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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
Commission file number 0-18560
THE SAVANNAH BANCORP, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Georgia 58-1861820
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
25 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
912-651-8200
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(Issuer's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered under Section 12(b)
of the Exchange Act: None
Securities registered under Section 12(g)
of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock - $1.00 par value
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90
days. Yes X No_
Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of
registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. ( X )
Issuer's revenues for its most recent fiscal year were $28,556,000. The
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity at February
28, 2003 held by non-affiliates, based on the price of the last trade of $23.50
per share times 2,526,929 non-affiliated shares, was $59,382,832.
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS
As of February 28, 2003, the registrant had issued 3,290,223 and outstanding
3,280,930 shares of common stock.
1
Portions of the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders of Registrant are
incorporated in Parts I, II and IV of this report. Portions of the Proxy
Statement of Registrant dated February 28, 2003 are incorporated in Part III of
this report.
REGISTRANT'S DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
PART NUMBER AND ITEM
DOCUMENT INCORPORATED NUMBER OF FORM 10-K INTO
BY REFERENCE WHICH INCORPORATED
Page F-29 Part II, Item 5, Market
of Registrant's 2002 Annual for Registrant's Common
Report to Shareholders Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters
Page F-20 through F-31 of Part II, Item 6,
Registrant's 2002 Annual Selected
Report to Shareholders Financial Data
Pages F-20 through F-31 Part II, Item 7,
of Registrant's Management's Discussion
2002 Annual Report to and Analysis of Financial
Shareholders Condition and Results of
Operations
Page F-26 through F-28 of Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative
Registrant's 2002 Annual and Qualitative Disclosures
Report to Shareholders About Market Risk
Pages F-1 through F-19, Part II, Item 8,
of Registrant's 2002 Financial Statements and
Annual Report to Shareholders Supplementary Data
Pages 4 through 10 Part III, Item 10,
of Registrant's Proxy Directors and Executive
Statement in connection with Officers of the Registrant
its Annual Shareholders' Meeting
to be held April 17, 2003
Pages 9 through 12, Part III, Item 11,
of Registrant's Proxy Statement Executive Compensation
in connection with its
Annual Shareholders' Meeting
to be held April 17, 2003
Pages 5 through 7, 9 through 10 Part III, Item 12,
of Registrant's Proxy Statement Security Ownership of
in connection with its Annual Certain Beneficial Owners
Shareholders' Meeting to be held and Management
April 17, 2003
Page 14 of Registrant's Proxy Part III, Item 13,
Statement in connection with its Certain Relationships
Annual Shareholders' Meeting to be and Related Transactions
held April 17, 2003
Pages F-4 through F-18 Part IV, Item 14,
of Registrant's 2002 Exhibits, Financial Statement
Annual Report to Shareholders Schedules and Reports on
Form 8-K
2
THE SAVANNAH BANCORP, INC.
2002 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I PAGE
Item 1. Business 5
Item 2. Properties 19
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 19
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 20
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity
and Related Stockholder Matters 20
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 20
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 20
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 20
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 21
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreement with Accountants
on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 21
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 21
Item 11. Executive Compensation 21
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management 21
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 22
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 23
Signature page 24
Certifications 25-27
3
PART I
THE SAVANNAH BANCORP, INC. (THE COMPANY) MAY FROM TIME TO TIME MAKE WRITTEN OR
ORAL "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" INCLUDING STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE
COMPANY'S FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (INCLUDING THIS
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND THE EXHIBITS THERETO), IN ITS REPORTS TO
SHAREHOLDERS AND IN OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BY THE COMPANY, WHICH ARE MADE IN GOOD
FAITH BY THE COMPANY PURSUANT TO THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.
THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, SUCH AS
STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY'S PLANS, OBJECTIVES, EXPECTATIONS, ESTIMATES AND
INTENTIONS, THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON VARIOUS IMPORTANT FACTORS (SOME
OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE COMPANY'S CONTROL). THE FOLLOWING FACTORS, AMONG OTHERS,
COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE
PLANS, OBJECTIVES, EXPECTATIONS, ESTIMATES AND INTENTIONS EXPRESSED IN SUCH
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: THE STRENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY IN GENERAL
AND THE STRENGTH OF THE LOCAL ECONOMIES IN WHICH THE COMPANY CONDUCTS
OPERATIONS; THE EFFECTS OF, AND CHANGES IN, TRADE, MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICIES
AND LAWS, INCLUDING INTEREST RATE POLICIES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM; INFLATION, INTEREST RATE, MARKET AND MONETARY
FLUCTUATIONS; THE TIMELY DEVELOPMENT OF AND ACCEPTANCE OF NEW PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES OF THE COMPANY AND THE PERCEIVED OVERALL VALUE OF THESE PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES BY CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING THE FEATURES, PRICING AND QUALITY COMPARED TO
COMPETITORS' PRODUCTS AND SERVICES; THE WILLINGNESS OF CUSTOMERS TO SUBSTITUTE
COMPETITORS' PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE COMPANY'S PRODUCTS AND SERVICES; THE
SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY IN GAINING REGULATORY APPROVAL OF ITS PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES, WHEN REQUIRED; THE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN FINANCIAL SERVICES' LAWS AND
REGULATIONS (INCLUDING LAWS CONCERNING TAXES, BANKING, SECURITIES AND
INSURANCE); TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES; ACQUISITIONS; CHANGES IN CONSUMER SPENDING
AND SAVING HABITS; AND THE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY AT MANAGING THE RISKS INVOLVED
IN THE FOREGOING.
THE COMPANY CAUTIONS THAT THE FOREGOING LIST OF IMPORTANT FACTORS IS NOT
EXCLUSIVE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENT, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, THAT MAY BE MADE FROM TIME TO TIME BY OR ON
BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
4
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
(a) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS
General
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The Savannah Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated as a Georgia
business corporation on October 5, 1989, for the purpose of becoming a bank
holding company by acquiring all of the common stock of The Savannah Bank,
National Association, Savannah, Georgia (the "Savannah Bank"). The Company
became a bank holding company within the meaning of the Federal Bank Holding
Company Act (the "Act") and the Georgia Bank Holding Company Act (the "Georgia
Act") upon the acquisition of 100 percent of the common stock of Savannah Bank
on August 22, 1990.
In February 1998, the Company entered into a plan of merger to exchange shares
of its stock for shares of the Bryan Bancorp of Georgia, Inc. ("Bryan"), the
bank holding company for Bryan Bank & Trust ("Bryan Bank"). The transaction was
valued at approximately $24 million. The merger, which was accounted for as a
pooling of interests, was a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax
purposes. The merger was consummated on December 15, 1998. Bryan was merged into
the Company and Bryan Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on
the merger date.
As of December 31, 2002, Savannah Bank had five full service offices, total
assets of $266 million, total loans of $201 million, total deposits of $219
million, total stockholders' equity of $21.2 million and $2.8 million in 2002
net income. As of December 31, 2002, Bryan Bank had one full service office,
total assets of $110 million, total loans of $83 million, total deposits of $90
million, total stockholders' equity of $10.1 million and $1.7 million in 2002
net income.
Savannah Bank and Bryan Bank (the "Subsidiary Banks") currently are the sole
operating subsidiaries of the Company. Savannah Bank received its charter from
the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to commence business and
opened for business on August 22, 1990. Bryan Bank received its charter from the
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (the "GDBF") in December 1989. The
deposits at the Subsidiary Banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (the "FDIC").
(b) INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
In June, 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No.
131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information". The
provisions of this statement require disclosure of financial and descriptive
information about an enterprise's operating segments in annual and interim
financial reports issued to shareholders. The statement defines an operating
segment as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities that
generate revenue and incur expense, whose operating results are reviewed by the
chief operating decision maker in the determination of resource allocation and
performance, and for which discrete financial information is available. The
Company presently operates as two commercial banks offering traditional banking
services. Certain departmental revenues, asset and liability volumes are used by
executive management for performance and resource allocation purposes; however,
sufficient discrete financial information is not available for presentation of
segmented line of business financial information to shareholders. These
disclosure requirements had no impact on the Company's financial position or
results of operations.
(c) NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
GENERAL
The Company is authorized to engage in any activity permitted by law to a
corporation, subject to applicable Federal regulatory restrictions on the
activities of bank holding companies. The Company was formed for the purpose of
becoming a holding company to own 100 percent of the stock of the Subsidiary
Banks. The holding company structure provides the Company with greater
flexibility than a bank would otherwise have to expand and diversify its
business activities, through newly formed subsidiaries or through acquisitions.
While the Company has no present plans to engage actively in any nonbanking
business activities, management anticipates studying the feasibility of
establishing or acquiring subsidiaries to engage in other business activities to
the extent permitted by law.
5
BANKING SERVICES
The Subsidiary Banks have approximately 120 full-time and 19 part-time employees
and offer a full range of deposit services, including checking accounts, savings
accounts and various time deposits ranging from daily money market accounts to
longer-term certificates of deposit. The transaction accounts and time
certificates are tailored to the principal market areas at rates competitive to
those offered in the area. In addition, retirement accounts such as IRA
(Individual Retirement Account) and SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) accounts
are offered. The FDIC insures all deposit accounts up to the maximum amount
(currently $100,000 per account). The Subsidiary Banks solicit these accounts
from individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations, and governmental
authorities.
The Subsidiary Banks offer a full range of short-term and medium-term
commercial, real estate and personal loans. The Bank's primary lending focus is
business, real estate and consumer lending. Commercial loans include both
secured and a limited volume of unsecured loans. Consumer loans include secured
loans for financing automobiles, home improvements, real estate and other
personal investments. Unsecured consumer loans are limited and generally made to
our most creditworthy borrowers. The Subsidiary Banks originate fixed and
variable rate mortgage loans and offer real estate construction and acquisition
loans.
The Subsidiary Banks' lending policies generally require an 80 percent
loan-to-value ratio on secured term real estate lending. Additionally, the
existence of a reliable source of repayment/cash flow is usually required before
making any loans, regardless of the security. Appraisals are obtained as
required, and lending officers make on-site inspections. New loans over $150,000
are reported to the appropriate Credit committee of each bank, and these
committees approves loans over $750,000 and $350,000, prior to the loan being
made at The Savannah Bank, N.A. and Bryan Bank & Trust, respectively. Generally,
lending relationships over $150,000 are reported to the full Board of Directors
of each bank.
Both management and the directors are aware that environmental liabilities may
negatively impact the financial condition of borrowers, the value of real
property and the contingent environmental clean-up liabilities the Subsidiary
Banks could incur by having a lien on environmentally deficient property. The
Subsidiary Banks generally decline to make loans secured by property with
environmental deficiencies. Environmental surveys are required when there is
reason for concern about potential environmental liabilities.
Both Subsidiary Banks operate residential mortgage loan origination departments.
The departments take mortgage loan applications, obtain rate commitments and
complete various origination documentation and follow-up for an origination and
service release fee from third-party mortgage bankers. In addition to generating
fee income, the department also generates banking relationships from its
customers and real estate-related contacts. These loans are funded by other
mortgage investors and have not been warehoused on the Subsidiary Banks' books.
CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
The Subsidiary Banks have a multi-faceted program designed to control and
continually monitor the credit risks inherent in the loan portfolios. This
begins with a structured loan approval process in which the Board of Directors
delegates authority for various types and amounts of loans to loan officers on a
basis commensurate with seniority and lending experience. The Subsidiary Banks
use an asset classification system that is consistent with regulatory
classifications, which applies to all assets of an insured institution and
requires each institution to periodically classify its assets.
There are four risk grades of "criticized" assets: Special Mention, Substandard,
Doubtful and Loss. Assets designated as substandard, doubtful or loss are
considered "classified". The classification of assets is subject to regulatory
review and re-classification. The Subsidiary Banks include aggregate totals of
criticized assets, and general and specific valuation reserves in quarterly
reports to the Board of Directors, which approves the overall loan loss reserve
evaluation. The Subsidiary Banks' loan classification systems utilize both the
account officer and loan review function to monitor the classification of the
Subsidiary Banks' loans.
The account officers are charged with the responsibility of monitoring changes
in loan quality within his or her loan portfolio and reporting changes directly
to loan review and senior management. Additionally, loan review performs a
review of the Subsidiary Banks' loans to determine that the appropriate risk
grade has been assigned to each borrowing relationship. Delinquencies are
6
monitored on all loans as a basis for potential inclusion in general valuation
reserves or, ultimately, for potential charge-off. Loans that are delinquent 90
days (four payments) or longer generally are placed on nonaccrual status unless
the collectibility of principal and accrued interest is assured beyond a
reasonable doubt. In certain cases, loans less than 90 days (four payments)
delinquent are placed on nonaccrual status when uncertainty exists as to the
loan's collectibility. Real estate acquired through foreclosure is classified as
substandard unless there is sufficient evidence to indicate such classification
is not warranted.
Loan loss reserves are determined based on management's internal review of
nonperforming loans, delinquency trends, the level of rated assets and
charge-off trends. Additionally, management assesses general and specific
economic trends both nationally and locally and regulatory information to
determine the impact of those external factors on loan loss reserve levels.
Based on the internal and external reviews, the Subsidiary Banks segregate their
loan portfolio by type of loans and by loan classification within each loan
type. Reserve percentages are applied based on historical loss rates and
inherent risk to each loan group to determine the required amount of allocated
general loan loss reserves.
OTHER BANKING SERVICES
In November 1996, Savannah Bank applied for and received trust powers from the
OCC. Savannah Bank hired a Trust Department Manager/Trust Officer and an
assistant. The employee benefit administration and certain money management
functions are being outsourced to third parties. Using these resources, the
Trust Department offers a full array of trust services, including investment
management, personal trusts, custodial accounts, estate administration and
employee benefit administration. The Trust Department entered into a contract
with Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company in 1998 to outsource trust data processing,
securities safekeeping and certain other operational functions for the Trust
Department.
The Subsidiary Banks also offer cash management services, Internet access to
account data, a non-cash deposit courier service, safe deposit boxes, travelers
checks, direct deposit of payroll, U.S. Savings bonds, official bank checks and
money orders and automatic drafts for various accounts. The Subsidiary Banks are
members of the STAR networks of automated teller machines that may be used by
customers in our market area and other cities. Both Subsidiary Banks issue ATM
and debit cards and have seven automated teller machines in the area. The
Subsidiary Banks also offer both VISA and MasterCard credit cards, on an agent
bank basis, which have a pre-authorized line of credit for personal purchases
and expenses.
LOCATION AND SERVICE AREA
The primary service area of the Subsidiary Banks is the city of Savannah,
Georgia, certain contiguous areas of Chatham County and the Richmond Hill and
Bryan County market, which is 20 miles southwest of downtown Savannah. Its
secondary service area is the remainder of Chatham County and communities in
Bryan, Effingham and Liberty Counties, Georgia, and Beaufort and Jasper
Counties, South Carolina. The Subsidiary Banks' target markets are individuals
residing in the primary service area, small to medium size businesses, including
retail shops and professional service businesses in the community. The
Subsidiary Banks are also targeting individuals who meet certain net worth and
income requirements as potential customers for private banking services.
The Savannah Bank's main office, known as the Johnson Square Office, is located
in the primary business district in downtown Savannah on Johnson Square, where
most of the commercial banks in the primary service area have their main
Savannah offices. In recent years, regional banks with headquarters outside of
the state of Georgia have acquired several of the banks in the primary service
area. The Savannah Bank emphasizes that it is based in Savannah, and that its
directors and the executive officers are committed to the economic development
of the Savannah area.
Bryan Bank's main office opened in December 1989 and is located in the primary
commercial area of the city of Richmond Hill. Bryan Bank has limited competition
in the Richmond Hill market. One other community bank, a branch office of a
community bank located 50 miles south in Darien and one grocery store branch
office are located in Richmond Hill. Bryan Bank has approximately 65 percent of
the commercial bank deposits in the Richmond Hill market. Richmond Hill is
experiencing substantial residential growth due to its proximity to Savannah,
its school system and affordable single-family residences.
On October 1, 1992, Savannah Bank opened its second office at 400 Mall
Boulevard. The Mall Boulevard Office competes in the area of Savannah that has
the second largest concentration of deposits. This office is in the primary
7
commercial and retail district in Savannah and includes a high concentration of
professional and service-related businesses.
On November 20, 1995, Savannah Bank opened its third office, the West Chatham
Office, at 100 Chatham Parkway. West Chatham is a full service office located
six miles west of the main office location in a significant commercial and
industrial growth area of Chatham County.
On October 1, 1997, the fourth office at 4741 Highway 80 East on Whitemarsh
Island, six miles east of the main office location opened for business.
Deposits, mortgage loan origination and consumer loans are the primary
opportunities for this location that will serve a large concentration of higher
net worth individuals, as well as a young adult population in apartments and
first homes.
On October 8, 1998, Savannah Bank opened its fifth Savannah location in the
Medical Arts Shopping Center. This office is strategically located near two
major hospitals and numerous medical, dental and professional practices. This
location is approximately four miles southeast of the main office. The lease
term began in July 1998.
In February, 2002, Savannah Bank entered into a lease agreement, effective May
1, 2002, for approximately 5,000 square feet of office space at 450 Mall
Boulevard, adjacent to our existing branch office at 400 Mall Boulevard. The
image item processing, statement rendering, operations research, information
technology and deposit operations and branch operations support functions have
been relocated into this space. These functions all work closely together and
relocating them from different offices to one location provides an environment
and opportunity for significant service enhancement efficiencies and synergies.
A senior operations officer was hired to manage these operations functions.
The Subsidiary Banks' business plans rely principally upon local advertising and
promotional activity and upon personal contacts by its directors, officers and
stockholders to attract business and to acquaint potential customers with the
Subsidiary Banks' personalized services. Both Subsidiary Banks emphasize a high
degree of personalized customer service in order to be able to provide for each
customer's banking needs. The marketing approach emphasizes the advantages of
dealing with an independent, locally-owned and relationship-oriented bank to
meet the particular needs of individuals, professionals and small to medium-size
businesses in the community. All banking services are continually evaluated with
regard to their profitability, and efforts will be made to modify the business
plan if the plan does not prove successful.
ASSET AND LIABILITY MANAGEMENT
Assets of the Subsidiary Banks consist primarily of loans and an investment
portfolio. In an effort to maintain adequate levels of liquidity and minimize
fluctuations in the net interest margin (the difference between interest income
and interest expense), the rate sensitivity of the loan and investment
portfolios are matched to the maturities and rate sensitivity of the
liabilities.
The Subsidiary Banks invest the majority of its investment portfolio in highly
marketable medium-term and short-term maturity assets, such as Federal Funds,
U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. agency securities, marketable mortgage-backed
securities and high quality bank-qualified tax-exempt securities. By pricing
loans on a variable rate structure, or by keeping the maturity of the investment
and loan portfolios relatively short-term, the Bank expects to be able to
maintain loan interest, or to reinvest securities proceeds, at prevailing market
rates. These policies will help to maintain a generally consistent spread over
the interest rates paid by the Subsidiary Banks on the deposits which are used
to fund the investment and loan portfolios. However, when interest rates move
dramatically up or down, interest spreads and margins move up or down. Loan
customers refinance fixed rate loans and time deposit customers withdraw low
rate time deposits during and after dramatic moves in interest rates.
Deposit accounts represent the majority of the liabilities of the Subsidiary
Banks. These include noninterest-bearing checking accounts and interest-bearing
NOW accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and certificates of
deposit, including Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Most time deposits
have maturities of 12 months and less, but the maturities may be extended based
on liquidity position, interest rate expectations and the rate sensitivity in
the loan portfolio of the Subsidiary Banks. In managing its liabilities, both
Subsidiary Banks attempt to attract deposits from customers who, assuming rates
are competitive, are inclined to maintain an ongoing relationship with the
Subsidiary Banks.
The Company has no investment risk in off-balance sheet derivative-related
investments.
8
INTEREST RATE RISK
Interest rate risk is a measure of exposure to changes in net interest income or
the theoretical market value of portfolio equity due to changes in market
interest rates. The differential (known as "gap") between interest rate
sensitive assets and interest rate sensitive liabilities over a specified period
of time represents a measure of sensitivity of net interest income to changes in
interest rates. A positive gap indicates an excess of rate sensitive assets over
rate sensitive liabilities, while a negative gap indicates an excess of rate
sensitive liabilities over rate sensitive assets.
The Subsidiary Banks operate under an interest rate risk policy with oversight
by the Executive Committee of the holding company board and the Credit/ALCO
Committee at Savannah Bank and the Executive Committee at Bryan Bank. The policy
outlines limits on interest rate risk in terms of changes in net interest income
and changes in the net market values of assets and liabilities resulting from
certain changes in interest rate environments. These measurements are made
through cash flow and repricing analyses which project the impact of changes in
interest rates on the Subsidiary Banks assets and liabilities. Additionally, the
committees may set other interest rate risk objectives. The policy also outlines
responsibility for monitoring interest rate risk, the process for the approval,
implementation and monitoring of interest rate risk strategies to achieve the
Company's interest rate risk objectives.
FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATION OF BANKS AND BANK HOLDING COMPANIES
Bank holding companies and banks are extensively regulated under both federal
and state law. To the extent that the following information describes statutory
and regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
particular statutory and regulatory provisions. Any change in applicable law or
regulation may have a material effect on the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
Savannah Bank is subject to extensive supervision and regulation by the OCC, and
Bryan Bank is subject to extensive supervision by the GBDF and the FDIC. The
regulator of each bank is responsible for overseeing the affairs of all banks
and periodically examines banks to determine their compliance with laws and
regulations. Banks must make quarterly call reports of their financial condition
and results of operations to the FDIC, who reviews the call report information
for accuracy, consistency and reasonableness. Quarterly Call Report financial
information is made available to regulators and the public approximately 45 days
after each quarter-end. Regulators use this data for quarterly offsite
monitoring of the financial condition of banks. Quarterly holding company
reports are filed with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRB) within 45 days
of each quarter-end. This financial information is reviewed by the FRB for
accuracy, consistency and reasonableness and is also made available to holding
company database providers within 75 days of the end of each quarter. Bank
analysts, regulators and consultants regularly use this information in analyzing
historical and expected performance of banks and bank holding companies.
In addition, the regulators have authority to issue cease and desist orders
against banks and bank holding companies, which are about to engage, are
engaging or have engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice in the conduct of
their business. The regulators can order affirmative action to correct any harm
resulting from a violation of practice, including, but not limited to, making
restitution and providing reimbursement or guarantees against loss in certain
cases. Regulators also administer several federal statutes such as the Community
Reinvestment Act and the Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act, which
apply to national banks. The Subsidiary Banks also are subject to special
examination by the FDIC and to certain FDIC regulations.
Regulators have adopted risk-based capital requirements that specify the minimum
level for which no prompt corrective action is required. In addition, the FDIC
adopted FDIC insurance assessment rates based on certain risk-based and equity
capital ratios. The table in Note 12 of the notes to the consolidated financial
statements in the 2002 Annual Report shows the capital ratios for the Company,
and the regulatory minimum capital ratios at December 31, 2002. The capital
ratios of the Company and each Subsidiary Bank exceeded the ratios required to
be "well-capitalized" by the FDIC.
A national banking association is insured by the FDIC and must be a member of
the Federal Reserve System. Therefore, the Subsidiary Banks are subject to
applicable provisions of the Federal Reserve Act, which restrict the ability of
any national bank to extend credit to its parent holding company. Additionally,
a national banking association cannot extend credit to any affiliate (including
its parent and non-bank subsidiaries of its parent) to purchase the assets
thereof, to issue a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit (including an
endorsement or standby letter of credit) to its affiliates, or to invest in the
9
stock or securities thereof or to take such stock or securities as collateral
for loans to any borrower.
Stockholders of banks (including bank holding companies which own stock in
banks, such as the Company) may be compelled by bank regulatory authorities to
invest additional capital in the event their bank's capital shall have become
impaired by losses or otherwise. Failure to pay such an assessment could cause a
forced sale of the holder's bank stock. In addition, the Company may also be
required to provide additional capital to any additional banks that it acquires
as a condition to obtaining the approvals and consents of regulatory authorities
in connection with such acquisitions.
The earnings of the Subsidiary Banks and, consequently of the Company, are
affected significantly by the policies of the Federal Reserve Board, which
regulates the money supply in order to mitigate recessionary and inflationary
pressures. Among the techniques used to implement these objectives are open
market operations in United States Government securities, changes in the rate
paid by banks on bank borrowings, changes in reserve requirements against bank
deposits and limitations on interest rates that banks may pay on time and
savings deposits. These techniques are used in varying combinations to influence
overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and
their use may also affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits.
The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect
on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to
continue to do so in the future.
In view of changing conditions in the national economy and money markets, as
well as the effect of actions by monetary and fiscal authorities, no prediction
can be made as to possible future changes in interest rates, deposit levels,
loan demand or the business and earnings of the Company and the Bank.
The Company, as a bank holding company, is required to register as such with the
Federal Reserve Board and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. It is
required to file with both of these agencies quarterly and annual reports and
other information regarding its business operation and those of its
subsidiaries. It is also subject to examination by these two agencies and will
be required to obtain their approval before acquiring directly or indirectly,
ownership or control of any voting shares of a bank or bank subsidiary of a bank
holding company if, after such acquisition, it would own or control directly or
indirectly, more than five percent of the voting stock of such bank or banking
subsidiary of a bank holding company. Furthermore, a bank holding company is
prohibited from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting
stock of any company which is not a bank or bank holding company, with limited
exceptions. It must engage only in the business of banking or managing or
controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its
subsidiary banks. During 1996, the Federal Reserve Board enacted regulations
that are slightly less restrictive of the types of businesses which bank holding
companies may own.
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("the Act"), formerly known as the Financial
Modernization Act was enacted on November 12, 1999. The statute is the most
sweeping financial services legislation enacted in decades. It repealed
depression-era laws and eliminated the barriers preventing affiliations among
banks, insurance companies, and securities firms. Key provisions to the Act are
summarized in the following paragraphs.
REPEAL OF THE GLASS-STEGALL ACT - At its core, the Act repealed, the
anti-affiliation provisions in sections 20 and 32 of the Banking Act of 1933
(also known as the Glass-Steagall Act) and amended provisions in the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 to permit financial companies to offer a broad array
of banking, insurance, securities, and other financial products, either through
financial holding companies ("FHCs") or through operating subsidiaries
qualifying under the Act.
In general, Congress decided to preserve the Federal Reserve's role as the
umbrella supervisor for holding companies. The Board will work, however, within
a system of functional regulation designed to take advantage of the traditional
strengths of the federal and state financial supervisors. In addition, the
legislation establishes a mechanism for coordination between the Federal Reserve
and Treasury regarding the approval of new financial activities for both holding
companies and national bank financial subsidiaries.
Banking organizations are prohibited under the Act from participating in new
financial affiliations unless their depository institution subsidiaries are
well-capitalized and well-managed. Regulators are required to address any
failure to maintain safety and soundness standards in a prompt manner. In
addition, regulators must prohibit holding companies from participating in new
financial affiliations if, at the time of certification, any insured depository
10
affiliate had received a less than "satisfactory" Community Reinvestment Act
("CRA") rating at its most recent examination.
AFFILIATION AUTHORITY - The Act amended section 4 of the Bank Holding Company
Act ("BHCA") to provide a new framework for engaging in new financial
activities. Those bank holding companies ("BHCs") that qualify to engage in the
new financial activities are designated as financial holding companies ("FHCs").
New provisions of the BHCA permit BHCs that qualify as FHCs to engage in
activities, and acquire companies engaged in activities that are financial in
nature or incidental to such financial activities. FHCs are also permitted to
engage in activities that are "complementary" to financial activities if the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB Board") determines that the
activity does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or soundness of the
institution or the financial system in general.
The FRB Board may act by either regulation or order in determining what
activities are financial in nature, incidental to financial in nature, or
complementary. In doing so, the FRB Board must notify the Treasury of requests
to engage in new financial activities and may not determine that an activity is
financial or incidental to a financial activity if Treasury objects.
Furthermore, Treasury may propose that the Board find a particular activity
financial in nature or incidental to a financial activity. The Act establishes a
similar procedure with regard to the Treasury's (acting through the Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC")) determination of financial activities
and activities that are incidental to financial activities for subsidiaries of
national banks. Congress intends for the Federal Reserve and Treasury to
establish a consultative process that will negate the need for either agency to
veto a proposal of the other agency.
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK REFORM - The Act reformed the Federal Home Loan Bank
System, including greatly expanding the collateral that a community bank can
pledge against FHLB System advances, thus giving smaller banks access to a
substantial new liquidity source. FHLB members under $500 million in assets can
now pledge small business and agricultural loans (or securities representing a
whole interest in such loans) as collateral for advances.
PRIVACY - The Act imposed a number of new restrictions on the ability of
financial institutions - read as any entity offering financial products,
including banks, insurance companies, securities houses, and credit unions - to
share nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties.
Specifically, the bill:
o requires financial institutions to establish privacy policies and
disclose them annually to all their customers, setting forth how the
institutions share nonpublic personal financial information with
affiliates and third parties
o directs regulators to establish regulatory standards that ensure the
security and confidentiality of customer information
o permits customers to prohibit ("opt out" of permitting) such institutions
from disclosing personal financial information to nonaffiliated third
parties
o prohibits transfer of credit card or other account numbers to third-party
marketers o prohibits pretext calling (that is, makes it illegal for
information brokers to call banks to obtain customer information with the
intent to defraud the bank or customer)
o protects stronger state privacy laws, as well as those not "inconsistent"
with these Federal rules
o requires the Treasury and other Federal regulators to study the
appropriateness of sharing information with affiliates, including
considering both negative and positive aspects of such sharing for
consumers.
The bill also imposes an affirmative obligation on banks to respect their
customers' privacy interests. Language protects a community bank's ability to
share information with third parties selling financial products (for example,
insurance or securities) to bank customers. Community banks can thus continue
such sales practices without being subject to the opt-out provisions contained
elsewhere in the legislation.
The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (the
Act) has introduced a process that enables nationwide interstate banking through
bank subsidiaries and interstate bank mergers. Separately, the Act also permits
bank subsidiaries to act as agents for each other across state lines. Since
September 29, 1995, adequately capitalized and managed bank holding companies
have been permitted to acquire control of a bank in any state. Any acquisitions
are subject to concentration limits. Beginning June 1, 1997, banks were
permitted to merge with one another across state lines. The Interstate Banking
Act also permits de novo branching to the extent that a particular state "opts
into" the de novo branching provisions. The legislation preserves the state laws
which require that a bank must be in existence for a minimum period of time
before being acquired as long as the requirement is five years or less. This
11
legislation has immediate relevance for the banking industry due to increased
competitive forces from institutions which may consolidate through mergers and
those which may move into new markets through enhanced opportunities to branch
across state lines.
A bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in
certain tie-in arrangements in connection with the extension of credit or
provision of any property or service. Thus, a bank may not extend credit, lease
or sell property or furnish any service or fix or vary the consideration for
such on the condition that (i) the customer should obtain or provide some
additional credit, property or service from or to such bank (other than a loan,
discount, deposit or trust service related to and usually provided in connection
with a loan, discount, deposit or trust service), its bank holding company or
any other subsidiary of its bank holding company or (ii) the customer may not
obtain some other credit, property or service from a competitor, except to the
extent reasonable conditions are imposed in a credit transaction to assure the
soundness of the credit extended.
The Federal Reserve Board has cease and desist powers over parent bank holding
companies and non-banking subsidiaries should their actions constitute a serious
threat to the safety, soundness or stability of a subsidiary bank. The Company
is also subject to certain restrictions with respect to engaging in the business
of issuing, underwriting and distributing securities.
Although the Company is not presently subject to any direct regulatory
restrictions on dividends (other than those of Georgia corporate law), the
Company's long-term ability to pay cash dividends will depend on the amount of
dividends paid by the Subsidiary Banks and any other subsequently acquired
entities. OCC regulations restrict the amount of dividends, which the Savannah
Bank may pay without obtaining prior approval. Based on such regulatory
restrictions, the Savannah Bank is limited from paying dividends in a calendar
year, which exceeds the current year's net income combined with the retained net
profits of the preceding two years. Bryan Bank is limited to paying 50 percent
of the prior year net income without getting approval from the GDBF. Banks also
have a financial advantage in the form of lower FDIC assessments if they are
classified as "well-capitalized" by the FDIC. Dividend payout plans of the
Subsidiary Banks will always consider maintaining their "well-capitalized"
classification an important objective.
Both Subsidiary Banks are members of the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") System,
which consists of 12 regional FHLBs subject to supervision and regulation by the
Federal Housing Finance Board ("FHFB"). The FHLBs maintain central credit
facilities primarily for member institutions. The Subsidiary Banks, as a member
of the FHLB of Atlanta, is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock
in the FHLB of Atlanta in an amount at least equal to the greater of: (i) 1
percent of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of its unpaid residential
mortgage loans, home purchase contracts and similar obligations as of the
beginning of each year, (ii) 5 percent of its advances (borrowings) from the
FHLB of Atlanta, or (iii) $500,000. Additionally, the FHLB of Atlanta imposed a
maximum investment in its capital stock equal to $250,000 and over the required
minimum. The Subsidiary Banks are in compliance with this requirement at
December 2002.
Each FHLB serves as a reserve or central bank for its member institutions within
its assigned regions. It is funded primarily from proceeds derived from the sale
of obligations of the FHLB System. The FHLB makes advances (i.e., loans) to
members in accordance with policies and procedures established by its Board of
Directors. The Subsidiary Banks are authorized to borrow funds from the FHLB of
Atlanta to meet demands for withdrawals of savings deposits, to meet seasonal
requirements and for the expansion of its loan portfolio. Advances may be made
on a secured or unsecured basis depending upon a number of factors, including
the purpose for which the funds are being borrowed and existing advances.
Interest rates charged for advances vary depending upon maturity, the cost of
funds to the regional FHLB and the purpose of the borrowing.
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT
The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ("CRA") requires the federal bank
regulatory agencies to encourage financial institutions to meet the credit needs
of low- and moderate-income borrowers in their local communities. In May 1995,
the federal bank regulatory agencies published final amended regulations
promulgated pursuant to the CRA. The final regulations eliminate the 12
assessment factors under the former regulation and replace them with performance
tests. Institutions are no longer required to prepare CRA statements or
extensively document director participation, marketing efforts or the
ascertainment of community credit needs. Under the final rule, an institution's
size and business strategy determines the type of examination that it will
receive. Large, retail-oriented institutions will be examined using a
performance-based lending, investment and service test. Small institutions will
12
be examined using a streamlined approach. All institutions have the option of
being evaluated under a strategic plan formulated with community input and
pre-approved by the applicable bank regulatory agency.
CRA regulations provide for certain disclosure obligations. In accordance with
the CRA, each institution must post a CRA notice advising the public of the
right to comment to the institution and its regulator on the institution's CRA
performance and to review the CRA public file. Each lending institution must
maintain for public inspection a public file that includes a listing of branch
locations and services, a summary of lending activity, a map of its communities,
and any written comments from the public on its performance in meeting community
credit needs. Large institutions also are required to collect certain data,
including the amount and location of originated and purchased small business,
small farm, community development, and home mortgage loans, and to report this
data to their regulatory agencies.
Public disclosure of written CRA evaluations of financial institutions made by
regulatory agencies is required under the CRA. This promotes enforcement of CRA
requirements by providing the public with the status of a particular
institution's community reinvestment record. The Subsidiary Banks received a
"satisfactory" rating on the most recent performance evaluations of their CRA
efforts by their respective banking regulatory agencies.
Congress and various federal agencies responsible for implementing fair lending
laws have been increasingly concerned with discriminatory lending practices. In
1994, those federal agencies announced a Joint Policy Statement detailing
specific discriminatory practices prohibited under the Equal Opportunity Act and
the Fair Housing Act. In the Policy Statement, three methods of proving lending
discrimination were identified: (i) overt evidence of discrimination, where a
lender blatantly discriminates on a prohibited basis; (ii) evidence of disparate
treatment, when a lender treats applicants differently based upon a prohibited
factor, even where there is no showing that the treatment was motivated by
intention to discriminate; and (iii) evidence of disparate impact, when a lender
applies a practice uniformly to all applicants, but the practice has a
discriminatory effect, even where such practices are neutral in appearance and
applied equally. Lenders are particularly uncertain about the application of the
"disparate impact" criteria by virtue of the vague nature of the Policy
Statement. The Policy Statement notes that "the precise contours of the law on
disparate impact as it applies to lending discrimination are under development."
RECENT BANKING LEGISLATION
Bills are presently pending before the United States Congress and certain state
legislatures, and additional bills may be introduced in the future in the
Congress and the state legislatures, which, if enacted, may alter the structure,
regulation and competitive relationships of the nation's financial institutions.
It cannot be predicted whether or in what form any of these proposals will be
adopted or the extent to which the business of the Company or the Subsidiary
Banks may be affected thereby.
INFORMATION-SHARING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND AMONG
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (U.S. PATRIOT ACT) - This federal legislation and the
resultant bank regulations require a financial institution to expeditiously
search its records to determine whether it maintains or has maintained accounts,
or engaged in transactions with individuals or entities, listed in a request
submitted by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The records
search must cover current accounts, accounts opened in the prior twelve months,
and transactions conducted in the prior six months. Its purpose is to identify
funds or transactions with individuals associated with terrorist activities.
Substantial penalties and /or criminal prosecution may result from
non-compliance.
RECENT RULES ADOPTED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
("SEC" OR "COMMISSION")
CERTIFICATION OF DISCLOSURE IN COMPANIES'S QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS - As
directed by Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC adopted
rules to require an issuer's principal executive and financial officers each to
certify the financial and other information contained in the issuer's quarterly
and annual reports. The rules also require these officers to certify that: they
are responsible for establishing, maintaining and regularly evaluating the
effectiveness of the issuer's internal controls; they have made certain
disclosures to the issuer's auditors and the audit committee of the board of
directors about the issuer's internal controls; and they have included
information in the issuer's quarterly and annual reports about their evaluation
and whether there have been significant changes in the issuer's internal
controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls
subsequent to the evaluation. In addition, the SEC has adopted rules which
require issuers to maintain, and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of,
disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information
required in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. The effective date of this
13
requirement was August 29, 2002. The Company has implemented procedures and
reporting tools to meet the requirements of the SEC certification rules.
STRENGTHENING THE SEC'S REQUIREMENTS REGARDING AUDITOR INDEPENDENCE - The SEC
adopted amendments to its existing requirements regarding auditor independence
to enhance the independence of accountants that audit and review financial
statements and prepare attestation reports filed with the Commission. The final
rules recognize the critical role played by audit committees in the financial
reporting process and the unique position of audit committees in assuring
auditor independence. Consistent with the direction of Section 208(a) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC adopted rules to: revise the Commission's
regulations related to the non-audit services that, if provided to an audit
client, would impair an accounting firm's independence; require that an issuer's
audit committee pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided to the
issuer by the auditor of an issuer's financial statements; prohibit certain
partners on the audit engagement team from providing audit services to the
issuer for more than five or seven consecutive years, depending on the partner's
involvement in the audit, except that certain small accounting firms may be
exempted from this requirement; prohibit an accounting firm from auditing an
issuer's financial statements if certain members of management of that issuer
had been members of the accounting firm's audit engagement team within the
one-year period preceding the commencement of audit procedures; require that the
auditor of an issuer's financial statements report certain matters to the
issuer's audit committee, including "critical" accounting policies used by the
issuer; and require disclosures to investors of information related to audit and
non-audit services provided by, and fees paid to, the auditor of the issuer's
financial statements. In addition, under the final rules, an accountant would
not be independent from an audit client if an audit partner received
compensation based on selling engagements to that client for services other than
audit, review and attest services. The rules are effective May 6, 2003.
DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY SECTIONS 406 AND 407 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 -
The SEC adopted rules and amendments requiring publicly traded companies to
include two new types of disclosures in their annual reports filed pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. First, the rules require a company to
disclose whether it has at least one "audit committee financial expert" serving
on its audit committee, and if so, the name of the expert and whether the expert
is independent of management. A company that does not have an audit committee
financial expert must disclose this fact and explain why it has no such expert.
Second, the rules require a company to disclose whether it has adopted a code of
ethics that applies to the company's principal executive officer, principal
financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons
performing similar functions. A company which has not adopted such a code must
disclose this fact and explain why it has not done so. A company also will be
required to promptly disclose amendments to, and waivers from, the code of
ethics relating to any of those officers.
Companies must comply with the code of ethics disclosure requirements
promulgated under Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in their annual reports
for fiscal years ending on or after July 15, 2003. They also must comply with
the requirements regarding disclosure of amendments to, and waivers from, their
ethics codes on or after the date on which they file their first annual report
in which the code of ethics disclosure is required. Companies, similarly must
comply with the audit committee financial expert disclosure requirements
promulgated under Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in their annual reports
for fiscal years ending on or after July 15, 2003.
Various other legislative proposals are expected in Congress concerning the
banking industry. Given the uncertainty of the legislative process, management
cannot assess the effect any such legislation would have on the Company's
financial condition or results of operations.
COMPETITION
The banking business is highly competitive. The Subsidiary Banks compete with
other commercial banks and savings and loan associations in their Primary
Service Areas.
Banks generally compete with other financial institutions through the banking
products and services offered, the pricing of services, the level of service
provided, the convenience and availability of services, and the degree of
expertise and the personal manner in which services are offered. The Subsidiary
Banks encounter competition from most of the financial institutions in the
Subsidiary Banks' Primary Service Areas. In the conduct of certain areas of its
banking business, the Subsidiary Banks also compete with credit unions, consumer
finance companies, insurance companies, money market mutual funds, brokerage
firms and other financial institutions, some of which are not subject to the
same degree of regulation and restrictions imposed upon the Subsidiary Banks.
Many of these competitors have substantially greater resources and lending
limits than the Subsidiary Banks and offer certain services, such as
international banking services, that the Subsidiary Banks do not provide
currently.
14
Many of these competitors have more branch offices in the Savannah Bank's
Primary Service Area. However, the Company's plan is to expand into the markets
which will best serve our targeted customers. Management believes that
competitive pricing, local ownership, local decisions, local control and
personalized, relationship-oriented service provide the Subsidiary Banks with a
method to compete effectively for prospective customers.
The Subsidiary Banks generally benefit from regional bank mergers in the local
market and experience the most competition from new local community bank
entrants into the market area. Recent mergers affecting the local market area
include First Union and Wachovia. Each bank had approximately 10 local offices.
The deposits of three First Union offices were sold to the National Bank of
Commerce, Nashville, TN and additional office closings are expected. BB&T
acquired First Liberty Bank in 2000, its initial entrant into the market, and
then acquired Century South Banks with three offices in 2002.
New entrants into the market include a new de novo bank, First Chatham Bank
(FCB). FCB opened two offices in Chatham County in 2002. The First Chatham Bank
has local organizers and management and a mission and objectives similar to
those The Savannah Bank, N.A. had in 1990. Bank of the South, a branch of the
Citizens Union Bank, Greensboro, Georgia, opened in July 2002 and the First
National Bank of Folkston, Georgia opened a branch office in Savannah with the
intentions of relocating its headquarters to Savannah. Each of these banks
presidents were previously with banks who have merged into large regional banks.
Both Subsidiary Banks offer the full range of deposit services that are
typically available from financial institutions, including NOW accounts, demand,
savings and other time deposits ranging from money market accounts to longer
term certificates of deposit. In addition, retirement accounts such as
Individual Retirement Accounts are available. All deposit accounts are insured
by the FDIC up to the maximum amount permitted by law.
Competition in the area of deposit growth is a substantial challenge facing the
banking industry and the Subsidiary Banks. It is likely that deposit growth in
competitive markets will require higher deposit interest rates. Higher costs of
funds without corresponding higher rates on earning assets will have a long-term
negative impact on net interest income. Higher market share growth on lower
costing core deposits, higher revenue growth on fee based services and lower
overhead growth rates are the key items required to accomplish the Company's
earnings growth objectives.
15
SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY
TABLE 1 - INVESTMENTS - WEIGHTED AVERAGE YIELDS BY MATURITY
The following table sets forth the amortized cost, fair value and tax-equivalent
yields by investment type and maturity category at December 31, 2002
Taxable
Amortized Fair Equivalent
Cost Value Yield (a)
--------- --------- ----------
(Thousands) (%)
SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE:
U.S. Treasury, other U.S. Government
Agencies and mortgage-backed:
Within one year $18,423 $18,622 6.15
One year to five years 19,226 20,273 5.59
Five years to ten years 5,980 6,117 5.59
Over ten years 22 23 5.38
--------- --------- ----------
Total 43,651 45,035 5.82
--------- --------- ----------
Other interest-earning investments:
Within one year 1,251 1,272 6.23
One year to five years 4,541 4,823 6.72
Five years to ten years 1,094 1,156 6.46
Over ten years 2,575 2,612 6.11
--------- --------- ----------
Total 9,461 9,863 6.46
--------- --------- ----------
Total securities available-for-sale $53,112 $ 54,898 5.94
========= ========= ==========
(a) the yield is calculated on the amortized cost of the securities.
LOANS
The following tables set forth certain information regarding the Subsidiary
Banks' loan portfolio as of December 31, 2002.
TABLE 2 - LOAN REPRICING OPPORTUNITIES
The following table sets forth certain loan maturity information as of December
31, 2002. Loan renewals generally reprice relative to the prime rate in effect
at the time of the renewal. Management expects that certain real estate mortgage
loans that have maturities of one to three years and longer amortization periods
will renew at maturity.
After
One One year Over
year Through Five
Loan Category or less Five years Years Total
- ------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Real estate-construction and
development $ 40,224 $ 4,079 $ 3 $ 44,306
Commercial 16,983 10,447 1,391 28,821
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total $ 57,207 $ 14,526 $ 1,394 $ 73,127
======== ======== ======== ========
Loans with fixed rates $ 12,395 $ 8,523 $ 531 $ 21,449
Loans with floating and
adjustable rates 44,812 6,003 863 51,678
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total $ 57,207 $ 14,526 $ 1,394 $ 73,127
======== ======== ======== ========
16
NONACCRUAL, PAST DUE AND RESTRUCTURED LOANS
At December 31, 2002 and 2001, nonperforming loans were $1,997 and $587,
respectively. Interest income of $88 and $0 was recognized from nonaccrual loans
in 2002 and 2001. At December 31, 2002, the Subsidiary Banks had $1,925
nonaccrual loans and had $72 in loans past due over 90 days.
Except for consumer loans, the Company's policy is to place a loan on nonaccrual
status when, in management's judgment, the collection of principal and interest
appears doubtful. Interest receivable accrued in prior years and subsequently
determined to have doubtful collectibility will be charged to the allowance for
possible loan losses. Interest on loans that are classified as nonaccrual is
recognized when received. In some cases, where borrowers are experiencing
financial difficulties, loans may be restructured to provide terms significantly
different from the original contractual terms.
LOAN CONCENTRATIONS
Most of the Subsidiary Banks' business activity is with customers located within
the Chatham and Bryan County area. As of December 31, 2002, the Subsidiary Banks
had a concentration of credit risk aggregating $226,567 million on loans secured
by real estate. The Subsidiary Banks have no exposure to highly leveraged
transactions and has no foreign credits in its loan portfolio.
TABLE 3 - PROVISION FOR POSSIBLE LOAN LOSSES
Changes in the allowance for loan losses in 2002 though 1998 are summarized as
follows:
($ in thousands) 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Balance at the beginning of the year $3,826 $3,369 $2,794 $2,323 $2,063
Charge-offs - Commercial (67) (5) (33) (80) (145)
Charge-offs - Consumer (191) (167) (168) (78) (84)
Charge-offs - Real estate (35) (98) (63) (10) (29)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Charge-offs - Total (293) (270) (264) (168) (258)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Recoveries - Commercial 11 29 21 30 4
Recoveries - Consumer 75 76 66 61 79
Recoveries - Real estate 4 17 7 3 -
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Recoveries - Total 90 122 94 94 83
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Net charge-offs (203) (148) (170) (74) (175)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Provision for loan losses 750 605 745 545 435
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Balance at the end of the year $4,373 $3,826 $3,369 $2,794 $2,323
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans .09% .06% .07% .04% .11%
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
17
TABLE 4 - ALLOCATION OF ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES BY LOAN TYPE The allowance for
loan losses is allocated by loan category based on management's assessment of
risk within the various categories of loans. The Company's allocation of the
allowance for loan losses according to the amount deemed to be reasonably
necessary to absorb potential losses within each loan category is presented in
the following tables:
($ in thousands) % of % of % of % of % of
Total Total Total Total Total
Loan Category 2002 Loans 2001 Loans 2000 Loans 1999 Loans 1998 Loans
- ------------ ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ -----
Commercial $ 650 .19 $ 800 .28 $ 695 .28 $ 520 .25 $ 450 .26
Real estate - construction
And development 1,450 .43 1,100 .39 825 .33 635 .31 520 .30
Real estate - mortgage 1,300 .39 1,100 .39 1,090 .44 993 .48 866 .51
Installment and consumer 500 .15 650 .22 550 .22 425 .21 324 .19
Unallocated 473 .14 176 .06 209 .08 221 .11 163 .10
------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ -----
Total allowance for
loan losses $4,373 1.30 $3,826 1.34 $3,369 1.35 $2,794 1.36 $2,323 1.36
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
The allowance for loan losses is based on estimates and is maintained at a level
considered adequate to provide for potential loan losses. The adequacy of the
allowance is based on management's continuing evaluation of the loan portfolio
under current economic conditions, underlying collateral value securing loans
and such other factors, which deserve recognition in estimating loan losses.
Actual future losses may be different from estimates due to unforeseen events.
Loans, or portions thereof, which are deemed to be uncollectible, will be
charged against the allowance.
Loan loss reserves are determined based on management's internal review of
nonperforming loans, delinquency trends, the level of rated assets and
charge-off trends. Additionally, management assesses general and specific
economic trends both nationally and locally and regulatory information to
determine the impact of those external factors on loan loss reserve levels.
Based on the internal and external reviews, the Subsidiary Banks segregate their
loan portfolios by type of loans and by loan classification within each loan
type. The allowance for loan losses is allocated by different loan
classifications based on management's assessment of risk inherent in the various
types of loans. Reserve percentages are applied (based on historical and
anticipated loss rates) to each loan group to determine the required amount of
allocated general loan loss reserves.
Although historically, there have been minimal losses in loans secured by real
estate, management has allocated additional reserves to these categories based
upon the large concentration of real estate loans, larger individual loan
amounts, a very competitive market for loan growth and rapidly rising property
valuations in recent years in certain locations in our market area which may not
be sustainable.
DEPOSITS
TABLE 5 - DEPOSIT AVERAGE BALANCES AND RATES PAID
The following table summarizes average balances of deposits of the Company and
the Subsidiary Banks on a consolidated basis and the average rates paid on such
deposits during 2002, 2001 and 2000.
2002 2001 2000
--------------- --------------- ---------------
($ in thousands) Amount Rate Amount Rate Amount Rate
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
Non-interest-bearing
demand $ 55,250 0.00% $ 43,356 0.00% $ 39,905 0.00%
Interest-bearing demand 59,075 0.55% 52,542 1.47% 47,252 2.18%
Savings deposits 13,404 0.96% 11,741 2.03% 12,225 2.79%
Money market deposits 54,750 1.68% 40,478 3.15% 36,263 4.31%
Time deposits 144,334 3.97% 152,091 5.95% 124,911 6.09%
-------- -------- --------
Total $326,813 $300,208 $260,556
======== ======== ========
18
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
See Note 6 and Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page
F-12, and page F-16, of the Registrant's 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders,
which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
The Savannah Bank's main office is located at 25 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia
31401, on the ground floor and lower level of a seven story office building
located on Johnson Square in downtown Savannah. The location is sometimes called
the Financial Square because six financial institutions surround the square
(downtown park). The location is convenient to commercial customers and
consumers who already use the services of the six other financial institution
offices on Johnson Square.
The Savannah Bank has leased approximately 4,710 square feet on the main floor,
and 2000 square feet in the lower level of the building under a five-year lease
with one optional five-year extension in June 2004. In November 1998, an
additional 1,475 square feet of space was leased on the sixth floor. This lease
is through June 2004 with one five-year renewal option. The rental costs
increase by 3 percent of the gross rental amount each year during the initial
five-year term and thereafter in accordance with the Consumer Price Index. The
Company is also responsible for its pro rata share of increases in the cost of
ad valorem taxes, insurance, utilities and janitorial services.
In 1989, Bryan Bank constructed its 8,500 square foot two-story main office in
Richmond Hill, Georgia, on land owned by Bryan Bank. The building has a walk-up
ATM, a drive-up ATM and 4 drive-in lanes. All bank personnel are housed in this
one location.
Savannah Bank also leases approximately 6,500 square feet on the first floor of
a two-story building located at 400 Mall Boulevard, Savannah, Georgia. This
space is being used for the Savannah Bank's first branch location and the
Mortgage Loan and Construction lending departments. The building is located near
the corner of Mall Boulevard and Hodgson Memorial Drive, a location that is
convenient to a significant concentration of commercial, service, and retail
entities. The lease rate increases with the Consumer Price Index. The initial
lease term was for five years and ended March 31, 1997. The Savannah Bank
committed to exercise the next five-year lease option in February 2002. There
are three additional five-year renewal options included in the terms. The
Company is also responsible for its prorata share of increases in the cost of ad
valorem taxes, insurance and maintenance of common areas. The bank renovated the
existing space, constructed a vault, drive-in teller area and five drive-in
teller lanes adjacent to the building.
During 1995, Savannah Bank entered into a five-year ground lease with nine
five-year renewal options at 100 Chatham Parkway. The Savannah Bank also has a
right of first refusal to buy the property at appraised value should the owner
ever decide to sell the property. The location is at the intersection of Chatham
Parkway and U.S. Highway 80, a major commercial and industrial intersection in
west Chatham County. The Savannah Bank made land improvements and constructed a
2200 square-foot banking facility including four drive-in lanes and an ATM
drive-through lane. The West Chatham Office opened for business on November 20,
1995.
In 1997, Savannah Bank constructed a 2,300 square foot office on an outlot owned
in the Island Towne Centre Shopping Plaza, six miles east of downtown Savannah.
In November 1997, the Savannah Bank entered into a ten-year lease beginning June
1, 1998 with four five-year renewal options in the Medical Arts Shopping Center
at 4809 Waters Avenue. The property consists of 3,055 square feet of banking
office space and a separate drive-through behind the shopping center.
In early March, 2002, Savannah Bank entered into a lease agreement, effective
May 1, 2002, for approximately 5,000 square feet of office space at 450 Mall
Boulevard, adjacent to our existing branch office at 400 Mall Boulevard. This
lease is an addition to an existing lease for space at 400 Mall Boulevard that
contains renewal options through 2017. The image item processing, statement
rendering, operations research, information technology and deposit operations
and branch operations support functions have been relocated into this space.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is not a party to, nor is any of its property the subject of, any
material pending legal proceedings incidental to the business of the Company or
the Subsidiary Banks.
19
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Incorporated herein by reference to sections entitled "Table 5 - Market for
Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters" on page F-29 of the
Financial Statement Section of the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders.
ITEM 6. - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Incorporated herein by reference to sections "Table 1- Selected Financial
Condition Highlights - Five-Year Comparison," "Table 2 - Selected Operating
Highlights" and "Table 3 - Selected Quarterly Data," "Table 6 - Average Balance
Sheet and Rate/Volume Analysis" and "Table 7 - Average Balance Sheet and
Rate/Volume Analysis" in the Registrant's Management and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations on pages F-20 through F-31 of the Financial
Statement Section of the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" on
pages F-22 and F-26 of the Financial Statement Section of the 2002 Annual Report
to Shareholders.
ITEM 7A. - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled "Liquidity and
Interest Rate Sensitivity Management" and "Table 4 - Long-term Maturity Gap and
Repricing Data" in the Registrant's Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages F-26 and F-28 of the
Financial Statement Section of the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders.
20
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
(a) 1. Financial Statements
Incorporated herein by reference to the financial statements, together with the
applicable report of independent accountants, are included on pages F-3 and F-18
of the Financial Statement Section of the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders.
The index for Item 8 is as follows:
Page Number
-----------
(i) Consolidated Financial Highlights for 2002 and 2001 F-1
(ii) Management's Responsibility for Financial Reporting F-2
(iii) Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants F-3
(ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets December 31, 2002 and 2001 F-4
(iii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years
Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 F-5
(iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders'
Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
2001 and 2000 F-6
(v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years
Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 F-7
(vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-8
2. Financial Statement Schedules
Computation of Earnings Per Share Exhibit 11
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENT WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled "Election of
Directors" and "Executive Officers" in the Registrant's Proxy Statement dated
March 14, 2003 and filed on March 4, 2003. All transactions required pursuant to
the insider trading regulations were filed on either Form 4 or Form 5 of the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled "Executive
Compensation and Benefits" in the Registrant's Proxy Statement dated March 14,
2003 and filed on March 4, 2003.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled "Election of
Directors" and "Ownership of Equity Securities" in the Registrant's Proxy
Statement dated March 14, 2002 and filed on March 4, 2002.
21
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information contained in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
incorporated by reference and under the caption "Certain Transactions" in the
Registrant's Proxy Statement dated March 14, 2003 and filed on March 4, 2003.
ITEM 14. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
CONCLUSION ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DISCLOSURE
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
- ------------------------------------------------
We, the certifying officers have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation,
to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors the
following items:
No significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls
which could adversely affect the company's ability to record, process,
summarize, and report financial data have been identified.
No fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role
in the company's internal controls has been discovered.
Changes in Internal Controls
- ----------------------------
We, the certifying officers, indicate in this report that there were no
significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could
significantly affect internal controls subsequent to our evaluation completed on
February 28, 2003. There were no significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses that require corrective actions.
22
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number Description
------ --------------
3.1 * Articles of Incorporation
3.2 * By-laws as amended
10.1 * Lease for Bank Site at 25 Bull Street and Assumption of
Lease
10.5 * Form of Organizers' Stock Option Agreement
10.6 * Lease for Mall Boulevard Office dated February 14, 1992
10.7 * The Savannah Bancorp, Inc. Incentive Stock Option Plan
approved by shareholders on April 18, 1995.
10.8 * Amendment to The Savannah Bancorp, Inc. Incentive Stock
Option Plan approved by shareholders on April 16, 1996.
11 Computation of Earnings Per Share
21 Subsidiaries of Registrant
22 Proxy for Annual Meeting
23.1 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP
*Items 3.1, 3.2, 10.1, 10.5, 10.7, 10.8 and 21 were previously filed by the
Company as Exhibits (with the same respective Exhibit Numbers as indicated
herein) to the Company's Registration Statement (Registration No. 33-33405)
filed in February 1990 and such documents are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 10.6 was filed as an exhibit with the 1992 Annual Report on Form 10-K in
March, 1993.
(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K - None.
THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
23
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 March
12-18, 2003 by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THE SAVANNAH BANCORP, INC.
By: /s/ ARCHIE H. DAVIS /s/ G. MIKE ODOM, JR.
Archie H. Davis, G. Mike Odom, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Executive Vice President and
Officer Chief Operating Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ ROBERT B. BRISCOE
Robert B. Briscoe
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
Directors:
/s/ J. WILEY ELLIS /s/ JACK M. JONES
J. Wiley Ellis Jack M. Jones
Chairman of the Board
/s/ AARON M. LEVY
/s/ E. JAMES BURNSED Aaron M. Levy
E. James Burnsed
Vice Chairman
/s/ J. CURTIS LEWIS, III
J. Curtis Lewis, III
/s/ RUSSELL W. CARPENTER
Russell W. Carpenter
/s/ M. LANE MORRISON
M. Lane Morrison
/s/ ARCHIE H. DAVIS
Archie H. Davis
/s/ J. TOBY ROBERTS
J. Toby Roberts, Sr.
/s/ ROBERT H. DEMERE, JR.
Robert H. Demere, Jr.
/s/ JAMES W. ROYAL
James W. Royal
/s/ L. CARLTON GILL
L. Carlton Gill
/s/ ROBERT T. THOMPSON, JR.
Robert T. Thompson, Jr.
/s/ ______________________
Robert W. Groves III
24
CERTIFICATIONS
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Archie H. Davis, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K (Annual Report) of The
Savannah Bancorp, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual
Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries,
is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and
procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Annual
Report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
c) presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the
Evaluation Date.
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls
which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's
auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
Annual Report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls
or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent
to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
Date: March 5, 2003 /s/ Archie H. Davis President & CEO
Archie H. Davis
25
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, G. Mike Odom, Jr. certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Savannah Bancorp,
Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual
Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries,
is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and
procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Annual
Report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
c) presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the
Evaluation Date.
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls
which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's
auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
Annual Report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls
or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent
to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
Date: March 5, 2003 /s/ G. Mike Odom, Jr. Executive Vice President &
G. Mike Odom, Jr. and Chief Operating Officer
26
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Robert B. Briscoe certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K (Annual Report) of The
Savannah Bancorp, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual
Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material
information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries,
is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and
procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Annual
Report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
c) presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the
Evaluation Date.
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls
which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's
auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
Annual Report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls
or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent
to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
Date: March 5, 2003 /s/ Robert B. Briscoe Chief Financial Officer
Robert B. Briscoe
27