Merchants Bancorp

Note 1: Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Merchants Bancorp, a registered bank holding company (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Merchants Bank of Indiana (“Merchants Bank”), Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois (“FMBI”) (whose branches were sold to unaffiliated third parties and its remaining charter collapsed into Merchants Bank on January 26, 2024), and Merchants Asset Management, LLC (“MAM”). Merchants Bank’s primary operating subsidiaries include Merchants Capital Corp. (‘MCC”), Merchants Capital Servicing, LLC (“MCS”), and Merchants Capital Investments, LLC (“MCI”). All direct and indirectly owned subsidiaries owned by Merchants Bancorp are collectively referred to as the “Company”.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2023, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company as of June 30, 2024 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, were prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. Reference is made to the accounting policies of the Company described in the Notes to the Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited financial statements have been included to present fairly the financial position as of June 30, 2024 and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. All interim amounts have not been audited and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, herein are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the entire year.

Sale of Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois branches

On September 7, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with Bank of Pontiac to sell its Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois branch locations in Paxton, Melvin, and Piper City, Illinois, and into an agreement with CBI Bank & Trust, to sell its Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois branch located in Joy, Illinois.

This transaction enhanced the Company’s ability to focus on its core business of single and multi-family mortgage lending and strategically aligned the branches with institutions that share a similar business model and allowed them to provide additional products to their customers.

On January 26, 2024, the transaction was completed after having met customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

In addition to the branches, Bank of Pontiac acquired approximately$164.8 million in deposits and$19.2 million in loans, and CBI Bank & Trust acquired approximately$65.1 million in deposits and$28.6 million in loans.

Total assets and liabilities of approximately $60.8 million and $230.6 million, respectively, were sold. A net gain of $715,000 was recognized from the transactions, which includes a $10.1 million deposit premium and the extinguishment of $7.8 million in goodwill and $0.5 million in intangibles during the first quarter of 2024.

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 include results from the Company, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Merchants Bank, FMBI (until its branches were

sold and its bank charter merged into Merchants Bank on January 26, 2024), and MAM. Also included are Merchants Bank’s primary operating subsidiaries, MCC, MCS, and MCI, as well as all direct and indirectly owned subsidiaries owned by Merchants Bancorp.

During 2022, Merchants Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, was incorporated and its results are consolidated with the Company’s consolidated financial statements in all periods presented.

In addition, when the Company makes an equity investment in or has a relationship with an entity for which it holds a variable interest, it is evaluated for consolidation requirements under Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) Topic 810. Accordingly, the Company assesses the entities for potential consolidation as a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and would only consolidate those entities for which it is a primary beneficiary. A primary beneficiary is defined as the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity, and an interest that could be significant to the entity. To determine if an interest could be significant to the entity, both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of the Company’s involvement with the entity are evaluated. Alternatively, under the voting interest model, it would only consolidate those entities for which it has a controlling interest.

In May 2023, the Company acquired a variable interest in an investment for which it is the primary beneficiary of, and its results have been consolidated since the date of acquisition. Additionally, the Company has certain variable interest investments that it was deemed not to be a primary beneficiary of as of June 30,2024 and December 31, 2023. These VIEs are not consolidated and the equity or proportional method of accounting has been applied. The Company will analyze whether the primary beneficiary designation has changed through triggering events on a prospective basis. Changes in facts and circumstances occurring since the previous primary beneficiary determination will be considered as part of this ongoing assessment. SeeNote 5: Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) for additional information about VIEs.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses on loans and fair values of servicing rights and financial instruments.

Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies followed by the Company for interim financial reporting are consistent with the accounting policies followed for annual financial reporting. For additional information regarding significant accounting policies, see the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10–K.

Restricted Cash

Included in cash equivalents is an account restricted as collateral for the potential risk of loss on senior credit linked notes issued by the Company. The balance of the notes as of June 30, 2024 was $112.3 million. As of June 30, 2024, there was $37.0 million in restricted cash held in a separate account included in the total of interest-earning demand accounts on the Balance Sheet. Also seeNote 11: Borrowings**.

Note 2: Investment Securities

The amortized cost and approximate fair values, together with gross unrealized gains and losses, of securities available for sale and held to maturity were as follows:

Accrued interest on securities available for sale totaled $5.9 million at June 30, 2024 and $6.7 million at December 31, 2023, respectively, and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

Accrued interest on securities held to maturity totaled $6.2 million at June 30, 2024 and $5.8 million at December 31, 2023, respectively, and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

The amortized cost and fair value of securities available for sale at June 30, 2024 and December 31,2023, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, no securities available for sale were sold. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company received proceeds of $10.0 million and recognized a net loss of $108,000 from sales of securities available for sale. The $108,000 net loss consisted of $10,000 in gains and $118,000 of losses. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, proceeds from sales of securities available for sale were$132,000 and the net gain was inconsequential.

The following tables show the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair value of the Company’s investment securities with unrealized losses for which an allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) has not been recorded, aggregated by investment class and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

Allowance for Credit Losses

For securities available for sale with an unrealized loss position, the Company evaluates the securities to determine whether the decline in the fair value below the amortized cost basis (impairment) is due to credit-related factors or noncredit related factors. Any impairment that is not credit-related is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Credit-related impairment is recognized as an ACL for securities available for sale on the balance sheet, limited to the amount by which the amortized cost basis exceeds the fair value, with a corresponding adjustment to earnings. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. Both the ACL and the adjustment to net income may be reversed if conditions change. However, if the Company expects, or is required, to sell an impaired available for sale security before recovering its amortized cost basis, the entire impairment amount would be recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the security’s amortized cost basis. Because the security’s amortized cost basis is adjusted to fair value, there isno ACL in this situation.

In evaluating securities available for sale in unrealized loss positions for impairment and the criteria regarding its intent or requirement to sell such securities, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred, and the results of reviews of the issuers’ financial condition, among other factors. Unrealized losses on the Company’s investment securities portfolio have not been recognized as an expense because the securities are of high credit quality, and the decline in fair values is attributable to changes in the prevailing interest rate environment since the purchase date. Fair value is expected to recover as securities reach maturity and/or the interest rate environment returns to conditions similar to when these securities were purchased. There wereno credit related factors underlying unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Securities held to maturity are primarily comprised of non-agency mortgage-backed securities secured by multi-family or single-family properties, and agency mortgage-backed securities secured by multi-family properties. The agency securities held to maturity are Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for these securities. The non-agency securities were purchased under securitization arrangements where a credit loss component was purchased by third party investors. These securities were evaluated for credit losses over and above the credit loss percentage sold under the arrangements, and the Company does not anticipate any such losses. Additional qualitative factors are evaluated, including the timeliness of principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for the non-agency securities.

Note 3: Mortgage Loans in Process of Securitization

Mortgage loans in process of securitization are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. These include multi-family rental real estate loan originations to be sold as Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac participation certificates, all of which are pending settlement under firm investor commitments to purchase the securities, typically occurring within 30 days. The aggregate fair value adjustment recorded on mortgage loans in process of securitization was $0.5 million and $0.8 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

Note 4: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at their outstanding principal balances adjusted for unearned income, charge-offs, the ACL-Loans, any unamortized deferred fees or costs on originated loans and unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans.

For loans at amortized cost, interest income is accrued based on the unpaid principal balance.

The Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the amortized cost basis of loans and reports accrued interest separately from the related loan balance in the consolidated unaudited condensed balance sheets. Accrued interest on loans totaled $58.6 million and $60.4 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The Company also elected not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables. The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days past due unless the credit is well-secured and in process of collection. Past-due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. Loans may be placed on nonaccrual or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged-off is reversed against interest income. The interest collected on these loans is applied to the principal balance until the loan can be returned to an accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

For all loan portfolio segments, the Company charges off loans, or portions thereof, when available information confirms that specific loans are uncollectable based on information that includes, but is not limited to, (1) the deteriorating financial condition of the borrower, (2) declining collateral values, and/or (3) legal action, including bankruptcy, that impairs the borrower’s ability to adequately meet its obligations.

When cash payments for accrued interest are received on nonaccrual loans in each loan class, the Company records a reduction in loan principal. For loan modifications, interest income is recognized on an accrual basis at the renegotiated rate if the loan is in compliance with the modified terms.

The Company offers mortgage warehouse repurchase agreements to third parties to fund mortgage loans held for sale from closing until sale to an investor. Under a warehousing arrangement, the Company funds a mortgage loan as secured financing. The warehousing arrangement is secured by the underlying mortgages and a combination of deposits, personal guarantees, and advance rates. The Company typically holds the collateral until it is sent under a bailee arrangement instructing the investor to send proceeds to the Company. Typical investors are large financial institutions or government agencies. Interest earned from the time of funding to the time of sale is recognized as interest income as accrued. Warehouse fees are accrued as noninterest income.

Loan Portfolio Summary‌

Loans receivable at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 include:

Risk characteristics applicable to each segment of the loan portfolio are described as follows.

Mortgage Warehouse Repurchase Agreements (MTG WHRA): Under its warehouse program, the Company provides warehouse financing arrangements to approved mortgage companies for their origination and sale of residential mortgage and multi-family loans. Loans secured by mortgages placed on existing one-to-four family dwellings may be originated or purchased and placed through each mortgage warehouse facility.

As a secured repurchase agreement, collateral pledged to the Company secures each individual mortgage until the mortgage company sells the loan in the secondary market. A traditional secured warehouse facility typically carries a base interest rate of the Federal Reserve’s Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), or mortgage note rate, and a margin.

Risk is evident if there is a change in the fair value of mortgage loans originated by mortgage companies in warehouse, the sale of which is the expected source of repayment under a warehouse facility. However, the warehouse customers are required to hedge the change in value of these loans to mitigate the risk, typically through forward sales contracts.

Residential Real Estate Loans (RES RE): Real estate loans are secured by owner-occupied one-to-four family residences. Repayment of residential real estate loans is primarily dependent on the personal income and credit rating of the borrowers. First-lien HELOC mortgages included in this segment typically carried a base rate of 30-day LIBOR, plus a margin. With the sunset of LIBOR, loans have been transitioned to the One-Year Constant Maturity Treasury (“CMT”), plus a margin.

Multi-Family Financing (MF FIN): The Company specializes in originating multi-family financing that can be market rate or affordable. The portfolio includes loans for construction, acquisition, refinance, or permanent financing. Loans are typically secured by real estate mortgages, assignment of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTC”), and/or equity interest in the underlying properties. All loans are assessed and reviewed at a minimum based on borrower strength/experience, historical property performance, market trends, projected financial performance with regards to intended strategy, and source of repayment. Independent third-party reports are used to ensure legal conformity and support valuations of the assets. Exit strategies and sources of repayment are provided through the secondary market via governmental programs, strategic refinances, LIHTC equity installments, and cashflow from the properties. Repayment of these loans depends on the successful operation of a business or property and the borrower’s cash flows. Credit risk in these loans may be impacted by the creditworthiness of a borrower, property values and the local economy in the related market area. These loans are well-collateralized and underwritten to agency guidelines. Loans included in this segment typically carry a base rate of 30-day SOFR, that adjusts on a monthly basis, and a margin. The Company strategically focuses on loan classes that are government backed or can be sold in the secondary market.

**Healthcare Financing (HC FIN):**The healthcare financing portfolio includes customized loan products for independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing projects. A variety of loan products are available to accommodate rehabilitation, acquisition, and refinancing of healthcare properties. Credit risk in these loans are primarily driven by local demographics and the expertise of the operators of the facilities. Repayment of these loans may include permanent loans, sales of developed property or an interim loan commitment from the Company until permanent agency-eligible financing is obtained, as well as successful operation of a business or property and the borrower’s cash flows. These loans are well-collateralized and underwritten to agency guidelines. Loans included in this segment typically carry a base rate of 30-day SOFR, that adjusts on a monthly basis, and a margin. The Company strategically focuses on loan classes that are government backed or can be sold in the secondary market.

Commercial Lending and Commercial Real Estate Loans (CML & CRE): The commercial lending and commercial real estate portfolio includes loans to commercial customers for use in financing working capital needs, equipment purchases and expansions, as well as loans to commercial customers to finance land and improvements. It also includes lines of credit collateralized by servicing rights that are assessed for fair value quarterly at the Company’s request. The loans in this category are repaid primarily from the cash flow of a borrower’s principal business operation. Credit risk in these loans is driven by creditworthiness of a borrower and the economic conditions that impact the cash flow stability from business operations. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans are included in this category. Less than 1% of total commercial and commercial real estate loans are made up of non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans.

Agricultural Production and Real Estate Loans (AG & AGRE): Agricultural production loans are generally comprised of seasonal operating lines of credit to grain farmers to plant and harvest corn and soybeans and term loans to fund the purchase of equipment. The Company also offers long-term financing to purchase agricultural real estate. Specific underwriting standards have been established for agricultural-related loans including the establishment of projections for each operating year based on industry-developed estimates of farm input costs and expected commodity yields and prices. Operating lines are typically written for one year and secured by the crop and other farm assets as considered necessary. The Company is approved to sell agricultural loans in the secondary market through the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and uses this relationship to manage interest rate risk within the portfolio. Agricultural real estate loans included in this segment are typically structured with a one-year adjustable rate mortgage (“ARM”), three-year ARM or five-year ARM CMT and a margin. Agriculture production, livestock, and equipment loans are structured with variable rates that are indexed to prime or fixed for terms not exceeding five years.

Consumer and Margin Loans (CON & MAR): Consumer loans are those loans secured by household assets. Margin loans are those loans secured by marketable securities. The term and maximum amount for these loans are determined by considering the purpose of the loan, the margin (advance percentage against value) in all collateral, the primary source of repayment, and the borrower’s other related cash flow.

ACL-Loans

The ACL-Loans is the Company’s estimate of current expected credit losses. Loans receivable is presented net of the allowance to reflect the principal balance expected to be collected over the contractual term of the loans. This life of loan allowance is established through a provision for credit losses included in net interest income after provision for credit losses as loans are recorded in the financial statements. The provision for a reporting period also reflects increases or decreases in the allowance related to changes in credit loss expectations. Actual credit losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance, or a portion thereof, is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

The ACL-Loans is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management’s periodic review of the collectability of the loans considering relevant available information from internal and external sources, including historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. The allowance also incorporates reasonable and supportable forecasts. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. The level of the ACL-Loans is believed to be adequate to absorb innate expected future losses in the loan portfolio as of the measurement date.

The ACL-Loans consists of individually evaluated loans and pooled loan components. The Company’s primary portfolio segmentation is by loans with similar risk characteristics. Loans risk graded substandard and worse are individually evaluated for expected credit losses. For individually evaluated loans that are collateral dependent, the Company may use the fair value of the collateral, less estimated costs to sell, as a practical expedient as of the reporting date to determine the carrying amount of an asset and the allowance for credit losses, as applicable. A loan is considered to be collateral dependent when repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or the sale of the collateral when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty as of the reporting date.

To calculate the ACL-Loans, the portfolio is segmented by loans with similar risk characteristics.

Loan characteristics used in determining the segmentation included the underlying collateral, type or purpose of the loan, and expected credit loss patterns. The initial estimation of expected credit losses for each segment is based on historical credit loss experience and management’s judgement. Given the Company’s modest historical credit loss experience, peer and industry data was incorporated into the measurement. Expected life of loan credit losses are quantified using discounted cash flows and remaining life methodologies.

Model results are supplemented by qualitative adjustments for risk factors relevant in assessing the expected credit losses within the portfolio segments. These adjustments may increase or decrease the estimate of expected credit losses based upon the assessed level of risk for each qualitative factor.

The models utilized and the applicable qualitative adjustments require assumptions and management judgement that can be subjective in nature. The above measurement approach is also used to estimate the expected credit losses associated with unfunded loan commitments, which also incorporates expected utilization rates.

The following tables present, by loan portfolio segment, the activity in the ACL-Loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

The Company recorded a total provision for credit losses of $10.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The $10.0 million total provision for credit losses consisted of $8.8 million for the ACL-Loans as shown above and $1.2 million for the ACL-OBCE’s.

The Company recorded a total provision for credit losses of $22.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The $22.6 million total provision for credit losses consisted of $20.7 million for the ACL-Loans as shown above and $1.9 million for the ACL-OBCE’s.

The Company recorded a total provision for credit losses of $14.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The $14.7 million total provision for credit losses consisted of $13.6 million for the ACL-Loans, net of FMBI’s ACL, as shown above and $1.1 million for the ACL-OBCE’s.

The Company recorded a total provision for credit losses of $29.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The $29.5 million total provision for credit losses consisted of $28.5 million for the ACL-Loans as shown above and $1.0 million for the ACL-OBCE’s.

The following table presents, by loan portfolio segment, the activity in the ACL-Loans, for the year-ended December 31, 2023:

The below table presents the amortized cost basis and ACL-Loans allocated for collateral dependent loans, which are individually evaluated to determine expected credit losses as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

There have been no significant changes to the types of collateral securing the Company’s collateral dependent loans compared to December 31, 2023.

Internal Risk Categories

The Company evaluates the loan risk grading system definitions and ACL-Loans methodology on an ongoing basis. As of December 31, 2023, the Company created a newly defined special mention risk rating category to be consistent with industry practices. Loans with a Watch classification are now included in the Pass risk rating category as of December 31, 2023. This updated policy was approved by the Company’s Management Committee, to be effective as of December 31, 2023 on a prospective basis.

In adherence with policy, the Company uses the following internal risk grading categories and definitions for loans since December 31, 2023:

Pass - Loans that are considered to be of acceptable credit quality, and not classified as Special Mention, Substandard or Doubtful. Also included are loans classified as Watch loans, which represent loans that remain sound and collectible but contain elevated risk that requires management’s attention.

Special Mention – Loans classified as special mention have potential weaknesses that deserve management’s attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the institution’s credit position at some future date. Special Mention loans are not adversely classified and do not warrant adverse classification. Loans with questions or concerns regarding collateral, adverse market conditions impacting future performance, and declining financial trends would be considered for Special Mention.

Substandard - Loans classified as Substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the borrower or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified must have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. When a loan in the form of a line of credit is downgraded to Substandard, it is evaluated for impairment and future draws under the line of credit require the approval of an officer of Senior Credit Officer or above.

Doubtful - Loans classified as Doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as Substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

The following tables present the credit risk profile of the Company’s loan portfolio based on internal risk rating category and origination year as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

The Company did not have any material revolving loans converted to term loans at June 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023.

Delinquent Loans

The following tables present the Company’s loan portfolio aging analysis of the recorded investment in loans as of June 30, 2024 and December 31,2023.

There wereno delinquent loans classified as held for sale at June 30, 2024. The above table does not includeone multi-family loan, 30-59 days past due, classified as held for sale at December 31, 2023, totaling $16.5 million.

Nonperforming Loans

Nonaccrual loans, including modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that have not met the six-month minimum performance criterion, are reported as nonperforming loans. For all loan classes, it is the Company’s policy to have any modified loans which are on nonaccrual status prior to being modified, remain on nonaccrual status until six months of satisfactory borrower performance, at which time management would consider its return to accrual status. A loan is generally classified as nonaccrual when the Company believes that receipt of principal and interest is doubtful under the terms of the loan agreement. Generally, this is at 90 days or more past due. The amount of interest income recognized on nonaccrual financial assets during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.9 million, which was collected when a loan was paid off, and was immaterial for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

The following table presents the Company’s nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

The Company did not have any nonaccrual loans without an estimated ACL at June 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023. There were $8.7 million in specific reserves associated with nonaccrual loans totaling $46.4 million at June 30, 2024 and there were $5.4 million in specific reserves associated with nonaccrual loans totaling $20.7 million at December 31, 2023, excluding the reserves associated with FMBI, whose branches were sold in January 2024.

Modifications to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty

Occasionally, the Company modifies loans to borrowers in financial distress by providing principal forgiveness, term extension, an other-than-insignificant payment delay, or interest rate reduction. In some cases, the Company provides multiple types of modifications on one loan. Typically, one type of modification, such as a term extension, is granted initially. If the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another modification, such as principal forgiveness, may be granted, but is rare.

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of loans at June 30, 2024 that were both experiencing financial difficulty and modified during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, by class and by type of modification. The percentage of the amortized cost basis of loans that were modified to borrowers in financial distress as compared to the amortized cost basis of each class of financing receivable is also presented below:

The following table describes the financial effect of the modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. As part of our ACL analysis, loans classified as substandard or worse were individually evaluated for impairment and no specific reserve was recorded. The Company has committed to lend no additional amounts to the borrowers included in the table below.

The Company closely monitors the performance of loans that are modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. The following table presents the performance of such loans that have been modified in the last twelve months as of June 30, 2024:

No modified loans defaulted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.

Foreclosures

There wereno residential loans in process of foreclosure as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Significant Loan Sales

Freddie Mac Q Series Securitization – 2024 Activity

** **On April 30, 2024, the Company completed a $324.6 million securitization of 13 multi-family mortgage loans through a Freddie Mac-sponsored Q-Series transaction. The transfer of these loans was accounted for as a sale for financial reporting purposes, in accordance with ASC 860, and a $1.4 million gain on sale was recognized. The Company was retained as the mortgage sub-servicer for Freddie Mac on the entire$324.6 million pool of loans. Beyond sub-servicing the loans, the Company’s ongoing involvement in this transaction is limited to customary obligations of loan sales, including any material breach in representation. In connection with this transaction, a mortgage servicing right of $1.3 million was established.

Loans Purchased

The Company purchased $68.5 million and $269.9 million of loans during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Note 5:Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

A VIE is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or any other legal structure used to conduct activities or hold assets generally that either:

The Company has invested in single-family, multi-family, and healthcare debt financing entities, as well as low-income housing syndicated funds that are deemed to be VIEs. The Company also has deemed as VIEs a REMIC trust that was established in conjunction with the September 2022 multi-family loan sale and securitization transaction, as well as additional REMIC trusts that were established in December 2023 and June 2024 with a related party in conjunction with securitizations. Accordingly, the entities were assessed for potential consolidation under the VIE model that requires primary beneficiaries to consolidate the entity’s results. A primary beneficiary is defined as the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity, and an interest that could be significant to the entity. To determine if an interest could be significant to the entity, both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of involvement with the entity are evaluated.

At June 30,2024 the Company determined it was not the primary beneficiary for most of its VIEs, primarily because the Company did not have the obligation to absorb losses or the rights to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Evaluation and assessment of VIEs for consolidation is performed on an ongoing basis by management. Any changes in facts and circumstances occurring since the previous primary beneficiary determination will be considered as part of this ongoing assessment.

The table below reflects the assets and liabilities of the VIEs as well as our maximum exposure to loss in connection with unconsolidated VIEs at June 30, 2024 and December 31,2023. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss associated with its unconsolidated VIEs consists of the capital invested plus any unfunded equity commitments. These investments are recorded in other assets and other liabilities on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. Also included in the maximum loss exposure are bridge loans to VIEs and securities acquired as part of certain securitization transactions. The bridge loans are included in loans receivable and the securities are included in securities held to maturity.

Note 6:Regulatory Matters

The Company, Merchants Bank and FMBI (prior to the January 26, 2024 sale of its branches and merger of its remaining charter into Merchants Bank) are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by federal and state banking regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and Merchants Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and Merchants Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and Merchants Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, and other factors. Furthermore, the Company’s and Merchants Bank’s regulators could require adjustments to regulatory capital not reflected in these financial statements.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and Merchants Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below). Management believes, as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, that the Company and Merchants Bank met all capital adequacy requirements. For additional information regarding dividend restrictions, see the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10–K.

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the most recent notifications from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”) categorized the Company as well capitalized and most recent notifications from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) categorized Merchants Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Company’s or Merchants Bank’s category.

FMBI was subject to these same requirements and guidelines prior to the sale of its branches and the merger of its remaining charter into Merchants Bank in January 2024. As of December 31, 2023, FMBI met all capital adequacy requirements (as set forth in the table below). The FDIC categorized FMBI as well capitalized at that time and there are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes would have changed that category.

The Company’s, Merchants Bank’s, and FMBI’s actual capital amounts and ratios are presented in the following tables.

Note 7: Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses non-hedging designated, derivative financial instruments to help manage exposure to interest rate risk and the effects that changes in interest rates may have on net income and the fair value of assets and liabilities.

Internal Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company enters into forward contracts for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors and enters into interest rate lock commitments with potential borrowers to fund specific mortgage loans that will be sold into the secondary market. The forward contracts are entered into in order to economically hedge the effect of changes in interest rates resulting from the Company’s commitment to fund the loans.

Interest rate swaps are also used by the Company to reduce the risk that significant increases in interest rates may have on the value of certain fixed rate loans held for sale and the respective loan payments received from borrowers. All changes in the fair market value of these interest rate swaps and associated loans held for sale have been included in gain on sale of loans. Any difference between the fixed and floating interest rate components of these transactions have been included in interest income.

The Company entered into a contract containing put options and interest rate floors on securities it acquired from a warehouse customer. These provide protection and prevent losses in value of certain securities available for sale. The Company also entered into interest rate floor contracts withtwo warehouse loan customers to minimize interest rate risk. All changes in the fair market value of these options and floors have been included in other noninterest income.

Credit Risk Management

In March 2024, the Company entered into a contract as the buyer of credit protection through the credit derivative market. A credit default swap was purchased to manage credit risk associated with specific multifamily mortgage loans. Under the terms of the contract, the Company will be compensated for certain credit-related losses on a pool of multifamily mortgage loans. The protection seller has posted aggregate collateral of $76.1 million related to their obligations under the contract. Th collateral is not included in the Company’s balance sheet. There wasno gain or loss associated with the credit default swap valuation as of June 30, 2024. Any future changes in the fair market value of this instrument will be included in other noninterest income.

All of these items are considered derivatives, but are not designated as accounting hedges, and are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in noninterest income on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. The fair value of derivative instruments with a positive fair value are reported in other assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets while derivative instruments with a negative fair value are reported in other liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents the notional amount and fair value of interest rate locks, forward contracts, interest rate swaps, put options and interest rate floors utilized by the Company at June 30, 2024 and December 31,2023. This table excludes the fair market value adjustment on loans associated with these derivatives.

The following table summarizes the periodic changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Derivatives on Behalf of Customers

The Company offers derivative contracts to some customers in connection with their risk management needs. These derivatives include interest rate swap, cap, and floor arrangements. The Company manages the risk associated with these contracts by entering into an equal and offsetting back-to-back derivative with a third-party dealer. These derivatives generally work together as an offsetting economic interest rate hedge, but the Company does not designate them for hedge accounting treatment. Consequently, changes in fair value of the corresponding derivative financial asset or liability were recorded as either a charge or credit to current earnings during the period in which the changes occurred, typically resulting in no material net earnings impact.

The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities related to back-to-back derivatives on behalf of customers were recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as follows:

The gross gains and losses on these derivative assets and liabilities were recorded in other noninterest income and other noninterest expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income as follows:

The Company pledged $0 in collateral to secure its obligations under swap contracts at both June 30, 2024 and December 31,2023.

Note 8: Disclosures about Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. There is a hierarchy of three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2 Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities

Level 3 Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities

Recurring Measurements

The following tables present the fair value measurements of assets and liabilities recognized in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies and inputs used for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy. There have been no significant changes in the valuation techniques during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023. For assets classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the process used to develop the reported fair value is described below.

Mortgage Loans in Process of Securitization, Securities Available for Sale, and Securities with a Fair Value Option Election

Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities, such as U.S. Treasuries, are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or independent asset pricing services and pricing models, the inputs of which are market-based or independently sourced market parameters, including, but not limited to, yield curves, interest rates, volatilities, prepayments, defaults, cumulative loss projections and cash flows. Such securities are classified in Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy including federal agencies, mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities and Federal Housing Administration participation certificates. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

Loans Held for Sale

Certain loans held for sale at fair value are saleable into the secondary mortgage markets and their fair values are estimated using observable quoted market or contracted prices, or market price equivalents, which would be used by other market participants. These saleable loans are considered Level 2.

Servicing Rights

Servicing rights do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices. Accordingly, fair value is estimated using discounted cash flow models having significant inputs of discount rate, prepayment speed, cost of servicing, interest rates, and default rate. Due to the nature of the valuation inputs, servicing rights are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

The Chief Financial Officer’s (CFO) office contracts with an independent pricing specialist to generate fair value estimates on a quarterly basis. The CFO’s office challenges the reasonableness of the assumptions used and reviews the methodology to ensure the estimated fair value complies with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest rate lock commitments - The Company estimates the fair value of interest rate lock commitments based on the value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted mortgage-backed security prices, estimates of the fair value of the servicing rights, and an estimate of the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the interest rate lock commitment, net of expenses. With respect to its interest rate lock commitments, management determined that a Level 3 classification was most appropriate based on the various significant unobservable inputs utilized in estimating the fair value of its interest rate lock commitments.

Forward sales commitments - The Company estimates the fair value of forward sales commitments based on market quotes of mortgage-backed security prices for securities similar to the ones used, which are considered Level 2.

Interest rate swaps, caps, and floors (back-to-back) – The Company estimates the fair value of these derivatives made in relation to specific contracts with customers based on prices that are obtained from a third party that uses observable market inputs, thereby supporting a Level 2 classification.

Interest rate swaps – The Company estimates the fair value of certain interest rate swaps based on prices that are obtained from a third party that uses observable market inputs, thereby supporting a Level 2 classification.

Put options - The fair value of put options are linked to securities available for sale that are accounted for using the fair value option and are classified as either Level 2 or Level 3 on the hierarchy. The put options are classified as Level 2 or Level 3 in the hierarchy, depending upon the magnitude of observable inputs in the valuation of the securities. These valuations are estimated by a third party.

Interest rate floors - The fair value of certain interest rate floors is linked to securities available for sale that are accounted for using the fair value option. Other interest rate floors are linked to loans with warehouse customers. The value of the interest rate floors is based on estimated discounted cash flows that are based on inputs that are not readily observable and, thus, are classified as Level 3 on the hierarchy. These valuations are estimated by a third party.

Credit Default Swap – The fair value of the credit default swap is linked to the value of its underlying mortgage loans. The Company estimates the fair value based on estimated discounted cash flows that are derived from inputs, including credit spreads that are not readily observable and, thus, are classified as Level 3 on the hierarchy. These valuations are estimated by a third party.

Level 3 Reconciliation

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of recurring fair value measurements recognized in the accompanying balance sheets using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs:

Nonrecurring Measurements

The following table presents the fair value measurement of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies and inputs used for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and recognized in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy. For assets classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the process used to develop the reported fair value is described below.

Collateral Dependent Loans, Net of ACL-Loans

The estimated fair value of collateral dependent loans is based on the appraised fair value of the collateral, less estimated cost to sell. Collateral dependent loans are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company considers the appraisal or evaluation as the starting point for determining fair value and then considers other factors and events in the environment that may affect the fair value. Appraisals of the collateral underlying collateral-dependent loans are obtained when the loan is determined to be classified as substandard, collateral-dependent and subsequently as deemed necessary by the Chief Credit Officer’s (“CCO)” office. Appraisals and evaluations are reviewed for accuracy and consistency by the CCO’s office. Appraisers are selected from the list of approved appraisers maintained by management. The appraised values are reduced by discounts to consider lack of marketability and estimated cost to sell if repayment or satisfaction of the loan is dependent on the sale of the collateral. These discounts and estimates are developed by the CCO’s office by comparison to historical results.

Unobservable (Level 3) Inputs:

The following table presents quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in recurring and nonrecurring Level 3 fair value measurements other than goodwill.