q93010banr.htm
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q

 
 
(Mark One)
 
[X] 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2010.
 
 
OR
 
[   ] 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
  ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________to  __________ :
 
 
Commission File Number 0-26584
 
BANNER CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Washington
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
                                                                      91-1691604
                                                                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
 
10 South First Avenue, Walla Walla, Washington 99362
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (509) 527-3636
 

 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.                Yes  [X]             No  [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).              Yes  [   ]   No   [   ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer   [   ]
 
Accelerated filer   [X]
 
Non-accelerated filer   [   ]
 
Smaller reporting company
  [   ]  
 
           
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).            Yes   [   ]       No    [X]  
 
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
 Title of class:
 
As of October 31, 2010
 Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
 
112,060,332 shares*
 
*  Includes 240,381 shares held by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan that have not been released, committed to be released, or allocated to participant accounts.


 
 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
Item 4 – [Removed and Reserved]
 
   
   
   

 
2 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Unaudited) (In thousands, except shares)
September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009

   
September 30
   
December 31
 
ASSETS
   
2010
   
2009
 
               
Cash and due from banks
 
$
488,123
 
$
323,005
 
               
Securities—trading, cost $133,468 and $192,853, respectively
   
101,760
   
147,151
 
Securities—available-for-sale, cost $151,694 and $95,174, respectively
   
153,903
   
95,667
 
Securities—held-to-maturity, fair value $72,098 and $76,489, respectively
   
66,929
   
74,834
 
               
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock
   
37,371
   
37,371
 
Loans receivable:
             
Held for sale, fair value $3,599 and $4,534, respectively
   
3,545
   
4,497
 
Held for portfolio
   
3,494,557
   
3,785,624
 
Allowance for loan losses
   
(96,435
)
 
(95,269
)
     
3,401,667
   
3,694,852
 
               
Accrued interest receivable
   
17,866
   
18,998
 
Real estate owned (REO), held for sale, net
   
107,159
   
77,743
 
Property and equipment, net
   
98,300
   
103,542
 
Other intangibles, net
   
9,210
   
11,070
 
Deferred income tax asset, net
   
--
   
14,811
 
Income taxes receivable
   
12,981
   
17,436
 
Bank-owned life insurance (BOLI)
   
56,141
   
54,596
 
Other assets
   
45,777
   
51,145
 
   
$
4,597,187
 
$
4,722,221
 
LIABILITIES
             
Deposits:
             
Non-interest-bearing
 
$
613,313
 
$
582,480
 
Interest-bearing transaction and savings accounts
   
1,459,756
   
1,341,145
 
Interest-bearing certificates
   
1,687,417
   
1,941,925
 
     
3,760,486
   
3,865,550
 
               
Advances from FHLB at fair value
   
46,833
   
189,779
 
Other borrowings
   
178,134
   
176,842
 
Junior subordinated debentures at fair value (issued in connection with Trust Preferred Securities)
   
48,394
   
47,694
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
   
24,624
   
24,020
 
Deferred compensation
   
13,877
   
13,208
 
     
4,072,348
   
4,317,093
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 16)
             
               
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
             
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized; Series A – liquidation preference
             
$1,000 per share, 124,000 shares issued and outstanding
   
118,602
   
117,407
 
Common stock and paid in capital - $0.01 par value per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 111,461,893 shares
issued: 111,221,512 shares and 21,299,209 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009,
respectively
   
506,418
   
331,538
 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
   
(99,575
)
 
(42,077
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
             
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale and/or transferred to held-to-maturity
   
1,381
   
249
 
Unearned shares of common stock issued to Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) trust at cost:
             
240,381 restricted shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009
   
(1,987
)
 
(1,987
)
               
Carrying value of shares held in trust for stock related compensation plans
   
(8,724
)
 
(9,045
)
Liability for common stock issued to deferred, stock related, compensation plans
   
8,724
   
9,043
 
     
--
   
(2
)
     
524,839
   
405,128
 
   
$
4,597,187
 
$
4,722,221
 

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements

 
3 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited) (In thousands except for per share amounts)
For the Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

   
Quarters Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30
   
September 30
 
   
2010 
   
2009 
   
2010 
   
2009 
 
INTEREST INCOME:
                       
Loans receivable
  $ 51,162     $ 56,175     $ 156,394     $ 168,022  
Mortgage-backed securities
    972       1,422       3,143       4,792  
Other securities and cash equivalents
    2,116       1,976       6,317       6,248  
      54,250       59,573       165,854       179,062  
INTEREST EXPENSE:
                               
Deposits
    12,301       20,818       42,799       65,548  
FHLB advances
    323       630       1,004       2,025  
Other borrowings
    604       655       1,864       1,553  
Junior subordinated debentures
    1,100       1,118       3,174       3,700  
      14,328       23,221       48,841       72,826  
                                 
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
    39,922       36,352       117,013       106,236  
                                 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    20,000       25,000       50,000       92,000  
Net interest income
    19,922       11,352       67,013       14,236  
                                 
OTHER OPERATING INCOME:
                               
Deposit fees and other service charges
    5,702       5,705       16,494       16,049  
Mortgage banking operations
    2,519       2,065       4,284       7,640  
Loan servicing fees
    146       282       774       260  
Miscellaneous
    919       768       1,788       1,700  
      9,286       8,820       23,340       25,649  
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
    (3,000 )     (1,349 )     (4,231 )     (1,511 )
Net change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    1,366       5,982       2,453       13,940  
Total other operating income
    7,652       13,453       21,562       38,078  
                                 
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES:
                               
Salary and employee benefits
    17,093       17,379       50,445       52,508  
Less capitalized loan origination costs
    (1,731 )     (2,060 )     (5,076 )     (7,010 )
Occupancy and equipment
    5,546       5,715       16,731       17,697  
Information/computer data services
    1,501       1,551       4,601       4,684  
Payment and card processing expenses
    2,018       1,778       5,125       4,786  
Professional services
    1,500       1,456       4,661       3,833  
Advertising and marketing
    2,025       1,899       5,717       5,938  
Deposit insurance
    2,282       2,219       6,623       7,818  
State/municipal business and use taxes
    630       558       1,643       1,630  
REO operations
    11,757       2,799       18,981       5,227  
Amortization of core deposit intangibles
    600       646       1,859       1,997  
Miscellaneous
    3,107       2,689       8,457       8,205  
Total other operating expenses
    46,328       36,629       119,767       107,313  
                                 
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    (18,754 )     (11,824 )     (31,192 )     (54,999 )
                                 
PROVISION FOR (BENEFIT FROM) INCOME TAXES
    23,988       (5,376 )     18,013       (22,777 )
                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
    (42,742 )     (6,448 )     (49,205 )     (32,222 )
                                 
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND AND DISCOUNT ACCRETION
                               
Preferred stock dividend
    1,550       1,550       4,650       4,650  
Preferred stock discount accretion
    398       373       1,195       1,119  
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
  $ (44,690 )   $ (8,371 )   $ (55,050 )   $ (37,991 )
                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ (0.40 )   $ (0.44 )   $ (1.04 )   $ (2.11 )
Diluted
  $ (0.40 )   $ (0.44 )   $ (1.04 )   $ (2.11 )
Cumulative dividends declared per common share:
  $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.03     $ 0.03  

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements

 
4 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009


   
Quarters Ended
September 30
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
         
   
2010 
   
2009 
   
2010 
   
2009 
 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
(42,742
)
$
(6,448
)
$
(49,205
)
$
(32,222
)
                         
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF INCOME TAXES:
                       
Unrealized holding gain (loss) during the period, net of deferred
income tax provision (benefit) of ($11), $121, $618 and $51, respectively
 
(20
)
 
627
   
1,099
   
89
 
                         
Amortization of unrealized loss on tax exempt securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity
 
11
   
14
   
33
   
42
 
                         
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(9
)
 
641
   
1,132
   
131
 
                         
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
$
(42,751
)
$
(5,807
)
$
(48,073
)
$
(32,091
)

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements


 
5 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

 
Preferred
Stock
 
Common
Stock and
Paid in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated Deficit)
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income
 
Unearned
Restricted ESOP
Shares
 
Carrying Value, Net of Liability, Of Shares Held in Trust for Stock-Related Compensation Plans
 
Stockholders’
Equity
 
Balance, January 1, 2010
$
117,407
 
$
331,538
 
$
(42,077
)
$
249
 
$
(1,987
)
$
(2
)
$
405,128
 
                                           
     Net income (loss)
             
(49,205
)
                   
(49,205
)
                                           
Change in valuation of securities—available-for-sale, net of income tax
                   
1,099
               
1,099
 
                                           
Amortization of unrealized loss on tax exempt securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, net of income taxes
                   
33
               
33
 
                                           
    Accretion of preferred stock discount
 
1,195
         
(1,195
)
                   
--
 
                                           
    Accrual of dividends on preferred stock
             
(4,650
)
                   
(4,650
)
                                           
Accrual of dividends on common stock ($.03/share cumulative)
             
(2,448
)
                   
(2,448
)
                                           
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for stockholder reinvestment program, net of registration expenses
       
13,198
                           
13,198
 
                                           
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of offering costs
       
161,637
                           
161,637
 
                                           
    Amortization of compensation related to MRP
                               
2
   
2
 
                                           
Amortization of compensation related to stock options
       
45
                           
45
 
                                           
BALANCE, September 30, 2010
$
118,602
 
$
506,418
 
$
(99,575
)
$
1,381
 
$
(1,987
)
$
--
 
$
524,839
 

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements









 
6 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Continued)
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

 
Preferred
Stock
 
Common
Stock and
Paid in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income
 
Unearned
Restricted ESOP
Shares
 
Carrying Value, Net of
 Liability, Of Shares Held inTrust for Stock-Related Compensation Plans
 
Stockholders’
Equity
 
Balance, January 1, 2009
$
115,915
 
$
316,740
 
$
2,150
 
$
572
 
$
(1,987
)
$
(42
)
$
433,348
 
                                           
Net income (loss)
             
(32,222
)
                   
(32,222
)
                                           
Change in valuation of securities—available-for-sale, net of income tax
                   
89
               
89
 
                                           
Amortization of unrealized loss on tax exempt securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, net of income taxes
                   
42
               
42
 
                                           
Additional registration costs for issuance of preferred stock
       
(46
)
                         
(46
)
                                           
Accretion of preferred stock discount
 
1,119
         
(1,119
)
                   
--
 
                                           
Accrual of dividends on preferred stock
             
(4,650
)
                   
(4,650
)
                                           
Accrual of dividends on common stock ($.03/share cumulative)
             
(561
)
                   
(561
)
                                           
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for stockholder reinvestment program, net of registration expenses
       
10,592
                           
10,592
 
                                           
Amortization of compensation related to MRP
                               
32
   
32
 
                                           
Amortization of compensation related to stock options
       
99
                           
99
 
                                           
                                           
BALANCE, September 30, 2009
$
117,034
 
$
327,385
 
$
(36,402
)
$
703
 
$
(1,987
)
$
(10
)
$
406,723
 

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements


 
7 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     
2010 
   
2009 
 
               
COMMON STOCK—SHARES ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING:
             
Common stock, shares issued, beginning of period
   
21,539 
   
17,152 
 
               
Purchase and retirement of common stock
   
-- 
   
-- 
 
Issuance of common stock for exercised stock options and/or
employee stock plans
   
116 
   
-- 
 
Issuance of common stock for stockholder reinvestment program
   
4,168 
   
2,782 
 
Issuance of common stock
   
85,639 
   
-- 
 
Net number of shares issued during the period
   
89,923 
   
2,782 
 
               
COMMON SHARES ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING, END OF PERIOD
   
111,462 
   
19,934 
 
               
UNEARNED, RESTRICTED ESOP SHARES:
             
Number of shares, beginning of period
   
(240 
)
 
(240 
)
Issuance/adjustment of earned shares
   
-- 
   
-- 
 
Number of shares, end of period
   
(240 
)
 
(240 
)
               
NET COMMON STOCK—SHARES OUTSTANDING
   
111,222 
   
19,694 
 

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements

 
8 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (49,205 )   $ (32,222 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by
operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    6,963       7,433  
Deferred income and expense, net of amortization
    105       374  
Amortization of core deposit and other intangibles
    1,860       1,998  
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
    4,231       1,511  
Net change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
    (2,453 )     (13,940 )
Deferred taxes
    14,193       (3,038 )
Equity-based compensation
    47       131  
Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance
    (1,545 )     (1,357 )
Gain on sale of loans, excluding capitalized servicing rights
    (2,994 )     (3,210 )
Loss on disposal of real estate held for sale and property
and equipment, net
    1,382       631  
Provision for losses on loans and real estate held for sale
    59,923       93,579  
Purchases of securities—trading
    (3,266 )     (69,760 )
Principal repayments and maturities of securities—trading
    50,048       103,383  
Origination of loans held for sale
    (235,084 )     (481,246 )
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
    236,036       483,878  
Net change in:
               
Other assets
    10,922       (14,865 )
Other liabilities
    529       (11,038 )
Net cash provided from operating activities
    91,692       62,242  
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of securities available-for-sale
    (161,516 )     (48,383 )
Principal repayments and maturities of securities available-for-sale
    102,704       20,885  
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale
    1,965       6,458  
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity
    (1,158 )     (17,975 )
Principal repayments and maturities of securities held-to-maturity
    6,020       1,079  
Principal repayments (originations) of loans, net
    174,900       (70,652 )
Purchases of loans and participating interest in loans
    (286 )     (1,357 )
Purchases of property and equipment, net
    (1,741 )     (14,478 )
Proceeds from sale of other repossessed assets and REO held for sale, net
    30,306       29,275  
Other
    (108 )     (345 )
Net cash provided from (used by) investing activities
    151,086       (95,493 )
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Increase (decrease) in deposits, net
    (105,064 )     82,325  
Proceeds from FHLB advances
    --       231,200  
Repayment of FHLB advances
    (142,504 )     (86,203 )
Increase in other borrowings, net
    1,285       29,535  
Cash dividends paid
    (6,212 )     (5,748 )
Cash proceeds from issuance of stock for stockholder reinvestment program
    13,198       10,546  
Cash proceeds from issuance of stock in secondary offering, net of offering costs
    161,637       --  
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities
    (77,660 )     261,655  
                 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS
    165,118       228,404  
                 
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    323,005       102,750  
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 488,123     $ 331,154  

(Continued on next page)

 
9 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(Unaudited) (In thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
           
Interest paid in cash
  $ 52,132     $ 79,518  
Taxes paid (received) in cash
    (561 )     (6,451 )
                 
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:
               
    Loans, net of discounts, specific loss allowances and unearned income,
   transferred to real estate owned and other repossessed assets
    71,102       63,141  
    Real estate owned transferred to property and equipment
    --       7,030  
Net decrease in accrued dividends payable
    (886 )     (537 )
Change in other assets/liabilities
    177       757  

See selected notes to consolidated financial statements

 
10 

 

BANNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1:  BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Banner Corporation (Banner or the Company) is a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington.  We are primarily engaged in the business of planning, directing and coordinating the business activities of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank.  Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank that conducts business from its main office in Walla Walla, Washington and, as of September 30, 2010, its 86 branch offices and seven loan production offices located in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Islanders Bank is also a Washington-chartered commercial bank that conducts business from three locations in San Juan County, Washington.  Banner Corporation is subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.  Banner Bank and Islanders Bank (the Banks) are subject to regulation by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks (Washington DFI) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition and related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows reflect all adjustments (which include reclassifications and normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair presentation in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).  The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the statement of financial condition in the accompanying notes.  Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  In particular, management has identified several accounting policies that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of the financial statements.  These policies relate to (i) the methodology for the recognition of interest income, (ii) determination of the provision and allowance for loan and lease losses, (iii) the valuation of financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value, including other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses, (iv) the valuation of intangibles, such as goodwill, core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights, (v) the valuation of real estate held for sale and (vi) the valuation of or recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities.  These policies and the judgments, estimates and assumptions are described in greater detail in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Critical Accounting Policies) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Management believes that the judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are appropriate based on the factual circumstances at the time.  However, because of the sensitivity of the financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments, estimates and assumptions could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition.  Further, subsequent changes in economic or market conditions could have a material impact on these estimates and the Company’s financial condition and operating results in future periods.  

The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) became effective on July 1, 2009.  At that date, the ASC became the source of authoritative GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities, superseding existing FASB, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) and related literature.  Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under the authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.  All other accounting literature is considered non-authoritative.  The implementation of the ASC affects the way companies refer to GAAP standards in financial statements and accounting policies, but it has not had a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2009 Consolidated Financial Statements and/or schedules to conform to the 2010 presentation.  These reclassifications may have affected certain ratios for the prior periods. The effect of these reclassifications is considered immaterial.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC.  Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Note 2:  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Regulatory Actions: On March 23, 2010, Banner Bank entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the FDIC and Washington DFI.  The Company also entered into a similar MOU with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on March 29, 2010.  Under its MOU, Banner Bank is required, among other things, to develop and implement plans to reduce commercial real estate concentrations; to improve asset quality and reduce classified assets; to improve profitability; and to increase Tier 1 leverage capital to equal or exceed 10% of average assets.  In addition, Banner Bank will not be able to pay cash dividends to Banner Corporation without prior approval from the FDIC and Washington DFI and the Company and Banner Bank must obtain prior regulatory approval before adding any new director or senior executive officer or changing the responsibilities of any current senior executive officer.  Further, the Company may not pay any dividends on common or preferred stock, pay interest or principal on the balance of its junior subordinated debentures or repurchase our common stock without the prior written non-objection of the Federal Reserve Bank.  See Item 1A, Risk Factors—“We are required to comply with the terms of memoranda of understanding issued by the FDIC and DFI and the Federal Reserve and lack of compliance could result in additional regulatory actions” in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Secondary Offering of Common Stock:  On June 30, 2010, the Company announced the initial closing of its offering of 75,000,000 shares of its common stock and the sale of an additional 3,500,000 shares pursuant to the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, at a price to the public of $2.00 per share.  On July 2, 2010, the Company further announced the completion of this offering as the underwriters
 
 
11

 
exercised their over-allotment option for an additional 7,139,000 shares, at a price to the public of $2.00 per share.  Together with the 78,500,000 shares the Company issued on June 30, 2010 (including 3,500,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ initial exercise of their over-allotment option), the Company issued a total of 85,639,000 shares in the offering, resulting in net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, of approximately $161.6 million.  Of that amount, $13.6 million (related to the 7,139,000 shares) was recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, as that portion of the transaction settled after June 30, 2010.

Banner intends to use a significant portion of the net proceeds from the offering to strengthen Banner Bank’s regulatory capital ratios in accordance with the MOU and to support managed growth.  To that end, at September 30, 2010, the Company had invested a cumulative $110 million as additional paid-in common equity in Banner Bank.  As a result, the Tier 1 leverage capital of Banner Bank was 10.77% of average assets on September 30, 2010, unchanged from June 30, 2010, and up from the 9.74% at December 31, 2009.  The Company expects to use the remaining net proceeds for general working capital purposes, including additional capital investments in its subsidiary banks if appropriate.

FDIC Prepayment:  On November 12, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule that required insured depository institutions to prepay an estimate of their expected quarterly deposit insurance premiums for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for the three years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Insured institutions were required to deposit funds with the FDIC in the amount of the prepaid assessment on December 30, 2009.  The insured institutions will not receive interest on the deposited funds.  For purposes of calculating an institution’s prepaid assessment amount, for the fourth quarter of 2009 and all of 2010, that institution’s assessment rate was its total base assessment rate in effect on September 30, 2009.  That rate was then increased by three basis points for all of 2011 and 2012.  For purposes of calculating the prepaid amount, an institution’s third quarter 2009 assessment base was also assumed to increase quarterly by an estimated five percent annual growth rate through the end of 2012.  Each institution was directed to record the entire amount of its prepaid assessment as a prepaid expense (asset) as of December 30, 2009.  Thereafter, each institution will record an expense (charge to earnings) for its regular quarterly assessment for the quarter and an offsetting credit to the prepaid assessment until the asset is exhausted.  Once the asset is exhausted, the institution will record an expense and an accrued expense payable each quarter for its regular assessment, which would be paid in arrears to the FDIC at the end of the following quarter.  If the prepaid assessment is not exhausted by June 30, 2013, any remaining amount will be returned to the institution.  For Banner Corporation, the consolidated balance of the prepaid assessment was $23.4 million at September 30, 2010 and is recorded among “other assets” in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

FDIC Special Assessment:  On May 22, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule imposing a five basis point special assessment on each insured depository institution’s total assets minus Tier 1 capital as of June 30, 2009, with the maximum amount of the special assessment for any institution not to exceed ten basis points times the institution’s assessment base for the second quarter 2009 risk-based assessment.  The special assessment was collected on September 30, 2009 at the same time the regular quarterly risk based assessment for the second quarter of 2009 was collected.  For Banner Corporation, this assessment was $2.1 million, which was recognized in other operating expenses during the quarter ended June 30, 2009.  The FDIC Board may vote to impose additional special assessments if the FDIC estimates that the Deposit Insurance Fund reserve ratio will fall to a level that the FDIC Board believes would adversely affect public confidence or to a level that will be close to or below zero.

FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program:  Banner Corporation, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank have chosen to participate in the FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (the TLGP), which applies to all U.S. depository institutions insured by the FDIC and all United States bank holding companies, unless they have opted out.  Under the TLGP, the FDIC guarantees certain senior unsecured debt of insured institutions and their holding companies, as well as non-interest-bearing transaction account deposits.  Under the transaction account guarantee component of the TLGP, known as TAGP, all non-interest-bearing and certain interest-bearing transaction accounts maintained at Banner Bank and Islanders Bank are insured in full by the FDIC until December 31, 2010, regardless of the standard maximum deposit insurance amounts.  The Banks are required to pay a fee (annualized) on balances of each covered account in excess of $250,000 while the extra deposit insurance is in place.  The annualized fee for the transaction account guarantee program was 10 basis points through December 31, 2009 and will be within a range from 15 to 25 basis points from January 1 through December 31, 2010.

Notably, on September 27, 2010, the FDIC announced that it will not continue the TAGP beyond December 31, 2010.  However, under the FDIC’s proposed rule making of September 27, 2010, separate temporary coverage for non-interest bearing transaction accounts would become effective on December 30, 2010, and terminate on December 31, 2012.  Under the proposed rule all funds held in non-interest bearing transaction accounts would be fully insured, without limit.  Further, unlike the TAGP, all U.S. depository institutions insured by the FDIC must participate; there is no opt out provision.  The FDIC does not plan to charge a separate assessment for the temporary insurance.  As proposed, the FDIC will take into account the cost for this additional coverage in determining the amount of the general assessment the FDIC charges insured U.S. depository institutions under its risk-based assessment system

On March 31, 2009, Banner Bank completed an offering of $50 million of qualifying senior bank notes covered by the TLGP at a fixed rate of 2.625% which mature on March 31, 2012.  Under the debt guarantee component of the TLGP, the FDIC will pay the unpaid principal and interest on an FDIC-guaranteed debt instrument upon the uncured failure of the participating entity to make a timely payment of principal or interest.  Under the terms of the TLGP, the Bank is not permitted to use the proceeds from the sale of securities guaranteed under the TLGP to prepay any of its other debt that is not guaranteed by the FDIC.  Banner Bank is required to pay a 1.00% fee (annualized) on this debt, which will result in a total fee of $1.5 million over three years.  None of the senior notes are redeemable prior to maturity.

Note 3:  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS RECENTLY ADOPTED OR ISSUED

In January 2010, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System issued final risk-based capital rules related to the adoption of FASB ASC Topic 860-10 and FASB ASC Topic 810-10.  Banking organizations affected by these recent pronouncements generally will be subject to
 
 
12

 
higher regulatory capital requirements intended to better align risk-based capital levels with the actual risks of certain exposures.  The adoption of the new risk-based capital rules in relation to these new pronouncements did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)—Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.  ASU No. 2010-06 requires:

·  
fair value disclosures by each class of assets and liabilities (generally a subset within a line item as presented in the statement of financial position) rather than major category,
·  
for items measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the amounts of significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2, and transfers into and out of Level 3, and the reasons for those transfers, including separate discussion related to the transfers into each level apart from transfers out of each level, and
·  
gross presentation of the amounts of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the Level 3 recurring measurement reconciliation.

Additionally, the ASU clarifies that a description of the valuation techniques(s) and inputs used to measure fair values is required for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements.  Also, if a valuation technique has changed, entities should disclose that change and the reason for the change.  Disclosures other than the gross presentation changes in the Level 3 reconciliation are effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2009.  The requirement to present the Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  The sections of this ASU already adopted did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The further adoption of the requirement to present the Level 3 reconciliation differently is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-09, Subsequent Events (Topic 855)—Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements.  ASU No. 2010-09 establishes separate subsequent event recognition criteria and disclosure requirements for SEC filers.  SEC filers are defined in this update as entities that are required to file or to furnish their financial statements with either the SEC or another appropriate agency (such as the FDIC or Office of Thrift Supervision) under Section 12(i) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Effective with the release date, the financial statements of SEC filers will no longer disclose either the date through which subsequent events were reviewed or that subsequent events were evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.  The requirement to evaluate subsequent events through the date of issuance is still in place; only the disclosure is affected.  This ASU also removes the requirement to make those disclosures in financial statements revised for either a correction of an error or a retrospective application of an accounting change.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-13, Effect of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Award in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Trades – a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.  ASU No. 2010-13 addresses whether an employee stock option should be classified as a liability or as an equity instrument if the exercise price is denominated in the currency in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades.  That currency may differ from the entity’s functional currency and from the payroll currency of the employee receiving the option.  This guidance amends ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, to clarify that an employee share-based payment award that has an exercise price denominated in the currency of the market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity shares trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition.  The guidance in the ASU is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-18, Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan Is Part of a Pool That Is Accounted for as a Single Asset—a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.  ASU No. 2010-18 clarifies that a creditor should not apply specific guidance in ASC 310, Receivables, 40, Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, to acquired loans accounted for as a pooled asset under ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality.  However, that guidance in ASC 310-30 continues to apply to acquired loans within the scope of ASC 310-30 that a creditor accounts for individually.  This amended guidance is effective for a modification of a loan(s) accounted for within a pool under ASC 310-30 occurring in the first interim or annual period ending on or after July 15, 2010.  The amended guidance must be applied prospectively, and early application is permitted.  Upon initial application of the amended guidance, an entity may make a one-time election to terminate accounting for loans as a pool under ASC 310-30.  An entity may make the election on a pool-by-pool basis.  The election does not preclude an entity from applying pool accounting to future acquisitions of loans with credit deterioration.  The implementation of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses.  ASU No. 2010-20 provides enhanced disclosures related to the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses, and provides that new and existing disclosures should be disaggregated based on how an entity develops its allowance for credit losses and how it manages credit exposures.  Under the provisions of this ASU, additional disclosures required for financing receivables include information regarding the aging of past due receivables, credit quality indicators, and modifications of financing receivables.  The provisions of ASU No. 2010-20 are effective for periods ending after December 15, 2010, with the exception of the amendments to the rollforward of the allowance for credit losses and the disclosures about modifications which are effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2010.  Comparative disclosures are required only for periods ending subsequent to initial adoption.  We are currently assessing the effects of adopting the provisions of ASU No. 2010-20 and will provide the required disclosure in our 2010 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.


 
13 

 

Note 4:  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company is managed by legal entity and not by lines of business.  Each of the Banks is a community oriented commercial bank chartered in the State of Washington.  The Banks’ primary business is that of a traditional banking institution, gathering deposits and originating loans for its portfolio in its respective primary market areas.  The Banks offer a wide variety of deposit products to its consumer and commercial customers.  Lending activities include the origination of real estate, commercial/agriculture business and consumer loans.  Banner Bank is also an active participant in the secondary market, originating residential loans for sale on both a servicing released and servicing retained basis.  In addition to interest income on loans and investment securities, the Banks receive other income from deposit service charges, loan servicing fees and from the sale of loans and investments.  The performance of the Banks is reviewed by the Company’s executive management and Board of Directors on a monthly basis.  All of the executive officers of the Company are members of Banner Bank’s management team.

GAAP establishes standards to report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and require reporting of selected information about operating segments in interim reports to stockholders.  We have determined that the Company’s current business and operations consist of a single business segment and have presented our consolidated financial statements accordingly.

Note 5:  INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS AND SECURITIES

The following table sets forth additional detail regarding our interest-bearing deposits and securities at the dates indicated (includes securities—trading, available-for-sale and held-to-maturity, all at carrying value) (in thousands):

 
September 30
 
December 31
 
September 30
 
 
2010
 
2009
 
2009
 
             
Interest-bearing deposits included in cash and due from banks
$
441,977
 
$
244,641
 
$
270,623
 
Mortgage-backed or related securities
                 
GNMA
 
16,105
   
18,458
   
20,130
 
FHLMC
 
32,160
   
43,469
   
47,596
 
FNMA
 
35,509
   
37,549
   
40,144
 
Private issuer
 
3,994
   
6,465
   
7,073
 
Total mortgage-backed securities
 
87,768
   
105,941
   
114,943
 
                   
U.S. agency obligations
 
116,188
   
94,367
   
79,675
 
Taxable municipal bonds
 
2,953
   
3,717
   
4,512
 
Corporate bonds
 
46,035
   
43,267
   
44,515
 
Total other taxable securities
 
165,176
   
141,351
   
128,702
 
                   
Tax-exempt municipal bonds
 
69,504
   
70,018
   
74,963
 
                   
Equity securities (excludes FHLB stock)
 
144
   
342
   
493
 
                   
Total securities
 
322,592
   
317,652
   
319,101
 
                   
FHLB stock
 
37,371
   
37,371
   
37,371
 
 
$
801,940
 
$
599,664
 
$
627,095
 


 
14 

 

Securities—Trading:  The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—trading at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Percent of
Total
   
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Percent of Total
                                       
U.S. Government and agency obligations
$
4,168
 
$
4,480
   
4.4
%
 
$
41,178
 
$
41,255
   
28.0
%
Municipal bond:
                                     
Taxable
 
682
   
716
   
0.7
     
1,004
   
1,034
   
0.7
 
Tax exempt
 
5,755
   
6,062
   
6.0
     
6,065
   
6,117
   
4.2
 
Corporate bonds
 
63,836
   
35,095
   
34.5
     
76,411
   
35,017
   
23.8
 
Mortgage-backed securities:
                                     
FHLMC
 
18,792
   
19,754
   
19.4
     
25,030
   
25,837
   
17.6
 
FNMA
 
33,320
   
35,509
   
34.9
     
36,250
   
37,549
   
25.5
 
Equity securities
 
6,915
   
144
   
0.1
     
6,915
   
342
   
0.2
 
 
$
133,468
 
$
101,760
   
100.0
%
 
$
192,853
 
$
147,151
 
 
100.0
%

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—trading at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
                         
Due in one year or less
  $ 1,097     $ 1,127     $ 550     $ 565  
Due after one year through five years
    2,360       2,489       40,232       40,277  
Due after five years through ten years
    22,436       23,750       21,230       21,641  
Due after ten years through twenty years
    17,580       18,475       20,931       21,186  
Due after twenty years
    83,080       55,775       102,995       63,140  
      126,553       101,616       185,938       146,809  
Equity securities
    6,915       144       6,915       342  
    $ 133,468     $ 101,760     $ 192,853     $ 147,151  

Securities—Available-for-Sale:  The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities available-for-sale at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Percent of
Total
 
 
 
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 111,259     $ 498     $ (49 )   $ 111,708       72.6 %
Corporate bonds
    9,697       --       (6 )     9,691       6.3  
Mortgage-backed or related securities:
                                       
FHLMC collateralized mortgage obligations
    12,082       323       --       12,405       8.0  
GNMA certificates
    14,911       1,194       --       16,105       10.5  
Other collateralized mortgage obligations
    3,745       249       --       3,994       2.6  
    $ 151,694     $ 2,264     $ (55 )   $ 153,903       100.0 %


 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Percent of
Total
 
 
 
U.S. Government and agency obligations
  $ 53,732     $ 22     $ (642 )   $ 53,112       55.5 %
Mortgage-backed or related securities:
                                       
FHLMC collateralized mortgage obligations
    17,410       223       --       17,633       18.4  
GNMA certificates
    17,741       716       --       18,457       19.3  
Other collateralized mortgage obligations
    6,291       174       --       6,465       6.8  
    $ 95,174     $ 1,135     $ (642 )   $ 95,667       100.0 %


 
15 

 

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, an aging of unrealized losses and fair value of related securities—available-for-sale was as follows (in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
U.S. Government and agency obligations
$
26,404
 
$
(49
)
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
26,404
 
$
(49
)
Corporate bonds
 
9,691
   
(6
)
 
--
   
--
   
9,691
   
(6
)
 
$
36,095
 
$
(55
)
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
36,095
 
$
(55
)

 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
U.S. Government and agency obligations
$
48,713
 
$
(642
)
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
48,713
 
$
(642
)
 
$
48,713
 
$
(642
)
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
48,713
 
$
(642
)

Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009 represents other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI).  The decline in fair market value of these securities is generally due to changes in interest rates and changes in market-desired spreads subsequent to their purchase.  At September 30, 2010, there were nine securities—available-for-sale with unrealized losses, compared to eight at December 31, 2009.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—available-for-sale at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 
September 30, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
                         
Due in one year or less
$
25,334
 
$
25,352
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
Due after one year through five years
 
75,628
   
75,997
   
48,748
   
48,257
 
Due after five years through ten years
 
19,994
   
20,049
   
4,983
   
4,854
 
Due after ten years through twenty years
 
3,745
   
3,994
   
5,133
   
5,196
 
Due after twenty years
 
26,993
   
28,511
   
36,310
   
37,360
 
 
$
151,694
 
$
153,903
 
$
95,174
 
$
95,667
 

Securities—Held-to-Maturity:  The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities held-to-maturity at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
September 30, 2010
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
             
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Percent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
of Total
 
Municipal bonds:
                             
Taxable
$
2,237
 
$
100
 
$
--
 
$
2,337
   
3.2
%
Tax exempt
 
63,442
   
5,092
   
(13
)
 
68,521
   
95.1
 
Corporate bonds
 
1,250
   
12
   
(22
)
 
1,240
   
1.7
 
 
$
66,929
 
$
5,204
 
$
(35
)
$
72,098
   
100.0
%

   
December 31, 2009
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
             
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Percent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
of Total
 
Municipal bonds:
                             
Taxable
$
2,683
 
$
66
 
$
(30
)
$
2,719
   
3.6
%
Tax exempt
 
63,901
   
2,731
   
(72
)
 
66,560
   
87.0
 
Corporate bonds
 
8,250
   
--
   
(1,040
)
 
7,210
   
9.4
 
 
$
74,834
 
$
2,797
 
$
(1,142
)
$
76,489
   
100.0
%


 
16 

 

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, an aging of unrealized losses and fair value of related securities—held-to-maturity was as follows (in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Municipal bonds
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
2,949
 
$
(13
)
$
2,949
 
$
(13
)
Corporate bonds
478
 
(22
)
--
 
--
 
478
 
(22
)
 
$
478
 
$
(22
)
$
2,949
 
$
(13
)
$
3,427
 
$
(35
)

 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Municipal bonds
$
2,920
 
$
(43
)
$
10,112
 
$
(59
)
$
13,032
 
$
(102
)
Corporate bonds
2,556
 
(444
)
3,404
 
(596
)
5,960
 
(1,040
)
 
$
5,476
 
$
(487
)
$
13,516
 
$
(655
)
$
18,992
 
$
(1,142
)

Management does not believe that any individual unrealized losses as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009 represent OTTI.  The decline in fair market value of these securities was generally due to changes in interest rates and changes in market-desired spreads subsequent to their purchase.  There were four securities—held-to-maturity with unrealized losses at September 30, 2010, compared to twelve at December 31, 2009.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized an OTTI charge of $3.0 million on a single-issue trust preferred security.  During the same quarter a year earlier, the Company recognized an OTTI charge of $1.3 million on a different single-issue trust preferred security.  Based on publicly available financial information on this issuer, the Company determined collectability of the debt was in question and wrote down the fair value of this security to zero.  The debt security had previously been reported as a non-performing, non-accruing investment.  As of September 30, 2010, there were two held-to-maturity non-rated corporate bonds issued by a housing authority in nonaccrual status with an amortized cost of $250,000 each.  At this time, management expects to collect all amounts due for these securities.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities—held-to-maturity at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because some securities may be called or prepaid with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 
September 30, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
                         
Due in one year or less
$
1,198
 
$
1,203
 
$
2,095
 
$
2,131
 
Due after one year through five years
 
10,952
   
11,541
   
11,017
   
11,613
 
Due after five years through ten years
 
14,143
   
14,823
   
13,794
   
14,379
 
Due after ten years through twenty years
 
37,948
   
41,383
   
41,792
   
42,504
 
Due after twenty years
 
2,688
   
3,148
   
6,136
   
5,862
 
 
$
66,929
 
$
72,098
 
$
74,834
 
$
76,489
 

The following table presents, as of September 30, 2010, investment securities which were pledged to secure borrowings, public deposits or other obligations as permitted or required by law (in thousands):

   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
Purpose or Beneficiary:
           
Federal Reserve Bank, U.S. Treasury Tax and Loan deposits
$
1,658
 
$
1,708
 
State and local governments public deposits
 
82,550
   
87,351
 
Pacific Coast Bankers’ Bank (PCBB) interest rate swaps
 
4,836
   
5,059
 
Retail repurchase transaction accounts
 
144,191
   
148,226
 
Other
 
4,517
   
4,756
 
             
Total pledged securities
$
237,752
 
$
247,100
 

The carrying value of investment securities pledged as of September 30, 2010 was $243.4 million.

Note 6:  FHLB STOCK

At September 30, 2010, the Company carried on its books $37.4 million in Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle (FHLB) stock, which represents our investment in the stock at its par value.  Ownership of this stock allows the Banks access to funding for liquidity and other borrowing needs.  Ownership of FHLB stock is restricted to FHLB member institutions and can only be purchased and redeemed at par.  Shares are not publicly traded and do not have a readily determinable fair value.  FHLB stock is generally acknowledged to be a long-term investment.  Accordingly, when evaluating for impairment, the value is determined based on the ultimate recovery of the par value.
 
 
17

 
The FHLB reported that it did not meet all of its regulatory capital targets, including its risk-based capital requirement, as of September 30, 2010 and was classified by its regulator as “under capitalized.”  The FHLB did not pay a dividend for 2009 or the first three quarters of 2010 and will not repurchase capital stock or pay a dividend while it is classified as undercapitalized.  The FHLB reported a risk-based capital surplus of $952.9 million as of September 30, 2010 compared to $531.7 million as of December 31, 2009.  The FHLB’s total capital at September 30, 2010 was $1.101 billion compared to $993.7 million at December 31, 2009.  In addition, on October 25, 2010, the FHLB received a consent order from the Federal Housing Financing Agency, its primary regulator.  The Company is currently reviewing the potential impact of the consent order but does not believe that it will have a material impact on the current value of the FHLB stock.

Management periodically evaluates FHLB stock for impairment.  Management’s determination of whether these investments are impaired is based on its assessment of the ultimate recoverability of cost rather than by recognizing temporary declines in value.  The determination of whether a decline affects the ultimate recoverability of cost is influenced by criteria such as (1) the significance of any decline in net assets of the FHLB as compared to the capital stock amount for the FHLB and the length of time this situation has persisted, (2) commitments by the FHLB to make payments required by law or regulation and the level of such payments in relation to the operating performance of the FHLB, (3) the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on its member institutions or the FHLB itself, and (4) the liquidity position of the FHLB.

Based on the above, the Company has determined there is not an impairment of its FHLB stock investment as of September 30, 2010.

Note 7:  LOANS RECEIVABLE

We originate residential mortgage loans for both portfolio investment and sale in the secondary market.  At the time of origination, mortgage loans are designated as held for sale or held for investment.  Loans held for sale are stated at lower of cost or estimated fair value determined on an aggregate basis.  Net unrealized losses on loans held for sale are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.  We also originate construction and land, commercial and multifamily real estate, commercial business, agricultural and consumer loans for portfolio investment.  Loans receivable not designated as held for sale are recorded at the principal amount outstanding, net of allowance for loan losses, deferred fees, discounts and premiums.  Premiums, discounts and deferred loan fees are amortized to maturity using the level-yield methodology.

Interest is accrued as earned unless management doubts the collectability of the loan or the unpaid interest.  Interest accruals are generally discontinued when loans become 90 days past due for scheduled interest payments.  All previously accrued but uncollected interest is deducted from interest income upon transfer to nonaccrual status.  Future collection of interest is included in interest income based upon an assessment of the likelihood that the loans will be repaid or recovered.  A loan may be put on nonaccrual status sooner than this policy would dictate if, in management’s judgment, the loan may be uncollectable.  Such interest is then recognized as income only if it is ultimately collected.

Our loans receivable, including loans held for sale, at September 30, 2010 and 2009 and December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
September 30
2010
 
December 31
2009
 
September 30
2009
 
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
                                     
Loans (including loans held for sale):
                                   
Commercial real estate
                                   
Owner occupied
$
526,599
   
15.1
%
$
509,464
   
13.4
%
$
481,698
   
12.4
%
Investment properties
 
534,338
   
15.3
   
573,495
   
15.1
   
585,206
   
15.0
 
Multifamily real estate
 
150,396
   
4.3
   
153,497
   
4.1
   
152,832
   
3.9
 
Commercial construction
 
64,555
   
1.8
   
80,236
   
2.1
   
83,937
   
2.2
 
Multifamily construction
 
48,850
   
1.4
   
57,422
   
1.5
   
62,614
   
1.6
 
One- to four-family construction
 
174,312
   
5.0
   
239,135
   
6.3
   
277,419
   
7.1
 
Land and land development
                                   
Residential
 
189,948
   
5.4
   
284,331
   
7.5
   
322,030
   
8.3
 
Commercial
 
24,697
   
0.7
   
43,743
   
1.2
   
47,182
   
1.2
 
Commercial business
 
596,152
   
17.0
   
637,823
   
16.8
   
678,187
   
17.4
 
Agricultural business, including
secured by farmland
 
210,904
   
6.0
   
205,307
   
5.4
   
225,603
   
5.8
 
One- to four-family real estate
 
681,138
   
19.5
   
703,277
   
18.6
   
676,928
   
17.4
 
                                     
Consumer
 
106,922
   
3.1
   
110,937
   
2.9
   
114,354
   
2.9
 
Consumer secured by one- to four-family real estate
 
189,291
   
5.4
   
191,454
   
5.1
   
188,204
   
4.8
 
Total consumer
 
296,213
   
8.5
   
302,391
   
8.0
   
302,558
   
7.7
 
Total loans outstanding
 
3,498,102
   
100.0
%
 
3,790,121
   
100.0
%
 
3,896,194
   
100.0
%
                                     
Less allowance for loan losses
 
(96,435
)
       
(95,269
)
       
(95,183
)
     
                                     
Total net loans outstanding at end of period
 
$
3,401,667
       
$
3,694,852
       
 
$
3,801,011
       
 
 
18


 
Loans are net of unearned, unamortized loan fees or discounts of $10.8 million, $11.2 million and $9.8 million at September 30, 2010, December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009, respectively.

Loans serviced for others totaled $711.4 million and $506.2 million at September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Custodial accounts maintained in connection with this servicing totaled $4.4 million and $3.5 million at September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The geographic concentration of our loans by state at September 30, 2010 was as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
Washington
 
Oregon
 
Idaho
 
Other
 
Total
 
                                 
Commercial real estate
                               
Owner occupied
 
$
399,039
 
$
76,861
 
$
45,561
 
$
5,138
 
$
526,599
 
Investment properties
   
397,868
   
87,980
   
43,848
   
4,642
   
534,338
 
Multifamily real estate
   
123,771
   
12,216
   
9,968
   
4,441
   
150,396
 
Commercial construction
   
44,163
   
8,347
   
12,045
   
--
   
64,555
 
Multifamily construction
   
26,551
   
23,299
   
--
   
--
   
48,850
 
One- to four-family construction
   
86,789
   
76,948
   
10,575
   
--
   
174,312
 
Land and land development
                               
Residential
   
99,078
   
75,418
   
15,452
   
--
   
189,948
 
Commercial
   
21,126
   
1,138
   
2,433
   
--
   
24,697
 
Commercial business
   
414,321
   
97,683
   
68,150
   
15,998
   
596,152
 
Agricultural business, including secured by
farmland
   
110,118
   
41,328
   
59,412
   
46
   
210,904
 
One- to four-family real estate
   
444,407
   
206,867
   
27,487
   
2,377
   
681,138
 
                                 
Consumer
   
76,341
   
23,515
   
7,066
   
--
   
106,922
 
Consumer secured by one- to four-family
real estate
   
133,112
   
42,285
   
13,394
   
500
   
189,291
 
Total consumer
   
209,453
   
65,800
   
20,460
   
500
   
296,213
 
Total loans outstanding
 
$
2,375,684
 
$
773,885
 
$
315,391
 
$
33,142
 
$
3,498,102
 
                                 
Percent of total loans
   
67.9
%
 
22.1
%
 
9.0
%
 
1.0
%
 
100.0
%

The geographic concentration of our land and land development loans by state at September 30, 2010 was as follows (dollars in thousands):

   
Washington
 
Oregon
 
Idaho
 
Total
 
Residential
                         
Acquisition and development
 
$
52,580
 
$
47,151
 
$
5,139
 
$
104,870
 
Improved land and lots
   
32,910
   
21,316
   
1,356
   
55,582
 
Unimproved land
   
13,588
   
6,951
   
8,957
   
29,496
 
Commercial and industrial
                         
Acquisition and development
   
5,257
   
--
   
562
   
5,819
 
Improved land
   
8,751
   
--
   
--
   
8,751
 
Unimproved land
   
7,118
   
1,138
   
1,871
   
10,127
 
                           
Total land and land development loans outstanding
 
$
120,204
 
$
76,556
 
$
17,885
 
$
214,645
 
                           
Percent of total land and land development loans
   
56.0
%
 
35.7
%
 
8.3
%
 
100.0
%

As noted in the tables above, substantially all of our loans are to borrowers in the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Accordingly, their ultimate collectability is particularly susceptible to, among other things, changes in market and economic conditions within these states.

The amount of impaired loans and the related allocated reserve for loan losses are presented in the following table (in thousands).  A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and circumstances, we determine it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments.  Impaired loans include loans on non-accrual, troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) that are performing under their restructured terms, and loans that are 90 days or more past due, but are still on accrual.

 
September 30, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Loan
Amount
 
Allocated
Reserves
 
Loan
Amount
 
Allocated
Reserves
 
Impaired loans:
                       
Nonaccrual
$
165,835
 
$
16,370
 
$
213,401
 
$
18,872
 
Accrual, including TDRs
 
51,908
   
2,911
   
48,337
   
3,309
 
Total impaired loans
$
217,743
 
$
19,281
 
$
261,738
 
$
22,181
 

 
19 

 

The Company originates both adjustable- and fixed-rate loans.  The maturity and repricing composition of those loans, less undisbursed amounts and deferred fees, were as follows (in thousands):

 
September 30
2010
 
December 31
2009
 
September 30
2009
 
Fixed-rate (term to maturity):
     
Due in one year or less
$
223,338
 
$
162,894
 
$
158,037
 
Due after one year through three years
 
251,829
   
198,107
   
212,845
 
Due after three years through five years
 
160,473
   
239,145
   
240,487
 
Due after five years through ten years
 
120,320
   
142,900
   
147,342
 
Due after ten years
 
537,803
   
551,375
   
525,165
 
   
1,293,763
   
1,294,421
   
1,283,876
 
Adjustable-rate (term to rate adjustment):
                 
Due in one year or less
 
1,353,793
   
1,582,046
   
1,717,898
 
Due after one year through three years
 
458,125
   
417,777
   
382,274
 
Due after three years through five years
 
356,621
   
447,228
   
464,586
 
Due after five years through ten years
 
35,204
   
47,287
   
47,560
 
Due after ten years
 
596
   
1,362
   
--
 
   
2,204,339
   
2,495,700
   
2,612,318
 
                   
 
$
3,498,102
 
$
3,790,121
 
$
3,896,194
 

The adjustable-rate loans may have interest rate adjustment limitations and are generally indexed to various Prime or London Interbank Offered Rates (LIBOR), or One- to Five-Year Constant Maturity Treasury Indices or FHLB borrowing rates.  Future market factors may affect the correlation of the interest rate adjustment with the rates the Banks pay on the short-term deposits that primarily have been utilized to fund these loans.

Note 8:  ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The following is a schedule of our allocation of the allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

 
September 30
2010
 
December 31
2009
 
September 30
2009
 
       
Specific or allocated loss allowances:
                 
Commercial real estate
$
6,988
 
$
8,278
 
$
7,580
 
Multifamily real estate
 
3,870
   
90
   
89
 
Construction and land
 
38,666
   
45,209
   
49,829
 
One- to four-family real estate
 
3,555
   
2,912
   
2,304
 
Commercial business
 
23,114
   
22,054
   
20,906
 
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
 
2,486
   
919
   
1,540
 
Consumer
 
1,899
   
1,809
   
1,758
 
Total allocated
 
80,578
   
81,271
   
84,006
 
                   
Estimated allowance for undisbursed commitments
 
1,534
   
1,594
   
2,202
 
Unallocated
 
14,323
   
12,404
   
8,975
 
Total allowance for loan losses
$
96,435
 
$
95,269
 
$
95,183
 
                   
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans outstanding
 
2.76
%
 
2.51
%
 
2.44
%
                   
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans
 
57
%
 
45
%
 
39
%







 
20 

 
An analysis of the changes in our allowance for loan losses is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
Quarters Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30
 
September 30
 
 
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
 
                   
Balance, beginning of the period
$
95,508
 
$
90,694
 
$
95,269
 
$
75,197
 
                         
Provision for loan losses
 
20,000
   
25,000
   
50,000
   
92,000
 
                         
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
                       
                         
Commercial real estate
 
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Multifamily real estate
 
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Construction and land
 
163
   
299
   
785
   
617
 
One- to four-family real estate
 
54
   
21
   
125
   
112
 
Commercial business
 
204
   
120
   
2,089
   
439
 
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
 
9
   
6
   
9
   
28
 
Consumer
 
77
   
152
   
205
   
215
 
   
507
   
598
   
3,213
   
1,411
 
Loans charged off:
                       
                         
Commercial real estate
 
(1
)
 
--
   
(93
)
 
--
 
Multifamily real estate
 
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Construction and land
 
(11,802
)
 
(16,614
)
 
(31,781
)
 
(56,321
)
One- to four-family real estate
 
(1,134
)
 
(856
)
 
(5,377
)
 
(3,128
)
Commercial business
 
(5,802
)
 
(3,060
)
 
(12,033
)
 
(9,292
)
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
 
(492
)
 
--
   
(1,480
)
 
(3,186
)
Consumer
 
(349
)
 
(579
)
 
(1,283
)
 
(1,498
)
   
(19,580
)
 
(21,109
)
 
(52,047
)
 
(73,425
)
                         
Net (charge-offs) recoveries
 
(19,073
)
 
(20,511
)
 
(48,834
)
 
(72,014
)
                         
Balance, end of the period
$
96,435
 
$
95,183
 
$
96,435
 
$
95,183
 
                         
Net loan charge-offs to average outstanding loans during the period
 
0.53
%
 
0.53
%
 
1.34
%
 
1.83
%

Note 9:  REAL ESTATE OWNED, NET

The following table presents the changes in REO, net of valuation allowance, for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

 
Quarters Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Balance, beginning of the period
$
101,485
 
$
56,967
 
$
77,743
 
$
21,782
 
                         
   Additions from loan foreclosures
 
25,694
   
10,013
   
70,906
   
62,051
 
   Additions from capitalized costs
 
841
   
1,689
   
2,357
   
4,352
 
   Dispositions of REO
 
(12,145
)
 
(13,439
)
 
(32,556
)
 
(25,615
)
   Transfers to property and equipment
 
--
   
--
   
--
   
(7,030
)
   Gain (loss) on sale of REO
 
(133
)
 
(188
)
 
(1,368
)
 
(385
)
   Valuation adjustments in the period
 
(8,583
)
 
(1,466
)
 
(9,923
)
 
(1,579
)
                         
Balance, end of the period
$
107,159
 
$
53,576
 
$
107,159
 
$
53,576
 

The following table shows REO by type and geographic location by state as of September 30, 2010 (in thousands):

   
Washington
 
Oregon
 
Idaho
 
Total
 
                           
Commercial real estate
 
$
10,300
 
$
--
 
$
--
 
$
10,300
 
One- to four-family construction
   
891
   
2,260
   
--
   
3,151
 
Land development- commercial
   
6,168
   
6,065
   
225
   
12,458
 
Land development- residential
   
25,257
   
26,180
   
7,620
   
59,057
 
Agricultural land
   
329
   
                   --
   
1,782
   
2,111
 
One- to four-family real estate
   
10,376
   
7,611
   
2,095
   
20,082
 
Balance, end of period
 
$
            53,321
 
$
42,116
 
$
11,722
 
$
107,159
 
 
21

 
REO properties are recorded at the lower of the recorded investment in the loan (prior to foreclosure) or the fair market value of the property, less expected selling costs.  Valuation allowances on REO balances are based on updated appraisals of the underlying properties as received during a period or management’s authorization to reduce the selling price of a property during the period.

Note 10:  OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS

Other Intangible Assets:  At September 30, 2010, intangible assets consisted primarily of core deposit intangibles (CDI), which are amounts recorded in business combinations or deposit purchase transactions related to the value of transaction-related deposits and the value of the customer relationships associated with the deposits.

We amortize CDI over their estimated useful life and review them at least annually for events or circumstances that could impact their recoverability.  The core deposit intangible assets shown in the table below represent the value ascribed to the long-term deposit relationships acquired in three separate bank acquisitions during 2007.  These intangible assets are being amortized using an accelerated method over estimated useful lives of eight years.  The core deposit intangible assets are not estimated to have a significant residual value.  Other intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives and are also reviewed for impairment.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s core deposit intangibles and other intangibles for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

       
Core Deposit
Intangibles
  Other   Total  
Balance, December 31, 2009
     
$
11,057
 
$
13
 
$
11,070
 
Amortization
       
(1,859
)
 
(1
)
 
(1,860
)
Impairment write-off
       
--
   
--
   
--
 
Balance, September 30, 2010
     
$
9,198
 
$
12
 
$
9,210
 

       
Core Deposit
Intangibles
  Other   Total  
Balance, December 31, 2008
     
$
13,701
 
$
15
 
$
13,716
 
Amortization
       
(1,997
)
 
(1
)
 
(1,998
)
Impairment write-off
       
--
   
--
   
--
 
Balance, September 30, 2009
     
$
11,704
 
$
14
 
$
11,718
 

Estimated annual amortization expense with respect to existing intangibles as of September 30, 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended
 
Core Deposit
Intangibles
  Other   Total  
December 31, 2010
 
$
2,459
 
$
2
 
$
2,461
 
December 31, 2011
   
2,276
   
2
   
2,278
 
December 31, 2012
   
2,092
   
2
   
2,094
 
December 31, 2013
   
1,908
   
2
   
1,910
 
December 31, 2014
   
1,724
   
2
   
1,726
 
Thereafter
   
598
   
3
   
601
 
   
$
11,057
 
$
13
 
$
11,070
 

Mortgage Servicing Rights:  Mortgage servicing rights are reported in other assets.  Mortgage servicing rights are initially reported at fair value and are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets.  Mortgage servicing rights are subsequently evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights compared to the amortized cost (remaining unamortized initial fair value).  If the fair value is less than the amortized cost, a valuation allowance is created through an impairment charge to servicing fee income.  However, if the fair value is greater than the amortized cost, the amount above the amortized cost is not recognized in the carrying value.  Mortgage servicing rights as a percentage of related loans serviced for others was 1.03% and 1.18% at September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.


 
22 

 

An analysis of our mortgage servicing rights for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is presented below (in thousands):

 
Quarters Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Balance, beginning of the period
$
5,315
 
$
5,364
 
$
5,703
 
$
3,554
 
Amounts capitalized
 
873
   
1,149
   
1,290
   
4,430
 
Amortization (1)
 
(579
)
 
(415
)
 
(1,384
)
 
(1,586
)
Valuation adjustments in the period
 
--
   
--
   
--
   
(300
)
                         
Balance, end of the period
$
5,609
 
$
6,098
 
$
5,609
 
$
6,098
 

(1) Amortization of mortgage servicing rights is recorded as a reduction of loan servicing income and includes any remaining unamortized balance, which is written off if the loan repays in full.

Note 11:  DEPOSITS AND CUSTOMER REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Deposits consisted of the following at September 30, 2010 and 2009 and December 31, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

 
September 30
2010
 
December 31
2009
 
September 30
2009
 
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
                                     
Non-interest-bearing accounts
$
613,313
   
16.3
%
$
582,480
   
15.1
%
$
546,956
   
14.2
%
Interest-bearing checking
 
359,923
   
9.6
   
360,256
   
9.3
   
329,820
   
8.5
 
Regular savings accounts
 
618,144
   
16.4
   
538,765
   
13.9
   
521,663
   
13.5
 
Money market accounts
 
481,689
   
12.8
   
442,124
   
11.4
   
454,063
   
11.8
 
Total transaction and saving
       accounts
 
2,073,069
   
55.1
   
1,923,625
   
49.7
   
1,852,502
   
48.0
 
                                     
Certificates which mature or reprice:
                                   
Within 1 year
 
1,235,720
   
32.9
   
1,593,575
   
41.3
   
1,562,733
   
40.5
 
After 1 year, but within 3 years
 
396,683
   
10.5
   
311,115
   
8.0
   
407,160
   
10.5
 
After 3 years
 
55,014
   
1.5
   
37,235
   
1.0
   
38,780
   
1.0
 
Total certificate accounts
 
1,687,417
   
44.9
   
1,941,925
   
50.3
   
2,008,673
   
52.0
 
                                     
Total deposits
$
3,760,486
   
100.0
%
$
3,865,550
   
100.0
%
$
3,861,175
   
100.0
%


Included in total deposits:
                                   
Public transaction accounts
$
72,076
   
1.9
%
$
78,202
   
2.0
%
$
44,645
   
1.2
%
Public interest-bearing certificates
 
82,045
   
2.2
   
88,186
   
2.3
   
98,906
   
2.6
 
Total public deposits
$
154,121
   
4.1
%
$
166,388
   
4.3
%
$
143,551
   
3.8
%
                                     
Total brokered deposits
$
144,013
   
3.8
%
$
165,016
   
4.3
%
$
186,087
   
4.8
%
 
 

Geographic Concentration of Deposits at
September 30, 2010 (in thousands)
 
Washington
 
Oregon
 
Idaho
 
Total
 
                           
   
$
2,890,015
 
$
607,279
 
$
263,192
 
$
3,760,486
 

In addition to deposits, we also offer retail repurchase agreements which are customer funds that are primarily associated with sweep account arrangements tied to transaction deposit accounts.  While we include these collateralized borrowings in other borrowings reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, these accounts primarily represent customer utilization of our cash management services and related deposit accounts.

The following table presents customer repurchase agreement balances as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

       
September 30
2010
 
December 31
2009
 
September 30
2009
 
                           
Retail Repurchase Agreements
       
$
128,149
 
$
124,330
 
$
124,795
 
 
 
23

 
Note 12:  FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING AND MEASUREMENT

We have elected to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value.  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale).  The GAAP standard (ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements) establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and disclosure requirements about fair value measurements.  Among other things, the standard requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our estimates for market assumptions.  These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
 
·  
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.  An active market is a market in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.  A quoted price in an active market provides the most reliable evidence of fair value and shall be used to measure fair value whenever available.

·  
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 including quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, quoted prices in less active markets for identical or similar instruments, or other observable inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data.  

·  
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity for financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation; also includes observable inputs from non-binding single dealer quotes not corroborated by observable market data. 
 
The estimated fair value amounts of financial instruments have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required to interpret data to develop the estimates of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.  In addition, reasonable comparability between financial institutions may not be likely due to the wide range of permitted valuation techniques and numerous estimates that must be made given the absence of active secondary markets for many of the financial instruments.  This lack of uniform valuation methodologies also introduces a greater degree of subjectivity to these estimated fair values.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:

We record trading account securities, securities available-for-sale, FHLB debt and junior subordinated debentures at fair value on a recurring basis.

·  
The securities assets primarily consist of U.S. Government Agency obligations, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, single issue trust preferred securities (TPS), pooled trust preferred collateralized debit obligation securities (TRUP CDO), mortgage-backed securities, equity securities and certain other financial instruments.  At September 30, 2010, management used inputs from each of the three fair value hierarchy levels to value these assets.  The Level 1 measurements are based upon quoted prices in active markets.  The Level 2 measurements are generally based upon a matrix pricing model from an investment reporting and valuation service.  Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used principally to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities.  The Level 3 measurements are based primarily on unobservable inputs.  In developing Level 3 measurements, management incorporates whatever market data might be available and uses discounted cash flow models where appropriate.  These calculations include projections of future cash flows, including appropriate default and loss assumptions, and market based discount rates.

From mid-2008 through the current quarter, the lack of active markets and market participants for certain securities resulted in an increase in Level 3 measurements.  This has been particularly true for our TRUP CDO securities.  As of September 30, 2010, we owned approximately $33 million in current par value of these securities, exclusive of those securities we elected to write-off completely.  The market for these securities is inactive, which was evidenced first by a significant widening of the bid-ask spread in the brokered markets in which TRUP CDOs trade and then by a significant decrease in the volume of trades relative to historical levels.  The new issue market is also inactive as almost no new TRUP CDOs have been issued since 2007.  There are currently very few market participants who are willing and/or able to transact for these securities.  Thus, a low market price for a particular bond may only provide evidence of stress in the credit markets in general rather than being an indicator of credit problems with a particular issuer.

Given these conditions in the debt markets and the absence of observable transactions in the secondary and new issue markets, management determined that for TRUP CDOs:

o  
The few observable transactions and market quotations that were available are not reliable for purposes of determining fair value at September 30, 2010,

o  
An income valuation approach technique (present value technique) that maximizes the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs is equally or more representative of fair value than the market approach valuation technique used at prior measurement dates, and
 
 
24


 
o  
The Company’s TRUP CDOs are classified exclusively within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because of the significant assumptions required to determine fair value at the measurement date.

The TRUP CDO valuations were prepared by an independent third party who used its proprietary cash flow model recognized as an industry standard for analyzing all types of collateralized debt obligations.  Its approach to determining fair value involves considering the credit quality of the collateral using average risk-neutral probability of default values, assumes a level of defaults based on the probability of default of each underlying trust preferred security and assumed level of correlation among the assets, and creates an expected cash flows for each security, discounted at the risk-free rate plus a liquidity premium.

Where possible, management reviewed the valuation methodology and assumptions used by the independent third party providers, determined that with respect to performing securities the fair value estimates were reasonable and utilized those estimates in our reported financial statements.  However, beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and continuing with the quarter ended September 30, 2010, for two securities for which we currently are not receiving any cash payments, management elected to override the third party fair value estimates and to reflect the fair value of these securities at zero, resulting in an OTTI charge.

At September 30, 2010, we also directly owned approximately $20 million in current par value of TPS securities issued by three individual financial institutions for which no market data or independent valuation source is available.  Similar to the TRUP CDOs above, there were too few, if any, issuances of new TPS securities or sales of existing TPS securities to provide Level 1 or even Level 2 fair value measurements for these securities.  Management, therefore, utilized a discounted cash-flow model to calculate the present value of each security’s expected future cash flows to determine their respective fair values.  Management took into consideration what little market data was available regarding discount rates, but concluded that most of the available information represented dated transactions and/or was not representative of active market transactions.  Since these three TPS securities are also concentrated in the financial institutions sector, which continues to be under significant pricing pressure at September 30, 2010, management applied credit factors to differentiate these issues based upon its judgment of the risk profile of the various issuers.  These credit factors were then incorporated into the model at September 30, 2010, and discount rates equal to three-month LIBOR plus 600 to 800 basis points were used to calculate the respective fair values of these securities.  We also have one TPS security with a par value of $5 million that is not actively traded, but for which more market data is available permitting a Level 2 fair value measurement.

In addition to the three TPS considered Level 3 and one TPS considered Level 2, on its credit analysis, management determined that collection of two specific TPS securities was highly unlikely and therefore elected to write off the balance of these securities as OTTI charges—one in the third quarter of 2009 and one during the first quarter of 2010.  Further, during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized an OTTI charge of $3.0 million on a single-issue trust preferred security which was classified as held-to-maturity.  Based on publicly available financial information on this issuer, the Company determined that collectability of the debt was in question and wrote down the value of this security to zero.  The debt security had previously been reported as a non-performing, non-accruing investment.

·  
Fair valuations for FHLB advances are estimated using fair market values provided by the lender, the FHLB of Seattle.  The FHLB of Seattle prices advances by discounting the future contractual cash flows for individual advances using its current cost of funds curve to provide the discount rate.  Management considers this to be a Level 2 input method.

·  
The fair valuations of junior subordinated debentures (TPS debt that the Company has issued) were valued using discounted cash flows to maturity or to the next available call date, if based upon the current interest rate and credit market environment it was considered likely that we would elect early redemption.  The majority, $98 million, of these debentures carry interest rates that reset quarterly, using the three-month LIBOR index plus spreads of 1.38% to 3.35%.  The remaining $26 million issue has a current interest rate of 6.56%, which is fixed through December 2011 and then resets quarterly to equal three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 1.62%.  In valuing the debentures at September 30, 2010, management evaluated discounted cash flows to maturity and for the discount rate used the September 30, 2010 three-month LIBOR plus 800 basis points.  While the quarterly reset of the index on this debt would seemingly keep it close to market values, the disparity in the fixed spreads above the index and the inability to determine realistic current market spreads, due to lack of new issuances and trades, resulted in having to rely more heavily on assumptions about what spread would be appropriate if market transactions were to take place.  In periods prior to the third quarter of 2008, the discount rate used was based on recent issuances or quotes from brokers on the date of valuation for comparable bank holding companies and was considered to be a Level 2 input method.  However, as noted above in the discussion of TPS and TRUP CDOs, due to the unprecedented disruption of certain financial markets, management concluded that there were insufficient transactions or other indicators to continue to reflect these measurements as Level 2 inputs.  Due to this reliance on assumptions and not on directly observable transactions, management considers this to be a Level 3 input method.


 
25 

 

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
 
     
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Assets:
                       
Securities—available-for-sale
                       
U.S. government and agency
$
111,708
 
$
--
 
$
111,708
 
$
--
 
Corporate bonds
 
9,691
         
9,691
       
Mortgage-backed securities
 
32,504
   
--
   
32,504
   
--
 
   
153,903
   
--
   
153,903
   
--
 
Securities—trading
                       
U.S. government and agency
 
4,480
   
--
   
4,480
   
--
 
Municipal bonds
 
6,778
   
--
   
6,778
   
--
 
TPS and TRUP CDOs
 
35,095
   
--
   
5,125
   
29,970
 
Mortgage-backed securities
 
55,263
   
--
   
55,263
   
--
 
Equity securities and other
 
144
   
--
   
144
   
--
 
   
101,760
   
--
   
71,790
   
29,970
 
                         
 
$
255,663
 
$
--
 
$
225,693
 
$
29,970
 
Liabilities
                       
Advances from FHLB at fair value
$
46,833
 
$
--
 
$
46,833
 
$
--
 
Junior subordinated debentures net of unamortized deferred issuance costs at fair value
 
48,394
 
 
--
   
--
   
48,394
 
                         
 
$
95,227
 
$
--
 
$
46,833
 
$
48,394
 
                         

 
December 31, 2009
 
     
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Assets:
                       
Securities—available-for-sale
                       
U.S. government and agency
$
53,112
 
$
--
 
$
53,112
 
$
--
 
Mortgage-backed securities
 
42,555
   
--
   
42,555
   
--
 
   
95,667
   
--
   
95,667
   
--
 
Securities—trading
                       
U.S. government and agency
 
41,255
   
--
   
41,255
   
--
 
Municipal bonds
 
7,151
   
--
   
7,151
   
--
 
TPS and TRUP CDOs
 
35,017
   
4,825
   
--
   
30,192
 
Mortgage-backed securities
 
63,386
   
--
   
63,386
   
--
 
Equity securities and other
 
342
   
328
   
14
   
--
 
   
147,151
   
5,153
   
111,806
   
30,192
 
                         
 
$
242,818
 
$
5,153
 
$
207,473
 
$
30,192
 
Liabilities
                       
Advances from FHLB at fair value
$
189,779
 
$
--
 
$
189,779
 
$
--
 
Junior subordinated debentures net of unamortized deferred issuance costs at fair value
 
47,694
 
 
--
   
--
   
47,694
 
                         
 
$
237,473
 
$
--
 
$
189,779
 
$
47,694
 
                         


 
26 

 

The following tables provides a reconciliation of the assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on a recurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

   
Level 3 Fair Value Inputs
 
     
TPS and TRUP CDOs
   
Borrowings—
Junior Subordinated
Debentures
 
               
Beginning balance at December 31, 2009
 
$
30,192
 
$
47,694
 
               
Total gains or losses recognized
             
Asset gains (losses)
   
(222
)
 
--
 
Liability (gains) losses
   
--
   
700
 
Purchases, issuances and settlements
   
--
   
--
 
Paydowns and maturities
   
--
   
--
 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
--
   
--
 
Ending balance at September 30, 2010
 
$
29,970
 
$
48,394
 
               

   
Level 3 Fair Value Inputs
 
     
TPS and TRUP CDOs
   
Borrowings—
Junior Subordinated
Debentures
 
               
Beginning balance at December 31, 2008
 
$
30,490
 
$
49,563
 
               
Total gains or losses recognized
             
Asset gains (losses)
   
850
   
--
 
Liability (gains) losses
   
--
   
(1,704
)
Purchases, issuances and settlements
   
--
   
--
 
Paydowns and maturities
   
--
   
--
 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
--
   
--
 
Ending balance at September 30, 2009
 
$
31,340
 
$
47,859
 
               

The Company has elected to continue to recognize the interest income and dividends from the securities reclassified to fair value as a component of interest income as was done in prior years when they were classified as available-for-sale.  Interest expense related to the FHLB advances and junior subordinated debentures continues to be measured based on contractual interest rates and reported in interest expense.  The change in fair market value of these financial instruments has been recorded as a component of other operating income.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis:

Carrying values of certain impaired loans are periodically evaluated to determine if valuation adjustments, or partial write-downs, should be recorded.  These non-recurring fair value adjustments are recorded when observable market prices or current appraised values of collateral indicate a shortfall in collateral value or discounted cash flows indicate a shortfall compared to current carrying values of the related loan.  If we determine that the value of the impaired loan is less than the carrying value of the loan, we either establish an impairment reserve as a specific component of the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) or charge off the impaired amount.  The remaining impaired loans are evaluated for reserve needs in homogenous pools within our ALLL methodology.  As of September 30, 2010, the Company reviewed all of its classified loans totaling $384 million and identified $218 million which were considered impaired.  Of those $218 million in impaired loans, $164 million were individually evaluated to determine if valuation adjustments, or partial write-downs, should be recorded, or if specific impairment reserves should be established.  The $164 million had original carrying values of $202 million which have already been reduced by partial write-downs totaling $38 million.  In addition to these write-downs, in order to bring the impaired loan balances to fair value, we have also established $16 million in specific reserves on these impaired loans.  Impaired loans that were collectively evaluated for reserve purposes within homogenous pools totaled $54 million and were found to require allowances totaling $4 million.  The $54 million evaluated for reserve purposes within homogeneous pools included $27 million of restructured loans which are currently performing according to their restructured terms.
 
The Company also records REO (acquired through a lending relationship) at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  All REO properties are recorded at amounts which are equal to or less than the fair value of the properties based on independent appraisals (reduced by estimated selling costs) upon transfer of the loans to REO.  From time to time, non-recurring fair value adjustments to REO are recorded to reflect partial write-downs based on an observable market price or current appraised value of property.  We consider any valuation inputs related to REO to be Level 3 inputs.  The individual carrying values of these assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually and any additional impairment charges are expensed to operations.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we recognized $8.6 million of additional impairment charges related to these types of assets, compared to $1.5 million for the same quarter one year earlier.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, these impairment charges totaled $9.9 million, compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2009.


 
27 

 

The following tables present the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and the level within the ASC 820 fair value hierarchy of the fair value measurements for those assets at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
 
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
                         
Impaired loans
$
88,564
   
--
   
--
 
$
88,564
 
REO
 
107,159
   
--
   
--
   
107,159
 
Mortgage servicing rights
 
5,609
   
--
   
--
   
5,609
 

 
December 31, 2009
 
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
                         
Impaired loans
$
111,945
   
--
   
--
 
$
111,945
 
REO
 
77,743
   
--
   
--
   
77,743
 
Mortgage servicing rights
 
5,703
   
--
   
--
   
5,703
 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments:

The following table presents estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 whether or not recognized or recorded in the consolidated balance sheets.  The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies.  However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data in the development of the estimates of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.  The estimated fair value of financial instruments is as follows (in thousands):

 
September 30, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying
   
Estimated
   
Carrying
   
Estimated
 
   
Value
   
Fair Value
   
Value
   
Fair Value
 
                         
Assets:
                       
Cash and due from banks
$
488,123
 
$
488,123
 
$
323,005
 
$
323,005
 
Securities—trading
 
101,760
   
101,760
   
147,151
   
147,151
 
Securities—available-for-sale
 
153,903
   
153,903
   
95,667
   
95,667
 
Securities—held-to-maturity
 
66,929
   
72,098
   
74,834
   
76,489
 
Loans receivable held for sale
 
3,545
   
3,599
   
4,497
   
4,534
 
Loans receivable
 
3,398,122
   
3,225,687
   
3,690,355
   
3,490,419
 
FHLB stock
 
37,371
   
37,371
   
37,371
   
37,371
 
Bank-owned life insurance (BOLI)
 
56,141
   
56,141
   
54,596
   
54,596
 
Mortgage servicing rights
 
5,609
   
5,609
   
5,703
   
5,703
 
                         
Liabilities:
                       
Demand, NOW and money market accounts
 
1,454,925
   
1,373,657
   
1,384,860
   
1,272,322
 
Regular savings
 
618,144
   
584,901
   
538,765
   
495,409
 
Certificates of deposit
 
1,687,417
   
1,698,692
   
1,941,925
   
1,954,825
 
FHLB advances at fair value
 
46,833
   
46,833
   
189,779
   
189,779
 
Junior subordinated debentures at fair value
 
48,394
   
48,394
   
47,694
   
47,694
 
Other borrowings
 
178,134
   
178,134
   
176,842
   
176,447
 
                         
Off-balance-sheet financial instruments:
                       
Commitments to originate loans
 
203
   
203
   
362
   
362
 
Commitments to sell loans
 
(203
)
 
(203
)
 
(362
)
 
(362
)


Fair value estimates, methods and assumptions are set forth below for the Company’s financial and off-balance-sheet instruments:

Cash and Due from Banks:  The carrying amount of these items is a reasonable estimate of their fair value.

Securities:  The estimated fair values of investment securities and mortgaged-backed securities are priced using current active market quotes, if available, which are considered Level 1 measurements.  For most of the portfolio, matrix pricing based on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted prices is used to establish the fair value.  These measurements are considered Level 2.  Due to the increasing credit concerns in the capital markets and inactivity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads for some of the
 
 
28

 
Company’s TPS and TRUP CDOs (see earlier discussion above in determining the securities’ fair market value), management has classified all but one of its trust preferred securities as a Level 3 fair value measure.

Loans Receivable:  Fair values are estimated first by stratifying the portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics.  Loans are segregated by type such as multifamily real estate, residential mortgage, nonresidential mortgage, commercial/agricultural, consumer and other.  Each loan category is further segmented into fixed- and adjustable-rate interest terms and by performing and non-performing categories.  For performing loans held in portfolio, the fair value is based on discounted cash flows using as a discount rate the current rate offered on similar products.  The carrying values of variable rate construction and land development loans and nonresidential real estate loans are discounted by a liquidity adjustment related to the current market environment.

The fair value of performing residential mortgages held for sale is estimated based upon secondary market sources by type of loan and terms such as fixed or variable interest rates.

Fair value for significant non-performing loans is based on recent appraisals or estimated cash flows discounted using rates commensurate with risk associated with the estimated cash flows.  Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market information and specific borrower information.

FHLB Stock:  The fair value is based upon the redemption value of the stock which equates to its carrying value.

Mortgage Servicing Rights: Fair values are estimated based on current pricing for sales of servicing for new loans adjusted up or down based on the serviced loan’s interest rate versus current loan sales of servicing.

Deposit Liabilities: The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as savings, checking and NOW accounts, is estimated by applying decay rate assumptions to segregated portfolios of similar deposit types to generate cash flows which are then discounted using short-term market interest rates.  The market value of certificates of deposit is based upon the discounted value of contractual cash flows.  The discount rate is determined using the rates currently offered on comparable instruments.

FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings:  Fair valuations for our FHLB advances are estimated using fair market values provided by the lender, the FHLB of Seattle.  The FHLB of Seattle prices advances by discounting the future contractual cash flows for individual advances using its current cost of funds curve to provide the discount rate.  This is considered to be a Level 2 input method.  Other borrowings are priced using discounted cash flows to the date of maturity based on using current rates at which such borrowings can currently be obtained.

Junior Subordinated Debentures:  Due to the increasing credit concerns in the capital markets and inactivity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads (see earlier discussion above in determining the junior subordinated debentures’ fair market value), junior subordinated debentures have been classified as a Level 3 fair value measure.  Management believes that the credit risk adjusted spread utilized is indicative of those that would be used by market participants.
 
Commitments:  Commitments to sell loans with notional balances of $72 million and $25 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, have a carrying value of $203,000 and $362,000, respectively, representing the fair value of such commitments.  Interest rate lock commitments to originate loans held for sale with notional balances of $72 million and $25 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, have a carrying value of ($203,000) and ($362,000) at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The fair value of commitments to sell loans and of interest rate locks reflect changes in the level of market interest rates from the date of the commitment or rate lock to the date of our financial statements.  Other commitments to fund loans totaled $761 million and $777 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, and have no carrying value at both dates, representing the cost of such commitments.  There were no commitments to purchase or sell securities at September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.

Limitations: The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date and, therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on- and off-balance-sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business.  The fair value has not been estimated for assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments.  Significant assets and liabilities that are not financial instruments include the deferred tax assets/liabilities; land, buildings and equipment; costs in excess of net assets acquired; and real estate held for sale.

Note 13:  INCOME TAXES AND DEFERRED TAXES

The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns in Oregon and Idaho.  The tax years which remain subject to examination by the taxing authorities are the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method.  Under this method a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates which will be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Company’s income tax returns.  The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
 
 
29

 
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted revised accounting standards for income taxes.  The standard, ASC 740, provides guidance related to the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes.  Adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.  The revisions prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and also provide guidance on the de-recognition of previously recorded benefits and their classification, as well as the proper recording of interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures and transition.  The Company periodically reviews its income tax positions based on tax laws and regulations and financial reporting considerations, and records adjustments as appropriate. This review takes into consideration the status of current taxing authorities’ examinations of the Company’s tax returns, recent positions taken by the taxing authorities on similar transactions, if any, and the overall tax environment.

Under GAAP (ASC 740), a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.  “More likely than not” is defined as greater than a 50% probability of occurrence.  A determination as to the ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon management’s judgment and evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, forecasts of future taxable income, applicable tax planning strategies, and an assessment of current and future economic and business conditions.  Positive evidence reviewed included long-term earnings history prior to recent economic downturn, recent improved performance trends, proven ability to forecast earnings and our projections of future income, capital levels and net operating loss carryback availability.  Negative evidence reviewed included the losses sustained by the Company during the past three years and continuing into the current quarter, the elevated level of non-performing assets and related credit and operational expense, and the current economic environment.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had recorded net deferred income tax assets of approximately $14.8 million and current taxes receivable of $17.4 million.  By June 30, 2010, the net deferred tax asset decreased slightly to $14.4 million, while tax benefits for the first two quarters of 2010 increased our current taxes receivable to $22.6 million.  During the third quarter of 2010, it was determined that the Company would provide a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets.  Reasons for the determination included the negative evidence of three years of cumulative losses, the modest pace of economic recovery, and the continued difficulty in segments of the loan portfolio that put a near-term return to profitability in question.  The first step in this process was to reclassify any excess current tax receivable into the deferred tax asset.  After this reclassification, a valuation allowance was established against the entire net deferred tax asset, reducing the September 30, 2010 balance to zero.  The individual components of the gross deferred tax assets and liabilities are noted in the table below.  Our largest deferred tax item is related to the allowance for loan losses.  For federal income tax purposes, only net loan charge-offs are deductible, not the recorded provision for loan losses.  The difference between these two methodologies creates a deferred tax asset related to the allowance for loan losses of $36.5 million.  Two other significant components of our deferred tax asset relate to the timing of deferred compensation of $6.6 million and our net operating loss carryforward (after the reclassification from current taxes receivable during the current period) of $22.9 million.  Our material deferred tax liabilities relate to fair value adjustments for financial instruments carried at fair value of $21.8 million, FHLB stock dividends of $6.2 million, timing differences related to depreciation of $5.4 million, loan origination costs of $4.7 million, and intangible assets of $3.3 million.

The following table reflects the effect of temporary differences that give rise to the components of the net deferred tax asset as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
   REO and loan loss reserves
$
36,507
 
$
35,653
 
   Deferred compensation
 
6,595
   
6,470
 
   Net operating loss carryforward
 
22,861
   
5,586
 
   Other
 
45
   
97
 
   
66,008
   
47,806
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
           
    FHLB stock dividends
 
6,230
   
6,230
 
    Depreciation
 
5,396
   
5,423
 
    Deferred loan fees, servicing rights and loan origination costs
 
4,749
   
5,002
 
    Intangibles
 
3,302
   
3,969
 
Financial instruments accounted for under fair value accounting
 
21,794
   
12,194
 
   
41,471
   
32,819
 
             
Deferred income tax asset
 
24,537
   
14,988
 
             
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale
 
(795
)
 
(177
)
             
Valuation allowance
 
(23,742
)
 
--
 
             
Deferred tax asset, net
$
--
 
$
14,811
 


 
30 

 

Note 14:  CALCULATION OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING FOR EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (EPS)

The following table reconciles basic to diluted weighted shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share data dollars and shares (in thousands, except per share data):

 
Quarters Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Net income (loss)
$
(42,742
)
$
(6,448
)
$
(49,205
)
$
(32,222
)
Preferred stock dividend accrual
 
1,550
   
1,550
   
4,650
   
4,650
 
Preferred stock discount accretion
 
398
   
373
   
1,195
   
1,119
 
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
$
(44,690
)
$
(8,371
)
$
(55,050
)
$
(37,991
)
                         
                         
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
 
110,515
   
19,023
   
52,690
   
17,983
 
Plus restricted stock, common stock options and common
stock warrants considered outstanding for diluted EPS
 
1
   
4
   
2
   
3
 
Less dilutive shares not included as they are anti-dilutive for
                       
    calculations of earning (loss) per share
 
(1
)
 
(4
)
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
   
110,515
   
19,023
   
52,690
   
17,983
 
                         
Earnings (loss) per common share
                       
Basic
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.44
)
$
(1.04
)
$
(2.11
)
Diluted
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.44
)
$
(1.04
)
$
(2.11
)

Note 15:  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS AND STOCK OPTIONS

The Company operates the following stock-based compensation plans as approved by the shareholders:  the 1996 Management Recognition and Development Plan (MRP), a restricted stock plan; and the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the 1998 Stock Option Plan and the 2001 Stock Option Plan (collectively, SOPs).  Authority to grant awards under the 1996 MRP and 1996 and 1998 SOPs has expired and, as of September 30, 2010, there were only 59,045 options eligible for grants under the 2001 SOP.  The Company granted 115,955 shares of restricted common stock to Mark J. Grescovich, President and CEO of Banner Bank and the Company on August 22, 2010.  The restricted shares were granted to Mr. Grescovich in accordance with his employment agreement, which, as an inducement material to his joining the Company and the Bank, provided for the granting of restricted shares on the six-month anniversary of the effective date of the agreement.  The restricted stock grant was among the terms promised to Mr. Grescovich prior to his accepting employment with the Company and the Bank.  The shares vest in one-third annual increments over the next three years.  No other awards were issued under the MRP or SOP plans during 2009 or the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  Stock based compensation costs related to the SOPs were $9,000 and $25,000 for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $45,000 and $99,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  At September 30, 2010, there were options for 477,422 shares outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $22.31 per share and a weighted average remaining contractual term of 3.05 years.  None of the options had any intrinsic value on that date.  The Company had $42,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options at September 30, 2010 that are expected to be recognized over the remaining contractual term of the underlying grants.  All compensation expense related to the MRP program was fully amortized as of September 30, 2010.

Banner Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan:  In June 2006, the Board of Directors adopted the Banner Corporation Long-Term Incentive Plan effective July 1, 2006.  The Plan is an account-based type of benefit, the value of which is directly related to changes in the value of Company common stock, dividends declared on the Company common stock and changes in Banner Bank’s average earnings rate, and for accounting purposes is considered a stock appreciation right (SAR).  Each SAR entitles the holder to receive cash, upon vesting, equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise over the fair market value of such share on the date granted plus the dividends declared on the stock from the date of grant to the date of vesting.  On April 27, 2008, the Board of Directors amended the Plan and also authorized the repricing of certain awards to non-executive officers based upon the price of Banner common stock three business days following the public announcement of the Company’s earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.  The primary objective of the Plan is to create a retention incentive by allowing officers who remain with the Company or the Banks for a sufficient period of time to share in the increases in the value of Company stock.  Detailed information with respect to the Plan and the amendments to the Plan were disclosed on Form 8-Ks filed with SEC on July 19, 2006 and May 6, 2008.  The accounting standards require us to remeasure the fair value of SARs each reporting period until the award is settled.  In addition, compensation expense must be recognized each reporting period for changes in fair value and vesting.  We did not recognize any compensation expense related to the change in the fair value of SARs and additional vesting during the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, although this expense was $137,000 and $16,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.


 
31 

 

Note 16:  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk

We have financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk generated in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Our exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument from commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments.  We use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for on-balance-sheet instruments.  As of September 30, 2010, outstanding commitments for which no liability has been recorded consisted of the following (in thousands):

 
Contract or
Notional
Amount
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
   
Commitments to extend credit
   
Real estate secured for commercial, construction or land development
$
104,478
Revolving open-end lines secured by one-to four- family residential properties
 
118,540
Real estate secured by one- to four-family residential properties
 
71,706
Credit card lines
 
63,293
Other, primarily business and agricultural loans
 
393,541
Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees
 
9,219
     
Total commitments
$
760,777
     
Commitments to sell loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties
$
71,706
     
Interest rate swaps (notional amount)
$
19,336


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.  Many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon; therefore, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Each customer’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.  Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income producing commercial properties.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee a customer’s performance or payment to a third party.  The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.

Interest rates on residential one- to four-family mortgage loan applications are typically rate locked (committed) to customers during the application stage for periods ranging from 30 to 60 days, the most typical period currently being 45 days.  Typically, pricing for the sale of these loans is locked with various qualified investors under a best-efforts delivery program at or near the time the interest rate is locked with the customer.  We attempt to deliver these loans before their rate locks expire.  This arrangement generally requires us to deliver the loans prior to the expiration of the rate lock.  Delays in funding the loans can require a lock extension.  The cost of a lock extension at times is borne by the customer and at times by us.  These lock extension costs paid by us are not expected to have a material impact to our operations.  Changes in the value of rate lock commitments are recorded as other assets and liabilities.  For additional information, see “Derivative Instruments” under Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC.

The Company has stand-alone derivative instruments in the form of interest rate swap agreements, which derive their value from underlying interest rates.  These transactions involve both credit and market risk.  The notional amount is the amount on which calculations, payments and the value of the derivative are based.  The notional amount does not represent direct credit exposure.  Direct credit exposure is limited to the net difference between the calculated amount to be received and paid.  This difference represents the fair value of the derivative instrument.  All of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are with the Pacific Coast Bankers’ Bank (PCBB) as the counterparty.  The Company has swapped fixed-rate cash flows that it receives from its customers for variable-rate cash flows that it receives from PCBB.  The net changes in fair value of the derivatives are recorded in loans and other liabilities.  The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty to these agreements.  Credit risk of the financial contract is controlled through the credit approval, limits, and monitoring procedures and management does not expect the counterparty to fail its obligations.




 
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ITEM 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other portions of this report on Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements concerning our future operations.  These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.”  Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future economic performance and projections of financial items.  These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in our allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets and may lead to increased losses and nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses, and require us to materially increase our reserves; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates and the relative differences between short and long-term interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes, land and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; results of examinations of us by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve Board) and of our bank subsidiaries by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC), the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks (the Washington DFI) or other regulatory authorities, including our compliance with the Memoranda of Understanding and the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action against us or any of the Banks which could require us to increase our reserve for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds, or maintain or increase deposits, or impose additional requirements and restrictions on us, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business including changes in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; our ability to attract and retain deposits; further increases in premiums for deposit insurance; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; difficulties in reducing risk associated with the loans on our balance sheet; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our work force and potential associated charges; the failure or security breach of computer systems on which we depend; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; our ability to implement our business strategies; our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel we may acquire into our operations and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames and any goodwill charges related thereto; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; our ability to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock and interest or principal payments on our junior subordinated debentures; adverse changes in the securities markets; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; the economic impact of war or any terrorist activities; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services; future legislative changes in the United States Department of Treasury (Treasury) Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Capital Purchase Program; and other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Congress recently enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act).  Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it more difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company and the financial services industry.  Provisions in the legislation could also increase the capital requirements applicable to the Company and the Bank and could require the Company to seek additional sources of capital in the future.  Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made.  We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this report or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of, us.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this report might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

As used throughout this report, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company” refer to Banner Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.

Executive Overview

We are a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington and own two subsidiary banks, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank. Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank that conducts business from its main office in Walla Walla, Washington and, as of September 30, 2010, its 86 branch offices and seven loan production offices located in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Islanders Bank is also a Washington-chartered commercial bank and conducts its business from three locations in San Juan County, Washington.  As of September 30, 2010, we had total consolidated assets of $4.6 billion, total loans of $3.5 billion, total deposits of $3.8 billion and total stockholders’ equity of $525 million.

 
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Banner Bank is a regional bank which offers a wide variety of commercial banking services and financial products to individuals, businesses and public sector entities in its primary market areas.  Islanders Bank is a community bank which offers similar banking services to individuals, businesses and public entities located in the San Juan Islands.  The Banks’ primary business is that of traditional banking institutions, accepting deposits and originating loans in locations surrounding their offices in portions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Banner Bank is also an active participant in the secondary market, engaging in mortgage banking operations largely through the origination and sale of one- to four-family residential loans.  Lending activities include commercial business and commercial real estate loans, agriculture business loans, construction and land development loans, one- to four-family residential loans and consumer loans.

Weak economic conditions and ongoing strains in the financial and housing markets which accelerated throughout 2008 and generally continued in 2009 and into the present time have presented an unusually challenging environment for banks.  For Banner Corporation, this has been particularly evident in our need to provide for credit losses during these periods at significantly higher levels than our previous historical experience and has also affected our net interest income and other operating revenues and expenses.  As a result of these continuing factors, and the need to provide a full valuation allowance for our net deferred tax asset, which resulted in a $24.0 million provision for income taxes for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we had a net loss of $42.7 million which, after providing for the preferred stock dividend and related discount accretion, resulted in a net loss to common shareholders of $44.7 million, or ($0.40) per diluted share, compared to a net loss to common shareholders of $8.4 million, or ($0.44) per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we had a net loss of $49.2 million which, after providing for the preferred stock dividend and related discount accretion, resulted in a net loss to common shareholders of $55.1 million, or ($1.04) per diluted share, compared to a net loss to common shareholders of $38.0 million, or ($2.11) per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Although there have been indications that economic conditions are improving, the pace of recovery has been modest and appears to have slowed in the most recent quarter.  Ongoing stress in the economy has been the most significant challenge impacting our recent operating results and, like most financial institutions, our future operating results will be significantly affected by the course of recovery from the recessionary downturn.

Our provision for loan losses was $20.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $16.0 million in the prior quarter and $25.0 million recorded for the same period a year earlier.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the provision for loan losses was $50.0 million, compared to $92.0 million for the same period in 2009.  While considerably less than a year earlier, the significant provision for loan losses in the current quarter reflects continuing material levels of delinquencies, non-performing loans and net charge-offs, particularly for loans for the construction of one- to four-family homes and for acquisition and development of land for residential properties.  For most of the recent three-year period, housing markets remained weak in many of our primary service areas, resulting in elevated levels of delinquencies and non-performing assets and deterioration in property values, particularly for residential land and building lots, and the resultant need to provide for realized and anticipated losses.  By contrast, other non-housing related segments of our loan portfolio, while showing some signs of stress, have performed as expected with only normal levels of credit problems given the serious economic slowdown.  Since the second quarter of 2008, the higher than historical provision for loan losses has been the most significant factor affecting our operating results and, while we are encouraged by the continuing reduction in our exposure to residential construction loans and the recent slowdown in the surfacing of new problem assets, looking forward we anticipate our credit costs will remain elevated for a number of quarters and will have a continuing adverse effect on our earnings during the final quarter of 2010 and into 2011.  (See Note 8, Allowance for Loan Losses, as well as “Asset Quality” below in this From 10-Q.)

Aside from the level of loan loss provision, our operating results depend primarily on our net interest income, which is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets, consisting of loans and investment securities, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, composed primarily of customer deposits and borrowings.  Net interest income is primarily a function of our interest rate spread, which is the difference between the yield earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, as well as a function of the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  As more fully explained below, our net interest income before provision for loan losses increased by $3.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 to $39.9 million compared to $36.4 million for the same quarter one year earlier, reflecting significant improvement in our net interest spread and net interest margin as asset yields have remained relatively stable over the past year while our funding costs continued to decrease.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net interest income before the provision for loan losses was $117.0 million, an increase of $10.8 million, or 10%, compared to the same period in 2009.  Our net interest margin improved meaningfully during the first nine months of 2010 as rapidly declining interest expense on deposits contributed to significantly lower funding costs.  This trend to lower funding costs and the resulting increase in the net interest margin represents an important improvement in the core operating fundamentals of the Company, which should provide a solid base to build upon when the economy recovers.

Our net income also is affected by the level of our other operating income, including deposit fees and service charges, loan origination and servicing fees, gains and losses on the sale of loans and securities, non-interest operating expenses and income tax provisions.  In addition, our net income is affected by the net change in the value of certain financial instruments carried at fair value (see Note 12, Fair Value Accounting and Measurement) and in certain periods by other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges on investment securities.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we recorded a gain of $1.4 million in fair value adjustments; however, this was more than offset by an OTTI charge of $3.0 million on a single trust preferred security.  During the same period a year earlier, we recognized $6.0 million in fair value gains, which were only partially offset by OTTI charges of $1.3 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded net gains of $2.5 million in fair value adjustments, which again were more than offset by OTTI charges of $4.2 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the fair value gains totaled $13.9 million and were only partially offset by OTTI charges of $1.5 million.

Other operating income, excluding the fair value adjustments and OTTI losses, increased $466,000 to $9.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 from $8.8 million for the same period one year earlier, primarily as a result of increased gain on the sale of loans from mortgage banking operations and a $197,000 gain on the early redemption of a trust preferred security, somewhat offset by reduced loan servicing fees.  Revenues (net interest income before the provision for loan losses plus other operating income), excluding fair value adjustments and OTTI losses, increased $4.0 million to $49.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $45.2 million for the quarter
 
 
34

ended September 30, 2009, primarily as a result of the improvement in net interest income driven by the significant decrease in the cost of deposits over the past several quarters, and the gain on sale of loans in the current period.  Revenues, excluding fair value adjustments and OTTI losses, increased $8.2 million to $140.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $131.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Revenues and other earnings information excluding the change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value and OTTI losses represent non-GAAP financial measures.  Management has presented these non-GAAP financial measures in this discussion and analysis because it believes that they provide useful and comparative information to assess trends in our core operations.  Where applicable, we have also presented comparable earnings information using GAAP financial measures.  Reconciliations of the earnings or loss from core operations are contained in the table below.

Other operating expenses were $46.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to the $36.6 million for the same period in 2009.  The current quarter’s expenses reflect significantly increased costs related to REO, including charges for taxes, maintenance, valuation adjustments and losses on sales.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, other operating expenses were $119.8 million, an increase of $12.5 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  As with the quarter, the primary increase during the current nine-month period was increased expenses related to REO and increased collection expenses, as well as the impact of a reduction in capitalized loan origination costs, partially offset by reduced compensation, occupancy and FDIC insurance expenses.  See “Comparison of Results of Operations for the Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009” and for more detailed information about our financial performance.

The following tables set forth reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this report (dollars in thousands):

 
Quarters Ended
September 30
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Total other operating income
$
7,652
 
$
13,453
 
$
21,562
 
$
38,078
 
Less other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
3,000
   
1,349
   
4,231
   
1,511
 
Less change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
 
(1,366
)
 
(5,982
)
 
(2,453
)
 
(13,940
)
Total other operating income, excluding fair value adjustments and OTTI
$
9,286
 
$
8,820
 
$
23,340
 
$
25,649
 
                         
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
$
39,922
 
$
36,352
 
$
117,013
 
$
106,236
 
Total other operating income
 
7,652
   
13,453
   
21,562
   
38,078
 
Less other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
3,000
   
1,349
   
4,231
   
1,511
 
Less change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
 
(1,366
)
 
(5,982
)
 
(2,453
)
 
(13,940
)
Total revenue, excluding fair value adjustments and OTTI
$
49,208
 
$
45,172
 
$
140,353
 
$
131,885
 
                         
Net income (loss)
$
(42,742
)
$
(6,448
)
$
(49,205
)
$
(32,222
)
Less other-than-temporary impairment losses
 
3,000
   
1,349
   
4,231
   
1,511
 
Less change in valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value
 
(1,366
)
 
(5,982
)
 
(2,453
)
 
(13,940
)
Less related tax expense (benefit)
 
492
   
2,154
   
883
   
5,018
 
Total earnings (loss), excluding fair adjustments and OTTI and related tax effects
$
(40,616
)
$
(8,927
)
$
(46,544
)
$
(39,633
)


   
September 30
2010
   
December 31
2009
   
September 30
 2009
 
                   
Stockholders’ equity
$
524,839
 
$
405,128
 
$
406,723
 
Other intangible assets, net
 
9,210
   
11,070
   
11,718
 
Tangible equity
 
515,629
   
394,058
   
395,005
 
                   
Preferred equity
 
118,602
   
117,407
   
117,034
 
                   
Tangible common stockholders’ equity
$
397,027
 
$
276,651
 
$
277,971
 
                   
Total assets
$
4,597,187
 
$
4,722,221
 
$
4,788,008
 
Other intangible assets, net
 
9,210
   
11,070
   
11,718
 
                   
Tangible assets
$
4,587,977
 
$
4,711,151
 
$
4,776,290
 
                   
Tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets (1)
 
8.65
%
 
5.87
%
 
5.82
%

(1)
The ratio of tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP financial measure.  We calculate tangible common equity by excluding the balance of goodwill, other intangible assets and preferred equity from stockholders’ equity.  We calculate tangible assets by excluding the balance of goodwill and other intangible assets from total assets.  We believe that this is consistent with the treatment by our bank regulatory agencies, which exclude goodwill and other intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios.  In addition, excluding preferred equity, the level of which may vary from company to company, allows investors to more easily compare our
35

 
 
capital adequacy to other companies in the industry that also use this measure.  Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides information to investors that is useful in understanding the basis of our capital position.  However, this non-GAAP financial measure is supplemental and is not a substitute for any analysis based on GAAP.  Because not all companies use the same calculation of tangible common equity and tangible assets, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as calculated by other companies.
 
We offer a wide range of loan products to meet the demands of our customers and our loan portfolio is very diversified by product type, borrower and geographic location within our market areas.  Historically, our lending activities have been primarily directed toward the origination of real estate and commercial loans.  Until recent periods, real estate lending activities were significantly focused on residential construction and first mortgages on owner occupied, one- to four-family residential properties; however, over the past two and a half years our origination of construction and land development loans has declined materially and the proportion of the portfolio invested in these types of loans has declined significantly.  By contrast, residential mortgage loan originations continued during this cycle primarily reflecting the impact of exceptionally low interest rates on the demand for loans to refinance existing debt as well as loans to finance home purchases; however, during this period, demand for residential mortgage loans has been modest although accelerating in the most recent quarter.  Our real estate lending activities have also included the origination of multifamily and commercial real estate loans.  Our commercial business lending has been directed toward meeting the credit and related deposit needs of various small- to medium-sized business and agri-business borrowers operating in our primary market areas.  Reflecting the recessionary environment, in recent periods demand for these types of commercial business loans has been modest and total outstanding balances have declined.  Our consumer loan activity is primarily directed at meeting demand from existing deposit customers and while we have increased our emphasis on consumer lending, demand for consumer loans also has been modest in recent quarters.  Still, the portion of the loan portfolio invested in consumer loans has increased and as of September 30, 2010 represented 8.5% of total loans.  While continuing our commitment to residential lending, including our mortgage banking activities, we expect commercial lending (including owner-occupied commercial real estate, commercial business and agricultural loans) and consumer lending to become increasingly more important activities for us.  By contrast, we anticipate residential construction and related land development lending, which at September 30, 2010 represented 10.4% of the loan portfolio, compared to 15.4% a year earlier, will continue to be restrained by market conditions for the foreseeable future, as well as by our efforts to reduce our concentration in this type of lending.  We also expect non-owner-occupied investor commercial real estate lending, for both construction and longer-term financing, will be modest for the foreseeable future as we manage our concentration in these types of loans.

Deposits, customer retail repurchase agreements and loan repayments are the major sources of our funds for lending and other investment purposes.  We compete with other financial institutions and financial intermediaries in attracting deposits.  There is strong competition for transaction balances and savings deposits from commercial banks, credit unions and nonbank corporations, such as securities brokerage companies, mutual funds and other diversified companies, some of which have nationwide networks of offices.  Much of the focus of our marketing effort and branch expansion, relocations and renovations has been directed toward attracting additional deposit customer relationships and transaction and savings account balances.  The long-term success of our deposit gathering activities is reflected not only in the growth of these core deposit balances, but also in increases in the level of deposit fees, service charges and other payment processing revenues compared to periods prior to that expansion.

Total deposits were $3.760 billion at September 30, 2010, a decrease of $105 million from the $3.866 billion at December 31, 2009, and $79 million from the $3.839 billion at June 30, 2010.  The $79 million decrease from the prior quarter was driven by a shift in the composition of our deposit portfolio.  Our lower cost core deposits, including checking, savings, and money market accounts increased $122 million, while our higher cost non-core certificates of deposit decreased by $201 million.  We experienced a similar shift in the deposit portfolio during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as a $105 million decrease in deposits was made up of a $149 million increase in checking, savings, and money market accounts, offset by a decrease of $254 million in certificates of deposit.  A portion of the decrease in certificates of deposit during 2010 was a planned reduction of brokered deposits, which decreased $21 million from December 31, 2009.  Additionally, public funds have declined by $12 million during this same nine-month period.  Changes in the mix of deposits have been an important element in our significantly improved funding costs of recent quarters.

We generally attract deposits from within our primary market areas by offering a broad selection of deposit instruments, including demand checking accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, money market deposit accounts, regular savings accounts, certificates of deposit, cash management services and retirement savings plans.  Deposit account terms vary according to the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must remain on deposit and the interest rate, among other factors.  In determining the terms of deposit accounts, we consider current market interest rates, profitability, matching deposit and loan products, and customer preferences and concerns.

Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations is intended to assist in understanding our financial condition and results of operations.  The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 included in the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2010.  Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  In particular, management has identified several accounting policies that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of our financial statements.  These policies relate to (i) the methodology for the recognition of interest income, (ii) determination of the provision and allowance for loan and lease losses, (iii) the valuation of financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value, including other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses, (iv) the valuation of intangibles, such as goodwill, core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights,
 
 
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(v) the valuation of real estate held for sale and (vi) the valuation of or recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities.  These policies and judgments, estimates and assumptions are described in greater detail below.  Management believes that the judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements are appropriate based on the factual circumstances at the time.  However, given the sensitivity of the financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments, estimates and assumptions could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition.  Further, subsequent changes in economic or market conditions could have a material impact on these estimates and our financial condition and operating results in future periods.  There have been no significant changes in our application of accounting policies since December 31, 2009.  For additional information concerning critical accounting policies, see Notes 1, 8, 9, 24 and 25 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2009 Form 10-K and the following:

Interest Income:  (Note 1) Interest on loans and securities is accrued as earned unless management doubts the collectability of the asset or the unpaid interest.  Interest accruals on loans are generally discontinued when loans become 90 days past due, at which time the loans are placed on nonaccrual status.  All previously accrued but uncollected interest is deducted from interest income upon transfer to nonaccrual status.  For any future payments collected, interest income is recognized only upon management’s assessment that there is a strong likelihood that the full amount of a loan will be repaid or recovered.  A loan may be put on nonaccrual status sooner than this policy would dictate if, in management’s judgment, the interest may be uncollectable.  While less common, similar interest reversal and nonaccrual treatment is applied to investment securities if their ultimate collectability becomes questionable.

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses:  (Note 8)  The provision for loan losses reflects the amount required to maintain the allowance for losses at an appropriate level based upon management’s evaluation of the adequacy of general and specific loss reserves.  We maintain an allowance for loan losses consistent in all material respects with the GAAP guidelines outlined in ASC 450, Contingencies.  We have established systematic methodologies for the determination of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses.  The methodologies are set forth in a formal policy and take into consideration the need for an overall general valuation allowance as well as specific allowances that are tied to individual problem loans.  We increase our allowance for loan losses by charging provisions for probable loan losses against our income and value impaired loans consistent with the accounting guidelines outlined in ASC 310, Receivables.

The allowance for losses on loans is maintained at a level sufficient to provide for estimated losses based on evaluating known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio and upon our continuing analysis of the factors underlying the quality of the loan portfolio.  These factors include, among others, changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio, delinquency rates, actual loan loss experience, current and anticipated economic conditions, detailed analysis of individual loans for which full collectability may not be assured, and determination of the existence and realizable value of the collateral and guarantees securing the loans.  Realized losses related to specific assets are applied as a reduction of the carrying value of the assets and charged immediately against the allowance for loan loss reserve.  Recoveries on previously charged off loans are credited to the allowance.  The reserve is based upon factors and trends identified by us at the time financial statements are prepared.  Although we use the best information available, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary due to economic, operating, regulatory and other conditions beyond our control.  The adequacy of general and specific reserves is based on our continuing evaluation of the pertinent factors underlying the quality of the loan portfolio, including changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio, delinquency rates, actual loan loss experience and current economic conditions, as well as individual review of certain large balance loans.  Large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment.  Loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment include residential real estate and consumer loans and, as appropriate, smaller balance non-homogeneous loans.  Larger balance non-homogeneous residential construction and land, commercial real estate, commercial business loans and unsecured loans are individually evaluated for impairment.  Loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, we determine that it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Factors involved in determining impairment include, but are not limited to, the financial condition of the borrower, the value of the underlying collateral and the current status of the economy.  Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.  Subsequent changes in the value of impaired loans are included within the provision for loan losses in the same manner in which impairment initially was recognized or as a reduction in the provision that would otherwise be reported.

Our methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance consists of several key elements, which include specific allowances, an allocated formula allowance and an unallocated allowance.  Losses on specific loans are provided for when the losses are probable and estimable.  General loan loss reserves are established to provide for inherent loan portfolio risks not specifically provided for.  The level of general reserves is based on analysis of potential exposures existing in our loan portfolio including evaluation of historical trends, current market conditions and other relevant factors identified by us at the time the financial statements are prepared.  The formula allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to outstanding loans, excluding those loans that are subject to individual analysis for specific allowances.  Loss factors are based on our historical loss experience adjusted for significant environmental considerations, including the experience of other banking organizations, which in our judgment affect the collectability of the portfolio as of the evaluation date.  The unallocated allowance is based upon our evaluation of various factors that are not directly measured in the determination of the formula and specific allowances.  This methodology may result in losses or recoveries differing significantly from those provided in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will not be proven incorrect in the future, or that the actual amount of future provisions will not exceed the amount of past provisions or that any increased provisions that may be required will not adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the determination of the amount of the Banks’ allowance for loan losses is subject to review by bank regulators as part of the routine examination process, which may result in the adjustment of reserves based upon their judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.
 
 
37


Fair Value Accounting and Measurement:  (Note 12)  We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  We include in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the valuation methodologies used and the impact on our results of operations and financial condition.  Additionally, for financial instruments not recorded at fair value we disclose, where appropriate, our estimate of their fair value.  For more information regarding fair value accounting, please refer to Note 12 in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report on Form 10-Q.

Other Intangible Assets:  (Note 10)  Other intangible assets consists primarily of core deposit intangibles (CDI), which are amounts recorded in business combinations or deposit purchase transactions related to the value of transaction-related deposits and the value of the customer relationships associated with the deposits.  The major component of our intangible assets is core deposit intangibles arising from acquisitions.  Core deposit intangibles are being amortized on an accelerated basis over a weighted average estimated useful life of eight years.  These assets are reviewed at least annually for events or circumstances that could impact their recoverability.  These events could include loss of the underlying core deposits, increased competition or adverse changes in the economy.  To the extent other identifiable intangible assets are deemed unrecoverable, impairment losses are recorded in other non-interest expense to reduce the carrying amount of the assets.

Real Estate Owned:  (Note 9)  Property acquired by foreclosure or receiving a deed in lieu of foreclosure is recorded at the lower of estimated fair value, less cost to sell, or the carrying value of the defaulted loan.  Development and improvement costs relating to the property are capitalized.  The carrying value of the property is periodically evaluated by management and, if necessary, allowances are established to reduce the carrying value to net realizable value.  Gains or losses at the time the property is sold are charged or credited to operations in the period in which they are realized.  The amounts the Banks will ultimately recover from real estate may differ substantially from the carrying value of the assets because of market factors beyond the Banks’ control or because of changes in the Banks’ strategies for recovering the investment.

Income Taxes and Deferred Taxes:  (Note 13)  The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries file consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns in Oregon and Idaho.  Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method.  Under this method a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates which are expected to be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Company’s income tax returns.  The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Under GAAP (ASC 740), a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.  For more information regarding our deferred tax asset and the valuation allowance we recognized during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, please refer to Note 13 in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report on Form 10-Q.

Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009

General.  Total assets decreased $125 million, or 3%, to $4.597 billion at September 30, 2010, from $4.722 billion at December 31, 2009.  Net loans receivable (gross loans less loans in process, deferred fees and discounts, and allowance for loan losses) decreased $293 million, or 8%, to $3.402 billion at September 30, 2010, from $3.695 billion at December 31, 2009.  The contraction in net loans was largely due to decreases of $113 million in land and land development loans, $65 million in one- to four-family construction loans, $24 million in commercial and multifamily construction loans and $42 million in commercial business loans.  All other categories of loans were down $49 million from December 31, 2009.  We continue to maintain a significant, although decreasing, investment in construction and land loans, as new originations of these types of loans during the past three years has declined substantially and is expected to remain modest for the foreseeable future.  As a result of the much slower pace of new originations and continuing payoffs on existing loans, transfers to REO and charge-offs, loans to finance the construction of one- to four-family residential real estate, which totaled $174 million at September 30, 2010, have decreased by $481 million, or 73%, since their peak quarter-end balance of $655 million at September 30, 2007.  In addition, land and development loans (both residential and commercial), which totaled $215 million at September 30, 2010, have decreased by $287 million, or 57%, compared to their peak quarter-end balances of $502 million at March 31, 2008.  Given the current housing and economic environment, we anticipate that construction and land loan balances will continue to decline for the foreseeable future, although the pace of decline will be more modest as originations of new construction loans likely will increase somewhat as inventories of completed homes have been reduced and the build-out of existing development projects will cautiously resume.

Aggregate securities balances were essentially flat, at $323 million at September 30, 2010 compared to $318 million at December 31, 2009; however, the classification of the portfolio shifted more from trading securities to available-for-sale securities, particularly for U.S. Agency securities.  Effective January 1, 2007, we elected to reclassify many of our securities to fair value and, although we have not historically engaged in trading activities, these securities are reported as trading securities for financial reporting purposes.  At September 30, 2010, the fair value of our trading securities was $22 million less than their amortized cost.  The reduction reflected in the fair value of these securities compared to their amortized cost primarily was due to a cumulative decrease of $29 million in the value of single-issuer trust preferred securities and collateralized debt obligations secured by pools of trust preferred securities issued by bank holding companies and insurance companies as well as a decrease of $7 million in the value of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac common and preferred equity securities, offset by a $4 million gain in all other trading securities.  (See Note 12, Fair Value Accounting and Measurement, in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)  Periodically, we also acquire securities which are designated as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.  Most of our recent purchases have been classified as available-for-sale.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we experienced virtually no change in fair value adjustments related to our available-for-sale securities (which is included as a component of other comprehensive income).  Likewise, we experienced a minor decline in the fair value of our trading securities of $217,000.  We also recognized a $3.0 million OTTI charge on a held-to-maturity trust preferred security which had previously been reported as non-performing.
 
 
38


REO acquired through foreclosures or other means increased $29 million, to $107 million at September 30, 2010, from $78 million at December 31, 2009.  The total balance of REO included $72 million in land or land development projects (both residential and commercial), $10 million in commercial real estate and $19 million in single-family homes at September 30, 2010.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we transferred $26 million of loans into REO, capitalized additional investments of $841,000 in acquired properties, disposed of $12 million of properties and recognized $9 million in charges against earnings for a net loss on sales and valuation adjustments (see “Asset Quality” discussion below).

Deposits decreased $105 million, to $3.760 billion at September 30, 2010 from $3.866 billion at December 31, 2009.  Non-interest-bearing deposits increased by $31 million, or 5%, to $613 million from $582 million at December 31, 2009, while interest-bearing deposits decreased by $136 million, to $3.147 billion at September 30, 2010 from $3.283 billion at December 31, 2009, largely due to a decrease in certificates of deposit.  Public fund deposits decreased $12 million during the first nine months of 2010, and we expect further declines during the remainder of 2010 in public fund deposits as we continue to manage the reduction of these deposits in response to changes in the collateralization requirements under the Washington and Oregon State public deposit protection regulations.  Additionally, we elected to reduce brokered deposits by $21 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as funding from retail deposit growth was more than adequate to meet loan demand.  The net decrease in retail deposits for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 also reflects our efforts to reduce the overall cost of deposits through less aggressive pricing of certificates of deposit and other interest-bearing deposits in response to generally weak loan demand.
 
FHLB advances decreased $143 million, to $47 million at September 30, 2010 from $190 million at December 31, 2009, while other borrowings increased slightly to $178 million at September 30, 2010 from $177 million at December 31, 2009.  The decrease in FHLB advances reflects the repayment of temporary increases in overnight borrowings that were outstanding at December 31, 2009 as a part of our short-term cash management activities.  Other borrowings at September 30, 2010 include $128 million of retail repurchase agreements that are primarily related to customer cash management accounts.  Other borrowings also include $50 million of senior notes guaranteed by the FDIC under the TLGP, which is unchanged from the amount reported at December 31, 2009.

Junior subordinated debentures increased by $700,000 since December 31, 2009, reflecting only modest fair value adjustments resulting from an increase in the level of three-month LIBOR, as changes in credit market conditions during the quarter had an insignificant impact on the valuation of this type of security.  Changes in the fair value of the junior subordinated debentures, while not significant during the first nine months of 2010, represent non-cash valuation adjustments that have no effect on our liquidity or ability to fund our operations.  (See Note 12, Fair Value of Financial Instruments.)

Total equity at September 30, 2010 increased $120 million, or 30%, to $525 million from $405 million at December 31, 2009.  On June 30, 2010, the Company announced the initial closing of its offering of 75,000,000 shares of its common stock and the sale of an additional 3,500,000 shares pursuant to the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, at a price to the public of $2.00 per share.  On July 2, 2010, the Company further announced the completion of this offering as the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option for an additional 7,139,000 shares, at a price to the public of $2.00 per share.  The 85,639,000 shares the Company issued between June 30 and July 2, 2010 resulted in net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, of approximately $161.6 million.  Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we issued 4,167,348 additional shares of common stock for $13.2 million at an average net per share price of $3.17 through our Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan.

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

Reflecting the economic recession, ongoing strains in the financial and housing markets, further deterioration of property values, and the recognition of a non-cash valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we had a net loss of $42.7 million which, after providing for the preferred stock dividend of $1.6 million and related discount accretion of $398,000, resulted in a net loss to common shareholders of $44.7 million, or ($0.40) per diluted share.  This loss compares to a net loss to common shareholders of $8.4 million, or ($0.44) per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, our net loss was $49.2 million which, after providing for the preferred stock dividend of $4.7 million and related discount accretion of $1.2 million, resulted in a net loss to common shareholders of $55.1 million, or ($1.04) per diluted share.  This loss compares to a net loss to common shareholders of $38.0 million, or ($2.11) per diluted share, during the same period a year earlier.

The net loss for the current quarter continues to reflect an elevated level of loan loss provisioning and other significant credit related charges compared to our historical experience, as well as a significant adjustment to our income tax provision (benefit) as a result of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  However, driven by improvement in our net interest margin as a result of a significant decline in deposit costs and an increase in mortgage banking activity, revenues did increase meaningfully compared to the same quarter and nine-month period in the prior year, as well as to the immediately preceding quarter.  As more fully explained below, our provision for loan losses was $20.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $25.0 million for the same quarter in the prior year.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, our provision for loan losses was $50.0 million, compared to $92.0 million for the same period a year earlier.  While less than the same periods in 2009, our elevated provision for losses during 2010 continues to reflect high levels of delinquencies, non-performing loans and net charge-offs, particularly for loans for the construction of one- to four-family homes and for acquisition and development of land for residential properties.

Our operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 included a fair value increase of $1.4 million, which was more than offset by an OTTI charge on a single security of $3.0 million.  During the third quarter of 2009, this fair value adjustment was a $6.0 million increase, only partially offset by a $1.3 million OTTI charge on securities.  Excluding these fair value adjustments and the OTTI charges, other operating income increased to $9.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to $8.8 million for the same period a year earlier,
 
 
39

 
primarily due to an increase in the gain on the sale of loans from mortgage banking operations between those periods reflecting a slight pickup in refinancing activity for single family homes.  Other operating expenses increased $9.7 million to $46.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 from $36.6 million a year earlier, which was primarily a result of increased costs related to REO (including $8.6 million in valuation adjustments recognized during the quarter), partially offset by modestly lower compensation and occupancy costs.

Compared to levels a year ago, total assets decreased 4% to $4.597 billion at September 30, 2010.  While net loans decreased 10% to $3.402 billion, cash and securities (exclusive of FHLB stock) increased 25% to $811 million, deposits decreased 3% to $3.760 billion and borrowings, including customer sweep accounts (retail repurchase agreements) and junior subordinated debentures, decreased 43% to $273 million.  The average balance of interest-earning assets was $4.364 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, nearly identical to the $4.367 billion for the same period one year earlier.
 
Net Interest Income.  Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased by $3.6 million, or 10%, to $39.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $36.4 million for the same quarter one year earlier, driven by the increase in the net interest margin, as there was virtually no change in the total balance of average interest-earning assets.  The net interest margin of 3.63% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 was 33 basis points higher than the same quarter in the prior year, largely as a result of the effect of a much lower cost of deposits.  The positive impact to our net interest margin from lower funding costs was partially offset by the adverse effect of continued high levels of nonaccrual loans and other non-performing assets including real estate acquired through foreclosure.  Nonaccruing loans reduced the margin by 31 basis points in the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to a 42 basis point reduction for the third quarter in the prior year.  In addition, the mix of earning assets changed to include fewer loans and more interest-bearing deposits over the past twelve months, as our on-balance-sheet liquidity has increased.  This change in the mix in the current very low interest rate environment had an adverse effect on earning asset yields; however, this decline was more than offset by the significantly lower deposit costs.  Reflecting a $331 million increase in the average balance of low-rate interest-bearing deposits at the Federal Reserve, the yield on earning assets for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 decreased by 48 basis points compared to the same quarter in prior year.  The funding costs for the same period decreased by 81 basis points compared to a year earlier and more than offset the lower asset yield.  As a result, the net interest spread expanded to 3.55% for the current quarter compared to 3.22% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased by $10.8 million, or 10%, to $117.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $106.2 million for the same period one year earlier, as a result of a 36 basis point increase in the net interest margin and despite a $29 million decrease in average interest-earning assets.  The net interest margin increased to 3.63% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to 3.27% for the same period in the prior year, largely as a result of the effect of a much lower cost of deposits.  The positive impact to our net interest margin from lower funding costs was partially offset by the adverse effect of continued high levels of nonaccrual loans and other non-performing assets.

Interest Income.  Interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 was $54.3 million, compared to $59.6 million for the same quarter in the prior year, a decrease of $5.3 million, or 9%.  The decrease in interest income occurred as a result of a 48 basis point decrease in the yield on earning assets with essentially no change in the average balance of those assets.  The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased to 4.93% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to 5.41% for the same quarter one year earlier.  The decrease in the yield on earning assets primarily reflects the large amount of funds we have on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at very low interest rates, as we have chosen to increase our on-balance-sheet liquidity and as loan demand has remained weak.  Average loans receivable for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 decreased $336 million, or 9%, to $3.570 billion, compared to $3.906 billion for the same quarter in the prior year.  Interest income on loans decreased by $5.0 million, or 9%, to $51.2 million for the current quarter from $56.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, as a direct result of the decrease in average loan balances and a two basis point decrease in the average yield on loans.  The average loan yield reflects a continuation of historically low market interest rates during the past year and the adverse effect from nonaccrual loans.  The average yield on loans was 5.69% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to 5.71% for the same quarter one year earlier.  Interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $165.9 million, compared to $179.1 million for the same quarter in the prior year, a decrease of $13.2 million, or 7%.  As with the quarterly result, the year-to-date results reflect a decrease in both the average balance of interest-earning assets which decreased by $29 million, and the related yield which declined by 37 basis points.

The combined average balance of mortgage-backed securities and investment securities (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) increased only $2 million compared to the third quarter of 2009, while the interest and dividend income from those investments conversely decreased by $310,000 compared to the same quarter in the prior year as higher yielding securities that matured or were called were replaced with lower yielding investments.  The resulting decrease in the yield on the securities portfolio is a reflection of the current lower interest rate environment.  Further, the average balance of interest-bearing deposits increased by $331 million between these periods.  The much greater balance and lower yield on these interest-bearing deposits (0.24% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to 0.27% for the same period a year earlier) contributed to a significant 138 basis point decrease in the total interest rate yield on securities and cash equivalents to 1.54% for the current quarter.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 was $14.3 million, compared to $23.2 million for the prior quarter one year earlier, a decrease of $8.9 million, or 38%.  The decrease in interest expense occurred as a result of an 81 basis point decrease in the average cost of all interest-bearing liabilities to 1.38% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, from 2.19% for the same quarter one year earlier, and an $88 million decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities.

Deposit interest expense decreased $8.5 million, or 41%, to $12.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to $20.8 million for the same quarter in the prior year as a result of an 87 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and a $45 million decrease in the average balance of deposits.  Average deposit balances decreased to $3.776 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, from $3.821 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, while the average rate paid on deposit balances decreased to 1.29% in the current quarter from
 
 
40

 
2.16% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  Deposit costs are significantly affected by changes in the level of market interest rates; however, changes in the average rate paid for interest-bearing deposits tend to be less severe and to lag changes in market interest rates.  In addition, non-interest-bearing deposits dampen the effect of changes in market rates on our aggregate cost of deposits.  This lower degree of volatility and lag effect for deposit pricing have been evident in the decrease in deposit costs as the Federal Reserve pursued policies first to aggressively lower short-term interest rates by 500 basis points from September 18, 2007 to December 31, 2008 and more recently to maintain the very low level of interest rates.  Furthermore, competitive pricing pressure for interest-bearing deposits was quite intense for certain periods fifteen to twenty-four months ago, as many financial institutions experienced increased liquidity concerns in the deteriorating economic conditions.  However, as market rates have remained low for an extended period and competitors’ liquidity strains have been generally mitigated, we experienced significantly declining deposit costs during 2009 and this has continued into the third quarter of 2010.  While we do not anticipate further significant reductions in market interest rates, we do expect some additional declines in deposit costs over the near term as certificate of deposit maturities will present further repricing opportunities and competitive pricing has become more rational in our view in response to modest loan demand in the current economic environment.  Further, continued changes in our deposit mix, reflecting growth in lower cost transaction and savings accounts as our branch network has continued to mature, have also meaningfully contributed to the decrease in our funding costs.

Average FHLB advances (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) decreased to $46 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $81 million for the same quarter one year earlier.  The average rate paid on FHLB advances for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 decreased by 30 basis points to 2.78%, compared to 3.08% for the same quarter in the prior year, while average FHLB borrowings decreased $35 million, resulting in a $307,000 decrease in the related interest expense.  The lower average rate for FHLB advances was primarily the result of the repayment of certain higher rate borrowings, resulting in average outstanding advances that reflect fixed-rate borrowings that are all more than two years old.

Other borrowings consist of retail repurchase agreements with customers, secured by certain investment securities, the senior bank notes issued under the TLGP, as well as overnight federal funds borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and correspondent banks.  The average balance for other borrowings, consisting of customer retail repurchase agreements and senior bank notes, was $165 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, a decrease of $8 million over the same quarter in the prior year.  The related interest expense for other borrowings decreased by $51,000 to $604,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, from $655,000 for the same quarter one year earlier, as the decrease in average balances outstanding for the quarter was aided by a five basis points decrease in the average rate paid.  The average rate paid on other borrowings was 1.45% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to 1.50% for the same quarter one year earlier.  Repurchase agreements and federal funds borrowings generally have relatively short terms and therefore reprice to current market levels more quickly than deposits, which generally lag current market rates.  The senior bank notes which were issued on March 31, 2009, have a fixed rate of 2.625% and fixed maturity with an 18 month remaining term to maturity at March 31, 2012.

Junior subordinated debentures which were issued in connection with trust preferred securities had an average balance (excluding the effect of fair value adjustments) of $124 million for both the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and the same period a year earlier.  The average rate decreased six basis points between these periods to 3.53%.  These junior subordinated debentures are adjustable-rate instruments with repricing frequencies of three months based upon the three-month LIBOR index.  The lower average cost of the junior subordinated debentures in the current quarter reflects the impact of slightly lower short-term market interest rates compared to the same period a year earlier.


 
41 

 

The following tables provide additional comparative data on our operating performance (dollars in thousands):

 
Quarters Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30
 
September 30
 
Average Balances
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                           
Interest-bearing deposits
 
$
405,377
 
$
74,624
 
$
266,351
 
$
30,774
 
Investment securities
   
264,788
   
231,301
   
262,427
   
219,812
 
Mortgage-backed obligations
   
86,552
   
118,064
   
91,642
   
131,967
 
FHLB stock
   
37,371
   
37,371
   
37,371
   
37,371
 
Total average interest-earning securities and cash equivalents
   
794,088
   
461,360
   
657,791
   
419,924
 
                           
Loans receivable
   
3,570,143
   
3,905,763
   
3,657,281
   
3,924,487
 
Total average interest-earning assets
   
4,364,231
   
4,367,123
   
4,315,072
   
4,344,411
 
                           
Non-interest-earning assets (including fair value adjustments on interest-earning assets)
   
276,261
   
219,780
   
265,792
   
204,414
 
Total average assets
 
$
4,640,492
 
$
4,586,903
 
$
4,580,864
 
$
4,548,825
 
                           
Deposits
 
$
3,776,198
 
$
3,821,065
 
$
3,802,291
 
$
3,731,782
 
Advances from FHLB
   
46,025
   
81,095
   
53,530
   
110,126
 
Other borrowings
   
164,959
   
173,165
   
175,305
   
174,269
 
Junior subordinated debentures
   
123,716
   
123,716
   
123,716
   
123,716
 
    Total average interest-bearing liabilities
   
4,110,898
   
4,199,041
   
4,154,842
   
4,139,893
 
                           
Non-interest-bearing liabilities (including fair value adjustments on interest-bearing liabilities)
 
(36,164
)
 
(25,527
)
 
(37,048
)
 
(17,357
)
Total average liabilities
   
4,074,734
   
4,173,514
   
4,117,794
   
4,122,536
 
                           
Equity
   
565,758
   
413,389
   
463,070
   
426,289
 
    Total average liabilities and equity
 
$
4,640,492
 
$
4,586,903
 
$
4,580,864
 
$
4,548,825
 
                           
Interest Rate Yield/Expense (rates are annualized)
                         
Interest Rate Yield:
                         
Interest-bearing deposits
   
0.24
%
 
0.27
%
 
0.23
%
 
0.24
%
Investment securities
   
2.81
   
3.30
   
2.98
   
3.77
 
Mortgage-backed obligations
   
4.46
   
4.78
   
4.59
   
4.85
 
FHLB stock
   
0.00
   
0.00
   
0.00
   
0.00
 
   Total interest rate yield on securities and cash equivalents
   
1.54
   
2.92
   
1.92
   
3.52
 
Loans receivable
   
5.69
   
5.71
   
5.72
   
5.72
 
   Total interest rate yield on interest-earning assets
   
4.93
   
5.41
   
5.14
   
5.51
 
                           
Interest Rate Expense:
                         
Deposits
   
1.29
   
2.16
   
1.50
   
2.35
 
Advances from FHLB
   
2.78
   
3.08
   
2.51
   
2.46
 
Other borrowings
   
1.45
   
1.50
   
1.42
   
1.19
 
Junior subordinated debentures
   
3.53
   
3.59
   
3.43
   
4.00
 
Total interest rate expense on interest-bearing liabilities
   
1.38
   
2.19
   
1.57
   
2.35
 
                           
Interest spread
   
3.55
%
 
3.22
%
 
3.57
%
 
3.16
%
                           
Net interest margin on interest earning assets
   
3.63
%
 
3.30
%
 
3.63
%
 
3.27
%
                           
Additional Key Financial Ratios (ratios are annualized)
                         
Return (loss) on average assets
   
(3.65
)%
 
(0.56
)%
 
(1.44
)%
 
(0.95
)%
Return (loss) on average equity
 
(29.97
)
 
(6.19
)
 
(14.21
)
 
(10.11
)
Average equity / average assets
 
12.19
   
9.01
   
10.11
   
9.37
 
Average interest-earning assets / interest-bearing liabilities
 
106.16
   
104.00
   
103.86
   
104.94
 
Non-interest (other operating) income/average assets
 
0.65
   
1.16
   
0.63
   
1.12
 
Non-interest (other operating) expenses / average assets
 
3.96
   
3.17
   
3.50
   
3.15
 
Efficiency ratio (1)
 
97.38
   
73.54
   
86.43
   
74.36
 
Tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets (2)
 
8.65
   
5.82
   
8.65
   
5.82
 
 
(1) Other operating expense divided by the total of net interest income (before provision for loan losses) and other operating income (non-interest   income) 
(2) Tangible common equity and tangible assets exclude preferred stock, goodwill, core deposit and other intangibles.
 
 
42

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the provision for loan losses was $20.0 million, compared to $25.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  As discussed in the Summary of Critical Accounting Policies section above and in Note 1 of the Selected Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the provision and allowance for loan losses is one of the most critical accounting estimates included in our Consolidated Financial Statements.  Throughout 2009 and continuing in the first nine months of 2010, the provision for loan losses has been the most important factor contributing to our disappointing operating results.  The provision for loan losses reflects the amount required to maintain the allowance for losses at an appropriate level based upon management’s evaluation of the adequacy of general and specific loss reserves, trends in delinquencies and net charge-offs and current economic conditions.  We believe that the allowance for loan losses as of September 30, 2010 was adequate to absorb the probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio at that date and that the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable.

While the provision for loan losses in the quarter ended September 30, 2010 was less than the previous year, it still remains significantly elevated in relation to our less recent historical loss rates.  The provisions for loan losses for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010 continued to primarily reflect material levels of delinquent and non-performing construction, land and land development loans for one- to four-family properties and additional declines in property values.  It also reflects our concerns that the significant number of distressed sellers and lender foreclosures may further disrupt certain housing markets and adversely affect home prices and the demand for building lots.  Since the second half of 2008, these concerns have remained elevated as evidence of price declines for certain housing and related lot and land markets has accumulated.  These concerns were further validated by recent appraisals of certain properties included in our portfolio of real estate acquired through foreclosure which led to the valuation adjustments noted in other parts of this report.  Aside from housing-related construction and development loans, non-performing loans generally reflect unique operating difficulties for the individual borrower; however, the weak pace of general economic activity has also become a significant contributing factor to more recent late-cycle loan defaults in other non-housing related segments of the loan portfolio.  We recorded net charge-offs of $19 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $21 million for the same quarter a year earlier.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net charge-offs were $49 million, compared to $72 million during the comparable period in 2009.  Non-performing loans decreased by $73 million over the last twelve months to $170 million at September 30, 2010, compared to $243 million at September 30, 2009.  A comparison of the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2010 and 2009 reflects a modest increase of $1 million, or 1%, to $96 million at September 30, 2010, from $95 million at September 30, 2009.  However, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans (loans receivable excluding allowance for losses) increased to 2.76% at September 30, 2010, compared to 2.44% at September 30, 2009.  Likewise, the allowance as a percentage of non-performing loans increased to 57% at September 30, 2010, compared to 39% a year earlier.

As of September 30, 2010, we had identified $218 million of impaired loans.  Impaired loans include loans on non-accrual, TDRs that are performing under their restructured terms and loans that are 90 days or more past due, but are still on accrual.  Impaired loans may be evaluated for reserve purposes using either a specific impairment analysis or collectively evaluated as part of homogeneous pools.  Impaired loans totaling $164 million were subjected to a specific impairment analysis and of those loans, $88 million were found to have no need for an allowance for credit losses as their estimated collateral value is equal to or exceeds their carrying costs, which in some cases is net of substantial write-offs.  The remaining $76 million of loans subjected to a specific impairment analysis were found to require allowances totaling $16 million.  Impaired loans that were collectively evaluated for reserve purposes within homogeneous pools totaled $54 million and were found to require allowances totaling $4 million.  The $54 million evaluated for reserve purposes within homogeneous pools included $27 million of restructured loans which are currently performing according to their restructured terms.

We believe that the allowance for loan losses as of September 30, 2010 was adequate to absorb the known and inherent risks of loss in the loan portfolio at that date.  While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will not be proven incorrect in the future, or that the actual amount of future provisions will not exceed the amount of past provisions or that any increased provisions that may be required will not adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the determination of the amount of the allowance for loan losses is subject to review by bank regulators as part of the routine examination process, which may result in the establishment of additional reserves based upon their judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.

Other Operating Income.  Other operating income, which includes changes in the valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value as well as non-interest revenues from core operations, was $7.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $13.5 million for the same quarter in the prior year.  Excluding the fair value adjustments and OTTI charges, other operating income from core operations increased by $466,000, or 5%, to $9.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to $8.8 million for the same quarter prior year, primarily as a result of increased mortgage banking activity.  As a result of this increase in activity, gains on sale of loans increased by $454,000 to $2.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $2.1 million for the same quarter in the prior year.  Loan sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 totaled $115 million, compared to $140 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  The weak pace of economic activity adversely affected our payment processing revenues in both years as activity levels for deposit customers, cardholders and merchants remained subdued although modestly stronger in the most recent quarter.  Despite the restrained level of customer transaction volumes, income from deposit fees and other service charges was flat at $5.7 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we recorded an aggregate net gain of $1.4 million in fair value adjustments.  By comparison, we recorded a net gain of $6.0 million in fair value adjustments for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.   The fair value adjustments in both the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 primarily reflect changes in the values of junior subordinated debentures we have issued, partially offset by modest changes in the value of certain investment securities.

Other operating income, including changes in the valuation of financial instruments carried at fair value and OTTI charges as well as non-interest revenues from core operations, was $21.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $38.1 million for the same period a year earlier.  Excluding the fair value adjustments and OTTI charges, other operating income from core operations decreased by $2.5 million, or 10%, to $23.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to $25.6 million for the first nine months of the
 
 
43

 
prior year, primarily as a result of decreased income from mortgage banking operations, which was $3.4 million, or 44% less in the current nine-month period at $4.3 million as compared to $7.6 million for the same period last year.  Loan sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 totaled $236 million, compared to $484 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  During the first nine months of 2010, we experienced a slight increase in deposit service fees of $445,000 largely as a result of increased customer relationships.  Net loan servicing fees increased by $514,000 compared to the same nine-month period a year earlier, reflecting an increase in the balance of loans serviced for others as well as a $300,000 valuation adjustment recorded in the previous year.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded a net gain of $2.5 million in fair value adjustments, which was more than offset by $4.2 million of OTTI charges on certain investments.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recorded a net gain of $13.9 million, only partially offset by OTTI charges of $1.5 million.

Other Operating Expenses.  Other operating expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 increased $9.7 million, or 27%, to $46.3 million compared to $36.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  Expenses for the third quarter of 2010 reflected significantly higher costs related to REO, including $8.6 million in valuation adjustments on REO properties.  These valuation adjustments, as a result of recent appraisals obtained in the normal course of business, primarily reflect value declines for certain foreclosed lot and land properties that generally had been last appraised approximately twelve months earlier.  Expenses related to REO, including losses on sales and valuation adjustments as well as taxes and maintenance, increased $9.0 million, or 320%, to $11.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared to $2.8 million for the same quarter in the prior year.  Modest decreases in compensation and occupancy expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2009, were slightly more than offset by a small increase in all other operating expenses.  Additionally, with fewer loan originations, the offsetting capitalized loan origination costs resulted in an unfavorable difference of $329,000 between these periods.  As a result, all other operating expenses excluding expenses related to REO were higher by a net $741,000, or 2%, compared to the same quarter a year ago.

Other operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased $12.5 million, or 12%, to $119.8 million compared to $107.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Expenses for the first nine months of 2010 reflected significantly higher costs associated with problem loan collection activities including charges related to REO (including $9.9 million in valuation adjustments), a reduced credit for capitalized loan origination costs, and higher professional service costs, partially offset by reductions in compensation, deposit insurance, and occupancy costs.  With regards to the decrease in FDIC deposit insurance expense, during the second quarter of 2009, the FDIC imposed a special assessment on banks.  The Company paid $2.1 million during that period in addition to regular deposit insurance.  Other operating expenses as a percentage of average assets were 3.50% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 3.15% for the same period one year earlier.  Expenses related to REO increased $13.8 million, or 263%, to $19.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $5.2 million for the same period in 2009.  Professional services increased by $828,000, or 22%, to $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $3.8 million in the same period in the prior year, primarily as a result of legal fees related to collection on nonaccrual loans.  In contrast, salary and employee benefits decreased $2.1 million, or 4%, to $50.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $52.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Additionally, FDIC deposit insurance and occupancy costs decreased $1.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, between these periods.

Income Taxes.  Our normal, expected statutory income tax rate is 36.4%, representing a blend of the statutory federal income tax rate of 35.0% and apportioned effects of the Oregon and Idaho income tax rates of 6.6% and 7.6%, respectively.  However, during the third quarter of 2010, we evaluated our net deferred tax asset and determined it was prudent to establish a valuation allowance against the entire asset.  This action caused our income tax expense to be $24.0 million for the quarter, instead of a tax benefit at our statutory rate of approximately $6.8 million.  For more discussion on our deferred tax asset and related valuation allowance please refer to Note 13 in the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report on Form 10-Q.
 
Asset Quality

Over the past nearly three-year period as housing markets continued to weaken in many of our primary service areas, we have experienced significantly increasing delinquencies and non-performing assets, primarily in our construction and land development loan portfolios.  Beginning in the third quarter of 2008 and continuing throughout 2009 and 2010, home and lot sales activity has been exceptionally slow, causing stress on builders’ and developers’ cash flows and their ability to service debt, which is reflected in our increased non-performing asset totals.  Further, property values generally declined during this period, reducing the value of the collateral securing loans.  In addition, other non-housing-related segments of the loan portfolio are showing some signs of stress and increasing levels of non-performing loans as the effects of the recessionary economy are becoming more evident and the pace of recovery remains slow.  As a result, for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our provision for loan losses was significantly higher than previous historical levels and our normal expectations.  This higher level of delinquencies and non-accruals also had a material adverse effect on our operating income as a result of foregone interest revenues, increased loan collection costs and carrying costs and valuation adjustments for real estate acquired through foreclosure.  Although our future results will depend on the course of recovery from the economic recession, we are actively engaged with our borrowers in resolving problem loans.  While property values have continued to decline in most markets, our reserve levels are substantial and, as a result of our impairment analysis and charge-off actions, reflect current appraisals and valuation estimates.

Non-Performing Assets:  Non-performing assets decreased to $277 million, or 6.03% of total assets, at September 30, 2010, from $296 million, or 6.27% of total assets at December 31, 2009.  Slow sales and excess inventory in most housing markets have been the primary cause of the elevated levels of delinquencies and foreclosures for residential construction and land development loans, which, including related REO, represented approximately 62% of our non-performing assets at September 30, 2010.  As a result of this softness in the housing market, property values, particularly values for residential land and building lots, declined throughout 2009 and in certain sub-markets continuing through the first nine months of 2010.  Reflecting these value declines, the size of our allowance for loan losses remained relatively constant even though non-performing loans and total loans outstanding declined.  While less significant, other non-housing-related segments of the loan portfolio also experienced increased non-performing loans as a result of deteriorating economic conditions and we increased the allocated allowance for those
 
 
44

 
portions of our portfolio as well.  At September 30, 2010, our allowance for loan losses was $96.4 million, or 2.76% of total loans and 57% of non-performing loans, compared to $95.3 million, or 2.51% of total loans and 45% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2009.  Included in our allowance at September 30, 2010 was an unallocated portion of $14.3 million, which is based upon our evaluation of various factors that are not directly measured in the determination of the formula and specific allowances.  We continue to believe our level of non-performing loans and assets, which declined slightly during the current quarter, is manageable, and we believe that we have sufficient capital and human resources to manage the collection of our one- to four-family residential construction and related land loan portfolios and other non-performing assets in an orderly fashion.  However, our operating results will continue to be adversely impacted until we are able to significantly reduce the level of our non-performing assets.
 
While non-performing assets are geographically disbursed, they are concentrated largely in construction, land and land development loans.  The primary components of the $277 million in non-performing assets are $170 million in nonaccrual loans, including $95 million of construction and land development loans, and $107 million in REO and other repossessed assets.  While we experienced a decrease in our nonaccrual loans in the most recent quarter, this decrease was largely offset by a corresponding increase in REO as we continued to work through these problem credits.  The geographic distribution of non-performing construction, land and land development loans and related REO included approximately $78 million, or 46%, in the Puget Sound region, $58 million, or 34%, in the greater Portland market area, $13 million, or 8%, in the greater Boise market area, with the remaining $22 million, or 12%, distributed in various eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and northern Idaho markets.

Loans are reported as restructured when we grant concessions to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties that we would not otherwise consider.  As a result of these concessions, restructured loans are impaired as the Banks will not collect all amounts due, both principal and interest, in accordance with the terms of the original loan agreement.  If any restructured loan becomes delinquent or other matters call into question the borrower's ability to repay full interest and principal in accordance with the restructured terms, the restructured loan(s) would be reclassified as non-accrual.

The following table sets forth information with respect to our non-performing assets and restructured loans at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

 
September 30
2010
 
December 31
2009
 
September 30
2009
 
       
Nonaccrual Loans: (1)
                 
Secured by real estate:
                 
Commercial
$
17,709
 
$
7,300
 
$
8,073
 
Multifamily
 
1,758
   
383
   
--
 
Construction and land
 
95,317
   
159,264
   
193,281
 
One- to four-family
 
17,026
   
14,614
   
18,107
 
Commercial business
 
24,975
   
21,640
   
15,070
 
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
 
6,519
   
6,277
   
5,868
 
Consumer
 
2,531
   
3,923
   
--
 
   
165,835
   
213,401
   
240,399
 
Loans more than 90 days delinquent, still on accrual:
                 
Secured by real estate:
                 
Commercial
 
437
   
--
   
--
 
Multifamily
 
--
   
--
   
--
 
Construction and land
 
1,469
   
--
   
2,090
 
One- to four-family
 
2,089
   
358
   
690
 
Commercial business
 
350
   
--
   
--
 
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
 
--
   
--
   
--
 
Consumer
 
162
   
91
   
109
 
   
4,507
   
449
   
2,889
 
Total non-performing loans
 
170,342
   
213,850
   
243,288
 
Securities on nonaccrual at fair value
 
500
   
4,232
   
1,236
 
REO and other repossessed assets held for sale, net
 
107,314
   
77,802
   
53,765
 
                   
Total non-performing assets
$
278,156
 
$
295,884
 
$
298,289
 
                   
Total non-performing loans to net loans before allowance for loan losses
 
4.87
%
 
5.64
%
 
6.24
%
Total non-performing loans to total assets
 
3.71
%
 
4.53
%
 
5.08
%
Total non-performing assets to total assets
 
6.05
%
 
6.27
%
 
6.23
%
                   
Restructured loans (2)
$
46,243
 
$
43,683
 
$
55,161
 
                   
Loans 30-89 days past due and on accrual
$
18,242
 
$
34,156
 
$
21,243
 
 
(1) For the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010, interest income of $3.6 million and $10.9 million, respectively, would have been recorded had nonaccrual loans been current, and no interest income on these loans was included in net income for this period.
   
(2) These loans are performing under their restructured terms.

 
45 

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s non-performing assets by geographic concentration at September 30, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

   
Washington
 
Oregon
 
Idaho
 
Other
 
Total
 
                                 
Non-performing loans:
                               
Secured by real estate:
                               
Commercial
 
$
13,849
 
$
910
 
$
3,387
 
$
--
 
$
18,146
 
Multifamily
   
1,758
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
1,758
 
Construction and land
                               
One- to four-family construction
   
11,984
   
9,892
   
7,228
   
--
   
29,104
 
Multifamily construction
   
6,651
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
6,651
 
Commercial construction
   
1,538
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
1,538
 
Residential land acquisition & development
   
24,963
   
14,964
   
458
   
--
   
40,385
 
Residential land improved lots
   
3,959
   
4,237
   
641
   
--
   
8,837
 
Residential land unimproved
   
7,198
   
--
   
360
   
--
   
7,558
 
Commercial land acquisition & development
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
 
Commercial land improved
   
2,457
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
2,457
 
Commercial land unimproved
   
256
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
256
 
Total construction and land
   
59,006
   
29,093
   
8,687
   
--
   
96,786
 
                                 
One- to four-family
   
12,062
   
5,020
   
2,033
   
--
   
19,115
 
Commercial business
   
19,177
   
5,029
   
694
   
425
   
25,325
 
Agricultural business, including secured by farmland
   
1,425
   
43
   
5,051
   
--
   
6,519
 
Consumer
   
2,390
   
85
   
218
   
--
   
2,693
 
Total non-performing loans
   
109,667
   
40,180
   
20,070
   
425
   
170,342
 
                                 
Securities on nonaccrual
   
--
   
--
   
500
   
--
   
500
 
                                 
REO and repossessed assets
   
53,440
   
42,152
   
11,722
   
--
   
107,314
 
                                 
Total non-performing assets
 
$
162,107
 
$
82,332
 
$
32,292
 
$
425
 
$
278,156
 
                                 
Percent of non-performing assets
   
58.6
%
 
29.6
%
 
11.6
%
 
0.2
%
 
100.0
%

In addition to the non-performing loans as of September 30, 2010, we had other classified loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $218 million that are not on nonaccrual status, with respect to which known information concerning possible credit problems with the borrowers or the cash flows of the properties securing the respective loans has caused management to be concerned about the ability of the borrowers to comply with present loan repayment terms.  This may result in the future inclusion of such loans in the nonaccrual loan category.

Real estate acquired by us as a result of foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is classified as real estate held for sale until it is sold.  When property is acquired, it is recorded at the lower of its cost (the unpaid principal balance of the related loan plus foreclosure costs) or net realizable value.  Subsequent to acquisition through foreclosure, the property is carried at the lower of the foreclosed amount or net realizable value.  If a new appraisal and market analysis determines that the net realizable value has decreased, the carrying value is written down to the anticipated sales price, less selling and holding costs, by a charge to operating expense.  During the first nine months of 2010, we recorded $9.9 million of write-downs on REO, including $8.6 million recognized in the quarter ended September 30, 2010.


 
46 

 

The most significant of our non-performing loan exposures at September 30, 2010 are included in the following table (dollars in thousands):

Amount
 
Percent of Total Non-Performing Loans
 
Collateral Securing the Indebtedness
 
Geographic Location
 
$
13,729
   
8.1
%
 
68 residential lots
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
7,876
   
4.6
   
105 residential lots
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
6,651
   
3.9
   
163-unit multi-family complex under construction
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
6,038
   
3.6
   
19 residential lots, three completed homes
 
Greater Portland, OR
                   
 
5,693
   
3.4
   
67 completed townhouse lots
 
Greater Portland, OR
                   
 
3,915
   
2.3
   
Unsecured
 
Central Oregon
                   
 
3,528
   
2.1
   
Dairy cows and farm equipment
 
Greater Boise area
                   
 
3,450
   
2.0
   
Three residential lots, two completed homes
 
Greater Spokane, WA
                   
 
3,361
   
2.0
   
Accounts receivable, vehicles and equipment
 
Greater Spokane, WA
                   
 
3,251
   
1.9
   
30 condo sites
13 completed residential condos
 
Greater Portland, OR
                   
 
3,056
   
1.8
   
85 residential lots, two completed homes
 
Central Oregon
                   
 
2,629
   
1.5
   
Accounts receivable, inventory and equipment
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
2,456
   
1.4
   
Two undeveloped mixed use lots, four undeveloped
acres zoned light industrial, one home, 20 lots
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
2,380
   
1.4
   
13 completed homes
10 residential lots
 
Greater Boise area
                   
 
2,257
   
1.3
   
10 completed homes
 
Greater Boise area
                   
 
2,253
   
1.3
   
Unsecured
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
2,150
   
1.3
   
10 unit town home project, three single family lots
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
1,864
   
1.1
   
Hotel and restaurant, convenience store
 
Greater Spokane, WA
                   
 
1,733
   
1.0
   
10 single-family homes
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound
                   
 
1,723
   
1.0
   
Three completed homes, one residential lot, two
office/ warehouse units
 
Greater Boise area
                   
 
1,723
   
1.0
   
12 commercial parcels
 
Greater Spokane, WA
                   
 
1,706
   
1.0
   
12 completed condo units on 2.2 acres
 
Greater Spokane, WA
                   
 
86,920
   
51.0
   
Various collateral; relationships under $1.5 million
 
Various (mostly in WA, OR, ID)
                   
$
170,342
   
100.0
%
 
Total non-performing loans
   


 
47 

 

At September 30, 2010, we had $107.2 million of REO, the most significant component of which is an unfinished subdivision in the greater Seattle metropolitan area with 167 platted lots and a book value of $12.0 million.  The second largest holding is a mixed-use three-story office/retail commercial property in the greater Seattle area with a book value at September 30, 2010 of $6.8 million.  The third largest holding consists of three contiguous parcels of commercially-zoned land in central Oregon with a book value at September 30, 2010 of $6.1 million.  The fourth largest holding is an unfinished residential subdivision with 58 lots in the greater Seattle area with a book value at September 30, 2010 of $5.9 million.  The fifth largest holding is a 165-lot townhouse development in the greater Portland area with a book value at September 30, 2010 of $5.7 million.  The table below summarizes our REO by geographic location and property type as of September 30, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

Amount
 
Percent of Total REO
   
REO Description
 
Geographic Location
                   
$
42,037
   
39.2
%
 
16 completed homes
Five homes under construction
91 residential lots
One mixed-use three-story retail/commercial property
One land development project: 167 SFD lots
Nine acres of land
Three mixed-use commercial properties
 
Greater Seattle-Puget Sound area
           
           
           
           
                   
 
40,275
   
37.6
   
28 completed homes
Nine homes under construction
271 residential lots
165 townhouse lots
117 acres of buildable land
Three undeveloped parcels of commercial land
 
Greater Portland, OR area
           
                   
 
11,721
   
10.9
   
10 completed homes
170 residential lots
One parcel of land zoned for 51 residences
Seven land development projects
Three commercial lots
32 townhouse lots
Two parcels of agricultural land
 
Greater Boise, ID area
           
           
           
                   
 
6,065
   
5.7
   
Three parcels of unimproved land zoned commercial
 
Other Oregon locations
                   
 
4,850
   
4.5
   
Eight completed homes
34 residential lots
One commercial office unit
Two mini-storage sites
Two commercial real estate sites
 
Other Washington locations
                   
 
2,211
   
2.1
   
One completed home
One residential lot
Three unfinished condos under construction
One parcel of land for 81 residential lots
 
Greater Spokane, WA area
           
                   
$
107,159
   
100.0
%
     
Total REO

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, proceeds from loan principal and interest payments and sales of loans, and the maturity of and interest income on mortgage-backed and investment securities.  While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and mortgage-backed securities are a predictable source of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

Our primary investing activity is the origination of loans and the purchase of securities.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, loan originations, net of repayments, totaled $175 million.  In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we originated and sold approximately $236 million of loans while purchases of securities exceeded repayments and sales of securities by $52 million.  Net deposits decreased $105 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  While core transaction and savings account deposits increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we encouraged a decline in high cost certificates of deposit through more conservative retail deposit pricing.  We also chose not to renew $21 million of brokered deposits and had a reduction of $12 million in public funds.  Brokered deposits and public funds are generally more price sensitive than retail deposits and our use of those deposits varies significantly based upon our liquidity management strategies at any point in time.  FHLB advances (excluding fair value adjustments) decreased $143 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, while other borrowings, including $50 million of senior bank notes issued under the TLGP, were nearly unchanged over the same period.  During the quarter, the Company announced the completion of an offering of its common stock.  Net receipts, after the deduction for stock offering costs, were $161.6 million.  As a result of all of this activity, our overall liquidity remained strong and our net cash position increased by $51 million during the third quarter, of 2010 and was $165 million higher on September 30, 2010 than it was at December 31, 2009.
 
 
48

 
We must maintain an adequate level of liquidity to ensure the availability of sufficient funds to accommodate deposit withdrawals, to support loan growth, to satisfy financial commitments and to take advantage of investment opportunities.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we used our sources of funds primarily to fund loan commitments, pay maturing savings certificates and deposit withdrawals and to reduce FHLB advances.  At September 30, 2010, we had outstanding loan commitments totaling $761 million, including undisbursed loans in process and unused credit lines totaling $703 million.  This level of commitments is proportionally consistent with our historical experience and does not represent a departure from normal operations.  We generally maintain sufficient cash and readily marketable securities to meet short-term liquidity needs; however, our primary liquidity management practice is to increase or decrease short-term borrowings, including FHLB advances and FRBSF borrowings.  We maintain credit facilities with the FHLB of Seattle, which at September 30, 2010 provide for advances that in the aggregate may equal the lesser of 35% of Banner Bank’s assets or adjusted qualifying collateral, up to a total possible credit line of $934 million, and 25% of Islanders Bank’s assets or adjusted qualifying collateral, up to a total possible credit line of $43 million.  Advances under these credit facilities totaled $46 million, or 1% of our assets at September 30, 2010.  In addition, Banner Bank has been approved for participation in the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Borrower-In-Custody (BIC) program.  Under this program we can borrow up to 65% of eligible loans not already pledged for other borrowings, which we currently estimate would provide additional borrowing capacity of $352 million.  We have utilized this facility on a limited basis; however, we had no funds borrowed from the Federal Reserve Bank at September 30, 2010 or 2009.

At September 30, 2010, certificates of deposit amounted to $1.687 billion, or 45% of our total deposits, including $1.236 billion which were scheduled to mature within one year.  While no assurance can be given as to future periods, historically, we have been able to retain a significant amount of our deposits as they mature.  Management believes it has adequate resources and funding potential to meet our foreseeable liquidity requirements.

Capital Requirements

Banner Corporation is a bank holding company registered with the Federal Reserve.  Bank holding companies are subject to capital adequacy requirements of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (BHCA), and the regulations of the Federal Reserve.  Banner Bank and Islanders Bank, as state-chartered, federally insured commercial banks, are subject to the capital requirements established by the FDIC.

The capital adequacy requirements are quantitative measures established by regulation that require Banner Corporation and the Banks to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of capital.  The Federal Reserve requires Banner Corporation to maintain capital adequacy that generally parallels the FDIC requirements.  The FDIC requires the Banks to maintain minimum ratios of Tier 1 total capital to risk-weighted assets as well as Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets.  At September 30, 2010, Banner Corporation and the Banks each exceeded all current regulatory capital requirements including the requirements included in both the Bank MOU and FRB MOU.  (See Item 1, “Business–Regulation,” and Note 20 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Banner Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for additional information regarding regulatory capital requirements for Banner and the Banks for the year ended December 31, 2009.)

The actual regulatory capital ratios calculated for Banner Corporation, Banner Bank and Islanders Bank as of September 30, 2010, along with the minimum capital amounts and ratios, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
Actual
 
Minimum for Capital
Adequacy Purposes
 
Minimum to be Categorized as
“Well-Capitalized” Under
Prompt Corrective Action
Provisions
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
                                     
Banner Corporation—consolidated
                                     
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
$
607,037
   
16.95
%
$
286,424
   
8.00
%
           
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
 
561,645
   
15.69
   
143,212
   
4.00
             
Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets
 
561,645
   
12.12
   
185,305
   
4.00
             
                                     
Banner Bank (1)
                                     
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
 
515,451
   
15.18
   
271,637
   
8.00
 
$
339,547
   
10.00
%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
 
472,370
   
13.91
   
135,819
   
4.00
   
203,728
   
6.00
 
Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets
 
472,370
   
10.77
   
175,493
   
4.00
   
219,367
   
5.00
 
                                     
Islanders Bank
                                     
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
 
28,794
   
13.91
   
16,558
   
8.00
   
20,740
   
10.00
 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
 
26,457
   
12.78
   
8,279
   
4.00
   
12,444
   
6.00
 
Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets
 
26,457
   
11.03
   
9,677
   
4.00
   
12,049
   
5.00
 

(1)  Under the Bank MOU, Banner Bank must maintain a Tier 1 Capital of not less than 10.0% of Banner Bank’s adjusted total assets.

 
49 

 

ITEM 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market Risk and Asset/Liability Management

Our financial condition and operations are influenced significantly by general economic conditions, including the absolute level of interest rates as well as changes in interest rates and the slope of the yield curve.  Our profitability is dependent to a large extent on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest received from our interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred on our interest-bearing liabilities.

Our activities, like all financial institutions, inherently involve the assumption of interest rate risk.  Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in market interest rates will have an adverse impact on the institution’s earnings and underlying economic value.  Interest rate risk is determined by the maturity and repricing characteristics of an institution’s assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts.  Interest rate risk is measured by the variability of financial performance and economic value resulting from changes in interest rates.  Interest rate risk is the primary market risk affecting our financial performance.

The greatest source of interest rate risk to us results from the mismatch of maturities or repricing intervals for rate sensitive assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts.  This mismatch or gap is generally characterized by a substantially shorter maturity structure for interest-bearing liabilities than interest-earning assets, although our floating-rate assets tend to be more immediately responsive to changes in market rates than most funding deposit liabilities.  Additional interest rate risk results from mismatched repricing indices and formulae (basis risk and yield curve risk), and product caps and floors and early repayment or withdrawal provisions (option risk), which may be contractual or market driven, that are generally more favorable to customers than to us.  An exception to this generalization is the beneficial effect of interest rate floors on a portion of our floating-rate loans, which help us maintain higher loan yields in periods when market interest rates decline significantly.  However, in a declining interest rate environment, as loans with floors are repaid they generally are replaced with new loans which have lower interest rate floors.  Further, many of the floating-rate loans with interest rate floors are in portions of the portfolio currently experiencing higher levels of delinquencies, which tends to mitigate the beneficial effect of the floors.  As of September 30, 2010, our loans with interest rate floors totaled approximately $1.6 billion and had a weighted average floor rate of 5.72%.  An additional consideration is the lagging and somewhat inelastic pricing adjustments for interest rates on certain deposit products as market interest rates change.  These deposit pricing characteristics are particularly relevant to the rates paid on certain checking, savings and money market accounts and contributed to the narrowing of our net interest margin following the Federal Reserve’s actions to lower market interest rates beginning in late 2007 and accelerating in 2008, as asset yields declined while the reduction in deposit costs lagged.  Further, deposit costs have not declined as much as other short-term market interest rates as credit concerns and liquidity issues for certain large financial institutions, particularly in the summer and fall of 2008, created heightened competitive pricing pressures.  Fortunately, these competitive pressures have decreased over recent quarters and deposit costs have declined sharply over the same period leading to an improving net interest margin.  As previously noted, our net interest margin has been adversely affected by an increase in loan delinquencies as well as changes in the portfolio mix as construction and development lending has slowed.  However, changes in the deposit mix resulting in proportionality more non-interest bearing and transaction and saving accounts have also contributed to recent improvement in our interest margin.
 
 
The principal objectives of asset/liability management are:  to evaluate the interest rate risk exposure; to determine the level of risk appropriate given our operating environment, business plan strategies, performance objectives, capital and liquidity constraints, and asset and liability allocation alternatives; and to manage our interest rate risk consistent with regulatory guidelines and policies approved by the Board of Directors.  Through such management, we seek to reduce the vulnerability of our earnings and capital position to changes in the level of interest rates.  Our actions in this regard are taken under the guidance of the Asset/Liability Management Committee, which is comprised of members of our senior management.  The Committee closely monitors our interest sensitivity exposure, asset and liability allocation decisions, liquidity and capital positions, and local and national economic conditions and attempts to structure the loan and investment portfolios and funding sources to maximize earnings within acceptable risk tolerances.

Sensitivity Analysis

Our primary monitoring tool for assessing interest rate risk is asset/liability simulation modeling, which is designed to capture the dynamics of balance sheet, interest rate and spread movements and to quantify variations in net interest income resulting from those movements under different rate environments.  The sensitivity of net interest income to changes in the modeled interest rate environments provides a measurement of interest rate risk.  We also utilize economic value analysis, which addresses changes in estimated net economic value of equity arising from changes in the level of interest rates.  The net economic value of equity is estimated by separately valuing our assets and liabilities under varying interest rate environments.  The extent to which assets gain or lose value in relation to the gains or losses of liability values under the various interest rate assumptions determines the sensitivity of net economic value to changes in interest rates and provides an additional measure of interest rate risk.

The interest rate sensitivity analysis performed by us incorporates beginning-of-the-period rate, balance and maturity data, using various levels of aggregation of that data, as well as certain assumptions concerning the maturity, repricing, amortization and prepayment characteristics of loans and other interest-earning assets and the repricing and withdrawal of deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities into an asset/liability computer simulation model.  We update and prepare simulation modeling at least quarterly for review by senior management and the directors. We believe the data and assumptions are realistic representations of our portfolio and possible outcomes under the various interest rate scenarios.  Nonetheless, the interest rate sensitivity of our net interest income and net economic value of equity could vary substantially if different assumptions were used or if actual experience differs from the assumptions used.
 
 
50


The table of Interest Rate Risk Indicators sets forth, as of September 30, 2010, the estimated changes in our net interest income over a one-year time horizon and the estimated changes in market value of equity based on the indicated interest rate environments.

Interest Rate Risk Indicators

   
Estimated Change in
 
Change (in Basis Points) in
Interest Rates (1)
 
Net Interest Income
Next 12 Months
 
Net Economic Value
 
   
(dollars in thousands)
 
       
+400
 
$
9,036
   
5.6 
%
$
(150,273
)
 
(23.6
)%
 
+300
   
8,071
   
5.0 
   
(112,626
)
 
(17.7
)
 
+200
   
6,554
   
4.0 
   
(76,752
)
 
(12.0
)
 
+100
   
3,621
   
2.2 
     
(42,313
)
 
(6.6
)
 
      0
   
--
   
-- 
   
--
   
--
   
   -25
   
(977
)
 
(0.6 
)
 
511
   
0.1
   
   -50
   
(2,580
)
 
(1.6 
)
 
(2,796
)
 
(0.4
)
 

(1)  Assumes an instantaneous and sustained uniform change in market interest rates at all maturities.

Another although less reliable monitoring tool for assessing interest rate risk is “gap analysis.”  The matching of the repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities may be analyzed by examining the extent to which assets and liabilities are “interest sensitive” and by monitoring an institution’s interest sensitivity “gap.”  An asset or liability is said to be interest sensitive within a specific time period if it will mature or reprice within that time period.  The interest rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets anticipated, based upon certain assumptions, to mature or reprice within a specific time period and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities anticipated to mature or reprice, based upon certain assumptions, within that same time period.  A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-sensitive liabilities.  A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest-sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-sensitive assets.  Generally, during a period of rising rates, a negative gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income while a positive gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income.  During a period of falling interest rates, a negative gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income while a positive gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in gap analysis.  For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods of repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market rates.  Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates.  Additionally, certain assets, such as ARM loans, have features that restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset.  Further, in the event of a change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the table.  Finally, the ability of some borrowers to service their debt may decrease in the event of a severe change in market rates.

The table of Interest Sensitivity Gap presents our interest sensitivity gap between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at September 30, 2010.  The table sets forth the amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which are anticipated by us, based upon certain assumptions, to reprice or mature in each of the future periods shown.  At September 30, 2010, total interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within one year exceeded total interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing in the same time period by $349.8 million, representing a one-year cumulative gap to total assets ratio of 7.61%.

Management is aware of the sources of interest rate risk and in its opinion actively monitors and manages it to the extent possible.  The interest rate risk indicators and interest sensitivity gaps as of September 30, 2010 are within our internal policy guidelines and management considers that our current level of interest rate risk is reasonable.
 
 

 
51 

 

Interest Sensitivity Gap as of September 30, 2010
 
Within
6 Months
 
After 6
Months
Within 1 Year
 
After 1 Year
Within 3
Years
 
After 3 Years
Within 5
Years
 
After 5 Years
Within 10
Years
 
Over
10 Years
 
Total
 
Interest-earning assets: (1)
                                         
Construction loans
$
275,862
 
$
16,149
 
$
18,719
 
$
1,260
 
$
88
 
$
15
 
$
312,093
 
Fixed-rate mortgage loans
 
134,787
   
97,760
   
311,504
   
156,174
   
166,279
   
70,362
   
936,866
 
Adjustable-rate mortgage loans
 
448,590
   
164,304
   
413,530
   
191,270
   
7,901
   
59
   
1,225,654
 
Fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities
 
24,997
   
14,077
   
22,980
   
5,416
   
2,627
   
764
   
70,861
 
Adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities
 
3,063
   
1,732
   
6,966
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
11,761
 
Fixed-rate commercial/agricultural loans
 
67,297
   
32,108
   
72,311
   
23,908
   
5,703
   
1,445
   
202,772
 
Adjustable-rate commercial/agricultural loans
 
492,749
   
22,973
   
35,763
   
11,203
   
45
   
--
   
562,733
 
Consumer and other loans
 
154,382
   
15,505
   
49,088
   
17,752
   
26,547
   
993
   
264,267
 
Investment securities and interest-earning deposits
 
537,675
   
33,629
   
56,566
   
25,941
   
33,368
   
63,094
   
750,273
 
                                           
Total rate sensitive assets
 
2,139,402
   
398,237
   
987,427
   
432,924
   
242,558
   
136,732
   
4,337,280
 
                                           
Interest-bearing liabilities: (2)
                                         
Regular savings and NOW accounts
 
163,038
   
143,829
   
335,600
   
335,600
   
--
   
--
   
978,067
 
Money market deposit accounts
 
240,844
   
144,507
   
96,338
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
481,689
 
Certificates of deposit
 
704,742
   
527,979
   
399,683
   
51,675
   
3,338
   
--
   
1,687,417
 
FHLB advances
 
36,833
   
--
   
10,000
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
46,833
 
Other borrowings
 
(15
)
 
--
   
50,000
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
49,985
 
Junior subordinated debentures
 
97,942
   
--
   
25,774
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
123,716
 
Retail repurchase agreements
 
128,149
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
--
   
128,149
 
                                           
Total rate sensitive liabilities
 
1,371,533
   
816,315
   
917,395
   
387,275
   
3,338
   
--
   
3,495,856
 
                                           
Excess (deficiency) of interest-sensitive assets over interest-sensitive liabilities
$
767,869
 
$
(418,078
)
$
70,032
 
$
45,649
 
$
239,220
 
$
136,732
 
$
841,424
 
Cumulative excess (deficiency) of interest-sensitive assets
$
767,869
 
$
349,791
 
$
419,823
 
$
465,472
 
$
704,692
 
$
841,424
 
$
841,424
 
                                           
Cumulative ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities
 
155.99
%
 
115.99
%
 
113.52
%
 
113.33
%
 
120.16
%
 
124.07
%
 
124.07
%
Interest sensitivity gap to total assets
 
16.70
%
 
(9.09
)%
 
1.52
%
 
0.99
%
 
5.20
%
 
2.97
%
 
18.30
%
Ratio of cumulative gap to total assets
 
16.70
%
 
7.61
%
 
9.13
%
 
10.13
%
 
15.33
%
 
18.30
%
 
18.30
%
                                           
 
(footnotes on following page)

 
52 

 

Footnotes for Table of Interest Sensitivity Gap

(1)  Adjustable-rate assets are included in the period in which interest rates are next scheduled to adjust rather than in the period in which they are due to mature, and fixed-rate assets are included in the period in which they are scheduled to be repaid based upon scheduled amortization, in each case adjusted to take into account estimated prepayments.  Mortgage loans and other loans are not reduced for allowances for loan losses and non-performing loans.  Mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, other loans and investment securities are not adjusted for deferred fees, unamortized acquisition premiums and discounts.

(2)  Adjustable-rate liabilities are included in the period in which interest rates are next scheduled to adjust rather than in the period they are due to mature.  Although regular savings, demand, NOW, and money market deposit accounts are subject to immediate withdrawal, based on historical experience management considers a substantial amount of such accounts to be core deposits having significantly longer maturities.  For the purpose of the gap analysis, these accounts have been assigned decay rates to reflect their longer effective maturities.  If all of these accounts had been assumed to be short-term, the one-year cumulative gap of interest-sensitive assets would have been $(417.0) million, or (9.07%) of total assets at September 30, 2010.  Interest-bearing liabilities for this table exclude certain non-interest-bearing deposits which are included in the average balance calculations in the table contained in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Comparison of Results of Operations for the Quarters Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009” of this report.



 
53 

 

ITEM 4 - Controls and Procedures

The management of Banner Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act).  A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives are met.  Also, because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.  Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures.  The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.  As a result of these inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Further, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

(a)  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:  An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and several other members of our senior management as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) in a timely manner, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

(b)  Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting:  In the quarter ended September 30, 2010, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.




 
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.             Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we have various legal proceedings and other contingent matters outstanding.  These proceedings and the associated legal claims are often contested and the outcome of individual matters is not always predictable.  These claims and counter claims typically arise during the course of collection efforts on problem loans or with respect to action to enforce liens on properties in which we hold a security interest.  We are not a party to any pending legal proceedings that management believes would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or operations.

Item 1A.         Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 0-26584) or otherwise previously disclosed in our Form 10-Q reports filed subsequently.

Item 2.            Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we did not sell any securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

We did not have any repurchases of our common stock from July 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010.

Item 3.            Defaults upon Senior Securities

Not Applicable.

Item 4.             [Removed and Reserved]

Item 5.             Other Information

Not Applicable.

 
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Item 6.             Exhibits
Exhibit
Index of Exhibits
3{a}
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2010 (File No. 000-26584)].
     
3{b}
Certificate of designation relating to the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Series A [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
3{c}
Bylaws of Registrant [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 18, 2007 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
4{a}
Warrant to purchase shares of Company’s common stock dated November 21, 2008 [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
4{b}
Letter Agreement (including Securities Purchase Agreement Standard Terms attached as Exhibit A) dated November 21, 2008 between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
   
10{a}
Executive Salary Continuation Agreement with Gary L. Sirmon [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{b}
Employment Agreement with Michael K. Larsen [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{c}
Employment Agreement with Mark J. Grescovich [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2010 (File No. 000-265840].
   
10{d}
Executive Salary Continuation Agreement with Michael K. Larsen [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{e}
1996 Stock Option Plan [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated August 26, 1996 (File No. 333-10819)].
   
10{f}
1996 Management Recognition and Development Plan [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated August 26, 1996 (File No. 333-10819)].
   
10{g}
Consultant Agreement with Jesse G. Foster, dated as of December 19, 2003. [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 0-23584)].
   
10{h}
Supplemental Retirement Plan as Amended with Jesse G. Foster [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1997 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{i}
Employment Agreement with Lloyd W. Baker [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{j}
Employment Agreement with D. Michael Jones [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{k}
Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement with D. Michael Jones [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{l}
Form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Program Agreement with Gary Sirmon, Michael K. Larsen, Lloyd W. Baker, Cynthia D. Purcell, Richard B. Barton and Paul E. Folz [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the exhibits filed with the Form 8-K on May 6, 2008].
   
10{m}
1998 Stock Option Plan [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated February 2, 1999 (File No. 333-71625)].
   
10{n}
2001 Stock Option Plan [incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated August 8, 2001 (File No. 333-67168)].
   
10{o}
Form of Employment Contract entered into with Cynthia D. Purcell, Richard B. Barton, Paul E. Folz and Douglas M. Bennett [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{p}
2004 Executive Officer and Director Stock Account Deferred Compensation Plan [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{q}
2004 Executive Officer and Director Investment Account Deferred Compensation Plan [incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (File No. 0-26584)].
   
10{r}
Long-Term Incentive Plan [incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Form 8-K on May 6, 2008].
   
10{s}
Form of Compensation Modification Agreement [incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 (File No. 000-26584)].
 
56

 
   
10{t}
2005 Executive Officer and Director Stock Account Deferred Compensation Plan.
   
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
     
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
     
32
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 




 
57 

 

SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
  Banner Corporation 
   
   
   
November 5, 2010
/s/ Mark J. Grescovich                                
 
Mark J. Grescovich
  President and Chief Executive Officer 
  (Principal Executive Officer) 
   
   
   
November 5, 2010
/s/ Lloyd W. Baker                                      
  Lloyd W. Baker 
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 
 

 
 
58