

 

For a summary of risk factors relevant to our operations, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our June 30, 2013 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  There were no material changes in risk factors relevant to our operations since June 30, 2013.

 

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ITEM 2.                  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Our twelfth stock repurchase plan, approved by our Board of Directors on April 18, 2007, authorized the purchase of 10,000,000 shares, or approximately 10% of our common stock then outstanding, in open-market or privately negotiated transactions.  At September 30, 2013, a maximum of 8,107,300 shares may yet be purchased under this plan.  However, we are not currently repurchasing additional shares of our common stock and have not since the 2008 third quarter.

 

ITEM 3.                  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4.                  Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.                  Other Information

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6.                  Exhibits

 

See Index of Exhibits on page 82.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astoria Financial Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

November 6, 2013

 

By:

/s/

Monte N. Redman

 

 

 

 

 

Monte N. Redman

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

November 6, 2013

 

By:

/s/

Frank E. Fusco

 

 

 

 

 

Frank E. Fusco

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

November 6, 2013

 

By:

/s/

John F. Kennedy

 

 

 

 

 

John F. Kennedy

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Vice President and

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 

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ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certifications of Chief Executive Officer. (*)

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certifications of Chief Financial Officer. (*)

 

 

 

32.1

 

Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to SEC rules, this exhibit will not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. (*)

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document (**)

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (**)

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (**)

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document (**)

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (**)

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (**)

 


 

(*)               Filed herewith.

 

(**)        Filed herewith electronically.

 

82