WILSON BANK HOLDING CO

Current report

The following is a discussion of our financial condition at December 31, 2024 and 2023 and our results of operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024. The purpose of this discussion is to focus on information about our financial condition and results of operations which is not otherwise apparent from our consolidated financial statements. The following discussion and analysis should be read along with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere herein, as well as the information included in Part I Item 1A "Risk Factors" and under the caption "Forward-Looking Statements" below.

Current report

Forward-Looking Statements

Current report

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things, the anticipated financial and operating results of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any modifications or revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Current report

The Company cautions investors that future financial and operating results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. The words “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “may,” “could,” “believe,” “suspect,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “plan,” “estimate” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but other statements not based on historical fact may also be considered forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those described in this annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024 and also include, without limitation, (i) deterioration in the financial condition of borrowers resulting in significant increases in credit losses and provisions for these losses, (ii) deterioration in the real estate market conditions in the Company’s market areas, including demand for residential real estate loans as a result of elevated rates on residential real estate mortgage loans, (iii) the impact of increased competition with other financial institutions, including pricing pressures on loans and deposits, and the resulting impact on the Company's results, including as a result of compression to net interest margin, (iv) adverse conditions in local or national economies, including the economy in the Company’s market areas, including as a result of the impact of escalating geopolitical tensions (including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East or increased terrorist activities in the United States), inflationary pressures and the elevated rate environment, international trade disputes and retaliatory tariffs, increased terrorist activity in the United States, supply chain disruptions and labor shortages (including as a result of deportations) on our customers and on their businesses, (v) fluctuations or differences in interest rates on earning assets and interest bearing liabilities from those that the Company is modeling or anticipating, including as a result of the Bank's inability to maintain deposit rates or defer increases to those rates in an elevated rate environment or lower rates in a falling rate environment, (vi) the ability to grow and retain low-cost core deposits, (vii) significant downturns in the business of one or more large customers, (viii) the inability of the Company to comply with regulatory capital requirements, including those resulting from changes to capital calculation methodologies, required capital maintenance levels, or regulatory requests or directives, (ix) changes in state or Federal regulations, policies, or legislation applicable to banks and other financial service providers, including regulatory or legislative developments arising out of current unsettled conditions in the economy, (x) changes in capital levels and loan underwriting, credit review or loss reserve policies associated with economic conditions, examination conclusions, or …

Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.

Current report

General

Current report

The Company is a registered bank holding company that owns 100% of the common stock of Wilson Bank and Trust (“Wilson Bank” or “the Bank”), a Tennessee state-chartered bank headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee. The Company was formed in 1992. Wilson Bank commenced operations in 1987.

Current report

Wilson Bank is a community bank headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee, principally serving Wilson County, DeKalb County, Smith County, Trousdale County, Rutherford County, Davidson County, Putnam County, Sumner County, Hamilton County, and Williamson County, Tennessee as its primary market areas. The markets served by the Bank are largely within the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee metropolitan statistical area. At December 31, 2024, Wilson Bank had thirty-one office locations in Wilson, Davidson,

Current report

DeKalb, Smith, Sumner, Rutherford, Putnam, Trousdale, Hamilton, and Williamson counties in Tennessee. Management believes that these counties offer an environment for continued growth, and the Company’s target market is local consumers, professionals and small businesses. Wilson Bank offers a wide range of banking services, including checking, savings and money market deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and loans for consumer, commercial and real estate purposes. The Company also offers an investment center which offers a full line of investment services to its customers.

Current report

Wilson Bank also holds an ownership interest in Encompass Home Loan Lending, LLC ("Encompass"), a company offering mortgage banking services that is 51% owned by Wilson Bank and 49% owned by two home builders operating in Wilson Bank's market areas. The results of Encompass, which commenced operations on June 1, 2022, are consolidated in the Company's financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on From 10-K.

Current report

The following discussion and analysis is designed to assist readers in their analysis of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with such consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.

Current report

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Accounting Estimates

Current report

We follow accounting and reporting policies that conform, in all material respects, to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. While we base estimates on historical experience, current information, forecasted economic conditions, and other factors deemed to be relevant, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Current report

We consider accounting estimates to be critical to reported financial results if (i) the accounting estimate requires management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and (ii) different estimates that management reasonably could have used for the accounting estimate in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, could have a material impact on our financial statements.

Current report

Accounting policies related to the allowance for credit losses on financial instruments including loans and off-balance-sheet credit exposures are considered to be critical as these policies involve considerable subjective judgment and estimation by management. As discussed in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, our policies related to allowances for credit losses changed on January 1, 2022 in connection with the adoption of a new accounting standard update as codified in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 326 (“ASC 326”) Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. In the case of loans, the allowance for credit losses is a contra-asset valuation account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected. In the case of off-balance-sheet credit exposures, the allowance for credit losses is a liability account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, reported as a component of accrued interest payable and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. The amount of each allowance account represents management's best estimate of current expected credit losses on these financial instruments considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing exposure to credit loss over the contractual term of the instrument. Relevant available information includes historical credit loss experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. While historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, adjustments to historical loss information may be made for differences in current portfolio-specific risk characteristics, environmental conditions or other relevant factors. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of our allowance accounts is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond our control, including the performance of our portfolios, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets. For additional information regarding critical accounting policies, refer to Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 2 - Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses in the notes to consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Current report

Selected Financial Data

Current report

Set forth below is certain selected financial data related to the Company's operations as of and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Current report

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Current report

This Annual Report contains certain financial measures that are not measures recognized under U.S. GAAP and, therefore, are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Members of Company management use these non-GAAP financial measures in their analysis of the Company’s performance, financial condition, and efficiency of operations. Management of the Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results with prior periods. Management of the Company also believes that investors find these non-GAAP financial measures useful as they assist investors in understanding underlying operating performance and identifying and analyzing ongoing operating trends. However, the non-GAAP financial measures discussed herein should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable or other financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Moreover, the manner in which the non-GAAP financial measures discussed herein are calculated may differ from the manner in which measures with similar names are calculated by other companies. You should understand how other companies calculate their financial measures similar to, or with names similar to, the non-GAAP financial measures we have discussed herein when comparing such non-GAAP financial measures.

Current report

The non-GAAP measures in this Annual Report include “pre-tax pre-provision income,” “pre-tax pre-provision basic earnings per share,” “pre-tax pre-provision return on average shareholders' equity,” and “pre-tax pre-provision return on average assets.” A reconciliation of these measures to the comparable GAAP measures is included below.

Current report

Selected Financial Information

Current report

The executive management and Board of Directors of the Company evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) on a continuing basis. These KPIs serve as benchmarks of Company performance and are used in making strategic decisions and, in some cases, are utilized for purposes of setting performance targets for our executive officers' incentive-based cash compensation. The following table represents the KPIs that management has determined to be important in making decisions for the Bank, in each case for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (for the per share data and performance ratios) and as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (for the consolidated balance sheet ratios):

Current report

Excludes income tax expense, provision for credit losses-loans, provision for credit losses-available for sale securities, and provision for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures.

Current report

Return on average shareholders' equity is the result of net income divided by average shareholders' equity.

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Excludes income tax expense, provision for credit losses-loans, provision for credit losses-available for sale securities, and provision for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures.

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Return on average assets is the result of net income divided by average assets.

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Efficiency ratio is the ratio of noninterest expense to the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.

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Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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Results of Operations

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Net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $56,530,000, an increase of $7,592,000, or 15.51%, compared to net earnings of $48,938,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our 2023 net earnings were 7.74%, or $4,104,000, lower than our net earnings of $53,042,000 for 2022. Basic earnings per share were $4.79 in 2024, compared with $4.21 in 2023 and $4.66 in 2022. Diluted earnings per share were $4.78 in 2024, compared to $4.20 in 2023 and $4.65 in 2022. The increase in net earnings and diluted and basic earnings per share during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in net interest income before provision for credit losses and an increase in non-interest income partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense and an increase in provision for credit losses. The increase in net interest income was due to an increase in average interest earning asset balances and an increase in the yield earned on interest earning assets, partially offset by an increase in cost of funds and an increase in average interest bearing deposit balances. Net interest margin for both the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was 3.30%, and 3.70% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net interest spread for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 2.88%, compared to 2.97% and 3.62% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits and data processing fees. See below for further discussion regarding variances related to net interest income, provision for credit losses, non-interest income, non-interest expense and income taxes.

Current report

The decrease in net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in net interest income before provision for credit losses and an increase in non-interest expense, partially offset by an increase in non-interest income and a decrease in provision for credit losses-loans. The decrease in net interest income was due to an increase in cost of funds between the relevant periods, partially offset by an increase in average interest earning asset balances and an increase in the yield earned on interest earning assets. The increase in non-interest expense largely resulted from the Company's continued growth as well as rising costs of employees' salaries and benefits as a result of competition we experienced for human capital in our market areas.

Current report

The increase in Return on Average Assets (ROA) for the year ended December 31, 2024 when compared to December 31, 2023 as set forth in the table above was primarily attributable to an increase in net interest income and an increase in brokerage income, partially off-set by increases in salaries and employee benefits, data processing costs, an increase in the loss on sale of securities, an increase in provision for credit losses, and an increase in average assets.

Current report

The decrease in ROA for the year ended December 31, 2023 when compared to December 31, 2022 as set forth in the table above was primarily attributable to net interest margin compression, an increase in salaries and employee benefits, and an increase in FDIC insurance and data processing costs; partially offset by a decrease in the loss on sale of securities, an increase in service charges on deposit accounts, and a decrease in the provision for credit losses.

Current report

On November 12, 2024, Wilson Bank entered in a purchase and assumption agreement pursuant to which it has agreed to acquire certain assets, including certain loans, and assume certain liabilities, including certain deposits, of a branch office in Cookeville, Tennessee that is currently operated by another bank. Total assets to be acquired are estimated to be approximately $17 million as of the date hereof, while total deposits and other liabilities to be assumed are estimated to be approximately $30 million as of the date hereof. The Company expects the transaction to close in the first half of 2025. The acquisition is not expected to significantly impact the Bank's operations.

Current report

Subsequent to December 31, 2024, Wilson Bank committed to expand the Chattanooga loan production office to a full service branch. As a part of this expansion the Bank entered into a lease for the location for the new full service branch and is currently remodeling the space. The costs associated with this expansion, including construction, equipment and lease expenses, are not expected to be significant.

Current report

Net Interest Income

Current report

The schedule which follows indicates the average balances for each major balance sheet item, an analysis of net interest income and net interest expense and the change in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and changes in rates.

Current report

The difference between interest income on interest-earning assets and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities is net interest income, which is the Company's gross margin. An analysis of net interest income is more meaningful when income from tax-exempt earning assets is adjusted to a tax equivalent basis. Accordingly, the following schedule includes a tax equivalent adjustment of tax-exempt earning assets, assuming a weighted average Federal income tax rate of 21% for 2024, 2023 and 2022.

Current report

In this schedule, "change due to volume" is the change in volume multiplied by the interest rate for the prior year. "Change due to rate" is the change in interest rate multiplied by the volume for the prior year. Changes in interest income and expense not due solely to volume or rate changes have been allocated to the “change due to volume” and “change due to rate” in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each category.

Current report

Non-accrual loans have been included in the loan category.

Current report

Yields on loans and total earning assets include the impact of State income tax credits related to incentive loans at below market rates and tax exempt loans to municipalities of $2.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Previous report

There is no assurance that existing branches or future branches will maintain or achieve deposit levels, loan balances or other operating results necessary to avoid losses or produce profits. If the Company is unable to grow its revenues in amounts necessary to support this higher expense base, its results of operations will be negatively impacted. Execution on a growth strategy could lead to increases in overhead expenses if the Company were to add new offices and staff. The Company’s historical results may not be indicative of future results or results that may be achieved if it were to increase the number and concentration of its branch offices in its existing or new markets.

Previous report

Development of Offices. There are considerable costs involved in opening branches, and new branches generally do not generate sufficient revenues to offset their costs until they have been in operation for at least a year or more. Accordingly, any new branches the Company establishes can be expected to negatively impact the Company’s earnings for some period of time until they reach certain economies of scale. The same is true for the Company’s efforts to expand in these markets with the hiring of additional seasoned professionals with significant experience in that market. The Company’s expenses could be further increased if it encounters delays in opening any of its new branches, including as a result of supply-chain disruption and labor challenges like those affecting the construction industry over the last few years, or regulatory actions or delays. The Company may be unable to accomplish future branch expansion plans due to a lack of available satisfactory sites, difficulties in acquiring such sites, failure to receive any required regulatory approvals, on a timely basis or at all, increased expenses or loss of potential sites due to complexities associated with zoning and permitting processes, higher than anticipated construction costs or other factors. Finally, any branch may not meet the Company’s long-term profitability expectations or otherwise be successful even after it has been established or acquired, as the case may be.

Previous report

Regulatory and Economic Factors. The growth of the Bank may be adversely affected by a number of regulatory and economic developments or other events. Failure to obtain required regulatory approvals, changes in laws and regulations or other regulatory developments and changes in prevailing economic conditions or other unanticipated events may prevent or adversely affect the Company’s growth and expansion. Such factors may cause the Company to alter its growth and expansion plans or slow or halt the growth and expansion process, which may prevent the Company from entering into or expanding in its targeted markets or allow competitors to gain or retain market share in the Company’s existing markets.

Previous report

Failure to successfully address these and other issues related to the Company’s expansion could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations, and could adversely affect its ability to successfully implement its business strategy.

Previous report

The Company is dependent on its information technology and telecommunications systems and third-party servicers, and systems failures, interruptions or breaches of security could have an adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations, as well as cause legal or reputational harm.

Previous report

The Company is dependent upon information technologies, computer systems and networks, including those the Company maintains and those maintained and provided to the Company by third parties, to conduct operations and is reliant on technology to help increase efficiency in its business. These systems could become unavailable or impaired due to a variety of causes, including storms and other natural disasters, terrorist attacks, fires, phishing schemes, social engineering, utility outages, internal or external theft or fraud, design defects, human error, misconduct or complications or failures encountered as existing systems are maintained, replaced or upgraded. For example, the Company’s financial, accounting, data processing, or other operating or security systems or infrastructure or those of third parties upon which it relies may fail to operate properly or become compromised, disabled or damaged, which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to process transactions or provide services. In the event that backup systems are utilized, they may not process data as quickly as the Company’s primary systems and the Company may experience data losses in the course of such recovery. The Company continuously updates the systems on which it relies to support its operations and growth and to remain compliant with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. This updating entails significant costs and creates risks associated with implementing new systems and integrating them with existing ones, including business interruptions that may occur in the course of such implementation challenges. The Company maintains a system of internal controls and security to mitigate the risks of many of these occurrences and maintains insurance coverage for certain risks; however, should an event, including a cyberattack (including a ransomware attack), occur that is not prevented or detected by the Company’s internal controls, causes an interruption, degradation or outage in service, causes the Company to pay a ransom fee or is uninsured against or in excess of applicable insurance limits, such occurrence could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and its reputation, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

Previous report

The Company’s operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential, proprietary, personal and other information in its computer systems and networks. Although the Company takes protective measures and endeavors to modify these systems as circumstances warrant, the security of its computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to breaches, unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses or other malicious code and other events that could have a security impact. The Company provides its customers the ability to bank remotely, including over the Internet or through their mobile device. The secure transmission of confidential information is a critical element of remote and mobile banking. The Company’s network, and the systems of parties with whom it contracts or on which it relies, as well as those of its customers and regulators, could be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes, social engineering, spam attacks, ransomware attacks, human error, natural disasters, power loss and other security breaches. Sources of attacks vary and may include hackers, disgruntled employees or vendors, organized crime, terrorists, foreign governments, corporate espionage and activists. In recent periods, there continues to be a rise in electronic fraudulent activity (including wire fraud), security breaches and cyber-attacks within the financial services industry, especially in the commercial banking sector due to cyber criminals targeting commercial bank accounts or seeking to infiltrate legitimate transactions. The Company believes these types of efforts will continue to increase in frequency and in their level of sophistication. The Company has established policies, processes, and procedures to identify, measure, monitor, mitigate, report, and analyze risks associated with fraud, and continue to invest in systems, resources, and controls to detect and prevent it. There are inherent limitations, however, to the Company’s risk management strategies, systems, and controls as they may exist, or develop in the future. The Company may not appropriately anticipate, monitor, or identify these risks. If the Company’s risk management framework proves ineffective in connection with any fraudulent activity, it could suffer unexpected losses, it may have to expend resources detecting and correcting the failure in its systems, and it may be subject to potential claims from third parties and government agencies. The Company may also suffer reputational damage. Any of these consequences could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Previous report

Cybersecurity risks for banking organizations have significantly increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, and the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions. For example, cybersecurity risks may increase in the future as the Company continues to increase its mobile-payment and other Internet-based product offerings and expand its internal use of cloud-based products and applications. Even the most advanced internal control environment may be vulnerable to compromise. Targeted social engineering attacks are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated, and are extremely difficult to prevent. Generative artificial intelligence is further increasing risks in this area, including by making fraud detection more difficult, particularly with detection devices that use voice recognition or authentication. The techniques used by bad actors change frequently, may not be recognized until launched and may not be recognized until well after a breach has occurred. Additionally, the existence of cyber-attacks or security breaches at third parties with access to the Company’s data, such as vendors, may not be disclosed to the Company in a timely manner. Consistent with industry trends, the Company remains at risk for attempted electronic fraudulent activity, as well as attempts at security breaches and cybersecurity-related incidents. The Company spends significant capital and other resources to protect against the threat of security breaches and computer viruses, and may be required to spend significant capital and other resources to alleviate problems caused by security breaches or viruses. To the extent that the Company’s activities or the activities of its vendors, regulators or customers involve the storage and transmission of confidential information, security breaches (including breaches of security of customer, vendor or regulatory systems and networks) and viruses could expose the Company to claims, litigation and other possible liabilities. Any inability to prevent or promptly detect security breaches or computer viruses could also cause existing customers to lose confidence in the Company’s systems and could adversely affect its reputation, results of operations and ability to attract and retain customers and businesses. In addition, a security breach could also subject the Company to additional regulatory scrutiny, expose it to civil litigation and possible financial liability and cause reputational damage.

Previous report

The Company contracts with third-party vendors to provide software or services for many of its major systems, such as data processing, loan servicing and deposit processing system. The failure of these systems, or the termination of a third-party software license or service agreement on which any of these systems is based, could interrupt the Company’s operations. Because the Company’s information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third-party systems, the Company could experience service denials if demand for such services exceeds capacity or such third-party systems fail or experience interruptions, including as a result of viruses or other attacks. If sustained or repeated, a system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of the Company’s ability to process new and renewal loans, gather deposits and provide customer service, compromise its ability to operate effectively, damage its reputation, result in a loss of customer business and/or subject it to additional regulatory scrutiny and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

Previous report

The Company also faces the risk of operational disruption, failure, termination, or capacity constraints of any of the third parties that facilitate its business activities, including vendors, exchanges, and other financial intermediaries. Such parties could also be the source or cause of an attack on, or breach of, the Company’s operational systems, data or infrastructure, and could disclose such attack or breach to the Company in a delayed manner or not at all. In addition, the Company may be at risk of an operational failure with respect to its customers’ systems. The Company’s risk and exposure to these matters remains heightened because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats and the continued uncertain global economic environment.

Previous report

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the Company will likely expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance its protective measures, investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities, or respond to any changes to state or federal regulations, policy statements or laws concerning information systems or security. Any failure to maintain adequate security over its information systems, its technology-driven products and services or its customers’ personal and transactional information could negatively affect the Company’s business and its reputation and result in fines, penalties, or other costs, including litigation expense and/or additional compliance costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. Furthermore, the public perception that a cyber-attack on the Company’s systems has been successful, whether or not this perception is correct, may damage the Company’s reputation with customers and third parties with whom it does business. A successful penetration or circumvention of system security could result in negative consequences for the Company, including loss of customers and business opportunities, disruption to the Company’s operations and business, misappropriation or destruction of the Company’s confidential information and/or that of its customers, or damage to its customers’ and/or third parties’ computers or systems, and could result in a violation of applicable privacy laws and other laws, litigation exposure, regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, loss of confidence in the Company’s security measures, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensatory costs, additional compliance costs, and could adversely impact the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

Previous report

Competition from financial institutions and other financial service providers may adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

Previous report

The banking business is highly competitive and the Company experiences competition in each of its markets from many other financial and non-financial institutions. The Company competes with commercial banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market funds, and other mutual funds, mobile payment platforms, as well as other community banks and super-regional and national financial institutions that operate offices in the Company’s primary market areas and elsewhere. Many of the Company’s competitors are well-established, larger financial institutions that have greater resources and lending limits and a lower cost of funds than the Company.

Previous report

Additionally, the Company faces competition from similarly sized and smaller community banks and credit unions, including those with senior management who were previously affiliated with other local or regional banks or credit unions or those controlled by investor groups with strong local business and community ties. These community banks may offer higher deposit rates or lower cost loans in an effort to attract the Company’s customers, and may attempt to hire the Company’s management and employees.

Previous report

Some of the Company’s competitors, including credit unions, are not subject to certain regulatory constraints, such as the CRA, which requires the Company to, among other things, implement procedures to make and monitor loans throughout the communities it serves, and which is expected to become more expansive in 2024. Credit unions also have federal tax exemptions that may allow them to offer lower rates on loans and higher rates on deposits than taxpaying financial institutions such as commercial banks. In addition, non-depository institution competitors are generally not subject to the extensive regulation applicable to institutions, like the Bank, that offer federally insured deposits, which affords them the advantage of operating with greater flexibility and lower cost structures. Other institutions may have other competitive advantages in particular markets or may be willing to accept lower profit margins on certain products.

Previous report

The Company competes with these other financial and non-financial institutions both in attracting deposits and in making loans. In addition, the Company has to attract its customer base from other existing financial institutions and from new residents. This competition at times has made it more difficult for the Company to make new loans and at times has forced the Company to offer higher deposit rates or utilize secondary sources of liquidity. Price competition for loans and deposits might result in the Company earning less interest on its loans and paying more interest on its deposits, which reduces the Company’s net interest income. The Company’s profitability depends upon its continued ability to successfully compete with an array of financial and non-financial institutions in its market areas.

Previous report

The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as mobile payment and other automatic transfer and payment systems, and for banks that do not have a physical presence in the Company’s markets to compete for deposits. The absence of regulatory requirements may give non-bank financial companies a competitive advantage over the Company.

Previous report

The Company’s key management personnel may leave at any time.

Previous report

The Company’s future success depends to a significant extent on the continued service of its key management personnel, especially John McDearman, III, its president and chief executive officer, and John Foster, the president of the Bank. While the Company does not have employment agreements with any of its personnel and can provide no assurance that it will be able to retain any of its key officers and employees, particularly in times of intense competition for talent, as the Bank is currently experiencing, or attract and retain qualified personnel in the future, it has entered into non-competition agreements with such persons which would prevent them, in most circumstances, from competing with the Bank for one year following their termination. In addition, these persons are parties to certain deferred compensation, supplemental retirement and equity incentive plans, the benefits of which would cease to accrue upon the termination of the person’s employment with the Company or the Bank or the person competing with the Bank after the termination of their employment.

Previous report

An ineffective risk management framework could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s strategic planning and its ability to mitigate risks and/or losses and could have adverse regulatory consequences.

Previous report

The Company has implemented a risk management framework in an effort to identify and manage its risk exposure. This framework is comprised of various processes, systems and strategies, and is designed to manage the types of risk to which it is subject, including, among others, credit, market, liquidity, fraud, operational, capital, cybersecurity, compliance, strategic and reputational risks. The Company’s framework also includes financial, analytical, forecasting, or other modeling methodologies, which involves management assumptions and judgment. However, there is no assurance that the Company’s risk management framework will be effective under all circumstances or that it will adequately identify, manage or mitigate any risk or loss to it. If the Company’s risk management framework is not effective, it could suffer unexpected losses and become subject to regulatory consequences, as a result of which its business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially adversely affected.

Previous report

The Company’s selection of accounting policies and methods may affect its reported financial results.

Previous report

The Company’s accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how the Company records and reports its financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods so they comply with GAAP and reflect management’s judgment of the most appropriate manner to report its financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which may be reasonable under the circumstances, which may result in the Company reporting materially different results than would have been reported under a different alternative.

Previous report

The Company currently invests in bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) and may continue to do so in the future.

Previous report

The Company had approximately $59.6 million in general, hybrid and separate account BOLI contracts at December 31, 2023. BOLI is an illiquid long-term asset that provides tax savings because cash value growth and life insurance proceeds are not taxable, subject to certain exceptions. However, if the Company needed additional liquidity and converted the BOLI to cash, such transaction would be subject to ordinary income tax and applicable penalties. The Company is also exposed to the credit risk of the underlying securities in the investment portfolio and to the insurance carrier’s credit risk (in a general account contract). If BOLI was exchanged to another carrier, additional fees would be incurred and a tax-free exchange could only be done for insureds that were still actively employed by the Company at that time. There is interest rate risk relating to the market value of the underlying investment securities associated with the BOLI in that there is no assurance that the market value of these securities will not decline. Investing in BOLI exposes the Company to liquidity, credit and interest rate risk, which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Previous report

The Company’s business reputation and relationships are important and any damage to them could have a material adverse effect on its business.

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The Company’s reputation is very important in sustaining its business and it relies on its relationships with its current, former and potential clients and shareholders and other actors in the industries that it serves. Any damage to the Company’s reputation, whether arising from regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions, matters affecting the Company’s financial reporting or compliance with SEC requirements, negative publicity, the way in which the Company conducts its business or otherwise could strain its existing relationships and make it difficult for the Company to develop new relationships. Any such damage to the Company’s reputation and relationships could in turn lead to a material adverse effect on its business.

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The Company’s business is dependent on technology, and an inability to invest in technological improvements may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

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The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. The Company has made significant investments in data processing, management information systems and internet banking accessibility, but additional investments may be required or necessary. The Company’s future success will depend in part upon its ability to create additional efficiencies in its operations through the use of technology. Many of the Company’s competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. The Company cannot make assurances that its technological improvements will increase its operational efficiency or that it will be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers.

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The Company is subject to regulatory oversight and certain litigation, and its expenses related to this regulatory oversight and litigation may adversely affect its results.

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The Company is from time to time subject to certain litigation in the ordinary course of its business. The Company may also be subject to claims related to its loan servicing programs, particularly those involving servicing of commercial real estate loans, and the fees it charges deposit customers who overdraw their accounts or have insufficient funds in their accounts to cover items when items are presented for payment. These and other claims and legal actions, as well as supervisory and enforcement actions by the Company’s regulators, including those with oversight of its loan servicing programs, could involve large monetary claims, capital directives, agreements with federal regulators, cease and desist penalties and orders and significant defense costs. The outcome of any such cases or actions is uncertain. Substantial legal liability or significant regulatory action against the Company could have material adverse financial effects or cause significant reputational harm to the Company, which in turn could seriously harm its business prospects.

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In accordance with GAAP, for matters where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss cannot be estimated, no accrual is established. For matters where it is probable the Company will incur a loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company establishes an accrual for the loss. Once established, the accrual is adjusted periodically to reflect any relevant developments. The actual cost of any outstanding legal proceedings or threatened claims, however, may turn out to be substantially higher than the amount accrued. Further, the Company’s insurance may not cover all litigation, other proceedings or claims, or the costs of defense. Future developments could result in an unfavorable outcome for any existing or new lawsuits or investigations in which the Company is, or may become, involved, which may have a material adverse effect on its business and its results of operations.

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The soundness of other financial institutions, including those with whom the Company has engaged in transactions, could adversely affect the Company.

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The Company’s ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and financial stability of other financial institutions. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. The Company has exposure to various counterparties, including brokers and dealers, commercial and correspondent banks, and others. As a result, defaults by, or rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, may result in market-wide liquidity problems and could lead to losses or defaults by such other institutions. Such occurrences could expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of one or more counterparties and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

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Natural disasters and the effects of a changing climate may adversely affect the Company and its customers.

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The Company’s operations and customer base are located in markets where natural disasters, including tornadoes, severe storms, fires and floods often occur. Such natural disasters, like the tornado that struck the Company’s markets in March 2020, could significantly impact the local population and economies and the Company’s business, and could pose physical risks to its properties. Although the Company maintains insurance coverages for such events, a significant natural disaster in or near one or more of the Company’s markets could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

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In addition to natural disasters, the impact of climate change, such as rising average global temperatures and rising sea levels, and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and natural disasters such as droughts, floods, wildfires and hurricanes could negatively impact the Company’s operations including its ability to provide financial products and services to its customers. Climate change also has the potential to negatively affect the collateral the Company takes to secure loans that it makes, the valuations of home prices or commercial real estate or the Company’s customers’ (particularly those that are engaged in industries that could be negatively affected by a shift to a low-carbon economy) ability and/or willingness to pay fees, repay outstanding loans or afford new products. Climate change could also cause insurability risk and/or increased insurance costs for the Company or its customers.

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The Company’s asset valuation may include methodologies, estimations and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to asset valuations that may materially adversely affect its results of operations or financial condition.

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The Company uses estimates, assumptions, and judgments when financial assets and liabilities are measured and reported at fair value. Assets and liabilities carried at fair value inherently result in a higher degree of financial statement volatility. Fair values and the information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are based on quoted market prices and/or other observable inputs provided by independent third-party sources, when available. When such third-party information is not available, fair value is estimated primarily by using cash flow and other financial modeling techniques utilizing assumptions such as credit quality, liquidity, interest rates and other relevant inputs. Changes in underlying factors, assumptions, or estimates in any of these areas could materially impact the Company’s future financial condition and results of operations.

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During periods of market disruption, including periods of significantly rising or high interest rates, rapidly widening credit spreads or illiquidity, it may be difficult to value certain assets if trading becomes less frequent and/or market data becomes less observable. There may be certain asset classes that were in active markets with significant observable data that become illiquid due to the current financial environment. In such cases, certain asset valuations may require more subjectivity and management judgment. As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation. Further, rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of assets as reported within the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly. Decreases in value may have a material adverse effect on results of operations or financial condition.