Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures 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 in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of investment securities, the valuation of loans held for investment at fair value, deferred tax assets, loan servicing assets, real estate owned and deferred compensation costs.

The following accounting policies, together with those disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements, represent the significant accounting policies of Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. and the Bank.

Investment securities

The Corporation classifies its qualifying investments as available for sale or held to maturity. The Corporation classifies investments as held to maturity when it has the ability and it is management’s positive intent to hold such securities to maturity. Securities held to maturity are carried at amortized historical cost. All other securities are classified as available for sale and are carried at fair value. Fair value generally is determined based upon quoted market prices. Changes in net unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Gains and losses on sale or dispositions of investment securities are included in non-interest income and are determined using the specific identification method. Purchase premiums and discounts are amortized over the expected average life of the securities using the effective interest method.

Investment securities are reviewed quarterly for possible other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”). For debt securities, an OTTI is evident if the Corporation intends to sell the debt security or will more likely than not be required to sell the debt security before full recovery of the entire amortized cost basis is realized. However, even if the Corporation does not intend to sell the debt security and will not likely be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its entire amortized cost basis, the Corporation performs an analysis of evaluating factors such as cash and working capital requirements, contractual and regulatory obligations, and specific company/industry considerations. In addition, the Corporation must evaluate expected cash flows to be received and determine if a credit loss has occurred. In the event of a credit loss, the credit component of the impairment is recognized within non-interest income and the non-credit component is recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.

Allowance for loan losses

The allowance for loan losses involves significant judgment and assumptions by management, which has a material impact on the carrying value of net loans. Management considers the accounting estimate related to the allowance for loan losses a critical accounting estimate because it is highly susceptible to changes from period to period, requiring management to make assumptions about probable incurred losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The impact of a sudden large loss could deplete the allowance and require increased provisions to replenish the allowance, which would negatively affect earnings.

The allowance is based on two principles of accounting: (i) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 450, “Contingencies,” which requires that losses be accrued when they are probable of occurring and can be estimated; and (ii) ASC 310, “Receivables,” which requires that losses be accrued for non-performing loans that may be determined on an individually evaluated basis or based on an aggregated pooling method.

The allowance has two components: collectively evaluated allowances and individually evaluated allowances. Each of these components is based upon estimates that can change over time. The allowance is based on historical experience and, as a result, can differ from actual losses incurred in the future. The Corporation also applies qualitative loss factors by assessing general economic indicators such as gross domestic product, retail sales, unemployment rates, employment growth, California home sales and median California home prices, as well as peer group data, reflecting the effect of events that have occurred but are not yet evidenced in the historical data. The historical data is reviewed at least quarterly and adjustments are made as needed. Management considers, based on currently available information, the allowance for loan losses sufficient to absorb probable losses inherent within loans held for investment. Various techniques are used to arrive at an individually evaluated allowance, including discounted cash flows and the fair market value of collateral. The use of these techniques is inherently subjective and the actual losses could be greater or less than the estimates.

On July 1, 2023, the Corporation will adopt a new measurement of credit losses on its financial instruments, the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”), as described in the Accounting Standard Updates section below under ASU 2016-13.

Troubled debt restructuring ("restructured loans")

Troubled debt restructuring (“restructured loans”)

A restructured loan is a loan which the Corporation, for reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a more than insignificant concession to the borrower that the Corporation would not otherwise consider. These financial difficulties include, but are not limited to, the borrowers’ default status on any of their debts, bankruptcy and recent changes in their financial circumstances (loss of job, etc.).

The loan terms which have been modified or restructured due to a borrower’s financial difficulty, may include but are not limited to:

a)

A reduction in the stated interest rate and/or accrued interest.

b)

An extension of the maturity date, typically longer than six months.

c)

A reduction in the principal loan balance.

d)

Extensions, deferrals, renewals and rewrites.

e)

Loans that have been discharged in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy that have not been reaffirmed by the borrower.

To qualify for restructuring, a borrower must provide evidence of creditworthiness such as, current financial statements, most recent income tax returns, current paystubs, current W-2s, and most recent bank statements, among other documents, which are then verified by the Corporation. The Corporation re-underwrites the loan with the borrower’s updated financial information, new credit report, current loan balance, new interest rate, remaining loan term, updated property value and modified payment schedule, among other considerations, to determine if the borrower qualifies.

The Corporation measures the allowance for loan losses of restructured loans based on the difference between the loan’s original carrying amount and the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the original effective yield of the loan. Based on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) guidance with respect to restructured loans and to conform to general practices within the banking industry, the Corporation maintains certain restructured loans on accrual status, provided there is reasonable assurance of repayment and performance, consistent with the modified terms based upon a current, well-documented credit evaluation. All other restructured loans are classified as “Substandard” and placed on non-performing status.

The Corporation typically upgrades restructured loans to the pass category if the borrower has demonstrated satisfactory contractual payments for at least six consecutive months or 12 consecutive months for those loans that were restructured more than once. Once the borrower has demonstrated satisfactory contractual payments beyond 12 consecutive months, the loan is no longer categorized as a restructured loan. In addition to the payment history described above; multi-family, commercial real estate, construction and commercial business loans must also demonstrate a combination of corroborating characteristics to be upgraded, such as satisfactory cash flow, satisfactory guarantor support, and additional collateral support, among others.

Real estate owned

Real estate acquired through foreclosure is initially recorded at the fair value of the real estate acquired, less estimated selling costs. Subsequent to foreclosure, the Corporation charges current earnings for estimated losses if the carrying value of the property exceeds its fair value. Gains or losses on the sale of real estate are recognized upon disposition of the property. Costs relating to improvement, maintenance and repairs of the property are expensed as incurred under gain (loss) on sale and operations of real estate owned acquired in the settlement of loans within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Premises and equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed primarily on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives as follows:


Buildings		10 to 40 years
Furniture and fixtures		3 to 10 years
Automobiles		3 to 5 years
Computer equipment		3 to 5 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their respective lease terms or the useful life of the improvement, which ranges from one to 10 years. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operations as incurred.

Bank owned life insurance ("BOLI")

ASC 715-60-35, "Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Post-retirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements," requires an employer to recognize obligations associated with endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that extend into the participant’s post-employment benefit cost for the continuing life insurance or based on the future death benefit depending on the contractual terms of the underlying agreement. The Corporation adopted ASC 715-60-35 using the latter option, i.e., based on the future death benefit. The Bank purchases BOLI policies on the lives of certain executive officers while they are employed by the Bank and is the owner and beneficiary of the policies. The Bank invests in BOLI to provide an efficient form of funding for long-term retirement and other employee benefits costs. The Bank records these BOLI policies within prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at each policy’s respective cash surrender value, with net changes recorded in other non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Earnings per common share ("EPS")

Earnings per common share (“EPS”)

Basic EPS represents net income divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period excluding any potential dilutive effects. Diluted EPS gives effect to any potential issuance of common stock that would have caused basic EPS to be lower as if the issuance had already occurred. Accordingly, diluted EPS reflects an increase in the weighted average shares outstanding as a result of the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock. The computation of diluted EPS does not assume exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock that would have an anti-dilutive effect on EPS.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP")

The Corporation recognizes compensation expense when the Bank contributes funds to the ESOP for the purchase of the Corporation’s common stock to be allocated to the ESOP participants. Since the contributions are discretionary, the benefits payable under the ESOP cannot be estimated.

Post-retirement benefits

The estimated obligation for post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits is determined based on an actuarial computation of the cost of current and future benefits for the eligible (grandfathered) retirees and employees. The post retirement benefit liability is included in accounts payable, accrued interest and other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Effective July 1, 2003, the Corporation discontinued the post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits to any employee not previously qualified (grandfathered) for these benefits. At June 30, 2023 and 2022, the accrued liability for post-retirement benefits was $270,000 and $174,000, respectively, which was fully funded consistent with actuarially determined estimates of the future obligation.

Accounting standard updates ("ASU")

Accounting standard updates (“ASU”)

ASU 2016-13:

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” and subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in November 2018, ASU No. 2018-19, April 2019, ASU 2019-04, May 2019, ASU 2019-05, November 2019, ASU 2019-11, February 2020, ASU 2020-02, March 2020, ASU 2020-03 and March 2022, ASU 2022-02, all of which clarifies codification and corrects unintended application of the guidance. In November 2019, the FASB also issued ASU 2019-10, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates” extending the adoption date for certain registrants, including the Corporation. These ASUs related to Topic 326 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Corporation is evaluating its current expected credit loss methodology of its loans held for investment and investment securities held to maturity to identify the necessary modifications in accordance with these standards and expects a change in the processes and procedures to calculate the allowance for credit losses, including changes in assumptions and estimates to consider expected credit losses over the life of the loan versus the current accounting practice that utilizes the incurred loss model. The Corporation established a project team and implementation plan to address the key components to this process. The Corporation has determined its loan segmentation, compiled historical data and selected methodologies for each loan grouping. The Corporation ran several sets of parallel runs, and sensitivity analysis on its initial modeling assumptions and completed validation of the model in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 prior to the adoption date of July 1, 2023. The Corporation anticipates the allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment to change through a one-time adjustment to retained earnings, net of estimated income taxes. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 on July 1, 2023, we expect to recognize a reduction to our opening retained earnings of approximately $825,000, net of deferred taxes and other immaterial adjustments, resulting from a pretax increase to our allowance for credit losses of approximately $1.2 million. The increase is primarily related to the difference between the historical incurred loss methodology currently utilized, as compared to estimating lifetime credit losses as required by the CECL standard. Additionally, we do not expect the adoption of CECL to result in a material impact to our held-to-maturity securities portfolio, which is primarily comprised of government agency mortgage-backed securities.

ASU 2020-04:

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU applies to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or other rate references expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The ASU permits an entity to make necessary modifications to eligible contracts or transactions without requiring contract remeasurement or reassessment of a previous accounting determination. In January 2021, ASU 2021-01 clarified that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the changes in the interest rates used for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment for derivative instruments that are being implemented as part of the market-wide transition to new reference rates (commonly referred to as the “discounting transition”). In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848. The FASB had originally included a sunset provision within Topic 848 based on expectations of when the LIBOR would cease being published. In March 2021, it was announced that the intended cessation date of LIBOR would be extended to June 30, 2023. As a result, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06 deferring the sunset date of Topic 848 from March 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024. This ASU is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2024. The Corporation is in the process of transitioning into other rate indices in accordance with the government agency guidelines. As of June 30, 2023, the Corporation had approximately $469.4 million in loans held for investment with LIBOR indices. Beginning July 1, 2023, the Corporation is transitioning these loans to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) indices. The Corporation is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU and does not anticipate a material impact to its consolidated financial statements.