FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP

For a discussion of risk factors relating to our business, please refer to Part I, Item 1A of our 2023 Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, and to the following:

Several of California’s Largest Home Insurance Providers Have Recently Paused or Severely Limited Their Issuance of New Policies, or Their Renewal of Existing Policies, in the State, Which Could Increase the Bank’s Risk of Loss in its Loan Portfolio

At June 30, 2024, real estate mortgage (excluding loans held-for-sale) and construction loans (residential and other) comprised approximately 90% and 3%, respectively, of the principal amount of total loans in the Bank’s portfolio. At June 30, 2024, all of the Bank’s real estate mortgage and construction loans were secured fully or in part by deeds of trust on underlying real estate. Most of the Company’s customers, including its loan customers, are located in the State of California.

Recently, several of California’s largest home insurance providers, including State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, USAA, Travelers, Nationwide and Chubb, have either paused or severely limited their issuance of new policies, or their renewal of existing policies, in the state. Mounting claims from wildfire damages, the increasing cost of building and repairing homes in California, and a steep increase in reinsurance premiums, as well as state insurance regulations that make it difficult for insurers to adjust premiums in response to the evolving risk landscape, have challenged the capacity of insurance companies to sustainably and profitably offer home insurance in California. The result of these actions has been to significantly limit the availability of home insurance in California, where homeowners already face escalating property values and high wildfire, seismic, severe weather and other risks.

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The California Department of Insurance enforces some safeguards to temporarily shield homeowners from the cancellation or non-renewal of home insurance policies in high-risk areas, particularly those prone to wildfires. In addition, the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, a state-established risk pool, operates as an insurer of last resort, providing temporary coverage for California homeowners unable to obtain (generally at increased premium cost) such coverage from a traditional insurance carrier; however, enrollment in the FAIR Plan as a percentage of the total number of residential insurance policies in California has steadily increased over the past five years, particularly in counties with the highest wildfire risk, threatening the ongoing stability of the Plan. In late 2023, following the California Governor’s declaration of a State of Emergency regarding property insurance, the Insurance Commissioner of the State of California introduced a comprehensive package of executive actions aimed at insurance reform; however, there can be no assurance that these regulatory actions will increase insurance availability or stabilize and strengthen California’s insurance market.

Many homeowners in the State of California have been negatively impacted by the contraction of insurance options in the State and the resulting lack of access to affordable home insurance, which could adversely impact the ability of prospective homebuyers to obtain insurance, and escalating premiums and limited coverage options could result in limiting coverage in the event of loss. If any loss suffered by a loan customer of the Bank is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, this could increase the risk of loss in the Bank’s loan portfolio, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. For additional information, see “The Bank’s Dependence on Real Estate Lending Increases Our Risk of Losses” in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Increases in the Allowance for Credit Losses Would Adversely Affect the Bank’s Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The Bank’s allowance for credit losses on loans was approximately $17.0 million, or 1.60% of total loans, at June 30, 2024, compared to $16.6 million, or 1.55% of total loans, at December 31, 2023, and 250.2% of total non-performing loans net of guaranteed portions at June 30, 2024, compared to 199.1% of total non-performing loans, net of guaranteed portions at December 31, 2023. Provision for credit losses totaling $1.1 and $2.6 million for the three month periods ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, respectively. Provision for credit losses totaling $0.8 and $2.6 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, respectively.

Material future additions to the allowance for estimated losses on loans may be necessary if material adverse changes in economic conditions in our markets were to continue to occur and the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio were to deteriorate.

Other real estate owned is initially recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell the property, thereby establishing the new cost basis of other real estate. Losses arising at the time of acquisition of such properties are charged against the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent to acquisition, such properties are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling expenses, determined on an individual asset basis. Any deficiency resulting from the excess of cost over fair value less estimated selling expenses is recognized as a valuation allowance. Any subsequent increase in fair value up to its cost basis is recorded as a reduction of the valuation allowance. The FDIC and the California DFPI, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for credit losses on loans and the carrying value of its assets. Increases in the provision for credit losses on loans and valuation allowance on foreclosed assets would adversely affect the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank’s Dependence on Real Estate Lending Increases Our Risk of Losses

The Bank’s primary lending focus has historically been commercial (including agricultural), construction, and real estate mortgage. At June 30, 2024, real estate mortgage (excluding loans held-for-sale) and construction loans (residential and other) comprised approximately 90% and 3%, respectively, of the total loans in the Bank’s portfolio. At June 30, 2024, all of the Bank’s real estate mortgage and construction loans and approximately 1% of its commercial loans were secured fully or in part by deeds of trust on underlying real estate. The Company’s dependence on real estate increases the risk of loss in both the Bank’s loan portfolio and its holdings of other real estate owned if economic conditions in Northern California were to deteriorate. Deterioration of the real estate market in Northern California would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The CFPB has adopted various regulations which have impacted, and will continue to impact, our residential mortgage lending business.

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