TRUSTCO BANK CORP N Y

Current report

Our business may be adversely affected by the prevalence of fraud and other financial crimes.

Current report

As a bank, we are susceptible to fraudulent activity that may be committed against us or our customers which may result in financial losses or increased costs to us or our customers, disclosure or misuse of our information or our customers’ information, misappropriation of assets, privacy breaches against our customers, litigation or damage to our reputation. Such fraudulent activity may take many forms, including check fraud, electronic fraud, wire fraud, phishing, social engineering and other dishonest acts. Consistent with industry trends, we have also experienced attempted electronic fraudulent activity in recent periods. Given such electronic fraudulent activity and the growing level of use of electronic, internet-based and networked systems to conduct business directly or indirectly with our clients, certain fraud losses may not be avoidable regardless of the preventative and detection systems in place. Nationally, reported incidents of fraud and other financial crimes have increased. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent such losses, there can be no assurance that such losses will not occur.

Previous report

Changes in interest rates may significantly impact our financial condition and results of operations

Previous report

Like other financial institutions, we are subject to interest rate risk. Our primary source of income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments, and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. The level of net interest income is primarily a function of the average balance of our interest-earning assets, the average balance of our interest-bearing liabilities, and the spread between the yield on such assets and the cost of such liabilities. These factors are influenced by both the pricing and mix of our interest-earning assets and our interest-bearing liabilities which, in turn, are impacted by such external factors as the local economy, competition for loans and deposits, the monetary policy of the Federal Open Market Committee of the FRB (the “FOMC”), and market interest rates.

Previous report

Over any specific period of time, our interest-earning assets may be more sensitive to changes in market interest rates than our interest-bearing liabilities, or vice-versa. In addition, the individual market interest rates underlying our loan and deposit products may not change to the same degree over a given time period. In any event, if market interest rates should move contrary to our position, earnings may be negatively affected. The FOMC increased the target range for the Federal Funds rate eleven times in 2022 and 2023, by a total of 525 basis points, to a range of 5.25% to 5.50%, then lowered it in September 2024 by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5.00%. In its August 2024 “Beige Book”, the FRB noted that economic activity grew slightly in three districts, while the number of districts that reported flat or declining activity rose from five in the prior period to nine in the current period. Regional small-to-medium-sized banks in second district (where the Company’s New York branches are located) reported no change in loan demand, though demand for refinancing picked up from low levels. Economic activity in the sixth district (where the Company’s Florida branches are located) declined slightly since the prior report, and loan volumes grew slowly in the sixth district.

Previous report

There can be no assurances as to any future FOMC conduct. If the FOMC further increases the targeted federal funds rates, overall interest rates likely will rise, which will positively impact our interest income but may further negatively impact the entire national economy, including the housing industry in the markets we serve, by reducing refinancing activity and new home purchases. In addition, deflationary pressures, while possibly lowering our operational costs, could have a significant negative effect on our borrowers and the values of collateral securing loans, which could negatively affect our financial performance. A significant portion of our loans have fixed interest rates (or, if adjustable, are initially fixed for periods of five to 10 years) and longer terms than our deposits and borrowings. Our net interest income could be adversely affected if the rates we pay on deposits and borrowings increase more rapidly than the rates we earn on loans.

Previous report

We also are subject to reinvestment risk associated with changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates may affect the average life of loans and mortgage-related securities. Increases in interest rates may decrease loan demand and/or may make it more difficult for borrowers to repay adjustable rate loans. Decreases in interest rates often result in increased prepayments of loans and mortgage-related securities, as borrowers refinance their loans to reduce borrowing costs. Under these circumstances, we are subject to reinvestment risk to the extent that we are unable to reinvest the cash received from such prepayments in loans or other investments that have interest rates that are comparable to the interest rates on existing loans and securities. Conversely, increases in interest rates often result in slowed prepayments of loans and mortgage-related securities, reducing cash flows and reinvestment opportunities.

Previous report

Changes in interest rates also affect the value of the Bank’s interest-earning assets, and in particular the Bank’s securities portfolio. Generally, the value of fixed-rate securities fluctuates inversely with changes in interest rates. Unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale are reported as a separate component of equity, net of tax. Decreases in the fair value of securities available for sale resulting from increases in interest rates could have an adverse effect on shareholders’ equity.

Previous report

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