ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") is a Delaware corporation organized in December, 1995 at the direction of the Board of Directors of The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh (the "Bank") for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of the Bank issued in the conversion of the Bank, on June 26, 1996, from a federal mutual savings bank to a federal stock savings bank (the "Conversion"). In connection with the Conversion, the Company issued 14,547,500 shares (par value $0.01) of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share to certain of the Bank's eligible depositors who subscribed for shares and to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") established by the Company.
The Company is a unitary savings and loan holding company, which, under existing law, is generally not restricted as to the types of business activities in which it may engage, provided that the Bank continues to be a qualified thrift lender. The primary business of the Company is the operation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Bank. Under regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") the Bank is a qualified thrift lender if its ratio of qualified thrift investments to portfolio assets ("QTL Ratio") is 65% or more, on a monthly average basis in nine of every twelve months. At June 30, 1999, the Bank's QTL Ratio was 93.50%, and the Bank has maintained more that 65% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments in at least nine of the preceding twelve months.
The Company neither owns nor leases any property but instead uses the premises and equipment of the Bank. At the present time, the Company does not employ any persons other than certain officers of the Bank who do not receive any extra compensation as officers of the Company. The Company utilizes the support staff of the Bank from time to time, as needed. Additional employees may be hired as deemed appropriate by the management of the Company.
The Bank's principal business has been, and continues to be, gathering deposits from customers within its market area, and investing those deposits, primarily in multi-family and one-to-four family residential mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, and obligations of the U.S. Government and Government Sponsored Entities ("GSEs"). The Bank's revenues are derived principally from interest on its loan and securities portfolios. The Bank's primary sources of funds are: deposits; loan amortization, prepayments and maturities; amortization, prepayments and maturities of mortgage-backed and investment securities; and borrowings, and, to a lesser extent, the sale of fixed-rate mortgage loans to the secondary market. The Bank is also a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York ("FHLBNY").
ACQUISITION OF FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
On January 21, 1999, the Company completed the acquisition of Financial Bancorp, Inc., ("FIBC") the holding company for Financial Federal Savings Bank, F.S.B (the "FIBC Acquisition"). Based upon the closing price of the Company's common stock on January 21, 1999, of $21.25 per share, the total consideration paid to FIBC stockholders, in the form of cash or the Company's common stock, was $66.8 million, and was comprised
of $34.5 million in cash and 1,504,704 shares of the Company's common stock. The Company's operating results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 reflect the addition of earnings from the acquisition of FIBC for the period January 22, 1999 through June 30, 1999. The FIBC Acquisition is being accounted for as a purchase transaction, and goodwill of $44.2 million generated from the transaction is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 years.
ACQUISITION OF CONESTOGA BANCORP, INC.
On June 26, 1996 the Bank completed the acquisition of Conestoga Bancorp, Inc. ("Conestoga"), resulting in the merger of Conestoga's wholly-owned subsidiary, Pioneer Savings Bank, F.S.B. ("Pioneer") with and into the Bank, with the Bank as the resulting financial institution (the "Conestoga Acquisition"). The Conestoga Acquisition was accounted for in the financial statements using the purchase method of accounting. Under purchase accounting, the acquired assets and liabilities of Conestoga are recognized at their fair value as of the date of the Conestoga Acquisition. Shareholders of Conestoga were paid approximately $101.3 million in cash, resulting in goodwill of $28.4 million, which is being amortized on a straight line basis over a twelve year period. Since the Conestoga Acquisition occurred on June 26, 1996, its impact upon the Company's consolidated results of operations for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996 was minimal. The full effect of the Conestoga Acquisition is reflected in the Company's consolidated results of operations for all fiscal years after June 30, 1996.
There are currently no other arrangements, understandings or agreements regarding any such additional acquisition or expansion.
MARKET AREA AND COMPETITION
The Bank has been, and intends to continue to be, a community-oriented financial institution providing financial services and loans for housing within its market areas. The Bank maintains its headquarters in the Williamsburgh section of the borough of Brooklyn. Currently, eighteen additional offices are located in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, and in Nassau County. The FIBC Acquisition added five branches, all of which are located in Queens and Brooklyn. The Bank gathers deposits primarily from the communities and neighborhoods in close proximity to its branches. The Bank's primary lending area is larger, and includes much of New York City and Nassau County. Most of the Bank's mortgage loans are secured by properties located in its primary lending area. The Bank also originates loans in New Jersey from time to time.
Since 1993, the Bank's local economy has experienced strong performance. Unemployment has remained low, home sales have increased, residential apartment and commercial property vacancy rates have declined considerably, and local real estate values have increased. A strong local economy existed throughout the Company's entire fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. Despite these encouraging trends, the outlook for the local economy remains uncertain. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, troubled economic conditions in several nations throughout Europe, Asia and South and Central America created interest rate volatility for U.S. government and agency obligations. As a result of this interest rate volatility, the U.S. stock market, especially amongst financial institutions, experienced even greater volatility. Due to increased interest rate uncertainty, the overall performance of financial institutions stocks trailed the overall performance of the aggregate U.S. stock markets during the period July, 1998 through June, 1999.
The Bank faces significant competition both in making loans and in attracting deposits. The Bank's market area has a high density of financial institutions, many of which have greater financial resources than the Bank, and all of which are competitors of the Bank to varying degrees. The Bank's competition for loans comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking companies and insurance companies. The Bank has recently faced increased competition for the origination of multi-family loans, which comprised 72.2% of the Bank's loan portfolio at June 30, 1999. Management anticipates that competition for both multi-family and one-to-four family loans will continue to increase in the future. Thus, no assurances can be made that the Bank will be able to maintain its current level of such loans. The Bank's most direct competition for deposits has historically come from savings and loan associations, savings banks, commercial banks and direct purchases of government securities. The Bank faces additional competition for deposits from short-term money
market funds and other corporate and government securities funds, and from other financial institutions such as brokerage firms and insurance companies. Competition may also increase as a result of the lifting of restrictions on the overall operations of financial institutions.
LENDING ACTIVITIES
LOAN PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION. The Bank's loan portfolio consists primarily of multi-family loans secured by apartment buildings (including loans underlying apartment buildings organized under cooperative form of ownership, "underlying cooperatives"), conventional first mortgage loans secured primarily by one- to four-family residences, including condominiums and cooperative apartment share loans, and non-residential (commercial) property loans. At June 30, 1999, the Bank's loan portfolio totaled $1.39 billion. Within the loan portfolio, $1.00 billion or 72.2% were multi-family loans, $279.0 million or 20.1% were loans to finance the purchase of one-to-four family properties and cooperative apartment share loans, $88.8 million or 6.4% were loans to finance the purchase of commercial properties, primarily small shopping centers, warehouses and nursing homes, and $9.7 million or 0.7% were loans to finance multi-family and residential properties with either full or partial credit guarantees provided by either the Federal Housing Administration (''FHA'') or the Veterans' Administration (''VA''). Of the total mortgage loan portfolio outstanding at that date, 40.6% were fixed-rate loans and 59.4% were adjustable-rate loans (''ARMs''), of which 87.5% are multi-family and non- residential property loans which carry a maturity of 10 years, and an amortization period of no longer than 25 years. At June 30, 1999, the Bank's loan portfolio also included $2.3 million in passbook loans, $3.7 million in home improvement loans, and $1.9 million in other consumer loans.
The types of loans that the Bank may originate are subject to federal and state laws and regulations. Interest rates charged by the Bank on loans are affected principally by the demand for such loans, the supply of money available for lending purposes, and the rates offered by the Bank's competitors. These factors are, in turn, affected by general and economic conditions, and the fiscal and monetary policy of the federal government.
The following table sets forth the composition of the Bank's mortgage and other loan portfolios in dollar amounts and percentages at the dates indicated.
LOAN ORIGINATIONS, PURCHASES, SALES AND SERVICING. The Bank originates both ARMs and fixed-rate loans, which activity is dependent upon customer demand and market rates of interest, and generally does not purchase whole mortgage loans or loan participations. Generally, the Bank sells all originated one-to-four family fixed-rate mortgage loans in the secondary market to the Federal National Mortgage Association (''Fannie Mae''), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (''Freddie Mac''), the State of New York Mortgage Agency (''SONYMA'') and other private secondary market purchasers. ARMs, including adjustable-rate multi-family loans, and fixed-rate multi-family and non- residential mortgage loans with maturities up to 15 years, are retained for the Bank's portfolio. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 origination of ARMs totaled $338.5 million or 70.8% of all loan originations. Originations of fixed-rate mortgage loans totaled $139.5 million, while sales of fixed-rate mortgage loans totaled $6.5 million. The Bank generally sells all fixed-rate loans without recourse and retains the servicing rights. As of June 30, 1999, the Bank was servicing $53.9 million of loans for non-related institutions. The Bank generally receives a loan servicing fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding principal balance for servicing loans sold.
The following table sets forth the Bank's loan originations, loan sales and principal repayments for the periods indicated.
For the Years Ended June 30, --------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars In Thousands) Loans (gross): At beginning of period $953,607 $753,674 $585,854 Mortgage loans originated: One-to-four family 16,657 11,438 4,279 Multi-family and underlying cooperative 424,276 292,555 245,324 Non-residential 28,253 15,929 11,055 Cooperative apartment 2,187 1,281 1,582 Construction 130 - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total mortgage loans originated 471,503 321,203 262,240 Other loans originated 6,567 5,101 2,549 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans originated 478,070 326,304 264,789 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loans acquired (1) 192,318 - - Less: Principal repayments 230,482 120,240 91,405 Loans sold (2) 6,977 5,352 4,157 Loans transferred from real estate pending foreclosure - - -
Mortgage loans transferred to Other Real Estate Owned 342 779 1,407 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unpaid principal balance at end of period $1,386,194 $953,607 $753,674 =============================================================================== (1) Comprised primarily of one-to-four family mortgage loans received in the FIBC Acquisition. (2) Includes fixed-rate mortgage loans and student loans.
LOAN MATURITY AND REPRICING. The following table shows the earlier of maturity or repricing period of the Bank's loan portfolio at June 30, 1999. Loans that have adjustable rates are shown as being due in the period during which the interest rates are next subject to change. The table does not include prepayments or scheduled principal amortization. Prepayments and scheduled principal amortization on the Bank's loan portfolio totaled $230.5 million for the year ended June 30, 1999.
The following table sets forth the dollar amounts in each loan category at June 30, 1999 that are due after June 30, 2000, and whether such loans have fixed or adjustable-interest rates.
Due after June 30, 2000 ------------------------------------ Fixed Adjustable Total - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars In Thousands) Mortgage loans: One-to-four family $172,859 $25,698 $198,557 Multi-family and underlying cooperative 323,264 654,405 977,669 Non-residential 38,622 49,324 87,946 FHA/VA insured 6,371 - 6,371 Cooperative apartment 2,549 2,416 4,965 Other loans - 5,221 5,221 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans $543,665 $737,064 $1,280,729 ===============================================================================
MULTI-FAMILY AND NON-RESIDENTIAL LENDING. The Bank originates adjustable- rate and fixed-rate multi-family (five or more units) and non-residential loans which are secured primarily by apartment buildings, underlying cooperatives, mixed-use (residential combined with commercial) and other non-residential properties, generally located in the Bank's primary lending area. The main competitors for loans in this market tend to be other small- to medium-sized local savings institutions. Multi-family and non-residential loans in the Bank's portfolio generally range in amount from $100,000 to $9.0 million, and have an average loan size of approximately $765,000. Multi-family loans in this range generally have between 5 and 100 apartments per building. The Bank had a total of $763.8 million of multi-family loans in its portfolio on buildings with under 100 units as of June 30, 1999. Mostly as a result of rent control and rent stabilization, the associated rent rolls for buildings of this type indicate a rent range that would be considered affordable for low- to moderate-income households. In addition, at June 30, 1999, the Bank had a total of $125.9 million in loans secured by mortgages on underlying cooperative apartment buildings.
The Bank originated multi-family loans totaling $424.3 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, versus $292.6 million during the year ended June 30, 1998. At June 30, 1999, the Bank had $125.3 million of commitments outstanding to originate mortgage loans, which included $14.3 million of commitments to refinance existing mortgage loans. This compares to $158.0 million of commitments outstanding at June 30, 1998. All the mortgage commitments outstanding at June 30, 1999 were issued to borrowers within the Bank's service area, $123.6 million of which are secured by multi-family and underlying cooperative apartment buildings.
As part of the underwriting process for multi-family and non-residential loans, the Bank considers the financial resources and income level of the borrower, the borrower's experience in owning or managing similar properties, the market value of the property and the Bank's lending experience with the borrower. The typical adjustable-rate multi-family loan carries a maturity of 10 years, and an amortization period of no longer than 25 years. These loans have a fixed interest rate that adjusts after the fifth year indexed to the 5- year FHLBNY advance rate, but may not adjust below the initial interest rate of the loan. Prepayment penalties are assessed throughout the life of the loans. The Bank also offers fixed-rate, self-amortizing, multi-family and non- residential loans with maturities of up to 15 years.
At June 30, 1999, the Bank had multi-family and underlying cooperative loans totaling $1.00 billion in its portfolio, comprising 72.2% of the gross loan portfolio. The underwriting standards for new loans generally require (1) a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 75% based on an appraisal performed by an independent, state-certified appraiser and (2) sufficient cash flow from the underlying property to adequately service the debt, represented by a debt service ratio not below 1.15. Of the Bank's multi-family loans, $874.9 million, or 87.4%, were secured by apartment buildings and $125.9 million, or 12.6%, were secured by underlying cooperatives at June 30, 1999. Multi-family loans are generally viewed as exposing the Bank to a greater risk of loss than one- to four-family residential loans and typically involve higher loan principal amounts. At June 30, 1999, the Bank had 75 multi-family and non- residential loans with principal balances greater than $2.0 million, totaling $241.0 million. These loans, while underwritten to the same standards as all other multi-family and non-residential loans, tend to expose the Bank to a higher degree of risk due to the potential impact of losses from any one loan relative to the size of the Bank's capital position. As of June 30, 1999, none of these loans were in arrears nor in the process of foreclosure. See ''- Asset Quality.''
Loans secured by apartment buildings and other multi-family residential properties are generally larger and involve a greater degree of risk than one- to-four family mortgage loans. Repayment of multi-family loans is dependent, in large part, on sufficient cash flow from the property to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events and government regulations, such as rent control and rent stabilization laws, which are outside the control of the borrower or the Bank, could impair the value of the security for the loan or the future cash flow of such properties. As a result, rental income might not rise sufficiently over time to meet increases in the loan rate at repricing, or increases in overhead expenses (I.E., utilities, taxes). During the last five fiscal years, the Bank's charge-offs related to its multi-family loan portfolio totaled $2.8 million. As of June 30, 1999, the Bank had $1.2 million of non- performing multi-family loans. See "- Asset Quality and - Allowance for Loan Losses" for discussions of the Bank's underwriting procedures utilized in originating multi-family loans.
The Bank's loan portfolio also includes $88.8 million in non-residential real estate mortgage loans which represented 6.41% of gross loans at June 30, 1999. This portfolio is comprised of commercial and industrial properties, and shopping centers. The Bank utilizes, where appropriate, rent or lease income, business receipts, the borrowers' credit history and business experience, and comparable appraisal values when underwriting non-residential applications. As of June 30, 1999, there were no non-performing non-residential loans in the Bank's portfolio. Like multi-family loans, the repayment of non-residential real estate mortgage loans is dependent, in large part, upon sufficient cash flows from the property to cover operating expenses and debt service. For this reason, non-residential real estate mortgage loans are considered to include greater risk than one-to-four family residential loans.
The Bank's three largest loans at June 30, 1999, consisted of a $8.8 million loan secured by a first mortgage on a 276 unit apartment building located in midtown Manhattan originated in May, 1997; an $8.3 million first mortgage loan, originated in June, 1997, secured by a 631 unit apartment building located in the Forest Hills section of Queens; and a $7.8 million first mortgage loan, originated in September, 1998, secured by a 129 unit apartment building located in Manhattan. As of June 30, 1999, all of these loans were performing in accordance with their terms. See "-Regulation of Federal Savings Associations - - Loans to One Borrower." While the loans are current, their large loan balance does subject the Bank to a greater potential loss in the event of non- compliance by the borrower.
The Bank also currently services a total of $293,000 in multi-family loans for various private investors. These loans were sold in the late 1980s, without recourse.
ONE-TO-FOUR FAMILY MORTGAGE AND COOPERATIVE APARTMENT LENDING. The Bank offers residential first mortgage loans secured primarily by owner-occupied, one-to-four family residences, including condominiums, and cooperative apartment share loans. Lending is primarily confined to an area covered by a 50-mile radius from the Bank's Main Office in Brooklyn. The Bank offers conforming and non-conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans and adjustable-rate mortgage loans with maturities of up to 30 years and a maximum loan amount of $500,000. The Bank's residential mortgage loan originations are generally obtained from existing or past loan customers, depositors of the Bank, members of the local community and referrals from attorneys, realtors and independent mortgage brokers who refer members of the communities located in the Bank's primary lending area. The Bank is a participating seller/servicer with several government-sponsored mortgage agencies: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and SONYMA, and generally underwrites its one-to-four family residential mortgage loans to conform with standards required by these agencies. Although the collateral for cooperative apartment loans is comprised of shares in a cooperative corporation (a corporation whose primary asset is the underlying real estate), cooperative apartment loans generally are treated as one-to-four family loans. The Bank's portfolio of such loans is $32.9 million, or 2.37% of total loans as of June 30, 1999. The market for cooperative apartment loan financing has improved over the past five years with the support of certain government agencies, particularly SONYMA and Fannie Mae, who are insuring and purchasing, respectively, cooperative apartment share loans in qualifying buildings. The Bank adheres to underwriting guidelines established by SONYMA and Fannie Mae for all fixed-rate cooperative apartment loans which are originated for sale. Adjustable-rate cooperative apartment loans continue to be originated both for portfolio and for sale.
At June 30, 1999, $279.0 million, or 20.12%, of the Bank's loans consisted of one-to-four family and cooperative apartment mortgage loans. ARMs represented 36.65% of total one-to-four-family and cooperative apartment loans, while fixed-rate mortgages comprised 63.35% of the total. The majority of these loans were obtained through the acquisitions of Conestoga and FIBC. The Bank, which is not an aggressive one-to-four-family mortgage lender, currently offers one-to- four family and cooperative apartment mortgage ARMs secured by residential properties with rates that adjust every one or three years. One-to- four family ARMs are offered with terms of up to 30 years. The interest rate at repricing on one-to-four family ARMs currently offered fluctuates based upon a spread above the average yield on United States Treasury securities, adjusted to a constant maturity which corresponds to the adjustment period of the loan (the ''U.S. Treasury constant maturity index'') as published weekly by the Federal Reserve Board. Additionally, one and three-year one-to-four family ARMs are generally subject to limitations on interest rate increases of 2% and 3%, respectively, per adjustment period, and an aggregate adjustment of 6% over the life of the loan.
The volume and types of ARMs originated by the Bank have been affected by such market factors as the level of interest rates, competition, consumer preferences and availability of funds. During the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998 and 1999, demand for one-to-four family ARMs was relatively weak due to the prevailing low interest rate environment and consumer preference for fixed- rate loans. Accordingly, although the Bank will continue to offer one-to-four family ARMs, there can be no assurance that in the future the Bank will be able to originate a sufficient volume of one-to-four family ARMs to increase or maintain the proportion that these loans bear to total loans. For the year ended June 30, 1999, demand for ARM one-to-four family loans was minimal, and the Bank originated only $569,000 of one-to-four family and cooperative apartment mortgage ARMs.
The Bank currently offers fixed-rate mortgage loans with terms of 10 to 30 years secured by one-to-four family residences and cooperative apartments. Interest rates charged on fixed-rate loans are based upon market conditions. The Bank generally originates fixed-rate loans for sale in amounts up to the maximum allowed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and SONYMA, with private mortgage insurance required for loans with loan-to-value ratios in excess of 80%. For the year ended June 30, 1999, the Bank originated $18.3 million of fixed-rate, one-to-four family residential mortgage and cooperative apartment loans.
The Bank generally sells its newly originated conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans either to its wholly-owned subsidiary, DSBW Residential Preferred Funding, or in the secondary market to federal and state agencies such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and SONYMA, and its non-conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans to various private sector secondary market purchasers. With few exceptions, such as SONYMA, the Bank retains the servicing rights on all such loans sold. For the year ended June 30, 1999, the Bank sold mortgage loans totaling $6.5 million to non-affiliates. As of June 30, 1999, the Bank's portfolio of one-to-four family fixed-rate mortgage loans serviced for others totaled $53.6 million.
Originated mortgage loans in the Bank's one-to-four family portfolio generally include due-on-sale clauses which provide the Bank with the contractual right to deem the loan immediately due and payable in the event that the borrower transfers ownership of the property without the Bank's consent. It is the Bank's policy to enforce due-on-sale provisions within the applicable regulations and guidelines imposed by New York law and secondary market purchasers.
Home equity loans currently are originated to a maximum of $250,000. When combined with the balance of the first mortgage lien, the home equity loan may not exceed 75% of the appraised value of the property at the time of the loan commitment. The Bank's home equity loans outstanding at June 30, 1999, totaled $4.8 million against total available credit lines of $7.9 million. During the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998 and 1999, the Bank offered home-equity line promotions to selected mortgage customers, which resulted in the increase in credit lines from $1.8 million at June 30, 1997 to $7.9 million at June 30, 1999.
OTHER LENDING. The Bank also originates other loans, primarily student and passbook loans. Total other loans outstanding at June 30, 1999, amounted to $7.8 million, or 0.57%, of the Bank's loan portfolio. Passbook loans, totaling $2.3 million, and home improvement loans, totaling $3.7 million, comprise the majority of the Bank's other loan portfolio.
LOAN APPROVAL AUTHORITY AND UNDERWRITING. The Board of Directors establishes lending authorities for individual officers as to its various types of loan products. For multi-family and one- to four-family mortgage loans, including cooperative apartment and condominium loans, the Loan Operating Committee, which is comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Executive Vice President, and the heads of both the residential loan and multi- family loan origination departments, has the authority to approve loans in amounts up to $3.0 million. Any loan in excess of $3.0 million, however, must be approved by the Board of Directors. All loans in excess of $500,000 are presented to the Board of Directors for their review. In addition, regulatory restrictions imposed on the Bank's lending activities limit the amount of credit that can be extended to any one borrower to 15% of total capital. See ''- Regulation - Regulation of Federal Savings Associations - Loans to One Borrower.''
For all one-to-four family loans originated by the Bank, upon receipt of a completed loan application from a prospective borrower, a credit report is ordered, income, assets and certain other information are verified by an independent credit agency, and if necessary, additional financial information is required to be submitted by the borrower. An appraisal of the real estate intended to secure the proposed loan is required, which currently is performed by an independent appraiser designated and approved by the Board of Directors. In certain cases, the Bank may also require certain environmental hazard reports on multi-family properties. It is the Bank's policy to require appropriate insurance protection, including title and hazard insurance, on all real estate mortgage loans prior to closing. Borrowers generally are required to advance funds for certain items such as real estate taxes, flood insurance and private mortgage insurance, when applicable.
ASSET QUALITY
DELINQUENT LOANS AND FORECLOSED ASSETS. Management reviews delinquent loans on a continuous basis and reports monthly to the Board of Directors regarding the status of all delinquent and non-accrual loans in the Bank's portfolio. The Bank's real estate loan servicing policies and procedures require that the Bank initiate contact with a delinquent borrower as soon after the tenth day of delinquency as possible. Generally, the policy calls for a late notice to be sent 10 days after the due date of the late payment. If payment has not been received within 30 days of the due date, a letter is sent to the borrower. Thereafter, periodic letters and phone calls are placed to the borrower until payment is received. In addition, Bank policy calls for the cessation of interest accruals on loans delinquent 60 days or more. When contact is made with the borrower at any time prior to foreclosure, the Bank will attempt to obtain the full payment due, or work out a repayment schedule with the borrower to avoid foreclosure. Generally, foreclosure proceedings are initiated by the Bank when a loan is 90 days past due. As soon as practicable after initiating foreclosure proceedings on a loan, the Bank prepares an estimate of the fair value of the underlying collateral. It is the Bank's general policy to dispose of properties acquired through foreclosure or deeds in lieu thereof as quickly and as prudently as possible in consideration of market conditions, the physical condition of the property, and any other mitigating conditions. If a foreclosure action is instituted and the loan is not brought current, paid in full, or refinanced before the foreclosure sale, the real property securing the loan is generally sold at foreclosure or by the Bank as soon thereafter as practicable.
The Bank retains outside counsel experienced in foreclosure and bankruptcy procedures to institute foreclosure and other actions on the Bank's delinquent loans.
Non-performing loans totaled $3.0 million at June 30, 1999, as compared to $884,000 at June 30, 1998. Of the $3.0 million non-performing loans at June 30, 1999, $1.8 million were acquired from FIBC, consisting of 13 one- to four- family residential loans. Otherwise, non-performing loans increased approximately $300,000 due primarily to the addition of one multi-family and underlying cooperative loan with an aggregate principal amount of $657,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, and for which the Company recorded a charge-off of $92,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. The Company had 23 loans totaling $819,000 delinquent 60-89 days at June 30, 1999, as compared to 30 such delinquent loans totaling $327,000 at June 30, 1998. The Company has experienced a shift in the composition of its 60-89 day delinquencies from its conventional mortgage portfolio, which loans typically carry larger average balances, to smaller balance FHA/VA insured and consumer loans.
Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 114 "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan," ("SFAS 114") the Company is required to account for certain loan modifications or restructurings as ''troubled-debt restructurings.'' In general, the modification or restructuring of a debt constitutes a troubled-debt restructuring if the Company, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower's financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower that the Company would not otherwise consider. Debt restructurings or loan modifications for a borrower do not necessarily always constitute troubled-debt restructurings, however, and troubled-debt restructurings do not necessarily result in non-accrual loans. The Company had two loans classified as troubled- debt restructurings at June 30, 1999, totaling $1.2 million, both which are on accrual status as they have been performing in accordance with the restructuring terms for over one year. Troubled-debt restructurings totaled $4.0 million at June 30, 1998, consisting of 3 loans, as one troubled-debt restructuring totaling $2.8 million was paid-in-full during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. The current regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision require that troubled-debt restructurings remain classified as such until either the loan is repaid or returns to its original terms. The Company did not have any new troubled-debt restructurings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.
Under SFAS 114, the Bank established guidelines for determining and measuring impairment in loans. In the event the carrying balance of the loan, including all accrued interest, exceeds the estimate of fair value, the loan is considered to be impaired and a reserve is established. The recorded investment in loans deemed impaired was approximately $1.6 million as of June 30, 1999, compared to $3.1 million at June 30, 1998, and the average balance of impaired loans was $2.3 million for the year ended June 30, 1999 compared to $3.8 million for the year ended June 30, 1998. At June 30, 1999, reserves have been provided on all impaired loans within specific reserves totaling $62,000 allocated within the allowance for loan losses. Generally, the Bank considers non-performing loans to be impaired loans. However, at June 30, 1999, $1.4 million of one-to-four family, cooperative apartment and consumer loans on nonaccrual status are not deemed impaired under SFAS 114. All of these loans have outstanding balances less than $227,000, and are considered a homogeneous loan pool not covered by SFAS 114.
NON-PERFORMING ASSETS AND TROUBLED-DEBT RESTRUCTURINGS. The following table sets forth information regarding the Bank's non-performing assets and troubled-debt restructurings at the dates indicated.
The Bank recorded $43,000 and $125,000 of interest income on non-performing loans and troubled-debt restructurings, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 1999, and $130,000 and $306,000, respectively, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998. If the Bank's non-performing loans and troubled-debt restructurings had been performing in accordance with their terms, the Bank would have recorded additional interest income of $108,000 and $57,000, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 1999, and $51,000 and $109,000, respectively, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.
OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED ("OREO"). Property acquired by the Bank as a result of a foreclosure on a mortgage loan is classified as OREO and is recorded at the lower of the recorded investment in the related loan or the fair value of the property at the date of acquisition, with any resulting write down charged to the allowance for loan losses. The Bank obtains an appraisal on an OREO property as soon as practicable after it takes possession of the real property. The Bank will generally reassess the value of OREO at least annually thereafter. The balance of other real estate owned ("OREO")was $866,000, consisting of 9 properties, at June 30, 1999 compared to $825,000, consisting of 14 properties, at June 30, 1998. During the year ended June 30, 1999, total additions to OREO were $644,000, of which $302,000 were acquired from FIBC. Offsetting this addition, were OREO sales and charge-offs of $618,000 during the year ended June 30, 1999, of which $204,000 related to OREO acquired from FIBC. All charge-offs were recorded against the allowance for losses on real estate owned, which was $149,000 as of June 30, 1999.
CLASSIFIED ASSETS. The Bank's Loan Loss Reserve Committee meets every other month to review all problem loans in the portfolio to determine whether any loans require reclassification in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines. Recommendations are reported by the Loan Loss Reserve Committee to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. The Loan Loss Reserve Committee, subject to Board approval, establishes policies relating to the internal classification of loans and believes that its classification policies are consistent with regulatory policies. All non-performing loans and OREO are considered to be classified assets. In addition, the Bank maintains a "watch list" comprised of 43 loans totaling $4.7 million at June 30, 1999 which, while performing, are characterized by weaknesses which require special attention from management and are considered to be potential problem loans. All loans on the watch list are considered to be classified
assets or are otherwise categorized as "Special Mention" as discussed below. As a result of its bi-monthly review of the loan portfolio, the Loan Loss Reserve Committee may decide to reclassify one or more of the loans on the watch list.
Federal regulations and Bank policy require that loans and other assets considered to be of lesser quality be classified as ''Substandard,'' ''Doubtful'' or ''Loss'' assets. An asset is considered ''Substandard'' if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. ''Substandard'' assets have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses and are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain ''some loss'' if deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as ''Doubtful'' have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified ''Substandard'' with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make ''collection or liquidation in full,'' on the basis of current existing facts, conditions, and values, ''highly questionable and improbable.'' Assets classified as ''Loss'' are those considered ''uncollectible'' and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. Assets which do not expose the Bank to sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories but possess potential weaknesses that deserve management's attention are designated ''Special Mention'' by management. At June 30, 1999 the Bank had $2.1 million of loans designated Special Mention.
At June 30, 1999, the Bank had $4.0 million of assets classified Substandard, consisting of 29 loans and 9 other real estate owned properties, $328,000 of assets classified as Doubtful, consisting of 1 loan, and no assets classified as Loss. Of the assets classified as substandard, 18 loans and 2 other real estate properties totaling $2.9 million were acquired from FIBC.
The following table sets forth at June 30, 1999 the Bank's aggregate carrying value of the assets classified as Substandard, Doubtful or Loss or designated as Special Mention.
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
The Bank has established a Loan Loss Reserve Committee and has charged it with, among other things, specific responsibility for monitoring the adequacy of the loan loss reserve. The Loan Loss Reserve Committee's findings, along with recommendations for additional loan loss reserve provisions, if any, are reported directly to senior management of the Bank, and to the Board of Directors. The Allowance for Loan Losses is supplemented through a periodic provision for loan losses based on the Loan Loss Reserve Committee's evaluation of several variables, including the level of non-performing loans, the ratio of reserves to total performing loans, the level and composition of new loan activity, and an estimate of future losses determinable at the date the portfolio is evaluated. Such evaluation, which includes a review of all loans on which full collectibility may not be reasonably assured, considers among other matters, the fair value of the underlying collateral, economic conditions, historical loan loss experience and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for an adequate loan loss allowance. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank's allowance for loan losses, its valuation of OREO, and both the level of loans in foreclosure and pending foreclosure. Based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination, the regulators may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance.
Loan loss reserves are established based upon a review of the two components of the Bank's loan portfolio, performing loans and non-performing loans. Performing loans are reviewed based upon the premise that, over time, the loan portfolio will generate losses and that some portion of the loan portfolio which is currently performing will default. The evaluation process is thus based upon the Bank's historical loss experience.
Non-performing loans are reviewed individually to determine if the liquidation value of the underlying collateral is sufficient to pay off the existing debt. Should the bank determine that a non-performing loan is likely to result in a principal loss, the loan is then placed into one of four classifications. The particular classification assigned to any one loan, or proportion thereof, (loss, doubtful, substandard or special mention) is based upon the actual level of loss attributable to that loan, as determined by the Loan Loss Reserve Committee. The Bank will then increase its general valuation allowance in an amount established by the Loan Loss Reserve Committee to appropriately reflect the anticipated loss from each loss classification category.
Specific reserves are established against loans classified as ''loss.'' Rather than an estimation of potential loss, the establishment of a specific reserve represents the identification of an actual loss which will result in a charge-off. This loss amount will be set aside on the Bank's balance sheet as a specific reserve and will serve to reduce the carrying value of the associated loan. The Bank's determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is
subject to review by various regulatory agencies which can order the establishment of additional general or specific loss allowances.
The Bank has maintained its allowance for loan losses to a level which management believes is adequate to absorb possible losses that may be incurred within the Bank's loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses has increased $3.0 million from June 30, 1998 to June 30, 1999, due primarily to the addition of $3.0 million in loan loss reserves from FIBC which the Company determined was adequate to cover potential losses on the loans acquired from FIBC. The reduction in the Company's loan loss provision from $1.6 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, to $240,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, resulted from continued stability of non-performing loan and charge-offs which totaled $201,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, compared to $286,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.
The following table sets forth activity in the Bank's allowance for loan losses at or for the dates indicated.
The following table sets forth the Bank's allowance for loan losses allocated by loan category and the percent of loans in each category to total loans at the dates indicated.
INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE COMPANY - The Company's principal asset is its investment in the Bank's common stock, which amounted to $189.6 million at June 30, 1999. The Company's other investments at that date totaled $54.8 million, and are invested in Ginnie Mae adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities, which are tied closely to short-term borrowings, and equity securities and U.S. agency obligations which are utilized for general business activities, which may include, but are not limited to: (1) repurchases of Common Stock, (2) acquisition of other companies, (3) subject to applicable limitations, the payment of dividends, and/or (4) investments in the equity securities of other financial institutions and other investments not permitted for federally- insured institutions. There can be no assurance that the Company will engage in any of these activities in the future.
Otherwise, the investment policy of the Company calls for investments in relatively short-term, liquid securities similar to such securities defined in the securities investment policy of the Bank.
INVESTMENT POLICY OF THE BANK. The securities investment policy of the Bank, which is established by its Board of Directors, is designed to help the Bank achieve its overall asset/liability management objectives. Generally, the policy calls for management to emphasize principal preservation, liquidity, diversification, short maturities and/or repricing terms, and a favorable return on investment when selecting new investments for the Bank's portfolio. The Bank's current securities investment policy permits investments in various types of liquid assets including obligations of the U.S. Treasury and federal agencies, investment grade corporate obligations, various types of mortgage- backed securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and federal funds sold to select financial institutions periodically approved by the Board of Directors.
Investment strategies are implemented by the Asset and Liability Management Committee ("ALCO") comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President and other senior management officers. The strategies take into account the overall composition of the Bank's balance sheet, including loans and deposits, and are intended to protect and enhance the Company's earnings and market value. The strategies are reviewed monthly by the ALCO and reported regularly to the Board of Directors.
The Company did not engage in any hedging transactions utilizing derivative instruments (such as interest rate swaps and caps) during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, and did not have any such hedging transactions in place at June 30, 1999. In the future, the Company may, with Board approval, engage in hedging transactions utilizing derivative instruments.
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. In its securities investment activities over the past few years the Company has increased its purchases of mortgage-backed securities, which provide the portfolio with investments consisting of desirable repricing, cash flow and credit quality characteristics. Mortgage- backed securities generally yield less than the loans that underlie the securities because of the cost of payment guarantees and credit enhancements that reduce credit risk to the investor. While mortgage-backed securities backed by federally sponsored agencies carry a reduced credit risk as compared to whole loans, such securities remain subject to the risk that fluctuating interest rates, along with other factors such as the geographic distribution of the underlying mortgage loans, may alter the prepayment rate of such mortgage loans and so affect both the prepayment speed, and value, of such securities. However, mortgage-backed securities are more liquid than individual mortgage loans and may readily be used to collateralize borrowings of the Company. Approximately 50.3% of the Company's $525.7 million mortgage-backed securities portfolio, which represented 23.4% of the Company's total assets at June 30, 1999, was comprised of securities backed by either the Governmental National Mortgage Association (''Ginnie Mae''), Freddie Mac, or Fannie Mae. In addition to the superior credit quality provided by the agency backing, the mortgage-backed securities portfolio also provides the Company with important interest rate risk management features.
At June 30, 1999, the Bank had $344.3 million in CMOs and REMICs, which comprise the largest component of the Bank's mortgage-backed securities. All of the securities are either backed by U.S agency obligations or have been issued by highly reputable financial institutions. In addition, all of the non-agency backed obligations had been rated in the highest rating category by at least one nationally recognized rating agency at the time of purchase. In addition, none of these securities have stripped principal and interest components and the Bank is positioned in priority tranches in all securities. The majority of these securities have been purchased using funds from short- term borrowings as part of reverse repurchase transactions, in which these securities act as collateral for the borrowed funds. As of June 30, 1999, the fair value of these securities was approximately $4.7 million below their cost basis, due primarily to reductions in market values associated with an increase in short-term interest rates during the quarter ended June 30, 1999.
The Bank's remaining mortgage-backed securities portfolio is comprised of a $112.5 million investment in adjustable rate Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae pass-through securities which have an average term to next rate adjustment of less than one year, a $43.6 million investment in seasoned fixed-rate Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pass-through securities, with an estimated remaining life of less than three years, and a $25.5 million investment in mortgage-backed securities, which provide a return of principal and interest on a monthly basis, and have original maturities of between five to seven years, at which point the entire remaining principal balance is repaid (the ''balloon'' payment).
GAAP requires that investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and all investments in debt securities be classified in one of the following three categories and accounted for accordingly: trading securities, securities available for sale, or securities held to maturity. The Company had no securities classified as trading securities during the year ended June 30, 1999, and does not intend to trade securities. Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity, net of deferred taxes. At June 30, 1999, the Company had $649.5 million of securities classified as available for sale which represented 28.90% of total assets at June 30, 1999. Given the size of the available for sale portfolio, future fluctuations in market values of these securities could result in fluctuations in the Company's stockholders' equity.
The maturities on the Bank's fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities (balloons, seasoned Ginnie Mae's and Freddie Mac's) are relatively short as compared to the final maturities on its ARMs and CMO portfolios. Except for fixed rate mortgage backed securities acquired from Conestoga, which were generally classified as available for sale, the Company typically classifies purchased fixed rate mortgage-backed securities as held-to-maturity, and carries the securities at amortized cost. The Company is confident of its ability to hold these securities to final maturity. The Company typically classifies purchased ARMs and CMOs as available for sale, in recognition of the greater prepayment uncertainty associated with these securities, and carries these securities at fair market value.
The following table sets forth activity in the Company's mortgage-backed securities portfolio for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended June 30, - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars In Thousands) Amortized cost at beginning of period $408,086 $306,164 $209,542 Purchases/ Sales (net) 263,644 193,086 137,889 Principal repayments (179,434) (90,686) (41,021) Premium and discount amortization, net 230 (478) (246) Securities acquired in purchase of FIBC 37,780 - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amortized cost at end of period $530,306 $408,086 $306,164 =============================================================================== (1) Amount comprised of $13.8 million of Freddie Mac securities, $8.7 million of Fannie Mae securities and $15.3 of Ginnie Mae securities.
The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of the Company's securities at the dates indicated.
CORPORATE DEBT OBLIGATIONS. The Company invests in the short-term investment grade debt obligations of various corporations. Corporate debt obligations generally carry both a higher rate of return and a higher degree of credit risk than U.S. Treasury securities with comparable maturities. In addition, corporate securities are generally less liquid than comparable U.S. Treasury securities. In recognition of the additional risks associated with investing in these securities, the Company's investment policy limits new investments in corporate obligations to those companies which are rated single ''A'' or better by one of the nationally recognized rating agencies, and limits investments in any one corporate entity to the lesser of 1% of total assets or 15% of the Company's equity. At June 30, 1999, the Company's portfolio of corporate debt obligations totaled $69.9 million, or 3.11% of total assets.
The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of the Company's securities, by accounting classification and by type of security, at the dates indicated.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the amortized cost, fair value and weighted average yield of the Company's securities at June 30, 1999, by remaining period to contractual maturity. With respect to mortgage-backed securities, the entire amount is reflected in the maturity period that includes the final security payment date and, accordingly, no effect has been given to periodic repayments or possible prepayments. Other than obligations of federal agencies and GSEs, the Company has no investments in securities issued by any one entity in excess of 10% of stockholders' equity at June 30, 1999.
SOURCES OF FUNDS
GENERAL. Deposits, repayments of loans and mortgage-backed securities, investment security maturities and redemptions, and short- to medium-term borrowings from the FHLBNY, which include both advances and repurchase agreements treated as financings, are the Bank's primary sources of funding for its lending and investment activities. The Bank is also active in the secondary mortgage market, selling substantially all of its new long-term, fixed-rate residential mortgage product to either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or SONYMA.
DEPOSITS. The Bank offers a variety of deposit accounts having a range of interest rates and terms. The Bank presently offers savings accounts, money market accounts, checking accounts, NOW and Super NOW accounts, and certificates of deposit. The flow of deposits is influenced significantly by general economic conditions, changes in prevailing interest rates, and competition from other financial institutions and investment products. The Bank has not used brokers to attract and retain deposits, relying instead on customer service, convenience and long-standing relationships with customers.
Consequently, the communities in which the Bank maintains branch offices have historically provided the Bank with nearly all of its deposits. At June 30, 1999, the Bank had deposit liabilities of $1.25 billion, up $208.7 million from June 30, 1998. Within total deposits, $78.7 million, or 6.3%, consisted of certificates of deposit with balances of $100,000 or greater. Individual Retirement Accounts (''IRA's'') totaled $124.8 million, or 10.0% of total deposits.
The following table presents the deposit activity of the Bank for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended June 30, - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1999 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Dollars In Thousands) Deposits $1,686,616 $1,373,072 $1,702,024 Withdrawals 1,751,003 1,340,838 1,729,025 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deposits (Withdrawals) in excess of (deposits) withdrawals (64,387) 32,234 (27,001) Deposits acquired in purchase of FIBC (1) 230,627 - - Interest credited 42,479 42,713 40,282 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL INCREASE IN DEPOSITS $208,719 $74,947 $13,281 ==============================================================================
(1) Amount comprised of $123.0 million in certificates of deposit, $67.4 in savings accounts, $15.1 million in checking accounts, $16.7 million in money market accounts, and $7.5 million in NOW and Super NOW accounts.
At June 30, 1999 the Bank had $78.7 million in certificate of deposit accounts over $100,000 maturing as follows:
Weighted Average Amount Rate - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars In Thousands) Maturity Period Within three months $23,894 5.32% After three but within six months 12,785 5.01 After six but within twelve months 26,571 5.52 After 12 months 15,457 5.66 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $78,707 5.40% ===============================================================================
The following table sets forth the distribution of the Bank's deposit accounts and the related weighted average interest rates at the dates indicated.
The following table presents, by interest rate ranges, the amount of certificate accounts outstanding at the dates indicated and the period to maturity of the certificate accounts outstanding at June 30, 1999.
BORROWINGS. The Bank has been a member and shareholder of the FHLBNY since February 14, 1980. One of the privileges accorded FHLBNY shareholders is the ability to borrow money under various lending (''Advance'') programs at competitive rates. The Bank, as a member of the FHLBNY, is provided with a borrowing line which equaled $547.2 million at June 30, 1999. From time to time, the Bank will borrow from the FHLBNY for various purposes.
The Bank had borrowings (''Advances'') from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York totaling $250.0 million and $103.5 million at June 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The average cost of FHLB advances was 5.96% and 6.04%, respectively, during the years ended June 30, 1999 and 1998, and the average interest rate on outstanding FHLBNY advances was 5.52% and 6.05%, respectively, at June 30, 1999 and 1998. At June 30, 1999, the Bank maintained in excess of $275.0 million of qualifying collateral (principally real estate loans), as defined by the FHLBNY, to secure such advances.
Securities sold with agreement to repurchase totaled $481.7 million at June 30, 1999. The mortgage-backed securities sold with agreement to repurchase mature at various periods beginning in January, 2000. Borrowings under such reverse repurchase agreements involve the delivery of securities to broker- dealers who arrange the transactions. The securities remain registered in the name of the Bank, and are returned upon the maturities of the agreements. Funds to repay the Bank's securities sold with agreement to repurchase at maturity will be provided primarily by cash received from the maturing securities.
Presented below is information concerning securities sold with agreements to repurchase and FHLB Advances for the years ended June 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997:
Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase: At or For the Year Ended June 30, - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars In Thousands) Balance outstanding at end of period $481,660 $256,601 $76,333 Average interest cost at end of period 5.28% 5.74% 5.69% Average balance outstanding 381,996 145,676 32,374 Average interest cost during the year 5.45% 5.95% 5.73% Carrying value of underlying collateral $496,500 $267,469 $83,778 Estimated market value of underlying collateral 491,750 268,991 84,172 Maximum balance outstanding at month end during period 481,660 256,601 76,333
FHLB Advances: At or For the Year Ended June 30, - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars In Thousands) Balance outstanding at end of period $250,000 $103,505 $63,210 Average interest cost at end of period 5.52% 6.05% 6.18% Average balance outstanding 201,494 86,709 20,121 Average interest cost during the year 5.96% 6.04% 5.79% Maximum balance outstanding at month end during period 260,000 103,505 63,210
SUBSIDIARY ACTIVITIES
In addition to the Bank, the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries consist of six active wholly-owned subsidiary corporations, one of which is directly owned by the Company and five of which are directly owned by the Bank. In addition, DSBW Preferred Funding Corp. is a direct subsidiary of Havemeyer Equities Inc., a direct subsidiary of the Bank. The following table presents an overview of the Company's subsidiaries as of June 30, 1999.
PERSONNEL
As of June 30, 1999, the Company had 256 full-time employees and 81 part- time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit, and the Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good.
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION
FEDERAL TAXATION
GENERAL. The following is a discussion of material tax matters and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of the tax rules applicable to the Bank or the Company. The Bank was last audited for its taxable year ended December 31, 1988. For federal income tax purposes, the Company and the Bank will file separate income tax returns and will each report its resepective income on a June 30 fiscal year basis using the accrual method of accounting and will be subject to federal income taxation in the same manner as other corporations with some exceptions, including particularly the Bank's tax reserve for bad debts, discussed below.
TAX BAD DEBT RESERVES. The Bank, as a "large bank" (one with assets having an adjusted basis of more than $500 million), is unable to make additions to its tax bad debt reserve, is permitted to deduct bad debts only as they occur and is required to recapture (i.e. take into income), over a multi-year period, a portion of the balance of its bad debt reserves as of June 30, 1997. Since the Bank has already provided a deferred income tax liability for this tax for financial reporting purposes, there was no adverse impact to the Bank's financial condition or results of operations from the enactment of the federal legislation that imposed such recapture. The recapture is suspended during the tax years ended June 30, 1997 and 1998, based upon the Bank's origination levels for certain residential loans which met the minimum levels required by the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, (the "1996 Act") to suspend recapture for that tax year.
DISTRIBUTIONS. To the extent that the Bank makes "non-dividend distributions" to shareholders, such distributions will be considered to result in distributions from the Bank's "base year reserve," i.e. its reserve as of June 30, 1989, to the extent thereof and then from its supplemental reserve for losses on loans, and an amount based on the amount distributed will be included in the Bank's taxable income. Non-dividend distributions include distributions in excess of the Bank's current and accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes, distributions in redemption of stock, and distributions in partial or complete liquidation. Dividends paid out of the Bank's current or accumulated earnings and profits will not be so included in the Bank's income.
The amount of additional taxable income created from a non-dividend distribution is an amount that, when reduced by the tax attributable to the income, is equal to the amount of the distribution. Thus, approximately one and one-half times the amount of such distribution (but not in excess of the amount of such reserves) would be includable in income for federal income tax purposes, assuming a 35% federal corporate income tax rate. See "Regulation" and "Dividend Policy" for limits on the payment of dividends by the Bank. The Bank does not intend to pay dividends that would result in a recapture of any portion of its tax bad debt reserves.
CORPORATE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX. The Code imposes a tax ("AMT") on alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI") at a rate of 20%. AMTI is adjusted by determining the tax treatment of certain items in a manner that negates the deferral of income resulting from the regular tax treatment of those items. Thus, the Bank's AMTI is increased by an amount equal to 75% of the amount by which the Bank's adjusted current earnings exceeds its AMTI (determined without regard to this adjustment and prior to reduction for net operating losses).
STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION
STATE OF NEW YORK. The Bank and the Company are subject to New York State franchise tax on one of several alternative bases, whichever results in the highest tax, and will file combined returns for purposes of this tax. The basic tax is measured by "entire net income," which is federal taxable income with adjustments. For New York State tax purposes, so long as the Bank continues to meet certain definitional tests relating to its assets and the nature of its business, it will be permitted deductions, within specified formula limits, for additions to its bad debt reserves for purposes of computing its entire net income. The Bank's deduction with respect to "qualifying loans," which are generally loans secured by certain interests in real property, may be computed using an amount based on the Bank's actual loss experience (the "Experience Method") or an amount equal to 32% of the Bank's entire net income (the "PTI Method"), computed without regard to this deduction and reduced by the amount of any permitted addition to the Bank's reserve for non-qualifying loans.
New York State (the "State") enacted legislation, which enables the Bank to avoid the recapture into income of the State tax bad debt reserves unless one of the following events occur: 1) the Bank's retained earnings represented by the reserve is
used for purposes other than to absorb losses from bad debts, including dividends in excess of the Bank's earnings and profits or distributions in liquidation or in redemption of stock; 2) the Bank fails to qualify as a thrift as provided by the State tax law, or 3) there is a change in state tax law.
The Bank's deduction with respect to non-qualifying loans must be computed under the Experience Method which is based on the Bank's actual charge-offs. Each year the Bank will review the most favorable way to calculate the deduction attributable to an addition to the tax bad debt reserves.
The New York State tax rate for the 1998 calendar year is 10.53% (including a commuter transportation surcharge) of net income. In general, the Company will not be required to pay New York State tax on dividends and interest received from the Bank.
CITY OF NEW YORK. The Bank and the Company are also subject to a similarly calculated New York City banking corporation tax of 9% on income allocated to New York City.
New York City also enacted legislation which conformed its tax law regarding bad debt deductions to New York State's tax law.
STATE OF DELAWARE. As a Delaware holding company not earning income in Delaware, the Company is exempted from Delaware corporate income tax, but is required to file an annual report and pay an annual franchise tax to the State of Delaware.
REGULATION
GENERAL
The Bank is subject to extensive regulation, examination, and supervision by the OTS, as its chartering agency, and the FDIC, as its deposit insurer. The Bank's deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") and the Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") which are administered by the FDIC, and the Bank is a member of the FHLBNY. The Bank must file reports with the OTS and the FDIC concerning its activities and financial condition, and it must obtain regulatory approvals prior to entering into certain transactions, such as mergers with, or acquisitions of, other depository institutions. The OTS and the FDIC conduct periodic examinations to assess the Bank's compliance with various regulatory requirements. This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which a savings association can engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the insurance fund and depositors. The Company, as a pubicly-held unitary savings and loan holding company, is required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with, the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ''SEC'') under the federal securities laws and of the OTS.
The OTS and the FDIC have significant discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes. Any change in such policies, whether by the OTS, the FDIC or the Congress, could have a material adverse impact on the Company, the Bank, and the operations of both.
The following discussion is intended to be a summary of the material statutes and regulations applicable to savings associations, and it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all such statutes and regulations.
REGULATION OF FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. The Bank derives its lending and investment powers from the Home Owner's Loan Act, as amended (''HOLA''), and the regulations of the OTS thereunder. Under these laws and regulations, the Bank may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential and commercial real estate, commercial and consumer loans, certain types of debt securities, and certain other assets. The Bank may also establish service corporations that may engage in activities not otherwise permissible for the Bank, including certain real estate equity investments and securities and insurance brokerage. These investment powers are subject to various limitations, including (a) a prohibition against the acquisition of any corporate debt security that is not
rated in one of the four highest rating categories; (b) a limit of 400% of an association's capital on the aggregate amount of loans secured by non-residential real estate property; (c) a limit of 20% of an association's assets on commercial loans, with the amount of commercial loans in excess of 10% of assets being limited to small business loans; (d) a limit of 35% of an association's assets on the aggregate amount of consumer loans and acquisitions of certain debt securities; (e) a limit of 5% of assets on non-conforming loans (loans in excess of the specific limitations of HOLA); and (f) a limit of the greater of 5% of assets or an association's capital on certain construction loans made for the purpose of inancing what is or is expected to become residential property.
LOANS TO ONE BORROWER. Under HOLA, savings associations are generally subject to the same limits on loans to one borrower as are imposed on national banks. Generally, under these limits, a savings association may not make a loan or extend credit to a single or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of the association's unimpaired capital and surplus. Additional amounts may be lent, not in excess of 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus, if such loans or extensions of credit are fully secured by readily-marketable collateral. Such collateral is defined to include certain debt and equity securities and bullion, but generally does not include real estate. At June 30, 1999, the Bank's limit on loans to one borrower was $28.6 million. At June 30, 1999, the Bank's largest aggregate amount of loans to one borrower was $14.7 million and the second largest borrower had an aggregate balance of $14.3 million.
QTL TEST. HOLA requires a savings association to meet a QTL test. A savings association may satisfy the QTL test by maintaining at least 65% of its ''portfolio assets'' in certain ''qualified thrift investments'' in at least nine months of the most recent twelve-month period. ''Portfolio assets'' means, in general, an association's total assets less the sum of (a) specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets, (b) certain intangibles, including goodwill and credit card and purchased mortgage servicing rights, and (c) the value of property used to conduct the association's business. ''Qualified thrift investments'' includes various types of loans made for residential and housing purposes, investments related to such purposes, including certain mortgage- backed and related securities, small business loans, education loans, and credit card loans. At June 30, 1999, the Bank maintained 93.5% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments. The Bank had also satisfied the QTL test in each of the prior 12 months and, therefore, was a qualified thrift lender. A savings association may also satisfy the QTL test by qualifying as a "domestic building and loan association" as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
A savings association that fails the QTL test must either operate under certain restrictions on its activities or convert to a bank charter. The initial restrictions include prohibitions against (a) engaging in any new activity not permissible for a national bank, (b) paying dividends not permissible under national bank regulations, (c) obtaining new advances from any FHLB, and (d) establishing any new branch office in a location not permissible for a national bank in the association's home state. In addition, within one year of the date a savings association ceases to meet the QTL test, any company controlling the association would have to register under, and become subject to the requirements of, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. If the savings association does not requalify under the QTL test within the three-year period after it failed the QTL test, it would be required to terminate any activity and to dispose of any investment not permissible for a national bank and would have to repay as promptly as possible any outstanding advances from any FHLB. A savings association that has failed the QTL test may requalify under the QTL test and be free of such limitations, but it may do so only once.
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. The OTS regulations require savings associations to meet three minimum capital standards: a tangible capital ratio requirement of 1.5% of total assets as adjusted under the OTS regulations and a risk-based capital ratio requirement of 8% of core and supplementary capital to total risk-based assets. The OTS regulations also provide that the minimum leverage capital ratio, or core capital to total adjusted assets, for a depository institution that has been assigned the highest composite rating of 1 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating is 3% and that the minimum leverage capital ratio for any other depository institution is 4%, unless a higher capital ratio is warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profile of the depository institution. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets for purposes of the risk-based capital requirement, a savings association must compute its risk-based assets by multiplying its assets and certain off-balance sheet items by risk-weights, which range from 0% for cash and obligations issued by the United States Government or its agencies, to 100% for consumer and commercial loans, as assigned by the OTS capital regulation based on the risks OTS believes are inherent in the type of asset.
Tangible capital is defined, generally, as common stockholders' equity (including retained earnings), certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related earnings, minority interests in equity accounts of fully consolidated subsidiaries, less intangibles other than certain purchased mortgage servicing rights and investments in and loans to subsidiaries engaged in activities not permissible for a national bank. Core capital is defined similarly to tangible capital, but
core capital also includes certain qualifying supervisory goodwill and certain purchased credit card relationships. Supplementary capital currently includes cumulative preferred stock, long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, subordinated debt and intermediate preferred stock, and the allowance for possible loan losses. The OTS and other federal banking regulators adopted, effective October 1, 1998, an amendment to their risk-based capital guidelines that permits insured depository institutions to include in supplementary capital up to 45% of the pretax net unrealized holding gains on certain available-for-sale equity securities, as such gain are computed under the guidelines. The allowance for loan and lease losses includable in supplementary capital is limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets, and the amount of supplementary capital that may be included as total capital cannot exceed the amount of core capital.
The OTS regulations require a savings association with ''above normal'' interest rate risk to deduct a portion of such capital from its total capital to account for the ''above normal'' interest rate risk. A savings association's interest rate risk is measured by the decline in the net portfolio value of its assets (I.E., the difference between incoming and outgoing discounted cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts) resulting from a hypothetical 2% increase or decrease in market rates of interest, divided by the estimated economic value of the association's assets, as calculated in accordance with guidelines set forth by the OTS. At the times when the 3-month Treasury bond equivalent yield falls below 4%, an association may compute its interest rate risk on the basis of a decrease equal to one-half of that Treasury rate rather than on the basis of 2%. A savings association whose measured interest rate risk exposure exceeds 2% would be considered to have ''above normal'' risk. The interest rate risk component is an amount equal to one-half of the difference between the association's measured interest rate risk and 2%, multiplied by the estimated economic value of the association's assets. That dollar amount is deducted from an association's total capital in calculating compliance with its risk-based capital requirement. Any required deduction for interest rate risk becomes effective on the last day of the third quarter following the reporting date of the association's financial data on which the interest rate risk was computed. The OTS has indefinitely deferred the implementation of the intrest rate risk component in the computation of an institution's risk-based capital requirements. The OTS continues to monitor the interest rate risk of individual institutions and retains the right to impose additional capital requirements on individual institutions.
The table below presents the Bank's regulatory capital as compared to the OTS regulatory capital requirements at June 30, 1999:
Actual Minimum Capital Requirement ---------------------- --------------------------- Amount Ratio Amount Ratio - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As of June 30, 1999: (Dollars In Thousands) Tangible $123,817 5.83% $31,846 1.5% Leverage Capital 123,817 5.83 63,693 3.0% Risk-based capital 138,123 11.45 96,515 8.0%
The following is a reconciliation of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) capital to regulatory capital for the Bank:
Tangible Leverage Risk-Based At June 30, 1999 Capital Capital Capital - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Dollars In Thousands) GAAP capital $189,405 $189,405 $189,405 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Non-allowable assets: Unrealized loss on available for sale securities 3,868 3,868 3,868 Goodwill (64,871) (64,871) (64,871) Core deposit intangible (4,585) (4,585) (4,585) General valuation allowance - - 14,306 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Regulatory capital 123,817 123,817 138,123 Minimum capital requirement 31,846 63,693 96,515 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Regulatory capital excess $91,971 $60,124 $41,608 ==============================================================================
LIMITATION ON CAPITAL DISTRIBUTIONS. OTS regulations currently impose limitations upon capital distributions by savings associations, such as cash dividends, payments to repurchase or otherwise acquire its shares, payments to shareholders of another institution in a cash-out merger, and other distributions charged against capital. Effective April 1, 1999, the OTS amended its capital distribution regulations to reduce regulatory burdens on savings associations. Under the amended OTS regulations governing capital distributions, certain savings associations are permitted to pay capital distributions during a calendar year that do not exceed the association's net income for the year plus its retained net income for the prior two years, without notice to, or the approval of, the OTS. However, a savings association subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, such as the Company, will continue to have to file an application to receive the approval of the OTS. These new regulations are more restrictive to the Company than regulations being replaced based upon the Company's historical dividend declaration activities.
In addition, the OTS can prohibit a proposed capital distribution, otherwise permissible under the regulation, if the OTS has determined that the association is in need of more than normal supervision or if it determines that a proposed distribution by an association would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. Furthermore, under the OTS prompt corrective action regulations, the Bank would be prohibited from making any capital distribution if, after the distribution, the Bank failed to meet its minimum capital requirements, as described above. See '' - Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action.''
LIQUIDITY. The Bank is required to maintain an average daily balance of liquid assets (cash, certain time deposits, bankers' acceptances, specified United States Government, state or federal agency obligations, shares of certain mutual funds and certain corporate debt securities and commercial paper) equal to a monthly average of not less than a specified percentage of its net withdrawable deposit accounts plus short-term borrowings. This liquidity requirement may be changed from time to time by the OTS to any amount within the range of 4% to 10% depending upon economic conditions and the savings flows of member institutions, and is currently 4%. Monetary penalties may be imposed for failure to meet these liquidity requirements. The Bank's average liquidity ratio for the month ended June 30, 1999 was 10.0% which exceeded the applicable requirements. The Bank has never been subject to monetary penalties for failure to meet its liquidity requirements.
ASSESSMENTS. Savings associations are required by OTS regulation to pay assessments to the OTS to fund the operations of the OTS. The general assessment, paid on a semi-annual basis, is computed upon the savings association's total assets, including consolidated subsidiaries, as reported in the association's latest quarterly Thrift Financial Report. The Bank's
assessment expense during the year ended June 30, 1999 totaled $404,000. The OTS has adopted amendments to its regulations, effective January 1, 1999, that are intended to assess savings associations on a more equitable basis. The regulations base the assessment for an individual savings association on three components: the size of the association, on which the basic assessment is based; the association's supervisory condition, which results in percentage increases for any savings institution with a composite rating of 3, 4 or 5 in its most recent safety and soundness examination; and the complexity of the association's operations, which results in percentage increases for a savings association that managed over $1 billion in trust assets, serviced for others loans aggregating more than $1 billion, or had certain off-balance sheet assets aggregating more than $1 billion. In order to avoid a disproportionate impact upon the smaller savings institutions, which are those whose total assets never exceeded $100.0 million, the new regulations provide that the portion of the assessment based on asset size will be the lesser of the assessment under the amended regulations or the regulations before the amendment. Management believes that any changes in the rate of OTS assessments under the amended regulations will not be material.
BRANCHING. Subject to certain limitations, HOLA and the OTS regulations permit federally chartered savings associations to establish branches in any state of the United States. The authority to establish such a branch is available (a) in states that expressly authorize branches of savings associations located in another state and (b) to an association that either satisfies the QTL test for a "qualified thrift lender," or qualifies as a ''domestic building and loan association'' under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which imposes qualification requirements similar to those for a ''qualified thrift lender'' under HOLA. See ''QTL Test.'' The authority for a federal savings association to establish an interstate branch network would facilitate a geographic diversification of the association's activities. This authority under HOLA and the OTS regulations preempts any state law purporting to regulate branching by federal savings associations.
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT. Under the CRA, as implemented by OTS regulations, a savings association has a continuing and affirmative obligation consistent with its safe and sound operation to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions nor does it limit an institution's discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community, consistent with the CRA. The CRA requires the OTS, in connection with its examination of a savings association, to assess the association's record of meeting the credit needs of its community and to take such record into account in its evaluation of certain applications by such association. The CRA also requires all institutions to make public disclosure of their CRA ratings. The Bank received a ''Satisfactory'' CRA rating in its most recent examination.
In April 1995, the OTS and the other federal banking agencies adopted amendments revising their CRA regulations. Among other things, the amended CRA regulations substitute for the prior process-based assessment factors a new evaluation system that rates an institution based on its actual performance in meeting community needs. In particular, the amended system focuses on three tests: (a) a lending test, to evaluate the institution's record of making loans in its service areas; (b) an investment test, to evaluate the institution's record of investing in community development projects, affordable housing, and programs benefiting low or moderate income individuals and businesses; and (c) a service test, to evaluate the institution's delivery of services through its branches, ATMs, and other offices. The amended CRA regulations also clarify how an institution's CRA performance would be considered in the application process.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES. The Bank's authority to engage in transactions with its ''affiliates'' is limited by the OTS regulations and by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act (''FRA''). In general, an affiliate of the Bank is any company that controls the Bank or any other company that is controlled by a company that controls the Bank, excluding the Bank's subsidiaries other than those that are insured depository institutions. Currently, a subsidiary of a bank that is not also a depository institution is not treated as an affiliate of the bank for purposes of Sections 23A and 23B, but the Federal Reserve Bank has proposed treating any subsidiary of a bank that is engaged in activities not permissible for bank holding companies under the BHCA as an affiliate for purposes of Sections 23A and 23B. The OTS regulations prohibit a savings association (a) from lending to any of its affiliates that is engaged in activities that are not permissible for bank holding companies under Section 4(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (''BHC Act'') and (b) from purchasing the securities of any affiliate other than a subsidiary. Section 23A limits the aggregate amount of transactions with any individual affiliate to 10% of the capital and surplus of the savings association and also limits the aggregate amount of transactions with all affiliates to 20% of the savings association's capital and surplus. Extensions of credit to affiliates are required to be secured by collateral in an amount and of a type described in Section 23A, and the purchase of low quality assets from affiliates is generally prohibited. Section 23B provides that certain transactions with affiliates, including loans and asset purchases, must be on terms and under circumstances, including credit standards, that are substantially the same or at least as favorable to the association as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated companies. In the absence of comparable transactions,
such transactions may only occur under terms and circumstances, including credit standards, that in good faith would be offered to or would apply to nonaffiliated companies.
The Bank's authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers, and 10% shareholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons, is currently governed by the requirements of Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the FRA and Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board (''FRB'') thereunder. Among other things, these provisions require that extensions of credit to insiders (a) be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and that do not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features and (b) not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the association's capital. In addition, extensions of credit in excess of certain limits must be approved by the association's board of directors.
ENFORCEMENT. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (''FDI Act''), the OTS has primary enforcement responsibility over savings associations and has the authority to bring enforcement action against all ''institution-affiliated parties,'' including any controlling stockholder or any shareholder, attorney, appraiser and accountant who knowingly or recklessly participates in any violation of applicable law or regulation or breach of fiduciary duty or certain other wrongful actions that causes or is likely to cause a more than a minimal loss or other significant adverse effect on an insured savings association. Civil penalties cover a wide range of violations and actions and range from $5,000 for each day during which violations of law, regulations, orders, and certain written agreements and conditions continue, up to $1 million per day for such violations if the person obtained a substantial pecuniary gain as a result of such violation or knowingly or recklessly caused a substantial loss to the institution. Criminal penalties for certain financial institution crimes include fines of up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to 30 years. In addition, regulators have substantial discretion to take enforcement action against an institution that fails to comply with its regulatory requirements, particularly with respect to its capital requirements. Possible enforcement actions range from the imposition of a capital plan and capital directive to receivership, conservatorship, or the termination of deposit insurance. Under the FDI Act, the FDIC has the authority to recommend to the Director of OTS that enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular savings association. If action is not taken by the Director of the OTS, the FDIC has authority to take such action under certain circumstances.
STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS. Pursuant to the requirements of the FDI Act, as amended by FDICIA and the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (''Community Development Act''), the OTS, together with the other federal bank regulatory agencies, have adopted a set of guidelines prescribing safety and soundness standards pursuant to FDICIA, as amended. The guidelines establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risks and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder. In addition, the OTS adopted regulations pursuant to FDICIA that authorize, but do not require, the OTS to order an institution that has been given notice by the OTS that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an accepted compliance plan, the OTS must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized association is subject under the ''prompt corrective action'' provisions of FDICIA. If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the OTS may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.
REAL ESTATE LENDING STANDARDS. The OTS and the other federal banking agencies adopted regulations to prescribe standards for extensions of credit that (a) are secured by real estate or (b) are made for the purpose of financing the construction of improvements on real estate. The OTS regulations require each savings association to establish and maintain written internal real estate lending standards that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices and appropriate to the size of the association and the nature and scope of its real estate lending activities. The standards also must be consistent with accompanying OTS guidelines, which include loan-to-value ratios for the different types of real estate loans. Associations are also permitted to make a limited amount of loans that do not conform to the proposed loan-to- value limitations so long as such exceptions are reviewed and justified appropriately. The guidelines also list a number of lending situations in which exceptions to the loan-to-value standards are justified.
PROMPT CORRECTIVE REGULATORY ACTION. Under the OTS prompt corrective action regulations, the OTS is required to take certain, and is authorized to take other, supervisory actions against undercapitalized savings associations. For this purpose, a savings association would be placed in one of five categories based on the association's capital. Generally, a savings association is treated as ''well capitalized'' if its ratio of total capital to risk- weighted assets is at least 10.0%, its ratio of core capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 6.0%, its ratio of core capital to total assets is at least 5.0%, and it is not subject to any order or directive by the OTS to meet a specific capital level. A savings association will be treated as ''adequately capitalized'' if its ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 8.0%, its ratio of core capital to risk-weighted assets is at least 4.0%, and its ratio of core capital to total assets is at least 4.0% (3.0% if the association receives the highest rating on the CAMEL financial institutions rating system). A savings association that has a total risk-based capital of less than 8.0% or Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio that is less than 4.0% or a leverage ratio (3.0% leverage ratio if the association receives the highest rating on the CAMEL financial institutions rating system) is considered to be ''undercapitalized.'' A savings association that has a total risk-based capital of less than 6.0% or a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio or a leverage ratio of less than 3.0% is considered to be ''significantly undercapitalized.'' A savings association that has a tangible capital to assets ratio equal to or less than 2% is deemed to be ''critically undercapitalized.'' The elements of an association's capital for purposes of the prompt corrective action regulations are defined generally as they are under the regulations for minimum capital requirements. As of the most recent notification from the Office of Thrift Supervision categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the institution's category. See ''- Capital Requirements.''
The severity of the action authorized or required to be taken under the prompt corrective action regulations increases as an association's capital deteriorates within the three undercapitalized categories. All associations are prohibited from paying dividends or other capital distributions or paying management fees to any controlling person if, following such distribution, the association would be undercapitalized. An undercapitalized association is required to file a capital restoration plan within 45 days of the date the association receives notice that it is within any of the three undercapitalized categories. The OTS is required to monitor closely the condition of an undercapitalized association and to restrict the asset growth, acquisitions, branching, and new lines of business of such an association. Significantly undercapitalized associations are subject to restrictions on compensation of senior executive officers; such an association may not, without OTS consent, pay any bonus or provide compensation to any senior executive officer at a rate exceeding the officer's average rate of compensation (excluding bonuses, stock options and profit-sharing) during the 12 months preceding the month when the association became undercapitalized. A significantly undercapitalized association may also be subject, among other things, to forced changes in the composition of its board of directors or senior management, additional restrictions on transactions with affiliates, restrictions on acceptance of deposits from correspondent associations, further restrictions on asset growth, restrictions on rates paid on deposits, forced termination or reduction of activities deemed risky, and any further operational restrictions deemed necessary by the OTS.
If one or more grounds exist for appointing a conservator or receiver for an association, the OTS may require the association to issue additional debt or stock, sell assets, be acquired by a depository association holding company or combine with another depository association. The OTS and the FDIC have a broad range of grounds under which they may appoint a receiver or conservator for an insured depository association. Under FDICIA, the OTS is required to appoint a receiver (or with the concurrence of the FDIC, a conservator) for a critically undercapitalized association within 90 days after the association becomes critically undercapitalized or, with the concurrence of the FDIC, to take such other action that would better achieve the purposes of the prompt corrective action provisions. Such alternative action can be renewed for successive 90-day periods. However, if the association continues to be critically undercapitalized on average during the quarter that begins 270 days after it first became critically undercapitalized, a receiver must be appointed, unless the OTS makes certain findings with which the FDIC concurs and the Director of the OTS and the Chairman of the FDIC certify that the association is viable. In addition, an association that is critically undercapitalized is subject to more severe restrictions on its activities, and is prohibited, without prior approval of the FDIC from, among other things, entering into certain material transactions or paying interest on new or renewed liabilities at a rate that would significantly increase the association's weighted average cost of funds.
When appropriate, the OTS can require corrective action by a savings association holding company under the ''prompt corrective action'' provisions of FDICIA.
INSURANCE OF DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. Savings associations are subject to a risk- based assessment system for determining the deposit insurance assessments to be paid by insured depository institutions. Under the risk-based assessment system, which
began in 1993, the FDIC assigns an institution to one of three capital categories based on the institution's financial information as of the reporting period ending seven months before the assessment period. The three capital categories consist of (a) well capitalized, (b) adequately capitalized, or (c) undercapitalized. The FDIC also assigns an institution to one of the three supervisory subcategories within each capital group. The supervisory subgroup to which an institution is assigned is based upon a supervisory evaluation provided to the FDIC by the institution's primary federal regulator and information that the FDIC determines to be relevant to the institution's financial condition and the risk posed to the deposit insurance funds. An institution's assessment rate depends on the capital category and supervisory category to which it is assigned. Under the regulation, there are nine assessment risk classifications (i.e., combinations of capital groups and supervisory subgroups) to which different assessment rates are applied. Assessment rates currently range from 0.0% of deposits for an institution in the highest category (i.e., well-capitalized and financially sound, with no more than a few minor weaknesses) to 0.27% of deposits for an institution in the lowest category (i.e., undercapitalized and substantial supervisory concern). The FDIC is authorized to raise the assessment rates as necessary to maintain the required reserve ratio of 1.25%. Both the BIF and SAIF currently satisfy the reserve ratio requirement. If the FDIC determines that assessment rates should be increased, institutions in all risk categories could be affected. The FDIC has exercised this authority several times in the past and could raise insurance assessment rates in the future. If such action is taken, it could have an adverse effect upon the earnings of the Bank.
The Funds Act of 1996 also amended the FDIA to recapitalize the SAIF and to expand the assessment base for the payments of FICO bonds. Beginning January 1, 1997, the assessment base included the deposits of both BIF and SAIF-insured institutions. Until December 31, 1999, or such earlier date on which the last savings association ceases to exist, the rate of assessment for BIF-assessable deposits shall be one-fifth of the rate imposed on SAIF-assessable deposits. For the semi-annual period beginning on July 1, 1997, the rates of assessment for FICO bonds are 0.0126% for BIF-assessable deposits and 0.0630% for SAIF- assessable deposits. For the semi-annual period beginning July 1, 1998, the rates of assessment for the FICO bonds is 0.0122% for BIF-assessable deposits and 0.0610 for SAIF-assessable deposits.
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK SYSTEM. The Bank is a member of the FHLBNY, which is one of the regional FHLBs composing the FHLB System. Each FHLB provides a central credit facility primarily for its member institutions. The Bank, as a member of the FHLBNY, is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in an amount at least equal to the greater of 1% of the aggregate principal amount of its unpaid residential mortgage loans and similar obligations at the beginning of each year or one-twentieth{ }of its advances (borrowings) from the FHLBNY. The Bank was in compliance with this requirement with an investment in FHLB stock at June 30, 1999, of $28.3 million. Any advances from a FHLB must be secured by specified types of collateral, and all long-term advances may be obtained only for the purpose of providing funds for residential housing finance. The FHLBNY paid dividends on the capital stock of $1.5 million, $663,000, and $503,000 and during the years ended June 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. If dividends were reduced, or interest on future FHLB advances increased, the Bank's net interest income would likely also be reduced. Further, there can be no assurance that the impact of FDICIA and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (''FIRREA'') on the FHLBs will not also cause a decrease in the value of the FHLB stock held by the Bank.
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM. The Bank is subject to provisions of the FRA and the FRB's regulations pursuant to which depository institutions may be required to maintain non-interest-earning reserves against their deposit accounts and certain other liabilities. Currently, reserves must be maintained against transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). The FRB regulations generally require that reserves be maintained in the amount of 3% of the aggregate of transaction accounts up to $46.5 million. The amount of aggregate transaction accounts in excess of $46.5 million are currently subject to a reserve ratio of 10%, which ratio the FRB may adjust between 8% and 14%. The FRB regulations currently exempt $4.9 million of otherwise reservable balances from the reserve requirements, which exemption is adjusted by the FRB at the end of each year. The Bank is in compliance with the foregoing reserve requirements. Because required reserves must be maintained in the form of either vault cash, a non-interest-bearing account at a Federal Reserve Bank, or a pass-through account as defined by the FRB, the effect of this reserve requirement is to reduce the Bank's interest-earning assets. The balances maintained to meet the reserve requirements imposed by the FRB may be used to satisfy liquidity requirements imposed by the OTS. FHLB System members are also authorized to borrow from the Federal Reserve ''discount window,'' but FRB regulations require such institutions to exhaust all FHLB sources before borrowing from a Federal Reserve Bank.
REGULATION OF HOLDING COMPANY
The Company is a non-diversified unitary savings association holding company within the meaning of HOLA, as amended. As such, the Company is required to register with the OTS and is subject to OTS regulations, examinations,
supervision and reporting requirements. In addition, the OTS has enforcement authority over the Company and its non-savings association subsidiaries, if any. Among other things, this authority permits the OTS to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness, or stability of a subsidiary savings association.
HOLA prohibits a savings association holding company, directly or indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries, from acquiring another savings association or holding company thereof, without prior written approval of the OTS; acquiring or retaining, with certain exceptions, more than 5% of a non- subsidiary savings association, a non-subsidiary holding company, or a non- subsidiary company engaged in activities other than those permitted by HOLA; or acquiring or retaining control of a depository institution that is not insured by the FDIC. In evaluating an application by a holding company to acquire a savings association, the OTS must consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the company and savings association involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the insurance funds, the convenience and needs of the community, and competitive factors.
As a unitary savings and loan holding company, the Company generally is not restricted under existing laws as to the types of business activities in which it may engage, provided that the Bank continues to satisfy the QTL test. See ''- Regulation of Federal Savings Associations - QTL Test'' for a discussion of the QTL requirements. Upon any non-supervisory acquisition by the Company of another savings association or of a savings bank that meets the QTL test and is deemed to be a savings association by the OTS and that will be held as a separate subsidiary, the Company will become a multiple savings association holding company and will be subject to limitations on the types of business activities in which it can engage. HOLA limits the activities of a multiple savings association holding company and its non-insured association subsidiaries primarily to activities permissible for bank holding companies under Section 4(c)(8) of the BHC Act, subject to the prior approval of the OTS, and to other activities authorized by OTS regulation.
The OTS is prohibited from approving any acquisition that would result in a multiple savings association holding company controlling savings associations in more than one state, subject to two exceptions: an acquisition of a savings association in another state (a) in a supervisory transaction, and (b) pursuant to authority under the laws of the state of the association to be acquired that specifically permit such acquisitions. The conditions imposed upon interstate acquisitions by those states that have enacted authorizing legislation vary. Some states impose conditions of reciprocity, which have the effect of requiring that the laws of both the state in which the acquiring holding company is located (as determined by the location of its subsidiary savings association) and the state in which the association to be acquired is located, have each enacted legislation allowing its savings associations to be acquired by out-of-state holding companies on the condition that the laws of the other state authorize such transactions on terms no more restrictive than those imposed on the acquiror by the state of the target association. Some of these states also impose regional limitations, which restrict such acquisitions to states within a defined geographic region. Other states allow full nationwide banking without any condition of reciprocity. Some states do not authorize interstate acquisitions of savings associations.
Transactions between the Company and the Bank, including any of its subsidiaries, and any of its affiliates are subject to various conditions and limitations. See '' Regulation of Federal Savings Associations - Transactions with Related Parties.'' The Bank must file an application with the OTS prior to any declaration of the payment of any dividends or other capital distributions to the Company. See ''- Regulation of Federal Savings Associations - Limitation on Capital Distributions.''
FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
The Company's Common stock is registered with the SEC under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements under the Exchange Act.
ITEM 2
ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES The Bank conducts its business through nineteen full-service offices, including eight offices acquired from Conestoga in June, 1996, and five offices acquired from FIBC in January, 1999. The Bank's Main Office and headquarters is located at 209 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, New York. The Bank believes that its current facilities are adequate to meet the present and immediately foreseeable needs of the Bank and the Company.
ITEM 3
ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Bank is involved in various other legal actions arising in the ordinary course of its business which, in the aggregate, involve amounts which are believed to be immaterial to the financial condition and results of operations of the Bank.
ITEM 4
ITEM 4 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None
PART II
ITEM 5
ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information regarding the market for the Company's common stock and related stockholder matters appears in the 1999 Annual Report under the caption "Market for the Company's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters," and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Information regarding selected financial data appears in the 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended June 30, 1999 ("1999 Annual Report") under the caption "Financial Highlights," and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. -MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Information regarding management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appears in the 1999 Annual Report under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 7A
ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Information regarding market risk appears in the 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Discussion of Market Risk" and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Information regarding financial statements and supplementary data, including the Independent Auditors' Report appears in the 1999 Annual Report under the captions: "Independent Auditors' Report," "Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at June 30, 1999 and 1998," "Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years in the three year period ended June 30, 1999," "Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for each of the years in the three year period ended June 30, 1999," "Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three year period ended June 30,1999,"and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements," and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
Information regarding directors and executive officers of the Company is presented under the headings "Proposal 1 - Election of Directors - General, "- Information as to Nominees and Continuing Directors,""- Nominees for Election as Director," "-Continuing Directors," "-Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors," "-Executive Officers," "-Directors' Compensation," "-Executive Compensation," and "-Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on November 10, 1999 (the "Proxy Statement") which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of June 30, 1999, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information regarding executive and director compensation is presented under the headings "Election of Directors - Directors' Compensation," "- Executive Compensation," "-Summary Compensation Table," "Employment Agreements," "- Employee Retention Agreements," "-Employee Severance Compensation Plan," and "- Benefits," in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included under the headings "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is included under the heading "Transactions with Certain Related Persons" in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) 1. Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company, and the independent auditors' report thereon are included in the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended June 30, 1999, and are incorporated herein by reference:
Independent Auditors' Report Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at June 30, 1999 and 1998 Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years in the three year period ended June 30, 1999 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for each of the years in the three year period ended June 30, 1999 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three year period ended June 30,1999 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) for each of the years in the two year period ended June 30, 1999
The remaining information appearing in the 1999 Annual Report is not deemed to be filed as a part of this report, except as expressly provided herein.
2. Financial Statement Schedules
Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended June 30, 1999 NONE (c) Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K:
EXHIBIT NUMBER - ------------ 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.(1) 3.2 Bylaws of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (1) 4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (See Exhibit 3.1 hereto). 4.2 Bylaws of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (See Exhibit 3.2 hereto). 4.3 Draft Stock Certificate of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (1) 4.4 Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (2) 4.5 Rights Agreement, dated as of April 9, 1998, between Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (2) 4.6 Form of Rights Certificate (2) 10.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 18, 1998, by and between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Financial Bancorp, Inc. (3) 10.2 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and Vincent F. Palagiano (4) 10.3 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and Michael P. Devine (4) 10.4 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and Kenneth J. Mahon (4) 10.5 Employment Agreement between Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. and Vincent F. Palagiano (4) 10.6 Employment Agreement between Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. and Michael P. Devine (4) 10.7 Employment Agreement between Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. and Kenneth J. Mahon (4) 10.8 Form of Employee Retention Agreements by and among The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. and certain executive officers (4) 10.9 The Benefit Maintenance Plan of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. (5) 10.10 Severance Pay Plan of The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh (4) 10.11 Retirement Plan for Board Members of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. (5) 10.12 Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors , Officers and Employees, as amended by amendments number 1 and 2. (5) 10.13 Recognition and Retention Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc., as amended by amendments number 1 and 2. (5) 10.14 Form of stock option agreement for Outside Directors under Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees. (5) 10.15 Form of stock option agreement for officers and employees under Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (5) 10.16 Form of award notice for outside directors under the Recognition and Retention Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. (5) 10.17 Form of award notice for officers and employees under the Recognition and Retention Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. (5) 10.18 Financial Federal Savings Bank Incentive Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust. 10.19 Financial Federal Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
10.20 Option Certificates between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and each of Messrs. Russo, Segrete, Calamari, Latawiec, O'Gorman and Ms. Swaya pursuant to Section 1.6(b) of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 18, 1998, by and between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Financial Bancorp, Inc. 11.0 Statement Re: Computation of Per Share Earnings 13.1 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders 21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant 27.1 Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR filing only)
(1) Incorporated by reference to the registrant's Annual Report of Form 10K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, and filed on September 28, 1998. (2) Incorporated by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 9, 1998, and filed on April 16, 1998. (3) Incorporated by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 18, 1998, and filed on July 20, 1998, and amended in July 27, 1998.
(4) Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997 and filed on September 26, 1997. (5) Incorporated by reference to the registrant's Annual Report of Form 10K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, and filed on September 26, 1997. (6) Incorporated by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 18, 1998, and filed on July 20, 1998, and amended in July 27, 1998.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on September 28, 1999.
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
By: /S/ VINCENT F. PALAGIANO Vincent F. Palagiano Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.