10-K 1 a13-24588_110k.htm 10-K

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark One)

[X]

Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

 

 

[  ]

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

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 incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

 

 

 

One Astoria Federal Plaza, Lake Success, New York

 

11042

 

(516) 327-3000

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 

YES   X     NO       

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. 

YES           NO   X  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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       

 

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       

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.        

 

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 defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Large accelerated filer   X  

Accelerated filer        

Non-accelerated filer        

Smaller reporting company        

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2013, based on the closing price for a share of the registrant’s Common Stock on that date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was $1.03 billion.

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 14, 2014 was 99,265,306 shares.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 2014 and any adjournment thereof, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days from December 31, 2013, are incorporated by reference into Part  III.

 



Table of Contents

 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
2013 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

Part I

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Business

3

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

39

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

48

Item 2.

Properties

48

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

48

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

49

 

 

 

Part II

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Astoria Financial Corporation’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

49

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

51

Item 7.

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

53

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

96

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

99

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

99

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

99

Item 9B.

Other Information

100

 

 

 

Part III

 

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

100

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

101

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

101

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

101

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

101

 

 

 

Part IV

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

102

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

103

 

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PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K 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, or CFPB;

·                 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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PART I

 

As used in this Form 10-K, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Astoria Financial Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, principally Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.

 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

 

General

 

We are a Delaware corporation organized in 1993 as the unitary savings and loan holding company of Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and its consolidated subsidiaries, or Astoria Federal.  We are headquartered in Lake Success, New York and our principal business is the operation of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Astoria Federal.  Astoria Federal’s primary business is attracting retail deposits from the general public and businesses and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from operations, principal repayments on loans and securities and borrowings, primarily in one-to-four family, or residential, mortgage loans, multi-family mortgage loans, commercial real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities.  To a lesser degree, Astoria Federal also invests in consumer and other loans, U.S. government, government agency and government-sponsored enterprise, or GSE, securities and other investments permitted by federal banking laws and regulations.

 

Our strategy to expand our position as a full service community bank is taking hold.  We remain committed to offering traditional retail deposit products and residential mortgage loans and continue to implement our strategies to grow other loan categories to diversify earning assets and to increase low cost savings, money market and NOW and demand deposits, or 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 middle market businesses with an emphasis on attracting clients from larger competitors.  We continue to explore opportunities to selectively expand our physical presence, consisting presently of our branch network of 85 locations plus our dedicated business banking office opened during the 2013 third quarter in midtown Manhattan, into other prime locations in Manhattan and on Long Island from which to better serve and build our business banking relationships.

 

Our results of operations are dependent primarily on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest earned on our assets, primarily our loan and securities portfolios, and the interest paid on our deposits and borrowings.  Our net income is also affected by our provision for loan losses, non-interest income, non-interest expense (general and administrative expense) and income tax expense.  Non-interest income includes customer service fees; other loan fees; net gain on sales of securities; mortgage banking income, net; income from bank owned life insurance, or BOLI; and other non-interest income.  General and administrative expense consists of compensation and benefits expense; occupancy, equipment and systems expense; federal deposit insurance premium expense; advertising expense; and other operating expenses.  Our earnings are also significantly affected by general economic and competitive conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates and U.S. Treasury yield curves, government policies and actions of regulatory authorities.

 

In addition to Astoria Federal, Astoria Financial Corporation has one other wholly-owned subsidiary, AF Insurance Agency, Inc., which is consolidated with Astoria Financial Corporation for financial reporting purposes.  AF Insurance Agency, Inc. is a licensed life insurance agency that makes insurance products available primarily to the customers of Astoria Federal through contractual agreements with various third parties.  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 “Subsidiary Activities” for more information regarding Astoria Capital Trust I.

 

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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 immediately after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.  Such reports are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm.

 

Lending Activities

 

General

 

Our loan portfolio is comprised primarily of mortgage loans.  At December 31, 2013, 65% of our total loan portfolio was secured by residential properties and 33% was secured by multi-family properties and commercial real estate, compared to 74% secured by residential properties and 24% secured by multi-family properties and commercial real estate at December 31, 2012.  The remainder of the loan portfolio consists of a variety of consumer and other loans, including commercial and industrial loans originated through our business banking initiatives.  At December 31, 2013, our net loan portfolio totaled $12.30 billion, or 78% of total assets.

 

We originate multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans either through direct solicitation by our banking officers in New York or indirectly through commercial mortgage brokers. We originate residential mortgage loans either directly through our banking and loan production offices in New York or indirectly through brokers and our third party loan origination program.  Mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio totaled $2.55 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $4.12 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012.  At December 31, 2013, $6.19 billion, or 51%, of our total mortgage loan portfolio was secured by properties located in New York and $5.96 billion, or 49%, of our total mortgage loan portfolio was secured by properties located in 34 other states and the District of Columbia.  Excluding New York, we have a concentration of greater than 5% of our total mortgage loan portfolio in four states:  7% in Connecticut, 6% in New Jersey, 6% in Illinois and 6% in Massachusetts.

 

We also originate mortgage loans for sale.  Generally, we originate fifteen and thirty year fixed rate residential mortgage loans that conform to GSE guidelines (conforming loans) for sale to various GSEs or other investors on a servicing released or retained basis.  The sale of such loans is generally arranged through a master commitment on a mandatory delivery or best efforts basis.  Originations of residential mortgage loans held-for-sale totaled $256.0 million in 2013 and $380.4 million in 2012, all of which were originated through our retail loan origination program.  Loans serviced for others totaled $1.50 billion at December 31, 2013.

 

We outsource the servicing of our residential mortgage loan portfolio, including our portfolio of mortgage loans serviced for other investors, to an unrelated third party under a sub-servicing agreement.

 

Residential Mortgage Lending

 

Our primary residential lending emphasis is on the origination and purchase of first mortgage loans secured by properties that serve as the primary residence of the owner.  To a much lesser degree, we have originated loans secured by non-owner occupied residential properties acquired as an investment by the borrower, although we discontinued originating such loans in January 2008.  We also originate a limited number of second home mortgage loans.  At December 31, 2013, residential mortgage loans totaled $8.04 billion, or 65% of our total loan portfolio, of which $6.32 billion, or 79%, were hybrid adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM, loans and $1.72 billion, or 21%, were fixed rate loans, of which 69% were fifteen year fixed rate mortgage loans.

 

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Residential mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio totaled $996.0 million during 2013 and $2.51 billion during 2012.  Our residential retail loan origination program accounted for $416.6 million of portfolio originations during 2013 and $1.04 billion during 2012.  We also have a residential broker network covering four states, primarily along the East Coast.  Our residential broker loan origination program consists of relationships with mortgage brokers and accounted for $175.9 million of portfolio originations during 2013 and $540.0 million during 2012.  Our third party loan origination program includes relationships with other financial institutions and mortgage bankers covering nine states and the District of Columbia and accounted for residential portfolio purchases of $403.5 million during 2013 and $932.1 million during 2012.  We purchase individual mortgage loans through our third party loan origination program which are subject to the same underwriting standards as our retail and broker originations.  Our various loan origination programs provide efficient and diverse delivery channels for deployment of our cash flows. Additionally, our broker and third party loan origination programs provide geographic diversification, reducing our exposure to concentrations of credit risk.

 

We offer amortizing hybrid ARM loans with terms up to thirty years which initially have a fixed rate for five, seven or ten years and convert into one year ARM loans at the end of the initial fixed rate period.  Prior to 2014, we also offered amortizing hybrid ARM loans with terms up to forty years and loans with initial fixed rate periods of three years.  Our amortizing hybrid ARM loans require the borrower to make principal and interest payments during the entire loan term.  Our portfolio of residential amortizing hybrid ARM loans totaled $4.10 billion, or 51% of our total residential mortgage loan portfolio, at December 31, 2013.  Prior to the 2010 fourth quarter, we offered interest-only hybrid ARM loans with terms of up to forty years, which have an initial fixed rate for five or seven years and convert into one year interest-only ARM loans at the end of the initial fixed rate period.  Our interest-only hybrid ARM 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.  Our portfolio of residential interest-only hybrid ARM loans totaled $2.22 billion, or 28% of our total residential mortgage loan portfolio, at December 31, 2013.  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.  We do not originate negative amortization loans, payment option loans or other loans with short-term interest-only periods.

 

Within our residential mortgage loan portfolio we have reduced documentation loan products, substantially all of which are hybrid ARM loans (interest-only and amortizing).  Reduced documentation loans are comprised primarily of SIFA (stated income, full asset) loans.  To a lesser extent, our portfolio of reduced documentation loans also includes SISA (stated income, stated asset) loans.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we stopped offering reduced documentation loans.  Reduced documentation loans in our residential mortgage loan portfolio totaled $1.24 billion, or 15% of our total residential mortgage loan portfolio at December 31, 2013, and included $193.0 million of SISA loans.

 

Generally, ARM loans pose credit risks somewhat greater than the risks posed by fixed rate loans primarily because, as interest rates rise, the underlying payments of the borrower increase when the loan is beyond its initial fixed rate period, particularly if the interest rate during the initial fixed rate period was at a discounted rate, increasing the potential for default.  Interest-only hybrid ARM loans have an additional potential risk element when the loan payments adjust after the tenth anniversary of the loan to include principal payments, resulting in a further increase in the underlying payments.  Since our interest-only hybrid ARM loans have a relatively long period to the principal payment adjustment, we believe this alleviates some of the additional credit risk due to the longer period for the borrower’s income to adjust to anticipated higher future payments.  Additionally, we consider these risk factors in our underwriting of such loans and we do not offer loans with initial rates at deep discounts to the fully indexed rate.

 

Our reduced documentation loans have additional elements of risk since not all of the information provided by the borrower was verified.  SIFA and SISA loans required a prospective borrower to complete a standard mortgage loan application.  SIFA loans required the verification of a potential borrower’s asset information on the loan application, but not the income information provided.  Our

 

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reduced documentation loan products required the receipt of an appraisal of the real estate used as collateral for the mortgage loan and a credit report on the prospective borrower.  The loans were priced according to our internal risk assessment of the loan giving consideration to the loan-to-value ratio, the potential borrower’s credit scores and various other credit criteria.

 

We continue to manage the greater risk posed by our hybrid ARM loans through the application of sound underwriting policies and risk management procedures.  Our risk management procedures and underwriting policies include a variety of factors and analyses.  These include, but are not limited to, the determination of the markets in which we lend; the products we offer and the pricing of those products; the evaluation of potential borrowers and the characteristics of the property supporting the loan; the monitoring and analyses of the performance of our portfolio, in the aggregate and by segment, at various points in time and trends over time; and our collection efforts and marketing of delinquent and non-performing loans and foreclosed properties.  We monitor our market areas and the performance and pricing of our various loan product offerings to determine the prudence of continuing to offer such loans and to determine what changes, if any, should be made to our product offerings and related underwriting.

 

The objective of our residential mortgage loan underwriting is to determine whether timely repayment of the debt can be expected and whether the property that secures the loan provides sufficient value to recover our investment in the event of a loan default.  We review each loan individually utilizing such documents as the loan application, credit report, verification forms, tax returns and any other documents relevant and necessary to qualify the potential borrower for the loan.  We analyze the credit and income profiles of potential borrowers and evaluate various aspects of the potential borrower’s credit history including credit scores. We do not base our underwriting decisions solely on credit scores.  We consider the potential borrower’s income, liquidity, history of debt management and net worth.  We perform income and debt ratio analyses as part of the credit underwriting process.  Additionally, we obtain independent appraisals to establish collateral values to determine loan-to-value ratios.  We use the same underwriting standards for our retail, broker and third party mortgage loan originations.

 

Our current policy on owner-occupied, residential mortgage loans in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts is to lend up to 80% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value of the property securing the loan for loan amounts up to $1.0 million and up to 75% for loan amounts over $1.0 million and not more than $1.5 million.  For select counties within New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, our current policy is to lend up to 65% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value of the property securing the loan for loan amounts up to $2.0 million and up to 60% for loan amounts over $2.0 million and not more than $2.5 million.  In all other approved states, our current policy on owner-occupied, residential mortgage loans is to lend up to 80% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value of the property securing the loan for loan amounts up to $1.0 million and up to 70% for loan amounts over $1.0 million and not more than $1.5 million.  The exceptions to this policy are loans originated under our affordable housing program, which is consistent with our program for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, or CRA, loans originated under certain refinance programs offered only to existing qualified borrowers and loans originated for sale.  See “Regulation and Supervision – Community Reinvestment” for further discussion of the CRA.  Prior to the 2007 fourth quarter, our policy generally was to lend up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan and, for mortgage loans which had a loan-to-value ratio of greater than 80%, we required the mortgagor to obtain private mortgage insurance.  In addition, we offered a variety of proprietary products which allowed the borrower to obtain financing of up to 90% loan-to-value without private mortgage insurance, through a combination of a first mortgage loan with an 80% loan-to-value and a home equity line of credit for the additional 10%.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we revised our policy on originations of owner-occupied, residential mortgage loans to discontinue lending amounts in excess of 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan and during the 2008 third quarter we revised our policy to discontinue lending amounts in excess of 75% of the appraised value of the property.  During 2010, we revised our policy to the current limits, with certain exceptions, as noted above.  We periodically review our loan product offerings and related underwriting and make changes as necessary in response to market conditions.

 

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All of our hybrid ARM loans have annual and lifetime interest rate ceilings and floors.  Such loans have, at times, been offered with an initial interest rate which is less than the fully indexed rate for the loan at the time of origination, referred to as a discounted rate.  We determine the initial interest rate in accordance with market and competitive factors giving consideration to the spread over our funding sources in conjunction with our overall interest rate risk, or IRR, management strategies.  In 2006, to recognize the credit risks associated with interest-only hybrid ARM loans, we began underwriting such 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 interest-only hybrid ARM loans using the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate.  In 2007, we began underwriting our interest-only hybrid ARM loans at the higher of the fully indexed rate or the initial note rate.  In 2009, we began underwriting our 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.  We monitor credit risk on interest-only hybrid ARM loans that were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, in the same manner as we monitor credit risk on all interest-only hybrid ARM loans.  Our portfolio of residential interest-only hybrid ARM loans which were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, totaled $1.66 billion, or 21% of our total residential mortgage loan portfolio, at December 31, 2013.

 

Effective January 10, 2014, we became subject to rules adding restrictions and requirements to mortgage origination and servicing practices.  Under the rules, “Qualified Mortgages” are mortgage loans that meet standards prohibiting or limiting certain high risk products and features.  Our current policy is to only originate mortgage loans that meet the requirements of a Qualified Mortgage.  See “Regulation and Supervision – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Regulation of Mortgage Origination and Servicing.”

 

Multi-Family and Commercial Real Estate Lending

 

Our primary multi-family and commercial real estate lending emphasis is on the origination of mortgage loans on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings located in the greater New York metropolitan area, including the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties in New York, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.  At December 31, 2013, multi-family mortgage loans totaled $3.30 billion, or 26% of our total loan portfolio, and commercial real estate loans totaled $813.0 million, or 7% of our total loan portfolio.  The multi-family and commercial real estate loans in our portfolio consist of both fixed rate and adjustable rate loans which were originated at prevailing market rates.  Multi-family and commercial real estate loans we currently offer are generally fixed rate, five to fifteen year term balloon loans amortized over fifteen to thirty years.  We also offer interest-only mortgage loans secured by multi-family cooperative properties to qualified borrowers, underwritten on an amortizing basis.  Interest-only loans represented less than 3% of our total multi-family and commercial real estate loan portfolio at December 31, 2013 and generally require interest-only payments for the term of the loan, which generally ranges from five to ten years, and typically provide for a balloon payment at maturity.  Included in our multi-family and commercial real estate loan portfolios are loans secured by multi-family cooperative properties and mixed use loans secured by properties which are intended for both residential and commercial use. Mixed use loans are classified as multi-family or commercial real estate based on the respective percentage of income from residential and commercial uses.

 

Our policy generally has been to originate multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans in the New York metropolitan area, which includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, although prior to 2008 we originated loans in various other states.  During 2009, due primarily to conditions in the real estate market and economic environment at that time, we suspended originations of multi-family and commercial real estate loans.  During the 2011 third quarter, we resumed originations of such loans in the New York metropolitan area. Our current strategies include greater participation in the multi-family and

 

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commercial real estate mortgage lending markets. Originations of multi-family and commercial real estate loans totaled $1.55 billion during the year ended December 31, 2013 and $1.61 billion during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

In originating multi-family and commercial real estate loans, we primarily consider the ability of the net operating income generated by the real estate to support the debt service, the financial resources, income level and managerial expertise of the borrower, the marketability of the property and our lending experience with the borrower.  Our current policy for multi-family loans is to require a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 times and to finance up to 80% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value of the property securing the loan on purchases or 80% of the appraised value on refinances.  For commercial real estate loans, our current policy is to require a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.25 times and to finance up to 75% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value of the property securing the loan on purchases or 75% of the appraised value on refinances.  In addition, we perform analyses to determine the ability of the net operating income generated by the real estate to meet the debt service obligation under various stress scenarios.

 

The majority of the multi-family loans in our portfolio are secured by five to fifty-unit apartment buildings and mixed use properties (containing both residential and commercial uses).  Commercial real estate loans are typically secured by retail, office and mixed use properties (more commercial than residential uses).  The average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate loans originated during 2013 was $2.6 million.  At December 31, 2013, our single largest multi-family credit had an outstanding balance of $27.5 million, was current and was secured by a 123-unit apartment building with two retail units in Manhattan.  At December 31, 2013, the average balance of loans in our multi-family portfolio was approximately $1.7 million.  At December 31, 2013, our single largest commercial real estate credit had an outstanding principal balance of $14.9 million, was current and was secured by a building with 100% commercial tenancy in Manhattan.  At December 31, 2013, the average balance of loans in our commercial real estate portfolio was approximately $1.4 million.

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate loans generally involve a greater degree of credit risk than residential loans because they typically have larger balances and are more affected by adverse conditions in the economy.  As such, these loans require more ongoing evaluation and monitoring.  Because payments on loans secured by multi-family properties and commercial real estate often depend upon the successful operation and management of the properties and the businesses which operate from within them, repayment of such loans may be affected by factors outside the borrower’s control, such as adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy or changes in government regulation.

 

Consumer and Other Loans

 

At December 31, 2013, $239.7 million, or 2%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of consumer and other loans, primarily home equity lines of credit.  Included in consumer and other loans were $30.8 million of commercial and industrial loans at December 31, 2013, primarily all of which were originated in 2013 and 2012.

 

Home equity lines of credit are adjustable rate loans which are indexed to the prime rate and generally reset monthly.  Such lines of credit were underwritten based on our evaluation of the borrower’s ability to repay the debt.  During the 2010 first quarter, we discontinued originating home equity lines of credit.  Prior to the 2007 fourth quarter, these lines of credit were generally limited to aggregate outstanding indebtedness secured by up to 90% of the appraised value of the property.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we revised our policy on originations of home equity lines of credit to limit aggregate outstanding indebtedness to 75% of the appraised value of the property and only for loans where we hold the first lien mortgage on the property.  During the 2008 third quarter, we revised our policy to limit aggregate outstanding indebtedness to 60% of the appraised value of the property and only for properties located in New York.

 

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We also offer overdraft protection, lines of credit, commercial loans and passbook loans.  Consumer and other loans, with the exception of home equity and commercial lines of credit, are offered primarily on a fixed rate, short-term basis.  The underwriting standards we employ for consumer and other loans include a determination of the borrower’s payment history on other debts and an assessment of the borrower’s ability to make payments on the proposed loan and other indebtedness.  In addition to the creditworthiness of the borrower, the underwriting process also includes a review of the value of the collateral, if any, in relation to the proposed loan amount.  Our consumer and other loans tend to have higher interest rates, shorter maturities and are considered to entail a greater risk of default than residential mortgage loans.

 

As part of our strategy to diversify our earning assets, we have expanded our business banking operations. Business banking loans are comprised of commercial and industrial loans, which include working capital lines of credit, inventory and accounts receivable lines, equipment loans and other commercial loans. We focus on making commercial loans to small and medium-sized businesses in a wide variety of industries.  These loans are underwritten based upon the cash flow and earnings of the borrower and the value of the collateral securing such loans, if any.

 

Loan Approval Procedures and Authority

 

For individual loans with balances of $5.0 million or less or when the overall lending relationship is $40.0 million or less, loan approval authority has been delegated by the Board of Directors to various members of our underwriting and management staff.  For individual loan amounts or overall lending relationships in excess of these amounts, loan approval authority has been delegated by the Board of Directors to members of our Executive Loan Committee, which consists of senior executive management.

 

For mortgage loans secured by residential properties, upon receipt of a completed application from a prospective borrower, we generally order a credit report, verify income and other information and, if necessary, obtain additional financial or credit related information.  For mortgage loans secured by multi-family properties and commercial real estate, we obtain financial information concerning the operation of the property as well as credit information on the principal and borrower entity.  Personal guarantees are generally not obtained with respect to multi-family and commercial real estate loans.  An appraisal of the real estate used as collateral for mortgage loans is also obtained as part of the underwriting process.  All appraisals are performed by licensed or certified appraisers, the majority of which are licensed independent third party appraisers.  We have an internal appraisal review process to monitor third party appraisals.  The Board of Directors annually reviews and approves our appraisal policy.

 

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Loan Portfolio Composition

 

The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio in dollar amounts and percentages of the portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Percent
of
Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of
Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of
Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of
Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of
Total

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

8,037,276

 

64.89%

 

$

9,711,226

 

73.82%

 

$

10,561,539

 

80.02%

 

$

10,855,061

 

76.77%

 

$

11,895,362

 

75.88%

 

Multi-family

 

3,296,455

 

26.61

 

2,406,678

 

18.29

 

1,693,871

 

12.84

 

2,203,014

 

15.58

 

2,582,657

 

16.48

 

Commercial real estate

 

812,966

 

6.56

 

773,916

 

5.88

 

659,706

 

5.00

 

771,654

 

5.46

 

866,804

 

5.53

 

Total mortgage loans

 

12,146,697

 

98.06

 

12,891,820

 

97.99

 

12,915,116

 

97.86

 

13,829,729

 

97.81

 

15,344,823

 

97.89

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity

 

199,809

 

1.62

 

231,920

 

1.77

 

259,036

 

1.96

 

282,453

 

2.00

 

302,410

 

1.93

 

Other

 

39,872

 

0.32

 

32,174

 

0.24

 

23,408

 

0.18

 

26,887

 

0.19

 

27,608

 

0.18

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

239,681

 

1.94

 

264,094

 

2.01

 

282,444

 

2.14

 

309,340

 

2.19

 

330,018

 

2.11

 

Total loans (gross)

 

12,386,378

 

100.00%

 

13,155,914

 

100.00%

 

13,197,560

 

100.00%

 

14,139,069

 

100.00%

 

15,674,841

 

100.00%

 

Net unamortized premiums and deferred loan origination costs

 

55,688

 

 

 

68,058

 

 

 

77,044

 

 

 

83,978

 

 

 

105,881

 

 

 

Loans receivable

 

12,442,066

 

 

 

13,223,972

 

 

 

13,274,604

 

 

 

14,223,047

 

 

 

15,780,722

 

 

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

(139,000

)

 

 

(145,501

)

 

 

(157,185

)

 

 

(201,499

)

 

 

(194,049

)

 

 

Loans receivable, net

 

$

12,303,066

 

 

 

$

13,078,471

 

 

 

$

13,117,419

 

 

 

$

14,021,548

 

 

 

$

15,586,673

 

 

 

 

Loan Maturity, Repricing and Activity

 

The following table shows the contractual maturities of our loans receivable at December 31, 2013 and does not reflect the effect of prepayments or scheduled principal amortization.

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

Consumer
and
Other

 

Total

 

Amount due:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within one year

 

$

5,310

 

$

36,096

 

$

43,016

 

$

26,104

 

$

110,526

 

After one year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over one to three years

 

14,227

 

135,893

 

106,856

 

2,383

 

259,359

 

Over three to five years

 

27,074

 

985,289

 

259,659

 

7,652

 

1,279,674

 

Over five to ten years

 

139,371

 

1,631,900

 

312,931

 

852

 

2,085,054

 

Over ten to twenty years

 

1,845,280

 

467,892

 

81,259

 

54,525

 

2,448,956

 

Over twenty years

 

6,006,014

 

39,385

 

9,245

 

148,165

 

6,202,809

 

Total due after one year

 

8,031,966

 

3,260,359

 

769,950

 

213,577

 

12,275,852

 

Total amount due

 

$

8,037,276

 

$

3,296,455

 

$

812,966

 

$

239,681

 

$

12,386,378

 

Net unamortized premiums and deferred loan origination costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,688

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(139,000)

 

Loans receivable, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

12,303,066

 

 

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The following table sets forth at December 31, 2013, the dollar amount of our loans receivable contractually maturing after December 31, 2014, and whether such loans have fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates.  Our interest-only and amortizing hybrid ARM loans are classified as adjustable rate loans.

 

 

 

Maturing After December 31, 2014

(In Thousands)  

 

Fixed

 

Adjustable

 

Total

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

1,719,955

 

$

6,312,011

 

$

8,031,966

 

Multi-family

 

2,907,480

 

352,879

 

3,260,359

 

Commercial real estate

 

517,885

 

252,065

 

769,950

 

Consumer and other loans

 

10,493

 

203,084

 

213,577

 

Total

 

$

5,155,813

 

$

7,120,039

 

$

12,275,852

 

 

The following table sets forth our loan originations, purchases, sales and principal repayments for the periods indicated, including loans held-for-sale.

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Mortgage loans (gross) (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

12,968,186

 

$

12,947,588

 

$

13,874,821

 

Originations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

848,607

 

1,958,318

 

2,563,247

 

Multi-family

 

1,319,837

 

1,329,880

 

198,875

 

Commercial real estate

 

233,330

 

280,879

 

5,100

 

Total originations

 

2,401,774

 

3,569,077

 

2,767,222

 

Purchases (2)

 

403,481

 

932,099

 

1,106,805

 

Principal repayments

 

(3,201,751

)

(4,044,484

)

(4,404,011)

 

Sales

 

(341,219

)

(342,783

)

(243,989)

 

Advances on construction loans in excess of originations

 

-

 

-

 

1,719

 

Transfer of loans to real estate owned

 

(51,333

)

(43,249

)

(75,193)

 

Net loans charged off

 

(25,006

)

(50,062

)

(79,786)

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

12,154,132

 

$

12,968,186

 

$

12,947,588

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

264,094

 

$

282,444

 

$

309,340

 

Originations and advances

 

77,597

 

75,225

 

66,925

 

Principal repayments

 

(100,914

)

(91,553

)

(92,293)

 

Net loans charged off

 

(1,096

)

(2,022

)

(1,528)

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

239,681

 

$

264,094

 

$

282,444

 

 

(1)         Includes loans classified as held-for-sale totaling $7.4 million at December 31, 2013, $76.4 million at December 31, 2012 and $32.5 million at December 31, 2011, exclusive of valuation allowances totaling $54,000 at December 31, 2013, $64,000 at December 31, 2012 and $63,000 at December 31, 2011.

(2)         Purchases of mortgage loans represent third party loan originations and are secured by residential properties.

 

Asset Quality

 

General

 

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.

 

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The underlying credit quality of our loan portfolio is dependent primarily on each borrower’s ability to continue to make required loan payments and, in the event a borrower is unable to continue to do so, the value of the collateral securing the loan, if any.  A borrower’s ability to pay typically is dependent, in the case of residential mortgage loans and consumer loans, primarily on employment and other sources of income, and in the case of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, on the cash flow generated by the property, which in turn is impacted by general economic conditions.  Other factors, such as unanticipated expenditures or changes in the financial markets, may also impact a borrower’s ability to pay.  Collateral values, particularly real estate values, are also impacted by a variety of factors including general economic conditions, demographics, natural disasters, maintenance and collection or foreclosure delays.

 

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.   Long-term interest rates moved higher during the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and into the remainder of 2013, with the ten-year U.S. Treasury rate increasing from 1.63% at May 1, 2013 to 3.03% at the end of December.  The national unemployment rate declined to 6.7% for December 2013 compared to 7.9% for December 2012, 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.  We believe market conditions remain favorable in the New York metropolitan area with respect to our multi-family mortgage loan origination activities.  We continue to closely monitor the local and national real estate markets and other factors related to risks inherent in our loan portfolio.

 

Non-performing Assets

 

Non-performing assets include non-accrual loans, mortgage loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and real estate owned, or REO.  Total non-performing assets increased $31.0 million to $374.6 million at December 31, 2013, from $343.6 million at December 31, 2012, reflecting an increase in non-performing loans, coupled with an increase in REO, net.  Non-performing loans, the most significant component of non-performing assets, increased $16.9 million to $332.0 million at December 31, 2013, compared to $315.1 million at December 31, 2012, even as loans delinquent 90 days or more past due continued to decline.  At December 31, 2012, non-performing loans included residential mortgage loans discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, or bankruptcy loans, during 2012, regardless of delinquency status of the loans.  Effective in the 2013 first quarter, non-performing loans also included bankruptcy loans which were discharged in years prior to 2012, regardless of the delinquency status of the loans, resulting in an increase in non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  The increase in REO, net, at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 primarily reflects an increase in the number of loans that shifted from non-performing delinquent loans to REO through the completion of the foreclosure process in 2013, particularly in the latter half of 2013.  The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets increased to 2.37% at December 31, 2013, from 2.08% at December 31, 2012.  The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans increased to 2.67% at December 31, 2013, from 2.38% at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans decreased to 41.87% at December 31, 2013, from 46.18% at December 31, 2012.  For further discussion of our non-performing assets, non-performing loans and the allowance for loan losses, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or “MD&A.”

 

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 troubled debt restructuring, or TDR.  Modifications as a result of a TDR may include, but are not limited to, interest rate modifications, payment deferrals, restructuring of payments to interest-only from amortizing and/or extensions of maturity dates.  Modifications which result in

 

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insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls are generally not classified as a TDR.  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 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 individually classified as impaired and 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 $109.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $32.8 million at December 31, 2012, of which $79.4 million at December 31, 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, effective in the 2013 first quarter, of bankruptcy loans which were discharged prior to 2012.  Bankruptcy loans included in non-accrual loans totaled $83.2 million at December 31, 2013, including $65.1 million which were discharged prior to 2012, and totaled $12.5 million at December 31, 2012.  Of the total bankruptcy loans included in non-accrual loans, $61.0 million were current or less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2013, including $51.1 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 continue to generate interest income on a cash basis as payments are received.  Loans modified in a TDR remain in non-accrual status until we determine that future collection of principal and interest is reasonably assured.  Where we have agreed to modify the contractual terms of a borrower’s loan, we require the borrower to demonstrate performance according to the restructured terms, generally for a period of six months, prior to returning the loan to accrual status.  Loans modified in a TDR which have been returned to accrual status are excluded from non-performing loans.  Restructured accruing loans totaled $100.5 million at December 31, 2013 and $98.7 million at December 31, 2012.  For further detail on loans modified in a TDR, see Note 1 and Note 5 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

We discontinue accruing interest on loans when they become 90 days past due as to their payment due date and at the time a loan is deemed a TDR.  We may also discontinue accruing interest on 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.  In some circumstances, we may continue to accrue interest on mortgage loans past due 90 days or more, primarily as to their maturity date but not their interest due.  In other cases, we may defer recognition of income until the principal balance has been recovered.

 

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 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.

 

We proactively manage our non-performing assets, in part, through the sale of certain delinquent and non-performing loans.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold $19.4 million, net of charge-offs of $5.2 million, of delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans, primarily multi-family and commercial real estate loans.  Included in loans held-for-sale, net, are delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans

 

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totaling $791,000 at December 31, 2013 and $3.9 million at December 31, 2012, substantially all of which were multi-family mortgage loans.  Such loans are excluded from non-performing loans, non-performing assets and related ratios.

 

REO represents real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure and is initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs.  Write-downs required at the time of acquisition are charged to the allowance for loan losses.  Thereafter, we maintain a valuation allowance, representing decreases in the properties’ estimated fair value, through charges to earnings.  Such charges are included in other non-interest expense along with any additional property maintenance and protection expenses incurred in owning the property.  Fair value 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.  At December 31, 2013 we held 169 properties in REO totaling $42.6 million, net of a valuation allowance of $834,000, and at December 31, 2012 we held 108 properties in REO totaling $28.5 million, net of a valuation allowance of $1.6 million, all of which were residential properties.

 

Criticized and Classified Assets

 

Our Asset Review Department reviews and classifies our assets and independently reports the results of its reviews to the Loan Committee of our Board of Directors quarterly. Our Asset Classification Committee establishes policy relating to the internal classification of loans and also provides input to the Asset Review Department in its review of our assets.

 

Federal regulations and our policy require the classification of loans and other assets, such as debt and equity securities considered to be of lesser quality, as special mention, substandard, doubtful or loss. An asset criticized as special mention has potential weaknesses, which, if uncorrected, may result in the deterioration of the repayment prospects or in our credit position at some future date.  An asset classified as substandard is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or the collateral pledged, if any.  Substandard assets include those characterized by the distinct possibility that we will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.  Assets classified as doubtful have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full satisfaction of the loan amount, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.  Assets classified as loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted.  Those assets classified as substandard, doubtful or loss are considered adversely classified.

 

Impaired Loans

 

We evaluate loans individually for impairment in connection with our individual loan review and asset classification process.  In addition, residential mortgage loans are individually evaluated for impairment 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.

 

A loan is considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  When an impairment analysis indicates the need for a specific allocation of the allowance on an individual loan, such allocation would be established 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 charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.  For loans individually classified as impaired, the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the present value of the discounted cash flows of a modified

 

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loan or, for collateral dependent loans, the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs, is charged-off.

 

Impaired loans totaled $363.0 million, net of their related allowance for loan losses of $21.5 million, at December 31, 2013 and $341.9 million, net of their related allowance for loan losses of $5.0 million, at December 31, 2012.  Interest income recognized on impaired loans amounted to $12.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.  For further detail on our impaired loans, see Note 1 and Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

For a discussion of our accounting policy related to the allowance for loan losses, see “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Loan Losses” in Item 7, “MD&A.”

 

In addition to the requirements of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, related to loss contingencies, a federally chartered savings association’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the OCC.  The OCC, in conjunction with the other federal banking agencies, provides guidance for financial institutions on both the responsibilities of management for the assessment and establishment of adequate valuation allowances and guidance for banking agency examiners to use in determining the adequacy of valuation allowances.  It is required that all institutions have effective systems and controls to identify, monitor and address asset quality problems, analyze all significant factors that affect the collectibility of the portfolio in a reasonable manner and establish acceptable allowance evaluation processes that meet the objectives of the federal regulatory agencies.  While we believe that the allowance for loan losses has been established and maintained at adequate levels, future adjustments may be necessary if economic or other conditions differ substantially from the conditions used in making our estimates at December 31, 2013.  In addition, there can be no assurance that the OCC or other regulators, as a result of reviewing our loan portfolio and/or allowance, will not request that we alter our allowance for loan losses, thereby affecting our financial condition and earnings.

 

Investment Activities

 

General

 

Our investment policy is designed to complement our lending activities, generate a favorable return within established risk guidelines which limit interest rate and credit risk, assist in the management of IRR and provide a source of liquidity.  In establishing our investment strategies, we consider our business plans, the economic environment, our interest rate sensitivity position, the types of securities held and other factors.  At December 31, 2013, our securities portfolio totaled $2.25 billion, or 14% of total assets.

 

Federally chartered savings associations have authority to invest in various types of assets, including U.S. Treasury obligations; securities of government agencies and GSEs; mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations, or CMOs, and real estate mortgage investment conduits, or REMICs; certain certificates of deposit of insured banks and federally chartered savings associations; certain bankers acceptances; and, subject to certain limits, corporate securities, commercial paper and mutual funds.  Our investment policy also permits us to invest in certain derivative financial instruments.  We do not use derivatives for trading purposes.

 

In December 2013, the OCC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, the FRB, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, released final rules to implement Section 619 of the Reform Act, commonly known as the “Volcker Rule.”  The Volcker Rule, among other things, prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading and from sponsoring, having an ownership interest in or having certain relationships with a hedge fund or private equity fund, subject to certain exemptions.  At December 31, 2013, we were not engaged in any activities and we did not have any

 

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ownership interests in any funds that are not permitted under the Volcker Rule.  See “Regulation and Supervision – Business Activities.”

 

Securities

 

Our securities portfolio is comprised primarily of residential mortgage-backed securities.  At December 31, 2013, our mortgage-backed securities totaled $2.07 billion, or 92% of total securities, of which $1.77 billion, or 79% of total securities, were REMIC and CMO securities.  Substantially all of our REMIC and CMO securities had fixed interest rates and were guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae as issuer.  The balance of this portfolio is comprised of privately issued securities, substantially all of which are investment grade securities.  In addition to our REMIC and CMO securities, at December 31, 2013, we had $299.4 million, or 13% of total securities, in mortgage-backed pass-through certificates guaranteed by either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.  These securities provide liquidity, collateral for borrowings and minimal credit risk while providing appropriate returns and are an attractive alternative to other investments due to the wide variety of maturity and repayment options available.

 

Mortgage-backed securities generally yield less than the loans that underlie such securities because of the cost of payment guarantees that reduce credit risk and structured enhancements that reduce IRR.  However, mortgage-backed securities are more liquid than individual mortgage loans and more easily used to collateralize our borrowings.   In general, our mortgage-backed securities are weighted at no more than 20% for regulatory risk-based capital purposes, compared to the 50% risk weighting assigned to most non-securitized non-delinquent residential mortgage loans.  While our mortgage-backed securities carry a reduced credit risk compared to our whole loans, they, along with whole loans, remain subject to the risk of a fluctuating interest rate environment.  Changes in interest rates affect both the prepayment rate and estimated fair value of mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans.

 

In addition to mortgage-backed securities, at December 31, 2013, we had $179.9 million of other securities, substantially all of which are obligations of GSEs which, by their terms, may be called by the issuer, typically after the passage of a fixed period of time.  At December 31, 2013, the amortized cost of callable securities totaled $186.8 million.  No securities were called during the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

At December 31, 2013, our securities available-for-sale totaled $401.7 million and our securities held-to-maturity totaled $1.85 billion.  For further discussion of our securities portfolio, see Item 7, “MD&A,” Note 1 and Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and the tables that follow.

 

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank, or FHLB, of New York, or FHLB-NY, Astoria Federal is required to maintain a specified investment in the capital stock of the FHLB-NY. See “Regulation and Supervision – Federal Home Loan Bank System.”

 

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Table of Contents

 

Securities Portfolio

 

The following table sets forth the composition of our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities portfolios at their respective carrying values in dollar amounts and percentages of the portfolios at the dates indicated.  Our available-for-sale securities portfolio is carried at estimated fair value and our held-to-maturity securities portfolio is carried at amortized cost.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Amount

 

Percent
of Total

 

Securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

286,074

 

71.22%

 

$

204,827

 

60.91%

 

$

298,620

 

86.76

%

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

7,572

 

1.89

 

11,219

 

3.34

 

15,795

 

4.59

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

16,888

 

4.20

 

21,375

 

6.35

 

25,192

 

7.32

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

91,153

 

22.69

 

98,879

 

29.40

 

-

 

-

 

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae stock

 

3

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

4,580

 

1.33

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$

401,690

 

100.00%

 

$

336,300

 

100.00%

 

$

344,187

 

100.00

%

Securities held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

1,474,506

 

79.73%

 

$

1,693,437

 

99.60%

 

$

2,054,380

 

96.41

%

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

3,833

 

0.21

 

5,791

 

0.34

 

15,105

 

0.71

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

282,473

 

15.27

 

257

 

0.02

 

475

 

0.02

 

Obligations of U.S. government and GSEs

 

88,128

 

4.76

 

-

 

-

 

57,868

 

2.72

 

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

2,976

 

0.14

 

Other

 

586

 

0.03

 

656

 

0.04

 

-

 

-

 

Total securities held-to-maturity

 

$

1,849,526

 

100.00%

 

$

1,700,141

 

100.00%

 

$

2,130,804

 

100.00

%

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the amortized costs, estimated fair values, weighted average yields and contractual maturities of our FHLB-NY stock, securities available-for-sale and securities held-to-maturity at December 31, 2013 and does not reflect the effect of prepayments or scheduled principal amortization on our REMICs, CMOs and pass-through certificates or the effect of callable features on our obligations of GSEs.

 

 

 

Within One Year

 

One to Five Years

 

Five to Ten Years

 

Over Ten Years

 

Total Securities

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Weighted
Average
Yield

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Weighted
Average
Yield

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Weighted
Average
Yield

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Weighted
Average
Yield

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Weighted
Average
Yield

 

FHLB-NY stock (1)(2)

 

$

-

 

-%

 

$

-

 

-%

 

$

-

 

-%

 

$

152,207

 

4.00%

 

$

152,207

 

$

152,207

 

4.00%

 

Securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMICs and CMOs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance

 

$

-

 

-%

 

$

2,877

 

4.25%

 

$

15,841

 

3.98%

 

$

273,413

 

2.34%

 

$

292,131

 

$

286,074

 

2.45%

 

Non-GSE issuance

 

-

 

-

 

7,294

 

3.32

 

211

 

2.41

 

11

 

1.28

 

7,516

 

7,572

 

3.29

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

397

 

6.78

 

1,344

 

6.96

 

2,596

 

2.19

 

11,783

 

2.41

 

16,120

 

16,888

 

2.86

 

Obligations of GSEs (3)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

98,675

 

2.26

 

-

 

-

 

98,675

 

91,153

 

2.26

 

Fannie Mae stock (1)(4)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

15

 

-

 

15

 

3

 

-

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$

397

 

6.78%

 

$

11,515

 

3.98%

 

$

117,323

 

2.49%

 

$

285,222

 

2.34%

 

$

414,457

 

$

401,690

 

2.43%

 

Securities held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMICs and CMOs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance

 

$

-

 

-%

 

$

5,362

 

4.50%

 

$

33,243

 

3.53%

 

$

1,435,901

 

2.39%

 

$

1,474,506

 

$

1,453,458

 

2.42%

 

Non-GSE issuance

 

-

 

-

 

3,430

 

4.93

 

-

 

-

 

403

 

4.75

 

3,833

 

3,884

 

4.91

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

-

 

-

 

84

 

8.59

 

29

 

9.55

 

282,360

 

2.21

 

282,473

 

272,469

 

2.21

 

Obligations of GSEs (3)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

88,128

 

2.44

 

-

 

-

 

88,128

 

80,725

 

2.44

 

Other

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

586

 

7.25

 

-

 

-

 

586

 

586

 

7.25

 

Total securities held-to-maturity

 

$

-

 

-%

 

$

8,876

 

4.70%

 

$

121,986

 

2.76%

 

$

1,718,664

 

2.36%

 

$

1,849,526

 

$

1,811,122

 

2.40%

 

 

(1)          Equity securities have no stated maturities and are therefore classified in the over ten years category.

(2)          The carrying amount of FHLB-NY stock equals cost.  The weighted average yield represents the 2013 third quarter annualized dividend rate declared by the FHLB-NY in November 2013.

(3)          Callable in 2014 and various times thereafter.

(4)          The weighted average yield of Fannie Mae stock reflects the Federal Housing Finance Agency decision to suspend dividend payments indefinitely.

 

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The following table sets forth the aggregate amortized cost and estimated fair value of our securities where the aggregate amortized cost of securities from a single issuer exceeds ten percent of our stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2013.

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Estimated

 

(In Thousands)

 

Cost

 

Fair Value

 

Fannie Mae

 

$

1,182,381

 

$

1,145,231

 

Freddie Mac

 

859,321

 

850,885

 

FHLB (1)

 

233,114

 

226,435

 

 

(1)    Includes FHLB-NY stock.

 

Sources of Funds

 

General

 

Our primary source of funds is the cash flow provided by our investing activities, including principal and interest payments on loans and securities.  Our other sources of funds are provided by operating activities (primarily net income) and financing activities, including deposits and borrowings.

 

Deposits

 

We offer a variety of deposit accounts with a range of interest rates and terms.  We presently offer passbook and statement savings accounts, money market accounts, NOW and demand deposit (checking) accounts and certificates of deposit.  At December 31, 2013, our deposits totaled $9.86 billion.  Of the total deposit balance, $1.15 billion, or 12%, represent Individual Retirement Accounts.  We held no brokered deposits at December 31, 2013.

 

The flow of deposits is influenced significantly by general economic conditions, changes in prevailing interest rates, pricing of deposits and competition.  Our deposits are primarily obtained from areas surrounding our banking offices.  We rely primarily on our sales and marketing efforts, including print advertising, competitive rates, quality service, our PEAK Process, new products, our business banking initiatives and long-standing customer relationships to attract and retain these deposits.  When we determine the levels of our deposit rates, consideration is given to local competition, yields of U.S. Treasury securities and the rates charged for other sources of funds.  Our strong level of core deposits has contributed to our low cost of funds.

 

Core deposits represented 67% of total deposits at December 31, 2013.  Our deposit growth strategy includes expanding our business banking sales force and expanding our branch network into other locations on Long Island and opening branches in Manhattan.  We are focusing on small and middle market businesses within our market area in order to further increase core deposits.  Total deposits included $650.1 million of business deposits at December 31, 2013, an increase of 32% 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.

 

For further discussion of our deposits, see Item 7, “MD&A,” Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and the tables that follow.

 

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The following table presents our deposit activity for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(Dollars in Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Opening balance

 

$

10,443,958

 

$

11,245,614

 

$

11,599,000

 

Net withdrawals

 

(651,265

)

(899,677

)

(491,435

)

Interest credited

 

62,617

 

98,021

 

138,049

 

Ending balance

 

$

9,855,310

 

$

10,443,958

 

$

11,245,614

 

Net decrease

 

$

(588,648

)

$

(801,656

)

$

(353,386

)

Percentage decrease

 

(5.64

)%

(7.13

)%

(3.05

)%

 

The following table sets forth the maturity periods of our certificates of deposit in amounts of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2013.

 

(In Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Within three months

 

$

201,567

 

Three to six months

 

66,253

 

Six to twelve months

 

158,034

 

Over twelve months

 

638,298

 

Total

 

$

1,064,152

 

 

The following table sets forth the distribution of our average deposit balances for the periods indicated and the weighted average interest rates for each category of deposit presented.

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Average
Balance

 

Percent
of Total

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Average
Balance

 

Percent
of Total

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Average
Balance

 

Percent
of Total

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Savings

 

$

2,659,433

 

26.13%

 

0.05%   

 

$

2,818,440

 

26.17%

 

0.16%

 

$

2,762,155

 

24.36%

 

0.35%

 

Money market

 

1,824,729

 

17.93 

 

0.31

 

1,318,943

 

12.24

 

0.68 

 

616,048

 

5.44

 

0.74

 

NOW

 

1,221,094

 

12.00 

 

0.06

 

1,150,805

 

10.68

 

0.08 

 

1,095,396

 

9.67

 

0.11

 

Non-interest bearing NOW and demand deposit

 

873,151

 

8.58 

 

-

 

782,351

 

7.26

 

 

703,323

 

6.21

 

 

Total

 

6,578,407

 

64.64 

 

0.12

 

6,070,539

 

56.35

 

0.24 

 

5,176,922

 

45.68

 

0.30

 

Certificates of deposit (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within one year

 

705,385

 

6.93 

 

0.07

 

1,007,105

 

9.35

 

0.19 

 

1,624,587

 

14.33

 

0.49

 

One to three years

 

1,199,758

 

11.79 

 

0.96

 

1,796,775

 

16.68

 

1.53 

 

2,439,288

 

21.53

 

2.03

 

Three to five years

 

1,677,391

 

16.48 

 

2.56

 

1,849,689

 

17.17

 

2.92 

 

1,904,860

 

16.81

 

3.34

 

Over five years

 

516

 

0.01 

 

1.74

 

265

 

 

2.26 

 

119

 

 

2.52

 

Jumbo

 

15,247

 

0.15 

 

0.16

 

48,859

 

0.45

 

0.75 

 

187,294

 

1.65

 

0.87

 

Total

 

3,598,297

 

35.36 

 

1.53

 

4,702,693

 

43.65

 

1.78 

 

6,156,148

 

54.32

 

1.99

 

Total deposits

 

$

10,176,704

 

100.00%

 

0.62%   

 

$

10,773,232

 

100.00%

 

0.91%

 

$

11,333,070

 

100.00%

 

1.22%

 

 

(1)  Terms indicated are original, not term remaining to maturity.

 

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The following table presents, by rate categories, the remaining periods to maturity of our certificates of deposit outstanding at December 31, 2013 and the balances of our certificates of deposit outstanding at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

 

 

Period to maturity from December 31, 2013

 

At December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

Within
one year

 

One to
two years

 

Two to
three years

 

Over
three years

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Certificates of deposit rate categories:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.49% or less

 

$

737,359

 

$

159,038

 

$

42,124

 

$

10,792

 

$

949,313

 

$

1,154,369

 

$

890,956

 

0.50% to 0.99%

 

76,102

 

4,784

 

7,071

 

28,568

 

116,525

 

140,505

 

713,349

 

1.00% to 1.99%

 

406,510

 

320,117

 

85,326

 

212,231

 

1,024,184

 

1,190,464

 

963,326

 

2.00% to 2.99%

 

38,732

 

188,066

 

328,219

 

446

 

555,463

 

656,193

 

1,749,941

 

3.00% to 3.99%

 

217,939

 

427,684

 

157

 

338

 

646,118

 

695,090

 

863,415

 

4.00% and over

 

34

 

160

 

-

 

-

 

194

 

123,750

 

338,020

 

Total

 

$

1,476,676

 

$

1,099,849

 

$

462,897

 

$

252,375

 

$

3,291,797

 

$

3,960,371

 

$

5,519,007

 

 

Borrowings

 

Borrowings are used as a complement to deposit gathering as a funding source for asset growth and are an integral part of our IRR management strategy.  We utilize federal funds purchased and we enter into reverse repurchase agreements (securities sold under agreements to repurchase) with approved securities dealers and the FHLB-NY.  Reverse repurchase agreements are accounted for as borrowings and are secured by the securities sold under the agreements.  We also obtain overnight and term advances from the FHLB-NY.  At December 31, 2013, FHLB-NY advances totaled $2.45 billion, or 59% of total borrowings.  Such advances are generally secured by a blanket lien against, among other things, our residential mortgage loan portfolio and our investment in FHLB-NY stock.  The maximum amount that the FHLB-NY will advance, for purposes other than for meeting withdrawals, fluctuates from time to time in accordance with the policies of the FHLB-NY.  See “Regulation and Supervision – Federal Home Loan Bank System.”  Occasionally, we will obtain funds through the issuance of unsecured debt obligations.  These obligations are classified as other borrowings in our consolidated statements of financial condition.  At December 31, 2013, borrowings totaled $4.14 billion.

 

Included in our borrowings are various obligations which, by their terms, may be called by the counterparty.  At December 31, 2013, we had $1.95 billion of callable borrowings.  At December 31, 2013, $700.0 million of these borrowings 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 can readily obtain replacement funding, although such funding may be at higher rates.  Of the remaining $1.25 billion of callable borrowings at December 31, 2013, $200.0 million are contractually callable by the counterparty in 2015, $100.0 million are contractually callable by the counterparty in 2016 and $950.0 million are contractually callable by the counterparty in 2017.

 

For further information regarding our borrowings, including our borrowings outstanding, average borrowings, maximum borrowings and weighted average interest rates at and for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, see Item 7, “MD&A” and Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Market Area and Competition

 

Astoria Federal has been, and continues to be, a community-oriented federally chartered savings association offering a variety of financial services to meet the needs of the communities it serves.  Our retail banking network includes multiple delivery channels including full service banking offices, automated teller machines, or ATMs, and telephone, internet and mobile banking capabilities.  We

 

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Table of Contents

 

consider our strong retail banking network, together with our reputation for financial strength and customer service, as well as our competitive pricing, as our major strengths in attracting and retaining customers in our market areas.  Our business banking expansion initiatives, which continued throughout  2013, are generating new core relationships within the communities we serve and deepening our existing relationships.

 

Astoria Federal’s deposit gathering sources are primarily concentrated in the communities surrounding Astoria Federal’s banking offices in Queens, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties of New York.  Astoria Federal ranked seventh in deposit market share, with a 5.2% market share, in the Long Island market, which includes the counties of Queens, Kings, Nassau and Suffolk, based on the annual FDIC “Summary of Deposits - Market Share Report” dated June 30, 2013.

 

Astoria Federal originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings located in the greater New York metropolitan area and originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, through a broker network covering four states, primarily along the East Coast, and through a third party loan origination program covering nine states and the District of Columbia.  Our various loan origination programs provide efficient and diverse delivery channels for deployment of our cash flows.  Additionally, our broker and third party residential loan origination programs provide geographic diversification, reducing our exposure to concentrations of credit risk.

 

The New York metropolitan area has a high density of financial institutions, a number of which are significantly larger and have greater financial resources than we have.  Our competition for loans, both locally and nationally, comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking companies and credit unions.  Additionally, since the onset of the financial crisis, we have faced increased competition as a result of the U.S. government’s intervention in the mortgage and credit markets, particularly from the government’s purchase of U.S. Treasury and mortgage-backed securities and the expansion of loan amount limits that conform to GSE guidelines, or the expanded conforming loan limits.  This has resulted in a narrowing of mortgage spreads, lower yields and accelerated mortgage prepayments.  We have expanded our multi-family and commercial real estate lending operations and continue to expand our business banking operations.  These business lines are also being aggressively pursued by a number of competitors, both large and small.  Our most direct competition for deposits comes from commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions.  We also face competition for deposits from money market mutual funds and other corporate and government securities funds as well as from other financial intermediaries such as brokerage firms and insurance companies.

 

Subsidiary Activities

 

We have two direct wholly-owned subsidiaries, Astoria Federal and AF Insurance Agency, Inc., which are reported on a consolidated basis.  AF Insurance Agency, Inc. is a licensed life insurance agency which, through contractual agreements with various third parties, makes insurance products available primarily to the customers of Astoria Federal.

 

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 8 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” for further discussion of Astoria Capital Trust I.

 

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Table of Contents

 

At December 31, 2013, the following were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Astoria Federal and are reported on a consolidated basis.

 

AF Agency, Inc. was formed in 1990 and makes various annuity products available primarily to the customers of Astoria Federal through an unaffiliated third party vendor.  Astoria Federal is reimbursed for expenses it incurs on behalf of AF Agency, Inc.  Fees generated by AF Agency, Inc. totaled $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Astoria Federal Mortgage Corp., or AF Mortgage, is an operating subsidiary through which Astoria Federal engages in lending activities primarily outside the State of New York through our third party loan origination program.

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Revocable Grantor Trust was formed in November 2000 in connection with the establishment of a BOLI program by Astoria Federal.  Premiums paid to purchase BOLI in 2000 and 2002 totaled $350.0 million.  The carrying amount of our investment in BOLI was $423.4 million, or 3% of total assets, at December 31, 2013.  See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further discussion of BOLI.

 

Fidata Service Corp., or Fidata, was incorporated in the State of New York in November 1982. Fidata qualifies as a Connecticut passive investment company and for alternative tax treatment under Article 9A of the New York State Tax Law.  Fidata maintains offices in Norwalk, Connecticut and invests in loans secured by real property which qualify as intangible investments permitted to be held by a Connecticut passive investment company.  Fidata held mortgage loans totaling $4.03 billion at December 31, 2013.

 

Marcus I Inc. was incorporated in the State of New York in April 2006 and was formed to serve as assignee of certain loans in default and REO properties.  Marcus I Inc. assets were not material to our financial condition at December 31, 2013.

 

Suffco Service Corporation, or Suffco, serves as document custodian for the loans of Astoria Federal and Fidata and certain loans being serviced for Fannie Mae and other investors.

 

Astoria Federal has four additional subsidiaries, one of which is a single purpose entity that has an interest in a real estate investment which is not material to our financial condition and the remaining three are inactive and have no assets.

 

Personnel

 

As of December 31, 2013, we had 1,476 full-time employees and 127 part-time employees, or 1,540 full time equivalents.  The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit and we consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

 

Regulation and Supervision

 

General

 

Astoria Federal is subject to extensive regulation, examination and supervision by the OCC, as its primary federal regulator, by the FDIC, as its deposit insurer, and by the CFPB.  We, as a unitary savings and loan holding company, are regulated, examined and supervised by the FRB and are subject to FRB reporting requirements.  Astoria Federal is a member of the FHLB-NY and its deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC under the Deposit Insurance Fund, or DIF.  Astoria Federal must file reports with the OCC concerning its activities and financial condition in addition to obtaining regulatory approvals prior to entering into certain transactions, such as mergers with, or acquisitions of, other financial institutions.  The OCC periodically performs safety and soundness examinations of Astoria

 

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Federal and tests its compliance with various regulatory requirements. The FDIC reserves the right to do so as well. The OCC has primary enforcement responsibility over Astoria Federal and has substantial discretion to impose enforcement actions if Astoria Federal fails to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, particularly with respect to its capital requirements.  In addition, the FDIC has the authority to recommend to the OCC that enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular federally chartered savings association and, if action is not taken by the OCC, the FDIC has authority to take such action under certain circumstances.

 

This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework to regulate and control the activities in which we can engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the DIF, the depositors and other consumers. The regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes. Any change in such regulation, whether by the OCC, the FDIC, the CFPB, the FRB or Congress, could have a material adverse impact on Astoria Federal and us and our respective operations.

 

The description of statutory provisions and regulations applicable to federally chartered savings associations and their holding companies and of tax matters set forth in this document does not purport to be a complete description of all such statutes and regulations and their effects on Astoria Federal and us.  Other than the disclosures noted in this section and in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” there is no additional guidance from our banking regulators which is likely to have a material impact on our results of operations, liquidity, capital or financial position.

 

Regulatory Reform Legislation

 

In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Reform Act, which was intended to address perceived weaknesses in the U.S. financial regulatory system and prevent future economic and financial crises.  As a result of the Reform Act, on July 21, 2011, the Office of Thrift Supervision, or OTS, our previous primary federal regulator, was merged into the OCC, which has taken over the regulation of all federal savings associations, such as Astoria Federal. The FRB acquired the OTS’ authority over all savings and loan holding companies, such as Astoria Financial Corporation.

 

The Reform Act also created the CFPB which is authorized to supervise certain consumer financial services companies and insured depository institutions with more than $10 billion in total assets, such as Astoria Federal, for consumer protection purposes.  The CFPB has exclusive examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to compliance with federal consumer financial protection laws and regulations by institutions under its supervision and is authorized to conduct investigations to determine whether any person is, or has, engaged in conduct that violates such laws or regulations.  Investigations may be conducted jointly with the federal bank regulatory agencies, or the Agencies, and the CFPB may bring an administrative enforcement proceeding or civil action in Federal district court.  As an independent bureau within the FRB, the CFPB may impose requirements more severe than the previous bank regulatory agencies.

 

In addition, the Reform Act provides that the same standards for federal preemption of state consumer financial laws apply to both national banks and federal savings associations and eliminates the applicability of preemption to subsidiaries and affiliates of national banks and federal savings associations.  The Reform Act also includes provisions, some of which have resulted in final rulemaking and some of which may result in further rulemaking, that may affect our future operations.  We will not be able to determine the impact of these provisions until final rules are promulgated to implement these provisions and other regulatory guidance is provided interpreting these provisions.

 

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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Regulation of Mortgage Origination and Servicing

 

In July 2011, the CFPB took over rulemaking responsibility for the federal consumer financial protection laws, such as the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or Regulation X, and the Truth in Lending Act, or Regulation Z, among others.  In January 2013, the CFPB issued a series of final rules, described below, related to mortgage loan origination and mortgage loan servicing, which went into effect on January 10, 2014.  Compliance with these rules has increased our overall regulatory compliance costs, which are included in non-interest expense.

 

Ability to Repay Rules.  The CFPB adopted final rules, referred to as the “Ability to Repay Rules,” that (1) prohibit creditors, such as Astoria Federal, from extending mortgage loans without regard for the consumer’s ability to repay, (2) specify the types of income and assets that may be considered in the ability-to-repay determination, the permissible sources for verification, and the required methods of calculating a loan’s monthly payments and (3) establish certain protections from liability for loans that meet the requirements of a Qualified Mortgage.   Previously, Regulation Z prohibited creditors from extending higher-priced mortgage loans without regard for the consumer’s ability to repay.  The Ability to Repay Rules extend application of this requirement to all loans secured by dwellings, not just higher-priced mortgages.

 

As defined by the CFPB, a Qualified Mortgage is a mortgage that meets the following standards prohibiting or limiting certain high risk products and features: (1) No excessive upfront points and fees - generally points and fees paid by the borrower must not exceed 3% of the total amount borrowed; (2) No toxic loan features - prohibited features include interest-only loans, negative-amortization loans, terms beyond 30 years and balloon loans; and (3) Limit on debt-to-income ratios - borrowers’ total debt-to-income ratios must be no higher than 43%, with certain limited exceptions for loans eligible for purchase, guarantee or insurance by the GSEs or a federal agency.

 

Lenders that generate Qualified Mortgage loans will receive specific protections against borrower lawsuits that could result from failing to satisfy the Ability to Repay Rules.  There are two levels of liability protections for Qualified Mortgages: the Safe Harbor protection and the Rebuttable Presumption protection.  Safe Harbor Qualified Mortgages are lower-priced loans with interest rates closer to the prime rate, issued to borrowers with high credit scores.  Borrowers suing lenders under Safe Harbor Qualified Mortgages are faced with overcoming the pre-determined legal conclusion that the lender has satisfied the Ability to Repay Rules.  Rebuttable Presumption Qualified Mortgages are loans at higher prices that are granted to borrowers with lower credit scores.  Lenders generating Rebuttable Presumption Qualified Mortgages receive the protection of a presumption that they have legally satisfied the Ability to Repay Rules while the borrower can rebut that presumption by proving that the lender did not consider the borrower’s living expenses after their mortgage and other debts.  In addition, Qualified Mortgages are exempt from the new appraisal requirement rules described below under “Federally Chartered Savings Association Regulation – Business Activities.”

 

As a result of the adoption of the Ability to Repay Rules, we have changed our underwriting practices and, as of January 10, 2014, only originate mortgage loans that meet the requirements of a Qualified Mortgage.

 

Mortgage Servicing Rules.  The CFPB also issued final rules concerning mortgage servicing standards, which amend both Regulation X and Regulation Z.  The Regulation X rule requires servicers to provide certain information to borrowers, to provide protections to such borrowers in connection with force-placed insurance, to establish policies and procedures to achieve certain delineated objectives, to correct errors asserted by borrowers and to evaluate borrowers’ applications for available loss mitigation options.  The Regulation Z rule requires creditors, assignees and servicers to provide interest rate adjustment notices for ARM loans, periodic statements for residential mortgage loans, prompt crediting of mortgage payments and responses to requests for payoff amounts.

 

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Loan Originator Qualification and Compensation Rule.  The CFPB also issued a final rule implementing requirements and restrictions imposed by the Reform Act concerning, among other things, qualifications of individual loan originators and the compensation practices with respect to such persons.  The rule prohibits loan origination organizations from basing compensation for themselves or individual loan originators on any of the origination transaction’s terms or conditions and prohibits such persons from receiving compensation from another person in connection with the same transaction.  The rule also imposes duties on loan originator organizations to ensure that their individual loan originators meet certain licensing or qualification standards and extends existing recordkeeping requirements.

 

Federally Chartered Savings Association Regulation

 

Business Activities

 

Astoria Federal derives its lending and investment powers from the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, or HOLA, and the regulations of the OCC thereunder. Under these laws and regulations, Astoria Federal may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential and non-residential real estate, commercial and consumer loans, certain types of debt securities and certain other assets. Astoria Federal may also establish service corporations that may engage in activities not otherwise permissible for Astoria Federal, including certain real estate equity investments and securities and insurance brokerage activities. These investment powers are subject to various limitations, including (1) a prohibition against the acquisition of any corporate debt security unless the debt securities may be sold with reasonable promptness at a price that corresponds reasonably to their fair value and such securities are investment grade, (2) a limit of 400% of an association’s capital on the aggregate amount of loans secured by non-residential real estate property, (3) a limit of 20% of an association’s assets on commercial loans, with the amount of commercial loans in excess of 10% of assets being limited to small business loans, (4) a limit of 35% of an association’s assets on the aggregate amount of consumer loans and acquisitions of certain debt securities, (5) a limit of 5% of assets on non-conforming loans (certain loans in excess of the specific limitations of HOLA), and (6) a limit of the greater of 5% of assets or an association’s capital on certain construction loans made for the purpose of financing what is or is expected to become residential property.

 

In October 2006, the Agencies published the “Interagency Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Product Risks,” or the Guidance. The Guidance describes sound practices for managing risk, as well as marketing, originating and servicing nontraditional mortgage products, which include, among other things, interest-only loans. The Guidance sets forth supervisory expectations with respect to loan terms and underwriting standards, portfolio and risk management practices and consumer protection.

 

In December 2006, the Agencies published guidance entitled “Interagency Guidance on Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending, Sound Risk Management Practices,” or the CRE Guidance, to address concentrations of commercial real estate loans in savings associations. The CRE Guidance reinforces and enhances the OCC’s existing regulations and guidelines for real estate lending and loan portfolio management, but does not establish specific commercial real estate lending limits.

 

In June 2007, the Agencies issued the “Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending,” or the Statement, to address the growing concerns facing the subprime mortgage market, particularly with respect to rapidly rising subprime default rates that may indicate borrowers do not have the ability to repay adjustable rate subprime loans originated by financial institutions. In particular, the Agencies expressed concern in the Statement that current underwriting practices do not take into account that many subprime borrowers are not prepared for “payment shock” and that the current subprime lending practices compound risk for financial institutions. The Statement describes the prudent safety and soundness and consumer protection standards that financial institutions should follow to ensure borrowers obtain loans that they can afford to repay. The Statement also reinforces the April 2007 Interagency Statement on Working with Mortgage Borrowers, in which the Agencies encouraged institutions to work constructively with residential

 

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borrowers who are financially unable or reasonably expected to be unable to meet their contractual payment obligations on their home loans.

 

In October 2009, the Agencies adopted a policy statement supporting prudent commercial real estate mortgage loan workouts, or the Policy Statement. The Policy Statement provides guidance for examiners, and for financial institutions that are working with commercial real estate mortgage loan borrowers who are experiencing diminished operating cash flows, depreciated collateral values, or prolonged delays in selling or renting commercial properties. The Policy Statement details risk-management practices for loan workouts that support prudent and pragmatic credit and business decision-making within the framework of financial accuracy, transparency, and timely loss recognition. Financial institutions that implement prudent loan workout arrangements after performing comprehensive reviews of borrowers’ financial conditions will not be subject to criticism for engaging in these efforts, even if the restructured loans have weaknesses that result in adverse credit classifications. In addition, performing loans, including those renewed or restructured on reasonable modified terms, made to creditworthy borrowers, will not be subject to adverse classification solely because the value of the underlying collateral declined. The Policy Statement reiterates existing guidance that examiners are expected to take a balanced approach in assessing institutions’ risk-management practices for loan workout activities.

 

We have evaluated the Guidance, the CRE Guidance, the Statement and the Policy Statement to determine our compliance and, as necessary, modified our risk management practices, underwriting guidelines and consumer protection standards. See “Lending Activities – Residential Mortgage Lending and Multi-Family and Commercial Real Estate Lending” for a discussion of our loan product offerings and related underwriting standards and “Asset Quality” in Item 7, “MD&A” for information regarding our loan portfolio composition.

 

In January 2013, pursuant to the Reform Act, the Agencies issued final rules on appraisal requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans which became effective in January 2014.  For mortgage loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds a certain threshold, Astoria Federal must obtain an appraisal using a licensed or certified appraiser.  The appraiser must prepare a written appraisal report based on a physical inspection of the interior of the property.  Astoria Federal must also then disclose to applicants information about the purpose of the appraisal and provide them with a free copy of the appraisal report.  Qualified Mortgages are exempt from these appraisal requirements.

 

In December 2013, the Agencies, the SEC and the CFTC adopted final rules implementing Section 619 of the Reform Act.  Section 619 and the final implementing rules are commonly known as the “Volcker Rule.”  All banking organizations were granted until July 21, 2015 to conform their activities and investments to the requirements of the final Volcker Rule.

 

The Volcker Rule prohibits banking entities from acquiring and retaining an ownership interest in, sponsoring, or having certain relationships with a “covered fund.”  The Volcker Rule generally treats as a covered fund any entity that would be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the 1940 Act, but for the application of the exemptions from SEC registration set forth in Section 3(c)(1) (fewer than 100 beneficial owners) or Section 3(c)(7) (qualified purchasers) of the 1940 Act.  In addition to prohibiting a banking entity from sponsoring or having an ownership interest in a covered fund, the Volcker Rule also limits the term of relationships between banking entities and covered funds and imposes new disclosure obligations for covered funds serviced by banking entities. The Volcker Rule also imposes corporate governance, compliance and control program, record keeping, regulatory reporting, training and audit requirements on banking entities. These requirements become more stringent and detailed based upon the size of the banking organization and scope and nature of its activities.  Under the Volcker Rule, banking entities are also prohibited from engaging in proprietary trading.

 

We do not currently anticipate that the Volcker Rule will have a material effect on our operations as we do not engage in proprietary trading, do not have any ownership interest in any funds that are not permitted under the Volcker Rule and do not engage in any other the activities prohibited by the Volcker

 

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Rule. As a depositary institution with over $10 billion in assets, we will need to adopt additional policies and systems to ensure compliance with the Volcker Rule.  The costs of developing and implementing such policies and systems are not expected to be material.

 

Capital Requirements

 

The OCC capital regulations currently require federally chartered savings associations to meet four minimum capital ratios: a 1.5% Tangible capital ratio, a 4.0% Tier 1 leverage capital ratio, a 4.0% Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and an 8.0% Total risk-based capital ratio. In assessing an institution’s capital adequacy, the OCC takes into consideration not only these numeric factors but qualitative factors as well, and has the authority to establish higher capital requirements for individual institutions where necessary. Astoria Federal, as a matter of prudent management, targets as its goal the maintenance of capital ratios that exceed these minimum requirements and that are consistent with Astoria Federal’s risk profile.  At December 31, 2013, Astoria Federal exceeded each of its capital requirements with a Tangible capital ratio of 9.93%, Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 9.93%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 15.79% and Total risk-based capital ratio of 17.05%.

 

The Reform Act requires the Agencies to establish consolidated risk-based and leverage capital requirements for insured depository institutions, depository institution holding companies and systemically important nonbank financial companies. These requirements must be no less than those to which insured depository institutions are currently subject. In addition, the Reform Act specifically authorizes the FRB to issue regulations relating to capital requirements for savings and loan holding companies.

 

In July 2013, the Agencies adopted final rules, or the Final Capital Rules, to update the Agencies’ general risk-based capital and leverage capital requirements to incorporate agreements reflected in the Third Basel Accord adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, or Basel III capital standards, as well as the requirements of the Reform Act.  The Final Capital Rules:

 

·                 Establish consolidated capital requirements for many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation.

·                 Revise the required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements by: (1) establishing a new minimum common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (common equity Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets) of 4.5%; (2) raising the minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio from 4.0% to 6.0%; (3) maintaining the minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%; and (4) maintaining a minimum Tier 1 leverage capital ratio (Tier 1 capital to adjusted average consolidated assets) of 4.0%.

·                 Revise the rules for calculating risk-weighted assets to enhance their risk sensitivity, which includes (1) a new framework under which mortgage-backed securities and other securitization exposures will be subject to risk-weights ranging from 20% to 1,250% and (2) adjusted risk-weights for credit exposures, including multi-family and commercial real estate exposures that are 90 days or more past due or on nonaccrual, which will be subject to a 150% risk-weight, except in situations where qualifying collateral and/or guarantees are in place.  The existing treatment of residential mortgage exposures will remain subject to either a 50% risk-weight (for prudently underwritten owner-occupied first liens that are current or less than 90 days past due) or a 100% risk-weight (for all other residential mortgage exposures including 90 days or more past due exposures).

·                 Add a requirement to maintain a minimum Conservation Buffer, composed of common equity Tier 1 capital, of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, which means that banking organizations, on a fully phased in basis no later than January 1, 2019, must maintain a minimum common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 7.0%, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.5% and a minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 10.5%.

 

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·      Change the definitions of capital categories for insured depository institutions for purposes of the Prompt Corrective Action rules.  Under these revised definitions, to be considered well capitalized, Astoria Federal must have a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of at least 5.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0% and a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0%.

 

The new minimum regulatory capital ratios and changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets will be phased in with initial provisions effective for Astoria Federal and Astoria Financial Corporation on January 1, 2015. The required minimum Conservation Buffer will be phased in incrementally, starting at 0.625% on January 1, 2016 and increasing to 1.25% on January 1, 2017, 1.875% on January 1, 2018 and 2.5% on January 1, 2019.

 

The Final Capital Rules establish a common equity Tier 1 capital as a new capital component.  Common equity Tier 1 capital consists of common stock instruments that meet the eligibility criteria in the Final Capital Rules, retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive income/loss and common equity Tier 1 minority interest.  As a result, Tier 1 capital has two components: common equity Tier 1 capital and additional Tier 1 capital.  The Final Capital Rules also revise the eligibility criteria for inclusion in additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital.  As a result of these changes, certain non-qualifying capital instruments, including cumulative preferred stock and trust preferred securities, will be excluded as a component of Tier 1 capital for institutions of our size.

 

The Final Capital Rules further require that certain items be deducted from common equity Tier 1 capital, including  (1) goodwill and other intangible assets, other than mortgage servicing rights, or MSR, net of deferred tax liabilities, or DTLs; (2) deferred tax assets that arise from operating losses and tax credit carryforwards, net of valuation allowances and DTLs; (3) after-tax gain-on-sale associated with a securitization exposure; and (4) defined benefit pension fund assets held by a depository institution holding company, net of DTLs.  In addition, banking organizations must deduct from common equity Tier 1 capital the amount of certain assets, including mortgage servicing assets, that exceed certain thresholds.  The Final Capital Rules also allow all but the largest banking organizations to make a one-time election not to recognize unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities in regulatory capital, as under prior capital rules.

 

The Final Capital Rules provide that the failure to maintain the minimum Conservation Buffer will result in restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary cash bonus payments to executive officers. If a banking organization’s Conservation Buffer is less than 0.625%, the banking organization may not make any capital distributions or discretionary cash bonus payments to executive officers.  If the Conservation Buffer is greater than 0.625% but not greater than 1.25%, capital distributions and discretionary cash bonus payments are limited to 20% of net income for the four calendar quarters preceding the applicable calendar quarter (net of any such capital distributions), or Eligible Retained Income.  If the Conservation Buffer is greater than 1.25% but not greater than 1.875%, the limit is 40% of Eligible Retained Income, and if the Conservation Buffer is greater than 1.875% but not greater than 2.5%, the limit is 60% of Eligible Retained Income.  The preceding thresholds for the Conservation Buffer and related restrictions represent the fully phased in rules effective no later than January 1, 2019.  Such thresholds will be phased in incrementally throughout the phase in period with lower thresholds effective beginning January 1, 2016.  As a result, under the Final Capital Rules, if Astoria Federal fails to maintain the minimum Conservation Buffer, we will be subject to limits, and possibly prohibitions, on our ability to obtain capital distributions from Astoria Federal. If we do not receive sufficient cash dividends from Astoria Federal, then we may not have sufficient funds to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock, service our debt obligations or repurchase our common stock.  In addition, if Astoria Federal fails to maintain the minimum Conservation Buffer, we may be limited in our ability to pay certain cash bonuses to our executive officers which may make it more difficult to retain key personnel.

 

The Reform Act requires national banks and federal savings associations with total consolidated assets of more than $10 billion to conduct annual stress tests.  In October 2012, the OCC published its final rules

 

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requiring annual capital-adequacy stress tests for national banks and federal savings associations with consolidated assets of more than $10 billion, or the Stress Test Rule.  Although the Stress Test Rule became effective on October 9, 2012, the Agencies revised the timeline for implementing the Stress Test Rule for national banks and federal savings associations with consolidated assets between $10 billion and $50 billion, such as Astoria Federal, delaying the requirement to perform annual capital-adequacy stress tests until October 2013.  Astoria Federal must conduct its first stress test using financial data as of September 30, 2013 and report the results of the stress test to the OCC on or before March 31, 2014.  In addition, between June 15 and June 30 of each year, beginning in 2015, Astoria Federal will be required to publicly disclose a summary of the results of the stress test conducted in the prior year.  The Stress Test Rule also requires each institution to establish and maintain a system of controls, oversight and documentation, including policies and procedures, designed to ensure that the stress testing processes used by the institution are effective in meeting the requirements of the rules.

 

During the 2013 third quarter, the Agencies issued proposed guidance outlining high-level principles for implementation of the stress tests required by the Reform Act and the Stress Test Rule, applicable to all bank and savings and loan holding companies, national banks, state-member banks, state non-member banks, federal savings associations, and state chartered savings associations with more than $10 billion but less than $50 billion in total consolidated assets, or Stress Test Guidance.  The Stress Test Guidance discusses supervisory expectations for stress test practices under the Stress Test Rule.  The Stress Test Guidance states that a company is expected to ensure that projected balance sheet and risk-weighted assets remain consistent with regulatory and accounting changes, are applied consistently across the company, and are consistent with the economic scenarios provided by the OCC for use in the stress test and the company’s past history of managing through different business environments.  Furthermore, the Agencies expect that a company will consider the results of stress testing in the company’s capital planning, assessment of capital adequacy and risk management practices.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act, or FDICIA, required that the Agencies revise their risk-based capital standards to take into account IRR concentration of risk and the risks of non-traditional activities.  The OCC regulations do not include a specific IRR component of the risk based capital requirement.  However, the OCC expects all federal savings associations to have an independent IRR measurement process in place that measures both earnings and capital at risk, as described in the Advisory on Interest Rate Risk Management, or the IRR Advisory, and a Joint Agency Policy Statement on IRR, or the 1996 IRR policy statement, each described below.

 

In June 1996, the Agencies adopted the 1996 IRR policy statement.  The 1996 IRR policy statement provides guidance to examiners and bankers on sound practices for managing IRR.  The 1996 IRR policy statement also outlines fundamental elements of sound management that have been identified in prior regulatory guidance and discusses the importance of these elements in the context of managing IRR.  Specifically, the guidance emphasizes the need for active board of director and senior management oversight and a comprehensive risk management process that effectively identifies, measures and controls IRR.

 

In January 2010, the Agencies released the IRR Advisory to remind institutions of the supervisory expectations regarding sound practices for managing IRR. While some degree of IRR is inherent in the business of banking, the Agencies expect institutions to have sound risk management practices in place to measure, monitor and control IRR exposures, and IRR management should be an integral component of an institution’s risk management infrastructure. The Agencies expect all institutions to manage their IRR exposures using processes and systems commensurate with their earnings and capital levels, complexity, business model, risk profile and scope of operations, and the IRR Advisory reiterates the importance of effective corporate governance, policies and procedures, risk measuring and monitoring systems, stress testing, and internal controls related to the IRR exposures of institutions.

 

The IRR Advisory encourages institutions to use a variety of techniques to measure IRR exposure which includes simple maturity gap analysis, income measurement and valuation measurement for assessing the

 

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impact of changes in market rates as well as simulation modeling to measure IRR exposure. Institutions are encouraged to use the full complement of analytical capabilities of their IRR simulation models. The IRR Advisory also reminds institutions that stress testing, which includes both scenario and sensitivity analysis, is an integral component of IRR management. The IRR Advisory indicates that institutions should regularly assess IRR exposures beyond typical industry conventions, including changes in rates of greater magnitude (for example, up and down 300 and 400 basis points as compared to up and down 200 basis points which is the general practice) across different tenors to reflect changing slopes and twists of the yield curve.

 

The IRR Advisory emphasizes that effective IRR management not only involves the identification and measurement of IRR, but also provides for appropriate actions to control this risk. The adequacy and effectiveness of an institution’s IRR management process and the level of its IRR exposure are critical factors in the Agencies’ evaluation of an institution’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates and capital adequacy.

 

Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action

 

FDICIA established a system of prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions. Under this system, the banking regulators are required to take certain, and authorized to take other, supervisory actions against undercapitalized institutions, based upon five categories of capitalization which FDICIA created: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” and “critically undercapitalized,” the severity of which depends upon the institution’s degree of capitalization. Generally, a capital restoration plan must be filed with the OCC within 45 days of the date an association receives notice that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” and the plan must be guaranteed by any parent holding company. In addition, various mandatory supervisory actions become immediately applicable to the institution, including restrictions on growth of assets and other forms of expansion.  Under current OCC regulations, generally, an insured depository institution is treated as well capitalized if its Total risk-based capital ratio is 10.0% or greater, its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is 6.0% or greater and its Tier 1 leverage capital ratio is 5.0% or greater, and it is not subject to any order or directive by the OCC to meet a specific capital level.  As of December 31, 2013, Astoria Federal’s capital ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized by the OCC, with a Total risk-based capital ratio of 17.05%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 15.79% and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 9.93%.  Under the Final Capital Rules, described above, which will go into effect for Astoria Federal on January 1, 2015, to be treated as well capitalized, an insured depository institution must also maintain a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.5% or greater, and the minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio needed to be considered well capitalized was increased from 6.0% to 8.0%.

 

Insurance of Deposit Accounts

 

Astoria Federal is a member of the DIF and pays its deposit insurance assessments to the DIF.  In accordance with rules adopted by the FDIC in 2011 pursuant to the Reform Act, which became effective in April 2011, the assessment base for deposit insurance assessments was changed from an institution’s deposit base to its average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity.  In adopting such rules, the FDIC also established a new assessment rate schedule, as well as alternative rate schedules that become effective when the DIF reserve ratio reaches certain levels.

 

In determining the deposit insurance assessments to be paid by insured depository institutions, the FDIC generally assigns an institution to one of four risk categories based on the institution’s most recent supervisory ratings and capital ratios.  For example, for institutions within Risk Category I, assessment rates generally depend upon a combination of CAMELS (capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity, sensitivity to market risk) component ratings and financial ratios.  In addition, an institution’s base assessment rate is generally subject to following adjustments: (1) a decrease for the institution’s long-term unsecured debt, including most senior and subordinated debt, (2) an increase for

 

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brokered deposits above a threshold amount and (3) an increase for unsecured debt held that is issued by another insured depository institution.

 

However, for large insured depository institutions, generally defined as those with at least $10 billion in total assets, such as Astoria Federal, the FDIC has eliminated risk categories when calculating the initial base assessment rates and now combine CAMELS ratings and financial measures into two scorecards to calculate assessment rates, one for most large insured depository institutions and another for highly complex insured depository institutions (which are generally those with more than $50 billion in total assets that are controlled by a parent company with more than $500 billion in total assets).  Each scorecard has two components — a performance score and loss severity score, which are combined and converted to an initial assessment rate.  The FDIC has the ability to adjust a large or highly complex insured depository institution’s total score by a maximum of 15 points, up or down, based upon significant risk factors that are not captured by the scorecard.  Under the current assessment rate schedule, the initial base assessment rate for large and highly complex insured depository institutions ranges from five to 35 basis points, and the total base assessment rate, after applying the unsecured debt and brokered deposit adjustments, ranges from two and one-half to 45 basis points.

 

The FDIC annually establishes for the DIF a designated reserve ratio, or DRR, of estimated insured deposits.  The FDIC has announced that the DRR for 2014 will remain at 2.00%, which is the same ratio that has been in effect since January 1, 2011.  The FDIC is authorized to change deposit insurance assessment rates as necessary to maintain the DRR, without further notice-and-comment rulemaking, provided that: (1) no such adjustment can be greater than three basis points from one quarter to the next, (2) adjustments cannot result in rates more than three basis points above or below the base rates and (3) rates cannot be negative.

 

As a result of the failures of a number of banks and thrifts during the financial crisis, there was a significant increase in the loss provisions of the DIF.  This resulted in a decline in the actual DIF reserve ratio during 2008 below the then minimum DRR of 1.15%. As a result, the FDIC was required to establish a restoration plan to restore the reserve ratio to 1.15% within a period of eight years.

 

The Reform Act subsequently increased the minimum DRR for the DIF from 1.15% to 1.35% of insured deposits, which must be reached by September 30, 2020, and provides that in setting the assessment rates necessary to meet the new requirement, the FDIC shall offset the effect of this provision on insured depository institutions with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, so that more of the cost of raising the reserve ratio will be borne by the institutions with more than $10 billion in assets, such as Astoria Federal.  In October 2010, the FDIC adopted a restoration plan to ensure that the DIF reserve ratio reaches 1.35% by September 30, 2020, as required by the Reform Act.  The FDIC is expected to pursue further rulemaking regarding the method that will be used to reach the reserve ratio of 1.35% so that more of the cost of raising the reserve ratio to 1.35% will be borne by institutions with more than $10 billion in assets.

 

Our expense for FDIC deposit insurance assessments totaled $36.2 million in 2013 and $46.3 million in 2012.  The FDIC deposit insurance assessments are in addition to the assessments for payments on the bonds issued in the late 1980s by the Financing Corporation to recapitalize the now defunct Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation.  The Financing Corporation payments will continue until the bonds mature in 2017 through 2019. Our expense for these payments totaled $967,000 in 2013 and $1.0 million in 2012.

 

Loans to One Borrower

 

Under the HOLA, savings associations are generally subject to the national bank limits on loans to one borrower. Generally, savings associations may not make a loan or extend credit to a single or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of the institution’s unimpaired capital and surplus. Additional amounts may be loaned, not in excess of 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus, if such loans or

 

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extensions of credit are secured by readily-marketable collateral.  Astoria Federal is in compliance with applicable loans to one borrower limitations.  At December 31, 2013, Astoria Federal’s largest aggregate amount of loans to one borrower totaled $58.6 million.  All of the loans for the largest borrower were performing in accordance with their terms and the borrower had no affiliation with Astoria Federal.

 

Qualified Thrift Lender Test

 

The HOLA requires savings associations to meet a Qualified Thrift Lender, or QTL, test. Under the QTL test, a savings association is required to maintain at least 65% of its “portfolio assets” (total assets less (1) specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets, (2) intangibles, including goodwill, and (3) the value of property used to conduct business) in certain “qualified thrift investments” (primarily mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family and multi-family residential properties and related investments, including certain mortgage-backed securities, credit card loans, student loans, and small business loans) on a monthly basis during at least 9 out of every 12 months.  As of December 31, 2013, Astoria Federal maintained in excess of 90% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments and had more than 65% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments for each of the 12 months in the year ended December 31, 2013.  Therefore, Astoria Federal qualified under the QTL test.

 

A savings association that fails the QTL test will immediately be prohibited from: (1) making any new investment or engaging in any new activity not permissible for a national bank, (2) paying dividends, unless such payment would be permissible for a national bank, is necessary to meet the obligations of a company that controls the savings association, and is specifically approved by the OCC and the FRB, and (3) establishing any new branch office in a location not permissible for a national bank in the association’s home state.  A savings association that fails to meet the QTL test is deemed to have violated the HOLA and may be subject to OCC enforcement action.  In addition, if the association does not requalify under the QTL test within three years after failing the test, the association would be prohibited from retaining any investment or engaging in any activity not permissible for a national bank.

 

Limitation on Capital Distributions

 

The OCC regulations impose limitations upon certain capital distributions by savings associations, such as certain cash dividends, payments to repurchase or otherwise acquire its shares, payments to shareholders of another institution in a cash-out merger and other distributions charged against capital.

 

The OCC regulates all capital distributions by Astoria Federal directly or indirectly to us, including dividend payments.  A subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, such as Astoria Federal, must file a notice or seek affirmative approval from the OCC at least 30 days prior to each proposed capital distribution. Whether an application is required is based on a number of factors including whether the institution qualifies for expedited treatment under the OCC rules and regulations or if the total amount of all capital distributions (including each proposed capital distribution) for the applicable calendar year exceeds net income for that year to date plus the retained net income for the preceding two years.  During 2013, Astoria Federal was not required to file such applications with the OCC for proposed capital distributions.  Although we anticipate that, in 2014, Astoria Federal will not be required to file such applications for proposed capital distributions, Astoria Federal may be required to do so in the future if its earnings decline or otherwise do not exceed the cash needs of Astoria Financial Corporation.  During 2013, Astoria Federal was required to, and did, notify the OCC of its intent to pay dividends, to which the OCC did not object.  In addition, as a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, Astoria Federal must provide notice to the FRB at least 30 days prior to declaring a dividend.  Astoria Federal paid dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation totaling $44.0 million in 2013.

 

Astoria Federal may not pay dividends to us if, after paying those dividends, it would fail to meet the required minimum levels under risk-based capital guidelines and the minimum leverage and tangible capital ratio requirements or if the dividend would violate a prohibition contained in any statute, regulation or agreement.  Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or FDIA, an insured depository

 

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institution such as Astoria Federal is prohibited from making capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, if, after making such distribution, the institution would become “undercapitalized” (as such term is used in the FDIA).  Payment of dividends by Astoria Federal also may be restricted at any time at the discretion of the OCC if it deems the payment to constitute an unsafe and unsound banking practice.

 

Liquidity

 

Astoria Federal maintains sufficient liquidity to ensure its safe and sound operation, in accordance with OCC regulations.

 

Assessments

 

The OCC charges assessments to recover the costs of examining savings associations and their affiliates. Our expense for these assessments totaled $2.3 million in 2013 and $3.6 million in 2012.

 

Branching

 

Federally chartered savings associations may branch nationwide to the extent allowed by federal statute. All of Astoria Federal’s branches are located in New York.

 

Community Reinvestment

 

Under the CRA, as implemented by OCC regulations, a federally chartered savings association has a continuing and affirmative obligation, consistent with its safe and sound operation, to ascertain and meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate income areas.  The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions, nor does it limit an institution’s discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community.  The CRA requires the OCC, in connection with its examination of a federally chartered savings association, to assess the institution’s record of meeting the credit needs of its community and to take such record into account in its evaluation of certain applications by such institution. The assessment focuses on three tests: (1) a lending test, to evaluate the institution’s record of making loans, including community development loans, in its designated assessment areas; (2) an investment test, to evaluate the institution’s record of investing in community development projects, affordable housing, and programs benefiting low or moderate income individuals and areas and small businesses; and (3) a service test, to evaluate the institution’s delivery of banking services throughout its CRA assessment area, including low and moderate income areas.  The CRA also requires all institutions to make public disclosure of their CRA ratings.  Astoria Federal has been rated as “outstanding” over its last seven CRA examinations.  Regulations require that we publicly disclose certain agreements that are in fulfillment of CRA. We have no such agreements in place at this time.

 

Transactions with Related Parties

 

Astoria Federal is subject to the affiliate and insider transaction rules set forth in Sections 23A, 23B, 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act, or FRA, and Regulation W and Regulation O issued by the FRB.  These provisions, among other things, prohibit, limit or place restrictions upon a savings institution extending credit to, or entering into certain transactions with, its affiliates (which for Astoria Federal would include us and our non-federally chartered savings association subsidiaries, if any), principal stockholders, directors and executive officers.  The Reform Act expands the affiliate transaction rules in Sections 23A and 23B of the FRA to broaden the definition of affiliate and to apply this definition to securities lending, repurchase agreement and derivatives activities that Astoria Federal may have with an affiliate. This expansion became effective in July 2012.  In addition, the FRB regulations include additional restrictions on savings associations under Section 11 of HOLA, including provisions prohibiting a savings association from making a loan to an affiliate that is engaged in non-bank holding company activities and provisions prohibiting a savings association from purchasing or investing in

 

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securities issued by an affiliate that is not a subsidiary.  The FRB regulations also include certain specific exemptions from these prohibitions. The FRB and the OCC require each depository institution that is subject to Sections 23A and 23B to implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Regulation W.

 

Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes-Oxley, prohibits the extension of personal loans to directors and executive officers of issuers (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley).  The prohibition, however, does not apply to loans advanced by an insured depository institution, such as Astoria Federal, that is subject to the insider lending restrictions of Section 22(h) of the FRA.

 

Standards for Safety and Soundness

 

Pursuant to the requirements of FDICIA, as amended by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, the Agencies adopted guidelines establishing general standards relating to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, IRR exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risks and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder. In addition, the OCC adopted regulations pursuant to FDICIA to require a savings association that is given notice by the OCC that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan to the OCC. If, after being so notified, a savings association fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an accepted compliance plan, the OCC must issue an order directing corrective actions and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which a significantly undercapitalized institution is subject under the “prompt corrective action” provisions of FDICIA. If a savings association fails to comply with such an order, the OCC may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties. For further discussion, see “Regulation and Supervision – Federally Chartered Savings Association Regulation - Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action.”

 

Insurance Activities

 

Astoria Federal is generally permitted to engage in certain insurance activities through its subsidiaries. However, Astoria Federal is subject to regulations prohibiting depository institutions from conditioning the extension of credit to individuals upon either the purchase of an insurance product or annuity or an agreement by the consumer not to purchase an insurance product or annuity from an entity that is not affiliated with the depository institution.  The regulations also require prior disclosure of this prohibition to potential insurance product or annuity customers.

 

Privacy Protection

 

Astoria Federal is subject to OCC regulations implementing the privacy protection provisions of the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, or Gramm-Leach.  These regulations require Astoria Federal to disclose its privacy policy, including identifying with whom it shares “nonpublic personal information,” to customers at the time of establishing the customer relationship and annually thereafter.  The regulations also require Astoria Federal to provide its customers with initial and annual notices that accurately reflect its privacy policies and practices.  In addition, to the extent its sharing of such information is not covered by an exception, Astoria Federal is required to provide its customers with the ability to “opt-out” of having Astoria Federal share their nonpublic personal information with unaffiliated third parties.

 

Astoria Federal is subject to regulatory guidelines establishing standards for safeguarding customer information.  These regulations implement certain provisions of Gramm-Leach.  The guidelines describe the Agencies’ expectations for the creation, implementation and maintenance of an information security

 

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program, which would include administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the size and complexity of the institution and the nature and scope of its activities.  The standards set forth in the guidelines are intended to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information, protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such records and protect against unauthorized access to or use of such records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.

 

Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Identification

 

Astoria Federal is subject to regulations implementing the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, or the USA PATRIOT Act. The USA PATRIOT Act gives the federal government powers to address terrorist threats through enhanced domestic security measures, expanded surveillance powers, increased information sharing and broadened anti-money laundering requirements.  By way of amendments to the Bank Secrecy Act, Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act takes measures intended to encourage information sharing among bank regulatory agencies and law enforcement bodies.  Further, certain provisions of Title III impose affirmative obligations on a broad range of financial institutions, including banks, thrifts, brokers, dealers, credit unions, money transfer agents and parties registered under the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Among other requirements, Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act and the related regulations impose the following requirements with respect to financial institutions:

 

           Establishment of anti-money laundering programs.

           Establishment of a program specifying procedures for obtaining identifying information from customers seeking to open new accounts, including verifying the identity of customers within a reasonable period of time.

           Establishment of enhanced due diligence policies, procedures and controls designed to detect and report money laundering.

           Prohibition on correspondent accounts for foreign shell banks and compliance with recordkeeping obligations with respect to correspondent accounts of foreign banks.

 

In addition, bank regulators are directed to consider a holding company’s effectiveness in combating money laundering when ruling on Bank Holding Company Act and Bank Merger Act applications.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank System

 

Astoria Federal is a member of the FHLB System which consists of twelve regional FHLBs. The FHLB provides a central credit facility primarily for member institutions.  Astoria Federal, as a member of the FHLB-NY, is currently required to acquire and hold shares of the FHLB-NY Class B stock.  The Class B stock has a par value of $100 per share and is redeemable upon five years notice, subject to certain conditions. The Class B stock has two subclasses, one for membership stock purchase requirements and the other for activity-based stock purchase requirements.  The minimum stock investment requirement in the FHLB-NY Class B stock is the sum of the membership stock purchase requirement, determined on an annual basis at the end of each calendar year, and the activity-based stock purchase requirement, determined on a daily basis.  For Astoria Federal, the membership stock purchase requirement is 0.2% of the Mortgage-Related Assets, as defined by the FHLB-NY, which consists principally of residential mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities including CMOs and REMICs, held by Astoria Federal. The activity-based stock purchase requirement for Astoria Federal is equal to the sum of: (1) 4.5% of outstanding borrowings from the FHLB-NY; (2) 4.5% of the outstanding principal balance of Acquired Member Assets, as defined by the FHLB-NY, and delivery commitments for Acquired Member Assets; (3) a specified dollar amount related to certain off-balance sheet items, which for Astoria Federal is zero; and (4) a specified percentage ranging from 0% to 5% of the carrying value on the FHLB-NY’s balance sheet of derivative contracts between the FHLB-NY and Astoria Federal, which for Astoria Federal is

 

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also zero.  The FHLB-NY can adjust the specified percentages and dollar amount from time to time within the ranges established by the FHLB-NY capital plan.

 

Astoria Federal was in compliance with the FHLB-NY minimum stock investment requirements with an investment in FHLB-NY stock at December 31, 2013 of $152.2 million.  Dividends from the FHLB-NY to Astoria Federal amounted to $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Federal Reserve System

 

FRB regulations require federally chartered savings associations to maintain cash reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily NOW and demand deposit accounts).  A reserve of 3% is to be maintained against aggregate transaction accounts between $13.3 million and $89.0 million (subject to adjustment by the FRB) plus a reserve of 10% (subject to adjustment by the FRB between 8% and 14%) against that portion of total transaction accounts in excess of $89.0 million.  The first $13.3 million of otherwise reservable balances (subject to adjustment by the FRB) is exempt from the reserve requirements.  Astoria Federal is in compliance with the foregoing requirements.

 

Required reserves must be maintained in the form of either vault cash, an account at a Federal Reserve Bank or a pass-through account as defined by the FRB.  Pursuant to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the Federal Reserve Banks pay interest on depository institutions’ required and excess reserve balances.  The interest rate paid on required reserve balances is currently the average target federal funds rate over the reserve maintenance period.  The rate on excess balances will be set equal to the lowest target federal funds rate in effect during the reserve maintenance period.

 

FHLB System members are also authorized to borrow from the Federal Reserve “discount window,” but FRB regulations require institutions to exhaust all FHLB sources before borrowing from a Federal Reserve Bank.

 

Savings and Loan Holding Company Regulation

 

We are a unitary savings and loan holding company within the meaning of the HOLA.  As such, we are registered with the FRB and are subject to FRB regulation, examination, supervision and reporting requirements.  In addition, the FRB has enforcement authority over us and our subsidiaries other than Astoria Federal.  Among other things, this authority permits the FRB to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a serious risk to the subsidiary savings association.

 

Gramm-Leach also restricts the powers of new unitary savings and loan holding companies. Unitary savings and loan holding companies that are “grandfathered,” i.e., unitary savings and loan holding companies in existence or with applications filed with the OTS on or before May 4, 1999, such as us, retain their authority under the prior law.  All other unitary savings and loan holding companies are limited to financially related activities permissible for financial holding companies, as defined under Gramm-Leach. Gramm-Leach also prohibits non-financial companies from acquiring grandfathered unitary savings and loan holding companies.

 

Except under limited circumstances, a savings and loan holding company is prohibited (directly or indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries) from (1) acquiring control of another savings association or holding company thereof, or acquiring all or substantially all of the assets thereof, without prior written approval of the FRB; (2) acquiring or retaining, with certain exceptions, more than 5% of the voting shares a non-subsidiary savings association, a non-subsidiary holding company, or a non-subsidiary company engaged in activities other than those permitted by the HOLA; or (3) acquiring or retaining control of a depository institution that is not federally insured.  In evaluating applications by holding companies to acquire savings associations, the FRB must consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the company and institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the DIF, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive factors.

 

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We are currently required to file an application with the FRB prior to declaring any cash dividend on our capital stock.  The application must evidence our compliance with applicable FRB guidance regarding payment of dividends.  The supervisory guidance issued by the FRB states that we should either eliminate, defer or significantly reduce dividends if (1) our net income available to common shareholders over the past year is insufficient to fully fund a dividend, (2) our prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with our capital needs and our overall current or prospective financial condition or (3) we will not meet, or are in danger of not meeting, our minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios.

 

As discussed above, the Reform Act requires the Agencies to establish consolidated risk-based and leverage capital requirements for insured depository institutions, depository institution holding companies and systemically important nonbank financial companies.  These requirements must be no less than those to which insured depository institutions are currently subject.  In addition, the Reform Act specifically authorizes the FRB to issue regulations relating to capital requirements for savings and loan holding companies.  As a result, beginning January 1, 2015, we will become subject to consolidated capital requirements which we have not been subject to previously.  In addition, pursuant to the Reform Act, we are required to serve as a source of strength for Astoria Federal.

 

In October 2012, the FRB published two final rules with stress testing requirements for certain bank holding companies, state member banks, and savings and loan holding companies.  In accordance with these rules, we will be required to conduct annual stress tests as of September 30 of each year and submit regulatory reports to the FRB on our stress tests by March 31 of each year.  In addition, between June 15 and June 30 of each year, we will be required to publicly disclose a summary of the results of the stress test conducted in the prior year.  The stress test requirement is predicated on a company being subject to consolidated capital requirements and, therefore, the FRB delayed effectiveness of this requirement for savings and loan holding companies, such as us, until the year following the year in which such institutions become subject to minimum capital requirements, unless the FRB accelerates the compliance date.  Accordingly, we will be required to conduct our first annual stress test as of September 30, 2016 and submit our first report on our stress test by March 31, 2017.

 

Federal Securities Laws

 

We are subject to the periodic reporting, proxy solicitation, tender offer, insider trading restrictions and other requirements under the Exchange Act.

 

Delaware Corporation Law

 

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Thus, we are subject to regulation by the State of Delaware and the rights of our shareholders are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Federal Taxation

 

General

 

We report our income on a calendar year basis using the accrual method of accounting and are subject to federal income taxation in the same manner as other corporations.

 

Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax

 

In addition to the regular income tax, corporations (including savings and loan associations) generally are subject to an alternative minimum tax, or AMT, in an amount equal to 20% of alternative minimum taxable income to the extent the AMT exceeds the corporation’s regular tax.  The AMT is available as a

 

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credit against future regular income tax.  We do not expect to be subject to the AMT for federal tax purposes.

 

Tax Bad Debt Reserves

 

Effective for tax years commencing January 1, 1996, federal tax legislation modified the methods by which a thrift computes its bad debt deduction.  As a result, Astoria Federal is required to claim a deduction equal to its actual loan loss experience, and the “reserve method” is no longer available.  Any cumulative reserve additions (i.e., bad debt deductions) in excess of actual loss experience for tax years 1988 through 1995 have been fully recaptured over a six year period.  Generally, reserve balances as of December 31, 1987 will only be subject to recapture upon distribution of such reserves to shareholders.  For further discussion of bad debt reserves, see “Distributions.”

 

Distributions

 

To the extent that Astoria Federal makes “nondividend distributions” to shareholders, such distributions will be considered to result in distributions from Astoria Federal’s “base year reserve,” (i.e., its tax bad debt reserve as of December 31, 1987), to the extent thereof, and then from its supplemental tax-basis reserve for losses on loans, and an amount based on the amount distributed will be included in Astoria Federal’s taxable income.  Nondividend distributions include distributions in excess of Astoria Federal’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes, distributions in redemption of stock and distributions in partial or complete liquidation.  However, dividends paid out of Astoria Federal’s current or accumulated earnings and profits will not constitute nondividend distributions and, therefore, will not be included in Astoria Federal’s taxable income.

 

The amount of additional taxable income created from a nondividend distribution is an amount that, when reduced by the tax attributable to the income, is equal to the amount of the distribution. Thus, approximately one and one-half times the nondividend distribution would be includable in gross income for federal income tax purposes, assuming a 35% federal corporate income tax rate.

 

Dividends Received Deduction and Other Matters

 

We may exclude from our income 100% of dividends received from Astoria Federal as a member of the same affiliated group of corporations.  The corporate dividends received deduction is generally 70% in the case of dividends received from unaffiliated corporations with which we will not file a consolidated tax return, except that if we own more than 20% of the stock of a corporation distributing a dividend, 80% of any dividends received may be deducted.

 

State and Local Taxation

 

The following is a general discussion of taxation in New York State and New York City, which are the two principal tax jurisdictions affecting our operations.

 

New York State Taxation

 

New York State imposes an annual franchise tax on banking corporations, based on net income allocable to New York State, at a rate of 7.1%.  If, however, the application of an alternative minimum tax (based on taxable assets allocated to New York, “alternative” net income, or a flat minimum fee) results in a greater tax, an alternative minimum tax will be imposed.  We were subject to the alternative minimum tax for New York State for the year ended December 31, 2013.  In addition, New York State imposes a tax surcharge of 17.0% of the New York State Franchise Tax, calculated using an annual franchise tax rate of 9.0% (which represents the 2000 annual franchise tax rate), allocable to business activities carried on in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District.  These taxes apply to us, Astoria Federal and certain of Astoria Federal’s subsidiaries.  Certain other subsidiaries are subject to a general business corporation

 

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tax in lieu of the tax on banking corporations or are subject to taxes of other jurisdictions.  The rules regarding the determination of net income allocated to New York State and alternative minimum taxes differ for these subsidiaries.

 

New York State passed legislation during 2010 to conform the bad debt deduction allowed under Article 32 of the New York State tax law to the bad debt deduction allowed for federal income tax purposes.  As a result, Astoria Federal no longer establishes or maintains a New York reserve for losses on loans and is required to claim a deduction for bad debts in an amount equal to its actual loan loss experience.  In addition, this legislation eliminated the potential recapture of the New York tax bad debt reserve that could have otherwise occurred in certain circumstances under New York State tax law prior to 2010.

 

Fidata qualifies for alternative tax treatment under Article 9A of the New York State tax law as a Connecticut passive investment company.  Fidata maintains an office in Norwalk, Connecticut and invests in loans secured by real property.  Such loans constitute intangible investments permitted to be held by a Connecticut passive investment company.

 

New York City Taxation

 

Astoria Federal is also subject to the New York City Financial Corporation Tax calculated, subject to a New York City income and expense allocation, on a similar basis as the New York State Franchise Tax.  New York City also enacted legislation during 2010 that is substantially similar to the New York State legislation described above.  A significant portion of Astoria Federal’s entire net income is derived from outside of the New York City jurisdiction which has the effect of significantly reducing the New York City taxable income of Astoria Federal.  We were subject to the alternative minimum tax for New York City (which is similar to the New York State alternative minimum tax) for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

ITEM 1A.                 RISK FACTORS

 

The following is a summary of risk factors relevant to our operations which should be carefully reviewed.  These risk factors do not necessarily appear in the order of importance.

 

Changes in interest rates may reduce our net income.

 

Our earnings depend largely on the relationship between the yield on our interest-earning assets, primarily our mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities, and the cost of our deposits and borrowings.  This relationship, known as the interest rate spread, is subject to fluctuation and is affected by economic and competitive factors which influence market interest rates, the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the level of non-performing assets.  Fluctuations in market interest rates affect customer demand for our products and services.  We are subject to IRR to the degree that our interest-bearing liabilities reprice or mature more slowly or more rapidly or on a different basis than our interest-earning assets.

 

In addition, the actual amount of time before mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities are repaid can be significantly impacted by changes in mortgage prepayment rates and market interest rates.  Mortgage prepayment rates will vary due to a number of factors, including the regional economy in the area where the underlying mortgages were originated, seasonal factors, demographic variables and the assumability of the underlying mortgages.  However, the major factors affecting prepayment rates are prevailing interest rates, related mortgage refinancing opportunities and competition.

 

At December 31, 2013, $700.0 million of our borrowings contain features that would allow them to be called during the 2014 first quarter and on a quarterly basis thereafter.  This would generally occur during periods of rising interest rates.  If this were to occur, we would need to either renew the borrowings at a potentially higher rate of interest, which would negatively impact our net interest income, or repay such

 

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borrowings.  If we sell securities or other assets to fund the repayment of such borrowings, any decline in estimated market value with respect to the securities or assets sold would be realized and could result in a loss upon such sale.

 

Interest rates do and will continue to fluctuate.  Although we cannot predict future Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, or FRB actions or other factors that will cause rates to change, the FOMC reaffirmed its view that an accommodative monetary policy stance will remain appropriate for a considerable period of time.  This is a continuation of their efforts of the past few years during which we have seen historic lows on mortgage interest rates and elevated mortgage loan prepayments.  While this may continue, a flat U.S. Treasury yield curve adversely impacts our net interest rate spread and net interest margin.  No assurance can be given that changes in interest rates or mortgage loan prepayments will not have a negative impact on our net interest income, net interest rate spread or net interest margin.

 

Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions in the New York metropolitan area and nationally.

 

Our retail banking and a significant portion of our lending business (approximately 47% of our residential and substantially all of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolios at December 31, 2013) are concentrated in the New York metropolitan area.  As a result of this geographic concentration, our results of operations largely depend upon economic conditions in this area, although they also depend on economic conditions in other areas.

 

We are operating in a challenging economic environment, both nationally and locally.  Financial institutions continue to be affected by continued softness in the housing and real estate markets.  Depressed real estate values and home sales volumes and financial stress on borrowers as a result of the current economic environment, including elevated unemployment levels, have had an adverse effect on our borrowers, which has adversely affected our results of operations and may continue to do so in the future, as well as adversely affect our financial condition.  In addition, depressed real estate values have adversely affected the value of property used as collateral for our loans.  At December 31, 2013, the average loan-to-value ratio of our mortgage loan portfolio was less than 57% based on current principal balances and original appraised values.  However, no assurance can be given that the original appraised values are reflective of current market conditions as we have experienced significant declines in real estate values in all markets in which we lend.

 

As a residential lender, we are particularly vulnerable to the impact of a severe job loss recession.  Significant increases in job losses and unemployment have a negative impact on the financial condition of residential borrowers and their ability to remain current on their mortgage loans.  Continued weakness or deterioration in national and local economic conditions, including an accelerating pace of job losses, particularly in the New York metropolitan area, could have a material adverse impact on the quality of our loan portfolio, which could result in increases in loan delinquencies, causing a decrease in our interest income as well as an adverse impact on our loan loss experience, causing an increase in our allowance for loan losses and related provision and a decrease in net income.  Such deterioration could also adversely impact the demand for our products and services, and, accordingly, our results of operations.

 

Strong competition within our market areas could hurt our profits and slow growth.

 

Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to compete successfully in our market areas.  The New York metropolitan area has a high density of financial institutions, a number of which are significantly larger and have greater financial resources than we have.  We face intense competition both in making loans and attracting deposits.  Our competition for loans, both locally and nationally, comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking companies and credit unions.  Our most direct competition for deposits comes from commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions.  We also face competition for deposits from money market mutual funds and other corporate and government securities funds as well as from

 

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other financial intermediaries such as brokerage firms and insurance companies.  Price competition for loans and deposits could result in earning less on our loans and paying more on our deposits, which would reduce our net interest income.  Competition also makes it more difficult to grow our loan and deposit balances.

 

We may not be able to fully execute on our new business initiatives which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

We have historically been a community-oriented retail bank offering traditional deposit products and focusing on residential mortgage lending. However, the current economic environment has made it difficult for us to profitably grow our business in the same manner as it has in the past. Accordingly, we continue to implement strategies to grow other loan categories to diversify earning assets and to increase low cost core deposits. These strategies include continued reliance on our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage lending operations and, over time, significantly expanding our business banking operations. Our business banking initiative includes focusing on small and middle market businesses, with an emphasis on attracting clients from larger competitors.  We continue to explore opportunities to selectively expand our physical presence, consisting presently of our branch network of 85 locations plus our dedicated business banking office opened during the 2013 third quarter in midtown Manhattan, into other prime locations in Manhattan and on Long Island from which to better serve and build our business banking relationships.  There are costs, risks and uncertainties associated with the development, implementation and execution of these new initiatives, including the investment of time and resources, the possibility that these initiatives will be unprofitable and the risk of additional liabilities associated with these initiatives. In addition, our ability to successfully execute on these new initiatives will depend in part on our ability to attract and retain talented individuals to help manage these initiatives and the existence of satisfactory market conditions that will allow us to profitably grow these businesses. Our potential inability to successfully execute these initiatives could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.  We expect our non-interest expense to increase in connection with the increased staff related to these initiatives and the potential addition of new branches.  We anticipate realizing these costs in advance of realizing increased revenues and deposit growth from these initiatives.

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate lending may expose us to increased lending risks.

 

Our policy generally has been to originate multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans in the New York metropolitan area.  At December 31, 2013, multi-family mortgage loans totaled $3.30 billion, or 26% of our total loan portfolio, and commercial real estate mortgage loans totaled $813.0 million, or 7% of our total loan portfolio.  Our combined multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio increased $928.8 million, or 29%, from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013.  Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans generally involve a greater degree of credit risk than residential mortgage loans because they typically have larger balances and are more affected by adverse conditions in the economy.  Because payments on loans secured by multi-family properties and commercial real estate often depend upon the successful operation and management of the properties and the businesses which operate from within them, repayment of such loans may be affected by factors outside the borrower’s control, such as adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy or changes in government regulation.  At December 31, 2013, non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans totaled $20.4 million, or 0.50% of our total portfolio of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.

 

We have originated multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans in areas other than the New York metropolitan area.  At December 31, 2013, loans in states other than New York, New Jersey and Connecticut comprised 1% of the total multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio.  We could be subject to additional risks with respect to multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage lending in areas other than the New York metropolitan area since we have less experience in these areas with this type of lending and less direct oversight of the local market and the borrowers’ operations.

 

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Astoria Federal’s ability to pay dividends or lend funds to us is subject to regulatory limitations which, to the extent we need but are not able to access such funds, may prevent us from making future dividend payments or principal and interest payments due on our debt obligations.

 

We are a unitary savings and loan holding company currently regulated by the FRB and almost all of our operating assets are owned by Astoria Federal.  We rely primarily on dividends from Astoria Federal to pay cash dividends to our stockholders, to engage in share repurchase programs and to pay principal and interest on our debt obligations.  The OCC regulates all capital distributions by Astoria Federal directly or indirectly to us, including dividend payments.  As the subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, Astoria Federal must file a notice with the OCC at least 30 days prior to each capital distribution.  If the total amount of all capital distributions (including each proposed capital distribution) for the applicable calendar year exceeds net income for that year to date plus the retained net income for the preceding two years, then Astoria Federal must file an application to receive the approval of the OCC for a proposed capital distribution.  During 2013, Astoria Federal was not required to file such applications, but was required to, and did, notify the OCC of its intent to pay dividends, to which the OCC did not object.  Astoria Federal must also provide notice to the FRB at least 30 days prior to declaring a dividend.

 

In addition, Astoria Federal may not pay dividends to us if, after paying those dividends, it would fail to meet the required minimum levels under risk-based capital guidelines and the minimum leverage and tangible capital ratio requirements or the OCC notified Astoria Federal that it was in need of more than normal supervision.  Under the prompt corrective action provisions of the FDIA, an insured depository institution such as Astoria Federal is prohibited from making a capital distribution, including the payment of dividends, if, after making such distribution, the institution would become “undercapitalized” (as such term is used in the FDIA).  Payment of dividends by Astoria Federal also may be restricted at any time at the discretion of the OCC if it deems the payment to constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice.  Furthermore, capital standards imposed on us and similarly situated institutions have been and continue to be refined by bank regulatory agencies under the Reform Act.  Deterioration of economic conditions and further changes to regulatory guidance could result in revised capital standards that may indicate the need for us or Astoria Federal to maintain greater capital positions, which could lead to limitations in dividend payments to us by Astoria Federal.

 

There can be no assurance that Astoria Federal will be able to pay dividends at past levels, or at all, in the future.  If we do not receive sufficient cash dividends or are unable to borrow from Astoria Federal, then we may not have sufficient funds to pay dividends to our shareholders, repurchase our common stock or service our debt obligations.

 

In addition to regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends, Astoria Federal is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit it makes to its affiliates and on investments in stock or other securities of its affiliates.  We are considered an affiliate of Astoria Federal.  These restrictions prevent affiliates of Astoria Federal, including us, from borrowing from Astoria Federal, unless various types of collateral secure the loans.  Federal law limits the aggregate amount of loans to and investments in any single affiliate to 10% of Astoria Federal’s capital stock and surplus and also limits the aggregate amount of loans to and investments in all affiliates to 20% of Astoria Federal’s capital stock and surplus.

 

The Reform Act imposes further restrictions on transactions with affiliates and extensions of credit to executive officers, directors and principal shareholders, by, among other things, expanding covered transactions to include securities lending, repurchase agreement and derivatives activities with affiliates.

 

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We are subject to regulatory requirements and limitations that may impact our ability to pay future dividends.

 

We are currently required to file an application with the FRB prior to declaring a cash dividend on our capital stock.  The application must evidence our compliance with applicable FRB guidance regarding payment of dividends.  The supervisory guidance issued by the FRB states that we should either eliminate, defer or significantly reduce dividends if (1) our net income available to common shareholders over the past year is insufficient to fully fund a dividend, (2) our prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with our capital needs and our overall current or prospective financial condition or (3) we will not meet, or are in danger of not meeting, our minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios.

 

We operate in a highly regulated industry, which limits the manner and scope of our business activities.

 

We are subject to extensive supervision, regulation and examination by the FRB, OCC, CFPB and FDIC.  As a result, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business, undertake new investments and activities and obtain financing.  This regulatory structure is designed primarily for the protection of the DIF and our depositors, as well as other consumers and not to benefit our stockholders.  This regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to capital levels, the timing and amount of dividend payments, the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes.  In addition, we must comply with significant anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws.  Our failure to comply with applicable regulations, or the failure to develop, implement and comply with corrective action plans to address any identified areas of noncompliance, may result in the assessment of fines and penalties and the commencement of informal or formal regulatory enforcement actions against us. Other negative consequences also can result from such failures, including regulatory restrictions on our activities, reputational damage, restrictions on the ability of institutional investment managers to invest in our securities and increases in our costs of doing business. Increases in our costs of doing business may include increased salaries and benefits expenses associated with hiring additional employees, incurring fees and expenses for outside services, such as consulting and legal advice, and costs associated with enhancing or acquiring systems and technological infrastructure to strengthen our regulatory compliance program. The occurrence of one or more of these events may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Changes in laws, government regulation and monetary policy may have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

Financial institutions have been the subject of significant legislative and regulatory changes and may be the subject of further significant legislation or regulation in the future, none of which is within our control.  Significant new laws or regulations or changes in, or repeals of, existing laws or regulations, including those with respect to federal and state taxation, may cause our results of operations to differ materially.  In addition, the costs and burden of compliance have significantly increased and could adversely affect our ability to operate profitably.  Further, federal monetary policy significantly affects credit conditions for Astoria Federal, as well as for our borrowers, particularly as implemented through the Federal Reserve System, primarily through open market operations in U.S. government securities, the discount rate for bank borrowings and reserve requirements.  A material change in any of these conditions could have a material impact on Astoria Federal or our borrowers, and therefore on our results of operations.

 

The regulatory reform legislation that became effective in 2011 has created uncertainty and may have a material effect on our operations and capital requirements.

 

As a result of the financial crisis which occurred in the banking and financial markets commencing in the second half of 2007, the overall bank regulatory climate is now marked by caution, conservatism and a

 

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focus on compliance and risk management.  We expect to continue to face increased regulation and supervision of our industry as a result of the financial crisis and there will be additional requirements and conditions imposed on us to the extent that we participate in any of the programs established or to be established by the Treasury or by the Agencies. Such additional regulation and supervision may increase our costs and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities.  In addition, there are many provisions of the Reform Act which are to be implemented through regulations that have not yet been adopted by the Agencies, which creates a risk of uncertainty as to the effect that such provisions will ultimately have.  In addition to the creation of the CFPB, we believe the following provisions of the Reform Act have had or will have the most impact on us:

 

·                 The assumption by the OCC of regulatory authority over all federal savings associations, such as Astoria Federal, and the acquisition by the FRB of regulatory authority over all savings and loan holding companies, such as Astoria Financial Corporation, as well as all subsidiaries of savings and loan holding companies other than depository institutions.  Although the laws and regulations currently applicable to us generally have not changed by virtue of the elimination of the OTS (except to the extent such laws have been modified by the Reform Act), the application of these laws and regulations may vary as administered by the OCC and the FRB.

·                 The significant roll back of the federal preemption of state consumer protection laws that was enjoyed by federal savings associations and national banks.  As a result, we are subject to state consumer protection laws in each state where we do business, and those laws can be interpreted and enforced differently in different states.

·                 The establishment of consolidated risk-based and leverage capital requirements for insured depository institutions, depository institution holding companies and systemically important nonbank financial companies, as discussed below.

·                 The increase in the minimum DRR for the DIF from 1.15% to 1.35% of insured deposits, which must be reached by September 30, 2020, and the requirement that deposit insurance assessments be based on average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity, rather than on deposit bases, had the effect of substantially increasing our deposit insurance premiums.

 

New and future rulemaking from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may have a material effect on our operations and operating costs.

 

The CFPB has the authority to implement and enforce a variety of existing consumer protection statutes and to issue new regulations and, with respect to institutions of our size, has exclusive examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to such laws and regulations.  As an independent bureau within the FRB, the CFPB may impose requirements more severe than the previous bank regulatory agencies.

 

Pursuant to the Reform Act, the CFPB issued a series of final rules in January 2013 related to mortgage loan origination and mortgage loan servicing.  These final rules, most provisions of which became effective January 10, 2014, prohibit creditors, such as Astoria Federal, from extending mortgage loans without regard for the consumer’s ability to repay and add restrictions and requirements to mortgage origination and servicing practices.  In addition, these rules restrict the application of prepayment penalties and compensation practices relating to mortgage loan underwriting.  Compliance with these rules will likely increase our overall regulatory compliance costs and required us to change our underwriting practices.  Moreover, these rules may adversely affect the volume of mortgage loans that we underwrite and may subject Astoria Federal to increased potential liability related to its residential loan origination activities.

 

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As a result of the Reform Act and recent rulemaking, we will become subject to more stringent capital requirements.

 

Pursuant to the Reform Act, the Agencies adopted the Final Capital Rules in July 2013 to update the Agencies’ general risk-based capital and leverage capital requirements to incorporate agreements reflected in the Basel III capital standards as well as the requirements of the Reform Act. Among other things, the Final Capital Rules establish a new minimum common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5% and increase the minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio from 4.0% to 6.0%.  In addition, the Final Capital Rules add a requirement to maintain a minimum Conservation Buffer, composed of common equity Tier 1 capital, of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets and provide that the failure to maintain the minimum Conservation Buffer will result in restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary cash bonus payments to executive officers.  The Final Capital Rules are described in more detail in Item 1, “Business - Regulation and Supervision - Capital Requirements.”  While we are continuing to prepare for the impact of the Final Capital Rules, there can be no assurance that the Final Capital Rules will not have a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the failure to meet the established capital requirements could result in the FRB placing limitations or conditions on our activities or restricting the commencement of new activities, and such failure could subject us to a variety of enforcement remedies available to the federal regulatory authorities, including limiting our ability to pay dividends; issuing a directive to increase our capital; and terminating our FDIC deposit insurance.

 

Our ability to originate residential mortgage loans for portfolio has been adversely affected by the increased competition resulting from the unprecedented involvement of the U.S. government and GSEs in the residential mortgage market.

 

Over the past few years, we have faced increased competition for residential mortgage loans due to the unprecedented involvement of the GSEs in the mortgage market as a result of the economic crisis, which has caused the interest rate for thirty year fixed rate mortgage loans that conform to GSE guidelines to remain artificially low.  In addition, the U.S. Congress has expanded the conforming loan limits in many of our operating markets, allowing larger balance loans to continue to be acquired by the GSEs.  As a result, more loans in our portfolio qualified under the expanded conforming loan limits and were refinanced into conforming fixed rate mortgages which we originate but do not retain for portfolio.  Our residential mortgage loan repayments have remained at elevated levels and outpaced our loan production as a result of these factors, making it difficult for us to grow our residential mortgage loan portfolio and balance sheet.

 

The ultimate resolution of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may materially impact our results of operations.

 

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are under conservatorship with the Federal Housing Finance Agency.  In February 2011, the Obama administration presented the U.S. Congress with a report of its proposals for reforming America’s housing finance market with the goal of scaling back the role of the U.S. government in, and promoting the return of private capital to, the mortgage markets and ultimately winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Without mentioning a specific time frame, the report calls for  the reduction of the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the mortgage markets by, among other things, reducing conforming loan limits, increasing guarantee fees and requiring larger down payments by borrowers.  The report presents three options for the long-term structure of housing finance, all of which call for the unwinding of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a reduced role of the government in the mortgage market: (1) a system with U.S. government insurance limited to a narrowly targeted group of borrowers; (2) a system similar to (1) above except with an expanded guarantee during times of crisis; and (3) a system where the U.S. government offers catastrophic reinsurance for the securities of a targeted range of mortgages behind significant private capital.  We cannot be certain if or when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be wound down, if or when reform of the housing finance market will be implemented or what the future role of the U.S. government will be in the mortgage market, and, accordingly, we will

 

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not be able to determine the impact that any such reform may have on us until a definitive reform plan is adopted.

 

Changes in the fair value of our securities may reduce our stockholders’ equity and net income.

 

At December 31, 2013, $401.7 million of our securities were classified as available-for-sale.  The estimated fair value of our available-for-sale securities portfolio may increase or decrease depending on changes in interest rates.  In general, as interest rates rise, the estimated fair value of our fixed rate securities portfolio will decrease.  Our securities portfolio is comprised primarily of fixed rate securities.  We increase or decrease stockholders’ equity by the amount of the change in the unrealized gain or loss (difference between the estimated fair value and the amortized cost) of our available-for-sale securities portfolio, net of the related tax effect, under the category of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss.  Therefore, a decline in the estimated fair value of this portfolio will result in a decline in reported stockholders’ equity, as well as book value per common share and tangible book value per common share.  This decrease will occur even though the securities are not sold.  In the case of debt securities, if these securities are never sold, the decrease will be recovered over the life of the securities.

 

We conduct a periodic review and evaluation of the securities portfolio to determine if the decline in the fair value of any security below its cost basis is other-than-temporary. Factors which we consider in our analysis include, but are not limited to, the severity and duration of the decline in fair value of the security, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, whether the decline appears to be related to issuer conditions or general market or industry conditions, our intent and ability to not sell the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value and the likelihood of any near-term fair value recovery.  We generally view changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary, which is consistent with our experience.  If we deem such decline to be 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 other-than-temporary impairment, or OTTI, for a debt security that does not represent credit losses which is recognized in other comprehensive income/loss, net of applicable taxes.

 

We have, in the past, recorded OTTI charges.  We continue to monitor the fair value of our securities portfolio as part of our ongoing OTTI evaluation process.  No assurance can be given that we will not need to recognize OTTI charges related to securities in the future.

 

Declines in the market value of our common stock may have a material effect on the value of our reporting unit which could result in a goodwill impairment charge and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

At December 31, 2013, the carrying amount of our goodwill totaled $185.2 million.  We performed our annual goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2013 and determined there was no goodwill impairment as of our annual impairment test date.  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.  No events have occurred and no circumstances have changed since our annual impairment test date that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our reporting unit below its carrying amount.  Our market capitalization is less than our total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2013.  We considered this and other factors in our goodwill impairment analyses.  No assurance can be given that we will not record an impairment loss on goodwill in a subsequent period.  However, our tangible capital ratio and Astoria Federal’s regulatory capital ratios would not be affected by this potential non-cash expense.

 

A natural disaster could harm our business.

 

Natural disasters can disrupt our operations, result in damage to our properties, reduce or destroy the value of the collateral for our loans and negatively affect the local economies in which we operate, which

 

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could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.  The occurrence of a natural disaster could result in one or more of the following: (1) an increase in loan delinquencies; (2) an increase in problem assets and foreclosures; (3) a decrease in the demand for our products and services; or (4) a decrease in the value of the collateral for loans, especially real estate, in turn reducing customers’ borrowing power, the value of assets associated with problem loans and collateral coverage.

 

The occurrence of any failure, breach or interruption in service involving our systems or those of our service providers could damage our reputation, cause losses, increase our expenses, result in a loss of customers, increase regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possibly financial liability, any of which could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our stock.

 

Communications and information systems are essential to the conduct of our business, as we use such systems to manage our customer relationships, our general ledger, our deposits and our loans. Our operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. Although we take protective measures and endeavor to modify them as circumstances warrant, the security of our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to breaches, unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses, or other malicious code and cyber attacks that could have a security impact.  In addition, breaches of security may occur through intentional or unintentional acts by those having authorized or unauthorized access to our confidential or other information or the confidential or other information of our customers, clients or counterparties. If one or more of such events were to occur, the confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks could potentially be jeopardized, or could otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or the operations of our customers, clients or counterparties. This could cause us significant reputational damage or result in our experiencing significant losses.

 

Furthermore, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures arising from operational and security risks. We also may be subject to litigation and financial losses that are either not insured against or not fully covered through any insurance we maintain.  In addition, we routinely transmit and receive personal, confidential and proprietary information by e-mail and other electronic means. We have discussed and worked with our customers, clients and counterparties to develop secure transmission capabilities, but we do not have, and may be unable to put in place, secure capabilities with all of these constituents, and we may not be able to ensure that these third parties have appropriate controls in place to protect the confidentiality of such information.

 

While we have established policies and procedures to prevent or limit the impact of systems failures and interruptions, there can be no assurance that such events will not occur or that they will be adequately addressed if they do. In addition, we outsource certain aspects of our data processing to certain third-party providers. If our third-party providers encounter difficulties, or if we have difficulty in communicating with them, our ability to adequately process and account for customer transactions could be affected, and our business operations could be adversely impacted. Threats to information security also exist in the processing of customer information through various other vendors and their personnel.

 

Our stress testing processes rely on analytical and forecasting models that may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate, which could adversely affect the effectiveness of our strategic planning and our ability to pursue certain corporate goals.

 

The processes we use to estimate the effects of changing interest rates, real estate values and economic indicators such as unemployment on our financial condition and results of operations depend upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. These models reflect assumptions that may not be accurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Furthermore, even if our assumptions are accurate predictors of future performance, the models they are based on may prove to be

 

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inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or implementation. If the models we use in the process of managing our interest rate and other risks prove to be inadequate or inaccurate, we could incur increased or unexpected losses which, in turn, could adversely affect our earnings and capital. Furthermore, the assumptions we utilize for our stress tests may not meet with regulatory approval, which could result in our stress testing receiving a failing grade. In addition to adversely affecting our reputation, failing our stress tests could preclude or delay our ability to grow through acquisition and could lead to a reduction in our quarterly cash dividends.

 

Many aspects of our operations are dependent upon the soundness of other financial intermediaries.

 

The commercial soundness of many financial institutions may be closely interrelated as a result of credit, trading, execution of transactions or other relationships between the institutions. As a result, concerns about, or a default or threatened default by, one institution could lead to significant market-wide liquidity and credit problems, losses or defaults by other institutions. This is sometimes referred to as “systemic risk” and may adversely affect financial intermediaries, such as clearing agencies, clearing houses, banks, securities firms and exchanges, with which we interact on a daily basis, and therefore could adversely us.

 

ITEM 1B.                  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.                            PROPERTIES

 

We operate 85 full-service banking offices, of which 50 are owned and 35 are leased.  We expect to open our first full service branch in midtown Manhattan during 2014 for which we are obligated under a lease commitment through 2024.  We own our principal executive office located in Lake Success, New York.  We are obligated under a lease commitment through 2017 for our residential mortgage operating facility in Mineola, New York.  At December 31, 2013, approximately two-thirds of our Mineola facility was sublet.  We are obligated under an operating lease commitment through 2021 for office space in Jericho, New York, at which our multi-family and commercial real estate lending and business banking departments and other operations are located, and under an operating lease commitment through 2017 for our business banking office in midtown Manhattan.  We lease office facilities for our wholly-owned subsidiaries Fidata in Norwalk, Connecticut, and Suffco in Farmingdale, New York.  We believe such facilities are suitable and adequate for our operational needs.  For further information regarding our lease obligations, see Item 7, “MD&A” and Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

ITEM 3.                            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 has 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 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

 

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significant.  Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at December 31, 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.

 

ITEM 4.                            MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.                            MARKET FOR ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “AF.”  The table below shows the high and low sale prices reported by the NYSE for our common stock during the periods indicated.

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

High

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

 

First Quarter

 

$ 10.24

 

$ 9.41

 

$ 10.08

 

$ 8.03

 

Second Quarter

 

10.83

 

9.22

 

10.03

 

8.36

 

Third Quarter

 

13.05

 

10.80

 

11.08

 

8.91

 

Fourth Quarter

 

14.16

 

11.97

 

10.50

 

8.88

 

 

As of February 14, 2014, we had 2,915 shareholders of record.  As of December 31, 2013, there were 98,841,960 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

The following schedule summarizes the cash dividends paid per common share for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

First Quarter

 

$ 0.04

 

$ 0.13

 

Second Quarter

 

0.04

 

0.04

 

Third Quarter

 

0.04

 

0.04

 

Fourth Quarter

 

0.04

 

0.04

 

 

On January 29, 2014, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per common share, payable on March 1, 2014, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2014.  As in the past, our Board of Directors reviews the payment of dividends quarterly and plans to continue to maintain a regular quarterly dividend in the future, dependent upon our earnings, financial condition and other factors.

 

We are subject to the laws of the State of Delaware which generally limit dividends on capital stock to an amount equal to the excess of our net assets (the amount by which total assets exceed total liabilities) over our statutory capital, or if there is no such excess, to our net profits for the current and/or immediately preceding fiscal year.  Additionally, 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.  Prior to declaring a dividend, we are required to seek the approval of the FRB.  Our payment of dividends is dependent, in large part, upon receipt of dividends

 

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from Astoria Federal.  Astoria Federal is subject to certain restrictions which may limit its ability to pay us dividends. See Item 1, “Business – Regulation and Supervision” for an explanation of regulatory requirements with respect to Astoria Federal’s and Astoria Financial Corporation’s ability to pay dividends.  We are also subject to certain financial covenants and other limitations pursuant to the terms of various debt instruments that have been issued by us, which could have an impact on our ability to pay dividends in certain circumstances.  See Item 7, “MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further discussion of such financial covenants and other limitations.  See Item 1, “Business — Federal Taxation” and Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for an explanation of the tax impact of the unlikely event that Astoria Federal (1) makes distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes; (2) redeems its stock; or (3) liquidates.

 

Stock Performance Graph

 

The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total shareholder return on Astoria Financial Corporation common stock, or AFC Common Stock, during the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, with the cumulative total returns of both a broad market index, the Standard & Poor’s, or S&P, 500 Stock Index, and a peer group index, the S&P Midcap 400 Financials Index.  The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2008 in AFC Common Stock and in each of the S&P indices and assumes that all of the dividends were reinvested.

 

 

AFC Common Stock, Market and Peer Group Indices

 

 

 

AFC Common Stock

 

S&P 500 Stock Index

 

S&P Midcap 400 Financials Index

 

December 31, 2008

 

$ 100.00

 

$ 100.00

 

$ 100.00

 

December 31, 2009

 

80.10

 

126.46

 

112.86

 

December 31, 2010

 

93.28

 

145.51

 

135.13

 

December 31, 2011

 

59.74

 

148.59

 

128.39

 

December 31, 2012

 

67.70

 

172.37

 

151.18

 

December 31, 2013

 

101.47

 

228.19

 

189.08

 

 

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-

 

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market or privately negotiated transactions.  At December 31, 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.

 

On May 30, 2013, our Chief Executive Officer submitted his annual certification to the NYSE indicating that he was not aware of any violation by Astoria Financial Corporation of NYSE corporate governance listing standards as of the May 30, 2013 certification date.

 

ITEM 6.                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Set forth below are our selected consolidated financial and other data.  This financial data is derived in part from, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and related notes.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Selected Financial Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$15,793,722

 

$16,496,642

 

$17,022,055

 

$18,089,269

 

$20,252,179

 

Securities available-for-sale

 

401,690

 

336,300

 

344,187

 

561,953

 

860,694

 

Securities held-to-maturity

 

1,849,526

 

1,700,141

 

2,130,804

 

2,003,784

 

2,317,885

 

Loans receivable, net

 

12,303,066

 

13,078,471

 

13,117,419

 

14,021,548

 

15,586,673

 

Deposits

 

9,855,310

 

10,443,958

 

11,245,614

 

11,599,000

 

12,812,238

 

Borrowings, net

 

4,137,161

 

4,373,496

 

4,121,573

 

4,869,204

 

5,877,834

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,519,513

 

1,293,989

 

1,251,198

 

1,241,780

 

1,208,614

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Selected Operating Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

$

518,430

 

$

600,509

 

$

695,248

 

$

855,299

 

$

997,541

 

Interest expense

 

176,528

 

252,240

 

319,822

 

421,732

 

568,772

 

Net interest income

 

341,902

 

348,269

 

375,426

 

433,567

 

428,769

 

Provision for loan losses

 

19,601

 

40,400

 

37,000

 

115,000

 

200,000

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

322,301

 

307,869

 

338,426

 

318,567

 

228,769

 

Non-interest income

 

69,572

 

73,235

 

68,915

 

81,188

 

79,801

 

General and administrative expense

 

287,531

 

300,133

 

301,417

 

284,918

 

270,056

 

Income before income tax expense

 

104,342

 

80,971

 

105,924

 

114,837

 

38,514

 

Income tax expense

 

37,749

 

27,880

 

38,715

 

41,103

 

10,830

 

Net income

 

66,593

 

53,091

 

67,209

 

73,734

 

27,684

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

7,214

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

59,379

 

$

53,091

 

$

67,209

 

$

73,734

 

$

27,684

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$0.60

 

$0.55

 

$0.70

 

$0.78

 

$0.30

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$0.60

 

$0.55

 

$0.70

 

$0.78

 

$0.30

 

 

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At or For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets (1)

 

0.41

%

0.31

%

0.39

%

0.38

%

0.13

%

Return on average common stockholders’ equity (1)

 

4.50

 

4.15

 

5.31

 

6.02

 

2.31

 

Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity (1)(2)

 

5.23

 

4.86

 

6.22

 

7.09

 

2.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average stockholders’ equity to average assets

 

8.79

 

7.47

 

7.28

 

6.28

 

5.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity to total assets

 

9.62

 

7.84

 

7.35

 

6.86

 

5.97

 

Common stockholders’ equity to total assets

 

8.80

 

7.84

 

7.35

 

6.86

 

5.97

 

Tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets (tangible common equity ratio) (2)(3)

 

7.72

 

6.80

 

6.33

 

5.90

 

5.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest rate spread (4)

 

2.17

 

2.09

 

2.23

 

2.28

 

2.04

 

Net interest margin (5)

 

2.25

 

2.16

 

2.30

 

2.35

 

2.13

 

Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities

 

1.06

x

1.05

x

1.04

x

1.03

x

1.03

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expense to average assets

 

1.78

%

1.75

%

1.73

%

1.46

%

1.28

%

Efficiency ratio (6)

 

69.88

 

71.21

 

67.83

 

55.35

 

53.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$  0.16

 

$  0.25

 

$  0.52

 

$  0.52

 

$  0.52

 

Dividend payout ratio

 

26.67

%

45.45

%

74.29

%

66.67

%

173.33

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset Quality Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-performing loans to total loans (7)

 

2.67

%

2.38

%

2.51

%

2.75

%

2.59

%

Non-performing loans to total assets (7)

 

2.10

 

1.91

 

1.96

 

2.16

 

2.02

 

Non-performing assets to total assets (7)(8)

 

2.37

 

2.08

 

2.24

 

2.51

 

2.25

 

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans (7)

 

41.87

 

46.18

 

47.22

 

51.57

 

47.49

 

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

 

1.12

 

1.10

 

1.18

 

1.42

 

1.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of deposit accounts

 

557,625

 

613,871

 

703,454

 

753,984

 

817,632

 

Mortgage loans serviced for others (in thousands)

 

$1,504,654

 

$1,443,672

 

$1,446,646

 

$1,443,709

 

$1,379,259

 

Full service banking offices

 

85

 

85

 

85

 

85

 

85

 

Full time equivalent employees

 

1,540

 

1,530

 

1,636

 

1,565

 

1,592

 

 

(1)         Returns on average assets are calculated using net income.  Returns on average common stockholders’ equity and average tangible common stockholders’ equity are calculated using net income available to common shareholders.

 

(2)         Tangible common stockholders’ equity represents common stockholders’ equity less goodwill.

 

(3)         Tangible assets represent assets less goodwill.

 

(4)         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.

 

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

 

(6)         Efficiency ratio represents general and administrative expense divided by the sum of net interest income plus non-interest income.

 

(7)         Non-performing loans consist of all non-accrual loans and all mortgage loans delinquent 90 days or more, primarily as to their maturity date but not their interest due, and exclude loans held-for-sale and loans which have been modified in a TDR that have been returned to accrual status.  Restructured accruing loans totaled $100.5 million, $98.7 million, $73.7 million, $49.2 million and $26.0 million at December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

(8)         Non-performing assets consist of all non-performing loans and real estate owned.

 

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ITEM 7.                MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements presented elsewhere in this report.

 

Executive Summary

 

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

 

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 continue to implement our 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 middle market businesses with an emphasis on attracting clients from larger competitors.  We continue to explore opportunities to selectively expand our physical presence, consisting presently of our branch network of 85 locations plus our dedicated business banking office in midtown Manhattan, into other prime locations in Manhattan and on Long Island 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.  Long-term interest rates moved higher during the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and into the remainder of 2013, with the ten-year U.S. Treasury rate increasing from 1.63% at May 1, 2013 to 3.03% at the end of December.  The national unemployment rate declined to 6.7% for December 2013 compared to 7.9% for December 2012, 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.  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,” certain aspects of the Reform Act continue to have a significant impact on us. In July 2013, the Agencies approved the Final Capital 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 prepare for the impacts that the Reform Act, Basel III capital standards, and related rulemaking will have on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Net income available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting the benefits resulting from reductions in provision for loan losses and operating expense, partially offset by reduced net interest income and non-interest income.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2013, a decline in interest income exceeded a decline in interest expense, resulting in lower net interest income compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decline in interest income reflected lower average yields on mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and

 

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other securities and a decline in the average balance of residential mortgage loans, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.  The decline in interest expense was primarily attributable to declines in both the average costs and average balances of borrowings and certificates of deposit.  The net interest margin and net interest rate spread for the year ended December 31, 2013 each increased compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.  The continued low interest rate environment, coupled with the restructuring of $1.35 billion of borrowings and the prepayment of our junior subordinated debentures during 2013, 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 year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $19.6 million, compared to $40.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decline in the provision for loan losses reflects the continued improvement in the levels of net loan charge-offs and delinquent loans, as well as the contraction of the overall loan portfolio.  The allowance for loan losses totaled $139.0 million at December 31, 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 throughout 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 December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  This increase was primarily attributable to the inclusion of bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due, which totaled $61.0 million at December 31, 2013 and $5.7 million at December 31, 2012, as non-performing loans in 2013.  Such loans continue to generate interest income on a cash basis as payments are received.

 

Non-interest income was lower in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily due to a decline in gain on sales of securities and lower customer service fees, partially offset by higher mortgage banking income, net, including a partial recovery of the impairment valuation allowance on our mortgage servicing rights asset.  The decline in gain on sales of securities resulted from the 2012 sale of Astoria Federal’s entire position in Freddie Mac perpetual preferred securities.

 

Non-interest expense declined in 2013 compared to 2012 reflecting lower federal deposit insurance premium expense, compensation and benefits expense, primarily pension related, and other non-interest expense, partially offset by increases in occupancy, equipment and systems expense and extinguishment of debt expense.  Included in our 2012 compensation and benefits expense were net charges totaling $5.6 million associated with cost control initiatives implemented in the 2012 first quarter.  As a part of those initiatives, our defined benefit pension plans were amended in 2012 which resulted in a significant reduction in net periodic pension cost in subsequent periods.  As we continue to execute our plan, we anticipate selective investment and increases in expense levels as a result.

 

Total assets declined during the year ended December 31, 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 December 31, 2013, our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio represented 33% 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 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 ARM loan product that we retain for our portfolio.  However, as longer-term interest rates moved higher in 2013, we began to experience a reduction in the levels of residential mortgage loan prepayments near the end of the 2013 third quarter which continued into the 2013 fourth quarter.

 

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Total deposits declined during the year ended December 31, 2013 as a result of a decline in certificates of deposit, slightly offset by a net increase in our core deposits, reflecting an increase in money market accounts which more than offset a decline in savings accounts.  At December 31, 2013, core deposits represented 67% of total deposits, up from 62% at December 31, 2012.  Total deposits included $650.1 million of business deposits at December 31, 2013, an increase of 32% 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.

 

Our borrowings portfolio decreased during the year ended December 31, 2013 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.  The decrease in borrowings, coupled with the growth in business deposits and decrease in certificates of deposit are a reflection of our continuing efforts to reposition the mix of liabilities on our balance sheet.

 

Stockholders’ equity increased as of December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  This increase included the issuance of preferred stock in the 2013 first quarter, net income for 2013 and a decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss, reflective of an improvement in the funded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012, partially offset by dividends on common and preferred stock.  The issuance of the preferred stock and the redemption of our junior subordinated debentures will benefit our regulatory capital position when we become subject to consolidated capital requirements in January 2015.

 

Our strategy to strengthen and expand our position as a full service community bank is taking hold.  We have continued in 2013 to strategically reposition our balance sheet, growing our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio and low cost core deposits.  As we move forward we will continue to execute this strategy to further diversify our balance sheet and improve our net interest margin. Business banking will remain a focus and we expect to open our first full-service branch in Manhattan by the end of the 2014 first quarter.  In addition, we plan to open additional full-service branches in prime locations within our market from which to better serve our business banking clients as opportunities present themselves going forward.  We anticipate that our net interest margin in 2014 will be higher than the 2.25% net interest margin we achieved in 2013.  We believe we will experience a growth in earning assets in 2014 as the contraction we have witnessed over the past several years in the residential mortgage loan portfolio continues to slow down and the growth in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio resulting from new originations starts to outpace the shrinkage resulting from prepayments.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” 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 assumptions, estimates and judgments 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 is a description of these critical accounting policies and an explanation of the methods and assumptions underlying their application.

 

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Allowance for Loan Losses

 

We establish and maintain an allowance for loan losses based on our evaluation of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio.  The allowance is increased by provisions for loan losses charged to earnings and is decreased by loan charge-offs in the period the loans, or portions thereof, are deemed uncollectible.  Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off increase the allowance for loan losses in the period they are received.  The allowance for loan losses is determined based on a comprehensive analysis of our loan portfolio.  We evaluate the adequacy of the 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 of the allowance, we review loans deemed to be impaired and measure impairment losses based on either the fair value of the collateral, the present value of expected future cash flows, or the observable market price of the loan.  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 of the allowance on an individual loan, such allocation would be established 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 charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.  For loans individually classified as impaired, the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the present value of the discounted cash flows of a modified loan or, for collateral dependent loans, the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs, is charged-off.

 

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 mortgage loans modified in a TDR, 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 our 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.

 

Our residential mortgage loans are individually evaluated for impairment 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. Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.

 

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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.

 

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 mortgage 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 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 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

 

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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).  Our evaluation of loss experience factors considers trends in such factors over the prior two years for substantially all of the loan portfolio, with the exception of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans originated after 2010, for which our evaluation includes detailed modeling techniques.  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 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.  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.  Based on our evaluation of the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of 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 $139.0 million was appropriate at December 31, 2013, compared to $145.5 million at December 31, 2012. The provision for loan losses totaled $19.6 million for the year ended December 31, 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

 

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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.

 

For additional information regarding our allowance for loan losses, see “Provision for Loan Losses” and “Asset Quality.”

 

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.  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.

 

We assess impairment of our MSR based on the estimated fair value of those rights on a stratum-by-stratum basis with any impairment recognized through a valuation allowance for each impaired stratum.  We stratify our MSR by underlying loan type (primarily fixed and adjustable) and interest rate. The estimated fair values of each MSR stratum are 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.  Individual allowances for each stratum are then adjusted in subsequent periods to reflect changes in the measurement of impairment.  All assumptions are reviewed for reasonableness on a quarterly basis to ensure they reflect current and anticipated market conditions.

 

At December 31, 2013, our MSR had an estimated fair value of $12.8 million and were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 9.45%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 10.52% and a weighted average life of 6.3 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.

 

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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 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 December 31, 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.  No events have occurred and no circumstances have changed since our annual impairment test date 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 December 31, 2013.  Non-GSE issuance mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 2013 comprised 1% of our securities portfolio and had an amortized cost of $11.3 million, with 66% classified as available-for-sale and 34% 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 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 December 31, 2013, we held 109 securities with an estimated fair value totaling $1.52 billion which had an unrealized loss totaling $66.1 million.  Of the securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2013, $151.8 million, with an unrealized loss of $8.3 million, have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than twelve months.  At December 31, 2013, 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

 

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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.

 

For further information on the actuarial assumptions used for our pension benefits and other postretirement benefit plans, see Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

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.  As mortgage interest rates increase, customers’ refinance activities tend to decelerate causing the cash flow from both our mortgage loan portfolio and our mortgage-backed securities portfolio to decrease.  When mortgage rates decrease, the opposite tends to occur.  Principal

 

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payments on loans and securities totaled $4.09 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $5.29 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in loan and securities repayments for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, was primarily due to decreases in residential mortgage loan and securities repayments.  While residential mortgage loan repayments declined in 2013 compared to 2012, they remained at elevated levels due to historic low interest rates for thirty year fixed rate conforming mortgage 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.  However, as longer-term interest rates moved higher in 2013, we began to experience a reduction in the levels of residential mortgage loan prepayments near the end of the 2013 third quarter which continued into the 2013 fourth quarter.

 

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 $232.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $187.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  Deposits decreased $588.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2013 and decreased $801.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2012 due to decreases in certificates of deposit, partially offset by increases in core deposits.  During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we continued to allow high cost certificates of deposit to run off.  Total deposits included business deposits of $650.1 million at December 31, 2013, an increase of 32% 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.  At December 31, 2013, core deposits represented 67% of total deposits, up from 62% at December 31, 2012.  This reflects our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet, reducing high cost certificates of deposit and increasing low cost core deposits.

 

Net borrowings decreased $236.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2013 and increased $251.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in net borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2013 was due to decreases in FHLB-NY advances and other borrowings, net, partially offset by our use of short-term federal funds purchased in 2013.  On May 10, 2013, we prepaid in whole our junior subordinated debentures, which were included in other borrowings, 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.  The increase in net borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2012 was due to an increase in FHLB-NY advances, partially offset by a decrease in reverse repurchase agreements.

 

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 year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $2.55 billion, compared to $4.12 billion during the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decline was primarily attributable to residential loan originations and purchases which totaled $996.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2013, of which $592.5 million were originations and $403.5 million were purchases of individual residential mortgage loans through our third party loan origination program, compared to $2.51 billion during the year ended December 31, 2012, of which $1.58 billion were originations and $932.1 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 $1.55 billion during the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to

 

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$1.61 billion during the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting continued strong loan production as we concentrate on growing this portfolio.  Purchases of securities totaled $1.07 billion during the year ended December 31, 2013 and $790.6 million during the year ended December 31, 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 $122.0 million at December 31, 2013 and $121.5 million at December 31, 2012.  At December 31, 2013, we had $1.09 billion in borrowings with a weighted average rate of 0.56% 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 December 31, 2013, we had $1.95 billion of callable borrowings.  At December 31, 2013, $700.0 million of these borrowings 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 can readily obtain replacement funding, although such funding may be at higher rates.  At December 31, 2013, FHLB-NY advances totaled $2.45 billion, or 59% of total borrowings.  We do not believe any of our borrowing counterparty concentrations represent a material risk to our liquidity.  In addition, we had $1.48 billion in certificates of deposit at December 31, 2013 with a weighted average rate of 0.97% maturing over the next twelve months.  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 December 31, 2013.

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

Certificates of Deposit

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

(Dollars in Millions)

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Contractual Maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

$ 1,089

 

0.56%

 

$ 1,476

 

0.97%

 

2015

 

300

 

1.10

 

1,100

 

2.06

 

2016

 

550

 

1.12

 

463

 

2.08

 

2017

 

850

(1)

4.43

 

141

 

1.13

 

2018

 

200

(2)

3.03

 

111

 

1.06

 

2019 and thereafter

 

1,150

(3)

3.53

 

1

 

1.57

 

Total

 

$ 4,139

 

2.41%

 

$ 3,292

 

1.50%

 

 

(1)          Includes $600.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average rate of 4.19%, which are callable by the counterparty within the next three months and on a quarterly basis thereafter.

(2)          Callable by the counterparty in 2015.

(3)          Includes $100.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average rate of 4.05%, which are callable by the counterparty 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 by the counterparty in 2016 and $950.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average rate of 3.47%, which are callable by the counterparty in 2017.

 

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Additional sources of liquidity at the holding company level have included issuances of securities into the capital markets, including private issuances of trust preferred securities and senior debt.  Holding company debt obligations, which are included in other borrowings, are described further below.

 

We have $250.0 million of 5.00% senior unsecured notes which mature on June 19, 2017.  The terms of these notes restrict our ability to sell, transfer or pledge as collateral the shares of Astoria Federal and restrict our ability to permit Astoria Federal to issue additional shares of voting stock, unless, in either case, we will continue to own at least 80% of Astoria Federal’s voting stock.  Such terms also restrict our ability to permit Astoria Federal to merge or consolidate with any person or sell or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of Astoria Federal to another person unless, in either case, such other person is Astoria Financial Corporation or we will own at least 80% of the voting stock of such other person.  We may redeem all or part of the 5.00% senior unsecured notes at any time, subject to a 30 day minimum notice requirement, at par together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

 

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), 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.  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.

 

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.  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.  For further discussion of our debt obligations, see Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

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 year ended December 31, 2013, Astoria Financial Corporation paid dividends on common stock totaling $15.7 million.  On January 29, 2014, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share on shares of our common stock payable on March 1, 2014 to stockholders of record as of February 14, 2014.  During the

 

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year ended December 31, 2013, Astoria Financial Corporation paid dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock totaling $5.0 million.  On December 18, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock aggregating $2.2 million, or $16.25 per share, for the quarterly period from October 15, 2013 through and including January 14, 2014, payable on January 15, 2014 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2013.

 

Our ability to pay dividends, service our debt obligations and repurchase common stock is dependent primarily upon receipt of capital distributions from Astoria Federal.  During 2013, Astoria Federal paid dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation totaling $44.0 million.  Since Astoria Federal is a federally chartered savings association, there are regulatory limits on its ability to make distributions to Astoria Financial Corporation.  During 2013, Astoria Federal was required to, and did, notify the OCC of its intent to pay dividends, to which the OCC did not object.  Astoria Federal must also provide notice to the FRB at least 30 days prior to declaring a dividend.  For further discussion of limitations on capital distributions from Astoria Federal, see Item 1, “Business – Regulation and Supervision.”

 

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

 

At December 31, 2013, our tangible common equity ratio, which represents common stockholders’ equity less goodwill divided by total assets less goodwill, was 7.72%.  At December 31, 2013, Astoria Federal’s capital levels exceeded all of its regulatory capital requirements with a Tangible capital ratio of 9.93%, Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 9.93%, Total risk-based capital ratio of 17.05% and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 15.79%.  As of December 31, 2013, Astoria Federal’s capital ratios continue to be above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized for bank regulatory purposes.

 

In July 2013, pursuant to the Reform Act, the Agencies issued the Final Capital Rules that will subject many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation, to consolidated capital requirements effective as of January 1, 2015.  The rules also revise the quantity and quality of required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements, consistent with the Reform Act and the Basel III capital standards.  For a more detailed description of these rules, see Item 1, “Business – Regulation and Supervision – Capital Requirements.”  We are continuing to prepare for the impacts 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 also Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

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 IRR 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 as described below.

 

Lending commitments include commitments to originate and purchase loans and commitments to fund unused lines of credit.  Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  We evaluate creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.  Our maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the contractual amount of the instruments.

 

We also have commitments to fund loans held-for-sale and commitments to sell loans in connection with our mortgage banking activities which are considered derivative instruments.  Commitments to sell loans totaled $19.1 million at December 31, 2013 and represent obligations to sell residential mortgage loans either servicing retained or servicing released on a mandatory delivery or best efforts basis.  We enter into

 

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commitments to sell loans as an economic hedge against our pipeline of conforming fixed rate loans which we originate primarily for sale into the secondary market.  The fair values of our mortgage banking derivative instruments are immaterial to our financial condition and results of operations.

 

In addition to our lending commitments, we have contractual obligations related to operating lease commitments.  Operating lease commitments are obligations under various non-cancelable operating leases on buildings and land used for office space and banking purposes.

 

The following table details our contractual obligations at December 31, 2013.

 

 

 

Payments due by period

 

 

 

 

Less than

 

One to

 

Three to

 

More than

 

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

One Year

 

Three Years

 

Five Years

 

Five Years

 

On-balance sheet contractual obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

$

3,200,000

 

$

150,000

 

$

850,000

 

$

1,050,000

 

$

1,150,000

 

Off-balance sheet contractual obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum rental payments due under non-cancelable operating leases

 

92,258

 

11,379

 

22,923

 

18,296

 

39,660

 

Commitments to originate and purchase loans (1)

 

299,825

 

299,825

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Commitments to fund unused lines of credit (2)

 

177,970

 

177,970

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Total

 

$

3,770,053

 

$

639,174

 

$

872,923

 

$

1,068,296

 

$

1,189,660

 

 

(1)          Includes commitments to originate loans held-for-sale of $9.2 million.

(2)          Includes commitments to fund unused home equity lines of credit of $103.4 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.  For further information regarding these liabilities, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”  We also have contingent liabilities related to assets sold with recourse and standby letters of credit.  We are obligated under various recourse provisions associated with certain first mortgage loans we sold in the secondary market.  Generally the loans we sell are subject to recourse for fraud and adherence to underwriting or quality control guidelines.  We were required to repurchase one loan in the amount of $494,000 during 2013 as a result of these recourse provisions.  The principal balance of loans sold with recourse provisions in addition to fraud and adherence to underwriting or quality control guidelines amounted to $358.1 million at December 31, 2013.  We estimate the liability for such loans sold with recourse based on an analysis of our loss experience related to similar loans sold with recourse.  The carrying amount of this liability was immaterial at December 31, 2013.  Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by us to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party.  The guarantees generally extend for a term of up to one year and are fully collateralized.  For each guarantee issued, if the customer defaults on a payment or performance to the third party, we would have to perform under the guarantee.  Outstanding standby letters of credit totaled $513,000 at December 31, 2013.

 

See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” for additional information regarding our commitments and contingent liabilities.

 

Comparison of Financial Condition and Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

Financial Condition

 

Total assets decreased $702.9 million to $15.79 billion at December 31, 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.

 

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Loans receivable decreased $781.9 million to $12.44 billion at December 31, 2013, from $13.22 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 79% of total assets at December 31, 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 $745.1 million in our total mortgage loan portfolio to $12.15 billion at December 31, 2013, compared to $12.89 billion at December 31, 2012.  While our mortgage loan portfolio continues to consist primarily of residential mortgage loans, at December 31, 2013 our combined multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio represented 33% 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 year ended December 31, 2013 declined to $2.55 billion, compared to $4.12 billion during the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a decline in residential mortgage loan originations and purchases.  Mortgage loan repayments decreased to $3.20 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $4.04 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a decline of $622.1 million in residential mortgage loan prepayments and a decrease of $239.0 million in multi-family mortgage loan prepayments.

 

Our residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased $1.67 billion to $8.04 billion at December 31, 2013, from $9.71 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 65% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2013.  Residential mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio totaled $996.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, of which $592.5 million were originations and $403.5 million were purchases, compared to $2.51 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, of which $1.58 billion were originations and $932.1 million were purchases.  Residential mortgage loan repayments declined during 2013, compared to 2012, but remain at elevated levels and outpaced our origination and purchase volume during the year ended December 31, 2013, resulting in a decline in the portfolio.  During the year ended December 31, 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 66% and the loan amount averaged approximately $694,000.

 

Our multi-family mortgage loan portfolio increased $889.8 million to $3.30 billion at December 31, 2013, from $2.41 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 26% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2013.  Our commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio increased $39.1 million to $813.0 million at December 31, 2013, from $773.9 million at December 31, 2012, and represented 7% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2013.  Multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations totaled $1.55 billion during the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $1.61 billion during the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting continued strong loan production as we concentrate on growing these portfolios.  During the year ended December 31, 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 43% and a weighted average debt service coverage ratio of approximately 1.74%.

 

Our securities portfolio increased $214.8 million to $2.25 billion at December 31, 2013, from $2.04 billion at December 31, 2012, and represented 14% of total assets at December 31, 2013.  This increase reflects purchases totaling $1.07 billion which were in excess of repayments of $783.6 million and sales of $39.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2013.  At December 31, 2013, our securities portfolio was comprised primarily of fixed rate REMIC and CMO securities which had an amortized cost totaling $1.78 billion, a weighted average current coupon of 2.98%, a weighted average collateral coupon of 4.41% and a weighted average life of 4.0 years.

 

Deposits decreased $588.6 million to $9.86 billion at December 31, 2013, from $10.44 billion at December 31, 2012, due to a decrease of $668.5 million in certificates of deposit, partially offset by a net increase of $79.9 million in core deposits.  At December 31, 2013, core deposits totaled $6.56 billion and represented 67% of total deposits, up from 62% 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.  The net increase in core deposits at December 31, 2013, compared to December 

 

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31, 2012, primarily reflected an increase in money market accounts, partially offset by a decline in savings accounts.  Money market accounts increased $385.6 million since December 31, 2012 to $1.97 billion at December 31, 2013.  Savings accounts decreased $308.4 million since December 31, 2012 to $2.49 billion at December 31, 2013.  NOW and demand deposit accounts totaled $2.10 billion at December 31, 2013, essentially unchanged compared to December 31, 2012.  The net increase in core deposits during the year ended December 31, 2013 appears 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 December 31, 2013, total deposits included $650.1 million of business deposits, substantially all of which were core deposits, an increase of 32% since December 31, 2012.

 

Total borrowings, net, decreased $236.3 million to $4.14 billion at December 31, 2013, from $4.37 billion at December 31, 2012.  The decrease in borrowings was primarily due to a decrease of $443.0 million in FHLB-NY advances and the prepayment of our junior subordinated debentures which were included in other borrowings, net, partially offset by our use of short-term federal funds purchased in 2013 which totaled $335.0 million at December 31, 2013.  For further information on the prepayment of our junior subordinated debentures, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Stockholders’ equity increased $225.5 million to $1.52 billion at December 31, 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 our Series C Preferred Stock in the 2013 first quarter, net income for 2013 of $66.6 million, a decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $34.8 million and stock-based compensation and the allocation of ESOP stock totaling $18.0 million, partially offset by dividends on common and preferred stock of $22.9 million.  The decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss was primarily due to an improvement in the funded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.

 

Results of Operations

 

General

 

Net income available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased $6.3 million to $59.4 million, compared to $53.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting an increase of $13.5 million in net income to $66.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $53.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, partially offset by preferred stock dividends declared totaling $7.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2013.  Diluted earnings per common share, or EPS, increased to $0.60 per common share for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $0.55 per common share for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The increase in net income primarily reflected a decline in the provision for loan losses and a reduction in non-interest expense, partially offset by lower net interest income and non-interest income.  Return on average assets increased to 0.41% for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to 0.31% for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to the increase in net income, coupled with a decline in average assets.  Return on average common stockholders’ equity increased to 4.50% for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to 4.15% for the year ended December 31, 2012.  Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity, which represents average common stockholders’ equity less average goodwill, increased to 5.23% for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to 4.86% for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The increases in the returns on average common stockholders’ equity and average tangible common stockholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, were due to the increase in net income available to common shareholders, partially offset by an increase 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

 

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income is significantly impacted by changes in interest rates and market yield curves and their related impact on cash flows.  See Item 7A, “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 totaled $341.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $6.4 million compared to $348.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 due to a decline in interest income in excess of a decline in interest expense.  The decline in interest income for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, reflected lower average yields on mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities and a decline in the average balance of residential mortgage loans, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.  The decline in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 in relation to the year ended December 31, 2012 was primarily attributable to declines in both the average costs and average balances of borrowings and certificates of deposit.  The net interest margin increased to 2.25% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 2.16% for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The net interest rate spread increased to 2.17% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 2.09% for the year ended December 31, 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 year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.  The average balance of net interest-earning assets increased $216.3 million to $915.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $698.8 million for the year ended December 31, 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 table sets 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 Year Ended December 31,

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Average
Balance

 

 

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

 

 

Average
Balance

 

 

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

 

 

Average
Balance

 

 

Interest

 

Average
Yield/
Cost

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

$

8,810,950

 

 

$

289,790

 

 

3.29

%

 

$

10,464,169

 

 

$

372,478

 

 

3.56

%

 

10,687,593

 

$

433,951

 

 

4.06

%

Multi-family and commercial real estate

 

3,680,551

 

 

 

163,352

 

 

4.44

 

 

 

2,739,095

 

 

 

149,694

 

 

5.47

 

 

 

2,608,792

 

 

162,433

 

 

6.23

 

Consumer and other loans (1)

 

253,465

 

 

 

8,797

 

 

3.47

 

 

 

273,907

 

 

 

9,258

 

 

3.38

 

 

 

297,394

 

 

9,889

 

 

3.33

 

Total loans

 

12,744,966

 

 

 

461,939

 

 

3.62

 

 

 

13,477,171

 

 

 

531,430

 

 

3.94

 

 

 

13,593,779

 

 

606,273

 

 

4.46

 

Mortgage-backed and other securities (2)

 

2,211,700

 

 

 

49,563

 

 

2.24

 

 

 

2,312,270

 

 

 

61,757

 

 

2.67

 

 

 

2,435,028

 

 

82,055

 

 

3.37

 

Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts

 

95,892

 

 

 

263

 

 

0.27

 

 

 

142,745

 

 

 

338

 

 

0.24

 

 

 

128,396

 

 

237

 

 

0.18

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

154,478

 

 

 

6,665

 

 

4.31

 

 

 

164,707

 

 

 

6,984

 

 

4.24

 

 

 

132,666

 

 

6,683

 

 

5.04

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

15,207,036

 

 

 

518,430

 

 

3.41

 

 

 

16,096,893

 

 

 

600,509

 

 

3.73

 

 

 

16,289,869

 

 

695,248

 

 

4.27

 

Goodwill

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

185,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-interest-earning assets

 

748,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

824,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

919,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$

16,140,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

17,106,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,394,637

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

$

2,659,433

 

 

 

1,329

 

 

0.05

 

 

$

2,818,440

 

 

 

4,437

 

 

0.16

 

 

2,762,155

 

 

9,562

 

 

0.35

 

Money market

 

1,824,729

 

 

 

5,646

 

 

0.31

 

 

 

1,318,943

 

 

 

8,944

 

 

0.68

 

 

 

616,048

 

 

4,551

 

 

0.74

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

2,094,245

 

 

 

691

 

 

0.03

 

 

 

1,933,156

 

 

 

978

 

 

0.05

 

 

 

1,798,719

 

 

1,175

 

 

0.07

 

Total core deposits

 

6,578,407

 

 

 

7,666

 

 

0.12

 

 

 

6,070,539

 

 

 

14,359

 

 

0.24

 

 

 

5,176,922

 

 

15,288

 

 

0.30

 

Certificates of deposit

 

3,598,297

 

 

 

54,951

 

 

1.53

 

 

 

4,702,693

 

 

 

83,662

 

 

1.78

 

 

 

6,156,148

 

 

122,761

 

 

1.99

 

Total deposits

 

10,176,704

 

 

 

62,617

 

 

0.62

 

 

 

10,773,232

 

 

 

98,021

 

 

0.91

 

 

 

11,333,070

 

 

138,049

 

 

1.22

 

Borrowings

 

4,115,259

 

 

 

113,911

 

 

2.77

 

 

 

4,624,841

 

 

 

154,219

 

 

3.33

 

 

 

4,368,659

 

 

181,773

 

 

4.16

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

14,291,963

 

 

 

176,528

 

 

1.24

 

 

 

15,398,073

 

 

 

252,240

 

 

1.64

 

 

 

15,701,729

 

 

319,822

 

 

2.04

 

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

 

428,920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

430,466

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

427,225

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

14,720,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,828,539

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,128,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,419,384

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,277,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,265,683

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

16,140,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

17,106,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,394,637

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income/ net interest rate spread (3)

 

 

 

 

$

341,902

 

 

2.17

%

 

 

 

 

 

$

348,269

 

 

2.09

%

 

 

 

 

$

375,426

 

 

2.23

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

$

915,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.25

%

 

$

698,820

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.16

%

 

588,140

 

 

 

 

 

2.30

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

1.06

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.05

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

 

Increase (Decrease) for the

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Compared to the

 

Compared to the

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

Year Ended December 31, 2011

 

(In Thousands)

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$(55,869

)

$ (26,819

)

$ (82,688

)

$  (8,921

)

$ (52,552

)

$ (61,473

)

Multi-family and commercial real estate

 

45,278

 

(31,620

)

13,658

 

7,819

 

(20,558

)

(12,739

)

Consumer and other loans

 

(704

)

243

 

(461

)

(780

)

149

 

(631

)

Mortgage-backed and other securities

 

(2,593

)

(9,601

)

(12,194

)

(3,964

)

(16,334

)

(20,298

)

Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts

 

(116

)

41

 

(75

)

25

 

76

 

101

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

(434

)

115

 

(319

)

1,462

 

(1,161

)

301

 

Total

 

(14,438

)

(67,641

)

(82,079

)

(4,359

)

(90,380

)

(94,739

)

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

(235

)

(2,873

)

(3,108

)

194

 

(5,319

)

(5,125

)

Money market

 

2,671

 

(5,969

)

(3,298

)

4,792

 

(399

)

4,393

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

84

 

(371

)

(287

)

108

 

(305

)

(197

)

Certificates of deposit

 

(17,966

)

(10,745

)

(28,711

)

(27,021

)

(12,078

)

(39,099

)

Borrowings

 

(15,956

)

(24,352

)

(40,308

)

10,214

 

(37,768

)

(27,554

)

Total

 

(31,402

)

(44,310

)

(75,712

)

(11,713

)

(55,869

)

(67,582

)

Net change in net interest income

 

$ 16,964

 

$ (23,331

)

$  (6,367

)

$   7,354

 

$ (34,511

)

$ (27,157

)

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2013 decreased $82.1 million to $518.4 million, from $600.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 3.41% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 3.73% for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $889.9 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $15.21 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $16.10 billion for the year ended December 31, 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 primarily reflected declines 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 $82.7 million to $289.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $372.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease of $1.65 billion in the average balance of such loans to $8.81 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, coupled with a decrease in the average yield to 3.29% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 3.56% for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the average balance of residential mortgage loans reflects the continued elevated levels of repayments on such loans which have outpaced the levels of originations over the past year.  The decrease in the average yield was primarily due to new

 

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originations 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.  While remaining elevated, the levels of prepayments on residential mortgage loans declined during 2013 compared to 2012 and contributed to a decrease of $4.7 million in net premium and deferred loan origination cost amortization to $19.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Interest income on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans increased $13.7 million to $163.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $149.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to an increase of $941.5 million in the average balance of such loans, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield to 4.44% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 5.47% for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate loans was attributable to the strong levels of originations of such loans which have exceeded repayments over the past year.  The decrease in the average yield reflects 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 $1.9 million to $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Interest income on mortgage-backed and other securities decreased $12.2 million to $49.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $61.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average yield to 2.24% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 2.67% for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $100.6 million in the average balance of the portfolio to $2.21 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013.  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 $662,000 to $15.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $15.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  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.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 decreased $75.7 million to $176.5 million, from $252.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.24% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 1.64% for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $1.11 billion in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $14.29 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $15.40 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities was primarily due to decreases in the average costs of borrowings and certificates of deposit although the average costs of each of our core deposit liability categories also declined.  The decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities was due to decreases in the average balances of certificates of deposit and borrowings, partially offset by a net increase in the average balance of core deposits.

 

Interest expense on total deposits decreased $35.4 million to $62.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $98.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost of total deposits to 0.62% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 0.91% for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $596.5 million in the average balance of total deposits to $10.18 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $10.77 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the average cost of total deposits reflects decreases in the average cost of all deposit liability categories, particularly certificates of deposit and money market accounts.  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.

 

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Interest expense on core deposits decreased $6.7 million to $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $14.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.12% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 0.24% for the year ended December 31, 2012, partially offset by an increase of $507.9 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 money market accounts decreased $3.3 million to $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.31% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 0.68% for the year ended December 31, 2012, partially offset by an increase of $505.8 million in the average balance of such accounts.  Interest expense on savings accounts decreased $3.1 million to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.05% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 0.16% for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $159.0 million in the average balance of such accounts.

 

Interest expense on certificates of deposit decreased $28.7 million to $55.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $83.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease of $1.10 billion in the average balance to $3.60 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $4.70 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 1.53% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 1.78% for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit was primarily the result of our reduced focus on certificates of deposit 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 year ended December 31, 2013, $2.19 billion of certificates of deposit with a weighted average rate of 0.60% and a weighted average maturity at inception of fourteen months matured and $1.47 billion of certificates of deposit were issued or repriced with a weighted average rate of 0.11% and a weighted average maturity at inception of eight months.

 

Interest expense on borrowings decreased $40.3 million to $113.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $154.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, due to a decrease in the average cost to 2.77% for the year ended December 31, 2013, from 3.33% for the year ended December 31, 2012, coupled with a decrease of $509.6 million in the average balance.  The decrease in the average cost of borrowings was 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 in the 2013 second quarter.  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.  The decline in the average balance and average cost of borrowings for 2013 compared to 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.  For additional information on the prepayment of our junior subordinated debentures, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

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

 

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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.  Long-term interest rates moved higher during the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and into the remainder of 2013, with the ten-year U.S. Treasury rate increasing from 1.63% at May 1, 2013 to 3.03% at the end of December.  The national unemployment rate declined to 6.7% for December 2013 compared to 7.9% for December 2012, 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.  We believe market conditions remain favorable in the New York metropolitan area with respect to our multi-family mortgage loan origination activities.

 

The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2013 declined to $19.6 million, compared to $40.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting the benefits resulting from the continued improvement in the levels of net loan charge-offs and delinquent loans, as well as the contraction of the overall loan portfolio.  Net loan charge-offs declined to $26.1 million, or 20 basis points of average loans outstanding, for the year ended December 31, 2013.  This compares to $52.1 million, or 39 basis points of average loans outstanding, for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in net loan charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012 was primarily due to a decline in net charge-offs on residential mortgage loans.  Total delinquent loans declined $92.5 million to $393.3 million at December 31, 2013, compared to $485.8 million at December 31, 2012.  This decline reflects a decrease of $50.8 million in loans past due 90 days or more to $250.5 million at December 31, 2013 and a decrease of $41.7 million in loans past due 30-89 days to $142.7 million at December 31, 2013.

 

The allowance for loan losses declined to $139.0 million at December 31, 2013 compared to $145.5 million at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.12% at December 31, 2013 compared to 1.10% at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 41.87% at December 31, 2013 compared to 46.18% at December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 reflects both an increase in non-performing loans and the decline in the balance of the allowance for loan losses.  Non-performing loans, which are comprised primarily of mortgage loans, increased to $332.0 million, or 2.67% of total loans at December 31, 2013, compared to $315.1 million, or 2.38% of total loans at December 31, 2012, even as loans delinquent 90 days or more past due continued to decline.  At December 31, 2012, non-performing loans included bankruptcy loans which were discharged during 2012, regardless of delinquency status of the loans.  Effective in the 2013 first quarter, non-performing loans also included bankruptcy loans which were discharged in years prior to 2012, regardless of the delinquency status of the loans, resulting in an increase in non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  Non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 included $61.0 million of bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due, including $51.1 million which were discharged prior to December 31, 2012.  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-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.  We record a charge-off for the portion of the recorded investment in these loans in excess of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral 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 past due and annually thereafter. 

 

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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 $202.7 million, net of $60.6 million in charge-offs related to such loans, at December 31, 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 fourth 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 September 30, 2013, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 30%, unchanged from our 2013 third quarter analysis and down somewhat from approximately 33% in our 2012 fourth quarter analysis.  Our analysis in the 2013 fourth quarter reviewed residential REO sales and short sales which occurred during the twelve months ended September 30, 2013 and included both full documentation and reduced documentation loans in a variety of states with varying years of origination.  Our 2013 fourth 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 September 30, 2013, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 19%, unchanged from our 2013 third quarter analysis and down from approximately 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 42% at December 31, 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, 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 mortgage 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

 

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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.  During the 2013 fourth quarter, total delinquencies decreased $8.2 million since September 30, 2013.  Net loan charge-offs increased for the 2013 fourth quarter compared to the 2013 third quarter.  The national unemployment rate decreased to 6.7% for December 2013 and there were job gains for the quarter totaling 515,000 at the time of our analysis.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2013 fourth quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased compared to September 30, 2013 and totaled $139.0 million at December 31, 2013 which resulted in a provision for loan losses of $3.4 million for the 2013 fourth quarter and $19.6 million for the year ended December 31, 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 best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at December 31, 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.”

 

Non-Interest Income

 

Non-interest income decreased $3.6 million to $69.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $73.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  This decrease was primarily due to a decline in gain on sales of securities and lower customer service fees and income from BOLI, partially offset by higher mortgage banking income, net.

 

Gain on sales of securities declined $6.4 million to $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold mortgage-backed securities from the available-for-sale securities portfolio with an amortized cost of $39.5 million resulting in gross realized gains totaling $2.1 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, we sold mortgage-backed securities from the available-for-sale portfolio with an amortized cost of $51.8 million resulting in gross realized gains totaling $2.5 million and we sold our investment in two issues of Freddie Mac perpetual preferred securities which were held in our available-for-sale portfolio resulting in a gross realized gain of $6.0 million.  The Freddie Mac securities had been written down to a zero cost basis in prior years as an impaired asset for book purposes.

 

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Customer service fees decreased $2.7 million to $36.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $39.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to decreases in overdraft fees related to transaction accounts, ATM fees and minimum balance fees, partially offset by increased checking account charges.  Income from BOLI decreased $1.0 million to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $9.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a decrease in the crediting rate paid on our investment.

 

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 $6.4 million to $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The increase in mortgage banking income, net, was primarily due to recoveries recorded in the valuation allowance for the impairment of MSR totaling $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to provisions totaling $931,000 for the year ended December 31, 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 December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 as long-term interest rates moved higher during the latter part of the 2013 second quarter and into the remainder of 2013.

 

Non-Interest Expense

 

Non-interest expense decreased $12.6 million to $287.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $300.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease primarily reflects a decrease of $10.2 million in federal deposit insurance premium expense to $37.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $47.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting a reduction in both our assessment base and assessment rate.  In addition, increases in occupancy, equipment and systems expense and extinguishment of debt expense were more than offset by declines in compensation and benefits expense and other non-interest expense.  Our percentage of general and administrative expense to average assets increased to 1.78% for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to 1.75% for the year ended December 31, 2012, as a result of the decline in average assets, substantially offset by the decline in general and administrative expense for 2013 compared to 2012.

 

Compensation and benefits expense decreased $5.4 million to $133.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $139.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The 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 year ended December 31, 2012 included one-time net charges totaling $5.6 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 $146,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  Also contributing to the decrease in compensation and benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 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, officer incentive accruals and stock-based compensation, coupled with employer matching contributions for the 401(k) incentive savings plan which began in 2013, partially offset the aforementioned declines in compensation and benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

Occupancy, equipment and systems expense increased $3.3 million to $70.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $67.4 million for the year ended December 31, 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.  These increases were partially offset by costs

 

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incurred during the 2012 fourth quarter associated with our repair and recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy.

 

Extinguishment of debt expense totaled $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 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 decreased $3.3 million to $35.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $38.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to declines in OCC assessments and various other expenses including other loan expenses and deposit account expenses related to checking accounts and ATMs, partially offset by an increase in REO related expenses.  REO related expenses increased to $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, reflecting an increase in foreclosure related expenses as more loans shifted to REO through the completion of the foreclosure process in 2013 compared to 2012, particularly in the latter half of 2013.  REO, net, increased to $42.6 million at December 31, 2013, compared to $28.5 million at December 31, 2012.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

For the year ended December 31, 2013, income tax expense totaled $37.7 million, representing an effective tax rate of 36.2%, compared to $27.9 million, representing an effective tax rate of 34.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The increase in the effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, reflects an increase in pre-tax book income without a corresponding increase in net favorable permanent differences.  For additional information regarding income taxes, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Comparison of Financial Condition and Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011

 

Financial Condition

 

Total assets decreased $525.4 million to $16.50 billion at December 31, 2012, from $17.02 billion at December 31, 2011.  The decrease in total assets was primarily due to decreases in our securities portfolio and other assets.

 

Loans receivable decreased $50.6 million to $13.22 billion at December 31, 2012, from $13.27 billion at December 31, 2011, and represented 80% of total assets at December 31, 2012.  This decrease was primarily due to declines in our residential mortgage loan portfolio and consumer and other loans, primarily home equity lines of credit, substantially offset by increases in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolios.  The growth in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolios was more than offset by the decline in our residential mortgage loan portfolio resulting in a net decline of $23.3 million in our total mortgage loan portfolio to $12.89 billion at December 31, 2012, compared to $12.92 billion at December 31, 2011.  While our mortgage loan portfolio continues to consist primarily of residential mortgage loans, at December 31, 2012 our combined multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio represented 24% of our total loan portfolio, up from 18% at December 31, 2011.  This reflects our focus on repositioning the asset mix of our balance sheet, concentrating more on higher yielding multi-family loans than on lower yielding residential loans.  Gross mortgage loans originated and purchased for portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $4.12 billion, of which $1.61 billion were multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations, $1.58 billion were residential loan originations and $932.1 million were residential loan purchases.  This

 

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compares to gross mortgage loans originated and purchased for portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2011 totaling $3.68 billion, of which $204.0 million were multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations, $2.37 billion were residential loan originations and $1.11 billion were residential loan purchases.  Mortgage loan repayments decreased to $4.04 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $4.40 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to a decrease in residential mortgage loan prepayments, slightly offset by an increase in multi-family and commercial real estate loan prepayments.

 

Our residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased $850.3 million to $9.71 billion at December 31, 2012, from $10.56 billion at December 31, 2011, and represented 74% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2012.  Residential mortgage loan repayments declined during 2012, compared to 2011, but remain at elevated levels, which outpaced our origination and purchase volume during the year ended December 31, 2012, resulting in a decline in the portfolio.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, the loan-to-value ratio of our residential mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio, at the time of origination or purchase, averaged approximately 60% and the loan amount averaged approximately $738,000.

 

Our multi-family mortgage loan portfolio increased $712.8 million to $2.41 billion at December 31, 2012, from $1.69 billion at December 31, 2011, and represented 18% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2012.   Our commercial real estate loan portfolio increased $114.2 million to $773.9 million at December 31, 2012, from $659.7 million at December 31, 2011, and represented 6% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2012.   The increases in these portfolios reflect the resumption of multi-family and commercial real estate lending during the latter half of 2011 and strong loan production during the year ended December 31, 2012 which outpaced repayments.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, the loan-to-value ratio of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan originations, at the time of origination, averaged approximately 53% and the loan amount averaged approximately $3.1 million.

 

Securities decreased $438.6 million to $2.04 billion at December 31, 2012, from $2.47 billion at December 31, 2011, and represented 12% of total assets at December 31, 2012.  This decrease was primarily the result of principal payments of $1.15 billion and sales of $51.8 million, partially offset by purchases of $790.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2012.  At December 31, 2012, our securities portfolio is comprised primarily of fixed rate REMIC and CMO securities which had an amortized cost totaling $1.91 billion, a weighted average current coupon of 3.32%, a weighted average collateral coupon of 4.72% and a weighted average life of 2.2 years.

 

Other assets decreased $98.7 million to $216.7 million at December 31, 2012, from $315.4 million at December 31, 2011.  This decline primarily reflects decreases in the net deferred tax asset and the receivable due from our residential mortgage loan servicer, coupled with the utilization of the remaining balance of our prepaid deposit insurance assessment with the FDIC.  These decreases were partially offset by an increase in income taxes receivable.  The decrease in the net deferred tax asset and increase in income taxes receivable reflects the impact of the sale of our investment in two issues of Freddie Mac perpetual preferred securities in the 2012 fourth quarter.  These securities had been written off in prior years as an impaired asset for book purposes resulting in a deferred tax asset.  The sale of these securities eliminated the deferred tax asset and will allow us to carry back the taxable loss on the sale of these securities to prior years.

 

Deposits decreased $801.7 million to $10.44 billion at December 31, 2012, from $11.25 billion at December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in certificates of deposit, offset by an increase of $757.0 million in money market, NOW and demand deposit and savings accounts to $6.48 billion at December 31, 2012.  At December 31, 2012, low cost core deposits represented 62% of total deposits, up from 51% at December 31, 2011.  This reflects our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet, reducing high cost certificates of deposit, which decreased $1.56 billion since December 31, 2011 to $3.96 billion at December 31, 2012, and increasing low cost savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts.  Money market accounts increased $472.2 million since December 31, 2011 to $1.59 billion at December 31, 2012.  NOW and demand deposit accounts increased $233.2 million since December 31,

 

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2011 to $2.09 billion at December 31, 2012.  Savings accounts increased $51.6 million since December 31, 2011 to $2.80 billion at December 31, 2012.  The increases in low cost savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts during the year ended December 31, 2012 appear to reflect customer preference for the liquidity these types of deposits provide, and also reflect the initial benefits from our efforts to expand our business banking customer base, which resulted in an increase of $51.1 million, or 12%, in business core deposits to $489.3 million at December 31, 2012.

 

Total borrowings, net, increased $251.9 million to $4.37 billion at December 31, 2012, from $4.12 billion at December 31, 2011, primarily due to an increase of $854.0 million in FHLB-NY advances, partially offset by a decrease of $600.0 million in reverse repurchase agreements.  The net increase in borrowings is the result of our use of low cost borrowings during this period of historic low interest rates to offset the decline in high cost certificates of deposit to help manage interest rate risk.

 

Stockholders’ equity increased $42.8 million to $1.29 billion at December 31, 2012, from $1.25 billion at December 31, 2011.  The increase in stockholders’ equity was primarily due to net income of $53.1 million and the allocation of ESOP stock of $10.2 million, partially offset by dividends declared of $24.1 million.

 

Results of Operations

 

General

 

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased $14.1 million to $53.1 million, from $67.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This decline was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income and an increase in provision for loan losses, partially offset by an increase in non-interest income.  Diluted EPS decreased to $0.55 per common share for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $0.70 per common share for the year ended December 31, 2011.  Return on average assets was 0.31% for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 0.39% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  Return on average common stockholders’ equity was 4.15% for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 5.31% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity, which represents average common stockholders’ equity less average goodwill, was 4.86% for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 6.22% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decreases in these returns for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to the year ended December 31, 2011, were primarily due to the decrease in net income.

 

Net Interest Income

 

For the year ended December 31, 2012, net interest income decreased $27.1 million to $348.3 million, from $375.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The net interest margin decreased to 2.16% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 2.30% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The net interest rate spread decreased to 2.09% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 2.23% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decreases in net interest income, the net interest rate spread and the net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to the year ended December 31, 2011, were primarily due to a more rapid decline in the yields on interest-earning assets than the decline in the costs of interest-bearing liabilities.  Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased compared to the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to lower average yields on mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities and a decline 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 expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 also decreased in relation to the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to decreases in interest expense on certificates of deposit and borrowings.  The decrease in interest expense on certificates of deposit primarily reflects a decline in the average balance of such accounts, although the average cost also declined.  The decline in interest expense on borrowings was attributable to a decline in the average cost of borrowings, offset by an increase in the average balance. The average balance of net

 

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interest-earning assets increased $110.7 million to $698.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $588.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

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.”

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased $94.7 million to $600.5 million, from $695.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 3.73% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 4.27% for the year ended December 31, 2011, coupled with a decrease of $193.0 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $16.10 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $16.29 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011.  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 primarily reflects declines 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 $61.5 million to $372.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $434.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the average yield to 3.56% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 4.06% for the year ended December 31, 2011, coupled with a decrease of $223.4 million in the average balance of such loans to $10.46 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012.  The decrease in the average yield was primarily due to new originations 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.  The decrease in the average balance of residential mortgage loans reflects the continued elevated levels of repayments on such loans which have outpaced the levels of originations over the past year.  The lower interest rates and decrease in the average balance are attributable to the negative impact of the U.S. government programs that impede our ability to grow the residential mortgage loan portfolio profitably.  Net premium and deferred loan origination cost amortization on residential mortgage loans decreased $2.9 million to $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, reflecting the lower average balance of residential mortgage loans during the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Interest income on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans decreased $12.7 million to $149.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $162.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the average yield to 5.47% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 6.23% for the year ended December 31, 2011, offset by an increase of $130.3 million in the average balance of such loans.  The decrease in the average yield reflects new originations at interest rates below the weighted average rates of the portfolios, slightly offset by an increase in prepayment penalties.  Prepayment penalties increased $929,000 to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate loans is attributable to the strong levels of originations of such loans which have exceeded repayments over the past year.

 

Interest income on mortgage-backed and other securities decreased $20.3 million to $61.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $82.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the average yield to 2.67% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 3.37% for the year ended December 31, 2011, coupled with a decrease of $122.8 million in the average balance of the portfolio to $2.31 billion for the year ended December 31, 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 and an increase in net premium amortization.  Net premium amortization increased $8.3 million to $15.9 million

 

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for the year ending December 31, 2012, from $7.6 million for the year ending December 31, 2011.  The decrease in the average balance of mortgage-backed and other securities is the result of repayments and sales exceeding securities purchased over the past year.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased $67.6 million to $252.2 million, from $319.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.64% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 2.04% for the year ended December 31, 2011, coupled with a decrease of $303.7 million in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $15.40 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $15.70 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities was primarily due to decreases in the average costs of borrowings and certificates of deposit.  The decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities was primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit, partially offset by increases in the average balances of total savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts and borrowings.

 

Interest expense on total deposits decreased $40.0 million to $98.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $138.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease of $559.8 million in the average balance of total deposits to $10.77 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $11.33 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of total deposits to 0.91% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 1.22% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decrease in the average balance of total deposits was due to a decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit, offset by an increase in the average balance of core deposits.  The decrease in the average cost of total deposits was primarily due to a decrease in the average cost of our certificates of deposit, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of savings accounts.

 

Interest expense on certificates of deposit decreased $39.1 million to $83.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $122.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease of $1.45 billion in the average balance to $4.70 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $6.16 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 1.78% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 1.99% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit was primarily the result of our reduced focus on certificates of deposit, reflecting our efforts in 2012 to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet to increase our low cost savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit accounts and reduce high cost 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 year ended December 31, 2012, $3.58 billion of certificates of deposit with a weighted average rate of 1.56% and a weighted average maturity at inception of 22 months matured and $2.04 billion of certificates of deposit were issued or repriced with a weighted average rate of 0.53% and a weighted average maturity at inception of 18 months.

 

Interest expense on savings accounts decreased $5.2 million to $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to a decrease in the average cost to 0.16% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 0.35% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  Interest expense on money market accounts increased $4.3 million to $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to an increase of $702.9 million in the average balance of money market accounts to $1.32 billion for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $616.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The increase in the average balance of money market accounts for 2012 compared to 2011 reflects the success of our premium money market product which was introduced during the 2011 third quarter.   The average cost of money market accounts declined to 0.68% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 0.74% for the year ended December 31, 2011, reflecting a decline in the interest rates offered on such accounts from that which was initially offered.

 

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Interest expense on borrowings decreased $27.6 million to $154.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $181.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the average cost to 3.33% for the year ended December 31, 2012, from 4.16% for the year ended December 31, 2011, offset by an increase of $256.2 million in the average balance.  The decrease in the average cost of borrowings was the result of the repayment of borrowings that matured over the past year which had a higher weighted average rate than the weighted average rate of the portfolio and increased utilization of low cost FHLB-NY advances during 2012.  The increase in the average balance of borrowings was primarily the result of using low cost borrowings to help offset the decline in high cost certificates of deposit during 2012, coupled with the impact of the issuance of our 5.00% senior unsecured notes in June 2012 and using the proceeds to repay our 5.75% senior unsecured notes in September 2012.

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

We review our allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis.  Material factors considered during our quarterly review are our loss experience, the composition and direction of loan delinquencies, the size and composition of our loan portfolio and the impact of current economic conditions.  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, the condition of the national economy impacts our earnings.  During 2011 and continuing through 2012, the U.S. economy has shown signs of a very slow and tenuous recovery from the recession which began in 2008.  The national unemployment rate, while still at a high level, declined to 7.8% for December 2012, compared to a peak of 10.0% for October 2009, although new job growth remains slow.  Softness persists in the housing and real estate markets, although the extent of such softness varies from region to region.  With respect to our multi-family mortgage loan origination activities, primarily focused in New York, we have observed favorable market conditions during 2012.

 

The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $40.4 million, compared to $37.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The allowance for loan losses totaled $145.5 million at December 31, 2012, compared to $157.2 million at December 31, 2011.  The allowance for loan losses reflects the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of our loan delinquencies and non-performing loans, our loss history and our evaluation of the housing and real estate markets and overall economy, including the unemployment rate and other factors.  The decrease in the allowance for loan losses reflects the general stabilizing trend in overall asset quality we have experienced since 2010 as total delinquencies have continued a downward trend.  Total delinquencies and non-accrual loans decreased $51.4 million to $497.0 million at December 31, 2012, compared to $548.4 million at December 31, 2011, reflecting a decrease of $33.7 million in early stage loan delinquencies (loans 30-89 days past due) and a decrease of $17.8 million in non-performing loans.  Non-performing loans, which are comprised primarily of mortgage loans, decreased to $315.1 million, or 2.38% of total loans, at December 31, 2012, compared to $332.9 million, or 2.51% of total loans, at December 31, 2011, primarily due to a decrease of $26.8 million in non-performing residential mortgage loans, partially offset by an increase of $8.6 million in non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans due, in part, to loans that were modified in a TDR in 2012.  While the trend of lower non-performing loans has continued during 2012, we expect the levels will remain somewhat elevated for some time, especially in certain states where judicial foreclosure proceedings are required.  Non-performing loans include loans modified in a TDR which are initially placed on non-accrual status.  Such loans totaled $32.8 million at December 31, 2012 and $18.8 million at December 31, 2011.  Of the total loans modified in a TDR included in non-accrual loans, $13.7 million at December 31, 2012 and $10.9 million at December 31, 2011 were less than 90 days past due.  Net loan charge-offs totaled $52.1 million, or 39 basis points of average loans outstanding, for the year ended December 31, 2012.  This compares to net loan charge-offs of $81.3 million, or 60 basis points of average loans outstanding, for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decrease in net loan charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to the year ended December 31, 2011, was primarily due to a decrease of $12.6 million in net

 

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charge-offs on residential mortgage loans and a decrease of $15.6 million in net charge-offs on multi-family mortgage loans.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.10% at December 31, 2012, compared to 1.18% at December 31, 2011. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 46.18% at December 31, 2012, compared to 47.22% at December 31, 2011.    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 higher than the allowance coverage percentages applied to our performing loans.  In evaluating our allowance coverage percentages for non-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.  We update our estimates of collateral values on residential mortgage loans which are 180 days past due and annually thereafter.  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 $242.0 million, net of $79.4 million in charge-offs related to such loans, at December 31, 2012 and $256.4 million, net of $77.1 million in charge-offs related to such loans, at December 31, 2011.

 

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 2012 fourth 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) to the loan’s original principal balance, for the twelve months ended September 30, 2012, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 33%, unchanged from our 2012 third quarter analysis, compared to approximately 30% in our 2011 fourth quarter analysis.  Our analysis in the 2012 fourth quarter primarily reviewed residential REO sales which occurred during the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 and included both full documentation and reduced documentation loans in a variety of states with varying years of origination.  Our 2012 fourth quarter analysis of charge-offs on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, primarily related to loan sales, during the twelve months ended September 30, 2012, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 31%, compared to approximately 33% in our 2012 third quarter analysis and approximately 28% in our 2011 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.  We believe that using the loss experience of the past year (twelve months prior to the quarterly analysis) is reflective of the current economic and real estate environment.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was approximately 46% at December 31, 2012, 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 annually thereafter and for loans to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy initially when we are notified of the bankruptcy filing.  Updated estimates of collateral values on residential loans are obtained

 

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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 2012 first quarter, total delinquencies decreased primarily due to a decrease in early stage loan delinquencies, partially offset by an increase in non-performing loans.  Net loan charge-offs decreased for the 2012 first quarter to $17.3 million compared to $31.2 million for the 2011 fourth quarter, primarily due to charge-offs in the 2011 fourth quarter related to certain delinquent and non-performing loans transferred to held-for-sale and certain impaired multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.  The national unemployment rate decreased to 8.2% for March 2012 and there were job gains for the quarter totaling 635,000 at the time of our analysis.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2012 first quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased compared to December 31, 2011 to $149.9 million at March 31, 2012 and the provision for loan losses totaled $10.0 million for the 2012 first quarter.  During the 2012 second quarter, total delinquencies decreased primarily due to a decrease in non-performing residential mortgage loans.  The national unemployment rate was 8.2% for June 2012 and job gains decreased for the 2012 second quarter compared to the 2012 first quarter and totaled 225,000 at the time of our analysis.  Net loan charge-offs decreased for the 2012 second quarter compared to the 2012 first quarter.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2012 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, 2012 to $148.1 million at June 30, 2012.  The provision for loan losses totaled $10.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $20.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.  During the 2012 third quarter, total delinquencies increased slightly.  The national unemployment rate decreased to 7.8% for September 2012 and there were job gains for the quarter totaling 437,000 at the time of our analysis.  Net loan charge-offs decreased for the 2012 third quarter compared to the 2012 second quarter.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2012 third quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses increased slightly compared to June 30, 2012 and totaled $148.5 million at September 30, 2012 which resulted in a provision for loan losses of $9.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and $29.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  During the 2012 fourth quarter, total delinquencies decreased due to declines in both non-performing loans and early stage loan delinquencies.  Net loan charge-offs increased for the 2012 fourth quarter, compared to the 2012 third quarter, primarily due to an increase in net charge-offs on residential mortgage loans.  The national unemployment remained at 7.8% for December 2012 and there were job gains for the quarter totaling 453,000 at the time of our analysis.  We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis during the 2012 fourth quarter and modified our allowance coverage percentages accordingly.  As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased compared to September 30, 2012 and totaled $145.5 million at December 31, 2012 which resulted in a provision for loan losses of $10.9 million for the 2012 fourth quarter and $40.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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 our loan delinquencies and non-performing loans, our loss history and the

 

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current economic environment.  The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

 

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.”

 

Non-Interest Income

 

Non-interest income increased $4.3 million to $73.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $68.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This increase was primarily due to gain on sales of securities in 2012 and increases in mortgage banking income, net, and other non-interest income, partially offset by a decrease in customer service fees.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2012, we sold mortgage-backed securities from the available-for-sale portfolio with an amortized cost of $51.8 million resulting in gross realized gains totaling $2.5 million.  We also sold our investment in two issues of Freddie Mac perpetual preferred securities which we held in our available-for-sale portfolio resulting in a gross realized gain of $6.0 million during the 2012 fourth quarter.  The Freddie Mac securities had been written down to a zero cost basis in prior years as an impaired asset for book purposes.  There were no sales of securities during 2011.

 

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 $2.4 million to $6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The increase in mortgage banking income, net, was primarily due to an increase in net gain on sales of loans, partially offset by a higher provision recorded in the valuation allowance for the impairment of MSR and increased amortization of MSR for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Other non-interest income increased $1.3 million to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to an increase in net gain on sales of non-performing loans held-for-sale.  Customer service fees decreased $6.6 million to $39.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $46.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to decreases in ATM fees, overdraft fees related to transaction accounts and commissions on sales of annuities, partially offset by an increase in other checking account charges.

 

Non-Interest Expense

 

Non-interest expense decreased slightly to $300.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $301.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decrease in non-interest expense was primarily due to a reduction in compensation and benefits expense and advertising expense, partially offset by increases in federal deposit insurance premium expense and occupancy, equipment and systems expense and an extinguishment of debt expense in 2012.  Our percentage of general and administrative expense to average assets increased to 1.75% for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 1.73% for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily as a result of a decline in average assets for 2012 compared to 2011.

 

Over the past two years, we have incurred higher overall non-interest expense related to regulatory compliance and investment in our growing business lines, particularly multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage lending and, more recently, our business banking initiatives.  In an effort to offset such increases in our non-interest expense we completed a corporate wide review of all components of compensation and staffing levels during the 2012 first quarter for the purpose of identifying areas where

 

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we could potentially recognize cost savings and efficiencies.  We instituted a salary freeze for executive and senior officers and eliminated stock-based compensation awards for 2012.  We reviewed our staffing levels and retirement benefit plans and identified additional savings.  The additional savings identified included the elimination of 142 positions.  In addition, our Board of Directors approved amendments to our defined benefit pension plans which, among other things, suspended the accrual of additional pension benefits effective April 30, 2012 which resulted in a decline in our benefit obligations and an increase in the funded status and resulted in a reduction of net periodic pension cost beginning in the 2012 second quarter.  The savings resulting from these actions enabled us to control or limit the overall increase in our non-interest expense beginning in the 2012 second quarter.

 

Compensation and benefits expense decreased $12.0 million to $139.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $151.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The reduction in compensation and benefits expense reflects lower ESOP related expense as well as the benefits resulting from our cost control initiatives implemented in the 2012 first quarter.  The reduction in ESOP related expense primarily reflects declines in estimated eligible wages and the average price of our common stock during 2012 compared to 2011.  Compensation and benefits expense for 2012 includes $5.6 million in net charges associated with the cost control initiatives implemented in the 2012 first quarter.  These net charges were more than offset by cost savings realized during the remainder of 2012 which included reductions in net periodic pension cost and stock-based compensation costs for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Federal deposit insurance premium expense increased $9.3 million to $47.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $38.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. On February 7, 2011, the FDIC adopted a final rule that redefined the assessment base for deposit insurance assessments as average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity, as required by the Reform Act, rather than on deposit bases, and revised the risk-based assessment system for all large insured depository institutions effective April 1, 2011 which resulted in significantly higher federal deposit insurance premium expense.  For further discussion of the changes in FDIC insurance premiums, see Item 1, “Business – Regulation and Supervision,” and Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

Occupancy, equipment and systems expense increased $2.2 million to $67.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $65.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This increase is primarily due to increased equipment and systems expenses resulting from our growing business lines and an increase in rent expense resulting from the operating lease commitment entered into during the 2011 third quarter for office space in Jericho, New York to house our multi-family and commercial real estate lending and business banking departments and other operations.  Also contributing to the increase in occupancy, equipment and systems expense for 2012, compared to 2011, are costs associated with our repair and recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy.

 

Advertising expense decreased $1.4 million to $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This decrease was due to additional marketing campaigns in 2011 compared to 2012.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, we incurred an extinguishment of debt expense of $1.2 million related to the prepayment on September 13, 2012 of our 5.75% senior unsecured notes which were due on October 15, 2012.  Other non-interest expense decreased $541,000 to $38.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $39.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to a decline of $3.9 million in REO related expense to $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, from $11.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, substantially offset by increases in branch losses, legal fees and other loan expenses.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

For the year ended December 31, 2012, income tax expense totaled $27.9 million, representing an effective tax rate of 34.4%, compared to $38.7 million, representing an effective tax rate of 36.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The decrease in the effective tax rate for the year ended December 31,

 

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2012 reflects an increase in net favorable permanent differences, primarily due to a decrease in non-deductible ESOP expense, coupled with the decrease in pre-tax book income.  For additional information regarding income taxes, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Asset Quality

 

As a result of our continuing efforts to reposition the asset mix of our balance sheet, we have experienced increases in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolios and a decline in our residential mortgage loan portfolio.  Our multi-family mortgage loans increased to represent 26% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2013, compared to 18% at December 31, 2012, and our commercial real estate mortgage loans increased to represent 7% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2013, compared to 6% at December 31, 2012.  In contrast, our residential mortgage loans decreased to represent 65% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2013, compared to 74% at December 31, 2012.  At December 31, 2013 and 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 loans.  To a lesser extent, reduced documentation loans in our portfolio also include SISA loans.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we stopped offering reduced documentation loans.

 

Effective January 10, 2014, we became subject to rules adding restrictions and requirements to mortgage origination and servicing practices which, among other things, prohibit creditors from extending mortgage loans without regard for the consumer’s ability to repay, specify the types of income and assets that may be considered in the ability-to-repay determination, the permissible sources for verification and the required methods of calculating the loan’s monthly payments and establish certain protections from liability for loans that meet the requirements of a Qualified Mortgage.  Under the rules, Qualified Mortgages are mortgage loans that meet standards prohibiting or limiting certain high risk products and features.  Our current policy is to only originate mortgage loans that meet the requirements of a Qualified Mortgage.  See Item 1, “Business – Regulation and Supervision – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Regulation of Mortgage Origination and Servicing.”

 

Full documentation loans comprised 90% of our total mortgage loan portfolio at December 31, 2013, compared to 89% at December 31, 2012, and comprised 85% of our residential mortgage loan portfolio at December 31, 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.

 

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At December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

Percent

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

of Total

 

Amount

 

of Total

 

Residential mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only (1)

 

$

1,382,201

 

17.20%

 

$

2,001,396

 

20.61%

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

5,419,457

 

67.42

 

6,304,872

 

64.92

 

Reduced documentation interest-only (1)(2)

 

839,661

 

10.45

 

1,005,295

 

10.35

 

Reduced documentation amortizing (2)

 

395,957

 

4.93

 

399,663

 

4.12

 

Total residential mortgage loans

 

$

8,037,276

 

100.00%

 

$

9,711,226

 

100.00%

 

 

(1)         Includes interest-only hybrid ARM loans which were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, totaling $1.66 billion at December 31, 2013 and $2.18 billion at December 31, 2012.

(2)         Includes SISA loans totaling $193.0 million at December 31, 2013 and $222.7 million at December 31, 2012.

 

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 December 31, 2013, our residential mortgage loan portfolio totaled $8.04 billion, of which $832.0 million, or 10%, represented loans to borrowers with FICO scores of 660 or below.  Interest-only loans comprised 63% of the loans to borrowers with FICO scores of 660 or below and 37% 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.

 

 

 

At December 31,

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Non-performing loans (1) (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

$

305,626

 

$

291,051

 

$

317,867

 

$

342,315

 

$

330,082

 

Multi-family

 

12,539

 

10,658

 

8,022

 

36,292

 

64,984

 

Commercial real estate

 

7,857

 

6,869

 

900

 

6,529

 

8,682

 

Consumer and other loans

 

5,980

 

6,508

 

6,068

 

5,574

 

4,824

 

Total non-performing loans

 

332,002

 

315,086

 

332,857

 

390,710

 

408,572

 

REO, net (3)

 

42,636

 

28,523

 

48,059

 

63,782

 

46,220

 

Total non-performing assets

 

$

374,638

 

$

343,609

 

$

380,916

 

$

454,492

 

$

454,792

 

Non-performing loans to total loans

 

2.67%

 

2.38%

 

2.51%

 

2.75%

 

2.59%

 

Non-performing loans to total assets

 

2.10

 

1.91

 

1.96

 

2.16

 

2.02

 

Non-performing assets to total assets

 

2.37

 

2.08

 

2.24

 

2.51

 

2.25

 

 

(1)

Non-performing loans are comprised primarily of non-accrual loans. Non-performing loans included loans modified in a TDR totaling $109.8 million at December 31, 2013, $32.8 million at December 31, 2012, $18.8 million at December 31, 2011, $47.5 million at December 31, 2010 and $57.2 million at December 31, 2009. Non-performing loans exclude loans which have been modified in a TDR that have been returned to accrual status.

(2)

Includes mortgage loans past due 90 days or more, primarily as to their maturity date but not their interest due, and still accruing interest totaling $384,000 at December 31, 2013, $328,000 at December 31, 2012, $162,000 at December 31, 2011, $845,000 at December 31, 2010 and $600,000 at December 31, 2009.

(3)

REO, all of which are residential properties, is net of a valuation allowance totaling $834,000 at December 31, 2013, $1.6 million at December 31, 2012, $2.5 million at December 31, 2011, $1.5 million at December 31, 2010 and $816,000 at December 31, 2009.

 

Total non-performing assets increased $31.0 million to $374.6 million at December 31, 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 increased to  2.37% at December 31, 2013, compared to 2.08% at December 31, 2012, reflecting increases in both non-performing loans and REO, net, coupled with a decrease in total assets at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans increased to 2.67% at December 31, 2013, compared to 2.38% at December 31, 2012, as a result of the increase in non-performing loans, coupled with overall contraction of the loan portfolio.  Non-performing loans, the most significant component of non-performing assets, increased $16.9 million to $332.0 million at December 31, 2013, compared to $315.1 million at December 31, 2012, even as loans delinquent 90 days or more past due continued to decline.  At December 31, 2012, non-performing loans included bankruptcy loans which were discharged during 2012, regardless of delinquency status of the loans.  Effective in the 2013 first quarter, non-performing loans also included bankruptcy loans which were discharged in years prior to 2012, regardless of the delinquency status of the loans, as discussed further below, resulting in an increase in non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012.  REO, net, increased $14.1 million to $42.6 million at December 31, 2013 compared to $28.5 million December 31, 2012.  This increase primarily reflects an increase in the number of loans that shifted from non-performing delinquent loans to REO through the completion of the foreclosure process in 2013, particularly in the latter half of 2013.

 

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 $109.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $32.8 million at December 31, 2012, of which $79.4 million at December 31, 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, effective in the 2013 first quarter, of bankruptcy loans which were discharged prior to 2012.  Bankruptcy loans included in non-accrual

 

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loans totaled $83.2 million at December 31, 2013, including $65.1 million which were discharged prior to 2012, and totaled $12.5 million at December 31, 2012.  Of the total bankruptcy loans included in non-accrual loans, $61.0 million were current or less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2013, including $51.1 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 continue to generate interest income on a cash basis as payments are received.  Loans modified in a TDR remain in non-accrual status until we determine that future collection of principal and interest is reasonably assured.  Where we have agreed to modify the contractual terms of a borrower’s loan, we require the borrower to demonstrate performance according to the restructured terms, generally for a period of six months, prior to returning the loan to accrual status.  Loans modified in a TDR which have been returned to accrual status are excluded from non-performing loans.  Restructured accruing loans totaled $100.5 million at December 31, 2013, $98.7 million at December 31, 2012, $73.7 million at December 31, 2011, $49.2 million at December 31, 2010 and $26.0 million at December 31, 2009.

 

If all non-accrual loans at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 had been performing in accordance with their original terms, we would have recorded interest income, with respect to such loans, of $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This compares to actual payments recorded as interest income, with respect to such loans, of $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

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 $791,000 at December 31, 2013 and $3.9 million at December 31, 2012, substantially all of which were multi-family mortgage loans.  Such loans are excluded from non-performing loans, non-performing assets and related ratios.

 

In addition to non-performing loans, we had $182.0 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 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.

 

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 December 31, 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 December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

Percent

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

of Total

 

Amount

 

of Total

 

Non-performing residential mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

    $

100,228

 

32.79%

 

    $

99,521

 

34.19%

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

54,909

 

17.97

 

44,326

 

15.23

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

118,158

 

38.66

 

113,482

 

38.99

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

32,331

 

10.58

 

33,722

 

11.59

 

Total non-performing residential mortgage loans (1)

 

    $

305,626

 

100.00%

 

    $

291,051

 

100.00%

 

 

(1)          Includes $71.2 million of loans less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2013, of which $62.8 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.

 

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The following table provides details on the geographic composition of both our total and non-performing residential mortgage loans as of December 31, 2013.

 

 

 

Residential Mortgage Loans
At December 31, 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

 

   $

2,373.2

 

29.6%

 

   $

54.6 

 

17.8%

 

2.30%

 

Connecticut

 

828.7

 

10.3

 

36.2 

 

11.8

 

4.37

 

Illinois

 

741.1

 

9.2

 

35.5 

 

11.6

 

4.79

 

Massachusetts

 

679.6

 

8.5

 

13.4 

 

4.4

 

1.97

 

New Jersey

 

570.9

 

7.1

 

57.0 

 

18.7

 

9.98

 

Virginia

 

559.4

 

7.0

 

15.0 

 

4.9

 

2.68

 

Maryland

 

498.0

 

6.2

 

35.6 

 

11.6

 

7.15

 

California

 

477.1

 

5.9

 

23.4 

 

7.7

 

4.90

 

Washington

 

227.9

 

2.8

 

2.6 

 

0.9

 

1.14

 

Texas

 

204.7

 

2.5

 

 

-

 

-

 

All other states (2) (3)

 

876.7

 

10.9

 

32.3 

 

10.6

 

3.68

 

Total

 

   $

8,037.3

 

100.0%

 

   $

305.6 

 

100.0%

 

3.80%

 

 

(1)         Includes loans which were current or less than 90 days past due totaling $71.2 million.

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

(3)         Includes Florida with $142.8 million total loans, of which $12.4 million were non-performing loans.

 

At December 31, 2013, the geographic composition of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio was 99% in the New York metropolitan area and 1% in various other states and the geographic composition of non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans was 91% in the New York metropolitan area, 8% 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

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

 

of

 

 

 

of

 

 

 

of

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Loans

 

Amount

 

Loans

 

Amount

 

Loans

 

Amount

 

At December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

316

 

$

96,302

 

62

 

$

22,393

 

784

 

$

234,378

 

Multi-family

 

52

 

13,844

 

6

 

1,327

 

24

 

9,054

 

Commercial real estate

 

6

 

2,659

 

3

 

1,690

 

3

 

1,154

 

Consumer and other loans

 

76

 

3,177

 

24

 

1,340

 

48

 

5,948

 

Total delinquent loans

 

450

 

$

115,982

 

95

 

$

26,750

 

859

 

$

250,534

 

Delinquent loans to total loans

 

 

 

0.93%

 

 

 

0.21%

 

 

 

2.01%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

360

 

$

129,779

 

113

 

$

31,752

 

1,006

 

$

310,451

 

Multi-family

 

42

 

29,109

 

12

 

14,915

 

9

 

5,534

 

Commercial real estate

 

3

 

4,882

 

2

 

1,060

 

-

 

-

 

Consumer and other loans

 

94

 

4,187

 

33

 

1,587

 

51

 

5,947

 

Total delinquent loans

 

499

 

$

167,957

 

160

 

$

49,314

 

1,066

 

$

321,932

 

Delinquent loans to total loans

 

 

 

1.27%

 

 

 

0.37%

 

 

 

2.43%

 

 

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Allowance for Losses

 

The following table sets forth the changes in our allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

At or For the Year Ended December 31,

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

145,501

 

$

157,185

 

$

201,499

 

$

194,049

 

$

119,029

 

Provision charged to operations

 

19,601

 

40,400

 

37,000

 

115,000

 

200,000

 

Charge-offs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

(26,644)

 

(49,794)

 

(64,834)

 

(84,537)

 

(83,713)

 

Multi-family

 

(4,732)

 

(6,275)

 

(22,160)

 

(29,158)

 

(44,724)

 

Commercial real estate

 

(3,748)

 

(2,607)

 

(4,138)

 

(6,970)

 

(2,666)

 

Consumer and other loans

 

(1,916)

 

(2,541)

 

(1,665)

 

(2,583)

 

(2,096)

 

Total charge-offs

 

(37,040)

 

(61,217)

 

(92,797)

 

(123,248)

 

(133,199)

 

Recoveries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

8,346

 

8,407

 

10,844

 

12,957

 

6,956

 

Multi-family

 

1,237

 

206

 

502

 

1,867

 

1,052

 

Commercial real estate

 

535

 

1

 

-

 

725

 

81

 

Consumer and other loans

 

820

 

519

 

137

 

149

 

130

 

Total recoveries

 

10,938

 

9,133

 

11,483

 

15,698

 

8,219

 

Net charge-offs (1)

 

(26,102)

 

(52,084)

 

(81,314)

 

(107,550)

 

(124,980)

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

139,000

 

$

145,501

 

$

157,185

 

$

201,499

 

$

194,049

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding

 

0.20%

 

0.39%

 

0.60%

 

0.70%

 

0.77%

 

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

 

1.12

 

1.10

 

1.18

 

1.42

 

1.23

 

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans

 

41.87

 

46.18

 

47.22

 

51.57

 

47.49

 

 

(1)          Includes net charge-offs related to reduced documentation residential mortgage loans totaling $6.2 million, $18.6 million, $28.7 million, $39.6 million and $50.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and net charge-offs related to certain delinquent and non-performing loans transferred to held-for-sale totaling $4.6 million, $1.7 million, $21.6 million, $26.1 million and $40.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

 

The following table sets forth the changes in our valuation allowance for REO for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

At or For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

1,555

 

$

2,499

 

$

1,513

 

$

816

 

$

2,028

 

Provision charged to operations

 

1,298

 

2,914

 

4,039

 

2,805

 

1,297

 

Charge-offs

 

(2,421)

 

(4,428)

 

(3,248)

 

(2,369)

 

(4,943)

 

Recoveries

 

402

 

570

 

195

 

261

 

2,434

 

Balance at end of year

 

$

834

 

$

1,555

 

$

2,499

 

$

1,513

 

$

816

 

 

The following table sets forth our allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category and the percent of loans in each category to total loans receivable at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Percent of
Loans to
Total Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent of
Loans to
Total Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent of
Loans to
Total Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent of
Loans to
Total Loans

 

Amount

 

Percent of
Loans to
Total Loans

 

Residential

 

$

80,337

 

64.89%

 

$

89,267

 

73.82%

 

$

105,991

 

80.02%

 

$

125,524

 

76.77%

 

$

113,288

 

75.88%

 

Multi-family

 

36,703

 

26.61

 

35,514

 

18.29

 

35,422

 

12.84

 

56,266

 

15.58

 

63,145

 

16.48

 

Commercial real estate

 

13,136

 

6.56

 

14,404

 

5.88

 

11,972

 

5.00

 

15,563

 

5.46

 

10,638

 

5.53

 

Consumer and other loans

 

8,824

 

1.94

 

6,316

 

2.01

 

3,800

 

2.14

 

4,146

 

2.19

 

6,978

 

2.11

 

Total allowance for loan losses

 

$

139,000

 

100.00%

 

$

145,501

 

100.00%

 

$

157,185

 

100.00%

 

$

201,499

 

100.00%

 

$

194,049

 

100.00%

 

 

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The allowance for loan losses is allocated by loan category, but the portion of the allowance for loan losses 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.  The decrease in the allowance for loan losses allocated to residential mortgage loans at December 31, 2013, compared to December 31, 2012, primarily reflects the decrease in the balance of this portfolio, coupled with decreases in net loan charge-offs and loan delinquencies.  The increase in the allowance for loan losses allocated to multi-family loans at December 31, 2013, compared to December 31, 2012, primarily reflects the increase in the balance of this portfolio.  The decrease in the allowance for loan losses allocated to commercial real estate mortgage loans at December 31, 2013, compared to December 31, 2012, primarily reflects the decrease in loan delinquencies, partially offset by the increase in the balance of this portfolio.  The increase in the allowance for loan losses allocated to consumer and other loans at December 31, 2013, compared to December 31, 2012, primarily relates to home equity lines of credit in consideration of such loans entering their amortization period.  The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

Impact of Recent Accounting Standards and Interpretations

 

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-01, “Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects,” which applies to all reporting entities that invest in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit.  Currently under GAAP, a reporting entity that invests in a qualified affordable housing project may elect to account for that investment using the effective yield method if all of the conditions are met.  For those investments that are not accounted for using the effective yield method, GAAP requires that they be accounted for under either the equity method or the cost method.  Certain of the conditions required to be met to use the effective yield method were restrictive and thus prevented many such investments from qualifying for the use of the effective yield method.  The amendments in this update modify the conditions that a reporting entity must meet to be eligible to use a method other than the equity or cost methods to account for qualified affordable housing project investments. If the modified conditions are met, the amendments permit an entity to use the proportional amortization method to amortize the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the amount of tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognize the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit).  Additionally, the amendments introduce new recurring disclosures about all investments in qualified affordable housing projects irrespective of the method used to account for the investments.   The amendments in ASU 2014-01 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014.  Early adoption is permitted.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, “Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40) Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” which applies to all creditors who obtain physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan in satisfaction of a receivable.  The amendments in this update clarify when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs and requires disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by a creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction.  The amendments in ASU 2014-04 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014.  Early adoption is permitted and entities can elect to adopt a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto presented herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require the measurement of our financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation.  The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations.  Unlike industrial companies, nearly all of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature.  As a result, interest rates have a greater impact on our performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation.  Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or, to the same extent, as the price of goods and services.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a financial institution, the primary component of our market risk is IRR.  Net interest income is the primary component of our net income.  Net interest income is the difference between the interest earned on our loans, securities and other interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred on our deposits and borrowings.  The yields, costs and volumes of loans, securities, deposits and borrowings are directly affected by the levels of and changes in market interest rates.  Additionally, changes in interest rates also affect the related cash flows of our assets and liabilities as the option to prepay assets or withdraw liabilities remains with our customers, in most cases without penalty.  The objective of our IRR 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 IRR modeling is done by Astoria Federal in conformity with regulatory requirements.  In conjunction with performing these analyses we also consider related factors including, but not limited to, our overall credit profile, non-interest income and non-interest expense.  We do not enter into financial transactions or hold financial instruments for trading purposes.

 

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.  The following table, referred to as the Gap Table, sets forth the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at December 31, 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 actual duration of mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities can be significantly impacted by changes in mortgage prepayment activity.  The major factors affecting mortgage prepayment rates are prevailing interest rates and related mortgage refinancing opportunities.  Prepayment rates will also vary due to a number of other factors, including the regional economy in the area where the underlying collateral is located, seasonal factors, demographic variables and the assumability of the underlying mortgages.

 

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 uncertainty and volatility of interest rates, economic conditions and other markets which affect the value of these call options, as well as the financial condition and strategies of the holders of the options, increase the difficulty and uncertainty in predicting when the call options may be exercised.  Among the factors

 

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considered in our estimates are current trends and historical repricing experience with respect to similar products.  As a result, different assumptions may be used at different points in time.

 

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 $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2016 and $950.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2017, all 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 cumulative gap at December 31, 2013 was positive 2.59% 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 mortgage-backed securities projected to mature or reprice within one year at December 31, 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 and continued into the remainder of 2013.

 

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At December 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

More than

 

More than

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Year

 

Three Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Year

 

to

 

to

 

More than

 

 

 

(Dollars in Thousands)  

 

or Less

 

Three Years

 

Five Years

 

Five Years

 

Total

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (1)

 

$

3,961,910

 

$

2,855,649

 

$

3,848,485

 

$

1,233,254

 

$

11,899,298

 

Consumer and other loans (1)

 

218,874

 

7,776

 

2,477

 

4,574

 

233,701

 

Interest-earning cash accounts

 

88,848

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

88,848

 

Securities available-for-sale

 

68,343

 

69,601

 

94,733

 

177,017

 

409,694

 

Securities held-to-maturity

 

212,074

 

337,007

 

454,142

 

816,667

 

1,819,890

 

FHLB-NY stock

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

152,207

 

152,207

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

4,550,049

 

3,270,033

 

4,399,837

 

2,383,719

 

14,603,638

 

Net unamortized purchase premiums and deferred costs (2)

 

23,515

 

19,416

 

26,143

 

21,013

 

90,087

 

Net interest-earning assets (3)

 

4,573,564

 

3,289,449

 

4,425,980

 

2,404,732

 

14,693,725

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

336,709

 

390,578

 

390,578

 

1,376,034

 

2,493,899

 

Money market

 

1,154,577

 

390,872

 

390,872

 

35,815

 

1,972,136

 

NOW and demand deposit

 

107,036

 

214,112

 

214,112

 

1,562,218

 

2,097,478

 

Certificates of deposit

 

1,477,631

 

1,562,515

 

251,651

 

-

 

3,291,797

 

Borrowings, net

 

1,088,472

 

848,944

 

1,049,745

 

1,150,000

 

4,137,161

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

4,164,425

 

3,407,021

 

2,296,958

 

4,124,067

 

13,992,471

 

Interest sensitivity gap

 

409,139

 

(117,572

)

2,129,022

 

(1,719,335

)

$

701,254

 

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap

 

$

409,139

 

$

291,567

 

$

2,420,589

 

$

701,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap as a percentage of total assets

 

2.59

%

1.85

%

15.33

%

4.44

%

 

 

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

 

109.82

%

103.85

%

124.53

%

105.01

%

 

 

 

(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 IRR, 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, consisting of all our interest-bearing assets and interest-bearing liabilities included in the Gap Table, 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 parallel increments of 50 basis points, our projected net interest income for the twelve month period beginning January 1, 2014 would decrease by approximately 4.00% 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

 

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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 January 1, 2014 would decrease by approximately 1.99% 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 IRR 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 BOLI 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 January 1, 2014 would increase by approximately $3.4 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 January 1, 2014 would decrease by approximately $3.0 million with respect to these items alone.

 

For information regarding our credit risk, see “Asset Quality,” in Item 7, “MD&A.”

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

For our Consolidated Financial Statements, see the index on page A - 1.

 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.

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 December 31, 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.

 

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There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

See page A - 2 for our Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and page A - 3 for the related Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 Certifications regarding the quality of our public disclosures have been filed with the SEC as Exhibit 31.1 and Exhibit 31.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Information regarding directors and executive officers who are not directors of Astoria Financial Corporation is presented in the tables under the headings “Board Nominees, Directors and Executive Officers,” “Committees and Meetings of the Board” and “Additional Information - Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days from December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Information regarding the audit committee of our Board of Directors, including information regarding an audit committee financial expert serving on the audit committee, is presented under the heading “Committees and Meetings of the Board” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days from December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, which is available on our investor relations website at http://ir.astoriafederal.com under the heading “Corporate Governance.”  In addition, copies of our code of business conduct and ethics will be provided upon written request to Astoria Financial Corporation, Investor Relations Department, One Astoria Federal Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 at no charge.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter are available on our investor relations website at http://ir.astoriafederal.com under the heading “Corporate Governance.”  In addition, copies of such documents will be provided to shareholders upon written request to Astoria Financial Corporation, Investor Relations Department, One Astoria Federal Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 at no charge.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, there were no material changes to procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors.

 

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ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Information relating to executive (and director) compensation is included under the headings “Transactions with Certain Related Parties,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Summary Compensation Table,” “Grants of Plan Based Awards Table,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table,” “Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table,” “Pension Benefits Table,” “Other Potential Post-Employment Payments” and “Director Compensation,” including related narratives, “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report,” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014 which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days from December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Compensation Committee Charter is available on our investor relations website at http://ir.astoriafederal.com under the heading “Corporate Governance.”  In addition, copies of our Compensation Committee Charter will be provided to shareholders upon written request to Astoria Financial Corporation, Investor Relations Department, One Astoria Federal Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 at no charge.

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY  OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS  AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Information relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners,” “Security Ownership of Management” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans Table,” and related narrative, in our definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days from December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions and director independence is included under the headings “Transactions with Certain Related Persons,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Director Independence” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days from December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information regarding principal accountant fees and services and the pre-approval of such services and fees is included under the headings “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees,” and in the related narrative, in our definitive Proxy Statement to be utilized in connection with our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days from December 31, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)      1.            Financial Statements

 

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page A - 1.

 

2.            Financial Statement Schedules

 

Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto under Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

(b)                              Exhibits

 

See Index of Exhibits on page B - 1.

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Monte N. Redman

Date:

February 27, 2014

 

 

Monte N. Redman

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

 

NAME

 

DATE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Ralph F. Palleschi

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Ralph F. Palleschi

 

 

 

 

Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Monte N. Redman

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Monte N. Redman

 

 

 

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Frank E. Fusco

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Frank E. Fusco

 

 

 

 

Senior Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

John F. Kennedy

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

John F. Kennedy

 

 

 

 

Senior Vice President and

 

 

 

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Gerard C. Keegan

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Gerard C. Keegan

 

 

 

 

Vice Chairman, Senior Executive Vice President and

 

 

 

 

Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Jane D. Carlin

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Jane D. Carlin

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

John R. Chrin

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

John R. Chrin

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

John J. Corrado

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

John J. Corrado

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

 

103



Table of Contents

 

/s/

Brian M. Leeney

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Brian M. Leeney

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/

Patricia M. Nazemetz

 

February 27, 2014

 

 

Patricia M. Nazemetz

 

 

 

 

Director

 

 

 

 

104



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

INDEX

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A  -  2

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

A  -  3

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

A  -  5

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

A  -  6

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended
December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

A  -  7

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended
December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

A  -  8

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

A  -  9

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

A - 10

 

A - 1



 

MANAGEMENT REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

The management of Astoria Financial Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.  Astoria Financial Corporation’s internal control system is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to the company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of Astoria Financial Corporation; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of Astoria Financial Corporation’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations.  Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013.  In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992).  Based on our assessment we believe that, as of December 31, 2013, the company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013.  This report appears on page A - 3.

 

A - 2



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Astoria Financial Corporation:

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Astoria Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992) issued by COSO.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statements of financial condition of Astoria Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, and our report dated February 27, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

 

 

GRAPHIC

New York, New York

February 27, 2014

 

A - 3



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Astoria Financial Corporation:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Astoria Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Astoria Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 27, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

GRAPHIC

New York, New York

February 27, 2014

 

A - 4



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

121,950

 

$

121,473

 

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Encumbered

 

105,234

 

79,851

 

Unencumbered

 

296,456

 

256,449

 

Total available-for-sale securities

 

401,690

 

336,300

 

Held-to-maturity securities, fair value of $1,811,122 and $1,725,090, respectively:

 

 

 

 

 

Encumbered

 

1,150,315

 

1,133,193

 

Unencumbered

 

699,211

 

566,948

 

Total held-to-maturity securities

 

1,849,526

 

1,700,141

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost

 

152,207

 

171,194

 

Loans held-for-sale, net

 

7,375

 

76,306

 

Loans receivable

 

12,442,066

 

13,223,972

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

(139,000

)

(145,501

)

Loans receivable, net

 

12,303,066

 

13,078,471

 

Mortgage servicing rights, net

 

12,800

 

6,947

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

37,926

 

41,688

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

112,530

 

115,632

 

Goodwill

 

185,151

 

185,151

 

Bank owned life insurance

 

423,375

 

418,155

 

Real estate owned, net

 

42,636

 

28,523

 

Other assets

 

143,490

 

216,661

 

Total assets

 

$

15,793,722

 

$

16,496,642

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

$

9,855,310

 

$

10,443,958

 

Federal funds purchased

 

335,000

 

-

 

Reverse repurchase agreements

 

1,100,000

 

1,100,000

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances

 

2,454,000

 

2,897,000

 

Other borrowings, net

 

248,161

 

376,496

 

Mortgage escrow funds

 

109,458

 

113,101

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

172,280

 

272,098

 

Total liabilities

 

14,274,209

 

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 98,841,960 and 98,419,318 shares outstanding, respectively)

 

1,665

 

1,665

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

894,297

 

884,689

 

Retained earnings

 

1,930,026

 

1,891,022

 

Treasury stock (67,652,928 and 68,075,570 shares, at cost, respectively)

 

(1,398,021

)

(1,406,755

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(38,250

)

(73,090

)

Unallocated common stock held by ESOP (-0- and 967,013 shares, respectively)

 

-

 

(3,542

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,519,513

 

1,293,989

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

15,793,722

 

$

16,496,642

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

A - 5



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage loans

 

$

289,790

 

$

372,478

 

$

433,951

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans

 

163,352

 

149,694

 

162,433

 

Consumer and other loans

 

8,797

 

9,258

 

9,889

 

Mortgage-backed and other securities

 

49,563

 

61,757

 

82,055

 

Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts

 

263

 

338

 

237

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock

 

6,665

 

6,984

 

6,683

 

Total interest income

 

518,430

 

600,509

 

695,248

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

62,617

 

98,021

 

138,049

 

Borrowings

 

113,911

 

154,219

 

181,773

 

Total interest expense

 

176,528

 

252,240

 

319,822

 

Net interest income

 

341,902

 

348,269

 

375,426

 

Provision for loan losses

 

19,601

 

40,400

 

37,000

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

322,301

 

307,869

 

338,426

 

Non-interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer service fees

 

36,786

 

39,520

 

46,135

 

Other loan fees

 

2,230

 

2,640

 

3,160

 

Gain on sales of securities

 

2,057

 

8,477

 

-

 

Mortgage banking income, net

 

13,241

 

6,820

 

4,413

 

Income from bank owned life insurance

 

8,404

 

9,439

 

10,257

 

Other

 

6,854

 

6,339

 

4,950

 

Total non-interest income

 

69,572

 

73,235

 

68,915

 

Non-interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

133,689

 

139,140

 

151,149

 

Occupancy, equipment and systems

 

70,711

 

67,406

 

65,182

 

Federal deposit insurance premium

 

37,188

 

47,363

 

38,083

 

Advertising

 

6,400

 

6,392

 

7,842

 

Extinguishment of debt

 

4,266

 

1,212

 

-

 

Other

 

35,277

 

38,620

 

39,161

 

Total non-interest expense

 

287,531

 

300,133

 

301,417

 

Income before income tax expense

 

104,342

 

80,971

 

105,924

 

Income tax expense

 

37,749

 

27,880

 

38,715

 

Net income

 

66,593

 

53,091

 

67,209

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

7,214

 

-

 

-

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

59,379

 

$

53,091

 

$

67,209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.70

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,121,497

 

95,455,344

 

93,253,928

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,121,497

 

95,455,344

 

93,253,928

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

A - 6



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

66,593

 

$

53,091

 

$

67,209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the year

 

(10,485

)

(1,320

)

(3,354

)

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

 

(1,332

)

(5,490

)

-

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

 

(11,817

)

(6,810

)

(3,354

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment arising during the year

 

44,180

 

9,143

 

(35,960

)

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

2,335

 

3,527

 

5,564

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

46,515

 

12,670

 

(30,396

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service cost adjustment arising during the year

 

-

 

(3,538

)

-

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

142

 

98

 

60

 

Prior service cost adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

142

 

(3,440

)

60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

-

 

151

 

190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

34,840

 

2,571

 

(33,500

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

101,433

 

$

55,662

 

$

33,709

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

A - 7



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, 2010

 

$1,241,780

 

$         -

 

$1,665

 

$864,744

 

$1,848,095

 

$ (1,417,956

)

$ (42,161)

 

$ (12,607

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

67,209

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

67,209

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(33,500

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(33,500)

 

-

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.52 per share)

 

(49,435

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(49,435

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Restricted stock grants (685,650 shares)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(9,698

)

(4,471

)

14,169

 

-

 

-

 

Forfeitures of restricted stock (25,404 shares)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

357

 

167

 

(524

)

-

 

-

 

Stock-based compensation

 

9,035

 

-

 

-

 

9,008

 

27

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(263

)

-

 

-

 

(263

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Allocation of ESOP stock

 

16,372

 

-

 

-

 

11,247

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

5,125

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

 

1,251,198

 

-

 

1,665

 

875,395

 

1,861,592

 

(1,404,311

)

(75,661)

 

(7,482

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

53,091

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

53,091

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

2,571

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

2,571

 

-

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.25 per share)

 

(24,104

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(24,104

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Restricted stock grants (157,000 shares)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(1,541

)

(1,703

)

3,244

 

-

 

-

 

Forfeitures of restricted stock (275,397 shares)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

3,918

 

1,770

 

(5,688

)

-

 

-

 

Stock-based compensation

 

5,166

 

-

 

-

 

4,790

 

376

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(4,123

)

-

 

-

 

(4,123

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Allocation of ESOP stock

 

10,190

 

-

 

-

 

6,250

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

3,940

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

 

1,293,989

 

-

 

1,665

 

884,689

 

1,891,022

 

(1,406,755

)

(73,090)

 

(3,542

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

66,593

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

66,593

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

34,840

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

34,840

 

-

 

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

 

129,796

 

129,796

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.16 per share)

 

(15,667

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(15,667

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Dividends on preferred stock ($53.44 per share)

 

(7,214

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

(7,214

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Restricted stock grants (536,110 shares)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(5,200

)

(5,878

)

11,078

 

-

 

-

 

Forfeitures of restricted stock (113,468 shares)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

1,234

 

1,110

 

(2,344

)

-

 

-

 

Stock-based compensation

 

6,969

 

-

 

-

 

6,909

 

60

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(800

)

-

 

-

 

(800

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Allocation of ESOP stock

 

11,007

 

-

 

-

 

7,465

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

3,542

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

$1,519,513

 

$129,796

 

$1,665

 

$894,297

 

$1,930,026

 

$ (1,398,021

)

$ (38,250)

 

$            -

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

A - 8



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

66,593

 

$

53,091

 

$

67,209

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net amortization on loans

 

20,511

 

26,101

 

28,810

 

Net amortization on securities and borrowings

 

15,794

 

16,762

 

8,288

 

Net provision for loan and real estate losses

 

20,899

 

43,314

 

41,039

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

11,566

 

11,861

 

11,684

 

Net gain on sales of loans and securities

 

(9,059

)

(17,333

)

(3,681

)

Net (gain) loss on dispositions of premises and equipment

 

(4

)

49

 

312

 

Other asset impairment charges

 

87

 

272

 

444

 

Originations of loans held-for-sale

 

(256,048

)

(380,356

)

(196,060

)

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

 

325,088

 

324,520

 

218,969

 

Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP stock

 

17,976

 

15,356

 

25,407

 

Decrease in accrued interest receivable

 

3,762

 

4,840

 

8,964

 

Mortgage servicing rights amortization and valuation allowance adjustments, net

 

(2,172

)

4,840

 

3,398

 

Bank owned life insurance income and insurance proceeds received, net

 

(5,220

)

(8,518

)

781

 

Decrease in other assets

 

51,148

 

100,849

 

36,057

 

Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

(28,257

)

(8,235

)

(23,928

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

232,664

 

187,413

 

227,693

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originations of loans receivable

 

(2,228,450

)

(3,272,511

)

(2,651,863

)

Loan purchases through third parties

 

(407,532

)

(942,873

)

(1,118,921

)

Principal payments on loans receivable

 

3,302,519

 

4,135,995

 

4,495,679

 

Proceeds from sales of delinquent and non-performing loans

 

19,511

 

23,220

 

26,408

 

Purchases of securities held-to-maturity

 

(850,716

)

(533,687

)

(967,803

)

Purchases of securities available-for-sale

 

(221,080

)

(256,901

)

-

 

Principal payments on securities held-to-maturity

 

687,902

 

948,994

 

832,886

 

Principal payments on securities available-for-sale

 

95,687

 

201,147

 

213,295

 

Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale

 

41,640

 

60,318

 

-

 

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

 

18,987

 

(39,527

)

17,507

 

Redemption of Astoria Capital Trust I common securities

 

3,866

 

-

 

-

 

Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net

 

35,949

 

59,892

 

87,004

 

Purchases of premises and equipment

 

(10,292

)

(6,435

)

(12,976

)

Proceeds from dispositions of premises and equipment

 

671

 

-

 

14,396

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

488,662

 

377,632

 

935,612

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in deposits

 

(588,648

)

(801,656

)

(353,386

)

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

 

317,000

 

448,000

 

168,000

 

Proceeds from borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

-

 

950,000

 

200,000

 

Repayments of borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

(553,866

)

(1,144,000

)

(1,116,000

)

Cash payments for debt issuance costs

 

-

 

(2,653

)

-

 

Net (decrease) increase in mortgage escrow funds

 

(3,643

)

2,260

 

1,467

 

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

 

135,000

 

-

 

-

 

Cash payments for preferred stock issuance costs

 

(5,204

)

-

 

-

 

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

 

(20,688

)

(24,104

)

(49,435

)

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(800

)

(4,123

)

(263

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(720,849

)

(576,276

)

(1,149,617

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

477

 

(11,231

)

13,688

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

121,473

 

132,704

 

119,016

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

121,950

 

$

121,473

 

$

132,704

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

180,871

 

$

258,503

 

$

322,225

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

28,820

 

$

6,002

 

$

40,420

 

Additions to real estate owned

 

$

51,360

 

$

43,270

 

$

75,320

 

Loans transferred to held-for-sale

 

$

16,605

 

$

6,501

 

$

36,482

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

A - 9



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(1)    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The following significant accounting and reporting policies of Astoria Financial Corporation and subsidiaries conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and are used in preparing and presenting these consolidated financial statements.

 

(a)            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.  AF Insurance Agency, Inc. is a licensed life insurance agency which, through contractual agreements with various third parties, makes insurance products available primarily to the customers of Astoria Federal.  As used in this annual 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 8 for further discussion of Astoria Capital Trust I.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues, expenses and other comprehensive income/loss during the reporting periods.  The estimate of our allowance for loan losses, the valuation of mortgage servicing rights, or MSR, judgments regarding goodwill and securities impairment and the estimates related to our pension plans and other postretirement benefits are particularly critical 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.  Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

 

(b)    Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

For the purpose of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks and repurchase agreements with original maturities of three months or less.  Astoria Federal is required by the Federal Reserve System to maintain cash reserves equal to a percentage of certain deposits.  The reserve requirement totaled $37.7 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

(c)    Repurchase Agreements (Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell)

 

We may purchase securities under agreements to resell (repurchase agreements).  These agreements represent short-term loans and are reflected as an asset in the consolidated statements of financial condition.  We may sell, loan or otherwise dispose of such securities to other parties in the normal course of our operations.  The same securities are to be resold at the maturity of the repurchase agreements.

 

(d)    Securities

 

Securities are classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading.  Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of acquisition.  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.  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.  Premiums and discounts are recognized as adjustments to interest income using the interest method over the remaining period to contractual maturity, adjusted for prepayments.  Gains and losses on the sale of all securities are determined using the specific identification method and are reflected in earnings when realized.  For the years ended December 31,

 

A - 10



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

2013, 2012 and 2011, we did not maintain a trading securities portfolio.  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.  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.

 

(e)    Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Stock

 

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, or FHLB-NY, we are required to acquire and hold shares of the FHLB-NY Class B stock.  Our holding requirement varies based on our activities, primarily our outstanding borrowings, with the FHLB-NY.  Our investment in FHLB-NY stock is carried at cost.  We conduct a periodic review and evaluation of our FHLB-NY stock to determine if any impairment exists.

 

(f)               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 government-sponsored enterprise, or GSE, guidelines (conforming loans), as well as certain delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans.

 

Generally, we originate fifteen and thirty year conforming fixed rate residential mortgage loans for sale to various GSEs or other investors on a servicing released or retained basis.  The sale of such loans is generally arranged through a master commitment on a mandatory delivery or best efforts basis.  Loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, as determined on an aggregate basis.  Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized in a valuation allowance through charges to earnings.  Premiums and discounts and origination fees and costs on loans held-for-sale are deferred and recognized as a component of the gain or loss on sale.  Gains and losses on sales of loans held-for-sale are included in mortgage banking income, net, recognized on settlement dates and are determined by the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the loans.  These transactions are accounted for as sales based on our satisfaction of the criteria for such accounting which provide that, as transferor, we have surrendered control over the loans.

 

Upon our decision to sell certain delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans held in portfolio, we reclassify them to held-for-sale at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs.  Reductions in carrying values are reflected as a write-down of the recorded investment in the loans resulting in a new cost basis, with credit-related losses charged to the allowance for loan losses.  Such loans are assessed for impairment based on fair value at each reporting date.  Lower of cost or market write-downs, if any, are recognized in a valuation allowance through charges to earnings.  Increases in the fair value of non-performing loans held-for-sale are recognized only up to the amount of the previously recognized valuation allowances.  Lower of cost or market write-downs and recoveries are included in other non-interest income along with gains and losses recognized on sales of such loans.  Our delinquent and non-performing loans are sold without recourse and we do not provide financing.

 

(g)            Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

Loans receivable are carried at the unpaid principal balances, net of unamortized premiums and discounts and deferred loan origination costs and fees, which are recognized as yield adjustments using the interest method.  We amortize these amounts over the contractual life of the related loans, adjusted for prepayments.  Our loans receivable represent our financing receivables.

 

We discontinue accruing interest on loans when they become 90 days past due as to their payment due date and at the time a loan is deemed a troubled debt restructuring, or TDR.  We may also discontinue accruing interest on 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.  In

 

A - 11



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

some circumstances, we may continue to accrue interest on mortgage loans past due 90 days or more, primarily as to their maturity date but not their interest due.  In other cases, we may defer recognition of income until the principal balance has been recovered.

 

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.  Modifications as a result of a TDR may include, but are not limited to, interest rate modifications, payment deferrals, restructuring of payments to interest-only from amortizing and/or extensions of maturity dates.  Modifications which result in insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls are generally not classified as a TDR.  Residential mortgage loans discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, or bankruptcy loans, are also reported as loans 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 individually classified as impaired loans and are initially placed on non-accrual status regardless of their delinquency status.  Loans modified in a TDR remain in non-accrual status until we determine that future collection of principal and interest is reasonably assured.  Where we have agreed to modify the contractual terms of a borrower’s loan, we require the borrower to demonstrate performance according to the restructured terms, generally for a period of six months, prior to returning the loan to accrual status.  Loans modified in a TDR which have been returned to accrual status are excluded from non-performing loans.

 

We establish and maintain an allowance for loan losses based on our evaluation of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio.  The allowance is increased by provisions for loan losses charged to earnings and is decreased by loan charge-offs in the period the loans, or portions thereof, are deemed uncollectible.  Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off increase the allowance for loan losses in the period they are received.  The allowance for loan losses is determined based on a comprehensive analysis of our loan portfolio.  We evaluate the adequacy of the 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 of the allowance, we review loans deemed to be impaired and measure impairment losses based on either the fair value of the collateral, the present value of expected future cash flows, or the observable market price of the loan.  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.  When an impairment analysis indicates the need for a specific allocation of the allowance on an individual loan, such allocation would be established 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 charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.  For loans individually classified as impaired, the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the present value of the discounted cash flows of a modified loan or, for collateral dependent loans, the portion of the recorded investment in the loan in excess of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs, is charged-off.

 

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 mortgage loans modified in a TDR, 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 our 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.  Our residential mortgage loans are individually evaluated for impairment 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.

 

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

 

A - 12



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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 mortgage 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 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).  Our evaluation of loss experience factors considers trends in such factors over the prior two years for substantially all of the loan portfolio, with the exception of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans originated after 2010, for which our evaluation includes detailed modeling techniques.  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.

 

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.  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.

 

A - 13



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at December 31, 2013 and 2012.  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.

 

(h)            Mortgage Servicing Rights

 

We recognize as separate assets the rights to service mortgage loans.  The right to service loans for others is generally obtained through the sale of residential mortgage loans with servicing retained.  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 measurements of our MSR.  MSR are assessed for impairment based on fair value at each reporting date.  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.  Fees earned for servicing loans are reported as income when the related mortgage loan payments are collected.

 

We assess impairment of our MSR based on the estimated fair value of those rights on a stratum-by-stratum basis with any impairment recognized through a valuation allowance for each impaired stratum.  We stratify our MSR by underlying loan type (primarily fixed and adjustable) and interest rate.  Individual allowances for each stratum are then adjusted in subsequent periods to reflect changes in the measurement of impairment.

 

We outsource the servicing of our residential mortgage loan portfolio, including our portfolio of mortgage loans serviced for other investors, to an unrelated third party under a sub-servicing agreement.  Fees paid under the sub-servicing agreement are reported in non-interest expense.

 

(i)               Premises and Equipment

 

Land is carried at cost.  Buildings and improvements, leasehold improvements and furniture, fixtures and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization totaling $194.1 million at December 31, 2013 and $184.6 million at December 31, 2012.  Buildings and improvements and furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.  Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the term of the related leases or the estimated useful lives of the improved property.

 

(j)               Goodwill

 

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 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.

 

A - 14



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

At December 31, 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.  No events have occurred and no circumstances have changed since our annual impairment test date 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.

 

(k)    Bank Owned Life Insurance

 

Bank owned life insurance, or BOLI, is carried at the amount that could be realized under our life insurance contract as of the date of the statement of financial condition and is classified as a non-interest earning asset.  Increases in the carrying value are recorded as non-interest income and insurance proceeds received are recorded as a reduction of the carrying value.  The carrying value consists of a cash surrender value of $395.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $394.1 million at December 31, 2012, a claims stabilization reserve of $27.6 million at December 31, 2013 and $24.1 million at December 31, 2012 and deferred acquisition costs of $1,000 at December 31, 2013 and $2,000 at December 31, 2012.  Repayment of the claims stabilization reserve (funds transferred from the cash surrender value to provide for future death benefit payments) and the deferred acquisition costs (costs incurred by the insurance carrier for the policy issuance) are guaranteed by the insurance carrier provided that certain conditions are met at the date of a contract surrender.  We satisfied these conditions at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

(l)     Real Estate Owned

 

Real estate owned, or REO, represents real estate acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure and is initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs.  Write-downs required at the time of acquisition are charged to the allowance for loan losses.  Thereafter, we maintain a valuation allowance, representing decreases in the properties’ estimated fair value, through charges to earnings.  Such charges are included in other non-interest expense along with any additional property maintenance and protection expenses incurred in owning the property.  REO is reported net of a valuation allowance of $834,000 at December 31, 2013 and $1.6 million at December 31, 2012.

 

(m)   Reverse Repurchase Agreements (Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase)

 

We enter into sales of securities under agreements to repurchase with selected dealers and banks (reverse repurchase agreements).  Such agreements are accounted for as secured financing transactions since we maintain effective control over the transferred securities and the transfer meets the other criteria for such accounting.  Obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in our consolidated statements of financial condition.  The securities underlying the agreements are delivered to a custodial account for the benefit of the dealer or bank with whom each transaction is executed.  The dealers or banks, who may sell, loan or otherwise dispose of such securities to other parties in the normal course of their operations, agree to resell us the same securities at the maturities of the agreements.  We retain the right of substitution of collateral throughout the terms of the agreements.  The securities underlying the agreements are classified as encumbered securities in our consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

(n)    Derivative Instruments

 

As part of our interest rate risk management, we may utilize, from time-to-time, derivative instruments which are recorded as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition at fair value.  Changes in the fair values of derivatives are reported in our results of operations or other comprehensive income/loss depending on the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting.  We may enter into derivative instruments with no hedging designation.  Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are recognized currently in our results of operations, generally in other non-interest expense.  We do not use derivatives for trading purposes.

 

A - 15



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

(o)    Income Taxes

 

We use the asset and liability method to provide for income taxes on all transactions recorded in the consolidated financial statements.  Income tax expense consists of income taxes that are currently payable and deferred income taxes.  Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory tax rates, applicable to future years, to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities.  We assess our deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if realization of a deferred tax asset is not considered to be more likely than not.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.  Certain tax benefits attributable to stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, including the tax benefit related to dividends paid on unvested restricted stock awards, are credited to additional paid-in-capital.  We maintain a reserve related to certain tax positions and strategies that management believes contain an element of uncertainty and evaluate each of our tax positions and strategies to determine whether the reserve continues to be appropriate.  Accruals of interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense.

 

(p)            Earnings Per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per common share, or EPS, is computed pursuant to the two-class method by dividing net income available to common shareholders less dividends paid on participating securities (unvested shares of restricted common stock) and any undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the year.  The weighted average common shares outstanding includes the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding less the weighted average number of unvested shares of restricted common stock and unallocated common shares held by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP.  For EPS calculations, ESOP shares that have been committed to be released are considered outstanding.  ESOP shares that have not been committed to be released are excluded from outstanding shares on a weighted average basis for EPS calculations.  As of December 31, 2013 there were no remaining unallocated shares held by the ESOP.

 

Diluted EPS is computed using the same method as basic EPS, but includes the effect of dilutive potential common shares during the period, such as unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock units, calculated using the treasury stock method.  However, unvested restricted stock units are excluded from the denominator for both the basic and diluted EPS computations until the performance conditions are satisfied.

 

(q)            Employee Benefits

 

Astoria Federal has a qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plan, or the Astoria Federal 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 including the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Excess Benefit Plan and the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Supplemental Benefit Plan, or the Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans, and the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Directors’ Retirement Plan, or the Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan.  Effective April 30, 2012, the Astoria Federal Pension Plan, the Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans and the Astoria Federal 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 amendments resulted in a significant reduction in net periodic cost for our defined benefit pension plans for periods subsequent to April 30, 2012.

 

We also sponsor a health care plan that provides for postretirement medical and dental coverage to select individuals.  The costs of postretirement benefits are accrued during an employee’s active working career.

 

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

 

A - 16



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

in the funded status are recognized through other comprehensive income/loss in the period in which the changes occur.

 

We record compensation expense related to the ESOP at an amount equal to the shares allocated by the ESOP multiplied by the average fair value of our common stock during the year of allocation, plus the cash contributions made to participant accounts.  The difference between the fair value of shares for the period and the cost of the shares allocated by the ESOP is recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital.

 

(r)     Stock Incentive Plans

 

We recognize the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of awards.  Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period which is the earlier of the awards’ stated vesting date or the employees’ or non-employee directors’ retirement eligibility date for awards that have accelerated vesting provisions upon retirement.  For awards which have performance-based conditions, recognition of stock-based compensation expense begins when the achievement of the performance conditions is probable.  The fair value of restricted common stock and restricted stock unit awards are based on the closing market value of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the grant date, reduced by the present value of the expected dividend stream during the vesting period for restricted stock unit awards using a risk-free interest rate.

 

(s)     Segment Reporting

 

As a community-oriented financial institution, substantially all of our operations involve the delivery of loan and deposit products to customers. We make operating decisions and assess performance based on an ongoing review of these community banking operations, which constitute our only operating segment for financial reporting purposes.

 

(t)     Impact of Recent Accounting Standards and Interpretations

 

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-01, “Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects,” which applies to all reporting entities that invest in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit.  Currently under GAAP, a reporting entity that invests in a qualified affordable housing project may elect to account for that investment using the effective yield method if all of the conditions are met.  For those investments that are not accounted for using the effective yield method, GAAP requires that they be accounted for under either the equity method or the cost method.  Certain of the conditions required to be met to use the effective yield method were restrictive and thus prevented many such investments from qualifying for the use of the effective yield method.  The amendments in this update modify the conditions that a reporting entity must meet to be eligible to use a method other than the equity or cost methods to account for qualified affordable housing project investments. If the modified conditions are met, the amendments permit an entity to use the proportional amortization method to amortize the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the amount of tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognize the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit).  Additionally, the amendments introduce new recurring disclosures about all investments in qualified affordable housing projects irrespective of the method used to account for the investments.  The amendments in ASU 2014-01 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014.  Early adoption is permitted.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, “Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40) Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” which applies to all creditors who obtain physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan in satisfaction of a receivable.  The amendments in this update clarify when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs and requires disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by a creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction.  The amendments in ASU 2014-04 are effective for public business entities for fiscal

 

A - 17



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014.  Early adoption is permitted and entities can elect to adopt a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

(2)    Repurchase Agreements

 

There were no repurchase agreements outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012 or during the year ended December 31, 2013.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, repurchase agreements averaged $12.5 million and the maximum amount outstanding at any month end was $95.0 million.  None of the securities held under repurchase agreements were sold or repledged during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

(3)            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 December 31, 2013

 

(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 (1)

 

$

292,131

 

$

1,077

 

$

(7,134

)

$

286,074

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

7,516

 

57

 

(1

)

7,572

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

16,120

 

770

 

(2

)

16,888

 

Total residential mortgage-backed securities

 

315,767

 

1,904

 

(7,137

)

310,534

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

98,675

 

-

 

(7,522

)

91,153

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

15

 

-

 

(12

)

3

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$

414,457

 

$

1,904

 

$

(14,671

)

$

401,690

 

Held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

1,474,506

 

$

12,877

 

$

(33,925

)

$

1,453,458

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

3,833

 

61

 

(10

)

3,884

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

282,473

 

85

 

(10,089

)

272,469

 

Total residential mortgage-backed securities

 

1,760,812

 

13,023

 

(44,024

)

1,729,811

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

88,128

 

-

 

(7,403

)

80,725

 

Other

 

586

 

-

 

-

 

586

 

Total securities held-to-maturity

 

$

1,849,526

 

$

13,023

 

$

(51,427

)

$

1,811,122

 

 

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

 

A - 18



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

 

 

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

 

 

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 December 31, 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

 

$

243,149

 

$

(7,134

)

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

243,149

 

$

(7,134

)

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

-

 

-

 

132

 

(1

)

132

 

(1

)

GSE pass-through certificates

 

172

 

(1

)

70

 

(1

)

242

 

(2

)

Obligations of GSEs

 

91,153

 

(7,522

)

-

 

-

 

91,153

 

(7,522

)

Fannie Mae stock

 

-

 

-

 

3

 

(12

)

3

 

(12

)

Total temporarily impaired securities available-for-sale

 

$

334,474

 

$

(14,657

)

$

205

 

$

(14

)

$

334,679

 

$

(14,671

)

Held-to-maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

719,715

 

$

(25,611

)

$

151,581

 

$

(8,314

)

$

871,296

 

$

(33,925

)

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

392

 

(10

)

-

 

-

 

392

 

(10

)

GSE pass-through certificates

 

230,795

 

(10,088

)

28

 

(1

)

230,823

 

(10,089

)

Obligations of GSEs

 

80,725

 

(7,403

)

-

 

-

 

80,725

 

(7,403

)

Total temporarily impaired securities held-to-maturity

 

$

1,031,627

 

$

(43,112

)

$

151,609

 

$

(8,315

)

$

1,183,236

 

$

(51,427

)

 

A - 19



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

 

 

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

)

 

Our securities portfolio is comprised primarily of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by a GSE as issuer.  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.

 

We held 109 securities which had an unrealized loss at December 31, 2013 and 41 at December 31, 2012.  At December 31, 2013 and 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 December 31, 2013 and 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.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, proceeds from sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio totaled $41.6 million resulting in gross realized gains of $2.1 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2012, proceeds from sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio totaled $60.3 million resulting in gross realized gains of $8.5 million.  There were no sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Available-for-sale debt securities, excluding mortgage-backed securities, had an amortized cost of $98.7 million and an estimated fair value of $91.2 million at December 31, 2013.  Held-to-maturity debt securities, excluding mortgage-backed securities, had an amortized cost of $88.7 million and an estimated fair value of $81.3 million at December 31, 2013.  These securities have 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 December 31, 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 $6.3 million at December 31, 2013 and $5.7 million at December 31, 2012.

 

A - 20



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

(4)            Loans Held-for-Sale

 

Non-performing loans held-for-sale, net of valuation allowances, included in loans held-for-sale, net, totaled $791,000 at December 31, 2013 and $3.9 million at December 31, 2012.  Substantially all of the non-performing loans held-for-sale were multi-family mortgage loans at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

We sold certain delinquent and non-performing mortgage loans totaling $19.4 million, net of charge-offs of $5.2 million, during the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily multi-family and commercial real estate loans, $22.0 million, net of charge-offs of $11.5 million, during the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily multi-family and commercial real estate loans, and $26.4 million, net of charge-offs of $13.8 million, during the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily multi-family and residential loans.  Net gain on sales of non-performing loans held-for-sale totaled $122,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  Net loss on sales of non-performing loans held-for-sale totaled $35,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

We recorded net lower of cost or market write-downs on non-performing loans held-for-sale totaling $87,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $272,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $444,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

A - 21



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

(5)            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 December 31, 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

 

  $

27,291

 

  $

5,220

 

  $

-

 

  $

32,511

 

  $

1,249,462

 

  $

1,281,973

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

31,189

 

7,415

 

151

 

38,755

 

5,325,944

 

5,364,699

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

22,635

 

5,208

 

-

 

27,843

 

693,660

 

721,503

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

8,993

 

2,311

 

-

 

11,304

 

352,322

 

363,626

 

Total residential

 

90,108

 

20,154

 

151

 

110,413

 

7,621,388

 

7,731,801

 

Multi-family

 

12,740

 

970

 

-

 

13,710

 

3,270,206

 

3,283,916

 

Commercial real estate

 

1,729

 

1,690

 

233

 

3,652

 

801,690

 

805,342

 

Total mortgage loans

 

104,577

 

22,814

 

384

 

127,775

 

11,693,284

 

11,821,059

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

3,000

 

1,321

 

-

 

4,321

 

189,540

 

193,861

 

Other

 

177

 

19

 

-

 

196

 

39,644

 

39,840

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

3,177

 

1,340

 

-

 

4,517

 

229,184

 

233,701

 

Total accruing loans

 

  $

107,754

 

  $

24,154

 

  $

384

 

  $

132,292

 

  $

11,922,468

 

  $

12,054,760

 

Non-accrual loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

  $

2,185

 

  $

582

 

  $

78,271

 

  $

81,038

 

  $

19,190

 

  $

100,228

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

1,327

 

653

 

41,934

 

43,914

 

10,844

 

54,758

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

2,065

 

579

 

87,910

 

90,554

 

27,604

 

118,158

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

617

 

425

 

26,112

 

27,154

 

5,177

 

32,331

 

Total residential

 

6,194

 

2,239

 

234,227

 

242,660

 

62,815

 

305,475

 

Multi-family

 

1,104

 

357

 

9,054

 

10,515

 

2,024

 

12,539

 

Commercial real estate

 

930

 

-

 

921

 

1,851

 

5,773

 

7,624

 

Total mortgage loans

 

8,228

 

2,596

 

244,202

 

255,026

 

70,612

 

325,638

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

-

 

-

 

5,916

 

5,916

 

32

 

5,948

 

Other

 

-

 

-

 

32

 

32

 

-

 

32

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

-

 

-

 

5,948

 

5,948

 

32

 

5,980

 

Total non-accrual loans

 

  $

8,228

 

  $

2,596

 

  $

250,150

 

  $

260,974

 

  $

70,644

 

  $

331,618

 

Total loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

  $

29,476

 

  $

5,802

 

  $

78,271

 

  $

113,549

 

  $

1,268,652

 

  $

1,382,201

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

32,516

 

8,068

 

42,085

 

82,669

 

5,336,788

 

5,419,457

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

24,700

 

5,787

 

87,910

 

118,397

 

721,264

 

839,661

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

9,610

 

2,736

 

26,112

 

38,458

 

357,499

 

395,957

 

Total residential

 

96,302

 

22,393

 

234,378

 

353,073

 

7,684,203

 

8,037,276

 

Multi-family

 

13,844

 

1,327

 

9,054

 

24,225

 

3,272,230

 

3,296,455

 

Commercial real estate

 

2,659

 

1,690

 

1,154

 

5,503

 

807,463

 

812,966

 

Total mortgage loans

 

112,805

 

25,410

 

244,586

 

382,801

 

11,763,896

 

12,146,697

 

Consumer and other loans (gross):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity lines of credit

 

3,000

 

1,321

 

5,916

 

10,237

 

189,572

 

199,809

 

Other

 

177

 

19

 

32

 

228

 

39,644

 

39,872

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

3,177

 

1,340

 

5,948

 

10,465

 

229,216

 

239,681

 

Total loans

 

  $

115,982

 

  $

26,750

 

  $

250,534

 

  $

393,266

 

  $

11,993,112

 

  $

12,386,378

 

Net unamortized premiums and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

deferred loan origination costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,688

 

Loans receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,442,066

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(139,000

)

Loans receivable, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  $

12,303,066

 

 

A - 22



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

 

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

 

 

A - 23



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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, regardless of the delinquency status of the loans, we also included bankruptcy loans which were discharged prior to 2012 which resulted in an increase in non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 compared to December 31, 2012 even as loans 90 days or more past due declined.  Non-performing loans at December 31, 2013 included $61.0 million of bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due, including $51.1 million which were discharged prior to 2012.  Of the bankruptcy loans which were current or less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2013, $54.5 million were current, $5.6 million were 30-59 days past due and $878,000 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 TDR and as impaired loans.  Loans modified in a TDR included in non-accrual loans totaled $109.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $32.8 million at December 31, 2012.  Such loans included bankruptcy loans totaling $83.2 million at December 31, 2013, including bankruptcy loans which were discharged prior to 2012 of $65.1 million.  Excluded from non-performing loans are restructured loans that have been returned to accrual status.  Restructured accruing loans totaled $100.5 million at December 31, 2013 and $98.7 million at December 31, 2012.

 

Accrued interest receivable on all loans totaled $31.7 million at December 31, 2013 and $36.0 million at December 31, 2012.

 

Our residential mortgage loans consist primarily of interest-only and amortizing hybrid ARM loans.  We offer amortizing hybrid ARM loans which initially have a fixed rate for five, seven or ten years and convert into one year ARM loans at the end of the initial fixed rate period and require the borrower to make principal and interest payments during the entire loan term.  Prior to the 2010 fourth quarter, we offered interest-only hybrid ARM loans, which have an initial fixed rate for three, five or seven years and convert into one year interest-only ARM loans at the end of the initial fixed rate period.  Our interest-only hybrid ARM 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.  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.  Our hybrid ARM loans may be offered with an initial interest rate which is less than the fully indexed rate for the loan at the time of origination, referred to as a discounted rate.  We determine the initial interest rate in accordance with market and competitive factors giving consideration to the spread over our funding sources in conjunction with our overall interest rate risk management strategies.  Residential interest-only hybrid ARM loans originated prior to 2007 were underwritten at the initial note rate which may have been a discounted rate.  Such loans totaled $1.66 billion at December 31, 2013 and $2.18 billion at December 31, 2012.  We do not originate negative amortization loans, payment option loans or other loans with short-term interest-only periods.

 

Within our residential mortgage loan portfolio we have reduced documentation loan products, which totaled $1.24 billion at December 31, 2013 and $1.40 billion at December 31, 2012.  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, which totaled $193.0 million at December 31, 2013 and $222.7 million at December 31, 2012.  SIFA and SISA loans require a prospective borrower to complete a standard mortgage loan application.  Reduced documentation loans require the receipt of an appraisal of the real estate used as collateral for the mortgage loan and a credit report on the prospective borrower.  In addition, SIFA loans require the verification of a potential borrower’s asset information on the loan application, but not the income information provided.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we stopped offering reduced documentation loans.

 

If all non-accrual loans at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 had been performing in accordance with their original terms, we would have recorded interest income, with respect to such loans, of $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  This compares to actual payments recorded as interest income, with respect to such loans, of $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

A - 24



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the changes in our allowance for loan losses by loan receivable segment for the years indicated.

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

 

$

125,524

 

$

56,266

 

$

15,563

 

$

4,146

 

$

201,499

 

Provision charged to operations

 

34,457

 

814

 

547

 

1,182

 

37,000

 

Charge-offs

 

(64,834

)

(22,160

)

(4,138

)

(1,665

)

(92,797

)

Recoveries

 

10,844

 

502

 

-

 

137

 

11,483

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

 

105,991

 

35,422

 

11,972

 

3,800

 

157,185

 

Provision charged to operations

 

24,663

 

6,161

 

5,038

 

4,538

 

40,400

 

Charge-offs

 

(49,794

)

(6,275

)

(2,607

)

(2,541

)

(61,217

)

Recoveries

 

8,407

 

206

 

1

 

519

 

9,133

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

 

89,267

 

35,514

 

14,404

 

6,316

 

145,501

 

Provision charged to operations

 

9,368

 

4,684

 

1,945

 

3,604

 

19,601

 

Charge-offs

 

(26,644

)

(4,732

)

(3,748

)

(1,916

)

(37,040

)

Recoveries

 

8,346

 

1,237

 

535

 

820

 

10,938

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

$

80,337

 

$

36,703

 

$

13,136

 

$

8,824

 

$

139,000

 

 

The following table sets forth the balances of our residential interest-only mortgage loans at December 31, 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

 

$

290,092

 

More than one year to three years

 

1,288,457

 

More than three years to five years

 

592,454

 

Over five years

 

50,859

 

Total

 

$

2,221,862

 

 

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 December 31, 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

 

$

1,281,973

 

$

5,364,548

 

$

721,503

 

$

363,626

 

$

193,861

 

$

39,840

 

Non-performing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current or past due less than 90 days

 

21,957

 

12,824

 

30,248

 

6,219

 

32

 

-

 

Past due 90 days or more

 

78,271

 

42,085

 

87,910

 

26,112

 

5,916

 

32

 

Total

 

$

1,382,201

 

$

5,419,457

 

$

839,661

 

$

395,957

 

$

199,809

 

$

39,872

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

A - 25



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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 December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Multi-Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

Multi-Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

Not criticized

 

$

3,209,786

 

$

759,114

 

$

2,271,006

 

$

706,334

 

Criticized:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special mention

 

14,063

 

9,760

 

54,956

 

28,210

 

Substandard

 

72,606

 

44,092

 

80,716

 

39,372

 

Doubtful

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Total

 

$

3,296,455

 

$

812,966

 

$

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 December 31, 2013

 

 

 

Mortgage Loans

 

Consumer

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

Residential

 

Multi-
Family

 

Commercial
Real Estate

 

and Other
Loans

 

Total

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

 

$

311,930

 

$

52,538

 

$

20,054

 

$

-

 

$

384,522

 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

 

7,725,346

 

3,243,917

 

792,912

 

239,681

 

12,001,856

 

Total loans

 

$

8,037,276

 

$

3,296,455

 

$

812,966

 

$

239,681

 

$

12,386,378

 

Allowance for loan losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

 

$

18,352

 

$

2,877

 

$

302

 

$

-

 

$

21,531

 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

 

61,985

 

33,826

 

12,834

 

8,824

 

117,469

 

Total allowance for loan losses

 

$

80,337

 

$

36,703

 

$

13,136

 

$

8,824

 

$

139,000

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

A - 26



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes information related to our impaired mortgage loans by segment and class at the dates indicated.  The allowance for loan losses allocated to residential mortgage loans over 180 days past due with a charge-off, determined within our qualitative analysis at December 31, 2012, is presented as attributable to these loans individually evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2013.

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

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

 

$

142,659

 

$

109,877

 

$

(6,019

)

$

103,858

 

$

10,740

 

$

10,740

 

$

(241

)

$

10,499

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

41,136

 

36,091

 

(2,458

)

33,633

 

6,122

 

6,122

 

(347

)

5,775

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

183,280

 

140,357

 

(7,673

)

132,684

 

12,893

 

12,893

 

(277

)

12,616

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

30,660

 

25,605

 

(2,202

)

23,403

 

3,889

 

3,889

 

(136

)

3,753

 

Multi-family

 

19,748

 

19,748

 

(2,877

)

16,871

 

19,704

 

19,704

 

(2,576

)

17,128

 

Commercial real estate

 

5,790

 

5,790

 

(302

)

5,488

 

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

 

39,871

 

32,790

 

-

 

32,790

 

44,341

 

36,412

 

-

 

36,412

 

Commercial real estate

 

19,988

 

14,264

 

-

 

14,264

 

13,256

 

7,809

 

-

 

7,809

 

Total impaired loans

 

$

483,132

 

$

384,522

 

$

(21,531

)

$

362,991

 

$

457,440

 

$

346,906

 

$

(5,046

)

$

341,860

 

 

The following table sets 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 Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

(In Thousands)

 

Average
Recorded
Investment

 

Interest
Income
Recognized

 

Cash Basis
Interest
Income

 

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

 

$

106,720

 

$

2,938

 

$

3,068

 

$

10,436

 

$

348

 

$

350

 

$

10,688

 

$

420

 

$

425

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

30,790

 

948

 

974

 

4,482

 

193

 

200

 

5,428

 

158

 

156

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

145,490

 

4,179

 

4,371

 

11,352

 

542

 

543

 

11,239

 

544

 

539

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

25,460

 

696

 

729

 

2,445

 

114

 

119

 

1,248

 

88

 

86

 

Multi-family

 

19,130

 

737

 

789

 

48,196

 

663

 

715

 

55,284

 

2,168

 

2,096

 

Commercial real estate

 

8,112

 

367

 

377

 

12,724

 

495

 

540

 

19,964

 

1,237

 

1,204

 

Without an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

11,547

 

-

 

-

 

82,631

 

1,633

 

1,739

 

68,320

 

1,402

 

1,626

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

3,517

 

-

 

-

 

17,554

 

299

 

332

 

13,858

 

214

 

252

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

1,669

 

-

 

-

 

115,593

 

2,555

 

2,655

 

108,857

 

2,131

 

2,317

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

17,319

 

367

 

384

 

14,130

 

333

 

341

 

Multi-family

 

33,193

 

1,606

 

1,671

 

14,617

 

2,053

 

2,088

 

882

 

215

 

215

 

Commercial real estate

 

10,947

 

745

 

698

 

5,411

 

519

 

547

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Total impaired loans

 

$

396,575

 

$

12,216

 

$

12,677

 

$

342,760

 

$

9,781

 

$

10,212

 

$

309,898

 

$

8,910

 

$

9,257

 

 

A - 27



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth information about our mortgage loans receivable by segment and class at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 which were modified in a TDR during the periods indicated.  Bankruptcy loans which were discharged prior to 2012 totaling $65.1 million at December 31, 2013, which were included as loans modified in a TDR during 2013 pursuant to regulatory guidance issued in 2012, are not included in the table below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modifications During the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
December 31,
2013

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
December 31,
2012

 

Number
of Loans

 

Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment

 

Recorded
Investment at
December 31,
2011

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

26

 

 

$

6,760

 

 

$

6,730

 

 

20

 

 

$

4,390

 

 

$

4,355

 

 

14

 

 

$

5,750

 

 

$

5,698

 

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

11

 

 

3,753

 

 

3,734

 

 

11

 

 

3,319

 

 

3,291

 

 

2

 

 

438

 

 

389

 

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

37

 

 

12,199

 

 

12,227

 

 

29

 

 

11,141

 

 

11,125

 

 

28

 

 

12,116

 

 

11,941

 

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

11

 

 

3,404

 

 

3,325

 

 

14

 

 

3,984

 

 

3,860

 

 

6

 

 

1,204

 

 

1,176

 

 

Multi-family

 

8

 

 

6,751

 

 

5,888

 

 

16

 

 

36,262

 

 

32,005

 

 

11

 

 

7,666

 

 

7,140

 

 

Commercial real estate

 

7

 

 

10,232

 

 

9,104

 

 

3

 

 

3,898

 

 

2,305

 

 

4

 

 

7,176

 

 

6,621

 

 

Total

 

100

 

 

$

43,099

 

 

$

41,008

 

 

93

 

 

$

62,994

 

 

$

56,941

 

 

65

 

 

$

34,350

 

 

$

32,965

 

 

 

The following table sets forth information about our mortgage loans receivable by segment and class at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 which were modified in a TDR during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and had a payment default subsequent to the modification during the periods indicated.

 

 

 

During the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
December 31, 2013

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
December 31, 2012

 

Number
of Loans

 

Recorded
Investment at
December 31, 2011

 

Residential:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full documentation interest-only

 

11

 

 

$

2,191

 

 

1

 

 

$

165

 

 

5

 

 

$

1,797

 

 

Full documentation amortizing

 

4

 

 

1,334

 

 

2

 

 

643

 

 

1

 

 

83

 

 

Reduced documentation interest-only

 

17

 

 

4,190

 

 

5

 

 

1,829

 

 

12

 

 

5,482

 

 

Reduced documentation amortizing

 

3

 

 

788

 

 

4

 

 

1,628

 

 

2

 

 

358

 

 

Multi-family

 

2

 

 

1,018

 

 

2

 

 

3,589

 

 

1

 

 

322

 

 

Total

 

37

 

 

$

9,521

 

 

14

 

 

$

7,854

 

 

21

 

 

$

8,042

 

 

 

The following table details the percentage of our total residential mortgage loans at December 31, 2013 by state where we have a concentration of greater than 5% of our total residential mortgage loans or total non-performing residential mortgage loans.

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of Total

 

 

 

Percent of Total

 

Non-Performing

 

State

 

Residential
Loans

 

Residential
Loans

 

New York

 

29.6

%

 

17.8

%

 

Connecticut

 

10.3

 

 

11.8

 

 

Illinois

 

9.2

 

 

11.6

 

 

Massachusetts

 

8.5

 

 

4.4

 

 

New Jersey

 

7.1

 

 

18.7

 

 

Virginia

 

7.0

 

 

4.9

 

 

Maryland

 

6.2

 

 

11.6

 

 

California

 

5.9

 

 

7.7

 

 

 

A - 28



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2013, the geographic composition of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio was 99% in the New York metropolitan area, which includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and 1% in various other states and the geographic composition of non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans was 91% in the New York metropolitan area, 8% in Pennsylvania and 1% in Massachusetts.

 

(6)            Mortgage Servicing Rights

 

We own rights to service mortgage loans for investors with aggregate unpaid principal balances of $1.50 billion at December 31, 2013 and $1.44 billion at December 31, 2012, which are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.  As described in Note 1, we outsource our residential mortgage loan servicing to a third party under a sub-servicing agreement.

 

The estimated fair value of our MSR was $12.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $6.9 million at December 31, 2012.  The fair value of MSR is highly sensitive to changes in assumptions.  See Note 17 for a description of the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of MSR.

 

MSR activity is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Carrying amount before valuation allowance at beginning of year

 

$

15,143

 

 

$

15,401

 

 

$

16,321

 

 

Additions – servicing obligations that result from transfers of financial assets

 

3,681

 

 

3,651

 

 

2,330

 

 

Amortization

 

(3,229

)

 

(3,909

)

 

(3,250

)

 

Carrying amount before valuation allowance at end of year

 

15,595

 

 

15,143

 

 

15,401

 

 

Valuation allowance at beginning of year

 

(8,196

)

 

(7,265

)

 

(7,117

)

 

Recovery of (provision for) valuation allowance

 

5,401

 

 

(931

)

 

(148

)

 

Valuation allowance at end of year

 

(2,795

)

 

(8,196

)

 

(7,265

)

 

Net carrying amount at end of year

 

$

12,800

 

 

$

6,947

 

 

$

8,136

 

 

 

Mortgage banking income, net, is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Loan servicing fees

 

$

4,189

 

 

$

4,070

 

 

$

4,095

 

 

Net gain on sales of loans

 

6,880

 

 

7,590

 

 

3,716

 

 

Amortization of MSR

 

(3,229

)

 

(3,909

)

 

(3,250

)

 

Recovery of (provision for) valuation allowance on MSR

 

5,401

 

 

(931

)

 

(148

)

 

Total mortgage banking income, net

 

$

13,241

 

 

$

6,820

 

 

$

4,413

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013, estimated future MSR amortization through 2018 was as follows:  $2.4 million for 2014, $2.1 million for 2015, $1.8 million for 2016, $1.5 million for 2017 and $1.3 million for 2018.  Actual results will vary depending upon the level of repayments on the loans currently serviced.

 

A - 29



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

(7)            Deposits

 

Deposits are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

2013

 

2012

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

Balance

Percent
of Total

Weighted
Average
Rate

Balance

Percent
of Total

Core deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings

 

0.05

%

 

$

2,493,899

 

25.31

%

 

0.05

%

 

$

2,802,298

 

26.83

%

 

Money market

 

0.25

 

 

1,972,136

 

20.01

 

 

0.74

 

 

1,586,556

 

15.19

 

 

NOW

 

0.06

 

 

1,231,890

 

12.50

 

 

0.05

 

 

1,259,771

 

12.06

 

 

Non-interest bearing NOW and demand deposit

 

-

 

 

865,588

 

8.78

 

 

-

 

 

834,962

 

8.00

 

 

Total core deposits

 

0.11

 

 

6,563,513

 

66.60

 

 

0.21

 

 

6,483,587

 

62.08

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

1.50

 

 

3,291,797

 

33.40

 

 

1.55

 

 

3,960,371

 

37.92

 

 

Total deposits

 

0.57

%

 

$

9,855,310

 

100.00

%

 

0.72

%

 

$

10,443,958

 

100.00

%

 

 

The aggregate amount of certificates of deposit with balances equal to or greater than $100,000 was $1.06 billion at December 31, 2013 and $1.25 billion at December 31, 2012.  There were no brokered certificates of deposit at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

Certificates of deposit at December 31, 2013 have scheduled maturities as follows:

 

Year

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

Balance

Percent
of
Total

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

2014

 

0.97

%

 

$  1,476,676

 

44.86

%

 

2015

 

2.06

 

 

1,099,849

 

33.41

 

 

2016

 

2.08

 

 

462,897

 

14.06

 

 

2017

 

1.13

 

 

141,099

 

4.29

 

 

2018

 

1.06

 

 

110,552

 

3.36

 

 

2019 and thereafter

 

1.57

 

 

724

 

0.02

 

 

Total

 

1.50

%

 

$  3,291,797

 

100.00

%

 

 

Interest expense on deposits is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)  

 

2013

2012

2011

Savings

 

$

1,329

 

$

4,437

 

$

9,562

 

Money market

 

5,646

 

8,944

 

4,551

 

Interest-bearing NOW

 

691

 

978

 

1,175

 

Certificates of deposit

 

54,951

 

83,662

 

122,761

 

Total interest expense on deposits

 

$

62,617

 

$

98,021

 

$

138,049

 

 

A - 30



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

(8)            Borrowings

 

Borrowings are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

2013

 

2012

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

 

Amount

 

Weighted
Average
Rate

Federal funds purchased

 

  $

335,000

 

 

0.28%

 

$

-

 

-

%

Reverse repurchase agreements

 

1,100,000

 

 

3.87

 

1,100,000

 

4.32

 

FHLB-NY advances

 

2,454,000

 

 

1.79

 

2,897,000

 

2.07

 

Other borrowings, net

 

248,161

 

 

5.00

 

376,496

 

6.62

 

Total borrowings, net

 

  $

4,137,161

 

 

2.41%

 

$

4,373,496

 

3.03

%

 

Federal Funds Purchased

 

The outstanding federal funds purchased at December 31, 2013 were due overnight.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, federal funds purchased averaged $209.4 million with a weighted average interest rate of 0.28% and the maximum amount outstanding at any month end was $335.0 million.  There were no federal funds purchased outstanding at or during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

The outstanding reverse repurchase agreements at December 31, 2013 and 2012 had original contractual maturities between five and ten years, were fixed rate and were secured by mortgage-backed securities.  The mortgage-backed securities collateralizing these agreements had an amortized cost of $1.26 billion and an estimated fair value of $1.24 billion, including accrued interest, at December 31, 2013 and an amortized cost of $1.21 billion and an estimated fair value of $1.23 billion, including accrued interest, at December 31, 2012 and are classified as encumbered securities on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

The following table summarizes information relating to reverse repurchase agreements.

 

 

 

At or For the Year Ended December 31,

(Dollars in Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

Average balance during the year

 

  $

1,100,000

 

 

$

1,422,678

 

 

$

1,926,575

 

Maximum balance at any month end during the year

 

1,100,000

 

 

1,700,000

 

 

2,100,000

 

Balance outstanding at end of year

 

1,100,000

 

 

1,100,000

 

 

1,700,000

 

Weighted average interest rate during the year

 

4.06

%

 

4.28

%

 

4.23

%

Weighted average interest rate at end of year

 

3.87

 

 

4.32

 

 

4.30

 

 

A - 31



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Reverse repurchase agreements at December 31, 2013 have contractual maturities as follows:

 

Year

 

Amount

 

 

(In Thousands)

2017

 

$

600,000

(1)

2018

 

200,000

(2)

2020

 

300,000

(3)

Total

 

$

1,100,000

 

 

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

(2)         Callable in 2015.

(3)         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.

 

FHLB-NY Advances

 

Pursuant to a blanket collateral agreement with the FHLB-NY, advances are secured by all of our stock in the FHLB-NY, certain qualifying mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities not otherwise pledged.

 

The following table summarizes information relating to FHLB-NY advances.

 

 

 

At or For the Year Ended December 31,

(Dollars in Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

Average balance during the year

 

  $

2,512,425

 

 

$

2,765,985

 

 

$

2,063,700

 

Maximum balance at any month end during the year

 

2,881,000

 

 

3,215,000

 

 

2,487,000

 

Balance outstanding at end of year

 

2,454,000

 

 

2,897,000

 

 

2,043,000

 

Weighted average interest rate during the year

 

2.00

%

 

2.24

%

 

3.45

%

Weighted average interest rate at end of year

 

1.79

 

 

2.07

 

 

3.13

 

 

FHLB-NY advances at December 31, 2013 have contractual maturities as follows:

 

Year

 

Amount

 

 

(In Thousands)

2014

 

$

754,000

(1)

2015

 

300,000

 

2016

 

550,000

 

2020

 

850,000

(2)

Total

 

$

2,454,000

 

 

(1)         Includes $284.0 million of borrowings due overnight, $370.0 million of borrowings due in less than 30 days, $50.0 million of borrowings due in 30-60 days and $50.0 million of borrowings due after 90 days.

(2)         Callable in 2017.

 

Other Borrowings

 

On June 19, 2012, we completed the sale of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00% senior unsecured notes due 2017, or 5.00% Senior Notes.  The notes are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, bear a fixed rate of interest of 5.00% and mature on June 19, 2017.  We may redeem all or part of the 5.00% Senior Notes at any time, subject to a 30 day minimum notice requirement, at par together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.  The carrying amount of the notes was $248.2 million at December 31, 2013 and $247.6 million at December 31, 2012.  The terms of these notes subject us to certain debt covenants. We were in compliance with such covenants at December 31, 2013.

 

A - 32



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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.

 

On September 13, 2012, we redeemed $250.0 million of senior unsecured notes which were scheduled to mature on October 15, 2012 and incurred a $1.2 million prepayment charge in the 2012 third quarter for the early extinguishment of this debt.

 

Interest expense on borrowings is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

Federal funds purchased

 

587

 

-

 

-

Reverse repurchase agreements

 

45,272

 

61,855

 

82,602

FHLB-NY advances

 

50,654

 

62,675

 

71,909

Other borrowings

 

17,398

 

29,689

 

27,262

Total interest expense on borrowings

 

113,911

 

154,219

 

181,773

 

(9)            Stockholders’ Equity

 

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), 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.

 

A - 33



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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.

 

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 January 7, 2014, we adopted the Astoria Financial Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”), and terminated the previously existing dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan.  Pursuant to the Plan, 1,500,000 shares of authorized and unissued common shares are reserved for use by the Plan, should the need arise.  The Plan allows our shareholders to automatically reinvest the cash dividend paid on all or a portion of their shares of our common stock into additional shares of our common stock and make optional cash purchases, up to $10,000 per month, of additional shares of our common stock, unless we grant a waiver permitting a higher amount.  Shares of common stock will be purchased either directly from us from authorized but unissued shares or from treasury shares, or on the open market.

 

On April 18, 2007, our Board of Directors approved our twelfth stock repurchase plan authorizing the purchase of 10,000,000 shares, or approximately 10% of our common stock then outstanding in open-market or privately negotiated transactions.  At December 31, 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.

 

We are subject to the laws of the State of Delaware which generally limit dividends on capital stock to an amount equal to the excess of our net assets (the amount by which total assets exceed total liabilities) over our statutory capital, or if there is no such excess, to our net profits for the current and/or immediately preceding fiscal year.  We are also required to seek the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or FRB, prior to declaring a dividend.  Our ability to pay dividends, service our debt obligations and repurchase our common stock is dependent primarily upon receipt of dividend payments from Astoria Federal.  Our primary banking regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC, regulates all capital distributions by Astoria Federal directly or indirectly to us, including dividend payments.  Astoria Federal must file an application to receive approval from the OCC for a proposed capital distribution if the total amount of all capital distributions (including each proposed capital distribution) for the applicable calendar year exceeds net income for that year-to-date plus the retained net income for the preceding two years.  During 2013, Astoria Federal was not required to file such applications, but was required to, and did, notify the OCC of its intent to pay dividends, to which the OCC did not object.  Astoria Federal may not pay dividends to us if: (1) after paying those dividends, it would fail to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements; (2) the payment would violate any statute, regulation, regulatory agreement or condition; or (3) after making such distribution, the institution would become “undercapitalized” (as such term is used in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act).  Payment of dividends by Astoria Federal also may be restricted at any time at the discretion of the OCC if it deems the payment to constitute an unsafe and unsound banking practice.  Astoria Federal must also provide notice to the FRB at least 30 days prior to declaring a dividend.  Astoria Federal paid dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation totaling $44.0 million during 2013.

 

A - 34



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

 

(10)     Commitments and Contingencies

 

Lease Commitments

 

At December 31, 2013, we were obligated through 2035 under various non-cancelable operating leases on buildings and land used for office space and banking purposes.  These operating leases contain escalation clauses which provide for increased rental expense, based primarily on increases in real estate taxes and cost-of-living indices.  Rent expense under the operating leases totaled $13.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $9.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

The minimum rental payments due under the terms of the non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2013, which have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of $5.9 million due in the future under non-cancelable subleases, are summarized below.

 

Year

 

Amount

 

 

(In Thousands)

2014

 

$  11,379

 

2015

 

11,595

 

2016

 

11,328

 

2017

 

9,827

 

2018

 

8,469

 

2019 and thereafter

 

39,660

 

Total

 

$  92,258

 

 

Outstanding Commitments

 

We had outstanding commitments as follows:

 

 

 

At December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

 

2012

 

Mortgage loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments to extend credit – adjustable rate

 

$ 216,675

 

 

$  80,691

 

Commitments to extend credit – fixed rate (1)

 

50,303

 

 

253,290

 

Commitments to purchase – adjustable rate

 

8,521

 

 

18,309

 

Commitments to purchase – fixed rate

 

24,326

 

 

33,363

 

Home equity loans – unused lines of credit

 

103,436

 

 

138,232

 

Consumer and commercial loans – unused lines of credit

 

74,534

 

 

59,335

 

Commitments to sell loans

 

19,114

 

 

121,932

 

 


(1)            Includes commitments to originate loans held-for-sale totaling $9.2 million at December 31, 2013 and $63.0 million at December 31, 2012.

 

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  We evaluate creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.  Our maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the contractual amount of the instruments.

 

Assets Sold with Recourse

 

We are obligated under various recourse provisions associated with certain first mortgage loans we sold in the secondary market.  Generally the loans we sell are subject to recourse for fraud and adherence to underwriting or quality control guidelines.  We were required to repurchase one loan in the amount of $494,000 during 2013 as a result of these recourse provisions.  The principal balance of loans sold with recourse provisions in addition to fraud

 

A - 35



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

and adherence to underwriting or quality control guidelines amounted to $358.1 million at December 31, 2013 and $342.2 million at December 31, 2012.  We estimate the liability for such loans sold with recourse based on an analysis of our loss experience related to similar loans sold with recourse.  The carrying amount of this liability was immaterial at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

Guarantees

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by us to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party.  The guarantees generally extend for a term of up to one year and are fully collateralized.  For each guarantee issued, if the customer defaults on a payment or performance to the third party, we would have to perform under the guarantee.  Outstanding standby letters of credit totaled $513,000 at December 31, 2013 and $213,000 at December 31, 2012.  The fair values of these obligations were immaterial at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

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.

 

City of New York Notice of Determination

By “Notice of Determination” dated September 14, 2010 and August 26, 2011, the City of New York has 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. and Astoria Federal Mortgage Corp.  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 December 31, 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.

 

(11)     Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$   24,524

 

$ (29,202

)

$  20,752

 

State and local

 

3,722

 

3,201

 

3,862

 

Total current

 

28,246

 

(26,001

)

24,614

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

9,496

 

52,969

 

14,305

 

State and local

 

7

 

912

 

(204

)

Total deferred

 

9,503

 

53,881

 

14,101

 

Total income tax expense

 

$   37,749

 

$ 27,880

 

$  38,715

 

 

A - 36



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Total income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax rate to income before income tax expense as a result of the following:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Expected income tax expense at statutory federal rate

 

$  36,520

 

$28,340

 

$ 37,073

 

State and local taxes, net of federal tax effect

 

2,424

 

2,673

 

2,378

 

Tax exempt income (principally on BOLI)

 

(2,945

)

(3,356

)

(3,672

)

Non-deductible ESOP compensation

 

2,613

 

2,187

 

3,936

 

Low income housing tax credit

 

(1,676

)

(1,727

)

(1,885

)

Other, net

 

813

 

(237

)

885

 

Total income tax expense

 

$  37,749

 

$27,880

 

$ 38,715

 

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Allowances for losses

 

$  54,511

 

$   55,057

 

Compensation and benefits (principally pension and other postretirement benefit plans)

 

21,955

 

53,167

 

Mortgage loans (principally deferred loan origination costs)

 

7,524

 

9,029

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

 

4,010

 

-

 

Effect of unrecognized tax benefits, related accrued interest and other deductible temporary differences

 

5,489

 

7,238

 

Total gross deferred tax assets

 

93,489

 

124,491

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Premises and equipment

 

(3,882

)

(3,124

)

Net unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale

 

-

 

(2,432

)

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

 

(3,882

)

(5,556

)

Net deferred tax assets (included in other assets)

 

$  89,607

 

$   118,935

 

 

We believe that our recent historical and future results of operations and tax planning strategies will more likely than not generate sufficient taxable income to enable us to realize our net deferred tax assets.

 

We file income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and in New York State and City jurisdictions.  Certain of our subsidiaries also file income tax returns in various other state jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2008.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits for the periods indicated.  The amounts have not been reduced by the federal deferred tax effects of unrecognized state tax benefits.

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year

 

$  3,428

 

$  3,856

 

Additions as a result of a tax position taken during the current period

 

600

 

630

 

Reductions as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period

 

(19

)

-

 

Reductions relating to settlement with taxing authorities

 

-

 

(1,058

)

Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year

 

$  4,009

 

$  3,428

 

 

A - 37



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

If realized, all of our unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 would affect our effective income tax rate.  After the related federal tax effects, realization of those benefits would reduce income tax expense by $2.6 million.

 

In addition to the above unrecognized tax benefits, we have accrued liabilities for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions totaling $1.1 million at December 31, 2013 and $730,000 at December 31, 2012.  We accrued interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions as an element of our income tax expense, net of the related federal tax effects, totaling $224,000 during the year ended December 31, 2013, $316,000 during the year ended December 31, 2012 and $271,000 during the year ended December 31, 2011.  Realization of all of our unrecognized tax benefits would result in a further reduction in income tax expense of $726,000 for the reversal of accrued interest and penalties, net of the related federal tax effects.

 

Astoria Federal’s retained earnings at December 31, 2013 and 2012 includes base-year bad debt reserves, created for tax purposes prior to 1988, totaling $165.8 million.  A related deferred federal income tax liability of $58.0 million has not been recognized.  Base-year reserves are subject to recapture in the unlikely event that Astoria Federal (1) makes distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes, (2) redeems its stock, or (3) liquidates.

 

(12)     Earnings Per Common Share

 

The following table is a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS.

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net income

 

$66,593

 

$53,091

 

$67,209

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

(7,214

)

-

 

-

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

59,379

 

53,091

 

67,209

 

Income allocated to participating securities

 

(720

)

(463

)

(1,685

)

Net income allocated to common shareholders

 

$58,659

 

$52,628

 

$65,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,121,497

 

95,455,344

 

93,253,928

 

Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units (1) (2)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

97,121,497

 

95,455,344

 

93,253,928

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$0.60

 

$0.55

 

$0.70

 

Diluted EPS

 

$0.60

 

$0.55

 

$0.70

 

 

(1)          Excludes options to purchase 2,096,708 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2013; options to purchase 5,495,748 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2012; and options to purchase 6,846,339 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2011 because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

(2)          Unvested restricted stock units outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2013 are excluded from the calculations because performance conditions have not been satisfied.  There were no unvested restricted stock units outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

(13)     Other Comprehensive Income/Loss

 

Effective January 1, 2013, we adopted the guidance in ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” which requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss by component.  In addition, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss by the income statement line items are required to be presented either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or as a separate disclosure in the notes, but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period.  For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts.  The amendments in ASU 2013-02 did not

 

A - 38



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

change the requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements.  Substantially all of the information that ASU 2013-02 required was already required to be disclosed elsewhere in the financial statements. Since the provisions of ASU 2013-02 are presentation related only, our adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2013 did not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

The following table sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax effects, at December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the changes during the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

(In Thousands)

 

At
December 31, 2012

Other
Comprehensive

(Loss) Income

At
December 31, 2013

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

 

$

7,451

 

$

(11,817

)

$

(4,366

)

Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(77,115

)

46,515

 

(30,600

)

Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(3,426

)

142

 

(3,284

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$

(73,090

)

$

34,840

 

$

(38,250

)

 

A - 39



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the components of other comprehensive income/loss for the years indicated.

 

(In Thousands)

 

Before Tax
Amount

Tax
Benefit
(Expense)

After Tax
Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the year

 

$

(16,202

)

$

5,717

 

$

(10,485

)

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

 

(18,259

)

6,442

 

(11,817

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment arising during the year

 

68,150

 

(23,970

)

44,180

 

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

3,610

 

(1,275

)

2,335

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

71,760

 

(25,245

)

46,515

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

213

 

(71

)

142

 

Other comprehensive income

 

$

53,714

 

$

(18,874

)

$

34,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the year

 

$

(2,040

)

$

720

 

$

(1,320

)

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

 

(8,477

)

2,987

 

(5,490

)

Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

 

(10,517

)

3,707

 

(6,810

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment arising during the year

 

14,141

 

(4,998

)

9,143

 

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

5,447

 

(1,920

)

3,527

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

19,588

 

(6,918

)

12,670

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service cost adjustment arising during the year

 

(5,463

)

1,925

 

(3,538

)

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

152

 

(54

)

98

 

Prior service cost adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(5,311

)

1,871

 

(3,440

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

261

 

(110

)

151

 

Other comprehensive income

 

$

4,021

 

$

(1,450

)

$

2,571

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

(5,181

)

$

1,827

 

$

(3,354

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment arising during the year

 

(55,530

)

19,570

 

(35,960

)

Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss included in net income

 

8,592

 

(3,028

)

5,564

 

Net actuarial loss adjustment on pension plans and other postretirement benefits

 

(46,938

)

16,542

 

(30,396

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost included in net income

 

92

 

(32

)

60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

330

 

(140

)

190

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

$

(51,697

)

$

18,197

 

$

(33,500

)

 

A - 40



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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

 

(In Thousands)

 

For the
Year Ended
December 31, 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)

 

(3,610

)

 

Compensation and benefits

 

Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost (1)

 

(213

)

 

Compensation and benefits

 

Total reclassifications, before tax

 

(1,766

)

 

 

 

Income tax effect

 

621

 

 

Income tax expense

 

Total reclassifications, net of tax

 

$  (1,145

)

 

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 14 for additional details.

 

(14)     Benefit Plans

 

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Postretirement

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Benefits

 

 

At or For the Year Ended

 

At or For the Year Ended

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

2013

2012

2013

2012

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

260,108

 

$

274,874

 

$

35,476

 

$

32,515

 

Service cost

 

-

 

2,025

 

1,578

 

1,061

 

Interest cost

 

9,549

 

10,992

 

1,279

 

1,378

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

(28,749

)

19,535

 

(18,572

)

1,454

 

Amendments

 

-

 

5,473

 

-

 

-

 

Settlements

 

-

 

(14,560

)

-

 

-

 

Curtailments

 

-

 

(28,192

)

-

 

-

 

Benefits paid

 

(10,547

)

(10,039

)

(995

)

(932

)

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

230,361

 

260,108

 

18,766

 

35,476

 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

160,683

 

134,495

 

-

 

-

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

33,583

 

16,593

 

-

 

-

 

Employer contribution

 

5,648

 

34,194

 

995

 

932

 

Settlements

 

-

 

(14,560

)

-

 

-

 

Benefits paid

 

(10,547

)

(10,039

)

(995

)

(932

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

189,367

 

160,683

 

-

 

-

 

Funded status at end of year

 

$

(40,994

)

$

(99,425

)

$

(18,766

)

$

(35,476

)

 

The underfunded pension benefits and other postretirement benefits at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are included in other liabilities in our consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

During 2013, we contributed $5.0 million to the Astoria Federal Pension Plan.  We expect to contribute approximately $5.0 million to the Astoria Federal Pension Plan during 2014 to address the current pension deficit and manage future funding requirements.  No pension plan assets are expected to be returned to us.

 

A - 41


 


 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the pre-tax components of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to pension plans and other postretirement benefits.  We expect that $830,000 in net actuarial loss and $190,000 in prior service cost will be recognized as components of net periodic cost in 2014.

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Postretirement
Benefits

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

At December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net actuarial loss (gain)

 

$

57,327

 

$

110,043

 

$

(8,089

)

$

10,955

 

Prior service cost

 

5,140

 

5,353

 

-

 

-

 

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)

 

$

62,467

 

$

115,396

 

$

(8,089

)

$

10,955

 

 

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $230.4 million at December 31, 2013 and $260.1 million at December 31, 2012.  Included in the tables of pension benefits are the Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans, Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan, The Greater New York Savings Bank, or Greater, Directors’ Retirement Plan and Long Island Bancorp, Inc., or LIB, Directors’ Retirement Plan, which are unfunded plans.  The projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation for these plans each totaled $13.1 million at December 31, 2013 and $14.6 million at December 31, 2012.

 

The discount rates used to determine the benefit obligations at December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Pension Benefit Plans:

 

 

 

 

 

Astoria Federal Pension Plan

 

4.66

%

3.77

%

Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans

 

4.39

 

3.49

 

Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

4.23

 

3.21

 

Greater Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

3.64

 

2.77

 

LIB Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

0.50

 

0.63

 

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

Astoria Federal Retiree Health Care Plan

 

4.80

 

3.98

 

 

The components of net periodic cost are as follows:

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Postretirement Benefits

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Service cost

 

$

-

 

$

2,025

 

$

4,642

 

$

1,578

 

$

1,061

 

$

529

 

Interest cost

 

9,549

 

10,992

 

12,212

 

1,279

 

1,378

 

1,360

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(12,754

)

(11,947

)

(10,648

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

3,138

 

4,930

 

8,445

 

472

 

517

 

147

 

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

 

213

 

177

 

191

 

-

 

(25

)

(99

)

Settlement

 

-

 

2,302

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net periodic cost

 

$

146

 

$

8,479

 

$

14,842

 

$

3,329

 

$

2,931

 

$

1,937

 

 

A - 42



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table sets forth the assumptions used to determine the net periodic cost for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.  As a result of plan amendments in 2012 resulting in a curtailment and a remeasurement of our benefit obligations recognized as of March 31, 2012, the 2012 discount rates in the table below for the Astoria Federal Pension Plan, the Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans and the Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan reflect the rates used to determine net periodic cost for the period from April 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.  The discount rate used to determine the net periodic cost for the period from January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012 was 4.44% for the Astoria Federal Pension Plan, 4.16% for the Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans and 4.09% for the Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan.  The rate of compensation increase to determine net periodic cost for periods subsequent to March 31, 2012 are not applicable as a result of the 2012 plan amendments.  The rate of compensation increase to determine net periodic cost for the period from January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012 was 5.10% for the Astoria Federal Pension Plan, 6.10% for the Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans and 4.00% for the Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan.

 

 

 

Discount Rate

 

Expected Return
on Plan Assets

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Pension Benefit Plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astoria Federal Pension Plan

 

3.77

%

4.44

%

8.00

%

8.00

%

Astoria Federal Excess and Supplemental Benefit Plans

 

3.49

 

3.99

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Astoria Federal Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

3.21

 

3.97

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Greater Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

2.77

 

3.78

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

LIB Directors’ Retirement Plan

 

0.63

 

1.74

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Other Postretirement Benefit Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astoria Federal Retiree Health Care Plan

 

3.98

 

4.50

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

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.

 

The assumed health care cost trend rates are as follows:

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year:

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-age 65

 

7.00

%

7.50

%

Post-age 65

 

10.00

%

7.50

%

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)

 

5.00

%

5.00

%

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

 

2021

 

2018

 

 

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plan.  A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:

 

(In Thousands)

 

One Percentage 
Point Increase

 

One Percentage 
Point Decrease

 

Effect on total service and interest cost components

 

$

639

 

$

(488

)

Effect on the postretirement benefit obligation

 

3,008

 

(2,360

)

 

A - 43



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Total benefits expected to be paid under our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan as of December 31, 2013, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are as follows:

 

Year

 

Pension
Benefits

 

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

2014

 

$

11,615

 

$

857

 

2015

 

11,649

 

885

 

2016

 

15,103

 

916

 

2017

 

13,490

 

951

 

2018

 

12,975

 

989

 

2019-2023

 

68,942

 

5,219

 

 

The Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s assets are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  The Astoria Federal Pension Plan groups its assets at fair values 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 described in Note 17.  Other than the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s investment in Astoria Financial Corporation common stock, the assets are managed by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, or PRIAC.

 

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

 

PRIAC Pooled Separate Accounts

The fair value of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s investments in the PRIAC Pooled Separate Accounts is based on the fair value of the underlying securities included in the pooled separate accounts which consist of equity securities and bonds.  Investments in these accounts are represented by units and a per unit value.  The unit values are calculated by PRIAC.  For the underlying equity securities, PRIAC obtains closing market prices for those securities traded on a national exchange.  For bonds, PRIAC obtains prices from a third party pricing service using inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed by PRIAC and are challenged if PRIAC believes the price is not reflective of fair value.  There are no restrictions as to the redemption of these pooled separate accounts nor does the Astoria Federal Pension Plan have any contractual obligations to further invest in any of the individual pooled separate accounts.  These investments are classified as Level 2.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation common stock

The fair value of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s investment in Astoria Financial Corporation common stock is obtained from a quoted market price in an active market and, as such, is classified as Level 1.

 

PRIAC Guaranteed Deposit Account

The fair value of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s investment in the PRIAC Guaranteed Deposit Account approximates the fair value of the underlying investments by discounting expected future investment cash flows from both investment income and repayment of principal for each investment purchased directly for the general account.  The discount rates assumed in the calculation reflect both the current level of market rates and spreads appropriate to the quality, average life and type of investment being valued.  This investment is classified as Level 3.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

The fair value of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s cash and cash equivalents represents the amount available on demand and, as such, are classified as Level 1.

 

A - 44



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following tables set forth the carrying value of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s assets by asset category and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

Carrying Value at December 31, 2013

 

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

PRIAC Pooled Separate Accounts (1)

 

$

170,377

 

$

-

 

$

170,377

 

$

-

 

Astoria Financial Corporation common stock

 

12,687

 

12,687

 

-

 

-

 

PRIAC Guaranteed Deposit Account

 

6,299

 

-

 

-

 

6,299

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

4

 

4

 

-

 

-

 

Total

 

$

189,367

 

$

12,691

 

$

170,377

 

$

6,299

 

 

(1)         Consists of 41% large-cap equity securities, 35% debt securities, 11% international equities, 8% small-cap equity securities and 5% mid-cap equity securities.

 

 

 

Carrying Value at December 31, 2012

 

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

PRIAC Pooled Separate Accounts (1)

 

$

145,037

 

$

-

 

$

145,037

 

$

-

 

Astoria Financial Corporation common stock

 

8,466

 

8,466

 

-

 

-

 

PRIAC Guaranteed Deposit Account

 

7,177

 

-

 

-

 

7,177

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

3

 

3

 

-

 

-

 

Total

 

$

160,683

 

$

8,469

 

$

145,037

 

$

7,177

 

 

(1)         Consists of 39% large-cap equity securities, 35% debt securities, 12% international equities, 8% small-cap equity securities and 6% mid-cap equity securities.

 

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan’s Level 3 assets for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Fair value at beginning of year

 

$

7,177

 

$

6,564

 

Total net gain, realized and unrealized, included in change in net assets (1)

 

21

 

455

 

Purchases

 

9,000

 

9,640

 

Sales

 

(9,899

)

(9,482

)

Fair value at end of year

 

$

6,299

 

$

7,177

 

 

(1)         Includes unrealized gain related to assets held at December 31, 2013 of $313,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013 and unrealized gain related to assets held at December 31, 2012 of $517,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

The overall strategy of the Astoria Federal Pension Plan investment policy is to have a diverse investment portfolio that reasonably spans established risk/return levels, preserves liquidity and provides long-term investment returns equal to or greater than the actuarial assumptions.  The strategy allows for a moderate risk approach in order to achieve greater long-term asset growth.  The asset mix within the various insurance company pooled separate accounts and trust company trust funds can vary but should not be more than 80% in equity securities, 50% in debt securities and 25% in liquidity funds. Within equity securities, the mix is further clarified to have ranges not to exceed 10% in any one company, 30% in any one industry, 50% in funds that mirror the S&P 500, 50% in large-cap equity securities, 20% in mid-cap equity securities, 20% in small-cap equity securities and 10% in international equities.  In addition, up to 15% of total plan assets may be held in Astoria Financial Corporation common stock.  However, the Astoria Federal Pension Plan will not acquire Astoria Financial Corporation common stock to the extent that, immediately after the acquisition, such common stock would represent more than 10% of total plan assets.

 

A - 45



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Incentive Savings Plan

 

Astoria Federal maintains a 401(k) incentive savings plan, or the 401(k) Plan, which provides for contributions by both Astoria Federal and its participating employees.  Under the 401(k) Plan, which is a qualified, defined contribution pension plan, participants may contribute up to 30% of their pre-tax base salary, generally not to exceed $17,500 for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013.  Effective January 1, 2013, Astoria Federal makes matching contributions equal to 50% of participating employees’ contributions not in excess of 6% of the participating employees’ compensation.  Matching contributions for the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $2.0 million.  Participants vest immediately in their own contributions and, effective January 1, 2013, after a period of one year for Astoria Federal contributions.  During 2012 and 2011, matching contributions were permitted at the discretion of Astoria Federal.  No matching contributions were made for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

 

Astoria Federal maintains an ESOP for its eligible employees, which is also a defined contribution pension plan.  To fund the purchase of the ESOP shares, the ESOP borrowed funds from us.  Astoria Federal made contributions to fund debt service.  The ESOP loans, which had an aggregated outstanding principal balance of $5.9 million at December 31, 2012, were prepaid in full on December 20, 2013.  The ESOP loans had an interest rate of 6.00%, a maturity date of December 31, 2029 and were collateralized by our common stock purchased with the loan proceeds.

 

Shares purchased by the ESOP were held in trust for allocation among participants as the loans were repaid.  Pursuant to the loan agreements, the number of shares released annually was based upon a specified percentage of aggregate eligible payroll for our covered employees.  As a result of the prepayment of the ESOP loans in full on December 20, 2013, the remaining 967,013 unallocated shares were released from the pledge agreement and allocated to participants as of December 31, 2013.  Through December 31, 2013, 15,068,562 shares have been allocated to participants and no shares remain unallocated.  Shares allocated to participants totaled 1,075,354 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 1,398,763 for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

In addition to shares allocated, Astoria Federal made an annual cash contribution to participant accounts which, beginning in 2010, was equal to dividends paid on unallocated shares.  This cash contribution totaled $155,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $513,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Compensation expense related to the ESOP totaled $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Effective December 31, 2013 the ESOP was frozen.  As a result, no contributions will be made to the plan subsequent to December 31, 2013.

 

(15)     Stock Incentive Plans

 

Under the 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation, as amended, or the 2005 Employee Stock Plan, 6,850,000 shares of common stock were reserved for option, restricted stock, restricted stock units and/or stock appreciation right grants, of which 1,300,665 shares remain available for issuance of future grants at December 31, 2013.  Employee grants generally occur annually, upon approval by our Board of Directors, on the third business day after we issue a press release announcing annual financial results for the prior year.  Discretionary grants may be made to eligible employees from time to time upon approval by our Board of Directors.  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 options and restricted common stock granted pursuant to such plan immediately vests, except for a performance-based restricted common stock award granted in 2011 which, in the event of death or disability prior to vesting, will remain outstanding subject to satisfaction of the performance and vesting conditions, unless otherwise settled.

 

A - 46



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes restricted common stock grant awards by year under the 2005 Employee Stock Plan for grant years with unvested shares outstanding at December 31, 2013 and the remaining vesting schedule.

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

Number of shares of restricted common stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted during the year

 

494,420

 

155,000

 

663,530

 

778,740

 

 

Unvested at December 31, 2013

 

315,820

 

86,000

 

229,560

 

99,604

 

 

Scheduled to vest during the year ending:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

156,410

 

34,500

 

82,280

 

99,604

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

157,410

 

51,500

 

82,280

 

-

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

2,000

 

-

 

65,000

(1)

-

 

 

 

(1)         Shares of restricted common stock granted under a performance-based award which will vest on June 30, 2016 if the performance conditions are met.

 

During 2013, in addition to the restricted common stock granted under the 2005 Employee Stock Plan detailed in the table above, 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 409,100 units remain outstanding at December 31, 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.

 

Under the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, as amended, or the 2007 Director Stock Plan, 240,080 shares of common stock were reserved for restricted stock grants, of which 41,690 shares of restricted common stock were granted in 2013 and 99,641 shares remain available at December 31, 2013 for issuance of future grants.  Annual awards and discretionary grants, as such terms are defined in the plan, are authorized under the 2007 Director Stock Plan.  Annual awards to non-employee directors occur on the third business day after we issue a press release announcing annual financial results for the prior year.  Discretionary grants may be made to eligible directors from time to time as consideration for services rendered or promised to be rendered.  Such grants are made on such terms and conditions as determined by a committee of independent directors.

 

Under the 2007 Director Stock Plan, restricted common stock granted vests approximately three years after the grant date, although awards immediately vest upon death, disability, mandatory retirement, involuntary termination or a change in control, as such terms are defined in the plan.  Shares awarded will be forfeited in the event a recipient ceases to be a director prior to the vest date for any reason other than death, disability, mandatory retirement, involuntary termination or a change in control, as defined in the plan.

 

A - 47



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Restricted common stock activity in our stock incentive plans for the year ended December 31, 2013 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

Unvested at beginning of year

 

1,146,657

 

 

$

14.87

 

Granted

 

536,110

 

 

9.70

 

Vested

 

(787,655

)

 

(15.31

)

Forfeited

 

(113,468

)

 

(10.88

)

Unvested at end of year

 

781,644

 

 

11.46

 

 

The aggregate fair value on the vest date of restricted common stock awards which vested during the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $9.6 million.

 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2013, granted under plans other than the 2005 Employee Stock Plan and 2007 Director Stock Plan, have a maximum term of ten years and were granted in tandem with limited stock appreciation rights exercisable only in the event we experience a change in control, as defined by the plans.  Common shares are issued from treasury stock upon the exercise of stock options.  No options were exercised during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.  We have an adequate number of shares available in treasury stock for future stock option exercises.

 

Option activity in our stock incentive plans for the year ended December 31, 2013 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Number of
Options

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

 

Outstanding at beginning of year

 

2,846,850

 

 

$

25.70

 

 

 

Expired

 

(1,744,200

)

 

(25.08

)

 

 

Outstanding and exercisable at end of year

 

1,102,650

 

 

26.68

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013, options outstanding and exercisable had no intrinsic value and a weighted average remaining contractual term of approximately 11 months.

 

Stock-based compensation expense totaled $4.5 million, net of taxes of $2.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2013, $3.3 million, net of taxes of $1.8 million, for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $5.9 million, net of taxes of $3.2 million, for the year ended December 31, 2011.  At December 31, 2013, pre-tax compensation cost related to all unvested awards of restricted common stock and restricted stock units not yet recognized totaled $9.3 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.9 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 102,275 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 2012 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.

 

(16)     Regulatory Matters

 

Federal law requires that savings associations, such as Astoria Federal, maintain minimum capital requirements.  These capital standards are required to be no less stringent than standards applicable to national banks.  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, Astoria Federal was in compliance with all regulatory capital requirements.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, or FDICIA, established a system of prompt corrective action, or the Prompt Corrective Action Provisions, to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions.  The regulators adopted rules which require them to take action against undercapitalized institutions,

 

A - 48



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

based upon the five categories of capitalization which FDICIA created: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.”  The rules adopted generally provide that an insured institution whose capital ratios exceed the specified targets and is not subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive issued by the primary federal regulator shall be considered a well capitalized institution.  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, all of Astoria Federal’s ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized.

 

The following tables set forth information regarding the regulatory capital requirements applicable to Astoria Federal at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

 

 

Actual

 

Minimum
Capital Requirements

 

To be Well Capitalized
Under Prompt
Corrective Action
Provisions

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

Tangible

 

$

1,543,764

 

 

9.93

%

 

$

233,158

 

 

1.50

%

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Tier 1 leverage

 

1,543,764

 

 

9.93

 

 

621,755

 

 

4.00

 

 

$

777,194

 

 

5.00

%

Tier 1 risk-based

 

1,543,764

 

 

15.79

 

 

391,083

 

 

4.00

 

 

586,625

 

 

6.00

 

Total risk-based

 

1,666,637

 

 

17.05

 

 

782,167

 

 

8.00

 

 

977,708

 

 

10.00

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012

 

 

Actual

 

Minimum
Capital Requirements

 

To be Well Capitalized
Under Prompt
Corrective Action
Provisions

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

Tangible

 

$

1,500,927

 

 

9.24

%

 

$

243,769

 

 

1.50

%

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Tier 1 leverage

 

1,500,927

 

 

9.24

 

 

650,050

 

 

4.00

 

 

$

812,563

 

 

5.00

%

Tier 1 risk-based

 

1,500,927

 

 

15.23

 

 

394,230

 

 

4.00

 

 

591,344

 

 

6.00

 

Total risk-based

 

1,624,730

 

 

16.49

 

 

788,459

 

 

8.00

 

 

985,574

 

 

10.00

 

 

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Reform Act, we will become subject to new minimum capital requirements.  In July 2013, the federal bank regulatory 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, consistent with the Reform Act and the Third Basel Accord adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.  In doing so, the rules:

 

                Establish a new minimum common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (common equity Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets) of 4.5% and increase the minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio from 4.0% to 6.0%, while maintaining the minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% and the minimum Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 4.0%.

 

                Revise the rules for calculating risk-weighted assets to enhance their risk sensitivity.

 

                Phase out trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock as Tier 1 capital.

 

                Add a requirement to maintain a minimum Conservation Buffer, composed of common equity Tier 1 capital, of 2.5% 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, which means that banking organizations, on a fully phased in basis no later than January 1, 2019, must maintain a minimum common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 7.0%, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.5% and a minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 10.5%.

 

                Change the definitions of capital categories for insured depository institutions for purposes of the Prompt Corrective Action Provisions.  Under these revised definitions, to be considered well-capitalized, Astoria

 

A - 49



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Federal must have a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of at least 5.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0% and a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0%.

 

The new minimum regulatory capital ratios and changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets will be phased in with the initial provisions effective for Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Federal on January 1, 2015.  The required minimum Conservation Buffer will be phased in incrementally, starting at 0.625% on January 1, 2016 and increasing to 1.25% on January 1, 2017, 1.875% on January 1, 2018 and 2.5% on January 1, 2019. The rules impose restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary cash bonus payments if the minimum Conservation Buffer is not met.

 

(17)     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 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 estimated 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.

 

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 estimated 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 December 31, 2013

(In Thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

Securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

$

286,074

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

286,074

 

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 

7,572

 

 

-

 

 

7,572

 

GSE pass-through certificates

 

16,888

 

 

-

 

 

16,888

 

Obligations of GSEs

 

91,153

 

 

-

 

 

91,153

 

Fannie Mae stock

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

-

 

Total securities available-for-sale

 

$

401,690

 

 

$

3

 

 

$

401,687

 

 

A - 50



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

 

 

 

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 77% of our securities available-for-sale portfolio at December 31, 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 98% of our available-for-sale residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio at December 31, 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 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 23% of our securities available-for-sale portfolio at December 31, 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, are 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 MSR, loans receivable, certain assets held-for-sale and REO.  These non-recurring fair value adjustments involve the application of lower of cost or market accounting or impairment write-downs of individual assets.

 

A - 51



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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 at December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

 

 

2012

 

 

Non-performing loans held-for-sale, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

791

 

 

 

$

3,881

 

 

Impaired loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

271,408

 

 

 

282,723

 

 

MSR, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,800

 

 

 

6,947

 

 

REO, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,101

 

 

 

20,796

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

312,100

 

 

 

$

314,347

 

 

 

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 Year Ended December 31,

(In Thousands)

 

 

2013

 

 

 

2012

 

 

 

2011

 

 

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

 

 

$

520

 

 

 

$

1,066

 

 

 

$

10,020

 

 

Impaired loans (2)

 

 

21,992

 

 

 

40,018

 

 

 

48,080

 

 

MSR, net (3)

 

 

-

 

 

 

931

 

 

 

148

 

 

REO, net (4)

 

 

3,788

 

 

 

3,137

 

 

 

6,677

 

 

Total

 

 

$

26,300

 

 

 

$

45,152

 

 

 

$

64,925

 

 

 

(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.  Substantially all of the non-performing loans held-for-sale were multi-family mortgage loans at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

Loans receivable, net (impaired loans)

Impaired loans were comprised of 81% residential mortgage loans and 19% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans at December 31, 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 83% residential mortgage loans and 17% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans at December 31, 2013 and 84% residential mortgage loans and 16% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans at December 31, 2012.  Our impaired loans are generally collateral dependent and, as such, are generally carried at the estimated fair value of the underlying 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

 

A - 52



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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.  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 December 31, 2013, our MSR were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 9.45%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 10.52% and a weighted average life of 6.3 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.

 

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.

 

REO, net

REO was comprised of residential properties at December 31, 2013 and 2012.  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 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.

 

A - 53



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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 December 31, 2013

 

 

Carrying

 

Estimated Fair Value

(In Thousands)

 

Value

 

Total

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

Financial Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities held-to-maturity

 

$

1,849,526

 

$

1,811,122

 

$

1,811,122

 

$

-

FHLB-NY stock

 

152,207

 

152,207

 

152,207

 

-

Loans held-for-sale, net (1)

 

7,375

 

7,436

 

-

 

7,436

Loans receivable, net (1)

 

12,303,066

 

12,480,533

 

-

 

12,480,533

MSR, net (1)

 

12,800

 

12,804

 

-

 

12,804

Financial Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

9,855,310

 

9,922,631

 

9,922,631

 

-

Borrowings, net

 

4,137,161

 

4,376,336

 

4,376,336

 

-

 


(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.

 

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.

 

A - 54



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

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.

 

(18)  Condensed Parent Company Only Financial Statements

 

The following condensed parent company only financial statements reflect our investments in our wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, Astoria Federal and AF Insurance Agency, Inc., using the equity method of accounting.

 

Astoria Financial Corporation - Condensed Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

At December 31,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

63,418

 

 

$

47,604

 

 

ESOP loans receivable

 

-

 

 

5,908

 

 

Other assets

 

103

 

 

1,009

 

 

Investment in Astoria Federal

 

1,705,964

 

 

1,617,880

 

 

Investment in AF Insurance Agency, Inc.

 

1,233

 

 

1,160

 

 

Investment in Astoria Capital Trust I

 

-

 

 

3,929

 

 

Total assets

 

$

1,770,718

 

 

$

1,677,490

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other borrowings, net

 

$

248,161

 

 

$

376,496

 

 

Other liabilities

 

3,044

 

 

1,369

 

 

Amounts due to subsidiaries

 

-

 

 

5,636

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,519,513

 

 

1,293,989

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,770,718

 

 

$

1,677,490

 

 

 

A - 55



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Astoria Financial Corporation - Condensed Statements of Income

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase agreements

 

$

-

 

$

18

 

$

19

 

ESOP loans receivable

 

344

 

728

 

1,194

 

Total interest income

 

344

 

746

 

1,213

 

Interest expense on borrowings

 

17,398

 

29,689

 

27,262

 

Net interest expense

 

17,054

 

28,943

 

26,049

 

Non-interest income

 

-

 

-

 

204

 

Cash dividends from subsidiaries

 

45,150

 

42,000

 

65,030

 

Non-interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

3,261

 

3,735

 

4,278

 

Extinguishment of debt

 

4,266

 

1,212

 

-

 

Other

 

3,148

 

2,878

 

2,898

 

Total non-interest expense

 

10,675

 

7,825

 

7,176

 

Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

 

17,421

 

5,232

 

32,009

 

Income tax benefit

 

9,644

 

12,844

 

11,574

 

Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

 

27,065

 

18,076

 

43,583

 

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

 

39,528

 

35,015

 

23,626

 

Net income

 

66,593

 

53,091

 

67,209

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

7,214

 

-

 

-

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

59,379

 

$

53,091

 

$

67,209

 

 

A - 56



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)

 

Astoria Financial Corporation - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands)  

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

66,593

 

$

53,091

 

$

67,209

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries

 

(39,528

)

(35,015

)

(23,626

)

 

Amortization of premiums and deferred costs

 

531

 

837

 

699

 

 

(Increase) decrease in other assets, net of other liabilities and amounts due to subsidiaries

 

(998

)

846

 

(1,423

)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

26,598

 

19,759

 

42,859

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments on ESOP loans receivable

 

5,908

 

6,235

 

7,780

 

 

Redemption of Astoria Capital Trust I common securities

 

3,866

 

-

 

-

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

9,774

 

6,235

 

7,780

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

-

 

250,000

 

-

 

 

Repayment of borrowings with original terms greater than three months

 

(128,866

)

(250,000

)

-

 

 

Cash payments for debt issuance costs

 

-

 

(2,653

)

-

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

 

135,000

 

-

 

-

 

 

Cash payments for preferred stock issuance costs

 

(5,204

)

-

 

-

 

 

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

 

(20,688

)

(24,104

)

(49,435

)

 

Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation

 

(800

)

(4,123

)

(263

)

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(20,558

)

(30,880

)

(49,698

)

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

15,814

 

(4,886

)

941

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

47,604

 

52,490

 

51,549

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

63,418

 

$

47,604

 

$

52,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for interest

 

$

18,898

 

$

31,535

 

$

26,563

 

 

 

A - 57



 

Q U A R T E R L Y  R E S U L T S  O F  O P E R A T I O N S  (Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

 

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Interest income

 

$

134,041

 

$

129,774

 

$

127,595

 

$

127,020

 

Interest expense

 

50,009

 

44,873

 

41,391

 

40,255

 

Net interest income

 

84,032

 

84,901

 

86,204

 

86,765

 

Provision for loan losses

 

9,126

 

4,526

 

2,541

 

3,408

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

74,906

 

80,375

 

83,663

 

83,357

 

Non-interest income

 

18,278

 

18,582

 

15,309

 

17,403

 

Total income

 

93,184

 

98,957

 

98,972

 

100,760

 

General and administrative expense

 

71,551

 

74,397

 

72,534

 

69,049

 

Income before income tax expense

 

21,633

 

24,560

 

26,438

 

31,711

 

Income tax expense

 

7,781

 

8,895

 

9,514

 

11,559

 

Net income

 

13,852

 

15,665

 

16,924

 

20,152

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

-

 

2,827

 

2,194

 

2,193

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

13,852

 

$

12,838

 

$

14,730

 

$

17,959

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.13

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.18

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.13

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.18

 

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

 

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Interest income

 

$

157,779

 

$

152,810

 

$

148,334

 

$

141,586

 

Interest expense

 

69,583

 

66,141

 

62,336

 

54,180

 

Net interest income

 

88,196

 

86,669

 

85,998

 

87,406

 

Provision for loan losses

 

10,000

 

10,000

 

9,500

 

10,900

 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

78,196

 

76,669

 

76,498

 

76,506

 

Non-interest income

 

19,567

 

15,451

 

16,574

 

21,643

 

Total income

 

97,763

 

92,120

 

93,072

 

98,149

 

General and administrative expense

 

82,201

 

72,099

 

72,643

 

73,190

 

Income before income tax expense

 

15,562

 

20,021

 

20,429

 

24,959

 

Income tax expense

 

5,566

 

7,197

 

7,074

 

8,043

 

Net income

 

9,996

 

12,824

 

13,355

 

16,916

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

9,996

 

$

12,824

 

$

13,355

 

$

16,916

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.13

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.17

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.13

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.17

 

 

A - 58



 

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Astoria Financial Corporation, as amended effective as of June 3, 1998 and as further amended on September 6, 2006 and September 20, 2006. (1)

 

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws of Astoria Financial Corporation, as amended March 19, 2008. (2)

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Designations of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C of Astoria Financial Corporation. (3)

 

 

 

4.1

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Specimen Stock Certificate. (4)

 

 

 

4.2

 

Federal Stock Charter of Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association. (5)

 

 

 

4.3

 

Bylaws of Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, as amended effective January 29, 2014. (*)

 

 

 

4.4

 

Indenture, dated as of October 28, 1999, between Astoria Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company, as Debenture Trustee, including as Exhibit A thereto the Form of Certificate of Exchange Junior Subordinated Debentures. (6)

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of Certificate of Junior Subordinated Debenture. (6)

 

 

 

4.6

 

Form of Certificate of Exchange Junior Subordinated Debenture. (6)

 

 

 

4.7

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Astoria Capital Trust I, dated as of October 28, 1999. (6)

 

 

 

4.8

 

Common Securities Guarantee Agreement of Astoria Financial Corporation, dated as of October 28, 1999. (6)

 

 

 

4.9

 

Form of Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of Astoria Capital Trust I. (6)

 

 

 

4.10

 

Form of Exchange Capital Security Certificate for Astoria Capital Trust I. (6)

 

 

 

4.11

 

Series A Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement of Astoria Financial Corporation, dated as of October 28, 1999. (6)

 

 

 

4.12

 

Form of Series B Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement of Astoria Financial Corporation. (6)

 

 

 

4.13

 

Form of Capital Security Certificate of Astoria Capital Trust I. (6)

 

 

 

4.14

 

Indenture, dated as of June 19, 2012, between Astoria Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee. (7)

 

 

 

4.15

 

Form of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2017. (7)

 

 

 

4.16

 

Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2013, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Computershare Shareholder Services, LLC, as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein. (3)

 

B - 1



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

4.17

 

Form of depositary receipt representing the depositary shares of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C of Astoria Financial Corporation. (3)

 

 

 

4.18

 

Form of Certificate representing the 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C of Astoria Financial Corporation. (3)

 

 

 

4.19

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. (8)

 

 

 

4.20

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. (9)

 

 

 

10.1

 

Agreement dated as of December 28, 2000 by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation, the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust and The Long Island Savings Bank FSB Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust. (5)

 

 

 

10.2

 

Amended and Restated Loan Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust and Astoria Financial Corporation made and entered into as of January 1, 2000. (5)

 

 

 

10.3

 

Promissory Note of Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust dated January 1, 2000. (5)

 

 

 

10.4

 

Pledge Agreement made as of January 1, 2000 by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust and Astoria Financial Corporation. (5)

 

 

 

10.5

 

Amended and Restated Loan Agreement by and between The Long Island Savings Bank FSB Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust and Astoria Financial Corporation made and entered into as of January 1, 2000. (5)

 

 

 

10.6

 

Promissory Note of The Long Island Savings Bank FSB Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust dated January 1, 2000. (5)

 

 

 

10.7

 

Pledge Agreement made as of January 1, 2000 by and between The Long Island Savings Bank FSB Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust and Astoria Financial Corporation. (5)

 

 

 

10.8

 

Letter dated August 29, 2008 from Astoria Financial Corporation to Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust regarding Amended and Restated Loan Agreement entered into as of January 1, 2000. (10)

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibits 10.9 through 10.87 are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K pursuant to Item 15(b) of this report.

 

 

 

10.9

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Astoria Financial Corporation Directors’ Retirement Plan, as amended and restated effective February 15, 2012. (11)

 

 

 

10.10

 

The Long Island Bancorp, Inc., Non-Employee Directors Retirement Benefit Plan, as amended June 24, 1997 and as further Amended December 31, 2008. (12)

 

 

 

10.11

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Death Benefit Plan for Outside Directors. (4)

 

B - 2



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

10.12

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Death Benefit Plan for Outside Directors - Amendment No. 1. (12)

 

 

 

10.13

 

Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Astoria Financial Corporation as Amended Effective January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.14

 

1999 Stock Option Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation, as amended December 29, 2005. (13)

 

 

 

10.15

 

1999 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors of Astoria Financial Corporation, as amended December 29, 2005. (13)

 

 

 

10.16

 

2003 Stock Option Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation, as amended December 29, 2005. (13)

 

 

 

10.17

 

2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation. (14)

 

 

 

10.18

 

Amendment No. 1 to the 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation. (15)

 

 

 

10.19

 

Amendment No. 2 to the 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation. (16)

 

 

 

10.20

 

Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan. (17)

 

 

 

10.21

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan. (18)

 

 

 

10.22

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan. (19)

 

 

 

10.23

 

Form of Restricted Stock Award Notice and General Terms and Conditions by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and award recipients other than George L. Engelke, Jr. utilized in connection with the award dated December 20, 2006 pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees. (20)

 

 

 

10.24

 

Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award Notice and General Terms and Conditions by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Award Recipients utilized in connection with the award to Monte N. Redman dated July 1, 2011 pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees, as amended. (21)

 

 

 

10.25

 

Form of Restricted Stock Award Notice and General Terms and Conditions by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and award recipients other than George L. Engelke, Jr. and Arnold K. Greenberg utilized in connection with awards dated January 28, 2008 pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees. (22)

 

B - 3



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

10.26

 

Form of Restricted Stock Award Notice and General Terms and Conditions by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and award recipients utilized in connection with awards dated January 28, 2008 pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan. (22)

 

 

 

10.27

 

Restricted Stock Award Notice and General Terms and Conditions by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and award recipients utilized in connection with awards pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2005 Re-designated, Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees. (23)

 

 

 

10.28

 

Restricted Stock Award Notice and General Terms and Conditions by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and award recipients utilized in connection with awards pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-employee Director Stock Plan. (23)

 

 

 

10.29

 

Form of Waiver of Plan Benefit due under the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan for the 2012 calendar year scheduled for grant on or about January 30, 2012, executed by all eligible directors. (24)

 

 

 

10.30

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Annual Incentive Plan for Select Executives. (25)

 

 

 

10.31

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Annual Incentive Plan for Select Executives effective December 31, 2008, dated November 12, 2009. (26)

 

 

 

10.32

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Executive Officer Annual Incentive Plan, as amended. (27)

 

 

 

10.33

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Gerard C. Keegan, entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.34

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Gerard C. Keegan dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.35

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Gerard C. Keegan, entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.36

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Gerard C. Keegan dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.37

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Monte N. Redman entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.38

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Monte N. Redman dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.39

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Monte N. Redman, entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.40

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Monte N. Redman dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

B - 4



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

10.41

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Alan P. Eggleston entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.42

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Alan P. Eggleston dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.43

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Alan P. Eggleston, entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.44

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Alan P. Eggleston dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.45

 

Astoria Financial Corporation Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Frank E. Fusco, entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.46

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Frank E. Fusco dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.47

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Frank E. Fusco, entered into as of January 1, 2009. (12)

 

 

 

10.48

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Frank E. Fusco dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.49

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Josie Callari, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (29)

 

 

 

10.50

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Josie Callari, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (29)

 

 

 

10.51

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Brian T. Edwards, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (29)

 

 

 

10.52

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Brian T. Edwards, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (29)

 

 

 

10.53

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Gary M. Honstedt, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (29)

 

 

 

10.54

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Gary M. Honstedt, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (29)

 

 

 

10.55

 

Consulting Agreement between and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Gary M. Honstedt, dated as of June 3, 2013. (30)

 

 

 

10.56

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Robert J. DeStefano, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (31)

 

B - 5



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

10.57

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Robert J. DeStefano, entered into as of January 1, 2012. (31)

 

 

 

10.58

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Stephen J. Sipola, entered into as of January 1, 2013. (32)

 

 

 

10.59

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Stephen J. Sipola, entered into as of January 1, 2013. (32)

 

 

 

10.60

 

Confirmation and acknowledgement of Bonus Schedule by Astoria Financial Corporation and Stephen J. Sipola as of March 5, 2013. (32) (33)

 

 

 

10.61

 

Confirmation and acknowledgement of Bonus Schedule by Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Stephen J. Sipola as of March 5, 2013. (32) (33)

 

 

 

10.62

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Financial Corporation and Matthew J. Gutauskas, entered into as of January 1, 2014. (*)

 

 

 

10.63

 

Employment Agreement by and between Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Matthew J. Gutauskas, entered into as of January 1, 2014. (*)

 

 

 

10.64

 

Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2009, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Robert T. Volk. (12)

 

 

 

10.65

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Robert T. Volk dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.66

 

Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2009, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Ira M. Yourman. (12)

 

 

 

10.67

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Ira M. Yourman dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.68

 

Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2009, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Thomas E. Lavery. (12)

 

 

 

10.69

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Thomas E. Lavery dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

 

 

10.70

 

Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2009, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and William J. Mannix, Jr. (12)

 

 

 

10.71

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Change of Control Severance Agreement by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and William J. Mannix, Jr. dated as of April 21, 2010. (28)

 

B - 6



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

10.72

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2011, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Peter M. Finn. (34)

 

 

 

10.73

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of April 18, 2011, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Stephen Sipola. (21)

 

 

 

10.74

 

Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2012, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Teresa A. Rotondo. (11)

 

 

 

10.75

 

Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of February 14, 2012, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Joseph A. Micali. (11)

 

 

 

10.76

 

Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of February 15, 2012, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and John F. Kennedy. (11)

 

 

 

10.77

 

Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of April 19, 2012, by and among Astoria Financial Corporation, Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association and Kevin Corbett. (11)

 

 

 

10.78

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of December 10, 2012, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Daniel F. Dougherty. (35)

 

 

 

10.79

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2013, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Rise Jacobs. (35)

 

 

 

10.80

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2013, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Rosina Manzi. (35)

 

 

 

10.81

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 1, 2013, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Nancy Tomich. (35)

 

 

 

10.82

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of January 7, 2013, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Mayra DiRico. (35)

 

 

 

10.83

 

Change of Control Severance Agreement, entered into as of September 18, 2013, by and among Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, Astoria Financial Corporation and Barbara Glasser. (*)

 

 

 

10.84

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Excess Benefit Plan, as amended effective April 30, 2012. (11)

 

B - 7



 

Exhibit No.

 

Identification of Exhibit

 

 

 

10.85

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association Supplemental Benefit Plan, as amended effective April 30, 2012. (11)

 

 

 

10.86

 

Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association’s Amended and Restated Retirement Medical and Dental Benefit Policy for Senior Officers (Vice Presidents & Above). (12)

 

 

 

10.87

 

Form of notice of non-extension of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement. (24)

 

 

 

12.1

 

Statement regarding computation of ratios. (*)

 

 

 

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of Astoria Financial Corporation. (*)

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. (*)

 

 

 

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 Securities and Exchange Commission rules, this exhibit will not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. (*)

 

 

 

99.1

 

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2014, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days from December 31, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

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.  Copies of exhibits will be provided to shareholders upon written request to Astoria Financial Corporation, Investor Relations Department, One Astoria Federal Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 at a charge of $0.10 per page.  Copies are also available at no charge through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm.

 

(**)      Filed herewith electronically.  These exhibits are available electronically on our website immediately after they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  They are also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm.

 

B - 8



 

(1)        Incorporated by reference to (i) Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended June 30, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 10, 1998 (File Number 000-22228), (ii) Astoria Financial Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 6, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 11, 2006 (File Number 001-11967) and (iii) Astoria Financial Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 20, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22, 2006 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(2)        Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 19, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2008 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(3)        Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2013 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(4)        Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 19, 2010 (File Number 333-166957).

 

(5)        Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2001 (File Number 000-22228).

 

(6)       Incorporated by reference to Form S-4 Registration Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2000 (File Number 333-30792).

 

(7)        Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 14, 2012, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on June 20, 2012 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(8)        Incorporated by reference to Form 424B3 Prospectus Supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 1, 2000 (File Number 033-98532).

 

(9)        Incorporated by reference to Form 424B5 Prospectus Supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 8, 2014 (File Number 333-182041).

 

(10)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2008 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(11)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2012 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(12)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2009 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(13)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2006 (File Number 001-11967).

 

B - 9



 

(14)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Schedule 14A Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2005 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(15)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2011 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(16)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Schedule 14A Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2011 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(17)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Schedule 14A Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 10, 2007 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(18)     Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Schedule 14A Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2010 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(19)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2010 (File No. 333-170874).

 

(20)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2007 (File Number 001-11967), as amended by Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, Amendment No. 1, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 25, 2008 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(21)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2011 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(22)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2008 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(23)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2009 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(24)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2012 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(25)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 1999 (File Number 000-22228).

 

(26)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2010 (File Number 001-11967).

 

B - 10



 

(27)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Schedule 14A Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2009 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(28)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2010 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(29)     Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2012 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(30)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2013 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(31)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2012 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(32)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2013 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(33)      Portions of these exhibits have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 

(34)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2011 (File Number 001-11967).

 

(35)      Incorporated by reference to Astoria Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2013 (File Number 001-11967).

 

B - 11