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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

     
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2005
 
   
OR
 
   
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)
 
   
  For the transition period from                    to

Commission File Number 000-27377

W HOLDING COMPANY, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
     
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico   66-0573197
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
or Organization)    

19 West McKinley Street
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00681

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(787) 834-8000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934 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 þ NOo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12-b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES þ NOo

As of April 30, 2005, there were 164,037,228 shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $1.00 par value.

 
 

 


W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONTENTS

                 
            Page
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION:        
 
               
  Item 1.   Financial Statements (Unaudited)        
 
               
      Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004     1  
 
               
      Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004     2  
 
               
      Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity and of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004     3  
 
               
      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 4-5  
 
               
      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6-26  
 
               
  Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 27-58  
 
               
  Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 59-61  
 
               
  Item 4.   Controls and Procedures     62  
 
               
PART II OTHER INFORMATION:        
 
               
  Item 1.   Legal Proceedings     63  
 
               
  Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K     63  
 
               
SIGNATURES     64  
 EX-31.1 SECTION 302, CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO
 EX-31.2 SECTION 302, CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO
 EX-32.1 SECTION 906, CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO
 EX-32.2 SECTION 906, CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO

 


Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

Item I. Financial Statements

W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
ASSETS
               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 100,856     $ 77,752  
Money market instruments:
               
Federal funds sold and resell agreements
    954,311       1,017,303  
Interest-bearing deposits in banks
    60,911       49,476  
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value with an amortized cost
of $5,267 in 2005 and $8,093 in 2004
    5,062       7,881  
Investment securities held to maturity, at amortized cost with a fair value
of $6,756,780 in 2005 and $6,836,897 in 2004
    6,948,043       6,921,379  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost
    46,473       52,195  
Residential mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
    899       1,633  
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $82,932 in 2005 and $80,066 in 2004
    6,631,713       5,941,233  
Accrued interest receivable
    90,069       88,285  
Foreclosed real estate held for sale, net of allowance of $294 in 2005 and $306 in 2004
    3,849       3,811  
Premises and equipment, net
    110,125       110,051  
Deferred income taxes, net
    32,397       31,027  
Other assets
    32,874       34,636  
 
           
TOTAL
  $ 15,017,582     $ 14,336,662  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
LIABILITIES:
               
Deposits:
               
Noninterest-bearing
  $ 263,822     $ 249,368  
Interest-bearing and related accrued interest payable
    6,797,871       5,981,843  
 
           
Total deposits
    7,061,693       6,231,211  
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements
    6,476,172       6,683,527  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    207,000       211,000  
Mortgage note payable
    36,744       36,858  
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    5,225       6,513  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    97,260       85,874  
 
           
Total liabilities
    13,884,094       13,254,983  
 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Preferred stock — $1.00 par value per share (liquidation preference - $531,388
in 2005 and $511,744 in 2004); authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 18,178,711 shares
in 2005 and 17,794,251 shares in 2004
    18,179       17,794  
Common stock — $1.00 par value per share; authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 164,012,772 shares in 2005 and 163,918,835 shares in 2004
    164,013       163,919  
Paid-in capital
    705,700       686,493  
Retained earnings:
               
Reserve fund
    65,424       60,672  
Undivided profits
    180,377       153,013  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax
    (205 )     (212 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,133,488       1,081,679  
 
           
TOTAL
  $ 15,017,582     $ 14,336,662  
 
           

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
INTEREST INCOME:
               
Loans, including loan fees
  $ 99,664     $ 73,273  
Investment securities
    60,677       47,419  
Mortgage-backed securities
    8,773       10,242  
Money market instruments
    9,196       3,473  
 
           
Total interest income
    178,310       134,407  
 
           
INTEREST EXPENSE:
               
Deposits
    44,204       31,459  
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements
    50,679       30,345  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    1,980       1,397  
 
           
Total interest expense
    96,863       63,201  
 
           
NET INTEREST INCOME
    81,447       71,206  
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    6,000       8,941  
 
           
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    75,447       62,265  
 
           
NONINTEREST INCOME:
               
Service and other charges on loans
    2,326       2,618  
Service charges on deposit accounts
    1,975       1,901  
Other fees and commissions
    2,831       2,259  
Net gain on sales and valuation of loans, securities and other assets
    143       130  
Loss on derivative instruments
    (40 )      
 
           
Total noninterest income
    7,235       6,908  
 
           
TOTAL NET INTEREST INCOME AND NONINTEREST INCOME
    82,682       69,173  
 
           
NONINTEREST EXPENSES:
               
Salaries and employees’ benefits
    10,682       9,144  
Equipment
    2,233       2,297  
Deposits insurance premium and supervisory examination
    798       672  
Occupancy
    1,747       1,661  
Advertising
    1,724       2,466  
Printing, postage, stationery and supplies
    784       799  
Telephone
    476       589  
Net (gain) loss from operations of foreclosed real estate held for sale
    (80 )     241  
Municipal taxes
    1,078       899  
Other
    4,829       4,879  
 
           
Total noninterest expenses
    24,271       23,647  
 
           
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    58,411       45,526  
 
           
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
Current
    11,180       6,870  
Deferred credit
    (1,370 )     (1,838 )
 
           
Total provision for income taxes
    9,810       5,032  
 
           
NET INCOME
  $ 48,601     $ 40,494  
 
           
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 39,282     $ 33,719  
 
           
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 0.24     $ 0.21 (1)
 
           
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 0.23     $ 0.20 (1)
 
           


(1)   Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split and a 2% stock dividend on our common stock declared in December 2004 and distributed both on January 10, 2005.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Changes in Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Preferred stock:
               
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 17,794     $ 15,396  
Issuance of preferred stock
    401        
Conversion of preferred stock
    (16 )     (71 )
 
           
Balance at end of period
    18,179       15,325  
 
           
Common stock:
               
Balance at beginning of period
    163,919       106,290  
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of preferred stock
    59       161  
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options
    35       215  
 
           
Balance at end of period
    164,013       106,666  
 
           
Paid-in capital:
               
Balance at beginning of period
    686,493       514,800  
Stock options exercised
    65       754  
Effect of stock options granted to employees
    116       224  
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of preferred stock
    (43 )     (90 )
Issuance of preferred stock
    19,069        
 
           
Balance at end of period
    705,700       515,688  
 
           
Reserve fund:
               
Balance at beginning of period
    60,672       43,375  
Transfer from undivided profits
    4,752       4,081  
 
           
Balance at end of period
    65,424       47,456  
 
           
Undivided profits:
               
Balance at beginning of period
    153,013       149,581  
Net income
    48,601       40,494  
Cash dividends on common stock
    (7,166 )     (5,864 )
Cash dividends on preferred stock
    (9,319 )     (6,775 )
Transfer to reserve fund
    (4,752 )     (4,081 )
 
           
Balance at end of period
    180,377       173,355  
 
           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax:
               
Balance at beginning of period
    (212 )     (933 )
Other comprehensive income, net of income tax for the period
    7       700  
 
           
Balance at end of period
    (205 )     (233 )
 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 1,133,488     $ 858,257  
 
           
Comprehensive Income:
               
Net income
  $ 48,601     $ 40,494  
 
           
Other comprehensive income, net of income tax:
               
Unrealized net gains on securities available for sale:
               
Unrealized gains arising during the period
    7       706  
Income tax effect
          (6 )
 
           
Net increase in other comprehensive income, net of income tax
    7       700  
 
           
Total Comprehensive Income
  $ 48,608     $ 41,194  
 
           

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net income
  $ 48,601     $ 40,494  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Provision (credit) for:
               
Loan losses
    6,000       8,941  
Losses on foreclosed real estate held for sale
    (12 )     243  
Deferred income tax
    (1,370 )     (1,838 )
Depreciation and amortization on:
               
Premises and equipment
    1,685       1,775  
Mortgage servicing rights
    119       92  
Stock options granted to employees
    116       224  
Amortization of premium (discount), net on:
               
Investment securities available for sale
    25       125  
Investment securities held to maturity
    (452 )     (434 )
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity
    66       363  
Loans
    302       319  
Amortization of discount on deposits
    989       755  
Amortization of net deferred loan origination fees
    (4,772 )     (2,281 )
Net loss (gain) on sale and in valuation of:
               
Mortgage loans held for sale
    (71 )     182  
Derivative instruments
    (410 )     (441 )
Foreclosed real estate held for sale
    (97 )     (27 )
Capitalization of servicing rights
    (66 )     (13 )
Originations of mortgage loans held for sale
    (4,576 )     (8,196 )
Sales of mortgage loans held for sale
    4,778        
Decrease (increase) in:
               
Trading securities
    532       1,019  
Accrued interest receivable
    (1,783 )     4,710  
Other assets
    (1,169 )     (9,277 )
Increase in:
               
Accrued interest on deposits and borrowings
    8,090       4,027  
Other liabilities
    10,069       7,098  
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    66,594       47,860  
 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net increase in interest-bearing deposits in banks
    (11,435 )     (6,363 )
Net decrease (increase) in federal funds sold and resell agreements
    62,992       (149,468 )
Investment securities available for sale:
               
Maturities, prepayments and calls
    2,802       13,059  
Investment securities held to maturity:
               
Maturities, prepayments and calls
    1,012,210       3,585,800  
Purchases
    (1,018,897 )     (3,847,391 )
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity:
               
Maturities, prepayments and calls
    30,306       53,767  
Purchases
    (49,897 )     (5,557 )
Loans:
               
Purchases
    (400,304 )     (75,048 )
Sales
          6,353  
Loans originations and principal collections, net
    (295,927 )     (202,920 )
Purchases of derivative options
    (254 )     (269 )
Proceeds from sales of foreclosed real estate held for sale
    296       167  
Additions to premises and equipment
    (1,844 )     (3,426 )
Redemptions of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    5,722       500  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (664,230 )     (630,796 )
 
           
Forward
  $ (597,636 )   $ (582,936 )
 
           
(Continued)

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W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
Forward
  $ (597,636 )   $ (582,936 )
 
           
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net increase in deposits
    829,770       323,890  
Net increase (decrease) in federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements
    (535,062 )     253,987  
Repurchase agreements with original maturities over three months:
               
Proceeds
    1,960,812       629,804  
Payments
    (1,633,105 )     (608,688 )
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank:
               
Proceeds
    60,000       52,000  
Payments
    (64,000 )     (62,000 )
Payments of mortgage note payable
    (114 )     (90 )
Net decrease in advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    (1,288 )     (1,078 )
Dividends paid
    (15,649 )     (12,293 )
Issuance of preferred stock
    19,276        
Proceeds from stock options exercised
    100       971  
 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities
    620,740       576,503  
 
           
                 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS
    23,104       (6,433 )
                 
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    77,752       92,811  
                 
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 100,856     $ 86,378  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest on deposits and other borrowings
  $ 89,511     $ 59,175  
Noncash activities:
               
Accrued dividends payable
    4,137       3,082  
Net change in other comprehensive loss
    7       700  
Mortgage loans securitized and transferred to trading securities
    539       1,019  
Transfer from loans to foreclosed real estate held for sale
    325       253  
Mortgage loans originated to finance the sale of foreclosed real estate held for sale
    100        
Unpaid additions to premises and equipment
    84       67  
Transfer from undivided profits to reserve fund
    4,752       4,081  
Effect in valuation of derivatives and their hedged items:
               
Decrease in loans
    (3,996 )      
Increase (decrease) in other assets
    (2,878 )     2,243  
Decrease (increase) in deposits
    6,474       (524 )
Decrease in other liabilities
    810       4,132  
Conversion of preferred stock into common stock:
               
Common stock
    59       161  
Paid in capital
    (43 )     (90 )
Preferred stock
    (16 )     (71 )

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

(Concluded)

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W HOLDING COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

W Holding Company, Inc. (the “Company”) is a financial holding company offering a full range of financial services. The business of the Company is conducted primarily through its wholly owned commercial bank subsidiary, Westernbank Puerto Rico (“Westernbank” or the “Bank”). The Company’s other direct subsidiary is Westernbank Insurance Corp. The Company was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in February 1999 to become the bank holding company of Westernbank. Westernbank was founded as a savings institution in 1958 operating in the western and southwestern regions of Puerto Rico, focusing on retail banking and emphasizing long-term fixed-rate residential mortgage loans on one-to-four family residential properties. In 1994, Westernbank changed its charter to become a full-service commercial bank. Westernbank offers a full range of business and consumer financial services, including banking, trust and brokerage services. Westernbank Insurance Corp. is a general insurance agent placing property, casualty, life and disability insurance. The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of Westernbank Insurance Corp. at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were not significant.

In July 2000, the Company became a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. As a financial holding company, the Company is permitted to engage in financial related activities, including insurance and securities activities, provided that the Company and its banking subsidiary meet certain regulatory standards.

Westernbank operates through 53 full service branch offices located throughout Puerto Rico, including 33 in the Western and Southwestern regions, 7 in the Northeastern region, 12 in the San Juan Metropolitan area, and one in the Eastern region, and a fully functional banking site in the Internet. Westernbank traditional banking operations include retail operations, such as its branches, including the branches of the Expresso division, together with consumer loans, mortgage loans, commercial loans (excluding the asset-based lending operations), investments (treasury) and deposit products. Besides the traditional banking operations, Westernbank operates through four other divisions: Westernbank International Division, which is an International Banking Entity (“IBE”) under the Puerto Rico Act No. 52 of August 11, 1989, as amended, known as the International Banking Regulatory Act, which offers commercial and related services, and treasury and investment activities outside of Puerto Rico; Westernbank Business Credit, which specializes in commercial business loans secured principally by commercial real estate, accounts receivable, inventory and equipment; Westernbank Trust Division, which offers a full array of trust services; and Expresso of Westernbank, a division which specializes in small, unsecured consumer loans up to $15,000 and real estate collateralized consumer loans up to $150,000 through 19 full-service branches.

Westernbank World Plaza, Inc. (“WWPI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Westernbank, owns and operates Westernbank World Plaza, a 23-story office building, including its related parking facility, located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, the main Puerto Rican business district. Westernbank World Plaza serves as the Company’s San Juan metropolitan area headquarters for Westernbank’s regional commercial lending office and headquarters for the Westernbank Business Credit and Expresso of Westernbank divisions. Westernbank also owns 100% of the voting shares of SRG Net, Inc., a Puerto Rico corporation that operates an electronic funds transfer network. The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of SRG Net, Inc. at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were not significant.

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The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and banking industry practices (See Note 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K). The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (which consist of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial condition as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Financial information as of December 31, 2004, has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. The results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2004, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Following is a summary of the most recent accounting policies adopted by the Company:

In December 2003, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position (“SOP”) 03-3, Accounting for Certain Loans and Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer. SOP 03-3 addresses the accounting for acquired loans that show evidence of having deteriorated in terms of credit quality since their origination (i.e. impaired loans). SOP 03-3 requires acquired loans to be recorded at their fair value defined as the present value of future cash flows. SOP 03-3 prohibits the carryover of an allowance for loan losses on certain acquired loans as credit losses are considered in the future cash flows assessment. SOP 03-3 is effective for loans that are acquired in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2004. SOP 03-3 did not have any effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue 03-1, Meaning of Other Than Temporary Impairment (Issue 03-1) for debt and equity securities accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities and cost method investments. The basic model developed by the Task Force in evaluating whether an investment within the scope of Issue 03-1 is other-than-temporarily impaired is as follows: Step 1: Determine whether an investment is impaired. An investment is considered impaired if its fair value is less than its cost. Step 2: Evaluate whether an impairment is other-than-temporary. For equity securities and debt securities that can contractually be prepaid or otherwise settled in such

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a way that the investor would not recover substantially all of its cost, an impairment is presumed to be other-than-temporary unless: the investor has the ability and intent to hold the investment for a reasonable period of time sufficient for a forecasted market price recovery of the investment, and evidence indicating that the cost of the investment is recoverable within a reasonable period of time outweighs evidence to the contrary. For other debt securities, an impairment is deemed other-than-temporary if: the investor does not have the ability and intent to hold the investment until a forecasted market price recovery (may mean until maturity), or it is probable that the investor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the debt security. Step 3: If the impairment is other-than-temporary, recognize in earnings an impairment loss equal to the difference between the investment cost and its fair value. The fair value of the investment then becomes the new cost basis of the investment and cannot be adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value, unless required by other authoritative literature.

On September 30, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FSP EITF Issue 03-01-1, which delayed the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance of an impairment loss that is other-than-temporary (i.e. steps 2 and 3 of the impairment model) contained in paragraphs 10-20 of EITF 03-1. Application of these paragraphs is deferred pending issuance of proposed FSP EITF Issue 03-1a. This delay does not suspend the requirement to recognize other-than-temporary impairments as required by existing authoritative literature. The guidance in paragraphs 6 to 9 of EITF 03-1 (i.e. step 1 of the impairment model), as well as the disclosure requirements in paragraphs 21 and 22 have not been deferred and should be applied based on the transition provisions in EITF 03-1. Based on the composition of the investment portfolio held at March 31, 2005, EITF 03-1 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets – an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29. The guidance in APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions, is based on the principle that exchanges of nonmonetary assets should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. The guidance in that Opinion, however, included certain exceptions to that principle. This Statement amends Opinion 29 to eliminate the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. A nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. This Statement shall be applied prospectively and is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. Earlier application is permitted for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after the date of issuance of this Statement. SFAS No. 153 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, that will require compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions to be recognized in the financial statements. With limited exceptions, the amount of compensation cost will be measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. In addition, liability awards will be remeasured each reporting period. Compensation cost will be recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. SFAS No. 123(R) replaces FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25,

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Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. SFAS No. 123(R) will be effective on January 1, 2006, and applies to all awards granted after this effective date and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after that date. The cumulative effect of initially applying this statement, if any, is recognized as of the required effective date. Entities that used the fair-value-based method for either recognition or disclosure under SFAS No. 123 will apply this revised statement using a modified version of prospective application. Under that transition method, for the portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered, compensation cost is recognized on or after the required effective date based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated under SFAS No. 123 for either recognition or pro forma disclosures. For periods before the required effective date, those entities may elect to apply a modified version of retrospective application under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods by SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 123(R) is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations since the Company only has employee stock options and it follows since January 1, 2003 the fair value method under the modified prospective application allowed by the provisions of SFAS No. 148.

2. EARNINGS PER SHARE AND CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS

Basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were computed by dividing the net income attributable to common stockholders for such periods by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the same periods, as follows:

                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (Amounts in thousands,  
    except per share data)  
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:
               
Net income
  $ 48,601     $ 40,494  
Less preferred stock dividends
    9,319       6,775  
 
           
 
               
Income attributable to common stockholders — basic
    39,282       33,719  
Plus convertible preferred stock dividends
    231       339  
 
           
Income attributable to common stockholders — diluted
  $ 39,513     $ 34,058  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period
    163,942       162,935 (1)
 
               
Dilutive potential common shares — stock options
    5,315       5,324 (1)
Assumed conversion of preferred stock
    1,761       2,541 (1)
 
           
 
               
Total
    171,018       170,800  
 
           
 
               
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.24     $ 0.21 (1)
 
           
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.23     $ 0.20 (1)
 
           


(1)   Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split and a 2% stock dividend on our common stock declared in December 2004, both distributed on January 10, 2005.

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On January 3, 2005, the Company issued 401,300 shares of its 2004 Series H preferred stock under an over-allotment option to the underwriter. The preferred shares were issued at a price of $50.00 per share. Proceeds from this issuance of the 2004 Series H preferred stock amounted to $19,433,000, net of $632,000 of issuance costs.

On February 10, 2005, one of the Company’s executive officers exercised 35,113 options under the Company’s 1999 Qualified Option Plan at an exercise price of $2.85 per share.

During the three month period ended March 31, 2005, 16,840 shares of the Company’s convertible preferred stock series A were converted into 58,824 shares of the Company’s common stock.

3. DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE

The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted an ongoing policy that provides for the distribution of dividends to common shareholders on the basis of a percentage of the average earnings for the last two preceding years. The same are paid monthly on the 15th day of each month for stockholders of record as of the last day of the preceding month.

On January 20, 2005, the Company’s board of directors approved an increase in its annual dividend payments to stockholders for 2005 to $0.19 per share. This represents an increase of 32.14% over the dividends paid in 2004.

The Company’s cash dividends per share declared for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were as follows:

             
RECORD DATE   PAYABLE DATE   AMOUNT PER SHARE (1)
2005
           
January 31, 2005
  February 15, 2005     $ 0.01198
February 28, 2005
  March 15, 2005       0.01583
March 31, 2005
  April 15, 2005       0.01583
           
 
           
Total
        $ 0.04364
           
 
           
2004(2)
           
January 31, 2004
  February 17, 2004     $ 0.01198
February 29, 2004
  March 15, 2004       0.01198
March 31, 2004
  April 15, 2004       0.01198
           
 
           
Total
        $ 0.03594
           


(1)Dividend amounts in the table are rounded.
 
(2)Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split and a 2% stock dividend on our common stock declared in December 2004, both distributed on January 10, 2005.

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4. INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of investment securities were as follows:

                                 
            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
March 31, 2005           (In thousands)          
Available for sale:
                               
Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO’s) issued or guaranteed by Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
  $ 5,267     $     $ 205     $ 5,062  
 
                       
 
                               
Held to maturity:
                               
U.S. Government and agencies obligations
  $ 6,011,984     $     $ 117,917     $ 5,894,067  
Puerto Rico Government and agencies obligations
    34,822       367       568       34,621  
Commercial paper
    25,000       38             25,038  
Corporate notes
    26,422       2,065             28,487  
 
                       
 
                               
Subtotal
    6,098,228       2,470       118,485       5,982,213  
 
                       
 
                               
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) certificates
    9,453       426             9,879  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) certificates
    5,335       248             5,583  
FNMA certificates
    3,378       193             3,571  
CMO’s issued or guaranteed by FHLMC
    720,613       108       71,445       649,276  
CMO’s issued or guaranteed by FNMA
    111,036       17       4,795       106,258  
 
                       
 
                               
Subtotal
    849,815       992       76,240       774,567  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
  $ 6,948,043     $ 3,462     $ 194,725     $ 6,756,780  
 
                       

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            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
December 31, 2004           (In thousands)          
Available for sale:
                               
CMO’s issued or guaranteed by FNMA
  $ 6,298     $     $ 182     $ 6,116  
CMO’s issued or guaranteed by FHLMC
    1,795             30       1,765  
 
                       
Total
  $ 8,093     $     $ 212     $ 7,881  
 
                       
 
                               
Held to maturity:
                               
U.S. Government and agencies obligations
  $ 6,004,849     $ 6,181     $ 32,457     $ 5,978,573  
Puerto Rico Government and agencies obligations
    34,822       303       540       34,585  
Commercial paper
    25,000       87             25,087  
Corporate notes
    26,418       2,193             28,611  
 
                       
 
                               
Subtotal
    6,091,089       8,764       32,997       6,066,856  
 
                       
 
                               
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
GNMA certificates
    9,881       484             10,365  
FHLMC certificates
    5,663       334             5,997  
FNMA certificates
    3,642       245             3,887  
CMO’s issued or guaranteed by FHLMC
    706,632       14       58,171       648,475  
CMO’s issued or guaranteed by FNMA
    104,441       20       3,175       101,286  
CMO’s other
    31                   31  
 
                       
 
                               
Subtotal
    830,290       1,097       61,346       770,041  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
  $ 6,921,379     $ 9,861     $ 94,343     $ 6,836,897  
 
                       

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities held to maturity at March 31, 2005, by contractual maturity (excluding mortgage-backed securities) are shown below:

                 
    Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Due within one year
  $ 30,495     $ 30,543  
Due after one year through five years
    5,339,007       5,232,788  
Due after five years through ten years
    705,949       694,145  
Due after ten years
    22,777       24,737  
 
           
Subtotal
    6,098,228       5,982,213  
 
               
Mortgage-backed securities
    849,815       774,567  
 
           
 
               
Total
  $ 6,948,043     $ 6,756,780  
 
           

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The Company’s investment portfolio as of March 31, 2005, consisted principally of U.S. Government and agencies obligations, Puerto Rico Government and agencies obligations, and mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by FHLMC, FNMA or GNMA. There were no investment securities other than those referred to above in unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2005. These unrealized losses relate to interest rate changes. Investment securities with prepayment provisions did not have significant unamortized premiums at March 31, 2005. As management has the ability to hold debt securities until maturity, or for the foreseeable future, if classified as available for sale, no declines are deemed to be other-than-temporary at March 31, 2005.

The Company uses certain methods and assumptions in estimating fair values of financial instruments. (See Note 20. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).

Available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities are reviewed at least quarterly for possible other-than-temporary impairment. The review includes an analysis of the facts and circumstances of each individual investment such as the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been below cost, the expectation for that security’s performance, the credit worthiness of the issuer and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the security to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value if classified as available for sale, or to maturity. A decline in value that is considered to be other-than-temporary is recorded as a loss within noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income.

See Note 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES for recent developments on the measurement and recognition guidance on other-than-temporary impairments.

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5. LOANS

The loan portfolio consisted of the following:

                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
REAL ESTATE LOANS SECURED BY FIRST MORTGAGES:
               
Commercial real estate
  $ 3,370,088     $ 3,167,439  
Residential real estate, mainly one-to-four family residences
    1,268,266       903,967  
Construction and land acquisition
    343,473       331,221  
 
           
 
               
Total
    4,981,827       4,402,627  
 
           
 
               
Plus (less):
               
Undisbursed portion of loans in process
    (2,571 )     (3,076 )
Premium on loans purchased
    637       690  
Deferred loan fees — net
    (14,946 )     (14,480 )
 
           
 
               
Total
    (16,880 )     (16,866 )
 
           
 
               
Real estate loans — net
    4,964,947       4,385,761  
 
           
 
               
OTHER LOANS:
               
Commercial loans
    895,146       768,845  
Consumer loans:
               
Loans on deposits
    28,260       29,587  
Credit cards
    53,034       53,268  
Installment
    778,531       789,095  
Plus (less):
               
Premium on loans purchased
    1,101       1,337  
Deferred loan fees — net
    (6,374 )     (6,594 )
 
           
 
               
Other loans — net
    1,749,698       1,635,538  
 
           
 
               
TOTAL LOANS
    6,714,645       6,021,299  
 
               
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
    (82,932 )     (80,066 )
 
           
 
               
LOANS — NET
  $ 6,631,713     $ 5,941,233  
 
           

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The total investment in impaired commercial and construction loans at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, was $55,159,000 and $54,175,000, respectively. All impaired commercial and construction loans were measured based on the fair value of collateral at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004. Impaired commercial and construction loans amounting to $32,675,000 and $29,975,000 at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, were covered by a valuation allowance of $8,610,000 and $8,412,000, respectively. Impaired commercial and construction loans amounting to $22,484,000 at March 31, 2005, and $24,200,000 at December 31, 2004, did not require a valuation allowance in accordance with SFAS No. 114. The average investment in impaired commercial and construction loans for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, amounted to $54,157,000 and $47,320,000, respectively. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest income related to impaired loans on a cash basis, when these are over 90 days in arrears on payments of principal or interest. Interest on impaired commercial and construction loans collected and recognized as income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, amounted to $743,000 and $619,000, respectively.

6. PLEDGED ASSETS

At March 31, 2005, residential and commercial mortgage loans, investment securities (held to maturity and available for sale) and money market instruments amounting to $612,514,000; $6,516,456,000; and $13,168,000, respectively, were pledged to secure public funds, individual retirement accounts, repurchase agreements, commercial letters of credit, advances and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, interest rate swap agreements, and to comply with the requirements of the Puerto Rico Treasury Department (for Westernbank International Division). Pledged investment securities amounting to $6,200,017,000 at March 31, 2005, can be repledged.

7. DEPOSITS

Deposits consisted of the following:

                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
Noninterest bearing accounts
  $ 263,822     $ 249,368  
Passbook accounts
    837,389       829,424  
NOW accounts
    274,681       269,716  
Super NOW accounts
    32,982       33,864  
Money market accounts
    102       100  
Certificates of deposit
    5,616,419       4,818,892  
 
           
Total
    7,025,395       6,201,364  
Accrued interest payable
    36,298       29,847  
 
           
Total
  $ 7,061,693     $ 6,231,211  
 
           

The weighted average interest rate of all deposits at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, was approximately 2.85% and 2.75%, respectively.

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8. INCOME TAXES

Under the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), all companies are treated as separate taxable entities and are not entitled to file consolidated tax returns. The Company, Westernbank, Westernbank Insurance Corp. and SRG Net, Inc. are subject to Puerto Rico regular income tax or alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) on income earned from all sources. The AMT is payable if it exceeds regular income tax. The excess of AMT over regular income tax paid in any one year may be used to offset regular income tax in future years, subject to certain limitations.

Westernbank World Plaza, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Westernbank, elected to be treated as a special partnership under the Code; accordingly, its taxable income or deductible loss is included in the taxable income of Westernbank.

The Code provides a dividend received deduction of 100%, on dividends received from wholly owned subsidiaries subject to income taxation in Puerto Rico. The income on certain investments is exempt for income tax purposes. Also, Westernbank International division operates as an International Banking Entity (“IBE”) under the International Banking Regulatory Act. Under Puerto Rico tax law, an IBE can hold non-Puerto Rico assets, and earn interest on these assets, as well as generate fee income outside of Puerto Rico on a tax-exempt basis under certain circumstances. As a result of the above, the Company’s effective tax rate is substantially below the statutory rate.

Pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 13 of January 8, 2004 (the “Act”), for taxable years commencing after June 30, 2003, the net income earned by an IBE that operates as a unit of a bank under the Puerto Rico Banking Law, will be considered taxable and subject to income taxes at the current tax rates in the amount by which the IBE taxable income exceeds 40% in the first applicable taxable year (2004), 30% in the second year (2005) and 20% thereafter, of the taxable income of Westernbank, including its IBE taxable income. Westernbank’s IBE carries on its books a significant amount of securities which are, irrespective of the IBE status, tax exempt by law. Moreover, the Act provides that IBE’s operating as subsidiaries will continue to be exempt from the payment of income taxes. Management estimated that the provisions of the Act did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, or the results of operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.

The Puerto Rico Treasury Department recently submitted to the Governor of Puerto Rico a draft of a proposal to impose a transitory additional income tax of 4% on net interest income, as defined, applicable to Puerto Rico financial institutions. This transitory additional tax, if approved, is expected to be in effect for two years. The proposal excludes from the definition of net interest income, exempt interest earned from obligations of the United States , of any state or territory of the United States or political subdivision, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any instrumentality or political subdivision; including all interest expense allocable to such exempt interest income.

The proposal is subject to review and approval by the Governor and the Puerto Rico Legislature. There is no assurance that this proposal will be approved or changes made before it is signed into law. This proposal, based on year 2004 actual results of operations and the distribution of taxable and exempt interest income for such year, would have resulted in approximately $8.1 million in additional income tax for year 2004, or an estimated increase of approximately 4% in our annual effective tax rate. The final impact of this proposal will depend on the final bill, if approved, and the actual distribution of taxable and exempt income in each applicable year.

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A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed by applying the Puerto Rico income tax statutory rate to the tax provision as reported for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, is as follows:

                                 
    March 31, 2005     March 31, 2004  
            % of Pre-             % of Pre-  
    Amount     tax Income     Amount     tax Income  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Computed at Puerto Rico statutory rate
  $ 22,780       39 %   $ 17,755       39 %
Effect on provision of:
                               
Exempt interest income, net
    (11,843 )     (20 )     (12,259 )     (27 )
Net nondeductible expenses, net
    56             11        
Other
    (1,183 )     (2 )     (475 )     (1 )
 
                       
 
                               
Provision for income taxes as reported
  $ 9,810       17 %   $ 5,032       11 %
 
                       

Deferred income tax assets, net as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, consisted of the following:

                 
    2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
Deferred tax assets:
               
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 31,215     $ 30,098  
Capital losses on sale of investment securities, expire in 2008
    4,886       4,912  
Net operating loss carryfowards, expire through 2009
    600       620  
Unrealized loss in valuation of derivative instruments
    376       415  
Other
    61       172  
 
           
 
               
Total deferred tax assets
    37,138       36,217  
Less valuation allowance
    4,385       5,032  
 
           
Subtotal
    32,753       31,185  
 
               
Less other deferred tax liabilities
    356       158  
 
           
 
               
Deferred income tax assets, net
  $ 32,397     $ 31,027  
 
           

Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on generating sufficient future taxable income or capital gains. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income or capital gains are not met.

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9. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ACTIVITIES

In the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to credit related financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and commercial letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments.

The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit, commitments under credit card arrangements, commercial letters of credit and commitments to purchase loans is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments, which do not necessarily represent the amounts potentially subject to risk. In addition, the measurement of the risks associated with these instruments is meaningful only when all related and offsetting transactions are identified. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

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 generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income producing commercial properties.

Commercial letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company on behalf of a customer authorizing a third party to draw drafts on the Company up to a stipulated amount and with specified terms and conditions.

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The contract amount of financial instruments, whose amounts represent credit risk at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, was as follows:

                 
    2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
Commitments to extend credit:
               
Fixed rates
  $ 7,067     $ 7,576  
Variable rates
    448,021       504,510  
Unused lines of credit:
               
Commercial
    140,960       177,893  
Credit cards and other
    142,786       138,736  
Commercial letters of credit
    24,536       27,784  
Commitments to purchase mortgage loans
    200,000       600,000  
 
           
Total
  $ 963,370     $ 1,456,499  
 
           

Such commitments will be funded in the normal course of business from the Company’s principal sources of funds.

10.  ON-BALANCE SHEET DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company maintains an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings and cash flows caused by interest rate volatility. The Company’s interest rate risk management strategy may involve modifying the re-pricing characteristics of certain assets and liabilities so that changes in interest rates do not adversely affect the net interest margin and cash flows. Derivative instruments that the Company may use as part of its interest rate risk management strategy include interest rate swaps and indexed options. These transactions involve both credit and market risk. The notional amounts are amounts on which calculations, payments and the value of the derivative are based. Notional amounts do not represent direct credit exposures. Direct credit exposure is limited to the net difference between the calculated amounts to be received and paid, if any. Such difference, which represents the fair value of the derivative, is reflected on the Company’s statements of financial condition as derivative assets and derivative liabilities.

The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to these agreements. The Company controls the credit risk of its financial contracts through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures, and does not expect any counterparties to fail their obligations. The Company deals only with primary dealers.

Derivative instruments are generally negotiated over-the-counter (“OTC”) contracts. Negotiated OTC derivatives are generally entered into between two counterparties that negotiate specific agreement terms, including the underlying instrument, amount, exercise price and maturity.

The Company enters into interest-rate swap contracts in managing its interest rate exposure. Interest-rate swap contracts generally involve the exchange of fixed and floating-rate interest payment obligations without the exchange of the underlying principal amounts. Entering into

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interest-rate swap contracts involves not only the risk of dealing with counterparties and their ability to meet the terms of the contracts, but also the interest rate risk associated with unmatched positions. Interest rate swaps are the most common type of derivative contracts that the Company utilizes.

Indexed options are contracts that the Company enters into in order to receive the average appreciation of the month end value of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index over a specified period in exchange for the payment of a premium when the contract is initiated. The credit risk inherent in the indexed options is the risk that the exchange party may default.

Fair Value Hedging Instruments

The Company currently utilizes interest rate swaps to convert its fixed-rate certificates of deposit or firm commitments to originate certificates of deposit (liabilities) to a variable rate. By entering into the swap, the principal amount of the hedged item would remain unchanged but the interest payment streams would change. These swaps mature between one to twenty years with a right by the counterparty to call them after the first anniversary. The Company has an identical right to call the certificates of deposit. Decisions to convert fixed-rate certificates of deposits or firm commitments to originate certificates of deposit (liabilities) to variable rate are made primarily by consideration of the asset/liability mix of the Company, the desired asset/liability sensitivity and by interest rate levels.

The notional amount of the interest rate swaps used to hedge the fixed rate certificates of deposit and the firm commitments to originate certificates of deposit amounted to $625,924,000 and $778,105,000 at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Firm commitments to originate certificates of deposit at December 31, 2004, amounted to $20,000,000. No firm commitments were outstanding at March 31, 2005. At March 31, 2005, the fair value of these derivatives qualifying for fair value hedge represented an unrealized net loss of $17.6 million, which was recorded as “Accrued expenses and other liabilities”, before right to offset effect, and as a decrease to the hedged “Deposits” in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. At December 31, 2004, the fair value of these derivatives qualifying for fair value hedge represented an unrealized net loss of $13.0 million, which was recorded as “Accrued expenses and other liabilities”, before right to offset effect, and as a decrease to the hedged “Deposits” of $12.9 million and as an increase in “Other assets” of $101,000 in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. The right to offset effect of $5.9 million and $4.3 million was recorded at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, as a decrease in “Other assets” and “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

The Company purchases fixed rate residential mortgage loans for its portfolio. Fixed rate loans expose the Company to variability in their fair value due to changes in the level of interest rates. Management believes that it is prudent to limit the variability in the fair value of a portion of its fixed rate loan portfolio. It is the Company’s objective to hedge the change in fair value of fixed rate mortgage loans at coverage levels that are appropriate, given the anticipated or existing interest rate levels and other market considerations, as well as the relationship of changes in this asset to other assets of the Company. To meet this objective, the Company enters into contracts to purchase fixed rate residential mortgage loans with a third party. The third party agreed to provide the Company a return at a floating rate of interest (three month LIBOR plus a spread)

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even though the contractual terms of the loans are fixed rate in nature. This provision is effectively an interest rate swap (balance guarantee swap). Since the contracts meet with the sale accounting provisions of SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, SFAS No. 133 and related interpretations, these interest rate swaps are accounted for separately. Since the hedged item and the hedging instrument have identical critical terms, no ineffectiveness is assumed and the fair value changes in the interest rate swaps are recorded as changes in the value of both the interest rate swaps and the mortgage loans. At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the notional amount of these interest rate swaps which equals the principal balance of the mortgage loans amounted to $977,864,000 and $600,848,000, respectively; the weighted average receive floating rate at period end was 4.35% and 3.65%, respectively; the weighted average pay fixed rate at period end was 6.90% and 7.39%, respectively; and the floating rate spread ranged from 120 to 165 basis points.

At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the fair value of these derivatives qualifying for fair value hedge represented an unrealized loss of $19.9 million and $23.9 million, respectively, which was recorded as “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” and as an increase to “Loans” in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedge

The Company offers its customers certificates of deposit which contain an embedded derivative tied to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index that is bifurcated from the host deposit and recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition in accordance with SFAS No. 133. At the end of five years, the depositor will receive a specified percent of the average increase of the month-end value of the stock index. If such index decreases, the depositor receives the principal without any interest. The Company uses option and interest rate swap agreements with major broker dealer companies to manage its exposure to the stock market. Under the option agreements, the Company will receive the average increase in the month-end value of the index in exchange for the payment of a premium when the contract is initiated. Under the terms of the swap agreements, the Company also will receive the average increase in the month-end value of the index in exchange for a quarterly fixed interest cost. Since the embedded derivative instrument on the certificates of deposit and the option and interest rate swap agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting, these derivative instruments are marked to market through earnings.

Information pertaining to the notional amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments not designated as hedge as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, was as follows:

                 
    Notional Amount  
    2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
Interest rate swaps (unmatched portion)
  $ 11,076     $ 8,895  
Interest rate swaps used to manage exposure to the stock market
    36,329       36,329  
Embedded options on stock indexed deposits
    114,178       112,407  
Purchased options used to manage exposure to the stock market on stock indexed deposits
    80,099       78,212  
 
           
Total
  $ 241,682     $ 235,843  
 
           

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At March 31, 2005, the fair value of derivatives not qualifying as a hedge represented an unrealized net gain of $23.3 million and was recorded as part of “Other assets” of $10.9 million, as a reduction of “Deposits” of $12.8 million and as part of “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” of $422,000, in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

At December 31, 2004, the fair value of derivatives not qualifying as a hedge represented an unrealized net gain of $26.4 million and was recorded as part of “Other assets” of $12.1 million, as a reduction of “Deposits” of $14.5 million and as part of “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” of $254,000, in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

Other Derivative Instruments Information

A summary of the types of swaps used, excluding those used to manage exposure to the stock market and to the variability in the fair value of fixed rate residential mortgage loans, and their terms at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, follows:

                 
    2005     2004  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Pay floating/receive fixed:
               
Notional amount
  $ 637,000     $ 787,000  
Weighted average receive rate at period end
    4.68 %     4.09 %
Weighted average pay rate at period end
    2.84 %     2.35 %
Floating rate as a percentage of three month LIBOR, plus a spread ranging from minus .40% to plus .36%
    100 %     100 %

The changes in notional amount of swaps outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2005, follows:

         
    (In thousands)  
Beginning balance
  $ 823,329  
New swaps
    10,000  
Called and matured swaps
    (160,000 )
 
     
 
       
End balance
  $ 673,329  
 
     

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At March 31, 2005, the maturities of interest rate swaps, embedded options and purchased options by year were as follows:

                                 
Year Ending           Embedded     Purchased     Balance  
December 31,   Swaps     Options     Options     Guarantee Swaps  
    (In thousands)  
2005
  $ 15,000     $     $     $  
2006
    61,329       36,686       1,418        
2007
    7,500       26,554       27,149        
2008
          21,188       21,571        
2009
    30,500       27,660       27,868        
Thereafter
    559,000       2,090       2,093       977,864  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
  $ 673,329     $ 114,178     $ 80,099     $ 977,864  
 
                       

Swap agreements amounting to $574,000,000 at March 31, 2005, provide the counterparties the option to cancel the swap agreements on any interest payment date after the first anniversary (matching the call option that the Company has purchased on hedged certificates of deposit). During the three months ended March 31, 2005, various counterparties of swap agreements exercised their option to cancel their swaps and immediately, the Company exercised its option to call the hedged certificates of deposit. No gains or losses resulted from above cancellations.

At March 31, 2005, the carrying value of the specific collateral held by the counterparties consisted of money market instruments of $13,168,000.

11. STOCK OPTION PLANS

The Company has two stock option plans, the 1999 Qualified Stock Option Plan (the “1999 Qualified Option Plan”) and the 1999 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the “1999 Nonqualified Option Plan”), for the benefit of employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. These plans offer to key officers, directors and employees an opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the 1999 Qualified Option Plan, options for up to 14,747,670 shares (as adjusted) of common stock can be granted. Also, options for up to 14,747,670 shares (as adjusted) of common stock, reduced by any share issued under the 1999 Qualified Option Plan can be granted under the 1999 Nonqualified Option Plan. The option price for both plans is determined at the grant date. Both plans will remain in effect for a term of 10 years. The Board of Directors has sole authority and absolute discretion as to the number of stock options to be granted, their vesting rights, and the options’ exercise price. The options become fully exercisable after five years following the grant date. The Plans provide for a proportionate adjustment in the exercise price and the number of shares that can be purchased in the event of a stock split, reclassification of stock and a merger or reorganization.

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The Company has only three exercise prices for options granted, all of them granted at three different dates. The following table summarizes the exercise prices and the weighted average remaining contractual life of the options outstanding at March 31, 2005:

                         
    Outstanding     Exercisable  
            Weighted        
            Average        
    Number of     Contract     Number of  
Exercise Prices (1)   Options (1)     Life (Years)     Options (1)  
$2.85
    6,596,400       4.87       5,918,358  
$3.35
    193,124       6.13       87,783  
$6.77
    286,761       7.31       114,704  
 
                 
 
                       
Total
    7,076,285       5.01       6,120,845  
 
                 


(1)   Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split and a 2% stock dividend on our common stock declared in December 2004 and distributed both on January 10, 2005, the three-for-two stock split and a 2% stock dividend on our common stock declared in November 2003 and distributed both on December 10, 2003, and the three-for-two stock split on our common stock declared on June 17, 2002 and distributed on July 10, 2002.

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company changed the method of accounting for employee stock options from the intrinsic value method to the fair value method. Under the modified prospective method selected by the Company under the provisions of SFAS No. 148, compensation cost to be recognized in future years is the same that would have been recognized if the recognition provisions of FASB No. 123 had been applied from its original effective date. Results prior to 2003 were not restated. Compensation expense of stock options granted to employees for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, was $116,000 and $224,000, respectively.

On February 10, 2005, one of the Company’s executive officers exercised 35,113 options under the Company’s 1999 Qualified Option Plan at an exercise price of $2.85 per share. No options were granted during the three month period ended March 31, 2005.

12. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company’s management monitors and manages the financial performance of two reportable business segments, the traditional banking operations of Westernbank Puerto Rico and the activities of the division known as Westernbank International. Other operations of the Company not reportable in either segment include Westernbank Business Credit Division, which specializes in asset-based commercial business lending; Westernbank Trust Division, which offers trust services; SRG Net, Inc., which operates an electronic funds transfer network; Westernbank Insurance Corp., which operates a general insurance agency; Westernbank World Plaza, Inc., which operates the Westernbank World Plaza, a 23-story office building located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; and the transactions of the parent company only, which mainly consist of other income related to the equity in the net income of its two wholly owned subsidiaries.

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Management determined the reportable segments based on the internal reporting used to evaluate performance and to assess where to allocate resources. Other factors such as the Company’s organizational structure by divisions, nature of the products, distribution channels, and the economic characteristics of the products were also considered in the determination of the reportable segments. The Company evaluates performance based on net interest income and other income. Operating expenses and the provision for income taxes are analyzed on a combined basis.

Westernbank Puerto Rico’s traditional banking operations consist of Westernbank’s retail operations, such as its branches, including the branches of the Expresso division, together with consumer loans, mortgage loans, commercial loans (excluding the asset-based lending operations), investments (treasury) and deposit products. Consumer loans include loans such as personal, collateralized personal loans, credit cards, and small loans. Commercial products consist of commercial loans including commercial real estate, unsecured commercial and construction loans.

Westernbank International operates as an IBE under the International Banking Regulatory Act. Westernbank International’s business activities consist of commercial banking and related services, and treasury and investment activities outside of Puerto Rico. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the periods then ended, substantially all of Westernbank International’s business activities consisted of investment in securities and loans. Loans outstanding at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, amounted to $150,665,000 and $122,723,000, respectively.

Intersegment sales and transfers, if any, are accounted for as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, that is, at current market prices. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies of the Company’ Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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The financial information presented below was derived from the internal management accounting system and does not necessarily represent each segment’s financial condition and results of operations as if these were independent entities.

                                                 
    As of and for the Three Months Ended  
    March 31, 2005  
                    Total Major     Other              
    Puerto Rico     International     Segments     Segments     Eliminations     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Interest income:
                                               
Consumer loans
  $ 19,185     $     $ 19,185     $     $     $ 19,185  
Commercial loans
    50,386       2,157       52,543                   52,543  
Asset-based loans
                      14,835             14,835  
Mortgage loans
    13,101             13,101                   13,101  
Treasury and investment activities
    50,044       27,862       77,906       1,292       (552 )     78,646  
 
                                   
Total interest income
    132,716       30,019       162,735       16,127       (552 )     178,310  
Interest expense
    73,718       18,666       92,384       5,031       (552 )     96,863  
 
                                   
Net interest income
    58,998       11,353       70,351       11,096             81,447  
 
                                   
Provision for loan losses
    (4,294 )           (4,294 )     (1,706 )           (6,000 )
 
                                   
Noninterest income, net:
                                               
Service and other charges on loans, excluding asset-based lending
    1,856       40       1,896                   1,896  
Service charges on deposit accounts
    1,975             1,975                   1,975  
Trust account fees
                      289             289  
Insurance commission fees
                      418       (1 )     417  
Asset-based lending related fees
                      563             563  
Other fees and commissions
    1,984       8       1,992       57       (57 )     1,992  
Other — gains, net
    103             103                   103  
 
                                   
Total noninterest income, net
    5,918       48       5,966       1,327       (58 )     7,235  
 
                                   
Equity in income of subsidiaries
    129             129       47,709       (47,838 )      
 
                                   
Total net interest income and noninterest income
  $ 60,751     $ 11,401     $ 72,152     $ 58,426     $ (47,896 )   $ 82,682  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Total assets
  $ 12,569,099     $ 2,943,442     $ 15,512,541     $ 1,638,679     $ (2,133,638 )   $ 15,017,582  
 
                                   
                                                 
    As of December 31, 2004 and for the Three Months Ended  
    March 31, 2004  
                    Total Major     Other              
    Puerto Rico     International     Segments     Segments     Eliminations     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Interest income:
                                               
Consumer loans
  $ 18,938     $     $ 18,938     $     $     $ 18,938  
Commercial loans
    32,478       1,057       33,535                   33,535  
Asset-based loans
                      8,978             8,978  
Mortgage loans
    11,822             11,822                   11,822  
Treasury and investment activities
    35,678       25,396       61,074       520       (460 )     61,134  
 
                                   
Total interest income
    98,916       26,453       125,369       9,498       (460 )     134,407  
Interest expense
    48,397       11,712       60,109       3,552       (460 )     63,201  
 
                                   
Net interest income
    50,519       14,741       65,260       5,946             71,206  
 
                                   
Provision for loan losses
    (6,216 )           (6,216 )     (2,725 )           (8,941 )
 
                                   
Noninterest income, net:
                                               
Service and other charges on loans, excluding asset-based lending
    1,799       20       1,819                   1,819  
Service charges on deposit accounts
    1,901             1,901                   1,901  
Trust account fees
                      203             203  
Insurance commission fees
                      389             389  
Asset-based lending related fees
                      686             686  
Other fees and commissions
    1,780             1,780       56       (56 )     1,780  
Other — gains, net
    130             130                   130  
 
                                   
Total noninterest income, net
    5,610       20       5,630       1,334       (56 )     6,908  
 
                                   
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries
    (174 )           (174 )     27,548       (27,374 )      
 
                                   
Total net interest income and noninterest income
  $ 49,739     $ 14,761     $ 64,500     $ 32,103     $ (27,430 )   $ 69,173  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Total assets
  $ 11,814,402     $ 2,938,374     $ 14,752,776     $ 1,561,795     $ (1,977,909 )   $ 14,336,662  
 
                                   

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Part I — Item 2

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this filing and future filings by the Company, especially within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, will include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In general, the word or phrases “will likely result”, “are expected to”, “will continue”, “is anticipated”, “estimate”, “project”, “believe” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements”. In addition, certain disclosures and information customarily provided by financial institutions, such as analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses or an analysis of the interest rate sensitivity of the Company’s assets and liabilities, are inherently based upon predictions of future events and circumstances. Although the Company makes such statements based on assumptions which it believes to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Some of the important factors which could cause its results to differ from any results which might be projected, forecasted or estimated, based on such forward-looking statements include: (i) general economic and competitive conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, and the risks inherent in its operations; (ii) the Company’s ability to manage its credit risk and control its operating expense, increase earning assets and non-interest income, and maintain its net interest margin; and (iii) the level of demand for new and existing products. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update forward-looking statements.

GENERAL

W Holding Company, Inc. (the “Company”) is a financial holding company offering a full range of financial services. The business of the Company is conducted primarily through its wholly owned commercial bank subsidiary, Westernbank Puerto Rico (“Westernbank” or the “Bank”). The Company’s other direct subsidiary is Westernbank Insurance Corp. The Company was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in February 1999 to become the bank holding company of Westernbank. Westernbank was founded as a savings institution in 1958 operating in the western and southwestern regions of Puerto Rico, focusing on retail banking and emphasizing long-term fixed-rate residential mortgage loans on one-to-four family residential properties. In 1994, Westernbank changed its charter to become a full-service commercial bank. Westernbank offers a full range of business and consumer financial services, including banking, trust and brokerage services. Westernbank Insurance Corp. is a general insurance agent placing property, casualty, life and disability insurance. The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of Westernbank Insurance Corp. at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were not significant.

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In July 2000, the Company became a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. As a financial holding company, the Company is permitted to engage in financial related activities, including insurance and securities activities, provided that the Company and its banking subsidiary meet certain regulatory standards.

At March 31, 2005, the Company had total assets of $15.02 billion, a loan portfolio-net of $6.63 billion, an investment portfolio, excluding short-term money market instruments, of $6.95 billion, deposits of $7.06 billion, borrowings of $6.72 billion and stockholders’ equity of $1.13 billion.

Westernbank is the second largest commercial bank in Puerto Rico, based on total assets at March 31, 2005. Westernbank operates through a network of 53 bank branches, including 19 Expresso of Westernbank branches, located throughout Puerto Rico, primarily in the western and southwestern regions of the island, and a website in the Internet. Westernbank traditional banking operations include retail operations, such as its branches, including the branches of the Expresso division, together with consumer loans, mortgage loans, commercial loans (excluding the asset-based lending operations), investments (treasury) and deposit products. Besides the traditional banking operations, Westernbank operates four other divisions: Westernbank International Division, which is an International Banking Entity (“IBE”) under the Puerto Rico Act No. 52 of August 11, 1989, as amended, known as the International Banking Regulatory Act, which offers commercial banking and related services, and treasury and investment activities outside of Puerto Rico; Westernbank Business Credit, which specializes in commercial business loans secured principally by real estate, accounts receivable, inventory and equipment; Westernbank Trust Division, which offers a full array of trust services; and Expresso of Westernbank, a division which specializes in small, unsecured consumer loans up to $15,000 and real estate collateralized consumer loans up to $150,000. Westernbank owns 100% of the voting shares of Westernbank World Plaza, Inc. (“WWPI”), which owns and operates Westernbank World Plaza; a 23-story office building, including its related parking facility, located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, the main Puerto Rican business district. Westernbank also owns 100% of the voting shares of SRG Net, Inc., a Puerto Rico corporation that operates an electronic funds transfer network. The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of SRG Net, Inc. at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, were not significant.

Westernbank seeks to differentiate itself from other banks by focusing on customer relationships and personalized service, offering customers direct access to senior management. As part of this strategy, Westernbank strives to make fast and effective decisions locally. Westernbank’s branches offer modern facilities with advanced technology and remain open to customers for longer hours compared to many other local banks, with a number of branches offering both Saturday and Sunday hours. In addition, Westernbank trains its employees to promote an effective and customer-focused sales culture. Westernbank is one of the fastest-growing commercial banks in Puerto Rico, increasing both total assets and loans at an average annual growth rate of over 26.07% for the last five fiscal years. The Company has achieved this growth while maintaining a ratio of non-performing loans to total loans and a combined delinquency on all loan portfolios for the categories of 60 days and over below 1.00%.

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The Company continues to emphasize growing Westernbank’s commercial loan portfolio through commercial real estate, asset-based, unsecured business and construction lending, as well as its consumer loan and investment securities portfolios. As a result, the Company has shifted its asset composition from primarily traditional long-term fixed-rate residential mortgage loans to assets with shorter maturities and greater repricing flexibility. As of March 31, 2005, commercial loans were $4.25 billion or 64.03% (79.05% collateralized by real estate) and consumer loans were $860.1 million or 12.97% (67.09% collateralized by real estate) of the $6.63 billion loan portfolio-net. Investment securities, excluding money market instruments, totaled $6.95 billion at March 31, 2005. These loans and securities tend to have shorter maturities and reprice faster than traditional residential mortgage loans. The Company also continues to diversify and grow Westernbank’s sources of revenue, while maintaining its status as a secured lender, with approximately 83% of its loans collateralized by real estate as of March 31, 2005.

The Company is focused on the expansion of Westernbank in the San Juan metropolitan area. We have opened 12 branches in the San Juan metropolitan area since 1998, including seven Expresso of Westernbank branches in July 2002. In the first quarter of 2002, Westernbank acquired Westernbank World Plaza; a 23-story office building that is the tallest in Puerto Rico’s main business district and now serves as the Company’s San Juan metropolitan area headquarters, our regional commercial lending office and the headquarters for the Westernbank Business Credit and Expresso of Westernbank divisions. In addition, the Company continues to build upon its existing platform and further expand its fee-based businesses, including insurance brokerage, trust services and securities brokerage. On October 22, 2004, Westernbank opened its most advanced banking branch in the historic city of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico and on March 16, 2005, it opened its first mega branch in the eastern region of Puerto Rico, in the town of Humacao.

Commercial lending, including commercial real estate and asset-based lending, unsecured business lending and construction lending, generally carry a greater risk than residential lending because such loans are typically larger in size and more risk is concentrated in a single borrower. In addition, the borrower’s ability to repay a commercial loan or a construction loan depends, in the case of a commercial loan, on the successful operation of the business or the property securing the loan and, in the case of a construction loan, on the successful completion and sale or operation of the project. Substantially all of the Company’s borrowers and properties and other collateral securing the commercial, real estate mortgage and consumer loans are located in Puerto Rico. These loans may be subject to a greater risk of default if the Puerto Rico economy suffers adverse economic, political or business developments, or if natural disasters affect Puerto Rico.

The Company’s financial performance is reported in two primary business segments, the traditional banking operations of Westernbank Puerto Rico and the activities of Westernbank’s division known as Westernbank International. Other operations of the Company, not reportable in either segment, include Westernbank Business Credit Division; Westernbank Trust Division; SRG Net, Inc.; Westernbank Insurance Corp.; Westernbank World Plaza, Inc.; and the transactions of the parent company only, which mainly consist of other income related to the equity in the net income of its two wholly owned subsidiaries.

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The traditional banking operations of Westernbank Puerto Rico include retail operations, such as its branches, including the branches of the Expresso division, together with consumer loans, mortgage loans, commercial loans (excluding the asset-based lending operations), investments (treasury) and deposits products. Consumer loans include loans such as personal, collateralized personal loans, credit cards, and small loans. Commercial products consist of commercial loans including commercial real estate, unsecured commercial and construction loans.

Westernbank International’s business activities consist of commercial banking and related services, and treasury and investment activities outside of Puerto Rico. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, substantially all of Westernbank International’s business activities consisted of investment in securities and loans.

Established in 2001, Westernbank Insurance Corp. is a general insurance agent placing property, casualty, life and disability insurance on which it earns commission income. Currently, most of the agency’s volume is derived from two areas — mortgage insurance on residential mortgage loans and credit life insurance for borrowers of personal loans.

The Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries’ executive offices are located at 19 West McKinley Street, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00681, and the telephone number is (787) 834-8000. The Company also maintains a website, which can be accessed at http://www.wholding.com.

OVERVIEW

This financial discussion contains an analysis of the consolidated financial position and financial performance of W Holding Company, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Westernbank Puerto Rico and Westernbank Insurance Corp.

The Company’s principal source of earnings is its net interest income. This is the difference between interest income on loans and invested assets (“interest-earning assets”) and its interest expense on deposits and borrowings, including federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements and advances from the FHLB (“interest-bearing liabilities”). Loan origination and commitments fees, net of related costs, are deferred and amortized over the life of the related loans as a yield adjustment. Gains or losses on the sale of loans and investments, service charges, fees and other income, also affect income. In addition, the Company’s net income is affected by the level of its non-interest expenses, such as the provision for loan losses, compensation, employees’ benefits, occupancy costs, other operating expenses and income taxes.

The main objective of the Company’s Asset and Liability Management program is to invest funds judiciously and reduce interest rate risks while optimizing net income and maintaining adequate liquidity levels. As further discussed in Item 3: “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, the Company uses several tools to manage the risks associated with the composition and repricing of assets and liabilities. Therefore, management has followed a conservative practice inclined towards the preservation of capital with adequate returns. The Company’s Investment Committee, which includes the entire Board of Directors and senior management, is responsible for the asset-liability management oversight. The Investment Department is responsible for implementing the policies established by the Investment Committee.

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The policies established and practices followed are intended to retain depositors’ confidence, obtain a favorable match between the maturity of its interest-earning assets and its interest-bearing liabilities, and enhance the stockholders’ investment in the Company.

At March 31, 2005, driven by increases in the Company’s loan portfolio, total assets reached $15.02 billion. Total assets grew $680.9 million or 4.75%, from $14.34 billion at December 31, 2004. Loans receivable-net, grew by $690.5 million or 11.62%, from $5.94 billion at December 31, 2004, as a result of the Company’s continued strategy of growing its loan portfolio through commercial real estate, residential real estate, construction and land acquisition, asset-based and other commercial loans. The investment portfolio, excluding short-term money market instruments, remained relatively unchanged during the quarter, growing slightly by $23.8 million or 0.34%, to reach $6.95 billion at March 31, 2005. In light of the current rising interest rate scenario, the Company’s strategy has shifted to reposition its balance sheet by continuing to emphasize in growing its floating rate loans while remaining on the sideline on the investment side until new investment opportunities arise. Also, the Company has continued to manage its interest rate risk and operating expenses. The efficiency ratio for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, was 27.40%.

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2005, increased to $48.6 million or $0.24 earnings per basic common share ($0.23 on a diluted basis), up $8.1 million or 20.02% when compared to $40.5 million or $0.21 earnings per basic common share ($0.20 on a diluted basis) (as adjusted), for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in net income for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the respective period in 2004, was mainly due to an increase of $10.2 million or 14.38% in the net interest income. The increase in net interest income was the result of higher average balances in interest-earning assets, partially offset by higher average balances in interest-bearing liabilities and a reduction in our net interest margin. The increase in net interest income, combined with a lower provision for loan losses as a result of an improving asset quality, was partially offset by increases in operating expenses and in the provision for income taxes. Net income attributable to common stockholders for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, increased to $39.3 million, up 16.50% when compared to $33.7 million for the same period in 2004. The Company’s profitability ratios for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, represented return on assets (ROA) of 1.32% and return on common stockholders’ equity (ROCE) of 26.81%, compared with a ROA of 1.37% and a ROCE of 29.36% for the same period in 2004.

Different components that impacted the Company’s performance are discussed in more detail in the following pages.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Interest Income

Net interest income represents the main source of earnings of the Company. As further discussed on Item 3: “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures of Market Risk”, the Company uses several tools to manage the risks associated with the composition and repricing of assets and liabilities.

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Net interest income increased $10.2 million or 14.38% for the three months ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the corresponding 2004 period. The increase mainly resulted from an increase in the average net interest-earning assets of $130.9 million, which contributed a $16.2 million positive volume variance, which was partially offset by a $6.0 million negative rate variance.

Average interest-earning assets increased from $11.51 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004, to $14.24 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2005, an increase of $2.73 billion or 23.72%. The increase in average interest-earning assets is mainly related to a rise in the average loan portfolio, the higher yielding category of interest-earning assets, of $1.34 billion or 27.76% for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, due primarily to an increase in the commercial real estate loans, commercial business and other loans, including asset-based, and residential real estate loan portfolios, an increase of $984.2 million or 16.44% in the average investment securities portfolio, excluding short-term money market instruments, mainly in tax-exempt securities, such as U.S. Government and agencies obligations, and an increase of $402.7 million or 60.10% in the average money market instruments. Average yields on interest-earning assets increased 34 basis points, from 4.74% for the three months ended March 31, 2004, to 5.08% for the same period in 2005. The increase in the average yield was mainly due to a higher average yield earned on the loans portfolio, primarily due to a higher volume of commercial real estate loans and residential real estate and commercial business and other loans with floating rates, coupled with a repricing of the existing floating rate loan portfolio, higher reinvestment rates on securities that matured or were called and higher yields earned on money market instruments. During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate by an additional 50 basis points and this reflected equally on the Prime Rate, an index used by the Bank to re-price most of its floating rate loans. Approximately 64% of the loan portfolio carries a floating rate. Floating rate loans and loans with contractual maturities of one year or less comprise approximately 80% of the loan portfolio.

The increase in the average interest-earning assets was in part offset by an increase in the average interest-bearing liabilities. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased from $10.69 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004, to $13.29 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2005, an increase of $2.60 billion or 24.31%. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2005, was mainly related to an increase in the average balance of federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements which grew from $5.12 billion for the three month period ended March 31, 2004, to $6.57 billion for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, an increase of $1.45 billion or 28.41%. The average balance of deposits also grew from $5.46 billion for the three month period ended March 31, 2004, to $6.51 billion for the same period in 2005, an increase of $1.04 billion or 19.19%. Our overall cost of rates paid increased 56 basis points, from 2.40% to 2.96%, for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the prior year quarter. The increase on the overall cost of rates paid was primarily due to increases of 41 and 72 basis points on the average interest rate paid on deposits and on federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements, respectively. The average interest rate paid on deposits increased from 2.34% for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, to 2.75% for the same period in 2005, while the average interest rate paid on federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements increased from 2.41% for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, to 3.13% for the same period in 2005. The increase in the overall cost of rates paid was partially offset by lower rates paid on advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank, which decreased 121 basis points from 5.04% for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, to 3.83% for the same period in 2005. As previously explained, during the quarter ended March 31, 2005, interest rates continued to rise. This pattern was reflected in the cost of the Bank’s liabilities. However, in light of the current rising interest rate scenario, the Bank extended a portion of its liabilities to lock-in the rates for a period of three years.

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The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resultant yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, as well as in a normal and tax equivalent basis. Average balances are daily monthly average balances. The yield on the securities portfolio is based on average amortized cost balances and does not give effect to changes in fair value that are reflected as a component of consolidated stockholders’ equity for investment securities available for sale.

                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2005     2004  
                    Annualized                     Annualized  
            Average     Average             Average     Average  
    Interest     Balance (1)     Yield/Rate     Interest     Balance (1)     Yield/Rate  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Normal spread:
                                               
Interest-earning assets:
                                               
Loans, including loan fees (2)
  $ 99,664     $ 6,199,190       6.52 %   $ 73,273     $ 4,856,129       6.12 %
Investment securities (3)
    60,677       6,147,081       4.00       47,419       4,962,431       3.88  
Mortgage-backed securities (3)
    8,773       822,467       4.33       10,242       1,022,886       4.06  
Money market instruments
    9,196       1,072,862       3.48       3,473       670,126       2.10  
 
                                   
Total
    178,310       14,241,600       5.08       134,407       11,511,572       4.74  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Deposits
    44,204       6,511,620       2.75       31,459       5,463,374       2.34  
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements
    50,679       6,569,602       3.13       30,345       5,115,918       2.41  
Advances from FHLB
    1,980       209,622       3.83       1,397       112,473       5.04  
 
                                   
Total
    96,863       13,290,844       2.96       63,201       10,691,765       2.40  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Net interest income
  $ 81,447                     $ 71,206                  
 
                                           
Interest rate spread
                    2.12 %                     2.34 %
 
                                           
Net interest-earning assets
          $ 950,756                     $ 819,807          
 
                                           
Net yield on interest-earning assets (4)
                    2.32 %                     2.51 %
 
                                           
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities
            107.15 %                     107.67 %        
 
                                           
 
                                               
Tax equivalent spread:
                                               
Interest-earning assets
  $ 178,310     $ 14,241,600       5.08 %   $ 134,407     $ 11,511,572       4.74 %
Tax equivalent adjustment
    12,970             0.37       12,723             0.44  
 
                                   
Interest-earning assets - tax equivalent
    191,280     $ 14,241,600       5.45       147,130     $ 11,511,572       5.18  
 
                                           
Interest-bearing liabilities
    96,863     $ 13,290,844       2.96       63,201     $ 10,691,765       2.40  
 
                                   
Net interest income
  $ 94,417                     $ 83,929                  
 
                                           
Interest rate spread
                    2.49 %                     2.78 %
 
                                           
Net yield on interest - earning assets (4)
                    2.69 %                     2.96 %
 
                                           


(1) Average balance on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities is computed using daily monthly average balances during the period.

(2) Average loans exclude non-performing loans. Loan fees amounted to $5.0 million and $2.5 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

(3) Includes trading and available for sale securities.

(4) Annualized net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

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The following table presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for the major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and distinguishes between the increase (decrease) related to higher outstanding balances and the changes in interest rates.

                         
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2005 vs. 2004  
    Volume     Rate     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Interest income:
                       
Loans
  $ 21,338     $ 5,053     $ 26,391  
Investment securities (1)
    11,648       1,610       13,258  
Mortgage and asset-backed securities (1)
    (2,203 )     734       (1,469 )
Money market instruments
    2,741       2,982       5,723  
 
                 
Total increase in interest income
    33,524       10,379       43,903  
 
                 
Interest expense:
                       
Deposits
    6,595       6,150       12,745  
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements
    9,882       10,452       20,334  
Advances from FHLB
    807       (224 )     583  
 
                 
Total increase in interest expense
    17,284       16,378       33,662  
 
                 
Increase (decrease) in net interest income
  $ 16,240     $ (5,999 )   $ 10,241  
 
                 


(1)   Includes trading and available for sale securities.

Provision For Loan Losses

The provision for possible loan losses amounted to $6.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, down $2.9 million or 32.89%, from $8.9 million for the same period in the previous year. Even though the loan portfolio grew between periods, the decrease resulted from the stronger asset quality as evidenced by lower loans net charged offs and lower delinquencies during the first quarter of 2005, when compared to the same period in 2004.

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level which, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the allowance is based on management’s evaluation of various conditions as the existing general economic and business conditions affecting key lending areas; terms, nature and volume of the portfolio, credit quality trends including trends in non-performing loans expected to result from existing conditions, evaluation of the collectibility of the loan portfolio, collateral values, credit concentrations, trends in historical loss experience, specific impaired loans and delinquency trends, among other factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. Allowances for impaired loans are generally determined based on collateral values or the present value of estimated cash flows. Although no assurance can be given, management believes that the present allowance for loan losses is adequate considering loss experience, delinquency trends and current economic conditions. Management regularly reviews the Company’s loan loss allowance as its loan portfolio grows and diversifies. See “ — Financial Condition — Allowance for Loan Losses” herein.

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The allowance for possible loan losses amounted to $82.9 million as of March 31, 2005, and $80.1 million as of December 31, 2004. The increase in the allowance for loan losses is attributable to the overall growth in the Company’s loans portfolio, particularly those of its commercial real estate, residential real estate, construction and land acquisition, asset-based and other commercial loans portfolio. The commercial real estate loans portfolio grew to $3.36 billion at March 31, 2005, an increase of $201.9 million or 6.40%, when compared to December 31, 2004. On a year to year basis, the commercial real estate loans portfolio grew $958.8 million or 39.99%, from $2.40 billion at March 31, 2004. Westernbank Business Credit loans portfolio grew to $1.05 billion at March 31, 2005, an increase of $227.7 million or 27.40%, when compared to December 31, 2004, and an increase of $355.5 million or 50.54%, when compared to March 31, 2004. The Expresso of Westernbank loans portfolio decreased from $144.0 million at December 31, 2004, to $142.3 million at March 31, 2005, a decrease of $1.7 million or 1.19%. On a year to year basis, the Expresso of Westernbank loans portfolio also decreased by $697,000, from $142.8 million at March 31, 2004. The decrease in the Expresso of Westernbank loans portfolio was mainly due to management’s strategy of stabilizing charge-offs as the division portfolio matures and the average yield continues to increase. The average yields of Westernbank Business Credit and the Expresso of Westernbank loan portfolios were 7.89% and 22.34%, respectively, at March 31, 2005.

Non-performing loans stand at $33.7 million or 0.50% (less than 1%) of Westernbank’s loans portfolio at March 31, 2005, an improvement of 7 basis points from the 0.57% reported at December 31, 2004. Non-performing loans decreased by $538,000, from $34.3 million at December 31, 2004. The decrease in non-performing loans comes from the Company’s commercial loans portfolio. Non-performing loans on the commercial loan portfolio decreased by $1.6 million, when compared to December 31, 2004. This decrease is mostly attributed to one commercial loan with a principal balance of $1.2 million, which was repaid during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. At March 31, 2005, the allowance for possible loan losses was 245.86% of total non-performing loans (reserve coverage), compared to the 233.64% reported at December 31, 2004. Moreover, of the total allowance of $82.9 million, $9.7 million is for our specific allowance and the remaining $73.2 million is for our general allowance.

Net loans charged-off in the first quarter of 2005 were $3.1 million or 0.20% (annualized) to average loans, compared to $3.9 million or 0.32% (annualized) to average loans for the same period in 2004, a decrease of $755,000 or 19.41%. The decrease in net loans charged-off for the first quarter of 2005 when compared to the same quarter in 2004, is principally attributed to lower net charge-offs of consumer loans. Loans charged-off by the Expresso of Westernbank division, the principal component of the consumer loans charged-off, decreased from $3.4 million during the first quarter of 2004, to $2.1 million for the quarter of 2005, a decrease of $1.3 million or 38.12%. Loans charged-off by the Expresso of Westernbank division continued its decreasing trend from $3.2 million in the third quarter, $2.5 million in the fourth quarter, both of 2004, to $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2005. The delinquency ratio of the Expresso of Westernbank division portfolio at March 31, 2005, was 2.04% for the categories of 60 days and over. Management strategy of stabilizing charge offs and increasing the yield of the Expresso loan portfolio by continuously revising its underwriting policies, increasing the level of collateralized loans, and increasing the overall yield charged has resulted in a decreasing trend in net charge offs during the last three quarters and a higher yield, as measures begins

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to show positive results. Also, the loan portfolio of Expresso of Westernbank collateralized by real estate at March 31, 2005, already accounts for 13% of the outstanding balance.

Our combined delinquency on all portfolios for the categories of 60 days and over continues to be below our benchmark of 1% for both periods, being 0.53% at March 31, 2005, and 0.57% at December 31, 2004.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased $327,000 or 4.73% for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the same period in 2004. This increase was mainly the result of an increase of $354,000 or 5.22% on service fees, and other fees and commissions. The increase was mainly due to higher activity associated with other fees resulting from the Company’s overall growing volume of business and other fees generated by our asset-based lending operation.

Noninterest Expenses

Total noninterest expenses increased $624,000 or 2.64% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the corresponding period in 2004. Salaries and employees’ benefits, which is the largest component of total noninterest expenses, increased $1.5 million or 16.82% for the first quarter of year 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in 2004. Such increase is attributed to the increases in personnel in sales areas, normal salary increases and related employees’ benefits, principally attributed to our continued expansion in the San Juan Metropolitan area and our entrance to the east coast of Puerto Rico, where on March 16, 2005, we opened our new state of the art mega branch. At March 31, 2005, the Company had 1,203 full-time employees, including its executive officers, an increase of 70 employees or 6.18%, since March 31, 2004.

Advertising expense decreased by $742,000 or 30.09% for the three months ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the same period in 2004, as the Company concluded its radio, newspaper and television campaign promoting Westernbank’s institutional image and positioning the Company for its strategy in the San Juan Metropolitan area that was in effect during most of the year 2004.

Noninterest expenses, other than salaries and employees’ benefits, and advertising discussed above, decreased $172,000 or 1.43% for the first quarter of 2005, resulting primarily from the Company’s continued strict control measures.

The Company has maintained operating expenses at adequate levels, and achieved an efficiency ratio of 27.40% for the first quarter of year 2005, compared to 30.32% for the first quarter of 2004.

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Provision for Income Taxes

Under Puerto Rico income tax laws, the Company is required to pay the higher of an alternative minimum tax of 22% or regular statutory rates ranging from 20% to 39%. The current provision for Puerto Rico income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2005, amounted to $11.2 million, compared to $6.9 million in the same period of 2004. The increase in the income before the provision for income taxes for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, includes a significant increase in the Company’s taxable interest income derived from the loans portfolio, which are fully taxable. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of capital losses carryforwards and “temporary differences” between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their respective tax bases. The decrease of $468,000 in the deferred credit for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the prior year quarter, is attributable to temporary differences in the recognition of certain items for tax and books, principally changes in the allowance for loan losses. Therefore, even though the Company’s effective tax rate increased when compared to the prior year quarter, it continues to be substantially below the statutory rate.

Net Income

Net income increased $8.1 million or 20.02% for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, when compared to the same period in 2004. The increase for the three month period ended March 31, 2005, primarily resulted from an increase in net interest income, a lower provision for loan losses, partially offset by increases in total operating expenses and in the provision for income taxes.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company had total assets of $15.02 billion as of March 31, 2005, compared to $14.34 billion as of December 31, 2004, an increase of $680.9 million or 4.75%. Loans receivable-net, grew by $690.5 million or 11.62%, from $5.94 billion at December 31, 2004, as a result of the Company’s continued strategy of growing its loans portfolio through commercial real estate, residential real estate, construction and land acquisition, asset-based and other commercial loans. The investment portfolio, excluding money market instruments, stands at $6.95 billion at March 31, 2005, a slight increase of $23.8 million, in comparison to December 31, 2004. As of March 31, 2005, total liabilities amounted to $13.88 billion, an increase of $629.1 million or 4.75%, when compared to $13.25 billion as of December 31, 2004. Deposits increased $830.5 million or 13.33%, from $6.23 billion as of December 31, 2004, to $7.06 billion as of March 31, 2005. Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements decreased $207.4 million or 3.10%, from $6.68 billion as of December 31, 2004, to $6.48 billion as of March 31, 2005.

Loans

Loans receivable-net were $6.63 billion or 44.16% of total assets at March 31, 2005, an increase of $690.5 million or 11.62%, when compared to $5.94 billion at December 31, 2004.

The Company continues to focus on growing its commercial loans portfolio through commercial real estate, residential real estate, construction and land acquisition, asset-based and other commercial loans. As a result, the commercial real estate loan portfolio increased from $3.15 billion

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as of December 31, 2004, to $3.36 billion as of March 31, 2005, an increase of $201.9 million or 6.40%. Other commercial loans, not collateralized by real estate, were $889.6 million as of March 31, 2005, an increase of $121.0 million or 15.74%, from $768.6 million at December 31, 2004. The residential real estate mortgage loans portfolio increased from $902.9 million at December 31, 2004, to $1.27 billion at March 31, 2005, an increase of $364.5 million or 40.37%. This increase is mainly due to the purchase of residential mortgage loans on a floating rate basis from a third party mortgage originator in Puerto Rico, as part of management’s strategy of emphasizing in growing its variable rate loans, in light of the current rising interest rate scenario. At March 31, 2005, approximately 64% of the loan portfolio carries a floating rate. Floating rate loans and loans with contractual maturities of one year or less comprise approximately 80% of the loan portfolio.

Westernbank’s commercial real estate and other loans are primarily variable and adjustable rate products. Commercial loan originations come from existing customers as well as through direct solicitation and referrals. Westernbank offers different types of consumer loans, including secured and unsecured products, in order to provide a full range of financial services to its retail customers. In addition, Westernbank offers VISA ™ and Master Card ™ accounts to its customers.

As of March 31, 2005, commercial loans were 64.03% (79.05% collateralized by real estate) and consumer loans were 12.97% (67.09% collateralized by real estate) of the $6.63 billion loan portfolio-net. This has enabled Westernbank to shift its asset composition to assets with shorter maturities and greater repricing flexibility. The Company has also continued to diversify Westernbank’s sources of revenue, while maintaining its status as a secured lender, with approximately 83% of its loans collateralized by real estate as of March 31, 2005. At March 31, 2005, Westernbank Business Credit (asset-based lending, commercial loans principally secured by real estate (52% of them), accounts receivable, inventory and equipment) and the Expresso of Westernbank (generally unsecured consumer lending) divisions loan portfolios amounted to $1.06 billion and $142.3 million, respectively. At March 31, 2005, the average yield on Westernbank Business Credit division asset-based loans portfolio was 7.89%, while for the Expresso of Westernbank division loans portfolio, the average yield was 22.34%.

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The following table sets forth the composition of Westernbank’s loans portfolio at the dates indicated.

                                 
    March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
    Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Residential real estate:
                               
Mortgage, mainly 1-4 family residences
  $ 1,267,438       19.1 %   $ 902,937       15.2 %
Construction
    340,903       5.1       328,145       5.5  
Commercial, industrial and agricultural (1):
                               
Real estate
    3,356,606       50.6       3,154,679       53.1  
Business and others
    889,580       13.4       768,604       12.9  
Consumer and others (2)
    860,118       13.0       866,934       14.6  
 
                       
Total loans
    6,714,645       101.2       6,021,299       101.3  
Allowance for loan losses
    (82,932 )     (1.2 )     (80,066 )     (1.3 )
 
                       
Loans — net
  $ 6,631,713       100.0 %   $ 5,941,233       100.0 %
 
                       


(1)   Includes $1.1 billion and $831.1 million at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, of Westernbank Business Credit division outstanding loans.
 
(2)   Includes $142.3 million and $144.0 million at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, of Expresso of Westernbank division outstanding loans.

Residential real estate mortgage loans are mainly comprised of loans secured by first mortgages on one-to-four family residential properties. At March 31, 2005, residential mortgage loans included $11.1 million of mortgages insured or guaranteed by government agencies of the United States or Puerto Rico.

Westernbank originated $358.4 million of commercial real estate loans, including asset-based and construction loans, during the three month period ended March 31, 2005. At March 31, 2005, commercial real estate loans totaled $3.36 billion. In general, commercial real estate loans are considered by management to be of somewhat greater risk of uncollectibility than residential lending because such loans are typically larger in size and more risk is concentrated in a single borrower. In addition, the borrower’s ability to repay a commercial loan or a construction loan depends, in the case of a commercial loan, on the successful operation of the business or the property securing the loan and, in the case of a construction loan, on the successful completion and sale or operation of the project. Substantially all of the Company’s borrowers and properties and other collateral securing the commercial, real estate mortgage and consumer loans are located in Puerto Rico. These loans may be subject to a greater risk of default if the Puerto Rico economy suffers adverse economic, political or business developments, or if natural disasters affect Puerto Rico. At March 31, 2005, the Company maintained its status as a secured lender, with approximately 83% of its loans collateralized by real estate.

The portfolio of Consumer and Other loans at March 31, 2005, consisted of consumer loans of $860.1 million, of which $577.1 million are secured by real estate, $254.7 million are unsecured consumer loans (consisting of $124.3 million of Expresso of Westernbank division unsecured loans portfolio, credit card loans of $53.0 million and other consumer loans of $77.4 million) and loans secured by deposits in Westernbank totaling $28.3 million.

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The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of Westernbank’s total loans for the periods indicated at March 31, 2005. Contractual maturities do not necessarily reflect the actual term of a loan, including prepayments.

                                                 
            MATURITIES  
                    After one year to five years     After five years  
            (In thousands)  
    Balance                                
    outstanding     One year or     Fixed interest     Variable interest     Fixed interest     Variable interest  
    at March 31, 2005     less     rates     rates     rates     rates  
Residential real estate:
                                               
Mortgage
  $ 1,267,438     $ 7,140     $ 14,080     $ 57     $ 185,306     $ 1,060,855 (1)
Construction
    340,903       163,990             176,913              
 
                                               
Commercial, industrial and agricultural:
                                               
Real Estate
    3,356,606       1,227,765       265,051       298,733       74,983       1,490,074  
Business and other
    889,580       666,569       30,249       47,642       7,353       137,767  
 
                                               
Consumer and other
    860,118       114,363       196,225             549,530        
           
 
                                               
Total
  $ 6,714,645     $ 2,179,827     $ 505,605     $ 523,345     $ 817,172     $ 2,688,696  
           


(1)   Includes $977.9 million of purchased fixed rate loans in which seller guarantees the Company a return at a floating rate of interest (three month LIBOR plus a spread). See Note 10 - On Balance Sheet Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

Westernbank’s loan originations come from a number of sources. The primary sources for residential loan originations are depositors and walk-in customers. Commercial loan originations come from existing customers as well as through direct solicitation and referrals.

Westernbank originates loans in accordance with written, non-discriminatory underwriting standards and loan origination procedures prescribed in the Board of Directors approved loan policies. Detailed loan applications are obtained to determine the borrower’s repayment ability. Applications are verified through the use of credit reports, financial statements and other confirmation procedures. Property valuations by independent appraisers approved by the Board of Directors are required for mortgage and all real estate loans.

Westernbank’s Senior Credit Committee approval is required for all loans in excess of $5.0 million ($15.0 million in the case of Westernbank Business Credit Division). The Senior Credit Committee also reviews and ratifies all loans from $1.0 million to $5.0 million approved by Westernbank’s regional credit committees. The Senior Credit Committee is composed by a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and senior lending officers. All loans in excess of $5.0 million ($15.0 million for Westernbank Business Credit Division) approved by the Senior Credit Committee are also reviewed and ratified by the Board of Directors. All loans in excess of $50.0 million require the approval of the Board of Directors.

It is Westernbank’s policy to require borrowers to provide title insurance policies certifying or ensuring that Westernbank has a valid first lien on the mortgaged real estate. Borrowers must also obtain hazard insurance policies prior to closing and, when required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, flood insurance policies. Borrowers may be required to advance funds on a monthly basis together with each payment of principal and interest to a mortgage escrow account from which Westernbank makes disbursements for items such as real

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estate taxes, hazard insurance premiums and private mortgage insurance premiums as they fall due.

Westernbank originates most of its residential real estate loans as conforming loans, eligible for sale in the secondary market. The loan-to-value ratio at the time of origination on residential mortgages is generally 75%, except that Westernbank may lend up to 90% of the lower of the purchase price or appraised value of residential properties if private mortgage insurance is obtained by the borrower for amounts in excess of 80%.

Westernbank originates fixed and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans secured by a first mortgage on the borrower’s real property, payable in monthly installments for terms ranging from ten to forty-five years. Adjustable rates are indexed to specified prime or LIBOR rate. All 30 year conforming mortgages are originated with the intent to sell. In addition to its residential loan originations, Westernbank also purchases residential mortgage loans from other mortgage originators in Puerto Rico.

Westernbank originates primarily variable and adjustable rate commercial business and real estate loans. Westernbank also makes real estate construction loans subject to firm permanent financing commitments. As of March 31, 2005, Westernbank’s commercial loan portfolio had a total delinquency ratio, including the categories of 60 days and over, of 0.48% (less than 1%), compared to 0.55% (less than 1%) at December 31, 2004. For further explanation on the delinquency ratio of the Company’s commercial loan portfolio refer to section “Non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate held for sale”.

Westernbank offers different types of consumer loans in order to provide a full range of financial services to its customers. Within the different types of consumer loans offered by Westernbank, there are various types of secured and unsecured consumer loans with varying amortization schedules. In addition, Westernbank makes fixed-rate residential second mortgage consumer loans. In July 2002, Westernbank launched a new banking division focused on offering consumer loans through 19 full-service branches, called “Expresso of Westernbank”, denoting the branches’ emphasis on small, unsecured consumer loans up to $15,000 and collateralized consumer loans up to $150,000.

Westernbank offers the service of VISA™ and Master Card™ credit cards. At March 31, 2005, there were approximately 24,611 outstanding accounts, with an aggregate outstanding balance of $53.0 million and unused credit card lines available of $96.9 million.

In connection with all consumer loans originated, Westernbank’s underwriting standards include a determination of the applicants’ payment history on other debts and an assessment of the ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. As of March 31, 2005, Westernbank’s consumer loan portfolio, including the Expresso of Westernbank loan portfolio, had a total delinquency ratio, including the categories of 60 days and over, of 1.24%, an increase of 21 basis points when compared to 1.03% at December 31, 2004. The increase in the delinquency ratio from 2004 to 2005 was mainly due to delinquencies in regular consumer loans past due over 90 days which are collateralized by real estate properties.

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Westernbank has 83% of its loan portfolio as of March 31, 2005, secured by real estate. Our combined delinquency on all portfolios for the categories of 60 days and over continues to be below our benchmark of 1% for both periods, being 0.53% at March 31, 2005, and 0.57% at December 31, 2004.

Non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate held for sale

When a borrower fails to make a required payment on a loan, Westernbank attempts to cure the deficiency by contacting the borrower. In most cases, deficiencies are cured promptly. If the delinquency exceeds 90 days and is not cured through normal collection procedures, Westernbank will generally institute measures to remedy the default. If a foreclosure action is instituted and the loan is not cured, paid in full or refinanced, the property is sold at a judicial sale at which Westernbank may acquire the property. In the event that the property is sold at a price insufficient to cover the balance of the loan, the debtor remains liable for the deficiency. Thereafter, if Westernbank acquires the property, such acquired property is appraised and included in the foreclosed real estate held for sale account at the fair value at the date of acquisition. Then, this asset is carried at the lower of fair value less estimated costs to sell or cost until the property is sold.

The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when there is a clear indication the borrower’s cash flow may not be sufficient to meet payments as they become due, but in no event is it recognized after 90 days in arrears on payments of principal or interest. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all previously accrued and unpaid interest is charged against income and the loan is accounted for on the cash method thereafter, until qualifying for return to accrual status. Generally, a loan is returned to accrual status when all delinquent interest and principal payments become current in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement or when the loan is both well secured and in the process of collection and collectibility is no longer doubtful.

The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate held for sale by Westernbank at the dates indicated:

                 
    March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Commercial, industrial and agricultural loans
  $ 23,861     $ 25,417  
Consumer loans
    7,876       7,122  
Residential real estate mortgage and construction loans
    1,994       1,730  
 
           
Total non-performing loans
    33,731       34,269  
Foreclosed real estate held for sale
    3,849       3,811  
 
           
Total non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate held for sale
  $ 37,580     $ 38,080  
 
           
 
               
Interest that would have been recorded if the loans had not been classified as non-performing
  $ 3,400     $ 3,557  
 
           
Interest recorded on non-performing loans
  $ 704     $ 243  
 
           
Total non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans at end of period
    0.50 %     0.57 %
 
           
Total non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate held for sale as a percentage of
total assets at end of period
    0.25 %     0.27 %
 
           

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Non-performing loans stand at $33.7 million or 0.50% (less than 1%) of Westernbank’s loan portfolio at March 31, 2005, also an improvement of 7 basis points when compared to 0.57% reported at December 31, 2004. In absolute amounts, non-performing loans decreased by $538,000, from $34.3 million as of December 31, 2004. The decrease in non-performing loans comes from the Company’s commercial loans portfolio. Non-performing loans on the commercial loan portfolio decreased by $1.6 million, when compared to December 31, 2004. This decrease is mostly attributed to one commercial loan with a principal balance of $1.2 million, which was repaid during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Total non-performing loans in the consumer loans portfolio grew by $754,000, when compared to December 31, 2004. Such increase was mainly due to consumer loans past due over 90 days which are collateralized by real estate properties. At March 31, 2005, the allowance for possible loan losses was 245.86% of total non-performing loans (reserve coverage), compared to the 233.64% reported at December 31, 2004. Moreover, of the total allowance of $82.9 million, $9.7 million is for our specific allowance and the remaining $73.2 million is for our general allowance.

Allowance for loan losses

Westernbank maintains an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance is based on ongoing, quarterly assessments of the probable estimated losses inherent in the loan portfolio, based on evaluations of the collectibility and historical loss experience of loans. The Company follows a systematic methodology to establish and evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. This methodology consists of several key elements, which include:

The Formula Allowance. The formula allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to outstanding loans not otherwise covered by specific allowances. Loss factors are based on historical loss experience and may be adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, reflect the impact of any current condition on loss recognition. Factors that management considers in the analysis include the effect of the national and local economies, trends in the nature and volume of loans (delinquencies, charge-offs, non-accrual and problem loans), asset quality trends, changes in the internal lending policies and credit standards, collection practices, and examination results from bank regulatory agencies and the Company’s internal credit examiners. Loss factors are described as follows:

Ÿ      Loan loss factors for commercial loans, including construction and land acquisition loans, are based on historical loss trends for three to five years, as adjusted for management’s expected increase in the loss factors given the significant increase in such loan portfolios over the last few years.

Ÿ      Pooled loan loss factors are also based on historical loss trends for one to three years. Pooled loans are loans that are homogeneous in nature, such as consumer installment, residential mortgage loans and credit cards.

Specific Allowances for Identified Problem Loans and Portfolio Segments. Specific allowances are established and maintained where management has identified significant adverse conditions or circumstances related to a credit or portfolio segment that management believes indicate the probability that a loss has been incurred in excess of the amount determined by the application of the formula allowance. Larger commercial and construction loans that exhibit probable or observed credit weaknesses are subject to individual review. Where appropriate,

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allowances are allocated to individual loans based on management’s estimate of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan given the availability of collateral, other sources of cash flow and legal options available to Westernbank.

In addition, the specific allowance incorporates the results of measuring impaired loans as provided in SFAS No. 114, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, as amended. This accounting standard prescribes the measurement methods, income recognition and disclosures concerning impaired loans.

The Unallocated Allowance. An unallocated allowance is established recognizing the estimation risk associated with the formula and specific allowances. It is based upon management’s evaluation of various conditions, the effects of which are not directly measured in determining the formula and specific allowances. These conditions include then-existing general economic and business conditions affecting our key lending areas; credit quality trends, including trends in nonperforming loans expected to result from existing conditions, collateral values, loan volumes and concentrations, seasoning of the loan portfolio, recent loss experience in particular segments of the portfolio, regulatory examination results, and findings of our internal credit examiners. The evaluation of the inherent loss regarding these conditions involves a higher degree of uncertainty because they are not identified with specific problem credits or portfolio segments.

Management assesses these conditions quarterly. If any of these conditions is evidenced by a specifically identifiable problem credit or portfolio segment as of the evaluation date, management’s estimate of the effect of this condition may be reflected as a specific allowance applicable to this credit or portfolio segment. Where any of these conditions is not evidenced by a specifically identifiable problem credit or portfolio segment as of the evaluation date, management’s evaluation of the probable loss concerning this condition is reflected in the unallocated allowance.

The allowance for loan losses is based upon estimates of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount actually observed for these losses can vary significantly from the estimated amounts. Our methodology includes several features that are intended to reduce the differences between estimated and actual losses. Historical loss factors for commercial and consumer loans may be adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, reflect the impact of any current condition on loss recognition. Factors which management considers in the analysis include the effect of the national and local economies, trends in the nature and volume of loans (delinquencies, charge-offs, non-accrual and problem loans), changes in the internal lending policies and credit standards, collection practices, and examination results from bank regulatory agencies and the Bank’s internal credit examiners. Loan loss factors are adjusted quarterly based upon the level of net charge-offs expected by management in the next twelve months, after taking into account historical loss ratios adjusted for current trends. By assessing the probable estimated losses inherent in the loan portfolio on a quarterly basis, we are able to adjust specific and inherent loss estimates based upon any more recent information that has become available.

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At March 31, 2005, Westernbank’s allowance for loan losses was $82.9 million, consisting of $73.2 million formula allowance and $9.7 million of specific allowances. As of March 31, 2005, the allowance for loan losses equals 1.24% of total loans, and 245.86% of total non-performing loans, compared with an allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2004 of $80.1 million, or 1.33% of total loans, and 233.64% of total non-performing loans.

As of March 31, 2005, there have been no significant changes in estimation methods or assumptions that affected our methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses.

The table below presents a reconciliation of changes in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:

                 
    Three Months     Year Ended  
    Ended March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 80,066     $ 61,608  
 
           
Loans charged-off:
               
Consumer loans (1)
    (2,856 )     (16,473 )
Commercial, industrial and agricultural loans
    (632 )     (5,433 )
Real estate-mortgage and construction loans
    (63 )     (297 )
 
           
Total loans charged-off
    (3,551 )     (22,203 )
 
           
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
               
Consumer loans (2)
    381       1,920  
Commercial, industrial and agricultural loans
    36       1,844  
Real estate-mortgage and construction loans
          206  
 
           
Total recoveries of loans previously charged-off
    417       3,970  
 
           
Net loans charged-off
    (3,134 )     (18,233 )
 
           
Provision for loan losses
    6,000       36,691  
 
           
Balance, end of period
  $ 82,932     $ 80,066  
 
           
 
               
Ratios:
               
Allowance for loan losses to total loans at end of period
    1.24 %     1.33 %
Provision for loan losses to net loans charged-off
    191.45 %     201.23 %
Recoveries of loans to loans charged-off in previous period
    7.51 %(3)     26.71 %
Net loans charged-off to average total loans (4)
    0.20 %(3)     0.34 %
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans
    245.86 %     233.64 %


(1)   Includes $2.1 million and $12.4 million of Expresso of Westernbank loans charged-off for the three months ended March 31, 2005, and for the year ended December 31, 2004, respectively.
 
(2)   Includes $214,000 and $1.0 million of Expresso of Westernbank loans recoveries for the three months ended March 31, 2005, and for the year ended December 31, 2004, respectively.
 
(3)   Ratio for 2005 is annualized for comparison purposes.
 
(4)   Average loans were computed using beginning and period-end balances.

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The following table presents the allocation of the allowance for credit losses, the loan portfolio composition percentage and the allowance coverage ratio in each category to total loans, as set forth in the “Loans” table on page 39.

                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Allowance for credit losses at end of period:
               
 
               
Commercial, industrial and agricultural loans (1)
  $ 61,752     $ 58,208  
Consumer loans (2)
    19,218       19,425  
Residential real estate mortgage and construction loans
    395       407  
Unallocated
    1,567       2,026  
 
           
Total allowance for loan losses
  $ 82,932     $ 80,066  
 
           
 
               
Loan portfolio composition percentages at end of period:
               
 
               
Commercial, industrial and agricultural loans
    63.24 %     65.15 %
Consumer loans
    12.81 %     14.40 %
Residential real estate mortgage and construction loans
    23.95 %     20.45 %
 
           
Total loans
    100.00 %     100.00 %
 
           
 
               
Allowance coverage ratio at period end:
               
Applicable to:
               
Commercial, industrial and agricultural loans
    1.45 %     1.48 %
Consumer loans
    2.23 %     2.24 %
Residential real estate mortgage and construction loans
    0.02 %     0.03 %
Unallocated (as a percentage of total loans)
    0.02 %     0.03 %
 
           
Total loans
    1.24 %     1.33 %
 
           


(1)   Includes an allowance of $14.6 million and $12.9 million for Westernbank Business Credit loans at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.
 
(2)   Includes an allowance of $11.8 million and $13.8 million for Expresso of Westernbank loans at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.

Loans are classified as impaired or not impaired in accordance with SFAS No. 114. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that Westernbank will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due, according to the contractual terms of the agreement.

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Westernbank measures the impairment of a loan based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or as a practical expedient, at the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent. Significant loans (those exceeding $500,000) are individually evaluated for impairment. Large groups of small balance, homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment; loans that are recorded at fair value or at the lower of cost or market are not evaluated for impairment. The portfolios of mortgage and consumer loans are considered homogeneous and are evaluated collectively for impairment.

Impaired loans for which the discounted cash flows, collateral value or market price exceeds its carrying value do not require an allowance. The allowance for impaired loans is part of the Company’s overall allowance for loan losses.

The following table sets forth information regarding the investment in impaired loans:

                 
    March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
    (In thousands)  
Investment in impaired loans:
               
Covered by a valuation allowance
  $ 32,675     $ 29,975  
Do not require a valuation allowance
    22,484       24,200  
 
           
Total
  $ 55,159     $ 54,175  
 
           
 
               
Valuation allowance for impaired loans
  $ 8,610     $ 8,412  
 
           
                 
    March 31, 2005     March 31, 2004  
    (In thousands)  
Average investment in impaired loans
  $ 54,157     $ 47,320  
 
           
 
               
Interest collected and recognized as income on impaired loans
  $ 743     $ 619  
 
           

Although the Company investment on impaired loans remained relatively stable when compared to December 31, 2004, the loans comprising total impaired loans between periods may have changed. The investment in impaired loans covered by a valuation allowance increased by $2.7 million or 9.01%, from $30.0 million at December 31, 2004, to $32.7 million at March 31, 2005. The increase was mainly due to two commercial loans with principal balances of $1.0 million and $909,000 at March 31, 2005. The loan with a principal balance of $1.0 million required a valuation allowance of $250,000 as of March 31, 2005, while the loan with a principal of $909,000, required a valuation allowance of $373,000. The valuation allowance for impaired loans increased slightly from $8.4 million at December 31, 2004, to $8.6 million at March 31, 2005, an increase of $198,000 or 2.35%.

Investments

The Company’s investments are managed by the Investment Department. Purchases and sales are required to be reported monthly to the Investment Committee (composed of members of the Board of Directors, as well as the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer).

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The Investment Department is authorized to purchase and sell federal funds, interest bearing deposits in banks, banker’s acceptances of commercial banks insured by the FDIC, mortgage and asset-backed securities, Puerto Rico and U.S. Government and agency obligations, municipal securities rated A or better by any of the nationally recognized rating agencies, commercial paper and corporate notes rated P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc or A-1 by Standard and Poor’s, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. In addition, the Investment Department is responsible for the pricing and sale of deposits and repurchase agreements.

At the date of purchase, the Company classifies debt and equity securities into one of three categories: held to maturity; trading; or available for sale. At each reporting date, the appropriateness of the classification is reassessed. Investments in debt securities for which management has the intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and stated at cost increased by accretion of discounts and reduced by amortization of premiums, both computed by the interest method. Securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading and measured at fair value in the financial statements with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Securities not classified as either held to maturity or trading are classified as available for sale and measured at fair value in the financial statements with unrealized gains and losses reported, net of income tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Gains and losses on sales of securities are determined using the specific-identification method.

The Company’s investment strategy is affected by both the rates and terms available on competing investments and tax and other legal considerations.

Federal funds sold and resell agreements amounted to $311.6 million and $642.7 million, respectively, at March 31, 2005. Federal funds sold mature the next business day, while resell agreements mature as follows: $92.7 million the next business day, $200.0 million in 2009, and $350.0 million in 2010. The Company monitors the fair value of the underlying securities as compared to the related receivable, including accrued interest and requests additional collateral when the fair value of the underlying collateral falls below the collateral requirement. At March 31, 2005, the fair value of the underlying collateral amounted to $644.3 million.

The following table presents the carrying value of investments at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004:

                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (In thousands)  
Held to maturity :
               
US Government and agencies obligations
  $ 6,011,984     $ 6,004,849  
Puerto Rico Government and agencies obligations
    34,822       34,822  
Commercial paper
    25,000       25,000  
Corporate notes
    26,422       26,418  
Mortgage and asset-backed securities
    849,815       830,290  
 
           
Total
    6,948,043       6,921,379  
Available for sale — Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO’s)
    5,062       7,881  
 
           
Total investments
  $ 6,953,105     $ 6,929,260  
 
           

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Mortgage-backed securities at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, consist of:

                 
    March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
    (In thousands)  
Available for sale:
               
CMO’s certificates issued or guaranteed by FNMA
  $ 5,062     $ 6,116  
CMO’s certificates issued or guaranteed by FHLMC
          1,765  
 
           
Total available for sale
    5,062       7,881  
 
           
 
               
Held to maturity:
               
GNMA certificates
    9,453       9,881  
FHLMC certificates
    5,335       5,663  
FNMA certificates
    3,378       3,642  
CMO’s certificates issued or guaranteed by FHLMC
    720,613       706,632  
CMO’s certificates issued or guaranteed by FNMA
    111,036       104,441  
CMO’s other
          31  
 
           
Total held to maturity
    849,815       830,290  
 
           
 
               
Total mortgage and asset-backed securities
  $ 854,877     $ 838,171  
 
           

At March 31, 2005, no investment of a single issuer (in aggregate balance) exceeded 10% of the consolidated stockholders’ equity.

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The carrying amount of investment securities at March 31, 2005, by contractual maturity (excluding mortgage-backed securities and equity securities), are shown below:

                 
            Weighted  
    Carrying     average  
    amount     yield  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
US Government and agencies obligations:
               
Due within one year
  $ 2,495       2.68 %
Due after one year through five years
    5,323,544       3.91  
Due after five years through ten years
    685,945       4.41  
Due after ten years
           
 
           
 
    6,011,984       3.97  
 
           
 
               
Puerto Rico Government and agencies obligations:
               
Due within one year
    3,000       4.75  
Due after one year through five years
    10,468       5.25  
Due after five years through ten years
    20,004       4.15  
Due after ten years
    1,350       6.15  
 
           
 
    34,822       4.61  
 
           
 
               
Other:
               
Due within one year
    25,000       3.54  
Due after one year through five years
    4,995       6.13  
Due after five years through ten years
           
Due after ten years
    21,427       8.33  
 
           
 
    51,422       5.79  
 
           
Total
    6,098,228       3.99  
 
               
Mortgage and asset-backed securities
    854,877       4.23  
 
           
Total
  $ 6,953,105       4.02 %
 
           

The Company’s investment portfolio at March 31, 2005, had an average contractual maturity of 51 months, when compared to an average maturity of 53 months at December 31, 2004. The Company’s interest rate risk model takes into consideration the callable feature of certain investment securities. Assuming that all call features are exercised, the Company’s investment portfolio as of March 31, 2005, had a remaining average contractual maturity of 9 months. However, no assurance can be given that such levels will be maintained in future periods.

The Company evaluates for impairment its investment securities on a quarterly basis or earlier if other factors indicative of potential impairment exist. An impairment charge in the consolidated statements of income is recognized when the decline in the fair value of the securities below their cost basis is judged to be other-than-temporary. The Company considers various factors in determining whether it should recognize an impairment charge, including, but not limited to the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been below its cost basis, the expectations for that security’s performance, the credit worthiness of the issuer, and the Company’s intention and ability to hold the security to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value if classified as available for sale, or to maturity.

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See Note 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES for recent developments on the measurement and recognition guidance on other-than-temporary impairments.

Deposits

Westernbank offers a diversified choice of deposit accounts. Savings deposits increased from $829.4 million as of December 31, 2004, to $837.4 million as of March 31, 2005, an increase of $8.0 million. Also, other deposits represented mainly by time deposits, brokered deposits and Individual Retirement Account deposits (IRA’s), increased from $5.40 billion as of December 31, 2004, to $6.22 billion as of March 31, 2005, an increase of $822.5 million or 15.23%. Other deposits include brokered deposits amounting to $4.91 billion and $4.16 billion as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. These accounts have historically been a stable source of funds.

At March 31, 2005, Westernbank had total deposits of $7.06 billion, of which $837.4 million or 11.86% consisted of savings deposits, $307.7 million or 4.36% consisted of interest bearing demand deposits, $263.8 million or 3.73% consisted of noninterest bearing deposits, and $5.65 billion or 80.05% consisted of time deposits. Westernbank also offers negotiable order of withdrawal (“NOW”) accounts, Super Now accounts, special checking accounts and commercial demand accounts.

At March 31, 2005, the scheduled maturities of time deposits in amounts of $100,000 or more are as follows:

         
    (In thousands)  
3 months or less
  $ 87,458  
over 3 months through 6 months
    28,011  
over 6 months through 12 months
    68,012  
over 12 months
    91,920  
 
     
Total
  $ 275,401  
 
     

The following table sets forth the average amount and the average rate paid on the following deposit categories for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:

                                 
    March 31, 2005     March 31, 2004  
    Average     Average     Average     Average  
    amount     rate     amount     rate  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Time deposits
  $ 5,137,516       3.04 %   $ 4,292,191       2.49 %
Savings deposits
    822,465       2.10 %     711,341       2.19 %
Interest bearing demand deposits
    203,614       2.78 %     200,154       2.55 %
Noninterest bearing demand deposits
    348,025             259,688        
 
                       
 
  $ 6,511,620       2.75 %   $ 5,463,374       2.34 %
 
                       

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Borrowings

The following table sets forth the borrowings of the Company at the dates indicated:

                 
    March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
    (In thousands)  
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements (1)
  $ 6,476,172     $ 6,683,527  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)
    207,000       211,000  
Mortgage note payable
    36,744       36,858  
 
           
 
  $ 6,719,916     $ 6,931,385  
 
           


(1)   Federal funds purchased amounted to $75.0 million at December 31, 2004, at a weighted average interest rate of 2.37%, and mature within one day. No such borrowings were outstanding at March 31, 2005.

Westernbank has made use of institutional federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements in order to obtain funding, primarily through investment banks and brokerage firms. Repurchase agreements are collateralized with investment securities while federal funds purchased do not require collateral. Westernbank had $6.48 billion in repurchase agreements outstanding at March 31, 2005, at a weighted average rate of 3.26%. Repurchase agreements outstanding as of March 31, 2005, mature as follows: $1.29 billion within 30 days; $1.51 billion 31 days to 90 days; $704.0 million 91 days to one year; $47.5 million in 2006; $585.3 million in 2007; $560.5 million in 2008; and $1.78 billion thereafter.

Westernbank also obtains advances from FHLB of New York. As of March 31, 2005, Westernbank had $207.0 million in outstanding FHLB advances at a weighted average rate of 3.76%. Advances from FHLB mature as follows: $35.0 million within 30 days; $70.0 million in 2006; $60.0 million in 2007; and $42.0 million in 2010.

At March 31, 2005, with respect to repurchase agreements amounting to $1.90 billion, the counterparties have the option to terminate the agreements at the first anniversary date and each interest payment date thereafter. Also, with respect to repurchase agreements and advances from FHLB amounting to $626.0 million at March 31, 2005, at the first anniversary date and each quarter thereafter, the FHLB has the option to convert them into replacement funding for the same or a lesser principal amount based on any funding then offered by FHLB at the then current market rates, unless the interest rate has been predetermined between FHLB and the Company. If the Company chooses not to replace the FHLB’s funding, it will repay the convertible advances and repurchase agreements, including any accrued interest, on such optional conversion date.

At March 31, 2005, Westernbank World Plaza, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Westernbank Puerto Rico, had outstanding $36.7 million of a mortgage note, at a fixed interest rate of 8.05% per year up to September 11, 2009. Subsequent to September 11, 2009, the mortgage note will bear interest on the then outstanding principal balance at a rate per year equal to (1) the greater of 13.05% or the Treasury Rate plus five percentage points or (2) 10.05%, depending on the fulfillment of certain conditions on the repricing date. Westernbank World Plaza has a prepayment option on the repricing date, without penalty. The mortgage note is collateralized by a 23-story office building, including its related parking facility, located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

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The following table presents certain information regarding Westernbank’s borrowings, excluding the mortgage payable, for the periods indicated.

                 
    March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Amount outstanding at period end
  $ 6,683,172     $ 6,894,527  
Monthly average outstanding balance
    6,798,860       5,831,435  
Maximum outstanding balance at any month end
    6,819,201       6,894,527  
Weighted average interest rate:
               
For the three months and year ended
    3.08 %     2.50 %
At the end of period
    3.28 %     2.88 %

Stockholders’ Equity

As of March 31, 2005, total stockholders’ equity amounted to $1.13 billion, an increase of $51.8 million or 4.79%, when compared to $1.08 billion as of December 31, 2004. The increase resulted primarily from the issuance of 401,300 shares of the Company’s Series H Preferred Stock under an over-allotment option to the underwriter, with a liquidation price of $50 per share, completed on January 3, 2005, providing a net capital infusion of $19.5 million, plus the net income of $48.6 million generated during the three month period ended March 31, 2005, partially offset by total dividends declared during the period of $16.5 million on the Company’s common stock and preferred stock. The period-end number of common shares outstanding increased from 163,918,835 as of December 31, 2004, to 164,012,772 as of March 31, 2005, as a result of the conversion of 16,840 shares of the Company’s convertible preferred stock series A, into 58,824 shares of the Company’s common stock, and the issuance of 35,113 common shares from the exercise of stock options.

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SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS AND OTHER DATA

The following table sets forth, for the indicated periods, certain ratios reflecting the productivity, profitability and other selected data of the Company:

                         
    Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004     2004  
    (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)  
Per share data:
                       
Dividend payout ratio
    18.24 %     17.39 %     16.24 %
Book value per common share
  $ 3.67     $ 2.91 (2)   $ 3.48  
Preferred stock outstanding at end of period
    18,179       15,325       17,794  
Preferred stock equity at end of period
  $ 531,388     $ 383,136     $ 511,744  
 
                       
Performance ratios:
                       
Return on assets
    1.32 %(1)     1.37 %(1)     1.33 %
Return on common stockholders’ equity
    26.81 %(1)     29.36 %(1)     28.55 %
Efficiency ratio
    27.40 %     30.32 %     30.51 %
Operating expenses to total end-of-period assets
    0.65 %     0.78 %     0.70 %
 
                       
Capital ratios:
                       
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
    15.44 %     14.76 %     15.70 %
Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets
    14.54 %     13.84 %     14.78 %
Tier I capital to average assets
    7.75 %     7.32 %     7.72 %
Equity-to-assets ratio (1)
    7.55 %     7.13 %     7.39 %
 
                       
Other selected data:
                       
 
                       
Total trust assets managed
  $ 416,747     $ 346,383     $ 398,709  
Branch offices
    53       51       52  
Number of full-time employees
    1,203       1,133       1,175  


(1)   The return on assets is computed by dividing annualized net income by average total assets for the period. The return on common stockholders’ equity is computed by dividing annualized net income less preferred stock dividends by average common stockholders’ equity. The equity-to-asset ratio is computed by dividing average equity by average total assets. Average balances have been computed using beginning and period-end balances.
 
(2)   Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split and a 2% stock dividend on our common stock declared in December 2004, both distributed on January 10, 2005.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES

The information required herein is incorporated by reference from page 58 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

LIQUIDITY

Liquidity refers to the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash to meet the funding needs of current loans demand, deposit withdrawals, principal and interest payments with respect to outstanding borrowings and to pay operating expenses. The Company monitors its liquidity in accordance with guidelines established by the Investment Committee and applicable regulatory requirements. The Company’s need for liquidity is affected by loan demand, net changes in deposit levels and the scheduled maturities of its borrowings. Liquidity demand caused by net reductions in deposits is usually caused by factors over which the Company has limited control. The Company derives its liquidity from both its assets and liabilities. Liquidity is derived from assets by receipt of interest and principal payments and prepayments, by the ability to sell assets at market prices and by utilizing unpledged assets as collateral for borrowings. At March 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $1.61 billion in securities and other short-term securities maturing or repricing within one year or available for sale. Additional asset-driven liquidity is provided by the remainder of the investment securities available for sale and securitizable loans.

Liquidity is derived from liabilities by maintaining a variety of funding sources, including deposits, advances from the FHLB of New York and other short and long-term borrowing, such as federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements. Other borrowings funding source limits are determined annually by each counterparty and depend on the Company’s financial condition and delivery of acceptable collateral securities. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying securities. In addition, the Company utilizes the National Certificate of Deposit (“CD”) Market as a source of cost effective deposit funding in addition to local market deposit inflows. Depositors in this market consist of credit unions, banking institutions, CD brokers and some private corporations or non-profit organizations. Westernbank’s ability to acquire brokered deposits can be restricted if it becomes in the future less than well-capitalized. An adequately-capitalized bank, by regulation, may not accept deposits from brokers unless it applies for and receives a waiver from the FDIC. The Company also uses the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) as a funding source, issuing notes payable, such as advances, and other borrowings, such as repurchase agreements, through its FHLB member subsidiary, Westernbank. This funding source requires Westernbank to maintain a minimum amount of qualifying collateral with a fair value of at least 110% and 105% of the outstanding advances and repurchase agreements, respectively.

The Company’s liquidity targets are reviewed monthly by the Investment Committee and are based on the Company’s commitment to make loans and investments and its ability to generate funds. The Committee’s targets are also affected by yields on available investments and upon the Committee’s judgment as to the attractiveness of such yields and its expectations as to future yields.

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The Company’s investment portfolio at March 31, 2005, had an average contractual maturity of 51 months. Assuming that all call features are exercised, the Company’s investment portfolio as of March 31, 2005, had a remaining average contractual maturity of 9 months. However, no assurance can be given that such levels will be maintained in future periods.

As of March 31, 2005, Westernbank had line of credit agreements with six commercial banks permitting Westernbank to borrow a maximum aggregate amount of $245.0 million, mainly through federal funds purchased. There were no borrowings outstanding as of March 31, 2005, under such lines of credit. The agreements provide for unsecured advances to be used by the Company on an overnight basis. Interest rate is negotiated at the time of the transaction usually at Fed Fund rate. The credit agreements are renewable annually.

Payments due by period for the Company’s contractual obligations (other than deposit liabilities) at March 31, 2005, are presented below:

                                         
            Due after     Due after              
            one year     three years              
    Due within     through     through     Due after        
    one year     three years     five years     five years     Total  
    (In thousands)  
Short-term borrowings
  $ 3,030,682     $     $     $     $ 3,030,682  
Long-term borrowings
    507,956       1,323,336       97,000       1,760,942       3,689,234  
Operating lease obligations
    2,364       3,161       1,103       343       6,971  
Loan purchase obligation
    200,000                         200,000  
 
                             
Total contractual obligations
  $ 3,741,002     $ 1,326,497     $ 98,103     $ 1,761,285     $ 6,926,887  
 
                             

Such commitments will be funded in the normal course of business from the Company’s principal source of funds. At March 31, 2005, the Company had $3.72 billion in time deposits that mature during the following twelve months. The Company does not anticipate any difficulty in retaining or replacing such deposits.

The contractual amount of the Company’s financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk expiring by period at March 31, 2005, is presented below:

                         
            Less than one        
    Total     year     2-5 years  
    (In thousands)  
Unused lines of credit
  $ 283,746     $ 273,486     $ 10,260  
Commercial letters of credit
    24,536       24,536        
Commitments to extend credit
    455,088       90,286       364,802  
Commitments to purchase mortgage loans
    200,000       200,000        
 
                 
Total
  $ 963,370     $ 588,308     $ 375,062  
 
                 

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Due to the nature of the Company’s unfunded commitments, including unfunded lines of credit, the amounts presented above do not necessarily represent the amounts the Company anticipates funding in the periods presented above.

Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Federal Reserve Board has established guidelines regarding the capital adequacy of bank holding companies, such as the Company. These requirements are substantially similar to those adopted by the FDIC for depository institutions, such as Westernbank, as set forth below.

The Company (on a consolidated basis) and Westernbank (the “Companies”) are subject to risk-based capital guidelines issued by the federal banking agencies. These guidelines are used to evaluate capital adequacy based primarily on the perceived credit risk associated with balance sheet assets as well as certain off-balance sheet exposures such as unused loan commitments, letters of credit and derivatives.

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 and Westernbank’s financial statements.

Under the risk-based capital guidelines, qualifying total capital consists of two types of capital components. Tier 1 capital includes common shareholders’ equity, qualifying perpetual preferred stock (subject to limitations) and minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries less goodwill and certain other deductions. Tier 2 capital includes Tier 1 capital plus perpetual preferred stock not included in Tier 1 capital (subject to limitations), the general allowance for credit losses, qualifying senior and subordinated debt, and limited-life preferred stock less certain deductions.

The risk-based capital guidelines require a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.0% and a minimum ratio of combined Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital (“total risk-based capital”) to risk-weighted assets of 8.0%. The risk-based capital guidelines are supplemented by a leverage ratio requirement. This requirement establishes a minimum leverage ratio of 3.0% for the highest rated banking organizations. Other banking organizations are expected to have ratios of at least 4.0 to 5.0% depending on their particular growth plans and condition (including diversification of risk, asset quality, earnings, and liquidity). The ratio is defined as Tier 1 capital divided by total average assets, less certain deductions, including goodwill.

As of March 31, 2004 (latest examination date), Westernbank qualified as a well capitalized institution under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, an institution must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier I risk-based, and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. At March 31, 2005, there are no conditions or events since the latest examination date that management believes have changed Westernbank’s category.

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The following table reflects the Companies’ actual capital amounts and ratios, and applicable regulatory requirements at March 31, 2005:

                                                 
                                    Minimum To Be  
                    Minimum             Well Capitalized Under  
                    Capital             Prompt Corrective  
    Actual     Requirement             Action Provisions  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
                    (Dollars in Thousands)                  
Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets:
                                               
Consolidated
  $ 1,213,199       15.44 %   $ 628,457       8.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Westernbank
    1,149,242       14.66 %     627,319       8.00 %   $ 784,149       10.00 %
 
                                               
Tier I Capital to Risk Weighted Assets:
                                               
Consolidated
    1,130,267       14.54 %     310,911       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Westernbank
    1,066,310       13.74 %     310,342       4.00 %     465,513       6.00 %
 
                                               
Tier I Capital to Average Assets:
                                               
Consolidated
    1,130,267       7.75 %     437,287       3.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Westernbank
    1,066,310       7.37 %     434,238       3.00 %     723,729       5.00 %

The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its stockholders and other activities can be restricted if its capital falls below levels established by the Federal Reserve guidelines. In addition, any bank holding company whose capital falls below levels specified in the guidelines can be required to implement a plan to increase capital. Management believes that the Company will continue to meet its capital requirements and its cash obligations as they become due and pay dividends as they are declared.

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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest rate risk and asset/liability management

The Company’s financial performance is impacted by among other factors, interest rate risk and credit risk. Management considers interest rate risk the Company’s most significant market risk. Interest rate risk is the exposure to adverse changes in net interest income due to changes in interest rates. Consistency of the Company’s net interest income is largely dependent upon the effective management of interest rate risk. The Company does not utilize derivatives to mitigate its credit risk, relying instead on an extensive counterparty review process. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations — Financial Condition — Allowance for Loan Losses” herein.

Interest rate risk is addressed by the Company’s Asset & Liability Committee (“ALCO”), which includes the full Board of Directors and certain senior management representatives. The ALCO monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact to the net portfolio of equity value and net interest income from potential changes to interest rates and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure. The ALCO manages the Company’s balance sheet in part to minimize the potential impact on net portfolio value and net interest income despite changes in interest rates. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed on a quarterly basis by the ALCO. Interest rate risk exposure is measured using interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine the change in net portfolio value in the event of hypothetical changes in interest rates. If potential changes to net portfolio value and net interest income resulting from hypothetical interest rate changes are not within the limits established by the Board, the Board may direct management to adjust its asset and liability mix to bring interest rate risk within Board-approved limits. In order to reduce the exposure to interest rate fluctuations, the Company has implemented strategies to more closely match its balance sheet composition. Interest rate sensitivity is computed by estimating the changes in net portfolio of equity value, or market value over a range of potential changes in interest rates. The market value of equity is the market value of the Company’s assets minus the market value of its liabilities plus or minus the market value of any off-balance sheet items. The market value of each asset, liability, and off-balance sheet item is its net present value of expected cash flows discounted at market rates after adjustment for rate changes. The Company measures the impact on market value for an immediate and sustained 200 basis point increase or decrease (shock) in interest rates.

The Company’s profitability is dependent to a large extent upon its net interest income, which is the difference between its interest income on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and its interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. The Company is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that its interest-earning assets reprice differently than its interest-bearing liabilities.

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The Company manages its mix of assets and liabilities with the goals of limiting its exposure to interest rate risk, ensuring adequate liquidity, and coordinating its sources and uses of funds. Specific strategies have included securitization and sale of long-term, fixed-rate residential mortgage loans, shortening the average maturity of fixed-rate loans and increasing the volume of variable and adjustable rate loans to reduce the average maturity of the Company’s interest-earning assets. All long-term, fixed-rate single family residential mortgage loans underwritten according to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association and Government National Mortgage Association guidelines, are sold for cash upon origination. In addition, the Company enters into certain derivative financial instruments to hedge various exposures or to modify interest rate characteristics of various statements of financial condition items. (See “Note 10 – On Balance Sheet Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)”).

The Company is exposed to changes in the level of Net Interest Income (“NII”) in a changing interest rate environment. NII will fluctuate pursuant to changes in the levels of interest rates and of interest-sensitive assets and liabilities. If (1) the weighted average rates in effect at period end remain constant, or increase or decrease on an instantaneous and sustained change of plus 200 or minus 100 basis points, and (2) all scheduled repricing, reinvestments and estimated prepayments, and reissuances are at such constant, or increase or decrease accordingly; NII will fluctuate as shown on the table below:

March 31, 2005:

                         
Change in Interest Rate   Expected NII (*)     Amount Change     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
+200 Basis Points
  $ 282,551     $ (32,942 )     (10.44 )%
Base Scenario
    315,493              
-100 Basis Points
    337,332       21,839       6.92 %

December 31, 2004:

                         
Change in Interest Rate   Expected NII (*)     Amount Change     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
+200 Basis Points
  $ 268,838     $ (49,112 )     (15.44 )%
Base Scenario
    317,950              
-100 Basis Points
    307,734       (10,216 )     (3.31 )%
 
                       
 

(*) The NII figures exclude the effect of the amortization of loan fees. Given the fed fund rate of 2.75% at March 31, 2005, and 2.25% at December 31, 2004, a linear 100 basis points decrease for March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, was modeled in the estimated change in interest rate in place of the linear 200 basis points decrease.

The model utilized to create the information presented above makes various estimates at each level of interest rate change regarding cash flows from principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities and/or call activity on investment securities. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates which would result in significant differences in the calculated projected change. In addition, the limits stated above do not necessarily represent the level of change under which management would undertake specific measures to realign its portfolio in order to reduce the projected level of change.

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The interest rate sensitivity (“GAP”) is defined as the difference between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within a given time period. A GAP is considered positive when the amount of interest rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities. A GAP is considered negative when the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities exceeds interest rate sensitive assets. During a period of rising interest rates, a negative GAP would tend to adversely affect net interest income, while a positive GAP would tend to result in an increase in net interest income. During a period of falling interest rates, a negative GAP would tend to result in an increase in net interest income, while a positive GAP would tend to affect net interest income adversely. While the GAP is a useful measurement and contributes toward effective asset and liability management, it is difficult to predict the effect of changing interest rates solely on that measure. Because different types of assets and liabilities with the same or similar maturities may react differently to changes in overall market rates or conditions, changes in interest rates may affect net interest income positively or negatively even if an institution were perfectly matched in each maturity category.

Competition and economic conditions

The financial services and banking business are highly competitive, and the profitability of the Company will depend principally upon the Company’s ability to compete in its market area as well as to a significant extent upon general economic conditions in the island of Puerto Rico. The Company competes with other commercial and non-commercial banks, finance companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, brokerage and investment banking firms, asset-based non-bank lenders and certain other non-financial institutions, including certain governmental organizations which may offer subsidized financing at lower rates than those offered by the Company. The Company has been able to compete effectively with other financial institutions by emphasizing technology and customer service, including local office decision-making on loans, establishing long-term customer relationships and building customer loyalty, and by providing products and services designed to address the specific needs of its customers. The success of the Company is also highly dependent on the economic strength of the Company’s general market area. Significant deterioration in the local economy or external economic conditions, such as inflation, recession, unemployment, real estate values and other factors beyond the Company’s control, could also substantially impact the Company’s performance. There can be no assurance that future adverse changes in the local economy would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For further information, refer to the Economic Conditions, Market Area and Competition section included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004.

Changes in statutes and regulations, including tax laws and rules

The Company, as a Puerto Rico-chartered financial holding company, and its subsidiaries, are each subject to extensive federal and local governmental supervision and regulation relating to its banking and insurance business. The Company also benefits from favorable tax treatment under regulations relating to the activities of Westernbank International. In addition, there are laws and other regulations that restrict transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries. Any change in such tax or other regulations, whether by applicable regulators or as a result of legislation subsequently enacted by the Congress of the United States or the applicable local legislatures, could adversely affect the Company’s profits and financial condition.

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The Puerto Rico Treasury Department recently submitted to the Governor of Puerto Rico a draft of a proposal to impose a transitory additional income tax of 4% on net interest income, as defined, applicable to Puerto Rico financial institutions. This transitory additional tax, if approved, is expected to be in effect for two years. The proposal excludes from the definition of net interest income, exempt interest earned from obligations of the United States , of any state or territory of the United States or political subdivision, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any instrumentality or political subdivision; including all interest expense allocable to such exempt interest income.

The proposal is subject to review and approval by the Governor and the Puerto Rico Legislature. There is no assurance that this proposal will be approved or changes made before it is signed into law. This proposal, based on year 2004 actual results of operations and the distribution of taxable and exempt interest income for such year, would have resulted in approximately $8.1 million in additional income tax for year 2004, or an estimated increase of approximately 4% in our annual effective tax rate. The final impact of this proposal will depend on the final bill, if approved, and the actual distribution of taxable and exempt income in each applicable year.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s Management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based closely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in all material respects, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.

The Company’s Management also conducted an evaluation of internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Based on this evaluation, there has been no such change during the quarter covered by this report.

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Except as described below, there are no material pending legal proceedings other than ordinary routine legal proceedings incidental to the business of the Company to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject or of which any of their property is the subject.

The Company has received from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) notice of a formal order of private investigation into matters that were the subject of a previously announced informal inquiry by the SEC. As previously disclosed, the inquiry appears to be primarily related to the other-than-temporary impairment charges announced by the Company in April 2003 in connection with its investments in corporate bond and loan obligations. The Company is cooperating fully with the SEC and will continue to do so. The Company does not expect to comment further regarding this matter, as the formal order is a confidential document directing a non-public investigation.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

A – Exhibits

31.1 CEO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 CFO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1 CEO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2 CFO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

B – Reports on Form 8-K

On January 21, 2005, the Company filed a Form 8-K announcing an increase in the monthly cash dividend payment on the Company’s common stock.

On January 25, 2005, the Company filed a Form 8-K announcing the results of operations of the Company for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004.

On February 18, 2005, the Company filed a Form 8-K announcing that it received from the SEC notice of a formal order of private investigation.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Registrant:

W HOLDING COMPANY, INC.

             
Date: May 6, 2005
  By        /s/ Frank. C. Stipes    
           
    Frank C. Stipes, Esq.
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and
President
   
 
           
Date: May 6, 2005
  By        /s/ Freddy Maldonado    
           
    Freddy Maldonado
Chief Financial Officer and Vice
President of Finance and Investment
   

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Index to Exhibits

31.1 CEO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 CFO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1 CEO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2 CFO Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.