ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
Background
The disclosures set forth in this item are qualified by Item 1A.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Our business is subject to risk. The following discussion, along with management’s discussion and analysis and our financial statements and footnotes, sets forth the most significant risks and uncertainties that we believe could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or that management currently deems immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. There is no assurance that this discussion covers all potential risks that we face. The occurrence of the described risks could cause our results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements included elsewhere in this report or in our other filings with the SEC and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Merger-Related Risks
The consummation of the merger is contingent upon the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including shareholder and regulatory approvals, that may be outside of TCBI’s or IBTX’s control and that TCBI and IBTX may be unable to satisfy or obtain or which may delay the consummation of the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits from the merger or cause the parties to abandon the merger.
We face risks and uncertainties related to the proposed merger with Independent Bank Group, Inc. Before the transactions contemplated in the merger agreement with IBTX can be completed, approvals must be obtained from regulatory authorities, including the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the Texas Department of Banking, and from our stockholders, and all conditions to the closing of the transaction included in the merger agreement must have been satisfied or waived. The required regulatory approvals may impose additional conditions, limitations, obligations or costs on the surviving entity, place restrictions on the conduct of the business of the surviving entity or require changes to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. There can be no assurance that our or IBTX’s regulators will not impose any such additional conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions, or that they will not have the effect of delaying or preventing the completion of the merger, imposing
additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of the surviving entity following the merger or otherwise reducing the anticipated benefits of the merger.
Uncertainties about the effects of the merger may impair our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel until the merger is consummated and for a period of time thereafter, and could cause customers and others who work with us to seek to change their existing business relationships with us. It is not unusual for competitors to use mergers as an opportunity to target the merging parties’ customers and to hire certain of their employees. Employee retention may be particularly challenging during the pendency of the merger, as employees may experience uncertainty about their roles with the surviving entity following the merger.
The merger agreement contains provisions that restrict each company's ability to, among other things, initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate, inquiries or proposals with respect to, or, subject to certain exceptions generally related to its board of directors’ exercise of fiduciary duties, engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information relating to, any alternative acquisition proposals. These provisions, which include a $115.0 million termination fee payable under certain circumstances, may discourage any potential competing acquirer having an interest in acquiring us from proposing a transaction, or may result in the offer of a lower per share price to acquire us than might otherwise have been proposed.
We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the merger, or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected. We may also encounter significant difficulties in integrating with IBTX. We and IBTX have operated, and until the completion of the merger will continue to operate, independently, subject to terms of the merger agreement imposing specific limitations on certain actions of each party without the consent of the other party. A significant portion of the anticipated benefit of the merger is attributable to anticipated cost savings from the integration of the two companies and elimination of duplicated costs and business functions. There is no assurance that our businesses can be integrated successfully or that the expected cost reductions can be realized. The integration process may result in the loss of key employees of each company, the loss of customers, the disruption of each company’s ongoing business, inconsistencies in standards, controls, policies and procedures, unexpected integration issues, higher than expected integration costs and an overall post-completion integration process that takes longer than originally anticipated. If we experience difficulties in the integration process, including those listed in the prior sentence, we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger in a timely manner or at all. The success of the merger will depend on, among other things, the ability of the surviving entity following the merger to operate its businesses in a manner that facilitates growth and realizes cost savings.
The merger agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the merger may not be completed. The merger agreement is subject to a number of conditions which must be fulfilled in order to complete the merger, including the approval of the merger agreement by TCBI’s stockholders and by IBTX’s shareholders; the receipt of authorization for listing on the Nasdaq of the shares of IBTX common stock and IBTX Series B preferred stock to be issued in the merger; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals; the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 for the IBTX common stock and IBTX preferred stock to be issued in the merger; the absence of any order, injunction, decree or other legal restraint preventing the completion of the merger or making the completion of the merger illegal; subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of the representations and warranties under the merger agreement; our and IBTX’s performance in all material respects of our and their respective obligations under the merger agreement; and each of our and IBTX’s receipt of a tax opinion to the effect that the merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The conditions to the closing of the merger included in the merger agreement may not be fulfilled in a timely manner or at all, and, accordingly, the merger may be delayed or may not be completed.
We and IBTX may elect to terminate the merger agreement under certain circumstances. Among other situations, if the merger is not completed by December 31, 2020, either we or IBTX may choose not to proceed with the merger (unless the failure of the closing to occur by such date was due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate the merger agreement to perform or observe the obligations, covenants and agreements of such party set forth in the merger agreement). We and IBTX can also mutually decide to terminate the merger agreement at any time. If the merger agreement is terminated, under certain circumstances, we may be required to pay a termination fee of $115.0 million to IBTX.
The value to be recognized by our stockholders from the merger is subject to material uncertainties. The merger agreement provides that upon the closing of the merger our stockholders will receive 1.0311 shares of IBTX common stock for each share of our common stock that they own at that time. The exchange rate for the conversion of our common stock into IBTX common stock was set in early December 2019 based upon information available to the boards of directors and financial advisors of each company at that time. The market price of our common stock and of IBTX common stock is subject to substantial fluctuations in response to variety of factors that are inherently unpredictable and outside of our control, including changes in our and IBTX’s business, operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations, the historical and anticipated future financial results of our respective banking operations and general market and economic developments affecting Texas, United States and international businesses and financial markets. The substantial differences between our business and the business of IBTX will subject our stockholders to new and different risks than those with which they are familiar. A period of
months may transpire between the date that our stockholders are asked to approve the merger and the date that the merger is consummated, during which time the value of the merger consideration received by our stockholders will continue to fluctuate. As a result, at the time of our special meeting of stockholders to vote to approve the merger agreement, our stockholders will not until the closing of the merger know the precise value of the merger consideration they will receive, which could be materially different than the market value at the time of the merger vote and the market value at the time the exchange ratio was set.
Failure to complete the proposed merger with IBTX could negatively impact our business, financial results and stock price. If the proposed merger is not completed for any reason, our ongoing business may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the merger, we would be subject to a number of related risks, including the following:
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we may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay IBTX a termination fee of $115.0 million under the merger agreement, which may adversely affect the price of our common stock;
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we will have incurred substantial expenses and will be required to pay significant costs relating to the merger, whether or not it is completed, such as legal, accounting, due diligence, financial advisor and printing fees;
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the merger agreement places certain restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to completion of the merger, which may adversely affect our ability to execute certain of our business strategies and cause certain other initiatives to be delayed or abandoned;
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matters relating to the merger require substantial commitments of time and resources by our management team that could have been and could be devoted to the pursuit of other opportunities beneficial to us as an independent company; and
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we may be subject to negative reactions from the financial markets and from our customers and employees that could materially affect our business, financial results and stock price; the market price of our common stock could decline to the extent that current market prices of our common stock reflect a market assumption that the merger will be completed.
Litigation could prevent or delay the closing of the proposed merger or otherwise negatively impact our business and operations. We may be subject to legal proceedings related to the agreed terms of the proposed merger, the manner in which the merger was considered and approved by our board of directors or any failure to complete the merger or perform our obligations under the merger agreement. Such litigation could delay or block the consummation of the merger, have an adverse effect on our financial condition and impose material costs on us or the surviving entity. Any delay in completing the merger could cause us not to realize, or to be delayed in realizing, some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve if the merger is successfully completed within its expected time frame.
Our future results will suffer if we do not effectively manage our expanded operations following the merger. Following the merger, the size of our business will increase significantly beyond its current size. The future success of the surviving entity depends, in part, upon the ability to manage this expanded business, which will pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity. There can be no assurances the surviving entity will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits currently anticipated from the merger.
Risk Factors Associated With Our Business
We must effectively manage our credit risk. The risk of non-payment of loans is inherent in commercial banking. Increased credit risk may result from many factors, including:
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Adverse changes in local, U.S. and global economic and industry conditions;
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Declines in the value of collateral, including asset values that are directly or indirectly related to external factors such as commodity prices, real estate values or interest rates;
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Concentrations of credit associated with specific loan categories, industries or collateral types; and
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Exposures to individual borrowers and to groups of entities that may be affiliated on some basis that individually and/or collectively represent a larger percentage of our total loans or capital than might be considered common at other banks of similar size.
We rely heavily on information provided by third parties when originating and monitoring loans. If this information is intentionally or negligently misrepresented and we do not detect such misrepresentations, the credit risk associated with the transaction may be increased. Although we attempt to manage our credit risk by carefully monitoring the concentration of our loans within specific loan categories and industries and through prudent loan approval and monitoring practices in all categories of our lending, we cannot assure you that our approval and monitoring procedures will reduce these lending risks. Our significant number of large credit relationships (above $20 million) could exacerbate credit problems precipitated by a
regional or national economic downturn. Competitive pressures could erode underwriting standards, leading to a decline in general credit quality and increases in credit defaults and non-performing asset levels. If our credit administration personnel, policies and procedures are not able to adequately adapt to changes in economic, competitive or other conditions that affect customers and the quality of the loan portfolio, we may incur increased losses that could adversely affect our financial results and lead to increased regulatory scrutiny, restrictions on our lending activity or financial penalties.
A significant portion of our assets consists of commercial loans. We generally invest a greater proportion of our assets in commercial loans to business customers than other banking institutions of our size, and our business plan calls for continued efforts to increase our assets invested in these loans. At December 31, 2019, approximately 42% of our LHI portfolio was comprised of commercial loans. Commercial loans may involve a higher degree of credit risk than other types of loans due, in part, to their larger average size, the effects of changing economic conditions on the businesses of our commercial loan customers, the dependence of borrowers on operating cash flow to service debt and our reliance upon collateral which may not be readily marketable. Due to the greater proportion of these commercial loans in our portfolio and because the balances of these loans are, on average, larger than other categories of loans, losses incurred on a relatively small number of commercial loans could have a materially adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
A significant portion of our loans are secured by commercial and residential real estate. At December 31, 2019, approximately 57% of our loans held for investment portfolio was comprised of loans with real estate as the primary component of collateral. Our real estate lending activities, and our exposure to fluctuations in real estate collateral values, are significant and may increase as our assets increase. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a relatively short period of time as a result of market conditions in the geographic area in which the real estate is located, in response to factors such as economic downturns, changes in the economic health of industries heavily concentrated in a particular area and in response to changes in market interest rates, which influence capitalization rates used to value revenue-generating commercial real estate. If the value of real estate serving as collateral for our loans declines materially, a significant part of our loan portfolio could become under-collateralized and losses incurred upon borrower defaults would increase. Conditions in certain segments of the real estate industry, including homebuilding, lot development and mortgage lending, may have an effect on values of real estate pledged as collateral for our loans. The inability of purchasers of real estate, including residential real estate, to obtain financing may weaken the financial condition of our borrowers who are dependent on the sale or refinancing of property to repay their loans. Changes in the economic health of certain industries can have a significant impact on other sectors or industries which are directly or indirectly associated with those industries, and may impact the value of real estate in areas where such industries are concentrated.
Our future profitability depends, to a significant extent, upon our middle market business customers. Our future profitability depends, to a significant extent, upon revenue we receive from middle market business customers, and their ability to continue to meet their loan obligations. Adverse economic conditions or other factors affecting this market segment, and our failure to timely identify and react to unexpected economic downturns, may have a greater adverse effect on us than on other financial institutions that have a more diversified customer base. Additionally, our inability to grow our middle market business customer base in a highly competitive market could affect our future growth and profitability.
We must maintain an appropriate allowance for loan losses. Our experience in the banking industry indicates that some portion of our loans will become delinquent, and some may only be partially repaid or may never be repaid at all. We maintain an allowance for loan losses, which is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense each quarter, that is consistent with management’s assessment of the collectability of the loan portfolio in light of the amount of loans committed and outstanding and current economic conditions and market trends. When specific loan losses are identified, the amount of the expected loss is removed, or charged-off, from the allowance. Our methodology for establishing the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses depends on our subjective application of risk grades as indicators of each borrower’s ability to repay specific loans, together with our assessment of how actual or projected changes in competitor underwriting practices, competition for borrowers and depositors and other conditions in our markets are likely to impact improvement or deterioration in the collectability of our loans as compared to our historical experience.
Our business model makes our Bank more vulnerable to changes in underlying business credit quality than other banks with which we compete. We have a substantially larger percentage of commercial, real estate and other categories of business loans relative to total assets than most other banks in our market and our individual loans are generally larger as a percentage of our total earning assets than other banks. While we have substantially increased our liquidity in recent years, these funds are invested in low-yielding deposits with federal agencies and other financial institutions. A substantially smaller portion of our assets consists of securities and other earning asset categories that can be less vulnerable to changes in local, regional or industry-specific economic trends, causing our potential for credit losses to be more severe than other banks. Our business model has focused on growth in various loan categories that can be more sensitive to changes in economic trends. We believe our ability to maintain an above-peer rate of growth in commercial loans is dependent on maintaining above-peer credit quality metrics. The failure to maintain above-peer credit quality metrics would have a material adverse impact on our growth and profitability. Historically, we have sought to take action prior to economic downturns by slowing growth rates and decreasing
the risk level of our assets by, among other things, allowing runoff of loans that we believe may not perform well during a weakening or declining economic environment.
If our assessment of inherent risk and losses in our loan portfolio is inaccurate, or economic and market conditions or our borrowers' financial performance experience material unanticipated changes, the allowance may become inadequate, requiring larger provisions for loan losses that can materially decrease our earnings. Certain of our loans individually represent a significant percentage of our total allowance for loan losses. Adverse collection experience in a relatively small number of these loans could require an increase in the provision for loan losses. Federal regulators periodically review our allowance for loan losses and, based on their judgments, which may be different than ours, may require us to change classifications or grades of loans, increase the allowance for loan losses or recognize further loan charge-offs. Any increase in the allowance for loan losses or in the amount of loan charge-offs required by our methodology or regulatory agencies could have a negative effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in accounting standards, including the implementation of Current Expected Credit Loss methodology for 2020, could materially affect how we report our financial results. The Financial Accounting Standards Board adopted a new accounting standard for determining the amount of our allowance for credit losses (ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) that will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, referred to as Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL"). Implementation of CECL will require that we determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected future credit losses on loans in the provision for loan losses in the period when the loans are booked. Based on our fourth quarter parallel run, review of the portfolio, including the composition, characteristics and quality of the underlying loans, and the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts as of the adoption date, we believe that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will result in an immaterial increase of approximately 5-6% to our allowance for credit losses. This is consistent with our expectations given that our current portfolio is of shorter duration and commercially focused. The ongoing impact of CECL will be significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan portfolio, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts utilized. Should these factors materially change, we may be required to increase or decrease our allowance for loan losses, decreasing or increasing our reported income, and introducing additional volatility into our reported earnings.
Our business is concentrated in Texas; our energy industry exposure could adversely affect our performance. Although more than 50% of our loan exposure is outside of Texas and more than 50% of our deposits are sourced outside of Texas, our Texas concentration remains significant compared to other peer banks. A majority of our loans held for investment, excluding mortgage finance loans and other national lines of business, are to businesses with headquarters or operations in Texas. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations may be strongly affected by any prolonged period of economic recession or other adverse business, economic or regulatory conditions affecting Texas businesses and financial institutions. While the Texas economy is more diversified than in the 1980’s, the energy sector continues to play an important role. At December 31, 2019 our outstanding energy loans represented 5% of total loans. Our energy loans consist primarily of producing reserve-based loans to exploration and production companies with a smaller portion of our loan balances attributable to royalty owners, midstream operators, saltwater disposal and other service companies whose businesses primarily relate to production, not exploration and development, of oil and gas. These businesses have been significantly affected by volatility in oil and natural gas prices, reserve depletion curves, material declines in the level of drilling and production activity in Texas and in other areas of the United States and material fluctuations in investor interest in oil and gas exploration and production investments. We experienced an increase in non-performing assets and higher charge-offs primarily related to energy loans during 2016, and while those levels have moderated over the last three years, they still remain elevated compared to the overall loan portfolio. There is no assurance that we will not be materially adversely impacted by the direct and indirect effects of current and future conditions in the energy industry in Texas and nationally.
Our business faces unpredictable economic and business conditions. Our business is directly impacted by general economic and business conditions in Texas, the United States and internationally. The credit quality of our loan portfolio necessarily reflects, among other things, the general economic conditions in the areas in which we and our customers conduct our respective businesses. Our continued financial success can be affected by other factors that are beyond our control, including:
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national, regional and local economic conditions;
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the value of the U.S. Dollar in relation to the currencies of other advanced and emerging market countries;
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the performance of both domestic and international equity and debt markets and valuation of securities traded on recognized domestic and international exchanges;
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general economic consequences of international conditions, such as weakness in European and South American sovereign debt and currencies and the U.K.'s referendum to exit from the European Union, and the impact of those conditions on the US and global economies;
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legislative and regulatory changes impacting our industry;
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the financial health of our customers and economic conditions affecting them and the value of our collateral, including effects from continued price volatility of oil and gas and other commodities;
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the incidence of fraud, illegal payments, security breaches and other illegal acts among or impacting our Bank and our customers;
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structural changes in the markets for origination, sale and servicing of residential mortgages;
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changes in governmental economic and regulatory policies, including the extent and timing of intervention in credit markets by the Federal Reserve or withdrawal from that intervention, generally as well as changes attributable to presidential and congressional elections;
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changes in the availability of liquidity at a systemic level; and
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material inflation or deflation.
Substantial deterioration in any of the foregoing conditions can have a material adverse effect on our prospects and our results of operations and financial condition. There is no assurance that we will be able to return to our historical rate of growth or our profitability. Our Bank's customer base is primarily commercial in nature, and our Bank does not have a significant retail branch network or retail consumer deposit base. In periods of economic downturn, business and commercial deposits may be more volatile than traditional retail consumer deposits. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected to a greater degree by these uncertainties than competitors having a larger retail customer base.
The impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") on us and our customers contributes to uncertainty and risk related to our customers' future demand for credit and our future results. The extent to which increased economic activity expected to result from the Tax Act has spurred additional economic activity or affected the extent of borrowing by our customers is unclear, although the continuation of the current economic expansion provides some evidence of a positive effect. At the same time, some of our customers may have elected to use their additional cash flow from lower taxes to fund their business, decreasing borrowing needs. The elimination of the federal income tax deductibility of business interest expense for a significant number of our customers effectively increases the cost of borrowing and makes equity or hybrid funding relatively more attractive. This could have a long-term negative impact on business customer borrowing. We realized a significant increase in our after-tax net income available to stockholders attributable to the Tax Act beginning in 2018, but there is no guarantee that future years' results will have the same benefit. The continued compression of net interest margin at our bank and for competitor banks indicates that some or all of the expected benefit from the Tax Act has been lost as the banks and financial services companies we compete with have elected to lower interest rates and fees and we have responded in order to remain competitive. Additionally, the tax benefits could be repealed as a result of future political or regulatory actions. There is no assurance that the current or anticipated benefits of the Tax Act will be realized in future periods.
Our growth plans are dependent on the availability of capital and funding. Our historical ability to raise capital through the sale of capital stock and debt securities may be affected by economic and market conditions or regulatory changes that are beyond our control. Adverse changes in our operating performance or financial condition could make raising additional capital difficult or more expensive or limit our access to customary sources of funding, including inter-bank borrowings, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") or the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FLHB"). Unexpected changes in requirements for capital resulting from regulatory actions could require us to raise capital at a time, and at a price, that might be unfavorable, or could require that we forego continuing growth or reduce our current loan portfolio. We cannot offer assurance that capital and funding will be available to us in the future, in needed amounts, upon acceptable terms or at all. Our efforts to raise capital could require the issuance of securities at times and with maturities, conditions and rates that are disadvantageous, and which could have a dilutive impact on our current stockholders. Factors that could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital or necessary funding include conditions in the capital markets, our financial performance, our credit ratings, regulatory actions and general economic conditions. Increases in our cost of capital, including dilution and increased interest or dividend requirements, could have a direct adverse impact on our operating performance and our ability to achieve our growth objectives. Trust preferred securities are no longer viable as a source of new long-term debt capital as a result of regulatory changes. The treatment of our existing trust preferred securities as capital may be subject to further regulatory change prior to their maturity, which could require the Company to seek additional capital.
Our mortgage finance business has experienced, and will likely continue to experience, highly variable usage of our funding capacity resulting from seasonal demands for credit, surges in consumer demand driven by changes in interest rates and month-end “spikes” of residential mortgage closings. These spikes could also result in our Bank having capital ratios that are below internally targeted levels or even levels that could cause our Bank to not be well capitalized and could affect liquidity levels. At the same time managing this risk by declining to respond fully to the needs of our customers could severely impact our business. We have responded to these variable funding demands by, among other things, increasing the extent of participations sold in our mortgage loan interests, as needed, and by maintaining a substantial borrowing relationship with the FHLB. Our mortgage finance customers have in recent periods provided significant low-cost deposit balances associated with the borrower escrow accounts created at the time certain mortgage loans are funded, which have benefitted our liquidity and net interest
margin. Due to the rising rate environment and in response to competitive pressures, we have found it necessary to pay interest on some of these accounts, as regulations allow or require and this trend may continue, materially increasing our costs of funds. Individual escrow account balances also experience significant variability monthly as principal and interest payments, as well as ad valorem taxes and insurance premiums, are paid periodically. While the short average holding period of our mortgage interests of approximately 20 days will allow us, if necessitated by a funding shortfall, to rapidly decrease the size of the portfolio and its associated capital and funding requirements, any such action might significantly damage our business and important mortgage finance relationships.
We must effectively manage our liquidity risk. Our Bank requires liquidity in the form of available funds to meet its deposit, debt and other obligations as they come due, borrower requests to draw on committed credit facilities as well as unexpected demands for cash payments. While we are not subject to Basel III liquidity regulations, the adequacy of our liquidity is a matter of regulatory interest given the significant portion of our balance sheet represented by loans as opposed to securities and other more marketable investments. Our Bank’s principal source of funding consists of customer deposits, supplemented by our short-term and long-term borrowings, including federal funds purchased and FHLB borrowings. We also rely on the availability of the mortgage secondary market provided by Ginnie Mae and the GSEs to support the liquidity of our residential mortgage assets. A substantial majority of our Bank’s liabilities consist of demand, savings, checking and money market deposits, which are payable on demand or upon relatively short notice. By comparison, a substantial portion of our assets are loans, most of which, excluding our mortgage finance loans and mortgage loans held for sale, cannot be collected or sold in so short a time frame, creating the potential for an imbalance in the availability of liquid assets to satisfy depositors and loan funding requirements.
We hold smaller balances of marketable securities than many of our competitors, limiting our ability to increase our liquidity by completing market sales of these assets. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of securities and loans and other sources, or an inability to access the capital markets, could have a substantial negative effect on our Bank’s liquidity. We actively manage our available sources of funds to meet our expected needs under normal and financially stressed conditions, but there is no assurance that our Bank will be able to make new loans, meet ongoing funding commitments to borrowers and replace maturing deposits and advances as necessary under all possible circumstances. Our Bank’s ability to obtain funding could be impaired by factors beyond its control, such as disruptions in financial markets, negative expectations regarding the financial services industry generally or in our markets or negative perceptions of our Bank, including our credit ratings and in connection with the proposed Merger. See Merger-Related Risks for a discussion of risks related to the proposed merger.
Our Bank sources a significant volume of its demand deposits from financial services companies, mortgage finance customers and other commercial sources, resulting in a larger percentage of large deposits and a smaller number of sources of deposits than would be typical of other banks in our markets, creating concentrations of deposits that carry a greater risk of unexpected material withdrawals. In recent periods over half of our total deposits have been attributable to customers whose balances exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit. Many of these customers actively monitor our financial condition and results of operations and could withdraw their deposits quickly upon the occurrence of a material adverse development affecting our Bank or their businesses. Significant deterioration in our credit quality or a downgrade in our credit ratings could affect funding sources such as financial institutions and broker dealers. In response to this risk we have increased our liquidity and developed more sophisticated techniques for monitoring and planning for changes in liquidity and capital over the past several years, but there is no assurance that we will maintain or have access to sufficient funding and capital to fully mitigate our liquidity risk.
One potential source of liquidity for our Bank consists of “brokered deposits” arranged by brokers acting as intermediaries, typically larger money-center financial institutions. We receive deposits provided by certain of our customers in connection with our delivery of other financial services to them or their customers which are subject to regulatory classification as “brokered deposits” even though we consider these to be relationship deposits and they are not subject to the typical risks or market pricing associated with conventional brokered deposits.
If we do not maintain our regulatory capital above the level required to be well capitalized we would be required to obtain FDIC consent for us to continue to accept deposits classified as brokered deposits, and there can be no assurance that the FDIC would consent under any circumstances. We could also be required to suspend or eliminate deposit gathering from any source classified as “brokered” deposits. The FDIC can change the definition of brokered deposits or extend the classification to deposits not currently classified as brokered deposits. These non-traditional deposits are subject to greater operational and reputational risk of unexpected withdrawal than traditional demand and time deposits, particularly those provided by consumers. A significant decrease in our balances of relationship brokered deposits could have a material adverse effect upon our financial condition and results of operations. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations below for further discussion of our liquidity.
We, our vendors and customers must effectively manage our information systems risk. We, our vendors and customers all rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our respective businesses and work effectively together. The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven
products and services. Our ability to compete successfully depends in part upon our ability to use technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands. Many of our larger competitors invest substantially greater resources in technological capabilities than we do. We may not be able to effectively protect, develop and manage mission critical systems and IT infrastructure to support strategic business initiatives, which could impair our ability to achieve financial, operational, compliance and strategic objectives and negatively affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Our communications and information systems and those of our vendors and customers remain vulnerable to unexpected disruptions, failures and cyber-attacks. The frequency and intensity of such attacks is escalating. Material failures or interruptions of these systems could impair our ability to serve our customers and to operate our business and could damage our reputation, result in a loss of business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny or enforcement or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability. While we have developed extensive recovery plans, we cannot assure that those plans will be effective to prevent adverse effects upon us and our customers resulting from system failures.
We collect and store sensitive data, including personally identifiable information of our customers and employees and in the ordinary course of business must allow certain of our vendors access to that data. Breaches of our systems or our vendors' or customers’ systems, thefts of data and other breaches and criminal activity may result in significant costs to respond, liability for customer losses if we or our vendors are at fault, damage to our customer relationships, regulatory scrutiny and enforcement and loss of future business opportunities due to reputational damage. Breaches can be perpetrated by unknown third parties, but could also be facilitated by employees either inadvertently or by consciously attempting to create disruption or certain acts of fraud. Although we, with the help of third-party service providers, will continue to implement information security technology solutions and establish operational procedures to protect sensitive data, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective. We advise and provide training to our customers and evaluate and impose security requirements on our vendors regarding protection of their respective information systems, but there is no assurance that these actions will have the intended positive effects or will be effective to prevent losses. In some cases we may elect to contribute to the cost of responding to cybercrime against our customers, even when we are not at fault, in order to maintain valuable customer relationships. Successful cyber-attacks on our Bank, vendors or customers may affect the reputation of our Bank, and failure to meet customer expectations could have a material impact on our ability to attract and retain deposits as a primary source of funding.
Our operations rely extensively on a broad range of external vendors. We rely on a large number of vendors to provide products and services necessary to maintain our day-to-day operations, particularly in the areas of operations, treasury management systems, information technology and security. This reliance exposes us to the risk that these vendors will not perform as required by our agreements as well as risks resulting from disruptions in communications with our vendors, cyber-attacks and security breaches at our vendors, failure of a vendor to provide services for other reasons and poor performance of services. An external vendor’s failure to perform in any of these areas could be disruptive to our operations, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as cause reputational damage. External vendors who must have access to our information systems in order to provide their services have been identified as significant sources of information technology security risk. While we have implemented an active program of oversight to address this risk, there can be no assurance that we will not experience material security breaches associated with our vendors.
We must effectively manage our interest rate risk. Our profitability is dependent to a large extent on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income paid to us on our loans and investments and the interest we pay to third parties such as our depositors, lenders and debtholders. Changes in interest rates can impact our profits and the fair values of certain of our assets and liabilities. Models that we use to forecast and plan for the impact of rising and falling interest rates may be incorrect or fail to consider the impact of competition and other conditions affecting our loans and deposits.
Periods of unusually low or volatile interest rates have a material effect on our earnings. The Federal Reserve began raising rates in late 2015 and continued through 2018 contributing to improvement in our net interest income as the increase in interest we receive on our assets exceeded the increase in interest we were required to pay our depositors. The Federal Reserve began to decrease interest rates and made changes in its approaches to financial market liquidity management in 2019, which had a negative impact on our earnings. Should interest rates remain unchanged or decline further in 2020, we expect a negative impact on our 2020 earnings to a greater degree than our peer group. There is uncertainty regarding the extent to which interest rates may change in 2020 and future periods and what the future effects of any such changes will be on our interest income and expense. Increases in market interest rates can negatively impact our business, including reducing our customers' desire to borrow money from us and their ability to repay their outstanding loans as their debt service obligations increase through the periodic reset of adjustable interest rate loans. If our borrowers’ ability to pay their loans is impaired by increasing interest payment obligations, our level of non-performing assets would increase, producing an adverse effect on operating results. Asset values, especially commercial real estate collateral, securities or other fixed rate earning assets, can decline significantly with relatively minor changes in interest rates.
Increases in interest rates and economic conditions affecting consumer demand for housing can have a material impact on the volume of mortgage originations and refinancings, adversely affecting the profitability of our mortgage finance business. Interest rate risk can also result from mismatches between the dollar amounts of repricing or maturing assets and liabilities and
from mismatches in the timing and rates at which our assets and liabilities reprice. We actively monitor and manage the balances of our maturing and repricing assets and liabilities to reduce the adverse impact of changes in interest rates, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to avoid material adverse effects on our net interest margin in all market conditions.
Rising interest rates in prior periods have increased our interest expense, with a commensurate adverse effect on our net interest income, and may be expected to do so in future periods. In a rising rate environment, competition for cost-effective deposits increase, making it more costly for us to fund loan growth. Rapid and unexpected volatility in interest rates creates additional uncertainty and potential for adverse financial effects. There can be no assurance that we will not be materially adversely affected by future changes in interest rates.
We are subject to extensive government regulation and supervision. We, as a bank holding company and financial holding company, and our Bank as a national bank, are subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision, and the potential for regulatory enforcement actions, that impact our business on a daily basis. See the discussion above at Business - Regulation and Supervision. These regulations affect our lending practices, permissible products and services and their terms and conditions, customer relationships, capital structure, investment practices, accounting, financial reporting, operations and our ability to grow, among other things. These regulations also impose obligations to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing and to verify the identities of our customers.
Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Material changes in regulation and requirements imposed on financial institutions, such as the Dodd-Frank Act, Basel III Capital Rules, European Union's General Data Protection Regulations ("GDPR") and California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") result in additional costs, impose more stringent capital, liquidity and leverage requirements, limit the types of financial services and products we may offer and increase the ability of non-bank financial services providers to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Such changes could result in new regulatory obligations which could prove difficult, expensive or competitively impractical to comply with if not equally imposed upon non-bank financial services providers with whom we compete.
We are subject to a continuous program of examinations by our regulators concerning, among other things, lending practices, reserve methodology, compliance with changing regulations and interpretations, BSA/AML compliance, our management of interest rate, liquidity, capital and operational risk, enterprise risk management, regulatory and financial accounting practices and policies and related matters, which can divert management’s time and attention from focusing on our business. We devote a significant amount of management time and expense to enhancing the infrastructure to support our compliance obligations, which can pose significant regulatory enforcement, financial and reputational risks if not appropriately addressed.
The Regulatory Relief Act passed on May 22, 2018 has provided a limited degree of regulatory relief for institutions of our size. Uncertainty regarding how our regulators will evaluate capital and liquidity planning going forward remains a risk. We continue to increase our capital and liquidity and expand our regulatory compliance staffing and systems in order to address continuing regulatory requirements. There is no assurance that our financial performance in future years will not be similarly burdened.
We expend substantial effort and incur costs to maintain and improve our systems, controls, accounting, operations, information security, compliance, audit effectiveness, analytical capabilities, staffing and training in order to satisfy regulatory requirements. We cannot offer assurance that these efforts will be accepted by our regulators as satisfying the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to us. Failure to comply with relevant laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent any such violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur.
We must effectively execute our business strategy in order to continue our asset and earnings growth. Our core strategy is to develop our business principally through organic growth by offering a premier and differentiated banking experience to companies in high-value business segments. Our prospects for continued growth must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by growing companies. In order to execute our business strategy successfully, we must, among other things:
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continue to identify and expand into suitable markets and lines of business, in Texas, regionally and nationally;
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develop new products and services and execute our full range of products and services more efficiently and effectively;
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attract and retain qualified bankers in each of our targeted market segments to build our customer base;
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respond to market opportunities promptly and nimbly while balancing the demands of risk management and compliance with regulatory requirements;
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expand our loan portfolio in an intensely competitive environment while maintaining credit quality;
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attract sufficient deposits and capital to fund our anticipated loan growth and satisfy regulatory requirements;
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control expenses;
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acquire and maintain sufficient qualified staffing and information technology and operational resources to support growth and compliance with regulatory requirements; and
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consummate the proposed merger of equals with IBTX, which requires stockholder and regulatory approval.
Failure to effectively execute our business strategy could have a material adverse effect on our business, future prospects, financial condition or results of operations. The merger agreement with IBTX restricts us from making certain acquisitions and taking other specified actions while the merger is pending without the consent of IBTX, and requires us to operate in the ordinary course of business. These restrictions may prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the merger or may otherwise adversely affect our ongoing business and operations. See Merger-Related Risks for a discussion of additional risks related to the proposed merger.
We may be adversely affected by changes in the method of determining the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, for our variable rate loans, derivative contracts and other financial assets and liabilities. Our business relies upon a large volume of loans, derivative contracts and other financial instruments which are directly or indirectly dependent on LIBOR to establish their interest rate and/or value. The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced in 2017 that it would no longer compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. It is not possible to predict whether banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR, whether LIBOR rates will cease to be published or supported before or after 2021 or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. It is expected that a transition away from the widespread use of LIBOR to alternative rates is likely to occur during the next several years.
While we have established a working group consisting of key stakeholders from throughout the company to monitor developments relating to LIBOR uncertainty and changes and to guide the Bank’s response, the impact of these developments on our business and financial results is not yet known. The transition from LIBOR may cause us to incur increased costs and additional risk. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes in or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and the value of LIBOR-based loans originated prior to 2021. If LIBOR rates are no longer available, any successor or replacement interest rates may perform differently, which may affect our net interest income, change our market risk profile and require changes to our risk, pricing and hedging strategies. Any failure to adequately manage this transition could adversely impact our reputation.
We must be effective in developing and executing new lines of business and new products and services while managing associated risks. Our business strategy requires that we develop and grow new lines of business and offer new products and services within existing lines of business in order to compete successfully in offering a premier and differentiated client banking experience to ensure future client acquisition and retention of existing clients and realize our strategic priorities for both loans and deposits. Substantial costs, risks and uncertainties are associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. Developing and marketing new activities requires that we invest significant time and resources before new sources of revenues, funding and profits can be realized. Timetables for the development and launch of new activities may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible or their realization may be delayed. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, receipt of necessary licenses or permits, competitive alternatives and shifting market preferences, may also adversely impact the successful execution of new activities. New activities necessarily entail additional risks and may present additional risks to the effectiveness of our system of internal controls and risk management strategies. All service offerings, including current offerings and new activities, may become more risky due to changes in economic, competitive and market conditions beyond our control. Our regulators could determine that our risk management practices are not adequate or our capital levels are not sufficiently in excess of well-capitalized levels and take action to restrain our growth. Failure to successfully manage these risks, generally and to the satisfaction of our regulators, in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We must continue to attract, retain and develop key personnel. Our success depends to a significant extent upon our ability to attract, develop and retain experienced bankers in each of our lines of business and markets as well as managers in operational areas, compliance and other support areas to build and maintain the infrastructure and controls required to support continuing loan and deposit growth. Competition for the best people in our industry can be intense, and there is no assurance that we will continue to have the same level of success in this effort that has supported our historical results. Factors that affect our ability to attract, develop and retain key employees include our compensation and benefits programs, our profitability, our ability to establish appropriate succession plans for key talent, our reputation for rewarding and promoting qualified employees and market competition for employees with certain skills, including information systems development and security. The cost of employee compensation is a significant portion of our operating expenses and can materially impact our results of operations.
The unanticipated loss of the services of key personnel could have an adverse effect on our business. Although we have entered into employment agreements with certain key employees, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in retaining them. These risks may be exacerbated by the proposed merger with IBTX. See Merger-Related Risks for a discussion of additional risks related to the proposed merger with IBTX.
We compete with many banks and other financial service providers. Competition among providers of financial services in our markets, in Texas, regionally and nationally, is intense. We compete with other financial and bank holding companies, state and national commercial banks, savings and loan associations, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerages, insurance companies, mortgage banking companies, money market mutual funds, asset-based non-bank lenders, government sponsored or subsidized lenders and other financial services providers. Many of these competitors have substantially greater financial resources, lending limits and technological resources and larger branch networks than we do, and are able to offer a broader range of products and services than we can, including systems and services that could more effectively protect customers from cyber threats. Many competitors offer lower interest rates and more liberal loan terms that appeal to borrowers but adversely affect net interest margin and assurance of repayment. We are increasingly faced with competition in many of our products and services by non-bank providers who may have competitive advantages of size, access to potential customers and fewer regulatory requirements. Failure to compete effectively for deposit, loan and other banking customers in any of our lines of business could cause us to lose market share, slow or reverse our growth rate or suffer adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations. We face the risk that our competitors may seek to use the proposed merger to target our customers. See Merger-Related Risks for a discussion of additional risks related to the proposed merger.
Our mortgage correspondent aggregation business subjects us to additional risks. We launched our mortgage correspondent aggregation business (“MCA”), a correspondent lending program that complements our mortgage warehouse lending business, in 2015. Volatility in the mortgage industry has caused uncertainty related to the pricing of the mortgage loans that we seek to purchase, as well as uncertainty in the pricing of those loans when they are sold or securitized. Similar uncertainty exists with respect to volatility in the value of mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs") on our balance sheet. This volatility may cause the actual returns on mortgage sales or securitization transactions to be less than anticipated, which could adversely affect our overall loans held for sale volumes and the profitability of this line of business. Fluctuations in the value of MSRs that we hold on our balance sheet could require that we recognize impairments in the value of such assets and/or actual losses on the disposition of such assets. Additionally, non-bank competitors may have a pricing advantage as they are not subject to the same capital maintenance requirements relative to mortgage loans and MSRs as our Bank.
Our MCA business subjects us to additional interest rate risk and price risk, which may have an adverse effect on our business. The persistent low interest rate environment has in certain cases resulted in an increase in the value of MSRs, causing other market participants and competitors who are planning to hold MSRs for a longer term to be more aggressive in their pricing of the underlying loan purchases than a participant like our Bank that does not plan to hold MSRs on a long-term basis. While we believe market and competitive conditions may improve in the future, a prolonged low interest rate environment could adversely affect the economics of our MCA business over a longer period of time. Conversely, an environment of rising interest rates could have a significant effect on loan volumes in our MCA business if refinancing and home purchase activities are reduced.
We have entered into loan purchase commitments and forward sales commitments in connection with the MCA business. While we believe that our hedging strategies will be successful in mitigating our exposure to interest rate risk associated with the purchase of mortgage loans held for sale, no hedging strategy can completely protect us. Poorly designed strategies, improperly executed transactions, or inaccurate assumptions regarding future interest rates or market conditions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are from time to time required to hold or repurchase mortgage loans or reimburse investors as a result of breaches in contractual representations and warranties under the agreements pursuant to which we purchase and sell mortgage loans. While our agreements with the originators and sellers of mortgage loans provide us with legal recourse against them that may allow us to recover some or all of our losses, these companies are frequently not financially capable of paying large amounts of damages and as a result we can offer no assurance that we will not bear all of the risk of loss.
We may incur other costs and losses as a result of actual or alleged violations of regulations related to the origination and purchase of residential mortgage loans. The origination of residential mortgage loans is governed by a variety of federal and state laws and regulations, which are frequently changing. We sell residential mortgage loans that we have purchased or that we have originated to various parties, including Ginnie Mae and GSEs such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and other financial institutions that purchase mortgage loans for investment or private label securitization. We may also pool FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed mortgage loans which back securities issued by Ginnie Mae. Our accrued mortgage repurchase liability represents management’s best estimate of the probable loss that we may expect to incur for the representations and warranties in the contractual provisions of our sales of mortgage loans, but there is no assurance that our losses will not materially exceed such amounts.
Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on management judgment, which may prove inadequate or be adversely impacted by inaccurate assumptions or models. The processes we use to estimate probable credit losses for purposes of establishing the allowance for loan losses and to measure the fair value of financial instruments, certain of our liquidity and capital planning tools, as well as the processes we use to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and results of operations, all depend upon management’s judgment. Management’s judgment and the data relied upon by management may be based on assumptions that prove to be inaccurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, the adoption of CECL methodology for determining our provision for credit losses and allowance for credit losses in 2020 is expected to increase the complexity, and associated risk, of the analysis and processes relying on management judgment.
Our risk management strategies and processes may not be effective; our controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented. We continue to invest in the development of risk management techniques, strategies, assessment methods and related controls and monitoring approaches on an ongoing basis. However, these risk management strategies and processes may not be fully effective in mitigating our risk exposure in all economic market environments or against all types of risk. Any failures in our risk management strategies and processes to accurately identify, quantify and monitor our risk exposure could limit our ability to effectively manage our risks. Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and management judgment and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We must effectively manage our counterparty risk. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty and other relationships. Our Bank has exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks, and other financial market participants. Many of these transactions expose our Bank to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In addition, our Bank’s credit risk may be increased when the collateral securing its loans cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of its credit or derivative exposure. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is susceptible to fraud. Our business exposes us to fraud risk from our loan and deposit customers, the parties they do business with, as well as from our employees, contractors and vendors. We rely on financial and other data from new and existing customers which could turn out to be fraudulent when accepting such customers, executing their financial transactions and making and purchasing loans and other financial assets. In times of increased economic stress we are at increased risk of fraud losses. We believe we have underwriting and operational controls in place to prevent or detect such fraud, but we cannot provide assurance that these controls will be effective in detecting fraud or that we will not experience fraud losses or incur costs or other damage related to such fraud, at levels that adversely affect our financial results or reputation. Our lending customers may also experience fraud in their businesses which could adversely affect their ability to repay their loans or make use of our services. Our exposure and the exposure of our customers to fraud may increase our financial risk and reputation risk as it may result in unexpected loan losses that exceed those that have been provided for in our allowance for loan losses.
We must maintain adequate regulatory capital to support our business objectives. Under regulatory capital adequacy guidelines and other regulatory requirements, we must satisfy capital requirements based upon quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items. Our satisfaction of these requirements is subject to qualitative judgments by regulators that may differ materially from management’s and that are subject to being determined retroactively for prior periods. Additionally, regulators can make subjective assessments about the adequacy of capital levels, even if our Bank's reported capital exceeds the “well-capitalized” requirements. Our ability to maintain our status as a financial holding company and to continue to operate our Bank as we have in recent periods is dependent upon a number of factors, including our Bank qualifying as “well capitalized” and “well managed” under applicable prompt corrective action regulations and upon our company qualifying on an ongoing basis as “well capitalized” and “well managed” under applicable Federal Reserve regulations.
Failure to meet regulatory capital standards could have a material adverse effect on our business, including damaging the confidence of customers in us, adversely impacting our reputation and competitive position and retention of key personnel. Any of these developments could limit our access to:
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brokered deposits;
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the Federal Reserve discount window;
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advances from the FHLB;
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capital markets transactions; and
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development of new financial services.
Failure to meet regulatory capital standards may also result in higher FDIC assessments. If we fall below guidelines for being deemed “adequately capitalized” the OCC or Federal Reserve could impose restrictions on our activities and a broad range of regulatory requirements in order to effect “prompt corrective action.” The capital requirements applicable to us are in a process of continuous evaluation and revision in connection with actions of the Basel Committee, our regulators and the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. We cannot predict the final form, or the effects, of these regulations on our business, but among the possible effects are requirements that we slow our rate of growth or obtain additional capital which could reduce our earnings or dilute our existing stockholders.
We are dependent on funds obtained from borrowing or capital transactions or from our Bank to fund our obligations. We are a financial holding company engaged in the business of managing, controlling and operating our Bank. We conduct no material business or other activity at the parent company level other than activities incidental to holding equity and debt investments in our Bank. As a result, we rely on the proceeds of capital transactions, borrowings under our revolving line of credit, payments of interest and principal on loans made to our Bank and dividends on preferred stock issued by our Bank to pay our operating expenses, to satisfy our obligations to debtholders and to pay dividends on our preferred stock. The profitability of our Bank is subject to fluctuation based upon, among other things, the cost and availability of funds, changes in interest rates and economic conditions in general. Our Bank’s ability to pay dividends to us is subject to regulatory limitations that can, under certain adverse circumstances, prohibit the payment of dividends to us. Our right to participate in any distribution from the liquidation or sale of our Bank’s assets is subject to the prior claims of our Bank’s creditors.
If we are unable to access funds from capital transactions, borrowing under our revolving line of credit or dividends or interest on loan payments from our Bank, we may be unable to satisfy our obligations to creditors or debtholders or pay dividends on our preferred stock. Changes in our Bank’s operating results or capital requirements could require us to convert subordinated notes or preferred stock of our bank held by us into common equity, reducing our cash flow available to meet our obligations.
We are subject to claims and litigation in the ordinary course of our business, including claims that may not be covered by our insurers, and may be subject to stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed merger with IBTX. Customers and other parties we engage with assert claims and take legal action against us on a regular basis and we regularly take legal action to collect unpaid borrower obligations, realize on collateral and assert our rights in commercial and other contexts. These actions frequently result in counter-claims against us. Litigation arises in a variety of contexts, including lending activities, employment practices, commercial agreements, fiduciary responsibility related to our wealth management services, intellectual property rights and other general business matters. We may incur additional costs in connection with the defense or settlement of any stockholder lawsuits filed in connection with the proposed merger with IBTX. Such litigation could prevent the consummation of the Merger. See Merger-Related Risks for a discussion of additional risks related to the proposed merger.
Claims and legal actions may result in significant legal costs to defend us or assert our rights and may result in reputational damage that adversely affects existing and future customer relationships. If claims and legal actions are not resolved in a manner favorable to us we may suffer significant financial liability or adverse effects upon our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See Legal Proceedings below for additional disclosures regarding legal proceedings.
We purchase insurance coverage to mitigate a wide range of operating risks, including general liability, errors and omissions, professional liability, business interruption, cyber-crime, fraud and property loss, for events that may be materially detrimental to our Bank or customers. There is no assurance that our insurance will be adequate to protect us against material losses in excess of our coverage limits or that insurers will perform their obligations under our policies without attempting to limit or exclude coverage. We could be required to pursue legal actions against insurers to obtain payment of amounts we are owed, and there is no assurance that such actions, if pursued, would be successful.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities. A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. There is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties, and that we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property's value by limiting our ability to use or sell it. Although we have policies and procedures requiring environmental review before initiating any foreclosure action on real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Future laws or regulations or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws and regulations may increase our exposure to environmental liability.
Severe weather, earthquakes, other natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war or terrorism and other external events could significantly impact our business. Severe weather, earthquakes, other natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war or terrorism
and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct business. Such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue and/or cause us to incur additional expenses. Recent hurricanes caused extensive flooding and destruction along the coastal areas of Texas and in other areas in the US, including communities where we conduct business. Although management has established disaster recovery policies and procedures, the occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Our Securities
Our stock price can be volatile. Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for you to resell your common stock when you want and at prices you find attractive. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
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actual or anticipated variations in quarterly and annual results of our operations or those of IBTX;
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changes in recommendations by securities analysts;
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delay or failure to close the pending merger of equals with IBTX, as well as failure to realize the expected benefits of the transaction;
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changes in composition and perceptions of the investors who own our stock and other securities;
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changes in ratings from national rating agencies on publicly or privately-owned debt securities and deposits in our Bank;
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operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
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news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry, including regulatory actions against other financial institutions;
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actual or expected economic conditions that are perceived to affect our company such as changes in commodity prices, real estate values or interest rates;
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perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors;
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new technology used, or services offered, by competitors;
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significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors, including the proposed merger with IBTX;
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the stock price of IBTX (as a result of the proposed merger);
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changes in government regulations and interpretation of those regulations, changes in our practices requested or required by regulators and changes in regulatory enforcement focus; and
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geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts.
General market fluctuations, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends, could also cause our stock price to decrease regardless of operating results.
The trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies. Although our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies. Given the lower trading volume of our common stock, significant sales of our common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause our stock price to fall. In addition, a substantial majority of common stock outstanding is held by institutional investors, and trading activity involving large positions may increase volatility of the stock price. Concentration of ownership by institutional investors and inability to execute trades covering large numbers of shares can increase volatility of stock price. Changes in general economic outlook or perspectives on our business or prospects by our institutional investors, whether factual or speculative, can have a major impact on our stock price.
Our preferred stock is thinly traded. There is only a limited trading volume in our preferred stock due to the small size of the issue and its largely institutional holder base. Significant sales of our preferred stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause the price of the preferred stock to fall substantially.
An investment in our securities is not an insured deposit. Our common stock, preferred stock and indebtedness are not bank deposits and, therefore, are not insured against loss by the FDIC, any other deposit insurance fund or by any other public or private entity. Investment in our common stock is inherently risky for the reasons described in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this report and is subject to the same market forces that affect the price of securities of any company. As a result, if you acquire our common stock, preferred stock or indebtedness, you may lose some or all of your investment.
The holders of our indebtedness and preferred stock have rights that are senior to those of our common stockholders. As of December 31, 2019, we had $111.0 million outstanding in subordinated notes issued by our holding company and $113.4 million outstanding in junior subordinated notes that are held by statutory trusts which issued trust preferred securities to investors. At December 31, 2019 our Bank had $175.0 million in subordinated notes outstanding. Payments of the principal and interest on our trust preferred securities are conditionally guaranteed by us to the extent not paid by each trust, provided the trust has funds available for such obligations.
Our subordinated notes and junior subordinated notes are senior to our shares of preferred stock and common stock in right of payment of dividends and other distributions. We must be current on interest and principal payments on our indebtedness before any dividends can be paid on our preferred stock or our common stock. In the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, the holders of our indebtedness must be satisfied before any distributions can be made to our preferred or common stockholders. If certain conditions are met, we have the right to defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) at any time or from time to time for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters in a deferral period, during which time no dividends may be paid to holders of our preferred stock or common stock. Because our Bank’s subordinated notes are obligations of the Bank, they would in liquidation of our Bank or sale of its assets receive payment before any amounts would be payable to holders of our common stock, preferred stock or subordinated notes.
At December 31, 2019, we had issued and outstanding 6 million shares of our 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, having an aggregate liquidation preference of $150.0 million. Our preferred stock is senior to our shares of common stock in right of payment of dividends and other distributions. We must be current on dividends payable to holders of preferred stock before any dividends can be paid on our common stock. In the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, the holders of our preferred stock must be satisfied before any distributions can be made to our common stockholders.
We do not currently pay dividends on our common stock; the payment of dividends by the combined company following the merger is subject to future events and determinations by the board of directors and applicable regulatory limitations. We have not paid dividends on our common stock and we do not expect to do so for the foreseeable future. Our ability to pay dividends is limited by regulatory restrictions and the need to maintain sufficient consolidated capital. The ability of our Bank to pay dividends to us is limited by its obligation to maintain sufficient capital and by other regulatory restrictions as discussed above under the heading Supervision and Regulation - Restrictions on Payment of Dividends by Our Bank.
It is anticipated that following the merger of the Company and IBTX the combined company will pay dividends to stockholders at the rate of $1.00 per share annually; however there is no assurance as to the amount and timing of any dividends that may be declared and paid by the combined company. The board of directors of the combined company may change its dividend policy at any time without notice to stockholders. Stockholders are entitled to receive only such dividends as the board of directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Any declaration and payment of dividends on will depend upon the earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital requirements of the combined company, the general economic and regulatory climate, the ability of the combined company to service preferred stock and debt obligations and other factors deemed relevant by the board of directors at the time. The board of directors of the combined company may make capital management decisions and adopt policies that could adversely impact the amount of dividends, if any, paid to the combined company’s stockholders.
Restrictions on ownership. The ability of a third party to acquire us is limited under applicable U.S. banking laws and regulations. The BHCA requires any bank holding company (as defined therein) to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock. Any “company” (as defined in the BHCA) other than a bank holding company would be required to obtain Federal Reserve approval before acquiring “control” of us. “Control” generally means (i) the ownership or control of 25% or more of a class of voting securities, (ii) the ability to elect a majority of the directors or (iii) the ability otherwise to exercise a controlling influence over management and policies. A holder of 25% or more of our outstanding Common Stock, other than an individual, is subject to regulation and supervision as a bank holding company under the BHCA. In addition, under the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, and the Federal Reserve’s regulations thereunder, any person, either individually or acting through or in concert with one or more persons, is required to provide notice to the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our outstanding common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and Delaware law may make it more difficult for you to receive a change in control premium. Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest more difficult, even if such events were perceived by many of our stockholders as beneficial to their interests. These provisions include advance notice for nominations of directors and stockholders' proposals, and authority to issue “blank check” preferred stock with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors. In addition, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which, in general, prevents an interested stockholder, defined generally as a person owning 15% or more of a
corporation's outstanding voting stock, from engaging in a business combination with our company for three years following the date that person became an interested stockholder unless certain specified conditions are satisfied.
Limitations on payment of subordinated notes. Under the FDIA, “critically undercapitalized” banks may not, beginning 60 days after becoming critically undercapitalized, make any payment of principal or interest on their subordinated debt (subject to certain limited exceptions). In addition, under Section 18(i) of the FDIA, our Bank is required to obtain the advance consent of the FDIC to retire any part of its subordinated notes. Under the FDIA, a bank may not pay interest on its subordinated notes if such interest is required to be paid only out of net profits, or distribute any of its capital assets, while it remains in default on any assessment due to the FDIC.
Our Bank’s subordinated indebtedness is unsecured and subordinate and junior in right of payment to the Bank’s obligations to its depositors, its obligations under banker’s acceptances and letters of credit, its obligations to any Federal Reserve Bank, certain obligations to the FDIC, and its obligations to its other creditors, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, except any obligations which expressly rank on a parity with or junior to the subordinated notes.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
Our corporate headquarters is located in downtown Dallas, Texas. These facilities, which we lease, house our executive and primary administrative offices, as well as the principal banking headquarters of Texas Capital Bank. We also lease other facilities in our primary market regions of Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, as well as in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and New York, some of which operate as full-service banking centers. We also lease an operations center in Richardson, Texas that houses our loan and deposit operations and our customer call center.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is subject to various claims and legal actions that may arise in the course of conducting its business. Management does not expect the disposition of any of these matters to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial statements or results of operations.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TCBI”. On February 11, 2020, there were approximately 192 holders of record of our common stock.
Stock Performance Graph
The following table and graph sets forth the cumulative total stockholder return for the Company’s common stock for the five-year period ending on December 31, 2019, compared to an overall stock market index (Russell 2000 Index) and the Company’s peer group index (Nasdaq Bank Index). The Russell 2000 Index and Nasdaq Bank Index are based on total returns assuming reinvestment of dividends. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2014. The performance graph represents past performance and should not be considered to be an indication of future performance.
Source: Bloomberg
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
You should read the selected financial data presented below in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
(1)
Liquidity assets include federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in other banks.
(2)
Stockholders' equity excluding preferred stock, less goodwill and intangibles, divided by shares outstanding at period end. See Supplemental Financial Data for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
(3)
Non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.
(4)
Stockholders' equity excluding preferred stock, less accumulated other comprehensive income and goodwill and intangibles, divided by total assets, less accumulated other comprehensive income and goodwill and intangibles. See Supplemental Financial Data for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Selected Consolidated Financial Data and the audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A, and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements appearing in this discussion and analysis. Refer to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2019, for discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and financial analysis contained in this report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may also be contained in our future filings with SEC, in press releases and in oral and written statements made by us or with our approval that are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information available to us at the time such statements are made. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “goals,” “objectives,” “expects,” “intends,” “seeks,” “likely,” “targeted,” “continue,” “remain,” “will,” “should,” “may” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements about the credit quality of our loan portfolio, statements related to the proposed merger, including the expected timing of the consummation of the merger, the potential effects of the proposed merger on our business and operations upon or prior to the consummation thereof, the effects on us if the merger is not consummated and information regarding the combined business and operations of TCBI and IBTX following the merger, if consummated, general economic conditions in the United States and in our markets, including the continued impact on our customers from volatility in oil and gas prices, the financial impact of the Tax Act on our results of operations, expectations regarding rates of default and loan losses, volatility in the mortgage industry, our business strategies and our expectations about future financial performance, future growth and earnings, the appropriateness of our allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses, the impact of changing regulatory requirements and legislative changes on our business, increased competition, interest rate risk, new lines of business, new product or service offerings and new technologies.
Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which change over time, are based on management’s expectations and assumptions at the time the statements are made and are not guarantees of future results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
Deterioration of the credit quality of our loan portfolio or declines in the value of collateral related to external factors such as commodity prices, real estate values or interest rates, increased default rates and loan losses or adverse changes in the industry concentrations of our loan portfolio.
•
The possibility that the previously announced merger does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, stockholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all.
•
The possibility that the various federal and state regulatory agencies from which approval for the merger must be obtained impose conditions that could adversely affect us or cause the merger to be delayed or abandoned.
•
The occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of TCBI, IBTX or both to terminate the merger agreement.
•
The negative impact on our stock price and our future business and financial results if the proposed merger is not consummated.
•
The inability of our stockholders to be certain of the precise value of the merger consideration they may receive in the merger due to the fluctuation in the market price of IBTX and TCBI common stock, including as a result of the financial performance of TCBI prior to closing.
•
The dilution caused by IBTX's issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed merger.
•
The outcome of pending or threatened litigation or of matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, including litigation related to the proposed merger.
•
The possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed merger, including anticipated cost savings and strategic gains, are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy, competitive factors in the areas where we and IBTX do business, or as a result of other unexpected factors or events.
•
The possibility that the proposed merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events.
•
The impact of purchase accounting with respect to the proposed merger, or any change in the assumptions used regarding the assets purchased and liabilities assumed to determine their fair value.
•
Diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities as a result of the proposed merger.
•
Potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed merger.
•
The ability to complete the transaction and integration of TCBI and IBTX successfully, which may take longer than anticipated or be more costly than anticipated or have unanticipated adverse results relating to TCBI's or IBTX's existing businesses.
•
Operational issues stemming from, and/or capital spending necessitated by, the potential need to adapt to industry changes in information technology systems, on which IBTX and TCBI are highly dependent.
•
Changes in interest rates, which may affect TCBI's or IBTX's net income and other future cash flows, or the market value of TCBI's or IBTX's assets, including the market value of investment securities.
•
Changes in the ability of TCBI or IBTX to access the capital markets, including changes in their respective credit ratings.
•
Changes in the value of commercial and residential real estate securing our loans or in the demand for credit to support the purchase and ownership of such assets.
•
Changing economic conditions or other developments adversely affecting our commercial, entrepreneurial and professional customers.
•
Adverse economic conditions and other factors affecting our middle market customers and their ability to continue to meet their loan obligations.
•
The failure to correctly assess and model the assumptions supporting our allowance for loan losses, causing it to become inadequate in the event of deteriorations in loan quality and increases in charge-offs, or increases or decreases to our allowance for loan losses as a result of the implementation of CECL.
•
Changes in the U.S. economy in general or the Texas economy specifically resulting in deterioration of credit quality, increases in non-performing assets or charge-offs or reduced demand for credit or other financial services we offer, including the effects from declines in the level of drilling and production related to volatility in oil and gas prices.
•
Adverse changes in economic or market conditions, in Texas, the United States or internationally, that could affect the credit quality of our loan portfolio or our operating performance.
•
Unanticipated effects from the Tax Act may limit its benefits or adversely impact our business, which could include decreased demand for borrowing by our middle market customers or increased price competition that offsets the benefits of decreased federal income tax expense.
•
Unexpected market conditions or regulatory changes that could cause access to capital market transactions and other sources of funding to become more difficult to obtain on terms and conditions that are acceptable to us.
•
The inadequacy of our available funds to meet our deposit, debt and other obligations as they become due, or our failure to maintain our capital ratios as a result of adverse changes in our operating performance or financial condition, or changes in applicable regulations or regulator interpretation of regulations impacting our business or the characterization or risk weight of our assets.
•
The failure to effectively balance our funding sources with cash demands by depositors and borrowers.
•
The failure to manage information systems risk or to prevent cyber-attacks against us, our customers or our third party vendors, or to manage risks from disruptions or security breaches affecting us, our customers or our third party vendors.
•
The failure to effectively manage our interest rate risk resulting from unexpectedly large or sudden changes in interest rates, maturity imbalances in our assets and liabilities, potential adverse effects to our borrowers including their
inability to repay loans with increased interest rates and the impact to our net interest income from the increasing cost of interest-bearing deposits.
•
Uncertainty regarding the future of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), and the potential transition away from LIBOR toward new interest rate benchmarks.
•
Legislative and regulatory changes imposing further restrictions and costs on our business, a failure to remain well capitalized or well managed status or regulatory enforcement actions against us, and uncertainty related to future implementation and enforcement of regulatory requirements resulting from the current political environment.
•
Changes in the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
•
The failure to successfully execute our business strategy, which may include expanding into new markets, developing and launching new lines of business or new products and services within the expected timeframes and budgets or to successfully manage the risks related to the development and implementation of these new businesses, products or services.
•
The failure to attract and retain key personnel or the loss of key individuals or groups of employees.
•
Increased or more effective competition from banks and other financial service providers in our markets.
•
Structural changes in the markets for origination, sale and servicing of residential mortgages.
•
Uncertainty in the pricing of mortgage loans that we purchase, and later sell or securitize, as well as competition for the MSRs related to these loans and related interest rate risk or price risk resulting from retaining MSRs, and the potential effects of higher interest rates on our MCA loan volumes.
•
Changes in accounting principles, policies, practices or guidelines.
•
Material failures of our accounting estimates and risk management processes based on management judgment, or the supporting analytical and forecasting models.
•
Failure of our risk management strategies and procedures, including failure or circumvention of our controls.
•
Credit risk resulting from our exposure to counterparties.
•
An increase in the incidence or severity of fraud, illegal payments, security breaches and other illegal acts impacting our Bank and our customers.
•
The failure to maintain adequate regulatory capital to support our business.
•
Unavailability of funds obtained from borrowing or capital transactions or from our Bank to fund our obligations.
•
Incurrence of material costs and liabilities associated with legal and regulatory proceedings and related matters with respect to the financial services industry, including those directly involving us or our Bank.
•
Environmental liability associated with properties related to our lending activities.
•
Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other external events.
Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in our forward-looking statements and from our historical financial results due to the factors discussed elsewhere in this report or disclosed in our other SEC filings. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing our expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements contained in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The factors discussed herein are not intended to be a complete summary of all risks and uncertainties that may affect our businesses. Though we strive to monitor and mitigate risk, we cannot anticipate all potential economic, operational and financial developments that may adversely impact our operations and our financial results. Forward-looking statements should not be viewed as predictions and should not be the primary basis upon which investors evaluate an investment in our securities.
Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger between IBTX and TCBI, IBTX filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC on January 21, 2020 to register the shares of IBTX’s capital stock to be issued in connection with the merger. The registration statement includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus. The registration statement has not yet become effective. After the Form S-4 is effective, a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the stockholders of IBTX and TCBI seeking their approval of the proposed transaction.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS DO AND WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IBTX, TCBI AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders may obtain copies of these documents free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or from IBTX at its website, www.ibtx.com, or from TCBI at its website, www.texascapitalbank.com. Documents filed with the SEC by IBTX will be available free of charge by accessing the Investor Relations page of IBTX’s website at www.ibtx.com or, alternatively, by directing a request by telephone or mail to Independent Bank Group, Inc., 7777 Henneman Way, McKinney, Texas 75070, (972) 562-9004, and documents filed with the SEC by TCBI will be available free of charge by accessing TCBI’s website at www.texascapitalbank.com under the tab “About Us,” and then under the heading “Investor Relations” or, alternatively, by directing a request by telephone or mail to Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc., 2000 McKinney Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201, (214) 932-6600.
Participants in the Solicitation
TCBI, IBTX and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of TCBI and IBTX in connection with the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Certain information regarding the interests of these participants and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Additional information about IBTX, and its directors and executive officers, may be found in IBTX’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on April 23, 2019, and other documents filed by IBTX with the SEC. Additional information about TCBI, and its directors and executive officers, may be found in TCBI’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on March 7, 2019, and other documents filed by TCBI with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources described above.
Overview of Our Business Operations
We commenced our banking operations in December 1998. An important aspect of our growth strategy has been our ability to effectively service and manage a large number of loans and deposit accounts in multiple markets in Texas, as well as several lines of business serving a regional or national clientele of commercial borrowers. Accordingly, we have created an operations infrastructure sufficient to support our lending and banking operations that we continue to build out as needed to serve a larger customer base and specialized industries.
On December 9, 2019, we and IBTX announced that both companies' boards of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement to combine the companies in an all-stock merger of equals. Upon closing of the merger, each share of TCBI common stock will be exchanged for 1.0311 shares of IBTX common stock. The corporate headquarters of the surviving entity and the surviving bank will be located in McKinney, Texas. The name of the surviving entity will be Independent Bank Group, Inc., and the name of the surviving bank will be Texas Capital Bank. The surviving bank will be operated under the name Independent Financial in Colorado and under the name Texas Capital Bank in Texas. The board of directors of the surviving entity and the surviving bank will be comprised of 13 directors, of which seven will be former members of the Board of Directors of TCBI and six will be former members of the board of directors of IBTX. The merger is expected to close in mid-2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of customary regulatory approvals and approval by the stockholders of each company. Refer to Merger with Independent Bank Group, Inc. in Item 1 for additional disclosures.
Year ended December 31, 2019 compared to year ended December 31, 2018
We reported net income of $322.9 million and net income available to common stockholders of $313.1 million, or $6.21 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to net income of $300.8 million and net income available to common stockholders of $291.1 million, or $5.79 per diluted common share, for 2018. Return on average common equity ("ROE") was 12.38% and return on average assets ("ROA") was 1.04% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 13.14% and 1.19%, respectively, for 2018. The decreases in ROE and ROA were driven primarily by larger balances in total mortgage finance loans and liquidity assets.
Consolidated Daily Average Balances, Average Yields and Rates
(1)
The loan averages include non-accrual loans which are stated net of unearned income. Loan interest income includes loan fees totaling $57.1 million, $71.0 million and $59.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(2)
Taxable equivalent rates used where applicable.
(3)
Yield on loans, net of reserves, less funding cost including all deposits and borrowed funds.
Volume/Rate Analysis
The following table presents the changes in taxable-equivalent net interest income and identifies the changes due to differences in the average volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the changes due to differences in the average interest rate on those assets and liabilities.
(1)
Yield/rate and volume variances are allocated to yield/rate.
(2)
Taxable equivalent rates used where applicable assuming a 21% tax rate.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $979.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $914.9 million for 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in average earning assets of $5.7 billion, offset by the effect of decreases in interest rates on loan yields, an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities of $4.3 billion and the effect of increasing funding costs. The increase in average earning assets included a $1.1 billion increase in average loans held for sale, a $2.8 billion increase in average net loans held for investment, primarily from increases in average mortgage finance loans driven by lower long-term interest rates, a $143.2 million increase in average investment securities, and a $1.6 billion increase in average liquidity assets. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities included a $3.3 billion increase in interest-bearing deposits and a $935.7 million increase in other borrowings. Average demand deposits for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased to $9.0 billion from $7.9 billion for 2018. Net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2019 was 3.28% compared to 3.78% for 2018. The decrease was primarily due to the effect of decreases in interest rates during 2019 on loan yields and higher funding costs compared to 2018.
The yield on total loans held for investment decreased to 4.98% for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to 5.10% for 2018 and the yield on earning assets decreased to 4.56% for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to 4.80% for 2018. The average cost of total deposits and borrowed funds increased to 1.31% for 2019 from 1.02% for 2018. The spread on total earning assets, net of the cost of deposits and borrowed funds, was 3.25% for 2019 compared to 3.78% for 2018. The decrease was primarily a result of an increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities coupled with declining loan yields. Total funding costs, including all deposits, long-term debt and stockholders' equity increased to 1.25% for 2019 compared to 0.99% for 2018.
Non-interest Income
(1)
Other non-interest income includes such items as letter of credit fees, bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") income, dividends on FHLB and FRB stock, income from legal settlements and other general operating income.
Non-interest income increased by $14.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2019 to $92.4 million, compared to $78.0 million for 2018. Other non-interest income increased $18.4 million, which included the settlement of $15.0 million in legal claims during 2019. Brokered loan fees increased $7.2 million due to an increase in total mortgage finance volumes during 2019 compared to 2018. Offsetting these increases was a $4.9 million decrease in servicing income due to an overall decrease in average MSR balances held during 2019 as compared to 2018, a $4.3 million decrease in net gain/(loss) on sale of loans held for sale, a $1.5 million decrease in service charges and a $1.2 million decrease in swap fees. Swap fees are based upon customer swap transactions, are received from the institution that is our counterparty on the transaction and fluctuate from time to time based on the number and volume of transactions closed during the year.
Non-interest Expense
(1)
Other expense includes such items as courier expenses, regulatory assessments other than FDIC insurance, insurance expenses and other general operating expenses.
Non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $64.9 million compared to 2018. The increase is primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, net occupancy expense and communication and technology expenses, all of which were due to general business growth and continued build-out, as well as increases in marketing, legal and professional and servicing-related expenses, partially offset by decreases in FDIC insurance assessment and other non-interest expense. The increase in marketing expense was primarily due to an increase in variable expenses tied to deposit balances. The increase in legal and professional expense includes $1.3 million in expenses related to our pending merger with IBTX, as well as increases related to investment in Bask Bank and new commercial loan verticals. The increase in servicing-related expenses is due to higher amortization expense resulting from higher mortgage prepayment rates, as well as an increase in impairment expense.
Analysis of Financial Condition
Loans Held for Investment
The following table summarizes our loans held for investment on a gross basis by portfolio segment:
Our total loans held for investment have grown at an annual rate of 9%, 9% and 18% in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, with the majority of the growth in 2019 relating to mortgage finance loans. These loans relate to our mortgage warehouse lending operations in which we purchase mortgage loan ownership interests that are typically sold within 10 to 20 days and represent 33% of total loans held for investment at December 31, 2019 compared to 26% at December 31, 2018. Volumes fluctuate based on the level of market demand for the product and the number of days between purchase and sale of the loans, which can be affected by changes in overall market interest rates, and tend to peak at the end of each month. The significant growth in this portfolio during 2019 resulted from increases in volumes driven by continued lower long-term interest rates. Offsetting this increase was a slight decline in traditional loans held for investment in 2019. These declines reflect slower loan growth in 2019 as compared to 2018, as well as planned reductions in our leveraged lending and energy balances.
We originate a substantial majority of all loans held for investment. We also participate in syndicated loan relationships, both as a participant and as an agent. As of December 31, 2019, we had $2.3 billion in syndicated loans, $621.1 million of which we administer as agent. All syndicated loans, whether we act as agent or participant, are underwritten to the same standards as all other loans we originate. As of December 31, 2019, $26.0 million of our syndicated loans were on non-accrual.
Portfolio Geographic and Industry Concentrations
Although more than 50% of our total loan exposure is outside of Texas and more than 50% of our deposits are sourced outside of Texas, our Texas concentration remains significant. As of December 31, 2019, a majority of our loans held for investment, excluding mortgage finance loans and other national lines of business, were to businesses with headquarters or operations in Texas. This geographic concentration subjects the loan portfolio to the general economic conditions within this state. We also make loans to customers that are secured by assets located outside of Texas. The risks created by this concentration have been considered by management in the determination of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses.
The table below summarizes the industry concentrations of our loans held for investment on a gross basis at December 31, 2019.
Our largest concentration of loans held for investment, excluding mortgage finance, in any single industry is in real estate and construction. Loans extended to borrowers within the real estate and construction industries generally include market risk real estate loans. We extend market risk real estate loans, including both construction/development financing and limited term financing, to builders, professional real estate developers and owners/managers of commercial real estate projects and properties who have a demonstrated record of past success with similar properties. Collateral properties include office buildings, warehouse/distribution buildings, shopping centers, apartment buildings and residential and commercial tract development located primarily within our five major metropolitan markets in Texas. These loans are generally repaid through the borrower's sale or lease of the properties or through refinancing by other institutional sources offering long-term fixed rate financing. Loan amounts are determined in part from an analysis of pro forma cash flows. Loans are also underwritten to comply with product-type specific advance rates against both cost and market value. Borrowers represented within the real estate and construction category are largely owners and managers of both residential and non-residential commercial real estate properties, including homebuilders.
Loans extended to borrowers in the financials excluding banks category are comprised largely of loans to companies who loan money to businesses and consumers for various purposes including, but not limited to, insurance, consumer goods and real estate. This category also includes loans to companies involved in investment management and securities and commodities trading.
We believe the loans we originate are appropriately collateralized under our credit standards. Approximately 97% of our loans held for investment are secured by collateral. Over 61% of the real estate collateral is located in Texas. The table below sets forth information regarding the distribution of our loans held for investment on a gross basis among various types of collateral at December 31, 2019:
As noted in the table above, approximately 24.3% of our loans held for investment as of December 31, 2019 are secured by real property. The table below summarizes our total real estate loan portfolio, which includes real estate loans and construction loans, as segregated by the type of property securing the credit. Property type concentrations are stated as a percentage of year-end total real estate loans as of December 31, 2019:
The table below summarizes our market risk real estate portfolio at December 31, 2019 as segregated by the geographic region in which the property is located:
The determination of collateral value is critically important when financing real estate. As a result, obtaining current and objectively prepared appraisals is a major part of our underwriting and monitoring processes. We engage a variety of professional firms to supply appraisals, market studies and feasibility reports, environmental assessments and project site inspections to complement our internal resources to underwrite and monitor these credit exposures. Generally, our policy requires a new appraisal every three years. However, in periods of economic uncertainty where real estate values can fluctuate rapidly, more current appraisals are obtained when warranted by conditions such as a borrower’s deteriorating financial condition, their possible inability to perform on the loan or other indicators of increasing risk of reliance on collateral value as the sole source of repayment of the loan. Annual appraisals are generally obtained for loans graded substandard or worse where real estate is a material portion of the collateral value and/or the income from the real estate or sale of the real estate is the primary source of debt service.
Appraisals are, in substantially all cases, reviewed by a third party to determine the reasonableness of the appraised value. The third party reviewer will challenge whether or not the data used is appropriate and relevant, form an opinion as to the appropriateness of the appraisal methods and techniques used, and determine if overall the analysis and conclusions of the appraiser can be relied upon. Additionally, the third party reviewer provides a detailed report of that analysis. Further review may be conducted by our credit officers, as well as by the Bank’s managed asset committee as conditions warrant. These additional steps of review are undertaken to confirm that the underlying appraisal and the third party analysis can be relied upon. If we have differences, we address those with the reviewer and determine an appropriate resolution. Both the appraisal process and the appraisal review process can be less reliable in establishing accurate collateral values during and following periods of economic weakness due to the lack of comparable sales and the limited availability of financing to support an active market of potential purchasers.
Large Credit Relationships
We originate and maintain large credit relationships with numerous customers in the ordinary course of business. The legal lending limit of our Bank is approximately $489.3 million. We employ much lower house limits which vary by assigned risk grade, product and collateral type. Such house limits, which generally range from $20 million to $50 million, may be exceeded with appropriate authorization for exceptionally strong borrowers and otherwise where business opportunity and perceived credit risk warrant a somewhat larger investment. We consider large credit relationships to be those with commitments equal to or in excess of $20.0 million. The following table provides additional information on our large held for investment credit relationships, excluding mortgage finance, outstanding at year-end:
Growth in period-end outstanding balances related to large credit relationships primarily resulted from an increase in the number of commitments. The following table summarizes the average committed and outstanding loan balances per relationship related to our large held for investment credit relationships, excluding mortgage finance, at year-end:
Loan Maturities and Interest Rate Sensitivity
Interest Reserve Loans
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had $743.8 million and $718.5 million, respectively, in loans held for investment that included interest reserve arrangements, representing approximately 29% and 34%, respectively, of our construction loans. Interest reserve provisions are common in construction loans. The use of interest reserves is carefully controlled by our underwriting standards, which consider the feasibility of the project, the creditworthiness of the borrower and guarantors and the loan-to-value coverage of the collateral. The interest reserve allows the borrower to draw loan funds to pay interest charges on the outstanding balance of the loan when financial conditions precedent are met. When drawn, the interest is capitalized and added to the loan balance, subject to conditions specified during the initial underwriting and at the time the credit is approved. We have ongoing controls for monitoring compliance with loan covenants, advancing funds and determining default conditions.
When we finance land on which improvements will be constructed, construction funds are generally not advanced until the borrower has received lease or purchase commitments which will meet cash flow coverage requirements and/or our analysis of market conditions and project feasibility indicates to our satisfaction that such lease or purchase commitments are forthcoming or other sources of repayment have been identified to repay the loan. It is our general policy to require a substantial equity investment by the borrower to complement the Bank's credit commitment. Any such required borrower investment is first contributed and invested in the project before any draws are allowed under the Bank's credit commitment. We require current financial statements of the borrowing entity and guarantors, as well as conduct periodic inspections of the project and analysis of whether the project is on schedule or delayed. Updated appraisals are ordered when necessary to validate the collateral values to support advances, including reserve interest. Advances of interest reserves are discontinued if collateral values do not support the advances or if the borrower does not comply with other terms and conditions in the loan agreements. In addition, most of our construction lending is performed in Texas and our lenders are very familiar with trends in local real estate. If at any time we believe that our collateral position is jeopardized, we retain the right to stop the use of interest reserves. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, none of our loans with interest reserves were on non-accrual.
Non-performing Assets
Non-performing assets include non-accrual loans and leases and repossessed assets. The table below summarizes our non-performing assets by type and by type of property securing the credit:
(1)
As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, non-accrual loans included $35.1 million, $20.0 million and $18.8 million, respectively, in loans that met the criteria for restructured.
(2)
At December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, there was no valuation allowance recorded against the OREO balance.
(3)
At December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, loans past due 90 days and still accruing includes premium finance loans of $8.5 million, $9.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively.
(4)
Includes loans guaranteed by U.S. government agencies that were repurchased out of Ginnie Mae securities. Loans are recorded as loans held for sale and carried at fair value on the balance sheet. Interest on these past due loans accrues at the debenture rate guaranteed by the U.S. government. Also includes loans that, pursuant to Ginnie Mae servicing guidelines, we have the unilateral right, but not the obligation, to repurchase if defined delinquent loan criteria are met and therefore must record as loans held for sale on our balance sheet regardless of whether the repurchase option has been exercised.
Total non-performing assets at December 31, 2019 increased $144.9 million from December 31, 2018. The increase during 2019 primarily related to increases in our energy and leveraged loan portfolios. Energy non-performing assets totaled $125.0 million at December 31, 2019 compared to $37.5 million at December 31, 2018, and leveraged lending non-performing assets totaled $73.2 million and $28.8 million for the same periods, respectively.
Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms, but for which we have concerns about the borrower’s ability to comply with repayment terms because of the borrower’s potential financial difficulties. We monitor these loans closely and review their performance on a regular basis. At December 31, 2019, we had $46.6 million in loans of this type, compared to $81.7 million at December 31, 2018.
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
The provision for credit losses, which includes a provision for losses on unfunded commitments, is a charge to earnings to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level consistent with management’s assessment of inherent losses in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. We recorded a provision for credit losses of $75.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, $87.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, and $44.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in provision recorded during 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily related to decreases in charge-offs and loans held for investment, excluding mortgage finance, balances.
The table below presents a summary of our loan loss experience for the past five years:
The allowance for credit losses, including the allowance for losses on unfunded commitments reported on the consolidated balance sheets in other liabilities, totaled $203.7 million at December 31, 2019, $203.0 million at December 31, 2018 and $193.7 million at December 31, 2017. The combined allowance as a percentage of loans held for investment decreased to 0.83% at December 31, 2019 from 0.90% and 0.94% at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The downward trend in the combined allowance as a percentage of loans held for investment that began in 2017 continued during 2018 and 2019 due primarily to growth in mortgage finance loans held for investment.
The following table presents a summary of our allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the past five years:
During 2019, we refined our methodology for calculating the allowance for loan losses to improve the specificity of the risk weights and the risk-weighting process for each product type assigned to the loans in our held for investment portfolio. As a result of these refinements, we believe that management is better able to allocate inherent losses previously accounted for in the additional qualitative reserve component of our allowance for loan losses to specific product types and credit risk grades, thus eliminating the additional qualitative reserve component of our allowance for loan losses in 2019. Additionally, this improved specificity and consideration of current mortgage market conditions resulted in the allocation of a portion of the company’s allowance and provision for loan losses to our mortgage finance loan portfolio for the first time in 2019.
The increase in allowance allocated to commercial loans recorded at December 31, 2019 compared to 2018 is due to an increase in total criticized loans, primarily related to our energy and leveraged lending portfolios. The decrease in allowance allocated to construction and real estate loans recorded at December 31, 2019 compared to 2018 is primarily related to a decrease in applied risk weights specific to these product types. This decrease was the result of the refinements discussed above as well as management's continued evaluation of changing market conditions in these product types relative to historical loss experience.
At December 31, 2019, we believe the allowance is appropriate and has been derived from consistent application of our methodology. Should any of the factors considered by management in evaluating the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses change, our estimate of inherent losses in the portfolio could also change, which would affect the level of future provisions for loan losses.
See Note 1 - Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 4 - Loans Held for Investment and Allowance for Loan Losses in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for details of the allowance for loan losses.
Loans Held for Sale
Through our MCA program we commit to purchase residential mortgage loans from independent correspondent lenders and deliver those loans into the secondary market via whole loan sales to independent third parties or in securitization transactions to Ginnie Mae and GSEs such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. For additional information on our loans held for sale portfolio, see Note 1 - Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 6 - Certain Transfers of Financial Assets in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Deposits
We compete for deposits by offering a broad range of products and services to our customers. While this includes offering competitive interest rates and fees, the primary means of competing for deposits is convenience and service to our customers. However, our strategy to provide service and convenience to customers does not include a large branch network. Our Bank offers banking centers, courier services and online and mobile banking. BankDirect and Bask Bank, our online banking divisions, serve customers on a 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week basis solely through online banking.
Average total deposits for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $4.4 billion compared to 2018. Average demand deposits for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $1.1 billion compared to 2018, and average interest-bearing deposits increased $3.3 billion. The average cost of deposits increased to 1.19% in 2019 from 0.92% in 2018 due to increased
competition for deposits, as well as higher interest rates during the first half of 2019 prior to the interest rate reductions that began in August 2019.
The following table discloses our average deposits:
Uninsured deposits at December 31, 2019 were 53% of total deposits, compared to 57% of total deposits at December 31, 2018 and 59% of total deposits at December 31, 2017. The insured deposit data for 2019, 2018 and 2017 reflect the deposit insurance impact of "combined ownership segregation" of escrow and other accounts at an aggregate level but do not reflect an evaluation of all of the account styling distinctions that would determine the availability of deposit insurance to individual accounts based on FDIC regulations.
Maturity of Domestic CDs and Other Time Deposits in Amounts of $100,000 or More
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In general terms, liquidity is a measurement of our ability to meet our cash needs. Our objectives in managing our liquidity are to maintain our ability to meet loan commitments, repurchase investment securities and repay deposits and other liabilities in accordance with their terms, without an adverse impact on our current or future earnings. Our liquidity strategy is guided by policies, formulated and monitored by our senior management and our Asset and Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which take into account the demonstrated marketability of our assets, the sources and stability of our funding and the level of unfunded commitments. We regularly evaluate all of our various funding sources with an emphasis on accessibility, stability, reliability and cost-effectiveness. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, our principal source of funding has been our customer deposits, supplemented by our short-term and long-term borrowings, primarily from federal funds purchased and FHLB borrowings, which are generally used to fund mortgage finance assets. We also rely on the availability of the mortgage secondary market provided by Ginnie Mae and the GSEs to support the liquidity of our mortgage finance assets.
In accordance with our liquidity strategy, deposit growth and increases in borrowing capacity related to our mortgage finance loans have resulted in increased liquidity assets in recent periods, which were $4.3 billion at December 31, 2019 and $2.9 billion at December 31, 2018. The following table summarizes the growth in and composition of liquidity assets:
Our liquidity needs to support growth in loans held for investment have been fulfilled primarily through growth in our core customer deposits. Our goal is to obtain as much of our funding for loans held for investment and other earning assets as possible from deposits of these core customers. These deposits are generated principally through development of long-term customer relationships, with a significant focus on treasury management products. In addition to deposits from our core customers, we also have access to deposits through brokered customer relationships. For regulatory purposes, these relationship brokered deposits are categorized as brokered deposits; however, since these deposits arise from a customer relationship, which involves extensive treasury services, we consider these deposits to be core deposits for our reporting purposes.
We also have access to incremental deposits through brokered retail certificates of deposit, or CDs. These traditional brokered deposits are generally of short maturities, less than 12 months, and are used to fund temporary differences in the growth in loan balances, including growth in loans held for sale or other specific categories of loans as compared to customer deposits. The following table summarizes our period-end and average core customer deposits, relationship brokered deposits and traditional brokered deposits:
We have access to sources of traditional brokered deposits that we estimate to be $5.3 billion. Based on our internal guidelines, we have chosen to limit our use of these sources to a lesser amount. We have increased our use of traditional brokered deposits in 2018 and 2019 in response to favorable rates available in that market relative to other available funding sources.
We have short-term borrowing sources available to supplement deposits and meet our funding needs. Such borrowings are generally used to fund our mortgage finance loans, due to their liquidity, short duration and interest spreads available. These borrowing sources include federal funds purchased from our downstream correspondent bank relationships (which consist of banks that are smaller than our Bank) and from our upstream correspondent bank relationships (which consist of banks that are larger than our Bank), customer repurchase agreements and advances from the FHLB and the Federal Reserve. The following table summarizes our short-term and other borrowings:
For additional information on our short-term and other borrowings, see Note 11 - Short-Term and Other Borrowings in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
From November 2002 to September 2006 various Texas Capital Statutory Trusts were created and subsequently issued floating rate trust preferred securities in various private offerings totaling $113.4 million. Because our Bank had less than $15.0 billion in total consolidated assets as of December 31, 2009, we are allowed to continue to classify our trust preferred securities, all of which were issued prior to May 19, 2010, as Tier 1 capital.
Our equity capital averaged $2.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $2.4 billion in 2018 and $2.1 billion in 2017. We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock since we commenced operations. While we have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, it is anticipated that following the merger of the Company and IBTX the combined company will pay dividends to stockholders at the rate of $1.00 per share annually. See the discussion at Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Our Securities.
For additional information on our capital, see Note 14 - Regulatory Restrictions in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
The following table presents, as of December 31, 2019, significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations to third parties by payment date. Amounts in the table do not include accrued or accruing interest. See Note 7 - Leases in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for details of contractual lease obligations. Further discussion of the nature of each obligation is included in the referenced note to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We had the following off-balance sheet contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019:
Due to the nature of our unfunded loan commitments, including unfunded lines of credit, the amounts presented in the table above do not necessarily represent amounts that we anticipate funding in the periods presented above. Commitments to extend credit do not include our mortgage finance arrangements with mortgage loan originators through our mortgage warehouse lending division, which are established as uncommitted "guidance" purchase and sale facilities under which the mortgage originator has no obligation to offer and we have no obligation to purchase interests in the mortgage loans subject to the arrangements. See Note 1 - Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Critical Accounting Policies
SEC guidance requires disclosure of “critical accounting policies.” The SEC defines “critical accounting policies” as those that are most important to the presentation of a company’s financial condition and results, and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
We follow financial accounting and reporting policies that are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The more significant of these policies are summarized in Note 1 - Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Not all significant accounting policies require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments. However, the policy noted below could be deemed to meet the SEC’s definition of a critical accounting policy.
Allowance for Loan Losses
Management considers the policies related to the allowance for loan losses as the most critical to the financial statement presentation. The total allowance for loan losses includes activity related to allowances calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 310, Receivables, and ASC 450, Contingencies. The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for credit losses charged to current earnings. The amount maintained in the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of the loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The allowance for loan losses is comprised of general reserves and specific reserves assigned to certain impaired loans. Factors contributing to the determination of specific reserves include the creditworthiness of the borrower, and more specifically, changes in the expected future receipt of principal and interest payments and/or in the value of pledged collateral. A reserve is recorded when the carrying amount of the loan exceeds the discounted estimated cash flows using the loan’s initial effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral for certain collateral dependent loans. For purposes of determining the general reserve, the portfolio is segregated by product types in order to recognize differing risk profiles among categories, and then further segregated by credit grades. See “Summary of Loan Loss Experience” above and Note 4 - Loans Held for Investment and Allowance for Loan Losses in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for further discussion of the risk factors considered by management in establishing the allowance for loan losses.
New Accounting Standards
ASU 2018-15 "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40 - Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract)" ("ASU 2018-15") aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). ASU 2018-15 will be effective for us on January 1, 2020 and is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements as we currently apply this guidance in practice.
ASU 2018-13 "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement" ("ASU 2018-13") removes the requirement to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurement methodologies, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. It also adds a requirement to disclose changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, entities may disclose other quantitative information in lieu of the weighted average if the other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 will be effective for us on January 1, 2020 and is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-13 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326)" ("ASU 2016-13") requires an entity to utilize a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model to estimate its lifetime "expected credit loss" and record an allowance that, when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The CECL model is expected to result in more timely recognition of credit losses. ASU 2016-13 also requires new disclosures for financial assets measured at amortized cost, loans and available-for-sale debt securities. Entities will apply the standard's provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. ASU 2016-13, as updated, became effective for us on January 1, 2020. Through the date of adoption, we held steering committee and working group meetings that included individuals from various functional areas relevant to the implementation of CECL. Additionally, an assessment of our primary modeling tool was completed, which enabled us to complete parallel runs utilizing second and third quarter data, during which preliminary operational procedures and internal controls were designed. Management's steering committee and working group also validated the appropriateness of, among other things, management’s decisions regarding portfolio segmentation, life of loan considerations, and reasonable and supportable forecasting methodology. Based on our fourth quarter parallel run, review of the portfolio, including the composition, characteristics and quality of the underlying loans, and the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts as of the adoption date, we believe that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will result in an immaterial increase of approximately 5-6% to our allowance for credit losses. This is consistent with our expectations given that our current portfolio is of shorter duration and commercially focused.
Supplemental Financial Data
The following tables present the calculation of certain non-GAAP measures that we consider to be key performance measures that management uses in assessing our financial performance. While these non-GAAP measures may be widely used by investors, analysts and bank regulatory agencies to assess the financial performance of our company, they may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. These non-GAAP measures are individually identified and calculations are explained in the footnotes below the tables. The following tables present reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the applicable amounts measured in accordance with GAAP.
(1)
Stockholders’ equity excluding preferred stock, less goodwill and intangibles, divided by shares outstanding at period end.
(1)
Stockholders’ equity excluding preferred stock, less accumulated other comprehensive income and goodwill and intangibles, divided by total assets, less accumulated other comprehensive income and goodwill and intangibles.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk is a broad term for the risk of economic loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of a financial instrument. These changes may be the result of various factors, including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, or equity prices. Additionally, the financial instruments subject to market risk can be classified either as held for trading purposes or held for other than trading.
We are subject to market risk primarily through the effect of changes in interest rates on our portfolio of assets held for purposes other than trading. Additionally, we have some market risk relative to commodity prices through our energy lending activities. Declines and volatility in commodity prices negatively impacted our energy clients' ability to perform on their loan obligations in recent years, and further uncertainty and volatility could have a negative impact on our customers and our loan portfolio in future periods. Foreign exchange rates, commodity prices (other than energy) and equity prices are not expected to pose significant market risk to us.
The responsibility for managing market risk rests with the ALCO, which operates under policy guidelines established by our board of directors. The acceptable negative variation in net interest revenue due to a 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates is generally limited by these guidelines to plus or minus 10-12%. These guidelines establish maximum levels for
short-term borrowings, short-term assets and public and brokered deposits and minimum levels for liquidity, among other things. Oversight of our compliance with these guidelines is the ongoing responsibility of the ALCO, with exceptions reported to the Risk Management Committee, and to our board of directors if deemed necessary, on a quarterly basis. Additionally, the Credit Policy Committee ("CPC") specifically manages risk relative to commodity price market risks. The CPC establishes maximum portfolio concentration levels for energy loans as well as maximum advance rates for energy collateral.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Our interest rate sensitivity is illustrated in the following table. The table reflects rate-sensitive positions as of December 31, 2019, and is not necessarily indicative of positions on other dates. The balances of interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities are presented in the periods in which they next reprice to market rates or mature and are aggregated to show the interest rate sensitivity gap. The mismatch between repricings or maturities within a time period is commonly referred to as the “gap” for that period. A positive gap (asset sensitive), where interest rate-sensitive assets exceed interest rate sensitive liabilities, generally will result in the net interest margin increasing in a rising rate environment and decreasing in a falling rate environment. A negative gap (liability sensitive) will generally have the opposite results on the net interest margin. To reflect anticipated prepayments, certain asset and liability categories are shown in the table using estimated cash flows rather than contractual cash flows. The Company employs interest rate floors in certain variable rate loans to enhance the yield on those loans at times when market interest rates are extraordinarily low. The degree of asset sensitivity, spreads on loans and net interest margin may be reduced until rates increase by an amount sufficient to eliminate the effects of floors. The adverse effect of floors as market rates increase may also be offset by the positive gap, the extent to which rates on deposits and other funding sources lag increasing market rates for loans and changes in composition of funding.
Interest Rate Sensitivity Gap Analysis
December 31, 2019
(1)
Investment securities based on fair market value.
(2)
Total loans includes loans held for investments, stated at gross, and loans held for sale.
While a gap interest table is useful in analyzing interest rate sensitivity, an interest rate sensitivity simulation provides a better illustration of the sensitivity of earnings to changes in interest rates. Earnings are also affected by the effects of changing interest rates on the value of funding derived from demand deposits and stockholders’ equity. We perform a sensitivity analysis to identify interest rate risk exposure on net interest income. We quantify and measure interest rate risk exposure using a model to dynamically simulate the effect of changes in net interest income relative to changes in interest rates over the next twelve months based on three interest rate scenarios. These are a static rate scenario and two “shock test” scenarios.
These scenarios are based on interest rates as of the last day of a reporting period published by independent sources and incorporate relevant spreads of instruments that are actively traded in the open market. The Federal Reserve’s federal funds target affects short-term borrowing; the prime lending rate and LIBOR are the basis for most of our variable-rate loan pricing. The 10-year treasury rate is also monitored because of its effect on prepayment speeds for mortgage-backed securities and MSRs. These are our primary interest rate exposures. We are currently not using derivatives to manage our interest rate exposure although we may do so in the future if that appears advisable.
For modeling purposes, the “shock test” scenarios assume immediate, sustained 100 and 200 basis point increases in interest rates and a 100 basis point decrease in interest rates.
Our interest rate risk exposure model incorporates assumptions regarding the level of interest rate on indeterminable maturity deposits (demand deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts and savings accounts) for a given level of market rate change. In the current environment of decreasing short-term rates, deposit pricing can vary by product and customer. These assumptions have been developed through a combination of historical analysis and projection of future expected pricing behavior. Changes in prepayment behavior of mortgage-backed securities, residential and commercial mortgage loans in each rate environment are captured using industry estimates of prepayment speeds for various coupon segments of the portfolio. The impact of these changes is factored into the simulation model. This modeling indicated interest rate sensitivity as follows:
The simulations used to manage market risk are based on numerous assumptions regarding the effect of changes in interest rates on the timing and extent of repricing characteristics, future cash flows and customer behavior. These assumptions are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the model cannot precisely estimate net interest income or precisely predict the impact of higher or lower interest rates on net interest income. Actual results will differ from simulated results due to timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market conditions, customer behavior and management strategies, among other factors.
Our business relies upon a large volume of loans, derivative contracts and other financial instruments with attributes that are either directly or indirectly dependent on LIBOR to establish their interest rate and/or value. In 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would no longer compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The impact of alternatives to LIBOR on the valuations, pricing and operation of our financial instruments is not yet known; however, the primary instruments that may be impacted include loans, securities, borrowings and derivatives indexed to LIBOR that mature after December 31, 2021. We have established a working group, consisting of key stakeholders from throughout the company, to monitor developments relating to LIBOR uncertainty and changes and to guide the Bank's response. This team is currently working to gain an understanding of the specific products, information technology systems, borrowing arrangements and legal agreements that will be impacted by the change.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as “the consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, 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) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 12, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosure to which it relates.
Allowance for Loan Losses (“ALL”)
Description of the Matter
The Company’s loans held for investment (“LHFI”) portfolio totaled $24.6 billion as of December 31, 2019, and the associated ALL was $195.0 million. As discussed in both Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the ALL is comprised of general reserves and specific reserves for impaired loans. The Company’s ALL methodology for its general reserve employs a loss migration technique to determine historical loss percentages applicable to all defined credit risk grades and portfolio segments, whereby a segment weight is computed as a measure of the relative risk of loans in each segment compared to the entire LHFI portfolio. The Company’s ALL methodology allows for management to adjust historical credit loss experience to be more reflective of losses inherent in its LHFI portfolio.
Management has identified certain measures in addition to historical credit loss experience that are believed to offer guidance as leading, concurrent and trailing indicators respectively of general economic health that in turn are thought to be relevant to the measure of incurred loss in the Company’s LHFI portfolio (individually referred to as “Q Factors”). Ranges for individual Q Factors have been quantified and aggregated into a single adjustment (referred to as “the Q Factor adjustment”). Within the LHFI portfolio, management may also adjust segment weights applied for specific portfolio segments whereby historical loss experience may not be a measure reflective of incurred losses for the specific portfolio segment.
Auditing management’s estimate of the ALL involved a high degree of subjectivity due to the judgmental nature of adjustments made to the historical loss experience through (1) the quantification and aggregation of the Q Factor adjustment applied to the portfolio as well as (2) the determination of segment loss weight adjustments applied to specific portfolio segments. Such judgments (collectively referred to herein as “the judgmental adjustments”) could have a significant impact to the ALL.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company’s controls over the ALL process, including those over the identification and determination of individual Q Factors, the precision of management’s review and approval of the computation of the Q Factor adjustment, the identification and determination of segment weight adjustments, and the precision of management’s review and approval of the computed segment weight adjustments.
To test the judgmental adjustments made to historical loss experience in the ALL, our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the Company’s ALL methodology and the underlying data used by management in developing the judgmental adjustments to the ALL. We compared the judgmental adjustments made by management to both internal portfolio metrics and external macroeconomic data (as applicable) to support the judgmental adjustments and evaluate trends in such adjustments period over period. We evaluated the data and information utilized by management to support the judgmental adjustments by independently obtaining internal and external data and information to assess the reliability and appropriateness of the data and information used by management. We confirmed that the judgmental adjustments were appropriately input into the Company’s ALL computation by recomputing the impact of such adjustments. We performed an analytical review of the ALL in aggregate using both internal and external information to evaluate the overall reasonableness of the ALL, including the judgmental adjustments.
We have served as the Company's auditor since 1999.
Dallas, TX
February 12, 2020
TEXAS CAPITAL BANCSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
TEXAS CAPITAL BANCSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
TEXAS CAPITAL BANCSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(1)
Represents the impact of adopting Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2018-02 and ASU 2016-01. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements for more information.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
TEXAS CAPITAL BANCSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
(1) Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization and Nature of Business
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in November 1996 and commenced banking operations in December 1998. The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Texas Capital Bank, National Association (the "Bank”). We serve the needs of commercial businesses and successful professionals and entrepreneurs located in Texas as well as operate several lines of business serving a regional or national clientele of commercial borrowers. We are primarily a secured lender, with the majority of our loans held for investment, excluding mortgage finance loans and other national lines of business, being made to businesses headquartered or with operations in Texas. Our national lines of business provide specialized leading products to businesses throughout the United States.
On December 9, 2019, the Company entered into a merger agreement with IBTX, the holding company for Independent Bank, under which TCBI and IBTX will combine in an all-stock merger of equals. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of TCBI common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time, other than certain shares held by TCBI or IBTX, will be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration of 1.0311 shares of IBTX common stock. At the effective time, each outstanding share of TCBI preferred stock will be automatically converted into the right to receive one share of IBTX preferred stock having substantially the same terms as such share of TCBI preferred stock. The name of the surviving entity will be Independent Bank Group, Inc. and the name of the surviving bank will be Texas Capital Bank. The surviving bank will be operated under the name Independent Financial in Colorado and under the name Texas Capital Bank in Texas.
The merger agreement was unanimously approved by the board of directors of TCBI and the board of directors of IBTX. The merger is expected to close in mid-2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of customary regulatory approvals and approval of the merger agreement by the stockholders of TCBI and the shareholders of IBTX, respectively. For more information on the merger agreement and the merger, see Part I, Item 1, Business-Merger with Independent Bank Group, Inc.
Basis of Presentation
Our accounting and reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") and to generally accepted practices within the banking industry. Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The allowance for loan losses, the fair value of financial instruments and the status of contingencies are particularly susceptible to significant change.
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share is based on net income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period excluding non-vested stock. Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of non-vested stock-based awards granted using the treasury stock method. A reconciliation of the weighted-average shares used in calculating basic earnings per common share and the weighted average common shares used in calculating diluted earnings per common share for the reported periods is provided in Note 2 - Earnings Per Share.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Unrealized gains or losses on our available-for-sale debt securities (after applicable income tax expense or benefit) are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net ("AOCI"). AOCI is reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity and consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.
GAAP does not permit the adjustment of tax amounts in AOCI for changes in tax rates; as a result the effects become "stranded" in AOCI. Stranded tax effects caused by the 2018 revaluation of deferred taxes resulting from the corporate tax rates established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") are reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings in accordance with our early adoption of ASU 2018-02 "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income."
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents include amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in other banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.
Investment Securities
Investment securities include available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities at fair value.
Debt Securities
Debt securities are classified as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Management classifies securities at the time of purchase and re-assesses such designation at each balance sheet date; however, transfers between categories from this re-assessment are rare.
Trading Account
Debt securities acquired for resale in anticipation of short-term market movements are classified as trading, with realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized in income. To date, we have not had any activity in our trading account.
Held-to-Maturity
Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when we have the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading are classified as available-for-sale.
Available-for-Sale
Available-for-sale debt securities are stated at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of AOCI, net of tax. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, or in the case of mortgage-backed securities, over the estimated life of the security. Such amortization and accretion are included in interest income from securities. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in gain (loss) on sale of securities. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
All debt securities are available-for-sale as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Equity Securities
Beginning January 1, 2018, upon adoption of ASU 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities," equity securities with readily determinable fair values are stated at fair value with realized and unrealized gains and losses reported in income. For periods prior to January 1, 2018, equity securities were classified as available-for-sale and stated at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of AOCI, net of tax. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are recorded at cost less any impairment, if any.
Loans
Loans Held for Sale
Through our mortgage correspondent aggregation ("MCA") program, we commit to purchase residential mortgage loans from independent correspondent lenders and deliver those loans into the secondary market via whole loan sales to independent third parties or in securitization transactions to third parties such as Ginnie Mae or to government sponsored entities such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac ("GSEs"). In some cases, we retain the mortgage servicing rights. Once purchased, these loans are classified as held for sale and are carried at fair value pursuant to our election of the fair value option in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 825, Financial Instruments. At the commitment date, we enter into a corresponding forward sale commitment with a third party, typically Ginnie Mae or a GSE, to deliver the loans within a specified timeframe. The estimated gain/loss for the entire transaction (from initial purchase commitment to final delivery of loans) is recorded as an asset or liability. The fair value of loans held for sale is derived from observable current market prices, when available, and includes the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights. Adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the loans are classified as gain/(loss) on sale of loans held for sale in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.
Residential mortgage loans held for sale are subject to both credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk is managed through underwriting policies and procedures, including collateral requirements, which are generally accepted by the secondary loan markets. Exposure to interest rate fluctuations is partially managed through forward sales contracts, which set the price for loans that will be delivered in the next 60 to 90 days.
Pursuant to Ginnie Mae servicing guidelines, we have the unilateral right, but not the obligation, to repurchase certain delinquent loans securitized in Ginnie Mae pools, if they meet defined delinquent loan criteria. Once the delinquency criteria
have been met, and regardless of whether the repurchase option has been exercised, we account for these loans as if they had been repurchased and recognize the loans and a corresponding liability as held for sale and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. If the loans are actually repurchased, the liability is extinguished and the loans continue to be reported as held for sale. As a Ginnie Mae approved lender, we may recover losses incurred on repurchased loans through a claims process with the government agency.
From time to time we hold for sale the guaranteed portion of Small Business Administration 7(a) loans, which are carried at lower of cost or market.
Loans Held for Investment
Loans held for investment (including financing leases) are stated at the amount of unpaid principal reduced by deferred income (net of costs). Interest on loans is recognized using the simple-interest method on the daily balances of the principal amounts outstanding. Loan origination fees, net of direct loan origination costs, and commitment fees, are deferred and amortized as an adjustment to yield over the life of the loan, or over the commitment period, as applicable.
A loan held for investment is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the terms of the loan agreement. Reserves on impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or the fair value of the underlying collateral, less cost to sell. Impaired loans, or portions thereof, are charged off when a confirmed loss exists.
Restructured loans are loans on which, due to the borrower’s financial difficulties, we have granted a concession that we would not otherwise consider for borrowers of similar credit quality. This may include a transfer of real estate or other assets from the borrower, a modification of loan terms, or a combination of the two. Modifications of terms that could potentially qualify as a restructuring include reduction of contractual interest rate, extension of the maturity date at a contractual interest rate lower than the current rate for new debt with similar risk, a reduction of the face amount of debt or forgiveness of either principal or accrued interest. A loan continues to qualify as restructured until a consistent payment history or change in borrower’s financial condition has been evidenced, generally for no less than twelve months. Assuming that the restructuring agreement specifies an interest rate at the time of the restructuring that is greater than or equal to the rate that we are willing to accept for a new extension of credit with comparable risk, then the loan no longer has to be considered a restructuring if it is in compliance with the modified terms in calendar years after the year of the restructure.
The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when there is a clear indication that the borrower’s cash flow may not be sufficient to meet payments as they become due, which is generally when a loan is 90 days past due. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, all previously accrued and unpaid interest is reversed. Interest income is subsequently recognized on a cash basis as long as the remaining book balance of the asset is deemed to be collectible. If collectability is questionable, then cash payments are applied to principal. A loan is placed back on accrual status when both principal and interest are current and it is probable that we will be able to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the terms of the loan agreement.
Loans held for investment includes legal ownership interests in mortgage loans that we purchase through our mortgage warehouse lending division. The ownership interests are purchased from unaffiliated mortgage originators who are seeking additional funding through sale of the undivided ownership interests to facilitate their ability to originate loans. The mortgage originator has no obligation to offer and we have no obligation to purchase these interests. The originator closes mortgage loans consistent with underwriting standards established by approved investors, and, at the time of the sale to the investor, our ownership interest and that of the originator are delivered by us to the investor selected by the originator and approved by us. We typically purchase up to a 99% ownership interest in each mortgage with the originator owning the remaining percentage. These mortgage ownership interests are generally held by us for a period of less than 30 days and more typically 10-20 days. Because of conditions in agreements with originators designed to reduce transaction risks, under ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets (“ASC 860”), the ownership interests do not qualify as participating interests. Under ASC 860, the ownership interests are deemed to be loans to the originators and payments we receive from investors are deemed to be payments made by or on behalf of the originator to repay the loan deemed made to the originator. Because we have an actual, legal ownership interest in the underlying residential mortgage loan, these interests are reported as extensions of credit to the originators that are secured by the mortgage loans as collateral.
Due to market conditions or events of default by the investor or the originator, we could be required to purchase the remaining interests in the mortgage loans and hold them beyond the expected 10-20 days. Mortgage loans acquired under these conditions would require mark-to-market adjustments to income and could require further allocations of the allowance for loan losses or be subject to charge off in the event the loans become impaired.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses is comprised of general reserves and specific reserves for impaired loans, all based on our estimate of losses inherent in the portfolio at the balance sheet date. In order to determine the allowance for loan losses, all loans are assigned a credit grade. Loan commitments graded substandard or worse and greater than $500,000 are specifically reviewed for loss potential. Loans deemed to be impaired, as well as restructured loans and loans formerly reported as restructured, are assigned a specific reserve based on the losses expected to be realized from those loans. For purposes of determining the general reserve, the remainder of the portfolio is segregated by product types to recognize differing risk profiles among portfolio segments, and then further segregated by credit grades. Each credit grade is assigned a risk factor, or reserve allocation percentage. These risk factors are multiplied by the outstanding principal balance of each loan and risk-weighted by product type to calculate a required reserve. A similar process is employed to calculate a reserve assigned to off-balance sheet commitments, specifically unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit, and any needed reserve is recorded in other liabilities. Even though portions of the allowance may be allocated to specific loans, the entire allowance is available for any credit that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.
We have several pass credit grades that are assigned to loans based on varying levels of risk, ranging from credits that are secured by cash or marketable securities, to watch credits which have all the characteristics of an acceptable credit risk but warrant more than the normal level of monitoring. Within our criticized/classified credit grades are special mention, substandard, and doubtful. Special mention loans are those that are currently protected by the sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower, but that are potentially weak and constitute an additional credit risk. These loans have the potential to deteriorate to a substandard grade due to the existence of financial or administrative deficiencies. Substandard loans have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardizes the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that we will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Some substandard loans are inappropriately protected by the sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower and of the collateral pledged and may be considered impaired. Substandard loans can be accruing or can be on non-accrual depending on the circumstances of the individual loans. Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in substandard loans with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable. The possibility of loss is extremely high. All doubtful loans are on non-accrual.
The allowance allocation percentages assigned to each credit grade have been developed based primarily on an analysis of our historical loss rates. The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of conditions likely to impact the amount of losses expected to be incurred in the Bank’s loan portfolio. Such conditions include, without limitation, credit quality indicators such as amounts and percentages of loans classified as past due, criticized and non-performing, conditions internal to the Bank such as the skill and experience of lending and credit personnel and effectiveness of credit review processes, the rate of portfolio growth, the extent of hold limits and loan concentrations, such as loans to specific borrowers, loans to groups of affiliated borrowers, loans to borrowers in defined industry groups and loans to borrowers, and collateral, in defined geographic locations. Conditions external to the Bank that may impact incurred losses that are also considered by management in the evaluation of the allowance include the general health of the national economy and regional economies where the Bank operates, international economic conditions, domestic and international political events that may impact the Bank’s loan portfolio, regulatory developments deemed relevant to risk assessment and classification of credits and circumstances that may have negative consequences for industries or specific borrowers where the Bank has exposure.
Management’s assessment of the allowance begins with a review of historical credit loss experience as a baseline before consideration of current environmental issues both internal and external to the Bank that might reasonably cause the measure of incurred loss to differ from historical experience. The Bank’s allowance methodology employs a loss migration technique to determine historical loss percentages applicable to all defined credit risk grades. The methodology also calculates historical loss percentages by portfolio segment and computes segment weights as a measure of the relative risk of loans in each segment compared to the entire portfolio. Management may adjust segment weights by applying overlays to specific portfolio segments whereby historical loss experience may not be a measure reflective of incurred losses for the specific portfolio segment. These overlays are quantified by management at the portfolio segment level and added or subtracted from historical loss rates. These processes allow for a continuous review of not only absolute historical loss percentages but also an assessment of credit risk grade migration, positive and negative, and changes in portfolio composition as defined by portfolio segment.
Because credit risk grade migration, both positive and negative, can significantly trail triggering events such as change in economic conditions, commodity prices or interest rates, changes in collateral values or changes in regulatory interpretation or applicable laws or standards impacting the Bank's lending activities, management has identified certain measures that are believed to offer guidance as leading, concurrent and trailing indicators respectively of general economic health that in turn are thought to be relevant to the measure of incurred loss in the Bank’s loan portfolio (individually referred to as "Q Factors"). Each individual Q Factor is individually quantified by management and then aggregated into a single qualitative adjustment (referred to as the "Q Factor adjustment"). This Q Factor adjustment is added or subtracted from historical loss rates, as relevant, to compute an appropriate reserve based upon actual portfolio composition as defined by portfolio segment and credit risk grade composition.
The single Q Factor adjustment and application of any management overlay to model calculated segment weights reflects management’s determination that the allowance model is calculating an appropriate level of the allowance in the context of all known loan portfolio quality and concentration issues as well as other environmental factors that are reasonably believed to cause the measure of incurred loss, inclusive of unidentified losses inherent in the current portfolio, to differ from historical experience.
The methodology used in the periodic review of the appropriateness of the allowance, which is performed at least quarterly, is designed to be dynamic and responsive to changes in portfolio credit quality. Changes are reflected in the general allowance and in specific reserves as the collectability of classified loans is evaluated with new information. As our portfolio has matured, historical loss ratios have been closely monitored. Our reserve appropriateness relies primarily on our loss history. The review of the appropriateness of the allowance is performed by executive management and presented to the audit and risk committees of our board of directors for their review. The committees report to the board as part of the board's review on a quarterly basis of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Other Real Estate Owned
Other real estate owned (“OREO”), which is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet, consists of real estate that has been foreclosed. When foreclosure occurs, the acquired asset is recorded at fair value less selling costs, generally based on appraised value, which may result in partial charge-off of the loan through a charge to the allowance for loan losses, if necessary. Subsequent write-downs required for declines in value are recorded through a valuation allowance, or taken directly to the asset, and are recorded in allowance and other carrying costs for OREO in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income. Gains or losses on sale of OREO are recorded in other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.
Mortgage Servicing Rights, Net
Mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs") are created by selling mortgage loans with servicing rights retained. We identify classes of servicing rights based upon the nature of the underlying assumptions used to value the asset along with the risks associated with the underlying asset. Based upon these criteria we have one class of MSRs, residential.
MSRs are recognized based on the estimated fair value of the mortgage loans and the related servicing rights at the date of sale using values derived from a valuation model. MSRs are reported on the consolidated balance sheets at amortized cost, less a valuation allowance if the fair value of identified strata within the MSR portfolio are determined to have a fair value that is less than amortized cost. MSRs are amortized proportionally over the estimated life of the projected net servicing revenue and are periodically evaluated for impairment. Loan servicing fee income represents income earned for servicing mortgage loans owned by investors and includes mortgage servicing fees and other ancillary servicing income. Servicing fees are recorded as income when earned and are reported in non-interest income on the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income. MSR valuation allowance expense and servicing related expenses are recorded in servicing related expenses in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets are acquired assets that lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset or liability. Our intangible assets relate primarily to loan customer relationships purchased as part of business acquisitions. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated life. Goodwill and intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually or whenever changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.
Premises and Equipment, Net
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Furniture and equipment is generally depreciated over three to five years, while leasehold improvements are generally depreciated over the term of their respective lease. Gains or losses on disposals of premises and equipment are included in other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.
Software
Costs incurred in connection with development or purchase of internal use software and cloud computing arrangements, including in-substance software licenses, are capitalized. Amortization is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset, which generally ranges from one to five years. Capitalized software is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk
The Company has undertaken certain guarantee obligations in the ordinary course of business which include liabilities with off-balance sheet risk. We consider the following arrangements to be guarantees: commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and indemnification agreements included within third party contractual arrangements.
The Bank is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit that involve varying degrees of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of these instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.
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 many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Bank evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.
Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.
In conjunction with the sale and securitization of loans held for sale and their related servicing rights, we may be exposed to liability resulting from recourse and repurchase agreements. If it is determined subsequent to our sale of a loan or its related servicing rights that a breach of the representations or warranties made in the applicable sale agreement has occurred, which may include guarantees that prepayments will not occur within a specified and customary time frame, we may have an obligation to either (a) repurchase the loan for the unpaid principal balance, accrued interest and related advances, (b) indemnify the purchaser against any loss it suffers or (c) make the purchaser whole for the economic benefits of the loan and its related servicing rights.
Our repurchase, indemnification and make-whole obligations vary based upon the terms of the applicable agreements, the nature of the asserted breach and the status of the mortgage loan at the time a claim is made. We establish reserves for estimated losses of this nature inherent in the origination of mortgage loans by estimating the losses inherent in the population of all loans sold based on trends in claims and actual loss severities experienced. The reserve will include accruals for probable contingent losses in addition to those identified in the pipeline of claims received. The estimation process is designed to include amounts based on actual losses experienced from actual activity.
Leases
ASU 2016-02 "Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2016-02") requires that lessees and lessors recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 became effective for us on January 1, 2019. ASU 2016-02 provides for a modified retrospective transition approach requiring lessees to recognize and measure leases on the balance sheet at the beginning of either the earliest period presented or as of the beginning of the period of adoption with the option to elect certain practical expedients. We elected to apply ASU 2016-02 as of the beginning of the period of adoption (January 1, 2019) and have not restated comparative periods. Of the optional practical expedients available under ASU 2016-02, we adopted all expedients except for the hindsight practical expedient. As a result of implementing ASU 2016-02, we recognized an operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") asset of $64 million and an operating lease liability of $74 million on January 1, 2019, with no impact on our consolidated statements of income or consolidated statements of cash flows compared to the prior lease accounting model.
Operating lease ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based on the present value of the remaining lease payments using a discount rate that represents our incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date, which is based on our collateralized borrowing capabilities over a similar term as the related lease payments. ROU assets are further adjusted for lease incentives.
Our operating leases relate primarily to office space and bank branches. Operating leases in which we are the lessee are recorded as operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities, included in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease expense, which is comprised of amortization of the ROU asset and the implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and is recorded in net occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income. See Note 7 - Leases for additional information.
Revenue Recognition
ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), establishes principles for reporting information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity's contracts to provide goods or services to customers. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied.
The majority of our revenue-generating transactions are not subject to ASC 606, including revenue generated from financial instruments, such as our loans, letters of credit, derivatives and investment securities, as well as revenue related to our mortgage servicing activities, as these activities are subject to other GAAP discussed elsewhere within our disclosures. Descriptions of our revenue-generating activities that are within the scope of ASC 606, which are presented in our income statements as components of non-interest income are as follows:
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Service charges on deposit accounts - these represent general service fees for monthly account maintenance and activity- or transaction-based fees and consist of transaction-based revenue, time-based revenue (service period), item-based revenue or some other individual attribute-based revenue. Revenue is recognized when our performance obligation is completed, which is generally monthly for account maintenance services or when a transaction has been completed (such as a wire transfer). Payments for such performance obligations are generally received at the time the performance obligations are satisfied.
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Wealth management and trust fee income - this represents monthly fees due from wealth management customers as consideration for managing the customers' assets. Wealth management and trust services include custody of assets, investment management, escrow services, fees for trust services and similar fiduciary activities. Revenue is recognized when our performance obligation is completed each month, which is generally the time that payment is received. Also included are fees received from a third party broker-dealer as part of a revenue-sharing agreement for fees earned from customers that we refer to the third party. These fees are paid to us by the third party on a quarterly basis and recognized ratably throughout the quarter as our performance obligation is satisfied.
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Brokered loan fees - these represent fees for the administration and funding of purchased mortgage loan interests as well as facility renewal and application fees received from mortgage originator customers in our mortgage warehouse lending business. Also included are fees received from independent correspondent mortgage lenders as consideration for our purchase of individual residential mortgage loans through our MCA business. Revenue related to the mortgage warehouse lending business is recognized when the related loan interest is disposed (i.e., through sale or payoff) or upon receipt of the facility renewal or application. Revenue related to our MCA business is recognized at the time a loan is purchased.
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Other non-interest income primarily includes items such as letter of credit fees, bank owned life insurance income, dividends on FHLB and FRB stock and other general operating income, none of which are subject to the requirements of ASC 606.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for all stock-based compensation transactions in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires that stock compensation transactions be recognized as compensation expense in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income based on their fair values on the measurement date, which is the date of the grant.
Income Taxes
The Company and its subsidiary file a consolidated federal income tax return. We utilize the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the difference between the values of the assets and liabilities as reflected in the financial statements and their related tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. As changes in tax law or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will be realized.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. In general, fair values of financial instruments are based upon quoted market prices, where available. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.
Derivative Financial Instruments
All contracts that satisfy the definition of a derivative are recorded at fair value in other assets and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. We record the derivatives on a net basis when a right of offset exists with a single counterparty that is subject to a legally enforceable master netting agreement.
We enter into interest rate derivative contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. These derivative positions relate to transactions in which we enter into an interest rate swap, cap and/or floor with a customer while at the same time entering into an offsetting interest rate swap, cap and/or floor with another financial institution. In connection with each swap transaction, we agree to pay interest to the customer on a notional amount at a variable interest rate and receive interest from the customer on a similar notional amount at a fixed interest rate. At the same time, we agree to pay another financial institution the same fixed interest rate on the same notional amount and receive the same variable interest rate on the same notional amount. The transaction allows our customer to effectively convert a variable rate loan to a fixed rate. Because we act as an intermediary for our customer, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts substantially offset each other and do not have a material impact on our results of operations.
We also enter into foreign currency forward contracts that are not designed as hedging instruments. These derivative instruments relate to transactions in which we enter into a contract with a customer to buy or sell a foreign currency at a future date for a specified price while at the same time entering into an offsetting contract with a financial institution to buy or sell the same currency at the same future date for a specified price. These transactions allow our customers to manage their exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Because we act as an intermediary for our customer, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative instruments substantially offset each other and do not have a material impact on our results of operations.
We also enter into loan purchase commitment contracts with mortgage originators to purchase residential mortgage loans at a future date, as well as forward sales commitment contracts to sell residential mortgage loans at a future date, as part of our MCA program. The objective of these transactions is to mitigate our exposure to interest rate risk associated with the purchase of mortgage loans held for sale. Any changes in fair value are recorded in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income.
Segment Reporting
We have determined that all of our lending divisions and subsidiaries meet the aggregation criteria of ASC 280, Segment Reporting, since all offer similar products and services, operate with similar processes, have similar customers and are collectively reviewed by the chief operating decision maker.
(2) Earnings Per Share
The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
(1)
SARs and RSUs outstanding of 86,308, 27,100 and 13,500 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, have not been included in diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.
(3) Investment Securities
Available-for-Sale Debt Securities
The following is a summary of available-for-sale debt securities:
During the first quarter of 2019, we acquired a $92.0 million tax-exempt security backed with underlying cash flows from municipal revenue bonds, as well as $15.0 million in credit risk transfer ("CRT") securities. The securities were all recorded as available-for-sale upon acquisition and subsequently marked to fair value as of December 31, 2019.
CRT securities represent unsecured obligations issued by GSEs such as Freddie Mac and are designed to transfer mortgage credit risk from the GSE to private investors. CRT securities are structured to be subject to the performance of a reference pool of mortgage loans in which we share in 50% of the first losses with the GSE. If the reference pool incurs losses, the amount we will recover on the notes is reduced by our share of the amount of such losses, which could potentially be up to 100% of the amount outstanding. The CRT securities are generally interest-only for an initial period of time and are restricted from being transferred until a future date.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale debt securities are presented below by contractual maturity:
(1)
Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.
(2)
Yields have been adjusted to a tax equivalent basis assuming a 21% federal tax rate.
(3)
Yields are calculated based on amortized cost.
The following table discloses our available-for-sale debt securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months and those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 or more months:
At December 31, 2019, the CRT securities were the only available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position. There were no available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2018.
We conduct periodic reviews of securities with unrealized losses to evaluate whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. Unrealized losses that are determined to be temporary in nature are recorded, net of tax, in AOCI for available-for-sale debt securities. When we have the intent to sell or we believe we will more likely than not be required to sell an available-for-sale debt security, the entire excess of its amortized cost basis over its fair value is recognized in earnings. For available-for-sale debt securities that we do not intend to sell and are not likely to be required to sell, only the credit-related impairment is recognized in earnings and any non-credit-related impairment is recorded in AOCI.
Based on the results of our periodic review of available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2019, we recorded a $331,000 other-than-temporary credit-related impairment on the CRT securities, reducing the amortized cost of the securities. The loss was measured as the excess of the amortized cost basis of the security over the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and was recorded in other non-interest expense. Based on the results of our periodic review at December 31, 2019, no additional other-than-temporary credit-related impairment was recorded on the CRT securities, as the remaining loss position is not believed to be other-than-temporary. Our periodic review at December 31, 2019 included an evaluation of the near-term prospects of the investments in relation to the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Based on that evaluation we have determined that we have the ability and intent to hold the investments until recovery of fair value.
Available-for-sale debt securities with carrying values of approximately $3.5 million and $1.2 million were pledged to secure certain customer repurchase agreements and deposits, respectively, at December 31, 2019. The comparative amounts at December 31, 2018 were $4.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
Equity Securities
Equity securities consist of Community Reinvestment Act funds and investments related to our non-qualified deferred compensation plan. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had $25.6 million and $17.2 million, respectively, in equity securities recorded at fair value. The following is a summary of unrealized and realized gains/(losses) recognized on equity securities and included in other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income:
(4) Loans Held for Investment and Allowance for Loan Losses
Loans held for investment are summarized by portfolio segment as follows:
(1)
Balances at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are stated net of $682.7 million and $193.0 million of participations sold, respectively.
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
The following tables summarize the credit risk profile of our loans held for investment by internally assigned grades and non-accrual status:
The allowance for loan losses is comprised of general reserves and specific reserves for impaired loans based on our estimate of losses inherent in the portfolio at the balance sheet date. For further discussion of the components of the allowance for loan losses as well as details regarding how the estimate of inherent losses is determined, refer to the Allowance for Loan Losses subheading in Note 1 - Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. We believe the allowance at December 31, 2019 to be appropriate, given management's assessment of losses inherent in the portfolio as of the evaluation date, the growth in the loan and lease portfolio, current economic conditions in our market areas and other factors.
The following table details activity in the allowance for loan losses, as well as the recorded investment in loans held for investment, by portfolio segment and disaggregated on the basis of our impairment methodology. Allocation of a portion of the allowance to one category of loans does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other categories.
During 2019, we refined our methodology for calculating the allowance for loan losses to improve the specificity of the risk weights and the risk-weighting process for each product type assigned to the loans in our held for investment portfolio. As a result of these refinements, we believe that management is better able to allocate inherent losses previously accounted for in the additional qualitative reserve component of our allowance for loan losses to specific product types and credit risk grades, thus eliminating the additional qualitative reserve component of our allowance for loan losses in 2019. Additionally, this improved specificity and consideration of current mortgage market conditions resulted in the allocation of a portion of the company’s allowance and provision for loan losses to our mortgage finance loan portfolio for the first time in 2019.
The following tables detail our impaired loans held for investment by portfolio segment. In accordance with ASC 310, Receivables, we have also included all restructured and formerly restructured loans in our impaired loan totals.
Average impaired loans outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 totaled $128.5 million, $105.1 million and $130.8 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we recognized no interest income on non-accrual loans, compared to $133,000 and $6,000, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively. Additional interest income that would have been recorded if the loans had been current during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 totaled $12.0 million, $8.5 million and $19.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, none of our non-accrual loans were earning interest income on a cash basis.
The table below provides an age analysis of our loans held for investment:
(1)
Loans past due 90 days and still accruing includes premium finance loans of $8.5 million. These loans are generally secured by obligations of insurance carriers to refund premiums on canceled insurance policies. The receipt of the refund of premiums from the insurance carriers can take 180 days or longer from the cancellation date.
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we did not have any loans considered restructured that were not on non-accrual. Of the non-accrual loans at December 31, 2019 and 2018, $35.1 million and $20.0 million, respectively, met the criteria for restructured. These loans had no unfunded commitments at their respective balance sheet dates.
The following table details the recorded investment at December 31, 2019 and 2018 of loans that have been restructured during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 by type of modification:
Restructured loans generally include terms to temporarily place the loan on interest only, extend the payment terms or reduce the interest rate. We did not forgive any principal on the above restructured loans. At December 31, 2019, all of the above loans restructured in 2019 were on non-accrual. The restructuring of the loans did not have a significant impact on our allowance for
loan losses at December 31, 2019 or 2018. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we did not have any loans that were restructured within the last 12 months that subsequently defaulted.
(5) OREO and Valuation Allowance for Losses on OREO
The table below presents a summary of the activity related to OREO:
During 2017, we recorded a $6.1 million write-down on one asset. In 2018, we sold this asset and recorded a $2.0 million gain on sale. The gain on sale was recorded in other non-interest income.
(6) Certain Transfers of Financial Assets
The table below presents a reconciliation of the changes in loans held for sale:
(1)
Includes $5.8 million and $299,000 of loans held for sale that are carried at lower of cost or market as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as well as $3.3 million as of December 31, 2017.
No loans held for sale were on non-accrual as of December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had $8.2 million and $16.8 million, respectively, in loans held for sale that were 90 days or more past due. The $8.2 million in loans held for sale that were 90 days or more past due at December 31, 2019 included $6.0 million in loans guaranteed by U.S. government agencies that were purchased out of Ginnie Mae securities and recorded as loans held for sale, at fair value, on the balance sheet. Interest on these past due loans accrues at the debenture rate guaranteed by the U.S. government. Also included in the $8.2 million were $1.9 million in loans that, pursuant to Ginnie Mae servicing guidelines, we have the unilateral right, but not the obligation, to repurchase if defined delinquent loan criteria are met, and therefore must record as held for sale on our balance sheet regardless of whether the repurchase option has been exercised. At December 31, 2018, $16.0 million of the $16.8 million in loans held for sale were loans guaranteed by U.S. government agencies that were purchased out of Ginnie Mae securities and recorded as loans held for sale, at fair value, on the balance sheet.
From time to time we retain the right to service the loans sold through our MCA program, creating MSRs which are recorded as assets on our balance sheet. A summary of MSR activity is as follows:
At December 31, 2019 and 2018, our servicing portfolio of residential mortgage loans had an outstanding principal balance of $6.7 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively.
In connection with the servicing of these loans, we hold deposits in the name of investors representing escrow funds for taxes and insurance, as well as collections in transit to the investors. These escrow funds are segregated and held in separate non-interest-bearing bank accounts at the Bank. These deposits, included in total non-interest-bearing deposits on the consolidated balance sheets, were $63.7 million at December 31, 2019 and $37.9 million at December 31, 2018.
The estimated fair value of the MSR assets is obtained from an independent third party and reviewed by management on a quarterly basis. MSRs typically do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices; as such, the fair value of MSRs is determined using a discounted cash flow model to calculate the present value of the estimated future net servicing income. The assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow model are based on market data for comparable assets, where available. Each quarter, management and the independent third party review the key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model and make adjustments as necessary to estimate the fair value of the MSRs. At December 31, 2019, the estimated fair value of MSRs was adjusted as a result of the decline in mortgage interest rates during the year, which resulted in an impairment charge of $5.8 million. There was no impairment at December 31, 2018. The following summarizes the assumptions used by management to determine the fair value of MSRs:
A sensitivity analysis of changes in the fair value of our MSR portfolio resulting from certain key assumptions is presented in the following table:
These sensitivities are hypothetical and actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors. The effect on fair value of a 10% variation in assumptions generally cannot be determined with confidence because the relationship of the change in assumptions to the change in fair value may not be linear. Additionally, the impact of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value is calculated while holding other assumptions constant. In reality, changes in one factor may be correlated with changes in other factors, which could impact the sensitivity analysis as presented.
In conjunction with the sale and securitization of loans held for sale, we may be exposed to liability resulting from repurchase, indemnification and make-whole agreements. Our estimated exposure related to those agreements totaled $3.6 million and $1.6 million at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and is recorded in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. We incurred $9.0 million in losses due to make-whole obligations during the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $258,000 in 2018. The increase in make-whole obligation losses is primarily related to an increase in early payoffs resulting from the declining interest rate environment.
(7) Leases
Our leases relate primarily to office space and bank branches with remaining lease terms of generally 1 to 13 years. Certain lease arrangements contain extension options which typically range from 5 to 10 years at the then fair market rental rates. As these extension options are not generally considered reasonably certain of exercise, they are not included in the lease term. As of December 31, 2019, operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $80.0 million and $95.9 million, respectively. We do not currently have any significant finance leases in which we are the lessee.
The table below summarizes our net lease cost:
(1)
Includes $87.9 million in lease liabilities from new ROU assets obtained during the year ended December 31, 2019.
The table below summarizes other information related to our operating leases:
The table below summarizes the maturity of remaining lease liabilities:
(8) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and other intangible assets are summarized as follows:
Amortization expense related to intangible assets totaled $471,000 in 2019, $470,000 in 2018 and $472,000 in 2017. The estimated aggregate future amortization expense for intangible assets remaining as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:
(9) Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are summarized as follows:
Depreciation expense for the above premises and equipment was approximately $9.2 million, $9.0 million and $6.9 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(10) Deposits
Deposits are summarized as follows:
The scheduled maturities of interest-bearing time deposits were as follows at December 31, 2019:
At December 31, 2019 and 2018, interest-bearing time deposits of $250,000 or more were approximately $347.7 million and $270.2 million, respectively.
(11) Short-Term and Other Borrowings
The following table summarizes our short-term and other borrowings:
The following table summarizes our other borrowing capacities net of balances outstanding. As of December 31, 2019, all are scheduled to mature within one year.
(1)
FHLB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket floating lien on certain real estate secured loans, mortgage finance assets and also certain pledged securities.
(2)
Unsecured revolving, non-amortizing line of credit with maturity date of December 15, 2020. Proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes, including funding regulatory capital infusions into the Bank. The loan agreement contains customary financial covenants and restrictions. No borrowings were made against this line of credit during 2019, 2018, or 2017.
(12) Long-Term Debt
From November 2002 to September 2006 various Texas Capital Statutory Trusts were created and subsequently issued floating rate trust preferred securities in various private offerings totaling $113.4 million. As of December 31, 2019, the details of the trust preferred subordinated debentures are summarized below:
On September 21, 2012, the Company issued $111.0 million of subordinated notes. The notes mature in September 2042 and bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per annum, payable quarterly. The indenture governing the notes contains customary covenants and restrictions.
On January 31, 2014, the Bank issued $175.0 million of subordinated notes in an offering to institutional investors exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and 12 C.F.R. Part 16. The notes mature in January 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 5.25% per annum, payable semi-annually. The notes are unsecured and are subordinate to the Bank’s obligations to its depositors, its obligations under banker’s acceptances and letters of credit, certain obligations to Federal Reserve Banks and the FDIC and the Bank’s obligations to its other creditors, except any obligations which expressly rank on a parity with or junior to the notes. The notes qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes, subject to applicable limitations.
(13) Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk
The table below presents our financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, as well as the activity in the allowance for off-balance sheet credit losses related to those financial instruments. This allowance is recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(14) Regulatory Restrictions
The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory (and possibly additional discretionary) actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on the Company’s and the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
The Basel III regulatory capital framework (the "Basel III Capital Rules") adopted by U.S. federal regulatory authorities, among other things, (i) establishes the capital measure called "Common Equity Tier 1" ("CET1"), (ii) specifies that Tier 1 capital consist of CET1 and "Additional Tier 1 Capital" instruments meeting stated requirements, (iii) requires that most deductions/adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to other components of capital and (iv) defines the scope of the deductions/adjustments to the capital measures. The Basel III Capital Rules became effective for us on January 1, 2015 with certain transition provisions that became fully phased in on January 1, 2019.
Additionally, the Basel III Capital Rules require that we maintain a capital conservation buffer with respect to each of CET1, Tier 1 and total capital to risk-weighted assets, which provides for capital levels that exceed the minimum risk-based capital adequacy requirements. The capital conservation buffer was subject to a three year phase-in period that began on January 1, 2016 and became fully phased-in on January 1, 2019 at 2.5%. The required capital conservation buffer during 2018 was 1.875%. A financial institution with a conservation buffer of less than the required amount is subject to limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments and stock repurchases, and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of CET1, Tier 1 and total capital to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier 1 capital to average assets, each as defined in the regulations. Management believes, as of December 31, 2019, that the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
Financial institutions are categorized as well capitalized or adequately capitalized, based on minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, CET1 and Tier 1 leverage ratios. As shown in the table below, the Company’s capital ratios exceeded the regulatory definition of "well capitalized" as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. Based upon the information in its most recently filed call report, the Bank met the capital ratios necessary to be well capitalized. The regulatory authorities can apply changes in classification of assets and such changes may retroactively subject the Company to changes in capital ratios. Any such change could reduce one or more capital ratios below well-capitalized status. In addition, a change may result in imposition of additional assessments by the FDIC or could result in regulatory actions that could have a material effect on our condition and results of operations.
Because the Bank had less than $15.0 billion in total consolidated assets as of December 31, 2009, we are allowed to continue to classify our trust preferred securities, all of which were issued prior to May 19, 2010, as Tier 1 capital.
The table below summarizes our actual and required capital ratios under the Basel III Capital Rules:
(1)
The Tier 1 capital ratio (to average assets) is not impacted by the Basel III Capital Rules; however, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC may require the Company and the Bank, respectively, to maintain a Tier 1 capital ratio (to average assets) above the required minimum.
Our mortgage finance loan volumes can increase significantly at month-end, causing a meaningful difference between ending balance and average balance for any period. At December 31, 2019, our mortgage finance loans were $8.2 billion compared to the average for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 of $7.9 billion. As CET1, Tier 1 and total capital ratios are calculated using quarter-end risk-weighted assets and our mortgage finance loans are 100% risk-weighted (excluding MCA mortgage loans held for sale, which receive lower risk weights), the period-end fluctuation in these balances can significantly impact our reported ratios. Due to the actual risk profile and liquidity of this asset class, we manage capital allocated to mortgage finance loans based on changing trends in average balances and do not believe that the period-end balance is representative of risk characteristics that would justify higher allocations. However, we monitor our capital allocation to confirm that all capital levels remain above well-capitalized levels.
Dividends that may be paid by banks are routinely restricted by various regulatory authorities. The amount that can be paid in any calendar year without prior approval of our Bank’s regulatory agencies cannot exceed the lesser of the net profits (as defined) for that year plus the net profits for the preceding two calendar years, or retained earnings. The Basel III Capital Rules further limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by our Bank. No dividends were declared or paid on our common stock during 2019, 2018 or 2017.
The required reserve balances at the Federal Reserve at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were approximately $283.4 million and $157.7 million, respectively.
(15) Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefits
We have a qualified retirement plan with a salary deferral feature designed to qualify under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code (“the 401(k) Plan”). The 401(k) Plan permits our employees to defer a portion of their compensation. Matching contributions may be made in amounts and at times determined by the Company. We contributed approximately $9.5 million, $9.6 million, and $8.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan when they meet certain requirements concerning minimum age and period of credited service. All contributions to the 401(k) Plan are invested in accordance with participant elections among certain investment options.
We also offer a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for our executives and key members of management in order to assist us in attracting and retaining these individuals. Participants in the plan may elect to defer up to 75% of their annual salary and/or short-term incentive payout into deferral accounts that mirror the gains or losses of investments selected by the participants. The plan allows us to make discretionary contributions on behalf of a participant as well as matching contributions. We made matching contributions of $1.0 million in both 2019 and 2018 and made discretionary contributions of $260,000 in 2017. All participant contributions to the plan and any related earnings are immediately vested and may be withdrawn upon the participant's separation from service, death or disability or upon a date specified by the participant. Salary deferrals are recorded as salaries and employee benefits expense in the consolidated statements of income with an offsetting payable to participants in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
We have an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Employees are eligible for the ESPP when they meet certain requirements concerning period of credited service and minimum hours worked. Eligible employees may contribute a between 1% and 10% of eligible compensation up to the Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code limit of $25,000. In 2006, stockholders approved the ESPP, which allocated 400,000 shares for purchase. As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, 155,933, 143,348 and 132,285 shares had been purchased on behalf of employees under the ESPP.
We have stock-based compensation plans under which equity-based compensation grants are made by the board of directors, or its designated committee. Grants are subject to vesting requirements. Under the plans, we may grant, among other things, non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), cash-settled performance units or any combination thereof to employees and non-employee directors. A total of 2,550,000 shares are authorized for grant under the plans. Total shares remaining available for grant under the plans at December 31, 2019 were 1,772,070.
A summary of our SAR activity and related information is as follows. Grants of SARs include time-based vesting conditions that generally vest ratably over a period of five years.
A summary of our RSU activity and related information is as follows. Grants of RSUs include time-based vesting conditions that generally vest ratably over a period of three to five years. Additionally, from time to time, grants of RSUs with both time-based and performance-based vesting conditions are made that generally vest at the end of a three or four year period.
New non-employee directors receive grants of restricted common stock as to which restrictions lapse ratably over a period of three years. Compensation expense for these grants was $36,000, $62,000 and $61,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Total compensation cost for all share-based arrangements was $11.8 million, $9.0 million and $8.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Cash-settled units totaling 163,856 were outstanding at December 31, 2019, all of which are time-based and vest ratably over a period of four years. We granted 138,773 and 121,260 cash-settled units in 2018 and 2017, respectively. No grants were made in 2019. Since these units have a cash payout feature, they are accounted for under the liability method with related expense based on the stock price at period end. Compensation cost for the cash-settled units was $5.8 million, $8.0 million and $13.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(16) Income Taxes
Income tax expense/(benefit) consists of the following:
The reconciliation of our effective income tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory tax rate is as follows:
The tax effect of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities is recorded to other comprehensive income and is not a component of income tax expense/(benefit).
We are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for years before 2016 or state and local income tax examinations for years before 2015.
The table below summarizes significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities utilizing the federal corporate income tax rate of 21%. Management believes it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. Our net deferred tax assets are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
(17) Fair Value Disclosures
We determine the fair market values of our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis using the fair value hierarchy as prescribed in ASC 820. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value as provided below.
Level 1
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair values requires significant management judgment or estimation.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are as follows:
(1)
Securities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, generally monthly, except for tax-exempt asset-backed securities and CRT securities which are measured quarterly.
(2)
Equity securities consist of Community Reinvestment Act funds and investments related to our non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
(3)
Loans held for sale purchased through our MCA program are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, generally monthly.
(4)
Includes impaired loans that have been measured for impairment at the fair value of the loan’s collateral.
(5)
OREO is transferred from loans to OREO at fair value less selling costs.
(6)
Loans held for investment and OREO are measured on a nonrecurring basis, generally annually or more often as warranted by market and economic conditions.
(7)
Derivative assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, generally quarterly.
(8)
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan liabilities represent the fair value of the obligation to the employee, which generally correspond to the fair value of the invested assets, and are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, generally monthly.
Level 3 Valuations
The following table presents a reconciliation of the level 3 fair value category measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
(1)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale debt securities are recorded in AOCI. Realized gains/(losses) are recorded in other non-interest income.
(2)
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on loans held for sale are recorded in gain/(loss) on sale of loans held for sale.
Tax-exempt asset-backed securities
The fair value of tax-exempt asset-backed securities is based on a discounted cash flow model, which utilizes Level 3, or unobservable, inputs, the most significant of which were a discount rate and weighted-average life. At December 31, 2019, a discount rate of 2.99% and a weighted-average life of 7.0 years were utilized to determine the fair value of these securities, compared to 4.21% and 9.2 years, respectively, at December 31, 2018.
CRT securities
The fair value of CRT securities is based on a discounted cash flow model, which utilizes Level 3, or unobservable, inputs, the most significant of which were a discount rate and weighted-average life. At December 31, 2019, a discount rate of 4.54% and a weighted-average life of 9.3 years were utilized to determine the fair value of these securities.
Loans held for sale
The fair value of loans held for sale using Level 3 inputs include loans that cannot be sold through normal sale channels and thus require significant management judgment or estimation when determining the fair value. The fair value of such loans is generally based upon quoted prices of comparable loans with a liquidity discount applied. At December 31, 2019, the fair value of these loans was calculated using a weighted-average discounted price of 94.1%, compared to 92.9% at December 31, 2018.
Loans held for investment
Certain impaired loans held for investment are reported at fair value through a specific valuation allowance allocation of the allowance for loan losses based upon the fair value of the underlying collateral. The $109.6 million fair value of loans held for investment at December 31, 2019 reported above includes impaired loans held for investment with a carrying value of $145.4 million that were reduced by specific valuation allowance allocations totaling $35.8 million based on collateral valuations utilizing Level 3 inputs. The $29.9 million fair value of loans held for investment at December 31, 2018 reported above includes impaired loans with a carrying value of $32.2 million that were reduced by specific valuation allowance allocations totaling $2.3 million based on collateral valuations utilizing Level 3 inputs.
OREO
Certain foreclosed assets, upon initial recognition, are recorded at fair value less estimated selling costs. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, OREO had a carrying value of $0 and $79,000, respectively, with no specific valuation allowance. The fair value of OREO was computed based on third party appraisals, which are Level 3 valuation inputs.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the balance sheet, for which it is practical to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. This disclosure does not and is not intended to represent the fair value of the Company.
A summary of the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments is as follows:
The estimated fair value for cash and cash equivalents, variable rate loans and variable rate debt approximates carrying value. The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
Investment Securities
Within the investment securities portfolio, we hold equity securities related to our non-qualified deferred compensation plan that are valued using quoted market prices for identical equity securities in an active market, and are classified as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the remaining equity securities and residential mortgage-backed securities in our investment portfolio are based on prices obtained from independent pricing services that are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities, and are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy. We have obtained documentation from our primary pricing service regarding their processes and controls applicable to pricing investment securities, and on a quarterly basis we independently verify the prices that we receive from the service provider using two additional independent pricing sources. We also hold tax-exempt asset-backed securities and CRT securities that are valued using a discounted cash flow model, which utilizes Level 3 inputs, and are classified as Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
Loans Held for Sale
Fair value for loans held for sale is derived from quoted market prices for similar loans, in which case they are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy, or is derived from third party pricing models, in which case they are characterized as Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.
Derivatives
The estimated fair value of interest rate swaps and caps is obtained from independent pricing services based on quoted market prices for similar derivative contracts and these financial instruments are characterized as Level 2 assets and liabilities in the fair value hierarchy. On a quarterly basis, we independently verify the fair value using an additional independent pricing source. Foreign currency forward contracts are valued based upon quoted market prices obtained from independent pricing services for similar derivative contracts. As such, these financial instruments are characterized as Level 2 assets and liabilities in the fair value hierarchy. The derivative instruments related to the loans held for sale portfolio include loan purchase commitments and forward sales commitments. Loan purchase commitments are valued based upon the fair value of the underlying mortgage loans to be purchased, which is based on observable market data for similar loans. Forward sales commitments are valued based upon quoted market prices from brokers. As such, these loan purchase commitments and forward sales commitments are characterized as Level 2 assets or liabilities in the fair value hierarchy.
(18) Derivative Financial Instruments
The notional amounts and estimated fair values of derivative positions outstanding are presented in the following table:
The weighted-average received and paid interest rates for interest rate swaps outstanding were as follows:
The weighted-average strike rate for outstanding interest rate caps was 3.29% at December 31, 2019 and 3.20% at December 31, 2018.
Our credit exposure on derivative instruments is limited to the net favorable value and interest payments by each counterparty. In some cases collateral may be required from the counterparties involved if the net value of the derivative instruments exceeds a nominal amount. Our credit exposure associated with these instruments, net of any collateral pledged, was approximately
$48.7 million at December 31, 2019 and approximately $18.7 million at December 31, 2018. Collateral levels are monitored and adjusted on a regular basis for changes in interest rate swap and cap values, as well as for changes in the value of forward sale commitments. At December 31, 2019, we had $56.6 million in cash collateral pledged for these derivatives, of which $54.3 million was included in interest-bearing deposits in other banks and $2.3 million was included in accrued interest receivable and other assets. At December 31, 2018, we had $25.3 million in cash collateral pledged for these derivatives, of which $11.2 million was included in interest-bearing deposits and $14.1 million was included in accrued interest receivable and other assets.
We also enter into credit risk participation agreements with financial institution counterparties for interest rate swaps related to loans in which we are either a participant or a lead bank. The risk participation agreements entered into by us as a participant bank provide credit protection to the financial institution counterparty should the borrower fail to perform on its interest rate derivative contract with that financial institution. We are party to 12 risk participation agreements where we are a participant bank with a notional amount of $146.7 million at December 31, 2019, compared to 13 risk participation agreements having a notional amount of $149.1 million at December 31, 2018. The maximum estimated exposure to these agreements, assuming 100% default by all obligors, was approximately $3.6 million at December 31, 2019 and $1.5 million at December 31, 2018. The fair value of these exposures was insignificant to the consolidated financial statements at both December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Risk participation agreements entered into by us as the lead bank provide credit protection to us should the borrower fail to perform on its interest rate derivative contract with us. We are party to 12 risk participation agreements where we are the lead bank having a notional amount of $145.9 million at December 31, 2019, compared to 9 agreements having a notional amount of $114.8 million at December 31, 2018.
(19) Related Party Transactions
During 2019 and 2018, we have had transactions with our directors, executive officers and their affiliates and our employees. These transactions were made in the ordinary course of business and include extensions of credit and deposit transactions. The Bank had approximately $13.0 million in deposits from related parties, including directors, stockholders and their affiliates at December 31, 2019 and $13.5 million at December 31, 2018.
(20) Parent Company Only
Summarized financial information for Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. - Parent Company Only are as follows:
Balance Sheet
Statement of Earnings
Statements of Cash Flows
(21) Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
The tables below summarize our quarterly financial information:
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the supervision and participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, we have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act and were effective in ensuring that information
required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except the following:
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we converted to a new loan servicing system to replace the existing platform that serviced our $17.1 billion loans held for investment portfolio, excluding mortgage finance loans. The new system was subject to various testing and review procedures before, during and after implementation. As a result of this implementation, we made changes to our processes and procedures which, in turn, resulted in changes to our internal control over financial reporting, including the implementation of additional controls.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
As of December 31, 2019, management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013),” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission. Based on the assessment, management determined that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, is included in this Item under the heading “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and our report dated February 12, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
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’s 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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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 (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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.
Dallas, TX
February 12, 2020
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this item relating to Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.’s directors, executive officers, code of ethics, audit committee and audit committee financial experts of the Company and Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed within 120 days after the end of our 2019 fiscal year.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item relating to compensation of our directors and executive officers will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed within 120 days after the end of our 2019 fiscal year.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this item relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed within 120 days after the end of our 2019 fiscal year.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item relating to security ownership of certain relationships and related transactions and director independence will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed within 120 days after the end of our 2019 fiscal year.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item relating to principal accountant fees and services will be included in an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed within 120 days after the end of our 2019 fiscal year.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Documents filed as part of this report
(1) All financial statements
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report of Ernst & Young LLP
(2) All financial statements required by Item 8
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report of Ernst & Young LLP
(3) Exhibits
*
Filed herewith
**
Furnished herewith
+
Management contract or compensatory plan arrangement
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.
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.