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PRIMIS FINANCIAL CORP.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CAUTIONARY NOTE
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains statements about future expectations, activities and events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of, and subject to the protection of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “forecast,” “should,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “predict,” “intend,” “continue,” “would,” “could,” “hope,” “might,” “assume,” “objective,” “seek,” “plan,” “strive” or similar words, or the negatives of these words, identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations of future results we express or imply in any forward-looking statements. In addition to the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, factors that could contribute to those differences include, but are not limited to:
| ● | the effects of future economic, business and market conditions and disruptions in the credit and financial markets, domestic and foreign; |
| ● | potential increases in the provision for credit losses and other general competitive, economic, political, and market factors, including those affecting our business, operations, pricing, products, or services; |
| ● | fraudulent and negligent acts by loan applicants, mortgage brokers and our employees; |
| ● | our ability to recover certain losses related to fraudulent loans under the Company's insurance policies and to successfully complete the claims process and minimize the financial impact of these loans; |
| ● | our ability to implement our various strategic and growth initiatives, including our Panacea Financial Division, digital banking platform, V1BE fulfillment service and Primis Mortgage Company as well as our cost saving project to reduce administrative and branch expenses; |
| ● | adverse results from current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions; |
| ● | changes in the local economies in our market areas which adversely affect our customers and their ability to transact profitable business with us, including the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans according to their terms or a change in the value of the related collateral; |
| ● | changes in interest rates, inflation, stagflation, loan demand, real estate values, or competition, as well as labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, the threat of recession and volatile equity capital markets; |
| ● | changes in the availability of funds resulting in increased costs or reduced liquidity, as well as the adequacy of our cash flow from operations and borrowings to meet our short-term liquidity needs; |
| ● | a deterioration or downgrade in the credit quality and credit agency ratings of the investment securities in our investment securities portfolio; |
| ● | impairment concerns and risks related to our investment securities portfolio of collateralized mortgage obligations, agency mortgage-backed securities and obligations of states and political subdivisions; |
| ● | the incurrence and impairment of goodwill associated with current or future acquisitions and adverse short-term effects on our results of operations; |
| ● | increased credit risk in our assets and increased operating risk caused by a material change in commercial, consumer and/or real estate loans as a percentage of our total loan portfolio, including as a result of rising or elevated interest rates, inflation and recessionary concerns; |
| ● | the concentration of our loan portfolio in loans collateralized by real estate; |
| ● | our level of construction and land development and commercial real estate loans; |
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| ● | risk related to a third-party’s ability to satisfy its contractual obligation to reimburse us for waived interest on loans with promotional features that pay off early; |
| ● | our ability to identify and address potential cybersecurity risks on our systems and/or third party vendors and service providers on which we rely, heightened by the developments in generative artificial intelligence and increased use of our virtual private network platform, including data security breaches, credential stuffing, malware, “denial-of-service” attacks, “hacking” and identity theft, a failure of which could disrupt our business and result in the disclosure of and/or misuse or misappropriation of confidential or proprietary information, disruption or damage to our systems, increased costs, losses, or adverse effects to our reputation; |
| ● | changes in the levels of loan prepayments and the resulting effects on the value of our loan portfolio; |
| ● | the failure of assumptions and estimates underlying the establishment of and provisions made for credit losses; |
| ● | our ability to expand and grow our business and operations, including the acquisition of additional banks, and our ability to realize the cost savings and revenue enhancements we expect from such activities; |
| ● | government intervention in the U.S. financial system, including the effects of legislative, tax, accounting and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the capital ratios of Basel III as adopted by the federal banking authorities, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the CARES Act, as well as the possibility that the U.S. could default on its debt obligations and the risk of inflation and interest rate increases resulting from monetary and fiscal stimulus response, which may have unanticipated adverse effects on our customers, and our financial condition and results of operations; |
| ● | uncertainties surrounding geopolitical events, trade policy, taxation policy, and monetary policy which continue to impact the outlook for future economic growth, including U.S. imposition of tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China and consideration of responsive actions by these nations or the expansion of import fees and tariffs among a larger group of nations, which is bringing greater ambiguity to the outlook for future economic growth; |
| ● | the potential implementation of a regulatory reform agenda under the new presidential administration that is significantly different than that of the prior administration, impacting rulemaking, supervision, examination and enforcement priorities of the federal banking agencies; |
| ● | increased competition for deposits and loans adversely affecting rates and terms; |
| ● | the continued service of key management personnel; |
| ● | the potential payment of interest on demand deposit accounts to effectively compete for customers; |
| ● | potential environmental liability risk associated with properties that we assume upon foreclosure; |
| ● | increased asset levels and changes in the composition of assets and the resulting impact on our capital levels and regulatory capital ratios; |
| ● | risks of current or future mergers and acquisitions, including the related time and cost of implementing transactions and the potential failure to achieve expected gains, revenue growth or expense savings; |
| ● | increases in regulatory capital requirements for banking organizations generally, which may adversely affect our ability to expand our business or could cause us to shrink our business; |
| ● | acts of God or of war or other conflicts, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, pandemics or other catastrophic events that may affect general economic conditions; |
| ● | changes in accounting policies, rules and practices and applications or determinations made thereunder; |
| ● | any inability or failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and/or disclosure control or inability to remediate our existing material weaknesses in our internal controls deemed ineffective; |
| ● | failure to maintain effective internal controls and procedures, including the ability to remediate identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting expediently; |
| ● | the risk that our deferred tax assets could be reduced if future taxable income is less than currently estimated, if corporate tax rates in the future are less than current rates, or if sales of our capital stock trigger limitations on the amount of net operating loss carryforwards that we may utilize for income tax purposes; |
| ● | our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, including as a result of heightened labor shortages; |
| ● | risks related to diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) strategies and initiatives, the scope and pace of which could alter our reputation and shareholder, associate, customer and third-party affiliations or result in litigation in connection with anti-DEI and anti-ESG laws, rules or activism; |
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| ● | our ability to de-consolidate Panacea Financial Holdings, Inc. (“PFH”) and recognize gains on our investment in PFH common stock as a result of de-consolidation; |
| ● | negative publicity and the impact on our reputation; |
| ● | our ability to realize the value of derivative assets that are recorded at fair value due to changes in fair value driven by actual results being materially different than our assumptions; |
| ● | our ability to grow the mortgage warehouse business and achievement of certain margin results; and |
| ● | other factors and risks described under “Risk Factors” herein and in any of the reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”) under the Exchange Act. |
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results and should not be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date. A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. We believe we have chosen these assumptions or bases in good faith and that they are reasonable. We caution you, however, that assumptions or bases almost always vary from actual results, and the differences between assumptions or bases and actual results can be material. When considering forward-looking statements, you should refer to the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC for specific factors that could cause our actual results to be different from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (or an earlier date to the extent applicable). Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly these statements in light of new information or future events.
PART I
Item 1. Business
Overview
Primis Financial Corp. (“Primis,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) is the bank holding company for Primis Bank (“Primis Bank” or the “Bank”), a Virginia state-chartered bank which commenced operations on April 14, 2005. Primis Bank provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.
As of December 31, 2024, Primis had $3.7 billion in total assets, $2.9 billion in total loans held for investment, $3.2 billion in total deposits and $365.0 million in total stockholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2024, Primis Bank had twenty-four full-service branches in Virginia and Maryland and also provides services to customers through certain online and mobile applications. Twenty-two full-service retail branches are in Virginia and two full-service retail branches are in Maryland. The Company is headquartered in McLean, Virginia and has an administrative office in Glen Allen, Virginia and an operations center in Atlee, Virginia. Primis Mortgage Company, a residential mortgage lender headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a consolidated subsidiary of Primis Bank. PFH is a consolidated subsidiary of Primis and owns the rights to the Panacea Financial brand and its intellectual property and partners with the Bank to offer a suite of financial products and services for doctors, veterinarians, dentists, their practices, and ultimately the broader healthcare industry. Primis Bank’s deposits are insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).
We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act available free of charge on our website at www.primisbank.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the SEC. These reports are also available without charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Strategy
Primis is focused on building a new, innovative, and better banking experience for its consumers and small and medium-sized businesses. The Bank intends to grow its business, expand its customer base and improve profitability by focusing on the following three areas:
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| 1. | Maintaining a strong and efficient community bank in core markets; |
| a. | The Bank maintains twenty-four office locations in attractive markets in Virginia and the Greater Washington, D.C. market |
| b. | In these markets we increased deposits per branch (excluding digital platform deposits) to $91.1 million as of December 31, 2024 versus $69.1 million as of December 31, 2021 |
| 2. | Supplementing core community bank growth and profitability with business lines that can generate above-average risk-adjusted returns such as: |
| a. | The Panacea Financial Division, the Bank’s health-care focused brand which ended 2024 with $433.8 million of loans and $92.3 million of deposits. This was up from December 31, 2023 when loans were $322.8 million and deposits were $56.1 million. |
| b. | Primis Mortgage Company, the Bank’s retail mortgage company with production of approximately $800 million in 43 states in 2024, up from $600 million in 2023; and |
| c. | Mortgage Warehouse Lending, the Bank’s recently expanded business line focused on lending to the independent mortgage company space with approximately $400 million in approved lines. |
| 3. | Perfecting enhanced digital offerings that allow Primis to attract new deposit customers at scale both in and out of our footprint. |
| a. | Deposits on the Bank’s digital platform ended 2024 at $985.5 million with an average balance of $56 thousand, compared to $909.4 million with an average balance of $64 thousand as of December 31, 2023. |
Critical to executing this approach:
| ● | Utilizing the Primis Management Team’s Strength. The experience and market knowledge of the Bank’s management team is one of its greatest strengths and competitive advantages. Since the Company’s board of directors appointed Mr. Dennis J. Zember, Jr. as the Chief Executive Officer, effective February 19, 2020, Mr. Zember has added several members to the executive management team. These additional members all bring strong expertise and years of experience. |
| ● | Leveraging the Existing Foundation for Additional Growth. Based on the management team’s depth of experience and certain infrastructure investments, Primis looks to take advantage of certain economies of scale typically enjoyed by larger organizations, thus expanding its operations both organically and through strategic cost-effective branch or bank acquisitions. Primis’ investments in data processing, risk management infrastructure, and the staff and branch network will support a much larger asset base. Primis is committed to controlling additional growth in a manner designed to minimize risk and to maintain strong capital ratios. |
| ● | Investing in Technology to Differentiate the Bank in the Marketplace. The success of the Bank’s digital platform was the direct result of a visionary approach to crafting new products and services. Management constantly looks for ways to adopt and deploy technology solutions that provide a competitive advantage and advance the strategies outlined above. |
| ● | Continuing to Pursue Selective Acquisition Opportunities. Primis has the skillsets and experience necessary to acquire and successfully integrate financial institutions, banks, and branches. This, along with its strong capital position, well-positions Primis to take advantage of acquisition opportunities. |
| ● | Focusing on the Business Owner. Primis looks to be the primary bank for small- and medium-sized businesses by offering a suite of competitive electronic banking services, robust treasury services and comprehensive lending options. We believe that Primis’ localized decision-making capabilities, prompt credit decisions, and superior customer service, supported by a highly experienced and knowledgeable management team, offers Primis a distinct competitive advantage in the marketplace. |
| ● | Focusing on Asset Quality and Underwriting. Strong asset quality is of primary importance. Therefore, despite the growth in the Bank’s loan portfolio, Primis has taken measures to ensure it maintains a strong asset quality by upholding its well-defined underwriting standards. |
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| ● | Building a Stable Core Deposit Base. Primis continues to grow a stable core deposit base of business and retail customers. Primis intends to continue its practice of developing a deposit relationship with each of its loan customers. |
BANKING SERVICES
Our principal business is the acquisition of deposits from the general public through our branch offices, digital platform, and deposit intermediaries and the use of these deposits to fund our loan and investment security portfolios. We seek to be a full service bank that provides a wide variety of financial services to our middle market corporate clients as well as to our retail clients. We are an active commercial lender, and also invest funds in mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, securities issued by agencies of the federal government and obligations of states and political subdivisions.
Lending Activities Overview
Primis offers a wide range of commercial banking services; however, we are focused on making loans secured primarily by commercial real estate and other types of secured and unsecured commercial loans to small and medium-sized businesses in a number of industries, as well as loans to individuals for a variety of purposes, including home equity lines of credit. We are a Small Business Administration (“SBA”) lender with Preferred Lending Partner (“PLP”) status that allows us to offer this program nationwide. We also invest in real estate-related securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations and agency mortgage backed securities. Our principal sources of funds for loans and investing in securities are deposits and, to a lesser extent, borrowings.
The following is a discussion of each of the major types of lending in which we engage. For more information on our lending activities, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition” (“MD&A”).
Commercial Lending
Commercial Business Lending. These loans consist of lines of credit, revolving credit facilities, demand loans, term loans, equipment loans, SBA loans, stand-by letters of credit, and unsecured loans. Commercial business loans are generally secured by business assets, equipment, accounts receivable, inventory and other collateral, such as readily marketable stocks and bonds with adequate margins, cash value in life insurance policies and savings and time deposits at Primis Bank.
Commercial Real Estate Lending. Commercial real estate lending includes loans for permanent financing. Commercial real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of loans is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Owner occupied real estate is evaluated in conjunction with the operations of the business.
Construction Lending. Primis provides construction loans for commercial, multi-family, assisted living and other non-residential properties, and builder/developer lines for established companies in our market footprint. Construction loan borrowers are generally pre-qualified for the permanent loan by us or a third party.
Secured Asset Based Lending (SABL). Primis has developed a proprietary Asset Based Lending software system that allows the Bank to monitor the collateral of its commercial borrowers who have pledged their working assets (accounts receivables and other qualifying assets such as inventory) as collateral. SABL has the ability to track other offsets (e.g. other loans the customer has with the Bank) to the line of credit. SABL serves to provide more stringent controls and supervision that this type of lending requires.
SBA Lending. Primis has developed expertise in the federally guaranteed SBA programs. The SBA programs provide economic development programs which finance start-up and expansion of small businesses. We are a nationwide Preferred
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Lender. As an SBA Preferred Lender, our pre-approved status allows us to quickly respond to customers’ needs. Under the SBA program, we generally originate and fund SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. Benefits to Primis are low LTV commercial loans and government guarantees up to 80%.
Panacea Practice Solutions. Primis, through its Panacea Financial division, provides financing for medical, dental and veterinary businesses. Financing purposes cover a range of needs of the borrowers to include acquisition, start-up, expansion, real estate purchase and refinance, leasehold, equipment financing, as well as practice buy-ins.
Mortgage Warehouse Lending. Primis provides warehouse lending lines of credit to residential mortgage originators. Program parameters and underwriting guidelines are processed and monitored through our Warehouse Loan System (WLS) to ensure program compliance.
Consumer Lending
Primis offers various types of secured and unsecured consumer loans. We make consumer loans primarily for personal, family or household purposes.
Residential Mortgage. Primis originates residential mortgage loans for its portfolio through Primis Mortgage Company. Primis also purchases originated residential mortgages from our Warehouse Line clients, as well as other loan originators. We have no sub-prime loans.
Home Equity Lines of Credit. Primis offers credit lines secured by primary residential properties with maximum loan-to-values of 80%. The product provides for a 10 year draw period followed by a 20 year repayment period.
Secured Personal Loans. Primis offers secured personal loans for a variety of purposes including auto, motorcycle, boats, and recreational vehicles. Pledged collateral could also include marketable securities and certificates of deposits.
Life Premium Finance. Primis offered life insurance premium financing. The loan was utilized to pay the annual premiums due on the whole or universal life policy. The loan was fully secured by the cash value of the policy and personal liquid assets of the borrower or guarantor. We made the decision in 2024 to sell a majority of these loans to another financial institution and will no longer be offering these loans as of January 31, 2025. Most of the loans were sold as of December 31, 2024 with the remaining to be sold on our balance sheet in held for sale. The loans that are not being sold will remain in held for investment and run-off through their scheduled maturity date. Additional discussion of this decision can be found in the MD&A.
Unsecured Personal Loans. Primis offers unsecured personal loans up to $50,000 and overdraft protection loans up to $10,000, based on specified underwriting criteria. We also offer these types of loans through an agreement with a third-party that sources and originates them for us based on our credit underwriting criteria. In 2024 we made the decision to discontinue, as of January 31, 2025, the program with the third-party to source and originate these loans and are seeking to sell a majority of the existing portfolio we have on our balance sheet. Additional discussion of this decision can be found in the MD&A.
Panacea Consumer Loans. Panacea Financial offers several unsecured consumer loan products to include student loan refinancing and pro re nata (“PRN’) loans. PRN loans may be utilized by graduating doctors to fund costs as they move into their chosen professions. Strict criteria has been established around these products.
Because future loan losses are so closely intertwined with our underwriting policy, we have instituted what management believes is a stringent loan underwriting policy. Our underwriting guidelines are tailored for particular credit types, including lines of credit, revolving credit facilities, demand loans, term loans, equipment loans, real estate loans, SBA loans, stand-by letters of credit and unsecured loans. We have instituted a no exceptions policy for our consumer credit programs.
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Deposit Activities Overview
We offer a broad range of deposit products, including checking, NOW, savings, and money market accounts and certificates of deposit, supporting the needs of businesses and individuals. We actively pursue business relationships by utilizing the business contacts of our senior management, other bank officers and our directors, thereby capitalizing on our knowledge of our local market areas.
Commercial deposit products are enhanced by a robust suite of treasury and cash management services, including:
| ● | Investment/sweep accounts |
| ● | Wire transfer services |
| ● | Employer services/payroll processing services |
| ● | Zero balance accounts |
| ● | Night depository services |
| ● | Depository transfers |
| ● | Merchant services (third party) |
| ● | ACH originations |
| ● | Business debit cards |
| ● | Controlled disbursement accounts |
| ● | Remote deposit capture |
| ● | Mobile and online banking |
Other products and services offered by the Bank include: Debit cards, ATM services, notary services, and wire transfer.
Lines of Businesses
Panacea Financial. In November 2020, the Company launched the Panacea Financial division, which focuses on providing unique financial products and services for the medical, dental and veterinary communities. Panacea Financial offers personal loans, student debt refinance and practice loans as well as deposit products nationally. Panacea Financial has partnerships with 39 national and state associations. Additionally, its In-Training Medical/Dental School Loan Refinance product allows physicians and dentists that are in training the opportunity to refinance their student debt at a lower interest rate, while benefiting from affordable monthly payments during training. As of December 31, 2024, Panacea Financial had approximately $433.8 million in outstanding loans. The division has successfully built a nationally-recognized brand with a growing team of industry-leading commercial bankers experienced in providing financial services to its target communities across the United States.
Life Premium Financing. The Company launched a division in the fourth quarter of 2021 focused on financing life insurance premiums for high net worth individuals across the United States. On October 24, 2024, the Company entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with EverBank, N.A. (“EverBank”) for sale of the Company’s Life Premium Finance division (“LPF”). EverBank acquired LPF from the Company, except for a subset of mostly fixed rate and rate-capped loans that were retained by the Bank. All of the LPF operations, including its employees, were assumed by EverBank following the close of the transaction, which occured on January 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2024, we had sold a majority of the loans under the agreement to EverBank with $50.7 million to be sold on or before the transaction close date of January 31, 2025, recorded in held for sale. The portfolio being retained by the Bank had outstanding balances, net of deferred fees, of $147.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and was recorded in loans held for investment.
Primis Mortgage Company. In May 2022, Primis Bank acquired Primis Mortgage Company (previously SeaTrust Mortgage Company), a regional residential mortgage company headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina. Primis Mortgage Company has since expanded to offer residential mortgages in the majority of the U.S. Residential mortgage loans originated through Primis Mortgage Company are primarily sold in the secondary market for fee income. During the year ended December 31, 2024, Primis Mortgage originated $776.5 million of loans.
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Digital Banking
In 2021, Primis launched its V1BE service, the first bank delivery app for on-demand ordering of branch services. V1BE brings in-branch banking services right to the customer’s doorstep, including cash delivery/withdrawals, cash pick-up/deposits, check deposits, change orders, cashier checks, and the instant issue of replacement debit cards. V1BE was initially piloted in the Richmond market but now covers the majority of our footprint, including the greater Washington, D.C. region. With V1BE, Primis is able to support any market and grow customer relationships without the need for a large branch presence.
In 2022, Primis successfully launched its digital bank platform. The platform includes an all-new mobile banking application that provides a quick and seamless account opening process all from within the app. During 2023 we brought in approximately $1.0 billion in deposits through our digital platform and as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 the balance of digital deposits was $1.0 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively.
Funding and Revenue Sources
The principal sources of funds for our lending and investment activities are deposits, repayment of loans, prepayments from mortgage-backed securities, repayments of maturing investment securities, Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances and other borrowed money.
Principal sources of revenue are interest and fees on loans and investment securities as well as fee income derived from the maintenance of deposit accounts and income from bank-owned life insurance policies. Our principal expenses include interest paid on deposits, advances from the FHLB, junior subordinated debt, senior subordinated notes and other borrowings, and other operating expenses.
CREDIT ADMINISTRATION
Because future loan losses are so closely intertwined with our underwriting policy, we have instituted what management believes are well-defined loan underwriting criteria and portfolio management practices. Our underwriting guidelines are tailored for particular credit types, including lines of credit, revolving credit facilities, demand loans, term loans, equipment loans, real estate loans, SBA loans, stand-by letters of credit and unsecured loans. We will make extensions of credit based, among other factors, on the potential borrower’s creditworthiness and likelihood of repayment.
The Board of Directors has delegated assignment of individual credit authorities up to $10 million to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Credit Officer. For loans up to $5.0 million, we have named Credit Officers. We also have two Specialty Executive Credit Officers, each with extensive industry specific experience with individual credit authority to $7.5 million. These individual lending authorities are based on the individual’s technical ability and experience. All credits over $10 million are reviewed and approved by Executive Loan Committee, as defined in credit policy. For approval of third-party originated loans, we have delegated authority within an approved framework. All credit extensions in excess of 60% of the Bank’s legal lending limit are also reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2024, our legal lending limit was approximately $57.9 million.
Portfolio management is an integral part of sound credit practices. The responsible relationship manager in conjunction with credit administration will service loan credits through their life cycle. Primis has a dedicated Special Assets team that provides oversight on credit collection activities, to include legal negotiations, forbearance agreements, collateral sale, foreclosures and management of other real estate owned (“OREO”). This coordinated approach to credit provides a high quality portfolio. Credit Administration is responsible for monthly reporting to the Board of Directors on asset quality and performance.
COMPETITION
The banking business is highly competitive, and our profitability depends principally on our ability to compete in the market areas in which our banking operations are located. We experience substantial competition in attracting and retaining deposits and in lending funds. The primary factors we encounter in competing for deposits are convenient office locations
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and rates offered. Direct competition for deposits comes from other commercial bank and thrift institutions, money market mutual funds and corporate and government securities which may offer more attractive rates than insured depository institutions are willing to pay. The primary factors we encounter in competing for loans include, among others, interest rate and loan origination fees and the range of services offered. Competition for origination of loans normally comes from other commercial banks, thrift institutions, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, insurance companies and fintech or digital lending companies. We have been able to compete effectively with other financial institutions by:
| ● | emphasizing customer service and technology; |
| ● | establishing long-term customer relationships and building customer loyalty; and |
| ● | providing products and services designed to address the specific needs of our customers. |
HUMAN CAPITAL
At Primis, we are committed to ensuring that our employees reach their personal, professional and financial peaks. We are attracting, developing, retaining and planning for the succession of key talent and executives to achieve our strategic objectives. Primis is continually investing in our workforce to further emphasize inclusivity and recognizing that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences strengthen our ability to meet the needs of our associates, communities, clients and shareholders and to foster our employees' growth and career development. As of December 31, 2024, we had 592 employees, nearly all of whom are full-time and of which approximately 63% were female and 20% were minorities. All of our employees are chosen on the basis of their qualifications and merit.
Employee Feedback. Fostering an inclusive environment requires that all employees are heard. Our Intranet contains the “Employee Voice,” which is a vehicle for employees to make suggestions, asks questions or voice opinions regarding the Company’s practices.
Recruitment. While the majority of our employees reside in Virginia, our recruitment efforts are both local and nationwide. We utilize a wide range of recruitment vehicles ranging from college recruitment sites such as “Handshake”, a “V3” program to recruit veterans to posting on popular job boards and conducting nationwide profile searches to find diverse and qualified candidates. Primis realizes that great people know other great people so we also offer a referral bonus to our employees.
Benefits. Primis offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to meet a variety of individual needs. We offer three different medical plans, two of which allow for the employee to make contributions and receive an employer match on a Health Savings Account. In addition to dental insurance, supplemental insurance and a 401k, we offer employer paid short-term and long-term disability and life insurance. Our employees also enjoy an incentive for participating in our Wellness Program.
Development. All new employees benefit from training to learn how to utilize our key systems. New employees are also required to complete multiple learning modules that cover important compliance and regulatory requirements in the banking industry. Continuing education and advanced training is offered to employees throughout their tenure. We encourage all employees to obtain job related training by covering the cost of the classes and/or learning materials and tests. Our talent acquisition, development and retention focus was on rewarding merit and achievement while nurturing and progressing skilled talent across various business segments.
Volunteerism. Primis is committed to the communities we serve and to supporting our employees in their volunteerism. Each employee receives eight paid hours to volunteer in their community or charity of choice each year. We maintain a commitment to the prosperity of each community we serve, donating to community, civic and philanthropic organizations in 2024. In addition to providing financial products built for the needs of our customers, we use associate volunteerism and corporate philanthropy to build strong community partnerships. Our employees volunteered 179 hours in 2024.
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SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
Bank holding companies and banks are extensively regulated under federal and state law. This discussion is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provisions described below, and is not intended to be an exhaustive description of the statutes or regulations applicable to Primis or the Bank. The business of Primis and the Bank is subject to extensive regulation and supervision under federal and state law, including oversight by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”) and the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions (“VBFI”), a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Changes in laws and regulations may alter the structure, regulation and competitive relationships of financial institutions. In addition, bank regulatory agencies may issue enforcement actions, policy statements, interpretive letters and similar written guidance applicable to us. It cannot be predicted whether and in what form new laws and regulations, or interpretations thereof, may be adopted or the extent to which the business of Primis and the Bank may be affected thereby, but they may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, and earnings.
Violations of laws and regulations, or other unsafe and unsound practices, may result in regulatory agencies imposing fines or penalties, cease and desist orders, or taking other enforcement actions. Under certain circumstances, these agencies may enforce these remedies directly against officers, directors, employees and other parties participating in the affairs of a bank or bank holding company. Under federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the safety and soundness of insured depository institutions, federal and state banking regulators have the authority to compel or restrict certain actions on our part if they determine that we have insufficient capital or other resources, or are otherwise operating in a manner that may be deemed to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices. Under this authority, our bank regulators can require us or our subsidiaries to enter into informal or formal supervisory agreements, including board resolutions, memoranda of understanding, written agreements and consent or cease and desist orders, pursuant to which we would be required to take identified corrective actions to address cited concerns and to refrain from taking certain actions.
If we become subject to and are unable to comply with the terms of any future regulatory actions or directives, supervisory agreements, or orders, then we could become subject to additional, heightened supervisory actions and orders, possibly including consent orders, prompt corrective action restrictions and/or other regulatory actions, including prohibitions on the payment of dividends on our common stock and preferred stock. If our regulators were to take such additional supervisory actions, then we could, among other things, become subject to significant restrictions on our ability to develop any new business, as well as restrictions on our existing business, and we could be required to raise additional capital, dispose of certain assets and liabilities within a prescribed period of time, or both. The terms of any such supervisory action could have a material negative effect on our business, reputation, operating flexibility, financial condition, and the value of our capital stock.
Supervision, regulation, and examination of Primis, the Bank, and our respective subsidiaries by the appropriate regulatory agencies, as described herein, are intended primarily for the protection of consumers, bank depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the U.S. banking and financial system, rather than holders of our capital stock.
Bank Holding Company Regulation
Primis is subject to extensive supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “Bank Holding Company Act”). We are required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports and such other information as the Federal Reserve may request. Ongoing supervision is provided through regular examinations by the Federal Reserve and other means that allow the regulators to gauge management’s ability to identify, assess and control risk in all areas of operations in a safe and sound manner and to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. In addition to regulation by the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company, Primis is subject to supervision and regulation by the VBFI under the banking and general business corporation laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Activity Limitations. Primis is registered with the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act and has elected to be a financial holding company. As a financial holding company, Primis is permitted to
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engage directly or indirectly in a broader range of activities than those permitted for a bank holding company. Bank holding companies generally are limited to the business of banking, managing or controlling banks, and other activities that the Federal Reserve determines to be closely related to banking, or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. Bank holding companies are prohibited from acquiring or obtaining control of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting interests of any company that engages in activities other than those activities permissible for bank holding companies. Examples of activities that the Federal Reserve has determined to be permissible are making, acquiring, brokering, or servicing loans; leasing personal property; providing certain investment or financial advice; performing certain data processing services; acting as agent or broker in selling credit life insurance and other insurance products in certain locations; and performing certain insurance underwriting activities. The Bank Holding Company Act does not place geographic limits on permissible non-banking activities of bank holding companies. Financial holding companies, such as us, may also engage in activities that are considered to be financial in nature, as well as those incidental or, if so determined by the Federal Reserve, complementary to financial activities. Primis and the Bank must each remain “well-capitalized” and “well-managed” and the Bank must receive a Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) rating of at least “Satisfactory” at its most recent examination in order for the Company to maintain its status as a financial holding company. In addition, the Federal Reserve has the power to order a financial holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any non-banking activity or terminate its ownership or control of any non-bank subsidiary, when it has reasonable cause to believe that continuation of such activity or such ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness, or stability of any bank subsidiary of that financial holding company. As further described below, each of Primis and the Bank is well-capitalized as of December 31, 2024, and Primis Bank achieved a rating of “Satisfactory” in its most recent CRA evaluation.
Source of Strength Obligations. A bank holding company is required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary bank. The term “source of financial strength” means the ability of a company, such as us, that directly or indirectly owns or controls an insured depository institution, such as the Bank, to provide financial assistance to such insured depository institution in the event of financial distress. The appropriate federal banking agency for the depository institution (in the case of the Bank, this agency is the Federal Reserve) may require reports from us to assess our ability to serve as a source of strength and to enforce compliance with the source of strength requirements by requiring us to provide financial assistance to the Bank in the event of financial distress. If we were to enter bankruptcy or become subject to the orderly liquidation process established by the Dodd-Frank Act, any commitment by us to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of the Bank would be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee or the FDIC, as appropriate, and entitled to a priority of payment. In addition, the FDIC provides that any insured depository institution generally will be liable for any loss incurred by the FDIC in connection with the default of, or any assistance provided by the FDIC to, a commonly controlled insured depository institution. The Bank is an FDIC-insured depository institution and thus subject to these requirements.
Acquisitions. The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve or waiver of such prior approval before it (1) acquires ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after such acquisition, such bank holding company will own or control more than five percent (5%) of the voting shares of such bank, (2) acquires all of the assets of a bank, or (3) merges with any other bank holding company. In reviewing a proposed covered acquisition, among other factors, the Federal Reserve considers (1) the financial and managerial resources of the companies involved, including pro forma capital ratios; (2) the risk to the stability of the United States banking or financial system; (3) the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, including performance under the CRA; and (4) the effectiveness of the companies in combatting money laundering. The Federal Reserve also reviews any indebtedness to be incurred by a bank holding company in connection with a proposed acquisition to ensure that the bank holding company can service such indebtedness without adversely affecting its ability to serve as a source of strength to its bank subsidiaries. Well capitalized and well managed bank holding companies are permitted to acquire control of banks in any state, subject to federal regulatory approval, without regard to whether such a transaction is prohibited by the laws of any state. However, a bank holding company may not, following an interstate acquisition, control more than 10% of nationwide insured deposits or 30% of deposits within any state in which the acquiring bank operates.
Change in Control. Federal law restricts the amount of voting stock of a bank holding company or a bank that a person (including an entity) may acquire without the prior approval of banking regulators. Under the federal Change in Bank Control Act and the regulations thereunder, a person or group must give advance notice to and obtain approval from
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the Federal Reserve before acquiring control of any bank holding company, such as Primis. The Change in Bank Control Act creates a rebuttable presumption of control if a person or group acquires the power to vote 10% or more of our outstanding common stock. The overall effect of such laws is to make it more difficult to acquire a bank holding company or a bank by tender offer or similar means than it might be to acquire control of another type of corporation. Consequently, shareholders of the Company may be less likely to benefit from the rapid increases in stock prices that may result from tender offers or similar efforts to acquire control of other companies. Investors should be aware of these requirements when acquiring shares of our stock.
Virginia Law. Certain state corporation laws may have an anti-takeover affect. Virginia law restricts transactions between a Virginia corporation and its affiliates and potential acquirers. The following discussion summarizes the two Virginia statutes that may discourage an attempt to acquire control of Primis.
Virginia Code Sections 13.1-725 – 727.1 govern “Affiliated Transactions.” These provisions, with several exceptions discussed below, require approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of the remaining voting shares of material acquisition transactions between a Virginia corporation and any holder of more than 10% of its outstanding voting shares. Affiliated Transactions include mergers, share exchanges, material dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of business, any dissolution of the corporation proposed by or on behalf of an interested shareholder, or any reclassification, including a reverse stock split, recapitalization, or merger of the corporation with its subsidiaries which increases the percentage of voting shares owned beneficially by any 10% shareholder by more than 5%.
These provisions were designed to deter certain takeovers of Virginia corporations. In addition, the statute provides that, by affirmative vote of a majority of the voting shares other than shares owned by any 10% shareholder, a corporation can adopt an amendment to its articles of incorporation or bylaws providing that the Affiliated Transactions provisions shall not apply to the corporation. Primis “opted out” of the Affiliated Transactions provisions when it incorporated.
Virginia law also provides that shares acquired in a transaction that would cause the acquiring person’s voting strength to meet or exceed any of the three thresholds (20%, 33.33% or 50%) have no voting rights for those shares exceeding that threshold, unless granted by a majority vote of shares not owned by the acquiring person. This provision empowers an acquiring person to require the Virginia Corporation to hold a special meeting of shareholders to consider the matter within 50 days of the request. Primis also “opted out” of this provision at the time of its incorporation.
Governance and Financial Reporting Obligations. We are required to comply with various corporate governance and financial reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and NASDAQ. In particular, we are required to include management and independent registered public accounting firm reports on internal controls as part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K in order to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We have evaluated our controls, including compliance with the SEC rules on internal controls, and have and expect to continue to spend significant amounts of time and money on compliance with these rules. Our failure to comply with these internal control rules may materially adversely affect our reputation, ability to obtain the necessary certifications to financial statements, and the values of our securities.
Corporate Governance. The Dodd-Frank Act addressed many investor protections, corporate governance, and executive compensation matters that will affect most U.S. publicly traded companies. The Dodd-Frank Act (1) granted shareholders of U.S. publicly traded companies an advisory vote on executive compensation; (2) enhanced independence requirements for Compensation Committee members; and (3) required companies listed on national securities exchanges to adopt incentive-based compensation claw-back policies for executive officers.
Incentive Compensation. Our compensation practices are subject to oversight by the Federal Reserve and by other financial regulatory agencies. The federal banking regulators issued joint guidance on executive compensation designed to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations take into account risk factors and are consistent with the safety and soundness of the organization. The guidance also provided that supervisory findings with respect to incentive compensation should be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect its ability to make acquisitions or other corporate decisions. The guidance further provided that the regulators may pursue enforcement actions against a banking organization if its incentive compensation and related risk management, control or governance
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processes pose a risk to the organization’s safe and sound practices. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness, and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act required the federal banking agencies and the SEC to issue regulations requiring covered financial institutions to prohibit incentive compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risks by providing compensation that is excessive or that could lead to material financial loss to the institution. In October 2022, the SEC adopted final rules implementing the incentive-based compensation recovery (“clawback”) provisions mandated by Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The final rules directed U.S. stock exchanges to require listed companies to implement, disclose and enforce clawback policies to recover excess incentive-based compensation that current or former executive officers received based on financial reporting measures that are later restated. In June 2023, the SEC approved the proposed clawback listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”), which required Nasdaq-listed companies, to (i) adopt and implement a compliant clawback policy; (ii) file the clawback policy as an exhibit to their annual reports; and (iii) provide certain disclosures relating to any compensation recovery triggered by the clawback policy. Our clawback policy was approved by the board in November 2023 and is included as Exhibit 97 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Shareholder Say-On-Pay Votes. The Dodd-Frank Act requires public companies to take shareholders’ votes on proposals addressing compensation (known as say-on-pay), the frequency of a say-on-pay vote, and the golden parachutes available to executives in connection with change-in-control transactions. Public companies must give shareholders the opportunity to vote on the compensation at least every three years and the opportunity to vote on frequency at least every six years, indicating whether the say-on-pay vote should be held annually, biennially, or triennially.
Anti-tying rules. A bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tying arrangements in connection with extensions of credit, leases or sales of property, or furnishing of services.
Capital Requirements
Primis and the Bank are each required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity, or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. The following is a brief description of the relevant provisions of these capital rules and their potential impact on our capital levels.
Primis and the Bank are each subject to the following risk-based capital ratios: a common equity Tier 1 ("CET1") risk-based capital ratio, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, which includes CET1 and additional Tier 1 capital, and a total risk-based capital ratio, which includes Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. CET1 is primarily comprised of the sum of common stock instruments and related surplus net of treasury stock, plus retained earnings and certain qualifying minority interests, less certain adjustments and deductions, including with respect to goodwill, intangible assets, mortgage servicing assets and deferred tax assets subject to temporary timing differences. Additional Tier 1 capital is primarily comprised of noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, tier 1 minority interests and grandfathered trust preferred securities. Tier 2 capital consists of instruments disqualified from Tier 1 capital, including qualifying subordinated debt, other preferred stock and certain hybrid capital instruments, and a limited amount of loan loss reserves up to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets, subject to certain eligibility criteria. The capital rules also define the risk-weights assigned to assets and off-balance sheet items to determine the risk-weighted asset components of the risk-based capital rules, including, for example, certain “high volatility” commercial real estate, past due assets, structured securities and equity holdings.
The leverage capital ratio, which serves as a minimum capital standard, is the ratio of Tier 1 capital to quarterly average total consolidated assets net of goodwill, certain other intangible assets, and certain required deduction items. The required minimum leverage ratio for all banks is 4%.
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In addition, effective January 1, 2019, the capital rules require a capital conservation buffer of CET1 of 2.5% above each of the minimum capital ratio requirements (CET1, Tier 1, and total risk-based capital), which is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. These buffer requirements must be met for a bank or bank holding company to be able to pay dividends, engage in share buybacks or make discretionary bonus payments to executive management without restriction.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), among other things, requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to take “prompt corrective action” regarding depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. FDICIA establishes five regulatory capital tiers: “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, “significantly undercapitalized”, and “critically undercapitalized”. A depository institution’s capital tier will depend upon how its capital levels compare to various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. FDICIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be undercapitalized. The FDICIA imposes progressively more restrictive restraints on operations, management and capital distributions, depending on the category in which an institution is classified.
To be well-capitalized, the Bank must maintain at least the following capital ratios:
The Federal Reserve has not yet revised the well-capitalized standard for bank holding companies to reflect the higher capital requirements imposed under the current capital rules. For purposes of the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y, bank holding companies, such as Primis, must maintain a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater and a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater to be well-capitalized. If the Federal Reserve were to apply the same or a similar well-capitalized standard to bank holding companies as that applicable to the Bank, Primis’ capital ratios as of December 31, 2024 would exceed such revised well-capitalized standard. Also, the Federal Reserve may require bank holding companies, including Primis, to maintain capital ratios substantially in excess of mandated minimum levels, depending upon general economic conditions and a bank holding company’s particular condition, risk profile and growth plans.
Failure to be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our operations or financial condition. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements could also result in restrictions on Primis’ or the Bank’s ability to pay dividends or otherwise distribute capital or to receive regulatory approval of applications or other restrictions on its growth.
Both Primis and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios were above the applicable well-capitalized standards and met the capital conservation buffer as of December 31, 2024. Based on current estimates, we believe that Primis and the Bank will continue to exceed all applicable well-capitalized regulatory capital requirements and the capital conservation buffer in 2025.
On October 29, 2019, the federal banking agencies jointly issued a final rule to simplify the regulatory capital requirements for eligible banks and holding companies with less than $10 billion in consolidated assets that opt into the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (“CBLR”) framework. A qualifying community banking organization with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion that exceeds the CBLR threshold would be exempt from the agencies’ current capital framework, including the risk-based capital requirements and capital conservation buffer described above, and would be deemed well-capitalized under the agencies’ prompt corrective action regulations. Under the final rule, if a qualifying community banking organization elects to use the CBLR framework, it will be considered “well-capitalized” so long as its CBLR is greater than 9%. Primis does not use the CBLR framework.
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Payment of Dividends
Primis is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank and other subsidiaries. Its primary source of cash, other than securities offerings, is dividends from the Bank. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, no dividends may be paid by an insured bank if the bank is in arrears in the payment of any insurance assessment due to the FDIC. The payment of dividends by the Bank may also be affected by other regulatory requirements and policies, such as the maintenance of adequate capital. If, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a bank under its jurisdiction is engaged in, or is about to engage in, an unsafe or unsound practice (which, depending on the financial condition of the bank, could include the payment of dividends), such authority may require, after notice and hearing, that the bank cease and desist from that practice. The Federal Reserve has formal and informal policies which provide that insured banks should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.
Under a Federal Reserve policy adopted in 2009, the board of directors of a bank holding company must consider certain factors to ensure that its dividend level is prudent relative to maintaining a strong financial position, and is not based on overly optimistic earnings scenarios, such as potential events that could affect its ability to pay, while still maintaining a strong financial position. As a general matter, the Federal Reserve has indicated that the board of directors of a bank holding company should consult with the Federal Reserve and eliminate, defer or significantly reduce the bank holding company’s dividends if:
| ● | its net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; |
| ● | its prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with its capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or |
| ● | it will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. |
Bank Regulation
The operation of the Bank is subject to state and federal statutes applicable to state banks and the regulations of the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”). The operations of the Bank may also be subject to applicable Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) regulation to the extent state banks are granted parity with national banks. Such statutes and regulations relate to, among other things, required reserves, investments, loans, mergers and consolidations, issuances of securities, payments of dividends, establishment of branches, consumer protection and other aspects of the Bank’s operations. Violations of laws and regulations, or other unsafe and unsound practices, may result in these agencies imposing fines or penalties, cease and desist orders, or taking other enforcement actions. Under certain circumstances, these agencies may enforce these remedies directly against officers, directors, employees and other parties participating in the affairs of a bank or bank holding company.
Safety and Soundness. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act requires the federal prudential bank regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Reserve, to prescribe, by regulation or guideline, operational and managerial standards for all insured depository institutions relating to: (1) internal controls; (2) information systems and audit systems; (3) loan documentation; (4) credit underwriting; (5) interest rate risk exposure; and (6) asset quality. The agencies also must prescribe standards for asset quality, earnings, and stock valuation, as well as standards for compensation, fees and benefits. The federal banking agencies have adopted regulations and Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness to implement these required standards. These guidelines set forth the safety and soundness standards used to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. Under the regulations, if a regulator determines that a bank fails to meet any standards prescribed by the guidelines, the regulator may require the bank to submit an acceptable plan to achieve compliance, consistent with deadlines for the submission and review of such safety and soundness compliance plans.
Examinations. The Bank is subject to regulation, reporting, and periodic examinations by the Federal Reserve and the VBFI. These regulatory authorities routinely examine the Bank’s reserves, loan and investment quality, consumer compliance, management policies, procedures and practices and other aspects of operations. The Federal Reserve has adopted the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (“FFIEC”) rating system and assigns each financial institution a confidential composite rating based on an evaluation and rating of six essential components of an institution’s
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financial condition and operations, including Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity and Sensitivity to Market Risk, as well as the quality of risk management practices.
Consumer Protection. The Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB, an independent regulatory authority housed within the Federal Reserve having centralized authority, including examination and enforcement authority, for consumer protection in the banking industry. The CFPB has rule writing, examination, and enforcement authority with regard to the Bank’s (and Primis’) compliance with a wide array of consumer financial protection laws, including the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (except Sections 615(e) and 628), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (sections 502 through 509 relating to privacy), among others. The CFPB has broad authority to enforce a prohibition on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices. Authority to supervise and examine Primis and the Bank for compliance with federal consumer laws remains largely with the Federal Reserve. However, the CFPB may participate in examinations on a “sampling basis” and may refer potential enforcement actions against such institutions to their primary regulators. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt consumer protection laws and regulations that are stricter than those regulations promulgated by the CFPB, and state attorneys general are permitted to enforce consumer protection rules adopted by the CFPB against certain institutions.
Deposit Insurance Assessments. The Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the FDIC insures the deposits of the Bank generally up to a maximum of $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. The FDIC charges insured depository institutions quarterly premiums to maintain the DIF. Deposit insurance assessments are based on average total consolidated assets minus its average tangible equity and take into account certain risk-based financial ratios and other factors. The assessment rate schedule can change from time to time, at the discretion of the FDIC, subject to certain limits.
As of June 30, 2020, the DIF reserve ratio fell to 1.30%, below the statutory minimum of 1.35%. The FDIC, as required under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, established a plan on September 15, 2020 to restore the DIF reserve ratio to meet or exceed the statutory minimum of 1.35% within eight years. On October 18, 2022, the FDIC adopted a final plan and increased the initial base deposit insurance assessment rate schedules uniformly by 2 basis points, beginning in the first quarterly assessment period of 2023. The increased assessment rate schedules will remain in effect until the reserve ratio meets or exceeds 2 percent, absent further action by the FDIC.
Insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon a finding that an institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by a bank’s federal regulatory agency. In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that, in the event of the liquidation or other resolution of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution, including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors, and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver, will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution, including those of the parent bank holding company.
Insider Transactions. The Federal Reserve has adopted regulations that restrict preferential loans and loan amounts to “affiliates” and “insiders” of banks, require banks to keep information on loans to major shareholders and executive officers, and bar certain director and officer interlocks between financial institutions.
Reserves. The Bank is subject to Federal Reserve regulations that require the Bank to maintain reserves against transaction accounts (primarily checking accounts). These reserve requirements are subject to annual adjustment by the Federal Reserve. Effective March 26, 2020, reserve requirement ratios were reduced to zero percent.
Anti-Money Laundering. A continued focus of governmental policy relating to financial institutions in recent years has been combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The USA PATRIOT Act broadened the application of anti-money laundering regulations to apply to additional types of financial institutions such as broker-dealers, investment advisors and insurance companies, and strengthened the ability of the U.S. Government to help prevent, detect and prosecute international money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The principal provisions of Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act require that regulated financial institutions, including state member banks: (i) establish an anti-money
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laundering program that includes training and audit components; (ii) comply with regulations regarding the verification of the identity of any person seeking to open an account; (iii) take additional required precautions with non-U.S. owned accounts; and (iv) perform certain verification and certification of money laundering risk for their foreign correspondent banking relationships. Failure of a financial institution to comply with the USA PATRIOT Act’s requirements could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution. Primis Bank has augmented its systems and procedures to meet the requirements of these regulations and will continue to revise and update its policies, procedures and controls to reflect changes required by law.
FinCEN has adopted rules that require financial institutions to obtain beneficial ownership information with respect to legal entities with which such institutions conduct business, subject to certain exclusions and exemptions. Bank regulators are focusing their examinations on anti-money laundering compliance, and we continue to monitor and augment, where necessary, our anti-money laundering compliance programs.
Bank regulators routinely examine institutions for compliance with these anti-money laundering obligations and have been active in imposing “cease and desist” and other regulatory orders and money penalty sanctions against institutions found to be in violation of these requirements. On January 1, 2021, Congress passed federal legislation that made sweeping changes to federal anti-money laundering laws, including changes that will be implemented in subsequent years.
Economic Sanctions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) is responsible for helping to ensure that U.S. entities do not engage in transactions with certain prohibited parties, as defined by various Executive Orders and acts of Congress. OFAC publishes, and routinely updates, lists of names of persons and organizations suspected of aiding, harboring or engaging in terrorist acts, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. If we find a name on any transaction, account or wire transfer that is on an OFAC list, we must undertake certain specified activities, which could include blocking or freezing the account or transaction requested, and we must notify the appropriate authorities.
Concentrations in Lending. During 2006, the federal bank regulatory agencies released guidance on “Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending” (the “Guidance”) and advised financial institutions of the risks posed by CRE lending concentrations. The Guidance requires that appropriate processes be in place to identify, monitor and control risks associated with real estate lending concentrations. Higher allowances for credit losses and capital levels may also be required. The Guidance is triggered when CRE loan concentrations exceed either:
| ● | Total reported loans for construction, land development, and other land of 100% or more of a bank’s total risk based capital; or |
| ● | Total reported loans secured by multifamily and nonfarm nonresidential properties and loans for construction, land development, and other land of 300% or more of a bank’s total risk based capital. |
The Guidance also applies when a bank has a sharp increase in CRE loans or has significant concentrations of CRE secured by a particular property type.
Community Reinvestment Act. The Bank is subject to the provisions of the CRA, which imposes a continuing and affirmative obligation, consistent with their safe and sound operation, to help meet the credit needs of entire communities where the bank accepts deposits, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The Federal Reserve’s assessment of the Bank’s CRA record is made available to the public. Further, a less than satisfactory CRA rating will slow, if not preclude, expansion of banking activities and prevent a company from becoming or remaining a financial holding company. Federal CRA regulations require, among other things, that evidence of discrimination against applicants on a prohibited basis, and illegal or abusive lending practices be considered in the CRA evaluation. On October 24, 2023, the OCC, the FRB, and FDIC issued a final rule to modernize their respective CRA regulations. The revised rules substantially alter the methodology for assessing compliance with the CRA, with material aspects taking effect January 1, 2026 and revised data reporting requirements taking effect January 1, 2027. Among other things, the revised rules evaluate lending outside traditional assessment areas generated by the growth of non-branch delivery systems, such as online and mobile banking, apply a metrics-based benchmarking approach to assessment, and clarify eligible CRA activities. The final rules were challenged in federal court and a preliminary injunction was granted in March 2024 enjoining implementation of the rules. The effective dates will be extended for each day the injunction remains in place, pending the resolution of the
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lawsuit. If the final rules are reinstated, they are likely to make it more challenging and/or costly for the Bank to receive a rating of at least “satisfactory” on its CRA exam.
Consumer Regulation. Activities of the Bank are subject to a variety of statutes and regulations designed to protect consumers. These laws and regulations include, among numerous other things, provisions that:
| ● | limit the interest and other charges collected or contracted for by the Bank, including rules respecting the terms of credit cards and of debit card overdrafts; |
| ● | govern the Bank’s disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers; |
| ● | require the Bank to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether it is fulfilling its obligation to help meet the housing needs of the community it serves; |
| ● | prohibit the Bank from discriminating on the basis of race, creed or other prohibited factors when it makes decisions to extend credit; |
| ● | govern the manner in which the Bank may collect consumer debts; and |
| ● | prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in the provision of consumer financial products and services. |
Mortgage Rules. Pursuant to rules adopted by the CFPB, banks that make residential mortgage loans are required to make a good faith determination that a borrower has the ability to repay a mortgage loan prior to extending such credit, require that certain mortgage loans contain escrow payments, obtain new appraisals under certain circumstances, comply with integrated mortgage disclosure rules, and follow specific rules regarding the compensation of loan originators and the servicing of residential mortgage loans.
Transactions with affiliates. There are various restrictions that limit the ability of the Bank to finance, pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to Primis or other affiliates. In addition, banks are subject to certain restrictions under Section 23A and B of the Federal Reserve Act on certain transactions, including any extension of credit to its bank holding company or any of its other affiliates, on investments in the securities thereof, and on the taking of such securities as collateral for loans to any borrower.
Privacy and Cybersecurity. The Bank is subject to federal and state banking regulations that limit its ability to disclose non-public information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties. These limitations require us to periodically disclose our privacy policies to consumers and allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to a non-affiliated third party under certain circumstances. Consumers also have the option to direct banks and other financial institutions not to share information about transactions and experiences with affiliated companies for the purpose of marketing products or services. Banking institutions are required to implement a comprehensive information security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information. These security and privacy policies and procedures for the protection of confidential and personal information are in effect across our lines of business. Furthermore, the federal banking regulators regularly issue guidance regarding cybersecurity intended to enhance cyber risk management. A financial institution is expected to implement multiple lines of defense against cyber-attacks and ensure that their risk management procedures address the risk posed by potential cyber threats. A financial institution is further expected to maintain procedures to effectively respond to a cyber-attack and resume operations following any such attack. Primis has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to comply with these privacy, information security, and cybersecurity requirements. The federal banking agencies require banks to notify their regulators within 36 hours of a “computer-security incident” that rises to the level of a “notification incident.”
Non-Discrimination Policies. Primis Bank is also subject to, among other things, the provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act, both of which prohibit discrimination based on race or color, religion, national origin, sex, and familial status in any aspect of a consumer or commercial credit or residential real estate transaction. The Department of Justice, and the federal bank regulatory agencies have issued an Interagency Policy Statement on Discrimination in Lending that provides guidance to financial institutions in determining whether discrimination exists, how the agencies will respond to lending discrimination, and what steps lenders might take to prevent discriminatory lending practices. The DOJ has increased its efforts to prosecute what it regards as violations of the ECOA and FHA.
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Audit Reports. Insured institutions with total assets of $500 million or more must submit annual audit reports prepared by independent auditors to federal and state regulators. In some instances, the audit report of the institution’s holding company can be used to satisfy this requirement. Independent auditors must receive examination reports, supervisory agreements and reports of enforcement actions. For insured institutions with total assets of $1.0 billion or more, financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management’s certifications concerning responsibility for the financial statements, internal controls and compliance with legal requirements designated by the FDIC, and an attestation by the independent auditor regarding the statements of management relating to the internal controls must be submitted. For insured institutions with total assets of more than $3.0 billion, independent auditors may be required to review quarterly financial statements. The FDICIA requires that institutions with total assets of $1.0 billion or more have independent audit committees, consisting of outside directors only. The committees of insured institutions with total assets of $3.0 billion or more must include members with experience in banking or financial management, must have access to outside counsel, and must not include representatives of large customers.
The foregoing is only a brief summary of certain statutes, rules, and regulations that may affect Primis and the Bank. Numerous other statutes and regulations also will have an impact on the operations of Primis and the Bank. Supervision, regulation and examination of banks by the regulatory agencies are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, not shareholders.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves risks. The following is a description of the material risks and uncertainties that Primis Financial Corp. believes affect its business and should be considered before making an investment in our common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently deem immaterial, also may become important factors that affect us and our business. If any of the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were to actually occur, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our common stock could decline significantly and you could lose part or all of your investment. This Form 10-K also contains forward-looking statements that may not be realized as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, the risks described herein and in our other public filings with the SEC. Please refer to the section in this Form 10-K entitled “Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for additional information regarding forward-looking statements.
Summary
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects. These risks are discussed more fully after the summary, and risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | We are subject to risks related to our concentration of construction and land development and commercial real estate loans. |
| ● | We have a meaningful amount of consumer loans that are unsecured and if the borrower defaults on the loan we have no recourse to collateral in which to recover any potential losses. |
| ● | A portion of our consumer loan portfolio is originated and serviced by a third-party and includes a credit enhancement from that third-party which may not be realizable. |
| ● | A significant amount of our third-party serviced consumer loans were originated with a zero interest promotional period, exposing us to the credit risk of the third-party that is providing reimbursement to us for interest foregone. |
| ● | A significant amount of our loans are secured by real estate and any declines in real estate values in our primary markets could be detrimental to our financial condition and results of operations. |
| ● | If our nonperforming assets increase, our earnings will suffer. |
| ● | If our allowance for credit losses is not adequate to cover actual loan losses, our earnings will decrease. |
| ● | We are subject to credit quality risks and our credit policies may not be sufficient to avoid losses. |
| ● | Our mortgage revenue is cyclical and is sensitive to the level of interest rates, changes in economic conditions, decreased economic activity, and slowdowns in the housing market, any of which could adversely impact our profits. |
| ● | Our geographic concentration makes us vulnerable to local weather catastrophes, public health issues, and other external events, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. |
| ● | Our business is subject to interest rate risk and variations in interest rates may negatively affect our financial performance. |
| ● | Unstable global economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition, and operations. |
| ● | Declines in asset values may result in impairment charges and adversely affect the value of our investment securities, financial performance and capital. |
| ● | The value of an estimated reimbursement due from a third-party that originated consumer loans with promotional features on our behalf is recorded in our balance sheet at fair value as a derivative and actual results and a significant decline in the third-party’s credit risk may impact the value of the derivative and our ability to realize that value. |
| ● | We may be unable to sell loans at the estimated market price utilized to record them in held for sale |
| ● | Our stock price can be volatile. |
| ● | The trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies. |
| ● | Inflation could negatively impact our business, our profitability and our stock price. |
| ● | ESG and diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) risks could adversely affect our reputation and shareholder, employee, client, and third party relationships and may negatively affect our stock price. |
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| ● | Our business strategy includes strategic growth, and our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively affected if we fail to grow or fail to manage our growth effectively. |
| ● | We must respond to rapid technological changes and these changes may be more difficult or expensive than anticipated. |
| ● | New lines of business, products or services and technological advancements may subject us to additional risks. |
| ● | We may not be able to successfully integrate our acquisitions or to realize the anticipated benefits of them. |
| ● | The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets may be adversely affected. |
| ● | We rely on third-party vendors to provide key components of our business infrastructure. |
| ● | We face significant cyber and data security risk that could result in the disclosure of sensitive, confidential and/or nonpublic personal information, adversely affect our business or reputation and expose us to significant liabilities. |
| ● | Our business is susceptible to fraud. |
| ● | We are dependent on key personnel and the loss of one or more of those key personnel could impair our relationship with our customers and adversely affect our business. |
| ● | Deposit insurance premiums levied against banks may increase if the number of bank failures increase or the cost of resolving failed banks increases. |
| ● | Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
| ● | Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry could adversely affect our current and projected business operations and its financial condition and results of operations. |
| ● | Future growth or operating results may require us to raise additional capital, but that capital may not be available, be available on unfavorable terms or may be dilutive. |
| ● | We may issue a new series of preferred stock or debt securities, which would be senior to our common stock and may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. |
| ● | We currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock; however, our future ability to pay dividends is subject to restrictions. |
| ● | Changes in applicable laws and regulations or failures to comply with such laws and regulations may adversely affect our operations and our financial results. |
| ● | Primis and the Bank must maintain certain required levels of regulatory capital that may limit our operations and potential growth. |
| ● | We are subject to commercial real estate lending guidance issued by the federal banking regulators that impacts our operations and capital requirements. |
| ● | Changes in accounting standards or assumptions in applying accounting policies could adversely affect us. |
| ● | Failure to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could impact the price of our common stock. |
Credit Risks
We are subject to risks related to our concentration of construction and land development and commercial real estate loans.
As of December 31, 2024, we had $101.2 million of construction and land development loans, or 3.5% of our loan portfolio. Construction and land development loans are subject to risks during the construction phase that are not present in standard residential real estate and commercial real estate loans. These risks include:
| ● | the viability of the contractor; |
| ● | the contractor’s ability to successfully complete the project, to meet deadlines and time schedules and to stay within cost estimates, especially in the event of supply disruptions and labor shortages; and |
| ● | concentrations of such loans with a single contractor and its affiliates. |
Real estate construction and land development loans may involve the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent, in part, on the success of the ultimate project rather than the ability of a borrower or guarantor to repay the loan and also present risks of default in the event of declines in property values or volatility in the real estate market during the
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construction phase. Our practice, in the majority of instances, is to secure the personal guaranty of individuals in support of our real estate construction and land development loans which provides us with an additional source of repayment. As of December 31, 2024, we did not have any nonperforming construction and land development loans. If one or more of our larger borrowers were to default on their construction and land development loans, and we did not have alternative sources of repayment through personal guarantees or other sources, or if any of the aforementioned risks were to occur, we could incur significant losses.
As of December 31, 2024, we had $1.09 billion of commercial real estate loans outstanding, or 37.6% of our loan portfolio, including multi-family residential loans and loans secured by farmland. Commercial real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loan to cover operating expenses and debt service.
We have a meaningful amount of consumer loans that are unsecured and if the borrower defaults on the loan we have no recourse to collateral in which to recover any potential losses.
Our unsecured consumer loan portfolio balance is $155.3 million, or approximately 5.3% of our total held for investment loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2024. Included in this portfolio is $38.9 million of loans sourced based on our credit underwriting criteria and managed by a third party. Consumer loan repayment is primarily driven by the borrower’s personal income which is impacted by various factors that are outside of the control of the borrower including macroeconomic conditions such as inflation and interest rates. Further, a downturn in the economy or other company-specific decisions that result in a borrower losing their job could cause the borrower’s primary source of income for repayment of the loan to decline. Each of these factors may cause a borrower to evaluate their debts and as a result they may prioritize payment of other debts above the consumer loan due to us. Although macroeconomic conditions and the economy are currently stable, such conditions can change relatively quick and may not remain at current levels. If conditions change and macroeconomic conditions and the economy worsen borrowers may stop paying their loans and it could require us to increase our provision for credit losses and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
A portion of our consumer loan portfolio is originated and serviced by a third-party and includes a credit enhancement from that third-party which may not be realizable and the inability to utilize it could be detrimental to our financial condition and results of operations.
We receive a credit enhancement from the third-party managing $152.1 million of consumer loans that are recorded on our balance sheet in both held for investment and held for sale as of December 31, 2024. The credit enhancement is primarily provided through cash flows derived from loan originations. We made the decision as of December 31, 2024 to discontinue originations of these loans on January 31, 2025. This decision will cause monthly cash receipts related to this credit enhancement to end at that point, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
A significant amount of our third-party serviced consumer loans were originated with a zero interest promotional period exposing us to the credit risk of the third-party that is providing reimbursement to us for interest foregone in the event of borrower prepayment and failure of the third-party to perform under its reimbursement obligation could be detrimental to our financial condition and results of operations.
Within the $152.1 million third-party originated and serviced consumer loan portfolio there is 25% of the portfolio that is in a promotional interest period as of December 31, 2024. The loans in these promotional interest periods legally accrue interest at the stated rate of the note agreement, but the interest is not required to be paid during the promotional period. Further, if the borrower repays all of the principal on the note prior to the end of the promotional period the accrued interest is waived, but if there is any principal balance remaining at the end of the promotional period the borrower must repay all of the interest that has accrued. As of December 31, 2024, the amount of deferred interest on these loans was $7.0 million. Through an agreement with the third-party servicer, we are entitled to payment of all accrued interest that is waived on loans that repay all principal within the promotional period. There is a large concentration of these loans originated within proximity to each other resulting in 86% of the current balance of promotional loans ending their promotional period during 2025. If a high percentage of these loans repay at the end of their promotional period a large amount of interest reimbursement will be due in a short period of time from the third-party servicer and if they cannot perform then we may
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not be able to realize any income on a significant amount of loans in our portfolio, which may adversely impact the realization of the fair value of the derivative asset recognized.
A significant amount of our loans are secured by real estate and any declines in real estate values in our primary markets could be detrimental to our financial condition and results of operations.
Real estate lending (including commercial, construction, land development, and residential loans) is a large portion of our loan portfolio, constituting $2.0 billion, or approximately 69.3% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2024. Although residential and commercial real estate values are currently strong in our market area, such values may not remain elevated. If loans that are collateralized by real estate become troubled during a time when market conditions are declining or have declined, then we may not be able to realize the full value of the collateral that we anticipated at the time of originating the loan, which could require us to increase our provision for credit losses and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
As of December 31, 2024, 43.2% of our loan portfolio was comprised of loans secured by commercial real estate, including multi-family residential loans and loans secured by farmland. As of December 31, 2024, $651.8 million, or approximately 22.6% of our total loans, were secured by single-family residential real estate. This includes $588.8 million in residential 1-4 family loans and $63.0 million in home equity lines of credit. If housing prices in our market areas do not remain strong or deteriorate, we may experience an increase in nonperforming loans, provision for credit losses and charge-offs. If we are required to liquidate the collateral securing a loan to satisfy the debt during a period of reduced real estate values, our earnings and capital could be adversely affected.
If our nonperforming assets increase, our earnings will suffer.
As of December 31, 2024, our nonperforming assets (which consist of nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days and accruing and OREO) totaled $16.7 million, or 0.58% of total loans and OREO, which is an increase of $5.9 million, or 54.9%, compared with nonperforming assets of $10.8 million, or 0.34% of total non-covered loans and OREO as of December 31, 2023.
Economic and market conditions have been unstable, and although our nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and OREO remains manageable, we may incur losses if there is an increase in nonperforming assets in the future. Our nonperforming assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We do not record interest income on nonaccrual loans or OREO, thereby adversely affecting our net interest income, and increasing loan administration costs. When we take collateral in foreclosures and similar proceedings, we are required to mark the related loan to the then fair value of the collateral, which may ultimately result in a loss. We must reserve for expected losses, which is established through a current period charge to the provision for credit losses as well as from time to time, as appropriate, a write down of the value of properties in our OREO portfolio to reflect changing market values. Additionally, there are legal fees associated with the resolution of problem assets as well as carrying costs such as taxes, insurance and maintenance related to our OREO. Further, the resolution of nonperforming assets requires the active involvement of management, which can distract them from more profitable activity. Finally, an increase in the level of nonperforming assets increases our regulatory risk profile. There can be no assurance that we will not experience future increases in nonperforming assets.
If our allowance for credit losses is not adequate to cover actual loan losses, our earnings will decrease.
As a lender, we are exposed to the risk that our borrowers may not repay their loans according to the terms of these loans, and the collateral securing the payment of these loans may be insufficient to ensure repayment. We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of the borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of many of our loans. The amount of the allowance represents management's best estimate of current expected credit losses on loans considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing collectability over the loans' contractual terms, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. If our assumptions prove to be incorrect or if we experience significant loan losses, our current allowance may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses and adjustments may be necessary to allow for different economic conditions or adverse developments in our loan portfolio. A material addition to
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the allowance for credit losses could cause our earnings to decrease. Due to the relatively unseasoned nature of portions of our loan portfolio, we may experience an increase in delinquencies and losses as these loans continue to mature.
In addition, federal regulators periodically review our allowance for credit losses and may require us to increase our provision for credit losses or recognize further charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of our management. Any significant increase in our allowance for credit losses or charge-offs required by these regulatory agencies would result in a decrease in net income and capital and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to credit quality risks and our credit policies may not be sufficient to avoid losses.
We are subject to the risk of losses resulting from the failure of borrowers, guarantors and related parties to pay interest and principal amounts on their loans. Although we maintain credit policies and credit underwriting, monitoring and collection procedures, these policies and procedures may not prevent losses, particularly during periods in which the local, regional or national economy suffers a general decline. If borrowers fail to repay their loans, our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.
Our mortgage revenue is cyclical and is sensitive to the level of interest rates, changes in economic conditions, decreased economic activity, and slowdowns in the housing market, any of which could adversely impact our profits.
The Bank originates residential mortgage loans through Primis Mortgage Company which lends to borrowers nationwide. The success of our mortgage business is dependent upon its ability to originate loans and sell them to investors, in each case at or near current volumes. Loan production levels are sensitive to changes in the level of interest rates and changes in economic conditions. Loan production levels may suffer if we experience a slowdown in housing markets, tightening credit conditions or increasing interest rates. Any sustained period of decreased activity caused by fewer refinancing transactions, higher interest rates, housing price pressure, or loan underwriting restrictions would adversely affect our mortgage originations and, consequently, could significantly reduce our income from mortgage activities. As a result, these conditions would also adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Deteriorating economic conditions may also cause home buyers to default on their mortgages. In certain cases, where we have originated loans and sold them to investors, we may be required to repurchase loans or provide a financial settlement to investors if it is proven that the borrower failed to provide full and accurate information on, or related to, their loan application, if appraisals for such properties have not been acceptable or if the loan was not underwritten in accordance with the loan program specified by the loan investor. In the ordinary course of business, we record an indemnification reserve relating to mortgage loans previously sold based on historical statistics and loss rates. If such reserves were insufficient to cover claims from investors, such repurchases or settlements would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
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Market Risks
Our profitability depends significantly on local economic conditions in the areas where our operations and loans are concentrated, and our geographic concentration makes us vulnerable to local weather catastrophes, public health issues, and other external events, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We operate in a mixed market environment with influences from both rural and urban areas. Our profitability depends on the general economic conditions in our market areas of Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Charlottesville, Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Richmond, Hampton Roads and the surrounding areas. Unlike larger banks that are more geographically diversified, we provide banking and financial services to clients primarily in these market areas. As of December 31, 2024, a significant portion of our commercial real estate, real estate construction and residential real estate loans were made to borrowers in our market area. The local economic conditions in this area have a significant impact on our commercial, real estate and construction and consumer loans, the ability of the borrowers to repay these loans and the value of the collateral securing these loans. In addition, if the population or income growth in these market areas slows, stops or declines, income levels, deposits and housing starts could be adversely affected and could result in the curtailment of our expansion, growth and profitability. Political conditions, including a change in presidential administrations and related policies, executive orders, and laws, could also impact our earnings.
Our business is subject to interest rate risk and variations in interest rates may negatively affect our financial performance.
The majority of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature and subject us to significant risk from changes in interest rates. These rates are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions and the policies of the Federal Reserve and other governmental and regulatory agencies. Like most financial institutions, changes in interest rates can impact our net interest income as well as the valuation of our assets and liabilities, which is the difference between interest earned from interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. We expect that we will periodically experience “gaps” in the interest rate sensitivities of our assets and liabilities, meaning that either our interest-bearing liabilities will be more sensitive to changes in market interest rates than our interest-earning assets, or vice versa. In either event, if market interest rates should move contrary to our position, this “gap” will negatively impact our earnings.
Based on our analysis of the interest rate sensitivity of our assets, an increase in the general level of interest rates may negatively affect the market value of the portfolio equity as well as negatively affect our net interest income since a majority of our assets are fixed rate loans. Additionally, an increase in interest rates may, among other things, reduce the demand for loans and our ability to originate loans as well as increase our funding costs. A decrease in the general level of interest rates may affect us through, among other things, increased prepayments on our loan and mortgage-backed securities portfolios, but also allow us to reduce funding costs. Accordingly, changes in the level of market interest rates affect our net yield on interest-earning assets, loan origination volume, loan and mortgage-backed securities portfolios, funding, and our overall results. While it is expected that the FRB will hold the target federal funds rate steady in the first half of 2025, we are unable to predict changes in interest rates, which are affected by factors beyond our control, including inflation, deflation, recession, unemployment, money supply, and other changes in financial markets.
Although our asset liability management strategy is designed to keep our risk within acceptable parameters, it may not be able to prevent changes in interest rates from having a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Unstable global economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition, and operations.
We are operating in an uncertain economic environment. The global credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions over the past few years, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates, high rates of inflation, and uncertainty about economic stability and a potential recession. The U.S. government's decisions regarding its debt ceiling and the possibility that the U.S. could default on its debt obligations may cause further interest rate adjustments, disrupt access to capital markets, and deepen recessionary conditions. While our management team continually monitors market conditions and economic factors, throughout our footprint, we are unable to predict the duration or severity of such
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conditions or factors. If conditions were to worsen nationally, regionally, or locally, then we could see a sharp increase in our total net charge-offs and also be required to significantly increase our allowance for credit losses. Furthermore, the demand for loans and our other products and services could decline. An increase in our non-performing assets and related increases in our provision for loan losses, coupled with a potential decrease in the demand for loans and other products and services, could negatively affect our business and could have a material adverse effect on our capital, financial condition, results of operations, and future growth. Our clients may also be adversely impacted by changes in regulatory, trade (including tariffs), and tax policies and laws, all of which could reduce demand for loans and adversely impact our borrowers' ability to repay our loans.
There can be no assurance that further deterioration in markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturn or recession, volatile business environment, hostile third-party action, or continued unpredictable and unstable market conditions. The effects of any economic downturn or recession could continue for many years after the downturn or recession is considered to have ended.
Declines in asset values may result in impairment charges and adversely affect the value of our investment securities, financial performance and capital.
We maintain an investment securities portfolio that includes, but is not limited to, collateralized mortgage obligations, agency mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The market value of investment securities may be affected by factors other than the underlying performance of the issuer or composition of the bonds themselves, such as ratings downgrades, adverse changes in the business climate and a lack of liquidity for resales of certain investment securities. At each reporting period, we evaluate investment securities and other assets for impairment indicators. We may be required to record impairment charges in our income statements through an allowance for credit losses if our investment securities suffer a decline in value below their amortized cost. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we incurred an insignificant amount of impairment charges related to credit losses on our investment securities and in 2024 we did not experience any impairment of our investment securities. If in future periods we determine that a significant impairment has occurred, we would be required to charge against earnings the credit-related portion of the impairment, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations in the periods in which the impairments occur.
A portion of our income on a portfolio of consumer loans with promotional features is due from a third-party that originated the loans on our behalf. The value of this estimated reimbursement is recorded in our balance sheet at fair value as a derivative and actual results and a significant decline in the third-party’s credit risk may impact the value of the derivative and our ability to realize that value which could affect our financial performance and results of operations.
We record a derivative asset as of December 31, 2024, which mostly reflects our estimate of the fair value of the interest reimbursement due to us from the third-party loan servicer that manages an unsecured consumer loan portfolio with promotional features for us. This derivative asset reflects the interest anticipated to be waived to borrowers under the assumed pre-payment of the borrowers’ loans that the third party will be required to pay to us. The derivative is required to be valued at fair value under U.S. GAAP with the use of various assumptions including borrower pre-payment, expected credit losses, and the third-party servicer’s credit risk. Assumptions used to determine the value of the derivative are sensitive to various factors not within our control that include borrower repayment risk and the credit risk of the third-party servicer. These assumptions are determined based on the information available to the Company as of each balance sheet date. Actual results that differ significantly from our prior assumptions may result in an inability to realize the value of the derivative and require updates to future fair value calculations of the derivative which could result in a significant increase or decrease in the derivative value that is recorded in our results of operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations in future periods.
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We may be unable to sell loans at the estimated market price utilized to record them in held for sale
We have $113.2 million of Consumer Program loans in held for sale at the lower of cost or market as of December 31, 2024 that were recorded at their estimated fair value. At the time we transferred the loans to held for sale we recorded a $20 million write-down of the loans through the allowance for credit losses to reflect their estimated fair value that resulted in an equal amount of additional provision expense recorded in our income statement. The fair value of these loans are required to be re-evaluated at each reporting period until they are sold and any subsequent change in estimated fair value recorded as an additional adjustment to their value in the balance sheet with an equal charge to the income statement. Further, market conditions impacting the value of these loans could change and result in us selling the loans at a market price that is less than the value recorded on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2024, which would result in additional losses recorded in income at the time of sale.
Our stock price can be volatile.
Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for you to resell your common stock when you want and at prices you find attractive. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
| ● | actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations; |
| ● | recommendations by securities analysts; |
| ● | operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us; |
| ● | news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry; |
| ● | perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors; |
| ● | new technology used, or services offered, by competitors; |
| ● | significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors; |
| ● | failure to integrate acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions; |
| ● | changes in valuations of Goodwill and other Intangible Assets; |
| ● | changes in government regulations; and |
| ● | geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism, military conflicts or pandemics. |
General market fluctuations, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends, could also cause our stock price to decrease regardless of operating results.
The trading volume in our common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies.
Although our common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, the trading volume is low, and you are not assured liquidity with respect to transactions in our common stock. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. Given the lower trading volume of our common stock, significant sales of our common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause our stock price to fall.
Inflation could negatively impact our business, our profitability and our stock price.
Prolonged periods of inflation may impact our profitability by negatively impacting our fixed costs and expenses, including increasing funding costs and expense related to talent acquisition and retention, and negatively impacting the demand for our products and services. Additionally, inflation may lead to a decrease in consumer and client’s purchasing power and negatively affect the need or demand for our products and services. If significant inflation continues, our business could be negatively affected by, among other things, decreases in loan collateral values and increased default rates leading to credit losses which could decrease our appetite for new credit extensions. These inflationary pressures could result in missed earnings and budgetary projections causing our stock price to suffer.
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ESG and DEI risks could adversely affect our reputation and shareholder, employee, client, and third party relationships and may negatively affect our stock price.
Our business faces increasing public, investor, activist, legislative and regulatory scrutiny related to ESG, anti-ESG, DEI and anti-DEI activities and developments. We risk damage to our brand and reputation if we fail to act responsibly in a number of areas, such as DEI, environmental stewardship, including with respect to climate change, human capital management, support for our local communities, corporate governance, and transparency, or fail to consider ESG factors in our business operations.
Furthermore, as a result of our diverse base of clients and business partners, we may face potential negative publicity based on the identity of our clients or business partners and the public’s (or certain segments of the public’s) view of those entities. Such publicity may arise from traditional media sources or from social media and may increase rapidly in size and scope. If our client or business partner relationships were to become intertwined in such negative publicity, our ability to attract and retain clients, business partners, and employees may be negatively impacted, and our stock price may also be negatively impacted. Additionally, we may face pressure to not do business in certain industries that are viewed as harmful to the environment or are otherwise negatively perceived, which could impact our growth.
Additionally, investors and shareholder advocates are placing ever increasing emphasis on how corporations address ESG issues in their business strategy when making investment decisions and when developing their investment theses and proxy recommendations. We may incur meaningful costs with respect to our ESG efforts and if such efforts are negatively perceived, our reputation and stock price may suffer.
In response to ESG developments (including, in particular, DEI initiatives), there are increasing instances of anti-ESG legislation and anti-DEI executive orders, adverse media coverage, regulation, and litigation that could have unintended impacts on ordinary banking operations and increase litigation or reputational risk related to actions we choose to take and impact the results of our operations. If legislatures in the states in which we operate or Congress adopts legislation intended to protect certain industries by limiting or prohibiting consideration of business and industry factors in lending activities, certain portions of our lending operations may be impacted.
Operational Risks
Our business strategy includes strategic growth, and our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively affected if we fail to grow or fail to manage our growth effectively.
We intend to continue pursuing a growth strategy for our business. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by growing companies such as the continuing need for infrastructure and personnel, the time and costs inherent in integrating a series of different operations and the ongoing expense of acquiring and staffing new banks or branches. We may not be able to expand our presence in our existing markets or successfully enter new markets and any expansion could adversely affect our results of operations. Failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, future prospects, financial condition or results of operations, and could adversely affect our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Our ability to grow successfully will depend on a variety of factors, including the continued availability of desirable business opportunities, the competitive responses from other financial institutions in our market areas and our ability to manage our growth.
Although there can be no assurance of success or the availability of branch or financial services acquisitions in the future, we may seek to supplement our internal growth through attractive acquisitions. We cannot predict the number, size or timing of acquisitions, or whether any such acquisition will occur at all. Our acquisition efforts have traditionally focused on targeted entities in markets in which we currently operate and markets in which we believe we can compete effectively. However, as consolidation of the financial services industry continues, the competition for suitable acquisition candidates may increase and, as the number of appropriate targets decreases, the prices for potential acquisitions could increase which could reduce our potential returns, and reduce the attractiveness of these opportunities to us. We may compete with other financial services companies for acquisition opportunities, and many of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do and may be able to pay more for an acquisition than we are able or willing to pay.
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We must respond to rapid technological changes and these changes may be more difficult or expensive than anticipated.
If competitors introduce new products and services embodying new technologies, or if new industry standards and practices emerge, our existing product and service offerings, technology and systems may become obsolete. Further, if we fail to adopt or develop new technologies or to adapt our products and services to emerging industry standards, we may lose current and future customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The financial services industry is changing rapidly and in order to remain competitive, we must continue to enhance and improve the functionality and features of our products, services and technologies. These changes may be more difficult or expensive than we anticipate.
New lines of business, products or services and technological advancements may subject us to additional risks.
From time to time, we implement new lines of business or offer new products and services within existing lines of business. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services we invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service.
The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services (including those related to or involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies), and an established and growing demand for mobile and other phone and computer banking applications. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. In addition, our implementation of certain new technologies, such as those related to artificial intelligence, automation and algorithms, in our business processes may have unintended consequences due to their limitations or our failure to use them effectively. In addition, cloud technologies are also critical to the operation of our systems, and our reliance on cloud technologies is growing. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, any new line of business, new product or service and/or new technology could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business, new products or services and/or new technologies could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) presents risks and challenges that may adversely impact our business.
The Company or its third-party (or fourth party) vendors, clients or counterparties may develop or incorporate AI technology in certain business processes, services, or products. The development and use of AI presents a number of risks and challenges to the Company’s business. The legal and regulatory environment relating to AI is uncertain and rapidly evolving, both in the U.S. and internationally, and includes regulatory schemes targeted specifically at AI as well as provisions in intellectual property, privacy, consumer protection, employment, and other laws applicable to the use of AI. These evolving laws and regulations could require changes in the Company’s implementation of AI technology and increase the Company’s compliance costs and the risk of non-compliance. AI models, particularly generative AI models, may produce output or take action that is incorrect, that reflects biases included in the data on which they are trained, that results in the release of private, confidential, or proprietary information, that infringes on the intellectual property rights of others, or that is otherwise harmful. In addition, the complexity of many AI models makes it difficult to understand why they are generating particular outputs. This limited transparency increases the challenges associated with assessing the proper operation of AI models, understanding and monitoring the capabilities of the AI models, reducing erroneous output,
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eliminating bias, and complying with regulations that require documentation or explanation of the basis on which decisions are made. Further, the Company may rely on AI models developed by third parties, and, to that extent, would be dependent in part on the manner in which those third parties develop and train their models, including risks arising from the inclusion of any unauthorized material in the training data for their models and the effectiveness of the steps these third parties have taken to limit the risks associated with the output of their models, matters over which the Company may have limited visibility. Any of these risks could expose the Company to liability or adverse legal or regulatory consequences and harm the Company’s reputation and the public perception of its business or the effectiveness of its security measures.
We may not be able to successfully integrate our acquisitions or to realize the anticipated benefits of them.
A successful integration of each acquired business with ours will depend substantially on our ability to successfully consolidate operations, corporate cultures, systems and procedures and to eliminate redundancies and costs. While we have substantial experience in successfully integrating institutions we have acquired, we may encounter difficulties during integration, such as:
| ● | the loss of key employees; |
| ● | the disruption of operations and businesses; |
| ● | loan and deposit attrition, customer loss and revenue loss; |
| ● | possible inconsistencies in standards, control procedures and policies; |
| ● | unexpected issues with expected branch closures; and/or |
| ● | unexpected issues with costs, operations, personnel, technology and credit; |
all of which could divert resources from regular banking operations. Additionally, general market and economic conditions or governmental actions affecting the financial industry generally may inhibit our successful merger integrations.
Further, we acquire businesses with the expectation that these mergers or acquisitions will result in various benefits including, among other things, benefits relating to enhanced revenues, a strengthened market position for the combined company, cross selling opportunities, technology, cost savings and operating efficiencies. Achieving the anticipated benefits of these mergers and acquisitions is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether we integrate these institutions in an efficient and effective manner, and general competitive factors in the marketplace. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits could result in a reduction in the price of our shares as well as in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues and diversion of management's time and energy and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets may be adversely affected.
When we complete an acquisition, goodwill and other intangible assets are often recorded on the date of acquisition as an asset. Current accounting guidance requires goodwill to be tested for impairment, and we perform such impairment analysis at least annually. A significant adverse change in expected future cash flows or sustained adverse change in the value of our common stock could require the asset to become impaired. If impaired, we would incur a charge to earnings that would have a significant impact on the results of operations. Our carrying value of goodwill and net amortizable intangibles were approximately $93.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2024.
We rely on third-party vendors to provide key components of our business infrastructure.
Third-party vendors provide key components of our business operations such as data processing, recording and monitoring transactions, online banking interfaces and services, Internet connections and network access. We have selected these third-party vendors carefully and have conducted the due diligence consistent with regulatory guidance and best practices. While we have ongoing programs to review third-party vendors and assess risk, we do not control their actions. Any problems caused by these third parties, including those resulting from disruptions in communication services provided by a vendor, failure of a vendor to handle current or higher volumes, cyber-attacks and compromises at a vendor, failure of a vendor to provide services for any reason or poor performance of services, could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers and otherwise conduct our business. Financial or operational difficulties of a third-
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party vendor could also hurt our operations if those difficulties interfere with the vendor’s ability to serve us. Furthermore, our vendors could also be sources of operational and information security risk to us, including from breakdowns or failures of their own systems or capacity constraints. Replacing these third-party vendors could also create significant delay and expense. Accordingly, use of such third parties creates an unavoidable inherent risk to our business operations.
We face significant cyber and data security risk that could result in the disclosure of sensitive, confidential and/or nonpublic personal information, adversely affect our business or reputation and expose us to significant liabilities.
As a financial institution, we are under threat of loss due to cyber-attacks and technical disruptions to the computer systems and network infrastructure we use, including those we maintain with our service providers and vendors. This risk has increased in recent years, and continues to increase, as we continue to expand customer capabilities to utilize internet and other remote channels to transact business. Two of the most significant cyber-attack risks that we face are e-fraud and compromise of sensitive customer data. E-fraud occurs when cybercriminals compromise our systems and networks, or those of our service providers and vendors, and extract funds directly from customer or our accounts. The attempts to compromise sensitive customer data, such as account numbers and Social Security numbers, present potentially significant reputational, legal and/or regulatory costs to us. Our risk and exposure to these matters remains heightened because of the evolving nature and complexity of these threats from cybercriminals, our plans to continue to provide internet banking and mobile banking channels, and our plans to develop additional remote connectivity solutions to serve our customers. While we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyber-attacks or other information security incidents, we have been subject to cyber-attacks and there can be no assurance that we will not suffer additional losses in the future.
We allow a portion of our employees to work remotely from their homes on a full-time or hybrid schedule. Technology in employees’ homes may not be as robust as in our offices and could cause the security of the networks, information systems, applications, and other tools available to employees to be more limited or less reliable than in our offices. The continuation of these work-from-home measures also introduces additional operational risk, including increased cybersecurity risks. These cybersecurity risks, and all those described above, include the potential for increased risk of (i) phishing, malware, and other cybersecurity attacks, (ii) vulnerability to disruptions of our information technology infrastructure and telecommunications systems for remote operations,(iii) unauthorized dissemination, misuse or destruction of sensitive or confidential information, (iv) our ability to restore the systems in the event of a systems failure or interruption, and (v) impairment of our ability to perform critical functions, including wiring funds, all of which could expose us to risks of data or financial loss, litigation and liability and could seriously disrupt our operations and the operations of any impacted customers.
The occurrence of any cyber-attack could result in material adverse consequences to us including damage to our reputation, financial loss, increased operation expenses, remediation costs, and the loss of customers. We also could face litigation or additional regulatory scrutiny. Litigation or regulatory actions in turn could lead to significant liability or other sanctions, including fines and penalties (which may not be covered by our insurance policies) or reimbursement of customers adversely affected by a security incident. Even if we do not suffer any material adverse consequences as a result of other future events, successful attacks or systems failures at the Bank or at other financial institutions could lead to a general loss of customer confidence in financial institutions including the Bank.
Our ability to mitigate the adverse consequences of occurrences is in part dependent on the quality of our information security procedures and contracts and our ability to anticipate the timing and nature of any such event that occurs. In recent years, we have incurred significant expense towards improving the reliability of our systems and their security from attack. Nonetheless, there remains the risk that we may be materially harmed by cyber-attacks and information security incidents in the future. Methods used to attack information systems change frequently (with generally increasing sophistication), often are not recognized until launched against a target, may be supported by foreign governments, criminal organizations, or other well-financed entities, and may originate from less regulated and remote areas around the world. As a result, we may be unable to prevent these methods in advance of attacks, including by implementing adequate preventive measures. If such an attack does occur, we might not be able to fix it timely or adequately. We seek to engage in due diligence and monitoring to limit the risk that such an attack relates to products or services provided by others, including third party service providers and vendors.. In addition, as the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use, and privacy becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could also result in additional costs.
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Our business is susceptible to fraud.
Our business exposes us to fraud risk from loan and deposit customers, the parties we do business with, as well as from employees, contractors and vendors. We rely on financial and other data from new and existing customers which could turn out to be fraudulent when accepting such customers, executing their financial transactions and making and purchasing loans and other financial assets. In times of increased economic stress we are at increased risk of fraud losses. We believe underwriting and operational controls are in place to prevent or detect such fraud, but we cannot provide assurance that these controls will be effective in detecting fraud or that we will not experience fraud losses or incur costs or other damage related to such fraud, at levels that adversely affect financial results or reputation. Our lending customers may also experience fraud in their businesses which could adversely affect their ability to repay their loans or make use of services. Our customers’ and our exposure to fraud may increase our financial risk and reputation risk as it may result in unexpected loan losses that exceed those that have been provided for in the allowance for credit losses.
We are dependent on key personnel and the loss of one or more of those key personnel could impair our relationship with our customers and adversely affect our business.
Many community banks attract customers based on the personal relationships that the banks’ officers and customers establish with each other and the confidence that the customers have in the officers. We significantly depend on the continued service and performance of our key management personnel. We also believe our management team’s depth and breadth of experience in the banking industry is integral to executing our business plan. The loss of the services of members of our senior management team or other key employees or the inability to attract additional qualified personnel as needed could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our compensation practices are subject to review and oversight by the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and other regulators. The federal banking agencies have issued joint guidance on executive compensation designed to help ensure that a banking organization’s incentive compensation policies do not encourage imprudent risk taking and are consistent with the safety and soundness of the organization. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act required those agencies, along with the SEC, to adopt rules to require reporting of incentive compensation and to prohibit certain compensation arrangements. In October 2022, the SEC adopted final rules requiring national securities exchanges, including Nasdaq where we are currently listed, to establish new listing standards relating to policies for the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation, which are often referred to as “clawback policies.” The final rules directed U.S. stock exchanges to require listed companies to implement, disclose and enforce clawback policies to recover excess incentive-based compensation that current or former executive officers received based on financial reporting measures that are later restated. In June 2023, the SEC approved the Nasdaq’s proposed clawback listing standards, which now require us and other Nasdaq-listed companies to (i) adopt and implement a compliant clawback policy; (ii) file the clawback policy as an exhibit to our annual reports; and (iii) provide certain disclosures relating to any compensation recovery triggered by the clawback policy. If, as a result of complying with these rules, we are unable to attract and retain qualified employees, or do so at rates necessary to maintain our competitive position, or if the compensation costs required to attract and retain employees become more significant, our performance, including our competitive position, could be materially adversely affected.
Deposit insurance premiums levied against banks may increase if the number of bank failures increase or the cost of resolving failed banks increases.
The FDIC maintains a Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) to protect insured depositors in the event of bank failures. The DIF is funded by fees assessed on depository institutions insured by the FDIC. Future deposit premiums paid by banks will depend on FDIC rules, which are subject to change, the level of the DIF and the magnitude and cost of future bank failures. We may be required to pay significantly higher FDIC premiums if market developments change such that the DIF balance is reduced or the FDIC changes its rules to require higher premiums.
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Liquidity Risks
Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Liquidity is essential to our business. Our ability to implement our business strategy will depend on our ability to obtain funding for loan originations, working capital, possible acquisitions and other general corporate purposes. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. We anticipate that our retail and commercial deposits will be sufficient to meet our funding needs in the foreseeable future. We may rely on deposits obtained through intermediaries, FHLB advances, and other wholesale funding sources to obtain the funds necessary to implement our growth strategy.
Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance our activities or on terms which are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services industry or economy in general, including a decrease in the level of our business activity as a result of a downturn in the markets in which our loans are concentrated or adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as a disruption in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry. Access to liquidity may also be negatively impacted by the value of our securities portfolio, if liquidity and/or business strategy necessitate the sales of securities in a loss position. To the extent we are not successful in obtaining such funding, we will be unable to implement our strategy as planned which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our current and projected business operations and its financial condition and results of operations.
Actual events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. If any parties with whom we conduct business are unable to access deposits with another financial institution, funds pursuant to such instruments or lending arrangements with such a financial institution, such parties’ credit quality, ability to pay their obligations to us, or to enter into new commercial arrangements requiring additional payments to us could be adversely affected. Uncertainty remains over liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry. Additionally, confidence in the safety and soundness of regional banks specifically or the banking system generally could impact where customers choose to maintain deposits, which could materially adversely impact our liquidity, loan funding capacity, ability to raise funds, and results of operations. Similar impacts have occurred in the past, such as during the 2008-2010 financial crisis.
Although we assess our funding relationships as we believe necessary or appropriate, our access to funding sources and other arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and projected future business operations could be significantly impaired by factors that affect us, our customers, the financial institutions with which we have arrangements directly, or the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform our obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or negative expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry. These factors could involve financial institutions or financial services industry companies with which we or our customers have financial or business relationships, but could also include factors involving financial markets or the financial services industry generally.
Additionally, we could be impacted by current or future negative perceptions and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry which could worsen over time and result in downward pressure on, and continued or accelerated volatility of, bank securities.
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We may also face increased regulatory scrutiny – in the course of routine examinations and otherwise – and new regulations directed towards banks of similar size to the Bank, which may increase the Company’s costs of doing business and reduce its profitability. Among other things, there may be an increased focus by both regulators and investors on deposit composition, the level of uninsured deposits, losses embedded in the held-to-maturity portion of our securities portfolio, contingent liquidity, CRE composition and concentration, capital position and our general oversight and internal control structures regarding the foregoing. As primarily a commercial bank, the Bank has an elevated degree of uninsured deposits compared to larger national banks or smaller community banks with a stronger focus on retail deposits, and also maintains a robust CRE portfolio. As a result, the Bank could face increased scrutiny or be viewed as higher risk by regulators and the investor community. In addition, bank failures have and could in the future prompt the FDIC to increase deposit insurance costs. Increases in funding, deposit insurance, or other costs as a result of these types of events have and could in the future materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Further, the disruption following these types of events have and could in the future generate significant market trading volatility among publicly traded bank holdings companies and, in particular, regional banks like us.
Capital Adequacy Risks
Future growth or operating results may require us to raise additional capital, but that capital may not be available, be available on unfavorable terms or may be dilutive.
Primis Bank is required by the FRB to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. In the event that our future operating results erode capital, if the Bank is required to maintain capital in excess of well-capitalized standards, or if we elect to expand through loan growth or acquisitions, we may be required to raise additional capital. Our ability to raise capital will depend on conditions in the capital markets, which are outside our control, and on our financial performance. Accordingly, we cannot be assured of our ability to raise capital on favorable terms when needed, or at all. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, we will be subject to increased regulatory supervision and the imposition of restrictions on our growth and business. These outcomes could negatively impact our ability to operate or further expand our operations through acquisitions or the establishment of additional branches and may result in increases in operating expenses and reductions in revenues that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, in order to raise additional capital, we may need to issue shares of our common stock that would dilute the book value of our common stock and reduce our current shareholders’ percentage ownership interest to the extent they do not participate in future offerings.
We may issue a new series of preferred stock or debt securities, which would be senior to our common stock and may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
We have issued $27.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due January 31, 2027 and $60.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate Subordinated Notes due 2030. In the future, we may increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of debt or equity securities, which may include senior or additional subordinated notes, classes of preferred shares and/or common shares. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Preferred shares and debt, if issued, have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend or interest payments that could limit our ability to make a distribution to the holders of our common stock. Future issuances and sales of parity preferred stock, or the perception that such issuances and sales could occur, may also cause prevailing market price for our common stock to decline and may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital in the financial markets at times and prices favorable to us. Further issuances of our common stock could be dilutive to holders of our common stock.
We currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock; however, our future ability to pay dividends is subject to restrictions.
We declared the first cash dividend on our common stock in February 2012, and each quarter thereafter through 2024. There are a number of restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. It is the policy of the FRB that bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides
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that bank holding companies should not maintain a level of cash dividends that undermines the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries.
Our principal source of funds to pay dividends on our common stock is cash dividends that we receive from the Bank. The payment of dividends by the Bank to us is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal banking laws, regulations and authorities. The federal banking statutes prohibit federally insured banks from making any capital distributions (including a dividend payment) if, after making the distribution, the institution would be "under capitalized" as defined by statute. In addition, the relevant federal regulatory agencies have authority to prohibit an insured bank from engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice, as determined by the agency, in conducting an activity. The payment of dividends could be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or unsound practice, depending on the financial condition of the Bank. Regulatory authorities could impose administratively stricter limitations on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us if such limits were deemed appropriate to preserve certain capital adequacy requirements.
Regulatory Risks
We are heavily regulated by federal and state agencies; changes in laws and regulations or failures to comply with such laws and regulations may adversely affect our operations and our financial results.
We and the Bank are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by federal and state banking authorities. Any change in applicable regulations or federal or state legislation could have a substantial impact on us and the Bank, and our respective operations. Additional legislation and regulations may be enacted or adopted in the future that could significantly affect our powers, authority and operations or the powers, authority and operations of the Bank, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Further, bank regulatory authorities have the authority to bring enforcement actions against banks and their holding companies for unsafe or unsound practices in the conduct of their businesses or for violations of any law, rule or regulation, any condition imposed in writing by the appropriate bank regulatory agency or any written agreement with the agency. Possible enforcement actions against us could include the issuance of a cease-and-desist order that could be judicially enforced, the imposition of civil monetary penalties, the issuance of directives to increase capital or enter into a strategic transaction, whether by merger or otherwise, with a third party, the appointment of a conservator or receiver, the termination of insurance on deposits, the issuance of removal and prohibition orders against institution-affiliated parties, and the enforcement of such actions through injunctions or restraining orders. The exercise of this regulatory discretion and power may have a negative impact on us. See the discussion above at Supervision and Regulation for an additional discussion of the extensive regulation and supervision the Company and the Bank are subject to.
As a regulated entity, Primis and the Bank must maintain certain required levels of regulatory capital that may limit our operations and potential growth.
As further described above under Supervision and Regulation—Capital Requirements, Primis and the Bank each are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the FRB.
Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional, discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s and our consolidated financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet commitments as calculated under these regulations.
As of December 31, 2024, Primis and the Bank exceeded the amounts required to be well capitalized with respect to all four required capital ratios. As of December 31, 2024, Primis’ leverage, CET1 risk-based capital, Tier 1 risk-based capital and Total risk-based capital ratios were 7.76%, 8.74%, 9.05%, and 12.53%, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, the Bank’s leverage, CET1 risk-based capital, Tier 1 risk-based capital and Total risk-based capital ratios were 9.10%, 10.78%, 10.78% and 12.04%, respectively.
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Many factors affect the calculation of Primis and the Bank’s risk-based assets and its ability to maintain the level of capital required to achieve acceptable capital ratios. For example, changes in risk weightings of assets relative to capital and other factors may combine to increase the amount of risk-weighted assets in the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and the Total risk-based capital ratio. Any increases in its risk-weighted assets will require a corresponding increase in its capital to maintain the applicable ratios. In addition, recognized loan losses in excess of amounts reserved for such losses, loan impairments, impairment losses on investment securities and other factors will decrease the Bank’s capital, thereby reducing the level of the applicable ratios.
Primis and the Bank’s failure to remain well capitalized for bank regulatory purposes could affect customer confidence, our ability to grow, our costs of funds and FDIC insurance costs, our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock, our ability to make acquisitions, and on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Under FRB rules, if the Bank ceases to be a well-capitalized institution for bank regulatory purposes, the interest rates that it pays on deposits and its ability to accept, renew or rollover brokered deposits may be restricted. As of December 31, 2024, we did not have any brokered certificates of deposits.
We are subject to commercial real estate lending guidance issued by the federal banking regulators that impacts our operations and capital requirements.
The federal banking regulators have issued final guidance regarding concentrations in commercial real estate lending directed at institutions that have particularly high concentrations of commercial real estate loans within their lending portfolios. This guidance suggests that institutions whose commercial real estate loans exceed certain percentages of capital should implement heightened risk management practices appropriate to their concentration risk and may be required to maintain higher capital ratios than institutions with lower concentrations in commercial real estate lending. Based on our commercial real estate concentration as of December 31, 2024, we believe that we are operating within the guidelines. However, increases in our commercial real estate lending could subject us to additional supervisory analysis. We cannot guarantee that any risk management practices we implement will be effective to prevent losses relating to our commercial real estate portfolio. Management has implemented controls to monitor our commercial real estate lending concentrations, but we cannot predict the extent to which this guidance will continue to impact our operations or capital requirements.
Changes in accounting standards or assumptions in applying accounting policies could adversely affect us.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Some of these policies require use of estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported value of our assets or liabilities and results of operations and are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. If those assumptions, estimates or judgments were incorrectly made, we may be required to correct and restate prior-period financial statements. Accounting standard-setters and those who interpret the accounting standards, the SEC, banking regulators and our independent registered public accounting firm may also amend or even reverse their previous interpretations or positions on how various standards should be applied. These changes may be difficult to predict and could impact how we prepare and report our financial statements. In some cases, we may be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively, resulting in us revising prior-period financial statements.
Financial Reporting Risks
Failure to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could impact the price of our common stock.
Failure to maintain an effective internal control environment could result in us not being able to accurately report our financial results, prevent or detect fraud, or provide timely and reliable financial information pursuant to our reporting obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, it could cause our investors to lose confidence in the financial information we report, which could affect the trading price of our common stock.
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Management regularly reviews and updates our disclosure controls and procedures, including our internal control over financial reporting. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
During the year end December 31, 2023, management identified material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting related to (i) properly assessing the accounting treatment for certain loan transfer transactions, (ii) properly assessing the accounting treatment for an agreement with a third-party to originate and manage a portfolio of consumer loans, and (iii) a process to evaluate expected credit losses on its third-party originated and managed consumer loan portfolio. Management also identified a material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting related to (ii) above during the year ended December 31, 2022. While management believes it has put effective controls in place to remediate the previously identified material weaknesses, the controls have not been operating for a sufficient amount of time to conclude that the material weakness has been fully remediated. If management fails to timely and effectively remediate the deficiency in its control environment for these accounting issues it could result in additional incorrect accounting application to similar transactions in the future which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Primis Financial Corp. does not have any unresolved staff comments from the SEC to report for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
The Bank’s information security program is designed to protect sensitive, confidential, and non-public personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction, and to maintain the
The Bank’s cybersecurity program, including our information security policies, is designed to align with regulatory guidance and industry practices. To protect our information systems, network, and information assets from cybersecurity threats, we use various security tools, products, and processes that help identify, prevent, investigate, and remediate cybersecurity threats and security incidents.
The Bank’s Network Team monitors threat intelligence sources to research evolving threats, investigates the potential impact to financial services companies, examines company controls to detect and defend against those threats, and proactively adjusts company defenses against those threats. The Network Team also actively monitors the Bank’s networks and systems to detect suspicious or malicious events, and contracts with third-party consultants to perform penetration testing and routine vulnerability scans. A third-party managed security service provider supplements our efforts to provide 24 hours a day, seven days a week coverage.
We maintain policies and procedures for the safe storage, handling, and secure disposal of customer and employee information. Each employee is expected to be responsible for the security and confidentiality of customer information, and we communicate this responsibility to employees upon hiring and regularly throughout their employment. Annually, we provide employees with mandatory security awareness training. The curriculum includes the recognition and appropriate handling of potential phishing emails, which could place sensitive customer or employee information at risk. We employ a number of technical controls to mitigate the risk of phishing emails targeting employees.
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As part of our information security program, we have adopted a Cyber Incident Response Plan (“Incident Response Plan”) which is administered by our CIO who closely coordinates with the Bank’s Information Technology team. The Incident Response Plan describes the Bank’s processes, procedures, and responsibilities for responding to cybersecurity incidents, and identifies those team members responsible for assessing potential security incidents, declaring an incident, and initiating a response. The Incident Response Plan outlines action steps for investigating, containing, and remediating a cybersecurity incident, and includes procedures for escalation and reporting of potentially significant cybersecurity incidents to the Bank’s Executive Management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Chief Risk Officer (“CRO”), and the Board of Directors. We regularly test the Incident Response Plan, including through tabletop exercises, and document lessons learned. As necessary, the
We continue to optimize our business continuity and disaster recovery plans aligned to the pervasive nature of cybersecurity incidents and threats. We also increased our cyber insurance which aligned to strengthen our internal systems. While the Bank has encountered, and will continue to encounter, cyber incidents in the normal course of business, to date, the Bank has not experienced a cybersecurity incident that has materially impacted our business strategy, financial condition, or results of operation. Despite our ongoing efforts to continually strengthen our cybersecurity program, there can be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management processes and measures described will be fully implemented, complied with, or effective in safeguarding our systems and information. We face risks from certain cybersecurity threats that, if realized, could reasonably be expected to materially affect our business strategy, financial condition, or results of operation. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Operational Risks” in this 10-K for additional information.
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the Bank’s business and affairs, including risks associated with cybersecurity threats. The
The Board’s oversight of cybersecurity risk is supported by our CIO.
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Item 2. Properties
Primis Financial Corp.’s principal office is located at 1676 International Drive, McLean, Virginia. We have an administrative office in Glen Allen, Virginia and an operations center in Atlee, Virginia. Including these main locations, we own 32 properties and leases 20 properties, all of which are used as branch locations or for housing operational units in Maryland and Virginia. As of December 31, 2024, Primis Bank had twenty-four full-service branches in Virginia and Maryland and also provided services to customers through certain online and mobile applications. Twenty-two full-service retail branches are in Virginia and two full-service retail branches are in Maryland.
We believe our facilities are in good operating condition, are suitable and adequate for our operational needs and are adequately insured.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Primis and Primis Bank are from time to time a party, as both plaintiff and defendant, to various claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business, including administrative and/or legal proceedings that may include employment-related claims, as well as claims of lender liability, breach of contract, and other similar lending-related claims. While the ultimate resolution of these matters cannot be determined at this time, the Bank’s management presently believes that such matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. There are no proceedings pending, or to management’s knowledge, threatened, that represent a significant risk against Primis or Primis Bank as of December 31, 2024.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Common Stock Market Prices
Primis’ common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “FRST”. There were 24,722,734 shares of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on April 15, 2025, which were held by 1,099 shareholders of record. As of that date, the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market was $8.24.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
As of December 31, 2024, Primis had outstanding stock options granted under the 2010 Stock Awards and Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) and the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which were approved by its shareholders. The following table provides information as of December 31, 2024 regarding Primis’ equity compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:
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Number of securities | |||||||
remaining available for | |||||||
future issuance under | |||||||
Number of securities | Weighted average | equity compensation plans | |||||
to be issued upon exercise | exercise price of | (excluding securities reflected | |||||
of outstanding options | outstanding options | in column A) | |||||
Plan category |
| A |
| B |
| C | |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
| 35,800 | $ | 11.73 |
| 380,916 | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
| — |
| — |
| — | |
Total |
| 35,800 | $ | 11.73 |
| 380,916 | |
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On December 19, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a stock repurchase program (the “Stock Repurchase Program”) under which the Company may repurchase up to 740,600 shares of its common stock. The Stock Repurchase Program began on December 19, 2024, near the end of the previously authorized repurchase plan, and will end on December 19, 2025.
Repurchases under the Stock Repurchase Program may be made from time to time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or such other manners as will comply with applicable laws and regulations. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, market conditions and other corporate liquidity requirements and priorities.
The Stock Repurchase Program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares and there is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that will be repurchased by the Company. The Stock Repurchase Program may be suspended, modified or terminated by the Company at any time and for any reason, without prior notice.
There were no repurchases made during 2024 under the Stock Repurchase Program or previous stock repurchase programs.
Dividends
We declared the first cash dividend on our common stock in February 2012, and each quarter thereafter through 2024. There are a number of restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. It is the policy of the FRB that bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides that bank holding companies should not maintain a level of cash dividends that undermines the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries. Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Bank to Primis or by Primis to shareholders. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to stockholders is largely dependent upon the dividends it receives from the Bank, and the Bank is subject to regulatory limitations on the amount of cash dividends it may pay.
Performance Graph
The following chart compares the cumulative total shareholder return on Primis common stock during the five years ended December 31, 2024, with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the NASDAQ Bank Index for the same period. Dividend reinvestment has been assumed. This comparison assumes $100 invested on December 31,
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2019 in Primis common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and the NASDAQ Bank Index. The historical stock price performance for Primis common stock shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 | |
Primis Financial Corp. |
| 100.00 | 76.87 | 98.12 | 79.61 | 88.81 | 84.65 | |||||
Russell 2000 Index |
| 100.00 | 119.96 | 137.74 | 109.59 | 128.14 | 142.93 | |||||
NASDAQ Bank Index |
| 100.00 | 89.37 | 124.84 | 101.92 | 95.12 | 111.03 |
Item 6. [Reserved]
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses year-to-year comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Discussions of comparisons between 2023 and 2022 are not included in this Form10-K but can be found in “Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC on October 15, 2024.
Management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) is presented to aid the reader in understanding and evaluating the financial condition and results of operations of Primis. This discussion and analysis should be read with the consolidated financial statements, the footnotes thereto, and the other financial data included in this report.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
We follow accounting and reporting policies that conform, in all material respects, to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. and to general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. While we base estimates on historical experience, current information and other factors deemed to be relevant, actual results could differ from those estimates.
We consider accounting estimates to be critical to reported financial results if (i) the accounting estimate requires management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and (ii) different estimates that management reasonably could have used for the accounting estimate in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, could have a material impact on our financial statements.
Allowance for credit losses
Accounting policies related to the allowance for credit losses on financial instruments including loans and off-balance-sheet credit exposures are considered to be critical as these policies involve considerable subjective judgment and estimation by management. In the case of loans, the allowance for credit losses is a contra-asset valuation account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, which is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected.
In the case of off-balance-sheet credit exposures, the allowance for credit losses is a liability account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326. The allowance is reported as a component of other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in our income statement as a component of noninterest expenses.
The amount of each allowance account represents management's best estimate of current expected credit losses on these financial instruments considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing exposure to credit loss over the contractual term of the instrument. We consider a number of external economic variables in developing the allowance including the Virginia Unemployment Rate, Virginia House Price Index (“HPI”), Virginia Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”), and, National Unemployment and National Gross Domestic Product for pools of loans with borrowers outside of our local operating footprint. In determining forecasted expected losses, we use Moody’s economic variable forecasts and apply probability weights to the related economic scenarios. We also use internal factors including loan balances, credit quality, contractual life of loans, and historical loss experience. While historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, adjustments to historical loss information may be made for differences in current portfolio-specific risk characteristics, environmental conditions or other relevant factors.
Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of our allowance accounts is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond our control, including the performance of our portfolios, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets. Further, subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of factors existing at the time of subsequent evaluation may result in significant changes to the allowance.
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Goodwill
As required under U.S. GAAP, we test goodwill for impairment at least annually and more frequently if there are indications that goodwill could be impaired. Our annual goodwill impairment testing date is September 30 and accordingly, we performed testing as of September 30, 2024 of our two reporting units that include goodwill. For our assessment of goodwill as of September 30, 2024, we performed a step one quantitative assessment to determine if the fair value of the Primis Bank and the Primis Mortgage reporting units were less than their carrying amount. As part of the testing, we engaged an independent valuation firm to quantitatively estimate the fair value of each reporting unit so that it could be compared to the carrying value in assisting us in determining if impairment existed.
Our assessment of the reporting units includes the use of three or four approaches, each receiving various weightings to determine an ultimate fair value estimate: (1) the comparable transactions method that is based on comparison to pricing ratios recently paid in the sale or merger of comparable institutions; (2) the control premium approach that is based on the Company’s trading price, adjusted for holding company assets and an industry based control premium; (3) the public market peers control premium approach that is based on market pricing ratios of similar public companies adjusted for an industry based control premium, and (4) a discounted cash flow method (an income method), taking into consideration expectations of our growth and profitability going forward. The assessment included use of various assumptions and inputs into the modeling approaches, including creating a baseline and conservative scenarios that stressed certain assumptions such as projected cash flows and the discount rate.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and factors. As a result, there can be no assurance that the estimates and assumptions made for purposes of the goodwill impairment testing as of September 30, 2024 will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future. Changes in assumptions, market data (for market-based assessments), or the discount rate (for income based assessments) could produce different results that lead to higher or lower fair value determinations compared to the results of our annual impairment testing performed as of September 30, 2024. Further, because the use of inputs and assumptions are highly judgmental an analysis performed to assess the fair value of our reporting units by others may results in higher, lower, or the same fair value determination and goodwill impairment decision through the use of their judgment in application of similar inputs and assumptions as we used. As a result of our testing, we determined that the estimated fair value of both reporting units was higher than their respective carrying values, resulting in no goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2024.
Because of the decision made subsequent to September 30, 2024 to sell a majority of the Consumer Program loan portfolio, we performed a qualitative assessment as of December 31, 2024 to determine if this change to the business resulted in a change in the estimated fair value of the Primis Bank reporting unit. Based on our qualitative assessment, which included updating discounted cash flow analyses to consider the projected run-off of income from the Consumer Program, Primis determined that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the Primis Bank reporting unit was less than its carrying value as of December 31, 2024.
Third-party originated and serviced consumer loan portfolio
In the second half of 2021, we partnered with a third-party (the “Third Party Originator/Servicer” or “TPOS”) to originate and service unsecured consumer loans through their proprietary point-of-sale technology (the “Consumer Program”). Loan options under the Consumer Program include traditional fully-amortizing loans and promotional loans with no interest, or “same-as-cash”, features if the loan is fully repaid in the promotional window. The loans are originated at par in the Bank’s name and have a term of 5 to 12 years with a much shorter effective life due to amortization and pay downs.
The Consumer Program is governed by multiple interrelated agreements including the loan agreement between the Bank and the customer and agreements with the TPOS. The structure of the Consumer Program is intended to generate loans that yield a targeted return to the Bank on a portfolio basis while also providing limited credit enhancement from the TPOS. Key characteristics of the combined arrangement include:
| ● | The TPOS contributes funds to a reserve account at the time of origination to be used for future charge-offs if necessary. |
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| ● | When a promotional loan pays off prior to the end of the promotional period, the customer owes no interest on the loan and any interest accrued during the period is waived. In that event, the TPOS reimburses the Bank for the interest the customer otherwise would have paid if the promotional period didn’t exist. |
| ● | Excess yield on the portfolio after realized charge-offs and above an agreed upon target rate due to the Bank is paid to the TPOS as a “performance fee.” |
| ● | In the event charge-offs exceed the amount available as a performance fee, the TPOS remits a portion of current period originations to reimburse for losses and, if necessary, releases funds from the reserve account. |
| ● | If charge-offs exceed the amounts above, they roll over to future periods to offset potential performance fees and subsequent reserve account fundings related to the portfolio. |
Under U.S. GAAP, agreements with multiple counterparties, such as the customer and TPOS, are generally required to be accounted for separately even if the agreements are highly interrelated. As a result, we account for the Consumer Program as multiple units of account with the following impacts:
| ● | The loans are accounted for as one unit of account under U.S. GAAP including revenue recognition and inclusion in our CECL allowance methodology. |
| o | No interest income is recognized on promotional loans until the expiration of the promotional period. If the customer doesn’t pay off the loan prior to that expiration, deferred interest from the beginning of the loan becomes the obligation of the customer and is billed straight-line over the remaining life of the loan. We recognize the accumulated deferred interest at the time of expiration discounted for the time value of money with the discount amortized over the remaining life of the loan. |
| ● | The agreement that governs the Performance Fee and interest reimbursement from the TPOS is a separate unit of account and meets the definition of a derivative under U.S. GAAP and is accounted for at fair value in our financial statements. The primary drivers of the derivative value include estimated prepayment activity on promotional loans that would trigger reimbursement from the TPOS to us and estimated excess yield above projected credit losses that would lead to performance fee payments from us to the TPOS. The credit risk of the third-party and discount rates used in the calculation also impact the value of the derivative. Changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded as gains or losses in noninterest income. Additional details on the inputs to the derivative value can be found in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 4 – Derivatives, in this Form 10-K. |
| ● | Noninterest income each period includes actual amounts received during the period for interest reimbursement and amounts paid by the TPOS under the limited credit enhancement described above. |
| ● | Noninterest expense each period includes actual amounts paid during the period for performance fees and servicing fees as defined in our agreement with the TPOS. |
We had $152.1 million and $199.3 million of loans outstanding in the Consumer Program, or 5% and 6% of our total gross loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, $113.2 million is included in loans held for sale at lower of cost or market as a result of our decision to pursue a sale of that portion of the portfolio. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, $38.9 million and $199.3 million are included in loans held for investment. As of December 31, 2024, 22% of the principal balance of loans were in a promotional period requiring no payment of interest on their loans with 86% of these promotional loan periods ending during 2025.
During 2024, the TPOS requested the ability to finance its requirement to reimburse us for interest when a promotional loan pays off prior to the end of the promotional period as a result of the large volume of loans expected to end their promotional period in the second half of 2024 and first half of 2025. We agreed to provide financing in the form of a collateral secured term loan (the “TPOS Loan”) that was underwritten in accordance with our customary lending and
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underwriting policies. The loan allows for a maximum borrowing capacity of $10 million, but any borrowing above $5 million requires the TPOS to provide documentation of additional capital infusion since the original loan underwriting and approval. The TPOS Loan requires quarterly interest payments that may be capitalized to the principal of the note and the principal is due at the note maturity date of September 30, 2030. As of December 31, 2024, the balance of the note is $2.7 million.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, we made the decision to cease originating new loans under the Consumer Program effective January 31, 2025 and moved a large portion of the portfolio, with an amortized cost of $133.2 million, to loans held for sale and marked them to fair market value. The adjustment to fair market value resulted in additional provision expense and charge-offs of $20.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The remaining portion of the portfolio still classified as held for investment of approximately $38.9 million as of December 31, 2024 has an associated allowance for credit losses of $16.3 million and is expected to run off substantially in 2025.
As noted, we moved a large portion of the Consumer Portfolio to held for sale as of December 31, 2024, which included a $20 million adjustment to reflect it at the lower of cost or market. The charge was taken against our allowance for credit losses in accordance with applicable regulatory guidance. The basis for determining the market price of our portfolio of loans to be held for sale included third-party bid pricing on the portfolio as a result of a marketing effort in December 2024. We received a range of bid prices based on limited diligence having been performed as of December 31, 2024, by potential third-party buyers. Following the marketing and bid process, we entered into a non-binding agreement with one of the third-parties to agree to sell the portfolio at their bid price that was contingent on the party performing additional diligence. A sales contract with final terms and pricing if the party decides to purchase the loans would be prepared and executed after completion of diligence. We determined the fair value for the portfolio as of December 31, 2024 based on a combination of the purchase price indicated in the non-binding agreement and the other bids received in the marketing process. The non-binding price was not relied upon exclusively, although weighted more heavily in our analysis, because it was non-binding and the ultimate price the party is willing to pay could change after their diligence so we considered the other bids received in our analysis to form a more comprehensive determination of fair value on the portfolio.
OVERVIEW
Primis Financial Corp. (“Primis,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) is the bank holding company for Primis Bank (“Primis Bank” or the “Bank”), a Virginia state-chartered bank which commenced operations on April 14, 2005. Primis Bank provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses. As of December 31, 2024, Primis Bank had twenty-four full-service branches in Virginia and Maryland and also provides services to customers through certain online and mobile applications. Twenty-two full-service retail branches are in Virginia and two full-service retail branches are in Maryland. The Company is headquartered in McLean, Virginia and has an administrative office in Glen Allen, Virginia and an operations center in Atlee, Virginia. Primis Mortgage Company, a residential mortgage lender headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a consolidated subsidiary of Primis Bank. PFH is a consolidated subsidiary of Primis and owns the rights to the Panacea Financial brand and its intellectual property and partners with the Bank to offer a suite of financial products and services for doctors, their practices, and ultimately the broader healthcare industry.
While Primis Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking services, it focuses on making loans secured primarily by commercial real estate and other types of secured and unsecured commercial loans to small and medium-sized businesses in a number of industries, as well as loans to individuals for a variety of purposes. Primis Bank invests in real estate-related securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations and agency mortgage backed securities. Primis Bank’s principal sources of funds for loans and investing in securities are deposits and, to a lesser extent, borrowings. Primis Bank offers a broad range of deposit products, including checking (NOW), savings, money market accounts and certificates of deposit. Primis Bank actively pursues business relationships by utilizing the business contacts of its senior management, other bank officers and its directors, thereby capitalizing on its knowledge of its local market areas.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Income Statement
| ● | Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled $16.2 million, or $0.66 loss per basic and per diluted share, compared to net loss of $7.8 million, or $0.32 loss per basic and diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Net interest income increased $5.5 million, or 5.6% to $104.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $98.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Net interest margin increased to 2.86% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2.68% for the year ended December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Yield on loans held for investment increased to 6.02% during the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 5.44% during the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of deposits increased to 2.91% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2.49% for the year ended December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Provision for credit losses were $50.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $32.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The provision in both years was driven by the Consumer Program portfolio that had provisions of $40.0 million and $29.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In 2024, $20.0 million of the provision related to the write-down of the portion of the Consumer Program portfolio being transferred to held for sale. |
| ● | We realized a $4.7 million gain on the sale of the LPF loan portfolio, which is recorded in noninterest income. |
Balance Sheet
| ● | Total assets as of December 31, 2024 were $3.7 billion, a decrease of 4.3% compared to December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Total loans held for investment, as of December 31, 2024, were $2.9 billion, a decrease of $332.0 million, or 10.3%, from December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Loans held for sale as of December 31, 2024 included $163.8 million held at the lower of cost or market that comprised LPF loans under contract to be sold in January 2025 and Consumer Program loans being marketed for sale. |
| ● | Total deposits were $3.2 billion at December 31, 2024, a decrease of 3.0% compared to December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Non-interest bearing demand deposits decreased to $438.9 million, or 13.8% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2024, compared to 14.5% of total deposits as of December 31, 2023. Time deposits also decreased to 10.7% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024 compared to 13.6% of total deposits as of December 31, 2023. |
| ● | The ratio of gross loans (excluding loans held for sale) to deposits declined to 91.1% as of December 31, 2024, from 98.4% as of December 31, 2023. |
| ● | We sold $392.4 million of principal balance of LPF loans to a third party and transferred $133.2 million of Consumer Program loans to held for sale due to our marketing efforts to sell the loans. |
| ● | We started a mortgage warehousing line of business which had $63.8 million of principal outstanding as of December 31, 2024, which was yielding an average of Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 340 basis points. |
| ● | Allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.86% at December 31, 2024, compared to 1.62% at December 31, 2023. Excluding the allowance on the Consumer Program loan portfolio the allowance to total loans was 1.29% as of December 31, 2024. |
| ● | Asset quality declined slightly from year end with nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets (excluding SBA guarantees) at 0.29% as of December 31, 2024 compared to 0.20% as of December 31, 2023. |
| ● | Book value per share of $14.23 as of December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of $1.00 from December 31, 2023, driven by net losses and payment of common stock dividends during the year ended December 31, 2024. |
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Loss
Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $16.2 million, or $0.66 loss per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $7.8 million, or $0.32 loss per basic and diluted share for the year
48
ended December 31, 2023. The results reflect an increase in net interest income of $5.5 million and noncontrolling interests of $6.2 million, offset by higher credit loss provisions of $18.1 million, a decline of $2.1 million in noninterest income and an increase in noninterest expense of $3.0 million. Net interest income increases were driven by higher yields on loans outpacing higher costs on deposits and the increase in noncontrolling interests were related to losses attributable to other stockholders of an entity that we are required to consolidated under U.S. GAAP in which we own approximately 19%. Noninterest income declines were driven by lower Consumer Program derivative income, partially offset by higher mortgage banking income and a gain on sale of a majority of our LPF loan portfolio. Noninterest expense increases were related primarily to higher salaries and benefits and professional fees compared to 2023, offset by no goodwill impairment in the current year. Additional details of the net loss will be discussed in the remaining sections of this Results of Operations section.
Net Interest Income
Our operating results depend primarily on our net interest income, which is the difference between interest and dividend income on interest-earning assets such as loans and investments, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities such as deposits and borrowings.
The following table details average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the amount of interest earned/paid on such assets and liabilities, and the yield/rate for the periods indicated:
Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Margin | |||||||||||||||||
Analysis For the Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest | Interest | ||||||||||||||||
Average | Income/ | Yield/ | Average | Income/ | Yield/ | ||||||||||||
| Balance |
| Expense |
| Rate |
| Balance |
| Expense |
| Rate |
| |||||
(Dollar amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||||
Interest-earning assets: |
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Loans held for sale | $ | 85,485 | $ | 5,571 | 6.52 | % | $ | 44,643 | $ | 2,806 | 6.29 | % | |||||
Loans, net of deferred fees (1) (2) | 3,231,206 | 194,369 | 6.02 | % | 3,126,717 | 169,982 | 5.44 | % | |||||||||
Investment securities | 245,323 | 7,213 | 2.94 | % | 237,452 | 6,373 | 2.68 | % | |||||||||
Other earning assets | 82,757 | 3,816 | 4.61 | % | 281,052 | 13,457 | 4.79 | % | |||||||||
Total earning assets | 3,644,771 | 210,969 | 5.79 | % | 3,689,864 | 192,618 | 5.22 | % | |||||||||
Allowance for credit losses | (50,530) | (35,382) | |||||||||||||||
Total non-earning assets | 293,074 | 296,647 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 3,887,315 | $ | 3,951,129 | |||||||||||||
Liabilities and stockholders' equity | |||||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
NOW and other demand accounts | $ | 772,099 | $ | 18,695 | 2.42 | % | $ | 784,680 | $ | 15,404 | 1.96 | % | |||||
Money market accounts | 829,331 | 26,923 | 3.25 | % | 831,196 | 23,717 | 2.85 | % | |||||||||
Savings accounts | 825,129 | 33,462 | 4.06 | % | 777,143 | 29,774 | 3.83 | % | |||||||||
Time deposits | 421,058 | 16,582 | 3.94 | % | 474,178 | 14,795 | 3.12 | % | |||||||||
Total interest-bearing deposits | 2,847,617 | 95,662 | 3.36 | % | 2,867,197 | 83,690 | 2.92 | % | |||||||||
Borrowings | 169,912 | 11,085 | 6.52 | % | 159,442 | 10,217 | 6.41 | % | |||||||||
Total interest-bearing liabilities | 3,017,529 | 106,747 | 3.54 | % | 3,026,639 | 93,907 | 3.10 | % | |||||||||
Noninterest-bearing liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Demand deposits | 441,520 | 495,107 | |||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 36,422 | 35,494 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,495,471 | 3,557,240 | |||||||||||||||
Primis common stockholders' equity | 373,613 | 393,302 | |||||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interest | 18,231 | 587 | |||||||||||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 391,844 | 393,889 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 3,887,315 | $ | 3,951,129 | |||||||||||||
Net interest income | $ | 104,222 | $ | 98,711 | |||||||||||||
Interest rate spread | 2.25 | % | 2.12 | % | |||||||||||||
Net interest margin | 2.86 | % | 2.68 | % | |||||||||||||
| (1) | Includes loan fees in both interest income and the calculation of the yield on loans. |
| (2) | Calculations include non-accruing loans in average loan amounts outstanding. |
49
Net interest income was $104.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $98.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 2.86%, compared to 2.68% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our interest margin increased by 18 basis points as a result of yields on interest earning assets outpacing rates on interest bearing liabilities by 13 basis points along with average earning assets and liabilities both decreasing. This resulted in a $5.5 million increase in net interest income driven by a $27.2 million increase in interest income on loans in the current year compared to last year, partially offset by $12.0 million more interest costs on deposits and $9.6 million less income on other earning assets. Higher lending rates fueled by an increase in benchmark rates and the redeployment of excess cash into higher yielding assets drove interest income. Increase in loan interest income was driven by consumer, commercial, and commercial real estate loan income. The cost of interest bearing liabilities increased primarily due to increases in rates on all interest-bearing liabilities as a result of benchmark interest rates being higher during 2024 when compared to 2023, partially offset by a slight decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities during 2024. The interest on other earning assets declined alongside a decline in average other interest bearing assets as a result of our decision to sweep excess cash off balance sheet beginning at the end of second quarter of 2023. We had raised approximately $1.0 billion in interest bearing deposits in our digital platform during the first six months of 2023 and that amount earned interest for half of the year in 2023, but a significant portion of that cash was swept off of our balance sheet during the second half of 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024, that cash was redeployed to other earning assets such as investment securities and loans.
The following table summarizes changes in net interest income attributable to changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities compared to changes in interest rates. The change in interest, due to both rate and volume, has been proportionately allocated between rate and volume.
Year Ended | ||||||||||
December 31, 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||
Due to Change in: | ||||||||||
Net | ||||||||||
| Volume |
| Rate |
| Change |
| ||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||
Interest-earning assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Loans held for sale | $ | 2,662 | $ | 103 | $ | 2,765 | ||||
Loans, net of deferred fees | 5,825 | 18,562 | 24,387 | |||||||
Investment securities |
| 246 |
| 594 |
| 840 | ||||
Other earning assets |
| (9,161) |
| (480) |
| (9,641) | ||||
Total interest-earning assets |
| (428) |
| 18,779 |
| 18,351 | ||||
Interest-bearing liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
| |||||
NOW and other demand accounts |
| (243) | 3,534 |
| 3,291 | |||||
Money market accounts |
| (53) | 3,259 |
| 3,206 | |||||
Savings accounts |
| 1,894 | 1,794 |
| 3,688 | |||||
Time deposits |
| (1,333) | 3,120 |
| 1,787 | |||||
Total interest-bearing deposits |
| 265 |
| 11,707 |
| 11,972 | ||||
Borrowings |
| 680 | 188 |
| 868 | |||||
Total interest-bearing liabilities |
| 945 |
| 11,895 |
| 12,840 | ||||
Change in net interest income | $ | (1,373) | $ | 6,884 | $ | 5,511 | ||||
Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses is a current charge to earnings made in order to adjust the allowance for credit losses for current expected losses in the loan portfolio based on an evaluation of the loan portfolio characteristics, current economic conditions, changes in the nature and volume of lending, historical loan experience and other known internal and external factors affecting loan collectability, and assessment of reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions that would impact collectability of the loans. Our allowance for credit losses is calculated by
50
segmenting the loan portfolio by loan type and applying risk factors to each segment. The risk factors are determined by considering historical loss data, peer data, as well as applying management’s judgment.
The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $50.6 million and $32.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The provision included amounts calculated in our normal reserve process for the Consumer Program loans which totaled $40.0 million and $29.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We had charge-offs totaling $51.0 million and $16.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $47.6 million and $8.8 million of charge-offs were related to the Consumer Program, respectively. There were recoveries totaling $1.9 million and $1.8 million during year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Our provision for credit losses during 2024 and 2023 was driven by provisions related to the Consumer Program loan portfolio. Our provision for credit losses related to the Consumer Program loan portfolio were primarily driven by charge-offs centered around loans originated from the third quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2023. Losses on these vintages in 2024 and 2023 were $16.9 million and $7.0 million, respectively, or 61% and 79%, respectively, of total losses on the Consumer Program loan portfolio in 2024 and 2023.
The Financial Condition section of this MD&A provides information on our loan portfolio, past due loans, nonperforming assets and the allowance for credit losses.
Noninterest Income
The following table presents the categories of noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
For the Year Ended | |||||||||
December 31, | |||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| Change | |||
Account maintenance and deposit service fees | $ | 5,784 | $ | 5,733 |
| $ | 51 | ||
Income from bank-owned life insurance |
| 2,410 |
| 2,021 |
| 389 | |||
Mortgage banking income |
| 23,919 |
| 17,645 |
| 6,274 | |||
Gain on other investments | 408 | 184 | 224 | ||||||
Gain on sale of Life Premium Finance portfolio, net of broker fees | 4,723 | — | 4,723 | ||||||
Consumer Program income | 4,320 | 18,120 | (13,800) | ||||||
Other noninterest income |
| 1,576 |
| 1,547 |
| 29 | |||
Total noninterest income | $ | 43,140 | $ | 45,250 |
| $ | (2,110) | ||
Noninterest income decreased 4.7% to $43.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $45.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in noninterest income was primarily related to $13.8 million in lower income on the Consumer Program derivative. This decrease was partially offset by $6.3 million of higher mortgage banking income and a $4.7 million gain on sale of our LPF portfolio. The Consumer Program derivative income declined primarily due to fair value loss adjustments on the derivative asset of $6.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to fair value gains of $11.3 million during the year months ended December 31, 2023. The derivative asset and related gains or losses are driven by anticipated cash payments due to us from the third-party when borrowers prepay their loans in a no-interest promotional period. During the year ended 2023, the value of the derivative and related gains were primarily driven by $52.3 million of loans with a no-interest promotional period originated in the last quarter of 2022 and the first nine months of 2023 with a total of $89.4 million of loans within their promo period as of December 31, 2023. Comparatively, during the year ended 2024 a nominal amount of no-interest promotional loans were originated and $50.5 million ended their promo period, with $38.9 million of promo loans as of December 31, 2024. Offsetting the fair value loss adjustments during the year ended December 31, 2024 and adding to the gains in 2023 was $10.6 million and $6.8 million, respectively, of realized gains as a result of borrowers paying off their promotional period loans before the end of
51
the promotional period which triggers payment from the derivative counterparty of the interest accrued during the promotional period, along with other income due to us under the agreement.
The $6.3 million increase in mortgage banking income partially offset the total decline in noninterest income and was a result of the continued growth of the mortgage business in 2024 compared to 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024 our mortgage banking income was driven by $15.8 million of sale gains compared to $8.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as a result of higher sales volumes. The increase in gains on sale were partially offset with higher sales costs due to the higher volume.
Also partially offsetting the decrease in noninterest income was the pre-tax gain of $4.7 million, net of broker fees, from the sale of a majority of the LPF lending division loans in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Noninterest Expense
The following table present the major categories of noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
For the Year Ended | |||||||||
December 31, | |||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| Change | |||
Salaries and benefits | $ | 66,615 | $ | 58,765 | $ | 7,850 | |||
Occupancy expenses |
| 5,415 |
| 6,239 |
| (824) | |||
Furniture and equipment expenses |
| 7,327 |
| 6,381 |
| 946 | |||
Amortization of core deposit intangible |
| 1,265 |
| 1,269 |
| (4) | |||
Virginia franchise tax expense |
| 2,525 |
| 3,395 |
| (870) | |||
FDIC insurance assessment | 2,549 | 2,929 | (380) | ||||||
Data processing expense |
| 10,564 |
| 9,545 |
| 1,019 | |||
Marketing expense | 1,906 | 1,819 | 87 | ||||||
Telephone and communication expense |
| 1,312 |
| 1,507 |
| (195) | |||
(Gain) loss on bank premises and equipment and assets held for sale | (463) | 476 | (939) | ||||||
Professional fees |
| 10,384 |
| 4,641 |
| 5,743 | |||
Goodwill impairment | — | 11,150 | (11,150) | ||||||
Fraud losses | 2,039 | 3,311 | (1,272) | ||||||
Miscellaneous lending expenses | 3,280 |
| 3,006 |
| 274 | ||||
Other operating expenses |
| 10,926 |
| 8,167 |
| 2,759 | |||
Total noninterest expenses | $ | 125,644 | $ | 122,600 | $ | 3,044 | |||
Noninterest expenses were $125.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $122.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. The 2.5% increase in noninterest expenses was primarily attributable to higher salaries and benefits expense, professional fees, data processing costs, and other operating expenses in 2024, partially offset by the goodwill impairment and higher fraud losses recognized during the year ended December 31, 2023. The higher salaries and benefits expense was driven by growth in the mortgage line of business and higher overall benefits costs for our entire workforce. The increase in professional fees was related to expenses in connection with the SEC pre-clearance and restatement process. Data processing expenses increased primarily as a result of higher transaction volume. The other operating expenses increased primarily due to PFH operating expenses as a result of a full year of PFH operations compared to having just commenced operations at the end of 2023. These expenses are included as a result of the requirement to consolidate PFH under U.S. GAAP accounting rules, but the portion of these losses attributable to other stockholders is added back to our results to arrive at net income to Primis common shareholders.
The increase in noninterest expenses was partially offset by $11.2 million of goodwill impairment recognized in the third quarter of 2023. We had fraud losses during the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily related to a substantial increase in deposit account fraud, which was also seen across the industry during that time. Our fraud losses in 2024 were primarily due to losses in the Consumer Program loan portfolio. Other notable declines in expenses were seen in occupancy expenses, Virginia franchise tax, and gain (loss) on bank premises and equipment and assets held for sale. The Virginia franchise tax and FDIC insurance costs were a result of a decline in average deposits and capital in the current year
52
compared to the prior year. The occupancy expense decline is primarily related to a decline in branch operating costs in 2024 as a result of our restructuring in 2023 that resulted in eight branch consolidations in the fourth quarter of 2023. Noninterest expense increases were also offset by gains on sales of premises and equipment in 2024 while in 2023 we incurred more losses due to disposal of assets and write-down of property to be sold as part of the branch consolidations.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
The following illustrates key balance sheet categories as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| December 31, |
| December 31, |
| |||||
2024 | 2023 | Change | |||||||
Total cash and cash equivalents | $ | 64,505 | $ | 77,553 | $ | (13,048) | |||
Securities available-for-sale |
| 235,903 |
| 228,420 |
| 7,483 | |||
Securities held-to-maturity |
| 9,448 | 11,650 | (2,202) | |||||
Loans held for sale, at fair value |
| 83,276 | 57,691 | 25,585 | |||||
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market | 163,832 | — | 163,832 | ||||||
Net loans |
| 2,833,723 | 3,167,205 | (333,482) | |||||
Other assets |
| 299,428 | 314,027 | (14,599) | |||||
Total assets | $ | 3,690,115 | $ | 3,856,546 | $ | (166,431) | |||
Total deposits | $ | 3,171,035 | $ | 3,270,155 | $ | (99,120) | |||
Borrowings | 116,991 | 149,032 | (32,041) | ||||||
Other liabilities | 37,107 | 39,766 | (2,659) | ||||||
Total liabilities | 3,325,133 | 3,458,953 | (133,820) | ||||||
Total equity | 364,982 | 397,593 | (32,611) | ||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 3,690,115 | $ | 3,856,546 | $ | (166,431) | |||
Loans
Gross loans held for investment were $2.9 billion and $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Loans held for sale were $247.1 million and $57.7 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Loans held for sale at fair value are loans originated by PMC which are held at fair value under a fair value option election. Loans held for sale at the lower of cost or market comprise LPF loans to be sold to EverBank by January 31, 2025 and Consumer Program loans that are currently being marketed for sale.
As disclosed in “Note 1 - Organization and Significant Accounting Policies” in Item 8. in this Form 10-K, we entered into an agreement to sell LPF loans and $50.7 million of loans to be sold under this agreement that were already funded as of December 31, 2024 have been reclassified to loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market as of December 31, 2024. The Company also made the decision as of December 31, 2024 to sell a majority of its Consumer Program loans. $133.2 million of these loans were transferred to held for sale as of December 31, 2024 and were marked-to-market based on third party bid prices received in its initial marketing efforts for the portfolio, resulting in a $20.0 million write-down through the allowance for credit losses in accordance with regulatory guidance.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, a majority of our loans were to customers located in Virginia and Maryland. We are not dependent on any single customer or group of customers whose insolvency would have a material adverse effect on our operations. Our gross loans held for investment declined by 10% in 2024, which was driven by a decline in Consumer loans primarily due to approximately $299.2 million of sales of LPF loans. The decline in Consumer loans was also driven by the transfer of $133.2 million of the Consumer Program loans into “Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market” as of December 31, 2024 as a result of our decision to market the loans for sale. There was also a decline in the construction and land development loans due to a combination of paydowns and conversion to permanent financing. The declines were partially offset by growth in multi-family residential and non-owner and owner occupied commercial real estate. The majority of this growth was concentrated in loan growth in the Panacea division with loans that are diversified geographically and are spread across the nation.
53
The composition of our loans held for investment portfolio consisted of the following as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Amount |
| Percent |
| Amount |
| Percent |
| |||
Loans secured by real estate: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | 475,898 |
| 16.5 | % | $ | 455,397 |
| 14.1 | % | |
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| 610,482 |
| 21.1 | % |
| 578,600 |
| 18.0 | % | |
Secured by farmland |
| 3,711 |
| 0.1 | % |
| 5,044 |
| 0.2 | % | |
Construction and land development |
| 101,243 |
| 3.5 | % |
| 164,742 |
| 5.1 | % | |
Residential 1-4 family |
| 588,859 |
| 20.4 | % |
| 606,226 |
| 18.8 | % | |
Multi- family residential |
| 158,426 |
| 5.4 | % |
| 127,857 |
| 4.0 | % | |
Home equity lines of credit |
| 62,954 |
| 2.2 | % |
| 59,670 |
| 1.9 | % | |
Total real estate loans |
| 2,001,573 |
| 69.2 | % |
| 1,997,536 |
| 62.0 | % | |
Commercial loans |
| 608,595 |
| 21.1 | % |
| 602,623 |
| 18.7 | % | |
Paycheck protection program loans | 1,927 | 0.1 | % | 2,023 | 0.1 | % | |||||
Consumer loans |
| 270,063 |
| 9.4 | % |
| 611,583 |
| 19.0 | % | |
Total Non-PCD loans |
| 2,882,158 |
| 99.8 | % |
| 3,213,765 |
| 99.8 | % | |
PCD loans | 5,289 | 0.2 | % | 5,649 | 0.2 | % | |||||
Total loans | $ | 2,887,447 | 100.0 | % | $ | 3,219,414 | 100.0 | % | |||
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
The following table sets forth the contractual maturity ranges of our loan portfolio and the amount of those loans with fixed and floating interest rates in each maturity range as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands):
After 1 Year | After 5 Years |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Through 5 Years | Through 15 Years | After 15 Years |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
One Year | Fixed | Floating | Fixed | Floating | Fixed | Floating |
| |||||||||||||||||
| or Less |
| Rate |
| Rate |
| Rate |
| Rate |
| Rate |
| Rate |
| Total | |||||||||
Loans secured by real estate: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | 32,917 | $ | 81,757 | $ | 23,087 | $ | 152,937 | $ | 131,855 | $ | 1,687 | $ | 51,658 | $ | 475,898 | ||||||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied | 89,229 | 163,028 | 34,895 | 80,354 | 81,319 | 9,498 | 152,159 | 610,482 | ||||||||||||||||
Secured by farmland | 904 | 811 | 75 | — | 740 | — | 1,181 | 3,711 | ||||||||||||||||
Construction and land development | 50,184 | 1,910 | 26,777 | 6,359 | 15,982 | — | 31 | 101,243 | ||||||||||||||||
Residential 1-4 family | 7,106 | 51,767 | 17,197 | 23,683 | 50,297 | 67,595 | 371,214 | 588,859 | ||||||||||||||||
Multi- family residential | 16,708 | 89,427 | 14,138 | — | 13,978 | — | 24,175 | 158,426 | ||||||||||||||||
Home equity lines of credit | 4,508 | 3,223 | 6,547 | 43 | 2,845 | 21 | 45,767 | 62,954 | ||||||||||||||||
Total real estate loans | 201,556 | 391,923 | 122,716 | 263,376 | 297,016 | 78,801 | 646,185 | 2,001,573 | ||||||||||||||||
Commercial loans | 129,935 |
| 90,663 | 84,371 | 264,697 | 35,243 | 1,069 | 2,617 | 608,595 | |||||||||||||||
Paycheck protection program loans | 884 | 870 | — | 173 | — | — | — | 1,927 | ||||||||||||||||
Consumer loans | 4,483 | 134,605 | 53,651 | 68,435 | 6,915 | 1,969 | 5 | 270,063 | ||||||||||||||||
Total Non-PCD loans | 336,858 | 618,061 | 260,738 | 596,681 | 339,174 | 81,839 | 648,807 | 2,882,158 | ||||||||||||||||
PCD loans |
| 1,244 | 2,503 | 26 | — | 1,130 | 386 | — |
| 5,289 | ||||||||||||||
Total loans | $ | 338,102 | $ | 620,564 | $ | 260,764 | $ | 596,681 | $ | 340,304 | $ | 82,225 | $ | 648,807 | $ | 2,887,447 | ||||||||
54
The following table sets forth the contractual maturity ranges of our Consumer Program loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024, which is only originated at fixed rates (in thousands):
| One Year or Less | After One Year to Five Years | After Five Through Ten Years | After Ten Years | Total | ||||||||||
Consumer Program Loans, held for sale, at lower of cost or market (1) | $ | 937 | $ | 66,738 | $ | 41,373 | $ | 24,115 | $ | 133,163 | |||||
Consumer Program Loans, held for investment | 75 | 17,537 | 6,937 | 14,417 | 38,966 | ||||||||||
Total Consumer Program Loans | $ | 1,012 | $ | 84,275 | $ | 48,310 | $ | 38,532 | $ | 172,129 | |||||
| (1) | Amounts exclude $20.0 million of fair market value adjustments related to our transfer of the portfolio to held for sale as of December 31, 2024. |
As of December 31, 2024, we had $38.9 million of Consumer Program loans in a promotional period where interest is being deferred and will not be recognized by us until and if they exit the promotional period and the loan begins to amortize. Of this total, $0.7 million is included in held for investment and 64% end their promo period in 2025 while the remaining will end their promo period in 2026. The remaining $38.2 million of promo loans as of December 31, 2024 are included in held for sale and 87% of these end their promo period in 2025 and the remaining end in 2026.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, $31.1 million of loans ended their no interest promo period and began to amortize and $10.1 million of these loans charged-off during the year after beginning to amortize.
Asset Quality; Past Due Loans and Nonperforming Assets
The following table presents a comparison of nonperforming assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||
2024 |
| 2023 |
| ||||
Nonaccrual loans | $ | 15,026 | $ | 9,095 | |||
Loans past due 90 days and accruing interest |
| 1,713 |
| 1,714 | |||
Total nonperforming assets |
| 16,739 |
| 10,809 | |||
SBA guaranteed amounts included in nonperforming loans | $ | 5,921 | $ | 3,115 | |||
Allowance for credit losses to total loans |
| 1.86 | % |
| 1.62 | % | |
Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans |
| 357.53 | % |
| 574.06 | % | |
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans |
| 320.94 | % |
| 483.04 | % | |
Nonaccrual to total loans |
| 0.52 | % |
| 0.28 | % | |
Nonperforming assets excluding SBA guaranteed loans to total assets |
| 0.29 | % |
| 0.20 | % | |
Nonperforming assets increased as of December 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023, driven by an increase in nonaccrual loans of $5.9 million to $15.0 million. The increase was driven primarily by two commercial real estate loans totaling $4.2 million and one commercial loan totaling $0.7 million added to nonaccrual during the year. All of these additions during the year are secured by collateral and portions of the nonperforming asset balances at year end have partial SBA guarantees of $2.9 million.
We identify potential problem loans based on loan portfolio credit quality. We define our potential problem loans as internally rated as substandard loans less total nonperforming assets noted above. As of December 31, 2024, our potential problem loans totaled $54.9 million. As of December 31, 2024, our total substandard loans were $71.5 million, compared to $17.2 million as of December 31, 2023. Loans rated internally as special mention loans, which is one internal credit rating higher than substandard, totaled $30.3 million as of December 31, 2024 and $14.9 million as of December 31, 2023. Increase in substandard loans was driven primarily due to four relationships totaling $54.9 million and the increase in special mention loans was related to $20 million of downgrades in 2024.
55
We will generally place a loan on nonaccrual status when it becomes 90 days past due. Loans will also be placed on nonaccrual status in cases where we are uncertain whether the borrower can satisfy the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Cash payments received while a loan is categorized as nonaccrual will be recorded as a reduction of principal as long as doubt exists as to future collections.
We maintain appraisals on loans secured by real estate, particularly those categorized as nonperforming loans and potential problem loans. In instances where appraisals reflect reduced collateral values, we make an evaluation of the borrower’s overall financial condition to determine the need, if any, for impairment or write-down to their fair values. If foreclosure occurs, we record OREO at the lower of our recorded investment in the loan or fair value less our estimated costs to sell.
Our loan portfolio losses and delinquencies have been primarily limited by our underwriting standards and portfolio management practices. Whether losses and delinquencies in our portfolio will increase significantly depends upon the value of the real estate securing the loans and economic factors, such as the overall economy, rising or elevated interest rates, historically high or persistent inflation, and recessionary concerns.
We originate a portion of our consumer loans (the Consumer Program) using a third party that sources and subsequently manages the portfolio of loans. As of December 31, 2024, we had a book balance outstanding of $152.1 million which is comprised of $38.9 million in held for investment and $113.2 million of held for sale. These loans are accounted for similar to our other consumer loans and are not placed on nonaccrual because they are charged off when they become 90 days past due. The allowance on the held for investment loans balance of $38.9 million was $16.3 million as of December 31, 2024 and represented 30% of our total allowance for credit losses. Net charge-offs on this portfolio were $46.0 during the year ended December 31, 2024, and represented approximately 94% of net charge-offs recorded during the year.
The Company tightened its origination criteria in regard to this portfolio in April of 2023 and from that point forward we generally originated loans to consumer borrowers being managed by the third party with FICO scores over 720, whereas prior periods loan production included approximately 40% of loans to borrowers with weaker credit scores. This older vintage lower credit score portion of the portfolio has driven the uptick in related charge-offs during 2023 and 2024 and necessitated the update of the Company’s expected loss rates on this portfolio for purposes of determining the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Additionally, we experienced continued elevated levels of charge-offs in the first quarter of 2025 concentrated in these older vintages and as a result we incorporated this credit loss experience into our reserve process on these loans for the year ended December 31, 2024. The combination of the updated loss rates along with elevated charge-offs in 2024 and the first three months of 2025 has been a driver in the increase of the allowance during the year ended December 31, 2024 on the portfolio as a percentage of the portfolio balance. The newer production represented approximately 50% of the held for investment portfolio as of December 31, 2024 and is expected to improve the quality mix of the portfolio and result in lower realized net charge-offs and provisions for credit losses in future periods.
Loan Review
Our loan review program is administrated by the Chief Risk Officer and the Loan Review Manager who reports the results directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Our 2024 loan review program (the “Program”) was approved by the Audit Committee on January 25, 2024. The Program’s annual goal is to have an overall review penetration rate of 45.0% - 50.0% of the commercial loan portfolio outstanding as of December 31, 2024. The Program incorporates a robust risk-based approach review of the Bank’s loan portfolio that will include the loan origination process and targeted portfolio and full-scope loan reviews. The Program’s review goal remains well within regulatory standards and industry best practices. In accordance with Credit Policy, the Bank’s Program will utilize and incorporate both internal and third-party external resources in a complementary fashion to achieve the objectives of the Program.
In 2024, the loan review program resulted in reviews on commercial loan balances totaling $955.0 million or 49.6% of the commercial loan portfolio outstanding as of December 31, 2024. The loan reviews included 45.0% performed by our internal loan review function and 55.0% by an independent third party consultant. The loan review program also reviewed $90.5 million in unfunded commitments.
56
Allowance for Credit Losses
We are focused on the asset quality of our loan portfolio, both before and after a loan is made. We have established underwriting standards that we believe are effective in maintaining high credit quality in our loan portfolio. We have experienced loan officers who take personal responsibility for the loans they originate, a skilled underwriting team and highly qualified credit officers that review each loan application carefully. We have designed a credit matrix, which requires dual authority to approve any credit over $5.0 million. We have a specialty Executive Credit Officer with extensive industry experience in medical practice financing with authority up to $7.5 million and joint authority with the Chief Credit Officer up to $10.0 million. All credit exposures over $10.0 million are reviewed and approved by Executive Loan Committee consisting of all named Credit Officers with concurrence from the Chief Executive Officer on any credit in excess of $25.0 million. Loans in excess of 60% of the Bank’s legal lending limit are approved by the full Board of Directors or two outside directors.
Our allowance for credit losses is established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for credit losses. Management evaluates the allowance at least quarterly. In addition, on a quarterly basis our Board of Directors reviews our loan portfolio, evaluates credit quality, reviews the loan loss provision and the allowance for credit losses and requests management to make changes as may be required. In evaluating the allowance, management and the Board of Directors consider the growth, composition and industry diversification of the loan portfolio, historical loan loss experience, current delinquency levels and all other known factors affecting loan collectability.
The allowance for credit losses is based on the CECL methodology and represents management’s estimate of an amount appropriate to provide for expected credit losses in the loan portfolio. This estimate is based on historical credit loss information adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts applied to various loan types that compose our portfolio, including the effects of known factors such as the economic environment within our market area will have on net losses. The allowance is also subject to regulatory examinations and determination by the regulatory agencies as to the appropriate level of the allowance.
57
The following table sets forth the allowance for credit losses allocated by loan category and the percent of loans in each category to total loans at the dates indicated (in thousands):
As of December 31, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
Percent of | Percent of | ||||||||||
Allowance | Loans by | Allowance | Loans by | ||||||||
for Credit | Category to | for Credit | Category to | ||||||||
| Losses |
| Total Loans |
| Losses |
| Total Loans |
| |||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | 5,899 | 16.5 | % | $ | 4,255 | 14.1 | % | |||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied | 6,966 | 21.1 | % | 5,822 | 18.0 | % | |||||
Secured by farmland | 20 | 0.1 | % | 31 | 0.2 | % | |||||
Construction and land development | 1,203 | 3.5 | % | 1,129 | 5.1 | % | |||||
Residential 1-4 family | 6,819 | 20.4 | % | 4,938 | 18.8 | % | |||||
Multi- family residential | 1,620 | 5.4 | % | 1,590 | 4.0 | % | |||||
Home equity lines of credit | 533 | 2.2 | % | 364 | 1.9 | % | |||||
Commercial loans | 10,794 | 21.1 | % | 6,320 | 18.7 | % | |||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | — | 0.1 | % | — | 0.1 | % | |||||
Consumer loans | 19,625 | 9.4 | % | 26,088 | 19.0 | % | |||||
PCD loans | 245 | 0.2 | % | 1,672 | 0.2 | % | |||||
Total | 53,724 | 100.0 | % | 52,209 | 100.0 | % | |||||
The following table presents an analysis of the allowance for credit losses for the periods indicated (in thousands):
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| |||
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 52,209 | $ | 34,544 | |||
Provision charged to operations: | |||||||
Total provisions | 50,621 | 32,540 | |||||
Recoveries credited to allowance: |
|
| |||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | 31 | — | |||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied | — | 110 | |||||
Construction and land development |
| — |
| 112 | |||
Residential 1-4 family |
| 2 |
| 164 | |||
Home equity lines of credit |
| 3 |
| 5 | |||
Commercial loans | 20 | 948 | |||||
Consumer loans | 1,873 | 480 | |||||
Total recoveries |
| 1,929 |
| 1,819 | |||
Loans charged off: |
|
|
|
| |||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied | — | 1,170 | |||||
Construction and land development |
| — |
| 2 | |||
Residential 1-4 family |
| 8 |
| 770 | |||
Home equity lines of credit |
| 9 |
| 32 | |||
Commercial loans | 926 | 2,854 | |||||
Consumer loans | 50,092 | 11,866 | |||||
Total loans charged-off |
| 51,035 |
| 16,694 | |||
Net charge-offs |
| 49,106 |
| 14,875 | |||
Balance, end of period | $ | 53,724 | $ | 52,209 | |||
Net charge-offs to average loans, net of unearned income |
| 1.48 | % |
| 0.45 | % | |
The total allowance for credit losses increased by $1.5 million to $53.7 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $52.2 million as of December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily driven by a continued elevated provision related to the Consumer Program loans, and to a lesser extent due to increases in allowance provisions for commercial real estate, residential 1-4 family, and commercial loans. The increases in the allowance was mostly offset by charge-offs in the Consumer Program loan portfolio. The Consumer Program loans had allowance provisions of $40.0 million during the
58
year ended December 31, 2024, accounting for 79% of the total credit loss provisions for the ended December 31, 2024. Offsetting the increases in these provisions were $46.0 million of net charge-offs of the Consumer Program loans, which included $20.0 million related to the decision to move a majority of the portfolio to held for sale as of December 31, 2024. Increases in the allowance were also a result of increased allowance provisions for commercial real estate loans due primarily to growth in the portfolio balances and changes in expected macroeconomic factors, increase in allowance for residential 1-4 family due to changes in prepayment and curtailment rates and expected macroeconomic factors impacting the portfolio, and an increase in allowance for commercial loans primarily driven by one relationship that was downgraded and specific reserves applied to the loans in conjunction with the downgrade.
We believe that the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 is sufficient to absorb future expected credit losses in our loan portfolio based on our assessment of all known factors affecting the collectability of our loan portfolio. Our assessment involves uncertainty and judgment; therefore, the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses cannot be determined with precision and may be subject to change in future periods. In addition, bank regulatory authorities, as part of their periodic examination, may require additional charges to the provision for credit losses in future periods if the results of their reviews warrant additions to the allowance for credit losses.
Net charge-offs were $49.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up from $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Included in net charge-offs is $46.0 million and $8.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the Consumer Program loan portfolio. Excluding these Consumer Program charge-offs we had a decrease in charge-offs from the prior year of $3.4 million.
As discussed previously, the increase in charge-offs on the Consumer Program loan portfolio have been driven by losses concentrated in loans originated between the third quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. Charge-offs from these vintages in 2024 were 61% of the total gross loan charge-offs, before the $20.0 million of charge-offs related to the transfer of Consumer Program loans to held for sale. During the year ended December 31, 2023 the charge-offs of Consumer Program loans in these vintages was 79% of total gross loan charge-offs. As of December 31, 2024, the amount of loans from these vintages in the held for investment loan portfolio was $19.1 million, or approximately 50% of the total $38.9 million held for investment balance. The TPOS provides limited credit enhancement through certain direct payments and the release of funds from a reserve account. These amounts are recognized in our results of operations in the period in which they become available to us. During 2024, we recognized $3.0 million in our results of operations related to this credit enhancement. See additional discussion of the credit enhancement in “Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies” in this MD&A.
Investment Securities
Our investment securities portfolio provides us with required liquidity and collateral to pledge to secure public deposits, certain other deposits, advances from the FHLB of Atlanta, and repurchase agreements.
Our investment securities portfolio is managed by our Chief Financial Officer, who has significant experience in this area, with the concurrence of our Asset/Liability Committee. In addition to our Chief Financial Officer (who is the chairman of the Asset/Liability Committee) this committee is comprised of outside directors and other senior officers of the Bank, including but not limited to our Chief Executive Officer. Investment management is performed in accordance with our investment policy, which is approved annually by the Board of Directors. Our investment policy authorizes us to invest in:
| ● | Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) residential mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and commercial mortgage backed securities (“CMBS”) |
| ● | Collateralized mortgage obligations |
| ● | U.S. Treasury securities |
| ● | SBA guaranteed loan pools |
| ● | Agency securities |
| ● | Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| ● | Corporate debt securities, with rated securities at investment grade |
59
| ● | Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”) |
MBS are securities that have been developed by pooling a number of real estate mortgages and which are principally issued by agency/government-sponsored entities (“GSEs”) such as the GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC. These securities are deemed to have high credit ratings, and minimum regular monthly cash flows of principal and interest are guaranteed by the issuing agencies.
Collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) are bonds that are backed by pools of mortgages. The pools can be GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC pools or they can be private-label pools. The CMOs are designed so that the mortgage collateral will generate a cash flow sufficient to provide for the timely repayment of the bonds. The mortgage collateral pool can be structured to accommodate various desired bond repayment schedules, provided that the collateral cash flow is adequate to meet scheduled bond payments. This is accomplished by dividing the bonds into classes to which payments on the underlying mortgage pools are allocated. The bond’s cash flow, for example, can be dedicated to one class of bondholders at a time, thereby increasing call protection to bondholders. In private-label CMOs, losses on underlying mortgages are directed to the most junior of all classes and then to the classes above in order of increasing seniority, which means that the senior classes have enough credit protection to be given the highest credit rating by the rating agencies.
Obligations of states and political subdivisions (municipal securities) are purchased with consideration of the current tax position of the Bank. Both taxable and tax-exempt municipal bonds may be purchased, but only after careful assessment of the market risk of the security. Appropriate credit evaluation must be performed prior to purchasing municipal bonds.
Corporate bonds consist of senior and/or subordinated notes issued by banks. Bank subordinated debt, if rated, must be of investment grade and non-rated bonds are permissible if the credit-worthiness of the issuer has been properly analyzed.
CLOs are actively managed securitization vehicles formed for the purpose of acquiring and managing a diversified portfolio of senior secured corporate bank loans, otherwise known as “broadly syndicated loans”. The loan portfolio is transferred to bankruptcy-remote special-purpose vehicle, which finances the acquisition through the issuance of various classes of debt and equity securities with varying levels of senior claim on the underlying loan portfolio. CLOs must be rated AA or better at the time of purchase.
We classify our investment securities as either held-to-maturity (“HTM”) or available-for-sale (“AFS”). Debt investment securities that Primis has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as HTM and carried at amortized cost. Investment securities classified as AFS are those debt securities that may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, liquidity needs or other similar factors. Investment securities AFS are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses net of deferred taxes, included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Our portfolio of AFS securities currently contains a material amount of unrealized mark-to-market adjustments due to increases in market interest rates since the original purchase of many of these securities. We intend to hold these securities until maturity or recovery of the value and do not anticipate realizing any losses on the investments.
Investment securities, AFS and HTM, totaled $245.4 million as of December 31, 2024, an increase of 2.2% from $240.1 million as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to purchases of available-for-sale securities of $43.1 million, offset by paydowns, maturities, and calls of the investments during the year. We did not sell any AFS or HTM securities during 2024 or 2023.
We recognized no credit impairment charges related to credit losses on our HTM investment securities during 2024 and an immaterial amount in 2023.
60
The following table sets forth a summary of the investment securities portfolio as of the dates indicated. AFS investment securities are reported at fair value, and HTM investment securities are reported at amortized cost (in thousands).
December 31, | December 31, | |||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Available-for-sale investment securities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | 91,407 | $ | 96,808 | ||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| 29,705 |
| 30,080 | ||
Corporate securities |
| 15,080 |
| 14,048 | ||
Collateralized loan obligations |
| — |
| 4,982 | ||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| 56,390 |
| 34,471 | ||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| 13,836 |
| 13,711 | ||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| 22,178 |
| 30,110 | ||
SBA pool securities |
| 7,307 |
| 4,210 | ||
Total | $ | 235,903 | $ | 228,420 | ||
Held-to-maturity investment securities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | 7,760 | $ | 9,040 | ||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| 1,519 |
| 2,391 | ||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| 169 |
| 219 | ||
Total | $ | 9,448 | $ | 11,650 | ||
61
The following table sets forth the amortized cost, fair value, and weighted average yield of our investment securities by contractual maturity as of December 31, 2024. Weighted average yield is calculated as the tax-equivalent yield on a pro rata basis for each security based on its relative amortized cost. Yields on tax-exempt securities have been computed on a tax-equivalent basis. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties (in thousands).
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale |
| ||||||||
| Weighted |
| |||||||
Amortized | Average |
| |||||||
| Cost |
| Fair Value |
| Yield |
| |||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due less than one year | $ | 1,460 | $ | 1,437 | 2.50 | % | |||
Due after one year through five years | 4,123 | 3,831 |
| 2.79 | % | ||||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 16,867 |
| 14,747 |
| 2.23 | % | ||
Due after ten years |
| 11,050 |
| 9,690 |
| 2.04 | % | ||
| 33,500 |
| 29,705 |
| 2.24 | % | |||
Corporate securities |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Due after five years through ten years | 14,000 | 13,386 | 4.50 | % | |||||
Due after ten years |
| 2,000 |
| 1,694 |
| 4.50 | % | ||
16,000 | 15,080 | 4.50 | % | ||||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due after one year through five years |
| 6,931 |
| 6,499 |
| 1.31 | % | ||
Due after five years through ten years | 4,893 | 3,900 | 1.79 | % | |||||
Due after ten years |
| 4,491 |
| 3,437 |
| 2.09 | % | ||
| 16,315 |
| 13,836 |
| 1.67 | % | |||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due within a year |
| 1,717 |
| 1,706 |
| 2.25 | % | ||
Due after one year through five years |
| 3,106 |
| 3,077 |
| 4.66 | % | ||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 18,984 |
| 16,719 |
| 2.01 | % | ||
Due after ten years |
| 81,848 |
| 69,905 |
| 2.11 | % | ||
| 105,655 |
| 91,407 |
| 2.17 | % | |||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due after one year through five years | 997 | 978 | 0.03 | % | |||||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 5,077 |
| 4,927 |
| 4.52 | % | ||
Due after ten years |
| 51,834 |
| 50,485 |
| 4.49 | % | ||
| 57,908 |
| 56,390 |
| 4.47 | % | |||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due after one year through five years |
| 1,951 |
| 1,918 |
| 2.57 | % | ||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 17,329 |
| 14,702 |
| 1.45 | % | ||
Due after ten years | 6,470 | 5,558 | 1.47 | % | |||||
| 25,750 |
| 22,178 |
| 1.54 | % | |||
SBA pool securities |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due after one year through five years | 617 | 604 | 5.05 | % | |||||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 4,360 |
| 4,201 |
| 4.45 | % | ||
Due after ten years |
| 2,527 |
| 2,502 |
| 6.88 | % | ||
| 7,504 |
| 7,307 |
| 5.33 | % | |||
$ | 262,632 | $ | 235,903 |
| 2.82 | % | |||
Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity |
| ||||||||
| Weighted |
| |||||||
Amortized | Average |
| |||||||
| Cost |
| Fair Value |
| Yield |
| |||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due after one year through five years | $ | 795 | $ | 769 |
| 2.73 | % | ||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 724 |
| 675 |
| 2.51 | % | ||
| 1,519 |
| 1,444 |
| 2.63 | % | |||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Due after one year through five years | 232 | 227 | 2.19 | % | |||||
Due after five years through ten years |
| 3,098 |
| 2,858 |
| 2.46 | % | ||
Due after ten years |
| 4,430 |
| 3,913 |
| 2.58 | % | ||
| 7,760 |
| 6,998 |
| 2.52 | % | |||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Due after ten years |
| 169 |
| 160 |
| 2.58 | % | ||
| 169 |
| 160 |
| 2.58 | % | |||
$ | 9,448 | $ | 8,602 |
| 2.54 | % | |||
For additional information regarding investment securities refer to “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 - Investment Securities.”
62
Deposits and Other Borrowings
Deposits
The market for deposits is competitive. We offer a line of traditional deposit products that currently include noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing checking (or NOW accounts), commercial checking, money market accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit. We compete for deposits through our banking branches with competitive pricing, as well as nationally through advertising and online banking. We use deposits as a principal source of funding for our lending, purchasing of investment securities and for other business purposes. Our deposits are diversified in type and by underlying customer and lack significant concentrations to any type of customer (i.e. commercial, consumer, government) or industry.
Total deposits decreased 3.0% to $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2024 from $3.3 billion as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in deposits from 2023 year-end was primarily driven by a decrease in time deposits and noninterest-bearing deposits and increase in deposits swept off the balance sheet, partially offset by an increase in NOW accounts. Time deposits decreased 23.7% from $445.9 million as of December 31, 2023 to $340.2 as of December 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits decreased 7.2% from $472.9 million as of December 31, 2023 to $438.9 million as of December 31, 2024. NOW accounts increased 5.8% from $773.0 million as of December 31, 2023 to $817.7 million as of December 31, 2024. Our decline in non-interest bearing deposits was due to customers moving into higher interest earning deposit accounts, including NOW accounts, a general industry trend, and the decline in time deposits was driven by our repayment of $75.0 million of brokered deposits during the year. Year-end deposits are also net of excess amounts we sweep off balance sheet to manage liquidity. Deposits swept off balance sheet were $137 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $113 million as of December 31, 2023.
Uninsured deposits are defined as the portion of deposit accounts in U.S. offices that exceed the FDIC insurance limit and amounts in any other uninsured investment or deposit account that are classified as deposits and are not subject to any federal or state deposit insurance regimes. Total uninsured deposits as calculated per regulatory guidance were $667.1 billion, or 20.8% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2024.
The following table sets forth the average balance and average rate paid on each of the deposit categories for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Average |
| Average |
| Average |
| Average |
| |||
Balance | Rate | Balance | Rate | ||||||||
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | $ | 441,520 |
|
| $ | 495,107 |
|
| |||
Interest-bearing deposits: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Savings accounts |
| 825,129 |
| 4.06 | % |
| 777,143 |
| 3.83 | % | |
Money market accounts |
| 829,331 |
| 3.25 | % |
| 831,196 |
| 2.85 | % | |
NOW and other demand accounts |
| 772,099 |
| 2.42 | % |
| 784,680 |
| 1.96 | % | |
Time deposits |
| 421,058 |
| 3.94 | % |
| 474,178 |
| 3.12 | % | |
Total interest-bearing deposits |
| 2,847,617 |
| 3.36 | % |
| 2,867,197 |
| 2.92 | % | |
Total deposits | $ | 3,289,137 |
|
| $ | 3,362,304 |
|
| |||
The variety of deposit accounts we offer allows us to be competitive in obtaining funds and in responding to the threat of disintermediation (the flow of funds away from depository institutions such as banking institutions into direct investment vehicles such as government and corporate securities). Our ability to attract and maintain deposits, and the effect of such retention on our cost of funds, has been, and will continue to be, significantly affected by the general economy and market rates of interest.
63
The following table sets forth the maturities of certificates of deposit of $100 thousand and over as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands):
Within |
| 3 to 6 |
| 6 to 12 |
| Over 12 |
|
| |||||
3 Months | Months | Months | Months | Total | |||||||||
$ | 77,796 | $ | 66,923 | $ | 62,582 | $ | 31,309 | $ | 238,610 | ||||
Other Borrowings
Other borrowings consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| |||
Total FHLB advances | $ | — | $ | 30,000 | |||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
| 3,918 |
| 3,044 | |||
Total | $ | 3,918 | $ | 33,044 | |||
Weighted average interest rate on FHLB advances at year end |
| — | % |
| 5.57 | % | |
For the periods ended December 31, 2024 and 2023: |
|
|
|
| |||
Average outstanding balance | $ | 54,492 | $ | 49,792 | |||
Average interest rate during the year |
| 5.37 | % |
| 4.32 | % | |
Maximum month-end outstanding balance | $ | 168,677 | $ | 33,044 | |||
We use other borrowed funds to support our liquidity needs and to temporarily satisfy our funding needs from increased loan demand and for other shorter term purposes. We are a member of the FHLB and are authorized to obtain advances from the FHLB from time to time as needed. The FHLB has a credit program for members with different maturities and interest rates, which may be fixed or variable. We are required to collateralize our borrowings from the FHLB with purchases of FHLB stock and other collateral acceptable to the FHLB. We had no FHLB borrowings as of December 31, 2024, compared to total FHLB borrowings of $30.0 million as of December 31, 2023. Utilization of FHLB advances was higher during 2024 than 2023 as earning asset growth outpaced funding growth. The decrease in FHLB borrowings at the end of 2024 was primarily a result of excess liquidity generated from the LPF loan sale. As of December 31, 2024, we had $564.0 million of unused and available FHLB lines of credit.
Other borrowings can consist of FHLB convertible advances, FHLB overnight advances, other FHLB advances maturing within one year, federal funds purchased, secured borrowings due to failed loan sales, and securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repo”) that mature within one year, which are secured transactions with customers. The balance in repo accounts as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $3.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively.
We had secured borrowings as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 of $17.2 million and $20.4 million, respectively, related to loan transfers to another financial institution that did not meet the criteria to be treated as a sale under relevant accounting guidance. These borrowings reflect the cash received for transferring the loans to the other financial institution and any unamortized sale premium and are secured by approximately the same amount of loans held for investment that are recorded in our balance sheet. We retained the servicing of the loans that were transferred and accordingly receive principal and interest from the borrower as contractually required and transfer the interest to the other financial institution net of our contractually agreed upon servicing fee. The loans transferred have an average maturity of approximately ten years which will be the time over which the principal balance of the loans in our balance sheet and secured borrowings will pay down, absent borrower prepayments. During the year ended December 31, 2024, $1.1 million of additional advances were made to borrowers under the loans previously transferred and were accordingly treated as additional secured borrowings as of December 31, 2024. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2024, we voluntarily repurchased $3.5 million of the loans included in the original failed loan sales from one of the other institutions which drove the decline in our balance of secured borrowers and the loans held for investment collateralizing secured borrowings. For additional information on
64
secured borrowings refer to “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 1 –Organization and Significant Accounting Policies.”
Junior Subordinated Debt and Senior Subordinated Notes
For information about junior subordinated debt and senior subordinated notes and their anticipated principal repayments refer to “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 11 – Junior Subordinated Debt and Senior Subordinated Notes.”
Interest Rate Sensitivity and Market Risk
We are engaged primarily in the business of investing funds obtained from deposits and borrowings into interest-earning loans and investments. Consequently, our earnings depend to a significant extent on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income on loans and other investments and the interest expense on deposits and borrowings. To the extent that our interest-bearing liabilities do not reprice or mature at the same time as our interest-earning assets, we are subject to interest rate risk and corresponding fluctuations in net interest income. Our Asset-Liability Committee (“ALCO”) meets regularly and is responsible for reviewing our interest rate sensitivity position and establishing policies to monitor and limit exposure to interest rate risk. The policies established by the ALCO are reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors. We have employed asset/liability management policies that seek to manage our net interest income, without having to incur unacceptable levels of credit or investment risk.
We use simulation modeling to manage our interest rate risk and review quarterly interest sensitivity. This approach uses a model which generates estimates of the change in our economic value of equity (“EVE”) over a range of interest rate scenarios. EVE is the present value of expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts using assumptions including estimated loan prepayment rates, reinvestment rates and deposit decay rates.
The following tables are based on an analysis of our interest rate risk as measured by the estimated change in EVE resulting from instantaneous and sustained parallel shifts in the yield curve (plus 400 basis points or minus 400 basis points, measured in 100 basis point increments) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. All changes are within our Asset/Liability Risk Management Policy guidelines (amounts in thousands).
Sensitivity of EVE |
| ||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2024 |
| ||||||||||||
EVE | EVE as a % of |
| |||||||||||
Change in Interest Rates | $ Change | % Change | Total | Equity |
| ||||||||
in Basis Points (Rate Shock) |
| Amount |
| From Base |
| From Base |
| Assets |
| Book Value |
| ||
Up 400 | $ | 438,490 | $ | (68,444) |
| (13.50) | % | 11.88 | % | 120.14 | % | ||
Up 300 |
| 451,722 |
| (55,212) |
| (10.89) | % | 12.24 | % | 123.77 | % | ||
Up 200 |
| 464,410 |
| (42,524) |
| (8.39) | % | 12.59 | % | 127.24 | % | ||
Up 100 |
| 493,213 |
| (13,721) |
| (2.71) | % | 13.37 | % | 135.13 | % | ||
Base |
| 506,934 |
| — |
| — | % | 13.74 | % | 138.89 | % | ||
Down 100 |
| 509,055 |
| 2,121 |
| 0.42 | % | 13.80 | % | 139.47 | % | ||
Down 200 |
| 493,913 |
| (13,021) |
| (2.57) | % | 13.38 | % | 135.33 | % | ||
Down 300 |
| 469,048 |
| (37,886) |
| (7.47) | % | 12.71 | % | 128.51 | % | ||
Down 400 |
| 435,781 |
| (71,153) |
| (14.04) | % | 11.81 | % | 119.40 | % | ||
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Sensitivity of EVE |
| ||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2023 |
| ||||||||||||
EVE | EVE as a % of |
| |||||||||||
Change in Interest Rates | $ Change | % Change | Total | Equity |
| ||||||||
in Basis Points (Rate Shock) |
| Amount |
| From Base |
| From Base |
| Assets |
| Book Value |
| ||
Up 400 | $ | 428,175 | $ | (54,019) |
| (11.20) | % | 11.10 | % | 107.69 | % | ||
Up 300 |
| 438,298 |
| (43,896) |
| (9.10) | % | 11.37 | % | 110.24 | % | ||
Up 200 |
| 447,711 |
| (34,483) |
| (7.15) | % | 11.61 | % | 112.61 | % | ||
Up 100 |
| 471,457 |
| (10,737) |
| (2.23) | % | 12.22 | % | 118.58 | % | ||
Base |
| 482,194 |
| — |
| — | % | 12.50 | % | 121.28 | % | ||
Down 100 | 486,399 |
| 4,205 |
| 0.87 | % | 12.61 | % | 122.34 | % | |||
Down 200 |
| 477,430 |
| (4,764) |
| (0.99) | % | 12.38 | % | 120.08 | % | ||
Down 300 | 456,987 |
| (25,207) |
| (5.23) | % | 11.85 | % | 114.94 | % | |||
Down 400 |
| 417,079 |
| (65,115) |
| (13.50) | % | 10.81 | % | 104.90 | % | ||
Our interest rate sensitivity is also monitored by management through the use of a model that generates estimates of the change in net interest income (“NII”) over a range of interest rate scenarios. NII depends upon the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rates earned or paid on them. In this regard, the model assumes that the composition of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities existing as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 remains constant over the period being measured and also assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration to maturity or repricing of specific assets and liabilities. All changes are within our ALM Policy guidelines as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (amounts in thousands).
Sensitivity of NII | ||||||
As of December 31, 2024 | ||||||
Adjusted NII | ||||||
Change in Interest Rates | $ Change | |||||
in Basis Points (Rate Shock) |
| Amount |
| From Base | ||
Up 400 | $ | 95,367 | $ | (15,874) | ||
Up 300 |
| 98,941 |
| (12,300) | ||
Up 200 |
| 102,472 |
| (8,769) | ||
Up 100 |
| 107,370 |
| (3,871) | ||
Base |
| 111,241 |
| — | ||
Down 100 |
| 114,126 |
| 2,885 | ||
Down 200 |
| 114,960 |
| 3,719 | ||
Down 300 |
| 115,205 |
| 3,964 | ||
Down 400 |
| 115,736 |
| 4,495 | ||
Sensitivity of NII | ||||||
As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||
Adjusted NII | ||||||
Change in Interest Rates | $ Change | |||||
in Basis Points (Rate Shock) |
| Amount |
| From Base | ||
Up 400 | $ | 98,539 | $ | (16,112) | ||
Up 300 |
| 101,939 |
| (12,712) | ||
Up 200 |
| 105,326 |
| (9,325) | ||
Up 100 |
| 110,513 |
| (4,138) | ||
Base |
| 114,651 |
| — | ||
Down 100 |
| 117,230 |
| 2,579 | ||
Down 200 |
| 118,099 |
| 3,448 | ||
Down 300 |
| 118,114 |
| 3,463 | ||
Down 400 |
| 119,065 |
| 4,414 | ||
Sensitivity of EVE and NII are modeled using different assumptions and approaches. Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodology used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes in EVE and NII sensitivity requires the making of certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. Accordingly, although the EVE tables and NII tables provide an indication of our interest rate risk exposure at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to, and do not, provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net worth and NII.
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Liquidity and Funds Management
The objective of our liquidity management is to ensure the ability to meet our financial obligations. These obligations include the payment of deposits on demand or at maturity, the repayment of borrowings at maturity and the ability to fund commitments and other new business opportunities. We obtain funding from a variety of sources, including customer deposit accounts, customer certificates of deposit and payments on our loans and investments. If our level of core deposits are not sufficient to fully fund our lending activities, we have access to funding from additional sources, including but not limited to borrowing from the FHLB of Atlanta and institutional certificates of deposits. In addition, we maintain federal funds lines of credit with three correspondent banks, totaling $90.0 million, and utilize securities sold under agreements to repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement borrowings from approved securities dealers as needed. For additional information about borrowings and anticipated principal repayments refer to the discussion previously in “Deposits and Other Borrowings” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 10 – Securities Sold Under Agreements To Repurchase And Other Short-Term Borrowings, Note 11 – Junior Subordinated Debt and Senior Subordinated Notes, and Note 15 – Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk.”
We prepare a cash flow forecast on a 30, 60 and 90 day basis along with a one and two year basis. These projections incorporate expected cash flows on loans, investment securities, and deposits based on data used to prepare our interest rate risk analyses. As of December 31, 2024, Primis was not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that have or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our liquidity. As of December 31, 2024, Primis has no material commitments or long-term debt for capital expenditures.
Capital Resources
Capital management consists of providing equity to support both current and future operations. Primis Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Primis 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 regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on our financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action (“PCA”), we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the most recent regulatory notifications categorized the Bank as well capitalized under regulatory framework for PCA. Federal banking agencies do not provide a similar well capitalized threshold for bank holding companies.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require us to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of Total and Tier I capital (as defined in the regulations) to average assets (as defined). Management believes, as of December 31, 2024, that we meet all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.
See “Item 1. Business, Supervision and Regulation—Capital Requirements” for more information.
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The following table provides a comparison of the leverage and risk-weighted capital ratios of Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank at the periods indicated to the minimum and well-capitalized required regulatory standards.
Minimum |
| ||||||||
Required for |
| ||||||||
Capital | To Be | Actual Ratio at |
| ||||||
Adequacy | Categorized as | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
| Purposes |
| Well Capitalized (1) |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| |
Primis Financial Corp. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Leverage ratio |
| 4.00 | % | n/a |
| 7.76 | % | 8.37 | % |
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio |
| 4.50 | % | n/a |
| 8.74 | % | 8.96 | % |
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio |
| 6.00 | % | n/a |
| 9.05 | % | 9.25 | % |
Total risk-based capital ratio |
| 8.00 | % | n/a |
| 12.53 | % | 13.44 | % |
Primis Bank |
|
| |||||||
Leverage ratio |
| 4.00 | % | 5.00 | % | 9.10 | % | 9.80 | % |
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio |
| 7.00 | % | 6.50 | % | 10.78 | % | 10.88 | % |
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio |
| 8.50 | % | 8.00 | % | 10.78 | % | 10.88 | % |
Total risk-based capital ratio |
| 10.50 | % | 10.00 | % | 12.04 | % | 12.12 | % |
| (1) | Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable at the bank holding company level. |
Bank regulatory agencies have approved regulatory capital guidelines (“Basel III”) aimed at strengthening existing capital requirements for banking organizations. The Basel III Capital Rules require Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer”, (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer, (iii) a minimum ratio of Total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may result in certain actions by regulators which could have a direct material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank remain well-capitalized under Basel III capital requirements. Primis Bank had a capital conservation buffer of 4.04% as of December 31, 2024, which exceeded the 2.50% minimum requirement below which the regulators may impose limits on distributions.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
The financial statements and related financial data presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K concerning Primis Financial Corp. have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation on our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. Unlike most industrial companies, substantially all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, changes in interest rates have a more significant impact on our performance than do the effects of changes in the general rate of inflation and changes in prices. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. Many factors impact interest rates, including the decisions of the FRB, inflation, recession, changes in unemployment, the money supply, and international disorder and instability in domestic and foreign financial markets. Like most financial institutions, changes in interest rates can impact our net interest income which is the difference between interest earned from interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, as well as the valuation of our assets and liabilities.
Our interest rate risk management is the responsibility of the Bank’s ALCO. The ALCO has established policies and limits for management to monitor, measure and coordinate our sources, uses and pricing of funds. The ALCO makes reports to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.
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Seasonality and Cycles
We do not consider our commercial banking business to be seasonal.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We are a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and guarantees of credit card accounts. These instruments involve elements of credit and funding risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. We had letters of credit outstanding totaling $9.9 million and $9.6 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Our exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is based on the contractual amount of these instruments. We use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as we do for on-balance sheet instruments. Unless noted otherwise, we do not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments are made predominately for adjustable rate loans, and generally have fixed expiration dates of up to three months or other termination clauses and usually require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments may expire without being completely drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. We evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.
For additional information about off-balance sheet arrangements, refer to the discussion in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 15 – Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk.”
Allowance For Credit Losses - Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures
The allowance for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is a liability account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, representing expected credit losses over the contractual period for which we are exposed to credit risk resulting from a contractual obligation to extend credit. No allowance is recognized if we have the unconditional right to cancel the obligation. Off-balance-sheet credit exposures primarily consist of amounts available under outstanding lines of credit and letters of credit detailed above. For the period of exposure, the estimate of expected credit losses considers both the likelihood that funding will occur and the amount expected to be funded over the estimated remaining life of the commitment or other off-balance-sheet exposure. The likelihood and expected amount of funding are based on historical utilization rates. The amount of the allowance represents management's best estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over the contractual life of the commitment. Estimating credit losses on amounts expected to be funded uses the same methodology as described for loans in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3 - Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses”, as if such commitments were funded.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
This information is incorporated herein by reference from “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
69
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee of Primis Financial Corp.
McLean, Virginia
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Primis Financial Corp. (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024, the related consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated April 29, 2025 expressed an adverse opinion.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
70
Goodwill Impairment Evaluation – Bank Reporting Unit
As described in Note 1 and Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events or circumstances warrant for both reporting units, Primis Bank and Primis Mortgage. A step one quantitative assessment was performed as of September 30, 2024 to determine if the fair value of the reporting units were less than their carrying amount. To determine the fair value of the reporting units, the Company utilizes a combination of valuation approaches: the comparable transactions approach, the control premium approach, the public market peers control premium approach, and the discounted cash flow approach.
We identified the evaluation of the quantitative assessment of goodwill impairment at September 30, 2024 of the Bank reporting unit as a critical audit matter because of the significant auditor judgment, audit effort and specialized skills required to audit management’s judgments and subjective assumptions used in determining the fair value estimate, including evaluating the reasonableness of management’s cash flow projections used in the discounted cash flow approach.
The primary audit procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:
| ● | Testing the effectiveness of controls related to the goodwill impairment evaluation, including controls addressing: |
| o | Management’s review of the reasonableness of the valuation methodologies and significant assumptions, including review of the reasonableness of the Company’s cash flow projections used in the discounted cash flow methodology. |
| o | Management’s review of the data used in the fair value estimate for completeness and accuracy. |
| ● | Substantively testing management’s process related to the goodwill impairment evaluation, which included: |
| o | Evaluating the appropriateness of valuation methodologies and the reasonableness of significant assumptions, including the reasonableness of the Company’s cash flow projections used in the discounted cash flow methodology. The evaluation included the use of our internal valuation specialists. |
| o | Evaluating the data used in the fair value estimate for completeness and accuracy. |
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans – Economic Variable Forecasts
As described in Note 1 and Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, for loans segmented into pools based upon similar characteristics and risk profiles, the expected credit loss is measured over the life of each loan utilizing a combination of inputs: (i) probability of default, (ii) probability of attrition, (iii) loss given default and (iv) exposure at default. The various pool-specific inputs may be adjusted for current macroeconomic assumptions. In determining forecasted expected losses, Moody’s economic variable forecasts are used and probability weights are applied to the related economic scenarios. A significant amount of judgment is required to assess the reasonableness of the selection of the economic scenarios and the probability weights applied.
We identified the assessment of the economic variable forecasts as a critical audit matter because of the significant auditor judgment, audit effort and specialized skills required to audit management’s judgments used in determining the economic variable forecasts. These economic variable forecasts contribute significantly to the determination of the allowance for credit losses and changes to these assumptions could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results.
71
The primary audit procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:
| ● | Testing the effectiveness of controls over the evaluation of the economic variable forecasts, including controls addressing: |
| o | Management’s review and approval of the economic variable forecasts. |
| o | Management’s review and approval of the results of the third-party model validation. |
| o | Management’s review of the reasonableness of the forecasted expected losses after applying the economic variable forecasts used in the calculation. |
| ● | Substantively testing management’s process, including evaluating the judgments related to the economic variable forecasts, which included: |
| o | Evaluating of the reasonableness of the selection of the economic scenarios and the probability weights applied in the economic scenarios. |
| o | Evaluating that the forecasted expected losses were appropriately applied in the economic variable forecasts used in the determination of the ACL for loans. The evaluation included the use of our internal specialists. |
/s/ Crowe LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2024.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
April 29, 2025
72
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee of Primis Financial Corp.
McLean, Virginia
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Primis Financial Corp.’s (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, because of the effects of the material weaknesses discussed in the following paragraphs, the Company has not maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management's report:
The Company did not maintain effective controls over the design and operation of its accounting determinations for transfers of financial assets, including lack of a formally designed process and procedure for identification of the complete population of loan transfers at period end.
The Company does not have appropriate segregation of duties for independent review of new deposit accounts and file maintenance. Management does not monitor for segregation of duties between input and review. Additionally, management does not monitor or restrict employees transacting on their own accounts.
The Company did not maintain effective controls over the design and operation of its process for evaluation of credit losses on the third party managed consumer loan portfolio including evaluating recent actual and subsequent event loss history on the portfolio relative to previous model inputs.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2024, the related consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements") and our report dated April 29, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion. We considered the material weaknesses identified above in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures applied in our audit of the 2024 financial statements, and this report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting does not affect such report on the financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
73
assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Crowe LLP
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
April 29, 2025
74
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee
Primis Financial Corp.
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited, before the effects of the retrospective adjustments to the segment reporting disclosures for the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), discussed in Notes 1 and 18 to the consolidated financial statements, the consolidated balance sheet of Primis Financial Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, before the effects of the retrospective adjustments to the Company’s segment reporting disclosures for the adoption of ASU 2023-07 discussed in Notes 1 and 18, the consolidated financial statements referred to above, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the retrospective adjustments to the Company’s segment reporting disclosures discussed in Notes 1 and 18, and accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance about whether such retrospective adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied. Those adjustments were audited by Crowe LLP.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts, and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Forvis Mazars, LLP
We served as the Company’s auditor from 2013 to 2024.
Tysons, Virginia
October 15, 2024
75
PRIMIS FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
| December 31, |
| December 31, | |||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and due from financial institutions | $ | |
| $ | | |
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions |
| |
|
| | |
Total cash and cash equivalents |
| |
|
| | |
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $ |
| |
|
| | |
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value of $ |
| |
|
| | |
Loans held for sale, at fair value | | | ||||
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market | | — | ||||
Total loans held for sale | | | ||||
Loans held for investment, collateralizing secured borrowings | | | ||||
Loans held for investment |
| |
|
| | |
Less: allowance for credit losses |
| ( |
|
| ( | |
Net loans |
| |
|
| | |
Stock in Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) |
| |
|
| | |
Bank premises and equipment, net |
| |
|
| | |
Assets held for sale | | | ||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | ||||
Cloud computing arrangement assets, net | | | ||||
Goodwill |
| |
|
| | |
Intangible assets, net |
| |
|
| | |
Bank-owned life insurance |
| |
|
| | |
Deferred tax assets, net |
| |
|
| | |
Consumer Program derivative asset | | | ||||
Other assets |
| |
|
| | |
Total assets | $ | |
| $ | | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
| |||
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | $ | |
| $ | | |
Interest-bearing deposits: |
|
|
| |||
NOW accounts |
| |
|
| | |
Money market accounts |
| |
|
| | |
Savings accounts |
| |
|
| | |
Time deposits |
| |
|
| | |
Total interest-bearing deposits |
| |
|
| | |
Total deposits |
| |
|
| | |
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
| |
|
| | |
Secured borrowings | | | ||||
FHLB advances |
| — |
|
| | |
Junior subordinated debt |
| |
|
| | |
Senior subordinated notes |
| |
|
| | |
Operating lease liabilities | | | ||||
Other liabilities |
| |
|
| | |
Total liabilities |
| |
|
| | |
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 15) |
|
|
| |||
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
|
| |
Preferred stock, $ |
|
|
| |||
Common stock, $ |
| |
|
| | |
Additional paid in capital |
| |
|
| | |
Retained earnings |
| |
|
| | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| ( |
|
| ( | |
Total Primis stockholders' equity |
| |
|
| | |
Noncontrolling interests | | | ||||
Total stockholders' equity | | | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | |
| $ | | |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
76
PRIMIS FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Interest and dividend income: |
|
|
| ||||||
Interest and fees on loans | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Interest and dividends on taxable securities |
| |
| |
| | |||
Interest and dividends on tax exempt securities |
| |
| |
| | |||
Interest and dividends on other earning assets |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total interest and dividend income |
| |
| |
| | |||
Interest expense: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Interest on deposits |
| |
| |
| | |||
Interest on other borrowings |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total interest expense |
| |
| |
| | |||
Net interest income |
| |
| |
| | |||
Provision for credit losses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Net interest income after provision for credit losses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Noninterest income: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Account maintenance and deposit service fees |
| |
| |
| | |||
Income from bank-owned life insurance |
| |
| |
| | |||
Mortgage banking income |
| |
| |
| | |||
Gain on other investments | | | | ||||||
Gain on sale of Life Premium Finance portfolio, net of broker fees | | — | — | ||||||
Consumer Program derivative | | | | ||||||
Other noninterest income |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total noninterest income |
| |
| |
| | |||
Noninterest expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Salaries and benefits |
| |
| |
| | |||
Occupancy expenses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Furniture and equipment expenses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Amortization of intangible assets |
| |
| |
| | |||
Virginia franchise tax expense |
| |
| |
| | |||
FDIC insurance assessment | | | | ||||||
Data processing expense |
| |
| |
| | |||
Marketing expense | | | | ||||||
Telephone and communication expense |
| |
| |
| | |||
(Gain) loss on bank premises and equipment and assets held for sale | ( | | | ||||||
Professional fees |
| |
| |
| | |||
Goodwill impairment | — | | — | ||||||
Fraud losses | | | | ||||||
Miscellaneous lending expenses | | | | ||||||
Other operating expenses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total noninterest expenses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||
Net income (loss) | ( | ( | | ||||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | | | — | ||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Primis' common stockholders | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Other comprehensive income (loss): |
|
|
|
| |||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities |
| |
| |
| ( | |||
Tax expense (benefit) |
| |
| |
| ( | |||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| |
| |
| ( | |||
Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Earnings (loss) per share, basic | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Earnings (loss) per share, diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
77
PRIMIS FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, 2023 AND 2022
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid in | Retained | Comprehensive | Noncontrolling | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Earnings |
| Income (Loss) |
| Interests |
| Total | ||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2021 | | | | | | — | | ||||||||||||||
Dividends on common stock ($ | — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( | ||||||||
Shares retired to unallocated | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Stock option exercises | |
| |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Restricted stock granted | | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Restricted stock forfeited | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Repurchase of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Shares issued in lieu of cash bonus | | — | | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||
Net income | — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2022 | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | — | $ | | ||||||||
Issuance of Panacea Financial Holdings stock, net of costs | — | — | — | — | — | | | ||||||||||||||
Dividends on common stock ($ | — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( | ||||||||
Shares retired to unallocated | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Stock option exercises | |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Restricted stock granted | | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||
Restricted stock forfeited | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Repurchase of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Net loss | — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | | — | | ||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2023 | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Dividends on common stock ($ | — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( | ||||||||
Shares retired to unallocated | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Stock option exercises | |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Restricted stock forfeited | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Repurchase of restricted stock | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
Restricted stock units vested | | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | | — | | ||||||||||||||
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — | — | | | ||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2024 | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
78
PRIMIS FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net income | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents (used in) provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Depreciation and amortization |
| |
| |
| | |||
Net amortization of premiums and (accretion of discounts) |
| |
| ( |
| | |||
Provision for credit losses |
| |
| |
| | |||
Proceeds from sales of loans | — | | — | ||||||
Net change in mortgage loans held for sale | | ( | ( | ||||||
Net gains on mortgage banking | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Net gains on sale of loans | ( | ( | — | ||||||
(Gain) loss on bank premises and equipment and assets held for sale | ( | | | ||||||
Purchases of cloud computing arrangement assets | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Earnings on bank-owned life insurance |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Gain on bank-owned life insurance death benefit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| |
| | |||
Gain on other investments | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Gain on sale of Life Premium Finance portfolio, net of broker fees | ( | — | — | ||||||
Goodwill impairment | — | | — | ||||||
Deferred income tax benefit |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Net change in fair value of loan derivative | | ( | | ||||||
Net (increase) decrease in other assets |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||
Net increase (decrease) in other liabilities |
| ( |
| |
| ( | |||
Net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities | |
| |
| | ||||
Investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Purchases of securities available-for-sale |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Proceeds from paydowns, maturities and calls of securities available-for-sale |
| |
| |
| | |||
Proceeds from paydowns, maturities and calls of securities held-to-maturity |
| |
| |
| | |||
Net (increase) decrease in FRB and FHLB stock | | | ( | ||||||
Net change in loans held for investment |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Proceeds from sales of loans originally held for investment | | — | — | ||||||
Proceeds from bank-owned life insurance death benefit | | | | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned, net of improvements | — | — | | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of bank premise and equipment and assets held for sale | | — | — | ||||||
Purchases of bank premises and equipment, net |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Proceeds from sale of other investment | — | — | | ||||||
Purchases of other investments | | ( | ( | ||||||
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired | — | — | ( | ||||||
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing activities |
| |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Financing activities: |
|
|
|
| |||||
Net increase in deposits |
| ( |
| |
| ( | |||
Cash dividends paid on common stock |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Proceeds from exercised stock options |
| |
| |
| | |||
Proceeds from secured borrowings, net of repayments | ( | | — | ||||||
Repurchase of restricted stock | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Repayment of FHLB advances, long-term | — | — | ( | ||||||
Proceeds from (repayment of) short-term FHLB advances | ( | ( | | ||||||
Repayment of short-term borrowings | — | — | ( | ||||||
Increase (decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
| |
| ( | ( | ||||
Other net changes in noncontrolling interests | | — | — | ||||||
Issuance of Panacea Financial Holdings stock, net of costs | — | | — | ||||||
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities |
| ( |
| |
| | |||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
| |
| | | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information |
|
|
|
| |||||
Cash payments for: |
|
|
| ||||||
Interest | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Income taxes | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Supplemental schedule of noncash activities: |
|
| |||||||
Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | | $ | | $ | — | |||
Loans held for investment transferred to loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | |||
Bank premises transferred to held for sale | $ | — | $ | | $ | | |||
Shares issued in lieu of cash bonus | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||
Proceeds from sale of other investment included in other assets | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||
Proceeds from bank-owned life insurance death benefit included in other assets | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||
Fair value of assets and liabilities from acquisition: | |||||||||
Fair value of tangible assets acquired | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||
Other intangible assets acquired | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||
Fair value of liabilities assumed | $ | — | $ | — | $ | ( | |||
Total merger consideration, net of $ | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
79
1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Primis Financial Corp. (“Primis,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) is the bank holding company for Primis Bank (“Primis Bank” or the “Bank”), a Virginia state-chartered bank which commenced operations on April 14, 2005. Primis Bank provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.
At December 31, 2024, Primis Bank had
The accounting policies and practices of Primis and its subsidiaries conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and to general practice within the banking industry. Material policies and practices are described in this footnote.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Primis and its subsidiaries Primis Bank, PMC and PFH. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Primis consolidates subsidiaries in which it holds, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the voting rights or where it exercises control. Entities where Primis holds 20 to 50 percent of the voting rights, or has the ability to exercise significant influence, or both, are accounted for under the equity method. Primis owns EVB Statutory Trust I (the “Trust”) which is an unconsolidated subsidiary and the junior subordinated debt owed to the Trust is reported as a liability of Primis. Primis consolidates PFH, as a result of the determination that it has a controlling financial interest over the entity as further described below.
We determine whether we have a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity (“VIE”) under U.S. GAAP. Voting interest entities are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provides the equity holders with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities. We consolidate voting interest entities in which we have all, or at least a majority of, the voting interest. As defined in U.S. GAAP, VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a VIE is present when an enterprise has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The enterprise with a controlling financial interest, known as the primary beneficiary, consolidates the VIE. The Company has investments in VIE’s for which we are not the primary beneficiary and, as such, are not included in our consolidated financial statements. The Company also has an investment in a VIE for which we are the primary beneficiary as described below related to PFH.
On April 28, 2022, Primis Bank entered into a definitive agreement to acquire
80
Company. At the time of acquisition, PMC originated mortgages primarily in North and South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee from eight offices but has since expanded its ability to originate mortgages to the majority of the U.S.
On December 21, 2023, PFH completed a $
Disposition of the Life Premium Finance Division
On October 24, 2024, the Company entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with EverBank, N.A. (“EverBank”) for sale of the Company’s Life Premium Finance division (“LPF”). EverBank acquired LPF from the Company, except for a subset of mostly fixed rate and rate-capped loans that were retained by the Bank. All of the LPF operations, including its employees, were assumed by EverBank following the close of the transaction, which took place in two parts. EverBank acquired approximately $
The Company performed an analysis of the transaction under U.S. GAAP and determined that the criteria was met for the assets of LPF (primarily loans and accrued interest) that were sold to EverBank to be reported as sold in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 for loans transferred through that date. The Company also assessed the sale of LPF to determine if it should be reported under U.S. GAAP as discontinued operations of the Company in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, and determined that the criteria was not met for separate presentation as discontinued operations. The Company previously presented pro forma financial information highlighting the impact of the anticipated transaction to its balance sheet and income statements for certain periods as required by SEC regulation S-X in its Form 8-K filing on November 6, 2024.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to change in the near term include: the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the mortgage banking derivatives, Consumer Program derivative, the valuation of goodwill, and loans held for sale at the lower of cost or market.
81
Investment Securities
Securities Available-for-Sale and Held-to Maturity
Debt securities that Primis has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost.
Securities classified as available-for-sale are those debt securities that may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, liquidity needs or other similar factors. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses net of deferred taxes, included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Gains or losses arising from sale, call, or maturity of the securities are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into noninterest income in the consolidated income statement at the time of sale, call, or maturity. There were no reclassifications of gains or losses into income during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Premiums and discounts are generally amortized using the interest method with a constant effective yield without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities where prepayments are anticipated. Premiums on callable securities are amortized to their earliest call date. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are recorded on the settlement date and are determined using the specific identification method.
Primis purchases amortizing investment securities. The actual principal reduction on these assets varies from the expected contractual principal reduction due to principal prepayments resulting from the borrowers’ election to refinance the underlying mortgage based on market and other conditions. The purchased premiums and discounts associated with these assets are amortized or accreted to interest income over the estimated life of the related assets. The estimated life is calculated by projecting future prepayments and the resulting principal cash flows until maturity. Prepayment rate projections utilize actual prepayment speed experience and available market information on like-kind instruments. The prepayment rates form the basis for income recognition of premiums and discounts on the related assets. Changes in prepayment estimates may cause the earnings recognized on these assets to vary over the term that the assets are held, creating volatility in the net interest margin. Prepayment rate assumptions are monitored and updated monthly to reflect actual activity and the most recent market projections.
Non-marketable Equity Securities
Primis’ investment in STM’s preferred stock and other investments are considered to be non-marketable equity securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value. Equity securities with no recurring market value data available are reviewed periodically and any observable market value change is adjusted through net income. Primis evaluates these non-marketable equity securities for impairment and recoverability of the recorded investment by considering positive and negative evidence, including the profitability and asset quality, dividend payment history and recent redemption experience. Impairment is assessed at each reporting period and if identified, is recognized in noninterest income.
Other investments include stock acquired for regulatory purposes. The Bank is a member of the FHLB system. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. The Bank is also required to own FRB stock with a par value equal to
Loans Held for Sale
The Primis Mortgage Company (“PMC”) loans held for sale are originated and held until sold to permanent investors. The Company has elected to carry these loans at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with the fair value option under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, Financial Instruments. The fair value is determined by utilizing quoted prices from dealers in such loans. Gains and losses on loan sales are recorded in mortgage banking income and direct loan origination costs are included in noninterest expense in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss).
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Other loans that the Company has the intent to sell at the balance sheet date have been recorded in loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market. LPF loans as of December 31, 2024 that were originated with the intent to sell to EverBank, as previously discussed, are recorded in held for sale at their par value of $
Loans
Primis provides commercial and consumer loans to customers. Primis also purchases mortgage loans from mortgage loans originators, including PMC. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is represented by loans secured by real estate throughout its market area. The ability of Primis’ debtors to honor their contracts is in varying degrees dependent upon the real estate market conditions and general economic conditions in their debtor’s market area.
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, including purchased premiums and discounts and any deferred loan fees or costs. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method without anticipating prepayments.
Commercial real estate loans consist of borrowings secured by owner occupied and non-owner occupied commercial real estate. Repayment of these loans is dependent upon rental income or the subsequent sale of the property for loans secured by non-owner occupied commercial real estate and by cash flows from business operations for owner occupied commercial real estate. Loans for which the source of repayment is rental income are primarily impacted by local economic conditions which dictate occupancy rates and the amount of rent charged. Commercial real estate loans that are dependent on cash flows from operations can also be adversely affected by current market conditions for their product or service.
Construction and land development loans primarily consist of borrowings to purchase and develop raw land into residential and non-residential properties. Construction loans are extended to individuals as well as corporations for the construction of an individual or multiple properties and are secured by raw land and the subsequent improvements. Repayment of the loans to real estate developers is dependent upon the sale or lease of properties to third parties in a timely fashion upon completion. Should there be delays in construction or a downturn in the market for those properties, there may be significant erosion in value which may be absorbed by Primis.
Commercial loans consist of borrowings for commercial purposes to individuals, corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and other business enterprises. Commercial loans are generally secured by business assets such as equipment, accounts receivable, inventory, or any other asset excluding real estate and generally made to finance capital expenditures or operations. Primis’ risk exposure is related to deterioration in the value of collateral securing the loan should foreclosure become necessary. Generally, business assets used or produced in operations do not maintain their value upon foreclosure which may require Primis to write-down the value significantly to sell. Commercial loans also include Life Premium Finance loans. These loans are utilized to pay the annual premiums due on the whole or universal life policy. The Life Premium Finance loans are fully secured by the cash value of the policy and personal liquid assets of the borrower or guarantor.
Residential real estate loans consist of loans to individuals for the purchase of primary residences with repayment primarily through wage or other income sources of the individual borrower. Primis’ loss exposure to these loans is dependent on local market conditions for residential properties as loan amounts are determined, in part, by the fair value of the property at origination.
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Other consumer loans are comprised of loans to individuals both unsecured and secured and home equity loans secured by real estate (closed and open-end), with repayment dependent on individual wages and other income. Other consumer loans also include Life Premium Finance loans and Panacea Financial consumer loans comprising of student loan refinancing and pro re nata (“PRN’) loans. PRN loans may be utilized by graduating doctors to fund costs as they move into their chosen professions. The risk of loss on consumer loans is elevated as the collateral securing these loans, if any, may rapidly depreciate in value or may be worthless and/or difficult to locate if repossession is necessary. Losses in this portfolio are generally relatively low, however, due to the small individual loan size and the balance outstanding as a percentage of Primis’ entire portfolio. Also included in other consumer loans are the Consumer Program loans as more fully described below in the Third Party Originated and Serviced Consumer Loan Portfolio section of this footnote.
The accrual of interest on all loans is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the credit is well secured and in process of collection. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual status or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal and interest is considered doubtful.
All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual status or charged-off is reversed against interest income. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to 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.
Most of Primis’ business activity is with customers located within Virginia and Maryland with some consumer loans’ customer base on a national platform. Therefore, our exposure to credit risk is significantly affected by changes in the economy in those areas. We are not dependent on any single customer or group of customers whose insolvency would have a material adverse effect on operations.
Primis has purchased, primarily through acquisitions, individual loans and groups of loans, some of which have shown evidence of credit deterioration since origination. These purchased loans are recorded at fair value such that there is no carryover of the seller’s allowance for credit losses. We adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020 which requires the Bank to record purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (PCD assets), defined as a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination or issuance, at the purchase price plus the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) expected at the time of acquisition. Under this method, there is no credit loss expense affecting net income on acquisition of PCD assets. Changes in estimates of expected credit losses after acquisition are recognized as credit loss expense (or reversal of credit loss expense) in subsequent periods as they arise. Any non-credit discount or premium resulting from acquiring a pool of purchased financial assets with credit deterioration shall be allocated to each individual asset. At the acquisition date, the initial allowance for credit losses determined on a collective basis shall be allocated to individual assets to appropriately allocate any non-credit discount or premium. The non-credit discount or premium, after the adjustment for the allowance for credit losses, shall be accreted to interest income using the interest method based on the effective interest rate determined after the adjustment for credit losses at the adoption date.
A purchased financial asset that does not qualify as a PCD asset is accounted for similar to an originated financial asset. Generally, this means that an entity recognizes the allowance for credit losses for non-PCD assets through net income at the time of acquisition. In addition, both the credit discount and non-credit discount or premium resulting from acquiring a pool of purchased financial assets that do not qualify as PCD assets is allocated to each individual asset. This combined discount or premium is accreted to interest income using the effective yield method.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance For Credit Losses - Held-to-Maturity Securities
The allowance for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities is a contra-asset valuation account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326 that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of held-to-maturity securities to present management's best estimate of the net amount expected to be collected. Held-to-maturity securities are charged-off against the allowance when deemed uncollectible by management. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in our income statement as a component of credit loss expense. Management measures expected credit losses on held-to-maturity
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securities on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Management has made the accounting policy election to exclude accrued interest receivable on held-to-maturity securities from the estimate of credit losses due to the inclusion in its nonaccrual policy. Further information regarding our policies and methodology used to estimate the allowance for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities is presented in Note 2 – Investment Securities.
Allowance For Credit Losses - Available-for-Sale Securities
For available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, we first assess whether (i) we intend to sell or (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either case is affirmative, any previously recognized allowances are charged-off and the security's amortized cost is written down to fair value through income. If neither case is affirmative, the security is evaluated to determine whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in our income statement as a component of credit loss expense. Management has made the accounting policy election to exclude accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale securities from the estimate of credit losses due to the inclusion in its nonaccrual policy. Available-for-sale securities are charged-off against the allowance or, in the absence of any allowance, written down through income when deemed uncollectible by management or when either of the aforementioned criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.
Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans
The accounting policy related to the allowance for credit losses is considered a critical policy given the level of estimation, judgment, and uncertainty in the levels of the allowance required to account for the expected losses in the loan portfolio and the material effect such estimation, judgment, and uncertainty can have on the consolidated financial results.
The allowance for credit losses on loans is a contra-asset valuation account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, which is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present management's best estimate of the net amount expected to be collected. Loans are charged-off against the allowance when deemed uncollectible by management. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in our income statement as a component of credit loss expense. Management has made the accounting policy election to exclude accrued interest receivable on loans from the estimate of credit losses due to the inclusion in its nonaccrual policy. Further information regarding our policies and methodology used to estimate the allowance for credit losses on loans is presented in Note 3 – Loans and Allowance For Credit Losses.
Allowance For Credit Losses - Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures
The allowance for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is a liability account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, representing expected credit losses over the contractual period for which we are exposed to credit risk resulting from a contractual obligation to extend credit. No allowance is recognized if we have the unconditional right to cancel the obligation. The allowance is reported as a component of other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in our income statement as a component of other expenses. Further information regarding our policies and methodology used to estimate the allowance for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is presented in Note 15 – Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk.
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Third-Party Originated and Serviced Consumer Loan Portfolio
In the second half of 2021, the Company partnered with a third-party (the “Third Party Originator/Servicer” or “TPOS”) to originate and service unsecured consumer loans through their proprietary point-of-sale technology (the “Consumer Program”). Loan options under the Consumer Program include traditional fully-amortizing loans and promotional loans with no interest, or “same-as-cash”, features if the loan is fully repaid in the promotional window. The loans are originated at par in the Bank’s name and have a term of
The Consumer Program is governed by multiple interrelated agreements including the loan agreement between the Bank and the customer and agreements with the TPOS. The structure of the Consumer Program is intended to generate loans that yield a targeted return to the Bank on a portfolio basis while also providing limited credit enhancement from the TPOS. Key characteristics of the combined arrangement include:
| ● | The TPOS contributes funds to a reserve account at the time of origination to be used for future charge-offs if necessary. |
| ● | When a promotional loan pays off prior to the end of the promotional period, the customer owes no interest on the loan and any interest accrued during the period is waived. In that event, the TPOS reimburses the Bank for the interest the customer otherwise would have paid if the promotional period did not exist. |
| ● | Excess yield on the portfolio after realized charge-offs and above an agreed upon target rate due to the Bank is paid to the TPOS as a “Performance Fee.” |
| ● | In the event charge-offs exceed the amount available as a Performance Fee, the TPOS remits a portion of current period originations to reimburse for losses and, if necessary, releases funds from the reserve account. |
| ● | If charge-offs exceed the amounts above, they roll over to future periods to offset potential Performance Fees and subsequent reserve account fundings related to the portfolio. |
Agreements with multiple counterparties, such as the customer and TPOS, are generally required to be accounted for separately in accordance with U.S. GAAP relevant to each unit of account even if the agreements are highly interrelated. As a result, the Company accounts for the Consumer Program under multiple units of account as follows:
| ● | The loans and related revenue are accounted for consistent with the Company’s accounting for its other loans held for investment and are also included in the Company’s expected credit losses estimation process under CECL. |
| o | No interest income is recognized on promotional loans until the expiration of the promotional period. If the customer doesn’t pay off the loan prior to that expiration, deferred interest from the beginning of the loan becomes the obligation of the customer and is billed straight-line over the remaining life of the loan. The Company recognizes the accumulated deferred interest at the time of expiration discounted for the time value of money with the discount amortized over the remaining life of the loan. |
| ● | The agreement that governs the Performance Fee and interest reimbursement from the TPOS meets the definition of a derivative financial instrument and is accounted for in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The derivative is accounted for at fair value in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets or other liabilities with changes in fair value each period reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Loss within noninterest income. The primary drivers of the derivative value include estimated prepayment activity on promotional loans that would trigger reimbursement to the Company from the TPOS and estimated excess yield above projected credit losses that would lead to |
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| Performance Fee payments to the TPOS from the Company. Additional details on the inputs and assumptions used to determine the fair value of the derivative are discussed in Note 4, Derivatives. |
| o | Noninterest income each period includes actual amounts received during the period for interest reimbursement and amounts paid by the TPOS under the limited credit enhancement described above. |
| o | Noninterest expense each period includes actual amounts paid during the period for performance fees and servicing fees as defined in the agreement with the TPOS. |
The Company had $
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company made the decision to cease originating new loans under the Consumer Program effective January 31, 2025 and moved a large portion of the portfolio, with an amortized cost of $
Transfers of Financial Assets
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing, when accounting for loan participations and other partial loan sales. Transfers of an entire financial asset (i.e. loan sales), a group of entire financial assets, or a participating interest in an entire financial asset (i.e. loan participations sold) are accounted for as sales when control over the assets have been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity. Participations or other partial loan sales that do not meet the definition of a participating interest would remain on the balance sheet and the proceeds are recorded as a secured borrowing. Secured borrowings are initially recorded at fair value which corresponds to the proceeds received for the transfer of the assets, and any failed sale discount is amortized into income over the life of the related asset.
The Company retains servicing rights on the loans sold and records a servicing asset for each of the sold loans at the time of sale. Subsequent to the date of transfer, the Company can elect to measure servicing assets under the amortization method. Under the amortization method, servicing assets are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing income. The amortization of servicing assets is analyzed each reporting period and is adjusted to reflect changes in prepayment speeds, as well as other factors. Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment based on the fair value of those assets. Impairment is determined by assessing the servicing assets based on groupings of predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate and loan type. If, by servicing asset grouping, the carrying amount of the servicing assets exceeds fair value, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to earnings. The valuation allowance is adjusted as the fair value changes. The Company recorded an immaterial amount of impairment of its servicing assets during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Servicing assets are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company also retains servicing rights on loans transferred under secured borrowings, but in accordance with U.S. GAAP does not record a servicing asset.
The principal balance of loans transferred during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 that qualified as sales was $
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secured borrowings was $
Bank Premises and Equipment
Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Buildings and related components are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives of
Assets Held for Sale
The Company classifies its assets as held for sale in accordance with FASB ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. When assets are identified as held for sale, the Company discontinues depreciating (amortizing) the assets and estimates the fair value, net of selling costs, of such assets. Assets held for sale are recorded at the lower of the net carrying amount of the assets or the estimated net fair value. If the estimated net fair value of the assets held for sale is less than the net carrying amount of the assets, an impairment charge is recorded in the income statement.
The Company assesses the net fair value of assets held for sale each reporting period the assets remain classified as held for sale. Subsequent changes, if any, in the net fair value of the assets held for sale that require an adjustment to the carrying amount are recorded in the income statement, unless the adjustment causes the carrying amount of the assets to exceed the net carrying amount upon initial classification as held for sale.
If circumstances arise that the Company previously considered unlikely and, as a result, the Company decides not to sell assets previously classified as held for sale, they are reclassified to another classification. Assets that are reclassified are measured at the lower of (a) their carrying amount before they were classified as held for sale, adjusted for any depreciation (amortization) expense that would have been recognized had the assets remained in their previous classification, or (b) their fair value at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell.
Operating Leases
The Company leases certain properties and equipment under operating leases. The Company recognizes a liability to make lease payments, the operating lease liability, and an asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term, the right-of-use asset. In recognizing lease right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities, the Company accounts for lease and non-lease components (such as taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance costs) separately as such amounts are generally readily determinable under the lease contracts. The operating lease liability is measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted at the Company’s incremental borrowing rate at inception. The right-of-use asset is measured at the amount of the operating lease liability adjusted for the remaining balance of any lease incentives received, any cumulative prepaid or accrued rent if the lease payments are uneven throughout the lease term, any unamortized initial direct costs, and any impairment of the right-of-use-asset. Lease expense consists of a single lease cost calculated so that the remaining cost of the lease is allocated over the remaining lease term on a straight-line basis, variable lease payments not included in the operating lease liability, and any impairment of the right-of-use asset. Lease renewal options are generally not included in the calculation of the operating lease liabilities, unless they are not reasonably certain to be exercised. The Company does not recognize short-term leases on the balance sheets.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company follows ASC 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which prescribes the accounting for goodwill and intangible assets subsequent to initial recognition. Goodwill resulting from business combinations is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests
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in the acquiree, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events or circumstances warrant. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life on our consolidated balance sheets.
The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment analysis on September 30th of each year with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below the operating segment level, which is referred to as a component. The Company’s reporting units for goodwill are its
To determine the fair value of the Bank and PMC reporting units, the Company utilizes a combination of three or four valuation approaches: the comparable transactions approach, the control premium approach, the public market peers control premium approach, and the discounted cash flow approach. The comparable transactions approach is based on pricing ratios recently paid in the sale or merger of comparable banking franchises; the control premium approach is based on the Company’s trading price, adjusted for holding company assets and an industry based control premium; the public market peers control premium approach is based on market pricing ratios of public banking companies adjusted for an industry based control premium; and the discounted cash flow approach considers the earnings and cash flows that a hypothetical acquirer could realize in an acquisition of the Bank reporting unit. Assumptions that are used as part of these calculations include: the selection of comparable publicly-traded companies and selection of market comparable acquisition transactions. In addition, other assumptions include the discount rate, economic conditions, which impact the assumptions related to interest and growth rates, the control premium associated with the reporting unit and a relative weight given to the valuations derived by the valuation methods.
Other intangible assets consist of core deposit intangible assets arising from whole-bank and branch acquisitions and other intangibles from the PMC acquisition and are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation cost is recognized for stock options issued to employees, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes option-pricing model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options. Compensation cost for grants of restricted shares is accounted for based on the closing price of Primis’ common stock on the date the restricted shares are awarded. Compensation cost for stock options and restricted shares is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Compensation cost for restricted stock unit awards that contain performance conditions is measured based on the grant date fair value of the units, adjusted for the Company’s best estimate of the outcome of vesting conditions at the end of the performance period.
Bank-Owned Life Insurance
Primis has purchased, and acquired through acquisitions, life insurance policies on certain former and current key executives. Bank-owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.
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Cloud Computing Arrangement Assets
Primis engaged third-parties to define, design, and develop a new cloud-based banking core for the Company. The multiple phases of the cloud computing arrangement assets are assessed and reviewed as the software is placed into production. Total costs paid is capitalized upon initial launch and production rollout. Amortization is based on the estimated life of the core infrastructure as it relates to obsolescence, technology, competition, and the nature of changes in software. Operating costs such as monthly licensing, usage, and storage are expensed as incurred in data processing expense in our income statements. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had gross cloud computing arrangement assets of $
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Premises and equipment, cloud computing arrangement assets, right of use assets, and other long-term assets (other than goodwill and intangibles) are reviewed for impairment when events indicate their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.
Derivative Instruments
Derivatives are financial instruments that meet the criteria in ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, to be recognized as either freestanding or embedded derivatives. The Company’s derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded through noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Loss. Primis does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Consumer Program Derivative
The Bank has an agreement with a third-party to originate and service consumer loans that are included in the Bank’s held for investment and held for sale portfolio. The third-party provides a target return to the Company on the portfolio of loans and all interest received from borrowers above the target return is paid to the third-party as a performance fee. The third-party also provides reimbursement for lost interest when the borrower’s note has a promotional feature that waives accrued interest if the loan is paid in full before the promotional period ends and credit support to the Company in periods when the target return on the portfolio is not achieved. This agreement to pay the third-party performance fees and to receive reimbursement of waived interest and certain credit support meets the definition of a derivative financial instrument. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 the Company recorded an asset of $
Mortgage Banking Derivatives and Financial Instruments
Mortgage loan commitments known as interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) that relate to the origination of a mortgage that will be held for sale upon funding are considered derivative instruments under the derivatives accounting guidance in ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Loan commitments that are classified as derivatives are recognized at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets and other liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded in mortgage banking income in the Consolidated Statements of Income (loss) and Comprehensive Loss.
To-be-announced mortgage-backed securities trades (“TBA”) is a contract to buy or sell mortgage-backed securities on a specific date while the underlying mortgages are not announced until just prior to settlement. These TBA trades provide an economic hedge against the effect of changes in interest rates resulting from interest rate lock commitments. TBAs are accounted for under the derivatives accounting guidance in ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging when either of the following conditions exist: (i) when settlement of the TBA trade is not expected to occur at the next regular settlement date (which is typically the next month) or (ii) a mechanism exists to settle the contract on a net basis. As a result, these instruments are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets as other assets and other liabilities with changes
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in their fair values recorded in mortgage banking income in the income statements. The fair value of the TBA trades is based on the gain or loss that would occur if the Company were to pair-off the trade at the measurement date.
Forward loan sale commitments are commitments to sell individual mortgage loans using both best efforts and mandatory delivery at a fixed price to an investor at a future date. Forward loan sale commitments that are mandatory delivery are accounted for as derivatives and carried at fair value, determined as the amount that would be necessary to settle the derivative financial instrument at the balance sheet date. Forward loan sale commitments that are best efforts are not derivatives but can be and have been accounted for at fair value, determined in a similar manner to those that are mandatory delivery. Forward loan sale commitments are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as other assets and other liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded in mortgage banking income in the income statements.
As of December 31, 2024 the Company recorded an asset of $
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of business through its core lending operations. Primarily to help mitigate interest rate risk associated with its loan portfolio, the Company entered into interest rate swaps in May and August 2024 with a large U.S. financial institution as the counterparty. Interest rate swaps are contractual agreements whereby one party pays a floating interest rate on a notional principal amount and receives a fixed-rate payment on the same notional principal, or vice versa, for a fixed period of time. Interest rate swaps change in value with movements in benchmark interest rates, such as Prime or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). Interest rate swaps subject the Company to market risk associated with changes in interest rates, changes in interest rate volatility, as well as the credit risk that the counterparty will fail to perform. The Company’s interest rate swaps are pay-fixed and receive-floating whereby the Company receives a variable rate of interest based on SOFR.
The Company’s interest rate swaps meet the definition of derivative instruments under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and are accounted for both initially and subsequently at their fair value. The Company assessed the derivative instruments at inception and determined they met the requirements under ASC 815 to be accounted for as fair value hedges. Fair value hedge relationships mitigate exposure to the change in fair value of the hedged risk in an asset, liability or firm commitment. The Company’s interest rate swaps are fair value hedges that are accounted for using the portfolio layer method, which allows the Company to hedge the interest rate risk of prepayable loans by designating as the hedged item a stated amount of two separate and distinct closed portfolios of consumer and commercial loans that are expected to be outstanding for the designated hedge periods. Under the fair value hedging model, gains or losses attributable to the change in fair value of the derivative instruments, as well as the gains and losses attributable to the change in fair value of the hedged items, are recognized in interest income in the same income statement line item with the hedged item in the period in which the change in fair value occurs. The corresponding adjustment to the hedged asset or liability are included in the basis of the hedged items, while the corresponding change in the fair value of the derivative instruments are recorded as an adjustment to other assets or other liabilities, as applicable. The Company presents interest rate swaps on the balance sheets on a net basis when a right of offset exists, based on transactions with a single counterparty and any cash collateral paid to and/or received from that counterparty are subject to legally enforceable master netting arrangements. As of December 31, 2024 the gross amounts of interest rate swap derivative assets and liabilities were $
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The following table represents the carrying value of the portfolio layer method hedged assets and the cumulative fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying value of the hedged assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | Amortized Cost Basis | Hedged Asset | Basis Adjustment | Amortized Cost Basis | Hedged Asset | Basis Adjustment | ||||||||||||
Fixed rate assets | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Additional information on derivative instruments can be found in Note 5 – Fair Value.
Retirement Plans
Employee 401(k) plan expense is the amount of matching contributions from the Company. Primis matches
Loss Contingencies
Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there are such matters that will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Dividend Restriction
Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Bank to Primis or by Primis to shareholders.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs expensed during the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 were $
Income Taxes
Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. We have
Restrictions on Cash
No regulatory reserve or clearing requirements with the FRB were needed as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
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Cash and cash equivalents
Primis defines cash and cash equivalents as cash due from financial institutions, interest-bearing deposits and federal funds sold in other financial institutions with maturities less than 90 days.
Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)
Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Primis’ common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS reflects additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to net income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares that may be issued by Primis relate solely to outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards, and restricted stock units and are determined using the treasury stock method. Performance awards cannot be dilutive until the Company’s best estimate of the outcome of vesting conditions become probable. Note 16 – Earnings per Share, provides additional information related to our EPS calculation.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available-for-sale which are also recognized as a separate component of equity.
Off-Balance Sheet Credit Related Financial Instruments
In the ordinary course of business, Primis has entered into commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay.
Fair Value Measurements
In general, fair values of financial instruments are based upon quoted market prices, where available. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon observable market-based parameters. Valuation assumptions may be made to ensure that financial instruments are recorded at fair value. These assumptions may reflect assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, among other things, as well as unobservable parameters. Any such valuation assumptions are applied consistently over time.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This ASU expands current disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. Specifically, the ASU (i) requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), (ii) requires disclosure of an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition, (iii) requires providing in each interim period all current annual disclosures of a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets, and (iv) allows an entity to provide additional measures of profit or loss used by the CODM in assessing performance and deciding how to allocate resources in addition to providing the measure for this that is most consistent with GAAP, (v) requires disclosure of the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses reported measures of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, and (vi) requires an entity that has a single reportable segment to provide all disclosures required by this ASU and Topic 280. The Company adopted and applied the enhanced disclosures to the current and prior year disclosures, as required by the ASU, in this year’s financial statements. See Note – 18, Segment Information, for additional information.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU requires annual disclosure of certain information relating to the rate reconciliation, income taxes paid by jurisdiction, income (or loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (or benefit) disaggregated between domestic and foreign, and income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations disaggregated by federal,
93
state, and foreign. The ASU also eliminates certain requirements relating to unrecognized tax benefits and certain deferred tax disclosure relating to subsidiaries and corporate joint ventures. This ASU is effective for the Company’s annual disclosures beginning for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU to its financial statement disclosures.
In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope Application of Profits Interest and Similar Awards. This ASU adds an illustrative example to clarify how an entity should determine whether a profits interest or similar award is within the scope of ASC 718. The amendments in this standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2025. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40). This ASU requires more disclosures about specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the income statement as well as disclosures about selling expenses, but does not change the requirements for the presentation of expenses on the face of the income statement. The amendments in this standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2027, and is required to be applied prospectively, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
2. INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale investment securities and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows (in thousands):
Amortized | Gross Unrealized | Fair | ||||||||||
| Cost |
| Gains |
| Losses |
| Value | |||||
December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Corporate securities |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| | ||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| | ||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| | — | ( |
| | ||||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||
Amortized | Gross Unrealized | Fair | ||||||||||
| Cost |
| Gains |
| Losses |
| Value | |||||
December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Corporate securities |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| | ||||
Collateralized loan obligations |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| | ||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| | ||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| | — | ( |
| | ||||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||
94
The amortized cost, gross unrecognized gains and losses, allowance for credit losses and fair value of investment securities held-to-maturity were as follows (in thousands):
Amortized | Gross Unrecognized | Allowance for | Fair | ||||||||||||
| Cost |
| Gains |
| Losses |
| Credit Losses |
| Value | ||||||
December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | — | $ | | |||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| | |||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| | |||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | — | $ | | |||||
Amortized | Gross Unrecognized | Allowance for | Fair | ||||||||||||
| Cost |
| Gains |
| Losses |
| Credit Losses |
| Value | ||||||
December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | — | $ | ( | $ | — | $ | | |||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
|
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| | ||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
|
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | — | $ | ( | $ | — | $ | | |||||
During 2024, 2023 and 2022, $
The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities as of December 31, 2024, by contractual maturity, were as follows (in thousands). Investment securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.
Available-for-Sale | Held-to-Maturity | |||||||||||
| Amortized |
|
| Amortized |
| |||||||
Cost | Fair Value | Cost | Fair Value | |||||||||
Due within one year | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Due in one to five years | | | | | ||||||||
Due in five to ten years |
| | |
| | | ||||||
Due after ten years |
| | |
| — | — | ||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| |
| |
| — |
| — | ||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| |
| — |
| — | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Investment securities with a carrying amount of approximately $
Management measures expected credit losses on held-to-maturity securities on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics, and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. With regard to U.S. Treasury and residential mortgage-backed securities issued by the U.S. government, or agencies thereof, it is expected that the securities will not be settled at prices less than the amortized cost basis of the securities as such securities are backed by the full faith and credit of and/or guaranteed by the U.S. government. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for these securities. With regard to securities issued by States and political subdivisions and other held-to-maturity securities, management considers (i) issuer bond ratings, (ii) historical loss rates for given bond ratings, (iii) whether issuers continue to make
95
timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities and (iv) internal forecasts. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Primis did not have a material allowance for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities.
As of December 31, 2024, there were
96
The following tables present information regarding investment securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity in a continuous unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 by duration of time in a loss position (in thousands):
Less than 12 months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 |
| Fair |
| Unrealized |
| Fair |
| Unrealized |
| Fair |
| Unrealized | ||||||
Available-for-Sale | value | Losses | value | Losses | value | Losses | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | ( | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Corporate securities | — | — | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations | | ( | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| — |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| — |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Less than 12 months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 |
| Fair |
| Unrecognized |
| Fair |
| Unrecognized |
| Fair |
| Unrecognized | ||||||
Held-to-Maturity | value | Losses | value | Losses | value | Losses | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| — |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Less than 12 months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 |
| Fair |
| Unrealized |
| Fair |
| Unrealized |
| Fair |
| Unrealized | ||||||
Available-for-Sale | value | Losses | value | Losses | value | Losses | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions | | ( | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Corporate securities | | ( | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | — | — | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations | — | — | | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| — |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| — |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Less than 12 months | 12 Months or More | Total | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 |
| Fair |
| Unrecognized |
| Fair |
| Unrecognized |
| Fair |
| Unrecognized | ||||||
Held-to-Maturity | value | Losses | value | Losses | value | Losses | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| — |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||||
97
3. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| December 31, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | |||
Loans held for sale, at fair value | $ | | $ | | ||
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market | | — | ||||
Total loans held for sale | $ | | $ | | ||
Loans held for investment | ||||||
Loans secured by real estate: |
| |||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied (1) | $ | | $ | | ||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| |
| | ||
Secured by farmland |
| |
| | ||
Construction and land development |
| |
| | ||
Residential 1-4 family |
| |
| | ||
Multi-family residential |
| |
| | ||
Home equity lines of credit |
| |
| | ||
Total real estate loans |
| |
| | ||
Commercial loans (2) |
| |
| | ||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | | | ||||
Consumer loans |
| |
| | ||
Total Non-PCD loans |
| |
| | ||
PCD loans | | | ||||
Total loans held for investment | $ | | $ | | ||
| (1) | Includes $ |
| (2) | Includes $ |
Consumer Program Loans
The Company has $
Accrued Interest Receivable
Accrued interest receivable on loans totaled $
Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans
Loans are considered past due if the required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable
98
to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. In determining whether or not a borrower may be unable to meet payment obligations for each class of loans, the Company considered the borrower’s debt service capacity through the analysis of current financial information, if available, and/or current information with regards to our collateral position. Regulatory provisions would typically require the placement of a loan on nonaccrual status if (i) principal or interest has been in default for a period of 90 days or more unless the loan is both well secured and in the process of collection or (ii) full payment of principal and interest is not expected. Loans may be placed on nonaccrual status regardless of whether or not such loans are considered past due. When interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized only to the extent that cash payments are received in excess of principal due. A loan may be returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future principal and interest amounts contractually due are reasonably assured, which is typically evidenced by a sustained period (at least six months) of repayment performance by the borrower.
The following tables present the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans by class of loans held for investment as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| 30 - 59 |
| 60 - 89 |
| 90 |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Days | Days | Days | Total | Loans Not | Total | |||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 | Past Due | Past Due | or More | Past Due | Past Due | Loans | ||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| |
| | — |
| |
| |
| | |||||||
Secured by farmland | — | — | — | — | | | ||||||||||||
Construction and land development |
| | | — | | |
| | ||||||||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| | | | | |
| | ||||||||||
Multi- family residential | — | — | — | — | | | ||||||||||||
Home equity lines of credit |
| | | | | |
| | ||||||||||
Commercial loans | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | — | — | | | | | ||||||||||||
Consumer loans |
| | | — |
| |
| |
| | ||||||||
Total Non-PCD loans | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
PCD loans | — | — | — | | | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
| 30 - 59 |
| 60 - 89 |
| 90 |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Days | Days | Days | Total | Loans Not | Total | ||||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 | Past Due | Past Due | or More | Past Due | Past Due | Loans | |||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| |
| — | — |
| |
| |
| | ||||||||
Secured by farmland | — | — | — | — | | | |||||||||||||
Construction and land development |
| | | — | | |
| | |||||||||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| | | | | |
| | |||||||||||
Multi- family residential | — | — | — | — | | | |||||||||||||
Home equity lines of credit |
| | |
| | | |
| | ||||||||||
Commercial loans | | | | | | | |||||||||||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | | — | | | | | |||||||||||||
Consumer loans |
| | | |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||
Total Non-PCD loans | | | | | | | |||||||||||||
PCD loans | | | | | | | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
99
The amortized cost, by class, of loans and leases on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, were as follows (in thousands):
| 90 Days |
| Less Than |
| Total |
| Nonaccrual With | |||||
Past Due | 90 Days | Nonaccrual | No Credit | |||||||||
December 31, 2024 | or More | Past Due | Loans | Loss Allowance | ||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| — |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Secured by farmland | — | | | | ||||||||
Construction and land development |
| — |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Home equity lines of credit | | | | | ||||||||
Commercial loans |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | | — | | | ||||||||
Consumer loans |
| — |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Total Non-PCD loans | | | | | ||||||||
PCD loans | — | | | | ||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
| 90 Days |
| Less Than |
| Total |
| Nonaccrual With | |||||
Past Due | 90 Days | Nonaccrual | No Credit | |||||||||
December 31, 2023 | or More | Past Due | Loans | Loss Allowance | ||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Secured by farmland | — | | | | ||||||||
Construction and land development |
| — |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Home equity lines of credit | | | | | ||||||||
Commercial loans |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Consumer loans |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Total Non-PCD loans | | | | | ||||||||
PCD loans | | — | | | ||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
There were $
100
The following table presents nonaccrual loans as of December 31, 2024 by class and year of origination (in thousands):
Revolving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving | Converted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| 2020 | Prior | Loans | To Term |
| Total | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||||||
Secured by farmland | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Construction and land development |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||||||
Residential 1-4 family | |
| | | — | — | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Multi- family residential | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Home equity lines of credit | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial loans |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||||||
Consumer loans | — |
| | | | — | | — | | | |||||||||||||||||
Total non-PCD nonaccruals | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
PCD loans | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Total nonaccrual loans | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Interest received on nonaccrual loans was $
Modifications Provided to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
The Bank determines that a borrower may be experiencing financial difficulty if the borrower is currently delinquent on any of its debt, or if the Bank is concerned that the borrower may not be able to perform in accordance with the current terms of the loan agreement in the foreseeable future. Many aspects of the borrower’s financial situation are assessed when determining whether they are experiencing financial difficulty, particularly as it relates to commercial borrowers due to the complex nature of the loan structure, business/industry risk and borrower/guarantor structures. Concessions may include the reduction of an interest rate at a rate lower than current market rates for a new loan with similar risk, extension of the maturity date, reduction of accrued interest, or principal forgiveness. When evaluating whether a concession has been granted, the Bank also considers whether the borrower has provided additional collateral or guarantors and whether such additions adequately compensate the Bank for the restructured terms, or if the revised terms are consistent with those currently being offered to new loan customers.
The assessments of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty at the time a concession has been granted is subjective in nature and management’s judgment is required when determining whether the concession results in a modification that is accounted for as a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan under U.S. GAAP.
Although each occurrence is unique to the borrower and is evaluated separately, for all portfolio segments, loans modified as a result of borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are typically modified through reductions in interest rates, reductions in payments, changing the payment terms from principal and interest to interest only, and/or extensions in term maturity.
The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset upon asset origination or acquisition. The starting point for the estimate of the allowance for credit losses is historical loss information, which includes losses from modifications of receivables to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Because the effect of most modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses because of the measurement methodologies used to estimate the allowance, a change to the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification. Occasionally, the Company modifies certain loans
101
by providing principal forgiveness. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amortized cost basis of the loan is written off against the allowance. The amount of the principal forgiveness is deemed to be uncollectible; therefore, that portion of the loan is written off, resulting in a reduction of the amortized cost basis and a corresponding adjustment to the allowance for credit losses.
If it is determined that a modified loan (or portion of a loan) has subsequently been deemed uncollectible, the loan (or a portion of the loan) is written off. At that time, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount.
2024
The following provides a summary of loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during the year ended December 31, 2024:
| # of | Amortized |
| % | ||||
Loans | cost | of loan | ||||||
December 31, 2024 | modified | modified | class | |||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied | | $ | | | % | |||
Residential 1-4 family | |
| | | % | |||
Home equity lines of credit | | | | % | ||||
Commercial loans | |
| | | % | |||
Consumer loans | |
| | | % | |||
Total | | $ | | |||||
102
The following table depicts the amortized cost basis as of December 31, 2024, of the performance of loans that have been modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty in the last 12 months and returned to contractual payments ($ in thousands):
Payment Status | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Current | 30-59 days past due | 60-89 days past due | 90 days or more | |||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |||||
Consumer loans |
| |
| — |
|
| — | |||||
Total | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
2023
During the year ended December 31, 2023, on an amortized cost basis,
In the secured by first liens segment
was modified in the fourth quarter to reduce principal and interest payments beginning November 2023 and is currently 29 days past due. Prior to modification, total contractual payments for the quarter for this loan would have totaled $
In the other consumer loan segment,
In the fourth quarter,
Also, in the fourth quarter,
103
Credit Quality Indicators
Through its system of internal controls, Primis evaluates and segments loan portfolio credit quality using regulatory definitions for Pass, Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful. Special Mention loans are considered to be criticized. Substandard and Doubtful loans are considered to be classified.
Pass loans are considered to have sufficient credit and no existing or known potential weaknesses deserving of management’s close attention.
Special Mention loans are loans that have a potential weakness that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the institution’s credit position.
Substandard loans may be inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged if any. Loans so classified 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.
Doubtful loans 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 or improbable. Primis had
In monitoring credit quality trends in the context of assessing the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses on loans, we monitor portfolio credit quality by the weighted-average risk grade of each class of loan. The risk grades shown in the tables below correlate to the above definitions as follows: Pass (1-4), Special Mention (5), Substandard (6), Doubtful (7).
104
The following table presents weighted-average risk grades for all loans, by class and year of origination/renewal as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands):
Revolving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving | Converted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| 2020 | Prior | Loans | To Term |
| Total | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - nonowner occupied |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Secured by farmland |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | — | N/A | | N/A | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Construction and land development |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | | | | — | — | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Multi- family residential |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | N/A | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Home equity lines of credit |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | ( | | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial loans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | | — | — | | | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
105
Revolving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving | Converted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| 2020 | Prior | Loans | To Term |
| Total | |||||||||||||||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | N/A | N/A | N/A | | | N/A | N/A | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Consumer loans |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | | | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | | | | | — | | — | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
PCD |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | N/A | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
106
The following table presents weighted-average risk grades for all loans, by class and year of origination/renewal as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Revolving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving | Converted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| 2019 | Prior | Loans | To Term |
| Total | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | | — | | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial real estate - nonowner occupied |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Secured by farmland |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | N/A | | | N/A | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Construction and land development |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential 1-4 family |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | | — | | | | — | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Multi- family residential |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Home equity lines of credit |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Commercial loans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | | | — | | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | | | | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
107
Revolving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving | Converted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| 2019 | Prior | Loans | To Term |
| Total | |||||||||||||||||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | N/A | N/A | | | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Consumer loans |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | | | | — | | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | $ | | ||||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | | | | | | | | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
PCD |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Special Mention | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Substandard | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||
Doubtful | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | ||||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | N/A | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||
Current period gross charge offs | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||
Weighted average risk grade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving loans that converted to term during 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31, 2024 | For the year ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | | |||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied | — | | |||||
Residential 1-4 family | | | |||||
Commercial loans |
| |
| | |||
Paycheck Protection Program loans | — | | |||||
Consumer loans |
| |
| — | |||
Total loans | $ | | $ | | |||
There were
Allowance For Credit Losses – Loans
The allowance for credit losses on loans is a contra-asset valuation account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326 that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected. The amount of the allowance represents management's best estimate of current expected credit losses on loans considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing collectability over the loans' contractual terms, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate.
In calculating the allowance for credit losses, most loans are segmented into pools based upon similar characteristics and risk profiles. For allowance modeling purposes, the Company’s loan pools include but are not limited to (i) commercial real estate - owner occupied, (ii) commercial real estate - non-owner occupied, (iii) construction and land development, (iv) commercial, (v) agricultural loans, (vi) residential 1-4 family and (vii) consumer loans. Primis periodically reassess
108
each pool to ensure the loans within the pool continue to share similar characteristics and risk profiles and to determine whether further segmentation is necessary. For each loan pool, the Company measures expected credit losses over the life of each loan utilizing a combination of inputs: (i) probability of default, (ii) probability of attrition, (iii) loss given default and (iv) exposure at default. Internal data is supplemented by, but not replaced by, peer data when required, primarily to determine the probability of default input. The various pool-specific inputs may be adjusted for current macroeconomic assumptions. Significant macroeconomic variables utilized in our allowance models include, among other things, (i) Virginia (VA) Gross Domestic Product, (ii) VA House Price Index, and (iii) VA unemployment rates.
Management qualitatively adjusts allowance model results for risk factors that are not considered within our quantitative modeling processes but are nonetheless relevant in assessing the expected credit losses within our loan pools. Qualitative factor (“Q-Factor”) adjustments are driven by key risk indicators that management tracks on a pool-by-pool basis.
In some cases, management may determine that an individual loan exhibits unique risk characteristics which differentiate the loan from other loans within our loan pools. In such cases, the loans are evaluated for expected credit losses on an individual basis and excluded from the collective evaluation.
The following tables present details of the allowance for credit losses on loans segregated by loan portfolio segment as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, calculated in accordance with ASC 326 (in thousands).
| Commercial |
| Commercial |
|
|
|
|
| Home |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Real Estate | Real Estate | Construction | Equity |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owner | Non-owner | Secured by | and Land | 1-4 Family | Multi-Family | Lines Of | Commercial | Consumer | PCD |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 | Occupied | Occupied | Farmland | Development | Residential | Residential | Credit | Loans | Loans | Loans | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Modeled expected credit losses | $ | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||||||
Q-factor and other qualitative adjustments | | | | | | | | | | — | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Specific allocations |
| | | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||||
| Commercial |
| Commercial |
|
|
|
|
| Home |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Real Estate | Real Estate | Construction | Equity |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owner | Non-owner | Secured by | and Land | 1-4 Family | Multi-Family | Lines Of | Commercial | Consumer | PCD |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 | Occupied | Occupied | Farmland | Development | Residential | Residential | Credit | Loans | Loans | Loans | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Modeled expected credit losses | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||||||
Q-factor and other qualitative adjustments | | | | | | | | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Specific allocations |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | |
| | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||||
As part of management’s ongoing review process and as an annual requirement, during the third quarter of 2024 the Company refreshed and recalibrated the historical loss rates, forecast assumptions, and qualitative factor framework of the CECL model. Management considered the need to qualitatively adjust expected credit losses for information not already captured in the loss estimation process. Qualitative reserve adjustments were driven by key risk indicators, that management tracked on a pool-by-pool basis, which included loan-to-value, borrower debt service coverage exceptions and large concentrations. Updated peer groups were also determined in collaboration with the Company’s CECL consultant. Management included banks in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania that were between $
As of December 31, 2023, the Company re-assessed the actual credit loss experience assumptions utilized in its CECL model related to the Consumer Program loan portfolio. Prior to this date the Company utilized a combination of credit loss
109
history of the national consumer peer group as well as the limited credit loss experience in the Consumer Program portfolio as a whole in estimating credit losses for the portfolio. Based on the Company’s re-assessment it identified sustained trends over a sufficient period of time that should be considered in the assumptions used to model expected credit losses on the portfolio. Specifically, the Company identified credit loss trends correlated to borrower FICO bands and as a result credit loss history by borrower FICO band has been incorporated into the CECL model for the Consumer Program portfolio as of and for the year end December 31, 2023. The Company incorporated this change to the actual credit loss history assumptions because it determined the credit losses on this portfolio have been and are expected to continue to be concentrated in specific FICO bands and the continued use of less granular credit loss assumptions is not expected to be representative of future expected credit losses in this portfolio. This change in the use of credit loss history based on FICO bands is accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company’s modeled expected credit loss allowance for the Consumer Portfolio would have been $
Activity in the allowance for credit losses by class of loan for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is summarized below (in thousands):
Commercial | Commercial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Real Estate | Real Estate | Construction | Home Equity |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Owner | Non-owner | Secured by | and Land | 1-4 Family | Multi-Family | Lines Of | Commercial | Consumer | PCD | |||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Occupied | Occupied | Farmland | Development | Residential | Residential | Credit | Loans | Loans | Loans | Total | |||||||||||
Allowance for credit losses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Beginning balance | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Provision (recovery) | | | ( | | | | | | | ( | | |||||||||||
Charge offs |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| — |
| ( |
Recoveries |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| | — |
| | |
Ending balance | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for credit losses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Provision (recovery) | ( | ( | | ( | | ( | | | | ( | | |||||||||||
Charge offs | — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( |
| ( |
| — |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| — |
| ( | |
Recoveries | — |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| | — |
| | ||
Ending balance | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Generally, a commercial loan, or a portion thereof, is charged-off when it is determined, through the analysis of any available current financial information with regards to the borrower, that the borrower is incapable of servicing unsecured debt, there is little or no prospect for near term improvement and no realistic strengthening action of significance is pending or, in the case of secured debt, when it is determined, through analysis of current information with regards to our collateral position, that amounts due from the borrower are in excess of the calculated current fair value of the collateral. Losses on installment loans are recognized in accordance with regulatory guidelines. All other consumer loan losses are recognized when delinquency exceeds 120 cumulative days with the exception of the Consumer Program loans that are charged-off once they are 90 days past due.
110
The following table presents principal balance of loans that were evaluated for expected credit losses on an individual basis and the related specific allocations, by loan portfolio segment as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
December 31, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
Loan | Specific | Loan | Specific | |||||||||
Balance | Allocations | Balance | Allocations | |||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | — | ||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| |
| |
| — |
| — | ||||
Secured by farmland | | — | | — | ||||||||
Residential 1-4 family | | — | | — | ||||||||
Multi- family residential | | — | | — | ||||||||
Home equity lines of credit | | — | | — | ||||||||
Commercial loans |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Consumer loans | | | | | ||||||||
Total non-PCD loans | | | | | ||||||||
PCD loans | | | | | ||||||||
Total loans | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
The following table presents a breakdown between loans at amortized cost that were evaluated on an individual basis and identified as collateral dependent loans and non-collateral dependent loans, by loan portfolio segment and their collateral value as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
Non | Non | |||||||||||
Collateral | Collateral | Collateral | Collateral | |||||||||
Dependent | Dependent | Dependent | Dependent | |||||||||
Assets (1) | Assets (1) | Assets (1) | Assets (1) | |||||||||
Commercial real estate - owner occupied | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | ||||
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Secured by farmland | | — | | — | ||||||||
Construction and land development |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Residential 1-4 family | | — | | — | ||||||||
Multi- family residential | | — | | — | ||||||||
Home equity lines of credit | | — | | — | ||||||||
Commercial loans |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Consumer loans | — | — | — | | ||||||||
Total loans | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | ||||
Collateral value | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | ||||
(1) loan balances include PCD loans and are presented net of SBA guarantees | ||||||||||||
4. DERIVATIVES
Consumer Program Derivative
The Company has a derivative instrument in connection with its agreement with a third-party that originates loans that are held on the Company’s balance sheet. The third-party provides credit support and reimbursement for lost interest under the agreement and the Company provides performance fees to the third-party on performing loans. Specifically, a portion of the originated loans are originated with a promotional period where interest accrues on the loans but is not owed to the Company unless and until the loan begins to amortize. If the borrower prepays the principal on the loan prior to the end of the promotional period the accrued interest is waived, but becomes due to the Company from the third-party under the agreement. This expected payment of waived interest to the Company along with performance fees due to the third-party comprise the value of the derivative. The fair value of the derivative instrument was an asset of $
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as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company calculates the fair value of this derivative using a discounted cash flow model using inputs that are inherently judgmental and reflect management’s best estimates of the assumptions a market participant would use to calculate the fair value.
The most significant inputs and assumptions in determining the value of the derivative are noted below ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2024 | |||||||||
Weighted | |||||||||
Low | High | Total | |||||||
Remaining cumulative charge-offs | $ | | $ | | n/a | ||||
Remaining cumulative promotional prepayments (1) | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Average life (years) | n/a |
| n/a | | |||||
Discount rate | |||||||||
December 31, 2023 | |||||||||
Weighted | |||||||||
Low | High | Average | |||||||
Remaining cumulative charge-offs | $ | | $ | | n/a | ||||
Remaining cumulative promotional prepayments (1) | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Average life (years) |
| n/a |
| n/a |
| | |||
Discount rate |
|
|
| ||||||
| (1) | Reflects principal amount expected to prepay. |
Mortgage Banking Derivatives and Financial Instruments
The Company enters into IRLCs (“interest rate lock commitments”) to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale, at specified interest rates and within a specified period of time (generally between 30 and 90 days), with borrowers who have applied for a loan and have met certain credit and underwriting criteria. The IRLCs are adjusted for estimated costs to originate the loan as well as the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the IRLC (the pullthrough rate). Estimated costs to originate include loan officer commissions and overrides. The pullthrough rate is estimated on changes in market conditions, loan stage, and actual borrower behavior using a historical analysis of IRLC closing rates. The Company obtains an analysis from a third party on a monthly basis to support the reasonableness of the pullthrough estimate.
Best efforts and mandatory forward loan sale commitments are commitments to sell individual mortgage loans using both best efforts and mandatory delivery at a fixed price to an investor at a future date. Forward loan sale commitments that are mandatory delivery are accounted for as derivatives and carried at fair value, determined as the amount that would be necessary to settle the derivative financial instrument at the balance sheet date. Forward loan sale commitments that are best efforts are not derivatives but can be and have been accounted for at fair value, determined in a similar manner to those that are mandatory delivery. Forward loan sale commitments are recorded on the balance sheet as derivative assets and derivative liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded in mortgage banking income in the income statement.
The key unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value of IRLCs are as follows as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
Average pullthrough rates |
| % |
| % | ||
Average costs to originate | % |
| % | |||
112
The following summarizes derivative and non-derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 ($ in thousands):
December 31, 2024 | ||||||
Fair | Notional | |||||
Derivative financial instruments: | Value | Amount | ||||
Derivative assets (1) | $ | | $ | | ||
Derivative liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | ||
(1) Pullthrough rate adjusted | ||||||
December 31, 2024 | ||||||
Fair | Notional | |||||
Non-derivative financial instruments: | Value | Amount | ||||
Best efforts assets | $ | | $ | | ||
December 31, 2023 | ||||||
Fair | Notional | |||||
Derivative financial instruments: | Value | Amount | ||||
Derivative assets (1) | $ | | $ | | ||
Derivative liabilities | $ | | $ | | ||
(1) Pullthrough rate adjusted | ||||||
December 31, 2023 | ||||||
Fair | Notional | |||||
Non-derivative financial instruments: | Value | Amount | ||||
Best efforts assets | $ | | | |||
The notional amounts of mortgage loans held for sale not committed to investors was $
The Company has exposure to credit loss in the event of contractual non-performance by its trading counterparties in derivative instruments that the Company uses in its rate risk management activities. The Company manages this credit risk by selecting only counterparties that the Company believes to be financially strong, spreading the risk among multiple counterparties, by placing contractual limits on the amount of unsecured credit extended to any single counterparty and by entering into netting agreements with counterparties, as appropriate.
5. FAIR VALUE
ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date
Level 2: Significant other 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
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability
113
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy:
Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis:
Investment Securities Available-for-sale
Where quoted prices are available in an active market, investment securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 investment securities include highly liquid government bonds and mortgage products. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of investment securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flow. Level 2 investment securities include U.S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions and certain corporate, collateralized loan obligations and other securities. In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, investment securities are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. Currently, all of Primis’ available-for-sale debt investment securities are considered to be Level 2 investment securities.
Loans Held for Investment and Interest Rate Swaps
The Company entered into interest rate swaps on a portion of its loans held for investment portfolio that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. The swaps are valued using significant other observable inputs including prices observed for similar exchange traded instruments and are therefore classified in Level 2. The related loans held for investment are measured using remaining designated cash flows of the hedged item based on the inception benchmark rate component of the contractual coupon cash flows, discounted at the benchmark interest rate being hedged and are therefore classified in Level 2.
Loans Held for Sale
The fair value of PMC loans held for sale is determined by obtaining prices at which they could be sold in the principal market at the measurement date and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value is determined on a recurring basis by utilizing quoted prices from dealers in such securities.
Consumer Program Derivative
The Company calculates the fair value of this derivative using a discounted cash flow model using inputs that are inherently judgmental and reflect management’s best estimates of the assumptions a market participant would use to calculate the fair value. Key inputs utilized in valuing the derivative are discount rates, counterparty credit risk, credit loss rates, and prepayment rates. Discount rates considered observable benchmark interest rates and counterparty credit risk was based on the Company’s evaluation of the counterparty’s financial condition in audited and unaudited financial results provided. The credit loss and prepayment rates are informed by specific experience on the Company’s portfolio of the third-party originated consumer loans that the derivative relates to and are considered significant unobservable inputs. As a result of the use of the significant unobservable inputs the Consumer Program derivative is classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
Mortgage Banking Derivative and Financial Assets and Liabilities
IRLC: The Company determines the value of IRLCs by comparing the market price to the price locked in with the customer, adding fees or points to be collected at closing, subtracting commissions to be paid at closing, and subtracting estimated remaining loan origination costs to the bank based on the processing status of the loan. IRLCs are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
Best Efforts Forward Loan Sales Commitments: Best efforts forward loan sales commitments are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. Best efforts forward loan sales commitments fix the forward sales price that will be realized upon the sale of mortgage loans into the secondary market. Best efforts forward loan sales commitments are entered into for loans at the time the borrower commitment is made. These best efforts forward loan sales commitments
114
are valued using the committed price to the counterparty against the current market price of the interest rate lock commitment or mortgage loan held for sale.
Mandatory Forward Loan Sales Commitments: Fair values for mandatory forward loan sales commitments are based on fair values of the underlying mortgage loans and the probability of such commitments being exercised. Due to the unobservable inputs used by Primis, mandatory loan sales commitments are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
To-Be-Announced Mortgage-Backed Securities Trades: Fair values for TBA’s are based on the gain or loss that would occur if the Company were to pair-off transaction at the measurement date and are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
Fair Value Measurements Using | ||||||||||||
Significant |
| |||||||||||
Quoted Prices in | Other | Significant | ||||||||||
Active Markets for | Observable | Unobservable | ||||||||||
Total at | Identical Assets | Inputs | Inputs | |||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
| December 31, 2024 |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | ||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Available-for-sale securities | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | ||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Corporate securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
| |
| — |
| |
| — | |||||
Loans held for investment | | — | | — | ||||||||
Loans held for sale, at fair value | |
| — |
| |
| — | |||||
Consumer Program derivative | | — | — | | ||||||||
Mortgage banking financial assets |
| — |
| — |
| | ||||||
Mortgage banking derivative assets | |
| — |
| — | | ||||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | ||||
115
Fair Value Measurements Using | ||||||||||||
Significant |
| |||||||||||
Quoted Prices in | Other | Significant | ||||||||||
Active Markets for | Observable | Unobservable | ||||||||||
Total at | Identical Assets | Inputs | Inputs | |||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
| December 31, 2023 |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | ||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Available-for-sale securities | ||||||||||||
Residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | ||||
Obligations of states and political subdivisions |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Corporate securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Collateralized loan obligations |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Government-sponsored agency securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
Agency commercial mortgage-backed securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
SBA pool securities |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | ||||
| |
| — |
| |
| — | |||||
Loans held for investment | | — | | — | ||||||||
Loans held for sale, at fair value | |
| — |
| |
| — | |||||
Consumer Program derivative | | — | — | | ||||||||
Mortgage banking financial assets | |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||
Mortgage banking derivative assets | |
| — |
| — | | ||||||
Interest rate swaps | | — | | — | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | ||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
$ | | — | $ | — | $ | | ||||||
Total liabilities | $ | | $ | — | $ | — | $ | | ||||
Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Non-recurring Basis:
Loans
We may be required to measure certain financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of lower of amortized cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets due to impairment.
Collateral-dependent loans are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are evaluated individually. These collateral-dependent loans are deemed to be at fair value if there is an associated allowance for credit losses or if a charge-off has been recorded in the previous 12 months. Collateral values are determined using appraisals or other third-party value estimates of the subject property discounted based on estimated selling costs, generally between
Certain loans are held for sale and recorded at the lower of cost or market due to the Company’s decision to sell the loans as of the balance sheet date. The portion of these loans included in Level 1 were valued based on an executed sales contract between the Company and an independent third-party purchaser of the loans that indicates the price to be paid by the buyer and received by the Company. The loans included in this category are the LPF loans being sold to EverBank on January 31, 2025.
The other loans in held for sale and recorded at the lower of cost or market are Consumer Program loans and are included in Level 2. The primary input used to value these loans were bid prices received by the Company from independent third parties during the recent marketing process for the portfolio of loans. The Company received a range of bid prices for the portfolio, which were based on preliminary review of the portfolio by the third-parties and was contingent
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on further diligence being performed by the potential buyer. The range of bids received during the marketing process contemplated purchase discounts to the portfolio between
Assets Held for Sale
Assets held for sale are valued based on third-party appraisals less estimated disposal costs. Primis considers third party appraisals, as well as independent fair value assessments from realtors or persons involved in selling bank premises, furniture and equipment, in determining the fair value of particular properties. Accordingly, the valuation of assets held for sale is subject to significant external and internal judgment. Primis periodically reviews premises, furniture and equipment held for sale to determine if the fair value of the property, less disposal costs, has declined below its recorded book value and records any adjustments accordingly.
Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are summarized below:
Fair Value Measurements Using | ||||||||||||
Significant |
| |||||||||||
Quoted Prices in | Other | Significant | ||||||||||
Active Markets for | Observable | Unobservable | ||||||||||
Total at | Identical Assets | Inputs | Inputs | |||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
| December 31, 2024 |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | ||||
Collateral dependent loans | $ | | $ | — | $ | — |
| $ | | |||
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market | | | | — | ||||||||
Assets held for sale | | — | — | | ||||||||
Fair Value Measurements Using | ||||||||||||
Significant | ||||||||||||
Quoted Prices in | Other | Significant | ||||||||||
Active Markets for | Observable | Unobservable | ||||||||||
Total at | Identical Assets | Inputs | Inputs | |||||||||
(dollars in thousands) |
| December 31, 2023 |
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) | ||||
Collateral dependent loans | $ | | $ | — | $ | — |
| $ | | |||
Assets held for sale | | — | — | | ||||||||
117
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amount, estimated fair values and fair value hierarchy levels (previously defined) of financial instruments were as follows (in thousands) for the periods indicated:
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Fair Value |
| Carrying |
| Fair |
| Carrying |
| Fair | |||||
Hierarchy Level | Amount | Value | Amount | Value | ||||||||||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| Level 1 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Securities available-for-sale |
| Level 2 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Securities held-to-maturity |
| Level 2 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Stock in Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank |
| Level 2 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Preferred investment in mortgage company |
| Level 2 |
| | |
| | | ||||||
Net loans |
| Level 2 and 3 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Loans held for sale |
| Level 2 |
| | |
| | | ||||||
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market | Level 3 | | | — | — | |||||||||
Consumer Program derivative | Level 3 | | | | | |||||||||
Mortgage banking financial assets | Level 3 | | | | | |||||||||
| Level 3 |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Interest rate swaps, net | Level 2 | | | | | |||||||||
Financial liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Demand deposits and NOW accounts |
| Level 2 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Money market and savings accounts |
| Level 2 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Time deposits |
| Level 3 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
| Level 1 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
FHLB advances |
| Level 1 |
| — |
| — |
| |
| | ||||
Junior subordinated debt |
| Level 2 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Senior subordinated notes |
| Level 2 |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Secured borrowings | Level 3 | | | | | |||||||||
Mortgage banking derivative liabilities | Level 3 | — | — | | | |||||||||
Carrying amount is the estimated fair value for cash and cash equivalents, loans held for sale, mortgage banking financial assets and liabilities, mortgage banking derivative assets and liabilities, Consumer Program derivative asset, interest rate swaps, demand deposits, savings accounts, money market accounts, FHLB advances, secured borrowings and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.
Fair value of junior subordinated debt and senior subordinated notes are based on current rates for similar financing. Carrying amount of Federal Reserve Bank and FHLB stock is a reasonable estimate of fair value as these securities are not readily marketable and are based on the ultimate recoverability of the par value. The fair value of off-balance-sheet items is not considered material. Fair value of net loans, time deposits, junior subordinated debt, and senior subordinated notes are measured using the exit-price notion.
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6. BANK PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT
Bank premises and equipment as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
2024 | 2023 | |||||
Land | $ | | $ | | ||
Land improvements |
| |
| | ||
Building and improvements |
| |
| | ||
Leasehold improvements |
| |
| | ||
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and software |
| |
| | ||
Construction in progress |
| |
| | ||
| |
| | |||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
| |
| | ||
Bank premises and equipment, net | $ | | $ | | ||
Depreciation and amortization expense related to bank premises and equipment for 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $
7. LEASES
The Company leases certain premises under operating leases. In recognizing lease right-of-use assets and related liabilities, Primis accounts for lease and non-lease components (such as taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance costs) separately as such amounts are generally readily determinable under our lease contracts. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had operating lease liabilities totaling $
The following table presents other information related to our operating leases:
For the Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Other information: | ||||||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases, in years | ||||||||
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases |
| | % |
| | % | ||
119
The following table summarizes the maturity of remaining lease liabilities:
As of | |||
(dollars in thousands) | December 31, 2024 | ||
Lease payments due: | |||
2025 | $ | | |
2026 | | ||
2027 | | ||
2028 | | ||
2029 | | ||
Thereafter |
| | |
Total lease payments | | ||
Less: imputed interest | ( | ||
Lease liabilities | $ | | |
As of December 31, 2024, the Company did
8. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill
Primis has $
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events or circumstances warrant. Our annual assessment occurs as of September 30th every year. For our annual 2024 assessment, as described in Note 1, we performed a step one quantitative assessment to determine if the fair value of our reporting units were less than their carrying amounts. The Company determined, based on the assessments, that the Primis Bank and the PMC reporting units fair values were more than their carrying amounts and no impairment charge was required.
In 2023, the Company determined, based on its annual assessment, that the PMC reporting unit fair value was more than the carrying amount, but the Bank reporting unit fair value was less than its carrying amount. The Company recorded an impairment of $
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets were as follows at year end (in thousands):
December 31, 2024 | |||||||||
| Gross Carrying |
| Accumulated |
| Net Carrying | ||||
Value | Amortization | Value | |||||||
Amortizable Intangibles | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||
December 31, 2023 | |||||||||
| Gross Carrying |
| Accumulated |
| Net Carrying | ||||
Value | Amortization | Value | |||||||
Amortizable intangibles | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||
120
Estimated amortization expense of intangibles for the years ended December 31 were as follows (in thousands):
2025 |
| $ | |
2026 |
| | |
2027 |
| | |
Total | $ | |
9. DEPOSITS
As of December 31, 2024, the scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows (in thousands):
2025 |
| $ | |
2026 |
| | |
2027 |
| | |
2028 |
| | |
2029 |
| | |
Total | $ | |
The aggregate amount of time deposits in denominations of $250 thousand or more as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
Within |
| 3 to 6 |
| 6 to 12 |
| Over 12 |
|
| |||||
3 Months | Months | Months | Months | Total | |||||||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
For our deposit agreements with certain customers, we hold collateral in a segregated custodial account and are required to maintain adequate collateral levels. In the event the collateral fair value falls below stipulated levels, we will pledge additional securities. We closely monitor collateral levels to ensure adequate levels are maintained, while mitigating the potential risk of over-collateralization.
10. SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE AND OTHER BORROWINGS
Other borrowings can consist of FHLB convertible advances, FHLB of Atlanta overnight advances, FHLB advances maturing within one year, federal funds purchased, Federal Reserve Board Discount Window, secured borrowings and securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repo”) that mature within one year, which are secured transactions with customers. The balance in repo accounts at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
At both December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had pledged callable agency securities, residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations with a carrying value of $
121
Other borrowings consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| |||
FHLB collateral advances maturing |
| $ | — |
| $ | | |
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
|
| |
|
| | |
Total |
| $ | |
| $ | | |
Weighted average interest rate at year end |
| — | % | | % | ||
Each FHLB advance is payable at its maturity date, with a prepayment penalty for fixed rate advances paid off earlier than maturity. The Company repaid its short-term FHLB advances of $
In June 2023, the Bank took the necessary steps to participate in the Federal Reserve discount window borrowing program. As of December 31, 2024, the Bank had borrowing capacity of $
Secured Borrowings
The Company transferred $
11. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT AND SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
In 2017, the Company assumed $
On January 20, 2017, Primis completed the sale of $
122
On August 25, 2020, Primis completed the sale of $
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the remaining unamortized debt issuance costs related to the senior Subordinated Notes totaled $
12. INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes.
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
| ||
Allowance for credit losses | $ | | $ | | ||
Unearned loan fees and other |
| |
| | ||
Lease liability | | | ||||
Net unrealized loss on investment securities available for sale |
| |
| | ||
Federal low income housing credit carryforward |
| |
| | ||
Deferred compensation |
| |
| | ||
Capitalized research and experimental expenditures | | | ||||
Net operating loss | | | ||||
Other |
| |
| | ||
Valuation allowance |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance |
| |
| | ||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Right-of-use assets | | | ||||
Purchase accounting | | | ||||
Depreciation | | | ||||
Derivative asset | | | ||||
Other |
| |
| | ||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
| |
| | ||
Net deferred tax assets | $ | | $ | | ||
The Company had a valuation allowance of $
The Company has
123
The provision for income taxes consists of the following for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Current tax expense |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Federal | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
State |
| |
| |
| | |||
Total current tax expense |
| |
| |
| | |||
Deferred tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Federal |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
State |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Total deferred tax benefit |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
The income tax expense differed from the amount of income tax determined by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate of
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||||
Computed expected tax (benefit) expense at statutory rate | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Increase (decrease) in tax expense resulting from: |
|
|
| ||||||
Remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities | | ( | ( | ||||||
Low income housing tax credits, net of amortization | | | | ||||||
Income from bank-owned life insurance |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Goodwill impairment | — | | — | ||||||
Research and development credit | ( | ( | — | ||||||
Valuation allowance | | | — | ||||||
State taxes, net | ( | | | ||||||
Other, net |
| |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
During 2023, the Company recorded an adjustment of $
13. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Primis has a 401(k) plan that allows all employees to make pre-tax contributions for retirement. The 401(k) plan provides for discretionary matching contributions by Primis. The expense for 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $
The Bank previously maintained a deferred compensation plan in the form of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for four (4) former executives. Under the plan, the Bank pays each participant, or their beneficiary, compensation deferred plus accrued interest for a period of 15 to 17 years after their retirement or age 62 depending on the terms and conditions of each plan. A liability is accrued for the obligations under these plans and was $
14. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The 2017 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2017 Plan”) has a maximum number of
124
term financial success of the Company, including its subsidiaries, and with growth in stockholder value, consistent with the Company’s risk management practices.
A summary of stock option activity for 2024 follows:
|
|
| Weighted |
|
| |||||
Weighted | Average | Aggregate | ||||||||
Average | Remaining | Intrinsic | ||||||||
Exercise | Contractual | Value | ||||||||
Shares | Price | Term | (in thousands) | |||||||
Options outstanding, beginning of period |
| | $ | |
| $ | | |||
Exercised |
| ( | | |||||||
Options outstanding, end of period |
| | $ | | | |||||
Exercisable at end of period |
| | $ | | | |||||
There were
A summary of time vested restricted stock awards for 2024 follows:
|
| Weighted |
| Weighted |
| |||
Average | Average | |||||||
Grant-Date | Remaining | |||||||
Fair Value | Contractual | |||||||
Shares | Per Share | Term | ||||||
Unvested restricted stock outstanding, beginning of period |
| | $ | |
| |||
Vested |
| ( | |
|
|
| ||
Forfeited |
| ( | |
|
| |||
Unvested restricted stock outstanding, end of period |
| | $ | |
| |||
Stock-based compensation expense for time vested restricted stock awards totaled $
A summary of performance-based restricted stock units (the “Units”) for 2024 follows:
|
| Weighted |
| Weighted | |||
Average | Average | ||||||
Grant-Date | Remaining | ||||||
Fair Value | Contractual | ||||||
Shares | Per Share | Term | |||||
Unvested Units outstanding, beginning of period |
| | $ | |
| ||
Vested |
| ( | |
|
| ||
Forfeited |
| ( | |
| |||
Unvested Units outstanding, end of period |
| | |
These Units are subject to service and performance conditions. These Units vest based on the achievement of both conditions. Achievement of the performance condition will be determined at the end of the five-year performance period (the “Performance Period”) by evaluating the: 1) Company’s adjusted earnings per share compound annual growth measured for the Performance Period and 2) performance factor achieved. Payouts between performance levels will be determined based on straight line interpolation.
The Company recognized $
125
ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not recognize any stock-based compensation expense associated with these Units because it was not probable that the Units will vest. The potential unrecognized compensation expense associated with these Units was $
15. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK
Financial Instruments With Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Primis is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and guarantees of credit card accounts. These instruments involve elements of credit and funding risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. Letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by Primis to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. Primis had letters of credit outstanding totaling $
The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is based on the contractual amount of these instruments. Primis uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as we do for on-balance sheet instruments. Unless noted otherwise, we do not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.
Allowance For Credit Losses - Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures
The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is a liability account, calculated in accordance with ASC 326, representing expected credit losses over the contractual period for which Primis is exposed to credit risk resulting from a contractual obligation to extend credit. No allowance is recognized if the Company has the unconditional right to cancel the obligation. Off-balance sheet credit exposures primarily consist of amounts available under outstanding lines of credit and letters of credit detailed above. For the period of exposure, the estimate of expected credit losses considers both the likelihood that funding will occur and the amount expected to be funded over the estimated remaining life of the commitment or other off-balance sheet exposure. The likelihood and expected amount of funding are based on historical utilization rates. The amount of the allowance represents management's best estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over the contractual life of the commitment. Estimating credit losses on amounts expected to be funded uses the same methodology as described for loans in Note 3 - Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses, as if such commitments were funded. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is reflected in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
The following table details activity in the allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures:
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Balance as of January 1 | $ | | $ | | ||
Credit loss expense |
| ( |
| | ||
Balance as of December 31 | $ | | $ | | ||
Commitments
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments are made predominately for adjustable rate loans, and generally have fixed expiration dates of up to three months or other termination clauses and usually require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments may expire without being completely drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Primis evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.
126
The Company had $
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had unfunded lines of credit and undisbursed construction loan funds totaling $
Primis also had commitments on subscription agreements entered into for investments in non-marketable equity securities of $
16. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following is a reconciliation of the denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations for 2024, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
|
| Weighted |
|
| ||||
Average |
| |||||||
Income | Shares | Per Share | ||||||
(Numerator) | (Denominator) | Amount | ||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Basic EPS | $ | ( |
| | $ | ( | ||
Effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted stock |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||
Diluted EPS | $ | ( |
| | $ | ( | ||
For the year ended December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Basic EPS | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |||
Effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted stock | — | — |
| — | ||||
Diluted EPS | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |||
For the year ended December 31, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Basic EPS from continuing operations | $ | |
| | $ | | ||
Effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted stock |
| — |
| |
| ( | ||
Diluted EPS from continuing operations | $ | |
| | $ | | ||
The Company had
17. REGULATORY MATTERS
Primis Financial Corp. and its subsidiary 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 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 (“PCA”), Primis must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the most recent regulatory notifications categorized the Bank as well capitalized under regulatory framework for PCA.
127
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require Primis to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of Total and Tier I capital (as defined in the regulations) to average assets (as defined). Management believes, as of December 31, 2024, that Primis meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.
The following table provides a comparison of the leverage and risk-weighted capital ratios of Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank at the periods indicated to the minimum and well-capitalized required regulatory standards:
Required |
| |||||||||||||||
For Capital | To Be Categorized as | |||||||||||||||
Actual | Adequacy Purposes | Well Capitalized (1) | ||||||||||||||
| Amount |
| Ratio |
| Amount |
| Ratio |
| Amount |
| Ratio | |||||
December 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Primis Financial Corp. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Leverage ratio | $ | | | % | $ | |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | ||||
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio | | | % | |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | ||||||
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio |
| | | % |
| |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | ||||
Total risk-based capital ratio |
| | | % |
| |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | ||||
Primis Bank |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Leverage ratio | $ | | | % | $ | |
| | % | $ | | | % | |||
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio | | | % | |
| | % | | | % | ||||||
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio |
| | | % |
| |
| | % |
| | | % | |||
Total risk-based capital ratio |
| | | % |
| |
| | % |
| | | % | |||
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Primis Financial Corp. |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Leverage ratio | $ | |
| | % | $ | |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | |||
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio | |
| | % | |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | |||||
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio |
| |
| | % |
| |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | |||
Total risk-based capital ratio |
| |
| | % |
| |
| | % | n/a |
| n/a | |||
Primis Bank |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Leverage ratio | $ | |
| | % | $ | |
| | % | $ | | | % | ||
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio | | | % | |
| | % | | | % | ||||||
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio |
| |
| | % |
| |
| | % |
| | | % | ||
Total risk-based capital ratio |
| |
| | % |
| |
| | % |
| | | % | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
| (1) | Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable at the bank holding company level. |
Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank are required to meet minimum capital requirements set forth by regulatory authorities. Bank regulatory agencies have approved regulatory capital guidelines (“Basel III”) aimed at strengthening existing capital requirements for banking organizations. The Basel III Capital Rules require Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer”, (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer, (iii) a minimum ratio of Total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements may result in certain actions by regulators which could have a direct material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Primis Financial Corp. and Primis Bank remain well-capitalized under Basel III capital requirements. Primis Bank had a capital conservation buffer of
128
18. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company’s reportable operating segments are determined based on its internal organizational structure, which is overseen by the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s designated Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). While the CEO consults with key members of his leadership team, the ultimate responsibility for making operational decisions and resource allocations resides with the CEO. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company’s internal organizational structure and resulting management reporting was concentrated around the Bank and Primis Mortgage, which resulted in the Company determining these to be its
Primis’ organizational structure and its operational segments are determined by attributes such as products, services, and customer base which are then aggregated based on similarities around these attributes. The operating results for each segment are regularly reviewed by the CEO using a broad set of financial and operational data. Key financial data utilized by the CEO to assess financial performance and allocate resources includes loan and deposit growth, certain direct expenses, net interest income and mortgage banking income along with overall net income attributable to Primis’ common shareholders. The CEO also considers actual results compared to budgeted results in these metrics when assessing performance and making determinations related to resource allocations. The following is a description of our reportable segments.
Primis Bank. This segment specializes in providing financing services to businesses in various industries along with consumer and residential loans to individuals. The segment also provides deposit-related services to businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and individual consumers. The primary source of revenue for this segment is interest income from the origination of loans, while the primary expenses are interest expenses on deposits, provisions for loan losses, personnel costs, and data processing expenses.
Primis Mortgage. This segment specializes in originating mortgages in a majority of the U.S. The primary source of revenue for this segment is noninterest income generated from the origination and sale of mortgage loans, while the primary expense of the segment is personnel costs.
129
The following table provides financial information for the Company's reportable segments. In additional to the Company’s
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||
|
| Primis Mortgage |
| Primis Bank |
| Other (1) |
| Consolidated Company | |||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Interest expense | — | | | | |||||||||
Net interest income | | | ( | | |||||||||
Provision for loan losses | — | | — | | |||||||||
Net interest income after provision for loan losses | | | ( | | |||||||||
Noninterest income: | |||||||||||||
Mortgage banking income | | ( | — | | |||||||||
Other noninterest income | — | | | | |||||||||
Total noninterest income | | | | | |||||||||
Noninterest expenses: | |||||||||||||
Salaries and benefits | | | | | |||||||||
Data processing expense | | | — | | |||||||||
Other operating expenses | | | | | |||||||||
Total noninterest expenses | | | | | |||||||||
Income before income taxes |
| |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Income tax expense |
| | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | — | | | |||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Primis' common stockholders | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
| (1) | Other includes Parent, PFH and intercompany eliminations. |
130
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
|
| Primis Mortgage |
| Primis Bank |
| Other (1) |
| Consolidated Company | |||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Interest expense | — | | | | |||||||||
Net interest income | | | ( | | |||||||||
Provision for loan losses | — | | — | | |||||||||
Net interest income after provision for loan losses | | | ( | | |||||||||
Noninterest income: | |||||||||||||
Mortgage banking income | | — | — | | |||||||||
Other noninterest income | | | — | | |||||||||
Total noninterest income | | | — | | |||||||||
Noninterest expenses: | |||||||||||||
Salaries and benefits | | | | | |||||||||
Data processing expense | | | — | | |||||||||
Other operating expenses | | | | | |||||||||
Total noninterest expenses | | | | | |||||||||
Income before income taxes |
| |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Income tax expense |
| | | ( | ( | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | — | | | |||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Primis' common stockholders | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
| (1) | Other includes Parent, PFH and intercompany eliminations. |
131
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
|
| Primis Mortgage |
| Primis Bank |
| Other (1) |
| Consolidated Company | |||||
($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Interest expense | | | | | |||||||||
Net interest income | | | ( | | |||||||||
Provision for loan losses | — | | — | | |||||||||
Net interest income after provision for loan losses | | | ( | | |||||||||
Noninterest income: | |||||||||||||
Mortgage banking income | | — | ( | | |||||||||
Other noninterest income | — | | — | | |||||||||
Total noninterest income | | | ( | | |||||||||
Noninterest expenses: | |||||||||||||
Salaries and benefits | | | | | |||||||||
Data processing expense | | | — | | |||||||||
Other operating expenses | | | | | |||||||||
Total noninterest expenses | | | | | |||||||||
Income before income taxes |
| ( |
| |
| ( |
| | |||||
Income tax expense |
| ( | | ( | | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | ( | | ( | | |||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Primis' common stockholders | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||||
Total assets | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
| (1) | Other includes Parent, PFH and intercompany eliminations. |
132
19. PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Condensed financial information of Primis Financial Corp. follows (in thousands):
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31,
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
| ||
Cash | $ | | $ | | ||
Loans held for investment | | | ||||
Investment in subsidiaries and associated companies |
| |
| | ||
Preferred investment in unaffiliated mortgage company | | | ||||
Investments in non-marketable equity securities | | | ||||
Other assets |
| |
| | ||
Total assets | $ | | $ | | ||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
| ||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Junior subordinated debt | $ | | $ | | ||
Senior subordinated notes |
| |
| | ||
Other liabilities |
| |
| | ||
Total liabilities |
| |
| | ||
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
| ||
Preferred stock, $ | — | — | ||||
Common stock, $ |
| |
| | ||
Additional paid in capital |
| |
| | ||
Retained earnings |
| |
| | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Total stockholders' equity | | | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | | $ | | ||
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CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
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| 2022 | ||||
Income: |
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Expenses: |
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Income before income tax benefit and equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries |
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Income tax benefit |
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Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries and associated companies | ( | ( | | ||||||
Net income (loss) to common stockholders | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
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CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
| 2024 |
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| 2022 | ||||
Operating activities: |
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Net income (loss) | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities: |
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Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries and associated companies |
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Loan forgiven | | | — | ||||||
Other, net |
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Net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities |
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Investing activities: |
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Net decrease in loans | — | — | ( | ||||||
Increase in non-marketable equity securities investments | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
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Proceeds from exercised stock options |
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Repurchase of restricted stock |
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Cash dividends paid on common stock |
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the year, officers, directors, principal shareholders, and their affiliates (related parties) were customers of and had transactions with the Company.
|
| 2024 | ||
Balance at January 1, | $ | | ||
Principal advances |
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Principal paid |
| ( | ||
Transfers in (out) of related party status |
| ( | ||
Balance at December 31, | $ | | ||
Primis has also entered into deposit transactions with its related parties. The aggregate amount of these deposit accounts were $
21. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Variable interests are defined as contractual ownership or other interests in an entity that change with fluctuations in the fair value of an entity's net asset value. The primary beneficiary consolidates the VIE. The primary beneficiary is defined as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE.
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Our involvement with VIEs includes our investments in PFH, low income housing tax credit funds, and non-marketable and other equity securities.
PFH
PFH is a separate legal entity that owns the rights to the Panacea Financial brand and intellectual property with a goal of growing and monetizing those assets. The Panacea Financial Division of the Bank has a partnership agreement with PFH and is the primary bank partner. The substantial activities between PFH and the Panacea Financial Division of the Bank along with limited activities of PFH outside of its relationship with the Company results in the Company having a controlling financial interest in PFH and as the primary beneficiary, the Company consolidates PFH. As of December 31, 2024, PFH had approximately $
Low Income Housing Tax Credits
The general purpose of housing equity funds is to encourage and assist participants in investing in low-income residential rental properties located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, develop and implement strategies to maintain projects as low-income housing, deliver Federal Low Income Housing Credits to investors, allocate tax losses and other possible tax benefits to investors, and to preserve and protect project assets. The Company applies the proportional amortization method to its low income housing tax credits.
Non-Marketable and Other equity investments
The Company also has a limited interest in several funds that focus on providing venture capital to new and emerging financial technology companies, which are accounted for as VIEs. Investments held by the Company in these third-party funds do not have controlling or significant variable interests.
The low income housing tax credit funds and non-marketable and other equity investments meet the criteria of a VIE, however, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the entities, as it does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entities and their accounts are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company’s investment in the VIEs were carried as other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
The low income housing tax credit funds were carried at $
The non-marketable and other equity investments were carried at $
The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from unconsolidated VIEs is the higher of the investment recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets or the commitment on the investment. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the maximum exposure to loss for our unconsolidated VIEs was $
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22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through April 28, 2025, the date the financial statements were available to be issued. The Company has concluded no subsequent events have occurred that require disclosure, except for those referenced below.
Consumer Program Loans Held For Sale
In March 2025, the Company determined it no longer plans to sell a pool of Consumer Program loans classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2024. These loans will be reclassified to loans held for investment as of March 31, 2025 as the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the loans for the foreseeable future or until maturity. As described above, these loans have an aggregate value as of December 31, 2024 of $
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, at the reasonable assurance level, because of the material weaknesses in internal controls as described below in section (b). Notwithstanding the material weaknesses, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, has concluded that the consolidated financial statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2024, fairly present, in all material respects, the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash-flows for the periods presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Management identified three material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2024. The material weaknesses were related to one new material weakness and two existing material weaknesses that had not been fully remediated:
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| 1. | One existing material weakness was related to accounting for loan transfers as described in the 2023 Form 10-K, Part II. Item 9A. The Company did not maintain effective controls over the design and operation of its accounting determinations for transfers of financial assets, including lack of a formally designed process and procedure for identification of the complete population of loan transfers at period end. The material weakness resulted in a balance sheet misclassification error as of December 31, 2024, before correction, of $20 million between loans held for investment and loans held for sale, at the lower of cost or market. |
| 2. | One existing material weakness was related to the third-party consumer loan allowance as described in the 2023 Form 10-K, Part II. Item 9A. The Company did not maintain effective controls over the design and operation of its process for evaluation of credit losses on the third party managed consumer loan portfolio including evaluating recent actual and subsequent event loss history on the portfolio relative to previous model inputs. The Company failed to consider if third-party consumer loan credit losses experienced in the first quarter of 2025 supported the Company’s expected credit loss assumptions for the third-party loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024. The material weakness resulted in an understatement of our allowance for credit losses on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 and an understatement of our provision for credit losses in the consolidated income statement for the year ended December 31, 2024, before correction, of $6.5 million. The impact to net loss to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 of this misstatement, before correction, was an understatement of net loss by $5.0 million. |
| 3. | Proper restrictions and review controls related to deposit account processing. The existing controls do not include sufficient restrictions for transfers between deposit accounts, including into or out of an individual’s own deposit account. The Company’s existing controls also do not contain a sufficient level of detail around review of deposit processing to determine that an appropriate level of segregation of duties is being maintained. The material weakness did not result in any identified financial statement misstatements. |
Crowe, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and has issued a report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which report is included in "Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Remediation Plans
| (i) | Loan transfers |
Management continues to review and make changes to the overall design of its internal control environment, including implementing additional internal controls over the identification of loan transfer transactions and management review of the transactions, including appropriate disclosure in its periodic financial reports. The Company intends to enhance the already implemented controls in 2024 that incorporated controls related to management review and third-party legal review of loan transfers. Specifically, the Company will further refine its controls to include a review for pending loan transfers at period end to ensure appropriate recognition and disclosure of the pending transfers in its periodic reporting. The Company has made progress in its remediation efforts related to this material weakness, but the material weakness will not be considered remediated until the applicable remedial controls are in place and operate for a sufficient period.
| (ii) | Third-party consumer loan allowance |
Management continues to review and make changes to the overall design of its internal control environment, including implementing additional internal controls over the allowance related to loans originated and serviced by a third-party. The Company intends to enhance the already implemented controls in 2024 that incorporated Company-specific credit loss experience to replace peer credit loss experience. Specifically, the Company will further refine its allowance for credit loss process related to the third-party consumer loans to identify and consider events happening subsequent to a period end that provide evidence of conditions as of the period end that may impact the determination of the allowance for credit losses on the third-party consumer loan portfolio. The Company has made progress in its remediation efforts related to this material weakness, including incorporation of credit loss experience on this loan portfolio through March 31, 2025 in
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its allowance for credit losses on the portfolio as of December 31, 2024 in this Form 10-K. However, the material weakness will not be considered remediated until the applicable remedial controls are in place and operate for a sufficient period.
| (iii) | Deposit account activity processing |
Management continues to review and make changes to the overall design of its internal control environment, including implementation of a sufficient level of restrictions and controls around deposit account activity processing. The Company intends to supplement controls related to deposit account processing to prevent unauthorized transfers as follows:
| ● | Adding access restrictions to prevent an individual from processing activity into their own deposit account; |
| ● | Supplementing existing internal deposit account activity reporting to ensure comprehensive reporting of deposit account processing details to allow for an effective independent review of deposit processing activity to assist in identifying any unusual processing activity; |
| ● | Implementing quantitative thresholds around deposit processing that would trigger a specific review of individual deposit processing activity over the established quantitative threshold; and |
| ● | Implementing reviews to verify employees have appropriate access levels commensurate with role requirements. |
Management may determine that additional measures are required to address control deficiencies, strengthen internal control over financial reporting, or it may determine to modify the remediation measures described above. The actions the Company is taking are subject to ongoing executive management review and are also subject to Audit Committee oversight. If the Company is unable to successfully remediate the material weaknesses, or if in the future, the Company identifies further material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting, the Company may not detect errors on a timely basis, and its condensed consolidated financial statements may be materially misstated.
(c) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Except for the material weaknesses noted above, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2024 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
During the year ended December 31, 2024, there were
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors currently consists of ten directors. In accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors are divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III. The members of each class are elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders following their election.
Any director vacancy occurring after the election may be filled only by a majority vote of the remaining directors, even if there is less than a quorum of the Board of Directors.
The biographies of the directors and executive officers below contains information regarding the person’s service as a director and/or executive officer, business experience, director positions held currently or at any time during the last five years, information regarding involvement in certain legal or administrative proceedings, if applicable, and the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that caused the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors to determine that the person should serve as a director and/or executive officer. Members of the Company’s and the Bank’s Board of Directors are expected to have the appropriate skills and characteristics necessary to function in the Company
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and Bank’s current operating environment and contribute to its future direction and strategies. These include legal, financial, management and other relevant skills. In addition, the Company looks to achieve a diversified Board, including members with varying experience, age, perspective, residence, background, race, gender, and other demographic characteristics.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Company’s Class I, Class II and Class III directors, and the executive officers of the Company and the Bank who are not also directors:
Name |
| Age |
| Positions with the Company and Bank |
Directors: |
| |||
John F. Biagas | 60 | Class I Director and Chairman of the Company; Director and Chairman of the Bank | ||
Robert Y. Clagett | 84 | Class III Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
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Deborah B. Diaz | 67 | Class III Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
John M. Eggemeyer | 79 | Class I Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
F.L.Garrett, III | 84 | Class I Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
Dr. Allen R. Jones Jr. | 61 | Class I Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
Charles A. Kabbash | 87 | Class III Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
W. Rand Cook |
| 71 | Class II Director and Vice-Chairman of the Company; Director and Vice-Chairman of the Bank | |
Eric A. Johnson | 71 | Class II Director of the Company; Director of the Bank | ||
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Dennis J. Zember, Jr. |
| 55 | Class II Director of the Company; Director of the Bank; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank | |
Executive Officers: |
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Matthew A. Switzer |
| 47 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of each of the Company and the Bank | |
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Rickey A. Fulk |
| 58 | Executive Vice President of the Company and President of the Bank | |
Marie T. Leibson |
| 61 | Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of each of the Company and the Bank | |
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Ann-Stanton C. Gore |
| 39 | Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of each of the Company and the Bank |
John F. Biagas has been a director of the Company and the Bank since the closing of the Company’s merger with Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Inc. (“EVBS”) in June 2017, and on March 20, 2025, the Board of Directors named Mr. Biagas Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Biagas served as a director of EVBS and Eastern Virginia Bank (“EVB”) from 2014 until 2017, and has been the owner, President and CEO of Bay Electric Co., Inc., an electrical and general contractor located in Newport News, Virginia since 1997. Mr. Biagas is a Master Electrician licensed in four states and the District of Columbia. Bay Electric serves a very diverse client base and specializes in general contracting as well as in design/build general and electrical construction, security/technology solutions and services, and solar photovoltaic. Under Mr. Biagas’ direction, Bay Electric has become one of the fastest growing minority-owned electrical and general construction contractors in the Mid-Atlantic region with annual revenues in excess of $70 million. Mr. Biagas is also the Vice Rector for the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors and serves
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as vice chair of the Student Advancement Committee and as a member of the Administration and Finance Committee. Mr. Biagas provides the Board of Directors essential guidance related to his business development expertise and general business experience through owning and operating a fast-paced contracting company and working on multi-million dollar projects. Mr. Biagas brings to the Board of Directors extensive experience in identifying potential risks and rewards in real estate development and construction. Mr. Biagas also brings to the Board of Directors leadership skills and oversight experience through his service on numerous local, statewide and national boards, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a founding and current member of the Virginia Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization and as a founding member and director of Virginia Company Bank from its inception in 2005 until its acquisition by EVBS in 2014.
Robert Y. Clagett has served as a director of the Company and the Bank since August 2014. Mr. Clagett has practiced law in the State of Maryland since 1967, with a primary focus in real estate law. He previously served as a director of Prince George’s Federal Savings Bank commencing in 1967 and was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in 1968. Mr. Clagett served as President of Prince George’s Federal Savings Bank from 1968 to 2005 and served as Chief Executive Officer from 1968 to 2014. The Company believes Mr. Clagett’s qualifications to sit on the Board of Directors include his extensive banking experience and legal expertise.
Deborah B. Diaz has served as a director of the Company and the Bank since October 2020. Ms. Diaz is CEO of Catalyst ADV, a technology and strategic growth advisory firm, and venture capital advisor developing new business markets and industry partnership opportunities since 2016. Catalyst ADV currently provides advisory services to high tech, transportation and aerospace clients such as Google, Boeing, Dell Technologies, Leidos, Equinix, PTC and many other notable public companies. Previously, Ms. Diaz served as Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration responsible for global system infrastructure, investment oversight, risk management, data management, innovation and technology infusion from 2009 to 2016. As Chief Information Officer for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, she was responsible for all global defense and research system infrastructure and manufacturer delivery to support a $1 billion portfolio from 2002 to 2007. She has also served as a senior government executive and international consultant in the areas of intellectual property, patents, digital transformation, data forensics, and foreign joint ventures. Ms. Diaz serves on the advisory boards of Dell Technologies; Intel Corporation; Equinix, Inc.; Raytheon Forcepoint and on the National Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”) Capital Area Chapter Board. Ms. Diaz has also previously served on multiple private company and non-profit boards. Ms. Diaz was NACD Directorship Certified in 2019. The Company believes Ms. Diaz qualifications to sit on the Board of Directors include her extensive operational experience as a technology executive and strategic cybersecurity expert focused on digital transformation and risk management.
John M. Eggemeyer has been a director of the Company and the Bank since June 15, 2021. Mr. Eggemeyer is a Founder and Managing Principal of Castle Creek Capital LLC which has been an investor in the banking industry since 1990. Mr. Eggemeyer has over 40 years of experience in the banking industry and has been involved in more than 75 bank acquisitions. In 2006, the American Banker honored Mr. Eggemeyer as “Community Banker of the Year” for his success as a builder of community banking companies. Prior to founding Castle Creek, Mr. Eggemeyer spent nearly 20 years as a senior executive with some of the largest banking organizations in the U.S. with responsibilities across a broad spectrum of banking activities. Mr. Eggemeyer has served as the Chairman of PacWest Bancorp since its formation in 2000, is a Board member of The Bancorp, Northpointe Bancshares, Inc. and was a founder and Director of Guaranty Bancorp. Previously, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of White River Capital and a Board member of TCF Financial Corporation, Western Bancorp and American Financial Realty. Mr. Eggemeyer’s civic and philanthropic efforts have been focused in the areas of improving the quality of instruction in education and expanding educational opportunities for lower income students. He was a founder and past President of the Rancho Santa Fe Community School Endowment and was a member of the Rancho Santa Fe School Site Selection Committee. He also helped establish the Minnesota Charter of A Better Chance, a national organization committed to creating improved educational opportunities for minority high school students. Mr. Eggemeyer is a Life Trustee of Northwestern University where he serves on the Finance and Investment Committees and is a past Trustee of the Bishop’s School of La Jolla, California and the Parent Advisory Board at Stanford University. Mr. Eggemeyer holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Mr. Eggemeyer brings to the Board of Directors extensive experience in identifying potential risks and rewards in the banking industry. The Company benefits from his experience and counsel as a member of our board.
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F.L. Garrett, III has served as a director of the Company and the Bank since the closing of the Company’s merger with EVBS in June 2017. Mr. Garrett served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of EVBS and previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of a predecessor of EVB. Mr. Garrett served as a director of the Bank and a predecessor of the Bank from 1982 until June 2017. Mr. Garrett has owned Harborside Storage since 1994, a boat storage company and has been an active realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate in Essex County, Virginia and neighboring areas since 1989. As a local business owner and a successful realtor, Mr. Garrett contributes to the Board of Directors a strong sense of changing economic and market conditions in the Company’s market areas. Mr. Garrett has also developed extensive knowledge of our business during his extended service to the Company, the Bank and one of the Bank’s predecessors.
Dr. Allen R. Jones Jr. has been a director of the Company and the Bank since June 15, 2021. Dr. Jones is a licensed physical therapist in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Jones is the owner and CEO of Dominion Physical Therapy, a practice he founded in 1990 and has since expanded to six locations in the Hampton Roads region. Virginia has been Dr. Jones’ home since 1987, the year he completed his degree in physical therapy from the University of Connecticut. Dedicated to continuing education, he earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rocky Mountain University School of Health Professions in Provo, Utah, in 2014 and also holds a postgraduate certification in Clinical Management of Head, Facial and Neck Pain and TMJ Disorders. He has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1988. Dr. Jones’ passion for high-quality care has led to numerous awards for his practice, as well as statewide leadership positions. In 2014, Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the Virginia State Board of Physical Therapy. Dr. Jones was reelected as Chairman of the Board of Physical Therapy for the state of Virginia on August 11, 2020, where he previously served as Chairman in 2017 and 2018. Dr. Jones served as Chairman for two consecutive years (2019-2021) for the Board of Health Professions. For three decades, Dr. Jones has worked hard to foster a spirit of community involvement and service through his practice. In 2014, Dr. Jones provided financial and staffing support for a collaborative trip with Old Dominion specialists to the Dominican Republic to educate clinical staff there on the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Jones serves as a board member of Norfolk State University Foundation and Old Dominion University School of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training. Dr. Allen contributes to the Board of Directors with strong ties to its surrounding communities in the Company’s market areas. Dr. Allen has also developed extensive knowledge of our business as he served as our Hampton Advisory Board Chairman since 2018.
Charles A. Kabbash has served as a director of the Company and the Bank since April 2005. Mr. Kabbash is the owner of 414 Associates, a real estate investment and holding company, operating primarily in the Charlottesville, Virginia area since 1984. Mr. Kabbash has also served a partner in Kabbash, Fox & Gentry Commercial Real Estate since 2009 and is the owner of Kabbash Business Brokerage, which negotiates the purchase or sale of businesses. Both of these firms also operate primarily in the Charlottesville area. In addition, Mr. Kabbash is the co-owner, along with his wife, Rebecca Gentry, of CandR LLC, a company investing in emerging businesses. Mr. Kabbash was a realtor at Summit Realty from 2002 to 2009. Mr. Kabbash is heavily involved in the business, political and civic community in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Company believes Mr. Kabbash’s qualifications to sit on the Board of Directors include his management and operational expertise from years spent as a professional realtor, investor and consultant.
W. Rand Cook served as Chairman of the Board of each the Company and the Bank since 2020, and on March 20, 2025, began serving as Vice-Chairman of the Company and of the Bank. Mr. Cook has also served as a director of the Company and the Bank since the closing of the Company’s merger with EVBS in June 2017. Mr. Cook served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of EVBS and served as a director of EVB and a predecessor of EVB from 2000 until June 2017. Mr. Cook is a Partner in the law firm of McCaul, Martin, Evans and Cook, P.C., where he has been practicing law since 1985, and is the Commissioner of Accounts for Hanover County Circuit Court. Mr. Cook holds both MBA and JD degrees, and maintains an active law practice that focuses on corporate law and debtor and creditor rights. Mr. Cook brings experience in corporate governance, strategic planning and financial planning to the Board of Directors, and his legal background gives Mr. Cook valuable insight into various legal risks that the Company may encounter. Previously, Mr. Cook worked with the Virginia General Assembly, which provides Mr. Cook with a unique perspective on state legislative and regulatory environments.
Eric A. Johnson has served as a director of the Company and the Bank since the closing of the Company’s merger with EVBS in June 2017. For over 45 years, Mr. Johnson has been in the real estate business. Mr. Johnson has served as a real estate broker with Mason Realty in Middlesex, Virginia since 1976 and served as a director of EVB and a predecessor
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of EVB from 1988 until June 2017. In addition, Mr. Johnson previously owned Urbanna Market and Urbanna Builders Supply, both of which generated multi-million dollar annual sales. Mr. Johnson brings experience in local real estate markets to the Board of Directors, as well as entrepreneurial spirit, business judgment and knowledge of local business markets that he has developed through his business ventures.
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. has served as a director of the Company and the Bank since February 2020. Mr. Zember was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of both the Company and the Bank on February 19, 2020. Mr. Zember was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ameris Bancorp from June 2016 through June 2018 and Chief Financial Officer of Ameris Bancorp from February 2005 through December 2017. The Company believes Mr. Zember’s qualifications to sit on the Board of Directors include his extensive banking experience from years spent as an executive in the industry.
Executive Officers of the Company
Matthew A. Switzer has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank since January 2021. Mr. Switzer served as Managing Director at Stephens, Inc. from June 2015 to January 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Switzer served at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel Company, from July 2005 to May 2015, most recently as Managing Director.
Rickey A. Fulk has served as Executive Vice President of the Company and President of the Bank since October 2023. Mr. Fulk has worked for Primis Bank (or its predecessors) since 1998 in various commercial capacities, most recently as the regional executive for the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas. Mr. Fulk is an active leader in the community with a passion for supporting animal rescue and the local humane society.
Marie T. Leibson has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Company and the Bank since 2021. Ms. Leibson served as Executive Vice President and Chief SBA Lending Officer of the Company and the Bank from 2018 until 2020. Ms. Leibson served as Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer of the Bank from 2005 until 2018. Ms. Leibson previously served as Vice President of Commercial and SBA Lending at Southern Financial Bank from 1995 until 2004.
Ann-Stanton C. Gore has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Company and the Bank since September 2021. Prior to that, Ms. Gore served as Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications of Ameris Bank from 2019 to 2021. Ms. Gore served as Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Marketing of Ameris Bank from 2018 to 2019. Ms. Gore previously served as Vice President and Corporate Marketing Manager of Ameris Bank from 2014 to 2018.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee until November 21, 2024 were Robert Y. Clagett (Chairman), John F. Biagas, W. Rand Cook (ex-officio), Deborah B. Diaz, and Eric A. Johnson. On November 21, 2024, John M. Eggemeyer was added to the Audit Committee. As of March 20, 2025, the members of the Audit Committee are Eric A. Johnson (Chairman) John F. Biagas (ex-officio), W. Rand Cook (ex-officio), Deborah B. Diaz, Robert Y. Clagett and John Eggemeyer, all of whom the Board has determined to be “independent directors” as defined under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards and in Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Board has determined that all of the Audit Committee members have the financial knowledge, business experience and independent judgment necessary for service on the Audit Committee. The Board has further determined that John Eggemeyer has the requisite attributes of an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC, and has the financial literacy and accounting or financial qualifications and experience to provide effective financial expertise to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which is available electronically in the corporate governance section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.primisbank.com.
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As set forth in the Audit Committee’s charter, the functions of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board in its oversight of:
| ● | the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; |
| ● | the adequacy of the Company’s system of internal controls; |
| ● | the Company’s compliance with regulatory requirements; |
| ● | the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accountants; and |
| ● | the performance of the Company’s independent registered public accountants and of the Bank’s internal audit function. |
In carrying out these responsibilities, the Audit Committee, among other things:
| ● | monitors the preparation of quarterly and annual financial reports by the Company’s management; |
| ● | supervises the relationship between the Company and its independent registered public accountants, including having direct responsibility for their appointment, compensation and retention; reviewing the scope of their audit services; approving audit and non-audit services; and confirming the independence of the independent registered public accountants; and |
| ● | oversees management’s implementation and maintenance of effective systems of internal and disclosure controls, including review of the Company’s policies relating to legal and regulatory compliance, ethics and conflicts of interests and review of the Bank’s internal auditing program. |
The Audit Committee’s meetings include, whenever appropriate, executive sessions with the Company’s independent registered public accountants and with the Bank’s internal auditors, in each case without the presence of the Company’s or the Bank’s management. The Audit Committee met nine (9) times during 2024.
As part of its oversight of the Company’s financial statements, the Audit Committee reviews and discusses with both management and the independent registered public accountants all annual and quarterly financial statements prior to their issuance. During 2024, management of the Company advised the Audit Committee that each set of financial statements reviewed had been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and reviewed significant accounting and disclosure issues with the Audit Committee.
Insider Trading Policy
The Company has
Code of Ethics
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all directors, officers and employees, including the Company’s Chairman of the Board, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers. The Board designed the Code of Ethics in an effort to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of conflicts of interest, full, fair and accurate disclosure in filings and other public communications made by the Company, compliance with applicable laws, prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics, and accountability for adherence to the Code. The Code of Ethics is available electronically in the corporate governance section of the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.primisbank.com.
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Delinquent Section 16 Reports
The members of the Board, the executive officers of the Company and persons who hold more than 10% of our common stock (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”) are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, which require them to file reports with respect to their ownership of the Company’s securities on Form 3 and transactions in the Company’s securities on Forms 4 or 5. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it and written representations from the Company’s executive officers and directors, the Company believes that, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with by all the Reporting Persons during and with respect to such year, except that Deborah Diaz did not timely file a Form 4 for purchase transactions occurring on October 15, 2024. Such transactions have since been reported on a Form 4 filed on March 15, 2025.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This section discusses the Company’s compensation program, including how it relates to the executive officers named in the compensation tables that follow (who we sometimes refer to below and elsewhere in this Annual Form on 10-K as the “named executive officers”). The executive officers of the Company currently hold equivalent executive officer positions with the Bank and all executive compensation is paid by the Bank for services performed by executives of the Bank. Accordingly, the following discussion of executive compensation relates to the compensation by the Bank to executives of the Bank.
The primary objective of our executive compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate key employees and enable those persons to participate in the long-term success of the Company while also advancing the interests of our stockholders. As such, the compensation program is designed to provide levels of compensation which are reflective of both the individual’s and the organization’s performance in achieving certain goals and objectives and in helping to build value for our stockholders. Set forth below is an analysis of our compensation program, the material compensation policy decisions we have made under this program and the material factors that we considered in making those decisions.
Our named executive officers (the “NEOs”) are:
| ● | Dennis J. Zember, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer; |
| ● | Matthew A. Switzer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; |
| ● | Rickey A. Fulk, Executive Vice President and President of Primis Bank; |
| ● | Marie T. Leibson, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer; and |
| ● | Ann-Stanton C. Gore, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. |
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Overview of Compensation Program
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for developing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s executive compensation policies. The Compensation Committee, along with the Board, has reviewed the compensation policies and practices for all employees and concluded that any risks arising from such policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The fundamental objectives of the Bank’s executive compensation policies are to ensure that Bank executives are provided incentives and compensated in a way that advances both the short- and long-term interests of stockholders while also ensuring that the Company and the Bank are able to attract, retain and motivate executive management talent. Accordingly, compensation is based on: (1) the employee’s individual performance and his or her ability to lead the Company and the Bank to achieve their respective financial goals, (2) the Company’s consolidated financial performance and (3) compensation compared to peer institutions’ executive compensation. In making decisions with respect to any element of an executive officer’s compensation, the Compensation Committee considers the total compensation that may be awarded to the executive officer, including salary, annual bonus, long-term equity incentive compensation, accumulated realized and unrealized stock option gains, and the dollar value to the executive and cost to the Company of all perquisites and other personal benefits. The Compensation Committee’s goal is to award compensation that is reasonable when all elements of potential compensation are considered.
The Compensation Committee believes tying compensation to Company performance is critical for ensuring management alignment with stockholders, particularly for CEO compensation. As discussed further below, executive compensation in 2024 was heavily influenced by the Company’s earnings performance for the year.
Setting Executive Compensation
In reviewing the 2024 compensation of each of our executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviewed all components of his or her respective compensation, including base salary, annual bonus, long-term equity incentive compensation, accumulated realized and unrealized stock option gains, and the dollar value to the executive and cost to the Company of all perquisites and other personal benefits. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviewed each executive officer’s compensation history and performance information and the market data discussed below.
Role of Compensation Consultant and Market Data
In 2024, the Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer (the “Consultant”) to provide advice with respect to executive officer and director compensation for 2024. The Consultant periodically attended the Compensation Committee’s meetings, including executive sessions, and provided information and advice independent of management and, at the direction of the Compensation Committee Chairman, assisted management with various activities that support the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee considered the independence of the Consultant in light of the SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards and concluded that the work of the Consultant did not raise any conflicts of interest. The Consultant did not provide any services to the Company other than executive compensation-related services.
The Consultant reviewed a peer group comprised of 22 mid-Atlantic U.S. banks ranging in assets from $2.1 billion to $6.3 billion, with median assets of $3.6 billion. The peer group consisted of the following banks: ACNB Corporation, Bankwell Financial Group, Inc., BCB Bancorp, Inc., C&F Financial Corporation, Capital City Bank Group, Carter Bankshares, City Holding, CNB Financial, Colony Bankcorp, First Bank, First Community Bancshares, HomeTrust Bancshares, John Marshall Bancorp, MainStreet Bancshares, Inc., MetroCity Bankshares, Mid Penn Bancorp, MVB Financial, Orrstown Financial Services, Peoples Financial Services, Shore Bancshares, Inc., SmartFinancial Inc. and Southern First Bancshares, Inc. The Consultant also reviewed recent trends in the public markets related to compensation practices and certain notable developments with regulations and court cases that the committee should be aware of.
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The Company evaluated publicly available compensation data for the peer group but did not benchmark the compensation of its named executive officers to a certain percentage or range of compensation within the market data collected. Instead, the Compensation Committee used this information as a point of reference for measurement, but not as the determinative factor in setting the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. The Compensation Committee did not use the compensation data to “target” a specific compensation level for any given executive. Rather, the Compensation Committee used its understanding of peer group compensation as a starting point for its decision making.
Because the comparative compensation information is just one of the analytical tools that are used in setting named executive officer compensation, the Compensation Committee has discretion in determining the nature and extent of its use. Further, given the limitations associated with comparative pay information for setting individual executive compensation, including the difficulty of assessing and comparing wealth accumulation through equity gains and post-employment amounts, the Compensation Committee may elect not to use the comparative compensation information at all in the course of making compensation decisions.
Role of Executives in Establishing Compensation
The Compensation Committee meets with the CEO early in the year to evaluate Company performance and determine incentive compensation related to the recently completed fiscal year and salary adjustments for the upcoming year. For 2024, the Compensation Committee made all decisions with respect to the compensation of Mr. Zember, subject to review and approval by the full Board of Directors. Mr. Zember reviewed the performance of the Company’s executive officers (other than himself) and, based on that review, recommended to the Compensation Committee amounts payable to such other executive officers, including the other named executive officers. Mr. Zember was not involved with any aspect of determining his own pay.
Consideration of Last Year’s Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation
At the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”), approximately 94% of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the annual meeting were voted to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as discussed and disclosed in the proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting. The Compensation Committee concluded that the results of the advisory say-on-pay vote reflected stockholder support of our compensation program. In light of this support, the Compensation Committee did not make material changes to our executive compensation program.
Components of Executive Compensation
The principal components of the executive compensation program of the Company (through the Bank) are:
| ● | base salary; |
| ● | cash incentive awards; |
| ● | long-term equity incentive awards; |
| ● | perquisites and other personal benefits; and |
| ● | severance protection through employment agreements. |
Base Salary
Salaries provide executive officers with a base level of monthly income and help achieve the objectives outlined above by attracting and retaining strong talent. Generally, base salaries are not based on specific measures of corporate performance, but are determined by tenure of service, scope of the position, including current job responsibilities, relative
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salaries of the Company’s peers and the officer’s individual performance and contribution to the Company. The Company’s base salaries are adjusted based on factors such as individual experience, individual performance, individual potential, cost of living considerations and specific issues particular to the Company as well as the Compensation Committee’s subjective judgment. The Compensation Committee monitors the base salary levels and the various incentives of the named executive officers of the Company to ensure that overall compensation is consistent with the Company’s objectives and remains competitive within the area of the Company’s operations.
Effective March 1, 2024, the Compensation Committee approved an increase to the base salary of the following executive officers: Mr. Zember, 7.0% to $722,113; Mr. Switzer, 9.1% to $360,030; Mr. Fulk, 8.3% to $324,900; Ms. Leibson, 5.5% to $314,911; and Ms. Gore, 5.8% to $275,080.
Non-Equity Incentive Compensation
The Compensation Committee spent considerable time in 2024, in coordination with the full Board of Directors and the CEO, aligning targets for incentive pay with the Company’s short-term goals. In 2024, the Compensation Committee established the following goals with high and low ranges of achievement around the target and with each goal weighted equally:
Incentive Payout Rates Versus Targets | ||||||||||||
Financial Measure |
| 0% |
| 50% |
| 10% |
| 150% |
| Payout |
| Weighting |
Net Income as Percent of Budget(1) | 75% | 90% | 100% | 110% | 50% | 50.0% | ||||||
Deposit Growth(2) | 3% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 121% | 16.7% | ||||||
Gross Loan Growth(3) | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 0% | 16.7% | ||||||
Growth in Bank OpEx(4) | 6% | 5% | 4% | 2.0% | 150% | 16.7% | ||||||
| (1) | Core net income for 2024, adjusted for certain one-time items, as a percentage of budgeted net income for 2024. |
| (2) | Represents growth in deposits from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024. |
| (3) | Represents growth in gross loans held for investment from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024. |
| (4) | Represents the amount of Bank level noninterest expense growth in 2024 versus 2023. |
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Targets incentive percentages of base salary were determined for executive management. These targets combined with the weighted payout as described above would determine short-term incentives. The following table shows the target incentive payout levels for each named executive officer assuming 100% performance on the established goals:
Calculated | ||||||||||||||||
Target | Incentive | Actual | ||||||||||||||
Target | Incentive | Payment | Incentive | Actual | ||||||||||||
Named Executive |
| Salary ($) |
| (% of Salary) |
| Payment ($) |
| (at 70%) ($) |
| Payment ($) |
| (% of Salary) | ||||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | $ | 722,113 | 50% | $ | 361,057 | $ | 252,740 | $ | — | 0% | ||||||
Matthew A. Switzer | 360,030 | 30% | 108,009 | 75,606 | 25,253 | 7% | ||||||||||
Rickey A. Fulk | 324,900 | 30% | 97,470 | 68,229 | 40,937 | 13% | ||||||||||
Marie T. Leibson | 314,911 | 30% | 94,473 | 66,131 | 39,679 | 13% | ||||||||||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | 275,080 | 30% | 82,524 | 57,767 | 34,660 | 13% | ||||||||||
As noted above, actual results relative to 2024 goals implied a payout of 70% of targeted incentive amounts for the year driven by deposit growth and expense control. However, the Compensation Committee noted that, while progress had been made on numerous strategic initiatives and on improving core profitability, the Company ultimately reported a net loss for the year largely attributable to the performance of a third-party originated consumer loan portfolio. As a result, the Compensation Committee used its discretion to substantially reduce short-term incentive payments for executive management for 2024. In addition, the Compensation Committee noted financial reports were not filed timely in 2024 due to accounting issues with the loan portfolio highlighted above. As a result, the Compensation Committee further reduced short-term incentive compensation for the CFO and eliminated short-term incentive compensation for the CEO for 2024.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards
The Company maintains an equity compensation program for its named executive officers and other key employees, in order to attract, retain and motivate key employees and enable those persons to participate in the long-term success of the Company. In 2021, the Compensation Committee began including performance-based grants in management’s long-term equity incentive awards to increase the alignment of management incentives with long-term goals versus time-based grants alone. Beginning in 2022, the Compensation Committee chose to make all awards performance-based. The performance-based restricted stock units are convertible, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of stock based on the level of achievement of the Company’s adjusted earnings per share compound annual growth over the 5-year performance period commencing the year of the grant. The following table details the performance targets and payout levels for the 2022 and 2023 performance unit grants, which performance periods conclude March 15, 2027 and 2028, respectively. The Compensation Committee did not approve any performance-based restricted stock units in 2024.
Adjusted EPS CAGR(1) | Payout | |||
2022 |
| 2023 |
| Factor |
10% | 10% | 150% | ||
8% | 8% | 100% | ||
6% | 6% | 75% | ||
5% | 5% | 50% | ||
< 5% | < 5% | 0% | ||
| (1) | Calculated as the five-year compound annual growth rate in credit-adjusted pre-tax operating earnings per share beginning the year of the grant. |
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Amendment to Mr. Zember’s Performance Units. During 2023, the Compensation Committee amended Mr. Zember’s 2021 and 2022 performance units (collectively, the “Zember Performance Unit Amendment”) to provide that (i) with respect to the 2021 performance units, to the extent that the Company meets the performance targets that would entitle Mr. Zember to earn more than 50,000 shares upon settlement of the award in 2026 (or, in certain limited circumstances, an earlier date as provided in the award agreement), Mr. Zember’s award will be limited at 50,000 shares of stock and he will be entitled to the cash value of any shares earned in excess of 50,000 (with the value of any cash awards received by Mr. Zember in 2026 limited to $500,000); and (ii) with respect to the 2022 performance units, to the extent that the Company meets the performance targets that would entitle Mr. Zember to earn more than 50,000 shares upon settlement of the award in 2027 (or, in certain limited circumstances, an earlier date as provided in the award agreement), Mr. Zember’s award will be limited at 25,233 shares of stock, and he will be entitled to the cash value of any shares earned in excess of 25,233 (with the value of any cash awards received by Mr. Zember in 2027 limited to $500,000). The terms of Mr. Zember’s 2023 performance units are consistent with those provided in the Zember Performance Unit Amendment.
Perquisites and Employee Benefit Plans
Perquisites represent a small part of the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee reviews annually the perquisites provided to the named executive officers, and offers such benefits after consideration of the business need. The named executive officers are eligible to participate in the same employee benefits plans that are generally available to all Company employees.
Employment Agreements
During 2024, the Company and the Bank were party to employment agreements with our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee and the Bank believe that the employment and change-in-control agreements are a critical tool in retaining our executive team. These agreements also include certain protections for the Company and the Bank in the form of post-employment restrictive covenants.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Zember. Effective December 20, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Zember, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. The amended and restated agreement amends and restates in its entirety the original employment agreement with Mr. Zember, dated February 19, 2020 (the “Original Employment Agreement”). The amended and restated employment agreement is substantially the same as the Original Employment Agreement, except as described herein. Pursuant to the amended and restated agreement, Mr. Zember’s base salary was set at $642,735 to align with his 2022 base salary, with eligibility for annual increases at the Compensation Committee’s discretion, and the Company committed to providing Mr. Zember life insurance in the amount of $5,000,000, with fifty percent (50%) of the proceeds directed to the Company and fifty percent (50%) of the proceeds directed to Mr. Zember’s designated beneficiary. The amended and restated agreement also provides that if Mr. Zember’s employment is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason following a change in control, then his performance-based equity awards will be deemed to have been earned as of his termination date based upon the actual level of achievement of all relevant performance goals measured as of the date of such termination.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Switzer. Effective January 10, 2021, the Company was party to an employment agreement with Mr. Switzer, pursuant to which Mr. Switzer serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank. The employment agreement has an initial two-year term that would expire on January 10, 2023, subject to automatic two-year renewals unless either party provided written notice of non-renewal no later than sixty days before any renewal date. Mr. Switzer’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary and eligibility for equity awards and annual bonuses and certain other benefits, and payment of private club dues. Mr. Switzer’s employment agreement also provided that any incentive compensation paid to Mr. Switzer, including both equity and cash incentive compensation, is subject to repayment or clawback as further described in the agreement.
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Employment Agreement with Mr. Fulk. Effective October 25, 2023, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Fulk, pursuant to which Mr. Fulk serves as Executive Vice President of the Company and the Bank. The employment agreement has an initial two-year term that would expire on September 13, 2023, subject to automatic two-year renewals unless either party provided written notice of non-renewal no later than sixty days before any renewal date. Mr. Fulk’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary and eligibility for equity awards and annual bonuses and certain other benefits, and payment of private club dues. Mr. Fulk’s employment agreement also provided that any incentive compensation paid to Mr. Fulk, including both equity and cash incentive compensation, is subject to repayment or clawback as further described in the agreement.
Employment Agreement with Ms. Gore. Effective September 13, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Gore, pursuant to which Ms. Gore serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Company and the Bank. The employment agreement has an initial two-year term that would expire on September 13, 2023, subject to automatic two-year renewals unless either party provided written notice of non-renewal no later than sixty days before any renewal date. Ms. Gore’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary and eligibility for equity awards and annual bonuses and certain other benefits, and payment of private club dues. Ms. Gore’s employment agreement also provided that any incentive compensation paid to Ms. Gore, including both equity and cash incentive compensation, is subject to repayment or clawback as further described in the agreement.
Clawback Policy
We maintain a clawback policy (the “Clawback Policy”) that complies with the applicable NASDAQ listing standards and Rule 10D-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In the event of a restatement of the reported financial results of the Company due to material non-compliance with financial reporting requirements, the Compensation Committee will recover reasonably promptly the amount of all erroneously awarded compensation received by a current or former executive officer during the covered period (within the meaning of such terms as provided in the NASDAQ listing standards).
Equity Grant Practices
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Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management and, based on such review, has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| The Compensation Committee |
| John F. Biagas (Chairman) Robert Y. Clagett W. Rand Cook (ex-officio) F.L. Garrett III |
The foregoing Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be (i) “soliciting material” or “filed” or (ii) incorporated by reference by any general statement into any filing made by us with the SEC, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate such report by reference.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Appropriate compensation is critical to attracting, retaining and motivating directors who have the qualities necessary to serve the Corporation as a director and who meet the guidelines set forth by our Governance Committee. The following discusses the Company’s approach to director compensation.
Stock Ownership Policy
In December of 2022, the Board adopted stock ownership guidelines for directors of the Company to further align the Board’s long-term interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. Before their third anniversary as a board member, directors must own unencumbered shares with a minimum value equal to 100% of the average annual board compensation.
To encourage further stock ownership by its directors, the Bank maintains a stock matching program pursuant to which it funds the purchase of additional shares of Company common stock on behalf of a director in an amount equal to 125% of the shares of Company common stock otherwise purchased by the director, up to an annual value of $25,000 per director.
2024 Director Fees
In 2024, each non-employee member of the Board of Directors received an annual retainer of $30,000 and the chairman of each board committee received an additional annual retainer of $2,500, in each case payable quarterly. During 2024, all board meetings of the Company and the Bank were joint meetings, with the Chairman of the Board receiving $2,000 per meeting attended and each non-employee director receiving $1,000 per meeting attended. For special meetings of the Company and the Bank, all non-employee directors received $1,000 per meeting attended. For all committee meetings, the non-employee directors received $700 per meeting attended. Each non-employee director of the Bank and the Company also receives reimbursement for any travel, food and lodging expenses. Directors who are also employees of the Company or the Bank received no additional compensation for their service as a director.
2024 Director Compensation(1)
The following table contains information concerning the compensation of the directors of the Company and the Bank for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The named executive officers who also serve (or served) as directors did not receive any compensation for their service as directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Fees Earned or | All Other | |||||
Paid in Cash | Compensation | |||||
Name |
| ($) |
| ($)(2) |
| Total ($) |
John F. Biagas | 54,200 | 25,000 | 79,200 | |||
Robert Y. Clagett | 54,200 | 25,000 | 79,200 | |||
W. Rand Cook | 78,800 | 25,000 | 103,800 | |||
Deborah B. Diaz | 48,400 | 25,000 | 73,400 | |||
John M. Eggemeyer | 46,500 | - | 46,500 | |||
F.L. Garrett, III | 49,400 | 25,000 | 74,400 | |||
Eric A. Johnson | 47,700 | 25,000 | 72,700 | |||
Allen R. Jones, Jr. | 43,800 | - | 43,800 | |||
Charles A. Kabbash | 46,500 | 25,000 | 71,500 |
(1) | Non-employee directors were not awarded stock options or stock awards in 2024. As of December 31, 2024, none our non-employee directors held any stock awards. |
(2) | Represents the value of the shares of Company common stock purchased by the director for which the Bank provided funding pursuant to the Company’s stock matching program described above. |
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Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides information regarding the compensation paid or accrued by the Company to or on behalf of the Company’s named executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Change in | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Value and | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-equity | Nonqualified | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Incentive | Deferred | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and | Stock | Plan | Compensation | All Other | |||||||||||||||||||
Principal Position |
| Year |
| Salary ($) |
| Bonus ($) |
| Awards ($) (1) |
| Compensation ($) |
| Earnings ($) |
| Compensation ($) |
| Total ($) | |||||||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | 2024 | $ | 718,176 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 70,263 | (2) | $ | 788,439 | |||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | 2023 | 672,194 | - | 459,000 | - | - | 65,500 | 1,196,693 | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 639,112 | - | 498,102 | 250,000 | - | 45,963 | 1,433,177 | ||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Switzer | 2024 | 357,528 | - | - | 25,253 | - | 28,529 | (3) | 411,310 | ||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and | 2023 | 328,750 | - | 102,000 | - | - | 26,716 | 457,466 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2022 | 312,500 | - | 106,470 | 100,000 | - | 28,261 | 547,231 | |||||||||||||||
Rickey A. Fulk | 2024 | 322,825 | - | - | 40,937 | - | 21,878 | (4) | 385,640 | ||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and | 2023 | 256,667 | - | 102,000 | - | - | 15,345 | 374,011 | |||||||||||||||
President of Primis Bank | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Marie T. Leibson | 2024 | 313,543 | - | - | 39,679 | - | 20,294 | (5) | 373,516 | ||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and | 2023 | 297,770 | - | 51,000 | - | - | 19,363 | 368,133 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Credit Officer | 2022 | 288,167 | - | 82,810 | 30,000 | - | 19,707 | 420,684 | |||||||||||||||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | (6) | 2024 | $273,823 | - | - | 34,660 | - | 12,612 | (7) | 321,095 | |||||||||||||
Executive Vice President and | 2023 | 259,167 | - | 102,000 | - | - | 11,596 | 372,762 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Marketing Officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards and performance units awarded pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Plan in the applicable fiscal year, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. No options were granted in 2024, 2023 or 2022. No stock awards were granted in 2024. The grant date fair value of stock awards granted in 2023 and 2022 and the performance units granted in 2023 and 2022 were based on the fair market value of the stock on the grant date. The grant date fair value of the performance units granted in 2023 and 2022 was calculated using the target number of units granted, which is the target level of performance achievement under the 2023 and 2022 performance units. The grant date fair value of the performance units granted in 2023 assuming, instead, maximum level of performance achievement is as follows: Mr. Zember, $688,500; Mr. Switzer, $153,000; Mr. Fulk, $153,000; Ms. Leibson, $153,000; and Ms. Gore, $153,000. The grant date fair value of the performance units granted in 2022 assuming, instead, maximum level of performance achievement is as follows: Mr. Zember, $747,153; Mr. Switzer, $159,705; Ms. Leibson, $124,215; and Ms. Gore, $124,215. |
| (2) | The amount included as “All Other Compensation” for 2024 includes: (i) 401(k) matching contribution ($15,525), (ii) dividends on restricted stock ($2,000), (iii) matching contribution to a Health Savings Account ($1,000), (iv) reimbursement of club dues ($46,835), and (v) imputed income related to group term life insurance ($4,902). |
| (3) | The amount included as “All Other Compensation” for 2024 includes: (i) 401(k) matching contribution ($15,525), (ii) dividends on restricted stock ($1,995), (iii) matching contribution to a Health Savings Account ($1,000), (iv) reimbursement of club dues ($8,911), and (v) imputed income related to group term life insurance ($1,098). |
| (4) | The amount included as “All Other Compensation” for 2024 includes: (i) benefit from imputed income as a beneficiary of BOLI ($950), (ii) 401(k) matching contribution ($14,527), (iii) dividends on restricted stock ($200), (iv) reimbursement of club dues ($3,363), and imputed income related to group term life insurance ($2,838). |
| (5) | The amount included as “All Other Compensation” for 2024 includes (i) benefit from imputed income as a beneficiary of BOLI ($622), (ii) 401(k) matching contribution ($14,109), (iii) dividends on restricted stock ($730), (iv) matching contribution to a Health Savings Account ($500) and (v) imputed income related to group term life insurance ($4,332). |
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| (6) | Ms. Gore was not a named executive officer in 2022. |
| (7) | The amount included as “All Other Compensation” for 2024 includes (i) 401(k) matching contribution ($9,621), (ii) dividends on restricted stock ($1,380), (iii) reimbursement of club dues ($1,503), and (iv) imputed income related to group term life insurance ($508). |
As described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2022, the financial statements included in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data were restated as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, to correct the accounting for an agreement with a third-party that originates and services a consumer loan portfolio for the Company (the “Consumer Program”). The error corrections required a recovery analysis under the Clawback Policy, which was effective from and after October 2, 2023, in accordance with Section 5608 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Clawback Policy was filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as Exhibit 97. In accordance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Clawback Policy only applies to incentive compensation received on or after October 2, 2023. Accordingly, any incentive compensation received prior to that date is not subject to recovery under the Clawback Policy.
The Compensation Committee concluded that recovery of compensation was not required pursuant to the Clawback Policy because none of the “incentive compensation” covered by the Clawback Policy that otherwise may have been impacted by the restatement has been paid or otherwise settled to the executive officers. The Compensation Committee eliminated short-term incentive payments for executive management for 2023. No amounts have been settled or otherwise paid with respect to the 2021 Performance Units, 2022 Performance Units and 2023 Performance Units because their respective performance periods have not yet concluded.
2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table contains information about the named executive officers’ grants plan-based awards during 2024, under the 2017 Plan. No equity awards were granted during 2024.
All Other | Grant Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Awards: | Fair Value of | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Stock and | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Possible Payouts Under | Estimated Possible Payouts Under | Shares of | Option | ||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards (#) | Stock or | Awards ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
| Grant Date |
| Threshold |
| Target (1) |
| Maximum |
| Threshold |
| Target |
| Maximum |
| Units (#) |
| Target | |||||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | - | - | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||
- | 361,057 | 541,584 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
Matthew A. Switzer | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
- | 108,009 | 162,014 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
Rickey A. Fulk | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
- | 97,470 | 146,205 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
Marie T. Leibson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
- | 94,473 | 141,710 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
- | 82,524 | 123,786 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Reflects target payout levels for Annual Incentive Award payments. |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End
The following table contains information concerning the named executive officers’ outstanding stock options, stock awards and stock units as of December 31, 2024.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan Awards | Number of | Market Value | |||||||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | Number of | Market or Payout | Shares or | of Shares | ||||||||||||||
Securities | Securities | Unearned Shares, | Value of Unearned | Units of | or Units | ||||||||||||||
Underlying | Underlying | Option | Units, or Other | Shares, Units, or | Stock | of Stock | |||||||||||||
Unexercised | Unexercised | Exercise | Option | Rights That Have | Other Rights That | That Have | That Have | ||||||||||||
Options (#) | Options (#) | Price | Expiration | Not Vested | Have Not Vested | Not Vested | Not Vested | ||||||||||||
Name |
| Exercisable |
| Unexercisable |
| ($) |
| Date |
| (#) | ($) (1) | (#) |
| ($) (1) | |||||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | - | - | $ | - | - | - | $ | - | 4,000 | $ | 46,640 | (2) | |||||||
- | - | - | - | 42,105 | 490,944 | - | - | (3) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 42,105 | 490,944 | - | - | (4) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 45,000 | 524,700 | - | - | (5) | |||||||||||
Matthew A. Switzer | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3,200 | 37,312 | (6) | ||||||||||
- | - | - | - | - | - | 1,300 | 15,158 | (7) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 3,250 | 37,895 | - | - | (3) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 9,000 | 104,940 | - | - | (4) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 10,000 | 116,600 | - | - | (5) | |||||||||||
Rickey A. Fulk | - | - | - | - | - | - | 400 | 4,664 | (8) | ||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 10,000 | 116,600 | - | - | (5) | |||||||||||
Marie T. Leibson | - | - | - | - | - | - | 800 | 9,328 | (8) | ||||||||||
- | - | - | - | - | - | 600 | 6,996 | (7) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 1,500 | 17,490 | - | - | (3) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 7,000 | 81,620 | - | - | (4) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 5,000 | 58,300 | - | - | (5) | |||||||||||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2,000 | 23,320 | (9) | ||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 7,000 | 81,620 | - | - | (4) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 10,000 | 116,600 | - | - | (5) | |||||||||||
| (1) | Market value is calculated based on $11.66, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on December 31, 2024, the last trading day of 2024. |
| (2) | The restricted shares vested on February 19, 2025. |
| (3) | Reflects the 2021 performance units (at target) which are eligible to vest on March 15, 2026 based on the level of achievement of the Company’s adjusted EPS compound annual growth during the performance period commencing January 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2025, and, in the case of Mr. Zember, subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Zember Performance Unit Amendment (the “2021 Performance Units”). |
| (4) | Reflects the 2022 performance units (at target) which are eligible to vest on March 15, 2027 based on the level of achievement of the Company’s adjusted EPS compound annual growth during the performance period commencing January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2026, and, in the case of Mr. Zember, subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Zember Performance Unit Amendment (the “2022 Performance Units”). |
| (5) | Reflects the 2023 performance units (at target) which are eligible to vest on March 15, 2028 based on the level of achievement of the Company’s adjusted EPS compound annual growth during the performance period commencing January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2027, and, in the case of Mr. Zember, subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Zember Performance Unit Amendment (the “2023 Performance Units”). |
| (6) | Half of the restricted shares vested on January 11, 2025 and half will vest on January 11, 2026. |
| (7) | The restricted shares vest in two approximately equal installments on September 1, 2025 and 2026. |
| (8) | The restricted shares vested on February 14, 2025. |
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| (9) | The restricted shares vest in two approximately equal installments on each of September 13, 2025 and 2026. |
2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||
Number of | Number of | |||||||||
Shares | Value | Shares | Value | |||||||
Acquired on | Realized on | Acquired on | Realized on | |||||||
Exercise | Exercise | Vesting | Vesting | |||||||
Name |
| (#) |
| ($) |
| (#) |
| ($) (1) | ||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | - | $ | - | 4,000 | $ | 50,160 | ||||
Matthew A. Switzer | - | - | 2,250 | 27,869 | ||||||
Rickey A. Fulk | - | - | 800 | 5,315 | ||||||
Marie T. Leibson | - | - | 1,900 | 23,503 | ||||||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | - | - | 600 | 6,954 | ||||||
| (1) | Reflects the number of shares of stock vesting multiplied by the price per share of Company common stock on the vesting date. |
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
Employment Agreement with Mr. Zember. On February 19, 2020, the Company and the Bank entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Zember, which agreement was amended and restated on December 20, 2022. If Mr. Zember resigns for good reason or if the Company terminates his employment without cause, then he is entitled to receive any accrued obligations under the employment agreement and, subject to his compliance with certain restrictive covenants and the execution, delivery and non-revocation of a release of claims:
| ● | a lump sum payment equal to three times the sum of (A) his base salary and (B) his highest cash bonus earned with respect to any fiscal year within the three most recently completed fiscal years immediately preceding the termination date, which amount shall be paid in cash on before the 60th day after the termination date, |
| ● | continuing health insurance benefits for himself and his covered spouse and dependents, with such premiums paid by the company, for eighteen months, |
| ● | any issued but unvested restricted stock, stock options, phantom stock or other long-term incentive will be deemed to be fully vested as of the date of termination, and |
| ● | if such termination follows a change in control, his performance-based equity awards will be deemed to have been earned as of his termination date based upon the actual level of achievement of all relevant performance goals measured as of the date of such termination, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment with respect to the performance units granted in 2021 and 2022. |
Employment Agreements with Ms. Gore and Messrs. Fulk and Switzer. On September 13, 2021, October 25, 2023 and January 10, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Gore, Mr. Fulk and Mr. Switzer, respectively. Pursuant to their employment agreements, if the executive resigns for good reason or the Company terminates his or her employment without cause, the executive is entitled to receive any accrued obligations under the employment agreement and, subject to the executive’s compliance with certain restrictive covenants and execution, delivery and non-revocation of a release of claims:
| ● | a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of the executive’s (A) base salary and (B) highest cash bonus earned with respect to any fiscal year within the two most recently completed fiscal years immediately preceding |
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| the termination date (or if the termination occurs in within the first year of the employment period, 50% of base salary), which amount will be paid in cash on before the 60th day after the termination date, |
| ● | a pro rata bonus payment based on actual performance for the year of termination; |
| ● | continuing health insurance benefits for himself and his covered spouse and dependents, with such premiums paid by the company, for eighteen months; and |
| ● | any issued but unvested restricted stock, stock options, phantom stock or other long-term incentive will be deemed to be fully vested as of the date of termination, |
Code Section 280G. Under the employment agreements with Messrs. Zember, Switzer and Fulk and Ms. Gore, if the payments and benefits under the employment agreement, together with other payments and benefits the executive may have the right to receive, on account of a change in control would exceed the maximum limit imposed on the total of such payments and benefits by Section 280G of the Code (without triggering the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code), the agreement provides for a comparison of two alternative scenarios for addressing Section 280G and Section 4999 of the Code, and the application of the scenario that leaves the executive in the more favorable net after-tax position. Specifically, the executive will receive whichever of the following is more favorable to him or her on a net after-tax basis: (i) the payments and benefits reduced to the extent necessary so that none of the payments or benefits is subject to the excise tax or (ii) the full amount of the payments and benefits, which is subject to the excise tax, with the executive being responsible for paying any excise tax imposed.
Restrictive Covenants. Each employment agreement contains confidentiality provisions and covenants not to compete and not to solicit customers or employees that are in effect for 18 months after termination of employment.
Definitions. or purposes of the employment agreements:
| ● | the executive will generally have “good reason” to terminate his or her employment if the company negatively changes certain important aspects of the executive’s employment, including reducing the executive’s authority, responsibility or salary, removes the executive from his or her position, moves the executive’s principal office a material distance, reduces the executive’s fringe benefits, fails to comply with any material term of the agreement, fails to require any successor to expressly assume and agree to perform the obligations under the agreement, or provides written notice of non-renewal of the initial term or any renewal term of the agreement; and |
| ● | termination for “cause” generally includes the executive’s willful misconduct, misappropriation or embezzlement of funds or property, fraud or dishonesty, failure to perform material duties or responsibilities or failure to follow reasonable instructions or policies, conviction of, indictment for or entry of a guilty plea or plea of no contest with respect to a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, breach of a material term of the agreement or material violation of applicable policies, codes and standards of behavior, willful violation of any final cease-and-desist order, breach of a fiduciary duty or conduct likely to result in material injury to the Company or the Bank. |
Treatment of Stock Awards upon a Change in Control
For stock awards granted under the 2017 Plan, in the event of a “change of control” (as defined in the 2017 Plan), the Compensation Committee may, as to any outstanding award, either at the time an award is made or any time thereafter, take any one or more of the following actions in its discretion and without the consent of the participant: (i) provide for acceleration of the vesting, delivery, and exercisability of, and the lapse of time-based and/or performance-based vesting restrictions with respect to, any award so that such award may be exercised or realized in full on or before a date initially fixed by the Compensation Committee; (ii) provide for the purchase, settlement, or cancellation of any award by the Company, for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise of such award or realization of a participant’s rights had such award been currently exercisable or payable; (iii) provide for the replacement
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of any stock-settled award with a cash-settled award; (iv) make such adjustment to any such award then outstanding as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate to reflect such change of control and to retain the economic value of the award; or (v) cause any award then outstanding to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefor, by the acquiring or surviving corporation in such change of control.
Upon the occurrence of a change in control, any unvested shares of time-based restricted stock will become vested. The performance unit agreements provide that if there is a change of control prior to the last day of the performance period, then (i) if the units are not assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the change of control, then the target number of performance units will vest and convert to shares as of the date of the change of control; or (ii) if the units are assumed by the surviving entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the change of control, then the target number of performance units will become fully vested if the grantee resigns for good reason or is terminated without cause within two years following the change in control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Zember’s amended and restated employment agreement provides that if he is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason following a change in control, then his performance units will be deemed to have been earned as of his termination date based upon the actual level of achievement of all relevant performance goals measured as of the date of such termination, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment.
Treatment of Awards upon Termination of Employment Without Cause, Death or Disability
Pursuant to the 2017 Plan, if the executive’s employment or service is terminated due to death or disability, any unvested shares of time-based restricted stock will become vested. With respect to the performance units granted in 2022 and 2021, if the executive’s employment with the Company terminates by reason of grantee’s death or disability at any time prior to the last day of the performance period, then a pro rata portion of the target award will vest and convert to shares of stock on the date of such termination, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment in the case of Mr. Zember. The performance unit agreements also provide that if the executive’s employment is terminated without cause at any time prior to the last day of the performance period, then the target number of units will vest and convert to shares on the date of such termination, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment in the case of Mr. Zember.
Summary of Potential Benefits. The tables below reflect estimates of the amount of compensation that would be payable to the named executive officers upon a qualifying termination under the agreements and plans described above on December 31, 2024. Actual amounts that would be paid out can only be determined at the time of such qualifying termination.
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Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason
Health | Value of | ||||||||||||||
Cash | Insurance | Unvested | |||||||||||||
Severance | Benefits | Equity Awards | Other | Total | |||||||||||
Name |
| ($) |
| ($) |
| ($) (1) |
| ($) |
| ($) | |||||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | $ | 2,916,338 | (2) | $ | 27,630 | (3) | $ | 1,553,229 | $ | - | $ | 4,497,197 | |||
Matthew A. Switzer | 920,060 | (4) | 27,630 | (3) | 311,905 | - | 1,259,595 | ||||||||
Rickey A. Fulk | 649,800 | (4) | 13,248 | (3) | 121,264 | - | 784,312 | ||||||||
Marie T. Leibson | - | 13,248 | (3) | 173,734 | - | 186,982 | |||||||||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | 619,480 | (4) | - | 221,540 | - | 841,020 | |||||||||
| (1) | Reflects the value of unvested performance units (at target) and restricted stock based on $11.66 per share as of December 31, 2024, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment in the case of Mr. Zember, and assumes, in the event of a change in control, that the awards were not assumed in connection with the transaction. |
| (2) | Reflects an amount equal to three (3) times the sum of executive’s base salary plus highest cash bonus earned with respect to any fiscal year within the three (3) most recently completed fiscal years. |
| (3) | Reflects the cost of continued payment of an amount equal to the employer-paid portion of the monthly medical premium for the participant and his or her covered spouse and dependents on the date of termination for eighteen (18) months. |
| (4) | Reflects an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of executive’s base salary plus highest cash bonus earned with respect to any fiscal year within the two (2) most recently completed fiscal years. |
Change in Control (without a termination of employment)
Value of | |||||
Unvested | |||||
Equity Awards | Total | ||||
Name | ($) (1) |
| ($) | ||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | $ | 1,553,229 | $ | 1,553,229 | |
Matthew A. Switzer | 311,905 | 311,905 | |||
Rickey A. Fulk | 121,264 | 121,264 | |||
Marie T. Leibson | 173,734 | 173,734 | |||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | 221,540 | 221,540 | |||
Death or Disability | |||||
Value of | |||||
Unvested | |||||
Equity Awards | Total | ||||
Name | ($) (2) |
| ($) | ||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | $ | 599,771 | $ | 599,771 | |
Matthew A. Switzer | 104,124 | 104,124 | |||
Rickey A. Fulk | 20,794 | 20,794 | |||
Marie T. Leibson | 57,911 | 57,911 | |||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | 58,106 | 58,106 | |||
| (1) | Reflects the value of unvested performance units (at target) and restricted stock based on $11.66 per share as of December 31, 2024, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment in the case of Mr. Zember, and assumes that the awards were not assumed in connection with the transaction. |
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| (2) | Reflects the value of unvested performance units (prorated at target) and restricted stock based on $11.66 per share as of December 31, 2024, subject to the Zember Performance Unit Amendment in the case of Mr. Zember. |
CEO PAY RATIO
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of our CEO. The pay ratio included in this information is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. Given the different methodologies that various public companies will use to determine an estimate of their pay ratio, the estimated ratio reported below should not be used as a basis for comparison between companies.
For 2024, our last completed fiscal year, the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of the Company (other than our CEO) was $57,831 and the annual total compensation of our CEO, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, was $788,439. Based on this information, for 2024, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees was 13.6 to 1.
To identify the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees, as well as to determine the annual total compensation of the “median employee,” the methodology and the material assumptions, adjustment and estimates that we used were as follows:
| ● | We selected December 31, 2024 as the date upon which we would identify the “median employee.” As of December 31, 2024, we had 575 employees working at the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. |
| ● | We used taxable income as reported on Form W-2 as our consistently applied compensation measure, with the measurement period being calendar year 2024. |
| ● | We determined that the “median employee” was a full-time, salaried employee located in the United States, with total compensation for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2024 in the amount of $57,831. |
| ● | With respect to the annual total compensation of the “median employee,” we identified and calculated the elements of such employee’s compensation for 2023 in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K. |
| ● | The annual total compensation of our CEO was $788,439, which is the amount reported in the “Total” column of our 2024 Summary Compensation Table included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2024, no executive officer of the Company served as (1) a member of a compensation committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Company’s Compensation Committee, (2) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Company’s Compensation Committee or (3) a member of the compensation committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of the Company. In addition, none of the members of the Compensation Committee (a) was an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in 2024; (b) was formerly an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (c) had any relationship that required disclosure under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company Common Stock as of April 28, 2025, by (1) each director, director nominee and named executive officer of the Company, (2) each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or more of the Common Stock and (3) all directors, director nominees and named executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, based on information furnished by such stockholders, management of the Company believes that each person has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares indicated as owned by such person and the address of each stockholder is the same as the address of the Company.
Amount and | |||||||
Nature of Beneficial | |||||||
Ownership of | Percent of Class | ||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
| Position With the Company and the Bank |
| Common Stock |
| Owned (1) | |
5% or Greater Holders: | |||||||
The Banc Funds Company, L.L.C | Investor | 1,713,963 | (2) | 6.92 | % | ||
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3300 | |||||||
Chicago, IL 60606 | |||||||
BlackRock, Inc. | Investor | 2,007,954 | (3) | 8.11 | % | ||
55 East 52nd Street | |||||||
New York, NY 10055 | |||||||
Castle Creek Capital Partners VII, LP and | Investor and Director | 1,887,777 | (4) | 7.62 | % | ||
John M. Eggemeyer | . | ||||||
6051 El Tordo | |||||||
PO Box 1329 | |||||||
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 | |||||||
Directors and Executive Officers: | |||||||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr | Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank Director of the Company and the Bank | 199,767 | (5) | * | |||
John F. Biagas | Director of the Company and the Bank | 88,469 | (6) | * | |||
Robert Y. Clagett | Director of the Company and the Bank | 46,736 | * | ||||
W. Rand Cook | Director of the Company and the Bank | 42,372 | (7) | * | |||
Deborah B. Diaz | Director of the Company and the Bank | 18,464 | * | ||||
F.L. Garrett, III | Director of the Company and the Bank | 41,169 | (8) | * | |||
Eric A. Johnson | Director of the Company and the Bank | 45,761 | (9) | * | |||
Allen R. Jones, Jr. | Director of the Company and the Bank | 14,055 | (10) | * | |||
Charles A. Kabbash | Director of the Company and the Bank | 156,064 | (11) | * | |||
Matthew A. Switzer | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank | 89,226 | (12) | * | |||
Rickey A. Fulk | Executive Vice President of the Company and President of the Bank | 10,527 | (13) | * | |||
Marie T. Leibson | Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Company and the Bank | 65,025 | (14) | * | |||
Ann-Stanton C. Gore | Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Company and the Bank | 7,371 | (15) | * | |||
Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers as a Group (14 persons) | 2,712,783 | 10.96 | % | ||||
* | Indicates ownership which does not exceed 1.0%. |
| (1) | The percentage beneficially owned was calculated based on 24,722,734 shares of Company Common Stock outstanding as of April 28, 2025 and assumes the exercise by the stockholder or group named in each row of all options or warrants for the purchase of Company Common Stock held by such stockholder or group and exercisable within 60 days of April 28, 2025. |
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| (2) | The information regarding beneficial ownership is included in reliance on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 6, 2023 jointly by Banc Fund IX L.P. ("BF IX"), an Illinois Limited Partnership, Banc Fund X L.P. ("BF X"), an Illinois Limited Partnership, and TBFC Financial Technologies Fund L.P. (collectively, the "Reporting Persons"). The general partner of BF IX is MidBan IX L.P. ("MidBan IX"), whose principal business is to be a general partner of BF IX. The general partner of BF X is MidBan X L.P. ("MidBan X"), whose principal business is to be a general partner of BF X. The general partner of TBFC Financial Technologies Fund L.P. is MidBan XI L.P. ("MidBan XI"), whose principal business is to be a general partner of TBFC Financial Technologies Fund L.P. The general partner of MidBan IX, MidBan X, and MidBan XI is The Banc Funds Company, L.L.C., ("TBFC"),whose principal business is to be a general partner of MidBan IX, MidBan X, and MidBan XI. TBFC is an Illinois corporation whose principal shareholder is Charles J. Moore. Mr. Moore has been the manager of BF IX, BF X and TBFC Financial Technologies Fund L.P., since their respective inceptions. As manager, Mr. Moore has voting and dispositive power over the securities of the issuer held by each of those entities. As the controlling member of TBFC, Mr. Moore will control TBFC, and therefore each of the Partnership entities directly and indirectly controlled by TBFC. |
| (3) | The information regarding beneficial ownership is included in reliance on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 26, 2024, by BlackRock, Inc. |
| (4) | The information regarding beneficial ownership is included in reliance on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on February 23, 2021 jointly by (i) Castle Creek Capital Partners VII, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Fund VII”) and a private equity fund focused on investing in community banks throughout the United States of America; (ii) Castle Creek Capital VII LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CCC VII”), whose principal business is to serve as the sole general partner of, and manage, Fund VII; (iii) Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Fund IV”) and a private equity fund focused on investing in community banks throughout the United States of America; and (iv) Castle Creek Capital IV LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CCC IV”), whose principal business is to serve as the sole general partner of, and manage, Fund IV. Mr. Eggemeyer is the Managing Principal of each above listed Castle Creek entity. In addition to the 1,887,364 shares owned by Castle Creek Capital Partners VII, LP, Mr. Eggemeyer owns 413 shares individually. |
| (5) | Includes 4,000 shares of Restricted Common Stock granted under the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End” table for vesting of restricted stock. |
| (6) | Includes 10,233 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Biagas. |
| (7) | Includes a) 28,900 shares of Common Stock held jointly by Mr. Cook and his spouse and (b) 9,387 shares held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Cook. |
| (8) | Includes (a) 2,884 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Garrett and (b) 6,693 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Garrett's spouse. |
| (9) | Includes (a) 9,622 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Johnson and (b) 297 shares held by Mr. Johnson’s spouse. |
| (10) | Includes 4,091 share held in a Trust for the benefit of Mr. Jones. |
| (11) | Includes (a) 71,035 shares of Common Stock held in The Charles A. Kabbash Revocable Trust, (b) 19,657 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Kabbash, and (c) 372 shares of Common Stock held in a trust for his granddaughter. |
| (12) | Includes (a) 40,000 shares of Common Stock held jointly by Mr. Switzer and his spouse, (b) 10,000 shares of Common Stock held in an Irrevocable Trust, (c) 20,000 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Switzer, and (d) 4,500 shares of Restricted Common Stock granted under the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End” table for vesting of restricted stock. |
| (13) | Includes (a) 941 shares of Common Stock held jointly by Mr. Fulk and his spouse, (b) 1,626 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Fulk, and (d) 400 restricted shares of Common Stock granted under the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End” table for vesting of restricted stock. |
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| (14) | Includes (a) 9,053 shares of Common Stock held of record by the Company’s 401(k) Plan as custodian for Ms. Leibson, (b) 10,061 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Ms. Leibson, (c) 593 shares of Common Stock held of record by an IRA account for the benefit of Ms. Leibson’s spouse, and (d) 1,400 shares of Restricted Common Stock granted under the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End” table for vesting of restricted stock. |
| (15) | Includes (a) 1,255 shares of Common Stock held jointly by Ms. Gore and her spouse, and (b) 2,000 shares of Restricted Common Stock granted under the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End” table for vesting of restricted stock. |
Item 13. Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Employees
Sharon C. Taylor, the daughter of Marie T. Leibson, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Company and the Bank, is employed as a Vice President of the Bank, and received a salary, bonus and stock awards totaling approximately $124,465 in 2024, as well as benefits consistent with those provided to other employees with equivalent qualifications and responsibilities.
Christian D. Zember, the nephew of Dennis J. Zember, Jr, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, is employed as a small business banker of the Bank, and received a salary totaling approximately $81,565 in 2024, as well as benefits consistent with those provided to other employees with equivalent qualifications and responsibilities.
Relationships in the Ordinary Course
Many of the directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank and their associates, which include corporations, partnerships and other organizations in which they are officers or partners or in which they and their immediate families have at least a 5% interest, are customers of the Bank. Loans to directors and executive officers and certain significant stockholders of the Company and the Bank are subject to limitations contained in the Federal Reserve Act, the principal effect of which is to require that extensions of credit by the Bank to executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders of the Company and the Bank satisfy the following standards: the loans (i) are made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons unaffiliated with the Company and (ii) do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. As of December 31, 2024, there were 35 such loans outstanding totaling $17.6 million in the aggregate. The Company expects the Bank to have such transactions or transactions on a similar basis with the directors, executive officers and certain significant stockholders of the Company and the Bank and their associates in the future.
Policy Concerning Related Party Transactions
Pursuant to the Company’s policy, the Board of Directors is required to review all related party transactions for potential conflicts of interest. For purposes of this policy, a “related person transaction” generally means a transaction where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which a related person has a direct or indirect material interest. A “related person” under the policy generally means (1) a director, director nominee or executive officer of the Company; (2) a person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of any class of our common stock; and (3) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of the director, executive officer, nominee, or more than five percent beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee, or more than five percent beneficial owner. Under the policy, any related party transaction may be consummated or may continue only (1) if the Board approves or ratifies such transaction and if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arms’-length dealings with an unrelated third party, (2) if the transaction involves compensation that has been approved by the Company’s Compensation
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Committee or (3) if the transaction has been approved by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors. The Board may approve or ratify the related party transaction only if the Board determines that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is in the best interests of the Company.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
During the review by the Company’s Board of Directors of director independence, the Board considered transactions and relationships between each director or any member of his or her immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including those reported under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” below. The Board also considered whether there were any transactions or relationships between directors or any member of their immediate family (or any entity of which a director or an immediate family member is an executive officer, general partner or significant equity holder) and members of the Company’s senior management or their affiliates. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions existed that were inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent.
As a result of this review, the Board affirmatively determined that all of the Company’s current directors, with the exception of Dennis J. Zember, Jr., are independent directors as defined by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. Zember is considered to be an “inside” director because of his employment as a senior executive of the Company. The independent directors of the Company hold regularly scheduled executive sessions from time to time without the Chief Executive Officer or any other member of management present in accordance with NASDAQ listing requirements.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 is
The following table sets forth the fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2024 and 2023 by Crowe and Forvis Mazars:
2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
Crowe | Forvis Mazars | Forvis Mazars | |||||||
Audit fees (1) | $ | 1,608,198 | $ | 171,042 | $ | 2,570,396 | |||
Audit related fees (2) | 52,500 | — | 92,292 | ||||||
Tax fees (3) | — | — | 153,300 | ||||||
All other fees | — | — | — | ||||||
| (1) | Includes fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audits of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements, audit of internal control over financial reporting and quarterly reviews of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |
| (2) | Includes fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of the Company’s employee benefit plan, housing and urban development audit on the mortgage company and various accounting consultations. |
| (3) | Includes fees billed for tax consultations specific to research and development work. |
The Audit Committee will consider, on a case-by-case basis, and approve, if appropriate, all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Pre-approval of such services is required unless a “de minimis” exception is met. To qualify for the “de minimis” exception, the aggregate amount of all such services provided to the Company must constitute not more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid by the Company to its independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided; such services were not recognized by the Company at the time of the engagement to be
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non-audit services; and the non-audit services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Committee or by one or more members of the Committee to whom authority to grant such approval has been delegated by the Committee.
CHANGES IN INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
As previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 23, 2024, Forvis Mazars notified the Company that Forvis Mazars declined to stand for re-appointment as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024. Forvis Mazars’ decision to not stand for re-appointment was subsequently ratified and approved by the Audit Committee of the Company on September 19, 2024. The Company continued to engage Forvis Mazars for the audit of the financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2023, for the restatement of the Company’s previously-issued unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023, the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 (as previously disclosed on the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2024), and review of the Company’s interim financial statements for the quarter ending March 31, 2024.
The audit reports of Forvis Mazars on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 did not contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the subsequent interim period from January 1, 2024 through October 16, 2024, there were (i) no “disagreements” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and Forvis Mazars on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Forvis Mazars, would have caused Forvis Mazars to make reference to the matter in its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for 2023 and 2022, and (ii) no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K) except for the material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and for the Restated Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company provided full details of the material weaknesses in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Restated Annual Report on Form 10-K/A.
The Audit Committee conducted a comprehensive process to review the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. As a result of this process and following careful deliberation, on September 19, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the engagement of Crowe LLP (“Crowe”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, subject to completion of Crowe’s standard client acceptance procedures and the execution of an engagement letter. The selection of Crowe was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on September 19, 2024 and on October 16, 2024 Crowe formally accepted the Company’s appointment as independent registered public accounting firm.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, and the subsequent interim period from January 1, 2024 through October 16, 2024, the Company consulted with Crowe on the following matter:
For the 2022 fiscal year, management prepared an internal memo detailing the accounting for an agreement with a third-party to originate a consumer loan portfolio for the Company (the “Agreement”). The Company consulted with Crowe in preparation of that memo regarding the appropriate allocation of certain revenue and expense items associated with the Agreement. Crowe provided advice on those allocations and relevant literature as management completed its analysis in the memo without providing an opinion on the accounting conclusions reached. During the audit of the Company’s 2023 fiscal year financial statements by the Company’s previous independent registered public accounting firm, Forvis Mazars, the Company engaged a different accounting advisory firm to provide accounting advice on the Agreement and, ultimately, pursued a consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). As previously disclosed on the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 12, 2024, the SEC consultation was completed on August 9, 2024. As a result of the consultation with the subsequently engaged accounting advisory firm and in connection with the consultation with the SEC, management determined the accounting for the Agreement should be revised and the
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Company has reflected the change in accounting for the Agreement in its 2022 and 2023 fiscal year results in its 2022 Form 10-K/A and 2023 Form 10-K which has been audited by Forvis Mazars.
Other than the matter described above, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Crowe regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Crowe concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and Item 301(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions, respectively).
The Company provided Forvis Mazars with a copy of the disclosures contained herein, which mirror the previous diclosures in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 23, 2024, prior to filing that Form 8-K with the SEC. Forvis Mazars previously furnished the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agreed with the statements made above as originally included in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. A copy of Forvis Mazars’ letter dated September 23, 2024, was attached as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 23, 2024.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(a)(1) Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements and reports of independent registered public accounting firm are in Part II, Item 8:
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2024 and 2023
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Loss - Years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity - Years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -Years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules are omitted since they are not required, are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) Exhibits
The following are filed or furnished, as noted below, as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and this list includes the Exhibit Index.
Exhibit No. |
| Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
3.1 | |||
3.2 | |||
3.3 | |||
3.4 | |||
3.5 | |||
4.1 | |||
4.2 | |||
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Exhibit No. |
| Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
4.3 | |||
4.4 | |||
4.5* | |||
Certain instruments relating to long-term debt as to which the total amount of securities authorized there under does not exceed 10% of the total assets of Primis Financial Corp. (formerly Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc.) have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K. The registrant will furnish a copy of any such instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request. | |||
4.6 | |||
4.7 | |||
4.8 | Form of 5.40% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2030 (included in Exhibit 4.7) | ||
10.1+ | |||
10.2+ | |||
10.3+ | |||
10.4+ | |||
10.5+ | |||
10.6+ | |||
10.7+ | |||
10.8+ | |||
10.9+ | |||
10.10+ | |||
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Exhibit No. |
| Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
10.11+ | |||
10.12+ | |||
10.13+ | |||
10.14+ | |||
10.15+* | |||
10.16 | |||
19* | |||
21.0* | |||
23.1* | |||
23.2* | |||
31.1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 | ||
31.2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 | ||
32.1** | |||
97 | |||
101 | The following materials from Primis Financial Corp.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (Inline XBRL), filed herewith: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Loss, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. | ||
104 | The cover page from Primis Financial Corp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL. | ||
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
Item 16. - Form 10-K Summary
None.
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Primis Financial Corp. will furnish, upon written request, a copy of any exhibit listed above upon the payment of a reasonable fee covering the expense of furnishing the copy. Requests should be directed to:
Matthew Switzer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Primis Financial Corp.
10900 Nuckols Road, Suite 325
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Primis Financial Corp.
By: | /s/ Dennis J. Zember, Jr. |
| Date: April 29, 2025 |
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | |||
President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
By: | /s/ Matthew Switzer | Date: April 29, 2025 | |
Matthew Switzer | |||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Date: April 29, 2025 Signature |
| Title | ||
/s/ Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | President and Chief Executive Officer, Director | |||
Dennis J. Zember, Jr. | ||||
/s/ John F. Biagas | Director | |||
John F. Biagas | ||||
/s/ Robert Y. Clagett | Director | |||
Robert Y. Clagett | ||||
/s/ W. Rand Cook | Director | |||
W. Rand Cook | ||||
/s/ Deborah Diaz | Director | |||
Deborah Diaz | ||||
/s/ F. L. Garrett, III | Director | |||
F. L. Garrett, III | ||||
/s/ Eric A. Johnson | Director | |||
Eric A. Johnson | ||||
/s/ Charles A. Kabbash | Director | |||
Charles A. Kabbash | ||||
/s/ Dr. Allen R. Jones Jr. | Director | |||
Dr. Allen R. Jones Jr. | ||||
/s/ John M. Eggemeyer | Director | |||
John M. Eggemeyer | ||||
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