Back to GetFilings.com

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

Commission file number: 000-50050

CENTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(213) 251-2222

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, No Par Value

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 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 requirements for the past 90 days.

x  Yes    ¨  No

Check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

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

¨  Yes    x  No

As of June 30, 2003, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $70.2 million, based on the closing price reported on the Nasdaq National Market to the Registrant on that date of $15.06 per share.

Shares of Common Stock held by each officer and director and each person owning more than five percent of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of the affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of shares of Common Stock of the registrant outstanding as of March 10, 2004 was 16,071,848.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A are incorporated by reference in Part III, Items 10-14.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

2

Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based on the current beliefs of the Company’s Management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Management. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Annual Report, including without limitation, statements under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Business” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of Management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to the Company or the Company’s Management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although Management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Management’s expectations (“cautionary statements”) include fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations, economic conditions, customer disintermediation and competitive product and pricing pressures in the geographic and business areas in which the Company conducts its operations, and are disclosed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. Based upon changing conditions, if any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

Center Financial Corporation

Center Financial Corporation (“Center Financial” or the “Company”) is a California corporation registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Center Financial was incorporated in April 2000 and acquired all of the outstanding shares of Center Bank (formerly California Center Bank) in October 2002. Center Financial’s principal subsidiary is Center Bank (“the Bank”). Center Financial exists primarily for the purpose of holding the stock of the Bank and of such other subsidiaries as it may acquire or establish. Currently, the Company’s only other direct subsidiary is Center Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust which was formed in December 2003 solely to facilitate the issuance of capital trust pass-through securities (see “-Recent Developments”).

Our principal source of income is currently dividends from the Bank, but we intend to explore supplemental sources of income in the future. Our expenditures, including (but not limited to) the payment of dividends to shareholders, if and when declared by the Board of Directors, and the cost of servicing debt, will generally be paid from such payments made to us by the Bank.

At December 31, 2003, we had consolidated assets of $1.0 billion, deposits of $867.9 million and shareholders’ equity of $78.3 million.

Our Administrative Offices are located at 3435 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90010 and our telephone number is (213) 251-2222. Our website address is www.centerbank.com. As used herein, the terms “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer collectively to Center Financial Corporation, the Bank, Center Capital Trust I and the Bank’s subsidiary, CB Capital Trust (discussed below), unless the context otherwise requires. The term “Center Financial” is used to designate Center Financial Corporation only.

3

Table of Contents

Center Bank and Subsidiary

The Bank is a California state-chartered and FDIC-insured financial institution, which was incorporated in 1985 and commenced operations in March 1986. The Bank changed its name from California Center Bank to Center Bank in December 2002. The Bank’s headquarters is located at 3435 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, California 90010. The Bank is a community bank providing comprehensive financial services to small to medium sized business owners, mostly in Southern California. The Bank specializes in commercial loans, which are mostly secured by real property, to multi-ethnic and small business customers. In addition, the Bank is a Preferred Lender of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and provides trade finance loans and other international banking products. The Bank’s primary market is the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, including Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, primarily focused in areas with high concentrations of Korean-Americans. The Bank currently has thirteen full-service branch offices located in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. The Bank opened all 13 branches as de novo branches, including the Fullerton Branch. The new Fullerton Branch opened in July 2003, in the Buena Park area, where the Korean-American population is rapidly growing. The Bank also operates five Loan Production Offices (“LPO’s”) in Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Washington D.C. and Las Vegas. The Company opened its fifth LPO in Nevada in October 2003.

Additionally, CB Capital Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, was formed as a subsidiary of the Bank in August 2002 with the primary business purpose of investing in the Bank’s real estate-related assets. CB Capital Trust was capitalized in September 2002, at which time the Bank exchanged real estate-related assets for 100% of the common stock of the CB Capital Trust. CB Capital Trust issued preferred stock to 113 employees of the Bank during January 2003. The value of the preferred shares issued to each employee is minimal.

CB Capital Trust was formed with the intention of ultimately reducing the Company’s state taxes and thereby increasing net earnings, although it is currently uncertain whether any such tax savings will be available (see “Item 7—MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—Provision for Income Taxes”). The Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 was 36%, 37% and 36%. The Company did not record state tax benefits related to CB Capital Trust. The Company may use CB Capital Trust as a vehicle to raise additional capital in the future.

Through our network of branch offices, we provide a wide range of commercial and consumer banking services to our customers. In the past, we focused primarily on Korean-American individuals and companies, but in recent years we have expanded our target customers to include multi-ethnic businesses and depositors. Our primary focus is on small and medium sized Korean-American businesses, professionals and other individuals in its market area, with particular emphasis on the growth of deposits and the origination of commercial and real estate secured loans. We offer bilingual services to our customers in English and Korean and have a network of ATM’s located in eleven of our branch offices.

In 2000, we commenced implementing our strategy of growing our branch network by establishing de novo full service branches to expand our customer base. In September 2000, we opened a branch in Colton, in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. In 2001, we continued these plans by opening five new branches, in Downtown Los Angeles, the Mid-Wilshire District, Torrance, San Diego and Cerritos. We also opened a mini branch office, the Oxford Branch in the heart of Koreatown in 2002. The new Fullerton Branch opened in July 2003, in the Buena Park area, where the Korean-American population is rapidly growing. All the existing branches are within the Southern California area. The Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the branch operations of Korea Exchange Bank in Chicago, Illinois with an anticipated closing date of April 23, 2004; and is also in the process of negotiating the purchase of Liberty Bank in New York (see “Recent Developments”).

In 2000, we opened two new loan production offices, in Phoenix, Arizona and in Seattle, Washington, to meet the needs of Asian Americans in those markets. In 2001, we opened a loan production office in Denver,

4

Table of Contents

Colorado with the same objective. The Company opened a new LPO, at Annandale, Virginia in November 2002 and called Washington D. C. LPO. The Company opened its fifth LPO in Nevada in October 2003. These loan production offices emphasize SBA loans, but also provide a variety of international banking and commercial lending services, including commercial real estate and business commercial loans.

We engage in a full complement of lending activities, including the making of commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, working capital lines, SBA loans, trade financing, automobile loans and other personal loans, and construction loans. We have offered SBA loans since 1989, providing financing for various purposes for small businesses under guarantee of the Small Business Administration, a federal agency created to provide financial assistance for small businesses. We are a Preferred SBA Lender with full loan approval authority on behalf of the SBA.

We also participate in the SBA’s Export Working Capital Program. SBA loans are generally secured by deeds of trust on industrial buildings or retail stores. We regularly sell a portion of the guaranteed portion of the SBA guaranteed loans we originate. We retain the obligation to service the loans, for which we receive a servicing fee. As of December 31, 2003, we were servicing $91.5 million of sold SBA loans.

As of December 31, 2003, the principal areas in which we directed our lending activities, and the percentage of our total loan portfolio for which each of these areas was responsible, were as follows: commercial loans secured by first deeds of trust on real estate 53%; commercial loans 20%; SBA loans 9%; trade financing 8%; consumer loans 7% and construction loans 3%.

We fund our lending activities primarily with demand deposits, savings and time deposits obtained through our branch network. Our deposit products include demand deposit accounts, money market accounts, and savings accounts, time certificates of deposit and fixed maturity installment savings. Our deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, up to the maximum applicable limits thereof. Like most state-chartered banks of our size in California, we are not currently a member of the Federal Reserve System. As of December 31, 2003, we had 34,209 deposit accounts with balances totaling approximately $867.9 million. As of December 31, 2003, we had $268.5 million or 31% in non-interest bearing demand deposits; $156.9 million or 18% in money market accounts; $61.3 million or 7% in savings accounts; $75.0 million or 9% in time deposits less than $100,000; and $306.2 million or 35% in time deposits of more than $100,000. We have obtained the registered service mark “Prime Business Club” to serve exclusively our Prime Business Accounts. As of December 31, 2003, the State of California had placed a deposit of $60 million with us.

We also offer international banking services such as letters of credit, acceptances and wire transfers, and merchant deposit services, travelers’ checks, debit cards, and safe deposit boxes.

In 2001, we introduced Internet banking services to allow our customers to access their loan and deposit accounts through the Internet. Customers can obtain transaction history, account information, transfer funds between accounts and process bill payments. The Company plans to implement improved real-time online Internet Banking starting in April 2004.

We hold no patents or licenses (other than licenses required to be obtained from appropriate bank regulatory agencies), franchises, or concessions. Our business is generally not seasonal. There has been no material effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position as a result of federal, state, or local environmental regulation.

For 2003, income from commercial loans secured by first deeds of trust on real estate properties, income from commercial loans, interest on investments and service charges on deposit accounts generated approximately 44%, 20%, 11% and 15%, respectively, of our total revenues. We segregate our operations into three primary segments: Banking Operations, Trade Finance Services (“TFS”), and Small Business Administration Lending Services. Total assets as of December 31, 2003 attributable to Banking Operations totaled $826.2 million,

5

Table of Contents

compared with $100.6 million for Trade Finance Services and $100.5 million for Small Business Administration Lending Services. For financial information about our business segments, see footnote 20 of the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 herein. We are not dependent on a single customer or group of related customers for a material portion of our deposits or loans, nor is a material portion of our loans concentrated within a single industry or group of related industries. Most of our customers are concentrated in the greater Los Angeles area.

We have not engaged in any material research activities relating to the development of new services or the improvement of existing banking services during the last three fiscal years. However, our officers and employees are engaged continually in marketing activities, including the evaluation and development of new services, which enable us to retain and improve our competitive position in our service area.

Recent Developments

On December 30, 2003, Center Capital Trust I, a newly formed Delaware statutory business trust and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Trust”), issued an aggregate of $18 million of principal amount of Trust Preferred Securities. Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. acted as the initial purchaser in connection with the offering of the Trust Preferred Securities. The securities issued by the Trust are fully guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, redemption or repayment. The entire proceeds to the Trust from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities were used by the Trust in order to purchase $18 million in aggregate principal amount of Center Capital Trust I Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2034 issued by the Company (the “Subordinated Debt Securities”). Subject to a maximum of 25% of Tier 1 capital for all cumulative preferred stock, the Trust Preferred Securities are included as Tier 1 capital for purposes of calculating the Company’s regulatory capital ratios under the Prompt Corrective Action guidelines issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). However, no assurance can be given that the Trust Preferred Securities will continue to be treated as Tier 1 capital in the future. The Company used all $18 million of the proceeds it ultimately received to increase its equity investment in the Bank. Effective December 31, 2003, as a consequence of adopting the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN No. 46”), the Trust is no longer being consolidated into the accounts of the Company.

On January 22, 2004, the Company entered into a definitive Purchase and Assumption Agreement to acquire the branch operations of Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) in Chicago, Illinois. The Agreement calls for Center Bank’s assumption of approximately $16.2 million in FDIC insured deposits and the purchase of approximately $13 million in loans from KEB’s Chicago branch. All regulatory approvals have been received, and the anticipated closing date for this transaction is on or about April 23, 2004. The Agreement specifies a premium of $350,000 plus 10% of average Core Deposits, and 5% of average certain other deposits for 30 days prior to the close.

On February 20, 2004, Center Financial Corporation and Liberty Bank of New York announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding whereby Center Financial Corporation will acquire Liberty Bank in a cash transaction and Liberty Bank will be merged into Center Bank. Upon successful completion of due diligence, Center Financial and Liberty Bank will move forward to execute a definitive agreement.

Cease and Desist Order

On November 30, 2001, the Bank consented to the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order by the FDIC pursuant to Section 8(b)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1818(b)(1), concerning compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and related regulations. This order was disclosed in detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. As a result of the regulatory examination in 2002, the FDIC terminated this order on April 9, 2002.

6

Table of Contents

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For information regarding the recently issued accounting standards, see Note 2, entitled “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere herein.

Competition

The banking business in our present and intended future market areas is highly competitive with respect to virtually all products and services and has become increasingly so in recent years. While the banking market in the our primary market area is generally dominated by a relatively small number of major banks with many offices operating over a wide geographic area, our direct competitors in our niche market tend to be relatively smaller community banks, which also focus their businesses on Korean-American consumers and businesses.

There is a high level of competition within this specific market. In the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, our main competitors include seven locally owned and operated Korean-American banks and subsidiaries of two Korean banks. These other banks have branches located in many of the same neighborhoods as we do, provide similar types of products and services and use the same Korean language publications and media for their marketing purposes.

A less significant source of competition in the Los Angeles metropolitan area are a small number of branches of major banks which maintain a limited bilingual staff for Korean-speaking customers. While such banks have not traditionally focused their marketing efforts on our customer base in Southern California, their competitive influence could increase should they in the future choose to focus on this market.

In Phoenix and in Las Vegas, there are currently no local Korean-American banks serving the banking needs of the local Korean-American community.

Seattle, Denver and Washington, D.C. each have one local bank focused on serving the banking needs of the local Korean-American community. However, in the Seattle area, three other Los Angeles-based Korean-American banks have also opened LPOs, and in Washington D. C. and its vicinity, there is also one branch office of New York based subsidiary of one Korean Bank, which serves the banking needs of the local Korean-American community.

Large commercial bank competitors have, among other advantages, the ability to finance wide-ranging and effective advertising campaigns and to allocate their investment resources to areas of highest yield and demand. Many of the major banks operating in our market area offer certain services, which the Bank does not offer directly (but some of which we offer through correspondent institutions). By virtue of their greater total capitalization, such banks also have substantially higher lending limits than we do.

In addition to other banks, competitors include savings institutions, credit unions, and numerous non-banking institutions, such as finance companies, leasing companies, insurance companies, brokerage firms, and investment banking firms. In recent years, increased competition has also developed from specialized finance and non-finance companies that offer money market and mutual funds, wholesale finance, credit card, and other consumer finance services, including on-line banking services and personal finance software. Strong competition for deposit and loan products affects the rates of those products as well as the terms on which they are offered to customers. To the extent that we are affected by more general competitive trends in the industry, those trends are towards increased consolidation and competition. Strong, unregulated competitors have entered banking markets with focused products targeted at highly profitable customer segments. Many largely unregulated competitors are able to compete across geographic boundaries and provide customers increasing access to meaningful alternatives to banking services in nearly all significant products. Mergers between financial institutions have placed additional pressure on banks within the industry to streamline their operations, reduce expenses, and increase revenues to remain competitive. Competition has also intensified due to federal and state interstate banking laws, which permit banking organizations to expand geographically, and the California market has been

7

Table of Contents

particularly attractive to out-of-state institutions The Financial Modernization Act effective March 11, 2000, which has made it possible for full affiliations to occur between banks and securities firms, insurance companies, and other financial companies, has also intensified competitive conditions. (See “—SUPERVISION AND REGULATION—Financial Modernization Act” below.)

Technological innovations have also resulted in increased competition in the financial services industry. Such innovations have, for example, made it possible for non-depository institutions to offer customers automated transfer payment services that previously have been considered traditional banking products. In addition, many customers now expect a choice of several delivery systems and channels, including telephone, mail, home computer, ATM’S, self-service branches and/or in-store branches. In addition to other banks, the sources of competition for such hi-tech products include savings associations, credit unions, brokerage firms, money market and other mutual funds, asset management groups, finance and insurance companies, and mortgage banking firms.

In order to compete with the other financial services providers, we provide quality, personalized, friendly service and fast decision making to better serve our customers’ needs. For customers whose loan demands exceed our lending limit, we attempt to arrange for such loans on a participation basis with our correspondent banks. We also distinguish ourselves within the Korean-ethnic community by expanding into geographic markets, which our competitors have not reached. We also maintain an international trade finance department to meet the growing needs of the business communities within our niche market. In order to compete on the technological front, we offer Internet banking services to allow our customers to access their loan and deposit accounts through the Internet. Customers can obtain transaction history, account information, transfer funds between accounts and process bill payments.

The market for the origination of SBA loans is highly competitive. With respect to its origination of SBA loans, we compete with other small, mid-size and major banks in the geographic areas in which our full service branches are located. We currently have loan production offices, which emphasize SBA loans. In addition, because these loans are largely broker-driven, we also compete with banks located outside of our immediate geographic area. Being designated a Preferred SBA Lender with the full loan approval authority on behalf of the SBA, our LPO’s are able to provide a faster response to loan requests than competitors, which are not Preferred SBA Lenders. In order to compete in this highly competitive market, we place great emphasis on making SBA loans to minority-owned businesses.

Unlike the market for the origination of SBA loans, the secondary market for SBA loans is currently a seller’s market. To date, we have had no difficulty in the resale of SBA loans within the secondary market. However, there is no assurance that this condition would continue to last or that the secondary market for SBA loans will be available in the future.

Employees

As of December 31, 2003, we had 250 full-time equivalent employees. None of our employees is concurrently represented by a union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our employee relations are satisfactory.

Supervision and Regulation

Both federal and state law extensively regulates bank holding companies. This regulation is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the deposit insurance fund and not for the benefit of shareholders of Center Financial. The following is a summary of particular statutes and regulations affecting Center Financial and Center Bank. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the statutes and regulations.

8

Table of Contents

Regulation of Center Financial Corporation

Center Financial is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), which requires us to file annual, quarterly and other current reports with the SEC. We are also subject to additional regulations including, but not limited to, the proxy and tender offer rules promulgated by the SEC under Sections 13 and 14 of the Exchange Act; the reporting requirements of directors, executive officers and principal shareholders regarding transactions in our Common Stock and short-swing profits rules promulgated by the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange Act; and certain additional reporting requirements by our principal shareholders promulgated by the SEC under Section 13 of the Exchange Act.

Center Financial is a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and is registered as such with the Federal Reserve Board. A bank holding company is required to file with the Federal Reserve Board annual reports and other information regarding its business operations and those of its subsidiaries. It is also subject to examination by the Federal Reserve Board and is required to obtain Federal Reserve Board approval before acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after such acquisition, it would directly or indirectly own or control more than 5% of the voting stock of that bank, unless it already owns a majority of the voting stock of that bank.

The Federal Reserve Board has determined by regulation certain activities in which a bank holding company may or may not conduct business. A bank holding company must engage, with certain exceptions, in the business of banking or managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiary banks. The permissible activities and affiliations of certain bank holding companies have recently been expanded. (See “Financial Modernization Act” below.)

Center Financial and the Bank are deemed to be affiliates of each other within the meaning set forth in the Federal Reserve Act and are subject to Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. This means, for example, that there are limitations on loans by the Bank to affiliates, and that all affiliate transactions must satisfy certain limitations and otherwise be on terms and conditions at least as favorable to the Bank as would be available for non-affiliates.

The Federal Reserve Board has a policy that bank holding companies must serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. It is the Federal Reserve Bank’s position that bank holding companies should stand ready to use their available resources to provide adequate capital to their subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity. Bank holding companies should also maintain the financial flexibility and capital-raising capacity to obtain additional resources for assisting their subsidiary banks.

The Federal Reserve Board also has the authority to regulate bank holding company debt, including the authority to impose interest rate ceilings and reserve requirements on such debt. Under certain circumstances, the Federal Reserve Board may require us to file written notice and obtain its approval prior to purchasing or redeeming our equity securities, unless certain conditions are met.

Center Financial is a “financial holding company.” Unlike a bank holding company, a financial holding company may engage in a broad range of activities that are deemed by the Federal Reserve Board as “financial in nature or incidental” to financial activities. Moreover, even in the case where an activity cannot meet that test, the Federal Reserve Board may approve the activity if the proposed activity is “complementary” to financial activities and does not pose a risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions. One example of such activities, which would be allowed for a financial holding company but not for a bank or a simple bank holding company, is real estate development activities. At the present time, Center Financial has no specific plans to engage in real estate development or any other activities, which would require financial holding company status.

Regulation of Center Bank

As a California state-chartered bank whose accounts are insured by the FDIC up to a maximum of $100,000 per depositor, we are subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the Department of Financial

9

Table of Contents

Institutions and the FDIC. In addition, while we are not a member of the Federal Reserve System, we are subject to certain regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. The regulations of these agencies govern most aspects of our business, including the making of periodic reports, and activities relating to dividends, investments, loans, borrowings, capital requirements, certain check-clearing activities, branching, mergers and acquisitions, reserves against deposits and numerous other areas. Supervision, legal action and examination by the FDIC is generally intended to protect depositors and is not intended for the protection of shareholders.

The earnings and growth of the Bank are largely dependent on its ability to maintain a favorable differential or “spread” between the yield on its interest-earning assets and the rate paid on its deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. As a result, the Bank’s performance is influenced by general economic conditions, both domestic and foreign, the monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government, and the policies of the regulatory agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board implements national monetary policies (such as seeking to curb inflation and combat recession) by its open-market operations in United States Government securities, by adjusting the required level of reserves for financial institutions subject to its reserve requirements and by varying the discount rate applicable to borrowings by banks which are members of the Federal Reserve System. The actions of the Federal Reserve Board in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits and also affect interest rates charged on loans and deposits. The nature and impact of any future changes in monetary policies cannot be predicted.

Capital Adequacy Requirements

Center Financial and Center Bank are subject to the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC, respectively, governing capital adequacy. Those regulations incorporate both risk-based and leverage capital requirements. Each of the federal regulators has established risk-based and leverage capital guidelines for the banks or bank holding companies it regulates, which set total capital requirements and define capital in terms of “core capital elements,” or Tier 1 capital; and “supplemental capital elements,” or Tier 2 capital. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as the sum of the core capital elements less goodwill and certain other deductions, notably the unrealized net gains or losses (after tax adjustments) on available for sale investment securities carried at fair market value. The following items are defined as core capital elements: (i) common shareholders’ equity; (ii) qualifying noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus; and (iii) minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Supplementary capital elements include: (i) allowance for loan and lease losses (but not more than 1.25% of an institution’s risk-weighted assets); (ii) perpetual preferred stock and related surplus not qualifying as core capital; (iii) hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt and mandatory convertible debt instruments; and (iv) term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock and related surplus. The maximum amount of supplemental capital elements, which qualifies as Tier 2 capital is limited to 100% of Tier 1 capital, net of goodwill.

The minimum required ratio of qualifying total capital to total risk-weighted assets is 8.0% (“Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio”), at least one-half of which must be in the form of Tier 1 capital, and the minimum required ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets is 4.0% (“Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio”). Risk-based capital ratios are calculated to provide a measure of capital that reflects the degree of risk associated with a banking organization’s operations for both transactions reported on the statements of financial condition as assets, and transactions, such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, which are recorded as off-balance sheet items. Under the risk-based capital guidelines, the nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit-equivalent amounts of off-balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk, such as certain U. S. Treasury securities, to 100% for assets with relatively high credit risk, such as business loans.

The risk-based capital requirements also take into account concentrations of credit (i.e., relatively large proportions of loans involving one borrower, industry, location, collateral or loan type) and the risks of “non-traditional” activities (those that have not customarily been part of the banking business). The regulations require institutions with high or inordinate levels of risk to operate with higher minimum capital standards, and authorize the regulators to review an institution’s management of such risks in assessing an institution’s capital adequacy.

10

Table of Contents

The risk-based capital regulations also include exposure to interest rate risk as a factor that the regulators will consider in evaluating a bank’s or bank holding company’s capital adequacy. Interest rate risk is the exposure of a bank’s current and future earnings and equity capital arising from adverse movements in interest rates. While interest rate risk is inherent in a bank’s role as financial intermediary, it introduces volatility to bank earnings and to the economic value of the bank or bank holding company.

The FDIC and the Federal Reserve Board also require the maintenance of a leverage capital ratio designed to supplement the risk-based capital guidelines. Banks and bank holding companies that have received the highest rating of the five categories used by regulators to rate such institutions and are not anticipating or experiencing any significant growth must maintain a ratio of Tier 1 capital (net of all intangibles) to adjusted total assets (“Leverage Capital Ratio”) of at least 3%. All other institutions are required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 100 to 200 basis points above the 3% minimum, for a minimum of 4% to 5%. Pursuant to federal regulations, banking institutions must maintain capital levels commensurate with the level of risk to which they are exposed, including the volume and severity of problem loans, and federal regulators may set, however, higher capital requirements when an institution’s particular circumstances warrant. As of December 31, 2003, all Center Financial’s regulatory ratios exceeded regulatory minimums. (See table below)

Of the Company’s Tier 1 capital at December 31, 2003, $18 million, or approximately 20%, consisted of Trust Preferred Securities. However, no assurance can be given that the Trust Preferred Securities will continue to be treated as Tier 1 capital in the future.

The following table compares the Company’s and the Bank’s actual capital ratios at December 31, 2003 and 2002, to those required by regulatory agencies for capital adequacy and well-capitalized classification purposes:

Risk Based Ratios

Prompt Corrective Action Provisions

Federal law requires each federal banking agency to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of insured financial institutions, including but not limited to those that fall below one or more prescribed minimum capital ratios. The federal banking agencies have defined by regulation the following five capital categories: “well capitalized” (Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 10%; Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 6%; and Leverage Ratio of 5%); “adequately capitalized” (Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 8%; Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 4%; and Leverage Ratio of 4%) (or 3% if the institution receives the highest rating from its primary regulator); “undercapitalized” (Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of less than 8%; Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of less than 4%; or Leverage Ratio of less than 4%) (or 3% if the institution receives the highest rating from its primary regulator); “significantly undercapitalized” (Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of less than 6%; Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of less than 3%; or Leverage Ratio less than 3%); and “critically undercapitalized” (tangible equity to total assets less than 2%). As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, Center Bank was deemed “Well Capitalized” for regulatory purposes. A bank may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if after notice and the opportunity for a hearing, the appropriate federal agency finds an unsafe or unsound condition or practice so warrants, but no bank may be treated as “critically undercapitalized” unless its actual capital ratio warrants such treatment.

At each successively lower capital category, an insured bank is subject to increased restrictions on its operations. For example, a bank is generally prohibited from paying management fees to any controlling persons or from making capital distributions if to do so would make the bank “undercapitalized.” Asset growth and branching restrictions apply to undercapitalized banks, which are required to submit written capital restoration

11

Table of Contents

plans meeting specified requirements (including a guarantee by the parent holding company, if any). “Significantly undercapitalized” banks are subject to broad regulatory authority, including among other things, capital directives, forced mergers, restrictions on the rates of interest they may pay on deposits, restrictions on asset growth and activities, and prohibitions on paying certain bonuses without FDIC approval. Even more severe restrictions apply to critically undercapitalized banks. Most importantly, except under limited circumstances, not later than 90 days after an insured bank becomes critically undercapitalized, the appropriate federal banking agency is required to appoint a conservator or receiver for the bank.

In addition to measures taken under the prompt corrective action provisions, insured banks may be subject to potential actions by the federal regulators for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses or for violations of any law, rule, regulation or any condition imposed in writing by the agency or any written agreement with the agency. Enforcement actions may include the issuance of cease and desist orders, termination of insurance of deposits (in the case of a bank), the imposition of civil money penalties, the issuance of directives to increase capital, formal and informal agreements, or removal and prohibition orders against “institution-affiliated” parties.

Safety and Soundness Standards

The federal banking agencies have also adopted guidelines establishing safety and soundness standards for all insured depository institutions. Those guidelines relate to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan underwriting and documentation, compensation and interest rate exposure. In general, the standards are designed to assist the federal banking agencies in identifying and addressing problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. If an institution fails to meet these standards, the appropriate federal banking agency may require the institution to submit a compliance plan and institute enforcement proceedings if an acceptable compliance plan is not submitted.

Premiums for Deposit Insurance

The FDIC regulations also implement a risk-based premium system, whereby insured depository institutions are required to pay insurance premiums depending on their risk classification. Under this system, insured banks are categorized into one of three capital categories (well capitalized, adequately capitalized, and undercapitalized) and one of three supervisory categories based on federal regulatory evaluations. The three supervisory categories are: financially sound with only a few minor weaknesses (Group A), demonstrates weaknesses that could result in significant deterioration (Group B), and poses a substantial probability of loss (Group C). The capital ratios used by the FDIC to define well capitalized, adequately capitalized and undercapitalized are the same in the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations. The current base assessment rates (expressed as cents per $100 of deposits) are summarized as follows:

In addition, banks must pay an amount, which fluctuates but is currently 1.54 cents per $100 of insured deposits, towards the retirement of the Financing Corporation bonds issued in the 1980’s to assist in the recovery of the savings and loan industry.

Community Reinvestment Act

Center Bank is subject to certain requirements and reporting obligations involving Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) activities. The CRA generally requires the federal banking agencies to evaluate the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its local communities, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. The CRA further requires the agencies to take a financial institution’s record of meeting

12

Table of Contents

its community credit needs into account when evaluating applications for, among other things, domestic branches, consummating mergers or acquisitions, or holding company formations. In measuring a bank’s compliance with its CRA obligations, the regulators utilize a performance-based evaluation system which bases CRA ratings on the bank’s actual lending service and investment performance, rather than on the extent to which the institution conducts needs assessments, documents community outreach activities or complies with other procedural requirements. In connection with its assessment of CRA performance, the FDIC assigns a rating of “outstanding,” “satisfactory,” “needs to improve” or “substantial noncompliance.” Center Bank was last examined for CRA compliance in 2003 and received a “satisfactory” CRA Assessment Rating.

Other Consumer Protection Laws and Regulations

Bank regulatory agencies are increasingly focusing attention on compliance with consumer protection laws and regulations. Examination and enforcement has become intense, and banks have been advised to carefully monitor compliance with various consumer protection laws and their implementing regulations. The federal Interagency Task Force on Fair Lending issued a policy statement on discrimination in home mortgage lending describing three methods that federal agencies will use to prove discrimination: overt evidence of discrimination, evidence of disparate treatment, and evidence of disparate impact. In addition to CRA and fair lending requirements, Center Bank is subject to numerous other federal consumer protection statutes and regulations. Due to heightened regulatory concern related to compliance with consumer protection laws and regulations generally, Center Bank may incur additional compliance costs or be required to expend additional funds for investments in the local communities it serves.

Interstate Banking and Branching

The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (the “Interstate Banking Act”) regulates the interstate activities of banks and bank holding companies and establishes a framework for nationwide interstate banking and branching. Since June 1, 1997, a bank in one state has generally been permitted to merge with a bank in another state without the need for explicit state law authorization. However, states were given the ability to prohibit interstate mergers with banks in their own state by “opting-out” (enacting state legislation applying equality to all out-of-state banks prohibiting such mergers) prior to June 1, 1997.

Since 1995, adequately capitalized and managed bank holding companies have been permitted to acquire banks located in any state, subject to two exceptions: first, any state may still prohibit bank holding companies from acquiring a bank which is less than five years old; and second, no interstate acquisition can be consummated by a bank holding company if the acquirer would control more than 10% of the deposits held by insured depository institutions nationwide or 30% percent or more of the deposits held by insured depository institutions in any state in which the target bank has branches.

A bank may establish and operate de novo branches in any state in which the bank does not maintain a branch if that state has enacted legislation to expressly permit all out-of-state banks to establish branches in that state.

In 1995, California enacted legislation to implement important provisions of the Interstate Banking Act discussed above and to repeal California’s previous interstate banking laws, which were largely preempted by the Interstate

The changes effected by Interstate Banking Act and California laws have increased competition in the environment in which Center Bank operates to the extent that out-of-state financial institutions directly or indirectly enter Center Bank’s market areas. It appears that the Interstate Banking Act has contributed to the accelerated consolidation of the banking industry. While many large out-of-state banks have already entered the California market as a result of this legislation, it is not possible to predict the precise impact of this legislation on Center Bank and Center Financial and the competitive environment in which they operate.

13

Table of Contents

Financial Modernization Act

Effective March 11, 2000, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act eliminated most barriers to affiliations among banks and securities firms, insurance companies, and other financial service providers, and enabled full affiliations to occur between such entities. This legislation permits bank holding companies to become “financial holding companies” and thereby acquire securities firms and insurance companies and engage in other activities that are financial in nature. A bank holding company may become a financial holding company if each of its subsidiary banks is well capitalized under the FDICIA prompt corrective action provisions, is well managed, and has at least a satisfactory rating under the CRA by filing a declaration that the bank holding company wishes to become a financial holding company. No regulatory approval will be required for a financial holding company to acquire a company, other than a bank or savings association, engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to activities that are financial in nature, as determined by the Federal Reserve Board. Center Financial is a “financial holding company,” in order to take advantage, if appropriate, of the increased flexibility provided by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. However, Center Financial has no specific plans at this time with respect to any activities it may conduct because of this increased flexibility.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act defines “financial in nature” to include securities underwriting, dealing and market making; sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies; insurance underwriting and agency; merchant banking activities; and activities that the Board has determined to be closely related to banking. A national bank (and therefore, a state bank as well) may also engage, subject to limitations on investment, in activities that are financial in nature, other than insurance underwriting, insurance company portfolio investment, real estate development and real estate investment, through a financial subsidiary of the bank, if the bank is well capitalized, well managed and has at least a satisfactory CRA rating. Subsidiary banks of a financial holding company or national banks with financial subsidiaries must continue to be well capitalized and well managed in order to continue to engage in activities that are financial in nature without regulatory actions or restrictions, which could include divestiture of the financial in nature subsidiary or subsidiaries. In addition, a financial holding company or a bank may not acquire a company that is engaged in activities that are financial in nature unless each of the subsidiary banks of the financial holding company or the bank has a CRA rating of satisfactory or better.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also imposes significant requirements on financial institutions with respect to the privacy of customer information, and modifies other existing laws, including those related to community reinvestment.

USA Patriot Act of 2001

On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”). Enacted in response to the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, the Patriot Act is intended to strengthen U.S. law enforcement’s and the intelligence communities’ ability to work cohesively to combat terrorism on a variety of fronts. The potential impact of the Act on financial institutions of all kinds is significant and wide ranging. The Act contains sweeping anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and requires various regulations applicable to financial institutions, including:

14

Table of Contents

We implemented most of the requirements under the Patriot Act during the fourth quarter of 2001. To fulfill the requirements, we added four additional full-time employees to its BSA Compliance Department and intensified due diligence procedures concerning the opening of new accounts. We also implemented new systems and procedures to identify suspicious activity reports and report to FINCEN. The cost of additional staff in the BSA Compliance Department and the system enhancement described above was reflected in the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOA”) was enacted to increase corporate responsibility, to provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures pursuant to the securities laws. The SOA generally applies to all companies, both U.S. and non-U.S., that file or are required to file periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the Company.

The SOA includes very specific additional disclosure requirements and new corporate governance rules, requires the SEC and securities exchanges to adopt extensive additional disclosure, corporate governance and other related rules and mandates further studies of specified issues by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Comptroller General. The SOA represents significant federal involvement in matters traditionally left to state regulatory systems, such as the regulation of the accounting profession and to state corporate law, such as the relationship between a board of directors and management and between a board of directors and its committees. The SOA contains provisions, which became effective upon enactment on July 30, 2002 and provisions, which became effective from within 30 days to one year from enactment. The Securities and Exchange Commission has promulgated regulations to implement various provisions of the SOA, including additional disclosure requirements in periodic filings under the Exchange Act. The Company has revised its internal policies and Exchange Act disclosures to comply with these new requirements.

Other Pending and Proposed Legislation

Other legislative and regulatory initiatives, which could affect Center Financial, Center Bank and the banking industry, in general are pending, and additional initiatives may be proposed or introduced, before the United States Congress, the California legislature and other governmental bodies in the future. Such proposals, if enacted, may further alter the structure, regulation and competitive relationship among financial institutions, and may subject Center Bank and Center Financial to increased regulation, disclosure and reporting requirements. In addition, the various banking regulatory agencies often adopt new rules and regulations to implement and enforce existing legislation. It cannot be predicted whether, or in what form, any such legislation or regulations may be enacted or the extent to which the business of Center Financial or Center Bank would be affected thereby.

15

Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all other information contained in this Annual Report before making investment decisions concerning our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may impair our business. If any of the events described in the following risk factors occur, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, the trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of the events described in these risks.

Poor economic conditions in California may cause us to suffer higher default rates on our loans.

A substantial majority of our loans are generated in the greater Los Angeles area in Southern California. As a result, poor economic conditions in the Los Angeles area may cause us to incur losses associated with higher default rates and decreased collateral values in our loan portfolio. The Los Angeles area has experienced a downturn in economic activity in line with the slowdown in California during the past year. Economic growth slowed significantly as a result continuation of recessionary conditions and brush fires, which has taken place throughout Southern California, although delinquencies on our loans as a result of the current conditions have been minimal. High unemployment levels experienced since mid 2001 continued in 2003, especially in Los Angeles County, which is our geographic center and the base of our deposit and lending activity. In addition, it is likely that the continued US presence in Iraq will continue to have a significant negative effect on the national economy. If the current recessionary conditions continue or deteriorate, we expect that our level of problem assets would increase accordingly, resulting in increases in the level of delinquencies and losses for us.

Concentrations of real estate loans could subject us to increased risks in the event of a real estate recession or natural disaster.

Approximately $384.8 million or 53% of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2003, and $241.3 million or 46% of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2002, were concentrated in commercial real estate loans. Of this amount, $54.6 million represented loans secured by industrial buildings, and $100.6 million represented loans secured by retail shopping centers as of December 31, 2003. Although commercial loans generally provide for higher interest rates and shorter terms than single-family residential loans, such loans generally involve a higher degree of risk, as the ability of borrowers to repay these loans is often dependent upon the profitability of the borrowers’ businesses. An increase in the percentage of nonperforming assets in commercial real estate, commercial and industrial loan portfolios may have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations, by reducing our income, increasing our expenses, and leaving us with less cash available for lending and other activities.

As the primary collateral for many of our loans rests on commercial real estate properties, a downturn in real estate values in the greater Southern California region could negatively impact us by providing us with decreased collateral values in our loan portfolio. In the early 1990s, the entire state of California experienced an economic recession, particularly impacting real estate values that resulted in increases in the level of delinquencies and losses for many of the state’s financial institutions. If any similar real estate recession affecting our market areas should occur in the future, the security for many of our loans could be reduced and the ability of many of our borrowers to pay could decline. Similarly, the occurrence of a natural disaster like those California has experienced in the past, including earthquakes, brush fires, and, during early 1998, flooding attributed to the weather phenomenon known as “El Niño,” could impair the value of the collateral we hold for real estate secured loans and negatively impact our results of operations.

We have not experienced any deterioration in our commercial real estate loan portfolio. However, there was an increase in delinquencies among construction loans, due to one construction loan. (See “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition—Nonperforming Assets.”)

16

Table of Contents

We may experience loan losses in excess of our allowance for loan losses.

We maintain an allowance for loan losses at a level that we believe is adequate to absorb any inherent losses in the loan portfolio. However, changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates that are beyond our control may cause our actual loan losses to exceed current allowance estimates. If the actual loan losses exceed the allowance for loan losses, it will hurt our business. In addition, the FDIC and the Department of Financial Institutions, as part of their supervisory functions, periodically review our allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require us to increase our provision for loan losses or to recognize further loan losses, based on their judgments, which may be different from those of our Management. Any increase in the allowance required by the FDIC or the Department of Financial Institutions could also hurt our business.

We try to limit the risk that borrowers will fail to repay loans by carefully underwriting the loans. Losses nevertheless occur. We establish loan loss allowances for probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the statements of financial condition date. We base these allowances on estimates of the following:

We may have difficulty managing our growth.

Our total assets have increased to $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2003, from $818.6 million and $586.7 million as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company has achieved compounded annual growth rate of 21% in total assets since 2001. We opened one new branch office in September 2000, five additional branches in the second half of 2001, one in 2002 and one in 2003. We have also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the branch operations of Korea Exchange Bank in Chicago, Illinois with an anticipated closing date of April 23, 2004; and are in the process of negotiating the purchase of Liberty Bank in New York (see “Recent Developments”). We intend to investigate other opportunities to open additional branches that would complement our existing business as such opportunities may arise; however, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to identify additional locations or finalize additional branch openings.

Our ability to manage our growth will depend primarily on our ability to:

If we fail to achieve those objectives in an efficient and timely manner, we may experience interruptions and dislocations in our business which could substantially increase our expenses and negatively impact our ability to retain our customers. In addition, such concerns may cause federal and state banking regulators to require us to delay or forgo any proposed growth until such problems have been addressed to the satisfaction of those regulators.

We have found that growth by de novo branch banking in 2002 has temporarily increased our overhead expenses as a percentage of our total assets. The overall effect of opening five new branches in 2001 was that our

17

Table of Contents

earnings were reduced because of these increased costs. If we continue to open additional branches, we expect to face similar increased costs in the future.

Our earnings are subject to interest rate risk, especially if rates fall.

Banking companies’ earnings depend largely on the relationship between the cost of funds, primarily deposits and borrowings, and the yield on earning assets, such as loans and investment securities. This relationship, known as the interest rate spread, is subject to fluctuation and is affected by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board, the international interest rate environment, as well as by economic, regulatory and competitive factors which influence interest rates, the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the level of nonperforming assets. Many of these factors are beyond our control. Fluctuations in interest rates affect the demand of customers for our products and services. We are subject to interest rate risk to the degree that our interest-bearing liabilities reprice or mature more slowly or more rapidly or on a different basis than our interest-earning assets. Given our current volume and mix of interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets, our interest rate spread could be expected to increase during times of rising interest rates and, conversely, to decline during times of falling interest rates. Therefore, significant fluctuations in interest rates may have an adverse or a positive effect on our results of operations. See “Item 7A, Quantitive and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risks—Interest Rate Risk.”

All of our lending involves underwriting risks, especially in a competitive lending market.

At December 31, 2003, commercial real estate loans represented 53% of our total loan portfolio; commercial lines and term loans to businesses represented 20% of our total loan portfolio; and SBA loans represented 9% of our total loan portfolio.

Real estate lending involves risks associated with the potential decline in the value of underlying real estate collateral and the cash flow from income producing properties. Declines in real estate values and cash flows can be caused by a number of factors, including adversity in general economic conditions, rising interest rates, changes in tax and other governmental and other policies affecting real estate holdings, environmental conditions, governmental and other use restrictions, development of competitive properties, and increasing vacancy rates. Our dependence increases the risk of loss both in our loan portfolio and with respect to any other real estate owned when real estate values decline. We seek to reduce our risk of loss through our underwriting and monitoring procedures.

Commercial lending, even when secured by the assets of a business, involves considerable risk of loss in the event of failure of the business. To reduce such risk, we typically take additional security interests in other collateral, such as real property, certificates of deposit or life insurance, and/or obtain personal guarantees.

Specific risks associated with SBA lending are discussed in a separate risk factor below.

We operate in a highly competitive market, and some of our competitors offer a broader range of services than we provide, and have lower cost structures.

The banking business in our current and intended future market areas is highly competitive with respect to virtually all products and services. While the banking market in our primary market area is generally dominated by a relatively small number of major banks with many offices operating over a wide geographic area, our main competitors include seven locally owned and operated Korean-American banks and subsidiaries of two Korean banks. These other banks have branches located in many of the same neighborhoods as we do, provide similar types of products and services and use the same Korean language publications and media for their marketing purposes. There is a high level of competition within this specific market. While major banks have not historically focused their marketing efforts on the Bank’s Korean-American customer base in Southern

18

Table of Contents

California, their competitive influence could increase in the future. Such banks have substantially greater lending limits than we have, offer certain services we cannot, and often operate with “economies of scale” that result in lower operating costs than ours on a per loan or per asset basis. In addition to competitive factors impacting our specific market niche, we are affected by more general competitive trends in the banking industry, including intra-state and interstate consolidation, competition from non-bank sources and technological innovations. Many of our competitors have advantages over us in conducting certain businesses and providing certain services, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully.

We also compete with other financial institutions such as savings and loan associations, credit unions, thrift and loan companies, mortgage companies, securities brokerage companies and insurance companies located within and without our service area and with quasi-financial institutions such as money market funds for deposits and loans. Financial services like ours are increasingly offered over the Internet on a national and international basis, and we compete with providers of these services as well. Ultimately, competition can drive down our interest margins and reduce our profitability. It also can make it more difficult for us to continue to increase the size of our loan portfolio and deposit base. See “—Competition.”

Trading in our common stock has not been extensive and you may have difficulty selling your shares in the future.

Although Center Financial’s Common Stock has been listed on the Nasdaq National Market since October 29, 2002 (the day after the effective date of the holding company reorganization), trading in our stock has not been extensive and cannot be characterized as active. See “Item 5, Market for Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters—Trading History.”

We might not be able to continue to pay cash dividends in the future.

As a banking holding company which currently has no significant assets other than our equity interest in Center Bank, our ability to pay dividends primarily depends upon the dividends we receive from Center Bank. The dividend practice of Center Bank, like our dividend practice, will depend upon its earnings, financial position, current and anticipated cash requirements and other factors deemed relevant by Center Bank’s board of directors at that time. In addition, during any period in which Center Financial has deferred payment of interest otherwise due and payable on its subordinated debt securities, we may not make any dividends or distributions with respect to our capital stock. See “Item 1, Business—Recent Developments” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources.”

We paid a cash dividend of 8 cents per share in February 2004 and in October 2003 and currently plan to continue to pay cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the amount of any such dividend will be determined each quarter by our Board of Directors in its discretion, based on the factors described in the previous paragraph. No assurance can be given that the Bank’s and the Company’s future performance will justify the payment of dividends in any particular quarter. We are a legal entity separate and distinct from our subsidiaries. Substantially all of our revenue and cash flow, including funds available for the payment of dividends and other operating expenses, is dependent upon the payment of dividends to us by our subsidiaries. Dividends payable to us by Center Bank are restricted under California and federal laws and regulation. See “Item 5, Market for Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters—Dividends.”

We have specific risks associated with Small Business Administration loans.

We realized $2.7 million, $1.3 million, and $525,000, respectively, in 2003 and in 2002 and 2001, in gains recognized on secondary market sales of our SBA loans. We have regularly sold the guaranteed portions of these loans in the secondary market. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to continue originating these loans, or that a secondary market will exist for, or that we will continue to realize premiums upon the sale of, the guaranteed portions of the SBA loans. The federal government presently guarantees 75% to 80% of the principal

19

Table of Contents

amount of each qualifying SBA loan. We can provide no assurance that the federal government will maintain the SBA program, or if it does, that such guaranteed portion will remain at its current funding level. Furthermore, we can provide no assurance that we will retain our preferred lender status, which, subject to certain limitations, allows us to approve and fund SBA loans without the necessity of having the loan approved in advance by the SBA, or that if it does, the federal government will not reduce the amount of such loans which we can make. We believe that our SBA loan portfolio does not involve more than a normal risk of collectibility. However, since we have sold some of the guaranteed portions of our SBA loan portfolio, we incur a pro rata credit risk on the non-guaranteed portion of the SBA loans since we share pro rata with the SBA in any recoveries. In the event of default on an SBA loan, our pursuit of remedies against a borrower would be subject to SBA approval, and where the SBA establishes that its loss is attributable to deficiencies in the manner in which the loan application has been prepared and submitted, the SBA may decline to honor its guarantee with respect to our SBA loans or it may seek the recovery of damages from us. The SBA has never declined to honor its guarantees with respect to its SBA loans, although no assurance can be given that the SBA would not attempt to do so in the future. (See “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition—Loan Portfolio—Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans.”)

Another economic downturn in South Korea could cause us to incur losses with respect to certain of our loans and credit transactions which expose us to the Korean Economy.

Because a significant portion of our customer base is Korean-American, we have historically had exposure to the Korean economy with respect to certain of our loans and credit transactions. We make three types of credit extensions involving direct exposure to the Korean economy: commercial loans to U.S. affiliates/subsidiaries/branches of companies located in South Korea (“Korean Affiliate Loans”), acceptances with Korean banks, and standby letters of credit issued by Korean banks. We also have indirect exposure to the economies of various Pacific Rim countries because we provide short term trade financing to local import and/or export businesses in connection with issuing letters of credit to overseas suppliers/sellers, as well as making working capital and other business loans to such businesses, some of which businesses could be hurt by a downturn in the economies of such countries. The Korean economy and its capital markets suffered significant downturns in late 1997 and early 1998, and we had one Korean Affiliate Loan for $2 million that had to be charged off in 1997 because such customer was directly impacted by the problems in South Korea. Since that time the Bank had recovered $1.8 million of this amount as of December 31, 2003. This one charge-off in 1997 represented in excess of 42.7% of our total charge-offs in 1997. See “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition—Nonperforming Assets, Allowance for Loan Losses and Market Risk/Interest Rate Risk Management.” Since that time, we have been closely monitoring our exposure to the Korean economy and those of other Pacific Rim countries and have taken steps to reduce our exposure and to make sure that our allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb any losses that might occur if problems were to arise again in South Korea or those other countries. However, another severe downturn in the Korean economy or in the economies of other Pacific Rim countries could cause us to incur significant credit losses.

Our directors and executive officers control a large amount of our stock, and your interests may not always be the same as those of the board and management.

As of March 15, 2004, our directors, executive officers and nominees for director together with their affiliates, beneficially owned approximately 40.2% of our outstanding voting stock (not including vested option shares). As a result, if all of these shareholders were to take a common position, they would be able to significantly affect the election of directors as well as the outcome of most corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, such as the approval of mergers or other business combinations. Such concentration may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of Center Financial.

In some situations, the interests of our directors and executive officers may be different from yours. However, our Board of Directors and executive officers have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the shareholders, rather than in their own best interests, when considering a proposed business combination or any of these types of matters.

20

Table of Contents

Provisions in our Articles of Incorporation will delay or prevent changes in control of our corporation or our management.

These provisions make it more difficult for another company to acquire us, which could reduce the market price of our common stock and the price that you receive if you sell your shares in the future. These provisions include the following:

We are involved in litigation.

From time to time, we are involved in litigation. If litigation arises against us, we will vigorously enforce and defend our rights. However, some litigation may result in significant expense to us and divert the efforts of our management personnel from their day-to-day responsibilities. In the event of an adverse result in litigation, we could also be required to pay substantial damages. We are currently a party to a lawsuit entitled Korea Export Insurance Corporation v. Korea Data Systems (USA), Inc., et al. We expect to incur substantial legal fees and expenses in connection with this lawsuit. As a result, our defense of this lawsuit, regardless of its eventual outcome, will likely be costly and time consuming. We have insurance against certain types of claims, and while it is possible that a portion of this claim may ultimately be covered, this determination cannot be made until after the final disposition of the case. If the outcome of this litigation is adverse to us and we are required to pay significant monetary damages, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For a more detailed discussion of this lawsuit, see “Item 3, Legal Proceedings”.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Properties

Our headquarters are located at 3435 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010. We lease approximately 23,188 square feet of rentable area, which includes a ground floor branch and administrative offices located on the seventh floor of the building. The initial lease term will expire in 2006. We have options to renew the lease for two additional terms of five years each. As of December 31, 2003, the monthly base rent for the facility was $28,092.

As of December 31, 2003, we operated full-service branches at eleven leased locations (including the branch described in the previous paragraph). Expiration dates of our leases range from February 2004 to April 2013. Certain properties currently leased have renewal options, which could extend the use of the facility for additional specified terms. We have leased 5,303 square foot rentable for new Fullerton Branch opened in July 2003. We have options to renew the lease for one additional terms of five years each. Monthly rent for Fullerton was $14,583 as of December 31, 2003. The Company operates five LPOs in different states including our Las Vegas LPO that opened in October 2003. Denver, Washington, Las Vegas LPO’s rent expense was subsidized by us in 2003. Total subsidized rent expense for this LPO during 2003 was $43,540.

In addition, we own two properties in Los Angeles: our Olympic office at 2222 West Olympic Boulevard and our Western office at 253 N. Western Avenue. Our old facility at 4301 West 3rd Street was sold during the third quarter of 2002 and leased back for approximately 9 months until the new facility was fully renovated for the new branch’s use. Construction was completed in 2003, and the Company relocated the Western branch to

21

Table of Contents

the Company’s owned facility on October 2003. We have a branch in both the Western and Olympic offices, and house our SBA department and auto loan departments in our Western office; and our Trade Financing Department and Credit Card Center in our Olympic office. The net book value of the two owned facilities (building and land) as of December 31, 2003, was $6.9 million. In the opinion of Management, all properties are adequately covered by insurance. All of our existing facilities are considered adequate for our present and anticipated future use.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are a party to claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. With the exception of the potentially adverse outcome in the litigation described in the next two paragraphs, after taking into consideration information furnished by our counsel as to the current status of these claims and proceedings, we do not believe that the aggregate potential liability resulting from such proceedings would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operation.

On or about March 3, 2003, we were served with a complaint filed by Korea Export Insurance Corporation (“KEIC”) in Orange County, California Superior Court, entitled Korea Export Insurance Corporation v. Korea Data Systems (USA), Inc., et al. KEIC is seeking to recover alleged losses from a number of parties involved in international trade transactions that gave rise to bills of exchange financed by various Korean Banks but not ultimately paid. KEIC is seeking to recover damages of approximately $56 million from us based on a claim that we, in our capacity as a collecting bank for these bills of exchange, acted negligently in presenting and otherwise handling trade documents for collection. Initially, we moved to dismiss KEIC’s claims based on the pleadings. Our motion to dismiss was not granted, and we have answered KEIC’s complaint denying liability. We have also asserted claims against various other parties seeking indemnification to the extent we may be found liable, and also seeking damages. Two of the parties against whom we have made claims have made tort liability and indemnification claims against us (and other parties in the case). None of the claims against us or the other parties has yet been adjudicated, and the litigation is only in the preliminary stages. We intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit.

We believe we have meritorious defenses against the claims made by KEIC and the party alleged to have accepted bills of exchange. However, we cannot predict the outcome of this litigation, and it will be expensive and time-consuming to defend. While it is possible that a portion of the claims may ultimately be covered by insurance, it is unlikely that this determination can be made until after the final disposition of the case. If the outcome of this litigation is adverse to us, and we are required to pay significant monetary damages, our financial condition and results of operations are likely to be materially and adversely affected.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable

22

Table of Contents

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

Trading History

Center Financial’s Common Stock has been listed on the Nasdaq National Market since October 29, 2002 (the day after the completion of the holding company reorganization). Prior to the reorganization, the common stock of Center Bank was traded on the “Over-the-Counter” Bulletin Board, and was not listed on any national stock exchange or with Nasdaq. Trading in our Common Stock has not been extensive and such trades cannot be characterized as amounting to an active trading market. Management is aware of the following securities dealers who are involved in trading of the Company’s stock: Hoefer & Arnett, San Francisco, California; Seidler Companies, Inc., Big Bear Lake, California; and Wedbush Morgan Securities, Portland, Oregon (the “Securities Dealers”).

The information in the following table indicates the high and low “bid” and “asked” quotations and approximate volume of trading for the Company’s¹ common stock for the periods indicated, based upon information provided by the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The high and low prices have been adjusted to give effect to all stock dividends, and the two-for one stock split declared for shareholders of record as of February 17, 2004. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down, or commission, do not reflect actual transactions and do not include nominal amounts traded directly by shareholders or through other dealers and not through the Securities Dealers.

Holders

As of December 31, 2003, there were approximately 1,481 shareholders of record of the common stock.

Stock Repurchases

There were no stock repurchases by the Company during 2003.

Dividends

As a banking holding company, which currently has no significant assets other than our equity interest in Center Bank, our ability to pay dividends primarily depends upon the dividends we receive from Center Bank.

23

Table of Contents

The dividend practice of Center Bank, like our dividend practice, will depend upon its earnings, financial position, current and anticipated cash requirements and other factors deemed relevant by Center Bank’s board of directors at that time. In addition, during any period in which it has deferred payment of interest otherwise due and payable on its subordinated debt securities, Center Financial may not make any dividends or distributions with respect to its capital stock. See “Item 1, Business—Recent Developments” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources.”

Beginning in October 2003 Center Financial commenced a new dividend policy of paying quarterly cash dividends to its shareholders. In accordance with this policy, the Company paid a cash dividend of 8 cents per share in October 2003 and again in February 2004. The Company plans to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future, provided that such dividends allow the Company to continue to meet regulatory capital requirements and are not overly restrictive to its growth capacity. However, no assurance can be given that the Bank’s and the Company’s future earnings and/or growth expectations in any given year will justify the payment of such a dividend. Prior to October 2003, the Company had been reinvesting its earnings into its capital in order to support the Company’s continuous growth through the payment of stock rather than cash dividends. In addition, in January 2004, the Company declared a two-for-one stock split of its Common Stock. As a result, each shareholder of record as of February 17, 2004 received one additional share of common stock for each share they held on that date, and the Company’s outstanding shares doubled to 16,048,520.

Center Bank’s ability to pay cash dividends to us is also subject to certain legal limitations. Under California law, banks may declare a cash dividend out of their net profits up to the lesser of retained earnings or the net income for the last three fiscal years (less any distributions made to shareholders during such period), or with the prior written approval of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions, in an amount not exceeding the greatest of (i) the retained earnings of the bank, (ii) the net income of the bank for its last fiscal year, or (iii) the net income of the bank for its current fiscal year. In addition, under federal law, banks are prohibited from paying any dividends if after making such payment they would fail to meet any of the minimum regulatory capital requirements. The federal regulators also have the authority to prohibit banks from engaging in any business practices which are considered to be unsafe or unsound, and in some circumstances the regulators might prohibit the payment of dividends on that basis even though such payments would otherwise be permissible.

Our ability to pay dividends is also limited by state corporation law. The California General Corporation Law allows us to pay dividends to our shareholders if our retained earnings equal at least the amount of the proposed dividend. If we do not have sufficient retained earnings available for the proposed dividend, we may still pay a dividend to our shareholders if we meet two conditions after giving effect to the dividend. Those conditions are generally are as follows: (i) our assets (exclusive of goodwill and deferred charges) would equal at least 1 ¹/4 times our liabilities; and (ii) our current assets would equal at least our current liabilities or, if the average of our earnings before taxes on income and before interest expense for two preceding fiscal years was less than the average of our interest expense for such fiscal years, then our current assets must equal at least 1 ¹/4 times our current liabilities.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

On December 30, 2003, the Company issued an aggregate of $18 million in principal amount of its Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2034 (the “Subordinated Debt Securities”). All of the Subordinated Debt Securities were issued to Center Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Trust”). The Subordinated Debt Securities were not registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption set forth in Section 4(2) thereof. The Subordinated Debt Securities were issued to the Trust in consideration for the receipt of the net proceeds (approximately $17.9 million) raised by the Trust from the sale of $18,000,000 in principal amount of the Trust’s Trust Preferred Securities. Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. (“Bear, Stearns”) acted as the initial purchaser in connection with the offering of the Trust Preferred Securities for aggregate placement fee of $135,000 payable by the Trust.

24

Table of Contents

The sale of the Trust Preferred Securities was part of a larger transaction arranged by Bear, Stearns pursuant to which the Trust Preferred Securities were deposited into a special purpose vehicle along with similar securities issued by a number of other banks and the special purpose vehicle subsequently issued its securities to the public (the “Pooled Trust Preferred Securities”). The Pooled Trust Preferred Securities were sold by Bear, Stearns only (i) to those entities Bear, Stearns reasonably believed were qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (ii) to “accredited investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act) or (iii) in offshore transactions in compliance with Rule 903 of Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Trust Preferred Securities were not registered under the Securities Act in reliance on exemptions set forth in Rule 144A, Regulation D and Regulation S, as applicable.

25

Table of Contents

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents selected historical financial information concerning the Company, ¹ which should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements, including the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included elsewhere herein. The selected financial data for as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are included in this Annual Report. The selected financial data for prior years is derived from our audited financial statements, which are not included in this Annual Report. All per share information has been adjusted for stock splits and dividends declared by the Company from time to time, including the two-for-one stock split effective February 17, 2004. Statistical information below is generally based on average daily amounts.

26

Table of Contents

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ⁸

This discussion presents Management’s analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company⁹ as of and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003, and includes the statistical disclosures required by SEC Guide 3 (“Statistical Disclosure by Bank Holding Companies”). The discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company and the notes related thereto which appear elsewhere in this Form 10-K Annual Report (See Item 8 below). All share and per share information, set forth herein has been adjusted to reflect stock splits and dividends declared by the Company from time to time, including the two-for-one stock split effective February 17, 2004.

27

Table of Contents

Critical Accounting Policy

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The financial information contained within these statements is, to a significant extent, financial information that is based on approximate measures of the financial effects of transactions and events that have already occurred. Critical accounting policies are those that involve the most complex and subjective decisions and assessments and have the greatest potential impact on the Company’s results of operation. Management has identified its most critical accounting policy to be that related to the allowance for loan losses. The Company’s allowance for loan loss methodologies incorporate a variety of risk considerations, both quantitative and qualitative, in establishing an allowance for loan loss that Management believes is appropriate at each reporting date. Quantitative factors include our historical loss experience, delinquency and charge-off trends, collateral values, changes in nonperforming loans, and other factors. Quantitative factors also incorporate known information about individual loans, including borrowers’ sensitivity to interest rate movements and borrowers’ sensitivity to quantifiable external factors including commodity and finished good prices as well as acts of nature (earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.) that occur in a particular period. Qualitative factors include the general economic environment in our markets, including economic conditions in Southern California, South Korea and other Pacific Rim countries, and in particular, the state of certain industries. Size and complexity of individual credits in relation to lending officers’ background and experience levels, loan structure, extent and nature of waivers of existing loan policies and pace of portfolio growth are other qualitative factors that are considered in our methodologies. As the Company adds new products, increases the complexity of its loan portfolio, and expands its geographic coverage, it will enhance its methodologies to keep pace with the size and complexity of the loan portfolio. Management might report a materially different amount for the provision for loan losses in the statement of operations to change the allowance for loan losses if its assessment of the above factors were different. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and the accompanying notes presented elsewhere herein, as well as the portion of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis section entitled “—Financial Condition—Allowance for Loan Losses.” Although Management believes the level of the allowance as of December 31, 2003 is adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio, a decline in the local economy may result in increasing losses that cannot reasonably be predicted at this time.

We generally cease to accrue interest on any loan with respect to which the loan’s contractual payments are more than 90 days delinquent. In addition, interest is not recognized on any loan for which management has determined that collection of our investment in the loan is not reasonably assured. A nonaccrual loan may be restored to accrual status when delinquent principal and interest payments are brought current, the loan is paying in accordance with its payment terms for a period, minimum six months, and future monthly principal and interest payments are expected to be allocated.

Properties acquired through foreclosure, or deed in lieu of foreclosure, are transferred to the other real estate owned portfolio and carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less the estimated costs to sell the property. The fair value of the property is based upon a current appraisal. The difference between the fair value of the real estate collateral and the loan balance at the time of transfer is recorded as a loan charge-off if fair value is lower. Subsequent to foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations and the property is carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value, less cost to sell. The determination of a property’s estimated fair value includes revenues projected to be realized from disposal of the property, construction and renovation costs.

Certain Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans that we have the intent to sell prior to maturity are designated as held for sale at origination and are recorded at the lower of cost or market value, on an aggregate basis. A valuation allowance is established if the market value of such loans is lower than their cost, and operations are charged or credited for valuation adjustments. A portion of the premium on sale of SBA loans is recognized as other operating income at the time of the sale. The remaining portion of the premium (relating to the portion of the loan retained) is deferred and amortized over the remaining life of the loan as an adjustment to yield. Servicing assets are recognized when loans are sold with servicing retained. Servicing assets are recorded based on the present value of the contractually specified servicing fee, net of servicing costs, over the estimated

28

Table of Contents

life of the loan, using a discount rate based on the related note rate plus 2 %. Servicing assets are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated future servicing income. Management periodically evaluates the servicing asset for impairment, which is the carrying amount of the servicing asset in excess of the related fair value. Impairment, if it occurs, is recognized in a write down or charge-off in the period of impairment.

As part of our asset and liability management strategy, we have entered into derivative financial instruments, such as interest rate swaps, with the overall goal of minimizing the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our net interest margin. The objective for the interest rate swaps is to manage asset and liability positions in connection with our strategy of minimizing the interest rate fluctuations on interest rate margin and equity. The interest rate swaps qualify as cash flow hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended and interpreted, and are designated as hedges of the variability of cash flows we receive from certain of our Prime-indexed loans. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, these interest rate swap agreements are measured at fair value and reported as assets or liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial condition. The portion of the change in the fair value of the swaps that is deemed effective in hedging the cash flows of the designated assets is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“OCI”), net of tax, and reclassified into interest income as such cash flows occur in the future. Any ineffectiveness resulting from the hedges is recorded as a gain or loss directly to the consolidated statement of earnings as a part of non-interest income. Currently, fair value of the interest rate swaps is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the discount rate that was adjusted by the yield curve.

In accordance with SFAS No. 115, securities are classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. We do not maintain a trading portfolio. Securities in the held-to-maturity category consist of securities purchased for long-term investment in order to enhance our ongoing stream of net interest income. Securities deemed held-to-maturity are classified as such because we have both the intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity (and are recorded at amortized cost). Accreted discounts and amortized premiums on securities are included in interest income using the interest method, and unrealized and realized gains or losses related to the holding or selling of securities are calculated using the specific identification method. All other securities are classified as available for sale with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income. Declines in the fair value of held to maturity and available for sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses

Executive Overview

Continuation of strong and healthy growth in 2002 provided momentum for another year of record earnings in 2003. Consolidated net income for the year ended December 31, 2003, was $11.7 million, or $0.72 per diluted share compared to $9.3 million or $0.61 per diluted share in 2002 and $7.8 million or $0.52 per diluted share in 2001. (All per share figures have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split effective February 17, 2004.) The Company’s improvement in 2003 earnings compared to the same period in 2002 represents an increase of 25%. The following were significant factors related to 2003 results as compared to 2002:

29

Table of Contents

Our financial condition and liquidity remain strong. The following are important factors in understanding our financial condition and liquidity:

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income

The Company’s earnings depend largely upon its net interest income, which is the difference between the income received from its loan portfolio and other interest-earning assets and the interest paid on its deposits and other liabilities. The Company’s net interest income is affected by the change in the level and the mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, referred to as volume changes. The Company’s net interest income is also affected by changes in the yields earned on assets and rates paid on liabilities, referred to as rate changes. Interest rates charged on our loans are affected principally by the demand for such loans, the supply of money available for lending purposes and competitive factors. Those factors are, in turn, affected by general economic conditions and other factors beyond our control, such as federal economic policies, the general supply of money in the economy, legislative tax policies, governmental budgetary matters and the actions of the Federal Reserve Board. Interest rates on deposits are affected primarily by rates charged by competitors.

Net interest income was $32.0 million, $26.5 million, and $22.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. The increase in net interest income of $5.5 million, or 21%, in 2003 was principally due to increases in average loans by $179.2 million and in average taxable securities by $14.0 million,

30

Table of Contents

offset by an increase in average deposits by $134.1 million and increase in FHLB borrowings by $8.7 million. Reductions in market rates set by the Federal Reserve Board of 25 basis points in June of 2003 negatively impacted interest income more than interest expense, as the interest rates on prime rate based loans are reduced immediately, but rates on customer time deposits do not reset until maturity.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the dollar amount of changes in interest earned and paid for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the amount of change attributable to (i) changes in average daily balances (volume), (ii) changes in interest rates (rate), and (iii) changes in both rate and volume (rate/volume):

Net Interest Margin

Net interest income, when expressed as a percentage of average total interest-earning assets, is referred to as the net interest margin. The net interest margins for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001 were 3.96%, 4.30%, and 4.86%, respectively. The 34 basis point decrease in net interest margin in 2003 was primarily

31

Table of Contents

due to a reduction of 25 basis point in market rates set by Federal Reserve Board and high prepayments of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. In later part of 2003, Management used the proceeds of investment securities due to prepayments to finance higher yielding loans. As a result, the net interest margin improved to 4.17% in 2003 fourth quarter from 4.08% in the 2002 fourth quarter. In addition, since the yield on earning assets reacted more instantaneously to the downward trend in interest rates, the lag in the repricing of the Company’s considerable time deposit portfolio has resulted in a contraction of the Company’s net interest margin.

During 2003, the yield on average interest-earning assets decreased to 5.40% or 71 basis points from 6.11% in 2002, as a result of the 25 basis points decline in interest rates in 2003. The prime rate, to which the majority of the Company’s loans are tied, is at its lowest rate in several decades. This decrease in yield was mainly due to a 142 basis point decrease in taxable investment securities, which decreased to 3.33% in 2003 from 4.75% in 2002. High prepayments recorded on mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligations due to the low rate environment were the major contributors to the decrease.

Similarly, the Company’s overall cost of funds decreased to 2.05% or 55 basis points at December 31, 2003 from 2.60% in 2002. The cost of funds did not decrease as much as the decrease in yield on earning assets, because of the lag in the repricing to a lesser degree of the interest rates on the Company’s substantial portfolio of time deposits. However, the increase of $57.4 million to $235.5 million in noninterest-bearing demand deposits in 2003 from $178.1 million in 2002, on which the Company relied on as a considerable funding source, partially offset the decrease in net interest margin during 2003. These decreases were partially offset by an increase average cost of savings deposits. The average cost of savings deposits for the twelve months of 2003 increased 23 basis points to 2.91% as compared to 2.68% for the same period in 2002, mainly due to volume increases in higher rate installment savings deposits, which are used as a marketing tool to attract new customers at the newly opened branches.

Comparing 2002 to 2001, the Company’s net interest margin decreased 56 basis points to 4.30% from 4.86%. The decrease in the net interest margin was primarily driven by the 50 basis points decrease in the market rate set by the Federal Reserve Board in November 2002. During 2002, the overall yield on earning assets decreased 173 basis points to 6.11% from 7.84% in 2001, while cost of funds decreased 177 basis points to 2.60% from 4.37% in 2001.

32

Table of Contents

The following table shows the Company’s average balances of assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity; the amount of interest income and interest expense; the average yield or rate for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities; and the net interest spread and the net interest margin for the periods indicated:

Distribution, Rate and Yield Analysis of Net Income