Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 0-18630

 

 

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   95-4274680

(State of other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California   90012
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (213) 625-4700

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

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

Common stock, $.01 par value, 61,829,540 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2009.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

3RD QUARTER 2009 REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

      6
  

Item 1.

  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

      6
     

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

      9
  

Item 2.

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS       30
  

Item 3.

  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

      57
  

Item 4.

  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

      58

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

      59
  

Item 1.

  

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      59
  

Item 1A.

  

RISK FACTORS

      59
  

Item 2.

  

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

      59
  

Item 3.

  

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

      60
  

Item 4.

  

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      60
  

Item 5.

  

OTHER INFORMATION

      60
  

Item 6.

  

EXHIBITS

      60
  

  SIGNATURES

      61

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

In this quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the term “Bancorp” refers to Cathay General Bancorp and the term “Bank” refers to Cathay Bank. The terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Bancorp and the Bank collectively. The statements in this report include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding management’s beliefs, projections, and assumptions concerning future results and events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provision for forward-looking statements in these provisions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including statements about anticipated future operating and financial performance, financial position and liquidity, growth opportunities and growth rates, growth plans, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business prospects, strategic alternatives, business strategies, financial expectations, regulatory and competitive outlook, investment and expenditure plans, financing needs and availability and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “hopes,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “shall”, “should,” “will,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by us are based on estimates, beliefs, projections, and assumptions of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Such risks and uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse developments or conditions related to or arising from:

Risks relating to our business-

 

   

Difficult economic and market conditions have adversely affected our industry.

 

   

If current levels of market disruption and volatility continue or worsen, there can be no assurance that we will not experience an adverse effect, which may be material, on our ability to access capital and on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

We may be subject to supervisory action by bank supervisory authorities that could have a material negative effect on our business, financial condition and the value of our common stock.

 

   

U.S. and international financial markets and economic conditions could adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

   

We may be required to make additional provisions for loan losses and charge off additional loans in the future, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

   

We are subject to extensive laws and regulations and supervision that could limit or restrict our activities and adversely affect our profitability.

 

   

The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of probable credit losses. Actual credit losses in excess of the estimate could adversely affect our net income and capital.

 

   

We may experience goodwill impairment.

 

   

Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition.

 

   

Our business is subject to interest rate risk and fluctuations in interest rates could reduce our net interest income and adversely affect our business.

 

   

We have engaged in and may continue to engage in further expansion through acquisitions, which could negatively affect our business and earnings.

 

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We may engage in FDIC-assisted transactions, which could present additional risks to our business.

 

   

Inflation and deflation may adversely affect our financial performance.

 

   

As we expand our business outside of California markets, we will encounter risks that could adversely affect us.

 

   

Our loan portfolio is largely secured by real estate, which has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our net income.

 

   

Our use of appraisals in deciding whether to make a loan on or secured by real property does not ensure the value of the real property collateral.

 

   

We face substantial competition from larger competitors.

 

   

We are subject to extensive government regulation that could limit or restrict our activities, which, in turn, may hamper our ability to increase our assets and earnings.

 

   

The short term and long term impact of the new Basel II capital standards and the forthcoming new capital rules to be proposed for non-Basel II U.S. banks is uncertain.

 

   

We are dependent on key personnel and the loss of one or more of those key personnel may materially and adversely affect our prospects.

 

   

Managing reputational risk is important to attracting and maintaining customers, investors and employees.

 

   

Natural disasters and geopolitical events beyond our control could adversely affect us.

 

   

Adverse conditions in Asia could adversely affect our business.

 

   

Because of our participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program, we are subject to several restrictions including restrictions on compensation paid to our executives.

 

   

Our need to continue to adapt to our information technology systems to allow us to provide new and expanded services could present operational issues and require significant capital spending.

 

   

Certain provisions of our charter, bylaws, and rights agreement could make the acquisition of our company more difficult.

 

   

Our financial results could be adversely affected by changes in accounting standards or tax laws and regulations.

Risks relating to our common stock -

 

   

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, and this may make it difficult for you to resell shares of common stock owned by you at times or at prices you find attractive.

 

   

Statutory restrictions on dividends and other distributions from the Bank may adversely impact us by limiting the amount of distributions Cathay General Bancorp may receive. State laws may restrict our ability to pay dividends.

 

   

The terms of our outstanding preferred stock limit our ability to pay dividends on and repurchase our common stock and there can be no assurance of any future dividends on our common stock generally.

 

   

Our outstanding preferred stock impacts net income available to our common stockholders and earnings per common share, and the Warrant as well as other potential issuances of equity securities may be dilutive to holders of our common stock.

 

   

The issuance of additional shares of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock, which may negatively impact your investment.

 

   

Our outstanding debt securities restrict our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock.

 

   

If economic conditions continue to deteriorate, we may need even more capital.

 

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These and other factors are further described in Cathay General Bancorp's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 13, 2009, other reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other filings it makes with the SEC from time to time. Actual results in any future period may also vary from the past results discussed in this report. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak to the date of this report. Cathay General Bancorp has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events, except as required by law.

Cathay General Bancorp’s filings with the SEC are available at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by request directed to Cathay General Bancorp, 9650 Flair Drive, El Monte, California 91731, Attention: Investor Relations (626) 279-3286.

 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

     September 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
     (In thousands, except share and per share data)  

ASSETS

    

Cash and due from banks

   $ 198,237      $ 84,818   

Short-term investments

     331,767        25,000   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     —          201,000   

Securities held-to-maturity

     99,865        —     

Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $3,266,440 in 2009 and

    

$3,043,566 in 2008)

     3,294,808        3,083,817   

Trading securities

     12        12   

Loans

     7,115,582        7,472,368   

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (189,370     (122,093

Unamortized deferred loan fees

     (8,880     (10,094
                

Loans, net

     6,917,332        7,340,181   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     71,791        71,791   

Other real estate owned, net

     87,769        61,015   

Investments in affordable housing partnerships, net

     98,046        103,562   

Premises and equipment, net

     109,369        104,107   

Customers’ liability on acceptances

     28,974        39,117   

Accrued interest receivable

     33,459        43,603   

Goodwill

     316,340        319,557   

Other intangible assets

     24,448        29,246   

Other assets

     137,546        75,813   
                

Total assets

   $ 11,749,763      $ 11,582,639   
                
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Deposits

    

Non-interest-bearing demand deposits

   $ 829,302      $ 730,433   

Interest-bearing accounts:

    

NOW accounts

     324,774        257,234   

Money market accounts

     965,159        659,454   

Saving accounts

     349,298        316,263   

Time deposits under $100,000

     1,484,056        1,644,407   

Time deposits of $100,000 or more

     3,756,142        3,228,945   
                

Total deposits

     7,708,731        6,836,736   
                

Federal funds purchased

     —          52,000   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     1,550,000        1,610,000   

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank

     929,362        1,449,362   

Other borrowings from financial institutions

     1,313        —     

Other borrowings for affordable housing investments

     19,355        19,500   

Long-term debt

     171,136        171,136   

Acceptances outstanding

     28,974        39,117   

Other liabilities

     61,427        103,401   
                

Total liabilities

     10,470,298        10,281,252   
                

Commitments and contingencies

     —          —     
                

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 258,000 issued and outstanding in 2009 and in 2008

     243,103        240,554   

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 57,279,715 issued and 53,072,150 outstanding at September 30, 2009 and 53,715,815 issued and 49,508,250 outstanding at December 31, 2008

     573        537   

Additional paid-in-capital

     545,010        508,613   

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net

     16,441        23,327   

Retained earnings

     591,574        645,592   

Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares in 2009 and in 2008)

     (125,736     (125,736
                

Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders’ equity

     1,270,965        1,292,887   

Noncontrolling Interest

     8,500        8,500   
                

Total equity

     1,279,465        1,301,387   
                

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 11,749,763      $ 11,582,639   
                

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
    Nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (In thousands, except share and
per share data)
             

INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME

        

Loan receivable, including loan fees

   $ 99,588      $ 114,005      $ 302,232      $ 341,880   

Investment securities- taxable

     31,589        27,575        94,104        84,507   

Investment securities- nontaxable

     167        284        620        974   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     149        1,004        149        2,685   

Agency preferred stock

     —          313        —          1,621   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

     35        2,899        1,338        12,294   

Deposits with banks

     119        42        250        523   
                                

Total interest and dividend income

     131,647        146,122        398,693        444,484   
                                

INTEREST EXPENSE

        

Time deposits of $100,000 or more

     20,224        26,226        65,337        86,398   

Other deposits

     10,622        17,100        40,196        49,519   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     16,555        15,174        48,527        44,716   

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     10,664        11,785        31,781        35,229   

Long-term debt

     1,067        2,030        3,891        6,889   

Short-term borrowings

     —          206        24        828   
                                

Total interest expense

     59,132        72,521        189,756        223,579   
                                

Net interest income before provision for credit losses

     72,515        73,601        208,937        220,905   

Provision for credit losses

     76,000        15,800        216,000        43,800   
                                

Net interest (loss)/income after provision for credit losses

     (3,485     57,801        (7,063     177,105   
                                

NON-INTEREST INCOME/(LOSS)

        

Securities gains/(losses), net

     2,883        (15,313     52,319        (12,980

Letters of credit commissions

     1,150        1,465        3,159        4,281   

Depository service fees

     1,272        1,189        3,940        3,636   

Other operating income

     4,982        4,290        10,964        12,393   
                                

Total non-interest income (loss)

     10,287        (8,369     70,382        7,330   
                                

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

        

Salaries and employee benefits

     14,410        16,376        46,369        50,643   

Occupancy expense

     3,999        3,393        12,126        9,918   

Computer and equipment expense

     2,052        1,848        5,938        6,024   

Professional services expense

     3,694        3,410        10,021        8,890   

FDIC and State assessments

     4,464        1,336        15,372        3,172   

Marketing expense

     669        584        2,153        2,449   

Other real estate owned expense

     4,135        1,182        20,150        1,806   

Operations of affordable housing investments , net

     1,407        2,840        5,255        5,361   

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

     1,689        1,722        5,089        5,196   

Other operating expense

     2,288        2,329        7,863        6,970   
                                

Total non-interest expense

     38,807        35,020        130,336        100,429   
                                

(Loss)/income before income tax (benefit)/expense

     (32,005     14,412        (67,017     84,006   

Income tax (benefit)/expense

     (14,482     7,370        (35,362     30,133   
                                

Net (loss)/income

     (17,523     7,042        (31,655     53,873   

Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (156     (151     (457     (452
                                

Net (loss)/income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp

     (17,679     6,891        (32,112     53,421   

Dividends on preferred stock

     (4,086     —          (12,249     —     
                                

Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders

     (21,765     6,891        (44,361     53,421   
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss) , net of tax

        

Unrealized holding gains/(losses) arising during the period

     29,233        (5,833     15,109        (18,106

Less: reclassification adjustments included in net income

     1,212        (8,910     21,995        (2,730
                                

Total other comprehensive gain/(loss), net of tax

     28,021        3,077        (6,886     (15,376
                                

Total comprehensive income/(loss)

   $ 6,256      $ 9,968      $ (51,247   $ 38,045   
                                

Net (loss)/income per common share:

        

Basic

   $ (0.43   $ 0.14      $ (0.89   $ 1.08   

Diluted

   $ (0.43   $ 0.14      $ (0.89   $ 1.08   

Cash dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.010      $ 0.105      $ 0.195      $ 0.315   

Basic average common shares outstanding

     50,183,296        49,441,621        49,758,833        49,392,655   

Diluted average common shares outstanding

     50,183,296        49,530,272        49,758,833        49,497,171   
                                

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2009     2008  
     (In thousands)  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net (loss)/income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp

   $ (32,112   $ 53,421   

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

    

Provision for credit losses

     216,000        43,800   

Provision for losses on other real estate owned

     18,050        1,248   

Deferred tax benefit

     (42,630     (24,489

Depreciation

     5,753        3,184   

Net gains on sale of other real estate owned

     (779     (75

Net gains on sale of loans held for sale

     (3,949     (245

Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale

     29,267        10,599   

Originations of loans held for sale

     (5,350     (10,395

Write-downs on venture capital investments

     1,573        270   

Write-downs on impaired securities

     82        33,654   

Gain on sales and calls of securities

     (52,401     (20,674

Decrease in fair value of warrants

     47        26   

Amortization of security premiums, net

     1,699        1,651   

Amortization of intangibles

     5,134        5,277   

Excess tax short-fall from share-based payment arrangements

     195        240   

Stock based compensation expense

     4,123        5,828   

Gain on sale of premises and equipment

     —          (21

Decrease in accrued interest receivable

     10,144        11,638   

Decrease in income tax payable

     (12,491     —     

Increase/(decrease) in other assets, net

     (7,610     7,519   

(Decrease)/increase in other liabilities

     (20,690     5,028   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     114,055        127,484   

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

    

Increase in short-term investments

     (306,767     (2,907

Decrease in long-term investment

     —          50,000   

Decrease in securities purchased under agreements to resell

     201,000        366,100   

Purchase of investment securities available-for-sale

     (1,048,251     (1,503,844

Proceeds from maturity and call of investment securities available-for-sale

     1,036,522        819,939   

Proceeds from sale of investment securities available-for-sale

     4,989        586,932   

Purchase of mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale

     (2,487,276     (1,580,092

Proceeds from repayment and sale of mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale

     2,321,756        1,391,236   

Purchase of investment securities held-to-maturity

     (99,858     —     

Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     —          (4,765

Redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     —          5,498   

Net decrease/(increase) in loans

     118,747        (860,456

Purchase of premises and equipment

     (11,016     (20,766

Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment

     —          21   

Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned

     25,675        105   

Net increase in investment in affordable housing

     (11,159     (11,517
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (255,638     (764,516
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Net increase in demand deposits, NOW accounts, money market and saving deposits

     505,149        187,385   

Net increase/(decrease) in time deposits

     366,846        383,418   

Net (decrease)/increase in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase

     (112,000     150,975   

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     816,000        2,598,533   

Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

     (1,336,000     (2,697,000

Cash dividends paid to common stockholders

     (9,657     (15,555

Issuance of common stock

     31,390        —     

Cash dividends paid to preferred stockholders

     (8,959     —     

Proceeds from other borrowings

     17,765        20,629   

Repayment of other borrowings

     (16,452     (28,930

Proceeds from shares issued to Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     1,102        1,931   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     13        372   

Excess tax short-fall from share-based payment arrangements

     (195     (240
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     255,002        601,518   
                

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     113,419        (35,514

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period

     84,818        118,437   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period

   $ 198,237      $ 82,923   
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

    

Cash paid during the period:

    

Interest

   $ 200,507      $ 226,210   

Income taxes

   $ 24,749      $ 56,699   

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

    

Net change in unrealized holding loss on securities available-for-sale, net of tax

   $ (6,886   $ (15,376

Adjustment to initially apply EITF 06-4

   $ —        $ (147

Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 160

   $ 8,500      $ —     

Loans to facilitate other real estate owned

   $ 18,335      $ —     

Transfers to other real estate owned

   $ 87,687      $ 28,357   

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Business

Cathay General Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) is the holding company for Cathay Bank (the “Bank”), six limited partnerships investing in affordable housing investments in which the Bank is the sole limited partner, and GBC Venture Capital, Inc. The Bancorp also owns 100% of the common stock of five statutory business trusts created for the purpose of issuing capital securities. The Bank was founded in 1962 and offers a wide range of financial services. As of September 30, 2009, the Bank operates twenty branches in Southern California, eleven branches in Northern California, eight branches in New York State, three branches in Illinois, three branches in Washington State, two branches Texas, one branch in Massachusetts, one branch in New Jersey, one branch in Hong Kong, and a representative office in Shanghai and in Taipei. Deposit accounts at the Hong Kong branch are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).

2. Acquisitions and Investments

We continue to look for opportunities to expand the Bank’s branch network by seeking new branch locations and/or by acquiring other financial institutions to diversify our customer base in order to compete for new deposits and loans, and to be able to serve our customers more effectively.

For each acquisition, we develop an integration plan for the consolidated company that addresses, among other things, requirements for staffing, systems platforms, branch locations and other facilities. The established plans are evaluated regularly during the integration process and modified as required. Merger and integration expenses are summarized in the following primary categories: (i) severance and employee-related charges; (ii) system conversion and integration costs, including contract termination charges; (iii) asset write-downs, lease termination costs for abandoned space and other facilities-related costs; and (iv) other charges. Other charges include investment banking fees, legal fees, other professional fees relating to due diligence activities and expenses associated with preparation of securities filings, as appropriate. These costs are included in the allocation of the purchase price at the acquisition date based on our formal integration plans.

As of September 30, 2009, goodwill was $316.3 million, a decrease of $3.3 million, compared to $319.6 million at December 31, 2008, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for an uncertain tax position taken by GBC Bancorp which was previously recorded as a purchase accounting adjustment at the date of acquisition. Merger-related lease liability was $378,000 at September 30, 2009, and $424,000 at December 31, 2008.

3. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal

 

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recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates subject to change are the allowance for loan losses, goodwill impairment, and other-than-temporary impairment.

4. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”, a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162. SFAS 168 is to establish the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. New standards issued after the Codification’s release will serve to update the Codification and will be referred to as Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”). Financial statements for interim and annual periods ended after September 15, 2009, shall use Codification references, not legacy GAAP references. SFAS 168 was codified into ASC 105 in June 2009. In conjunction with the issuance of SFAS 168, the FASB issued its first ASU No. 2009-1, “Topic 105- Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“ASU 2009-1”) and included SFAS 168 in its entirety. ASU 2009-1 was effective for the Company on September 15, 2009. The adoption of ASU 2009-1 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations (Revised 2007)” was codified into ASC Topic 805. ASC Topic 805 applies to all transactions and other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other businesses and requires an acquirer, upon initially obtaining control of another entity, to recognize the assets, liabilities and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at fair value as of the acquisition date. Contingent consideration is required to be recognized and measured at fair value on the date of acquisition rather than at a later date when the amount of that consideration may be determinable beyond a reasonable doubt. This fair value approach replaces the cost-allocation process whereby the cost of an acquisition was allocated to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value. ASC Topic 805 requires acquirers to expense acquisition-related costs as incurred rather than allocating such costs to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Pre-acquisition contingencies are to be recognized at fair value, unless it is a non-contractual contingency that is not likely to materialize, in which case, nothing should be recognized in purchase accounting and, instead, that contingency would be subject to the probable and estimable recognition criteria of ASC Topic 450, “Accounting for Contingencies.” ASC Topic 805 is expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s accounting for business combinations closing on or after January 1, 2009.

 

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In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position (FSP) 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”. FSP 157-4 which was codified into ASC Topic 820 provides additional guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased when compared with normal market activity for the asset or liability and identifying transactions that are not orderly. In those circumstances, further analysis and significant adjustment to the transaction or quoted prices may be necessary to estimate fair value. This FSP reaffirms fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. The adoption of this standard on June 15, 2009, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 16- “Fair Value Measurements” for more information.

SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB Statement No. 51.” SFAS 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements,” which was codified into ASC Topic 810 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. ASC Topic 810 clarifies that a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as minority interest, is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. Among other requirements, SFAS 160 requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the non-controlling interest. It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated income statement, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest. The Company adopted ASC Topic 810 effective as of January 1, 2009, and reclassified non-controlling interest of $8.5 million from other liabilities to equity.

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosure about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities- an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 which was codified into ASC Topic 815 requires enhanced disclosures about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. ASC Topic 815 was effective for the Company on November 15, 2008. The adoption of ASC Topic 815 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued Statement No. 107-1, “Interim Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” SFAS 107-1 was codified into ASC Topic 825. ASC Topic 825 requires publicly traded companies to disclose the fair value of financial instruments within the scope of ASC Topic 825 in interim financial statements, in addition to annual statements. Publicly traded companies also shall disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and shall describe changes in methods and significant assumptions, if any, during the period. The adoption of this standard on June 15, 2009, did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB also issued Statement No. 115-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments.” SFAS 115-2 which was codified into ASC Topic 320 changes the requirements for recognizing other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) for debt securities. This standard requires an entity to assess whether the entity has the intent to sell the debt security or more

 

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likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. If either of these conditions is met, an entity must recognize an OTTI. OTTI is separated into the amount of the total impairment related to credit losses and the amount of the total impairment related to all other factors. An entity determines the impairment related to credit losses by comparing the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security with the amortized cost basis of the security. OTTI related to the credit loss is then recognized in earnings. OTTI related to all other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income. OTTI not related to the credit loss for a held-to-maturity security should be recognized separately in a new category of other comprehensive income and amortized over the remaining life of the debt security as an increase in the carrying value of the security only when the entity does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis. This standard expands and increases the frequency of existing disclosures about OTTI for debt and equity securities. On June 15, 2009, the date the Company adopted this standard, no cumulative effect was recorded because the Company had not previously recorded any other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss associated with available-for-sale debt securities that the Company owned. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued Statement No. 165, “Subsequent Events.” SFAS 165 which was codified into ASC Topic 855 applies to the accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events, but will not result in significant changes in practice. Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. There are two types of subsequent events- recognized subsequent events and non-recognized subsequent events. An entity shall recognize in the financial statements the effects of events or transactions that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet, a recognized subsequent event. An entity shall not recognize subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the date of the balance but arose after that date, a non-recognized subsequent event. ASC Topic 855 is effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after June 15, 2009. Adoption of ASC Topic 855 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140.” SFAS 166 removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity and the provisions for guaranteed mortgage securitizations in earlier FASB pronouncements. A transferor should account for the transfer as a sale only if it transfers an entire financial asset and surrenders control over the entire transferred assets in accordance with the conditions in SFAS 166. SFAS limits the circumstances in which a financial asset should be derecognized. SFAS 166 is effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2009. The Company does not expect a material impact on its consolidated financial statements from adoption of SFAS 166.

Statement No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)” was also issued in June 2009. SFAS 167 eliminates the quantitative approach previously required under FIN 46(R) (ASC Subtopic 810-10) for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity. SFAS 167 requires an entity to perform an ongoing assessments to determine whether an entity is the primarily beneficiary of a variable interest entity. The ongoing assessments identify the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity, the obligation to absorb losses of the entity and the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. SFAS 167 is

 

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effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2009. The Company does not expect a material impact on its consolidated financial statements from adoption of SFAS 167.

5. Earnings/Loss per Share

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in earnings. Potential dilution is excluded from computation of diluted per-share amounts when a net loss from operation exists.

Outstanding stock options with anti-dilutive effect were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. The following table sets forth basic and diluted earnings per share calculations and the average shares of stock options with anti-dilutive effect:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
   For the nine months ended
September 30,

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

   2009     2008    2009     2008

Net(loss)/ Income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp

   $ (17,679   $ 6,891    $ (32,112   $ 53,421

Dividends on preferred stock

     (4,086     —        (12,249     —  
                             

Net (loss)/ income available to common stockholders

   $ (21,765   $ 6,891    $ (44,361   $ 53,421

Weighted-average shares:

         

Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

     50,183,296        49,441,621      49,758,833        49,392,655

Dilutive effect of weighted-average outstanding common shares equivalents

         

Stock Options

     0        83,147      0        102,398

Restricted Stock

     0        5,504      0        2,118
                             

Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

     50,183,296        49,530,272      49,758,833        49,497,171
                             

Average shares of stock options and warrants with anti-dilutive effect

     12,108,437        4,808,696      8,724,857        4,429,533
                             

(Loss)/Earnings per common stock share:

         

Basic

   $ (0.43   $ 0.14    $ (0.89   $ 1.08

Diluted

   $ (0.43   $ 0.14    $ (0.89   $ 1.08
                             

6. Stock-Based Compensation

In 1998, the Board adopted the Cathay Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, as amended in September, 2003, directors and eligible employees may be granted incentive or non-statutory stock options and/or restricted stock units, or awarded non-vested stock, for up to 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on a split adjusted basis. In May 2005, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2005 Incentive Plan which provides that 3,131,854 shares of the Company’s common stock may be granted as incentive or non-statutory stock options, or as restricted stock, or as restricted stock units. In conjunction with the approval of the 2005 Incentive Plan, the Bancorp agreed to cease granting awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. As of September 30, 2009, the only options granted by the Company under the 2005 Incentive Plan were non-statutory

 

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stock options to selected bank officers and non-employee directors at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such options have a maximum ten-year term and vest in 20% annual increments (subject to early termination in certain events) except options granted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company for 100,000 shares granted on February 21, 2008, of which 50% were vested on February 21, 2009, and the remaining 50% would vest on February 21, 2010. If such options expire or terminate without having been exercised, any shares not purchased will again be available for future grants or awards. Stock options are typically granted in the first quarter of the year. There were no options granted during the first nine months of 2009. In February 21, 2008, the Company granted options of 689,200 shares and restricted stock units of 82,291 shares to selected bank officers and non-employee directors. The Company expects to issue new shares to satisfy stock option exercises and the vesting of restricted stock units.

Stock-based compensation expense for stock options is calculated based on the fair value of the award at the grant date for those options expected to vest, and is recognized as an expense over the vesting period of the grant. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the value of granted options. This model takes into account the option exercise price, the expected life, the current price of the underlying stock, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock, expected dividends on the stock and a risk-free interest rate. The Company estimates the expected volatility based on the Company’s historical stock prices for the period corresponding to the expected life of the stock options. Based on SAB 107 and SAB 110, the Company has estimated the expected life of the options based on the average of the contractual period and the vesting period and has consistently applied the simplified method to all options granted starting from 2005. Option compensation expense totaled $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, option compensation expense totaled $3.9 million for 2009 and $5.1 million for 2008. Stock-based compensation is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options totaled $6.2 million at September 30, 2009, and is expected to be recognized over the next 1.9 years.

The weighted average per share fair value on the date of grant of the options granted was $6.86 during the first quarter of 2008. There were no options granted in the first nine months of 2009. The Company estimated the expected life of the options based on the average of the contractual period and the vesting period. The fair value of stock options has been determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Nine months ended  
     September 30, 2008  

Expected life- number of years

   6.4   

Risk-free interest rate

   3.09

Volatility

   30.04

Dividend yield

   1.80

 

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No stock options were exercised during the third quarter of 2009 and 2,000 shares were exercised during the third quarter of 2008. Cash received from exercises of stock options totaled $13,000 from the exercise of stock options on 1,280 shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and $372,000 from the exercise of 20,906 shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. No stock options were vested during the third quarter of 2009 and during the third quarter of 2008. The table below summarizes stock option activity for the periods indicated:

 

     Shares     Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual
Life (in years)
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (in thousands)

Balance at December 31, 2008

   5,206,374      $ 27.72    5.6    $ 6,220
                        

Granted

   —          —        

Forfeited

   (7,956     31.10      

Exercised

   (1,280     10.63      
                  

Balance at March 31, 2009

   5,197,138      $ 27.72    5.3    $ —  
                        

Granted

   —          —        

Forfeited

   (5,438     34.15      

Exercised

   —          —        
                  

Balance at June 30, 2009

   5,191,700      $ 27.71    5.1    $ —  
                        

Granted

   —          —        

Forfeited

   (21,766     27.96      

Exercised

   —          —        
                  

Balance at September 30, 2009

   5,169,934      $ 27.71    4.9    $ —  
                

Exercisable at September 30, 2009

   4,233,106      $ 27.34    4.3    $ —  
                        

At September 30, 2009, 1,609,640 shares were available under the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan for future grants.

In addition to stock options above, in February 2008, the Company also granted restricted stock units on 82,291 shares of the Company’s common stock to its eligible employees. On the date of granting of these restricted stock units, the closing price of the Company’s stock was $23.37 per share. Such restricted stock units have a maximum term of five years and vest in approximately 20% annual increments subject to employees’ continued employment with the Company. On February 21, 2009, restricted stock units of 15,828 shares were vested at the closing price of $8.94 per share. Among the 15,828 restricted stock units, 2,865 shares were cancelled immediately for employees who elected to satisfy income tax withholding amounts through cancellation of restricted stock units. Common stock shares of 12,963 were issued and outstanding as of February 21, 2009. The following table presents information relating to the restricted stock units grant as of September 30, 2009:

 

     Units  

Balance at December 31, 2008

   79,537   

Vested

   (12,963

Cancelled or forfeited

   (5,559
      

Balance at September 30, 2009

   61,015   
      

The compensation expense recorded related to the restricted stock units above was $82,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009, and $82,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, compensation expense recorded was $245,000 in 2009 and $191,000 in 2008. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units was $1.1 million at September 30, 2009, and is expected to be recognized over the next 3.4 years.

 

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Prior to 2006, the Company presented the entire amount of the tax benefit on options exercised as operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. After adoption of SFAS No. 123R in January 2006, the Company reports only the benefits of tax deductions in excess of grant-date fair value as cash flows from operating activity and financing activity. The following table summarizes the tax benefit (short-fall) from share-based payment arrangements:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 

(Dollars in thousands)

   2009     2008     2009     2008  

Short-fall of tax deductions in excess of grant-date fair value

   $ (64   $ (3   $ (195   $ (240

Benefit of tax deductions on grant-date fair value

     64        15        198        297   
                                

Total benefit of tax deductions

   $ —        $ 12      $ 3      $ 57   
                                

7. Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

Securities purchased under agreements to resell are usually collateralized by U.S. government agency and mortgage-backed securities. The counter-parties to these agreements are nationally recognized investment banking firms that meet credit requirements of the Company and with whom a master repurchase agreement has been duly executed. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had four resale agreements of $201.0 million outstanding at an annualized weighted average interest rate of 5.39%. During the first quarter of 2009, one resale agreement of $51.0 million matured in January 2009 and three long-term resale agreements of $150.0 million were called in February 2009. As of September 30, 2009, the Company has no resale agreements outstanding.

For those securities obtained under the resale agreements, the collateral is either held by a third party custodian or by the counter-party and is segregated under written agreements that recognize the Company’s interest in the securities. Interest income associated with securities purchased under resale agreements was zero for the third quarter of 2009 and $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2009 and $2.8 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $12.0 million for the first nine months of 2008.

8. Securities

The following tables summarize the composition, amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair value of securities available-for-sale, as of September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008:

 

     September 30, 2009
     Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value
     (In thousands)

U.S. government sponsored entities

   $ 805,461    $ 2,318    $ —      $ 807,779

State and municipal securities

     15,844      167      29      15,982

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,297,707      29,271      1,440      2,325,538

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     127,929      406      2,500      125,835

Asset-backed securities

     317      —        69      248

Corporate bonds

     10,246      —        676      9,570

Preferred stock of government sponsored entities

     701      1,621      —        2,322

Other securities foreign organization

     6,450      1      —        6,451

Other equity securities

     1,785      —        702      1,083
                           

Total

   $ 3,266,440    $ 33,784    $ 5,416    $ 3,294,808
                           

 

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     December 31, 2008
     Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value
     (In thousands)

U.S. treasury securities

   $ 10,510    $ 35    $ —      $ 10,545

U.S. government sponsored entities

     764,341      1,641      —        765,982

State and municipal securities

     23,059      214      37      23,236

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,029,265      53,476      5,278      2,077,463

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     179,939      462      7,523      172,878

Asset-backed securities

     423      —        63      360

Corporate bonds

     35,246      —        2,676      32,570

Preferred stock of government sponsored entities

     783      —        —        783
                           

Total

   $ 3,043,566    $ 55,828    $ 15,577    $ 3,083,817
                           

Realized gains or losses on sales of securities available-for-sale are recorded using the specific identification method. The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities available-for-sale at September 30, 2009, by contractual maturities are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or repayment penalties.

 

     Amortized
Cost
   Fair Value
     (In thousands)

Due in one year or less

   $ 8,195    $ 8,212

Due after one year through five years

     439,844      439,772

Due after five years through ten years

     657,258      664,113

Due after ten years

     2,161,143      2,182,711
             

Total

   $ 3,266,440    $ 3,294,808
             

Proceeds from sales, calls, and repayments of securities available-for-sale were $3.4 billion during the first nine months on 2009 compared to $2.8 billion during the same period a year ago, and were $424.2 million during the third quarter of 2009 compared to $1.2 billion during the same quarter a year ago. Gains of $52.4 million and no losses were realized on sales and calls of securities available-for-sale for the first nine months of 2009 compared with $20.7 million in gains and $6,000 in losses realized for the same period a year ago. Gains of $2.9 million and no losses were realized on sales and calls of securities available-for-sale for the third quarter of 2009 compared with $18.3 million in gains and no losses realized for the same quarter a year ago.

Between 2002 and 2004, the Company purchased a number of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations comprised of interests in non-agency guaranteed residential mortgages. At September 30, 2009, the remaining par value was $14.0 million for these mortgage-backed securities with unrealized losses of $1.4 million and $121.0 million for collateralized mortgage obligations with unrealized losses of $2.4 million. The remaining par value of these securities totaled $135.0 million which represents 4.1% of the fair value of the Company’s securities available-for-sale and 1.1% of the Company’s total assets. At September 30, 2009, the unrealized loss for these securities totaled $3.8 million which represented 2.8% of the par amount of these non-agency guaranteed residential mortgages and resulted from increases in credit spreads subsequent to the date that these securities were purchased. Based on the Company’s analysis at September 30, 2009, there

 

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was no “other-than-temporary” impairment in these securities due to the low loan to value ratio for the loans underlying these securities, the credit support provided by junior tranches of these securitizations, and the continued AAA rating for all but five issues of these securities. The Company’s analysis also indicated the continued full ultimate collection of principal and interest for the five issues that were no longer rated AAA.

The Company’s unrealized loss on investments in corporate bonds relates to two investments in bonds of financial institutions in the amounts of $10 million and $250,000, all of which were investment grade at the date of acquisition and as of September 30, 2009. The unrealized losses of $676,000 were primarily caused by the widening of credit spreads since the dates of acquisition. The contractual terms of those investments do not permit the issuers to settle the security at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. The Company currently does not believe it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the investment. Therefore, it is expected that these debentures would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment.

ASC Topic 320 changes the requirements for recognizing other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) for debt securities. ASC Topic 320 requires an entity to assess whether the entity has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. The Company has no intent to sell and will not be required to sell available-for-sale securities that decline below their cost before their anticipated recovery. At September 30, 2009, there was no other-than-temporary impairment related to credit losses to be recognized in earnings. Other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors was recognized in other comprehensive income.

The temporarily impaired securities represent 5.2% of the fair value of securities available-for-sale as of September 30, 2009. Unrealized losses for securities with unrealized losses for less than twelve months represent 2.1%, and securities with unrealized losses for twelve months or more represent 3.8% of the historical cost of these securities and generally resulted from increases in interest rates subsequent to the date that these securities were purchased. All of these securities are investment grade as of September 30, 2009. At September 30, 2009, 39 issues of securities had unrealized losses for 12 months or longer and 8 issues of securities had unrealized losses of less than 12 months. The table below shows the fair value, unrealized losses, and number of issuances as of September 30, 2009, of the temporarily impaired securities in the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio:

Temporarily Impaired Securities as of September 30, 2009

 

     Less than 12 months    12 months or longer    Total
     Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
   No. of
Issuances
   Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
   No. of
Issuances
   Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
   No. of
Issuances
     (In thousands, except no. of issuances)

Description of securities

                          

State and municipal securities

     —        —      —        668      29    1      668      29    1

Mortgage-backed securities

     50,799      18    6      2,283      45    10      53,082      63    16

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities

     —        —      —        12,565      1,377    3      12,565      1,377    3

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     22,075      881    1      71,956      1,619    21      94,031      2,500    22

Asset-backed securities

     —        —      —        249      69    1      249      69    1

Corporate bonds

     —        —      —        9,320      676    3      9,320      676    3

Equity securities

     1,083      702    1      —        —      —        1,083      702    1
                                                        

Total

   $ 73,957    $ 1,601    8    $ 97,041    $ 3,815    39    $ 170,998    $ 5,416    47
                                                        

 

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On June 19, 2009, the Company securitized $13.9 million real estate mortgage loans through Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and recognized mortgage servicing assets of $139,000 for the servicing rights it retained. On June 26, 2009, the Company sold all of the resulting securities of $13.9 million and recognized gains on sale of securities of $492,000. Prior to June 2009, the Company had no securitization transactions.

In August, 2009, the Company purchased U.S. government agency securities at par of $100.0 million and classified them as securities held-to-maturity securities. Book value for securities held-to-maturity were $99.9 million at September 30, 2009 and zero at September 30, 2008.

9. Investments in Affordable Housing

The Company has invested in certain limited partnerships that were formed to develop and operate housing for lower-income tenants throughout the United States. The Company’s investments in these partnerships were $98.0 million at September 30, 2009, and $103.6 million at December 31, 2008. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, six of the limited partnerships in which the Company has an equity interest were determined to be variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The consolidation of these limited partnerships in the Company’s consolidated financial statements increased total assets and liabilities by $23.0 million at September 30, 2009, and by $22.8 million at December 31, 2008. Other borrowings for affordable housing limited partnerships were $19.4 million at September 30, 2009 and $19.5 million at December 31, 2008; recourse is limited to the assets of the limited partnerships. Unfunded commitments for affordable housing limited partnerships of $11.1 million as of September 30, 2009, and $22.1 million as of December 31, 2008 were recorded under other liabilities.

10. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of loans, or through commercial or standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees. These instruments represent varying degrees of exposure to risk in excess of the amounts included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The contractual or notional amount of these instruments indicates a level of activity associated with a particular class of financial instrument and is not a reflection of the level of expected losses, if any.

 

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The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The following table summarizes the outstanding commitments as of the dates indicated:

 

(In thousands)

   At September 30, 2009    At December 31, 2008

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 1,585,758    $ 2,047,985

Standby letters of credit

     57,284      79,423

Other letters of credit

     60,267      66,220

Bill of lading guarantees

     44      493
             

Total

   $ 1,703,353    $ 2,194,121
             

As of September 30, 2009, $11.1 million unfunded commitments for affordable housing investments were recorded under other liabilities compared to $22.1 million at December 31, 2008.

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment agreement. These commitments generally have fixed expiration dates and the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Letters of credit, including standby letters of credit and bill of lading guarantees, are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing these types of instruments is essentially the same as that involved in making loans to customers.

11. Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $1.6 billion with a weighted average rate of 4.20% at September 30, 2009, compared to $1.6 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.95% at December 31, 2008. Seventeen floating-to-fixed rate agreements totaling $900.0 million are with initial floating rates for a period of time ranging from nine months to one year, with the floating rates ranging from the three-month LIBOR minus 100 basis points to the three-month LIBOR minus 340 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.29% to 5.07%. After the initial floating rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the fixed rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. Thirteen fixed-to-floating rate agreements totaling $650.0 million are with initial fixed rates ranging from 1.00% and 3.50% with initial fixed rate terms ranging from nine months to eighteen months. For the remainder of the seven year term, the rates float at 8% minus the three-month LIBOR rate with a maximum rate ranging from 3.25% to 3.75% and minimum rate of 0.0%. After the initial fixed rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the floating rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. The table below provides summary data for securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of September 30, 2009:

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

 

(Dollars in millions)

   Fixed-to-floating     Floating-to-fixed     Total  

Callable

     All callable at September 30, 2009        All callable at September 30, 2009     

Rate type

     Float Rate        Fixed Rate     

Rate index

     8% minus 3 month LIBOR       
                  

Maximum rate

     3.75     3.50     3.50     3.25          

Minimum rate

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0          

No. of agreements

     3        5        4        1        2        1        10        4        30   

Amount

   $ 150.0      $ 250.0      $ 200.0      $ 50.0      $ 100.0      $ 50.0      $ 550.0      $ 200.0      $ 1,550.0   

Weighted average rate

     3.75     3.50     3.50     3.25     4.77     4.83     4.54     5.00     4.20

Final maturity

     2014        2014        2015        2015        2011        2012        2014        2017     

 

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These transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold. The Company may have to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements, as necessary. The underlying collateral pledged for the repurchase agreements consists of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency security debt, and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $1.8 billion as of September 30, 2009, and $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2008.

12. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank

Total advances from the FHLB of San Francisco decreased $520.0 million to $929.4 million at September 30, 2009 from $1.45 billion at December 31, 2008. Non-puttable advances totaled $229.4 million with a weighted rate of 4.76% and puttable advances totaled $700.0 million with a weighted average rate of 4.42% at September 30, 2009. The FHLB has the right to terminate the puttable transaction at par at each three-month anniversary after the first puttable date. As of September 30, 2009, all puttable FHLB advances were puttable but FHLB had not exercised its right to terminate any of the puttable transactions.

13. Subordinated Note and Junior Subordinated Debt

On September 29, 2006, the Bank issued $50.0 million in subordinated debt in a private placement transaction (“Bank Subordinated Securities”). The debt has a maturity term of 10 years, is unsecured and bears interest at a rate of three month LIBOR plus 110 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis. At September 30, 2009, the per annum interest rate on the subordinated debt was 1.38% compared to 2.56% at December 31, 2008. The subordinated debt was issued through the Bank and qualifies as Tier 2 capital for regulatory reporting purposes and is included in long-term debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Bancorp established three special purpose trusts in 2003 and two in 2007 for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities to outside investors (“Capital Securities”). The trusts exist for the purpose of issuing the Capital Securities and investing the proceeds thereof, together with proceeds from the purchase of the common stock of the trusts by the Bancorp, in junior subordinated notes issued by the Bancorp (“Junior Subordinated Securities”). The five special purpose trusts are considered variable interest entities under GAAP. Because the Bancorp is not the primary beneficiary of the trusts, the financial statements of the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. At September 30, 2009, junior subordinated debt securities totaled $121.1 million with a weighted average interest rate of

 

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2.46% compared to $121.1 million with a weighted average rate of 4.02% at December 31, 2008. The junior subordinated debt securities have a stated maturity term of 30 years and are currently included in the Tier 1 capital of the Bancorp for regulatory capital purposes.

14. Income Taxes and Implementation of FASB Interpretation No. 48

The income tax benefit totaled $35.4 million, or an effective tax benefit rate of 52.4% for the first nine months of 2009 compared to income tax expense of $30.1 million, or effective tax rate of 36.1%, for the same period a year ago. Income tax benefit/expense results in effective tax rates that differ from the statutory Federal income tax rate for the periods indicated as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2009     2008  
     (In thousands)  

Tax provision at Federal statutory rate

   $ (23,616   35.0   $ 29,244      35.0

State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit

     (3,856   5.7        5,332      6.4   

Interest on obligations of state and political subdivisions, which are exempt from Federal taxation

     (212   0.3        (333   (0.4

Low income housing tax credit

     (8,089   12.0        (7,123   (8.5

Agency preferred stock write-down

     —        —          4,632      5.5   

Other, net

     411      (0.6     (1,619   (1.9
                            

Total income tax (benefit)/expense

   $ (35,362   52.4   $ 30,133      36.1
                            

As previously disclosed, on December 31, 2003, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced its intent to list certain transactions that in its view constitute potentially abusive tax shelters. Included in the transactions subject to this listing were transactions utilizing regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). While the Company continues to believe that the tax benefits recorded in 2000, 2001, and 2002 with respect to its regulated investment company were appropriate and fully defensible under California law, the Company participated in Option 2 of the Voluntary Compliance Initiative of the Franchise Tax Board, and paid all California taxes and interest on these disputed 2000 through 2002 tax benefits, and at the same time filed a claim for refund for these years while avoiding certain potential penalties. The Company expects to resolve the California tax audits of its 2000 through 2002 tax years without any additional accruals.

In May 2009, the Company filed amended California tax returns for tax years 2003 through 2007. The Company paid California income tax of $5.5 million and interest of $1.2 million, substantially all of which had previously been recorded as unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax benefits as an income tax provision expense. The Company had approximately $0.3 million of accrued interest and penalties as of September 30, 2009 and $1.9 million of accrued interest and penalties as of December 31, 2008.

The Company’s tax returns are open for audits by the Internal Revenue Service back to 2005 and by the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California back to 2000. The Company is currently under audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for the years 2000 to 2004.

 

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15. Sales of Common Stock

On September 9. 2009, the Company commenced a $75 million at-the-market common stock offering. Through September 30, 2009, the Company raised $31.4 million in additional capital through the sale of 3,490,000 shares of common stock from its at-the-market common stock offering.

16. Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASC Topic 820 on January 1, 2008, and determined the fair values of our financial instruments based on the following:

 

   

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2 - Observable prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; directly observable market inputs for substantially the full term of the asset and liability; market inputs that are not directly observable but are derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

 

   

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that a market participant would use.

The Company uses the following methodologies to measure the fair value of its financial assets on a recurring basis:

Securities available for sale. For certain actively traded agency preferred stocks and U.S. Treasury securities, the Company measures the fair value based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement. The Company also measures securities by using quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement. This category generally includes U.S. Government agency securities, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), commercial MBS, collateralized mortgage obligations, asset-backed securities and corporate bonds.

Trading securities. The Company measures the fair value of trading securities based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement.

Impaired loans. The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to collateral dependent impaired loans are recorded based on either current appraised value of the collateral, a Level 2 measurement, or management’s judgment and estimation of value reported on old appraisals which are then adjusted based on recent market trends, a Level 3 measurement.

Other real estate owned. Real estate acquired in the settlement of loans is initially recorded at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. The Company records other real estate owned at fair value on a non-recurring basis. However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to other real estate owned are recorded based on current appraised value of the property, a Level 2 measurement, or management’s judgment and estimation based on reported appraisal value, a Level 3 measurement.

 

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Equity investments. The Company records equity investments at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to equity investments are recorded based on quoted market prices in active exchange market at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement.

Warrants. The Company measures the fair value of warrants based on unobservable inputs based on assumption and management judgment, a Level 3 measurement.

Currency Option Contracts and Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Company measures the fair value of currency option and foreign exchange contracts based on dealer quotes on a recurring basis, a Level 2 measurement.

Interest Rate Swaps. Fair value of interest rate swaps was derived from observable market prices for similar assets on a recurring basis, a level 2 measurement.

 

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The following table presents the Company’s hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis at September 30, 2009:

 

     Fair Value Measurements Using    Total at
     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Fair Value
     (In thousands)

Assets

           

On a Recurring Basis

           

Securities available-for-sale

           

U.S. government sponsored entities

   $ —      $ 807,779    $ —      $ 807,779

State and municipal securities

     —        15,982      —        15,982

Mortgage-backed securities

     —        2,325,538      —        2,325,538

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        125,835      —        125,835

Asset-backed securities

     —        248      —        248

Corporate bonds

     —        9,570      —        9,570

Preferred stock of government sponsored entities

     —        2,322      —        2,322

Other foreign securities

     —        6,451      —        6,451

Other equity securities

     1,083      —        —        1,083
                           

Total securities available-for-sale

     1,083      3,293,725      —        3,294,808

Trading securities

     12      —        —        12

Warrants

     —        —        103      103

Option contracts

     —        156      —        156

Foreign exchange contracts

     —        11,766      —        11,766

On a Nonrecurring Basis

           

Impaired loans

     —        99,773      36,139      135,912

Other real estate owned (1)

     —        86,653      6,117      92,770

Equity investment

     826      —        —        826
                           

Total assets

   $ 1,921    $ 3,492,073    $ 42,359    $ 3,536,353
                           

Liabilities

           

On a Recurring Basis

           

Interest rate swaps

   $ —      $ 936    $ —      $ 936

Option contracts

     —        12      —        12

Foreign exchange contracts

     —        296      —        296
                           

Total liabilities

   $ —      $ 1,244    $ —      $ 1,244
                           

 

(1) Other real estate owned balance of $87.8 million in the consolidated balance sheet is net of estimated disposal costs.

For assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, the following table summarizes the total losses recognized for the period indicated:

 

(In thousands)

   For the three months ended
September 30, 2009
    For the nine months ended
September 30, 2009
 

Impaired loans

     (22,886     (39,501

Other real estate owned

     (2,548     (18,050

Equity investment

     —          —     
                

Total losses recognized

   $ (25,434   $ (57,551
                

 

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The Company measured the fair value of its warrants on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs. The fair value of warrants was $103,000 at September 30, 2009, compared to $122,000 at December 31, 2008. The fair value adjustment of $19,000 was included in other operating income in 2009.

17. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company uses following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. For cash and cash equivalents, the carrying amount was assumed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Short-term Investments. For short-term investments, the carrying amount was assumed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Securities purchased under agreements to resell The fair value of the agreements to resell is based on dealer quotes.

Securities. For securities including securities held-to-maturity, available-for-sale and for trading, fair values were based on quoted market prices at the reporting date. If a quoted market price was not available, fair value was estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes.

Loans. Fair values were estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Each loan category was further segmented into fixed and adjustable rate interest terms and by performing and non-performing categories.

The fair value of performing loans was calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan.

The entire allowance for credit losses was applied to classified loans including non-accruals. Accordingly, they are considered to be carried at fair value as the allowance for credit losses represents the estimated discount for credit risk for the applicable loans.

Deposit Liabilities. The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts, and certain money market deposits was assumed to be the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit was estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits with similar remaining maturities.

Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase. The fair value of the repurchase agreements is based on dealer quotes.

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank. The fair value of the advances is based on quotes from the FHLB to settle the advances.

Other Borrowings. This category includes federal funds purchased, revolving line of credit, and other short-term borrowings. The fair value of other borrowings is based on current market rates for borrowings with similar remaining maturities.

 

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Subordinated Debt. The fair value of subordinated debt is estimated based on the current spreads to LIBOR for subordinated debt.

Junior Subordinated Notes. The fair value of the Junior Subordinated Notes is estimated based on the current spreads to LIBOR for junior subordinated notes.

Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments. The fair value of commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees written were estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counter-parties. The fair value of guarantees and letters of credit was based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counter-parties at the reporting date.

Fair value estimates were made at specific points in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Bank’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Bank’s financial instruments, fair value estimates were based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates were subjective in nature and involved uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

     As of September 30, 2009     As of December 31, 2008  
     Carrying
Amount
   Fair Value     Carrying
Amount
   Fair Value  
     (In thousands)  

Financial Assets

          

Cash and due from banks

   $ 198,237    $ 198,237      $ 84,818    $ 84,818   

Federal funds sold

     —        —          —        —     

Short-term investments

     331,767      331,767        25,000      25,000   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     —        —          201,000      198,435   

Securities held-to-maturity

     99,865      101,282        —        —     

Securities available-for-sale

     3,294,808      3,294,808        3,083,817      3,083,817   

Trading securities

     12      12        12      12   

Loans, net

     6,917,332      6,896,752        7,340,181      7,348,316   

Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

     71,791      71,791        71,791      71,791   

Option contracts

     156      156        2,439      5   

Foreign exchange contracts

     11,766      11,766        15,991      1,122   

Financial Liabilities

          

Deposits

     7,708,731      7,727,199        6,836,736      6,861,412   

Federal funds purchased

     —        —          52,000      52,000   

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

     1,550,000      1,711,720        1,610,000      1,785,725   

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     929,362      995,942        1,449,362      1,523,718   

Other borrowings

     20,668      20,668        19,500      19,500   

Long-term debt

     171,136      87,918        171,136      91,496   

Interest rate swaps

     936      936        —        —     

Foreign exchange contracts

     296      296        103,187      9,235   
     As of September 30, 2009     As of December 31, 2008  
     Notional
Amount
   Fair Value     Notional
Amount
   Fair Value  
     (In thousands)  

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

          

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 1,585,758    $ (845   $ 2,047,985    $ (3,089

Standby letters of credit

     57,284      (274     79,423      (417

Other letters of credit

     60,267      (35     66,220      (38

Bill of lading guarantees

     44      —          493      (2

18. Goodwill and Goodwill Impairment

The Company’s policy is to assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis or between annual assessments if a triggering event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. Accounting standards require management to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit in making the assessment of impairment at least annually.

As a result of ongoing volatility in the financial services industry, the Company’s market capitalization decreased to a level below book value as of September 30, 2009. The Company engaged an independent valuation firm to compute the fair value estimates of each reporting unit as part of its impairment assessment. The independent valuation utilized two separate valuation methodologies and applied a weighted average to each methodology in order to determine fair value for each reporting unit.

 

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The impairment testing process conducted by the Company begins by assigning net assets and goodwill to its three reporting units- Commercial Lending, Retail Banking, and East Coast Operations. The Company then completes “step one” of the impairment test by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit (as determined based on the discussion below) with the recorded book value (or “carrying amount”) of its net assets, with goodwill included in the computation of the carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired, and “step two” of the impairment test is not necessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, step two of the impairment test is performed to determine the amount of impairment. Step two of the impairment test compares the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill to the “implied fair value” of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is computed by assuming all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit would be adjusted to the current fair value, with the offset as an adjustment to goodwill. This adjusted goodwill balance is the implied fair value used in step two. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. In connection with obtaining the independent valuation, management provided certain data and information that was utilized by the third party in its determination of fair value. This information included forecasted earnings of the Company at the reporting unit level. Management believes that this information is a critical assumption underlying the estimate of fair value.

The valuation as of September 30, 2009, indicated that the fair value for the Retail Banking and East Coast Operations, the only two reporting units with allocated goodwill, exceeded their carrying amounts. Consequently, no goodwill impairment charge was recorded as of September 30, 2009. While management uses the best information available to estimate future performance for each reporting unit, future adjustments to management’s projections may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the estimates.

19. Financial Derivatives

It is the policy of the Company not to speculate on the future direction of interest rates. However, the Company enters into financial derivatives in order to seek mitigation of exposure to interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. We believe that these transactions, when properly structured and managed, may provide a hedge against inherent interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and against risk in specific transactions. In such instances, the Company may protect its position through the purchase or sale of interest rate futures contracts for a specific cash or interest rate risk position. Other hedge transactions may be implemented using interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors, financial futures, forward rate agreements, and options on futures or bonds. Prior to considering any hedging activities, we seek to analyze the costs and benefits of the hedge in comparison to other viable alternative strategies. All hedges will require an assessment of basis risk and must be approved by the Bank’s Investment Committee.

The Company follows ASC Topic 815 which established accounting and reporting standards for financial derivatives, including certain financial derivatives embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all financial derivatives as assets or liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and measurement of those financial derivatives at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a financial derivative is designated as a hedge and if so, the type of hedge.

 

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In the third quarter of 2009, we entered into five interest rate swap agreements with two major financial institutions in the notional amount of $300.0 million for a period of three years. These interest rate swaps were not structured to hedge against inherent interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. At September 30, 2009, the Company paid fixed rate at weighted average rate of 1.95% and received floating 3-month Libor rate at weighted average rate of 0.36%. The net amount accrued on these interest rate swaps of $402,000 for the three months and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were recorded to reduce other non-interest income. At September 30, 2009, the Company recorded $936,000 within other liabilities to recognize the negative fair value of these interest rate swaps.

The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts with various counterparties to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, for foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts or foreign currency option contracts entered into with our clients. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are recorded at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of these contracts as well as the related foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts or foreign currency option contracts are recognized immediately in net income as a component of non-interest income. Period end gross positive fair values are recorded in other assets and gross negative fair values are recorded in other liabilities. At September 30, 2009, the notional amount of option contracts totaled $8.3 million and with a net positive fair value of $144,000, the notional amount of spot and forward contracts totaled $75.0 million and with a positive fair value of $11.8 million, the notional amount of spot and forward contracts totaled $21.2 million and with a negative fair value of $296,000.

20. Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through November 6, 2009, the date these consolidated financial statements were issued.

On October 12, 2009, the Company terminated its at-the-market common stock program and commenced a public offering of $70.4 million of common stock. On October 13, 2009, the Company sold 8,756,756 shares of its common stock (including 1,142,185 shares through the underwriter’s over subscription option) through a follow on public offering and raised $76.0 million in additional capital which was net of underwriter’s discount and professional expenses totaling $5.0 million. The Company closed its public common stock offering on October 19, 2009.

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion is given based on the assumption that the reader has access to and has read the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, of Cathay General Bancorp (“Bancorp”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Cathay Bank (the “Bank” and, together, the “Company” or “we”, “us,” or “our”).

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and results of operations are based upon its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Accounting for the allowance for credit losses involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of net loans; management considers this accounting policy to be a critical accounting policy. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances as described under the heading “Accounting for the Allowance for Loan Losses” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Accounting for investment securities involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of securities and the recognition of any “other-than-temporary” impairment to our investment securities. The judgments and assumptions used by management are described under the heading “Investment Securities” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Accounting for income taxes involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the amount of taxes currently payable and the income tax expense recorded in the financial statements. The judgments and assumptions used by management are described under the heading “Income Taxes” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Accounting for goodwill and goodwill impairment involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the amount of goodwill recorded and noninterest expense recorded in the financial statements. The judgments and assumptions used by management are described under the heading “Goodwill and goodwill impairment” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Nonaccrual loans down 6% - Total nonaccrual loans decreased by 6%, or $22.6 million, to $360.5 million at September 30, 2009 compared to $383.1 million at June 30, 2009.

 

 

Total accruing delinquent loans down 50% – Total loans delinquent 30 days or more and still accruing interest decreased by 50% to $79.3 million at September 30, 2009 compared to $158.2 million at June 30, 2009.

 

 

Increase in net interest margin – Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2009 increased to 2.65% from 2.49% for the second quarter of 2009.

 

 

Allowance for credit losses strengthened – Total allowance for credit losses increased to $194.4 million, or 2.73%, of total loans at September 30, 2009 compared to 2.42% of total loans at June 30, 2009.

 

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Decrease in provision for credit losses – The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $76.0 million during the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of $17.0 million in the provision for credit losses, as compared to a provision of $93.0 million during the second quarter of 2009.

 

 

Capital strengthened – During the months of September 2009 and October 2009, the Company raised $107.4 million in additional capital through the sale of 3.5 million shares of common stock in its at-the-market capital offering and 8.7 million shares of common stock in its public offering.

Statement of Operations Review

Net (Loss)/Income

Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $21.8 million, a $28.7 million income decrease, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $6.9 million for the same period a year ago. Loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2009, was $0.43 compared to earnings of $0.14 per diluted share for the same period a year ago due primarily to increases in the provision for credit losses, lower net interest income and higher provision for OREO write-downs.

Return on average stockholders’ equity was negative 5.58% and return on average assets was negative 0.60% for the three months ended September 30, 2009, compared to a return on average stockholders’ equity of 2.71% and a return on average assets of 0.25% for the same period of 2008

Financial Performance

 

     Third Quarter 2009     Third Quarter 2008

Net (loss)/income

   $ (17.7) million      $ 6.9 million

Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders

   $ (21.8) million      $ 6.9 million

(Loss)/basic earnings per common share

   $ (0.43   $ 0.14

(Loss)/diluted earnings per common share

   $ (0.43   $ 0.14

Net Interest Income Before Provision for Credit Losses

Net interest income before provision for credit losses decreased to $72.5 million during the third quarter of 2009, a decline of $1.1 million, or 1.5%, compared to $73.6 million during the same quarter a year ago. The decrease was due primarily to the increases in interest expense paid for securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

The net interest margin, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, was 2.65% for the third quarter of 2009. The net interest margin increased 16 basis points from 2.49% in the second quarter of 2009, and decreased 23 basis points from 2.88%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, in the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in net interest margin from the prior year primarily resulted from increases in non-accrual loans and the increase in the borrowing rate on our long term repurchase agreements and other borrowed funds. The majority of our variable rate loans contain interest rate floors, which help limit the impact of the recent decreases in the prime interest rate.

For the third quarter of 2009, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 4.82%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 2.48%, and the cost of

 

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interest bearing deposits was 1.80%. In comparison, for the third quarter of 2008, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 5.70%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 3.21%, and the cost of interest bearing deposits was 2.84%. The interest spread, defined as the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities, decreased 15 basis points to 2.34% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, from 2.49% for the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to the reasons discussed above.

The cost of deposits, including demand deposits, decreased 33 basis points to 1.62% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to 1.95% in the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to growth in core deposits and decreased 89 basis points from 2.51% in the third quarter of 2008 due partly to decrease in market rates and partly to growth in core deposits.

 

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Average daily balances, together with the total dollar amounts, on a taxable-equivalent basis, of interest income and interest expense, and the weighted-average interest rate and net interest margin are as follows:

Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

 

Three months ended September 30,    2009     2008  

Taxable-equivalent basis

(Dollars in thousands)

   Average
Balance
    Interest
Income/
Expense
   Average
Yield/
Rate (1)(2)
    Average
Balance
    Interest
Income/
Expense
   Average
Yield/
Rate (1)(2)
 

Interest Earning Assets

              

Commercial loans

   $ 1,428,143      $ 17,104    4.75   $ 1,606,864      $ 21,171    5.24

Residential mortgage

     838,268        11,059    5.28        772,460        10,983    5.69   

Commercial mortgage

     4,142,771        62,858    6.02        4,126,133        68,364    6.59   

Real estate construction loans

     782,817        8,390    4.25        898,728        13,247    5.86   

Other loans and leases

     19,972        177    3.52        21,633        240    4.41   
                                          

Total loans and leases (1)

     7,211,971        99,588    5.48        7,425,818        114,005    6.11   

Taxable securities

     3,385,904        31,589    3.70        2,484,473        27,575    4.42   

Tax-exempt securities (3)

     18,590        257    5.48        47,938        868    7.20   

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

     71,819        149    0.82        64,228        1,004    6.22   

Interest bearing deposits

     57,297        119    0.82        8,941        42    1.87   

Federal funds sold & securities purchased
under agreements to resell

     104,946        35    0.13        188,522        2,899    6.12   
                                          

Total interest-earning assets

     10,850,527        131,737    4.82        10,219,920        146,393    5.70   
                                          

Non-interest earning assets

              

Cash and due from banks

     127,493             82,102        

Other non-earning assets

     840,826             724,950        
                          

Total non-interest earning assets

     968,319             807,052        

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (183,000          (90,162     

Deferred loan fees

     (9,206          (10,527     
                          

Total assets

   $ 11,626,640           $ 10,926,283        
                          

Interest bearing liabilities:

              

Interest bearing demand accounts

   $ 310,047      $ 312    0.40      $ 268,802      $ 382    0.57   

Money market accounts

     967,839        3,751    1.54        760,679        3,466    1.81   

Savings accounts

     338,053        182    0.21        337,538        261    0.31   

Time deposits

     5,175,066        26,602    2.04        4,708,290        39,217    3.31   
                                          

Total interest-bearing deposits

     6,791,005        30,847    1.80        6,075,309        43,326    2.84   
                                          

Federal funds purchased

     163        1    0.45        39,842        206    2.06   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     1,556,343        16,555    4.22        1,550,000        15,174    3.89   

Other borrowings

     957,558        10,662    4.42        1,157,430        11,785    4.05   

Long-term debt

     171,136        1,067    2.47        171,136        2,030    4.72   
                                          

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     9,476,205        59,132    2.48        8,993,717        72,521    3.21   
                                          

Non-interest bearing liabilities

              

Demand deposits

     783,799             788,028        

Other liabilities

     101,772             125,535        

Total equity

     1,264,864             1,019,003        
                          

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 11,626,640           $ 10,926,283        
                          

Net interest spread (4)

        2.34        2.49
                      

Net interest income (4)

     $ 72,605        $ 73,872   
                      

Net interest margin (4)

        2.65        2.88
                      

 

(1) Yields and amounts of interest earned include loan fees. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balance.
(2) Calculated by dividing net interest income by average outstanding interest-earning assets
(3) The average yield has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis for certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%
(4) Net interest income, net interest spread, and net interest margin on interest-earning assets have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%

 

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The following table summarizes the changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and changes in interest rates:

Taxable-Equivalent Net Interest Income — Changes Due to Rate and Volume(1)

 

     Three months ended September 30,
2009-2008
Increase (Decrease) in
Net Interest Income Due to:
 

(Dollars in thousands)

   Changes in
Volume
    Changes in
Rate
    Total Change  

Interest-Earning Assets:

      

Loans and leases

     (3,150     (11,267     (14,417

Taxable securities

     8,912        (4,898     4,014   

Tax-exempt securities (2)

     (440     (171     (611

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

     105        (960     (855

Deposits with other banks

     112        (35     77   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

     (893     (1,971     (2,864
                        

Total increase in interest income

     4,646        (19,302     (14,656
                        

Interest-Bearing Liabilities:

      

Interest bearing demand accounts

     53        (123     (70

Money market accounts

     855        (570     285   

Savings accounts

     1        (80     (79

Time deposits

     3,563        (16,178     (12,615

Federal funds purchased

     (115     (90     (205

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     64        1,317        1,381   

Other borrowed funds

     (2,129     1,006        (1,123

Long-term debts

     —          (963     (963
                        

Total increase in interest expense

     2,292        (15,681     (13,389
                        

Changes in net interest income

   $ 2,354      $ (3,621   $ (1,267
                        

 

(1) Changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to changes due to volume and changes due to rate.
(2) The amount of interest earned on certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using a statutory federal income tax rate of 35%.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for credit losses was $76.0 million for the third quarter of 2009 compared to $93.0 million for the second quarter of 2009 and compared to $15.8 million in the third quarter of 2008. The provision for credit losses was based on the review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2009. The provision for credit losses represents the charge against current earnings that is determined by management, through a credit review process, as the amount needed to establish an allowance that management believes to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio, including unfunded commitments. The following table summarizes the charge-offs and recoveries for the periods as indicated:

 

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     For the three months ended
September 30,
   For the nine months ended
September 30,

(In thousands)

   2009    2008    2009    2008

Charge-offs:

           

Commercial loans

   $ 27,492    $ 6,796    $ 49,657    $ 8,917

Construction loans- residential

     13,126      3,230      58,535      8,239

Construction loans- other

     1,966      —        10,734      —  

Real estate loans

     12,094      172      26,550      554

Real estate- land loans

     3,865      —        7,599      339

Installment and other loans

     —        —        4      —  
                           

Total charge-offs

     58,543      10,198      153,079      18,049
                           

Recoveries:

           

Commercial loans

     219      1,067      523      1,634

Construction loans- residential

     598      —        772      83

Construction loans- other

     —        —        1      —  

Real estate loans

     46         46   

Real estate- land loans

     685      —        686      —  

Installment and other loans

     2      4      19      16
                           

Total recoveries

     1,550      1,071      2,047      1,733
                           

Net Charge-offs

   $ 56,993    $ 9,127    $ 151,032    $ 16,316
                           

Total charge-offs of $58.5 million for the third quarter of 2009 included $13.1 million of charge-offs on twelve residential construction loans, $2.0 million of charge-offs on commercial property construction loans, $10.6 million of charge-offs on commercial real estate loans, $27.5 million on 25 commercial loans, $1.5 million charge-offs on residential mortgage loans, and $3.8 million of charge-offs on land loans. Net loan charge-offs increased from $56.0 million in the second quarter of 2009 to $57.0 million in the third quarter of 2009 and compared to $9.1 million in the third quarter of last year. Net loan charge-offs remained high in the third quarter as a result of the continuing weak economy.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income, which includes revenues from depository service fees, letters of credit commissions, securities gains (losses), gains (losses) on loan sales, wire transfer fees, and other sources of fee income, was $10.3 million for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $18.7 million compared to the non-interest loss of $8.4 million for the third quarter of 2008. The increase in non-interest income was primarily due to net securities losses in 2008 of $15.3 million. In the third quarter of 2009, net gains on sales of agency mortgage-backed securities were $2.9 million compared to a $27.8 million other-than-temporary impairment charge on agency preferred stock which was partially offset by net gains of $12.5 million from sales of agency mortgage-backed securities in the same quarter a year ago. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company sold an aircraft owned through a leveraged lease and recorded a $3.3 million gain included in other operating income. Offsetting the above gains were losses of $1.3 million from interest rate swap agreements, a decrease of $1.0 million from foreign exchange and currency transaction commissions, and $328,000 from higher write-downs of venture capital investments.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased $3.8 million, or 10.8%, to $38.8 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $35.0 million in the same quarter a year ago. The efficiency ratio was 46.87% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to 53.69% for the same period a year ago due to the securities losses recorded in the prior year.

 

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OREO expense increased $2.9 million to $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2009 from $1.2 million in the same quarter a year ago primarily due to higher OREO provision and expense resulting from increased OREO activities.

FDIC and State assessments increased $3.2 million to $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 from $1.3 million in the same quarter a year ago due to a higher assessment rate. Occupancy expense increased $606,000 primarily due to increases in depreciation expense of $782,000 primarily related to our new administrative offices at 9650 Flair Drive, El Monte which opened in January 2009, which were partially offset by lower rental expense of $206,000. Professional service expense increased $284,000, or 8.3%, primarily due to increases in credit appraisal expenses, legal expenses, and collection expenses.

Offsetting the above described increases were decreases of $2.0 million in salaries and employee benefits and decreases of $1.4 million expense from operations of affordable housing investments. Salaries and employee benefits decreased primarily due to a $665,000 decrease in option compensation expense, a $556,000 decrease in bonus accruals, and a $331,000 decrease in salaries. Expense from operations of affordable housing investments decreased as the result of an expense reversal of $494,000 to the prior year’s estimated losses in the third quarter of 2009 compared to additional expense adjustment of $577,000 in the same quarter a year ago.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 51.7% for the third quarter of 2008 and 27.9% for the full year 2008. The tax benefit for the third quarter of 2009 resulted from the pretax loss for the quarter and the utilization of low income housing tax credits.

Year-to-Date Statement of Operations Review

Net loss available to common stockholders for the first nine months of 2009 was $44.4 million, an $97.8 million, or 183%, decrease compared to net income available to common stockholders of $53.4 million for the same period a year ago. Loss per share was $0.89 compared to earnings of $1.08 per diluted share for the same period a year ago due primarily to increases in the provision for loan losses, lower net interest income and higher provision for OREO write-downs. The net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, decreased 38 basis points to 2.61% compared to 2.99% for the same period a year ago.

Return on average stockholders’ equity was negative 3.35% and return on average assets was negative 0.37% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to a return on average stockholders’ equity of 7.09% and a return on average assets of 0.67% for the same period of 2008. The efficiency ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was 46.66% compared to 44.00% for the same period a year ago.

 

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The average daily balances, together with the total dollar amounts, on a taxable-equivalent basis, of interest income and interest expense, and the weighted-average interest rates, the net interest spread and the net interest margins are as follows:

Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

 

Nine months ended September 30,    2009     2008  

Taxable-equivalent basis

(Dollars in thousands)

   Average
Balance
    Interest
Income/
Expense
   Average
Yield/
Rate (1)(2)
    Average
Balance
    Interest
Income/
Expense
   Average
Yield/
Rate (1)(2)
 

Interest Earning Assets

              

Commercial loans

   $ 1,506,915      $ 53,190    4.72   $ 1,538,657      $ 65,866    5.72

Residential mortgage

     815,939        32,324    5.28        722,149        31,290    5.78   

Commercial mortgage

     4,130,418        188,574    6.10        3,980,427        202,127    6.78   

Real estate construction loans

     862,781        27,559    4.27        853,477        41,766    6.54   

Other loans and leases

     20,763        585    3.77        24,063        831    4.61   
                                          

Total loans and leases (1)

     7,336,816        302,232    5.51        7,118,773        341,880    6.42   

Taxable securities

     3,174,308        94,104    3.96        2,404,666        84,507    4.69   

Tax-exempt securities (3)

     20,234        954    6.30        58,690        3,730    8.49   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     71,800        149    0.28        65,283        2,685    5.49   

Interest bearing deposits

     42,615        250    0.78        13,007        523    5.37   

Federal funds sold & securities purchased under agreements to resell

     63,300        1,338    2.83        261,613        12,294    6.28   
                                          

Total interest-earning assets

     10,709,073        399,027    4.98        9,922,032        445,619    6.00   
                                          

Non-interest earning assets

              

Cash and due from banks

     117,336             83,207        

Other non-earning assets

     799,162             679,754        
                          

Total non-interest earning assets

     916,498             762,961        

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (154,377          (76,728     

Deferred loan fees

     (9,415          (10,495     
                          

Total assets

   $ 11,461,779           $ 10,597,770        
                          

Interest bearing liabilities:

              

Interest bearing demand accounts

   $ 283,027      $ 854    0.40      $ 253,380      $ 1,232    0.65   

Money market accounts

     854,706        9,958    1.56        733,578        10,533    1.92   

Savings accounts

     325,943        528    0.22        335,193        981    0.39   

Time deposits

     5,070,283        94,194    2.48        4,448,113        123,171    3.70   
                                          

Total interest-bearing deposits

     6,533,959        105,534    2.16        5,770,264        135,917    3.15   
                                          

Federal funds purchased

     11,220        23    0.27        40,299        798    2.65   

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

     1,565,455        48,527    4.14        1,553,622        44,716    3.84   

Other borrowings

     1,012,015        31,781    4.20        1,149,401        35,259    4.10   

Junior subordinated notes

     171,136        3,891    3.04        171,136        6,889    5.38   
                                          

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     9,293,785        189,756    2.73        8,684,722        223,579    3.44   
                                          

Non-interest bearing liabilities

              

Demand deposits

     757,710             777,664        

Other liabilities

     121,504             120,574        

Total equity

     1,288,780             1,014,810        
                          

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 11,461,779           $ 10,597,770        
                          

Net interest spread (4)

        2.25        2.56
                      

Net interest income (4)

     $ 209,271        $ 222,040   
                      

Net interest margin (4)

        2.61        2.99
                      

 

(1) Yields and amounts of interest earned include loan fees. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balance.
(2) Calculated by dividing net interest income by average outstanding interest-earning assets.
(3) The average yield has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis for certain securities of states and political subdivisions

and other securities held using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.

(4) Net interest income, net interest spread, and net interest margin on interest-earning assets have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.

 

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Taxable-Equivalent Net Interest Income — Changes Due to Rate and Volume(1)

 

     Nine months ended September 30,
2009-2008
Increase (Decrease) in
Net Interest Income Due to:
 

(Dollars in thousands)

   Changes in
Volume
    Changes in
Rate
    Total Change  

Interest-Earning Assets:

      

Loans and leases

     10,190        (49,838     (39,648

Taxable securities

     24,189        (14,592     9,597   

Tax-exempt securities (2)

     (1,993     (783     (2,776

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     245        (2,781     (2,536

Deposits with other banks

     452        (725     (273

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

     (6,350     (4,606     (10,956
                        

Total increase in interest income

     26,733        (73,325     (46,592
                        

Interest-Bearing Liabilities:

      

Interest bearing demand accounts

     131        (509     (378

Money market accounts

     1,585        (2,160     (575

Savings accounts

     (26     (427     (453

Time deposits

     15,556        (44,533     (28,977

Federal funds purchased

     (346     (429     (775

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

     339        3,472        3,811   

Other borrowed funds

     (4,328     850        (3,478

Long-term debt

     —          (2,998     (2,998
                        

Total increase in interest expense

     12,911        (46,734     (33,823
                        

Changes in net interest income

   $ 13,822      $ (26,591   $ (12,769
                        

 

(1) Changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to changes due to volume and changes due to rate.
(2) The amount of interest earned on certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using a statutory federal income tax rate of 35%.

Balance Sheet Review

Assets

Total assets increased by $167.1 million, or 1.4%, to $11.7 billion at September 30, 2009, from $11.6 billion at December 31, 2008 primarily due to a $211.0 million increase in securities available-for-sale and a $420.2 million increase in cash, due from banks and short-term investments offset by a $422.8 million decrease in net loans.

Securities

Total securities were $3.4 billion, or 28.9%, of total assets at September 30, 2009, compared with $3.1 billion, or 26.6%, of total assets at December 31, 2008. The increase of $310.9 million was primarily due to purchase of U.S government sponsored agency securities and mortgage-backed securities.

The net unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, which represents the difference between fair value and amortized cost, totaled $28.4 million at September 30, 2009, compared to net unrealized gains of $40.3 million at year-end 2008. Net unrealized gains/losses in the securities available-for-sale are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of tax, as part of total stockholders’ equity.

 

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The average taxable-equivalent yield on securities decreased 76 basis points to 3.71% for the three months ended September 30, 2009, compared with 4.47% for the same period a year ago, as securities were sold, matured, prepaid, or were called and proceeds were reinvested at lower interest rates.

The following tables summarize the composition, amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair value of securities available-for-sale, as of September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008:

 

     September 30, 2009
     Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value
     (In thousands)

U.S. government sponsored entities

   $ 805,461    $ 2,318    $ —      $ 807,779

State and municipal securities

     15,844      167      29      15,982

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,297,707      29,271      1,440      2,325,538

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     127,929      406      2,500      125,835

Asset-backed securities

     317      —        69      248

Corporate bonds

     10,246      —        676      9,570

Preferred stock of government sponsored entities

     701      1,621      —        2,322

Other securities foreign organization

     6,450      1      —        6,451

Other equity securities

     1,785      —        702      1,083
                           

Total

   $ 3,266,440    $ 33,784    $ 5,416    $ 3,294,808
                           

 

     December 31, 2008
     Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value
     (In thousands)

U.S. treasury securities

   $ 10,510    $ 35    $ —      $ 10,545

U.S. government sponsored entities

     764,341      1,641      —        765,982

State and municipal securities

     23,059      214      37      23,236

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,029,265      53,476      5,278      2,077,463

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     179,939      462      7,523      172,878

Asset-backed securities

     423      —        63      360

Corporate bonds

     35,246      —        2,676      32,570

Preferred stock of government sponsored entities

     783      —        —        783
                           

Total

   $ 3,043,566    $ 55,828    $ 15,577    $ 3,083,817
                           

 

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The following table summarizes the scheduled maturities by security type of securities available-for-sale, as of September 30, 2009:

 

     September 30, 2009
     One Year
or Less
   After One
Year to
Five Years
   After Five
Years to
Ten Years
   Over Ten
Years
   Total
     (In thousands)
Maturity Distribution:               

U.S. government sponsored entities

   $ 1,263    $ 416,473    $ 390,042    $ —      $ 807,778

State and municipal securities

     155      9,136      4,232      2,460      15,983

Mortgage-backed securities (1)

     93      14,163      153,993      2,157,288      2,325,537

Collateralized mortgage obligations (1)

     —        —        115,846      9,989      125,835

Asset-backed securities (1)

     —        —        —        249      249

Corporate bonds

     250      —        —        9,320      9,570

Preferred stock of government sponsored entities (2)

     —        —        —        2,322      2,322

Other securities foreign organization

     6,451      —        —        —        6,451

Other equity securities (2)

     —        —        —        1,083      1,083
                                  

Total

   $ 8,212    $ 439,772    $ 664,113    $ 2,182,711    $ 3,294,808
                                  

 

(1) Securities reflect stated maturities and do not reflect the impact of anticipated prepayments.
(2) These is no stated maturity for equity securities.

Between 2002 and 2004, the Company purchased a number of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations comprised of interests in non-agency guaranteed residential mortgages. At September 30, 2009, the remaining par value was $14.0 million for these mortgage-backed securities with unrealized losses of $1.4 million and $121.0 million for collateralized mortgage obligations with unrealized losses of $2.4 million. The remaining par value of these securities totaled $135.0 million which represents 4.1% of the fair value of the Company’s securities available-for-sale and 1.1% of the Company’s total assets. At September 30, 2009, the unrealized loss for these securities totaled $3.8 million which represented 2.8% of the par amount of these non-agency guaranteed residential mortgages and resulted from increases in credit spreads subsequent to the date that these securities were purchased. Based on the Company’s analysis at September 30, 2009, there was no “other-than-temporary” impairment in these securities due to the low loan to value ratio for the loans underlying these securities, the credit support provided by junior tranches of these securitizations, and the continued AAA rating for all but five issues of these securities. The Company’s analysis also indicated the continued full ultimate collection of principal and interest for the five issues that were no longer rated AAA.

The Company’s unrealized loss on investments in corporate bonds relates to two investments in bonds of financial institutions in the amounts of $10 million and $250,000, all of which were investment grade at the date of acquisition and as of September 30, 2009. The unrealized losses of $676,000 were primarily caused by the widening of credit spreads since the dates of acquisition. The contractual terms of those investments do not permit the issuers to settle the security at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. The Company currently does not believe it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the investment. Therefore, it is expected that these debentures would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment.

ASC Topic 320 changes the requirements for recognizing other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) for debt securities. ASC Topic 320 requires an entity to assess whether the entity has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. The Company has no intent to sell and will not be required to sell available-for-sale

 

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securities that decline below their cost before their anticipated recovery. At September 30, 2009, there was no other-than-temporary impairment related to credit losses to be recognized in earnings. Other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors was recognized in other comprehensive income.

The temporarily impaired securities represent 5.2% of the fair value of securities available-for-sale as of September 30, 2009. Unrealized losses for securities with unrealized losses for less than twelve months represent 2.1%, and securities with unrealized losses for twelve months or more represent 3.8% of the historical cost of these securities and generally resulted from increases in interest rates subsequent to the date that these securities were purchased. All of these securities are investment grade as of September 30, 2009. At September 30, 2009, 39 issues of securities had unrealized losses for 12 months or longer and 8 issues of securities had unrealized losses of less than 12 months. The table below shows the fair value, unrealized losses, and number of issuances as of September 30, 2009, of the temporarily impaired securities in the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio:

Temporarily Impaired Securities as of September 30, 2009

 

     Less than 12 months    12 months or longer    Total
     Fair    Unrealized    No. of    Fair    Unrealized    No. of    Fair    Unrealized    No. of
     Value    Losses    Issuances    Value    Losses    Issuances    Value    Losses    Issuances
     (In thousands, except no. of issuances)
Description of securities                           

State and municipal securities

     —        —      —        668      29    1      668      29    1

Mortgage-backed securities

     50,799      18    6      2,283      45    10      53,082      63    16

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities

     —        —      —        12,565      1,377    3      12,565      1,377    3

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     22,075      881    1      71,956      1,619    21      94,031      2,500    22

Asset-backed securities

     —        —      —        249      69    1      249      69    1

Corporate bonds

     —        —      —        9,320      676    3      9,320      676    3

Equity securities

     1,083      702    1      —        —      —        1,083      702    1
                                                        

Total

   $ 73,957    $ 1,601    8    $ 97,041    $ 3,815    39    $ 170,998    $ 5,416    47
                                                        

On June 19, 2009, the Company securitized $13.9 million of real estate mortgage loans through Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and recognized mortgage servicing assets of $139,000 for the servicing rights it retained. On June 26, 2009, the Company sold all of the resulting securities of $13.9 million and recognized gains on sale of securities of $492,000. Prior to June 2009, the Company had no securitization transactions.

In August, 2009, the Company purchased U.S. government agency securities at par of $100.0 million and classified them as securities held-to-maturity securities. Book value for securities held-to-maturity were $99.9 million at September 30, 2009 and zero at September 30, 2008.

Loans

Total gross loans decreased $356.8 million, or 4.8%, to $7.1 billion as of September 30, 2009, from $7.5 billion as of December 31, 2008, primarily due to decreases in commercial loans of $219.1

 

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million, or 13.5%, and decreases in construction loans of $198.1 million, or 21.7%. As a result of a weak economy, declines in trade finance caused decreases in commercial loans in the first nine months of 2009.

At September 30, 2009, commercial mortgage loans represented approximately 57.9% of the Bank’s gross loans compared to 55.3% at year-end 2008.

The following table sets forth the classification of loans by type, mix, and percentage change as of the dates indicated:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

   September 30, 2009     % of Gross Loans     December 31, 2008     % of Gross Loans     % Change  

Type of Loans

          

Commercial

   $ 1,401,325      19.7   $ 1,620,438      21.7   -13.5

Residential mortgage

     666,510      9.4        622,741      8.3      7.0   

Commercial mortgage

     4,123,022      57.9        4,132,850      55.3      (0.2

Equity lines

     192,743      2.7        168,756      2.3      14.2   

Real estate construction

     715,071      10.0        913,168      12.2      (21.7

Installment

     11,819      0.2        11,340      0.2      4.2   

Other

     5,092      0.1        3,075      0.0      65.6   
                                  

Gross loans and leases

   $ 7,115,582      100   $ 7,472,368      100   -4.8

Allowance for loan losses

     (189,370       (122,093     55.1   

Unamortized deferred loan fees

     (8,880       (10,094     (12.0
                          

Total loans and leases, net

   $ 6,917,332        $ 7,340,181        -5.8
                          

Asset Quality Review

Non-performing Assets

Non-performing assets to gross loans and other real estate owned was 6.45% at September 30, 2009, compared to 3.34% at December 31, 2008. Total non-performing assets increased $213.0 million, or 84.6%, to $464.8 million at September 30, 2009, compared with $251.8 million at December 31, 2008, primarily due to a $179.3 million, or 99.0%, increase in non-accrual loans.

 

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The following table sets forth the breakdown of non-performing assets by category as of the dates indicated:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

   September 30, 2009     December 31, 2008     % Change  

Non-performing assets

      

Accruing loans past due 90 days or more

   $ 16,507      $ 6,733      145   

Non-accrual loans:

      

Construction -residential

     96,329        100,169      (4

Construction -non-residential

     35,201        22,012      60   

Land

     27,258        12,608      116   

Commercial real estate, excluding land

     164,967        19,733      736   

Commercial

     25,479        20,904      22   

Residential mortgage

     11,271        5,776      95   
                  

Total non-accrual loans:

   $ 360,505      $ 181,202      99   
                  

Total non-performing loans

     377,012        187,935      101   

Other real estate owned and other assets

     87,769        63,892      37   
                  

Total non-performing assets

   $ 464,781      $ 251,827      85   
                  

Performing troubled debt restructurings

   $ 59,400      $ 924      6,329   
                  

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 189,370      $ 122,093      55   

Allowance for off-balance sheet credit commitments

     5,023        7,332      (31
                  

Allowance for credit losses

   $ 194,393      $ 129,425      50   
                  

Total gross loans outstanding, at period-end

   $ 7,115,582      $ 7,472,368      (5

Non-performing assets as a percentage of gross loans and OREO

     6.45     3.34  

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans, at period-end

     50.23     64.97  

Allowance for loan losses to gross loans, at period-end

     2.66     1.63  

Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans, at period-end

     51.56     68.87  

Allowance for credit losses to gross loans, at period-end

     2.73     1.73  

Non-accrual Loans

At September 30, 2009, total non-accrual loans of $360.5 million increased $179.3 million, or 99.0% from $181.2 million at December 31, 2008. A summary of non-accrual loans by collateral type as of September 30, 2009 is shown below:

 

     California    No. of
Borrowers
   Other
States
   No. of
Borrowers
   Total    No. of
Borrowers
     (Dollars in thousands except no. of borrowers)

Collateral Type

  

Commercial real estate

   $ 110,361    32    $ 54,606    29    $ 164,967    61

Commercial

     18,855    29      6,624    10      25,479    39

Construction- residential

     86,901    16      9,428    6      96,329    22

Construction- non-residential

     34,227    5      974    2      35,201    7

Residential mortgage

     8,617    30      2,654    12      11,271    42

Land

     22,265    16      4,993    6      27,258    22
                                   

Total

   $ 281,226    128    $ 79,279    65    $ 360,505    193
                                   

 

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The following table presents non-accrual loans by type of collateral securing the loans, as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2009    December 31, 2008
     Real         Real     
     Estate (1)    Commercial    Estate (1)    Commercial
     (In thousands)

Type of Collateral

           

Single/ multi-family residence

   $ 121,491    $ 229    $ 117,393    $ 230

Commercial real estate

     186,277      1,298      30,297      715

Land

     27,258      1,500      12,608      —  

Personal property (UCC)

     —        21,322      —        18,993

Other/TCD

     —        1,130      —        —  

Unsecured

     —        —        —        966
                           

Total

   $ 335,026    $ 25,479    $ 160,298    $ 20,904
                           

 

(1) Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and residential mortgage loans.

The following table presents non-accrual loans by type of businesses in which the borrowers are engaged, as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2009    December 31, 2008
     Real         Real     
     Estate (1)    Commercial    Estate (1)    Commercial
     (In thousands)

Type of Business

           

Real estate development

   $ 267,670    $ 2,085    $ 151,170    $ 4,878

Wholesale/Retail

     51,902      14,254      2,684      9,252

Food/Restaurant

     —        5,895      817      5,642

Import/Export

     4,427      3,245      —        1,132

Other

     11,027      —        5,627      —  
                           

Total

   $ 335,026    $ 25,479    $ 160,298    $ 20,904
                           

 

(1) Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, and residential mortgage loans.

Included in nonaccrual commercial real estate loans is a loan with an outstanding balance of $47.6 million to a borrower who filed for bankruptcy in March 2009. While the loan is non-accrual at September 30, 2009, management believes that the value of the underlying real estate collateral is sufficient for a full collection of principal and interest. Nonaccrual loans also include those troubled debt restructurings that do not qualify for accrual status.

Other Real Estate Owned

At September 30, 2009, net carrying value of other real estate owned increased $26.8 million, or 43.8%, to $87.8 million from $61.0 million at December 31, 2008. At September 30, 2009, $51.7 million of OREO was located in California, $25.1 million of OREO was located in Texas, $5.0 million of OREO was located in state of Washington, $4.5 million of OREO was located in Nevada, and $1.5 million was located in all other states. At September 30, 2009, OREO by type was comprised of residential properties of $3.5 million, or 3.9%, retail stores, office building, shopping centers and other non-farm non-residential properties of $8.2 million, or 9.4%, residential-zoned land of $20.4 million, or 23.2%, residential construction of $28.0 million, or 31.9%, and non-farm non-residential construction of $27.7 million, or 31.6%.

 

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Troubled Debt Restructurings

A troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) is a formal modification of the terms of a loan when the lender, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower. The concessions may be granted in various forms, including reduction in the stated interest rate, reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, or extension of the maturity date. Although these loan modifications are considered SFAS 15 troubled debt restructurings, the loans have performed under the restructured terms and have demonstrated sustained performance under the modified terms. The sustained performance considered by management includes the periods prior to the modification if the prior performance met or exceeded the modified terms as well as cash paid to set up interest reserves.

Troubled debt restructurings on accrual status totaled $59.4 million at September 30, 2009 and were comprised of 12 loans, an increase of $58.5 million, compared to three loans totaling $924,000 at December 31, 2008. A land loan of $22.2 million in Nevada was restructured during the second quarter of 2009 to a below market interest rate and is included in the troubled debt restructured loans total. A hotel loan of $10.3 million, two commercial real estate loans of $12.8 million, a residential construction loan of $10.7 million and a land loan of $2.0 million were restructured during the third quarter of 2009.

Impaired Loans

A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that a creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement based on current circumstances and events. The assessment for impairment occurs when and while such loans are on non-accrual, or the loan has been restructured. Those loans less than our defined selection criteria, generally the loan amount less than $100,000, are treated as a homogeneous portfolio. If loans meeting the defined criteria are not collateral dependent, we measure the impairment based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. If loans meeting the defined criteria are collateral dependent, we measure the impairment by using the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral. If the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded amount of the loan, we then recognize impairment by creating or adjusting an existing valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses.

The Company identified impaired loans with a recorded investment of $419.9 million at September 30, 2009, compared with $181.2 million at year-end 2008, an increase of $238.7 million, or 132%. The Company considers all non-accrual loans to be impaired. The following table presents impaired loans and the related allowance, as of the dates indicated:

 

    At September 30, 2009   At December 31, 2008
    (In thousands)

Balance of impaired loans with no allocated allowance

  $ 268,334   $ 79,852

Balance of impaired loans with an allocated allowance

    151,571     101,350
           

Total recorded investment in impaired loans

  $ 419,905   $ 181,202
           

Amount of the allowance allocated to impaired loans

  $ 15,263   $ 28,538
           

 

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Loan Concentration

Most of the Company’s business activity is with customers located in the predominantly Asian areas of Southern and Northern California; New York City, New York; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and Edison, New Jersey. The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans are collateralized with real property or other pledged collateral of the borrowers. Loans are generally expected to be paid off from the operating profits of the borrowers, refinancing by another lender, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral.

There were no loan concentrations to multiple borrowers in similar activities which exceeded 10% of total loans as of September 30, 2009, and as of December 31, 2008.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Bank maintains the allowance for credit losses at a level that is considered adequate to absorb the estimated and known risks in the loan portfolio and off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments. Allowance for credit losses is comprised of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments. With this risk management objective, the Bank’s management has an established monitoring system that is designed to identify impaired and potential problem loans, and to permit periodic evaluation of impairment and the adequacy level of the allowance for credit losses in a timely manner.

In addition, our Board of Directors has established a written credit policy that includes a credit review and control system which it believes should be effective in ensuring that the Bank maintains an adequate allowance for credit losses. The Board of Directors provides oversight for the allowance evaluation process, including quarterly evaluations, and determines whether the allowance is adequate to absorb losses in the credit portfolio. The determination of the amount of the allowance for credit losses and the provision for credit losses is based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectibility when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for credit losses. The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for credit losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment. Additions to the allowance for credit losses are made by charges to the provision for credit losses. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Bank’s control, including the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. Identified credit exposures that are determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for credit losses. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts, if any, are credited to the allowance for credit losses. A weakening of the economy or other factors that adversely affect asset quality could result in an increase in the number of delinquencies, bankruptcies, or defaults, and a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for credit losses in future periods.

The allowance for loan losses was $189.4 million and the allowance for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments was $5.0 million at September 30, 2009, and represented the amount that the Company believes to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio. The allowance for credit losses, the sum of allowance for loan losses and for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments, was $194.4 million at September 30, 2009, compared to $129.4 million at December 31, 2008, an increase of $65.0 million, or 50.2%. The allowance for credit losses represented 2.73% of period-end gross loans and 51.6% of non-performing loans at September 30,

 

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2009. The comparable ratios were 1.73% of period-end gross loans and 68.9% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2008. The following table sets forth information relating to the allowance for credit losses for the periods indicated:

 

     For the three months ended
September 30,
    For the nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Allowance for Loan Losses

  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 169,551      $ 84,856      $ 122,093      $ 64,983   

Provision for credit losses

     76,000        15,800        216,000        43,800   

Transfers from (to) reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments

     812        539        2,309        (399

Charge-offs :

        

Commercial loans

     (27,492     (6,796     (49,913     (8,917

Construction loans-residential

     (13,126     (3,230     (58,535     (8,239

Construction loans-other

     (1,966     —          (11,840     —     

Real estate loans

     (12,094     (172     (25,188     (554

Real estate land loans

     (3,865       (7,599     (339

Installment loans and other loans

     —          —          (4     —     
                                

Total charge-offs

     (58,543     (10,198     (153,079     (18,049

Recoveries:

        

Commercial loans

     219        1,067        523        1,634   

Construction loans-residential

     598        —          772        83   

Construction loans-other

     —          —          1        —     

Real estate loans

     46        —          46        —     

Real estate-land loans

     685        —          686        —     

Installment loans and other loans

     2        4        19        16   
                                

Total recoveries

     1,550        1,071        2,047        1,733   
                                

Balance at end of period

   $ 189,370      $ 92,068      $ 189,370      $ 92,068   
                                

Reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments

        

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 5,835      $ 5,514      $ 7,332      $ 4,576   

Provision (reversal) for credit losses/transfers

     (812     (539     (2,309     399   
                                

Balance at end of period

   $ 5,023      $ 4,975      $ 5,023      $ 4,975   
                                

Average loans outstanding during period ended

   $ 7,211,971      $ 7,425,818      $ 7,336,816      $ 7,118,773   

Total gross loans outstanding, at period-end

   $ 7,115,582      $ 7,499,281      $ 7,115,582      $ 7,499,281   

Total non-performing loans, at period-end

   $ 377,012      $ 101,101      $ 377,012      $ 101,101   

Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during the period

     3.14     0.49     2.75     0.31

Provision for credit losses to average loans outstanding during the period

     4.18     0.85     3.94     0.82

Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans at period-end

     51.56     95.99     51.56     95.99

Allowance for credit losses to gross loans at period-end

     2.73     1.29     2.73     1.29
                                

Our allowance for loan losses consists of the following:

 

   

Specific allowance: For impaired loans, we provide specific allowances based on an evaluation of impairment, and for each criticized loan, we allocate a portion of the general allowance to each loan based on a loss percentage assigned. The percentage assigned depends on a number of factors including loan classification, the current financial condition of the borrowers and guarantors, the prevailing value of the underlying collateral, charge-off history, management’s

 

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knowledge of the portfolio, and general economic conditions. We periodically reviewed our minimum loss rates for loans rated Special Mention and Substandard, and for construction loans rated Minimally Acceptable, to incorporate the results of the classification migration model reflecting actual losses.

 

   

General allowance: The unclassified portfolio is segmented on a group basis. Segmentation is determined by loan type and by identifying risk characteristics that are common to the groups of loans. The allowance is provided to each segmented group based on the group’s historical loan loss experience as well as environmental factors which include the trends in delinquency and non-accrual, and other significant factors, such as national and local economy, trends and conditions, strength of management and loan staff, underwriting standards, and the concentration of credit. Minimum loss rates have been assigned for loans graded Minimally Acceptable instead of grouping these loans with the unclassified portfolio. During the second quarter of 2009, in light of the continued deterioration in the economy and the increases in nonaccrual loans and chargeoffs, we shortened the period used in the migration analysis from five years to four years to better reflect the impact of the most recent chargeoffs, we increased the general allowance to reflect the higher loan delinquency trends, the weaker national and local economy and the increased difficulty in assigning loan grades, and we also applied the environmental factors described above to loans rated Minimally Acceptable, Special Mention and Substandard.

To determine the adequacy of the allowance in each of these two components, the Bank employs two primary methodologies, the classification migration methodology and the individual loan review analysis methodology. These methodologies support the basis for determining allocations between the various loan categories and the overall adequacy of the Bank’s allowance to provide for probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. These methodologies are further supported by additional analysis of relevant factors such as the historical losses in the portfolio, trends in the non-performing/non-accrual loans, loan delinquencies, the volume of the portfolio, peer group comparisons, and federal regulatory policy for loan and lease losses. Other significant factors of portfolio analysis include changes in lending policies/underwriting standards, portfolio composition, and concentrations of credit, and trends in the national and local economy.

With these methodologies, a general allowance is for those loans internally classified and risk graded Pass, Minimally Acceptable, Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful, or Loss based on historical losses in the portfolio. Additionally, the Bank’s management allocates a specific allowance for “Impaired Credits,” in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” The level of the general allowance is established to provide coverage for management’s estimate of the credit risk in the loan portfolio by various loan segments not covered by the specific allowance.

 

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The table set forth below reflects management’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category and the ratio of each loan category to the total average loans as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

(Dollars in thousands)

   Amount    Percentage of
Loans in Each
Category

to Average
Gross Loans
    Amount    Percentage of
Loans in Each
Category

to Average
Gross Loans
 

Type of Loans:

          

Commercial loans

   $ 60,211    20.5   $ 44,508    21.7

Residential mortgage loans

     8,621    11.1        2,678    10.2   

Commercial mortgage loans

     82,910    56.3        35,060    55.7   

Real estate construction loans

     37,609    11.8        39,820    12.1   

Installment loans

     19    0.2        27    0.2   

Other loans

     —      0.1        —      0.1   
                          

Total

   $ 189,370    100   $ 122,093    100
                          

The increase in the allowance allocated to commercial loans from $44.5 million at year-end 2008 to $60.2 million is due to an increase in commercial impaired loans and an increase in the environmental factors. At September 30, 2009, thirty-nine commercial loans totaling $25.5 million were on non-accrual status and $5.4 million of commercial loans was past due 90 days and still accruing interest. At December 31, 2008, thirty five commercial loans totaling $20.9 million were on non-accrual status and no commercial loans was past due 90 days and still accruing interest. Commercial loans comprised 7.7% of impaired loans, 7.1% of non-accrual loans, and 32.4% of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at September 30, 2009, compared to 11.5% of impaired loans, 11.5% of non-accrual loans, and zero percent of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at December 31, 2008.

The allowance allocated to commercial mortgage loans increased from $35.1 million at December 31, 2008, to $82.9 million at September 30, 2009, which was due to increases in loans risk graded Substandard, an increase in the environmental factors, and due in part to the deteriorating economy. The overall allowance for total commercial mortgage loans was 2.0% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, and 0.8% for the year ended December 31, 2008. At September 30, 2009, eighty-three commercial mortgage loans totaling $192.2 million were on non-accrual status and four commercial mortgage loans totalling $11.2 million were past due 90 days and still accruing interest. At December 31, 2008, thirty commercial mortgage loans totaling $32.3 million were on non-accrual status and one commercial mortgage loan totaling $4.1 million was past due 90 days and still accruing interest. Commercial mortgage loans comprised 58.2% of impaired loans, 53.3% of non-accrual loans, and 67.6% of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at September 30, 2009, compared to 17.8% of impaired loans, 17.8% of non-accrual loans, and 60.9% of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at December 31, 2008.

The allowance allocated for construction loans decreased $2.2 million to $37.6 million, or 5.6%, of construction loans at September 30, 2009, compared to $39.8 million, or 4.4%, of construction loans at December 31, 2008, primarily due to charge-offs of impaired loans during the first nine months of 2009. At September 30, 2009, twenty-nine construction loans totaling $131.5 million were on non-accrual status and no construction loan was past due 90 days and still accruing interest. Construction loans comprised 31.3% of impaired loans, 36.5% of non-accrual loans, and zero percent of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at September 30, 2009, compared to 67.4% of impaired loans, 67.4% of non-accrual loans, and 39.1% of loans over 90 days still on accrual status at December 31, 2008.

 

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The allowance allocated to residential mortgage loans and equity lines increased $5.9 million, to $8.6 million at September 30, 2009, from $2.7 million at December 31, 2008, due to increases in loans risk graded Substandard due in part to the deteriorating economy.

Deposits

Total deposits were $7.7 billion at September 30, 2009, an increase of $872.0 million, or 12.8%, from $6.8 billion at December 31, 2008, primarily due to increases of $305.7 million, or 46.4%, in money market accounts and increases of $527.2 million, or 16.3%, in time deposits of $100,000 or more offset by decreases of $160.4 million, or 9.8%, in time deposits under $100,000. Brokered deposits which are reported in time deposits under $100,000 declined $226.0 million to $746.9 million at September 30, 2009 from $972.9 million at December 31, 2008. The following table displays the deposit mix as of the dates indicated:

 

     September 30, 2009    % of Total     December 31, 2008    % of Total  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Deposits

  

Non-interest-bearing demand

   $ 829,302    10.8   $ 730,433    10.7

NOW

     324,774    4.2        257,234    3.8   

Money market

     965,159    12.5        659,454    9.6   

Savings

     349,298    4.5        316,263    4.6   

Time deposits under $100,000

     1,484,056    19.3        1,644,407    24.1   

Time deposits of $100,000 or more

     3,756,142    48.7        3,228,945    47.2   
                          

Total deposits

   $ 7,708,731    100.0   $ 6,836,736    100.0
                          

Borrowings

Borrowings include Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, funds obtained as advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco, and other borrowings from financial institutions.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $1.6 billion with a weighted average rate of 4.20% at September 30, 2009, compared to $1.6 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.95% at December 31, 2008. Seventeen floating-to-fixed rate agreements totaling $900.0 million are with initial floating rates for a period of time ranging from nine months to one year, with the floating rates ranging from the three-month LIBOR minus 100 basis points to the three-month LIBOR minus 340 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.29% to 5.07%. After the initial floating rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the fixed rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. Thirteen fixed-to-floating rate agreements totaling $650.0 million are with initial fixed rates ranging from 1.00% and 3.50% with initial fixed rate terms ranging from nine months to eighteen months. For the remainder of the seven year term, the rates float at 8% minus the three-month LIBOR rate with a maximum rate ranging from 3.25% to 3.75% and minimum rate of 0.0%. After the initial fixed rate term, the counterparties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the floating rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. At September 30, 2009, repurchase agreements totaling $1.6 billion were all callable but had not been called. The table below provides summary data for securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of September 30, 2009:

 

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Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

(Dollars in millions)

   Fixed-to-floating     Floating-to-fixed     Total  

Callable

Rate type

Rate index

   All callable at September 30, 2009
Float Rate
8% minus 3 month LIBOR
    All callable at September 30, 2009
Fixed Rate
   

Maximum rate

     3.75     3.50     3.50     3.25          

Minimum rate

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0          

No. of agreements

     3        5        4        1        2        1        10        4        30   

Amount

   $ 150.0      $ 250.0      $ 200.0      $ 50.0      $ 100.0      $ 50.0      $ 550.0      $ 200.0      $ 1,550.0   

Weighted average rate

     3.75     3.50     3.50     3.25     4.77     4.83     4.54     5.00     4.20

Range of final maturity term

     2014        2014        2015        2015        2011        2012        2014        2017     

These transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold. The Company may have to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements, as necessary. The underlying collateral pledged for the repurchase agreements consists of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency security debt, and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $1.8 billion as of September 30, 2009, and $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2008.

Total advances from the FHLB of San Francisco decreased $520.0 million to $929.4 million at September 30, 2009 from $1.45 billion at December 31, 2008. Non-puttable advances totaled $229.4 million with a weighted rate of 4.76% and puttable advances totaled $700.0 million with a weighted average rate of 4.42% at September 30, 2009. The FHLB has the right to terminate the puttable transaction at par at each three-month anniversary after the first puttable date. All puttable FHLB advances of $700.0 million were puttable as of September 30, 2009 but the FHLB had not exercised its right to terminate any of the puttable transactions.

Long-term Debt

On September 29, 2006, the Bank issued $50.0 million in subordinated debt in a private placement transaction. The debt has a maturity term of 10 years, is unsecured and bears interest at a rate of three month LIBOR plus 110 basis points, payable on a quarterly basis. At September 30, 2009, the per annum interest rate on the subordinated debt was 1.38% compared to 2.56% at December 31, 2008. The subordinated debt was issued through the Bank and qualifies as Tier 2 capital for regulatory reporting purposes and is included in long-term debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Bancorp established three special purpose trusts in 2003 and two in 2007 for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities to outside investors (Capital Securities). The trusts exist for the purpose of issuing the Capital Securities and investing the proceeds thereof, together with proceeds from the purchase of the common stock of the trusts by the Bancorp, in junior subordinated notes issued by the Bancorp. The five special purpose trusts are considered variable interest entities under FIN 46R. Because the Bancorp is not the primary beneficiary of the trusts, the financial statements of the trusts are not included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. At September 30, 2009, junior subordinated debt securities totaled $121.1 million with a weighted average interest rate of

 

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2.46% compared to $121.1 million with a weighted average rate of 4.02% at December 31, 2008. The junior subordinated debt securities have a stated maturity term of 30 years and are currently included in the Tier 1 capital of the Bancorp for regulatory capital purposes.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations to make future payments as of September 30, 2009. Payments for deposits and borrowings do not include interest. Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts.

 

     Payment Due by Period
     1 year or less    More than
1 year but
less than

3 years
   3 years or
more but
less than

5 years
   5 years
or more
   Total
     (In thousands)

Contractual obligations:

              

Deposits with stated maturity dates

   $ 4,975,830    $ 264,013    $ 353    $ 2    $ 5,240,198

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (1)

     —        150,000      650,000      750,000      1,550,000

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (2)

     65,000      864,362      —        —        929,362

Other borrowings

     —        1,313      —        19,355      20,668

Long-term debt

     —        —        —        171,136      171,136

Operating leases

     5,634      8,475      5,703      1,793      21,605
                                  

Total contractual obligations and other commitments

   $ 5,046,464    $ 1,288,163    $ 656,056    $ 942,286    $ 7,932,969
                                  

 

(1) These repurchase agreements have a final maturity of 5-year, 7-year and 10-year from origination date but are callable on a quarterly basis after six months, one year, or 18 months for the 7-year term and one year for the 5-year and 10-year term.
(2) FHLB advances of $700.0 million that mature in 2012 have a puttable option. As of September 30, 2009, all puttable FHLB advances were puttable on a quarterly basis.

 

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Regulatory Considerations

As a financial holding company and a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, the Bancorp is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve Board.

Dividends from the Bank are our primary source of funds for payment of principal and interest on our debt and dividends to our stockholders. In the year ended December 31, 2008, the Bancorp declared cash dividends to the holders of our common stock of $20.8 million. There are, however, statutory limits on the amount of dividends that the Bank can pay to the Bancorp without regulatory approval.

The Bank may not, without the prior approval of the California Department of Financial Institutions, pay a dividend in an amount which exceeds the lesser of (a) the retained earnings of the Bank; or (b) the net income of the Bank for its last three fiscal years, less the amount of any distributions made by the Bank or by any majority-owned subsidiary of the Bank during such period. At September 30, 2009, the Bank had $125.6 million available for payment of dividends to the Bancorp.

If, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a bank under its jurisdiction is engaged in or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice, such authority may require, after notice and hearing, that such bank cease and desist from such practice. Depending on the financial condition of the bank, the applicable regulatory authority might deem the bank to be engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice if the bank were to pay dividends. The Federal Reserve Board has issued policy statements that provide that insured banks and bank holding companies should generally only pay dividends out of current operating earnings.

As a result of the losses we have incurred to date, we expect to become subject to some form of supervisory action that could result in us agreeing to implement plans that are intended to, among other things, increase our capital and maintain specific minimum capital ratios, reduce the amount of our non-performing loans, operate in a profitable manner, improve our credit risk management and related policies and procedures, improve our staffing levels in certain areas, or pay dividends only with prior regulatory approval.

Capital Resources

Total equity of $1.28 billion at September 30, 2009, decreased by $21.9 million, or 1.7%, from $1.30 billion at December 31, 2008. The following table summarizes the activity in total equity:

 

(In thousands)

   Nine months ended
September 30, 2009
 

Net loss

   $ (32,112

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     31,390   

Proceeds from shares issued to the Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     1,102   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     13   

Tax short-fall from stock-based compensation expense

     (195

Share-based compensation

     4,123   

Changes in other comprehensive income

     (6,886

Preferred stock registration fees

     (25

Preferred stock dividends

     (9,675

Cash dividends paid to common stockholders

     (9,657
        

Net decrease in total equity

   $ (21,922
        

On September 9, 2009, the Company commenced a $75 million at-the-market common stock offering. Through September 30, 2009, the Company raised $31.4 million in additional capital through the sale of 3,490,000 shares of common stock from its at-the-market capital offering. On October 12, 2009, the Company terminated its at-the-market common stock program and commenced a public offering of $70.4 million of common stock. On October 13, 2009, the Company sold 8,756,756 shares of its common stock (including 1,142,185 shares through the underwriter’s over subscription option) through a follow on public offering and raised $76.0 million in additional capital which was net of underwriter’s discount and professional expenses totaling $5.0 million. The Company closed its public common stock offering on October 19, 2009.

Dividend Policy

Holders of common stock are entitled to dividends as and when declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Although we have historically paid cash dividends on our common stock, we are not required to do so. Commencing with the second quarter of 2009, our board of directors reduced our common stock dividend to $.08 per share. In the third quarter of 2009, our board of directors further reduced our dividend to $.01 per share. The amount of future dividends will depend on earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, and will be determined by our board of directors. We intend to consult with our regulators before paying any dividends, and, in any event, we would not expect to pay dividends of more than $.01 per share before the fourth quarter of 2010. There can be no assurance that our regulators will not object to the payment of such dividends. Substantially all of the revenues of the Company available for payment of dividends derive from amounts paid to it by the Bank. The terms of the Bank Subordinated Securities limit the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us if the Bank is not current in paying interest on the Bank Subordinated Securities or another event of default has occurred. In our three year capital and strategic plan submitted to our regulators, we indicated the Bank was not expected to pay dividends to us through 2011. The terms of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (“Series B Preferred Stock”), and Junior Subordinated Securities also limit our ability to pay dividends on our common stock. If we are not current in our payment of dividends on our Series B Preferred Stock or in our payment of interest on our Junior Subordinated Securities, we may not pay dividends on our common stock.

The Company declared a cash dividend of one cent per share for distribution on August 20, 2009 on 49,575,813 shares outstanding, 8 cents per share for distribution in May 2009 on 49,535,723 shares outstanding, and 10.5 cents per share for distribution in January 2009 on 49,508,250 shares outstanding. Total cash dividends paid in 2009, including the $0.5 million paid on August 20, 2009, amounted to $9.7 million.

Capital Adequacy Review

Management seeks to maintain the Company’s capital at a level sufficient to support future growth, protect depositors and stockholders, and comply with various regulatory requirements.

On September 29, 2006, the Bank issued $50.0 million in subordinated debt in a private placement transaction. This instrument matures on September 29, 2016. The subordinated debt was issued through the Bank and qualifies as Tier 2 capital for regulatory reporting purposes.

The Bancorp established five special purpose trusts for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities to outside investors (Capital Securities). The trusts exist for the purpose of issuing the Capital Securities and investing the proceeds thereof, together with proceeds from the purchase of the common stock of the trusts by the Bancorp, in junior subordinated notes issued by the Bancorp. The junior subordinated debt of $121.1 million as of September 30, 2009, were included in the Tier 1 capital of the Bancorp for regulatory capital purposes.

 

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Both the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital continued to exceed the regulatory minimum requirements as of September 30, 2009. In addition, the capital ratios of the Bank place it in the “well capitalized” category which is defined as institutions with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than 6.0%, total risk-based ratio equal to or greater than 10.0%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio equal to or greater than 5.0%.

The following table presents the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s capital and leverage ratios as of September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008:

 

     Cathay General Bancorp    Cathay Bank
     September 30, 2009    December 31, 2008    September 30, 2009    December 31, 2008

(Dollars in thousands)

   Balance    %    Balance    %    Balance    %    Balance    %

Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)

   $ 1,049,699    12.63    $ 1,058,751    12.12    $ 1,012,335    12.19    $ 1,012,164    11.60

Tier 1 capital minimum requirement

     332,475    4.00      349,462    4.00      332,101    4.00      349,053    4.00
                                               

Excess

   $ 717,224    8.63    $ 709,289    8.12    $ 680,234    8.19    $ 663,111    7.60
                                               

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

   $ 1,204,301    14.49    $ 1,217,795    13.94    $ 1,167,965    14.07    $ 1,171,494    13.42

Total capital minimum requirement

     664,951    8.00      698,924    8.00      664,201    8.00      698,105    8.00
                                               

Excess

   $ 539,350    6.49    $ 518,871    5.94    $ 503,764    6.07    $ 473,389    5.42
                                               

Tier 1 capital (to average assets) – Leverage ratio

   $ 1,049,699    9.29    $ 1,058,751    9.79    $ 1,012,335    8.97    $ 1,012,164    9.38

Minimum leverage requirement

     452,179    4.00      432,453    4.00      451,366    4.00      431,840    4.00
                                               

Excess

   $ 597,520    5.29    $ 626,298    5.79    $ 560,969    4.97    $ 580,324    5.38
                                               

Risk-weighted assets

   $ 8,311,884       $ 8,736,555       $ 8,302,518       $ 8,726,316   

Total average assets (1)

   $ 11,304,472       $ 10,811,335       $ 11,284,141       $ 10,796,005   
                                       

 

(1) The quarterly total average assets reflect all debt securities at amortized cost, equity security with readily determinable fair values at the lower of cost or fair value, and equity securities without readily determinable fair values at historical cost.

Financial Derivatives

It is the policy of the Company not to speculate on the future direction of interest rates. However, the Company enters into financial derivatives in order to seek mitigation of exposure to interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. We believe that these transactions, when properly structured and managed, may provide a hedge against inherent interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and against risk in specific transactions. In such instances, the Company may protect its position through the purchase or sale of interest rate futures contracts for a specific cash or interest rate risk position. Other hedge transactions may be implemented using interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors, financial futures, forward rate agreements, and options on futures or bonds. Prior to considering any hedging activities, we seek to analyze the costs and benefits of the hedge in comparison to other viable alternative strategies. All hedges will require an assessment of basis risk and must be approved by the Bank’s Investment Committee.

The Company follows ASC Topic 815 which established accounting and reporting standards for financial derivatives, including certain financial derivatives embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all financial derivatives as assets or liabilities in the

 

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Company’s consolidated balance sheet and measurement of those financial derivatives at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a financial derivative is designated as a hedge and if so, the type of hedge.

In the third quarter of 2009, we entered into five interest rate swap agreements with two major financial institution in the notional amount of $300.0 million for a period of three years. These interest rate swaps were not structured to hedge against inherent interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. At September 30, 2009, the Company paid fixed rate at weighted average rate of 1.95% and received floating 3-month Libor rate at weighted average rate of 0.36%. The net amount accrued on these interest rate swaps of $402,000 for the three months and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were recorded to reduce other non-interest income. At September 30, 2009, the Company recorded $936,000 within other liabilities to recognize the negative fair value of these interest rate swaps.

The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts with various counterparties to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, for foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts or foreign currency option contracts entered into with our clients. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are recorded at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of these contracts as well as the related foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts or foreign currency option contracts are recognized immediately in net income as a component of non-interest income. Period end gross positive fair values are recorded in other assets and gross negative fair values are recorded in other liabilities. At September 30, 2009, the notional amount of option contracts totaled $8.3 million and with a net positive fair value of $144,000, the notional amount of spot and forward contracts totaled $75.0 million and with a positive fair value of $11.8 million, the notional amount of spot and forward contracts totaled $21.2 million and with a negative fair value of $296,000.

Liquidity

Liquidity is our ability to maintain sufficient cash flow to meet maturing financial obligations and customer credit needs, and to take advantage of investment opportunities as they are presented in the marketplace. Our principal sources of liquidity are growth in deposits, proceeds from the maturity or sale of securities and other financial instruments, repayments from securities and loans, federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). At September 30, 2009, our liquidity ratio (defined as net cash plus short-term and marketable securities to net deposits and short-term liabilities) was at 23.9% compared to 23.4% same as year-end 2008.

To supplement its liquidity needs, the Bank maintains a total credit line of $95.0 million for federal funds with two correspondent banks, and master agreements with brokerage firms for the sale of securities subject to repurchase. The Bank is also a shareholder of the FHLB of San Francisco, enabling it to have access to lower cost FHLB financing when necessary. As of September 30, 2009, the Bank had an approved credit line with the FHLB of San Francisco totaling $1.5 billion. The total credit outstanding with the FHLB of San Francisco at September 30, 2009, was $929.4 million. These borrowings are secured by loans and securities. The Bank has pledged a portion of its commercial and real estate loans to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Discount Window under the Borrower-in-Custody program. At September 30, 2009, the borrowing capacity under the Borrower-in-Custody program was $320.4 million.

 

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Liquidity can also be provided through the sale of liquid assets, which consist of federal funds sold, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and unpledged investment securities. At September 30, 2009, investment securities at fair value and trading securities totaled $3.40 billion, with $2.59 billion pledged as collateral for borrowings and other commitments. The remaining $806.7 million was available as additional liquidity or to be pledged as collateral for additional borrowings.

Approximately 95% of the Company’s time deposits mature within one year or less as of September 30, 2009. Management anticipates that there may be some outflow of these deposits upon maturity due to the keen competition in the Bank’s marketplace. However, based on our historical runoff experience, we expect that the outflow will be minimal and can be replenished through our normal growth in deposits. Management believes the above-mentioned sources will provide adequate liquidity to the Bank to meet its daily operating needs.

The Bancorp obtains funding for its activities primarily through dividend income contributed by the Bank and proceeds from the issuance of securities, including proceeds from the issuance of its common stock pursuant to its Dividend Reinvestment Plan, the exercise of stock options, and the issuance of new common shares. In light of the uncertain economic times, the Bank has not paid a dividend to the Bancorp during the first nine months of 2009 and is not expected to pay a dividend to the Bancorp for the remainder of 2009. The business activities of the Bancorp consist primarily of the operation of the Bank with limited activities in other investments. Management believes the Bancorp’s cash on hand on September 30, 2009 of $30.0 million is sufficient to meet its operational needs for the next twelve months.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk

We use a net interest income simulation model to measure the extent of the differences in the behavior of the lending and funding rates to changing interest rates, so as to project future earnings or market values under alternative interest rate scenarios. Interest rate risk arises primarily through the Company’s traditional business activities of extending loans and accepting deposits. Many factors, including economic and financial conditions, movements in interest rates and consumer preferences affect the spread between interest earned on assets and interest paid on liabilities. The net interest income simulation model is designed to measure the volatility of net interest income and net portfolio value, defined as net present value of assets and liabilities, under immediate rising or falling interest rate scenarios in 100 basis point increments.

Although the modeling is very helpful in managing interest rate risk, it does require significant assumptions for the projection of loan prepayment rates on mortgage related assets, loan volumes and pricing, and deposit and borrowing volume and pricing, that might prove inaccurate. Because these assumptions are inherently uncertain, the model cannot precisely estimate net interest income, or precisely predict the effect of higher or lower interest rates on net interest income. Actual results will differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rates changes, the differences between actual experience and the assumed volume, changes in market conditions, and management strategies, among other factors. The Company monitors its interest rate sensitivity and attempts to reduce the risk of a significant decrease in net interest income caused by a change in interest rates.

 

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We have established a tolerance level in our policy to define and limit interest income volatility to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points. When the net interest rate simulation projects that our tolerance level will be met or exceeded, we seek corrective action after considering, among other things, market conditions, customer reaction, and the estimated impact on profitability. The Company’s simulation model also projects the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities. We have established a tolerance level in our policy to value the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points.

The table below shows the estimated impact of changes in interest rate on net interest income and market value of equity as of September 30, 2009:

 

    Net Interest
Income

Volatility (1)
  Market Value
of Equity
Volatility (2)

Change in Interest Rate (Basis Points)

  September 30, 2009   September 30, 2009

+200

  -4.9   -15.3

+100

  -4.4   -6.8

-100

  4.7   12.1

-200

  4.0   18.2

 

  (1) The percentage change in this column represents net interest income of the Company for 12 months in a stable interest rate environment versus the net interest income in the various rate scenarios.
  (2) The percentage change in this column represents net portfolio value of the Company in a stable interest rate environment versus the net portfolio value in the various rate scenarios.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The Bancorp’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Cathay Bank, is a party to ordinary routine litigation from time to time incidental to various aspects of its operations. Management is not aware of any litigation that is expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, or the results of operations.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

Please refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as most recently updated by the section titled “Risk Factors” in Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October  13, 2009, which are incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period

  (a) Total
Number of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased
  (b)
Average Price
Paid per Share
(or Unit)
  (c) Total
Number of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
  (d) Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units)
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

Month #1 (July 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009)

  0   $ 0   0   622,500

Month #2 (August 1, 2009 - August 31, 2009)

  0   $ 0   0   622,500

Month #3 (September 1, 2009 - September 30, 2009)

  0   $ 0   0   622,500

Total

  0   $ 0   0   622,500

On November 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a new stock repurchase program to buy back up to an aggregate of one million shares of the Company’s common stock. No shares were purchased during 2008 or the first nine months of 2009. At September 30, 2009, 622,500 shares remain under the Company’s November 2007 repurchase program.

 

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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

 

  (i) Exhibit 31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

  (ii) Exhibit 31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

  (iii) Exhibit 32.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

  (iv) Exhibit 32.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

 

Cathay General Bancorp

(Registrant)

Date: November 6, 2009   By:  

/s/    Dunson K. Cheng

    Dunson K. Cheng
    Chairman, President, and
    Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 6, 2009   By:  

/s/    Heng W. Chen

    Heng W. Chen
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

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