Ponce Financial Group Inc

Note 1. Nature of Business

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation:

Ponce Financial Group, Inc. (hereafter referred to as “we,” “our,” “us,” “Ponce Financial Group, Inc.,” or the “Company”) is the holding company of Ponce Bank (“Ponce Bank” or the “Bank”), a federally chartered stock savings association. The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements presented herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary Ponce Bank (the “Bank”) and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Ponce De Leon Mortgage Corp., which is a mortgage banking entity. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

For further information, refer to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in the Company' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 19, 2024 (the "2023 Form 10-K").

Reclassification of Prior Periods Presentation: Certain prior periods amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reporting results of operations and did not affect previously reported amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Refer to Deposits (Note 7) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 for details on the reclassification.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted:

In November 2023, FASB issued ASU 2023-07,"Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures." The amendments in this ASU require improved reportable segment information on an annual and interim basis, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. This update will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoptions is permitted. The Company does not expect this standard to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09,"Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740)." The amendment to this update addresses investor requests for more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. This update also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03,"Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosure (Subtopic 220-40)." The amendments improve the disclosures about a public business entity's expenses and address requests from investors for more detailed information about the types of expenses (including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, amortization, and depletion) in commonly present expense captions (such as costs of sales and research and development). The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. We are currently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our consolidated financial statements.

Note 2. Preferred Stock

Preferred Stock

On June 7, 2022, the Company‎ closed a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of 225,000 shares of the Company’s Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A‎, par value $0.01 (the “Preferred Stock”) for an aggregate purchase price equal to $225.0 million in cash, to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) pursuant to the Emergency Capital Investment Program (“ECIP”).‎ The holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a dividend payable in cash quarterly at an annual rate dependent on certain factors as reported by the Company to Treasury in a quarterly supplemental report. The initial dividend rate iszero percent for the first two years after issuance, and thereafter the floor dividend rate is 0.50% and the ceiling dividend rate is 2.00%, based on achievement of certain qualified lending targets. After 10 years of issuance, the perpetual dividend rate in effect, will be determined based on said floor and ceiling.

The Company began paying dividends on its Preferred Stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as required by the terms thereof. The Company paid and accrued dividends on its preferred stock in the amount of $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Bank exceeded the dividend rate reduction threshold for qualified lending targets designated by the U.S. Treasury Department pursuant to the ECIP. The Bank's “qualified lending” as measured pursuant to ECIP totaled $1.162 billion from June 8, 2023 through March 31, 2024. This reduces the dividend obligation on the Preferred Stock to 0.50% for the quarterly dividends payable through June 15, 2025.

The ECIP investment by the Treasury is part of a program to invest over $8.7 billion into Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) or ‎Minority Depository Institution (“MDI”), of which Ponce Bank is both. The ECIP is intended to incentivize CDFIs and MDIs to provide loans, grants, ‎and forbearance to small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and consumers in low-income and underserved communities that may have been ‎disproportionately impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.‎

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a liquidation preference, subject to certain limitations, in the amount of the sum of $1,000 per share plus declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of undeclared dividends) on each share.

Note 3. Securities

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of securities at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are summarized as follows:

(1)

Comprised of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Ginnie Mae (“GNMA”) issued securities.

(1)

Comprised of FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA issued securities.

The Company’s securities portfolio had 39 and 40 available-for-sale securities and 32 and 33 held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. There wereno available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities sold during thenine months ended September 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023. There wasone available-for-sale security in the amount of $4.0 million andone held-to-maturity security in the amount of $25.0 million that matured and/or were called during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. One held-to-maturity security in the amount of $10.0 million matured and/or was called during the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company didnot purchase any available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities during thenine months ended September 30, 2024 and during the year ended December 31, 2023.

The following table presents the Company's gross unrealized losses and fair values of its securities, aggregated by the length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 38 and 40 available-for-sale securities and 24 and 31 held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, with gross unrealized loss positions. Management reviewed the financial condition of the entities underlying the securities at both September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The unrealized losses related to the Company debt securities were issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities and agencies and corporate bonds. The Company does not believe that the debt securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2024 represents a credit loss impairment. The gross unrealized loss positions related to mortgage-backed securities and other obligations issued by the U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises carry the explicit and/or implicit guarantee of the U.S. government and have a long history of zero credit loss. Total gross unrealized losses were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates relative to when the investment securities were purchased and not due to the credit quality of the investment securities.

Management reviewed the collectability of the corporate bonds taking into consideration of such factors as the financial condition of the issuers, reported regulatory capital ratios of the issuers, credit ratings, including ratings in effect as of the reporting date. Management believes the unrealized losses on the corporate bonds are primarily attributable to changes in the interest rates and not changes in the credit quality of the issuers of the corporate bonds.

The following is a summary of maturities of securities at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Amounts are shown by contractual maturity. Because borrowers for mortgage-backed securities have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties, at any time, these securities are included as a total within the table.

At September 30, 2024, no securities were pledged as collateral for borrowing activities. At December 31, 2023,26 available-for-sale securities with a fair value totaling $93.3 million and 17 held-to-maturity securities with an amortized cost totaling $193.3 million were pledged at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ("FRBNY") as collateral for borrowing activities.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity securities:

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the entire allowance for credit losses on securities was allocated to corporate bonds.

Note 4. Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

The following table provides the fair value and contractual principal balance outstanding of loans held for sale accounted for under the fair value options:

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 15 loans and 19 loans in the amount of $9.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively, that were classified as held for sale and accounted for under the fair value option accounting guidance for financial assets and financial liabilities.

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were $5.2 million and $4.4 million, respectively, in loans held for sale that were greater than 90 days past due and non-accrual with a substandard risk rating.

Note 5. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Loans receivable at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are summarized as follows:

(1)

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, consumer loans include$3.0 million and $8.0 million, respectively, of microloans.

The Company’s lending activities are conducted principally in metropolitan New York City. The Company primarily grants loans secured by real estate to individuals and businesses pursuant to an established credit policy applicable to each type of lending activity in which it engages. Although collateral provides assurance as a secondary source of repayment, the Company ordinarily requires the primary source of repayment to be based on the borrowers’ ability to generate continuing cash flows. The Company also evaluates the collateral and creditworthiness of each customer. The credit policy provides that depending on the borrowers’ creditworthiness and type of collateral, credit may be extended up to predetermined percentages of the market value of the collateral or on an unsecured basis. Real estate is the primary form of collateral. Other important forms of collateral are time deposits and marketable securities.

For disclosures related to the allowance for credit losses and credit quality, the Company does not have any disaggregated classes of loans below the segment level.

Credit-Quality Indicators: Internally assigned risk ratings are used as credit-quality indicators, which are reviewed by management on a quarterly basis.

The objectives of the Company’s risk-rating system are to provide the Board of Directors and senior management with an objective assessment of the overall quality of the loan portfolio, to promptly and accurately identify loans with well-defined credit weaknesses so that timely action can be taken to minimize credit loss, to identify relevant trends affecting the collectability of the loan portfolio, to isolate potential problem areas and to provide essential information for determining the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses.

Below are the definitions of the internally assigned risk ratings:

•

Strong Pass – Loans to a new or existing borrower collateralized at least 90 percent by an unimpaired deposit account at the Company.

•

Good Pass – Loans to a new or existing borrower in a well-established enterprise in excellent financial condition with strong liquidity and a history of consistently high level of earnings, cash flow and debt service capacity.

•

Satisfactory Pass – Loans to a new or existing borrower of average strength with acceptable financial condition, satisfactory record of earnings and sufficient historical and projected cash flow to service the debt.

•

Performance Pass– Existing loans that evidence strong payment history but document less than average strength, financial condition, record of earnings, or projected cash flows with which to service the debt.

•

Special Mention – Loans in this category are currently protected but show one or more potential weaknesses and risks which may inadequately protect collectability or borrower’s ability to meet repayment terms at some future date if the weakness or weaknesses are not monitored or remediated.

•

Substandard – Loans that are inadequately protected by the repayment capacity of the borrower or the current sound net worth of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans in this category have well defined weaknesses and risks that jeopardize the repayment. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that some loss may be sustained if the deficiencies are not remediated.

•

Doubtful – Loans that have all the weaknesses of loans classified as “Substandard” with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of current existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

Loans within the top four categories above are considered pass rated, as commonly defined. Risk ratings are assigned as necessary to differentiate risk within the portfolio. Risk ratings are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised to reflect changes in the borrowers’ financial condition and outlook, debt service coverage capability, repayment performance, collateral value and coverage as well as other considerations.

The following tables present credit risk ratings by loan segment as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

An aging analysis of loans, as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, is as follows:

The following schedules detail the composition of the allowance for credit losses on loans and the related recorded investment in loans as of and for the three andnine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023:

Loans are considered impaired when current information and events indicate all amounts due may not be collectable according to the contractual terms of the related loan agreements. Impaired loans are identified by applying normal loan review procedures in accordance with the allowance for credit losses methodology. Management periodically assesses loans to determine whether impairment exists. Any loan that is, or will potentially be, no longer performing in accordance with the terms of the original loan contract is evaluated to determine impairment.

The following information relates to impaired loans as of and for thenine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023:

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02 on January 1, 2023. Since adoption, the Company modified one loan with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. These modifications may include a reduction in interest rate, an extension in term, principal forgiveness and/or other than insignificant payment delay. At September 30, 2024, there wasone loan with modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. At December 31, 2023, there wereno loans with modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023, the Company classified certain loans as troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) loans when credit terms to a borrower in financial difficulty were modified, in accordance with ASC 310-40. With the adoption of ASU

2022-02 as of January 1, 2023, the Company has ceased to recognize or measure for new TDRs but those existing at December 31, 2022 will remain until settled.

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 19 and 21 troubled debt restructured loans totaling $5.3 million and $5.9 million of which $4.6 million and $5.2 million are on accrual status, respectively. There were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans have been modified in a troubled debt restructuring.

At September 30, 2024, there wasone loan in the amount of $0.2 million that was modified to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties. At December 31, 2023, there wereno modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties.

Write-off and write-down of Microloans

In 2020, the Company entered into a business arrangement with the FinTech startup company Grain Technologies, Inc. ("Grain"). Grain’s product is a mobile application geared to the underbanked, minorities and new generations entering the financial services market. In employing this mobile application, the Bank uses non-traditional underwriting methodologies to provide revolving credit to borrowers who otherwise may gravitate to using alternative non-bank lenders. Under the terms of its former agreement with Grain, the Bank was the lender for Grain-originated microloans with credit lines currently up to $1,500 and, where applicable, the depository for related security deposits. Grain originated and serviced these microloans and is responsible for maintaining compliance with the Bank's origination and servicing standards, as well as applicable regulatory and legal requirements. If a microloan was found to be fraudulent, became 90 days delinquent upon 90 days of origination or defaulted due to a failure of Grain to properly service the microloan, the Bank’s applicable standards for origination or servicing were deemed to have not been complied with and the microloan was put back to Grain, who then became responsible for the microloan and any related losses. The microloans put back to Grain were accounted for as an “other asset,” specifically referred to herein as the “Grain Receivable.”

On November 1, 2023, Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Grain signed a Perpetual Software License Agreement in order for the Bank to assume the servicing of the remaining microloans. In order to facilitate the transfer of the servicing responsibilities to the Bank, Grain granted the Bank a perpetual right and license to use the Grain software, including the source code to service the remaining loans.

At September 30, 2024, the Bank had 8,428 microloans outstanding with an aggregate balance totaling $3.0 million and which were performing, in management’s opinion, comparably to similar portfolios, offset by an $2.6 million allowance for credit losses, resulting in $0.5 million in microloans. From inception of the microloan arrangement through September 30, 2024,45,322 microloans amounting to $24.0 million have been deemed to be fraudulent and put back to Grain. The Company has written-down a total of $15.3 million, net of recoveries, of the microloans receivable and received $6.8 million in cash. The Bank also opted to use the $1.8 million grant it received from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Rapid Response ‎Program to defray the microloans receivable. The application of those amounts resulted in no net receivable. Additionally, the Company wrote-off its equity investment in Grain of $1.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s total microloans exposure was $0.5 million of the remaining microloans, net of allowance for credit losses, excluding $1.5 million of security deposits by microloan borrowers. The $0.2 million of recoveries for thenine months ended September 30, 2024 and the $1.3 million recoveries for thenine months ended September 30, 2023 related to microloans is included in non-interest expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(1)Excludes $1.5 million of security deposits by microloan borrowers reported in deposits in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Conditions.

(2)Total remaining exposure to microloan borrowers. These loans are now serviced by the Bank.

Off-Balance Sheet Credit Losses

Also included within the scope of the CECL standard are off-balance sheet loan commitments, which includes the unfunded portion of committed lines of credit and construction loans.

The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the company is exposed to credit risk through a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The Company uses similar assumptions and risk factors that are developed for collectively evaluated financing receivables. This estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments to be funded over its estimated life.

At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the allowance for off-balance sheet credit losses was $3.0 million and $3.6 million, respectively, which is included in the "Other liabilities" on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had $0.3 million in benefit for credit losses and $0.4 million in provision for credit losses, respectively, and $0.6 million in benefit for credit losses and $1.9 million in provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, for off-balance-sheet items, which are included in "(Benefit) provision for contingencies" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit losses:

Note 6. Leases

The Company has 17 operating leases for branches and office spaces (including headquarters) andsix operating leases for equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms ranging from less thanone year to approximately 14.3 years, none of which has a renewal option reasonably certain of exercise, which has been reflected in the Company’s calculation of lease term.

Certain leases have escalation clauses for operating expenses and real estate taxes. The Company’s non-cancelable operating lease agreements expire through 2038.

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

The components of lease expense and cash flow information related to leases were as follows:

The Company’s minimum annual rental payments under the terms of the leases are as follows at September 30, 2024:

Note 7. Deposits

Deposits at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are summarized as follows:

(1)

As of December 31, 2023, $58.2 million were reclassified from demand to NOW/IOLA accounts.

(2)

As of September 30, 2024, there wereno individual listing service deposits amounting to $250,000 or more. As of December 31, 2023, there were $0.3 million in individual listing service deposits amounting to $250,000 or more. All brokered certificates of deposit individually amounted to less than $250,000.

At September 30, 2024 scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit were as follows:

Overdrawn deposit accounts that have been reclassified to loans amounted to $0.1 million as of both September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Note 8. Borrowings

The Bank had outstanding term advances from the FHLBNY at September 30, 2024 and the FHLBNY and the FRBNY at December 31, 2023 as indicated below.

FHLBNY Advances: As a member of the FHLBNY, the Bank has the ability to borrow from the FHLBNY based on a certain percentage of the value of the Bank's qualified collateral, as defined in the FHLBNY Statement of Credit Policy, at the time of the borrowing. In accordance with an agreement with the FHLBNY, the qualified collateral must be free and clear of liens, pledges and encumbrances.

The Bank had $580.4 million and $380.4 million of outstanding term advances from the FHLBNY at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Bank hadno overnight line of credit advance from the FHLBNY at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

FRBNY Advances: The Bank hadno term advances outstanding from the FRBNY at September 30, 2024. The Bank had $304.0 million of outstanding term advances from the FRBNY at December 31, 2023.

Borrowed funds at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consist of the following and are summarized by maturity and call date below:

Interest expense on advances totaled $6.8 million and $7.0 million for thethree months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and $21.9 million and $18.5 million for thenine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Note 9. Derivatives and Hedging

During 2023, the Company entered intotwo derivative financial instruments contracts to enhance its ability to manage interest rate risk that exist as part of its ongoing operations. The Company manages these risks as part of its asset and liability management process. The Company utilized derivative financial instruments to accommodate the business needs and to hedge the exposure that this creates for the Company. All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and are measured at fair value. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Interest Rate Swaps

The Bank is a party to two interest rate swap transactions designated as fair value hedges. One interest rate swap is for a period oftwo years effective October 12, 2023 and terminates on November 1, 2025 with a notional amount of $150.0 million. The Bank will pay a fixed rate of interest of 4.885% and receive the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") rate. The other interest rate swap is for a period ofthree years effective October 12, 2023 and terminates on November 1, 2026 with a notional amount of $100.0 million. The Bank will pay a fixed rate of interest of 4.62% and receive the SOFR rate.

The tables present the notional amount and fair value of derivatives designated as hedging instruments, as well as their location on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Note 10. Earnings Per Share

The following table presents a reconciliation of the number of shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

Note 11. Commitments, Contingencies and Credit Risk

Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk: In the normal course of business, financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk may be used to meet the financing needs of customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The contractual amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement in particular classes of financial instruments.

The contractual amounts of commitments to extend credit represent the amounts of potential accounting loss should the contract be fully drawn upon, the customer default, and the value of any existing collateral become worthless. The same credit policies are used in making commitments and contractual obligations as for on-balance-sheet instruments. Financial instruments whose contractual amounts represent credit risk at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:

Commitments to Grant Mortgage Loans: Commitments to grant mortgage loans are agreements to lend to a customer as long as all terms and conditions are met as established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses, and may require payment of a fee by the borrower. Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, 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 counterparty. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, residential real estate and income-producing commercial properties. Material losses are not anticipated as a result of these transactions.

Commitments to Sell Loans at Lock-in Rates: In order to assure itself of a marketplace to sell its loans, The Bank has agreements with investors who will commit to purchase loans at locked-in rates. The Bank has off-balance sheet market risk to the extent that the Bank does not obtain matching commitments from these investors to purchase the loans. This will expose the Bank to the lower of cost or market valuation environment.

Repurchases, Indemnifications and Premium Recaptures: Loans sold by the Bank under investor programs are subject to repurchase or indemnification if they fail to meet the origination criteria of those programs. In addition, loans sold to investors are also subject to repurchase or indemnifications if the loan is two or three months delinquent during a set period which usually varies from six months to a year after the loan is sold. There areno open repurchase or indemnification requests for loans sold as a correspondent lender or where the Company acted as a broker in the transaction as of September 30, 2024.

Unfunded Commitments Under Lines of Credit: Unfunded commitments under commercial lines of credit, revolving credit lines and overdraft protection agreements are commitments for possible future extension of credit to existing customers. These lines of credit are uncollateralized and usually contain a specified maturity date and, ultimately, may not be drawn upon to the total extent to which the Company is committed.

Unfunded Commitments with Oaktree: In December of 2021, the Bank committed to invest $5.0 million in Oaktree SBIC Fund, L.P. ("Oaktree"). As of September 30, 2024, the total unfunded commitment was $1.9 million.

Unfunded Commitments with Silvergate: In April of 2022, the Company committed to invest $5.2 million in EJF Silvergate Ventures Fund LP ("Silvergate"). As of September 30, 2024, the total unfunded commitment was $1.9 million.

Letters of Credit: Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Letters of credit are largely cash secured.

Concentration by Geographic Location: Loans, commitments to extend credit and letters of credit have been granted to customers who are located primarily in the New York City metropolitan area. Generally, such loans most often are secured by residential properties. The loans are expected to be repaid from the borrowers' cash flows.

Legal Matters: The Company is involved in various legal proceedings which have arisen in the normal course of business. Management believes that resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Note 12. Fair Value

The following fair value hierarchy is used based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

Level 2 – Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate fair value:

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Placement with Banks, Accrued Interest Receivable, Advance Payments by Borrowers for Taxes and Insurance, and Accrued Interest Payable: The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value. These assets and liabilities are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Available-for-Sale Securities: These financial instruments are recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. If quoted prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models (e.g., matrix pricing) or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. Examples of such instruments include government agency bonds and mortgage-backed securities. Level 3 securities are securities for which significant unobservable inputs are utilized. There were no changes in valuation techniques used to measure similar assets during the period.

FHLBNY Stock: The carrying value of FHLBNY stock approximates fair value since the Bank can redeem such stock with FHLBNY at cost. As a member of the FHLBNY, the Company is required to purchase this stock, which is carried at cost and classified as restricted equity securities.

Loans Receivable: For variable rate loans, which reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, carrying values are a reasonable estimate of fair values, adjusted for credit losses inherent in the portfolios. The fair value of fixed rate loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using estimated market rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities, adjusted for credit losses inherent in the portfolios. Impaired loans are valued using a present value discounted cash flow method, or the fair value of the collateral. Loans are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Loans Held for Sale: Loans held for sale, at fair value, consists of loans originated for sale by the Bank and accounted for under the fair value option. These assets are valued using stated investor pricing for substantially equivalent loans as Level 2. In determining fair value, such measurements are derived based on observable market data, including whole-loan transaction pricing and similar market transactions adjusted for portfolio composition, servicing value and market conditions. Loans held for sale by the Bank are carried at the lower of cost or fair value as determined by investor bid prices.

Under the fair value option, management has elected, on an instrument-by-instrument basis, fair value for substantially all forms of mortgage loans originated for sale on a recurring basis. As of September 30, 2024, the fair value carrying amount of mortgages held for sale measured under the fair value option was $9.6 million and the aggregate unpaid principal amounted to $9.5 million.

Other Real Estate Owned: Other real estate owned represents real estate acquired through foreclosure, and is recorded at fair value less estimated disposal costs on a nonrecurring basis. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management's estimation of the value of the collateral. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or a current appraised value, the asset is classified as Level 2. When an appraised value is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, the asset is classified as Level 3.

Deposits: The fair values of demand deposits, savings, NOW and money market accounts equal their carrying amounts, which represent the amounts payable on demand at the reporting date. Fair values for fixed-term, fixed-rate certificates of deposit are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies market interest rates on certificates of deposit to a schedule of aggregated expected monthly maturities on such deposits. Deposits are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

FHLBNY Advances: The fair value of the advances is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies current market-based FHLBNY interest rates for advances of similar maturity to a schedule of maturities of such advances. These borrowings are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Derivatives: The Company works directly with a third-party vendor to provide periodic valuations for its interest-rate risk-management agreements to determine fair value of its interest rate swaps executed for interest-rate risk management. The vendor utilizes standard valuation methodologies applicable to interest rate derivatives based on readily observable market data and are therefore considered Level 2 valuations.

Off-Balance-Sheet Instruments: Fair values for off-balance-sheet instruments (lending commitments and standby letters of credit) are based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties' credit standing. Off-balance-sheet instruments are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

The following tables detail the assets that are carried at fair value and measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and indicate the level within the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine the fair value:

Management’s assessment and classification of an investment within a level can change over time based upon maturity or liquidity of the investment and would be reflected at the beginning of the quarter in which the change occurred.

The following tables detail the assets carried at fair value and measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and indicate the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine the fair value:

Losses on assets carried at fair value on a nonrecurring basis werede minimis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows:

(1)

As of December 31, 2023, $58.2 million were reclassified from demand deposits to interest-bearing deposits.

The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the valuation hierarchy at the end of the applicable reporting periods. There wereno transfers of Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Fair value for Level 3 securities was determined using a third-party pricing service with limited levels of activity and price transparency.

Off-Balance-Sheet Instruments: Loan commitments on which the committed interest rate is less than the current market rate are insignificant at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

The fair value information about financial instruments are disclosed, whether or not recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The estimated fair value amounts for 2024 and 2023 have been measured as of their respective period-ends and have not been reevaluated or updated for purposes of these consolidated financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than amounts reported at each period.

The information presented should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the entire Company since a fair value calculation is only required for a limited portion of the Company's assets and liabilities. Due to the wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between the Company's disclosures and those of other banks may not be meaningful.

Note 13. Regulatory Capital Requirements

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

Quantitative measures established by regulation require the maintenance of minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total risk-based and Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (as defined), common equity Tier 1 capital (as defined), and Tier 1 capital to adjusted total assets (as defined) adjusted total assets (as defined). As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the applicable capital adequacy requirements specified below have been met.

The below minimum capital requirements exclude the capital conservation buffer required to avoid limitations on capital distributions including dividend payments and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The applicable capital buffer for the Bank was 13.6% at September 30, 2024 and 15.3% at December 31, 2023.

The most recent notification from the OCC categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Company and the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, common equity risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table below. There were no conditions or events since then that have changed the Bank's category.

The Company's and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 as compared to regulatory requirements are as follows:

Ponce Bank, through its Mortgage World division, is subject to various net worth requirements in connection with lending agreements that Ponce Bank has entered with purchase facility lenders. Failure to maintain minimum capital requirements could result in the Bank’s Mortgage World division being unable to originate and service loans, and, therefore, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Bank was in compliance with the applicable minimum capital requirements specified above.

Note 14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows:

Note 15. Transactions with Related Parties

Directors, executive officers and non-executive officers of the Company have been customers of and have had transactions with the Bank, and it is expected that such persons will continue to have such transactions in the future. Aggregate loan transactions with related parties for thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

The Company held deposits in the amount of $9.0 million and $8.4 million from directors, executive officers and non-executive officers at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.