ZIONS BANCORPORATION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION UT
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 23, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Feb 23, 2024
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Item 1. Business
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Zions Bancorporation, National Association (“Zions Bancorporation, N.A.,” “the Bank,” “we,” “our,” “us”) is a bank headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah with annual net revenue (net interest income and noninterest income) of $3.1 billion in 2023, and total assets of approximately $87 billion at December 31, 2023. We provide a wide range of banking products and related services, primarily in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. We had more than one million customers at year-end 2023, served by 407 branches and various online, mobile, and digital offerings. We had 9,679 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2023.
We conduct our operations primarily through seven separately managed and geographically defined bank divisions, which we refer to as “affiliates,” or “affiliate banks,” each with its own local branding and management team. These affiliate banks comprise our primary business segments as referred to throughout this document. We emphasize local authority, responsibility, pricing, and customization of certain products that are designed to maximize customer satisfaction and strengthen community relations. Our affiliate banks are supported by an enterprise operating segment (referred to as the “Other” segment) that provides governance and risk management, allocates capital, establishes strategic objectives, and includes centralized technology, back-office functions, and certain lines of business not operated through our affiliate banks. For more information about our segments, see “Business Segment Results” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) on page 42 and Note 22 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We focus on serving customers in the communities in which we operate. Our experienced bankers strive to develop long-lasting relationships with our customers by providing competitive products and award-winning service. Building and sustaining these relationships is essential to understanding and meeting our customers’ needs. Some of the products and services we provide, whether delivered digitally or by other means, include:
Commercial and small business banking. We serve a wide range of commercial customers, generally small- and medium-sized businesses. Products and services we provide to our commercial and small business banking customers include:
Commercial and industrial and owner-occupied lending and leasing;
Municipal and public finance services;
Depository account and cash management services;
Commercial and small business cards, as well as merchant processing services;
Corporate trust services; and
Correspondent banking and international lending services.
Capital markets and investment banking. We provide customized financing solutions to help our customers raise capital efficiently, execute strategic transactions, and manage exposure to financial markets. Capital markets products and services include:
Loan syndications;
Foreign exchange services and interest rate derivatives;
Fixed income securities underwriting;
Advisory and capital raising;
Commercial mortgage-backed security (“CMBS”) conduit lending; and
Power and project financing.
Commercial real estate lending. We provide lending products secured by commercial real estate to borrowers that include:
Term and construction/land development financing, including the following collateral types:
Commercial multi-family, industrial, and office; and
Residential single-family, community development, and affordable housing.
Retail banking. We provide quality retail banking products and services to our customers that include:
Residential mortgages;
Home equity lines of credit;
Personal lines of credit and installment consumer loans;
Depository account services;
Consumer cards; and
Personal trust services.
Wealth management. We offer various wealth management products and services to customers. Our planning-driven offerings, combined with high-touch service and sophisticated asset management capabilities, have resulted in continued growth in assets under management. Additional offerings to our wealth management customers include:
Investment management services;
Fiduciary and estate services; and
Advanced business succession and estate planning services.
COMPETITION
We operate in a highly competitive environment. Our most direct competition for loans, deposits, and other banking services generally comes from other commercial banks, credit unions, financial technology companies (“fintechs”), and private credit or debt funds. Some of these financial institutions do not have a physical presence in our market footprint, but solicit business via the internet and other means. We also compete with finance companies, mutual fund companies, insurance companies, brokerage firms, securities dealers, investment banking companies, other nontraditional lending and banking companies, and a variety of other types of companies. Some of our competitors may have fewer regulatory constraints, greater ability to develop, implement, and offer technologies and other innovative financial services, and lower-cost structures, taxes, and regulatory burdens.
Our key differentiators include the quality of service delivered, our local community knowledge, convenience of branch and office locations, a wide range of products and services offered, and the overall relationships with our customers. We strive to compete effectively in all of these areas to remain successful.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
The banking and financial services business in which we engage is highly regulated. Such regulation is intended to promote the stability of banking and financial companies and to protect the interests of customers, depositors, and communities. Although banks and their customers benefit from many of these regulations, in some cases, they may not be aligned with, or intended to protect, the interests of our shareholders or creditors. Banking laws and regulations have given financial regulators expanded powers over many aspects of the financial services industry, which have reduced, and may continue to reduce, returns earned by shareholders. Furthermore, changes in applicable laws or regulations, and in their application by regulatory agencies cannot be predicted and may have a material effect on our business and results.
General
We are subject to the provisions of the National Bank Act and other statutes governing national banks, as well as the rules and regulations of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). We, as well as some of our subsidiaries, are also subject to regulation by other federal and state agencies. These regulatory agencies may exert considerable influence over our activities through their supervisory and examination roles. Our brokerage and investment advisory subsidiaries are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and state securities regulators.
The National Bank Act
Our corporate affairs are governed by the National Bank Act, and related regulations are administered by the OCC. With respect to securities matters, we are not subject to the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), but are subject to OCC regulations governing securities offerings. Our common stock and certain other securities are registered under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), which vests the OCC with the power to administer and enforce certain sections of the Exchange Act applicable to national banks, though we continue to make filings required by the Exchange Act with the SEC as a voluntary filer. These statutory and regulatory frameworks are not as well-developed as the corporate and securities law frameworks applicable to many other publicly held companies.
The National Bank Act provides that under certain circumstances the common stock of a national bank is assessable, i.e., holders may be subject to a levy for more funds if so determined by the OCC. The OCC has confirmed that under the applicable provisions of the National Bank Act, assessability is limited to the par value of a national bank’s stock. Our common stock has a par value of $0.001. In addition, according to the OCC, it has not exercised its authority to levy assessments since 1933 and views the assessability authority as a mechanism for addressing capital deficiency that has long been overtaken by developments in statute and regulation, including supervisory and enforcement authorities requiring an institution to maintain capital at a particular level.
Capital Standards – Basel Framework
At December 31, 2023, we exceeded all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III capital rules, which include certain risk-based capital and leverage ratio requirements prescribed by the OCC. The Basel III capital rules define the components of capital and other factors, such as risk weights, affecting banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios.
The Basel III capital rules require us to maintain certain minimum capital ratios, as well as a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer,” which is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress, composed entirely of common equity Tier 1 (“CET1”). Financial institutions with a ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets above the minimum, but below the capital conservation buffer, face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases, and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall. The severity of the constraint depends on the amount of the shortfall and the institution’s “eligible retained income,” which is defined as four quarters of trailing net income, net of distributions and associated tax effects not already reflected in net income. For more information about our capital ratios, see “Capital Management” in MD&A on page 72.
Prompt Corrective Action
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (“FDICIA”) requires each federal banking agency to take prompt corrective action to resolve identified problems of insured depository institutions, including, but not limited to, those that fall below one or more prescribed minimum capital ratios. Pursuant to FDICIA, the FDIC promulgated regulations defining the following five categories in which an insured depository institution will be placed, based on the level of its capital ratios: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, under-capitalized, significantly under-capitalized, and critically under-capitalized.
Under the prompt corrective action provisions of FDICIA as modified by the Basel III capital rules, an insured depository institution will generally be classified as well-capitalized if it has a CET1 ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%, a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5%. An insured depository institution will generally be classified as under-capitalized if it has a CET1 ratio less than 4.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio less than 6%, a total risk-based capital ratio less than 8%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio less than 4%.
An institution that is classified as well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, or under-capitalized, may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if the appropriate federal banking agency, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determines that an unsafe or unsound condition or an unsafe or unsound practice warrants such treatment. At each successive lower capital category, an insured depository institution is subject to more restrictions and prohibitions, including restrictions on growth, interest rates paid on deposits, the acceptance of brokered deposits, and restrictions or prohibitions on the payment of dividends. Furthermore, if a bank is classified in one of the under-capitalized categories, it is required to submit a capital restoration plan to the federal banking regulator.
The following schedule presents minimum capital ratio and capital conservation buffer requirements, our capital ratios at December 31, 2023, and the minimum requirements to be well-capitalized:
Schedule 1
MINIMUM CAPITAL RATIO AND CAPITAL CONSERVATION BUFFER REQUIREMENTS
| December 31, 2023 · Minimum requirement to be “well-capitalized” | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital requirement · Capital conservation buffer · Minimum capital ratio requirement with capital conservation buffer · Current capital ratio | ||||||||
| CET1 to risk-weighted assets | 4.5% | 2.5% | 7.0% | 10.3% | 6.5% | |||
| Tier 1 capital (i.e., CET1 plus additional Tier 1 capital) to risk-weighted assets | 6.0 | 2.5 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 8.0 | |||
| Total capital (i.e., Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets | 8.0 | 2.5 | 10.5 | 12.8 | 10.0 | |||
| Tier 1 capital to average consolidated assets (known as the “Tier 1 leverage ratio”) | 4.0 | N/A | 4.0 | 8.3 | 5.0 | |||
Recent Regulatory Developments
Basel III Endgame
On July 27, 2023, bank regulators issued a proposal to implement the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s finalization of the post-crisis bank regulatory capital reforms. The proposal, commonly referred to as the “Basel III Endgame,” would significantly revise the capital requirements applicable to large banking organizations, defined as those with total assets of $100 billion or more. The proposal is subject to a three-year phase-in period for certain aspects of the proposal, and would be effective beginning July 1, 2025. At December 31, 2023, we had $87.2 billion in total assets and do not currently qualify as a large banking organization. We are evaluating the potential future impact of the proposal, as we expect it is more likely than not we would become subject to this proposal in the future, were it to be finalized in its current form.
Under the proposal, if at such time we were to increase our total assets to $100 billion or more, we would, among other things, be required to (1) include certain components of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in regulatory capital and be subject to increased limitations on deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) as a percent of CET1, (2) hold capital for operational risk and market risk, and (3) calculate risk-based capital ratios under both the standardized approach and the expanded risk-based approach.
Long-term Debt
On August 29, 2023, bank regulators issued a proposal that would expand a long-term debt requirement to all banks with total assets of $100 billion or more. The proposed rule would require these banks to have a minimum outstanding amount of eligible long-term debt that is the greatest of (1) 6% of total risk-weighted assets, (2) 2.5% of total leverage exposure, and (3) 3.5% of average total assets. In the event we were to increase our total assets to $100 billion or more, we would have a three-year implementation period to issue debt and meet the other requirements under the proposal. At December 31, 2023, if enacted as proposed, the estimated amount of incremental debt that would be implied by the proposal (based on our asset size at year end) would be approximately $3.5 billion over the three year phase-in period. We expect that the issuance of incremental debt would replace other sources of funding.
Resolution Planning
Additionally, on August 29, 2023, the FDIC issued a proposal that would revise the requirements for resolution planning (“living wills”) for banks in two asset categories. Under the proposal, banks with total assets of $100 billion or more would be required to submit more detailed living wills, while banks with total assets between $50 billion and $100 billion would submit more limited information filings, in each case filed biennially beginning in 2025.
FDIC Special Assessment
In November 2023, the FDIC issued a final rule to implement a special assessment pursuant to a systemic risk determination to recover the costs associated with protecting uninsured depositors following the closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in early 2023. Using an assessment base equal to the estimated amount of uninsured deposits above $5 billion at December 31, 2022, the FDIC is expected to collect the special assessment from banks at an annual rate of approximately 13.4 basis points (“bps”) for an anticipated eight quarterly assessment periods, beginning with the first quarterly assessment period of 2024. At December 31, 2023, our estimated impact of the special assessment was approximately $90 million, which we recorded in deposit insurance and regulatory expense during the fourth quarter of 2023.
Capital Planning and Stress Testing
We utilize stress testing as an important mechanism to inform our decisions on the appropriate level of capital, based upon actual and hypothetically stressed economic conditions, which are comparable in severity to the scenarios published by the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”). Our recent internal stress test included hypothetical scenarios that reflected (1) high inflation, (2) increased losses on commercial loans due to inflation and supply chain disruptions, (3) declining commercial property values, (4) increased losses on consumer loans due to falling home prices, (5) rising unemployment, and (6) other current economic, financial, and social disruptions. The results of our stress test indicated that we would maintain capital ratios in excess of regulatory minimum and capital conservation buffer requirements throughout the nine-quarter horizon for the hypothetical stress test.
Liquidity
We utilize internal liquidity stress tests as a primary tool for establishing and managing liquidity guidelines including, but not limited to, holdings of investment securities and other liquid assets, levels of readily available contingency funding, concentrations of funding sources, and the maturity profile of liabilities. At December 31, 2023, we had sources of liquidity that exceeded our uninsured deposits without the need to sell any investment securities. We continue to actively manage our deposit base and associated deposit costs in response to the higher interest rate environment. For more information about our liquidity profile, see “Liquidity Risk Management” in MD&A on page 67.
Financial Privacy and Cybersecurity
The federal legislature and federal banking regulators have implemented laws and rules governing the use of consumer information by banks and other financial institutions, including provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. These laws and rules limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose nonpublic information about consumers to unaffiliated third parties, require financial institutions to disclose privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to an unaffiliated third party. These laws and regulations also affect how consumer information is transmitted through diversified financial companies and conveyed to outside vendors. In addition, consumers may prevent disclosure of certain information among affiliated companies that is assembled or used to determine eligibility for a product or service, such as that shown on consumer credit reports and asset and income information from applications. Consumers also have the option to direct banks and other financial institutions not to share information about transactions and experiences with affiliated companies for the purpose of marketing products or services. Federal law makes it a criminal offense, except in limited circumstances, to obtain or attempt to obtain customer information of a financial nature by fraudulent or deceptive means.
Federal and state regulators have been increasingly active in implementing privacy and cybersecurity standards and regulations. For example, recently effective SEC rules now require timely disclosure of material cybersecurity incidents and description of cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance. Additionally, during the past several years, a growing number of states, including those in which we conduct business, have enacted, or are considering enacting, laws and regulations granting consumers enhanced privacy rights and control over personal information, establishing or modifying data breach notification requirements, and requiring certain financial institutions to implement detailed and prescriptive cybersecurity programs. Data and cybersecurity laws and regulations are evolving rapidly and remain a focus of state and federal regulators.
Other Regulations and Proposals
We are subject to a wide range of other requirements and restrictions contained in both federal and state laws. These regulations and other proposals include, but are not limited to, the following:
Limitations on dividends payable to shareholders. Our ability to pay dividends on both our common and preferred stock is subject to regulatory restrictions. See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Safety and soundness standards prescribed in the FDICIA, including standards related to internal controls, information systems, internal audit, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and compensation, as well as other operational and management standards deemed appropriate by the federal banking agencies.
Requirements for approval of acquisitions and restrictions on other activities. The National Bank Act requires regulatory and shareholder approval of all mergers between a national bank and another national or state bank and does not allow for the direct merger into a national bank of an unaffiliated nonbank. See further discussion in “Risk Factors.” Other laws and regulations governing national banks contain similar provisions concerning acquisitions and activities.
Limits on interchange fees imposed under the Dodd-Frank Act, including a set of rules requiring that interchange transaction fees for electronic debit transactions be reasonable and proportional to certain costs associated with processing the transactions. In addition, the Federal Reserve has proposed revising Regulation II to lower debit interchange fees by almost 30% and institute a biennial review of the cap without accompanying public comment. If this proposal passes, it could reduce our fee income by approximately $10 million or more per year.
Limitations on the dollar amount of loans made to a borrower and its affiliates.
Limitations on transactions with affiliates.
Restrictions on the nature and amount of any investments and ability to underwrite certain types of securities (e.g., common equity).
Requirements for opening and closing of branches.
A number of federal and state consumer protection laws, including fair lending and truth in lending requirements, to provide equal access to credit and to protect consumers in credit transactions. In addition, as a bank with $10 billion or more in assets, we are subject to examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to consumer financial laws by the CFPB, which has broad rule making, supervisory, and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection laws. These rules and regulations often have the effect of reducing bank revenues and returns earned by shareholders. As an example, the CFPB recently proposed extending certain truth in lending requirements to overdraft fees and placing other restrictions on various fees routinely charged by banks in exchange for providing financial services to customers.
Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) requirements. The CRA requires banks to help serve the credit needs in their communities, including providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals. If we fail to adequately serve our communities, penalties may be imposed including denials of applications to add branches, relocate, add subsidiaries and affiliates, and merge with or purchase other financial institutions. Banking agencies recently finalized rules that completely overhaul the evaluation framework used by regulators to assess a bank’s performance under and compliance with these requirements, which may make it more difficult for banks to achieve satisfactory ratings. The potential impact of these new rules on the Bank and the industry as a whole is currently under review.
Requirements regarding the time, manner, and form of compensation given to key executives and other personnel receiving incentive compensation, including requirements related to the SEC’s 2022 rule on pay versus performance disclosures, and recently finalized rules regarding the clawback of executive pay in certain circumstances involving accounting restatements. These restrictions include documentation and governance, deferral, risk-balancing, and the aforementioned clawback requirements. Any deficiencies in compensation practices may be incorporated into supervisory ratings, which can affect our ability to make acquisitions or engage in certain other activities, or could result in regulatory enforcement actions.
Anti-money laundering regulations. The Bank Secrecy Act, Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA Patriot Act”), and other federal laws require financial institutions to assist U.S. government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and other illegal acts by maintaining policies, procedures and controls designed to detect and report money laundering, terrorist financing, and other suspicious activity.
Tax laws of the U.S., its states, and other jurisdictions where we conduct business.
We are also subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, and other federal and state laws and regulations which address, among other matters, corporate governance, auditing and accounting, internal controls over financial reporting, and enhanced and timely disclosure of corporate information.
Sustainability standards and related concerns, including those related to global climate change, continue to evolve and have become more prominent in recent years. We are closely monitoring developments in standards published by sustainability interest groups and organizations, as well as proposed regulatory initiatives and expectations relating to these issues. Although we believe the way we do business has been and is consistent with many of these standards and expectations, we strive to enhance our business practices by incorporating sustainability recommendations that we believe will benefit our investors, customers, employees, and communities.
In addition to proposed and evolving rulemaking by federal regulators, such as the SEC’s proposed rule on climate-related disclosures and the bank regulatory agencies’ recently issued principles designed to provide a framework for large financial institutions to manage exposure to climate-related financial risks, many states have adopted, or are considering, laws that address climate and social issues. For example, the state of California recently passed sweeping climate-related disclosure laws that will require large entities doing business in the state, including the Bank, to measure and disclose greenhouse gas emissions and report on their climate-related risks. These laws will increase our compliance costs and may include provisions that conflict with other state and federal regulations, or limit our ability to conduct business in certain jurisdictions. We publish an annual Corporate Responsibility Report that provides a summary of how we address these issues. The report is available on our website.
Corporate Governance
Our Board of Directors (“Board”) has overseen management’s establishment of a comprehensive system of corporate governance and risk management practices. This system includes frameworks, policies, and guidelines such as the following:
Corporate Governance Guidelines;
A Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Employees;
A Director’s Code of Conduct;
A Risk Management Framework;
A Related Party Transaction Policy;
Incentive Compensation Recoupment and Clawback Policies;
Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines;
An Insider Trading Policy; and
Charters for our Executive, Audit, Risk Oversight, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.
More information on our corporate governance practices is available on our website at zionsbancorporation.com. Our website is not part of this Form 10-K.
HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
We are proud of our employees who bring their unique, diverse talents to work each day. We are committed to identifying, recognizing, and creating fulfilling opportunities for our employees, and rewarding them for their contributions to our success.
During 2023, we continued to enhance certain benefits for our employees to adapt to the changing practices of the labor market. Recent changes include more flexibility with paid time off, more health care plan alternatives, and greater access to mental health benefits.
We had 9,679 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2023. The following schedule presents certain demographic attributes of our workforce as self-identified by our employees:
Schedule 2
| December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | People of Color | Disabled | Veterans | |
| Employee Roles | ||||
| Management | 52% | 29% | 9% | 2% |
| Non-management | 60% | 40% | 10% | 2% |
| All employees | 58% | 38% | 10% | 2% |
The following objectives and initiatives are integral to our human capital management efforts:
Cultivating an environment where people are respected and valued, and where individual and cultural differences are embraced
We believe that (1) our performance is stronger when we are able to draw upon the talents and experience of a diverse team of employees, and (2) in-person exchange of ideas and viewpoints, in both formal and informal settings, improves productivity and supports a strong corporate culture while still offering flexibility to balance personal needs.
We endeavor to provide opportunities for growth, development, and leadership to every employee. We are committed to continue this focus on ensuring that we have a workplace where all are treated fairly in accordance with their qualifications and abilities, and that the Bank is a place where everyone counts.
We strive to build a workplace where we embrace differences — in points of view and in national origin, language, race, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Our Everyone Counts Council coordinates the related efforts of our affiliates and enterprise groups, and advises executive management on goals and recommendations for ongoing improvement. Our efforts include employee business forums, mental health initiatives, and a broad range of employee and regional events. Throughout the organization, the employee business forums foster a sense of community and enable greater connectivity and support among employees through meetings and discussions, which are open to all employees and offer networking and connections to the communities in which we operate.
We use analytics, recruiting outreach efforts, and manager training to reach a diverse, qualified group of potential applicants to secure a high-performing workforce drawn from all segments of society. To identify qualified candidates, our recruiting team partners with community organizations, schools, and governmental entities that support marginalized and underserved communities in our footprint. Our annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which is published on our website, highlights several achievements in this area, such as our Banker Development Program, which attracts and advances undergraduates and early career professionals.
Attracting, developing, and retaining talent for long-term success
We are committed to (1) attracting, developing, and retaining the most qualified individuals who reflect the diversity of the available workforce and markets in which we operate, (2) helping our employees grow in their careers, and (3) actively building a pipeline of talent for future leadership opportunities. As we attract and hire talent, we proactively consider the demand for competencies that will be needed within the workforce of the future.
Consistent with our strategic objectives, we invest in training our employees and providing them the tools and resources to build their capabilities. We offer more than 1,500 virtual, in-person, expert-led, and pre-recorded or self-paced learning options for employees to create custom learning plans for personal and professional development. In 2023, we hosted more than 1,000 training experiences to support employees, build new skills, or to assist in career advancement. We offer new manager programs, tuition reimbursement, education sponsorship opportunities, job shadowing, coaching, and formal mentoring programs. Our talent development program and individual development plans focus on education, experience, and exposure to help create well-rounded, highly skilled, and successful employees.
We are also mindful of the continued competition for talent in the labor market. We continue to analyze relevant metrics related to employee recruiting and turnover, which has and will continue to impact wages and flexible work arrangements.
Recognizing, engaging, and rewarding our employees
Our comprehensive rewards and recognition programs are designed to reward high performance, improve retention, and enhance the employee experience through recognition and growth opportunities. We provide meaningful upside opportunities for those who take accountability for business objectives that help us deliver superior results while reducing risk.
We routinely assess pay equity among employees across our organization by analyzing potential disparities in pay based on gender, minority status, and other factors. These actions help us compensate employees fairly. On a biennial basis, we enlist the services of an independent third party to review our pay equity. Results of the most recent review revealed that after adjusting for relevant variables such as education, experience, performance, and geography, there were no meaningful differences in pay levels among men, women, and people of color. We remain committed to fair and equitable compensation for all our employees.
Our employees provide regular feedback through enterprise outreach and engagement forums, which include quarterly leadership calls, biannual employee opinion surveys, and targeted focus groups. These forums for employee input continue to help strengthen working relationships with managers, improve clarity of organizational purpose and goals, and reinforce our Guiding Principles and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
We value work-life balance and strive to create a work environment that supports our employees with mental, physical, social, and financial wellness. Some of our key benefits include the following:
Corporate match for our 401(k) plan of 4.5% of an employee’s salary and incentive compensation;
Annual profit-sharing contributions;
Health care plan options including behavioral health, wellness, and autism spectrum disorder services;
Expanded mental health coverage, including coaching and clinical therapy sessions;
Preventive prescription drug coverage not subject to deductibles;
Paid parental leave program;
Adoption assistance program; and
Paid time off for various community service activities and other volunteer opportunities.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.