10-K 1 pkkw20231231_10k.htm FORM 10-K pkkw20231231_10k.htm
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

☐ 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: 333-209052

 

SKYLINE BANKSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Virginia

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

47-5486027

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

101 Jacksonville Circle

Floyd, Virginia

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

24091

(Zip Code)

(540) 745-4191

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange

on which registered

None

 

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

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  ☐    No  ☑

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes  ☐    No ☑

 

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 ☑   No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes  ☑ No  ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐ 
Non-accelerated filer ☑Smaller reporting company ☑ 
 Emerging growth company ☐ 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

 

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicated by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

 

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

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.  $55,364,521

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.  5,564,204 shares of Common Stock as of March 26, 2024

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

None

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

   

Page Number

Part I

    
     

Item 1.

Business

1

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 13

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

 21

Item 1C.

Cybersecurity

 21

Item 2.

Properties

 23

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

 23

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

 23
     
     

Part II

    
     

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 24

Item 6.

[Reserved]

 25

Item 7.

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

 26

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 48

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 48

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 102

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

 102

Item 9B.

Other Information

 103

Item 9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

 103
     
     

Part III

    
     

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 103

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

 108

Item 12.

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

 114

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 116

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 117
     
     

Part IV

    
     

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 118

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

 119

 

i
 
 

PART I

 

Item 1.

Business.

 

General

 

Skyline Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”), is a bank holding company headquartered in Floyd, Virginia.  The Company offers a wide range of retail and commercial banking services through its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Skyline National Bank (the “Bank”).  On January 1, 2023, the Company changed its name from Parkway Acquisition Corp. to Skyline Bankshares, Inc. to align its brand across the entire organization. 

 

The Company was incorporated as a Virginia corporation on November 2, 2015.  The Company was formed as a business combination shell company for the purpose of completing a business combination transaction between Grayson Bankshares, Inc. (“Grayson”) and Cardinal Bankshares Corporation (“Cardinal”) in which Grayson and Cardinal merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation (the “Cardinal merger”), on July 1, 2016.  Upon completion of the Cardinal merger, the Bank of Floyd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardinal, was merged with and into the Bank (formerly Grayson National Bank), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grayson.  Effective March 13, 2017, the Bank changed its name to Skyline National Bank. 

 

On July 1, 2018, the Company acquired Great State Bank (“Great State”), based in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, through the merger of Great State with and into the Bank, with the Bank as the surviving bank.

 

The Bank was organized under the laws of the United States in 1900 and now serves the Virginia counties of Grayson, Floyd, Carroll, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery, Roanoke, Patrick and Washington, and the North Carolina counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Iredell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin, and the surrounding areas through twenty seven full-service banking offices and two loan production offices. As a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) insured national banking association, the Bank is subject to regulation by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) and the FDIC. The Company is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”).

 

1
 

 

Lending Activities

 

The Bank’s lending services include real estate, commercial, agricultural, and consumer loans. The loan portfolio constituted 85.74% of the interest earning assets of the Bank at December 31, 2023, and has historically produced the highest interest rate spread above the cost of funds. The Bank’s loan personnel have the authority to extend credit under guidelines established and approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors. The Officers Loan Committee has the authority to approve loans from $1.5 million up to $2.5 million of total indebtedness to a single customer. The Directors’ Loan Committee has the authority to approve loans from $2.5 million up to $4.0 million of total indebtedness to a single customer. All loans in excess $4.0 million must be presented to the full Board of Directors of the Bank for ultimate approval or denial.

 

The Bank has in the past and intends to continue to make most types of real estate loans, including, but not limited to, single and multi-family housing, farm loans, residential and commercial construction loans, and loans for commercial real estate. At December 31, 2023, the Bank had 49.03% of the loan portfolio in single and multi-family housing, 32.98% in non-farm, non-residential real estate loans, 3.13% in farm related real estate loans, and 6.54% in real estate construction and development loans.

 

The Bank’s loan portfolio includes commercial and agricultural production loans totaling 5.83% of the portfolio at December 31, 2023. Consumer and other loans make up approximately 2.49% of the total loan portfolio. Consumer loans include loans for household expenditures, car loans, and other loans to individuals. While this category has historically experienced a greater percentage of charge-offs than the other classifications, the Bank is committed to continue to make this type of loan to fulfill the needs of the Bank’s customer base.

 

All loans in the Bank’s portfolio are subject to risk from the state of the economy in the Bank’s service area and also that of the nation. The Bank has used and continues to use conservative loan-to-value ratios and thorough credit evaluation to lessen the risk on all types of loans. The use of conservative appraisals has also reduced exposure on real estate loans. Thorough credit checks and evaluation of past internal credit history has helped reduce the amount of risk related to consumer loans. Government guarantees of loans are used when appropriate, but apply to a minimal percentage of the portfolio. Commercial loans are evaluated by collateral value and ability to service debt. Businesses seeking loans must have a good product line and sales, responsible management, and demonstrated cash flows sufficient to service the debt.

 

Investments

 

The Bank invests a portion of its assets in U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agency, and U.S. Government Sponsored Enterprise securities, state, county and local obligations, corporate and equity securities. The Bank’s investment portfolio is managed in relation to loan demand and deposit growth, and are generally used to provide for the investment of excess funds at reduced yields and risks relative to increases in loan demand or to offset fluctuations in deposits.

 

Deposit Activities

 

Deposits are the major source of funds for lending and other investment activities. The Bank considers the majority of its regular savings, demand, NOW, money market deposits, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit in denominations of $250,000 or less to be core deposits. These accounts comprised approximately 91.81% of the Bank’s total deposits at December 31, 2023. Certificates of deposit in excess of the FDIC insured limit of $250,000 represented the remaining 8.19% of deposits at December 31, 2023.

 

2
 

 

Market Area

 

The Bank’s primary market area consists of:

 

 

●

all of Grayson County, Virginia
 

●

all of Floyd County, Virginia
 

●

all of Carroll County, Virginia
 

●

all of Wythe County, Virginia
 

●

all of Pulaski County, Virginia
 

●

all of Montgomery County, Virginia
 

●

all of Patrick County, Virginia
 

●

portions of Roanoke County, Virginia
 

●

all of Alleghany County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Ashe County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Burke County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Caldwell County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Catawba County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Cleveland County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Davie County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Watauga County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Wilkes County, North Carolina
 

●

all of Yadkin County, North Carolina
 

●

the City of Galax, Virginia
 

●

the City of Radford, Virginia
 

●

the City of Salem, Virginia
 

●

the City of Roanoke, Virginia

 

Grayson, Carroll, Patrick, Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, and Yadkin Counties, as well as the City of Galax, are rural in nature and employment in these areas was once dominated by furniture and textile manufacturing. As those industries have declined, employment has shifted to healthcare, retail and service, light manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. Median household income in these markets ranged from a low of $38,930 in Alleghany County, to a high of $51,348 in Yadkin County, based upon 2021 census data. Montgomery, Pulaski, Floyd, Wythe, Burke, Davie, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland and Watauga counties, as well as the City of Radford, while largely rural, are more economically diverse.  Montgomery County is home to Virginia Tech, Watauga County is home to Appalachian State University, the City of Radford is home to Radford University, and community colleges are located in both Wythe County and Pulaski County. The university presence has led to the development of several technology related companies in the region.  Manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, retail, healthcare and service industries are also prevalent in these markets.  The increased economic diversity of these markets is reflected in the median household incomes which range from a low of $44,360 in the City of Radford, to a high of $64,657 in Davie County, according to the 2021 census data.  The Bank has a lesser presence in Roanoke County and the cities of Roanoke and Salem where median household incomes ranged from a low of $48,476 in Roanoke City, to a high of $74,622 in Roanoke County, based on 2021 census data.     

 

Competition

 

The Bank encounters strong competition both in making loans and attracting deposits. The deregulation of the banking industry and the widespread enactment of state laws that permit multi-bank holding companies as well as an increasing level of interstate banking have created a highly competitive environment for commercial banking. In one or more aspects of its business, the Bank competes with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, brokerage and investment banking companies, and other financial intermediaries, as well as marketplace lenders and other financial technology firms. Many of these competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits and may offer certain services that the Bank does not currently provide. In addition, many of the Bank’s competitors are not subject to the same extensive federal regulations that govern bank holding companies and federally insured banks. Recent federal and state legislation has heightened the competitive environment in which financial institutions must conduct their business, and the potential for competition among financial institutions of all types has increased significantly.

 

3
 

 

To compete, the Bank relies upon specialized services, responsive handling of customer needs, and personal contacts by its officers, directors, and staff. Large multi-state banking competitors tend to compete primarily by rate and the number and location of branches, while smaller, independent financial institutions tend to compete primarily by rate and personal service.

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2023, the Company had 234 total employees representing 230 full time equivalents, none of whom are represented by a union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The Company’s management considers employee relations to be good.

 

Internet Site

 

The Company maintains an internet website at www.skylinenationalbank.bank. Shareholders of the Company and the public may access, free of charge, the Company’s periodic and current reports (including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports) filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), through the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website. The reports are made available on this website as soon as practicable following the filing of the reports with the SEC. The information is free of charge and may be reviewed, downloaded and printed from the website at any time.

 

Government Supervision and Regulation

 

The Company and the Bank are extensively regulated under federal and state law.  The following information describes certain aspects of that regulation applicable to the Company and the Bank and does not purport to be complete.  Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry are frequently raised in U.S. Congress, in state legislatures, and before the various bank regulatory agencies.  The likelihood and timing of any changes and the impact such changes might have on the Company and the Bank are impossible to determine with any certainty.  A change in applicable laws or regulations, or a change in the way such laws or regulations are interpreted by regulatory agencies or courts, may have a material impact on the business, operations, and earnings of the Company and the Bank.

 

Skyline Bankshares, Inc. (Formerly Known as Parkway Acquisition Corp.)

 

The Company is a bank holding company (“BHC”) within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), and is registered as such with the Federal Reserve.  As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and is required to file various reports and additional information with the Federal Reserve.  The Company is also registered under the bank holding company laws of Virginia and is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (the “SCC”).

 

Skyline National Bank

 

The Bank is a federally chartered national bank.  It is subject to federal regulation by the OCC and the FDIC.

 

The OCC conducts regular examinations of the Bank, reviewing such matters as the adequacy of loan loss reserves, quality of loans and investments, management practices, compliance with laws, and other aspects of its operations. In addition to these regular examinations, the Bank must furnish the OCC with periodic reports containing a full and accurate statement of its affairs. Supervision, regulation and examination of banks by these agencies are intended primarily for the protection of depositors rather than shareholders.

 

4
 

 

The regulations of the OCC, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve govern most aspects of the Company’s and the Bank’s business, including deposit reserve requirements, investments, loans, certain check clearing activities, issuance of securities, payment of dividends, branching, deposit interest rate ceilings, and numerous other matters. The OCC, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve have adopted guidelines and released interpretative materials that establish operational and managerial standards to promote the safe and sound operation of banks and bank holding companies. These standards relate to the institution’s key operating functions, including but not limited to capital management, internal controls, internal audit system, information systems and data and cybersecurity, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure and risk management, vendor management, executive management and its compensation, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, liquidity and risk management.

 

Dodd-Frank Act

 

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). The Dodd-Frank Act significantly restructured the financial regulatory regime in the United States and continues to have a broad impact on the financial services industry as a result of the significant regulatory and compliance changes required under the act. While significant rulemaking under the Dodd-Frank Act has occurred, certain of the act’s provisions require additional rulemaking by the federal bank regulatory agencies. The Dodd-Frank Act has increased our operations and compliance costs in the short-term; however, the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act remains dependent on the regulatory environment and future regulatory rulemaking and interpretations.

 

In May 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (the “Economic Growth Act”), was enacted to modify or remove certain regulatory financial reform rules and regulations, including some of those implemented under the Dodd-Frank Act. While the Economic Growth Act maintains most of the regulatory structure established by the Dodd-Frank Act, it amends certain aspects of the regulatory framework for small depository institutions with assets of less than $10 billion, such as the Bank, and for large banks with assets of more than $50 billion.

 

Among other matters, the Economic Growth Act expands the definition of qualified mortgages which may be held by a financial institution with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, exempts community banks from the Volcker Rule, and includes additional regulatory relief regarding regulatory examination cycles, call reports, mortgage disclosures and risk weights for certain high-risk commercial real estate loans.

 

In addition, the Economic Growth Act simplifies the regulatory capital rules for financial institutions and their holding companies with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion by instructing the federal banking regulators to establish a single “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (“CBLR”) of between 8 and 10 percent. On September 17, 2019, the FDIC finalized a rule that introduced the CBLR framework for community banks with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9 percent, less than $10 billion in total assets, and limited amounts of off-balance sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. The Economic Growth Act also expands the category of holding companies that may rely on the “Small Bank Holding Company and Savings and Loan Holding Company Policy Statement” (the “HC Policy Statement”) by raising the maximum amount of assets a qualifying holding company may have from $1 billion to $3 billion. This expansion also excludes such holding companies from the minimum capital requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

Deposit Insurance

 

The deposits of the Bank are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) up to applicable limits and are subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDIA”), as amended by the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, requires the FDIC to set a ratio of deposit insurance reserves to estimated insured deposits of at least 1.35%. The FDIC uses a risk-based system to calculate assessment rates and revised its methodology in April 2016 to calculate assessment rates for banks with under $10 billion in assets based upon certain financial measures of the bank and its supervisory ratings. Initial base assessment rates currently range from 5 to 32 basis points, subject to a decrease for certain unsecured debt. Progressively lower assessment rate schedules will take effect once the reserve ratio reaches 2.0% or greater and again once the reserve ratio reaches 2.5% or greater.

 

5
 

 

Capital Requirements

 

The Federal Reserve, the OCC and the FDIC have issued substantially similar risk-based and leverage capital guidelines applicable to banks and bank holding companies.  In addition, those regulatory agencies may from time to time require that a banking organization maintain capital above the minimum levels because of its financial condition or actual or anticipated growth. Pursuant to the HC Policy Statement, qualifying bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of less than $3 billion, such as the Company, are not subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements.

 

Federal banking regulators have adopted rules effective January 1, 2015, to implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The final rules required the Bank to comply with the following minimum capital ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets; (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of risk-weighted assets; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% of risk-weighted assets; and (iv) a leverage ratio of 4% of total assets.  As fully phased in effective January 1, 2019, these rules require the Bank to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer” (which is added to the 4.5% common equity Tier 1 ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%), (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%), (iii) a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5%), and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets.

 

The capital conservation buffer requirement has been phased in beginning January 1, 2016, at 0.625% of risk-weighted assets, increasing by the same amount each year until fully implemented at 2.5% on January 1, 2019. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress.  Banking institutions with a ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the conservation buffer will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases, and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.

 

The rules also revised the prompt corrective action framework, which is designed to place restrictions on insured depository institutions if their capital levels begin to show signs of weakness. Under the prompt corrective action requirements, which are designed to complement the capital conservation buffer, insured depository institutions are required to meet the following capital level requirements in order to qualify as “well capitalized:” a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5%; a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8%; a total capital ratio of 10%; and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5%.

 

Based on management’s understanding and interpretation of the capital rules, it believes that, as of December 31, 2023, the Bank meets all capital adequacy requirements under such rules on a fully phased-in basis.

 

As directed by the Economic Growth Act, on September 17, 2019, the FDIC finalized a rule that introduces an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations (i.e., the CBLR framework).  The CBLR framework is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework.

 

6
 

 

In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9.00%, less than $10.0 billion in total consolidated assets, and limited amounts of off-balance sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the “well-capitalized” ratio requirements under the prompt corrective action regulations and will not be required to report or calculated risk-based capital.

 

The CBLR framework was available for banks to use in their December 31, 2023, Call Report. At this time the Company has elected not to opt into the CLBR framework for the Bank, but may opt into the CBLR framework in the future.

 

Dividends

 

The Company’s ability to distribute cash dividends depends primarily on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to it. The Company is a legal entity, separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues result from dividends paid to it by the Bank. There are various legal limitations applicable to the payment of dividends by the Bank to the Company and to the payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders. As a national bank, the Bank is subject to certain restrictions on its reserves and capital imposed by federal banking statutes and regulations. Under OCC regulations, a national bank may not declare a dividend in excess of its undivided profits. Additionally, a national bank may not declare a dividend if the total amount of all dividends, including the proposed dividend, declared by the national bank in any calendar year exceeds the total of the national bank’s retained net income of that year to date, combined with its retained net income of the two preceding years, unless the dividend is approved by the OCC. A national bank may not declare or pay any dividend if, after making the dividend, the national bank would be “undercapitalized,” as defined in regulations of the OCC.

 

In addition, under the current supervisory practices of the Federal Reserve, the Company should inform and consult with its regulators reasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period (e.g., quarter) for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the Company’s capital structure.

 

Permitted Activities

 

As a bank holding company, the Company is limited to managing or controlling banks, furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiaries, and engaging in other activities that the Federal Reserve determines by regulation or order to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. In determining whether a particular activity is permissible, the Federal Reserve must consider whether the performance of such an activity reasonably can be expected to produce benefits to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects. Possible benefits include greater convenience, increased competition, and gains in efficiency. Possible adverse effects include undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest, and unsound banking practices. Despite prior approval, the Federal Reserve may order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable cause to believe that a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary of that bank holding company may result from such an activity.

 

Banking Acquisitions; Changes in Control

 

The BHC Act requires, among other things, the prior approval of the Federal Reserve in any case where a bank holding company proposes to (i) acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock of any bank or bank holding company (unless it already owns a majority of such voting shares), (ii) acquire all or substantially all of the assets of another bank or bank holding company, or (iii) merge or consolidate with any other bank holding company. In determining whether to approve a proposed bank acquisition, the Federal Reserve will consider, among other factors, the effect of the acquisition on competition, the public benefits expected to be received from the acquisition, the projected capital ratios and levels on a post-acquisition basis, and the acquiring institution’s performance under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (the “CRA”) and its compliance with fair housing and other consumer protection laws.

 

7
 

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the BHC Act and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with the applicable regulations, require Federal Reserve approval (or, depending on the circumstances, no notice of disapproval) prior to any person or company acquiring “control” of a bank or bank holding company. A conclusive presumption of control exists if an individual or company acquires the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of an insured depository institution or to vote 25% or more of any class of voting securities of any insured depository institution. A rebuttable presumption of control exists if a person or company acquires 10% or more but less than 25% of any class of voting securities of an insured depository institution and either the institution has registered its securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or no other person will own a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the acquisition. The Company’s common stock currently is not registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

In addition, Virginia law requires the prior approval of the SCC for (i) the acquisition of more than 5% of the voting shares of a Virginia bank or any holding company that controls a Virginia bank, or (ii) the acquisition by a Virginia bank holding company of a bank or its holding company domiciled outside Virginia.

 

Source of Strength

 

Federal Reserve policy has historically required bank holding companies to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. The Dodd-Frank Act codified this policy as a statutory requirement. Under this requirement, the Company is expected to commit resources to support the Bank, including at times when the Company may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary banks. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.

 

Safety and Soundness

 

There are a number of obligations and restrictions imposed on bank holding companies and their subsidiary banks by law and regulatory policy that are designed to minimize potential loss to the depositors of such depository institutions and the FDIC insurance fund in the event of a depository institution default. For example, under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, to avoid receivership of an insured depository institution subsidiary, a bank holding company is required to guarantee the compliance of any subsidiary bank that may become “undercapitalized” with the terms of any capital restoration plan filed by such subsidiary with its appropriate federal bank regulatory agency up to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to 5% of the institution’s total assets at the time the institution became undercapitalized or (ii) the amount that is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring the institution into compliance with all applicable capital standards as of the time the institution fails to comply with such capital restoration plan.

 

Under the FDIA, the federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted guidelines prescribing safety and soundness standards. These guidelines establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act

 

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), the federal bank regulatory agencies possess broad powers to take prompt corrective action to resolve problems of insured depository institutions.  The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institution is “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” or “critically undercapitalized,” as defined by the law.

 

8
 

 

Reflecting changes under the Basel III capital requirements, the relevant capital measures that became effective on January 1, 2015 for prompt corrective action are the total capital ratio, the common equity Tier 1 capital ratio, the Tier 1 capital ratio and the leverage ratio.  A bank will be (i) “well capitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater, and is not subject to any capital directive order; (ii) “adequately capitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater and is not “well capitalized”; (iii) “undercapitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 8.0%, a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio less than 4.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0% or a leverage ratio of less than 4.0%; (iv) “significantly undercapitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio less than 3.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0% or a leverage ratio of less than 3.0%; and (v) “critically undercapitalized” if the institution’s tangible equity is equal to or less than 2.0% of average quarterly tangible assets. An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. A bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying prompt corrective action regulations, and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the bank’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.  Management believes, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company met the requirements for being classified as “well capitalized.”

 

As discussed under “Capital Requirements” above, federal banking regulators have issued a final rule that permits qualifying banks that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets to elect to be subject to a 9% “community bank leverage ratio,” in which case a bank that has chosen such proposed framework would be considered to have met the capital ratio requirements to be “well capitalized” under prompt corrective action rules, provided it has a community bank leverage ratio greater than 9%.

 

As required by FDICIA, the federal bank regulatory agencies also have adopted guidelines prescribing safety and soundness standards relating to, among other things, internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, and interest rate exposure.  In general, the guidelines require appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risks and exposures specified in the guidelines.  In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an institution which has been notified that it is not in compliance with safety and soundness standard to submit a compliance plan.  If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the prompt corrective action provisions described above.

 

Branching

 

The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994, as amended (the “Interstate Banking Act”), generally permits well capitalized bank holding companies to acquire banks in any state, and preempts all state laws restricting the ownership by a bank holding company of banks in more than one state. The Interstate Banking Act also permits a bank to merge with an out-of-state bank and convert any offices into branches of the resulting bank if both states have not opted out of interstate branching; and permits a bank to acquire branches from an out-of-state bank if the law of the state where the branches are located permits the interstate branch acquisition. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, a bank holding company or bank must be well capitalized and well managed to engage in an interstate acquisition. Bank holding companies and banks are required to obtain prior Federal Reserve approval to acquire more than 5% of a class of voting securities, or substantially all of the assets, of a bank holding company, bank or savings association. The Interstate Banking Act and the Dodd-Frank Act permit banks to establish and operate de novo interstate branches to the same extent a bank chartered by the host state may establish branches.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

Pursuant to Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W, the authority of the Bank to engage in transactions with related parties or “affiliates” or to make loans to insiders is limited. Loan transactions with an affiliate generally must be collateralized and certain transactions between the Bank and its affiliates, including the sale of assets, the payment of money or the provision of services, must be on terms and conditions that are substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the Bank, as those prevailing for comparable nonaffiliated transactions. In addition, the Bank generally may not purchase securities issued or underwritten by affiliates.

 

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Loans to executive officers, directors or to any person who directly or indirectly, or acting through or in concert with one or more persons, owns, controls or has the power to vote more than 10% of any class of voting securities of a bank (a “10% Shareholders”), are subject to Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and their corresponding regulations (Regulation O) and Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act relating to the prohibition on personal loans to executives (which exempts financial institutions in compliance with the insider lending restrictions of Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act). Among other things, these loans must be made on terms substantially the same as those prevailing on transactions made to unaffiliated individuals and certain extensions of credit to those persons must first be approved in advance by a disinterested majority of the entire board of directors. Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act prohibits loans to any of those individuals where the aggregate amount exceeds an amount equal to 15% of an institution’s unimpaired capital and surplus plus an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus in the case of loans that are fully secured by readily marketable collateral, or when the aggregate amount on all of the extensions of credit outstanding to all of these persons would exceed the Bank’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. Section 22(g) of the Federal Reserve Act identifies limited circumstances in which the Bank is permitted to extend credit to executive officers.

 

Consumer Financial Protection

 

The Company is subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws that extensively govern its relationship with its customers. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, laws governing flood insurance, federal and state laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business practices, foreclosure laws, and various regulations that implement some or all of the foregoing. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits, making loans, collecting loans and providing other services. If the Company fails to comply with these laws and regulations, it may be subject to various penalties. Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions the Company may wish to pursue or being prohibited from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.

 

The Dodd-Frank Act centralized responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), and giving it responsibility for implementing, examining, and enforcing compliance with federal consumer protection laws. The CFPB focuses on (i) risks to consumers and compliance with the federal consumer financial laws, (ii) the markets in which firms operate and risks to consumers posed by activities in those markets, (iii) depository institutions that offer a wide variety of consumer financial products and services, and (iv) non-depository companies that offer one or more consumer financial products or services. The CFPB has broad rule making authority for a wide range of consumer financial laws that apply to all banks, including, among other things, the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. Abusive acts or practices are defined as those that materially interfere with a consumer’s ability to understand a term or condition of a consumer financial product or service or take unreasonable advantage of a consumer’s (i) lack of financial savvy, (ii) inability to protect himself in the selection or use of consumer financial products or services, or (iii) reasonable reliance on a covered entity to act in the consumer’s interests. The CFPB can issue cease-and-desist orders against banks and other entities that violate consumer financial laws. The CFPB may also institute a civil action against an entity in violation of federal consumer financial law in order to impose a civil penalty or injunction.

 

Community Reinvestment Act

 

The CRA requires the appropriate federal banking agency, in connection with its examination of a bank, to assess the bank’s record in meeting the credit needs of the communities served by the bank, including low and moderate income neighborhoods.  Furthermore, such assessment is also required of banks that have applied, among other things, to merge or consolidate with or acquire the assets or assume the liabilities of an insured depository institution, or to open or relocate a branch.  In the case of a BHC applying for approval to acquire a bank or BHC, the record of each subsidiary bank of the applicant BHC is subject to assessment in considering the application.  Under the CRA, institutions are assigned a rating of “outstanding,” “satisfactory,” “needs to improve,” or “substantial non-compliance.”  The Company was rated “outstanding” in its most recent CRA evaluation.

 

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On October 24, 2023, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule to modernize their respective CRA regulations. The revised rules substantially alter the methodology for assessing compliance with the CRA, with material aspects taking effect January 1, 2026 and revised data reporting requirements taking effect January 1, 2027. Among other things, the revised rules evaluate lending outside traditional assessment areas generated by the growth of non-branch delivery systems, such as online and mobile banking, apply a metrics-based benchmarking approach to assessment, and clarify eligible CRA activities. The final rules are likely to make it more challenging and/or costly for the Bank to receive a rating of at least “satisfactory” on its CRA evaluation.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Regulations

 

The Bank is subject to several federal laws that are designed to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and transactions with persons, companies or foreign governments designated by U.S. authorities (“AML laws”). This category of laws includes the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, the most sweeping anti-money laundering legislation in 20 years, requires various federal agencies to promulgate regulations implementing a number of its provisions.

 

The AML laws and their implementing regulations require insured depository institutions, broker-dealers, and certain other financial institutions to have policies, procedures, and controls to detect, prevent, and report money laundering and terrorist financing. The AML laws and their regulations also provide for information sharing, subject to conditions, between federal law enforcement agencies and financial institutions, as well as among financial institutions, for counter-terrorism purposes. Federal banking regulators are required, when reviewing bank holding company acquisition and bank merger applications, to take into account the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering activities of the applicants. To comply with these obligations, the Company has implemented appropriate internal practices, procedures, and controls.

 

Privacy Legislation

 

Several recent laws, including the Right to Financial Privacy Act, and related regulations issued by the federal bank regulatory agencies, also provide new protections against the transfer and use of customer information by financial institutions. A financial institution must provide to its customers information regarding its policies and procedures with respect to the handling of customers’ personal information. Each institution must conduct an internal risk assessment of its ability to protect customer information. These privacy provisions generally prohibit a financial institution from providing a customer’s personal financial information to unaffiliated parties without prior notice and approval from the customer.

 

In October 2023, the CFPB proposed a new rule that would require a provider of payment accounts or products, such as the Bank, to make certain data available to consumers upon request regarding the products or services they obtain from the provider. The proposed rule is intended to give consumers control over their financial data, including with whom it is shared, and encourage competition in the provision of consumer financial products and services. For banks with over $850 million and less than $50 billion in total assets, such as the Bank, compliance would be required approximately two and one-half years after adoption of the final rule.

 

Incentive Compensation

 

In June 2010, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued comprehensive final guidance on incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of financial institutions do not undermine the safety and soundness of such institutions by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The Interagency Guidance on Sound Incentive Compensation Policies, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of a financial institutions, either individually or as part of a group, is based upon the key principles that a financial institution’s incentive compensation arrangements should (i) provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the institution’s ability to effectively identify and manage risks, (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management, and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the financial institution’s board of directors.

 

The OCC will review, as part of the regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of financial institutions, such as the Bank, that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews will be tailored to each financial institution based on the scope and complexity of the institution’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of the supervisory initiatives will be included in reports of examination. Deficiencies will be incorporated into the institution’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the institution’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a financial institution if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the institution’s safety and soundness and the financial institution is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies. At December 31, 2023, the Company had not been made aware of any instances of non-compliance with the final guidance.

 

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Cybersecurity

 

The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines for establishing information security standards and cybersecurity programs for implementing safeguards under the supervision of a financial institution’s board of directors. These guidelines, along with related regulatory materials, increasingly focus on risk management and processes related to information technology and the use of third parties in the provision of financial products and services. The federal banking agencies expect financial institutions to establish lines of defense and ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, and also expect financial institutions to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the institution’s operations after a cyber-attack. If the Bank fails to meet the expectations set forth in this regulatory guidance, it could be subject to various regulatory actions and any remediation efforts may require significant resources of the Bank. In addition, all federal and state bank regulatory agencies continue to increase focus on cybersecurity programs and risks as part of regular supervisory exams.

 

In November 2021, the federal banking agencies approved a final rule that, among other things, requires banking organizations to notify their primary regulator within 36 hours of becoming aware of a “computer-security incident” that rises to the level of a “notification incident.” The rule also requires bank service providers to notify their banking organization customers as soon as possible after becoming aware of similar incidents.

 

Effect of Governmental Monetary Policies

 

The Company’s operations are affected not only by general economic conditions, but also by the policies of various regulatory authorities.  In particular, the Federal Reserve regulates money and credit conditions and interest rates to influence general economic conditions.  These policies have a significant impact on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits; they affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for time and savings deposits.  Federal Reserve monetary policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks, including the Company, in the past and are expected to do so in the future.  As a result, it is difficult for the Company to predict the potential effects of possible changes in monetary policies upon its future operating results.

 

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Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

 

Risks Related to Macroeconomic and Political Conditions

 

We may be adversely affected by changes in economic conditions, especially in our market area.

 

We are located in southwestern Virginia and northwestern North Carolina, and our local economy is heavily influenced by the furniture and textile industries, both of which have been in decline in recent years. Although we the economy has largely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, certain consequences of the pandemic continue to impact the macroeconomic environment and may persist for some time.  For example, the COVID-19 pandemic could have long-lasting impacts on certain industries due to changes in consumer behavior and business practices, including remote work and business travel.  Further, the growth in economic activity and in the demand for goods and services, coupled with labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and other factors, has contributed to rising inflationary pressures, the Federal Reserve’s responsive interest rate hikes, and the risk of recession.  Changes in general economic or market conditions, whether caused by global, national or local concerns, could influence, among other things, the growth rate of our loans and deposits, the quality of the loan portfolio and loan and deposit pricing. Higher unemployment rates may lead to future increases in past-due and nonperforming loans, thus having a negative impact on the earnings of the Bank. As a result, a decline in general economic conditions caused by inflation, recession, unemployment or other factors beyond our control, could negatively affect our financial condition and performance.

 

We may be adversely impacted by changes in market conditions.

 

We are directly and indirectly affected by fluctuations in market conditions, which are subject to rapid or unpredictable change. Market risk generally represents the risk that values of assets and liabilities or revenues will be adversely affected by changes in market conditions. As a financial institution, market risk is inherent in the financial instruments associated with our operations and activities, including loans, deposits, securities, short-term borrowings, long-term debt and trading account assets and liabilities. A few of the market conditions that may shift from time to time, thereby exposing us to market risk, include fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, equity and futures prices, and price deterioration or changes in value due to changes in market perception or actual credit quality of issuers. Our investment securities portfolio, in particular, may be impacted by market conditions beyond our control, including rating agency downgrades of the securities, defaults of the issuers of the securities, lack of market pricing of the securities, and inactivity or instability in the credit markets, and changes in market interest rates. Any changes in these conditions, in current accounting principles or interpretations of these principles could have negative impacts on our investment securities portfolio, including on our returns, unrealized gains or unrealized losses, or our assessment of fair value and thus the determination of other-than-temporary impairment, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our net interest income or our results of operations.

 

Risks Related to Credit Risks

 

Our concentration in loans secured by real estate may increase our credit losses, which would negatively affect our financial results.

 

We offer a variety of secured loans, including commercial lines of credit, commercial term loans, real estate, construction, home equity, consumer and other loans. Many of our loans are secured by real estate (both residential and commercial) in our market area. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $749.7 million of loans secured by real estate outstanding, or 91.68% of its total loans. A major change in the real estate market, such as deterioration in the value of this collateral, or in the local or national economy, could adversely affect our customers’ ability to pay these loans, which in turn could impact us. Risk of loan defaults and foreclosures are unavoidable in the banking industry, and we try to limit our exposure to this risk by monitoring our extensions of credit carefully. We cannot fully eliminate credit risk, and as a result credit losses may occur in the future.

 

Should our loan quality deteriorate, and our allowance for credit losses becomes inadequate, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Our earnings are significantly affected by our ability to properly originate, underwrite and service loans. In addition, we maintain an allowance for credit losses that we believe is a reasonable estimate of known and inherent losses within our loan portfolio. We could sustain losses if we incorrectly assess the creditworthiness of our borrowers or fail to detect or respond to deterioration in asset quality in a timely manner. Through a periodic review and consideration of the loan portfolio, management determines the amount of the allowance for credit losses by considering general market conditions, credit quality of the loan portfolio, the collateral supporting the loans and performance of customers relative to their financial obligations.

 

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The amount of future credit losses will be influenced by changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates, which may be beyond our control, and these losses may exceed current estimates. Although we believe the allowance for credit losses is a reasonable estimate of known and inherent losses in the loan portfolio, we cannot precisely predict such losses or be certain that the credit loss allowance will be adequate in the future. While the risk of nonpayment is inherent in banking, we could experience greater nonpayment levels than we anticipate. Further deterioration in the quality of our loan portfolio could cause our interest income and net interest margin to decrease and our provisions for loan losses to increase further, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Federal and state regulators periodically review our allowance for credit losses and may require us to increase our provision for credit losses or recognize further loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of management. Any increase in the amount of the provision or loans charged-off as required by these regulatory agencies could have a negative effect on our operating results and financial condition.

 

Our small-to-medium sized business target market may have fewer financial resources to weather a downturn in the economy.

 

We target our business development and marketing strategy primarily to serve the banking and financial services needs of small and medium sized businesses. These businesses generally have less capital or borrowing capacity than larger entities. If general economic conditions adversely affect this major economic sector in our markets, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to Liquidity and Interest Rate Risk

 

Our ability to maintain adequate sources of liquidity may be negatively impacted by the economic environment which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

In managing our consolidated balance sheet, we depend on cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, loan and investment security payments, core deposits, lines of credit with correspondent banks and lines of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank to provide sufficient liquidity to meet our commitments and business needs, and to accommodate the transaction and cash management needs of clients.  Deposit levels and funding costs may be affected by a number of factors, including interest rates paid by competitors, general interest rate levels, returns available to customers on alternative investments, changes in the liquidity needs of our depositors and general economic conditions that affect savings levels and the amount of liquidity in the economy, including government stimulus efforts in response to economic crises.  If market interest rates rise or our competitors raise the rates they pay on deposits, our funding costs may increase, either because we raise our rates to avoid losing deposits or because we lose deposits and must rely on more expensive sources of funding.  Further, the availability of these funding sources is highly dependent upon the perception of the liquidity and creditworthiness of the financial institution, and such perception can change quickly in response to market conditions or circumstances unique to a particular company. Any event that limits our access to these sources, such as a decline in the confidence of debt purchasers, or our depositors or counterparties, may adversely affect our liquidity, financial position, and results of operations.

 

In addition, financial challenges at other banking institutions could lead to depositor concerns that spread within the banking industry. In March 2023, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank experienced large deposit outflows coupled with insufficient liquidity to meet withdrawal demands, resulting in the institutions being placed into FDIC receiverships. In the aftermath, there was substantial market disruption and concern that diminished depositor confidence could spread across the banking industry, leading to deposit outflows that could destabilize other institutions. While public confidence in the banking system has stabilized, deposit outflows caused by reputational concerns or events affecting the banking industry generally could adversely affect the Company’s liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

We may incur losses if we are unable to successfully manage interest rate risk.

 

Our profitability will depend in substantial part upon the spread between the interest rates earned on investments and loans and interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will affect our operating performance and financial condition in diverse ways including the pricing of securities, loans and deposits and the volume of loan originations in our mortgage-origination office. We attempt to minimize our exposure to interest rate risk, but we will be unable to eliminate it. Our net interest spread will depend on many factors that are partly or entirely outside our control, including competition, federal economic, monetary and fiscal policies, and economic conditions generally.

 

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In addition, changes in interest rates may negatively affect both the returns on and market value of our investment securities. As we experienced due to rising interest rates in 2023, interest rate changes can reduce unrealized gains or increase unrealized losses in our portfolio and thereby negatively impact our accumulated other comprehensive income and equity levels. Further, such losses could be realized into earnings should liquidity and/or business strategy necessitate the sales of securities in a loss position. Additionally, actual investment income and cash flows from investment securities that carry prepayment risk, such as mortgage-backed securities and callable securities, may materially differ from those anticipated at the time of investment or subsequently as a result of changes in interest rates and market conditions. These occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our net interest income or our results of operations.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

Our future success is dependent on our ability to compete effectively in the highly competitive banking industry.

 

We face vigorous competition from other banks and other financial institutions, including savings and loan associations, savings banks, finance companies and credit unions for deposits, loans and other financial services in our market area. A number of these banks and other financial institutions are significantly larger than we are and have substantially greater access to capital and other resources, as well as larger lending limits and branch systems, and offer a wider array of banking services. In addition, credit unions have been able to increasingly expand their membership definition and, because they enjoy a favorable tax status, may be able to offer more attractive loan and deposit pricing. To a limited extent, we also compete with other providers of financial services, such as money market mutual funds, brokerage firms, consumer finance companies, marketplace lenders and other financial technology firms, insurance companies and governmental organizations which may offer more favorable financing than we can. Many of our non-bank competitors are not subject to the same extensive regulations that govern us. As a result, these non-bank competitors have advantages over us in providing certain services. This competition may reduce or limit our margins and our market share and may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our ability to operate profitably may be dependent on our ability to implement various technologies into our operations.

 

The market for financial services, including banking and consumer finance services, is increasingly affected by advances in technology, including developments in telecommunications, data processing, computers, automation, online banking and tele-banking. The pace of technological change has increased in the "fintech" environment, in which industry-changing technology-driven products and services are often introduced and adopted, including innovative ways that customers can make payments, access products, and manage accounts. Our ability to compete successfully in our market may depend on the extent to which we are able to exploit such technological changes. If we are not able to afford such technologies, properly or timely anticipate or implement such technologies, or effectively train our staff to use such technologies, our business, financial condition or operating results could be adversely affected.

 

Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions.

 

Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions through alternative methods that historically have involved banks. The activity and prominence of so-called marketplace lenders and other technological financial service companies have grown significantly over recent years and are expected to continue growing. In addition, consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts, mutual funds or general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards. Consumers can also complete transactions, such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. If we are unable to address the competitive pressures that we face, we could lose market share, which could result in reduced net revenue and profitability and lower returns. The loss of these revenue streams and the lower cost of deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our exposure to operational risk may adversely affect our business.

 

We are exposed to many types of operational risk, including reputational risk, legal and compliance risk, the risk of fraud or theft by employees or outsiders, unauthorized transactions by employees or operational errors, including clerical or record-keeping errors or those resulting from faulty or disabled computer or telecommunications systems. Reputational risk, or the risk to our earnings and capital from negative public opinion, could result from our actual alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending practices, corporate governance, regulatory compliance or the occurrence of any of the events or instances mentioned below, or from actions taken by government regulators or community organizations in response to that conduct. Negative public opinion could also result from adverse news or publicity that impairs the reputation of the financial services industry generally.

 

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Further, if any of our financial, accounting, or other data processing systems fail or have other significant shortcomings, we could be adversely affected. We depend on internal systems and outsourced technology to support these data storage and processing operations. Our inability to use or access these information systems at critical points in time could unfavorably impact the timeliness and efficiency of our business operations. We could be adversely affected if one of our employees causes a significant operational break-down or failure, either as a result of human error or where an individual purposefully sabotages or fraudulently manipulates our operations or systems. We are also at risk of the impact of business disruptions resulting from natural disasters, pandemic, terrorism and international hostilities, including effects on our workforce or systems or for the effects of outages or other failures involving power or communications systems operated by others.

 

Misconduct by employees could include fraudulent, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of clients or improper use of confidential information. We may not be able to prevent employee errors or misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect this type of activity might not be effective in all cases. Employee errors or misconduct could subject us to civil claims for negligence or regulatory enforcement actions, including fines and restrictions on our business. In addition, there have been instances where financial institutions have been victims of fraudulent activity in which criminals pose as customers to initiate wire and automated clearinghouse transactions out of customer accounts. Although we have policies and procedures in place to verify the authenticity of our customers, we cannot assure that such policies and procedures will prevent all fraudulent transfers. Such activity can result in financial liability and harm to our reputation.

 

If any of the foregoing risks materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of war or terrorism, pandemics or endemics, climate change and other external events could significantly impact our business.

 

Natural disasters, including severe weather events of increasing strength and frequency due to climate change, acts of war or terrorism, pandemics or endemics and other adverse external events could have a significant adverse impact on business operations of the Company, third parties who perform operational services for the Company or the Company’s borrowers and customers. Such events could affect the stability of the Company’s deposit base, create economic or market uncertainty, negatively impact consumer confidence, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in lost revenue or cause the Company to incur additional expenses. Although the Company’s management has established disaster recovery policies and procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our operations depend upon third party vendors that perform services for us.

 

We are reliant upon certain external vendors to provide products and services necessary to maintain our day-to-day operations, including data processing and interchange and transmission services for the ATM network. Accordingly, our success depends on the services provided by these vendors, and our operations are exposed to risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with the contracted service agreements. Although we maintain a system of policies and procedures designed to monitor and mitigate vendor risks, the failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service agreements could disrupt our operations, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our operations may be adversely affected by cybersecurity risks.

 

In the ordinary course of business, we and our vendors collect and store sensitive data, including proprietary business information and personally identifiable information of our customers and employees, in systems and on networks. The secure processing, maintenance and use of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. We have invested in accepted technologies and review processes and practices that are designed to protect our networks, computers and data from damage or unauthorized access. Despite these security measures, our computer systems and infrastructure, or those of our vendors, may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Risks and exposures related to cybersecurity attacks are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats, as well as due to the expanding use of Internet banking, mobile banking and other technology-based products and services by the Bank and its customers. A breach of any kind could compromise systems and the information stored there could be accessed, damaged or disclosed. A breach in security could result in legal claims, regulatory penalties, reimbursement of fraudulent transfers, disruption in operations and damage to our reputation, which could adversely affect our business. For additional discussion of our response to cybersecurity risk, please refer to Item 1C. “Cybersecurity” below.

 

Our inability to successfully manage growth or implement our growth strategy may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

A key aspect of our long-term business strategy is our continued growth and expansion. We may not be able to successfully implement this strategy if we are unable to identify attractive expansion locations or opportunities in the future. In addition, our successful implementation and management of growth will be contingent upon whether we can maintain appropriate levels of capital to support our growth, maintain control over expenses, maintain adequate asset quality, attract talented bankers and successfully integrate into the organization any branches or businesses acquired. As we continue to implement our growth strategy, we expect to incur increased personnel, occupancy and other operating expenses. In many cases, our expenses will increase prior to the income we expect to generate from the growth. For instance, in the case of new branches, we must absorb these expenses prior to or as we begin to generate new deposits, and there is a further time lag involved in redeploying the new deposits into attractively priced loans and other higher yielding earning assets. Thus, our plans to branch or expand loan or mortgage operations could depress earnings in the short run, even if we are able to efficiently execute our strategy.

 

In addition, our business strategy involves branch expansion in North Carolina, with several branches opening in new markets in western North Carolina in 2020 and 2022. The banking business in western North Carolina is competitive, and the level of competition may increase further. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully compete in this competitive market, or that we will be able to successfully manage additional growth in western North Carolina. Because of our limited participation in these new markets, there may be unexpected challenges and difficulties that could adversely affect our operations.

 

Risks Related to the Regulatory Environment

 

An inability to maintain our regulatory capital position could adversely affect our operations.

 

As of December 31, 2023, the Bank was classified as “well capitalized” for regulatory capital purposes. If we do not maintain the expected levels of regulatory capital in the future, it could increase the regulatory scrutiny on the Company and the Bank, and the OCC could establish individual minimum capital ratios or take other regulatory actions against us. Further, if the Bank were no longer “well capitalized” for regulatory capital purposes, it would not be able to offer interest rates on deposit accounts that are significantly higher than the average rates in its market area. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to increase deposits. If we are not able to attract new deposits, our ability to fund our loan portfolio may be adversely affected. In addition, the Bank is subject to a capital conservation buffer designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress.  Banking institutions with a ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets above the minimum capital requirements but below the conservation buffer will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases, and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.  We also could be required to pay higher insurance premiums to the FDIC if our capital position declines, which would reduce our earnings.  Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial condition.

 

Our profitability may suffer because of rapid and unpredictable changes in the highly regulated environment in which we operate.

 

We are subject to extensive supervision by several governmental regulatory agencies at the federal and state levels. Recently enacted, proposed and future banking legislation and regulations have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the financial services industry. These regulations, which are intended to protect depositors and other customers and not our shareholders, and the interpretation and application of them by federal and state regulators, are beyond our control, may change rapidly and unpredictably and can be expected to influence our earnings and growth.

 

17
 

 

For example, the CFPB has recently pursued a more aggressive enforcement policy with respect to a range of regulatory compliance matters, specifically including fair lending, loan servicing, financial institution sales and marketing practices, and financial institution consumer fee and account management practices. In 2023, the CFPB brought enforcement actions against a number of financial institutions for overdraft practices that the CFPB alleged to be unlawful and ordered each of these institutions to pay a substantial civil money penalty in addition to customer restitution. Despite our ongoing compliance efforts, we may become subject to regulatory enforcement actions with respect to our programs and practices. The costs and limitations related to this additional regulatory scrutiny with respect to consumer product offerings and services may adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

 

We are subject to stringent capital requirements, which could adversely affect our results of operations and future growth.

 

In 2013, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the OCC approved a new rule that substantially amended the regulatory risk-based capital rules applicable to us. The final rule implemented the “Basel III” regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act. The final rule included new minimum risk-based capital and leverage ratios that became effective for us on January 1, 2015, and refined the definition of what constitutes “capital” for purposes of calculating these ratios. These minimum capital requirements are: (i) a new common equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 to risk-based assets capital ratio of 6%; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8%; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%. The final rule also established a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5% above the new regulatory minimum capital ratios, and when fully effective on January 1, 2019, resulted in the following minimum ratios: (a) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0%; (b) a Tier 1 to risk-based assets capital ratio of 8.5%; and (c) a total capital ratio of 10.5%. An institution will be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. These limitations will establish a maximum percentage of eligible retained income that can be utilized for such activities. In addition, the final rule provides for a number of new deductions from and adjustments to capital and prescribes a revised approach for risk weightings that could result in higher risk weights for a variety of asset categories.

 

While the Economic Growth Act provided some relief through the establishment of a simplified leverage capital framework for smaller banks, these more stringent capital requirements for us could, among other things, result in lower returns on equity, require the raising of additional capital, adversely affect our future growth opportunities, and result in regulatory actions such as a prohibition on the payment of dividends or on the repurchase shares if we were unable to comply with such requirements.

 

Government measures to regulate the financial industry could materially affect our businesses, financial condition or results of operations.

 

As a financial institution, we are heavily regulated at the state and federal levels. Banking regulations generally are intended to protect depositors, not investors, and regulators have broad interpretive and enforcement powers beyond our control that may change rapidly and unpredictably and could influence our earnings and growth. Our success depends on our continued ability to comply with these regulations. Future changes in the laws or regulations or their interpretations or enforcement could be materially adverse to us and our shareholders.

 

Further, banks have faced, and expect to continue to face, increased public and legislative scrutiny as well as stricter and more comprehensive regulation of our financial services practices. In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law and has increased our compliance costs in the short term. We expect that financial institutions will remain heavily regulated in the near future and that additional laws or regulations may be adopted further regulating specific banking practices. The ultimate impact of current or future legislation on our businesses and results of operations, will depend on regulatory interpretation and rulemaking, as well as the success of our actions to mitigate the negative earnings impact of certain provisions.

 

18
 

 

Changes in accounting standards could impact reported earnings and capital.

 

The authorities that promulgate accounting standards, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”), the SEC, and other regulatory authorities, periodically change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. These changes are difficult to predict and can materially impact how the Company records and reports its financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, the Company could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in the restatement of financial statements for prior periods. Such changes could also impact the capital levels of the Company and the Bank, or require the Company to incur additional personnel or technology costs.

 

Increasing scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders with respect to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices may impose additional costs on the Company or expose it to new or additional risks.

 

Companies are facing increasing scrutiny from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders related to ESG practices and disclosure. Investor advocacy groups, investment funds, and influential investors are also increasingly focused on these practices, especially as they relate to climate risk, hiring practices, the diversity of the work force, and racial and social justice issues. Increased ESG-related compliance costs could result in increases to the Company’s overall operational costs. Failure to adapt to or comply with regulatory requirements or investor or stakeholder expectations and standards could negatively impact the Company’s reputation, ability to do business with certain partners, and the Company’s stock price. New government regulations could also result in new or more stringent forms of ESG oversight and expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, diligence, and disclosure.

 

19
 

 

Climate change and related legislative and regulatory initiatives may result in operational changes and expenditures that could significantly impact the Company’s business.

 

The current and anticipated effects of climate change are creating an increasing level of concern for the state of the global environment. As a result, political and social attention to the issue of climate change has increased. Federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies have continued to propose and advance numerous legislative and regulatory initiatives seeking to mitigate the effects of climate change. The federal banking agencies have emphasized that climate-related risks are faced by banking organizations of all types and sizes and are in the process of enhancing supervisory expectations regarding banks’ risk management practices. In December 2021, the OCC published proposed principles for climate risk management by banking organizations with more than $100 billion in assets. The OCC also has appointed its first ever Climate Change Risk Officer and established an internal climate risk implementation committee in order to assist with these initiatives and to support the agency’s efforts to enhance its supervision of climate change risk management. Similar and even more expansive initiatives are expected, including potentially increasing supervisory expectations with respect to banks’ risk management practices, accounting for the effects of climate change in stress testing scenarios and systemic risk assessments, revising expectations for credit portfolio concentrations based on climate-related factors and encouraging investment by banks in climate-related initiatives and lending to communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change. To the extent that these initiatives lead to the promulgation of new regulations or supervisory guidance applicable to the Company, the Company would likely experience increased compliance costs and other compliance-related risks.

 

The lack of empirical data surrounding the credit and other financial risks posed by climate change render it impossible to predict how specifically climate change may impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations; however, the physical effects of climate change may also directly impact the Company. Specifically, unpredictable and more frequent weather disasters may adversely impact the value of real property securing the loans in the Bank’s loan portfolio. Additionally, if insurance obtained by borrowers is insufficient to cover any losses sustained to the collateral, or if insurance coverage is otherwise unavailable to borrowers, the collateral securing loans may be negatively impacted by climate change, which could impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Further, the effects of climate change may negatively impact regional and local economic activity, which could lead to an adverse effect on customers and impact the communities in which the Company operates. Overall, climate change, its effects and the resulting, unknown impact could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

20
 

 

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

Item 1C.

Cybersecurity.

 

Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy

 

Cybersecurity risks are constantly evolving and becoming increasingly pervasive across all industries. To mitigate these risks and protect sensitive customer data, financial transactions and our information systems, the Company has implemented a comprehensive cybersecurity risk management program, which is a component of its overarching enterprise risk management program. Key components of the cybersecurity risk management program include:

 

 

●

A risk assessment process that identifies and prioritizes material cybersecurity risks; defines and evaluates the effectiveness of controls to mitigate the risks; and reports results to executive management and the Board of Directors.
 

●

A third-party Managed Detection and Response (“MDR”) service, which monitors the security of our information systems around-the-clock, including intrusion detection and alerting.
 

●

A team covering all critical cyber defense functions such as engineering, data protection, identity and access management, insider risk management, security operations, threat emulation and threat intelligence.
 

●

A training program that educates employees about cybersecurity risks and how to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
 

●

An awareness program that keeps employees informed about cybersecurity threats and how to stay safe online.
 

●

An incident response plan that outlines the steps the Company will take to respond to a cybersecurity incident, which is tested on a periodic basis.

 

The Company engages reputable third-party assessors to conduct various independent risk assessments on a regular basis, including but not limited to maturity assessments and various testing. Following a defense-in-depth strategy, the Company leverages both in-house resources and third-party service providers to implement and maintain processes and controls to manage the identified risks.

 

Our Third-Party Risk Management program is designed to ensure that our vendors meet our cybersecurity requirements. This includes conducting periodic risk assessments of vendors, requiring vendors to implement appropriate cybersecurity controls and monitoring vendor compliance with our cybersecurity requirements.

 

The Company’s cybersecurity risk management program and strategy are designed to protect the company's information and information systems from a variety of threats, both natural and man-made. Periodic risk assessments are performed to validate control requirements and ensure that the Company’s information is protected at a level commensurate with its sensitivity, value, and criticality. Preventative and detective security controls are employed on all media where information is stored, the systems that process it, and infrastructure components that facilitate its transmission to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Company information. These controls include, but are not limited to access control, data encryption, data loss prevention, incident response, security monitoring, third party risk management, and vulnerability management.

 

The Company's cybersecurity risk management program and strategy are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are aligned with the Company's business objectives and are designed to address evolving cybersecurity threats and satisfy regulatory requirements and industry standards.

 

Material Effects of Cybersecurity Threats

 

While cybersecurity risks have the potential to materially affect the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations, the Company does not believe that risks from cybersecurity threats or attacks, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, have materially affected the Company, including its business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. However, the sophistication of cyber threats continues to increase, and the Company’s cybersecurity risk management and strategy may be insufficient or may not be successful in protecting against all cyber incidents. Accordingly, no matter how well designed or implemented the Company’s controls are, it will not be able to anticipate all cyber security breaches, and it may not be able to implement effective preventive measures against such security breaches in a timely manner. For more information on how cybersecurity risk may materially affect the Company’s business strategy, results of operations or financial condition, please refer to Item 1A. “Risk Factors” above.

 

21
 

 

Governance

 

Board of Directors Oversight

 

The Company’s Board of Directors is charged with overseeing the establishment and execution of the Company’s risk management framework and monitoring adherence to related policies required by applicable statutes, regulations and principles of safety and soundness. Consistent with this responsibility the Board has delegated primary oversight responsibility over the Company’s risk management framework, including oversight of cybersecurity risk and cybersecurity risk management, to the Technology Committee of the Board of Directors. The Technology Committee receives regular updates on cybersecurity risks and incidents and the cybersecurity program through direct interaction with the Chief Operations Officer and the Information Security Officer and provides periodic updates regarding cybersecurity risks and the cybersecurity program to the full Board of Directors. Additionally, awareness and training on cybersecurity topics is provided to the Board on an annual basis.

 

Management's Role

 

The Company’s information security program is primarily administered at the management level by the Information Security Officer, and is supported by the Information Technology Department, which is led by the Chief Operations Officer. The Information Security Officer is responsible for day-to-day management of the Company’s information security program, including data loss prevention, access control, threat monitoring, incident response and employee education and training. The Company also maintains policies related to cybersecurity and data security that provide the required governance and technical aspects for the information security program. Each policy is mapped to applicable regulatory guidance, and is reviewed and approved by the Board annually.

 

22
 

 

Item 2.

Properties.

 

The Company is headquartered at 101 Jacksonville Circle, Floyd, Virginia. The Bank is headquartered in the Main Office at 113 West Main Street, Independence, Virginia. The Bank operates branches at the following locations, all of which are owned by the Bank, except for the offices in Boone, Floyd, Mocksville, and Willis, which are leased facilities:

 

East Independence Office – 802 East Main St., Independence, VA

276-773-2821

Full service

Elk Creek Office – 60 Comers Rock Rd., Elk Creek, VA

276-655-4011

Full service

Galax Office – 209 West Grayson St., Galax, VA

276-238-2411

Full service

Troutdale Office – 101 Ripshin Rd., Troutdale, VA

276-677-3722

Full service

Carroll Office – 8351 Carrollton Pike, Galax, VA

276-238-8112

Full service

Sparta Office – 98 South Grayson Street, Sparta NC

336-372-2811

Full service

Hillsville Office – 419 South Main Street, Hillsville, VA

276-728-2810

Full service

Whitetop Office – 16303 Highlands Parkway, Whitetop, VA

276-388-3811

Full service

Wytheville Office – 420 North 4th Street, Wytheville, VA

276-228-6050

Full service

Floyd Office - 101 Jacksonville Circle, Floyd, VA

540-745-4191

Full service

Cave Spring Office - 4094 Postal Drive, Roanoke, VA

540-774-1111

Full service

Christiansburg Office – 2681 Market Street NE, Christiansburg, VA

540-381-8121

Full service

Fairlawn Office - 7349 Peppers Ferry Blvd., Radford, VA

540-633-1680

Full service

Roanoke Office – 3850 Keagy Rd., Roanoke, VA

540-387-4533

Full service

West Jefferson Office – 1055 Mount Jefferson Road, West Jefferson, NC

336-489-7811

Full service

Boone Office – 189 Boone Heights Drive, Boone, NC

828-264-4260

Full service

Wilkesboro Office – 1422 US Highway 421, Wilkesboro, NC

336-903-4948

Full service

Yadkinville Office – 532 East Main Street, Yadkinville, NC

336-849-4194

Full service

Mocksville Office – 119 Gaither Street, Mocksville, NC

336-477-7010

Full service

Lenoir Office – 509 Wilkesboro Blvd. NE, Lenoir, NC

828-750-6100

Full service

Hickory – Mountain View Office – 2900 Hwy 127 South, Hickory, NC

828-578-7400

Full service

Hudson Office – 537 Main Street, Hudson, NC

828-750-6076

Full service

Hickory – Viewmont Office – 1625 North Center Street, Hickory, NC

828-578-7499

Full service

Blacksburg – 1206 South Main Street, Blacksburg, VA

540-750-8800

Full service

Meadows of Dan – 3607 Jeb Stuart Highway, Meadows of Dan, VA

276-222-3091

Full service

Willis Office - 5598 B Floyd Highway South, Willis, VA

540-745-4191

Limited

service/conducts

normal teller

transactions

 

The Bank has a conference center located at 203 E. Oxford Street, Floyd, Virginia, which is used for various board and committee meetings, as well as continuing education and training programs for bank employees. The Bank owns an operations center adjacent to the main office in Independence, Virginia.  The Bank also leases office space in Mooresville, North Carolina for a loan production office.  The Bank also leases a facility in Boone, North Carolina that is currently being renovated for a full service branch banking facility.  The Bank anticipates relocating its current Boone, North Carolina operations to this location in the second quarter of 2024.  The Bank also owns property in Floyd, Virginia that is at this time in the planning phase of being developed for a future full service branch banking facility.

 

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

 

There are no material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property is subject.

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

23
 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchasers of Equity Securities.

 

The Company’s common stock is quoted on the OTC Markets Group’s OTCQX tier under the symbol “SLBK.”  As of March 26, 2024, there were 5,564,204 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding, held by 1,301 shareholders of record.

 

The Company’s common stock began quotation on the OTC Market on or about August 31, 2016, before which there was no trading market and no market price for the Company’s common stock. Any over-the-counter market quotations in the Company’s common stock reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual transactions. The Company was incorporated under Virginia law on November 2, 2015, solely to facilitate the merger between Cardinal and Grayson that was completed on July 1, 2016.

 

Dividend Policy

 

The Company historically has paid dividends on its common stock on a semi-annual basis. The final determination of the timing, amount and payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock is at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the earnings of the Company and its subsidiaries, principally the Bank, the financial condition of the Company and other factors, including general economic conditions and applicable governmental regulations and policies as discussed in “Item 1., Business – Government Supervision and Regulation – Dividends,” above.

 

The Company’s ability to distribute cash dividends will depend primarily on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to it. As a national bank, the Bank is subject to certain restrictions on our reserves and capital imposed by federal banking statutes and regulations. Furthermore, under Virginia law, the Company may not declare or pay a cash dividend on its capital stock if it is insolvent or if the payment of the dividend would render it insolvent or unable to pay its obligations as they become due in the ordinary course of business. For additional information on these limitations, see “Item 1., Business – Government Supervision and Regulation – Dividends,” above.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table summarizes information, as of December 31, 2023, relating to the Company’s stock-based compensation plans under which shares of common stock are authorized for issuance. During 2023, 13,500 stock awards were issued.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

   

Number of Shares To Be

Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights

    

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights

    

Number of Shares

Remaining

Available for

Future Issuance

Under Equity

Compensation

Plans

  
                         

Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders:

                        

2020 Equity Incentive Plan

     -     $ -       240,100  

Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders (1)

     -       -       -  

Total

     -     $ -       240,100  

 

 

(1)

The Company does not have any equity compensation plans have not been approved by shareholders.

 

24
 

 

Stock Repurchases

 

In January 2019, the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company approved a stock repurchase plan.  The Board  has authorized an initial repurchase of up to 200,000 shares of its common stock from time to time for a period of two years ending in January 2021.  In May 2020, the Board amended the plan to increase the shares by 150,000, bringing the aggregate total to 350,000 shares of common stock.  In January 2021, the Board authorized the extension of the plan to January 2023. In January 2023, the Board authorized the extension of the 91,325 shares then-remaining in the plan to January 2025.  The Company intends to purchase shares periodically through privately negotiated transactions or in the open market in accordance with SEC rules.  The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the plan will be determined by management in its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of the shares, general market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements and other conditions.  During 2022, we repurchased 12,000 shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program at an average cost per share of $12.85 and a total cost of $154 thousand.  During 2023, we repurchased 46,712 shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program at an average cost per share of $10.87 and a total cost of $508 thousand.

 

The following table details the Company’s purchase of its common stock during the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

   

Total number

of shares

purchased

    

Average

price

paid per

Share

    

Total number of

shares purchased as

part of publicly

announced program

    

Maximum number

of shares that may

yet be purchased

under the plan

  
                                 

Purchased 10/1 through 10/31

     5,000     $ 11.20       5,000       56,613  

Purchased 11/1 through 11/30

     12,000     $ 10.20       12,000       44,613  

Purchased 12/1 through 12/31

     -     $ -       -       44,613  

Total

     17,000     $ 10.49       17,000          

 

Item 6.

[Reserved]

 

25
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Item 7.

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

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations

 

Overview

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis is provided to assist in the understanding and evaluation of Skyline Bankshares, Inc’s. financial condition and its results of operations. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Skyline Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”), is a bank holding company headquartered in Floyd, Virginia.  The Company offers a wide range of retail and commercial banking services through its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Skyline National Bank (the “Bank”).  On January 1, 2023, the Company changed its name from Parkway Acquisition Corp. to Skyline Bankshares, Inc. to align its brand across the entire organization. 

 

The Company was incorporated as a Virginia corporation on November 2, 2015.  The Company was formed as a business combination shell company for the purpose of completing a business combination transaction between Grayson Bankshares, Inc. (“Grayson”) and Cardinal Bankshares Corporation (“Cardinal”) in which Grayson and Cardinal merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation (the “Cardinal merger”), on July 1, 2016. Upon completion of the Cardinal merger, the Bank of Floyd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardinal, was merged with and into the Bank (formerly Grayson National Bank), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grayson.  Effective March 13, 2017, the Bank changed its name to Skyline National Bank. 

 

On July 1, 2018, the Company acquired Great State Bank (“Great State”), based in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, through the merger of Great State with and into the Bank, with the Bank as the surviving bank.

 

The Bank was organized under the laws of the United States in 1900 and now serves the Virginia counties of Grayson, Floyd, Carroll, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery, Roanoke, Patrick and Washington, and the North Carolina counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Iredell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin, and the surrounding areas, through twenty-seven full-service banking offices and two loan production offices. As a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured national banking association, the Bank is subject to regulation by the Comptroller of the Currency and the FDIC. The Company is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

26
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

From time to time, the Company and its senior managers have made and will make forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be contained in this report and in other documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements may also be made by the Company and its senior managers in oral or written presentations to analysts, investors, the media and others. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Also, forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions.

 

Forward-looking statements provide management’s expectations or predictions of future conditions, events or results. They are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control that could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors, some of which are discussed elsewhere in this report, include:

 

 

●

any required increase in our regulatory capital ratios;
 

●

inflation, interest rate levels and market and monetary fluctuations;
 

●

the difficult market conditions in our industry;
 

●

trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the federal government;
 

●

applicable laws and regulations and legislative or regulatory changes;
 

●

the timely development and acceptance of new products and services of the Company;
 

●

the willingness of customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for the Company’s products and services;
 

●

the financial condition of the Company’s borrowers and lenders;
 

●

the Company’s success in gaining regulatory approvals, when required;
 

●

technological and management changes;
 

●

the Company’s ability to implement its growth and acquisition strategies;
 

●

the Company’s critical accounting policies and the implementation of such policies;
 

●

lower-than-expected revenue or cost savings or other issues in connection with mergers and acquisitions and branch expansion;
 

●

changes in consumer spending and saving habits;
 

●

deposit flows;
 

●

the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Company conducts its operations;
 

●

geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, international hostilities, or actions taken by the U.S. or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad;
 

●

the Company’s potential exposure to fraud, negligence, computer theft, and cyber-crime;
 

●

the Company’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing; and
 

●

other factors identified in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” above.

 

27
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

The Company had net earnings of $9.7 million for 2023 compared to $10.3 million for 2022. Our financial performance in 2023 can be attributed in part to our team’s efforts that resulted in growth in the Bank’s core loan portfolio of $63.5 million, or 8.45%, during 2023. Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2023 represented a return on average assets of 0.96% and a return on average equity of 12.70%, compared to 1.01% and 13.35%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The net interest margin was 3.76% in 2023, compared to 3.68% in 2022. As we look to 2024, we expect competition for deposits, increased interest expense, and higher operating costs to continue in the near term, and because of this we expect our entire industry to see continued pressure on earnings and margins.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023 contain a summary of its significant accounting policies. Management believes the policies with respect to the methodology for the determination of the allowance for credit losses, and asset impairment judgments, such as the recoverability of intangible assets and credit losses on investment securities, involve a higher degree of complexity and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments that often require assumptions or estimates about highly uncertain matters. Changes in these judgments, assumptions or estimates could cause reported results to differ materially. These critical policies and their application are periodically reviewed with the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.

 

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans' amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the loan balance, or a portion thereof, is uncollectable. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

 

The allowance for credit losses represents management’s estimate of lifetime credit losses inherent in loans as of the balance sheet date. The allowance for credit losses is estimated by management using relevant available information, from both internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

 

Additionally, the allowance for credit losses calculation includes subjective adjustments for qualitative risk factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses to differ from historical experience. These qualitative adjustments may increase or reduce reserve levels and include adjustments for lending management experience and risk tolerance, loan review and audit results, asset quality and portfolio trends, loan portfolio growth, industry concentrations, trends in underlying collateral, external factors and economic conditions not already captured. The Company has designated 5 year treasury yield, fed funds rates, and national unemployment as its forecast variables. These forecasts from reputable and independent third parties are sourced to inform the Company’s reasonable and supportable forecasting of current expected credit losses. 

 

The Company maintains a separate reserve for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures, including unfunded loan commitments, which is included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The reserve for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit losses in the income statement. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life, utilizing the same models and approaches for the Company's other loan portfolio segments described above, as these unfunded commitments share similar risk characteristics as its loan portfolio segments. The Company has identified the unfunded portion of certain lines of credit as unconditionally cancellable credit exposures, meaning the Company can cancel the unfunded commitment at any time. No credit loss estimate is reported for off-balance-sheet credit exposures that are unconditionally cancellable by the Company or for undrawn amounts under such arrangements that may be drawn prior to the cancellation of the arrangement.

 

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. When management determines that foreclosure is probable and the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, the expected credit losses are based on the fair value of collateral at the reporting date unadjusted for selling costs as appropriate.

 

28
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies, continued

 

For available for sale securities, management evaluates all investments in an unrealized loss position on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such evaluation. If the Company has the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security, the security is written down to fair value and the entire loss is recorded in earnings.

 

If either of the above criteria is not met, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value is the result of credit losses or other factors. In making the assessment, the Company may consider various factors including the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, performance on any underlying collateral, downgrades in the ratings of the security by a rating agency, the failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments and adverse conditions specifically related to the security. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security and any excess is recorded as an allowance for credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any amount of unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

Changes in the allowance for credit loss are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance for credit loss when management believes an available for sale security is confirmed to be uncollectible or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. At December 31, 2023, there was no allowance for credit loss related to the available for sale portfolio.

 

29
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 1. Net Interest Income and Average Balances (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

2023

    

2022

  
           

Interest

                    

Interest

          
   

Average

    

Income/

    

Yield/

    

Average

    

Income/

    

Yield/

  
   

Balance

    

Expense

    

Cost

    

Balance

    

Expense

    

Cost

  
                                                 

Interest-earning assets:

                                                

Interest-bearing deposits

   $ 5,701     $ 279       4.89 %   $ 55,635     $ 788       1.42 %

Federal funds sold

     594       29       4.88 %     8,307       29       0.35 %

Investment securities

     157,743       3,180       2.02 %     159,196       3,063       1.92 %

Loans 1, 2

     782,215       39,877       5.10 %     717,326       32,687       4.56 %

Total

     946,253       43,365               940,464       36,567          

Yield on average interest-earning assets

                     4.58 %                     3.89 %

Non interest-earning assets:

                                                

Cash and due from banks

     16,971                       18,992                  

Premises and equipment

     31,634                       32,261                  

Interest receivable and other

     49,825                       46,775                  

Allowance for credit losses

     (6,807 )                     (5,985 )                

Unrealized gain/(loss) on securities

     (25,961 )                     (17,028 )                

Total

     65,662                       75,015                  

Total assets

   $ 1,011,915                     $ 1,015,479                  
                                                 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                                

Demand deposits

   $ 209,115       600       0.29 %   $ 242,751       365       0.15 %

Savings deposits

     169,309       169       0.10 %     195,976       196       0.10 %

Time deposits

     230,103       5,848       2.54 %     179,839       1,181       0.66 %

Borrowings

     21,524       1,150       5.34 %     4,188       188       4.49 %

Total

     630,051       7,767               622,754       1,930          

Cost on average interest-bearing liabilities

                     1.23 %                     0.31 %
                                                 

Non interest-bearing liabilities:

                                                

Demand deposits

     298,985                       311,032                  

Interest payable and other

     6,495                       4,663                  

Total

     305,480                       315,695                  

Total liabilities

     935,531                       938,449                  
                                                 

Stockholder's equity:

     76,384                       77,030                  

 

                                                

Total liabilities and stockholder's equity

   $ 1,011,915                     $ 1,015,479                  
                                                 

Net interest income

           $ 35,598                     $ 34,637          
                                                 

Net yield on interest-earning assets

                     3.76 %                     3.68 %

                          

1 Includes nonaccural loans                        

2 Interest income includes loan fees                        

 

 

30
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 2. Rate/Volume Variance Analysis (dollars in thousands

 

 

   

2023 Compared to 2022

   

2022 Compared to 2021

 
   

Interest

Income/

    

Variance

Attributable To(1)

    

Interest

Income/

    

Variance

Attributable To(1)

  
   

Expense

Variance

    

Rate

   

Volume

   

Expense

Variance

    

Rate

   

Volume

 

Interest-earning assets:

                                                

Interest bearing deposits

   $ (509 )   $ (802 )   $ 293     $ 700     $ 671     $ 29  

Federal funds sold

     -       -       -       (15 )     (25 )     10  

Investment securities

     117       145       (28 )     1,528       361       1,167  

Loans

     7,190       4,081       3,109       (402 )     (2,167 )     1,765  

Total

     6,798       3,424       3,374       1,811       (1,160 )     2,971  
                                                 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                                

Demand deposits

     235       277       (42 )     67       (1 )     68  

Savings deposits

     (27 )     -       (27 )     (2 )     37       (39 )

Time deposits

     4,667       4,253       414       (666 )     (531 )     (135 )

Borrowings

     962       42       920       102       118       (16 )

Total

     5,837       4,572       1,265       (499 )     (377 )     (122 )

Net interest income

   $ 961     $ (1,148 )   $ 2,109     $ 2,310     $ (783 )   $ 3,093  

 

(1)

The variance in interest attributed to both volume and rate has been allocated to variance attributed to volume and variance attributed to rate in proportion to the absolute value of the change in each.

 

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income, the principal source of the Company’s earnings, is the amount of income generated by earning assets (primarily loans and investment securities) less the interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities (primarily deposits used to fund earning assets). Table 1 summarizes the major components of net interest income for the past two years and also provides yields and average balances.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023 total interest income increased by $6.8 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.  The increase in interest income in 2023 was primarily due to an increase of $7.2 million in loan interest income in the year over year comparison.  Interest income on loans increased primarily due to the core loan growth of $63.5 million during 2023 in addition to interest rate increases throughout the year.  Total interest expense increased by $5.8 million in the year over year comparison.  Interest expense on deposits increased by $4.9 million during 2023 compared to 2022.  This increase was primarily a result of rate increases on deposit offerings due to competitive pressures and migration from lower cost deposits to time deposits.  Management anticipates that interest expense on deposits will continue to increase in the near term as competitive pressures for deposits may result in continued increases in rates on deposit offerings, especially on time deposits. The effects of changes in volumes and rates on net interest income in 2023 compared to 2022, and 2022 compared to 2021 are shown in Table 2 above. 

 

The aforementioned factors led to an increase in net interest income of $961 thousand or 2.77% for 2023 as compared to 2022. The net yield on interest-earning assets increased by 8 basis points to 3.76% in 2023 compared to 3.68% in 2022.

 

31
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Provision for Credit Losses

 

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans' amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the loan balance, or a portion thereof, is uncollectable. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

 

The allowance for credit losses represents management’s estimate of lifetime credit losses inherent in loans as of the balance sheet date. The allowance for credit losses is estimated by management using relevant available information, from both internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

 

The provision for (recovery of) credit losses was a recovery of $50 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a provision of $606 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2022.  For December 31, 2023 the provision for credit losses consisted of a recovery of credit losses on loans of $93 thousand and a provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $43 thousand.  The decrease in credit loss provisions from 2022 to 2023 despite the overall growth in the loan portfolio was due to the improvement in credit quality on the loan portfolio.

 

The reserve for credit losses was approximately 0.82% and 0.83% of total loans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the acquired Great State and Cardinal loan portfolios was reflected as a purchase discount which will continue to be accreted into income over the remaining life of the acquired loans. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the remaining unaccreted discount on the acquired loan portfolios totaled $527 thousand and $672 thousand, respectively. Management believes the provision and the resulting allowance for credit losses are adequate. Additional information is contained in Tables 12 and 13, and is discussed in Nonperforming and Problem Assets.

 

Other Income

 

The major components of noninterest income for the past two years are illustrated in Table 3.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, noninterest income was $7.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively.  Included in noninterest income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 was $129 thousand related to loan hedge fees from a correspondent bank, a gain of $197 thousand on the sale leaseback of a branch location, $69 thousand from life insurance contracts, and net realized security losses of $16 thousand.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, there was $217 thousand from life insurance contracts and $10 thousand from net realized losses on the sale of securities.  Excluding these items, noninterest income increased $541 thousand in the year over year comparison, primarily as a result of increased income from service charges on deposit accounts of $280 thousand, and an increase of ATM, credit and debit card income of $228 thousand, partially offset by a decrease of $144 thousand in mortgage origination income.  The mortgage department closed approximately $14.4 million of mortgage loans for the secondary market during 2023 compared to $23.0 million in 2022.  The decrease in loan volume is due to the increase in interest rates during 2023.  

 

32
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 3. Sources of Noninterest Income (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Service charges on deposit accounts

   $ 2,186     $ 1,906  

Increase in cash value of life insurance

     576       513  

Life insurance income

     69       217  

Mortgage originations fees

     255       399  

Safe deposit box rental

     85       86  

Gain (loss) on securities

     (16 )     (10 )

ATM, credit and debit card income

     2,852       2,624  

Merchant services income

     272       222  

Investment services income

     51       56  

Exchange income

     213       183  

Other income

     427       61  

Total noninterest income

   $ 6,970     $ 6,257  

 

 

Other Expense

 

The major components of noninterest expense for the past two years are illustrated in Table 4.

 

Total noninterest expenses increased by $3.0 million, or 11.11% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, due in part to employee and branch costs associated with branch expansion.   Salary and benefit cost increased by $1.9 million from 2022 to 2023 due to personnel additions, routine salary adjustments, and increased pension and benefit costs.  Occupancy and equipment expenses increased by $379 thousand and data processing expense increased by $260 thousand in the year over year comparison primarily due to the branch expansion costs.  ATM/EFT expenses increased by $243 thousand due to increased debit card usage.  There was a decrease in core deposit intangible amortization of $109 thousand in the year-over-year comparison, which was offset by an increase in professional fees of $38 thousand and an increase in telephone expense of $74 thousand.  FDIC/OCC assessments increased by $105 thousand in the twelve-month comparison.    

 

33
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 4. Sources of Noninterest Expense (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Salaries & wages

   $ 12,503     $ 11,526  

Share-based compensation

     251       179  

Payroll taxes

     1,018       975  

Employee benefits

     2,932       2,143  

Total personnel expense

     16,704       14,823  
                 

Director fees

     349       354  

Occupancy expense

     2,106       1,891  

Other equipment expense

     1,471       1,307  

Data processing expense

     2,231       1,971  

FDIC/OCC assessments

     733       628  

Insurance

     185       172  

Professional fees

     722       684  

Advertising

     768       657  

Postage & freight

     602       536  

Supplies

     237       228  

Franchise tax

     376       506  

Telephone

     556       482  

Travel, dues & meetings

     639       579  

ATM/EFT expense

     1,455       1,212  

Other real estate owned expenses

     9       71  

Core deposit intangible amortization

     369       478  

Other expense

     1,030       909  

Total noninterest expense

   $ 30,542     $ 27,488  

 

 

The overhead efficiency ratio of noninterest expense to adjusted total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income) was 71.75% in 2023 and 67.22% in 2022.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense is based on amounts reported in the statements of income (after adjustments for non-taxable income and non-deductible expenses) and consists of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes on temporary differences in the recognition of income and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future Federal income tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.

 

Income tax expense (substantially all Federal) was $2.4 million in 2023 and $2.5 million in 2022, resulting in effective tax rates of 19.7% and 19.7%, respectively. The decrease in income tax expense of $143 thousand in 2023 was primarily due to the decrease in income before taxes of $724 thousand in 2023 compared to 2022.

 

Net deferred tax assets of $5.0 million, and $5.7 million existed at December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively. At December 31, 2023, net deferred tax assets included $4.8 million of deferred tax assets applicable to unrealized losses on investment securities available for sale, and $366 thousand of deferred tax assets applicable to funded projected pension benefit obligations. Accordingly, these amounts were not charged to income but recorded directly to the related stockholders’ equity account.

 

34
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Analysis of Financial Condition

 

Average earning assets increased $5.8 million, or 0.62%, from 2022 to 2023 due to asset growth primarily reflected in an increase in loans, which was funded by a decrease in federal funds sold and deposits in banks. Total earning assets represented 93.51% of total average assets in 2023 and 92.61% in 2022. The mix of average earning assets changed from 2022 to 2023 as average loans increased by $64.9 million, or 9.05%, and average investment securities decreased by $1.5 million, or 0.91%. Average federal funds sold and average deposits in banks decreased by $57.6 million, or 90.16%, from 2022 to 2023.

 

 

Table 5. Average Asset Mix (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

2023

   

2022

 
   

Average

Balance

   

%

   

Average

Balance

   

%

 
                                 

Earning assets:

                                

Loans

   $ 782,215       77.30 %   $ 717,326       70.64 %

Investment securities

     157,743       15.59 %     159,196       15.67 %

Federal funds sold

     594       0.06 %     8,307       0.82 %

Deposits in other banks

     5,701       0.56 %     55,635       5.48 %

Total earning assets

     946,253       93.51 %     940,464       92.61 %
                                 

Nonearning assets:

                                

Cash and due from banks

     16,971       1.68 %     18,992       1.87 %

Premises and equipment

     31,634       3.13 %     32,261       3.18 %

Other assets

     49,825       4.92 %     46,775       4.61 %

Allowance for credit losses

     (6,807 )     -0.67 %     (5,985 )     -0.59 %

Unrealized loss on securities

     (25,961 )     -2.57 %     (17,028 )     -1.68 %

Total nonearning assets

     65,662       6.49 %     75,015       7.39 %

Total assets

   $ 1,011,915       100.00 %   $ 1,015,479       100.00 %

 

 

Average loans for 2023 represented 77.30% of total average assets compared to 70.64% in 2022. Average federal funds sold decreased from 0.82% to 0.06% of total average assets while deposits in other banks decreased from 5.48% to 0.56% of total average assets over the same time period. Average investment securities decreased from 15.67% in 2022 to 15.59% of total average assets in 2023. The balances of nonearning assets to total average assets decreased from 7.39% to 6.49% in the annual comparison.

 

35
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Loans

 

Average loans totaled $782.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This represents an increase of $64.9 million, or 9.05%, from the average of $717.3 million for 2022. The increase was primarily due to organic core loan growth of $63.5 million during 2023.

 

The loan portfolio consists primarily of real estate and commercial loans. These loans accounted for 97.01% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2023. This is comparable to the 97.07% that the categories maintained at December 31, 2022. The amount of loans outstanding by type at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the maturity distribution for variable and fixed rate loans as of December 31, 2023 are presented in Tables 6 and 7, respectively.

 

 

Table 6. Loan Portfolio Summary (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

December 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022

 
   

Amount

   

%

   

Amount

   

%

 
                                 

Construction and development

   $ 53,473       6.54 %   $ 49,728       6.59 %

Residential, 1-4 families

     327,098       40.00 %     292,318       38.72 %

Residential, 5 or more families

     73,849       9.03 %     66,208       8.77 %

Farmland

     25,598       3.13 %     23,688       3.14 %

Nonfarm, nonresidential

     269,666       32.98 %     263,664       34.93 %

Total real estate

     749,684       91.68 %     695,606       92.15 %
                                 

Agricultural

     4,068       0.50 %     2,380       0.31 %

Commercial

     43,613       5.33 %     37,125       4.92 %

Consumer

     7,691       0.94 %     7,902       1.05 %

Other

     12,648       1.55 %     11,859       1.57 %

Total

   $ 817,704       100.00 %   $ 754,872       100.00 %

 

 

36
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 7. Maturity Schedule of Loans, as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

Real

    

Commercial &

    

Consumer

   

Total

 
   

Estate

   

Agricultural

   

& Other

   

Amount

   

%

 
                                         

Fixed rate loans:

                                        

One year or less

   $ 20,408     $ 3,375     $ 6,688     $ 30,471       3.73 %

Over one to five years

     44,336       20,448       8,242       73,026       8.93 %

Over five years to 15 years

     37,109       1,256       2,385       40,750       4.98 %

Over 15 years

     1,319       3       13       1,335       0.16 %

Total fixed rate loans

   $ 103,172     $ 25,082     $ 17,328     $ 145,582       17.80 %
                                         

Variable rate loans:

                                        

One year or less

   $ 25,077     $ 10,166     $ 733     $ 35,976       4.40 %

Over one to five years

     10,450       618       78       11,146       1.36 %

Over five years to 15 years

     137,605       11,596       1,914       151,115       18.48 %

Over 15 years

     473,380       219       286       473,885       57.96 %

Total variable rate loans

   $ 646,512     $ 22,599     $ 3,011     $ 672,122       82.20 %
                                         

Total loans:

                                        

One year or less

   $ 45,485     $ 13,541     $ 7,421     $ 66,447       8.13 %

Over one to five years

     54,786       21,066       8,320       84,172       10.29 %

Over five years to 15 years

     174,714       12,852       4,299       191,865       23.46 %

Over 15 years

     474,699       222       299       475,220       58.12 %

Total loans

   $ 749,684     $ 47,681     $ 20,339     $ 817,704       100.00 %

 

 

Interest rates charged on loans vary with the degree of risk, maturity and amount of the loan. Competitive pressures, money market rates, availability of funds, and government regulations also influence interest rates. On average, loans yielded 5.10% in 2023 compared to an average yield of 4.56% in 2022. The increase in yield during 2023 was due to core loan growth of $63.5 million in 2023 and an increase in interest rates during the year. Management anticipates that this loan growth, in addition to higher rates in the current year, will have a positive impact on both earning assets and loan yields.

 

Investment Securities

 

The Company uses its investment portfolio to provide liquidity for unexpected deposit decreases or loan generation, to meet the Bank’s interest rate sensitivity goals, and to generate income.

 

Management of the investment portfolio has always been conservative with the majority of investments taking the form of purchases of U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government Agencies, U.S. Government Sponsored Enterprises and State and Municipal bonds, as well as investment grade corporate bond issues. Management views the investment portfolio as a source of income, and purchases securities with the intent of retaining them until maturity. However, adjustments are necessary in the portfolio to provide an adequate source of liquidity which can be used to meet funding requirements for loan demand and deposit fluctuations and to control interest rate risk. Therefore, from time to time, management may sell certain securities prior to their maturity. Table 8 presents the investment portfolio at the end of 2023 by major types of investments and contractual maturity ranges. Investment securities in Table 8 may have repricing or call options that are earlier than the contractual maturity date.

 

37
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

The total amortized cost of investment securities decreased by approximately $11.6 million from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023, while the average balance of investment securities carried throughout the year decreased by approximately $1.5 million from 2022 to 2023. The average yield of the investment portfolio increased to 2.02% for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 1.92% for 2022.

 

 

Table 8. Investment Securities - Maturity/Yield Schedule (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

December 31, 2023

 
   

In One

Year or

Less

   

After One

Through

Five Years

   

After Five

Through

Ten Years

   

After

Ten

Years

   

Book

Value

12/31/23

   

Market

Value

12/31/23

  

Investment securities:

                                                

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ -     $ 2,511     $ -     $ -     $ 2,511     $ 2,446  

U.S. Government agencies

     -       4,763       20,402       -       25,165       21,438  

Mortgage-backed securities

     -       4,742       28,103       38,772       71,617       61,697  

Corporate securities

     -       1,500       -       -       1,500       1,442  

State and municipal securities

     250       5,983       19,543       23,560       49,336       40,366  

Total

   $ 250     $ 19,499     $ 68,048     $ 62,332     $ 150,129     $ 127,389  
                                                 

Weighted average yields (1):

                                                

U.S. Treasury securities

     0.00 %     2.53 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     2.53 %        

U.S. Government agencies

     0.00 %     3.08 %     1.69 %     0.00 %     1.95 %        

Mortgage-backed securities

     0.00 %     1.64 %     1.34 %     1.45 %     1.81 %        

Corporate securities

     0.00 %     4.86 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     4.86 %        

State and municipal securities

     6.00 %     2.14 %     1.99 %     2.40 %     2.23 %        

Total

     6.00 %     2.51 %     2.04 %     1.81 %     2.01 %        

 

 

(1)

Weighted average yields on investiment securities are based on amoritized cost and are calculated on tax equivalent bais.

 

 

Deposits

 

The Company relies on deposits generated in its market area to provide the majority of funds needed to support lending activities and for investments in liquid assets. More specifically, core deposits (total deposits less certificates of deposit in denominations of more than $250,000) are the primary funding source. The Company’s balance sheet growth is largely determined by the availability of deposits in its markets, the cost of attracting the deposits, and the prospects of profitably utilizing the available deposits by increasing the loan or investment portfolios. The Company’s management must continuously monitor market pricing, competitor’s rates, and the internal interest rate spreads to maintain the Company’s growth and profitability. The Company attempts to structure rates so as to promote deposit and asset growth while at the same time increasing overall profitability of the Company.

 

Average total deposits for the year ended December 31, 2023 amounted to $907.5 million, which was a decrease of $22.1 million, or 2.38% from $929.6 million at December 31, 2022. Average core deposits totaled $841.4 million in 2023 representing a 5.81% decrease from the $893.4 million in 2022. The percentage of the Company’s average deposits that are interest-bearing increased to 67.1% in 2023 compared to 66.5% in 2022. This increase is due to the average demand deposits, which earn no interest, decreasing 3.87% from $311.0 million in 2022 to $299.0 million in 2023. Average deposits for the periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized in Table 9.

 

38
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 9. Deposit Mix (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

December 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022

 
   

Average

Balance

   

% of Total

Deposits

   

Average

Rate Paid

   

Average

Balance

   

% of Total

Deposits

   

Average

Rate Paid

 

Interest-bearing deposits:

                                                

Interest-bearing DDA accounts

   $ 133,460       14.7 %     0.10 %   $ 133,854       14.4 %     0.09 %

Money market

     75,655       8.3 %     0.61 %     108,897       11.7 %     0.22 %

Savings

     169,309       18.7 %     0.10 %     195,976       21.1 %     0.10 %

Individual retirement accounts

     40,237       4.4 %     1.43 %     44,165       4.7 %     0.88 %

CD’s $250,000 or less

     123,794       13.7 %     2.40 %     99,443       10.7 %     0.55 %

CD’s greater than $250,000

     66,072       7.3 %     3.48 %     36,231       3.9 %     0.68 %

Total interest-bearing deposits

     608,527       67.1 %     1.09 %     618,566       66.5 %     0.28 %

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     298,985       32.9 %     0.00 %     311,032       33.5 %     0.00 %

Total deposits

   $ 907,512       100.0 %     0.73 %   $ 929,598       100.0 %     0.19 %

 

 

The average balance of certificates of deposit issued in denominations of more than $250,000 increased by $29.8 million, or 82.36%, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022. The strategy of management has been to support loan growth with core deposits and not to aggressively solicit the more volatile, large denomination certificates of deposit. However, during 2023, increased interest rates and competition for deposits led to a shift in deposit balances as customers moved funds from lower cost deposits to higher cost certificates of deposit. During 2023 average balances in lower cost deposits decreased by $72.4 million and higher cost individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit increased by $50.3 million.

 

Estimated uninsured deposits totaled $275.9 million and $295.0 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Uninsured amounts are estimated based on the portion of account balance in excess of FDIC insurance limits. Table 10 provides maturity information relating to uninsured time deposits at December 31, 2023.

 

 

Table 10. Estimated Uninsured Time Deposits Maturities (dollars in thousands)

 

 

Estimated Uninsured Time Deposits at December 31, 2023:

  
         

Remaining maturity of three months or less

   $ 33,259  

Remaining maturity over three months through six months

     17,027  

Remaining maturity over six months through twelve months

     26,515  

Remaining maturity over twelve months

     1,759  

Total estimated uninsured time deposits

   $ 78,560  

 

 

39
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Equity

 

Stockholders’ equity totaled $82.9 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $72.9 million at December 31, 2022. The increase of $10.0 million, or 13.64%, was due to earnings of $9.7 million, $3.6 million in other comprehensive income, less dividend payments of $2.4 million, common stock repurchases of $508 thousand, and a cumulative effect adjustment of $710 thousand out of retained earnings due to the January 1, 2023 adoption of the CECL model. Book value increased from $12.98 per share at December 31, 2022 to $14.84 per share at December 31, 2023.

 

Effective January 1, 2015, the federal banking regulators adopted rules to implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The final rules required the Bank to comply with the following minimum capital ratios: (i) a new common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets; (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of risk-weighted assets; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% of risk-weighted assets; and (iv) a leverage ratio of 4% of total assets.  As fully phased in on January 1, 2019, the rules require the Bank to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer” (which is added to the 4.5% common equity Tier 1 ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%), (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%), (iii) a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5%), and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets.

 

Under Basel III Capital requirements, a capital conservation buffer of 0.625% became effective beginning on January 1, 2016. The capital conservation buffer was gradually increased through January 1, 2019 to 2.50%. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banks are now required to maintain levels that meet the required minimum plus the capital conservation buffer in order to make distributions, such as dividends, or discretionary bonus payments. The Banks’s capital conservation buffer is 4.49% as of December 31, 2023.

 

 

Table 11. Bank’s Year-end Risk-Based Capital (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Tier 1 Capital

   $ 97,659     $ 90,878  

Qualifying allowance for credit losses (limited to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets)

     7,141       6,294  

Total regulatory capital

   $ 104,800     $ 97,172  

Total risk-weighted assets

   $ 839,129     $ 782,401  
                 

Tier 1 capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets

     11.6 %     11.6 %

Common Equity Tier 1 capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets

     11.6 %     11.6 %

Total regulatory capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets

     12.5 %     12.4 %

Leverage ratio*

     9.3 %     8.8 %

 

* Tier 1 capital divided by average total assets for the quarter ended December 31 of each year.

 

 

40
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Nonperforming and Problem Assets

 

Certain credit risks are inherent in making loans, particularly commercial and consumer loans. Management prudently assesses these risks and attempts to manage them effectively. The Bank attempts to use shorter-term loans and, although a portion of the loans have been made based upon the value of collateral, the underwriting decision is generally based on the cash flow of the borrower as the source of repayment rather than the value of the collateral. The Bank also attempts to reduce repayment risk by adhering to internal credit policies and procedures. These policies and procedures include officer and customer limits, periodic loan documentation review and follow up on exceptions to credit policies.

 

Table 12 provides information about the allowance for credit losses, nonperforming assets and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

 

Table 12. Loan Loss Data (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Allowance for credit losses

   $ 6,739     $ 6,248  

Total loans

   $ 817,704     $ 754,872  

Allowance for credit losses to total loans

     0.82 %     0.83 %
                 

Nonperforming loans:

                

Nonaccrual loans

   $ 1,731     $ 1,634  

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing

     -       -  

Total nonperforming loans

     1,731       1,634  

Other real estate owned

     -       235  

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 1,731     $ 1,869  
                 

Total nonperforming loans as a percentage to total loans

     0.21 %     0.22 %

Total allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans

     389.31 %     382.37 %

Total nonperforming assets as a percentage to total assets

     0.17 %     0.19 %

Total nonaccrual loans as a percentage to total loans

     0.21 %     0.22 %

Total allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans

     389.31 %     382.37 %

 

 

Total nonperforming loans were 0.21% and 0.22% of total outstanding loans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.  The majority of the increase in nonaccrual loans from 2023 to 2022 came in the “consumer and other” category as a result of one large credit of $397 thousand being placed in nonaccrual status in 2023.  Nonaccrual loans in this category increased by $436 thousand.  Loans are placed in nonaccrual status when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payments as they become due.  When interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed.  Loans are removed from nonaccrual status when they are deemed a loss and charged to the allowance, transferred to foreclosed assets, or returned to accrual status based upon performance consistent with the original terms of the loan or a subsequent restructuring thereof.  Management’s ability to ultimately resolve these loans either with or without significant loss will be determined, to a great extent, by general economic and real estate market conditions.  For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, interest income recognized on loans in nonaccrual status was approximately $12 thousand and $62 thousand, respectively.  Had these credits been current in accordance with their original terms, the gross interest income for these credits would have been approximately $84 thousand and $88 thousand, respectively for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

41
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

There was no other real estate owned at December 31, 2023, compared to $235 thousand in other real estate owned at December 31, 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2022, a former full service branch facility was transferred to other real estate owned at a value of $235 thousand. Subsequent to December 31, 2022, the sale of the property settled on March 1, 2023. More information on nonperforming assets and modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty can be found in Note 5 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” found in Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had loans with a current principal balance of $3.5 million and $5.0 million rated “Watch” or “Special Mention”. The “Watch” classification is utilized by us when we have an initial concern about the financial health of a borrower that indicate above average risk. We then gather current financial information about the borrower and evaluate our current risk in the credit. After this review we will either move the loan to a higher risk rating category or move it back to its original risk rating. Loans may be left rated “Watch” for a longer period of time if, in management’s opinion, there are risks that cannot be fully evaluated without the passage of time, and we want to review it on a more regular basis. Assets that do not currently expose the Bank to sufficient risk to warrant a classification such as “Substandard” or “Doubtful” but otherwise possess weaknesses are designated “Special Mention”. Loans rated as “Watch” or “Special Mention” are not considered “potential problem loans” until they are determined by management to be classified as “Substandard”. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, potential problem loans classified as “Substandard” totaled $4.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, the Bank had no loans graded “Doubtful” included in the balance of total loans outstanding.

 

Past due loans are often regarded as a precursor to further credit problems which would lead to future increases in nonaccrual loans or other real estate owned. As of December 31, 2023, loans past due 30-89 days and still accruing totaled $92 thousand compared to $236 thousand at December 31, 2022.

 

Certain types of loans, such as option adjustable rate mortgage products, subprime loans and loans with initial teaser rates, can have a greater risk of non-collection than other loans. The Bank has not offered these types of loans in the past and does not offer them currently. Junior-lien mortgages can also be considered higher risk loans. Our junior-lien portfolio at December 31, 2023 totaled $1.8 million, or 0.22% of total loans. The charge-off rates in this category do not vary significantly from other real estate secured loans in the current year.

 

The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level adequate to absorb potential losses. Some of the factors which management considers in determining the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses are: past loss experience, an evaluation of the current loan portfolio, identified loan problems, the loan volume outstanding, the present and expected economic conditions in general, and in particular, how such conditions relate to the market area that the Bank serves. Bank regulators also periodically review the Bank’s loans and other assets to assess their quality. Loans deemed uncollectible are charged to the allowance. Provisions for credit losses and recoveries on loans previously charged off are added to the allowance. The reserve for credit losses was approximately 0.82% of total loans at December 31, 2023 and 0.83% of total loans at December 31, 2022.

 

42
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Table 13 shows net charge-offs, average loan balances and the percentage of charge-offs to average loan balances. The allocation of the allowance for credit losses is detailed in Table 14.

 

 

Table 13. Analysis of Net Charge-Offs (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

December 31, 2023

  
                   

Percentage of Net

  
                   

(Charge-Offs)

  
   

Net

            

Recoveries to

  
   

(Charge-Offs)

    

Average

    

Average

  
   

Recoveries

    

Loans

    

Loans

  
                         

Construction & development

   $ 1     $ 51,316       0.00 %

Farmland

     50       24,124       0.21 %

Residential

     1       379,748       0.00 %

Commercial mortgage

     11       263,211       0.00 %

Commercial & agriculture

     16       43,110       0.04 %

Consumer & other

     (87 )     20,706       (0.42 %)

Total

   $ (8 )   $ 782,215       0.00 %

 

   

December 31, 2022

  
                   

Percentage of Net

  
                   

(Charge-Offs)

  
   

Net

            

Recoveries to

  
   

(Charge-Offs)

    

Average

    

Average

  
   

Recoveries

    

Loans

    

Loans

  
                         

Construction & development

   $ 3     $ 45,934       0.01 %

Farmland

     -       24,188       0.00 %

Residential

     12       329,779       0.00 %

Commercial mortgage

     8       247,350       0.00 %

Commercial & agriculture

     16       47,792       0.03 %

Consumer & other

     (74 )     22,283       (0.33 %)

Total

   $ (35 )   $ 717,326       0.00 %

 

 

 

Table 14. Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

December 31, 2023

    

December 31, 2022

  

Balance at the end of the period applicable to:

  

Amount

   

% of

ACL to

Loans

   

% of

Loans to

Total Loans

   

Amount

   

% of

ALL to

Loans

   

% of

Loans to

Total Loans

 
                                                 

Construction & development

   $ 910       1.70 %     6.54 %   $ 526       1.06 %     6.59 %

Farmland

     154       0.60 %     3.13 %     259       1.09 %     3.14 %

Residential

     3,167       0.79 %     49.03 %     2,820       0.79 %     47.49 %

Commercial mortgage

     1,902       0.71 %     32.98 %     2,197       0.83 %     34.93 %

Commercial & agriculture

     424       0.89 %     5.83 %     312       0.79 %     5.23 %

Consumer and other

     182       0.89 %     2.49 %     134       0.68 %     2.62 %

Total

   $ 6,739       0.82 %     100.00 %   $ 6,248       0.83 %     100.00 %

 

 

43
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk

 

The Bank is party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for on-balance sheet instruments. A summary of the Bank’s commitments at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:

 

   

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 195,991     $ 163,250  

Standby letters of credit

     583       833  
    $ 196,574     $ 164,083  

 

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Bank evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the party. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, residential real estate and income-producing commercial properties.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Collateral held varies as specified above and is required in instances which the Bank deems necessary.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

 

The principal goals of the Bank’s asset and liability management strategy are the maintenance of adequate liquidity and the management of interest rate risk. Liquidity is the ability to convert assets to cash to fund depositors’ withdrawals or borrowers’ loans without significant loss. Interest rate risk management balances the effects of interest rate changes on assets that earn interest or liabilities on which interest is paid, to protect the Bank from wide fluctuations in its net interest income which could result from interest rate changes.

 

Management must ensure that adequate funds are available at all times to meet the needs of its customers. On the asset side of the balance sheet, maturing investments, loan payments, maturing loans, federal funds sold, and unpledged investment securities are principal sources of liquidity. On the liability side of the balance sheet, liquidity sources include core deposits, the ability to increase large denomination certificates, federal fund lines from correspondent banks, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, as well as the ability to generate funds through the issuance of long-term debt and equity.

 

The liquidity ratio (the level of liquid assets divided by total deposits plus short-term liabilities) was 11.9% at December 31, 2023 compared to 14.4% at December 31, 2022. These ratios are considered to be adequate by management.

 

The Bank uses cash and federal funds sold to meet its daily funding needs. If funding needs are met through holdings of excess cash and federal funds, then profits might be sacrificed as higher-yielding investments are foregone in the interest of liquidity. Therefore, management determines, based on such items as loan demand and deposit activity, an appropriate level of cash and federal funds and seeks to maintain that level.

 

44
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

The primary goals of the investment portfolio are liquidity management and maturity gap management. As investment securities mature the proceeds are reinvested in federal funds sold if the federal funds level needs to be increased, otherwise the proceeds are reinvested in similar investment securities. The majority of investment security transactions consist of replacing securities that have been called or matured. The Bank keeps a portion of its investment portfolio in unpledged assets that are less than 60 months to maturity or next repricing date. These investments are a preferred source of funds in that they can be disposed of in most interest rate environments without causing significant damage to that quarter’s profits.

 

Interest rate risk is the effect that changes in interest rates would have on interest income and interest expense as interest-sensitive assets and interest-sensitive liabilities either reprice or mature. Management attempts to maintain the portfolios of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with maturities or repricing opportunities at levels that will afford protection from erosion of net interest margin, to the extent practical, from changes in interest rates. Table 15 shows the sensitivity of the Bank’s balance sheet on December 31, 2023. This table reflects the sensitivity of the balance sheet as of that specific date and is not necessarily indicative of the position on other dates. At December 31, 2023 the Bank appeared to be cumulatively asset-sensitive (interest-earning assets subject to interest rate changes exceeding interest-bearing liabilities subject to changes in interest rates). However, in the one year window liabilities subject to changes in interest rates exceed assets subject to interest rate changes (nonasset-sensitive).

 

Matching sensitive positions alone does not ensure the Bank has no interest rate risk. The repricing characteristics of assets are different from the repricing characteristics of funding sources. Thus, net interest income can be impacted by changes in interest rates even if the repricing opportunities of assets and liabilities are perfectly matched.

 

 

Table 15. Interest Rate Sensitivity (dollars in thousands)

 

 

   

December 31, 2023

Maturities/Repricing

 
                                         
   

1 to 3

Months

   

4 to 12

Months

   

13 to 60

Months

   

Over 60

Months

   

Total

 

Interest-Earning Assets:

                                        

Interest bearing deposits

   $ 4,808     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 4,808  

Federal funds sold

     474       -       -       -       474  

Investments

     1,447       256       9,066       116,620       127,389  

Loans

     126,108       43,767       478,009       169,820       817,704  

Total

   $ 132,837     $ 44,023     $ 487,075     $ 286,440     $ 950,375  
                                         

Interest-Bearing Liabilities:

                                        

Interest-bearing DDA accounts

   $ 136,305     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 136,305  

Money market

     70,669       -       -       -       70,669  

Savings

     152,666       -       -       -       152,666  

Time deposits

     93,021       132,637       38,329       -       263,987  

Borrowings

     25,000       2,500       -       -       27,500  

Total

   $ 477,661     $ 135,137     $ 38,329     $ -     $ 651,127  
                                         

Interest sensitivity gap

   $ (344,824 )   $ (91,114 )   $ 448,746     $ 286,440     $ 299,248  

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap

   $ (344,824 )   $ (435,938 )   $ 12,808     $ 299,248     $ 299,248  

Ratio of sensitivity gap to total earning assets

     -36.3 %     -9.6 %     47.2 %     30.2 %     31.5 %

Cumulative ratio of sensitivity gap to total earning assets

     -36.3 %     -45.9 %     1.3 %     31.5 %     31.5 %

 

 

 

45
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

The Company uses a number of tools to monitor its interest rate risk, including simulating net interest income under various scenarios, monitoring the present value change in equity under the same scenarios, and monitoring the difference or gap between rate sensitive assets and rate sensitive liabilities over various time periods (as displayed in Table 15).

 

The earnings simulation model forecasts annual net income under a variety of scenarios that incorporate changes in the absolute level of interest rates, changes in the shape of the yield curve, and changes in interest rate relationships. Management evaluates the effect on net interest income and present value equity from gradual changes in rates of up to 400 basis points up or down over a 12-month period. Table 16 presents the Bank’s twelve-month forecasts for changes in net interest income and market value of equity resulting from changes in rates of up to 400 basis points up or down, as of December 31, 2023.

 

 

Table 16. Interest Rate Risk (dollars in thousands)

 

 

Rate Shocked Net Interest Income and Market Value of Equity

  
             

Change

    

% Change

          
     

Net

    

in Net

    

in Net

    

Market

  

Change in Interest Rates

    

Interest

    

Interest

    

Interest

    

Value

  

(Basis Points)

    

Income

    

Income

    

Income

    

of Equity

  
                                   

+400

     $ 32,612     $ (5,106 )     (13.54% )   $ 110,704  

+300

       33,851       (3,867 )     (10.25% )     126,310  

+200

       35,113       (2,605 )     (6.91% )     142,380  

+100

       36,453       (1,265 )     (3.35% )     159,148  
0       37,718       -       -       170,920  
-100       36,711       (1,007 )     (2.67% )     173,983  
-200       35,207       (2,511 )     (6.66% )     169,410  
-300       33,632       (4,086 )     (10.83% )     162,225  
-400       32,195       (5,523 )     (14.64% )     152,623  

 

 

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

The consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented elsewhere in this document have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the change in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all Company assets and liabilities are monetary in nature, therefore the impact of inflation is reflected primarily in the increased cost of operations. As a result, interest rates have a greater impact on performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or to the same extent as the prices of goods and services.

 

46
 

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

 

 

Table 17. Financial Highlights1

 

 

   

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Summary of Operations

                                        
                                         

Interest income

   $ 43,365     $ 36,567     $ 34,756     $ 31,744     $ 30,802  

Interest expense

     7,767       1,930       2,429       3,440       2,869  

Net interest income

     35,598       34,637       32,327       28,304       27,933  

(Recovery of) Provision for credit losses

     (50 )     606       723       1,189       655  

Other income

     6,970       6,257       6,568       5,297       4,915  

Other expense

     30,542       27,488       26,267       25,098       23,258  

Income taxes

     2,376       2,519       2,423       1,445       1,780  

Net income

   $ 9,700     $ 10,281     $ 9,482     $ 5,869     $ 7,155  
                                         

Per Share Data

                                        
                                         

Net income

   $ 1.74     $ 1.84     $ 1.59     $ 0.97     $ 1.16  

Cash dividends declared

     0.42       0.32       0.27       0.26       0.24  

Book value

     14.84       12.98       15.20       14.08       13.27  
                                         

Year-end Balance Sheet Summary

                                        
                                         

Loans, net

   $ 810,965     $ 748,624     $ 677,855     $ 659,195     $ 566,460  

Investment securities

     127,389       135,151       129,715       33,507       32,881  

Total assets

     1,045,843       997,734       995,848       855,387       706,290  

Deposits

     928,742       920,327       898,226       755,528       611,211  

Stockholders’ equity

     82,882       72,936       85,194       85,106       81,428  
                                         

Selected Ratios

                                        
                                         

Return on average assets

     0.96 %     1.01 %     1.01 %     0.75 %     1.05 %

Return on average equity

     12.70 %     13.35 %     10.98 %     7.06 %     9.10 %

Dividend payout ratio

     24.26 %     17.48 %     17.13 %     26.96 %     20.74 %

Average equity to average assets

     7.55 %     7.59 %     9.19 %     10.60 %     11.51 %

 

 

 

1

In thousands of dollars, except per share data.

 

47
 

 

Item7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

48
 

 

pic1.jpg

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Skyline Bankshares, Inc. and Subsidiary:

 

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Skyline Bankshares, Inc. and Subsidiary (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Change in Accounting Principle

 

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for credit losses effective January 1, 2023 due to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification No. 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (ASC 326). The Company adopted the new credit loss standard using the modified retrospective method such that prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable generally accepted accounting principles. The adoption of the new credit loss standard and its subsequent application is also communicated as a critical audit matter below.

 

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

elliottdavis.com

 

49
 

 

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

 

As described in Note 4 to the Company’s financial statements, the Company has a gross loan portfolio of $817.7 million and related allowance for credit losses of $6.7 million as of December 31, 2023. As described by the Company in Note 1, the Company measures expected credit losses for loans on a pooled basis by loan segment using a lifetime probability of default / loss given default methodology. Using this methodology, an estimate of probability of default and a lifetime loss rate is applied to each loan segment based on the Company’s loss history during the economic life cycle of the loan segments. The allowance for credit losses calculation includes subjective adjustments for qualitative risk factors, which may increase or reduce reserve levels. Qualitative adjustments may be made to incorporate changes in asset quality and portfolio trends, loan portfolio growth, industry concentrations, trends in underlying collateral, external factors and economic conditions not already captured in the calculation. In addition, the Company incorporates reasonable and supportable forecasts in certain qualitative adjustments.

 

We identified the Company’s estimate of the allowance for credit losses as a critical audit matter. The principal considerations for our determination of the allowance for credit losses as a critical audit matter related to the high degree of subjectivity in the Company’s judgments in determining the qualitative factors. Auditing these complex judgments and assumptions by the Company involves especially challenging auditor judgment due to the nature and extent of audit evidence and effort required to address these matters, including the extent of specialized skill or knowledge needed.

 

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:

 

 

●

We obtained an understanding of the internal controls relevant to determining the allowance for credit losses, including qualitative factor adjustments.
 

●

We tested the reliability and accuracy of data used to calculate and estimate the various components of the allowance for credit losses, including accuracy of the calculation and validation procedures over the models.  
 

●

We evaluated the relevance and the reasonableness of assumptions related to evaluation of the loan portfolio, current and forecasted economic conditions, and other risk factors used in development of the qualitative factors.
 

●

We evaluated the reasonableness of assumptions and data used by the Company in developing the qualitative factors by comparing these data points to internally developed and third-party sources, and other audit evidence gathered. 

 

/s/ Elliott Davis, PLLC

 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1995.

 

Charlotte, North Carolina

March 27, 2024

 

50
 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Assets

        
         

Cash and due from banks

 $16,811  $19,299 

Interest-bearing deposits with banks

  4,808   10,802 

Federal funds sold

  474   960 

Total cash and cash equivalents

  22,093   31,061 

Investment securities available for sale

  127,389   135,151 

Restricted equity securities

  3,338   1,950 

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,739 at December 31, 2023 and $6,248 at December 31, 2022

  810,965   748,624 

Cash value of life insurance

  22,909   22,484 

Other real estate owned

  -   235 

Properties and equipment, net

  31,183   31,753 

Accrued interest receivable

  3,463   2,979 

Core deposit intangible

  917   1,286 

Goodwill

  3,257   3,257 

Deferred tax assets, net

  5,046   5,744 

Other assets

  15,283   13,210 
  $1,045,843  $997,734 
         

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

        
         

Liabilities

        

Deposits

        

Noninterest-bearing

 $305,115  $310,510 

Interest-bearing

  623,627   609,817 

Total deposits

  928,742   920,327 
         

Borrowings

  27,500   - 

Accrued interest payable

  531   95 

Other liabilities

  6,188   4,376 
   962,961   924,798 
         

Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)

          
         

Stockholders’ Equity

        

Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

  -   - 

Common stock, no par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized, 5,584,204 and 5,617,416 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively

  -   - 

Surplus

  33,356   33,613 

Retained earnings

  68,866   62,229 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (19,340)  (22,906)
   82,882   72,936 
  $1,045,843  $997,734 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

51
 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands except share amounts)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Interest income

                

Loans and fees on loans

   $ 39,877     $ 32,687  

Interest-bearing deposits with banks

     279       788  

Federal funds sold

     29       29  

Interest on taxable securities

     2,829       2,716  

Interest on nontaxable securities

     195       242  

Dividends

     156       105  
      43,365       36,567  

Interest expense

               

Deposits

     6,617       1,742  

Interest on borrowings

     1,150       188  
      7,767       1,930  

Net interest income

     35,598       34,637  
                 

(Recovery of) Provision for credit losses

     (50 )     606  

Net interest income after (recovery of) provision for credit losses

     35,648       34,031  
                 

Noninterest income

                

Service charges on deposit accounts

     2,186       1,906  

Other service charges and fees

     3,473       3,171  

Net realized losses on securities

     (16 )     (10 )

Mortgage origination fees

     255       399  

Increase in cash value of life insurance

     576       513  

Life insurance income

     69       217  

Other income

     427       61  
      6,970       6,257  

Noninterest expenses

                

Salaries and employee benefits

     16,704       14,823  

Occupancy and equipment

     5,032       4,410  

Data processing expense

     2,231       1,971  

FDIC Assessments

     588       430  

Advertising

     768       657  

Bank franchise tax

     376       506  

Director fees

     349       354  

Professional fees

     722       684  

Telephone expense

     556       482  

Core deposit intangible amortization

     369       478  

Other expense

     2,847       2,693  
      30,542       27,488  

Income before income taxes

     12,076       12,800  
                 

Income tax expense

     2,376       2,519  
                 

Net income

   $ 9,700     $ 10,281  

Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.74     $ 1.84  

Weighted average shares outstanding

     5,579,654       5,588,394  

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.42     $ 0.32  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

52
 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Net Income

   $ 9,700     $ 10,281  
                 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

                
                 

Net change in pension reserve:

                

Change in pension reserve during the year

     744       (1,648 )

Tax related to change in pension reserve

     (156 )     346  
                 

Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities available for sale:

                

Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year

     3,753       (24,650 )

Tax related to unrealized (gains) losses

     (788 )     5,177  

Reclassification of net realized losses during the year

     16       10  

Tax related to net realized losses

     (3 )     (2 )
                 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     3,566       (20,767 )
                 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 13,266     $ (10,486 )

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

53
 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands except share amounts)

                     
                  

Accumulated

     
                  

Other

     
  

Common Stock

      

Retained

  

Comprehensive

     
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Surplus

  

Earnings

  

Loss

  

Total

 
                         

Balance, December 31, 2021

  5,606,216  $-  $33,588  $53,745  $(2,139) $85,194 
                         

Net income

  -   -   -   10,281   -   10,281 

Other comprehensive loss

  -   -   -   -   (20,767)  (20,767)

Dividends paid ($0.32 per share)

  -   -   -   (1,797)  -   (1,797)

Restricted stock Issued

  14,500   -   -   -   -   - 

Stock awards Issued

  8,700   -   -   -   -   - 

Share-based compensation

  -   -   179   -   -   179 

Common stock repurchased

  (12,000)  -   (154)  -   -   (154)
                         

Balance, December 31, 2022

  5,617,416  $-  $33,613  $62,229  $(22,906) $72,936 
                         

Cumulative effect of adoption of credit losses standard, net of tax

  -   -   -   (710)  -   (710)

Net income

  -   -   -   9,700   -   9,700 

Other comprehensive income

  -   -   -   -   3,566   3,566 

Dividends paid ($0.42 per share)

  -   -   -   (2,353)  -   (2,353)

Stock awards Issued

  13,500   -   -   -   -   - 

Share-based compensation

  -   -   251   -   -   251 

Common stock repurchased

  (46,712)  -   (508)  -   -   (508)
                         

Balance, December 31, 2023

  5,584,204  $-  $33,356  $68,866  $(19,340) $82,882 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

54
 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Cash flows from operating activities

                

Net income

   $ 9,700     $ 10,281  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:

                

Depreciation

     1,885       1,690  

Amortization of core deposit intangible

     369       478  

Accretion of loan discount and deposit premium, net

     (161 )     (415 )

(Recovery of) Provision for credit loss

     (50 )     606  

Deferred income taxes

     (55 )     899  

Net realized losses on securities

     16       10  

Accretion of discount on securities, net of amortization of premiums

     140       236  

Deferred compensation

     163       166  

Share-based compensation

     251       179  

Adjustment of carrying value of other real estate owned

     -       72  

Loss on sale of other real estate owned

     6       -  

(Gains) losses on sale or disposal of properties and equipment

     (193 )     6  

Life insurance income

     (69 )     (217 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

Cash value of life insurance

     (576 )     (513 )

Accrued interest receivable

     (484 )     (616 )

Other assets

     (84 )     (2,123 )

Accrued interest payable

     436       22  

Other liabilities

     49       (131 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

     11,343       10,630  
                 

Cash flows from investing activities

                

Activity in available for sale securities:

                

Purchases

     -       (45,181 )

Sales

     4,427       2,507  

Maturities/calls/paydowns

     6,948       12,352  

(Purchases) redemption of restricted equity securities

     (1,388 )     21  

Net increase in loans

     (62,694 )     (71,010 )

Purchases of life insurance contracts

     -       (3,500 )

Proceeds from life insurance contracts

     220       496  

Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned

     229       -  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (2,843 )     (3,795 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     1,721       895  

Net cash used in investing activities

     (53,380 )     (107,215 )
                 

Cash flows from financing activities

                

Net increase in deposits

     8,430       22,151  

Bank term funding program advances

     2,500       -  

Net change in FHLB advances

     25,000       (5,000 )

Advance on short-term line of credit

     -       150  

Payment on short-term line of credit

     -       (3,350 )

Common stock repurchased

     (508 )     (154 )

Dividends paid

     (2,353 )     (1,797 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

     33,069       12,000  

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (8,968 )     (84,585 )
                 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning

     31,061       115,646  

Cash and cash equivalents, ending

   $ 22,093     $ 31,061  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

55
 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

                

Interest paid

   $ 7,331     $ 1,908  

Taxes paid

   $ 2,320     $ 1,218  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities

                

Effect on equity of change in net unrealized loss on available for sale securities

   $ 2,978     $ (19,465 )

Effect on equity of change in funded pension liability

   $ 588     $ (1,302 )

Transfer of bank property to other real estate owned

   $ -     $ 307  

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities

   $ 1,562     $ 327  

Cumulative effect of adoption of credit losses standard, net of tax

   $ (710 )   $ -  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

56
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

Skyline Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Floyd, Virginia.  The Company offers a wide range of retail and commercial banking services through its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Skyline National Bank (the “Bank”).  On January 1, 2023, the Company changed its name from Parkway Acquisition Corp. to Skyline Bankshares, Inc. to align its brand across the entire organization. 

 

The Company was incorporated as a Virginia corporation on November 2, 2015.  The Company was formed as a business combination shell company for the purpose of completing a business combination transaction between Grayson Bankshares, Inc. (“Grayson”) and Cardinal Bankshares Corporation (“Cardinal”) in which which Grayson and Cardinal merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation (the “Cardinal merger”), on July 1, 2016.  Upon completion of the Cardinal merger, the Bank of Floyd (“Floyd”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardinal, was merged with and into the Bank (formerly Grayson National Bank), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grayson.  Effective March 13, 2017, the Bank changed its name to Skyline National Bank. 

 

On July 1, 2018, the Company acquired Great State Bank (“Great State”), based in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, through the merger of Great State with and into the Bank, with the Bank as the surviving bank.

 

The Bank was organized under the laws of the United States in 1900 and now serves the Virginia counties of Grayson, Floyd, Carroll, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery, Roanoke, Patrick and Washington, and the North Carolina counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Iredell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin, and the surrounding areas, through twenty-seven full-service banking offices and two loan production offices. As a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured national banking association, the Bank is subject to regulation by the Comptroller of the Currency and the FDIC. The Company is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Management believes the policies with respect to the methodology for the determination of the allowance for credit losses, and asset impairment judgments, such as the recoverability of intangible assets and credit losses on investment securities, involve a higher degree of complexity and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments that often require assumptions or estimates about highly uncertain matters. Changes in these judgments, assumptions or estimates could cause reported results to differ materially. These critical policies and their application are periodically reviewed with the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the Bank, which is wholly owned. All significant, intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

57
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Business Segments

 

The Company reports its activities as a single business segment. In determining the appropriateness of segment definition, the Company considers components of the business about which financial information is available and regularly evaluated relative to resource allocation and performance assessment.

 

Business Combinations

 

Generally, acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations. A business combination occurs when the Company acquires net assets that constitute a business, or acquires equity interests in one or more other entities that are businesses and obtains control over those entities. Business combinations are effected through the transfer of consideration consisting of cash and/or common stock and are accounted for using the acquisition method. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entity are recorded at their respective fair values as of the closing date of the acquisition. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities, especially the loan portfolio, is a complicated process involving significant judgment regarding methods and assumptions used to calculate estimated fair values. Fair values are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of the acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values becomes available. The results of operations of an acquired entity are included in our consolidated results from the closing date of the merger, and prior periods are not restated.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses and the valuation of real estate acquired in connection with foreclosures or in satisfaction of loans. In connection with the determination of the allowances for credit and foreclosed real estate losses, management obtains independent appraisals for significant properties.

 

Substantially all of the Bank’s loan portfolio consists of loans in its market area. Accordingly, the ultimate collectability of a substantial portion of the Bank’s loan portfolio and the recovery of a substantial portion of the carrying amount of foreclosed real estate are susceptible to changes in local market conditions. The regional economy is diverse, but influenced to an extent by the manufacturing and agricultural segments.

 

While management uses available information to recognize loan and foreclosed real estate losses, future additions to the allowances may be necessary based on changes in local economic conditions. In addition, regulatory agencies, as a part of their routine examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowances for loan and foreclosed real estate losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowances based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examinations. Because of these factors, it is reasonably possible that the allowances for loan and foreclosed real estate losses may change materially in the near term.

 

The Company seeks strategies that minimize the tax effect of implementing their business strategies. As such, judgments are made regarding the ultimate consequence of long-term tax planning strategies, including the likelihood of future recognition of deferred tax benefits. The Company’s tax returns are subject to examination by both Federal and State authorities. Such examinations may result in the assessment of additional taxes, interest and penalties. As a result, the ultimate outcome, and the corresponding financial statement impact, can be difficult to predict with accuracy.

 

Accounting for pension benefits, costs and related liabilities are developed using actuarial valuations. These valuations include key assumptions determined by management, including the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Material changes in pension costs may occur in the future due to changes in these assumptions.

 

58
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash and amounts due from banks (including cash items in process of collection), interest-bearing deposits with banks and federal funds sold.

 

Trading Securities

 

The Company does not hold securities for short-term resale and therefore does not maintain a trading securities portfolio.

 

Securities Held to Maturity

 

Bonds, notes, and debentures for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are reported at amortized cost. The Company does not currently hold any securities classified as held to maturity.

 

Securities Available for Sale

 

Available for sale securities are reported at fair value and consist of mortgage-backed, U.S. government agencies, corporate, and state and municipal securities not classified as trading securities or as held to maturity securities.

 

Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax, on available for sale securities are reported as a net amount in a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses on the sale of available for sale securities are determined using the specific-identification method. The amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized in interest income using the effective interest method over the period to maturity for discounts and the earlier of call date or maturity for premiums.

 

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2023

 

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASC 326”). This standard replaced the incurred loss methodology with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. CECL requires an estimate of credit losses for the remaining estimated life of the financial asset using historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts and generally applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities, and some off-balance sheet credit exposures such as unfunded commitments to extend credit. Financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by using an allowance for credit losses. Purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans will receive an initial allowance at the acquisition date that represents an adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the loan, with no impact to earnings.

 

In addition, CECL made changes to the accounting for available for sale debt securities. One such change is to require credit losses to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down on available for sale debt securities if management does not intend to sell and does not believe that it is more likely than not, they will be required to sell.

 

The Company adopted ASC 326 and all related subsequent amendments thereto effective January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The transition adjustment of the adoption of CECL included an increase in the allowance for credit losses on loans of $592 thousand, which is presented as a reduction to net loans outstanding, and an increase in the allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $313 thousand, which is recorded within Other Liabilities. The Company recorded a net decrease to retained earnings of $710 thousand as of January 1, 2023 for the cumulative effect of adopting CECL, which reflects the transition adjustments noted above, net of the applicable deferred tax assets recorded. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under CECL while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable accounting standards (“Incurred Loss”).

 

59
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2023, continued

 

The Company adopted ASC 326 using the prospective transition approach for debt securities for which other-than-temporary impairment had been recognized prior to January 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2022, the Company did not have any other-than-temporarily impaired investment securities. Therefore, upon adoption of ASC 326, the Company determined that an allowance for credit losses on available for sale securities was not deemed necessary.

 

The Company elected not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable and instead elected to reverse interest income on loans or securities that are placed on nonaccrual status, which is generally when the instrument is 90 days past due, or earlier if the Company believes the collection of interest is doubtful. The Company has concluded that this policy results in the timely reversal of uncollectible interest.

 

The allowance for credit losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for credit losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the loan balance, or a portion thereof, is uncollectable. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

 

The allowance for credit losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management’s periodic review of the collectability of the loans in light of historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions, which includes forecasted future economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

 

The adoption of ASC 326 eliminated the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors and enhanced the disclosure requirements for loan refinancings and restructurings made with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. For information related to modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty after the adoption of ASC 326 and information regarding troubled debt restructurings before the adoption of ASC 326, see Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses – Available for Sale Securities

 

For available for sale securities, management evaluates all investments in an unrealized loss position on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such evaluation. If the Company has the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security, the security is written down to fair value and the entire loss is recorded in earnings.

 

If either of the above criteria is not met, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value is the result of credit losses or other factors. In making the assessment, the Company may consider various factors including the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, performance on any underlying collateral, downgrades in the ratings of the security by a rating agency, the failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments and adverse conditions specifically related to the security. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security and any excess is recorded as an allowance for credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any amount of unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

Changes in the allowance for credit loss are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance for credit loss when management believes an available for sale security is confirmed to be uncollectible or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. At December 31, 2023, there was no allowance for credit loss related to the available for sale portfolio.

 

Accrued interest receivable on available for sale debt securities, which is reported in accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets, totaled $641 thousand at December 31, 2023 and was excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

 

60
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Loans Receivable

 

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at amortized cost. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of purchase premiums and discounts and deferred fees and costs. Accrued interest receivable related to loans totaled $2.8 million at December 31, 2023 and was reported in accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using methods that approximate a level yield without anticipating prepayments.

 

The accrual of interest is generally discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due and is not well collateralized and in the process of collection, or when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the principal or interest will not be collectible in the normal course of business. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. A loan is considered to be past due when a scheduled payment has not been received 30 days after the contractual due date.

 

All accrued interest is reversed against interest income when a loan is placed on nonaccrual status. Interest received on such loans is accounted for using the cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Under the cost-recovery method, interest income is not recognized until the loan balance is reduced to zero. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current, there is a sustained period of repayment performance, and future payments are reasonably assured.

 

Purchased Credit Deteriorated Loans

 

Upon adoption of ASC 326, loans that were designated as Purchased Credit Impaired loans under the previous accounting guidance were classified as PCD loans without reassessment.

 

In future acquisitions, the Company may purchase loans, some of which have experienced more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. In those cases, the Company will consider internal loan grades, delinquency status and other relevant factors in assessing whether purchased loans are PCD. PCD loans are recorded at the amount paid. An initial allowance for credit loss is determined using the same methodology as other loans held for investment, but with no impact to earnings. The initial allowance for credit loss determined on a collective basis is allocated to individual loans. The sum of the loan's purchase price and allowance for credit loss becomes its initial amortized cost basis. The difference between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is a noncredit discount or premium, which is amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Subsequent to initial recognition, PCD loans are subject to the same interest income recognition and impairment model as non-PCD loans, with changes to the allowance for credit loss recorded through provision expense.

 

61
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans

 

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans' amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the loan balance, or a portion thereof, is uncollectable. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

 

The allowance for credit losses represents management’s estimate of lifetime credit losses inherent in loans as of the balance sheet date. The allowance for credit losses is estimated by management using relevant available information, from both internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

 

The Company measures expected credit losses for loans on a pooled basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The Company has identified the following portfolio segments and calculates the allowance for credit losses for each using a Lifetime of Probability of Default / Loss Given Default (“Lifetime PD/LGD”) methodology because of the historical loss information the Company has on its loan portfolio, which is less subjective in nature, than the other methodologies available. In addition, this methodology is less reliant on qualitative factors versus the other methodologies and the previously used incurred loss model. Under this methodology an estimate of probability of default and a lifetime loss rate is applied to the portfolio segment based on the loss history during the economic life cycle of these type of loans.

 

 

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Construction and development loans include both commercial and consumer. Commercial loans are made to finance construction of buildings or other structures, as well as to finance the acquisition and development of raw land for various purposes. While the risk of these loans is generally confined to the construction period, if there are problems, the project may not be completed, and as such, may not provide sufficient cash flow on its own to service the debt or have sufficient value in a liquidation to cover the outstanding principal. The condition of the local economy is an important indicator of risk, but there are also more specific risks depending on the type of project and the experience and resources of the developer. Consumer loans are made for the construction of residential homes for which a binding sales contract exists and generally are for a period of time sufficient to complete construction. Residential construction loans to individuals generally provide for the payment of interest only during the construction phase. Credit risk for residential real estate construction loans can arise from construction delays, cost overruns, failure of the contractor to complete the project to specifications and economic conditions that could impact demand for or supply of the property being constructed.

 

 

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Farmland loans are loans secured by farmland and improvements thereon, as evidenced by mortgages or other liens. Farmland includes all land known to be used or usable for agricultural purposes, such as crop and livestock production. Farmland includes grazing or pasture land, whether tillable or not and whether wooded or not. Primary source of repayment for these loans is the income of the borrower. The condition of the local economy is an important indicator of risk for this segment. The state of the real estate market, in regards to farmland, can also have a significant impact on this segment because low demand and/or declining values can limit the ability of borrowers to sell a property and satisfy the debt.

 

 

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Residential loans are loans secured by first and second liens such as home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, 1-4 family residential mortgages, including purchased money mortgages, as well as multifamily units. The primary source of repayment for these loans is the income of the borrower. The condition of the local economy, in particular the unemployment rate, is an important indicator of risk for this segment. The state of the local housing market can also have a significant impact on this segment because low demand and/or declining home values can limit the ability of borrowers to sell a property and satisfy the debt.

 

 

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Commercial mortgage loans are secured by commercial purpose real estate, including both owner occupied properties and investment properties, for various purposes such as hotels, retail facilities, and office space. Operations of the individual projects as well as global cash flows of the debtors are the primary sources of repayment for these loans. The condition of the local economy is an important indicator of risk, but there are also more specific risks depending on the collateral type as well as the business.

 

62
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans, continued

 

 

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Commercial & agricultural loans are made to operating companies, manufacturers, or farmers for the purpose of production, operating capacity, accounts receivable, inventory or equipment financing. Cash flow from the operations of the borrower is the primary source of repayment for these loans. The condition of the local economy is an important indicator of risk, but there are also more specific risks depending on the industry of the borrower. Collateral for these types of loans often do not have sufficient value in a distressed or liquidation scenario to satisfy the outstanding debt.

 

 

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Consumer and other loans are made to individuals and may be either secured by assets other than 1-4 family residences or unsecured. This segment includes auto loans and unsecured loans and lines. The primary source of repayment for these loans is the income and assets of the borrower. The condition of the local economy, in particular the unemployment rate, is an important indicator of risk for this segment. The value of the collateral, if there is any, is less likely to be a source of repayment due to less certain collateral values. Also included in this category is loans made to local and state municipalities for various purposes including refinancing existing obligations, infrastructure up-fit and expansion, or to purchase new equipment. These loans may be secured by general obligations from the municipal authority or revenues generated by infrastructure and equipment financed by the Company. The primary repayment source for these loans include the tax base of the municipality, specific revenue streams related to the infrastructure financed, and other business operations of the municipal authority. The health and stability of state and local economies directly impacts each municipality’s tax basis and are important indicators of risk for this segment. The ability of each municipality to increase taxes and fees to offset debt service requirements give this type of loan a very low risk profile in the continuum of the Company’s loan portfolio.

 

Additionally, the allowance for credit losses calculation includes subjective adjustments for qualitative risk factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses to differ from historical experience. These qualitative adjustments may increase or reduce reserve levels and include adjustments for lending management experience and risk tolerance, loan review and audit results, asset quality and portfolio trends, loan portfolio growth, industry concentrations, trends in underlying collateral, external factors and economic conditions not already captured. The Company has designated 5 year treasury yield, fed funds rates, and national unemployment as its forecast variables for a period of 12 months. These forecasts from reputable and independent third parties are sourced to inform the Company’s reasonable and supportable forecasting of current expected credit losses. 

 

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. When management determines that foreclosure is probable and the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, the expected credit losses are based on the fair value of collateral at the reporting date unadjusted for selling costs as appropriate.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses – Unfunded Commitments

 

Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit issued to meet customer financing needs. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for off-balance sheet loan commitments is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

 

The Company records an allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures, unless the commitments to extend credit are unconditionally cancelable, through a charge to provision for credit losses in the Company’s income statements. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is estimated by loan segment at each balance sheet date under the current expected credit loss model using the same methodologies as portfolio loans, taking into consideration the likelihood that funding will occur as well as any third-party guarantees. The allowance for unfunded commitments is included in other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

63
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Property and Equipment

 

Land is carried at cost. Bank premises, furniture and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed principally by the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

 

  Years 
      
Buildings and improvements 40-40 
Furniture and equipment 5-12 

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned represents properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure and former branch sites that have been closed and for which there are no intentions to re-open or otherwise use the location. These properties are to be sold and are initially recorded at fair value less anticipated cost to sell, establishing a new cost basis. After acquisition, valuations are periodically performed by management and the other real estate owned is carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in other expenses on the consolidated statements of income.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

The Parkway Acquisition Corp. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 17, 2020 and approved by the Company’s shareholders on August 18, 2020. The Equity Plan permits the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and stock awards to key employees and non-employee directors of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

As of December 31, 2023, only restricted stock awards have been issued to key employees and stock awards have been issued to non-employee directors. The fair value of the stock awards or restricted stock is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  The Company recognizes compensation expense related to restricted stock on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for service-based awards. See additional discussion of share-based compensation in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Pension Plan

 

Prior to the Cardinal merger, both the Bank and Floyd had qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plans in place which covered substantially all of each bank’s employees. The benefits in each plan are primarily based on years of service and earnings. Both the Bank’s and Floyd’s plans were amended to freeze benefit accruals for all eligible employees prior to the effective date of the Cardinal merger. The Bank’s plan is a single-employer plan, the funded status of which is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. Floyd’s plan is a multi-employer plan for accounting purposes and is a multiple-employer plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Transfers of Financial Assets

 

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Bank; (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets; and (3) the Bank does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity or the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.

 

64
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill arises from business combinations and is generally determined as the excess of fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquire, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently in events and circumstances exists that indicate that a goodwill impairment test should be performed. The Company has selected November 1 as the date to perform the annual impairment test, however, due to the recent economic environment an impairment test was conducted as of June 1, 2023. The test as of June 1, 2023 found no impairment on the goodwill. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life on our balance sheet.

 

Other intangible assets consist of core deposit intangibles that represent the value of long-term deposit relationships acquired in a business combination. Core deposit intangibles are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the deposit accounts acquired. The core deposit intangible as a result of the Cardinal merger, is amortized over an estimated useful life of twenty years on an accelerated basis. For the core deposit intangible as a result of the Great State merger, we used an estimated useful life of seven years on an accelerated basis for the amortization.

 

Cash Value of Life Insurance

 

The Bank is owner and beneficiary of life insurance policies on certain current and former employees and directors. The Company records these policies in the consolidated balance sheets at cash surrender value, with changes recorded in noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income.

 

Leases

 

We have performed an evaluation of our leasing contracts and activities. We have developed our methodology to estimate the right-of use assets and lease liabilities, which is based on the present value of lease payments. There was not a material change to the timing of expense recognition. See additional discussion of leases in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Income Taxes

 

Provision for income taxes is based on amounts reported in the statements of income (after exclusion of non-taxable income such as interest on state and municipal securities) and consists of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes on temporary differences in the recognition of income and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes.

 

Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized if it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or sustained upon examination. The term more likely than not means a likelihood of more than 50 percent; the terms examined and upon examination also include resolution of the related appeals or litigation processes, if any. A tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The determination of whether or not a tax position has met the more likely than not recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date and is subject to management’s judgment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

 

65
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts - Service charges on deposit accounts consist of monthly service fees, overdraft and nonsufficient funds fees, wire transfer fees and other deposit account related fees. The Company’s performance obligation for monthly service fees is generally satisfied, and the related revenue recognized, over the period in which the service is provided. Payment for service charges on deposit accounts is primarily received immediately or in the following month through a direct charge to customers’ accounts. Wire transfer fees, overdraft and nonsufficient funds fees, and other deposit account related fees are transactional based, and therefore, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time. Fees for these services for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $2.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

 

Mortgage Origination Fees – Mortgage origination fees consist of commissions received on mortgage loans closed in the secondary market. The Company acts as an intermediary between the Company’s customer and companies that specialize in mortgage lending in the secondary market. The Company’s performance obligation is generally satisfied when the mortgage loan is closed and funded and the Company receives its commission at that time. Fees for these services for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $255 thousand and $399 thousand, respectively.

 

Other Service Charges and Fees - Other service charges include safety deposit box rental fees, check ordering charges, and other service charges. Safe deposit box rental fees are charged to the customer on an annual basis and recognized upon receipt of payment. The Company determined that since rentals and renewals occur fairly consistently over time, revenue is recognized on a basis consistent with the duration of the performance obligation. Check ordering charges are transactional based, and therefore, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time. In addition, the following items are also included in other service charges and fees on the consolidated statements of income:

 

 

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ATM, Credit and Debit Card Fees - ATM fees are primarily generated when a Company cardholder uses a non-Company ATM or a non-Company cardholder uses a Company ATM. Credit and debit card fees are primarily comprised of interchange fee income and merchant services income. Interchange fees are earned whenever the Company’s debit and credit cards are processed through card payment networks such as Visa or Mastercard. Merchant services income mainly represents fees charged to merchants to process their debit and credit card transactions, in addition to account management fees. The Company’s performance obligation for ATM fees, interchange fee income, and merchant services income are largely satisfied, and related revenue recognized, when the services are rendered or upon completion. Payment is typically received immediately or in the following month. Fees for these services for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $2.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

 

 

●

Insurance and Investment - Insurance income primarily consists of commissions received on insurance product sales. The Company acts as an intermediary between the Company’s customer and the insurance carrier. The Company’s performance obligation is generally satisfied upon the issuance of the insurance policy. Shortly after the insurance policy is issued, the carrier remits the commission payment to the Company, and the Company recognizes the revenue. Investment income consists of recurring revenue streams such as commissions from sales of mutual funds and other investments. Commissions from the sale of mutual funds and other investments are recognized on trade date, which is when the Company has satisfied its performance obligation. The Company also receives periodic service fees (i.e., trailers) from mutual fund companies typically based on a percentage of net asset value. Trailer revenue is recorded over time, usually monthly or quarterly, as net asset value is determined. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company received $52 thousand and $56 thousand, respectively in income from these services.

 

66
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Advertising Expense

 

The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $768 thousand and $657 thousand, respectively.

 

Basic Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, after giving retroactive effect to stock splits and dividends. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no dilutive instruments.

 

Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale and changes in the funded status of the pension plan which are also recognized as separate components of equity. The accumulated balances related to each component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Unrealized Gains

And Losses

On Available for

Sale Securities

  

Defined Benefit

Pension Items

  

Total

 
             

Balance, December 31, 2021

 $(1,477) $(662) $(2,139)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before Reclassifications

  (19,473)  (1,302)  (20,775)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

  8   -   8 

Balance, December 31, 2022

 $(20,942) $(1,964) $(22,906)
             

Balance, December 31, 2022

 $(20,942) $(1,964) $(22,906)

Other comprehensive income before Reclassifications

  2,965   588   3,553 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

  13   -   13 

Balance, December 31, 2023

 $(17,964) $(1,376) $(19,340)

 

Off-Balance Sheet Credit Related Financial Instruments

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into commitments to extend credit, including commitments under line of credit arrangements, commercial letters of credit, and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in Note 12. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

Reclassification

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to place them on a comparable basis with the current presentation. Net income and stockholders’ equity previously reported were not affected by these reclassifications.

 

67
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 1.  Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, continued

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The following accounting standards may affect the future financial reporting by the Company:

 

In June 2022, the FASB issued amendments to clarify the guidance on the fair value measurement of an equity security that is subject to a contractual sale restriction and require specific disclosures related to such an equity security. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2022, the FASB issued amendments to extend the period of time preparers can use the reference rate reform relief guidance under ASC Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, to address the fact that all London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) tenors were not discontinued as of December 31, 2021, and some tenors were published until June 2023. The amendments are effective immediately for all entities and applied prospectively. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In July 2023, the FASB issued amendments to amendments to SEC Paragraphs in the Accounting Standards Codification pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 120, SEC Staff Announcement at the March 24, 2022, EITF Meeting, and Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 6.B. The amendments were effective upon issuance. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In August 2023, the FASB issued amendments to SEC Paragraphs in the Accounting Standards Codification pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121. The amendments were effective upon issuance. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In December 2023, the FASB amended the Income Taxes topic in the Accounting Standards Codification to improve the transparency of income tax disclosures. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company does not expect these amendments to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

 

Note 2.  Restrictions on Cash

 

The Bank is required to maintain vault cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank based on the amount of certain customer deposits, mainly checking accounts. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve lowered the reserve requirement ratios on transaction accounts to zero percent effective March 26, 2020, therefore, there were no required reserve balances as of December 31, 2023 and  December 31, 2022.

 

68
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 3.  Investment Securities

 

Investment securities have been classified in the consolidated balance sheets according to management’s intent. The amortized cost of securities and their approximate fair values at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is summarized in the following table. There was no allowance for credit losses on available for sale securities as of December 31, 2023.

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

Cost

  

Unrealized

Gains

  

Unrealized

Losses

  

Fair

Value

 

December 31, 2023

                

Available for sale:

                

U.S. Treasury securities

 $2,511  $-  $(65) $2,446 

U.S. Government agencies

  25,165   -   (3,727)  21,438 

Mortgage-backed securities

  71,617   -   (9,920)  61,697 

Corporate securities

  1,500   -   (58)  1,442 

State and municipal securities

  49,336   9   (8,979)  40,366 
  $150,129  $9  $(22,749) $127,389 

December 31, 2022

                

Available for sale:

                

U.S. Treasury securities

 $4,980  $-  $(146) $4,834 

U.S. Government agencies

  25,025   -   (4,179)  20,846 

Mortgage-backed securities

  78,755   -   (11,485)  67,270 

Corporate securities

  1,500   -   -   1,500 

State and municipal securities

  51,400   16   (10,715)  40,701 
  $161,660  $16  $(26,525) $135,151 

 

Restricted equity securities totaled $3.3 million at December 31, 2023 and $2.0 million at December 31, 2022. Restricted equity securities consist of investments in stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”), CBB Financial Corp., Pacific Coast Bankers Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, all of which are carried at cost. All of these entities are upstream correspondents of the Bank. The FHLB requires financial institutions to make equity investments in the FHLB in order to borrow money. The Federal Reserve requires banks to purchase stock as a condition for membership in the Federal Reserve System. The Bank’s stock in CBB Financial Corp. and Pacific Coast Bankers Bank is restricted only in the fact that the stock may only be repurchased by the respective banks.

 

The following tables details unrealized losses and related fair values in the Company’s available for sale investment securities portfolios for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded at December 31, 2023 and was not required at December 31, 2022. This information is aggregated by the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

 

  

Less Than 12 Months

  

12 Months or More

  

Total

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Fair

Value

  

Unrealized

Losses

  

Fair

Value

  

Unrealized

Losses

  

Fair

Value

  

Unrealized

Losses

 

December 31, 2023

                        

Available for sale:

                        

U.S. Treasury securities

 $-  $-  $2,446  $(65)  2,446  $(65)

U.S. Government agencies

  -   -   21,438   (3,727)  21,438   (3,727)

Mortgage-backed securities

  5   -   61,692   (9,920)  61,697   (9,920)

Corporate securities

  1,442   (58)  -   -   1,442   (58)

State and municipal securities

  1,216   (310)  38,181   (8,669)  39,397   (8,979)

Total securities available for sale

 $2,663  $(368) $123,757  $(22,381) $126,420  $(22,749)
                         

December 31, 2022

                        

Available for sale:

                        

U.S. Treasury securities

 $4,834  $(146) $-  $-  $4,834  $(146)

U.S. Government agencies

  8,563   (1,227)  12,282   (2,952)  20,845   (4,179)

Mortgage-backed securities

  27,796   (2,756)  39,467   (8,729)  67,263   (11,485)

State and municipal securities

  15,234   (2,633)  24,492   (8,082)  39,726   (10,715)

Total securities available for sale

 $56,427  $(6,762) $76,241  $(19,763) $132,668  $(26,525)

 

69
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 3.  Investment Securities, continued

 

At December 31, 2023, 81 investment securities with unrealized losses had depreciated 15.25 percent from their total amortized cost basis. Management evaluates all available for sale investments in an unrealized loss position on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such evaluation. If the Company has the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security, the security is written down to fair value and the entire loss is recorded in earnings.

 

If either of the above criteria is not met, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value is the result of credit losses or other factors. In making the assessment, the Company may consider various factors including the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, performance on any underlying collateral, downgrades in the ratings of the security by a rating agency, the failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments and adverse conditions specifically related to the security. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security and any excess is recorded as an allowance for credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any amount of unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

Changes in the allowance for credit loss are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance for credit loss when management believes an available for sale security is confirmed to be uncollectible or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. At December 31, 2023, there was no allowance for credit losses related to the available for sale portfolio.

 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale were $4.4 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no called securities for the year ended December 31, 2023. Proceeds from called securities totaled $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are recorded on the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method. Gross realized gains and losses for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Realized gains

 $12  $- 

Realized losses

  (28)  (10)
  $(16) $(10)

 

There were no securities transferred between the available for sale and held to maturity portfolios or other sales of held to maturity securities during the periods presented. In the future management may elect to classify securities as held to maturity based upon such considerations as the nature of the security, the Bank’s ability to hold the security until maturity, and general economic conditions. The scheduled maturities of securities available for sale at December 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

Cost

  

Fair

Value

 
         

Due in one year or less

 $250  $256 

Due after one year through five years

  19,499   18,265 

Due after five years through ten years

  68,048   58,446 

Due after ten years

  62,332   50,422 
  $150,129  $127,389 

 

Maturities of mortgage-backed securities are based on contractual amounts. Actual maturity will vary as loans underlying the securities are prepaid.

 

Investment securities with amortized cost of approximately $36.0 million and $33.7 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, were pledged as collateral on public deposits and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

 

70
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 4.  Loans Receivable

 

The major components of loans in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Real Estate Secured:

        

Construction & development

 $53,473  $49,728 

Farmland

  25,598   23,688 

Residential

  400,947   358,526 

Commercial mortgage

  269,666   263,664 

Non-Real Estate Secured:

        

Commercial & agricultural

  47,681   39,505 

Consumer & other

  20,339   19,761 

Total loans

  817,704   754,872 

Allowance for credit losses

  (6,739)  (6,248)

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses

 $810,965  $748,624 

 

Included in total loans above are deferred loan fees of $1.4 million and $1.1 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Deferred loan costs were $4.7 million and $4.1 million, at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Income from net deferred fees and costs is recognized over the lives of the respective loans as a yield adjustment. If loans repay prior to schedule maturities and unamortized fee or cost is recognized at that time.

 

The Company elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of loans. Accrued interest receivable related to loans totaled $2.8 million at December 31, 2023 and $2.6 million at December 31, 2022 and was reported in accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, substantially all of the Bank’s residential 1-4 family loans were pledged as collateral for borrowing lines at the FHLB.

 

71
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses

 

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

 

The change in the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023, was due to the initial adoption of the CECL methodology and an increase in loan volume during the year and changes in the Company’s forecast variables during the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

The following tables summarizes the activity related to the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 under the CECL methodology.

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Construction

&

Development

  

Farmland

  

Residential

  

Commercial

Mortgage

  

Commercial

&

Agricultural

  

Consumer

& Other

  

Total

 
                             

Balance, December 31, 2022

 $526  $259  $2,820  $2,197  $312  $134  $6,248 

Adjustment to allowance for adoption of ASU 2016-13

  408   (108)  279   (119)  84   48   592 

Charge-offs

  -   -   -   -   -   (110)  (110)

Recoveries

  1   50   1   11   16   23   102 

Provision

  (25)  (47)  67   (187)  12   87   (93)

Balance, December 31, 2023

 $910  $154  $3,167  $1,902  $424  $182  $6,739 

 

Prior to the adoption of ASC 326 on January 1, 2023, the Company calculated the allowance for loan losses under the incurred loss methodology. The following tables are disclosures related to the allowance for loan losses in prior periods. The following table presents activity in the allowance by loan category and information on the loans evaluated individually for impairment and collectively evaluated for impairment as of December 31, 2022:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Construction

&

Development

  

Farmland

  

Residential

  

Commercial

Mortgage

  

Commercial

&

Agricultural

  

Consumer

& Other

  

Total

 

December 31, 2022

                            

Allowance for loan losses:

                            

Beginning Balance

 $484  $315  $2,521  $1,908  $321  $128  $5,677 

Charge-offs

  -   -   -   -   (14)  (114)  (128)

Recoveries

  3   -   12   8   30   40   93 

Provision

  39   (56)  287   281   (25)  80   606 

Ending Balance

 $526  $259  $2,820  $2,197  $312  $134  $6,248 
                             

Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment

 $4  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $4 

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment

 $522  $259  $2,820  $2,197  $312  $134  $6,244 
                             

Loans outstanding:

                            

Ending Balance

 $49,728  $23,688  $358,526  $263,664  $39,505  $19,761  $754,872 

Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment

 $313  $-  $-  $382  $-  $-  $695 

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment

 $49,415  $23,688  $358,410  $263,194  $39,505  $19,761  $753,973 

Ending balance: purchased credit impaired loans

 $-  $-  $116  $88  $-  $-  $204 

 

As of December 31, 2022, the Bank had no unallocated reserves included in the allowance for loan losses.

 

72
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Credit Quality Indicators

 

Management closely monitors the quality of the loan portfolio and has established a loan review process designed to help grade the quality of the Bank’s loan portfolio. The Bank’s loan ratings coincide with the “Substandard,” “Doubtful” and “Loss” classifications used by federal regulators in their examination of financial institutions. Generally, an asset is considered “Substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligors and/or the collateral pledged. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the distinct possibility that the insured financial institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “Doubtful” have all the weaknesses inherent in assets classified “Substandard” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, highly questionable and improbable. Assets classified as "Loss” are those considered uncollectible, and of such little value that its continuance on the books is not warranted. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, the Bank had no loans graded “Doubtful” or “Loss” included in the balance of total loans outstanding.

 

Assets that do not currently expose the insured financial institutions to sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories but otherwise possess weaknesses are designated “Special Mention.” Management also maintains a listing of loans designated “Watch”. These loans represent borrowers with declining earnings, strained cash flow, increasing leverage and/or weakening market fundamentals that indicate above average risk. Loans that are currently performing and are of high quality are given a loan rating of “Pass”.

 

Loans are graded at origination and will be considered for potential downgrades as the borrower experiences financial difficulties. Loan officers meet periodically to discuss their past due credits and loan downgrades could occur at that time. Commercial loans of over $1.0 million are reviewed on an annual basis, and that review could result in downgrades or in some cases, upgrades. In addition, the Company engages a third-party loan review each quarter. The results of these loan reviews could result in upgrades or downgrades.

 

The following table presents the Company’s recorded investment in loans by credit quality indicators as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

 

  

Loan Grades

     

(dollars in thousands)

 

Pass

  

Watch

  

Special

Mention

  

Substandard

  

Total

 

December 31, 2023

                    

Real Estate Secured:

                    

Construction & development

 $53,444  $-  $-  $29  $53,473 

Farmland

  23,329   -   737   1,532   25,598 

Residential

  400,432   213   36   266   400,947 

Commercial mortgage

  265,441   2,329   202   1,694   269,666 

Non-Real Estate Secured:

                    

Commercial & agricultural

  47,481   -   24   176   47,681 

Consumer & other

  19,903   -   -   436   20,339 

Total

 $810,030  $2,542  $999  $4,133  $817,704 
                     

December 31, 2022

                    

Real Estate Secured:

                    

Construction & development

 $49,384  $-  $-  $344  $49,728 

Farmland

  21,156   814   468   1,250   23,688 

Residential

  356,327   947   499   753   358,526 

Commercial mortgage

  259,529   2,130   153   1,852   263,664 

Non-Real Estate Secured:

                    

Commercial & agricultural

  39,410   13   -   82   39,505 

Consumer & other

  19,761   -   -   -   19,761 

Total

 $745,567  $3,904  $1,120  $4,281  $754,872 

 

73
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Credit Quality Indicators, continued

 

The following table presents the Company’s recorded investment in loans by credit quality indicators by year of origination as of December 31, 2023:

 

  

Term Loans by Year of Origination

      

Revolving

Loans

Converted

     

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

2019

  

Prior

  

Revolving

  

To Term

  

Total

 
                                     

Construction & development

                                    

Pass

 $15,743  $8,291  $12,945  $1,742  $2,552  $6,492  $5,679  $-  $53,444 

Watch

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 

Substandard

  -   -   29   -   -   -   -   -   29 

Total construction & development

 $15,743  $8,291  $12,974  $1,742  $2,552  $6,492  $5,679  $-  $53,473 
                                     

Current period gross write-offs

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 
                                     

Farmland

                                    

Pass

 $4,750  $2,376  $1,448  $2,764  $1,365  $9,019  $1,607  $-  $23,329 

Watch

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   -   -   637   100   -   737 

Substandard

  -   -   -   -   8   1,507   17   -   1,532 

Total farmland

 $4,750  $2,376  $1,448  $2,764  $1,373  $11,163  $1,724  $-  $25,598 
                                     

Current period gross write-offs

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 
                                     

Residential

                                    

Pass

 $56,921  $99,100  $54,974  $46,877  $17,527  $63,461  $60,520  $1,052  $400,432 

Watch

  -   -   -   213   -   -   -   -   213 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   9   -   27   -   -   36 

Substandard

  -   -   -   -   -   252   -   14   266 

Total residential

 $56,921  $99,100  $54,974  $47,099  $17,527  $63,740  $60,520  $1,066  $400,947 
                                     

Current period gross write-offs

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 
                                     

Commercial mortgage

                                    

Pass

 $36,852  $53,022  $49,799  $41,429  $22,069  $58,119  $4,048  $103  $265,441 

Watch

  -   -   -   2,081   -   248   -   -   2,329 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   -   -   202   -   -   202 

Substandard

  -   -   86   -   -   1,209   399   -   1,694 

Total residential

 $36,852  $53,022  $49,885  $43,510  $22,069  $59,778  $4,447  $103  $269,666 
                                     

Current period gross write-offs

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 
                                     

Commercial & agricultural

                                    

Pass

 $12,056  $6,579  $4,931  $1,610  $573  $1,624  $20,079  $29  $47,481 

Watch

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   -   24   -   -   -   24 

Substandard

  -   4   -   -   25   147   -   -   176 

Total commercial & agricultural

 $12,056  $6,583  $4,931  $1,610  $622  $1,771  $20,079  $29  $47,681 
                                     

Current period gross write-offs

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 
                                     

Consumer & other

                                    

Pass

 $9,836  $2,866  $2,410  $229  $799  $3,025  $738  $-  $19,903 

Watch

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 

Substandard

  -   -   397   -   -   39   -   -   436 

Total consumer & other

 $9,836  $2,866  $2,807  $229  $799  $3,064  $738  $-  $20,339 
                                     

Current period gross write-offs

 $27  $33  $14  $8  $5  $23  $-  $-  $110 
                                     

Total loans

                                    

Pass

 $136,158  $172,234  $126,507  $94,651  $44,885  $141,740  $92,671  $1,184  $810,030 

Watch

  -   -   -   2,294   -   248   -   -   2,542 

Special Mention

  -   -   -   9   24   866   100   -   999 

Substandard

  -   4   512   -   33   3,154   416   14   4,133 

Total loans

 $136,158  $172,238  $127,019  $96,954  $44,942  $146,008  $93,187  $1,198  $817,704 
                                     

Total Current period gross write-offs

 $27  $33  $14  $8  $5  $23  $-  $-  $110 

 

74
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Nonaccrual Loans

 

The following table is a summary of the Company’s nonaccrual loans by major categories for the periods indicated:

 

  

CECL

  

Incurred Loss

 
  

December 31, 2023

  

December 31,

2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Nonaccrual

Loans with no

Allowance

  

Nonaccrual

Loans with an

Allowance

  

Total

Nonaccrual

Loans

  

Nonaccrual

Loans

 
                 

Construction & development

 $-  $29  $29  $344 

Farmland

  314   86   400   94 

Residential

  -   221   221   565 

Commercial mortgage

  339   176   515   622 

Commercial & agricultural

  -   130   130   9 

Consumer & other

  398   38   436   - 

Total

 $1,051  $680  $1,731  $1,634 

 

The following table represents the accrued interest receivables written off on nonaccrual loans by reversing interest income during the year ended December 31, 2023:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

 
     

Construction & development

 $- 

Farmland

  - 

Residential

  16 

Commercial mortgage

  - 

Commercial & agricultural

  - 

Consumer & other

  6 

Total Loans

 $22 

 

75
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Aging Analysis

 

The following table presents an aging analysis of past due loans by category as of December 31, 2023:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

30-59 Days

Past Due

  

60-89 Days

Past Due

  

90+ Days

Past Due

and Still

Accruing

  

Nonaccrual

Loans

  

Current

  

Total

Loans

 
                         

December 31, 2023

                        

Real Estate Secured:

                        

Construction & development

 $-  $-  $-  $29  $53,444  $53,473 

Farmland

  -   -   -   400   25,198   25,598 

Residential

  -   45   -   221   400,681   400,947 

Commercial mortgage

  -   -   -   515   269,151   269,666 

Non-Real Estate Secured:

                        

Commercial & agricultural

  35   -   -   130   47,516   47,681 

Consumer & other

  12   -   -   436   19,891   20,339 

Total

 $47  $45  $-  $1,731  $815,881  $817,704 

 

The following table presents an aging analysis of past due loans by category as December 31, 2022:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

30-59 Days

Past Due

  

60-89 Days

Past Due

  

90+ Days

Past Due

and Still

Accruing

  

Nonaccrual

Loans

  

Current

  

Total

Loans

 
                         

December 31, 2022

                        

Real Estate Secured:

                        

Construction & development

 $-  $-  $-  $344  $49,384  $49,728 

Farmland

  4   -   -   94   23,590   23,688 

Residential

  90   137   -   565   357,734   358,526 

Commercial mortgage

  -   -   -   622   263,042   263,664 

Non-Real Estate Secured:

                        

Commercial & agricultural

  -   -   -   9   39,496   39,505 

Consumer & other

  5   -   -   -   19,756   19,761 

Total

 $99  $137  $-  $1,634  $753,002  $754,872 

 

76
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Collateral Dependent Loans

 

Loans that do not share risk characteristics within the their respective loan pools are individually evaluated. The Company has certain loans for which repayment is dependent upon the operation or sale of collateral, as the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. The underlying collateral can vary based upon the type of loan. The following provides more detail about the types of collateral that secure collateral dependent loans:

 

 

●

Construction and development loans include both commercial and consumer loans. Commercial loans are typically secured by first liens on raw land acquired for the construction of owner occupied commercial real estate or non-owner occupied commercial real estate. Consumer loans are typically secured by a first lien on raw land acquired for the construction of residential homes for which a binding sales contract exists.

 

●

Commercial real estate loans can be secured by either owner occupied commercial real estate or non-owner occupied investment commercial real estate. Typically, owner occupied commercial real estate loans are secured by office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and other commercial and industrial properties occupied by operating companies. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally secured by office buildings and complexes, retail facilities, multifamily complexes, land under development, industrial properties, as well as other commercial or industrial real estate.

 

●

Residential real estate loans are typically secured by first mortgages, and in some cases could be secured by a second mortgage.

 

●

Home equity lines of credit are generally secured by second mortgages on residential real estate property.

 

●

Consumer loans are generally secured by automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and other personal property. Some consumer loans are unsecured and have no underlying collateral.

 

The following table details the amortized cost of collateral dependent loans as of December 31, 2023:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

 
     

Construction & development

 $- 

Farmland

  - 

Residential

  - 

Commercial mortgage

  339 

Commercial & agricultural

  - 

Consumer & other

  - 

Total Loans

 $339 

 

Purchased Credit Deteriorated

 

There were no purchased credit deteriorated loans acquired during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

During 2018, the Company acquired loans as a result of the Great State merger, for which there was, at acquisition, evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination and it was probable, at acquisition, that all contractually required payments would not be collected. There was no accretable yield on purchased credit impaired loans for the period presented. The carrying amount of those loans at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Residential

 $99  $116 

Commercial mortgage

  77   88 

Outstanding balance

 $176  $204 
         

Carrying amount

 $176  $204 

 

77
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Impaired Loans

 

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, a loan was considered impaired when it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all contractual principal and interest payments due in accordance with the original or modified terms of the loan agreement. Smaller balance homogenous loans may be collectively evaluated for impairment. Non-homogenous impaired loans are either measured based on the estimated fair value of the collateral less estimated cost to sell if the loan is considered collateral dependent, or measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows if not collateral dependent. The valuation of real estate collateral is subjective in nature and may be adjusted in future periods because of changes in economic conditions. Management considers third-party appraisals, as well as independent fair market value assessments in determining the estimated fair value of particular properties. In addition, as certain of these third-party appraisals and independent fair market value assessments are only updated periodically, changes in the values of specific properties may have occurred subsequent to the most recent appraisals. Accordingly, the amounts of any such potential changes and any related adjustments are generally recorded at the time such information is received. When the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, impairment is recognized by creating or adjusting an allocation of the allowance for loan losses and uncollected accrued interest is reversed against interest income. If ultimate collection of principal is in doubt, all cash receipts on impaired loans are applied to reduce the principal balance.

 

As of December 31, 2022, the recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $3.0 million. The total amount of collateral-dependent impaired loans at December 31, 2022 was $695 thousand. As of December 31, 2022, $584 thousand of the recorded investment in impaired loans did not have a related allowance. The Bank had $3.0 million in troubled debt restructured loans included in impaired loans at December 31, 2022.

 

The categories of non-accrual loans and impaired loans overlap, although they are not coextensive. The Bank considers all circumstances regarding the loan and borrower on an individual basis when determining whether an impaired loan should be placed on non-accrual status, such as the financial strength of the borrower, the estimated collateral value, reasons for the delay, payment record, the amount past due and the number of days past due.

 

Management collectively evaluated performing TDRs with a loan balance of $250,000 or less for impairment. As of December 31, 2022, $2.3 million of TDRs included in the following table were evaluated collectively for impairment and were deemed to have $115 thousand of related allowance.

 

78
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Impaired Loans, continued

 

The following table is a summary of information related to impaired loans as of December 31, 2022:

 

Impaired Loans

(dollars in thousands)

 

Recorded

Investment1

  

Unpaid

Principal

Balance

  

Related

Allowance

 
             

December 31, 2022

            

With no related allowance recorded:

            

Construction & development

 $203  $203  $- 

Farmland

  -   -   - 

Residential

  -   -   - 

Commercial mortgage

  381   395   - 

Commercial & agricultural

  -   -   - 

Consumer & other

  -   -   - 

Subtotal

  584   598   - 
             

With an allowance recorded:

            

Construction & development

  119   119   4 

Farmland

  355   371   15 

Residential

  1,885   2,043   96 

Commercial mortgage

  66   66   3 

Commercial & agricultural

  24   24   1 

Consumer & other

  -   -   - 

Subtotal

  2,449   2,623   119 
             

Totals:

            

Construction & development

  322   322   4 

Farmland

  355   371   15 

Residential

  1,885   2,043   96 

Commercial mortgage

  447   461   3 

Commercial & agricultural

  24   24   1 

Consumer & other

  -   -   - 

Total

 $3,033  $3,221  $119 

 

1

Recorded investment is the loan balance, net of any charge-offs

 

The following table shows the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for impaired loans for the year ended December 31, 2022:

 

  

December 31, 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Average

Recorded

Investment

  

Interest

Income

Recognized

 
         

Construction & development

 $645  $55 

Farmland

  372   23 

Residential

  2,124   133 

Commercial mortgage

  464   21 

Commercial & agricultural

  28   2 

Consumer & other

  -   - 

Total

 $3,633  $234 

 

 

79
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty

 

The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset upon asset origination or acquisition. The starting point for the estimate of the allowance for credit losses is historical loss information, which includes losses from modifications of receivables to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The Company uses a lifetime of probability of default/loss given default model to determine the allowance for credit losses. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification. There are no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.

 

Because the effect of most modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses because of the measurement methodologies used to estimate the allowance, a change to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification. Occasionally, the Company modifies loans by providing principal forgiveness on certain of its real estate loans. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amortized cost basis of the asset is written off against the allowance for credit losses. The amount of the principal forgiveness is deemed to be uncollectible; therefore, that portion of the loan is written off, resulting in a reduction of the amortized cost basis and a corresponding adjustment to the allowance for credit losses.

 

In some cases, the Company will modify a certain loan by providing multiple types of concessions. Typically, one type of concession, such as a term extension, is granted initially. If the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another concession, such as principal forgiveness, may be granted. For the real estate loans included in the “combination” columns below, multiple types of modifications have been made on the same loan within the current reporting period. The combination is at least two of the following: a term extension, principal forgiveness, and interest rate reduction.

 

The following table shows the amortized cost basis as of December 31, 2023 of the loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, disaggregated by class of loans and type of concession granted and describes the financial effect of the modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty:

 

  

Combination – Term Extension & Interest Rate Reduction

  

Amortized

Cost

  

% of Total

Loan

  

Financial

(dollars in thousands)

 

Basis

  

Type

  

Effect

           

Construction & development

 $-   -%  

Farmland

  -   -%  

Residential

  592   0.15% 

Average interest rate reduced from 8.13% to 6.13%. Added an average of 4.39 years to the life of the loans, which resulted in reduced payment.

Commercial mortgage

  -   -%  

Commercial & agricultural

  -   -%  

Consumer & other

  398   1.96% 

Reduced interest rate from 9.50% to 7.00%. Added 0.61 years to the life of the loan.

Total

 $990       

 

Upon the Company's determination that a modified loan (or portion of a loan) has subsequently been deemed uncollectible, the loan (or a portion of the loan) is written off. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount. There were no loans that had a payment default during the period and were modified in the 12 months before default to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.

 

80
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty, continued

 

The Company closely monitors the performance of the loans that are modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. The following table depicts the performance of loans that have been modified in the last 12 months as of December 31, 2023:

 

  

Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Current

  

30-89 Days

Past Due

  

90+ Days

Past Due

 
             

Construction & development

 $-  $-  $- 

Farmland

  -   -   - 

Residential

  592   -   - 

Commercial mortgage

  -   -   - 

Commercial & agricultural

  -   -   - 

Consumer & other

  398   -   - 

Total

 $990  $-  $- 

 

Troubled Debt Restructuring

 

Prior to the adoption of ASC 326 on January 1, 2023, the Bank utilized the incurred loss methodology that required the Bank to account for certain loan modifications or restructurings as “troubled debt restructurings” or "troubled debt restructured loans." A troubled debt restructured loan is a loan for which the Bank, for reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower that the Bank would not otherwise consider. The loan terms which have been modified or restructured due to a borrower’s financial difficulty, include but are not limited to: a reduction in the stated interest rate; an extension of the maturity at an interest rate below current market; a reduction in the face amount of the debt; a reduction in the accrued interest; or re-aging, extensions, deferrals and renewals.

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the Bank’s troubled debt restructurings as of December 31, 2022 before the adoption of ASC 326:

 

  

TDRs identified during the period

  

TDRs identified in the last twelve

months that subsequently defaulted(1)

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Number

of

contracts

  

Pre-

modification

outstanding

recorded

investment

  

Post-

modification

outstanding

recorded

investment

  

Number

of

contracts

  

Pre-

modification

outstanding

recorded

investment

  

Post-

modification

outstanding

recorded

investment

 
                         

December 31, 2022

                        

Construction & development

  -  $-  $-   -  $-  $- 

Farmland

  -   -   -   -   -   - 

Residential

  2   79   79   -   -   - 

Commercial mortgage

  1   403   381   -   -   - 

Commercial & agricultural

  -   -   -   -   -   - 

Consumer & other

  -   -   -   -   -   - 

Total

  3  $482  $460   -  $-  $- 

 

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, three loans were modified that were considered to be TDRs. One residential loan had term concessions granted and additional funds advanced for insurance. The other residential loan had the principal and interest payments modified, interest rate lowered, and maturity date extended. The commercial mortgage loan had the principal and interest payments modified; however, the maturity date remained the same. No TDRs identified in the last twelve months subsequently defaulted in the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

(1) Loans past due 30 days or more are considered to be in default.

 

81
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 5.  Allowance for Credit Losses, continued

 

Unfunded Commitments

 

The Company maintains a separate reserve for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures, including unfunded loan commitments, which is included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The reserve for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit losses in the income statement. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life, utilizing the same models and approaches for the Company's other loan portfolio segments described above, as these unfunded commitments share similar risk characteristics as its loan portfolio segments. The Company has identified the unfunded portion of certain lines of credit as unconditionally cancellable credit exposures, meaning the Company can cancel the unfunded commitment at any time. No credit loss estimate is reported for off-balance-sheet credit exposures that are unconditionally cancellable by the Company or for undrawn amounts under such arrangements that may be drawn prior to the cancellation of the arrangement.

 

The following table presents the balance and activity in the allowance for credit losses for unfunded loan commitments for the nine months ended December 31, 2023:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Total Allowance

for Credit Losses –

Unfunded

Commitments

 
     

Balance, December 31, 2022

 $46 

Adjustment to allowance for unfunded commitments for adoption of ASU 2016-13

  313 

Provision for credit losses - unfunded commitments

  43 

Balance, December 31, 2023

 $402 

 
82
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 6.  Property and Equipment

 

Components of property and equipment and total accumulated depreciation at December 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Land

   $ 8,478     $ 8,429  

Buildings and improvements

     25,831       25,835  

Furniture and equipment

     14,126       13,221  
      48,435       47,485  
                 

Less accumulated depreciation

     (17,252 )     (15,732 )
    $ 31,183     $ 31,753  

 

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

 

 

Note 7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

An analysis of goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

    

2022

  
                 

Beginning of year

   $ 3,257     $ 3,257  

Impairment

     -       -  

End of the period

   $ 3,257     $ 3,257  

 

Intangible Assets

 

The following table presents the activity for the Company’s core deposit intangible assets, which are the only identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization. Core deposit intangibles at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

    

2022

  
                 

Balance at beginning of year, net

   $ 1,286     $ 1,764  

Amortization expense

     (369 )     (478 )

Net book value

   $ 917     $ 1,286  

 

The following table presents the estimated amortization expense of the core deposit intangible over the remaining useful life:

 

(dollars in thousands)

        
         

For the year ended December 31, 2024

   $ 262  

For the year ended December 31, 2025

     154  

For the year ended December 31, 2026

     96  

For the year ended December 31, 2027

     81  

For the year ended December 31, 2028

     68  

Thereafter

     256  

Total

   $ 917  

 
83
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 8.  Leases

 

The Company’s leases are recorded under ASC Topic 842, “Leases”. We have performed an evaluation of our leasing contracts and activities. We have developed our methodology to estimate the right-of use assets and lease liabilities, which is based on the present value of lease payments.

 

Contracts are evaluated to determine whether they are or contain a lease in accordance with Topic 842. The Company has elected the practical expedient provided by Topic 842 not to allocate consideration in a contract between lease and non-lease components. The Company also elected, as provided by the standard, not to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases, defined by the standard as leases with terms of 12 months or less. The Company entered into an operating lease in June 2023 and as a result incurred $95 thousand in initial direct costs that was factored into the right of use asset. In August 2023 the Company executed a sale leaseback transaction on a branch location which resulted in a gain of $197 thousand and as a result entered into a two year operating lease agreement and recognized a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the transaction. The Company renewed an operating lease during 2022 and recognized a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the renewal.

 

Lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments and are presented at each reporting date as the net present value of the remaining contractual cash flows. Cash flows are discounted at the Company’s incremental borrowing rate in effect at the commencement date of the lease. For our incremental borrowing rate, we used the Federal Home Loan Bank rate available at the time of lease inception. The right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and are calculated as the sum of the lease liability and if applicable, prepaid rent, initial direct costs and any incentives received from the lessor. The contracts in which the Company is lessee are with parties external to the Company and not related parties. The Company’s lease right-of-use assets are included in other assets and the lease liabilities are included in other liabilities. The following tables present information about leases:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Lease liabilities

   $ 1,983     $ 739  

Right-of-use assets

   $ 2,073     $ 739  

Weighted average remaining lease term (years)

     7.45       5.59  

Weighted average discount rate

     3.98 %     2.75 %

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Lease Expense

                

Operating lease expense

   $ 273     $ 158  

Short-term lease expense

     17       8  

Total lease expense

   $ 290     $ 166  
                 

Cash paid for amounts included in lease liabilities

   $ 268     $ 158  

 

The following table presents a maturity schedule of undiscounted cash flows that contribute to the lease liabilities:

 

(dollars in thousands)

        
         

Twelve months ending December 31, 2024

   $ 388  

Twelve months ending December 31, 2025

     352  

Twelve months ending December 31, 2026

     293  

Twelve months ending December 31, 2027

     257  

Twelve months ending December 31, 2028

     231  

Thereafter

     798  

Total undiscounted cash flows

   $ 2,319  

Less discount

     (336 )

Lease liabilities

   $ 1,983  

 
84
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 9.  Deposits

 

The following table presents the composition of deposits at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Interest-bearing deposits:

                

Interest-bearing demand deposit accounts

   $ 136,305     $ 144,540  

Money market

     70,669       87,012  

Savings

     152,666       194,723  

Time deposits

     263,987       183,542  

Total interest-bearing deposits

     623,627       609,817  

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     305,115       310,510  

Total deposits

   $ 928,742     $ 920,327  

 

The aggregate amount of time deposits in denominations of more than $250 thousand at December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $78.6 million, and $49.5 million, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2023, the scheduled maturities of all time deposits are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

2024

   $ 225,658  

2025

     19,197  

2026

     9,171  

2027

     5,894  

2028

     4,067  

After Five Years

     -  

Total

   $ 263,987  

 
 

Note 10.  Short-Term Borrowings

 

At December 31, 2023, the Bank had a $25.0 million FHLB advance outstanding at a rate of 5.45%, with a maturity date of January 10, 2024, that was classified as short-term. At December 31, 2023, the Bank had a $2.5 million borrowing from the Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding Program outstanding at a rate of 5.46%, with a maturity date of August 2, 2024, that was classified as short-term. The Bank had no borrowings outstanding classified as short-term at December 31, 2022.

 

At December 31, 2023, the Bank had established unsecured lines of credit of approximately $73.0 million with correspondent banks to provide additional liquidity if, and as needed.  In addition, the Bank has the ability to borrow up to approximately $229.2 million from the FHLB, subject to the pledging of collateral.
 

Note 11.  Long-Term Borrowings

 

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Bank had no borrowings outstanding classified as long-term.

 

85
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 12.  Financial Instruments

 

FASB ASC 825, “Financial Instruments”, requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value of future cash flows or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instruments. FASB ASC 825 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

 

The following presents the carrying amount, fair value, and placement in the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. This table excludes financial instruments for which the carrying amount approximates fair value. For short-term financial assets such as cash and cash equivalents, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization. For non-marketable equity securities such as FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of the fair value as these securities can only be redeemed or sold at their par value and only to the respective issuing government supported institution or to another member institution. For financial liabilities such as noninterest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, and savings deposits, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to these products having no stated maturity.

 

For loans, the carrying amount is net of unearned income and the allowance for credit losses. In accordance with ASU No. 2016-01, the fair value of loans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, was measured using an exit price notion.          

 

          

Fair Value Measurements

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

Carrying

Amount

  

Fair

Value

  

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets

for Identical

Assets or

Liabilities

(Level 1)

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 
                     

December 31, 2023

                    
                     

Financial Instruments – Assets

                    

Net Loans

 $810,965  $775,246  $-  $-  $775,246 
                     

Financial Instruments – Liabilities

                    

Time Deposits

  263,987   260,590   -   260,590   - 

FHLB Advances

  25,000   24,999   -   24,999   - 

Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding  Program Advances

  2,500   2,500   -   2,500   - 
                     

December 31, 2022

                    
                     

Financial Instruments – Assets

                    

Net Loans

 $748,624  $702,549  $-  $-  $702,549 
                     

Financial Instruments – Liabilities

                    

Time Deposits

  183,542   181,525   -   181,525   - 

 

The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. Securities available for sale and derivatives are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, such as loans or foreclosed assets. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

 

86
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 12.  Financial Instruments, continued

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

 

Under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, the Company groups assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:

 

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

 

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

 

Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques may include the use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

 

Following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.

 

Investment Securities Available for Sale

 

Investment securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as the present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets and money market funds. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored entities, municipal bonds and corporate debt securities. Securities classified as Level 3 include asset-backed securities in less liquid markets.

 

Individually Evaluated Loans

 

Individually evaluated loans for which it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement potential specific reserves and adjusted, if a shortfall exists, to fair value less costs to sell. Fair value is measured based on the value of the underlying collateral securing the loan if repayment is expected solely from the sale or operation of the collateral or present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the loan’s contractual interest rate if the loan is not determined to be collateral dependent. All loans individually evaluated are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

Fair value for individually evaluated loans is determined using several methods. Generally, the fair value of real estate is determined based on appraisals by qualified licensed appraisers. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. These routine adjustments are made to adjust the value of a specific property relative to comparable properties for variations in qualities such as location, size, and income production capacity relative to the subject property of the appraisal. Such adjustments are typically significant and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value.

 

87
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 12.  Financial Instruments, continued

 

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

 

Derivative instruments held or issued by the Company for risk management purposes are traded in over-the-counter markets where quoted market prices are not readily available. Management engages third-party intermediaries to determine the fair market value of these derivative instruments and classifies these instruments as Level 2. Examples of Level 2 derivatives are interest rate swaps, caps and floors. No derivative instruments were held as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned is adjusted to fair value upon transfer of the loans, or former bank premises, to other real estate owned. Subsequently, other reals estate owned is carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price the Company records the other real estate owned as nonrecurring Level 2. When the fair value of the collateral is based on either an external or internal appraisal and there is no observable market price, the Company records the other real estate owned as nonrecurring Level 3. There was a former bank premise valued at $235 thousand in other real estate owned at December 31, 2022 and there was no other real estate owned held as of December 31, 2023.

 

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Total

  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

 
                 

December 31, 2023

                

Investment securities available for sale

                

U.S. Treasury securities

 $2,446  $-  $2,446  $- 

U.S. Government agencies

  21,438   -   21,438   - 

Mortgage-backed securities

  61,697   -   61,697   - 

Corporate securities

  1,442   -   1,442   - 

State and municipal securities

  40,366   -   40,366   - 

Total assets at fair value

 $127,389  $-  $127,389  $- 
                 

December 31, 2022

                

Investment securities available for sale

                

U.S. Treasury securities

 $4,834  $-  $4,834  $- 

U.S. Government agencies

  20,846   -   20,846   - 

Mortgage-backed securities

  67,270   -   67,270   - 

Corporate securities

  1,500   -   1,500   - 

State and municipal securities

  40,701   -   40,701   - 

Total assets at fair value

 $135,151  $-  $135,151  $- 

 

No liabilities were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 or 2022. There were no significant transfers between levels during the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.

 

88
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 12.  Financial Instruments, continued

 

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

The Company may be required, from time to time, to measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These include assets and liabilities that are measured at the lower of cost or market that were recognized at fair value below cost at the end of the period. No liabilities were recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2023 and 2022. Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are included in the table below.

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Total

  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

 
                 

December 31, 2023

                

Individually evaluated loans

 $1,635  $-  $-  $1,635 

Other real estate owned

  -   -   -   - 

Total assets at fair value

 $1,635  $-  $-  $1,635 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Total

  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

 
                 

December 31, 2022

                

Impaired loans

 $173  $-  $-  $173 

Other real estate owned

  235   -   -   235 

Total assets at fair value

 $408  $-  $-  $408 

 

For Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements were as follows:

 

  

Fair Value at

December 31,

2023

  

Fair Value at

December 31,

2022

 

Valuation Technique

 

Significant

Unobservable Inputs

 

General Range

of Significant

Unobservable

Input Values

 
                 

Individually Evaluated Loans

 $1,635  $- 

Appraised Value/Discounted Cash Flows/Market Value of Note

 

Discounts to reflect current market conditions, ultimate collectability, and estimated costs to sell

 0–10% 
                 

Impaired Loans

 $-  $173 

Appraised Value/Discounted Cash Flows/Market Value of Note

 

Discounts to reflect current market conditions, ultimate collectability, and estimated costs to sell

 0–10% 
                 

Other Real Estate Owned

 $-  $235 

Appraised Value/Comparable Sales/Other Estimates from Independent Sources

 

Discounts to reflect current market conditions and estimated costs to sell

 0–10% 

 
89
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 13.  Deferred Compensation and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans

 

Deferred compensation plans have been adopted for certain executive officers and members of the Board of Directors for future compensation upon retirement. Under plan provisions aggregate annual payments ranging from $4,268 to $26,791 are payable for ten years certain, generally beginning at age 65. Reduced benefits apply in cases of early retirement or death prior to the benefit date, as defined. The liability accrued for compensation deferred under the plan amounts to $71 thousand and $103 thousand at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Expense charged against income and included in salary and benefits expense was $7 thousand and $9 thousand in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Charges to income are based on changes in present value of future cash payments, discounted at 8 percent, consistent with prior years.

 

Supplemental executive retirement plans for certain executive officers were adopted in 2017 and 2022. The plans provide for annual payments ranging from $12,857 to $88,000, payable in monthly installments, and continuing for the life of the executive. Reduced benefits apply in cases of early retirement. The liability accrued for this obligation was $881 thousand and $640 thousand at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Expense charged against income and included in salary and benefits expense was $241 thousand in 2023 and 2022, respectively, for these supplemental executive retirement plans.

 

Prior to the Cardinal merger, the Bank of Floyd had adopted supplemental executive plans to provide benefits for two former members of management. Aggregate annual payments of $69 thousand are payable for 20 years, beginning subsequent to the executive’s last day of employment. The liability is calculated by discounting the anticipated future cash flows at 4.00%. The liability accrued for this obligation was $555 thousand and $601 thousand at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Charges to income amounted to approximately $23 thousand and $25 thousand for 2023 and 2022, respectively. These plans are unfunded; however, life insurance has been acquired in amounts sufficient to discharge the obligations of the agreements.

 

 

Note 14.  Employee Benefit Plans

 

Prior to the merger, both Grayson and Floyd had qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plans in place which covered substantially all of each bank’s employees. The benefits in each plan are primarily based on years of service and earnings. Both Grayson and Floyd plans were amended to freeze benefit accruals for all eligible employees prior to the effective date of the merger. A summary of each plan follows:

 

Grayson Plan

 

The following is a summary of the plan’s funded status as of December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Change in benefit obligation

        

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 $3,187  $5,830 

Interest cost

  142   147 

Actuarial gain

  92   (1,327)

Benefits paid

  (438)  (1,499)

Settlement (gain) loss

  (24)  36 

Benefit obligation at end of year

  2,959   3,187 

Change in plan assets

        

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

  7,168   11,081 

Actual return on plan assets

  803   (2,414)

Benefits paid

  (438)  (1,499)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

  7,533   7,168 

Funded status at the end of the year

 $4,574  $3,981 

 

90
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 14.  Employee Benefit Plans, continued

 

Grayson Plan, continued

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Amounts recognized in the Balance Sheet

        

Prepaid benefit cost

 $6,316  $6,467 

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

  (1,742)  (2,486)

Amount recognized in other assets

 $4,574  $3,981 
         

Amounts recognized in accumulated comprehensive loss

        

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

 $(1,742) $(2,486)

Deferred taxes

  366   522 

Amount recognized in accumulated comprehensive loss, net

 $(1,376) $(1,964)
         

Prepaid benefit detail

        

Benefit obligation

 $(2,959) $(3,187)

Fair value of assets

  7,533   7,168 

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

  1,742   2,486 

Prepaid benefit cost

 $6,316  $6,467 
         

Components of net periodic pension cost

        

Interest cost

 $142  $147 

Expected return on plan assets

  (478)  (741)

Recognized net loss due to settlement

  292   216 

Recognized net actuarial loss

  195   - 

Net periodic benefit expense

 $151  $(378)
         

Additional disclosure information

        

Accumulated benefit obligation

 $2,959  $3,187 

Vested benefit obligation

 $2,959  $3,187 

Discount rate used for net periodic pension cost

  5.00%  2.75%

Discount rate used for disclosure

  4.75%  5.00%

Expected return on plan assets

  7.00%  7.00%

Rate of compensation increase

  N/A   N/A 

Average remaining service (years)

  8   9 

 

Using the same fair value hierarchy described in Note 12, the fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets, by asset category, are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Total

  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

 
                 

December 31, 2023

                

Mutual funds – equities

 $3,842  $3,842  $-  $- 

Mutual funds – fixed income

  3,691   3,691   -   - 

Total assets at fair value

 $7,533  $7,533  $-  $- 
                 

December 31, 2022

                

Mutual funds – equities

 $3,727  $3,727  $-  $- 

Mutual funds – fixed income

  3,441   3,441   -   - 

Total assets at fair value

 $7,168  $7,168  $-  $- 

 

91
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 14.  Employee Benefit Plans, continued

 

Grayson Plan, continued

 

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

Pension

Benefits

 
      

2024

  $713 

2025

   61 

2026

   288 

2027

   265 

2028

   156 
2029–2033   955 
   $2,438 

 

Funding Policy

 

It has been Bank practice to contribute the maximum tax-deductible amount each year as determined by the plan administrator. As a result of prior year contributions exceeding the minimum requirements, a Prefunding Balance existed as of December 31, 2023 and there is no required contribution for 2024. Based on this we do not anticipate making a contribution to the plan in 2024.

 

Long-Term Rate of Return

 

The plan sponsor selects the expected long-term rate-of-return-on-assets assumption in consultation with their investment advisors and actuary. This rate is intended to reflect the average rate of earnings expected to be earned on the funds invested or to be invested to provide plan benefits. Historical performance is reviewed – especially with respect to real rates of return (net of inflation) – for the major asset classes held, or anticipated to be held by the trust, and for the trust itself. Undue weight is not given to recent experience – that may not continue over the measurement period – with higher significance placed on current forecasts of future long-term economic conditions.

 

Because assets are held in a qualified trust, anticipated returns are not reduced for taxes. Further – solely for this purpose the plan is assumed to continue in force and not terminate during the period during which the assets are invested. However, consideration is given to the potential impact of current and future investment policy, cash flow into and out of the trust, and expenses (both investment and non-investment) typically paid from plan assets (to the extent such expenses are not explicitly estimated within periodic cost).

 

Asset Allocation

 

The pension plan’s weighted-average asset allocations at December 31, 2023 and 2022, by asset category are as follows:

 

  

2023

  

2022

 
         

Mutual funds – fixed income

  49%  48%

Mutual funds – equity

  51%  52%

Total

  100%  100%

 

The trust fund is sufficiently diversified to maintain a reasonable level of risk without imprudently sacrificing return, with a targeted asset allocation of 50 percent fixed income and 50 percent equities. The Investment Manager selects investment fund managers with demonstrated experience and expertise, and funds with demonstrated historical performance, for the implementation of the Plan’s investment strategy. The Investment Manager will consider both actively and passively managed investment strategies and will allocate funds across the asset classes to develop an efficient investment structure.

 

92
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 14.  Employee Benefit Plans, continued

 

Grayson Plan, continued

 

It is the responsibility of the Trustee to administer the investments of the Trust within reasonable costs, being careful to avoid sacrificing quality. These costs include, but are not limited to, management and custodial fees, consulting fees, transaction costs and other administrative costs chargeable to the Trust.

 

Floyd Plan

 

The Company participates in the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions (“The Pentegra DB Plan”), a tax-qualified defined-benefit pension plan. The Pentegra DB Plan operates as a multi-employer plan for accounting purposes and is a multiple-employer plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code. There are no collective bargaining agreements in place that require contributions to the Pentegra DB Plan.

 

The Pentegra DB Plan is a single plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 413 (C) and, as a result, all of the assets stand behind all of the liabilities. Accordingly, under the Pentegra DB Plan, contributions made by a participating employer may be used to provide benefits to participants of other participating employers.

 

Funded Status (market value of plan assets divided by funding target) as of July 1,

 

  

2023 Valuation

  

2022 Valuation

 

Source

 

Report

  

Report

 
         

Bank of Floyd Plan

  100.09%   105.50% 

 

Employer Contributions

 

Plan expenses paid by the Company totaled approximately $37 thousand and $39 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

VBA Defined Contribution Plan for Skyline National Bank

 

The Bank has established a qualified defined contribution plan that covers all eligible employees of the Bank who have completed at least three months of service. The Bank makes a safe harbor matching contribution of 100% of the first 3% of compensation and 50% on the next 2% of compensation, up to a maximum of 5%. Additional amounts may be contributed at the discretion of the Bank. Participants are immediately vested in their contributions and the Bank’s safe harbor matching and discretionary contributions. The Bank expensed $396 thousand and $379 thousand related to the defined contribution plan for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

93
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 15.  Share-Based Compensation

 

The Equity Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 17, 2020 and approved by the Company’s shareholders on August 18, 2020. The Equity Plan permits the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and stock awards to key employees and non-employee directors of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

The purpose of the Equity Plan is to promote the success of the Company and its subsidiaries by providing incentives to key employees and non-employee directors that will promote the identification of their personal interests with the long-term financial success of the Company and with growth in shareholder value, consistent with the Company’s risk management practices. The Equity Plan is designed to provide flexibility to the Company, including its subsidiaries, in its ability to attract, retain the services of, and motivate key employees and non-employee directors upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of its operation is largely dependent.

 

No award may be granted under the Equity Plan after March 16, 2030 and any awards outstanding on such date shall remain valid in accordance with their terms. The Board of Directors shall have the right to terminate the Equity Plan at any time pursuant to the terms of the Equity Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has been appointed to administer the Equity Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to awards made under the Equity Plan shall not exceed 300,000 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2023, 59,900 shares have been issued under the Equity Plan, leaving 240,100 shares available for future grants.

 

On February 18, 2022, 14,500 restricted stock awards were issued with a fair value of $13.00 per share.  These awards vest 20% on December 15, 2022, 20% on December 15, 2023, 20% on December 15, 2024, 20% on December 15, 2025, and 20% on December 15, 2026.  For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, $99 thousand and $80 thousand, respectively, was recognized as compensation expense related to share-based compensation for restricted stock awards. 

 

As of December 31, 2023, the unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards was $131 thousand. The unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.42 years. The following table presents the activity for restricted stock:

 

                   

Grant Date

  
                   

Fair Value of

  
                   

Restricted

  
                   

Stock that

  
           

Weighted

    

Vested During

  
   

Number of

    

Average Grant

    

The Year

  
   

Shares

   

Date Fair Value

    

(in thousands)

  
                         

Unvested as of December 31, 2021

     10,875     $ 11.30          

Granted

     14,500       13.00          

Vested

     (6,525 )     12.13     $ 80  

Forfeited

     -       -          

Unvested as of December 31, 2022

     18,850     $ 12.38          

Granted

     -       -          

Vested

     (8,225 )     12.21     $ 99  

Forfeited

     -       -          

Unvested as of December 31, 2023

     10,625     $ 12.54          

 

On December 29, 2023, 13,500 stock awards were issued with a fair value of $11.24 per share to non-employee directors, which immediately vested.  For the year ended December 31, 2023, $152 thousand was recognized as compensation expense related to share-based compensation for these stock awards.  On December 31, 2022, 8,700 stock awards were issued with a fair value of $11.35 per share to non-employee directors, which immediately vested.  For the year ended December 31, 2022, $99 thousand was recognized as compensation expense related to share-based compensation for these stock awards. 

 

94
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 16.  Income Taxes

 

Current and Deferred Income Tax Components

 

The components of income tax expense (substantially all Federal) are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Current

 $2,431  $1,620 

Deferred

  (55)  899 
  $2,376  $2,519 

 

Rate Reconciliation

 

A reconciliation of income tax expense computed at the statutory federal income tax rate to income tax expense included in the statements of income follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Tax at statutory federal rate

 $2,536  $2,688 

Tax exempt interest income

  (69)  (88)

Tax exempt insurance income

  (135)  (153)

State income tax, net of federal benefit

  80   72 

Other

  (36)  - 
  $2,376  $2,519 

 

Deferred Income Tax Analysis

 

The significant components of net deferred tax assets (all Federal) at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Deferred tax assets

        

Allowance for credit losses

 $1,545  $1,347 

Acquired loan credit mark

  114   145 

Deferred compensation

  326   302 

Investment impairment charge recorded directly to stockholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income

  44   43 

Minimum pension liability

  366   522 

Net operating loss carryforward

  1,221   1,333 

Nonaccrual interest income

  313   324 

Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale

  4,775   5,567 

Other

  4   11 
  $8,708  $9,594 

Deferred tax liabilities

        

Deferred loan origination costs

  707   642 

Core deposit intangible

  198   277 

Accrued pension costs

  1,367   1,395 

Depreciation

  1,326   1,452 

Other real estate owned

  -   51 

Accretion of discount on investment securities, net

  64   33 
  $3,662  $3,850 

Net deferred tax asset

 $5,046  $5,744 

 

95
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 16.  Income Taxes, continued

 

In March of 2020, the CARES Act was enacted and made significant changes to federal tax laws, including certain changes that were retroactive to the December 31, 2019 tax year. Changes in tax laws are accounted for in the period of enactment and the retroactive effects were recognized in these financial statements. There were no material income tax consequences of this enacted legislation on the reporting period of these financial statements.

 

The Bank has analyzed the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns and concluded it has no liability related to uncertain tax positions in accordance with applicable regulations. Tax returns for the years subsequent to 2020 remain subject to examination by both federal and state tax authorities.

 

Deferred tax assets or liabilities are initially recognized for differences between the financial statement carrying amount and the tax basis of assets and liabilities which will result in future deductible or taxable amounts and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. A valuation allowance is then established, as applicable, to reduce the deferred tax asset to the level at which it is “more likely than not” that the tax benefits will be realized. Sources of taxable income that may allow for the realization of tax benefits include (1) taxable income in the current year or prior years that is available through carry-back, (2) future taxable income that will result from the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, and (3) taxable income generated by future operations. There is no valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The net operating loss of approximately $5.8 million, if not utilized will begin to expire in 2031. It is management’s belief that realization of the deferred tax asset is more likely than not.

 

 

Note 17.  Transactions with Related Parties

 

The Bank has entered into transactions with its directors, significant stockholders and their affiliates (related parties). Such transactions were made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms and conditions, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with other customers, and did not, in the opinion of management, involve more than normal credit risk or present other unfavorable features.

 

Aggregate 2023 and 2022 loan transactions with related parties were as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Balance, beginning

   $ 10,029     $ 9,140  

New loans

     2,231       4,368  

Repayments

     (2041 )     (3,479 )

Change in relationship

     (94 )     -  

Balance, ending

   $ 10,125     $ 10,029  

 

The Company has accepted deposits during the ordinary course of business from certain directors and executive officers of the Company and from their affiliates and associates. The total amount of these deposits outstanding was $12.5 million, and $15.9 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

96
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 18.  Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

In the normal course of business, the Bank is involved in various legal proceedings. After consultation with legal counsel, management believes that any liability resulting from such proceedings will not be material to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk

 

The Bank is party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for on-balance sheet instruments. A summary of the Bank’s commitments at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

  

2023

   

2022

 
                 

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 195,991     $ 163,250  

Standby letters of credit

     583       833  
    $ 196,574     $ 164,083  

 

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Bank evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the party. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, residential real estate and income-producing commercial properties.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Collateral held varies as specified above and is required in instances which the Bank deems necessary.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Substantially all of the Bank’s loans, commitments to extend credit, and standby letters of credit have been granted to customers in the Bank’s market area and such customers are generally depositors of the Bank. Investments in state and municipal securities involve governmental entities within and outside the Bank’s market area. The concentrations of credit by type of loan are set forth in Note 4. The distribution of commitments to extend credit approximates the distribution of loans outstanding. Standby letters of credit are granted primarily to commercial borrowers. The Bank’s primary focus is toward small business and consumer transactions, and accordingly, it does not have a significant number of credits to any single borrower or group of related borrowers. The Bank has cash and cash equivalents on deposit with financial institutions which exceed federally insured limits.

 

97
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 19.  Regulatory Restrictions

 

Dividends

 

The Company’s dividend payments are generally made from dividends received from the Bank. Under applicable federal law, the Comptroller of the Currency restricts national bank total dividend payments in any calendar year to net profits of that year, as defined, combined with retained net profits for the two preceding years. The Comptroller also has authority under the Financial Institutions Supervisory Act to prohibit a national bank from engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting its business. It is possible, under certain circumstances, the Comptroller could assert that dividends or other payments would be an unsafe or unsound practice.

 

Intercompany Transactions

 

The Bank’s legal lending limit on loans to the Company is governed by Federal Reserve Act 23A, and differs from legal lending limits on loans to external customers. Generally, a bank may lend up to 10 percent of its capital and surplus to its Parent, if the loan is secured. If collateral is in the form of stocks, bonds, debentures or similar obligations, it must have a market value when the loan is made of at least 20 percent more than the amount of the loan, and if obligations of a state or political subdivision or agency thereof, it must have a market value of at least 10 percent more than the amount of the loan. If such loans are secured by obligations of the United States or agencies thereof, or by notes, drafts, bills of exchange or bankers’ acceptances eligible for rediscount or purchase by a Federal Reserve Bank, requirements for collateral in excess of the loan amount do not apply. Under this definition, the legal lending limit for the Bank on loans to the Company was approximately $10.5 million at December 31, 2023. No 23A transactions were deemed to exist between the Company and the Bank at December 31, 2023.

 

Capital Requirements

 

The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory - and possibly additional discretionary - actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank's assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank's capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

 

Effective January 1, 2015, the federal banking regulators adopted rules to implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The final rules required the Bank to comply with the following minimum capital ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets; (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of risk-weighted assets; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% of risk-weighted assets; and (iv) a leverage ratio of 4% of total assets.  As fully phased in on January 1, 2019, the rules require the Bank to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer” (which is added to the 4.5% common equity Tier 1 ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%), (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%), (iii) a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5%), and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets.

 

Under Basel III Capital requirements, a capital conservation buffer of 0.625% became effective beginning on January 1, 2016. The capital conservation buffer was gradually increased through January 1, 2019 to 2.50%. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banks are now required to maintain levels that meet the required minimum plus the capital conservation buffer in order to make distributions, such as dividends, or discretionary bonus payments. The Banks’s capital conservation buffer is 4.49% as of December 31, 2023.

 

98
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 19.  Regulatory Restrictions, continued

 

Capital Requirements, continued

 

The rules also revised the prompt corrective action framework, which is designed to place restrictions on insured depository institutions if their capital levels begin to show signs of weakness. Under the prompt corrective action requirements, which are designed to complement the capital conservation buffer, insured depository institutions are required to meet the following capital level requirements in order to qualify as “well capitalized:” a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5%; a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8%; a total capital ratio of 10%; and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5%.

 

The Company meets eligibility criteria of a small bank holding company in accordance with the Federal Reserve Board’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, and is not obligated to report consolidated regulatory capital.  The Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios are presented in the following table as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.  These ratios comply with Federal Reserve rules to align with the Basel III Capital requirements effective January 1, 2015.

 

  

Actual

  

For Capital

Adequacy Purposes

  

To Be Well-

Capitalized

 
  

Amount

  

Ratio

  

Amount

  

Ratio

  

Amount

  

Ratio

 

December 31, 2023

                        

Total Capital (to risk weighted assets)

 $104,800   12.49% $67,130   8.00% $83,913   10.00%

Tier 1 Capital (to risk weighted assets)

 $97,659   11.64% $50,348   6.00% $67,130   8.00%

Common Equity Tier 1 (to risk weighted assets)

 $97,659   11.64% $37,761   4.50% $54,543   6.50%

Tier 1 Capital (to average total assets)

 $97,659   9.26% $42,199   4.00% $52,749   5.00%
                         

December 31, 2022

                        

Total Capital (to risk weighted assets)

 $97,172   12.42% $62,592   8.00% $78,240   10.00%

Tier 1 Capital (to risk weighted assets)

 $90,878   11.62% $46,944   6.00% $62,592   8.00%

Common Equity Tier 1 (to risk weighted assets)

 $90,878   11.62% $35,208   4.50% $50,856   6.50%

Tier 1 Capital (to average total assets)

 $90,878   8.79% $41,342   4.00% $51,677   5.00%

 

On September 17, 2019 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation finalized a rule that introduces an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations (i.e., the community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework; as required by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. The CBLR framework is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework.

 

In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9.00%, less than $10.0 billion in total consolidated assets, and limited amounts of off-balance sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements under the prompt corrective action regulations and will not be required to report or calculated risk-based capital.

 

The CBLR framework was available for banks to use in their December 31, 2023 Call Report. At this time the Company has elected not to opt into the CBLR framework for the Bank, but may opt into the CBLR framework in the future.

 

99
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Note 20.  Parent Company Financial Information

 

Condensed financial information of Skyline Bankshares, Inc. is presented as follows:

 

Balance Sheets

December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Assets

        

Cash and due from banks

 $52  $63 

Investment in affiliate bank

  82,536   72,559 

Other assets

  337   359 

Total assets

 $82,925  $72,981 
         

Liabilities

        

Borrowings

 $-  $- 

Other liabilities

  43   45 

Total liabilities

  43   45 
         

Stockholders’ Equity

        

Common stock

  -   - 

Surplus

  33,356   33,613 

Retained earnings

  68,866   62,229 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (19,340)  (22,906)

Total stockholders’ equity

  82,882   72,936 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $82,925  $72,981 

 

Statements of Income

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Income

        

Dividends from affiliate bank

 $2,843  $5,346 
   2,843   5,346 

Expenses

        

Interest on borrowings

  -   178 

Share-based compensation

  251   179 

Management and professional fees

  67   68 

Other expenses

  15   7 
   333   432 

Income before tax benefit and equity in undistributed income of affiliate

  2,510   4,914 
         

Federal income tax benefit

  69   90 
         

Income before equity in undistributed income of affiliate

  2,579   5,004 
         

Equity in undistributed income of affiliate

  7,121   5,277 

Net income

 $9,700  $10,281 

 

100
 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Note 20.  Parent Company Financial Information, continued

 

Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2023

  

2022

 
         

Cash flows from operating activities

        

Net income

 $9,700  $10,281 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:

        

Equity in undistributed income of affiliate

  (7,121)  (5,277)

Share-based compensation

  251   179 

Change in other assets

  22   (2)

Change in other liabilities

  (2)  7 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  2,850   5,188 
         

Cash flows from investing activities

        

Investment in affiliate

  -   - 

Net cash used by investing activities

  -   - 
         

Cash flows from financing activities

        

Advance on short-term line of credit

  -   150 

Repayment on short-term line of credit

  -   (3,350)

Common stock repurchased

  (508)  (154)

Dividends paid

  (2,353)  (1,797)

Net cash used by financing activities

  (2,861)  (5,151)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  (11)  37 
         

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning

  63   26 

Cash and cash equivalents, ending

 $52  $63 

 
 

Note 21.  Subsequent Events

 

Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. Recognized subsequent events are events or transactions that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing financial statements. Non-recognized subsequent events are events that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the date of the balance sheet but arose after that date.

 

The Company has disclosed deposit compositions in Note 9. In relation to current economic conditions, management has monitored deposit concentrations through the date the financial statements were issued noting no significant changes to compositions. In addition, there has been no significant deposit deterioration through the date the financial statements were issued.

 

The Company has disclosed its investment portfolio position in Note 3. There has been no significant deterioration in the investment portfolio through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

 

Management has reviewed the events occurring through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued and no additional subsequent events occurred requiring accrual or disclosure.
 

 

101
 

 

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company’s financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, management has conducted and assessment of the design and effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).

 

Management maintains a comprehensive system of internal control to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The system of internal control provides for appropriate division of responsibility and is documented by written policies and procedures that are communicated to employees. Those policies and procedures: 1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of the assets of the Company, 2) provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors, 3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control system, including the possibility of human effort and the circumvention or overriding of internal controls. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Changes in conditions will also impact the internal control effectiveness over time. The Company maintains an internal auditing program, under the supervision of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which independently assesses the effectiveness of the system of internal control and recommends possible improvements.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, using the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded as of December 31, 2023, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is adequate and effective and meets the criteria of the Internal Control – Integrated Framework.

 

Management’s assessment did not determine any material weaknesses within the Company’s internal control structure. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s quarter ended December 31, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

102
 

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm, regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.         

 

 

Item 9B.

Other Information.

 

During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023, none of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K).
 

 

Item 9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

 

None.

 

PART III

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Directors

 

The following biographical information discloses each director’s age and business experience, and the year that each individual was first elected to the Board of Directors of the Company. Previous service on the boards of Grayson, Cardinal, or Great State prior to the merger with and into the Company is also disclosed, as are the specific skills or attributes that qualify each director for service on the Board of Directors.

 

Thomas M. Jackson, Jr. (66) – Mr. Jackson has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since its inception in November 2015.  He served as a board member for Grayson and Grayson National Bank beginning in 2002 and was elected Chairman in 2012.  Mr. Jackson is a practicing attorney and the owner of Jackson Law Group, PLLC, with offices in Hillsville and Wytheville, Virginia.  He also has a black angus beef farm at his family home place in Wythe County.  He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1987 and served as a 6th District Representative until 2002. Following his retirement from the General Assembly, he was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education for a four-year term, serving as Board of Education President the last three years. Mr. Jackson’s knowledge of real estate and contract law assists the Bank in its real estate and commercial lending activities. Through his service in the legislature and his current legal practice he has gained extensive knowledge of the communities served by the Company and the Bank.

 

W. David McNeill (67) – Mr. McNeill has been a director of the Company since July 2018 and has served as Vice Chairman since January 2024.  He was one of the founders of Great State Bank and served on its board of directors from 2008 to 2018.  Mr. McNeill is owner and operator of Carolina Kia of High Point, Carolina Hyundai of High Point, McNeill Nissan of Wilkesboro and McNeill Chevrolet of Wilkesboro.  He is also owner of Carolina Automotive Group, which is primarily a real estate company owning the properties where the dealerships do business. Mr. McNeill is a graduate of UNC -Chapel Hill.

 

Jacky K. Anderson (72) – Mr. Anderson has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015. He served as a director of Grayson and Grayson National Bank from 1992 to 2016. Mr. Anderson retired from Grayson and Grayson National Bank in 2013 where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Grayson and Grayson National Bank from 2000 to 2013. Mr. Anderson began working for Grayson National Bank in 1971, giving him over 49 years of experience in the banking industry. During his tenure Mr. Anderson gained in-depth knowledge of the laws and regulations applicable to the banking industry and developed extensive customer and community relationships.

 

Dr. J. Howard Conduff, Jr. (65) – Dr. Conduff has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015.  He served as a director of Cardinal and the Bank of Floyd for many years, representing a third-generation family member to serve on the Cardinal board. Dr. Conduff is a private practice dentist in Floyd, Virginia. He is a community leader in the Bank’s market area where he serves on numerous civic boards. Dr. Conduff has substantial banking experience due to the length of his service on the Cardinal board.  Dr. Conduff is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and the MCV School of Dentistry.

 

103
 

 

Blake M. Edwards, Jr. (58) – Mr. Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since January 2019, previously served as the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank from November 2015 to December 2018. Prior to that he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Grayson and Grayson National Bank since 1999, and as Senior Executive Vice President since 2013. Before joining Grayson, Mr. Edwards worked with a public accounting firm where his primary focus was providing audit and advisory services to community banks. He is a graduate of Radford University and has also attended the AICPA’s School of Banking at the University of Virginia and the Graduate School of Bank Investments and Financial Management at the University of South Carolina. Locally, Mr. Edwards serves as a member of the Joint Governing Board of DLP, Twin County Regional Healthcare, Inc., and as a Director of the Blue Ridge Discovery Center. He also serves as a Director of the Virginia Association of Community Banks and as a member of the Government Relations Committee of the Virginia Bankers Association.

 

Bryan L. Edwards (73) – Mr. Edwards has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015.  He served as a director of Grayson and Grayson National Bank from 2005 to 2016. Mr. Edwards served as the manager of the Town of Sparta, North Carolina from 2004 until his retirement in September of 2020. Prior to that he served as Human Resources/Special Projects & Purchasing Director for NAPCO, Inc., a manufacturing company, also in Sparta. He is also a North Carolina licensed real estate broker. His experience allows him to provide working knowledge of local governments and tax authorities as well as insight into local economic and real estate market conditions. Mr. Edwards also has served on the board of directors of Blue Ridge Energy, a rural electric cooperative based in Lenoir, North Carolina, since 2007.  He is past Chairman of the Virginia-Carolina Water Authority in Independence, Virginia and currently serves as chairman of the board for the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce.

 

T. Mauyer Gallimore (81) – Mr. Gallimore has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015. He served as a director of Cardinal and the Bank of Floyd from 2012 to 2016. Mr. Gallimore is a native of Floyd, Virginia and he has been a small business owner in Floyd County for over 40 years. Mr. Gallimore is the retired owner and founder of Blue Ridge Land and Auction Co., Inc. and has over 30 years of experience as a Certified Real Estate Appraiser. His in-depth knowledge of the real estate market in our primary service areas is a valuable resource for our board and management as the majority of the Bank’s loans are secured by real estate. 

 

A. Melissa Gentry (59) – Ms. Gentry has been a director of the Company since June 2016. She was appointed to the board of Cardinal in April 2016. Ms. Gentry is the Chief Financial Officer of Shelor Motor Mile, Inc., where she oversees all financial, accounting and recordkeeping functions for 31 affiliated entities. These entities include automotive sales and service, consumer finance, insurance sales, real estate investment, construction and development, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, cattle and crop farming representing approximately $425 million in annual revenues and over $200 million in inventories and properties. Her business experience gives her vast insight into economic conditions in and around the New River Valley and her accounting expertise is a significant asset for the board and management. Ms. Gentry is a graduate of Virginia Tech and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for two non-profit organizations: New River Valley Health Foundation and Friends of Calfee Park. Ms. Gentry has previously served on the Board for Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.

 

R. Devereux Jarratt (82) – Mr. Jarratt has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015. He served as a director of Cardinal and the Bank of Floyd from 2013 to 2016. Prior to retiring on December 31, 2014, he had been the Chief Executive Officer of Physicians Care of Virginia since January 1996. Mr. Jarratt has 22 years of experience in the banking industry with various banking institutions, including First National Exchange Bank, Dominion Bankshares Corporation and First Union. Mr. Jarratt has an undergraduate degree in economics, a graduate degree in accounting and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. His vast business experience, including direct banking experience, combined with his in-depth knowledge of the Cardinal legacy customers and shareholders, are significant assets to the Board.

 

104
 

 

Theresa S. Lazo (67) – Mrs. Lazo has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015. She served as a director of Grayson and Grayson National Bank from 2011 to 2016. Mrs. Lazo currently serves on the Board of Directors of Oak Hill Academy. In 2024 she began serving on the Board of Directors of the Chestnut Creek School of the Arts where she had previously served from 2007 to 2014. She also served six years on the Arts Council of the Twin Counties where she held the offices of treasurer, vice president and president at various times during her tenure. Mrs. Lazo served nine years on the Galax City School Board. Through her vast experience with local non-profit organizations and public institutions she has developed extensive personal relationships within the communities served by the Company and the Bank and offers a unique perspective on our markets.

 

Frank A. Stewart (62) – Mr. Stewart has been a director of the Company since July 2018.  He served as director of Great State Bank from 2009 to 2018.  Mr. Stewart currently serves on the Caromont Health Board of Directors located in Gaston County, North Carolina.  Mr. Stewart has also served in various capacities including Chairman of the Gardner-Webb University Board of Trustees for three years. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Gardner-Webb University in May 2016 and has served on the Gardner-Webb University President’s Advisory Board. He was appointed by the North Carolina Speaker of the House to the Rural Infrastructure Authority and the North Carolina Ports Authority. Formerly, Mr. Stewart served on the Cleveland Community College Foundation Board of Directors, Coastal Carolina National Bank Board of Directors, on the United Way of Cleveland County Board, and the State Board of the USO of North Carolina.  Appointed by the Governor, Frank completed two terms on the North Carolina Advisory Commission on Military Affairs. Mr. Stewart is CEO of Premier Body Armor, LLC of Gastonia, North Carolina.  He is also the owner of Stewart Realty and Stewart Property Management.  Previously, he was the owner and founder of Ultra Machine and Fabricating, a sub-contractor manufacturer for several major defense contractors, from 1989 to 2015. Mr. Stewart’s strong leadership and commitment to excellence is an asset to the board.  Mr. Stewart was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. He moved to the United States in 1982 and received his citizenship in 1992.  Mr. Stewart is a graduate of UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

 

John Michael Turman (77) – Mr. Turman has been a director of the Company since July 2016. He is a long-time resident of Floyd County and has led a variety of businesses in southwest Virginia relating to land, lumber, real estate development, manufacturing, and retail sales. Mr. Turman has developed extensive personal and business relationships throughout the Bank’s market area giving him significant knowledge of both current and potential customers as well as shareholders of the Company and the Bank. He attended the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and has served on the local Industrial Development Authority.

 

J. David Vaughan (56) – Mr. Vaughan has been a director of the Company since its inception in November 2015. He served on the board of Grayson and Grayson National Bank from 1999 to 2016. He is the managing partner of My Home Furnishings, LLC, a distributor specializing in youth furniture, located in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, and serves as President of Vaughan Furniture, Incorporated, a furniture distributor located in Galax, Virginia. The furniture industry has historically played a significant role in the local economy of many of the communities served by the Company and Skyline National Bank, and furniture manufacturing still provides a significant source of employment within those communities. Mr. Vaughan’s direct knowledge of this industry combined with his financial and managerial experience makes him a valuable resource to the Board.   Mr. Vaughan also serves as president of the Wytheville Community College Scholarship Foundation, and as President of Vaughan Restoration Group, which is a group that works in part with the Galax Development Corporation. Mr. Vaughan also serves on the Boards of Directors for Vaughan Furniture Company, Inc., Big “V” Wholesale Company, Inc., and the Vaughan Foundation.

 

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

 

Lori C. Vaught (50) – Mrs. Vaught, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank since January 2019, previously served as Controller of the Bank and its predecessor Grayson National Bank from August 2012 to January 2019. She also served as Grayson National Bank’s Vice President of Loan Operations from September 2002 to August 2012. Prior to those positions, she worked with two local public accounting firms with a primary focus on audit and tax services. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Radford University. She serves as a member of the CFO Committee for the Virginia Bankers Association and serves as a board member of the Wytheville Community College Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

 

105
 

 

Beth R. Worrell (50) – Ms. Worrell, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Bank since January 2019, previously served as an independent consultant to community banks in Virginia and North Carolina, providing outsourced audit, credit review, and compliance services. Ms. Worrell also worked as a shareholder with a large regional public accounting firm where her work was also focused on community banks. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Emory & Henry College. Ms. Worrell is a Certified Public Accountant and currently serves as Treasurer for the Chestnut Creek School of the Arts and for Willing Partners, Inc.

 

Rodney R. Halsey (55) – Mr. Halsey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the Bank, previously worked for Grayson National Bank since 1992, when he began his career as Grayson National Bank’s Loan Review Officer. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Halsey served as Grayson National Bank’s Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer. In 2002, he was promoted to Vice President of Information Systems/Loan Officer, and in 2009, Mr. Halsey was promoted to Senior Vice President of Information Systems/Commercial Loan Officer. In 2011, Mr. Halsey was named the Chief Operations Officer of Grayson National Bank. Mr. Halsey has previously served on the Alleghany Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Mount Rogers Planning District Loan Fund Board and the Wytheville Community College Educational Foundation.  He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Oak Hill Academy, the Go Virginia Region 1 Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Bankers Association Operations and Technology Committee.  Mr. Halsey’s education is from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s  degree in Business Administration.

 

Jonathan L. Kruckow (39) – Mr. Kruckow, Executive Vice President and Regional President, Virginia for the Bank, previously worked for Grayson National Bank since 2012, when he served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. Prior to joining Grayson, he worked for a large regional bank in the local market where his primary focus was providing commercial banking services for small to mid-sized businesses. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech, the Virginia Bankers Association’s School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia, and the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. Mr. Kruckow currently serves on the Virginia Bankers Association’s Lending Executives Committee, the Virginia Bankers Association’s School of Bank Management Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors for Virginia Title Center.

 

Milo L. Cockerham (37) – Mr. Cockerham, Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Banking Officer of the Bank, joined the Bank as a consultant in December of 2016 to help with the systems conversion of the merger of Grayson National Bank and Bank of Floyd. He now leads our network of 27 retail branch locations. Mr. Cockerham has 15 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry. Prior to joining Skyline, he served in a managerial role assisting with branch operations in a large branch network for a community bank in North Carolina. Mr. Cockerham is a graduate of Emory & Henry College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He also serves as a member of the Retail Banking Executives Committee for the Virginia Bankers Association and serves as a board member on the Galax Foundation for Excellence.

 

Ronald S. Pearson (73) – Mr. Pearson, Executive Vice President and Regional President, North Carolina of the bank has a total of 51 years of banking experience, mainly in credit administration and commercial lending.  He began his career in 1972 with Northwestern Bank where he served in various positions, including President of Northwestern Capital Corporation, Senior Loan Review Officer and Regional Credit Administrator.  In 1985, Northwestern Bank merged with First Union National Bank where Mr. Pearson continued working in credit administration until 1991 when he joined Southern National Bank in Wilkesboro, North Carolina as a commercial lender.  After Southern National Bank and BB&T merged, he continued to work for BB&T and served as Vice President and City Executive until 2002.  In 2002, Mr. Pearson joined Yadkin Valley Bank in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina where he was employed as Senior Vice President prior to joining Great State Bank in September, 2008.  He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Great State Bank.  He joined Skyline National Bank in 2018 with the merger of Great State Bank and Skyline National Bank.  Mr. Pearson graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree and earned his MBA from Wake Forest University.

 

106
 

 

Corporate Governance

 

General

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Board of Directors has approved a Code of Ethics for Executive Officers and Financial Managers for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Code addresses such topics as protection and proper use of Company assets, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, conflicts of interest and insider trading. A copy of the Code will be provided, without charge, to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company, whose address is 101 Jacksonville Circle, Floyd, Virginia 24091.

 

Committees of the Board

 

The Company has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.  The Company does not have a standing nominating committee.

 

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling the Board’s oversight responsibility to the shareholders relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditor and the performance of the internal audit function. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Company.

 

The members of the Audit Committee are Frank A. Stewart, Chairman, Melissa Gentry, Vice Chair, Theresa S. Lazo, John Michael Turman, and T. Mauyer Gallimore, each of whom is independent as that term is defined by the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

The Company has not currently designated an “audit committee financial expert.” The Company is located in a rural community where such expertise is limited; however, the Board believes that the current members of the Audit Committee have the ability to understand financial statements and generally accepted accounting principles, the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves, an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and an understanding of audit committee functions. The Audit Committee met five times during the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews senior management’s performance and compensation and reviews and sets guidelines for compensation of all employees. All decisions by the Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers are reported to the full Board of Directors.

 

The members of the Compensation Committee are Dr. J. Howard Conduff, Jr., Chairman, Bryan L. Edwards, Vice Chair, Thomas M. Jackson, Jr., Jacky K. Anderson, and Frank A. Stewart. Each member, with the exception Jacky K. Anderson, is independent as that term is defined by the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Compensation Committee met three times during the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

107
 

 

Director Nomination Process.  The Board does not believe it needs a separate nominating committee because the full Board is comprised predominantly of independent directors, with the exception of Messrs. Anderson and Edwards, and has the time and resources to perform the function of selecting board nominees. When the Board performs its nominating function, the Board acts in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws but does not have a separate charter related to the nomination process.

 

In identifying potential nominees with desired levels of diversification, the Board of Directors takes into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the range of talents, experiences and skills that would best complement those that are already represented on the Board, the balance of management and independent directors, director representation in geographic areas where the Company operates, and the need for specialized expertise. The Board considers candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and by management, and the Board will consider candidates suggested informally by a shareholder of the Company.

 

Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may submit candidates for formal consideration by the Company if the Company receives timely written notice, in proper form, for each such recommended director nominee, in accordance with the advance notice procedures contained in the Company’s bylaws. If the notice is not timely and in proper form, the nominee will not be considered by the Company.

 

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

 

Objectives of the Company’s Executive Compensation Program

 

The primary objective of the Company’s executive compensation program is to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated executive officers who will manage the Company in a manner to promote its growth and profitability and advance the interest of its shareholders. Additional objectives of the Company’s executive compensation program include the following:

 

 

•

to align executive pay with shareholders’ interests;

 

 

•

to recognize individual initiative and achievements; and

 

 

•

to unite the entire executive management team to a common objective.

 

Executive Compensation Principles

 

The Company’s executive compensation program is not as complex as those of many companies of similar size and nature. The Company’s program consists of base salaries, cash payments in the form of annual bonuses, long-term equity incentives in the form of restricted stock awards, and long-term benefits in the form of pension and supplemental executive retirement plans. Executive officers also participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

During 2020, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to which the Company may issue up to 300,000 shares of common stock in the form of stock options, stock awards, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights.

 

How Executive Pay Levels are Determined

 

The Compensation Committee regularly reviews the Company’s executive compensation program and its elements. All decisions by the Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of the Company’s executive officers are reported to the Board. The Compensation Committee also engages Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC, an independent, third-party compensation consulting firm, to assist with the design and implementation of the Company’s overall executive compensation program.  Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC also compiles the comparative industry market data that the committee uses to assess overall compensation competitiveness.

 

The role of the Chief Executive Officer in determining executive compensation is limited to input in the performance evaluation of the other named executive officers. The Chief Executive Officer has no input in the determination of his own compensation. Likewise, the other named executive officers have no role in the determination of their own executive compensation.

 

108
 

 

In determining the compensation of our executive officers, the Compensation Committee evaluates total overall compensation, as well as the mix of salary, cash bonuses and equity incentives and other long-term compensation, using a number of factors including the following:

 

 

•

The Company’s financial and operating performance, measured by attainment of strategic objectives and operating results;

 

 

•

the duties, responsibilities and performance of each executive officer of the Company, including the achievement of identified goals for the year as they pertain to the areas of the Company’s operations for which the executive is personally responsible and accountable;

 

 

•

historical cash and other compensation levels; and

 

 

•

comparative industry market data to assess compensation competitiveness.

 

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Immediately below is a table setting forth the compensation paid to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Executive Vice President and Regional President, Virginia of Skyline National Bank and the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of Skyline National Bank.

 

Name and Principal Position

  

Year

  

Salary ($)

    

Bonus ($)

    

Stock

Awards ($) (1)

    

All Other

Compensation ($) (2)

    

Total ($)

  
                                             

Blake M. Edwards, Jr.

  

2023

     360,000       105,000       -       13,200       478,200  

President and Chief Executive Officer

  

2022

     320,000       77,500       32,500       10,339       440,339  
                                             

Jonathan L. Kruckow

  

2023

     200,000       46,061       -       8,000       254,061  

Executive Vice President and Regional President, Virginia

  

2022

     187,500       36,000       26,000       7,500       257,000  
                                             

Beth R. Worrell

  

2023

     189,000       40,000       -       7,560       236,560  

Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer

  

2022

     180,000       35,000       26,000       7,200       248,200  

 

(1)

The amounts reported reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards, computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification 718 – Compensation – Stock Compensation.  Stock awards consisted of grants of restricted stock awards.  For valuation and discussion of assumptions related to stock awards, please refer to “Share-based Compensation” discussion in Note 1 and Note 15 Share-based Compensation in the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

(2)

Includes matching and discretionary contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

Supplemental Discussion of Compensation

 

The Company has an employment agreement with Blake M. Edwards and change in control agreements with Mr. Kruckow and Ms. Worrell as described below. All compensation that the Company pays to its named executive officers is determined as described above.

 

Stock Options and Equity-Based Awards

 

During 2023 no restricted stock awards were issued.  During 2022, 2,500 restricted stock awards were issued to the President & CEO and 2,000 restricted stock awards were issued to other members of the Company’s executive management team. The stock awards vested 20% on December 15, 2022 and 20% on December 15, 2023, and will vest 20% on December 15, 2024, 20% on December 15, 2025, and 20% on December 15, 2026. No stock options were granted to any of the Company’s employees during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and none were outstanding at December 31, 2023.

 

109
 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Prior to the Cardinal merger, both Grayson and Cardinal had qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plans which covered substantially all of their employees. The benefits are primarily based on years of service and earnings. Both Grayson and Cardinal plans were amended to freeze benefit accruals for all eligible employees prior to the effective date of the Cardinal merger. 

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Deferred compensation plans have been adopted for certain executive officers and members of the Board of Directors for future compensation upon retirement. Under plan provisions aggregate annual payments ranging from $4,268 to $26,791 are payable for ten years certain, generally beginning at age 65. Reduced benefits apply in cases of early retirement or death prior to the benefit date, as defined in the plan.

 

In addition, the Company has adopted supplemental executive retirement plans (the “SERPs”) for Blake M. Edwards, Jonathan L. Kruckow, and Beth R. Worrell. The SERPs provides for a retirement benefit (equal to $168,000 per year for Mr. Edwards, $60,000 per year for Mr. Kruckow, and $60,000 per year for Ms. Worrell) payable monthly and continuing for the executive’s lifetime, beginning upon the later of the executive’s separation from service with the Bank or reaching age 65, subject to the vesting schedule set forth in the SERP agreement. Reduced benefits apply in cases of early retirement. In addition, the SERP agreements provide that the executive’s retirement benefit will be fully vested upon a Change in Control, as defined in the SERP agreement.

 

Holdings of Stock Awards

 

The following table contains information concerning unvested stock awards at December 31, 2023 for each of the named executive officers.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

  

Fiscal Year End 2023

  
                     
   

Stock Awards

  
       

Number of Shares

    

Market Value of

  
       

Or Units of Stock

    

Shares or Units of

  
       

That Have Not

    

Stock That Have

  

Name

  

Grant Date

  

Vested (#) (1)

    

Not Vested ($) (2)

  
                     

Blake M. Edwards, Jr.

  

03/31/2021

     625       7,025  
   

02/18/2022

     1,500       16,860  
                     

Jonathan L. Kruckow

  

03/31/2021

     500       5,620  
   

02/18/2022

     1,200       13,488  
                     

Beth R. Worrell

  

03/31/2021

     500       5,620  
   

02/18/2022

     1,200       13,488  

 

(1)

Amounts are comprised of unvested restricted stock awards at December 31, 2023. The restricted stock awards granted on March 31, 2021 vest 25% on December 31, 2021, 25% on December 15, 2022, 25% on December 15, 2023, and 25% on December 15, 2024. The restricted stock awards granted on February 18, 2022 vest 20% on December 15, 2022, 20% on December 15, 2023, 20% on December 15, 2024, 20% on December 15, 2025, and 20% on December 31, 2026.

(2)

Amounts represent the fair market value of the restricted stock awards on December 29, 2023. The closing price of the Company’s common stock was $11.24 on that date.

 

110
 

 

Payments upon Termination of Employment or a Change of Control

 

Employment Agreement of Blake M. Edwards

 

On June 1, 2019, the Company entered into a new executive employment agreement with Blake M. Edwards, the Company’s current President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

The term of Mr. Edwards’s employment under Mr. Edwards’s employment agreement began on June 1, 2019 and continued for an initial term of three years. After the expiration of this initial term, Mr. Edwards’s employment agreement will automatically extend on June 1 of each year for successive one-year periods, unless either Mr. Edwards or the Company elects not to so extend. The employment agreement provides for an initial base salary of $285,000 per year. Mr. Edwards will be eligible to be considered for incentive compensation, if any, in an amount determined appropriate by the Company based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. He is also entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans and programs for which he is or will be eligible.

 

Mr. Edwards’s employment agreement provides for the termination of Mr. Edwards’s employment by the Company without “Cause” or by him for “Good Reason” in the absence of a “Change in Control” (as those terms are defined in the employment agreement). In such cases, Mr. Edwards will be entitled to receive his then-current base salary for the lesser of the remainder of the term or 18 months. Mr. Edwards’s employment agreement also provides for the termination of Mr. Edwards’s employment by the Company following a “Change in Control” or by him for “Good Reason” following a “Change in Control.” In such cases, Mr. Edwards will be entitled to receive, among other things, a lump sum amount equal to 2.99 times the sum of his base salary and highest annual bonus during the two years preceding the Change in Control. Mr. Edwards’s entitlement to the foregoing severance payments is subject to Mr. Edwards’s release and waiver of claims against the Company and his compliance with certain restrictive covenants as provided in the employment agreement.

 

In the event that Mr. Edwards is terminated by the Company as a result of a “Permanent Disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Edwards will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to 90 days of his then-current base salary. Mr. Edwards will not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits under his employment agreement if his employment is terminated upon his death, by the Company for “Cause,” or by him in the absence of “Good Reason.”

 

Mr. Edwards’s employment agreement contains restrictive covenants relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation. The non-compete and non-solicitation covenants generally continue for a period of 24 months following the last day of Mr. Edwards’ employment.

 

Change in Control Agreement with Jonathan L. Kruckow

 

On June 1, 2019, the Company entered into a change in control agreement with Jonathan L. Kruckow, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Regional President, Virginia. On May 26, 2022 the Company amended the change in control agreement to extend the term of such agreement to December 31, 2023; provided that, on December 31, 2022, and on each December 31 thereafter, the agreement will automatically be extended for an additional calendar year such that the extended term is two years, unless either Mr. Kruckow or the Company elects not to so extend.

 

Mr. Kruckow’s change in control agreement provides that if the Mr. Kruckow’s employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” or by him for “Good Reason” within 12 months following a “Change in Control Event” (as those terms are defined in the change in control agreement), the Company will make a severance payment to Mr. Kruckow equal to his annualized base salary. Mr. Kruckow’s entitlement to the foregoing severance payment is subject to Mr. Kruckow’s release and waiver of claims against the Company and his compliance with certain restrictive covenants as provided in the change in control agreement.

 

Mr. Kruckow will not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits under his change in control agreement if (a) the Company terminates his employment for “Cause,” (b) he voluntarily terminates his employment for other than “Good Reason,” or (c) his employment terminates or is terminated due to his death, “Retirement” or pursuant to a “Determination of Long Term Incapacity” (as those terms are defined in the change in control agreement).

 

111
 

 

Mr. Kruckow’s change in control agreement contains restrictive covenants relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation. The non-compete and non-solicitation covenants generally continue for a period of 12 months following the last day of Mr. Kruckow’s employment.

 

Change in Control Agreement with Beth R. Worrell

 

On June 1, 2019, the Company entered into a change in control agreement with Beth R. Worrell, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. On May 26, 2022 the Company amended the change in control agreement to extend the term of such agreement to December 31, 2023; provided that, on December 31, 2022, and on each December 31 thereafter, the agreement will automatically be extended for an additional calendar year such that the extended term is two years, unless either Ms. Worrell or the Company elects not to so extend.

 

Ms. Worrell’s change in control agreement provides that if Ms. Worrell’s employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” or by her for “Good Reason” within 12 months following a “Change in Control Event” (as those terms are defined in the change in control agreement), the Company will make a severance payment to Ms. Worrell equal to two times her annualized base salary. Ms. Worrell’s entitlement to the foregoing severance payment is subject to Ms. Worrell’s release and waiver of claims against the Company and her compliance with certain restrictive covenants as provided in the change in control agreement.

 

Ms. Worrell will not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits under her change in control agreement if (a) the Company terminates her employment for “Cause,” (b) she voluntarily terminates her employment for other than “Good Reason,” or (c) her employment terminates or is terminated due to her death, “Retirement” or pursuant to a “Determination of Long Term Incapacity” (as those terms are defined in the change in control agreement).

 

Ms. Worrell’s change in control agreement contains restrictive covenants relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation. The non-compete and non-solicitation covenants generally continue for a period of 12 months following the last day of Ms. Worrell’s employment.

 

Following any termination of employment or a change in control, the Company’s named executive officers are entitled to certain pension benefits and deferred compensation, as described above, and benefits under various health and insurance plans, which are available generally to all employees.

 

112
 

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table shows the compensation earned by each of the non-employee directors during 2023. On December 29, 2023, each nonemployee director received a stock award of 1,000 shares, except for the chairman, who received 1,500 stock awards. The stock awards immediately vested. Fees may also include reimbursement for ordinary business expenses such as lodging, meals, and mileage.

 

Name

  

Fees Paid ($)

    

Stock

Awards ($) (1)

    

Total ($)

  

Jacky K. Anderson

     28,281       11,240       39,521  

Dr. J. Howard Conduff, Jr.

     26,139       11,240       37,379  

Bryan L. Edwards

     24,408       11,240       35,648  

T. Mauyer Gallimore

     26,998       11,240       38,238  

A. Melissa Gentry

     26,323       11,240       37,563  

Thomas M. Jackson, Jr., Chairman

     29,683       16,860       46,543  

R. Devereux Jarratt

     27,657       11,240       38,897  

Theresa S. Lazo

     27,212       11,240       38,452  

W. David McNeill

     24,801       11,240       36,041  

James W. Shortt(2)

     28,700       11,240       39,940  

Frank A. Stewart

     25,266       11,240       36,506  

John Michael Turman

     26,495       11,240       37,735  

J. David Vaughan

     26,631       11,240       37,871  

Total

     348,594       151,740       500,334  

 

 

(1)

The amounts reported reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock awards for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification 718 – Compensation – Stock Compensation. The grant date fair value for these stock awards of $11.24 per share was based on the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date (December 29, 2023).
 

(2)

Mr. Shortt resigned as a director of the Company and the Bank, effective December 31, 2023.

 

The Chairman of the Board receives fees of $1,000 per meeting and a monthly retainer of $400. The Vice Chairman of the Board receives fees of $900 per meeting and a monthly retainer of $350. All other directors receive $750 per meeting and a monthly retainer of $300. Additionally, $400 is paid to all directors for each committee meeting attended.

 

Blake M. Edwards, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, did not receive any compensation for his services as a director.

 

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Item 12.

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

 

The following table sets forth information as of March 26, 2024 regarding the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by each director, each named executive officer and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of the director or executive officer living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby the director or executive officer can vest title in himself at once or at some future time.

 

Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1)

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

  

Shares of

Common

Stock

    

Unvested

Stock

Awards

    

Total

    

Percent of

Class

  

Directors and Named Executive Officers:

                                

Jacky K. Anderson

     4,312       -       4,312 (2)     *  

Dr. J. Howard Conduff, Jr.

     133,980       -       133,980 (3)     2.41 %

Bryan L. Edwards

     3,608       -       3,608       *  

T. Mauyer Gallimore

     10,351       -       10,351 (4)      *  

A. Melissa Gentry

     6,700       -       6,700        *  

Thomas M. Jackson, Jr., Chairman

     15,620       -       15,620        *  

R. Devereux Jarratt

     39,151       -       39,151        *  

Theresa S. Lazo

     27,402       -       27,402 (5)      *  

W. David McNeill

     26,926       -       26,926        *  

Frank A. Stewart

     120,119       -       120,119 (6)     2.16 %

John Michael Turman

     15,479       -       15,479 (7)      *  

J. David Vaughan

     11,983       -       11,983 (8)      *  

Blake M. Edwards, Jr.

     4,781       2,125       6,906        *  

Jonathan L. Kruckow

     910       1,700       2,610        *  

Beth R. Worrell

     3,200       1,700       4,900 (9)      *  

All of the Company’s directors, executive officers, and executive officers  as a group (19 individuals)

     433,631       10,625       444,256       7.98 %

 

(1)

Based on 5,564,204 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of March 26, 2024.

(2)

Includes 2,112 shares held jointly with his children and his former spouse.

(3)

Includes 11,163 shares owned jointly with his spouse and 8,297 shares owned by his sons.

(4)

Includes 7,501 shares owned jointly with his spouse.

(5)

Includes 2,914 shares owned jointly with her spouse.

(6)

Includes 114,340 shares owned jointly with his spouse.

(7)

Includes 13,279 held jointly with his spouse.

(8)

Includes 1,526 shares owned jointly with his children.

(9)

Includes 900 shares held jointly with her spouse.

*

Represents less than 1% of outstanding common stock

 

114
 

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

The following table sets forth information as of March 26, 2024, unless otherwise noted, regarding the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by all persons known by us who own, or will own under certain conditions, five percent or more of our outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

  

Amount and

Nature of

Beneficial

Ownership

   

Percent of
Class (1)

 
                 

Fourthstone LLC

575 Maryville Centre Drive, Suite 110

                

St. Louis, MO 63141

     548,012 (2)     9.85 %

 

(1)

Based on 5,564,204 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of March 26, 2024.

(2)

According to a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024, Fourthstone LLC (“Fourthstone”), Fourthstone Master Opportunity Fund Ltd, Fourthstone QP Opportunity Fund LP, Fourthstone Small-Cap Financials Fund LP, Fourthstone GP LLC, the general partner of Fourthstone QP Opportunity Fund LP and Fourthstone Small-Cap Financials Fund LP, and L. Phillip Stone, IV, the managing member of Fourthstone and Fourthstone GP LLC reported shared voting power and shared dispositive power over 548,012 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

115
 

 

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Some of the directors and officers of the Company are at present, as in the past, customers of Skyline National Bank, and Skyline National Bank has had, and expects to have in the future, banking relationships in the ordinary course of its business with directors, officers, principal shareholders, and their associates, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral on loans, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with persons not related to the Company. These transactions do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. The aggregate outstanding balance of loans to directors, executive officers, and their associates, as a group, at December 31, 2023 totaled $10.1 million or 12.22% of the Company’s equity capital at that date.

 

There are no legal proceedings to which any director, officer, or principal shareholder, or any affiliate thereof, is a party that would be material and adverse to the Company.

 

The Company has not adopted a formal policy that covers the review and approval of related person transactions by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, however, does review all such transactions that are proposed to it for approval. During such a review, the Board will consider, among other things, the related person’s relationship to the Company, the facts and circumstances of the proposed transaction, the aggregate dollar amount of the transaction, the related person’s relationship to the transaction, and any other material information. The Company’s Audit Committee also has the responsibility to review significant conflicts of interest involving directors or executive officers.

 

Independence of Directors

 

The Board of Directors in its business judgment has determined that the following eleven of its thirteen members are independent as that term is defined by the Nasdaq Stock Market: Dr. J. Howard Conduff, Jr., Bryan L. Edwards, T. Mauyer Gallimore, Melissa Gentry, Thomas M. Jackson, Jr., R. Devereux Jarratt, Theresa S. Lazo, W. David McNeill, Frank A. Stewart, John Michael Turman, and J. David Vaughan.

 

The Board considered the following transactions between us and certain of our directors or their affiliates to determine whether such director was independent under the above standards:

 

 

●

Prior to the Cardinal merger, Grayson had an advisory agreement in place with Mr. Anderson under which he was paid for various consultative and advisory services related to customer, shareholder, and employee related issues. The agreement expired in September of 2014. Mr. Anderson also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Grayson from June 2000 until his retirement in September 2013.

 

Additional information about committees is included in “Corporate Governance – Committees of the Board” in Item 10.

 

116
 

 

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Elliott Davis, PLLC for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for the review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements, were $189,652 for 2023 and $130,000 for 2022.

 

Audit Related Fees

 

There were no aggregate fees billed by Elliott Davis, PLLC for professional services for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and not reported under the heading “Audit Fees” above for 2023 and 2022.  

 

Tax Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Elliott Davis, PLLC for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were $26,430 for 2023 and $15,900 for 2022.  During 2023 and 2022, these services generally included Federal and state income tax return preparation.

 

All Other Fees

 

No fees for other services were billed by Elliott Davis, PLLC for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

All audit related services, tax services and other services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by Elliott Davis, PLLC was compatible with the maintenance of that firms’ independence in the conduct of their auditing functions.  The Audit Committee’s Charter provides for pre-approval of audit, audit-related and tax services. The Charter authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services.

 

117
 

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)

(1) The following consolidated financial statements of Skyline Bankshares, Inc. are included in Item 8 above:

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(Elliott Davis, PLLC, Charlotte, NC, U.S. PCAOB Auditor Firm I.D.: 149)

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – As of December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

Consolidated Statements of Income – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

(2) The response to this portion of Item 15 is included in Item 8 above.

 

 

(3) The following documents are attached hereto or incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits:

 

 

Exhibit

No.

Description

 

3.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Skyline Bankshares, Inc. (attached as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Skyline Bankshares, Inc. (attached as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 18, 2024, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

4.1

Form of Common Stock Certificate of Parkway Acquisition Corp. (attached as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.1

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated November 22, 2017, for the benefit of Blake M. Edwards (attached as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 29, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.2

Executive Employment Agreement, dated June 1, 2019, by and between Parkway Acquisition Corp. and Blake M. Edwards (attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 6, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.3

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Blake M. Edwards (attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 6, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.4

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Lori C. Vaught (attached as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 6, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.5

Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement, dated May 26, 2022 by and between the Company and Lorina C. Vaught (attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.6

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Jonathan L. Kruckow (attached as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 6, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.7

Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement, dated May 26, 2022 by and between the Company and Jonathan L. Kruckow (attached as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.8

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Beth R. Worrell (attached as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 6, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.9

Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement, dated May 26, 2022 by and between the Company and Beth R. Worrell (attached as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

118
 

 

 

10.10

Parkway Acquisition Corp. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q filed on November 13, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

10.11

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (attached as exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 24, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

21.1

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

23.1

Consent of Elliott Davis, PLLC.

 

31.1

Rule 15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

 

31.2

Rule 15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

 

32.1

Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

101

The following materials from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

(b)

Exhibits

 

See Item 15(a)(3) above.

 

(c)

Financial Statement Schedules

 

See Item 15(a)(2) above.

 

 

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

 

None

 

119
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

SKYLINE BANKSHARES, INC.
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Blake M. Edwards
   

Blake M. Edwards

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated on March 27, 2024.

 

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Blake M. Edwards
   

Blake M. Edwards

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Lori C. Vaught
   

Lori C. Vaught

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.
   

Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.

Chairman of the Board
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ A. Melissa Gentry
   

A. Melissa Gentry

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Jacky K. Anderson
   

Jacky K. Anderson

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Bryan L. Edwards
   

Bryan L. Edwards

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ J. David Vaughan
   

J. David Vaughan

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Theresa S. Lazo
   

Theresa S. Lazo

Director

 

120
 

 

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ J. Howard Conduff, Jr.
   

J. Howard Conduff, Jr.

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ T. Mauyer Gallimore
   

T. Mauyer Gallimore

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ R. Devereux Jarratt
   

R. Devereux Jarratt

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ John Michael Turman
   

John Michael Turman

Director
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ W. David McNeill
   

W. David McNeill

Vice Chairman
     

Date: March 27, 2024

By:

 /s/ Frank A. Stewart
   

Frank A. Stewart

Director

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants

Which Have Not Registered Securities Pursuant to Section 12 of the Act

 

As of the date of this report, we have not sent any annual reports or proxy materials to our stockholders. We intend to deliver (i) our annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) our proxy materials for our 2024 Annual Meeting to our stockholders subsequent to the filing of this report.  We will furnish copies of the annual report and the proxy materials to the SEC when we deliver such materials to our stockholders.

 

121