FS Bancorp, Inc.

***General.***Deposits, borrowings, and loan repayments are the major sources of funds for lending and other investment purposes. Scheduled loan repayments are a relatively stable source of funds, while deposit inflows and outflows and loan prepayments are influenced significantly by general interest rates and market conditions. Borrowings from the FHLB of Des Moines are used to supplement the availability of funds from other sources and also as a source of term funds to assist in the management of interest rate risk.

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The Company’s deposit composition reflects a mixture with certificates of deposit (including brokered) accounting for 44.0% of the total deposits at December 31, 2024, and interest and noninterest-bearing checking, savings and money market accounts comprising the balance of total deposits. The Company relies on marketing activities, convenience, customer service and the availability of a broad range of deposit products and services to attract and retain customer deposits. The Company had $143.4 million of brokered deposits, or 6.1% of total deposits, at December 31, 2024. As a wholesale funding alternative, brokered deposits have competitive rates that are comparable to FHLB borrowings and local certificates of deposit.

***Deposits.***Deposits are attracted from within the market area through the offering of a broad selection of deposit instruments, including checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit with a variety of rates. Deposit account terms vary according to the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must remain on deposit, and the interest rate, among other factors. In determining the terms of the Company’s deposit accounts, the Company considers the development of long-term profitable customer relationships, current market interest rates, current maturity structure and deposit mix, customer preferences, and the profitability of acquiring customer deposits compared to alternative sources.

The following table sets forth total deposit activities for the years indicated:

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of deposits in the various types of deposit programs the Company offered at the dates indicated:

The following table sets forth the rate and maturity information of time deposit certificates at December 31, 2024:

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, approximately $652.7 million and $606.5 million, respectively, of our deposit portfolio was uninsured. The uninsured amounts are estimates based on the methodologies and assumptions used for the Bank’s regulatory reporting requirements. The following table sets forth the portion of our time deposits that are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit, by remaining time until maturity, as of December 31, 2024:

For additional information regarding our deposits, see “Note 9 – Deposits” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in “Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10–K.

The Federal Reserve requires the Bank to maintain reserves on transaction accounts or non-personal time deposits, which can be held as cash or noninterest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“FRB”). Transaction accounts, including negotiable order of withdrawal (“NOW”) accounts and other accounts that permit payments or transfers to third parties, as well as non-personal time deposits at a savings bank, are subject to these reserve requirements. However, effective March 26, 2020, the Federal Reserve lowered the reserve requirement to zero percent, and as a result there was no required reserve balance at December 31, 2024.

***Debt.***Although customer deposits are the primary source of funds for lending and investment activities, the Company uses various borrowings such as advances and warehouse lines of credit from the FHLB of Des Moines, and to a lesser extent Fed Funds purchased to supplement the supply of lendable funds, to meet short-term deposit withdrawal requirements and also to provide longer term funding to better match the duration of selected loan and investment maturities.

As one of the Company’s capital management strategies, the Company has used advances from the FHLB of Des Moines to fund loan originations in order to increase net interest income. Depending upon the retail banking activity, the Company will consider and may undertake additional leverage strategies within applicable regulatory requirements or restrictions. These borrowings would be expected to primarily consist of FHLB of Des Moines advances.

As a member of the FHLB of Des Moines, the Company is required to own capital stock in the FHLB of Des Moines and authorized to apply for advances on the security of that stock and certain mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. Government) provided certain creditworthiness standards have been met. Advances are individually made under various terms pursuant to several different credit programs, each with its own interest rate and range of maturities. Depending on the program, limitations on the amount of advances are based on the financial condition of the member institution and the adequacy of collateral pledged to secure the credit. The Bank maintains a committed credit facility with the FHLB of Des Moines allowing for immediately available advances up to an aggregate of $649.7 million at December 31, 2024. Outstanding advances from the FHLB of Des Moines totaled $299.8 million at December 31, 2024.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company also had $270.4 million of additional short-term borrowing capacity with the FRB and an aggregate of $101.0 million in unsecured Fed Funds lines of credit with other correspondent financial institutions, of which $8.0 million was outstanding with the FRB.

In February 2021, FS Bancorp completed the private placement of $50.0 million of its 3.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2031 (the “Notes”) at an offering price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, of which $50.0 million have been exchanged for subordinated notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933. Net proceeds, after placement agent fees and offering expenses, was approximately $49.3 million. The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated February 10, 2021 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. From and including the original issue date to, but excluding, February 15, 2026, or the date of earlier redemption, FS Bancorp pays interest on the Notes semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year at a fixed annual interest rate equal to 3.75%. From and including February 15, 2026 to but excluding the maturity date or the date of earlier redemption, the floating interest rate per annum will be equal to a benchmark rate, which is expected to be Three-Month Term Secured Overnight Funding Rate, or SOFR, plus a spread of 337 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on May 15, 2026. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the benchmark rate is less than zero, the benchmark rate shall be deemed to be zero. The Notes will mature on February 15, 2031.

On or after February 15, 2026, FS Bancorp may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount being redeemed plus accrued interest. The Notes are not redeemable by FS Bancorp prior to February 15, 2026, except in the event that (i) the Notes no longer qualify as Tier 2 capital, (ii) the interest on the Notes is determined by law to be not deductible for Federal Income Tax reporting or (iii) FS Bancorp is considered an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Notes are not subject to redemption by the noteholder.

The Notes are unsecured obligations and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness, deposits and other liabilities of the Company's current and future subsidiaries, including the Bank’s deposits as well as the Company's subsidiaries' liabilities to general creditors and liabilities arising during the ordinary course of business. The Notes may be included in Tier 2 capital for the Company under current regulatory guidelines and interpretations.

For additional information related to debt, see “Note 11 – Debt” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10–K.

Subsidiary and Other Activities

The Company has one active subsidiary, which is the Bank, and the Bank has one inactive subsidiary. The Bank had no capital investment in its inactive subsidiary at December 31, 2024.

Competition

The Company faces strong competition in originating real estate loans, primarily from other savings institutions, commercial banks, credit unions, life insurance companies, mortgage bankers, and emerging players in financial technology (“FinTech”). In the consumer lending area, including indirect lending, competition arises from other savings institutions, commercial banks, credit unions, finance, and FinTech companies. Local commercial banks, pose the primary competition in the commercial business segment. The Company differentiates itself by prioritizing high-quality, personalized service, aiming to foster a high level of customer satisfaction.

Competition for deposits is also very competitive, with the Company relying on its branch network. Competition for those deposits is principally from other savings institutions, commercial banks and credit unions located in the same community, as well as mutual funds, FinTech companies, and other alternative investments. The Bank competes for these deposits by striving to offer superior service and a variety of deposit accounts at competitive rates. Based on the most recent branch deposit data provided by the FDIC, at June 30, 2024, 1st Security Bank’s share of aggregate deposits in its market area spanning the 12 counties with Company branches, was one percent.

The Company’s market areas have a high concentration of financial institutions, including branches of large money centers and regional banks resulting from the banking industry's consolidation in Washington and other western states. National lenders like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, and others in the Company’s market area offer services beyond the Bank's scope, such as trust services. Institutions providing comprehensive services may attract customers seeking “one-stop shopping,” potentially diverting them from the Bank.