4
Income Taxes
We realized
income tax expense of $2.8 million (effective rate of 22%)
for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $3.2 million
(effective rate of 17%) for the third quarter of 20
20 and $2.5 million (effective rate of 23%) for the fourth quarter
of 2019.
For the
full year 2020, we realized income tax expense of $10.2
million (effective rate of 19%) compared to $10.0 million (effective
rate of
24%) for the same period of 2019.
Tax expense for the fourth
quarter of 2020 was unfavorably impacted by a $0.3
million discrete
tax expense.
The decrease in our effective tax rate in 2020 reflected
the impact of converting CCHL to a partnership for tax
purposes in the second quarter of 2020.
Absent discrete items, we expect our annual effective tax rate
to approximate 18%-19% in
Discussion of Financial Condition
Earning Assets
Average earning assets were
$3.337 billion for the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of $113.6
million, or 3.5%,
over the third
quarter of 2020, and an increase of $642.7 million, or 23.9%
over the fourth quarter of 2019.
The increase over both prior periods
was primarily driven by higher deposit balances, which funded
growth in both overnight funds sold and SBA PPP loans.
Deposit
balances increased as a result of strong core deposit growth, in addition
to funding retained at the bank from SBA PPP loans, and
various other stimulus programs.
We maintained an average
net overnight funds (deposits with banks plus FED funds sold less FED
funds purchased) sold position of
$705.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2020 compared
to an average net overnight funds sold position of $567.9 million
in the
third quarter of 2020 and $228.1 million in the fourth quarter
of 2019.
The increase compared to both prior periods was driven by
strong core deposit growth, in addition to pandemic related stimulus programs
(see below –
Funding
Average loans HFI decreased
$11.7 million, or 0.6%, from the third quarter of
2020 and increased $159.4 million, or 8.7%, over the
fourth quarter of 2019.
In 2020, we originated SBA PPP loans totaling $190 million (reflected
in the commercial loan category)
which averaged $185 million in the fourth quarter and totaled
$178 million at period-end.
Compared to the third quarter of 2020,
the decline in average loans was primarily due to lower commercial
and commercial mortgage balances with the decline in
commercial loans due to the reduction in SBA PPP loans and
lower utilization of commercial lines of credit reflective of the
economic slowdown.
Period-end HFI loans increased $8.3 million, or 0.4%,
over the third quarter of 2020 and increased $170.5
million, or 9.3%, over the fourth quarter of 2019.
The increase over the third quarter of 2020 reflected higher home equity,
construction, and residential loan balances.
To date, approximately $12
million in SBA PPP loans have been forgiven and paid-off
.
Forgiveness applications are expected to
accelerate over the next three to six months driven by the recent COVID
Relief Bill which allows a streamlined forgiveness
application process for loans of $150,000 and less.
At December 31, 2020, SBA PPP loans of $150,000 or less totaled
$69 million.
SBA PPP loan fees totaled approximately $0.8 million for the fourth quarter
of 2020, $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2020,
and
$0.4 million for the second quarter of 2020.
At December 31, 2020 we had $3.2 million (net) in deferred SBA PPP
loan fees.
Allowance for Credit Losses
At December 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses totaled
$23.8 million compared to $23.1 million at September 30,
2020 and
$13.9 million at December 31, 2019.
At December 31, 2020, the allowance represented 1.19% of HFI loans and provided
coverage
of 406%
of nonperforming loans compared to 1.16% and 420%, respectively,
at September 30, 2020 and 0.75% and 311%,
respectively, at December 31,
2019.
At December 31, 2020, excluding SBA PPP loans (100% government guaranteed)
,
the
allowance represented 1.30%
of loans held for investment.
The adoption of ASC 326 (“CECL”) on January 1, 2020
had an impact of $4.0 million ($3.3 million increase in the allowance for
credit losses and $0.7 million increase in the allowance for unfunded
loan commitments (other liability account)).
The $6.6 million
build (provision of $9.0 million less net charge
-offs of $2.4 million) in the allowance for credit losses in 2020
was attributable to
stressed economic conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
and its potential effect on rates of default.
Credit Quality/COVID-19 Exposure
Nonperforming assets (nonaccrual loans and OREO) totaled $6.7
million at December 31, 2020, comparable to September 30,
2020,
and a $1.3 million increase over December 31, 2019.
Nonaccrual loans totaled $5.9 million at December 31,
2020, a $0.4 million
increase over September 30, 2020 and a $1.4 million increase
over December 31, 2019.
The balance of OREO totaled $0.8 million
at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $0.4 million from September 30,
2020 and a $0.1 million decrease from December 31,
2019.