PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC

The discussion and analysis of the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the reporting date. The estimates we consider most critical to understanding our financial condition and results of operations are those that require difficult, subjective, or complex judgments and that could materially change from period to period if different assumptions were used or if actual results differ from our assumptions.

For the Corporation, these critical estimates primarily relate to:

These estimates involve significant uncertainty and are based on historical experience, current conditions, and other factors management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis and discuss them with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, see Note 1 – Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

**Allowance for Credit Losses.**The ACL involves significant judgment and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of financial assets. The Corporation adopted ASC 326 using the prospective transition approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The Corporation adopted ASC 326 effective July 1, 2023, and results for reporting periods beginning on or after that date are presented under the CECL methodology.

Under ASC 326*,* the ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the related loan’s amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.

Management believes the ACL on loans held for investment is maintained at a level sufficient to provide for expected losses on the Corporation’s loans held for investment based on historical loss experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The provision for (recovery of) credit losses is charged (credited) against operations on a quarterly basis, as necessary, to maintain the ACL at appropriate levels. Future adjustments to the ACL may be necessary and results of operations could be significantly and adversely affected as a result of economic, operating, regulatory, and other conditions beyond the Corporation’s control.

Provision for Income Taxes. Management accounts for income taxes by estimating future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax and book basis of assets and liabilities considering the provisions of enacted tax laws. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The application of income tax law is inherently complex. Laws and regulations in this area are voluminous and are often ambiguous. As such, management is required to make many subjective assumptions and judgments regarding the Corporation’s income tax exposures, including judgments in determining the amount and timing of recognition of the resulting deferred tax assets and liabilities, including projections of future taxable income. Interpretations of and guidance surrounding income tax laws and regulations change over time. As such, changes in management’s subjective assumptions and judgments can materially affect amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and Consolidated Statements of Operations.