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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2003

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number 000-33071

 

Charter Financial Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

United States   58-2659667

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

600 Third Avenue, West Point, Georgia 31833

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(706) 645-1391

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

 

NA

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed from last Report)

 

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 1934 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 requirement for the past 90 days.

 

Yes x No ¨

 

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

 

Yes x No ¨

 

As of January 31, 2004, the registrant had 19,822,405 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding. Of such shares outstanding, 15,857,924 shares were held by First Charter, MHC, the registrant’s mutual holding company and 3,964,481 shares were held by the public and directors, officers and employees of the registrant.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Financial Statements of Charter Financial Corporation     
     Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited) December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003    Page 1  
     Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) – Three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002    Page 2  
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002    Page 3  
     Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements    Page 4  

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    Page 9  

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    Page 31

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    Page 31
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    Page 32

Item 2.

   Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds    Page 32

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    Page 32

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    Page 32

Item 5.

   Other Information    Page 32

Item 6.

   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    Page 32
     Signatures    Page 33
     Certifications     

 


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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” which may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “estimated,” and “potential.” Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to our financial condition and results of operation and business that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates. These factors include, but are not limited to:

 

  general and local economic conditions;

 

  changes in interest rates, deposit flows, demand for mortgages and other loans, real estate values, and competition;

 

  the ability of our customers to make loan payments;

 

  the performance of Freddie Mac common stock price and the level of dividends received;

 

  changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines;

 

  changes in legislation or regulation; and

 

  other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products, and services.

 

Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in any other public statements we make may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 


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CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003

 

(unaudited)

 

     December 31,
2003


    September 30,
2003


 
Assets               

Cash and amounts due from depository institutions

   $ 10,626,635     9,926,321  

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

     2,738,842     1,994,168  
    


 

Cash and cash equivalents

     13,365,477     11,920,489  
    


 

Loans held for sale, market value of $751,226 and $2,058,892 at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively

     723,115     2,026,261  

Freddie Mac common stock

     270,050,760     242,904,000  

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     409,454,156     394,432,288  

Other investment securities available for sale

     3,938,280     21,628,603  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     12,628,800     13,610,000  

Loans receivable

     307,065,966     299,877,198  

Unamortized loan origination fees, net

     (616,039 )   (544,202 )

Allowance for loan losses

     (6,742,193 )   (6,779,576 )
    


 

Loans receivable, net

     299,707,734     292,553,420  
    


 

Real estate owned

     668,962     683,577  

Accrued interest and dividends receivable

     2,846,505     3,200,112  

Premises and equipment, net

     9,574,767     9,382,894  

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     6,110,530     6,168,074  

Other assets

     1,646,701     1,985,645  
    


 

Total assets

   $ 1,030,715,787     1,000,495,363  
    


 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity               

Liabilities:

              

Deposits

   $ 271,319,189     279,385,708  

Borrowings

     399,242,000     388,441,220  

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     594,048     1,191,597  

Deferred income taxes

     99,108,931     88,196,330  

Other liabilities

     11,708,241     12,921,426  
    


 

Total liabilities

     781,972,409     770,136,281  
    


 

Stockholders’ Equity:

              

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 19,822,405 shares issued at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003; 19,569,676 shares outstanding at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003

     198,224     198,224  

Additional paid-in capital

     37,491,011     37,491,011  

Treasury stock, at cost; 252,729 shares at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003

     (7,836,234 )   (7,836,234 )

Unearned compensation - ESOP

     (2,624,940 )   (2,624,940 )

Retained earnings

     60,216,393     59,190,493  

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

              

Net unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale

     161,298,924     143,940,528  
    


 

Total stockholders’ equity

     248,743,378     230,359,082  
    


 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,030,715,787     1,000,495,363  
    


 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

 

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2003


   Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2002


 

Interest and dividend income:

             

Loans receivable

   $ 4,455,439    3,819,487  

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations

     3,597,359    3,434,351  

Equity securities

     1,321,523    1,198,270  

Debt securities

     80,803    105,746  

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

     14,275    24,900  
    

  

Total interest and dividend income

     9,469,399    8,582,754  
    

  

Interest expense:

             

Deposits

     1,243,855    1,380,818  

Borrowings

     3,049,199    3,640,120  
    

  

Total interest expense

     4,293,054    5,020,938  
    

  

Net interest income

     5,176,345    3,561,816  

Provision for loan losses

     30,000    —    
    

  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     5,146,345    3,561,816  
    

  

Noninterest income:

             

Gain on sale of loans and servicing released loan fees

     242,153    588,598  

Service charges on deposit accounts

     447,515    327,956  

Gain on sale of Freddie Mac common stock

     532,742    —    

Gain on sale of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and other investments

     43,038    102,839  

Loan servicing fees

     31,968    60,892  

Equity in loss of limited partnership

     —      (45,715 )

Brokerage commissions

     68,997    62,480  

Other

     180,685    43,508  
    

  

Total noninterest income

     1,547,098    1,140,558  
    

  

Noninterest expenses:

             

Salaries and employee benefits

     2,546,777    2,461,999  

Occupancy

     659,875    505,037  

Legal and professional

     265,373    313,447  

Marketing

     190,420    161,304  

Furniture and equipment

     123,107    149,647  

Postage, office supplies, and printing

     125,872    115,326  

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees

     53,856    50,534  

Net cost (gain) of operations of real estate owned

     8,349    (1,563 )

Deposit premium amortization expense

     57,543    —    

Other

     368,387    383,602  
    

  

Total noninterest expenses

     4,399,559    4,139,333  
    

  

Income before income taxes

     2,293,884    563,041  

Income tax expense

     578,133    64,390  
    

  

Net income

   $ 1,715,751    498,651  
    

  

Basic and diluted net income per share

   $ 0.09    0.03  
    

  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     19,410,011    19,549,986  
    

  

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     19,436,193    19,683,263  
    

  

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2003


    Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2002


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

              

Net income

   $ 1,715,751     498,651  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

              

Provision for loan losses

     30,000     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     238,278     176,039  

Allocation of ESOP common stock

     103,542     127,063  

Deferred income tax benefit

     (51,018 )   —    

Gain on sale of premises and equipment

     —       (454 )

Equity in loss of limited partnership

     —       45,715  

Amortization of premiums and discounts, net

     216,655     977,273  

Gain on sale of loans

     (242,153 )   (588,598 )

Proceeds from sale of loans

     8,474,263     24,610,828  

Originations and purchases of loans held for sale

     (6,928,964 )   (24,022,230 )

Gain on sale of Freddie Mac common stock

     (532,742 )   —    

Gain on sales of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and other investments

     (43,038 )   (102,839 )

Provision for loss on real estate owned

     4,350     —    

(Gain) loss on sales of real estate owned

     (7,830 )   2,377  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

              

Decrease in accrued interest and dividends receivable

     353,607     349,542  

Decrease in other assets

     305,036     379,846  

Decrease in other liabilities

     (1,265,716 )   (408,920 )
    


 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     2,370,021     2,044,293  
    


 

Cash flows from investing activities:

              

Proceeds from sale of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     45,623,663     7,403,679  

Principal collections on mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     59,966,379     168,101,886  

Purchases of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     (119,509,948 )   (126,402,239 )

Proceeds from sale of other investment securities available for sale

     10,519,236     —    

Principal collections on other investment securities available for sale

     —       7,073  

Proceeds from sale of Freddie Mac common stock

     552,494     —    

Proceeds from maturities of other securities available for sale

     7,000,000     —    

Purchase of FHLB stock

     (2,315,000 )   (2,937,500 )

Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock

     3,296,200     4,040,000  

Net (increase) decrease in loans receivable, exclusive of loan sales

     (7,226,247 )   5,987,367  

Proceeds from sale of real estate owned

     60,030     185,832  

Purchases of premises and equipment, net of dispositions

     (338,701 )   (166,603 )
    


 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (2,371,894 )   56,219,495  
    


 

Cash flows from financing activities:

              

Purchase of common stock for treasury

     —       (1,511,925 )

Dividends paid

     (689,851 )   (366,249 )

Net decrease in deposits

     (8,066,519 )   (2,194,975 )

Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     225,175,000     255,500,000  

Principal payments on advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     (243,700,000 )   (264,250,000 )

Proceeds from other borrowings

     454,983,900     326,344,000  

Principal payments on other borrowings

     (425,658,120 )   (368,511,000 )

Net decrease in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     (597,549 )   (706,493 )
    


 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     1,446,861     (55,696,642 )
    


 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     1,444,988     2,567,146  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     11,920,489     10,118,137  
    


 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 13,365,477     12,685,283  
    


 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

              

Interest paid

   $ 4,325,845     5,037,541  
    


 

Income taxes paid

   $ 105,973     589,585  
    


 

Financing activities:

              

Real estate acquired through foreclosure of the loans receivable

   $ 41,935     12,180  
    


 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Charter Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(1) Basis of Presentation

 

Charter Financial Corporation (“Charter Financial”) is a federal corporation organized on October 16, 2001 by CharterBank (“Bank”) in connection with the reorganization of the Bank from a federal mutual savings and loan association into a two-tiered mutual holding company structure, as described more fully in Note 2.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Charter Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, CharterBank and Charter Insurance Company, as of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, and for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 are unaudited and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in Charter Financial’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all necessary adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation for the periods presented.

 

Charter Financial believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading; however, the results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.

 

(2) Plan of Reorganization

 

On October 16, 2001, CharterBank converted from a federally-chartered mutual savings and loan association into a two-tiered mutual holding company structure and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Charter Financial. Charter Financial sold 3,964,481 shares of its common stock to the public, representing 20% of the outstanding shares, at $10.00 per share and received net proceeds of $37.2 million. Charter Financial contributed 50% of the net proceeds from the initial public offering to CharterBank. An additional 15,857,924 shares, or 80% of the outstanding shares of Charter Financial, were issued to First Charter, MHC. An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was established and such ESOP acquired 317,158 shares of Charter Financial in the offering, using the proceeds of a loan from Charter Financial. The ESOP loan is

 

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recorded as unearned compensation reducing stockholders’ equity of Charter Financial. The net proceeds of the offering, adjusted for the ESOP, totaled approximately $34.0 million.

 

As part of its reorganization in structure, CharterBank organized First Charter, MHC as a federally-chartered mutual holding company which is registered as a savings and loan holding company with the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”). First Charter, MHC’s principal assets are its investment in Charter Financial and 400,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. First Charter, MHC does not engage in any business activity other than its investment in a majority of the common stock of Charter Financial, management of Freddie Mac common stock, and the management of any cash dividends received from Freddie Mac common stock. Federal law and regulations require that as long as First Charter, MHC is in existence it must own at least a majority of Charter Financial’s common stock.

 

(3) Earnings per Share

 

Earnings per share are calculated according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128 “Earnings per Share.” ESOP shares are only considered outstanding for earnings per share calculations when the shares have been committed to be released. Presented below are the calculations for basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002:

 

     Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2003


   Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2002


Basic:

             

Net income

   $ 1,715,751    $ 498,651

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     19,410,011      19,549,986

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.03

Diluted:

             

Net income

   $ 1,715,751    $ 498,651

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     19,436,193      19,683,263

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.03

 

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(4) Comprehensive Income

 

The primary component of other comprehensive income for the Company is net unrealized gains and losses on Freddie Mac common stock and investment and mortgage-backed securities available for sale. The table below summarizes total comprehensive income for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.

 

    

Three Months Ended

December 31,


     2003

   2002

Total comprehensive income

   $ 19,074,147    $ 10,240,883

Change in net unrealized holding gains on securities, net of income taxes

     17,358,396      9,742,232
    

  

Net income

   $ 1,715,751    $ 498,651
    

  

 

(5) Stock-Based Compensation

 

During 2003, the Company amended the 2001 Stock Option Plan (the Plan) to allow for stock option awards for up to 707,943 shares of the Company’s common stock to eligible directors and employees. At December 31, 2003, the Company had granted 152,000 options under the Plan. Under the provisions of the Plan, the option price is determined by a committee of the board of directors at the time of grant and may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant of such option. When granted, these options vest over a five-year period. The Company accounts for the Plan under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under the Plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation.

 

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     Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2003


    Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2002


 

Net income, as reported

   $ 1,715,751     $ 498,651  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all stock options, net of related tax effects

     (37,149 )     (37,149 )
    


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 1,678,602     $ 461,502  
    


 


Earnings per share:

                

Basic – as reported

   $ 0.09     $ 0.03  

Basic – pro forma

   $ 0.09     $ 0.02  

Diluted – as reported

   $ 0.09     $ 0.03  

Diluted – pro forma

   $ 0.09     $ 0.02  

 

(6) Business Combination

 

Effective February 21, 2003, Charter Financial acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of EBA Bancshares, Inc. (EBA), Opelika, Alabama, and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Eagle Bank of Alabama, for a purchase price of approximately $8,600,000 in cash. The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and, hence, the results of operations of EBA have been included in the consolidated financial statements beginning on the aforementioned effective date.

 

The following summarizes the unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations assuming EBA was acquired in a purchase accounting transaction on October 1, 2001.

 

     Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2002


Interest income

   $ 9,737

Net interest income before provision for loan losses

   $ 4,087

Noninterest income

   $ 1,239

Net income

   $ 503

 

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(7) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of EBA, Charter Financial acquired the following goodwill and other intangible assets:

 

Goodwill

   $ 4,325,282

Deposit premium

     1,975,941
    

     $ 6,301,223
    

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets include cost in excess of net assets acquired and deposit premiums recorded in connection with the acquisition of EBA. The deposit premium is being amortized using the double-declining balance method over thirteen years. Charter Financial recorded amortization expense related to the deposit premium of $57,543 for the three months ended December 31, 2003.

 

At December 31, 2003, other intangible assets is summarized as follows:

 

Deposit premium

   $ 1,975,941

Less accumulated amortization

     190,693
    

     $ 1,785,248
    

 

(8) Covered Call Program

 

At December 31, 2003, the Company had covered call options on Freddie Mac common stock outstanding on 116,800 shares for which it received $218,504 in premium. During the three months ended December 31, 2003, holders of the covered call options exercised their options to purchase 9,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. The Company recorded a pretax gain of $532,742 on the sale of these shares to the option holders. At December 31, 2003, the fair value of the remaining options was $68,974. The Company has recorded the unrealized gain in the income statement as the derivative instruments are not accounted for as hedges.

 

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Item 2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

and Results of Operations

 

Executive Summary

 

The purpose of this summary is to provide an overview of the items management focuses on when evaluating the condition of the Company and our success in implementing our stockholder value strategy. Our stockholder value strategy has three major themes: (1) creating a larger, more profitable and more valuable retail banking franchise; (2) managing the substantial appreciation in our Freddie Mac common stock investment; and (3) efficiently utilizing our capital. Management believes the following points were the most important to that analysis this quarter.

 

  Earnings per share tripled which enhances the Company’s ability to support a regular quarterly dividend on a forward looking basis.

 

  The Bank’s net interest income has significantly improved due to lower amortization of premiums on mortgage securities, reinvestment of cash flow, loan growth and overall margin expansion.

 

  Consistent with the Bank’s emphasis on attracting and retaining core deposits, deposit fee growth continued a strongly positive trend. A significant portion of this growth trend of fees on core deposits is attributable to the acquisition of $21.9 million in core deposits in connection with our acquisition of Eagle Bank in February of 2003.

 

  Gains from sales of one-to-four family mortgage loans declined due to sharply lower refinance volumes and, to a much lesser extent, the retention of 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans and hybrid ARM loans for the Bank’s own portfolio.

 

  Interest rates, economic and competitive conditions impact our operating results and financial condition.

 

  Our exposure to interest rate risk was stable to slightly improved from the prior quarter.

 

  Non-performing loans were higher than they were for the previous quarter; however, management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate and because a high percentage of the non-performing loans are secured by real estate, losses should not be significantly higher than recent quarters.

 

  The pilot program of writing covered call options on Freddie Mac common stock resulted in exercise of calls resulting in $532,742 in pre-tax gain on sale of such stock.

 

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  Freddie Mac common stock appreciated from $52.35 per share at September 30, 2003 to $58.32 at December 31, 2003. This was the primary reason for the increase in our other comprehensive income of $17.4 million. Our book value per share increased $0.97 per share.

 

  A regular quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share was paid to our minority shareholders.

 

Management Strategy

 

We have a growth-oriented strategy focused on (1) expanding our retail banking operations and thus the franchise value of our retail bank (2) managing our Freddie Mac common stock while periodically reviewing strategies to increase or realize its value for our shareholders, and (3) effectively managing our capital.

 

Expanding Retail Banking Operations. Our retail banking strategy is to operate as a well-capitalized community bank dedicated to providing quality products, excellent service, and a superior customer experience at competitive prices. We have sought to implement this strategy by concentrating on our core product offerings, including residential and commercial mortgage loans and a variety of checking and saving products, while at the same time broadening our product lines and services, expanding delivery systems for our customers, and filling in our branch network.

 

Managing Our Freddie Mac Common Stock Investment. We manage our Freddie Mac common stock in several ways. Over the past ten years our total annual return on Freddie Mac common stock has averaged approximately 18%. Dividends on our Freddie Mac common stock are an important component of our shareholder value. Seventy percent of the Freddie Mac dividends are excluded from Charter Financial’s taxable income through the corporate dividends received exclusion. The Freddie Mac dividend, when combined with the 70% corporate dividend exclusion and the recently enacted 15% personal tax rate reduction on dividends received by individuals, creates a tax efficient means for our stockholders to receive value from our Freddie Mac common stock investment. First Charter, MHC and the Office of Thrift Supervision make their own determination with respect to each dividend payment as to whether that dividend payment to First Charter, MHC will be waived. In 2003 we implemented a pilot program of selling covered call options on the Freddie Mac common stock as a means of enhancing our return on this investment. We continue to review our investment in Freddie Mac common stock in light of existing conditions and what is in the best interests of our shareholders.

 

Managing our Capital. The third major component of our strategy is capital management. We increased our capital leverage with the additional retail assets and deposits acquired in the Eagle acquisition. While our current retail focus is increasing market share within our existing market, we regularly evaluate expanding our capital leverage by extending the market area through de novo branching or acquisitions. We maintained our wholesale leverage of mortgage securities and borrowings. Wholesale leverage generally enhances income, but not franchise value, and thus is a low priority capital management tool for us. During the third fiscal quarter of 2003, we increased our quarterly dividend from 10 cents to 20 cents per share. Our capacity to pay dividends is enhanced when First Charter, MHC is willing and permitted by the Office of Thrift Supervision to waive receipt of its portion of the dividends. We continue to evaluate our dividend policy and the appropriateness of special dividends and/or share repurchases.

 

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General

 

Charter Financial Corporation (“Charter Financial,” “Company”, “us,” or “we”) is a federally-chartered corporation organized in 2001, as more fully described in Note 2 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements, and is registered as a savings and loan holding company with the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”). Charter Financial serves as the holding company for CharterBank (“Bank”). First Charter, MHC owns 80% of the outstanding shares of Charter Financial’s common stock. Our common stock is quoted on the National Market System of the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “CHFN.” Unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to the Company, Bank or Charter Financial include Charter Financial and the Bank on a consolidated basis.

 

Charter Financial’s principal business is its ownership of CharterBank. Charter Financial also owns 1,675,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock and Charter Insurance Company, a Hawaiian corporation which generates fee income by reinsuring a portion of CharterBank’s loan originations which carry private mortgage insurance. Charter Insurance Company owns 400,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. Additionally, CharterBank owns 2,555,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. On a consolidated basis, Charter Financial owns 4,630,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock.

 

Our balance sheet at December 31, 2003 contains $270.1 million of Freddie Mac common stock, of which $263.8 million is unrealized gain. Noninterest-bearing liabilities include $101.8 million in deferred taxes related to the unrealized gain on the Freddie Mac common stock. Accumulated other comprehensive income includes $162.0 million representing the net unrealized gain on the Freddie Mac common stock.

 

CharterBank completed the cash acquisition of EBA Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Eagle Bank of Alabama, in February 2003. The acquisition added three branches in the Auburn-Opelika area of Alabama with $53.8 million in net loans and $62.1 million in deposits. CharterBank now operates a main office, seven full-service branch offices, and four loan production offices in Georgia and Alabama.

 

CharterBank is a service-oriented bank providing retail and small business customers with products and services designed to create long-term, profitable relationships. We offer numerous loan products, including residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, home equity loans, second mortgages, and other products. CharterBank also offers deposit products, including consumer and commercial checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit.

 

CharterBank’s results of operations depend primarily on net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets and the interest we pay on interest-bearing liabilities. Our interest-earning assets consist primarily of residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, consumer loans, mortgage related securities, and equity securities such as our Freddie Mac common stock investment. Interest-bearing liabilities consist primarily of retail and wholesale deposits, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Atlanta.

 

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Our results of operations also depend on our provision for loan losses, noninterest income and noninterest expense. Noninterest expense includes salaries and employee benefits, occupancy expenses and other general and administrative expenses. Noninterest income includes gains on sale of loans, gains (losses) on sales of investment and mortgage-backed securities, deposit fees and other service fees and charges.

 

Our operating results may also be affected significantly by economic and competitive conditions in our market area and elsewhere, including those conditions that influence market interest rates, government policies and the actions of regulatory authorities. Future changes in applicable laws, regulations or government policies may materially impact us. Furthermore, because our lending activity is concentrated in loans secured by real estate located in Georgia and Alabama, downturns in the regional economy encompassing these states could have a negative impact on our earnings.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

In reviewing and understanding financial information for the Company, you are encouraged to read and understand the significant accounting policies which are used in preparing the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

These policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements which were presented in the Company’s 2003 annual report on Form 10-K. Of these policies, management believes that the accounting for the allowance for loan losses is one of the most critical. Please see “Asset Quality” for a further discussion of the Company’s methodology in determining the allowance.

 

The accounting and financial reporting policies of Charter Financial Corporation conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practices within the banking industry. Of these policies, management has identified the allowance for loan losses as a critical accounting policy that requires subjective judgment and is important to the presentation of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the collectibility of the principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that become uncollectible, based on evaluations of the collectibility of loans. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, historical loss rates, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, and current economic conditions and trends that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay.

 

The Company segments its allowance for loan losses into the following four major categories: 1) identified losses for impaired loans; 2) general reserves for Classified/Watch loans; 3) general reserves for loans with satisfactory ratings; and 4) an unallocated amount. Risk ratings are initially assigned in accordance with the Bank’s loan and collection policy. On an ongoing basis, an organizationally independent department reviews grade assignments and considers current information regarding a borrowers’ financial condition and debt service capacity, collateral condition and the effects of known and expected economic conditions. When the evaluation reflects a greater than normal risk associated with the individual loan, management

 

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classifies the loan accordingly. If the loan is determined to be impaired, management allocates a portion of the allowance for loan losses for that loan, generally based on the fair value of the collateral as the measure for the amount of the impairment. Impaired and Classified/Watch loans are aggressively monitored. The reserves for loans rated satisfactory are further subdivided into various types of loans as defined by loan type. The Company has developed specific quantitative reserve factors which it applies to each loan type to develop reserve components. These reserve factors are based upon economic, market and industry conditions that are specific to the Company’s local markets and consider, but are not limited to, national and local economic conditions, bankruptcy trends, unemployment trends, loan concentrations, dependency upon government installations and facilities, and competitive factors in the local market. They are subjective in nature and require considerable judgment on the part of the Bank’s management. However, it is the Bank’s opinion that these items do represent uncertainties in the Bank’s business environment that must be factored into the Bank’s analysis of the allowance for loan losses. The unallocated component of the allowance is established for losses that specifically exist in the remainder of the portfolio, but have yet to be identified.

 

Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. The loan portfolio is broadly composed of residential real estate loans of 43.8%, construction loans of 5.9%, commercial purpose loans of 43.8% and consumer loans of 6.5%. Nearly 81% of the bank’s loan portfolio is secured by real estate loans.

 

In recent years, the Bank has made an effort to build its business lines, and loans secured by commercial real properties now make up 37.08% of the loan portfolio. The Company’s largest funded real estate secured loan is a $6.2 million loan on a medical office building in the metro Atlanta area. The largest industry concentration of commercial purpose loans is the hospitality industry where we have an aggregate of $21.8 million to various hotel and motel operations. In a significant number of the loans secured by commercial properties, the properties are occupied by the owner and the ongoing operations of the business provide the cash to service the debt. Construction and development loans, which comprise nearly 6% of the real estate loan portfolio, are carefully monitored since the repayment is generally dependent upon the liquidation of the real estate and is impacted by national and local economic conditions. Less than 7% of the total loan portfolio is either unsecured or secured by something other than real estate.

 

While most originations of residential real estate loans are sold into the secondary market, the Bank chooses to keep some of them due to attractive risk and return characteristics. Such loans primarily make up the residential real estate mortgage portfolio. The remainder of the residential portfolio is composed of residential real estate mortgages “held for sale.” These loans are in the process of being sold into the secondary market and, since the credit, the rate and the purchase price have been approved by the buyer, the Company takes no credit or interest rate risk with respect to these loans.

 

While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. If we are required to make additions to our allowance for loan losses by the regulatory agencies the additions would reduce our net income and our capital.

 

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Investments, mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale comprise a significant portion of the Company’s balance sheet, and income on these assets is important to our operating results. Investments, mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale are reported at fair value, as determined by independent price quotations. Purchase premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized and accreted to interest income using a method which approximates a level yield over the period to maturity of the related securities. Purchase premiums and discounts on mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations are amortized and accreted to interest income using the interest method over the remaining lives of the securities, taking into consideration assumed prepayment patterns.

 

Income taxes are a material expense for the Company. The Company receives a dividends received deduction for tax purposes on dividend income from our investment in Freddie Mac common stock. This deduction is the lesser of 70% of dividends received or 70% of taxable income before the dividends received deduction and the difference between 70% of taxable income and 70% of dividends can be significant. Since the Company does not file a consolidated tax return, this determination is made at the individual company level. The actual deduction will be determined at September 30, 2004 based on the level of dividends and the level of taxable income.

 

Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003

 

At December 31, 2003 our total assets were $1.0 billion, up $30.2 million from September 30, 2003.

 

The risk and return characteristics of loans vary significantly by the type of loan. The following table shows the actual balance of loans outstanding at December 31, 2003 as well as the average balances of loans outstanding for the past five quarters beginning with December 31, 2002.

 

For the Quarters Ended


   1-4 Family
Residential


   Construction

   Nonresidential
Real Estate


   Consumer

   Commercial
Non-Real
Estate


   Total
Loans


   Percent
Change per
Quarter


     (Dollars in thousands)     

Actual Balance:

                                              

December 31, 2003

   $ 134,409    $ 18,149    $ 113,855    $ 19,927    $ 20,726    $ 307,066     

Average Balance:

                                              

December 31, 2003

   $ 132,894      15,956      111,629      19,886      23,200      303,565    3.4

September 30, 2003

   $ 125,283      16,617      108,026      19,995      23,624      293,545    6.4

June 30, 2003

   $ 110,757      16,534      100,360      21,334      26,895      275,880    15.3

March 31, 2003

   $ 105,334      14,290      78,399      20,175      21,163      239,361    9.7

December 31, 2002

   $ 103,440      9,985      68,627      19,544      16,614      218,210     

 

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The June quarter was the first full quarter which included the loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition. Loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition in February 2003 were $55.3 million. One-to-four family loans have increased since the June quarter when we started retaining 15 year conforming loans. Future portfolio growth of these 15 year loans is dependent on interest rates as well as our future decisions to retain or sell these loans. The nonresidential real estate loan growth reflects our strategy to increase this portion of the portfolio. Future growth of our nonresidential real estate portfolio depends on interest rates, economic conditions and competitive pricing of these loans within our market. The average balance of commercial non-real estate loans increased in the June quarter reflecting the loans acquired in the Eagle acquisition. Reductions in the following quarters represent our efforts to strategically evaluate the portfolio.

 

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations increased 3.8% from $394.4 million at September 30, 2003 to $409.5 million at December 31, 2003. The market value of Freddie Mac common stock increased $27.2 million, or 11.2%, from $242.9 million to $270.1 million as the price per share of Freddie Mac common stock increased from $52.35 at September 30, 2003 to $58.32 at December 31, 2003.

 

Total deposits declined from $279.4 million at September 30, 2003 to $271.3 million at December 31, 2003 as the bank has de-emphasized certificates of deposit as sources of funding and focused on attracting and retaining core deposits in order to reduce interest expense. However, as shown in the table following, over the last two years, core deposits (checking, money market and savings accounts) have increased from $50.4 million to $99.6 million. Approximately $21.9 million of the increase in the March 2003 quarter was a result of the acquisition of Eagle Bank. Fees on core deposit accounts increased from $179,000 in the December 2001 quarter to $448,000 in the December 2003 quarter.

 

     Deposit Fee
Income for
the Quarter
Ended


   Core
Deposits at
Quarter End


     (Dollars in thousands)

December 31, 2003

   $ 448    $ 99,555

September 30, 2003

     409      99,546

June 30, 2003

     383      98,605

March 31, 2003

     277      95,557

December 31, 2002

     328      68,090

September 30, 2002

     269      69,480

June 30, 2002

     241      69,303

March 31, 2002

     170      56,762

December 31, 2001

     179      50,365

 

Management will continue to use FHLB advances and repurchase agreements to fund the securities and loan portfolio growth. The maturity dates of new advances will be determined at the time the advance is taken down and will be based on interest rates, the Company’s interest rate risk profile and other factors. Repurchase agreements are generally less than 90 days to maturity and carry rates at or slightly above LIBOR. Borrowings increased $10.8 million or 2.8% from $388.4 million at September 30, 2003 to $399.2 million at December 31, 2003.

 

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Table of Contents

Charter Financial recorded $4.3 million of goodwill and $2.0 million of core deposit intangible as a result of the acquisition of Eagle Bank in fiscal 2003. The core deposit intangible is amortized over approximately 13 years using an accelerated method of amortization.

 

Our total stockholders’ equity is made up of realized equity and unrealized equity. Realized equity includes common stock, additional paid-in capital, treasury stock, unearned compensation, and retained earnings, while unrealized equity is comprised of accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (“Unrealized Capital”) is comprised of net unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale. Accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2003 was $161.3 million, a $17.4 million increase from the balance at September 30, 2003 of $143.9 million as the price per share of our investment in Freddie Mac common stock increased from $52.35 to $58.32. The following table shows the changes in realized and unrealized capital and the Freddie Mac common stock price for the past five quarters. A comparison of the unrealized capital and Freddie Mac common stock price demonstrates the relationship between the price of Freddie Mac common stock and our unrealized capital.

 

     Realized
Capital


   Unrealized
Capital


   Total
Capital


   Freddie Mac
Common
Stock Price


     (Dollars in Thousands)

December 31, 2003

   $ 87,444    $ 161,299    $ 248,743    $ 58.32

September 30, 2003

     86,419      143,940      230,359      52.35

June 30, 2003

     84,408      142,589      226,997      50.77

March 31, 2003

     87,208      149,576      236,784      53.10

December 31, 2002

     91,825      165,703      257,528      59.05

 

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As indicated in the tables following, other comprehensive income was $17.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003, compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The income was primarily the result of the increase in the price of Freddie Mac common stock during the periods ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. The price of Freddie Mac common stock increased by $5.97 and $3.15 per share, respectively for the quarters ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002.

 

     Shares

   Market
Price Per
Share


   Total Market
Value


   Unrealized
Gain, Net of
Tax


September 30, 2003

   4,640,000    $ 52.35    $ 242,904,000    $ 145,283,854

December 31, 2003

   4,630,500    $ 58.32    $ 270,050,760      161,964,092
         

         

Change in Freddie Mac stock

        $ 5.97             16,680,238

Other comprehensive income related to mortgage securities and other investments

                        678,158
                       

Total other comprehensive income

                      $ 17,358,396
                       

     Shares

   Market
Price Per
Share


   Total Market
Value


   Unrealized
Gain, Net of
Tax


September 30, 2002

   4,655,000    $ 55.90    $ 260,214,500    $ 155,893,352

December 31, 2002

   4,655,000    $ 59.05    $ 274,877,750      164,896,587
         

         

Change in Freddie Mac stock

        $ 3.15             9,003,235

Other comprehensive income related to mortgage securities and other investments

                        738,997
                       

Total other comprehensive income

                      $ 9,742,232
                       

 

Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

 

General

 

Net income was $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003, which was $1.2 million higher than the net income of $499,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The most significant factors in the earnings increase were the significantly higher net interest income and the $532,742 gain on the sale of Freddie Mac common stock related to our covered call program.

 

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Table of Contents

Net Interest Income

 

As shown in the table following, net interest income increased $1.6 million from $3.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002 to $5.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003. For the same periods, our net interest spread increased from 0.18% to 1.19% and our net interest margin from 1.51% to 2.07%.

 

For the Quarters Ended


   Net
Interest
Income


   Net
Interest
Rate
Spread


    Net
Interest
Margin


    Net
Amortization
of Premium
on Mortgage-
related
Securities


   Yield on
Freddie Mac
Common Stock


 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

December 31, 2003

   $ 5,176    1.19 %   2.07 %   $ 204    1.91 %

September 30, 2003

     4,345    0.89     1.79       456    2.04  

June 30, 2003

     3,951    0.53     1.64       663    1.83  

March 31, 2003

     3,672    0.37     1.58       995    1.84  

December 31, 2002

     3,562    0.18     1.51       970    1.51  

September 30, 2002

     4,512    0.48     1.81       207    1.41  

June 30, 2002

     4,029    0.16     1.66       200    1.36  

March 31, 2002

     3,529    (0.14 )   1.52       408    1.35  

December 31, 2001

     3,824    (0.28 )   1.70       17    1.23  

 

As the preceding table illustrates, the net amortization of premiums on mortgage securities has had a significant impact on net interest income, spread and margin. Charges against interest income for net premium amortization reached its peak in the March 2003 quarter, with amortization of $995,000. By December 2003, net amortization of premiums on mortgage-related securities had returned to a more normal level at $204,000. The high level of premium amortization in the earlier periods was caused by the “refinancing boom” in one-to-four family mortgages which was triggered by low mortgage interest rates. As borrowers refinanced, mortgages underlying the securities we owned were paid off earlier than expected causing our securities to pay off sooner than expected and triggering acceleration of amortization.

 

Our net interest spread and, to a lesser extent, our net interest margin are impacted by the yield on Freddie Mac common stock. Net interest rate spread is the difference between yield on assets and cost of liabilities. Net interest margin is net interest income as a percentage of interest earning assets. As indicated in the table above, the yield on Freddie Mac common stock has increased and helped the net interest spread. A portion of the increase in the Freddie Mac yield is from the increased dividend and a portion is from a lower market price of Freddie Mac common stock.

 

The table below shows the yields or costs of other significant components of our net interest income.

 

For the Quarters Ended


   Yield on
Mortgage
Securities


    Yield on
Loans


    Costs of
Certificates
of Deposit


    Costs of
Deposits


    Costs of
Borrowings


 

December 31, 2003

   3.47 %   5.87 %   2.48 %   1.95 %   3.01 %

September 30, 2003

   2.84     6.12     2.64     2.08     3.19  

June 30, 2003

   2.78     6.31     2.91     2.31     3.53  

March 31, 2003

   2.85     6.96     3.16     2.52     3.66  

December 31, 2002

   3.22     7.00     3.45     2.76     3.79  

September 30, 2002

   3.99     7.54     3.68     2.99     3.75  

June 30, 2002

   3.76     7.53     3.93     3.24     3.94  

March 31, 2002

   3.36     7.94     4.33     3.63     4.15  

December 31, 2001

   4.32     8.17     5.12     4.32     4.65  

 

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Costs of borrowings have steadily decreased from 4.65% in the December 2001 quarter to 3.01% in the December 2003 quarter. While the majority of the borrowings have monthly rate resets, we have $130.8 million of fixed rate borrowings with a remaining maturity of approximately seven years and an average rate of 5.75%. Approximately $25.0 million of borrowings with a fixed rate of 4.85% matured in December 2003.

 

The yield on mortgage securities has varied over the past nine quarters from a high in the December 2001 quarter of 4.32% to a low of 2.78% in June 2003 and ending at 3.47% in December 2003. The yield in the March, June and September 2003 quarters was significantly impacted by high net premium amortization as mortgage security portfolios were paid off rapidly due to low mortgage rates and record rates of refinancing. Additionally, yields on securities declined during 2003 as a result of management’s decision to reinvest the heavy cash inflows from rapidly prepaying fixed rate mortgage securities into adjustable rate mortgage securities. In August of 2003, management increased its investment in fixed rate mortgage securities and by December 31, 2003 fixed rate mortgage securities comprised 40% of the total mortgage securities portfolio, which is consistent with the percentage at December 31, 2002.

 

As shown in the preceding table, the yield on loans has declined 113 basis points over the past five quarters from 7.00% for the December 2002 quarter to 5.87% for the December 2003 quarter. The yield reduction is primarily the result of older, higher yield loans paying off in the low interest rate environment and being replaced with new lower yielding loans. During June of 2003 the bank started retaining 15 year single family loans in its loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2003, the bank had accumulated $26.1 million of these loans with rates of approximately 5%. Average loans outstanding increased from $218.2 million during the December 2002 quarter to $303.6 million for the December 2003 quarter. Approximately $55.3 million of loans were acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

Also, as shown in the preceding table, the costs of deposits decreased 237 basis points from 4.32% for the December 2001 quarter to 1.95% for the December 2003 quarter. The average cost of certificates of deposits dropped 264 basis points, more than overall deposits. At current rates, management’s ability to lower the price of non-certificate accounts is very limited.

 

The 230 basis point drop in loan yield, from the December 2001 quarter to the December 2003 quarter, was comparable to the 237 basis point decrease in the costs of deposits for the same period. For these same two periods the decline in mortgage securities yields, at 85 basis points, was significantly less than the decrease of 164 basis points in the cost of borrowings. This provided a significant boost to the net interest spread, margin and income. In addition, the increase in dividends on Freddie Mac common stock contributed to the increase in net interest income.

 

Interest income increased by $887,000 to $9.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003 from $8.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The main driver was an increase in interest on loans of $635,952 resulting from higher average loan balances. Higher loan balances were due, in part, to the loans acquired in the Eagle acquisition.

 

Interest expense fell by $727,884 from $5.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002 to $4.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003. Interest expense on deposits and borrowings decreased $136,963 and $590,921, respectively, in 2003 compared to

 

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Table of Contents

2002. The reduction in interest expense on both borrowings and deposits is due to lower interest rates.

 

In the table following, we derived the yields and costs by dividing income or expense by the average balance of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown. We derived average balances from actual daily balances over the periods indicated. Interest income includes the recognition of certain fees over the lives of the underlying loans. The table also shows the actual balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as of December 31, 2003.

 

The table also depicts the significant effect of the Freddie Mac common stock on our traditional bank measures, such as net interest income, net interest rate spread, and net interest margin. The table shows these measures with and without the effects of the Freddie Mac common stock. We believe this comparison provides our shareholders with useful information so that they may compare CharterBank with its peer group using traditional bank ratios, excluding the effect of the Freddie Mac common stock. Freddie Mac common stock had a dividend return on cost basis of approximately 76.86% at December 31, 2003. However, the dividend yield on the market value of the Freddie Mac common stock was 1.91%. The appreciation in the market value of the Freddie Mac common stock is the reason for our strong accumulated comprehensive income.

 

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Table of Contents
     For the Quarter Ended December 31,

     
     2003

    2002

     
     Average
Balance


   Interest

   Average
Yield/
Cost


    Average
Balance


   Interest

   Average
Yield/
Cost


    Balance as of
December 31,
2003


     (Dollars in thousands)

Assets:

                                              

Interest-earning assets:

                                              

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

   $ 4,199    $ 14    1.33 %   $ 5,810    $ 26    1.79 %   $ 2,739

FHLB common stock and other equity securities

     13,330      118    3.54       13,820      174    5.04       12,629

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized obligations available for sale

     414,825      3,597    3.47       426,280      3,434    3.22       409,454

Other investment securities available for sale

     10,383      81    3.12       12,067      105    3.48       3,938

Loans receivable

     303,565      4,455    5.87       218,210      3,820    7.00       307,066
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock

     746,302      8,265    4.43       676,187      7,559    4.47       735,826

Freddie Mac common stock

     251,805      1,204    1.91       271,526      1,024    1.51       270,051
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-earning assets including Freddie Mac common stock

     998,107      9,469    3.79       947,713      8,583    3.62       1,005,877

Total noninterest-earning assets

     23,947      —              15,490      —              24,839
    

  

        

  

        

Total assets

   $ 1,022,054      9,469          $ 963,203      8,583          $ 1,030,716
    

               

               

Liabilities and Equity:

                                              

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                              

NOW accounts

   $ 32,935    $ 44    0.53     $ 23,464    $ 52    0.89     $ 35,352

Savings accounts

     15,028      11    0.29       9,208      17    0.74       14,610

Money market deposit accounts

     31,143      96    1.23       26,445      98    1.48       28,883

Certificate of deposit accounts

     176,344      1,093    2.48       140,738      1,214    3.45       171,765
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-bearing deposits

     255,450      1,244    1.95       199,855      1,381    2.76       250,610

Borrowed funds

     405,835      3,049    3.01       384,035      3,640    3.79       399,242
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     661,285      4,293    2.60       583,890      5,021    3.44       649,852

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     21,035                   10,075      —              20,709

Other noninterest-bearing liabilities

     102,468      —              112,020      —              111,411
    

  

        

  

        

Total noninterest-bearing liabilities

     123,503      —              122,095      —              132,120

Total liabilities

     784,788      4,293            705,985      5,021            781,972

Total stockholders’ equity

     237,266      —              257,218                   248,744
    

  

        

  

        

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,022,054      4,293          $ 963,203      5,021          $ 1,030,716
    

               

               

Net interest income including Freddie Mac common stock

          $ 5,176                 $ 3,562             
           

               

            

Net interest rate spread, including Freddie Mac common stock (1)

                 1.19 %                 0.18 %      

Net interest margin including Freddie Mac common stock (2)

                 2.07 %                 1.50 %      

Ratio of interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities, including Freddie Mac common stock

                 150.93 %                 162.31 %      

Net interest income, excluding Freddie Mac common stock dividends

          $ 3,972                 $ 2,538             
           

               

            

Net interest rate spread, excluding Freddie Mac common stock (3)

                 1.83 %                 1.03 %      

Net interest margin, excluding Freddie Mac common stock (4)

                 2.13 %                 1.50 %      

Ratio of interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities, excluding Freddie Mac common stock

                 112.86 %                 115.81 %      

(1) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

 

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(2) Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.

 

(3) Net interest rate spread excluding Freddie Mac common stock represents the difference between the weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

 

(4) Net interest margin excluding Freddie Mac common stock represents net interest income excluding Freddie Mac common stock dividends as a percentage of average interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock.

 

The relatively low spread is a combination of a balance sheet structure with a high proportion of Freddie Mac common stock, which has a low yield of 1.91% compared to loans and mortgage securities, and a high proportion of mortgage securities which also yield significantly less than loans. The margin is also impacted by high rate borrowings, which were put on in fiscal 2001 to reduce interest rate risk as well as the recent effects of low interest rates on residential mortgage loans, including amortization of premium on CMO’s and the high prepayments of portfolio mortgage loans and securities.

 

We believe that our ownership of Freddie Mac common stock continues to present attractive appreciation and dividend growth potential. Since the sale of Freddie Mac common stock would result in the realization of a substantial current tax liability for us, we have no current plans to liquidate our Freddie Mac common stock investment. In June 2003, we implemented a pilot program of writing covered call options on Freddie Mac common stock with 250,000 shares of stock. If a call option is in the money as the maturity of the call approaches, we evaluate the economics of allowing the call to be exercised or buying the call to prevent its exercise. During September, 2003, we sold 15,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock and during the three months ended December 31, 2003, we sold 9,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. Income from the covered call program is discussed below. We continually evaluate our investment in Freddie Mac common stock considering the appreciation and dividend potential of the Freddie Mac common stock, the income tax impact of a strategy, alternative investments or uses of sales proceeds and the portion of our capital that the after-tax unrealized gain represents.

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

The provision for loan losses was $30,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2003, while no provision was taken for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The Bank had net charge-offs of $67,383 for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 compared to net recoveries of $11,691 for the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

 

Noninterest Income

 

Noninterest income improved from $1.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002 to $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003. The table below shows the components of noninterest income for the last nine quarters. There was a $575,780 gain on sale of securities during the three months ended December 31, 2003 compared to $102,839 for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The December 2003 gain on sale of securities included $532,742 in gain on the sale of Freddie Mac common stock resulting from the exercise of calls written as a part of the Company’s pilot covered call program. Other income included $59,231 in income on the covered call program, which was started during fiscal 2003. The

 

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December 2003 gain on sale of loans of $242,153 is the lowest level recorded in the last nine quarters as one-to-four family mortgage rates have increased and the levels of refinancing and originations of conforming loans have dropped. During the prior fiscal year, the Company began retaining conforming 15-year one-to-four family loans. By December 31, 2003 the Bank had accumulated approximately $26.1 million of such loans. Loan servicing income was $31,968 for the three months ended December 31, 2003. Loan servicing income has steadily declined as the company currently sells loans servicing released and does not replace the runoff of loans serviced that provided this income stream. Our remaining equity in earnings of a limited partnership, which invested in loan servicing rights, was charged off in fiscal 2003, and, therefore, reflected no activity in the three months ended December 31, 2003 compared to a loss of $45,715 in the three months ended December 31, 2002. Other income for the December 2003 quarter included $68,997 in brokerage commissions on the sale of alternative investments which was a slight increase from the same quarter the prior year.

 

For the Quarters Ended


   Loan
Servicing
Fees


    Deposit
Fees


   Gain on
Sale of
Loans


   Gain (Loss)
on Sale of
Investments


    Equity in
Gain (Loss)
of Limited
Partnership


    Other
Income


     (Dollars in thousands)

December 31, 2003

   $ 32     $ 448    $ 242    $ 576     $ —       $ 250

September 30, 2003

     27       409      657      773       —         212

June 30, 2003

     (11 )     383      886      4       —         164

March 31, 2003

     79       277      643      —         (61 )     151

December 31, 2002

     61       328      589      103       (46 )     106

September 30, 2002

     64       269      539      205       (792 )     91

June 30, 2002

     72       241      354      (1,481 )     54       53

March 31, 2002

     89       170      438      15       268       59

December 31, 2001

     81       179      529      444       (95 )     93

 

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Noninterest Expense

 

Noninterest expense increased $260,000 to $4.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003 from $4.1 million for the same period in 2002. The table following shows the components of noninterest expense for the past five quarters.

 

     For the Quarters Ended

 
     December
2003


   September
2003


   June
2003


   March
2003


   December
2002


 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Salaries & employee benefits

   $ 2,547    $ 2,664    $ 2,845    $ 2,603    $ 2,462  

Occupancy

     660      603      567      565      505  

Legal & professional

     265      347      301      300      313  

Marketing

     190      266      197      231      161  

Furniture & equipment

     123      144      159      179      150  

Postage, office supplies, and printing

     126      134      146      176      115  

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees

     54      55      52      54      51  

Net cost (gain) of operations of real estate owned

     8      18      92      43      (2 )

Deposit premium amortization expense

     58      58      57      19      —    

Other

     369      322      337      390      384  
    

  

  

  

  


Total

   $ 4,400    $ 4,611    $ 4,753    $ 4,560    $ 4,139  

 

Compensation and benefits for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 was $2.5 million; approximately $85,000 higher than the quarter ended December 31, 2002 and approximately $117,000 lower than the quarter ended September 30, 2003. The quarterly cost of the Company’s restricted stock grants dropped $180,000 per quarter as the first stock grants vested on August 1, 2003. Additional shares will vest on August 1, 2004 which will reflect a reduction of approximately $104,000 per quarter. Costs of future restricted stock grants will depend on the number of shares granted, the price of the stock on the date of the grant and the vesting period. The expense reduction in the restricted stock was offset by the expense of the employees acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition and by a general increase in compensation and benefits.

 

Occupancy expense was up $155,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Approximately $52,000 of the increase is directly attributable to the Eagle acquisition, with other portions of the increase due to expenses indirectly attributable to costs of operating facilities acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition and information systems including electronic banking.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes increased to $578,133 for the three months ended December 31, 2003 from $64,390 for the three months ended December 31, 2002, for an increase of $513,743. The effective tax rate increased from 11.44% for the three months ended December 31, 2002 to 25.20% for the three months ended December 31, 2003. The impact of the corporate dividends received deduction, which applies to dividends on Freddie Mac common stock, contributed to the lower effective tax rate in 2002 and had a greater impact on that quarter than the 2003 quarter due to the lower level of taxable income in the 2002 quarter and thus higher proportion of dividends in taxable income.

 

Asset Quality

 

The following table shows that nonperforming loans rose from $5.1 million at September 30, 2003 to $6.0 million at December 31, 2003. Nonperforming loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition made up $1.6 million of these at December 31, 2003. Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans grew from 1.71% at September 30, 2003 to 1.94% at December 31, 2003.

 

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During this time, the allowance for loan losses decreased by $37,000 to $6.7 million at December 31, 2003. Approximately 88% of our nonaccrual loans had real estate as collateral at December 31, 2003.

 

Underperforming loans are loans 90 days or more delinquent or 90 days past maturity date that are still accruing interest. Nonperforming loans are not accruing interest. The following table shows underperforming loans and nonperforming assets.

 

     December 31,
2003


    September 30,
2003


 
     (In thousands)  

Underperforming loans

   $ 320     $ 633  
    


 


Total nonperforming loans

     5,953       5,124  

Foreclosed real estate, net

     669       684  
    


 


Total nonperforming assets

   $ 6,622     $ 5,808  
    


 


Nonperforming loans to total loans

     1.94 %     1.71 %

Nonperforming assets to total assets

     0.64 %     0.58 %

 

The allowance for loan losses represents a reserve for probable loan losses in the loan portfolio. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is evaluated periodically based on a review of all significant loans; with particular emphasis on impaired, non-accruing, past due and other loans that management believes require special attention. The determination of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting policy.

 

When reviewing the allowance for loan losses, it is important to understand the Company’s lending strategy. The largest components of our loan portfolio are one-to-four family residential loans and commercial real estate loans. Economic downturns resulting in reduced capacity to repay and/or depreciated property values are the chief risks to this lending strategy. The Company has mitigated the risk associated with these types of borrowers through prudent loan to value ratios and regular monitoring of economic conditions.

 

Additions to the allowance for loan losses are made periodically to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level based on management’s analysis of potential risk in the loan portfolio. The amount of the provision for loan losses is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, loss risk as determined based on a loan grading system, the level of non-performing loans, historical loss experience, delinquency trends, the amount of losses charged to the allowance in a given period, and an assessment of economic conditions. A provision for losses of $30,000 was charged for the three months ended December 31, 2003, while there was no provision for the three months ended December 31, 2002. Management considers the current allowance for loan losses to be adequate based on its analysis of the loss inherent in the portfolio. Of the $108,818 in gross charge-offs during the three months ended December 31, 2003, $39,944 had loan loss reserves posted against them as part of the Eagle Bank purchase accounting.

 

Our allowance for loan loss methodology is a loan classification based system. We base the required reserve on a percentage of the loan balance for each type of loan and classification level. Doubtful, substandard and special mention loans are reserved at 50.0%, 15.0% and 5.0% respectively. These percentages for doubtful and substandard loans were reduced during fiscal

 

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2003 from 60.0% and 17.5% based on historical losses on the Company’s real estate loans. Loans may be classified manually and are automatically classified if they are not previously classified when they reach certain levels of delinquency. Unclassified loans are reserved at different percentages based on our perception of the inherent losses in the type of loan. The conforming one-to-four family loans in the portfolio are reserved at lower percentages than other loans. Reserve percentages are based on each individual lending program and its loss history and underwriting characteristics, including loan to value, credit score, debt coverage, collateral, and capacity to service debt.

 

Commitments

 

The Company had commitments to fund loans at December 31, 2003 of approximately $38.0 million which is composed of unused consumer credit lines of approximately $8.5 million, unused commercial credit lines of approximately $5.6 million, unfunded construction loans of approximately $11.7 million, mortgage loans of approximately $2.0 million, and nonresidential loans of approximately $10.2 million. Conforming one-to-four family thirty year fixed rate loans are generally sold on a best efforts basis at or before the time the rate is committed to the customer so the Company has no interest rate risk on these loans.

 

CharterBank is party to lines of credit in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. Lines of credit are unfunded commitments to extend credit. These instruments involve, in varying degrees, exposure to credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the financial statements. The Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for unfunded commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Bank follows the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

 

The Company’s commitments are funded through internal funding sources of scheduled repayments of loans and sales and maturities of investment securities available for sale or external funding sources through acceptance of deposits from customers or borrowings from other financial institutions.

 

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The following table is a summary of the Company’s commitments to extend credit, commitments under contractual leases as well as the Company’s contractual obligations, consisting of deposits, FHLB advances and borrowed funds by contractual maturity date for the next five years.

 

     Commitments and Contractual Obligations

    

Due in 1

Year


   Due in 2
Years


   Due in 3
Years


   Due in 4
Years


   Due in 5
Years


Loan commitments to originate 1-4 family mortgage loans

   $ 1,976,710    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —  

Loan commitments to fund construction loans in process

     11,713,704      —        —        —        —  

Loan commitments to originate nonresidential mortgage loans

     10,050,000      —        —        —        —  

Loan commitments to originate commercial loans

     88,500      —        —        —        —  

Available home equity and unadvanced lines of credit

     14,166,912      —        —        —        —  

Letters of credit

     276,883      —        —        —        —  

Lease agreements

     91,400      49,092      44,292      44,292      25,837

Deposits

     220,661,818      23,971,121      8,824,372      11,801,810      6,060,068

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     150,667,000      —        —        —        —  

FHLB advances

     121,575,000      —        —        —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

Total commitments and contractual obligations

   $ 531,267,927    $ 24,020,213    $ 8,868,664    $ 11,846,102    $ 6,085,905
    

  

  

  

  

 

Although management regularly monitors the balance of outstanding commitments to fund loans to ensure funding availability should the need arise, management believes that the risk of all customers fully drawing on all these lines of credit at the same time is remote.

 

Liquidity

 

The term “liquidity” refers to our ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to fund loan originations, loan purchases, deposit withdrawals and operating expenses. The OTS requires that CharterBank maintain a sufficient amount of liquid assets to maintain its safe and sound operation. Our primary sources of liquidity are deposits, borrowings, scheduled amortization and prepayments of loan principal and mortgage related securities, maturities and calls of investment securities and funds provided by our operations.

 

We can borrow funds from the FHLB based on eligible collateral of loans and securities up to a limit of 30% of assets. At December 31, 2003, our maximum borrowing capacity from the FHLB was approximately $316.2 million compared to $306.5 million at September 30, 2003. At December 31, 2003, we had outstanding FHLB borrowings of $248.6 million compared to $267.1 million at September 30, 2003, with unused borrowing capacity of $67.6 million and $39.4 million, respectively. In addition, we may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with approved broker-dealers. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements that allow us to borrow money using our securities as collateral. We can obtain funds in the brokered deposit markets.

 

We can also obtain funds using our Freddie Mac common stock as collateral and have established a line of credit that provides for borrowing up to half of the market value of the stock. We consider this source of funds a last resort due to the potential adverse tax consequences on the dividends received deduction that exempts 70% of our Freddie Mac dividends from taxable

 

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income. CharterBank has relied on wholesale fundings including advances from the FHLB, repurchase agreements and brokered deposits to purchase securities in the past two fiscal years. CharterBank monitors its liquidity position frequently and anticipates that we will have sufficient funds to meet our current funding commitments.

 

At December 31, 2003, repurchase agreements totaled $150.7 million, a $29.4 million increase from the amount outstanding at September 30, 2003 of $121.3 million. Wholesale deposits were $47.9 million at December 31, 2003 compared to $49.7 million at September 30, 2003. Wholesale deposits included $7.3 million and $7.6 million in brokered deposits at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively.

 

Loan repayment and maturing investment securities are a relatively predictable source of funds. However, deposit flows, calls of investment securities and prepayments of loans and mortgage-backed securities are strongly influenced by interest rates, general and local economic conditions and competition in the marketplace. These factors reduce the predictability of the timing of these sources of funds. Principal repayments on mortgage related securities totaled $60.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003. Ongoing levels of cash flow will depend on the level of mortgage rates and possible mortgage refinancing.

 

Our primary investing activities are the origination of commercial real estate, one-to-four family real estate, commercial and consumer loans, and the purchase of mortgage and investment securities. During the three months ended December 31, 2003, we originated approximately $40.7 million in total loans. Residential mortgage loans accounted for 40.2% of the originations, construction loans for 17.8%, commercial and commercial real estate for 37.7%, and consumer loans for 4.3% of the originations during the three months ended December 31, 2003. Of the $16.4 million in residential mortgage loans originated, $9.1 million were sold to investors. Purchases of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and other investment securities totaled $119.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003, and $126.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002. At December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, CharterBank had loan commitments to borrowers of approximately $38.0 million and $39.2 million, respectively, and available home equity and unadvanced lines of credit of approximately $14.2 million and $14.8 million, respectively.

 

The low interest rate environment, specifically low one-to-four family mortgage rates, has dramatically increased refinancing activity and, accordingly, cash flow from prepayments of mortgage securities. The level of this increased cash flow depends on the ongoing level of refinancing, and, thus, it is difficult to determine at this time. However, most projections indicate higher interest rates and significantly lower levels of refinancing which would reduce this cash flow in 2004. We have reinvested a significant portion of this cash flow in securities. During the third quarter of 2003, the Company began retaining conforming 15-year one-to-four family loans, with approximately $26.1 million being retained as of December 31, 2003.

 

Deposit flows are affected by the level of interest rates, by the interest rates and products offered by competitors, and by other factors. Total deposits were $271.3 million at December 31, 2003, compared to $279.4 million at September 30, 2003. Total deposits decreased by $8.1 million during the three months ended December 31, 2003. Time deposit accounts scheduled to mature within one year were $120.8 million and $129.5 million at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively. While CharterBank has experienced certificates of deposit run-off, we anticipate that a significant portion of these certificates of deposit will remain on

 

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Table of Contents

deposit. CharterBank continues to target growth of transaction-based deposit accounts to lower its overall cost of funds and provide cross-selling opportunities.

 

Capital expenditures of $339,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2003 included approximately $299,000 for branch expansions. We anticipate that capital expenditures for acquisition of branch sites, construction, expansion and renovation of retail facilities and possibly relocating support functions to one location during fiscal 2004 will be between $3.0 million and $7.0 million. Except for these expenditures and any changes in our intentions to repurchase shares as outlined in “Capital and Capital Management,” we do not anticipate any other material capital expenditures during fiscal year 2004. We do not have any balloon or other payments due on any long-term obligations or any off-balance sheet items, other than the commitments and unused lines of credit noted above.

 

Capital and Capital Management

 

CharterBank has traditionally been a well-capitalized savings association. At December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, we exceeded each of the applicable regulatory capital requirements. Our tier 1 capital was $67.4 million and $66.4 million at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively. Tier 1 capital represented 13.90% and 13.80% of risk-weighted assets at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively. Tier 1 capital represented 8.89% and 8.78% of total regulatory assets at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, which exceeds the well-capitalized requirements of 5.0%.

 

At December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively, we had total risk-based capital of $134.7 million and $131.0 million and risk-based capital ratios of 27.81% and 27.23%, which significantly exceeds the applicable “well-capitalized” requirements for risk based capital of 10.0%. CharterBank exceeded the “well-capitalized” level of its various regulatory capital requirements by amounts ranging from $29.5 million to $86.3 million at December 31, 2003.

 

We paid a dividend of $0.10 per share in December 2002 and March 2003, and $0.20 per share in June and September 2003, and January 2004, with First Charter, MHC waiving its portion of these dividends. The Board of Directors will determine future dividends as well as other capital management strategies such as additional leverage, stock repurchases and special dividends. The Board of Directors will consider, among other factors, capital levels, results of operations, tax considerations, regulatory and regulatory business plan considerations, industry standards and economic conditions in determining such future dividends.

 

Our capacity to pay dividends is limited by several factors including cash availability at Charter Financial, tax considerations, regulatory requirements and First Charter, MHC’s willingness and ability to waive its dividends on the 80% of our stock that it owns. The Office of Thrift Supervision, as part of its approval of our stock conversion in October 2001, prohibited any dividend from Charter Financial that would result in a return of capital to shareholders for a period of three years following the conversion.

 

Charter Financial’s primary sources of cash are distributions from CharterBank and possible sales of Freddie Mac common stock. CharterBank is generally permitted by the Office of Thrift Supervision to distribute its current year’s and prior two years undistributed earnings if

 

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Table of Contents

CharterBank is well capitalized after the distribution. Distributions in excess of this level require additional approval from the Office of Thrift Supervision.

 

First Charter, MHC historically has waived its portion of the dividends we pay and will consider waiving future dividends. First Charter, MHC is required to obtain approval of the Office of Thrift Supervision prior to waiving a dividend. The Office of Thrift Supervision considers a variety of factors in approving dividend waivers including its assessment of the rights of First Charter, MHC’s stakeholders.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities and Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46), was issued in January 2003 and was reissued in December 2003 as FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003) – (FIN 46R). FIN 46 and FIN 46R are applicable to all special purpose entities no later than the end of the first reporting period ending after December 15, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 and FIN 46R did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 149 did not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity. SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity, and imposes certain additional disclosure requirements. The provisions of SFAS 150 are generally effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company does not expect that SFAS No. 150 will have a significant effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). GAAP generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than do the effects of inflation.

 

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Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

As of December 31, 2003, there were no substantial changes from the interest rate sensitivity analysis or the market value of portfolio equity for various changes in interest rate analysis calculated as of September 30, 2003. The foregoing disclosures related to the market risk of Charter Financial should be read in conjunction with Charter Financial’s audited consolidated financial statements, related notes and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended September 30, 2003 included in Charter Financial’s 2003 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

 

Management, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Vice President, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Vice President concluded that the 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.

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

31.1 Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

32.1 Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

The Company furnished a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated November 4, 2003, pursuant to Item 12 to report the issuance of and furnish its press release describing annual and fourth quarter earnings.

 

The Company filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated October 9, 2003, pursuant to Item 10 to report the adoption of the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers of Charter Financial Corporation.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

       

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date: February 13, 2004       By:   /s/    ROBERT L. JOHNSON        
             
               

Robert L. Johnson

President and Chief Executive Officer

         
Date: February 13, 2004       By:   /s/    CURTIS R. KOLLAR        
             
               

Curtis R. Kollar

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President And Treasurer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

  

Description


31.1    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
32.1    Section 1350 Certifications