HERITAGE FINANCIAL CORP /WA/

Previous wording

The following discussion is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The information contained in this section should be read together with the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes included herein, the Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements included herein and the December 31, 2023 audited Consolidated Financial Statements, and the accompanying Notes included in our 2023 Annual Form 10-K.

Current wording

The following discussion is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The information contained in this section should be read together with the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes included herein, the Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements included herein and the December 31, 2024 audited Consolidated Financial Statements, and the accompanying Notes included in our 2024 Annual Form 10-K.

Previous wording

Heritage Financial Corporation is a bank holding company which primarily engages in the business activities of our wholly-owned financial institution subsidiary, Heritage Bank. We provide financial services to our local communities with an ongoing strategic focus on our commercial banking relationships, market expansion and asset quality. The Company’s business activities generally are limited to passive investment activities and oversight of its investment in the Bank. Accordingly, the information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q relates primarily to the Bank’s operations.

Current wording

Heritage Financial Corporation is a bank holding company which primarily engages in the business activities of our wholly-owned financial institution subsidiary, Heritage Bank. We provide financial services to customers in our market areas with an ongoing strategic focus on our commercial banking relationships, market expansion and asset quality. The Company’s business activities generally are limited to passive investment activities and oversight of its investment in the Bank. Accordingly, the information set forth in this report relates primarily to the Bank’s operations.

Previous wording

Our business consists primarily of commercial lending and deposit relationships with small- and medium-sized businesses and their owners in our market areas and attracting deposits from the general public. We also make real estate construction and land development loans, consumer loans and residential real estate loans on single family properties located primarily in our markets.

Current wording

Our business consists primarily of commercial lending and deposit relationships with small- to medium-sized businesses and their owners in our market areas, as well as attracting deposits from the general public. We also make real estate construction and land development loans, consumer loans and residential real estate loans on single family properties located primarily in our markets.

Previous wording

Our core profitability depends primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income, which is the income that we earn on interest earning assets, comprised primarily of loans and investment securities, and interest expense, which is the amount we pay on our interest bearing liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits and borrowings. Management manages the repricing characteristics of the Company's interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities to protect net interest income from changes in market interest rates and changes in the shape of the yield curve. Like most financial institutions, our net interest income is significantly affected by general and local economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, including more recently significant changes as a result of inflation, and by governmental policies and actions of regulatory agencies. Net interest income is additionally affected by changes in the volume and mix of interest earning assets, interest earned on these assets, the volume and mix of interest bearing liabilities and interest paid on these liabilities.

Current wording

Our core profitability depends primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income, which is the income that we earn on interest earning assets, consisting primarily of loans and investment securities, and interest expense, which is the amount we pay on our interest bearing liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits and borrowings. Management manages the repricing characteristics of the Company's interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities to protect net interest income from changes in market interest rates and changes in the shape of the yield curve. Like most financial institutions, our net interest income is significantly affected by general and local economic conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and by governmental policies and actions of regulatory agencies. Net interest income is additionally affected by changes in the volume and mix of interest earning assets, interest earned on these assets, the volume and mix of interest bearing liabilities and interest paid on these liabilities.

Previous wording

Our net income is affected by many factors, including the provision for credit losses on loans. The provision for credit losses on loans is dependent on changes in the loan portfolio and management’s assessment of the collectability of the loan portfolio as well as prevailing economic and market conditions. Management believes that the ACL on loans reflects the amount that is appropriate to provide for current expected credit losses in our loan portfolio based on our methodology.

Current wording

Our net income is affected by many factors, including the provision for credit losses on loans. The provision for credit losses on loans is dependent on changes in the loan portfolio and management’s assessment of the collectability of the loan portfolio, as well as prevailing economic and market conditions. Management believes that the ACL on loans reflects the amount that is appropriate to provide for current expected credit losses in our loan portfolio based on the CECL methodology.

Previous wording

Net income is also affected by noninterest income and noninterest expense. Noninterest income primarily consists of gains or losses on sale of investment securities, service charges and other fees, card revenue and other income. Noninterest expense consists primarily of compensation and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment, data processing and professional services. Compensation and employee benefits consist primarily of the salaries and wages paid to our employees, payroll taxes, expenses for retirement and other employee benefits. Occupancy and equipment expenses are the fixed and variable costs of buildings and equipment, and consist primarily of lease expenses, depreciation charges, maintenance and utilities. Data processing consists primarily of processing and network services related to the Bank’s core operating system, including the account processing system, electronic payments processing of products and services, internet and mobile banking channels and software-as-a-service providers. Professional services consist primarily of third-party service providers such as auditors, consultants and lawyers.

Current wording

Net income is also affected by noninterest income and noninterest expense. Noninterest income primarily consists of gains or losses on the sale of investment securities, service charges and other fees, card revenue and other income. Noninterest expense primarily consists of compensation and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment, data processing and professional services expense. Compensation and employee benefits consist primarily of the salaries and wages paid to our employees, payroll taxes and expenses for retirement and other employee benefits. Occupancy and equipment expenses are the fixed and variable costs of buildings and equipment and consist primarily of lease expenses, depreciation charges, maintenance and utilities. Data processing expense consists primarily of processing and network services related to the Bank’s core operating system, including the account processing system, electronic payments processing of products and services, internet and mobile banking channels and software-as-a-service providers. Professional services expense consists primarily of third-party service providers such as auditors, consultants and lawyers.

Previous wording

Results of operations may also be significantly affected by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in accounting, tax, and regulatory rules, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities, including changes resulting from inflation and the governmental actions taken to address this issue. Net income is also impacted by growth of operations through organic growth or acquisitions. See also "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."

Current wording

Results of operations may also be significantly affected by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in accounting, tax, and regulatory rules, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities, including changes resulting from inflation and the governmental actions taken to address this issue, as well as changes in policies driven by the new presidential administration which may impact our operations or those of our customers. Net income is also impacted by growth of operations through organic growth or acquisitions. See also "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."