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Note 8 - Loans
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]

8. Loans

 

Most of the Company’s business activities are with clients located in the high-density Asian-populated areas of Southern and Northern California; New York City, New York; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Edison, New Jersey; Rockville, Maryland; and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Company also has loan clients in Hong Kong. The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans, when secured, are secured by real property or other collateral of the borrowers. The Company generally expects loans to be paid off from the operating profits of the borrowers, from refinancing by other lenders, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral.

 

The types of loans in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, were as follows:

 

  

September 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 
  

(In thousands)

 
         

Commercial loans

 $3,106,994  $3,305,048 

Construction loans

  307,057   422,647 

Commercial real estate loans

  9,975,272   9,729,581 

Residential mortgage loans

  5,750,546   5,838,747 

Equity lines

  226,838   245,919 

Installment and other loans

  6,886   6,198 

Gross loans

 $19,373,593  $19,548,140 

Allowance for loan losses

  (163,733)  (154,562)

Unamortized deferred loan fees, net

  (10,505)  (10,720)

Total loans held for investment, net

 $19,199,355  $19,382,858 
         

Loans held for sale

 $5,190  $ 

 

As of September 30, 2024, and  December 31, 2023, recorded investment in non-accrual loans was $162.8 million and $66.7 million, respectively. For non-accrual loans, the amounts previously charged-off represent 10.0% and 15.8% of the contractual balances for non-accrual loans as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

The following table presents non-accrual loans and the related allowance as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.  There were no non-accrual loans with allocated allowance as of  December 31, 2023.

 

  

September 30, 2024

 
  

Unpaid Principal Balance

  

Recorded Investment

  

Allowance

 
  

(In thousands)

 
             

With no allocated allowance:

            

Commercial loans

 $47,542  $35,098  $ 

Commercial real estate loans

  91,342   76,870    

Residential mortgage loans and equity lines

  23,963   23,183    

Subtotal

 $162,847  $135,151  $ 
             

With allocated allowance:

            

Commercial loans

 $16,976  $16,976  $3,830 

Commercial real estate loans

  10,707   10,707   2,067 

Subtotal

 $27,683  $27,683  $5,897 

Total non-accrual loans

 $190,530  $162,834  $5,897 

 

  

December 31, 2023

 
  

Unpaid Principal Balance

  

Recorded Investment

  

Allowance

 
  

(In thousands)

 
             

With no allocated allowance:

            

Commercial loans

 $26,310  $14,404  $ 

Construction loans

  7,736   7,736    

Commercial real estate loans

  41,725   32,030    

Residential mortgage loans and equity lines

  12,957   12,511    

Subtotal

 $88,728  $66,681  $ 
             

Total non-accrual loans

 $88,728  $66,681  $ 

 

The following tables present the average recorded investment and interest income recognized on non-accrual loans for the period indicated:

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30, 2024

  

September 30, 2024

 
  

Average Recorded Investment

  

Interest Income Recognized

  

Average Recorded Investment

  

Interest Income Recognized

 
  

(In thousands)

 
                 

Commercial loans

 $24,609  $4  $15,755  $9 

Construction loans

  15,499      22,174    

Commercial real estate loans

  78,982   98   60,352   220 

Residential mortgage loans and equity lines

  21,529      17,488    

Total non-accrual loans

 $140,619  $102  $115,769  $229 

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30, 2023

  

September 30, 2023

 
  

Average Recorded Investment

  

Interest Income Recognized

  

Average Recorded Investment

  

Interest Income Recognized

 
  

(In thousands)

 
                 

Commercial loans

 $13,147  $5  $18,982  $10 

Construction loans

  11,266      3,797    

Commercial real estate loans

  37,046   74   37,446   244 

Residential mortgage loans and equity lines

  13,214      11,652    

Installment and other loans

        1    

Total non-accrual loans

 $74,673  $79  $71,878  $254 

 

The following tables present the aging of the loan portfolio by type as of September 30, 2024, and as of December 31, 2023:

 

  

September 30, 2024

 
  

Accruing

                 
  

30-59 Days Past Due

  

60-89 Days Past Due

  

90 Days or More Past Due

  

Non-accrual Loans

  

Total Past Due

  

Loans Not Past Due

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Type of Loans:

                            

Commercial loans

 $4,019  $2,007  $6,931  $52,074  $65,031  $3,041,963  $3,106,994 

Construction loans

     3,497         3,497   303,560   307,057 

Commercial real estate loans

  9,615         87,577   97,192   9,878,080   9,975,272 

Residential mortgage loans and equity lines

  1,603   9,030      23,183   33,816   5,943,568   5,977,384 

Installment and other loans

  37            37   6,849   6,886 

Total loans

 $15,274  $14,534  $6,931  $162,834  $199,573  $19,174,020  $19,373,593 

 

  

December 31, 2023

 
  

Accruing

                 
  

30-59 Days Past Due

  

60-89 Days Past Due

  

90 Days or More Past Due

  

Non-accrual Loans

  

Total Past Due

  

Loans Not Past Due

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Type of Loans:

                            

Commercial loans

 $11,771  $7,770  $508  $14,404  $34,453  $3,270,595  $3,305,048 

Construction loans

  25,389   22,998      7,736   56,123   366,524   422,647 

Commercial real estate loans

  27,900   1,503   6,649   32,030   68,082   9,661,499   9,729,581 

Residential mortgage loans and equity lines

  59,606   6,670      12,511   78,787   6,005,879   6,084,666 

Installment and other loans

  32            32   6,166   6,198 

Total loans

 $124,698  $38,941  $7,157  $66,681  $237,477  $19,310,663  $19,548,140 

 

The Company has adopted ASU 2022-02, "Financial Instruments – Troubled Debt Restructurings ("TDR") and Vintage Disclosures" effective January 1, 2023. As part of the adoption, the Company has elected to apply the pending content prospectively and the practical expedient to exclude the accrued interest receivable balance from the disclosed amortized cost basis of loan modifications to debtors experiencing financial difficulty, consistent with our Allowance for Credit Losses ("ACL") approach discussed further below in this footnote.

 

Under this guidance on loan modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, when a loan held for investment is modified and is considered to be a continuation of the original loan, the Company uses the post-modification contractual rate to derive the effective interest rate when using a discounted cash flow method to determine the allowance for credit loss.

 

The amendments in this guidance require that an entity evaluate whether the modification represents a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan.

 

The Company establishes a specific reserve for individually evaluated loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with the loans included in the quantitative baseline. These individually evaluated loans are removed from the pooling approach for the quantitative baseline, and include non-accrual loans, loan modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, and other loans as deemed appropriate by management. The Company applies the loan refinancing and restructuring guidance provided in ASU 2022-02 to determine whether a modification made to a borrower result in a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan.

 

If economic conditions or other factors worsen relative to the assumptions the Company utilized, the expected loan losses will increase accordingly in future periods.

 

The following table presents the amortized cost of loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty disaggregated by class of financing receivable and type of concession granted and the financial effects of the modifications for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and  September 30, 2023, by loan class and modification type.  

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

      

Financial Effects of Loan Modifications

 
  

Term Extension

  

Payment Delay

  

Combo-Rate Reduction/Term Extension/Payment Delay

  

Total

  

Modification as a % of Loan Class

  

Weighted-Average Change in Rate

  

Weighted-Average Term Extension (in Years)

  

Weighted-Average Payment Deferral (in Years)

 
  

(In thousands)

                 

Loan Type

                                

Commercial loans

 $  $135  $  $135   0.00%  0.00   0.0   0.6 

Total

 $  $135  $  $135                 
                                 
                                 
  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

      

Financial Effects of Loan Modifications

 
  

Term Extension

  

Payment Delay

  

Combo-Rate Reduction/Term Extension/Payment Delay

  

Total

  

Modification as a % of Loan Class

  

Weighted-Average Change in Rate

  

Weighted-Average Term Extension (in Years)

  

Weighted-Average Payment Deferral (in Years)

 
  

(In thousands)

                 

Loan Type

                                

Commercial loans

 $6,749  $135  $974  $7,858   0.25%  1.04   1.9   0.1 

Residential mortgage loans

     221      221   0.00%  (0.18)  0.0   2.0 

Total

 $6,749  $356  $974  $8,079                 

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

      

Financial Effects of Loan Modifications

 
  

Term Extension

  

Payment Delay

  

Combo-Rate Reduction/Term Extension/Payment Delay

  

Total

  

Modification as a % of Loan Class

  

Weighted-Average Change in Rate

  

Weighted-Average Term Extension (in Years)

  

Weighted-Average Payment Deferral (in Years)

 
  

(In thousands)

                 

Loan Type

                                

Commercial loans

 $1,489  $  $1,164  $2,653   0.09%  (0.94)  0.80   0.40 

Total

 $1,489  $  $1,164  $2,653                 
                                 
                                 
  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

      

Financial Effects of Loan Modifications

 
  

Term Extension

  

Payment Delay

  

Combo-Rate Reduction/Term Extension/Payment Delay

  

Total

  

Modification as a % of Loan Class

  

Weighted-Average Change in Rate

  

Weighted-Average Term Extension (in Years)

  

Weighted-Average Payment Deferral (in Years)

 
  

(In thousands)

                 

Loan Type

                                

Commercial loans

 $1,489  $  $1,199  $2,688   0.09%  (1.27)  0.80   0.39 

Total

 $1,489  $  $1,199  $2,688                 

 

The Company considers a loan to be in payment default once it is 60 to 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.  The Company tracks the performance of modified loans. There were no loans that received a modification during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, that subsequently defaulted.

 

A modified loan may become delinquent and may result in a payment default (generally 90 days past due) subsequent to modification.  There were no loans that received modifications which subsequently defaulted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

The Company closely monitors the performance of modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. 

 

The following table presents the performance of loans that were modified for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, since the adoption of ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023.

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024

 
  

Current

  

30–89 Days Past Due

  

90+ Days Past Due

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Loan Type

                

Commercial loans

 $135  $  $  $135 

Total

 $135  $  $  $135 

 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

 
  

Current

  

30–89 Days Past Due

  

90+ Days Past Due

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Loan Type

                

Commercial loans

 $7,858  $  $  $7,858 

Residential mortgage loans

  221         221 

Total

 $8,079  $  $  $8,079 

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

 
  

Current

  

30–89 Days Past Due

  

90+ Days Past Due

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Loan Type

                

Commercial loans

 $2,653  $  $  $2,653 

Total

 $2,653  $  $  $2,653 

 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

 
  

Current

  

30–89 Days Past Due

  

90+ Days Past Due

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Loan Type

                

Commercial loans

 $2,688  $  $  $2,688 

Total

 $2,688  $  $  $2,688 

 

Under the Company’s internal underwriting policy, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the foreseeable future without the modification in order to determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty.

 

As of September 30, 2024, there were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty and whose loans were modified.

 

As part of the on-going monitoring of the credit quality of our loan portfolio, the Company utilizes a risk grading matrix to assign a risk grade to each loan. Loans are risk rated based on analysis of the current state of the borrower’s credit quality. The analysis of credit quality includes a review of sources of repayment, the borrower’s current financial and liquidity status and other relevant information. The risk rating categories can be generally described by the following grouping for non-homogeneous loans: 

 

 

Pass/Watch These loans range from minimal credit risk to higher than average, but still acceptable, credit risk. The loans have sufficient sources of repayment to repay the loans in full, in accordance with all the terms and conditions and remain currently well protected by collateral values.

 

 

Special Mention – Borrower is fundamentally sound, and loan is currently protected but adverse trends are apparent that, if not corrected, may affect ability to repay. Primary source of loan repayment remains viable but there is increasing reliance on collateral or guarantor support.

 

 

Substandard – These loans are inadequately protected by current sound net worth, paying capacity, or collateral. Well-defined weaknesses exist that could jeopardize repayment of debt. Loss may not be imminent, but if weaknesses are not corrected, there is a good possibility of some loss.

 

 

Doubtful – The possibility of loss is extremely high, but due to identifiable and important pending events (which may strengthen the loan), a loss classification is deferred until the situation is better defined.

 

 

Loss – These loans are considered uncollectible and of such little value that to continue to carry the loan as an active asset is no longer warranted.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s loans held for investment and current year-to-date gross write-offs as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, presented by loan portfolio segments, internal risk ratings and vintage year. The vintage year is the year of origination, renewal or major modification. Revolving Loans that are converted to term loans presented in the table below are excluded from the term loans by vintage year columns.

 

  

Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year

             

September 30, 2024

 

2024

  

2023

  

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

Prior

  

Revolving Loans

  

Revolving Converted to Term Loans

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Commercial loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $292,982  $336,678  $210,436  $231,446  $53,253  $115,534  $1,648,578  $7,968  $2,896,875 

Special Mention

        665   9,725   310   4,848   54,180      69,728 

Substandard

  50   6,204   14,563   6,790   22,515   6,317   75,490   390   132,319 

Doubtful

           4,656               4,656 

Total

 $293,032  $342,882  $225,664  $252,617  $76,078  $126,699  $1,778,248  $8,358  $3,103,578 

YTD gross write-offs

 $98  $672  $568  $8,224  $257  $49  $2,994  $  $12,862 

Construction loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $8,369  $51,004  $121,425  $55,043  $2,596  $10,482  $  $  $248,919 

Special Mention

           35,569   14,321            49,890 

Substandard

     3,967   3,497                  7,464 

Total

 $8,369  $54,971  $124,922  $90,612  $16,917  $10,482  $  $  $306,273 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Commercial real estate loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $1,032,804  $2,084,411  $1,788,747  $1,489,868  $823,095  $2,293,030  $168,887  $  $9,680,842 

Special Mention

  2,095      19,859   18,601   17,221   23,405   565      81,746 

Substandard

     22,381   29,149   49,435   6,853   87,921   9,559      205,298 

Total

 $1,034,899  $2,106,792  $1,837,755  $1,557,904  $847,169  $2,404,356  $179,011  $  $9,967,886 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $  $  $1,997  $  $  $1,997 

Residential mortgage loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $511,483  $1,041,679  $1,046,124  $818,090  $469,840  $1,831,283  $  $  $5,718,499 

Special Mention

              33   1,592         1,625 

Substandard

  397   1,831   6,204   5,159   4,447   12,668         30,706 

Total

 $511,880  $1,043,510  $1,052,328  $823,249  $474,320  $1,845,543  $  $  $5,750,830 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $59  $  $  $  $  $59 

Equity lines

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $  $  $77  $  $  $  $208,885  $16,732  $225,694 

Substandard

                    1,687   331   2,018 

Total

 $  $  $77  $  $  $  $210,572  $17,063  $227,712 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $3  $3 

Installment and other loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $5,354  $1,349  $106  $  $  $  $  $  $6,809 

Total

 $5,354  $1,349  $106  $  $  $  $  $  $6,809 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $7  $  $  $  $  $  $7 

Total loans

 $1,853,534  $3,549,504  $3,240,852  $2,724,382  $1,414,484  $4,387,080  $2,167,831  $25,421  $19,363,088 

Total YTD gross write-offs

 $98  $672  $575  $8,283  $257  $2,046  $2,994  $3  $14,928 

 

  

Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year

             

December 31, 2023

 

2023

  

2022

  

2021

  

2020

  

2019

  

Prior

  

Revolving Loans

  

Revolving Converted to Term Loans

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Commercial loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $381,705  $323,939  $326,650  $96,725  $75,281  $136,162  $1,775,162  $8,308  $3,123,932 

Special Mention

  4,488   4,875   8,559   23,380         75,419      116,721 

Substandard

  1,752   653   9,895   2,462   763   5,775   40,131   116   61,547 

Total

 $387,945  $329,467  $345,104  $122,567  $76,044  $141,937  $1,890,712  $8,424  $3,302,200 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $977  $1,312  $384  $3,672  $6,044  $1,520  $  $13,909 

Construction loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $29,550  $131,984  $153,977  $19,461  $13,298  $3,131  $  $  $351,401 

Special Mention

  1,911      11,707   25,389      22,998         62,005 

Substandard

              7,736            7,736 

Total

 $31,461  $131,984  $165,684  $44,850  $21,034  $26,129  $  $  $421,142 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $  $  $4,221  $  $  $4,221 

Commercial real estate loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $2,121,489  $1,959,239  $1,585,010  $887,508  $1,019,952  $1,726,015  $184,601  $  $9,483,814 

Special Mention

  37,604   18,910   38,405   3,499   10,303   17,210   1,384      127,315 

Substandard

     11,870   12,170   2,965   17,293   66,205         110,503 

Total

 $2,159,093  $1,990,019  $1,635,585  $893,972  $1,047,548  $1,809,430  $185,985  $  $9,721,632 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $208  $  $969  $4,164  $  $  $5,341 

Residential mortgage loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $1,140,998  $1,128,526  $902,613  $524,315  $541,005  $1,583,118  $  $  $5,820,575 

Special Mention

           33      1,619         1,652 

Substandard

  7   652   3,325   2,577   1,334   9,311         17,206 

Total

 $1,141,005  $1,129,178  $905,938  $526,925  $542,339  $1,594,048  $  $  $5,839,433 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Equity lines

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $  $98  $  $  $  $  $227,502  $16,628  $244,228 

Special Mention

     3                     3 

Substandard

                    2,511   173   2,684 

Total

 $  $101  $  $  $  $  $230,013  $16,801  $246,915 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Installment and other loans

                                    

Pass/Watch

 $5,114  $981  $3  $  $  $  $  $  $6,098 

Total

 $5,114  $981  $3  $  $  $  $  $  $6,098 

YTD gross write-offs

 $  $15  $  $  $  $  $  $  $15 

Total loans

 $3,724,618  $3,581,730  $3,052,314  $1,588,314  $1,686,965  $3,571,544  $2,306,710  $25,225  $19,537,420 

Total YTD gross write-offs

 $  $992  $1,520  $384  $4,641  $14,429  $1,520  $  $23,486 

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

The Company has an allowance framework under ASC Topic 326 for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. The measurement of the allowance for credit losses is based on management’s best estimate of lifetime expected credit losses inherent in the Company’s relevant financial assets. The forward-looking concept of current expected credit loss (“CECL”) approach requires loss estimates to consider historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts of future events and circumstances.

 

The ACL is the combination of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded loan commitments. The allowance for loan losses is reported as a reduction of the amortized cost basis of loans, while the reserve for unfunded loan commitments is included within "other liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited). The amortized cost basis of loans does not include accrued interest receivable, which is included in "accrued interest receivable" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The "Provision for credit losses" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) is a combination of the provision for loan losses and the provision for unfunded loan commitments.

 

Under the Company’s CECL approach, management estimates the ACL using relevant available information from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts that vary by loan portfolio. We use economic forecasts from Moody’s Analytics in this process. The economic forecast is updated monthly; therefore, the one used for each quarter-end calculation is generally based on a one-month lag based on the timing of when the forecast is released. The Company does not consider a one-month lag to create a material difference but considers any subsequent material changes to our estimated loss forecasts as deemed appropriate. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level, or term as well as for changes in environmental conditions, such as changes in gross domestic product (or “GDP”), unemployment rates, property values, or other relevant factors.

 

Under the CECL methodology, quantitative and qualitative loss factors are applied to our population of loans on a collective pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The Company evaluates loans for expected credit losses on an individual basis if, based on current information and events, the loan does not share similar credit risk characteristics with other loans. The Company may choose to measure expected credit losses on an individual loan basis by using one of the following methods: (1) the present value of the expected future cash flows of the loan discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate, or (2) if the loan is collateral dependent, the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell. For loans that are not collateral-dependent, the Company uses the present value of future cash flows.

 

Quantitative Factors

 

Under the Company’s CECL methodology, nine portfolio segments with similar risk characteristics are evaluated for expected loss. Six portfolios are modeled using econometric models and three smaller portfolios are evaluated using a simplified loss-rate method that calculates lifetime expected credit losses for the respective pools (simplified approach). The six portfolios subject to econometric modeling include residential mortgages; commercial and industrial loans (“C&I”); construction loans; commercial real estate (“CRE”) for multifamily loans; CRE for owner-occupied loans; and other CRE loans. We estimate the probability of default during the reasonable and supportable forecast period using separate econometric regression models developed to correlate macroeconomic variables, (GDP, unemployment, CRE prices and residential mortgage prices) to historical credit performance for each of the six loan portfolios from the fourth quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2022. Loss given default rates are computed based on the charge-offs recognized divided by the exposure at default of defaulted loans starting with the fourth quarter of 2007 through the fourth quarter of 2022. The probability of default and the loss given default rates are applied to the expected amount at default at the loan level based on contractual scheduled payments and estimated prepayments. The amounts so calculated comprise the quantitative portion of the allowance for credit losses.

 

The Company’s CECL methodology utilizes an eight-quarter reasonable and supportable (“R&S”) forecast period, and a four-quarter reversion period. Management relies on multiple forecasts, blending them into a single loss estimate. Generally speaking, the blended scenario approach would include the Baseline, the Alternative Scenario 1 – Upside – 10th Percentile and the Alternative Scenario 3 – Downside – 90th Percentile forecasts. After the R&S period, the Company reverts linearly for the four-quarter reversion period to the long-term loss rates for each of the six portfolios of loans.

 

The Company’s CECL methodology estimates expected credit losses over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless the extension or renewal options are included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company.

 

The simplified approach portfolios include Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, Home Equity Lines of Credit (“HELOCs”) and cash-secured loans, which are not modelled econometrically due to the low loss history for these three pools of loans. The forecasted loss rate is based on the forecasted GDP and unemployment rates during the first eight quarters of the portfolio’s contractual life, reversion loss rates for the next four quarters of the portfolio’s contractual life on a linear declining rate, and the long-term loss rate projected over the remainder of the portfolio’s contractual life.

 

Qualitative Factors

 

Under the Company’s CECL methodology, the qualitative portion of the reserve on pooled loans represents management’s judgment of additional considerations to account for internal and external risk factors that are not adequately measured in the quantitative reserve. The qualitative loss factors consider idiosyncratic risk factors, conditions that may not be reflected in quantitatively derived results, or other relevant factors to seek to ensure the allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses. The qualitative reserves include reserves for policy exceptions, experience of management and staff, level of competition in the lending environment, weak risk identification, lack of historical loss experience with residential mortgage loans made to non-U.S. residents, oil & gas, the higher risk characteristics of purchased syndicated loans, model uncertainty, and loans with potential risk of loss given the current environment, including CRE and Office loans, but have not degraded to the point of qualifying for a specific reserve. Current and forecasted economic trends and underlying market values for collateral dependent loans also are considered within the econometric models described above.

 

The Company’s CECL methodology requires a significant amount of management judgment in determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses. Several of the steps in the methodology involve judgment and are subjective in nature including, among other things:

 

 

Segmenting the loan portfolio

 

Determining the amount of loss history to consider

 

Selecting predictive econometric regression models that use appropriate macroeconomic variables

 

Determining the methodology to forecast prepayments

 

Selecting the most appropriate economic forecast scenario

 

Determining the length of the R&S forecast and reversion periods

 

Estimating expected utilization rates on unfunded loan commitments

 

Assessing relevant and appropriate qualitative factors.

 

In addition, the CECL methodology is dependent on economic forecasts that are inherently imprecise and will change from period to period. Although the allowance for credit losses is considered by management to be appropriate, there can be no assurance that it will be sufficient to absorb future losses.

 

Management believes the allowance for credit losses is appropriate for the CECL in our loan portfolio and associated unfunded commitments, and the credit risk ratings and inherent loss rates currently assigned are reasonable and appropriate as of the reporting date. The criteria for default may include any one of the following: on nonaccrual status, modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, or payment delinquency of 90 days or more. 

 

Individually Evaluated Loans 

 

When a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans, such as in the case of certain nonaccrual loans, the Company estimates the allowance for loan losses on an individual loan basis. Generally, the allowance for loan losses for individually evaluated loans is measured as the difference between the recorded value of the loans and the fair value of the collateral. For loans evaluated individually, the Company uses one of two different asset valuation measurement methods: (1) the fair value of collateral less costs to sell; or (2) the present value of expected future cash flows. If an individually evaluated loan is determined to be collateral dependent, the Company applies the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell method. If an individually evaluated loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, the Company uses the present value of future cash flows.

 

Unfunded Loan Commitments

 

Unfunded loan commitments are generally related to providing credit facilities to clients of the Bank and are not actively traded financial instruments. These unfunded commitments are disclosed as off-balance sheet financial instruments in Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Company is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company, using the same loss factors as used for the allowance for loan losses. The reserve for unfunded loan commitments uses a one-year historical usage rate of the unfunded commitments during the contractual life of the commitments. The allowance for unfunded commitments is included in “other liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the allowance for unfunded commitments are included in the provision for credit losses.

 

The following tables set forth activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and September 30, 2023.

 

Three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

 

              

Residential

         
          

Commercial

  

Mortgage Loans

  

Installment

     
  

Commercial

  

Construction

  

Real Estate

  

and

  

and Other

     
  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Equity Lines

  

Loans

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                        

June 30, 2024 Ending Balance

 $48,588  $8,912  $78,465  $17,415  $23  $153,403 

Provision/(reversal) for expected credit losses

  4,872   (402)  8,444   1,554   64   14,532 

Charge-offs

  (2,666)     (1,746)  (59)  (7)  (4,478)

Recoveries

  88      180   7   1   276 

Net (charge-offs)

  (2,578)     (1,566)  (52)  (6)  (4,202)

September 30, 2024 Ending Balance

 $50,882  $8,510  $85,343  $18,917  $81  $163,733 
                         

Allowance for unfunded credit commitments:

                        

June 30, 2024 Ending Balance

 $7,493  $2,081  $  $  $  $9,574 

Provision/(reversal) for expected credit losses

  208   (240)           (32)

September 30, 2024 Ending Balance

 $7,701  $1,841  $  $  $  $9,542 

 

              

Residential

         
          

Commercial

  

Mortgage Loans

  

Installment

     
  

Commercial

  

Construction

  

Real Estate

  

and

  

and Other

     
  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Equity Lines

  

Loans

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                        

June 30, 2023 Ending Balance

 $50,579  $12,751  $73,547  $18,214  $18  $155,109 

(Reversal)/provision for expected credit losses

  (178)  2,360   3,307   586   46   6,121 

Charge-offs

  (6,254)     (1,221)     (8)  (7,483)

Recoveries

  611      252   9      872 

Net (charge-offs)

  (5,643)     (969)  9   (8)  (6,611)

September 30, 2023 Ending Balance

 $44,758  $15,111  $75,885  $18,809  $56  $154,619 
                         

Allowance for unfunded credit commitments:

                        

June 30, 2023 Ending Balance

 $6,984  $3,541  $  $  $  $10,525 

Provision/(reversal) for expected credit losses

  1,570   (691)           879 

September 30, 2023 Ending Balance

 $8,554  $2,850  $  $  $  $11,404 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

 

              

Residential

         
          

Commercial

  

Mortgage Loans

  

Installment

     
  

Commercial

  

Construction

  

Real Estate

  

and

  

and Other

     
  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Equity Lines

  

Loans

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                        

December 31, 2023 Ending Balance

 $53,791  $8,180  $74,428  $18,140  $23  $154,562 

Provision/(reversal) for expected credit losses

  8,927   330   12,731   459   64   22,511 

Charge-offs

  (12,862)     (1,997)  (62)  (7)  (14,928)

Recoveries

  1,026      181   380   1   1,588 

Net (charge-offs)/recoveries

  (11,836)     (1,816)  318   (6)  (13,340)

September 30, 2024 Ending Balance

 $50,882  $8,510  $85,343  $18,917  $81  $163,733 
                         

Allowance for unfunded credit commitments:

                        

December 31, 2023 Ending Balance

 $6,888  $2,165  $  $  $  $9,053 

Provision/(reversal) for expected credit losses

  813   (324)           489 

September 30, 2024 Ending Balance

 $7,701  $1,841  $  $  $  $9,542 

 

              

Residential

         
          

Commercial

  

Mortgage Loans

  

Installment

     
  

Commercial

  

Construction

  

Real Estate

  

and

  

and Other

     
  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Loans

  

Equity Lines

  

Loans

  

Total

 
  

(In thousands)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses:

                        

December 31, 2022 Ending Balance

 $49,435  $10,417  $68,366  $18,232  $35  $146,485 

Provision for expected credit losses

  6,276   4,694   10,027   548   36   21,581 

Charge-offs

  (12,517)     (5,341)     (15)  (17,873)

Recoveries

  1,564      2,833   29      4,426 

Net (charge-offs)/recoveries

  (10,953)     (2,508)  29   (15)  (13,447)

September 30, 2023 Ending Balance

 $44,758  $15,111  $75,885  $18,809  $56  $154,619 
                         

Allowance for unfunded credit commitments:

                        

December 31, 2022 Ending Balance

 $4,840  $3,890  $  $  $  $8,730 

Provision/(reversal) for expected credit losses

  3,714   (1,040)           2,674 

September 30, 2023 Ending Balance

 $8,554  $2,850  $  $  $  $11,404 

 

 

Loans Held-for-Sale

 

At the time of commitment to originate or purchase a loan, the loan is determined to be held for investment if it is in the Company’s intent to hold the loan to maturity or for the “foreseeable future,” subject to periodic reviews under the Company’s evaluation processes, including asset/liability and credit risk management.  When the Company subsequently changes its intent to hold certain loans, the loans are transferred from held-for-investment to held-for-sale at the lower of cost or fair value.  As of September 30, 2024, there were $5.2 million of loans held-for-sale, which were all comprised of commercial loans.  There were no loans held-for-sale as of December 31, 2023.

 

Loan Transfers, Sales and Purchases

 

 

The Company purchases and sells loans in the secondary market in the ordinary course of business.  From time to time, purchased loans may be transferred from held-for-investment to held-for-sale, and write-downs to the allowance for loan losses are recorded, when appropriate. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company transferred $5.2 million in commercial loans and transferred and sold $23.0 million in construction loans held for investment to loans held for sale. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company transferred $112.1 million in commercial loans and $23.0 million in construction loans held for investment to held for sale and sold $107.0 million in commercial loans and $23.0 million in construction loans.  Net gains on sale of loans, excluding the lower of cost or fair value adjustments, were $58.1 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.  There were no lower of cost or fair value adjustments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.  No loan transfers were made during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.