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U. S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

x Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

 

¨ Transition Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act

 

For the transition period ended                         

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-26551

 


 

INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

NORTH CAROLINA   56-2137427

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

39 Second Street, N.W., Hickory, North Carolina   28601
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone number, including area code: (888) 894-2483

 

COMMON STOCK, $1.00 PAR VALUE

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x    No¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes x    No ¨

 

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 30, 2004: 4,759,709.

 

This report contains 15 pages.

 



Part I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

        Page No.

Item 1—

  Financial Statements (Unaudited)    
   

Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003

  3
   

Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

  4
   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

  5
   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  6

Item 2—

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

Item 3—

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   13

Item 4—

  Controls and Procedures   13
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6—

 

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

  14

 

2


Part I.    Financial Information

 

Item 1—Financial Statements

 

INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    

March 31,

2004


   

December 31,

2003*


 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

                

Cash and due from banks

   $ 4,538,968     $ 4,956,494  

Interest-earning deposits in banks

     14,540,389       11,358,976  

Federal funds sold

     149,767       12,648  

Investment securities available for sale

     95,105,722       93,956,237  

Investment securities held to maturity (fair value of $3,335,298 at March 31, 2004 and $3,123,865 at December 31, 2003)

     3,108,181       2,958,300  

Loans

     474,413,628       463,446,704  

Less allowance for loan losses

     (6,098,258 )     (6,170,666 )
    


 


Net loans

     468,315,370       457,276,038  

Factored accounts receivable

     3,113,430       3,214,473  

Stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank, at cost

     2,455,300       2,255,800  

Foreclosed assets

     1,350,741       1,271,001  

Bank premises and equipment

     18,971,300       18,756,590  

Other assets

     5,327,900       4,842,713  

Bank owned life insurance

     9,300,677       9,155,561  

Goodwill

     17,237,789       17,237,789  

Other intangible assets

     2,396,928       2,476,722  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 645,912,462     $ 629,729,342  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Deposits:

                

Non-interest-bearing demand

   $ 42,418,957     $ 38,809,266  

Money market and NOW accounts

     174,877,832       157,639,581  

Savings

     13,125,091       11,757,995  

Time, $100,000 and over

     131,756,833       136,682,729  

Other time

     154,176,307       153,070,300  
    


 


Total deposits

     516,355,020       497,959,871  

Short-term borrowings

     29,205,049       33,945,258  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     1,992,734       1,402,298  

Long-term debt

     33,914,139       33,609,615  
    


 


Total liabilities

     581,466,942       566,917,042  
    


 


Stockholder’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, no par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $1 par value, 9,000,000 shares authorized, 4,758,959 and 4,734,901 shares issued and outstanding in 2004 and 2003, respectively

     4,758,959       4,734,901  

Additional paid-in capital

     58,965,465       58,804,916  

Treasury stock

     (2,691,777 )     (2,691,777 )

Retained earnings

     2,386,104       1,267,653  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,026,769       696,607  
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     64,445,520       62,812,300  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 645,912,462     $ 629,729,342  
    


 


 

* Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.

 

3


INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


     2004

   2003

INTEREST INCOME

             

Loans

   $ 6,581,983    $ 6,632,954

Investment securities taxable

     729,679      576,750

Investment securities nontaxable

     144,197      119,516

Other interest and dividends

     36,969      65,880
    

  

Total interest income

     7,492,828      7,395,100
    

  

INTEREST EXPENSE

             

Time deposits, $100,000 and over

     805,844      853,787

Other deposits

     1,542,666      1,664,466

Borrowings

     522,591      502,068
    

  

Total interest expense

     2,871,101      3,020,321
    

  

Net interest income

     4,621,727      4,374,779

Provision for loan losses

     305,000      307,000
    

  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     4,316,727      4,067,779
    

  

Non-interest income

             

Service charges on deposit accounts

     594,962      627,516

Factoring operations

     136,150      113,368

Mortgage operations

     274,628      612,968

Brokerage operations

     193,540      16,442

Gain on sale on investment securities

     134,678      11,181

Other

     276,717      193,786
    

  

Total non-interest income

     1,610,675      1,575,261
    

  

Non-interest expenses

             

Compensation and employee benefits

     2,369,403      2,020,589

Occupancy and equipment

     796,996      501,601

Professional fees

     68,651      86,835

Stationery, printing and supplies

     126,950      95,955

Advertising and business promotion

     88,247      61,910

Data processing fees

     —        296,147

Other

     855,096      722,358
    

  

Total non-interest expenses

     4,305,343      3,785,395
    

  

Income before taxes

     1,622,059      1,857,645

Income taxes

     503,608      664,277
    

  

Net income

   $ 1,118,451    $ 1,193,368
    

  

Net income per common share

             

Basic

   $ 0.24$      0.26
    

  

Diluted

   $ 0.24$      0.26
    

  

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.08    $ 0.07
    

  

 

4


INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities

                

Net income

   $ 1,118,451     $ 1,193,368  

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

                

Depreciation and amortization

     457,800       198,464  

Amortization of intangibles

     79,794       79,795  

Provision for loan losses

     305,000       307,000  

Deferred compensation

     9,249       9,249  

Net gains on sales of investment securities

     (134,678 )     (11,181 )

Net (gains) losses on sales of other assets

     102,474       (2,623 )

Change in assets and liabilities:

                

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     (453,190 )     925,729  

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities

     581,186       (1,247,870 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     2,066,086       1,451,931  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities

                

Purchase of investment securities available for sale

     (20,832,469 )     (8,625,801 )

Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     (199,500 )     (200,000 )

Proceeds from sales, maturities and calls of investment securities

     20,019,337       9,043,267  

Net increase in loans

     (11,864,072 )     (17,044,066 )

Net decrease in factored accounts receivable

     101,043       154,494  

Purchases of premises and equipment

     (513,185 )     (1,023,422 )

Proceeds from sale of foreclosed real estate

     337,526       368,223  

Purchase of bank owned life insurance

     (47,831 )     —    
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (12,999,151 )     (17,327,305 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities

                

Net increase in noninterest-bearing deposits

     3,609,691       35,223,838  

Net increase (decrease) in interest-bearing deposits

     14,785,458       (18,917,189 )

Net increase (decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     (240,209 )     923,612  

Net decrease in federal funds purchased

     (11,500,000 )     —    

Net increase in Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     6,994,524       500,000  

Purchase of treasury stock

     —         (1,406,244 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     184,607       137,907  
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     13,834,071       16,461,924  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     2,901,006       586,550  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     16,328,118       17,455,967  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 19,229,124     $ 18,042,517  
    


 


 

 

 

5


INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE A—BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

In management’s opinion, the financial information, which is unaudited, reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information as of and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Integrity Financial Corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Catawba Valley Bank, First Gaston Bank, Integrity Securities, Inc., Community Mortgage Corporation, Catawba Valley Capital Trust I and Catawba Valley Capital Trust II, collectively referred to as the “Company”. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

 

The organization and business of the Company, accounting policies followed by the Company and other information are contained in the notes to the consolidated financial statements filed as part of the Company’s 2003 annual report on Form 10-K. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with such annual report.

 

On April 29, 2003, at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders approved a name change for the Company. The name United Community Bancorp was changed to Integrity Financial Corporation. The new stock symbol for the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market is “IFCB.” The change went into effect on May 30, 2003.

 

NOTE B—NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

Basic and diluted net income per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period after retroactively adjusting for stock dividends. Diluted net income per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the net income of the Company. All share and per share amounts for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 10% stock dividend paid on November 15, 2003.

 

Basic and diluted net income per common share have been computed based upon net income as presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding or assumed to be outstanding as summarized below:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


     2004

   2003

Weighted average number of common shares used in computing basic net income per share

   4,590,737    4,562,867

Effect of dilutive stock options

   156,262    108,598
    
  

Weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares used in computing diluted net income per share

   4,746,999    4,671,465
    
  

 

6


INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE C—COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, total comprehensive income, consisting solely of net income and unrealized securities gains and losses, net of taxes, was $1,448,613 and $1,280,734, respectively.

 

NOTE D—STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Statements (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, encourages all entities to adopt a fair value based method of accounting for employee stock compensation plans, whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. However, it also allows an entity to continue to measure compensation cost for those plans using the intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, whereby compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at the grant date (or other measurement date) over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. Stock options issued under the Company’s stock option plans have no intrinsic value at the grant date and, under APB Opinion No. 25, no compensation cost is recognized for them. The Company has elected to continue with the accounting methodology in APB Opinion No. 25. Presented below are the pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share and other disclosures as if the fair value based method of accounting had been applied.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Net income as reported

   $ 1,118,451     $ 1,193,368  

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

     (6,400 )     (7,749 )
    


 


Net income pro forma

   $ 1,112,051     $ 1,185,619  
    


 


Basic net income per common share

                

As reported

   $ .24     $ .26  

Pro forma

     .24       .26  

Diluted net income per common share

                

As reported

     .24       .26  

Pro forma

     .23       .25  

 

7


INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

NOTE E—GUARANTEES

 

The Company has issued guarantees under standby letters of credit which require the Company to fund the guarantee in part or in entirety in the event the customer fails to perform under an obligating agreement. These standby letters of credit typically have terms ranging from 10 to 156 months.

 

The maximum amount of the Company’s guarantees under these standby letters of credit are as follows (in thousands):

 

    

March 31,

2004


  

December 31,

2003


Undisbursed standby letters of credit

   $ 1,532    $ 1,623

 

NOTE F—RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

On March 31, 2004, the Company adopted FIN 46R which resulted in the deconsolidation of the Company’s trust preferred subsidiaries, Catawba Valley Capital Trust I and Catawba Valley Capital Trust II. Upon deconsolidation, the junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company to the trusts were included in long-term debt (instead of the trust preferred securities) and the Company’s equity interests in the trusts were included in other assets. As a result, other assets and long-term debt increased by $310,000. If these trusts had been deconsolidated as of December 31, 2003, the effect on the Company’s balance sheet on that date would have been an increase in other assets of $310,000. Except for accounting treatment, the relationship between the Company and Catawba Valley Capital Trust I and Catawba Valley Capital Trust II has not changed. Catawba Valley Capital Trust I and Catawba Valley Capital Trust II continue to be wholly owned trust preferred subsidiaries of the Company, and the full and unconditional guarantee of the Company for the repayment of the trust preferred securities remains in effect.

 

8


Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain certain forward-looking statements consisting of estimates with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand, real estate values, and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; changes in legislation or regulation; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, pricing, products and services.

 

Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, total assets increased $16.2 million or 2.6% from $629.7 million to $645.9 million. This increase in the Company’s assets resulted primarily from an increase in our net loans outstanding of $11.0 million or 2.4% during the period. In addition, our liquid assets, consisting of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, increased $4.2 million. This growth in the Company’s assets was funded by an $18.4 million or 3.7% increase in customer deposits during the period.

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased $2.9 million or 17.8% during the period. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in interest earning bank deposits of $3.2 million while cash and due from banks decreased $418,000 or 8.4%.

 

Investment securities grew $1.3 million during the period. The Company sold $14.1 million in securities realizing a net gain on sale of securities of $135,000 and in turn purchased $15.1 million in new securities during the quarter. Mortgage back securities and CMOs increased $3.6 million while Government Agency Bonds, Corporate Bonds and Municipals decreased $2.5 million.

 

Net loans receivable increased $11.0 million or 2.4% from $457.3 million to $468.3 during the period. The growth was largely due to the $6.7 million increase in our commercial loan portfolio. Residential home equity loans increased $3.8 million. The allowance for loan losses was $6.1 million at March 31, 2004, which represented 1.29% of the loan portfolio.

 

Customer deposits continued to be our principal funding source during first quarter of 2004 allowing us to fund the aforementioned growth in our assets. At March 31, 2004, deposits from our customers totaled $516.4 million, an increase of $18.4 million or 3.7% from $498.0 at December 31, 2003. Savings and demand deposit accounts increased by $22.2 million while time deposits decreased by $3.8 million during the period. Management is continuing to make a conscious effort to attract lower cost core deposits and reduce the dependency on higher cost time deposits.

 

The liquidity provided by the increased level of our customer deposits also enabled the Company to reduce our short-term borrowings and long-term debt during the period by $4.4 million, to $63.1 million at March 31, 2004. Federal funds purchased, a form of short-term borrowings, decreased by $11.5 million while Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased by $7.0 million for the period.

 

At March 31, 2004, total stockholder’s equity was $64.4 million, an increase of $1.6 million from December 31, 2003. Net income of $1.1 million was the primary factor for the increase. Also during the period, the Company collected $185,000 from the exercise of stock options, while unrealized gains on our investment securities, net of tax, increased $330,000 or 47.4%.

 

9


Comparison of Results of Operations for the

Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

Net Income. Net Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 was $1.1 million or $.24 per basic share, as compared with net income of $1.2 million or $.26 per basic share for the three months ended March 31, 2003, a decrease of $75,000 or $.02 per basic share.

 

Net Interest Income. Like most financial institutions, the primary component of earnings for our banks, Catawba Valley Bank and First Gaston Bank, is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income, principally from loan and investment securities portfolios, and interest expense, principally on customer deposits and borrowings. Changes in net interest income result from changes in volume, spread and margin. For this purpose, volume refers to the average dollar level of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, spread refers to the difference between the average yield on interest-earnings assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities and margin refers to net interest income divided by average interest-earnings assets. Margin is influenced by the level and relative mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as by levels of noninterest-bearing liabilities and capital.

 

Net Interest Income. Net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 was $4.6 million as compared with $4.4 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2003, an increase of $247,000. This increase resulted from the increased levels of interest earning assets during the current period. Although net interest income increased, the Company’s net interest margin actually decreased. The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates late in the second quarter of 2003. This decrease coupled with the increasing pressure from local competition to lower rates, negatively impacted the net interest margin. The Company’s net interest margin decreased from 3.34% for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 to 2.95% for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

 

Provision for Loan Losses. Our allowance for loan losses is established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for loan losses. We increase our allowance for loan losses by provisions charged to operations and by recoveries of amounts previously charged off, and we reduce our allowance by loans charged off. We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance at least quarterly. In evaluating the adequacy of the allowance, we consider the growth, composition and industry diversification of the portfolio, historical loan loss experience, current delinquency levels, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral, prevailing economic conditions and other relevant factors derived from our history of operations.

 

We follow a loan review program designed to evaluate the credit risk in our loan portfolio. Through this loan review process, we maintain an internally classified watch list that helps management assess the overall quality of the loan portfolio and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In establishing the appropriate classification for specific assets, management considers, among other factors, the estimated value of the underlying collateral, the borrower’s ability to repay, the borrower’s payment history and the current delinquent status. As a result of this process, certain loans are categorized as substandard, doubtful or loss and reserves are allocated based on management’s judgment and historical experience. Testing by our internal auditors and by other independent third parties contracted with to perform reviews of our loans helps to validate this process. In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to make adjustments based upon information available to them at the time of their examination.

 

10


The provision for loan losses was $305,000 and $307,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, resulting in a decrease of $2,000. While net loan charge-offs increased to $377,000 or .08% of average loans outstanding for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, compared to $25,000 or .01% of average loans outstanding for the same period in 2003, the change in and level of our non-performing loans during the 2004 quarter was more favorable than that during the 2003 quarter. During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, our total non-performing loans increased from $3.0 million at December 31, 2002 to $4.1 million, whereas during the current year quarter, the level of such assets decreased from $4.5 million to $3.7 million.

 

Our allowance for loan losses decreased slightly from $6.2 million at December 31, 2003 to $6.1 million at March 31, 2004, a decrease of $72,000. The allowance expressed as a percentage of total loans decreased from 1.33% at December 31, 2003 to 1.29% at March 31, 2004. This decrease in the level of the allowance relative to total loans resulted primarily from the decrease in the level of our non-performing loans, which decreased from $4.5 million or .97% of gross loans at December 31, 2003 to $3.7 million or .78% of gross loans at March 31, 2004. Contributing to this relationship is management’s determination that the overall quality of the loan portfolio has continued to improve.

 

The following is a summary of the principal balances of loans on nonaccrual status and loans past due ninety days or more:

 

    

March 31,

2004


  

December 31,

2003


Loans contractually past due 90 days or more and/or on nonaccrual status:

             

Nonaccrual loans

   $ 2,534,911    $ 2,165,164

Past due loans 90 days or more and still accruing

     1,147,187      2,290,695
    

  

     $ 3,682,098    $ 4,455,859
    

  

 

Non-interest income. Non-interest income was $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $35,000 from March 31, 2003. Service charges on deposit accounts decreased from $628,000 during the 2003 period to $595,000, a decrease of $33,000, while income from our mortgage operations decreased $338,000 or 55%, from $613,000 during the 2003 period to $275,000 for the first quarter of 2004. This decrease in the income from our mortgage operations resulted from the decrease in the level of refinancing experienced in the current year period versus the prior year period.

 

These decreases were offset however, by increases in brokerage operations and gains from the sale of investment securities. During the third quarter of 2003, the Company opened a full service brokerage office. The income generated from this office contributed to the $177,000 increase in income from brokerage operations. The Company also sold several investment securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2004. Realized gains from the sale of investment securities increased from $11,000 for the period ending March 31, 2003 to $135,000 for the same period in 2004, an increase of $124,000. Income from factoring operations increased 20% from $113,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 to $136,000 for the comparable period in 2004. Other non-interest income increased from $194,000 to $277,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively. During 2003 the Company increased its investment in bank owned life insurance. Income generated from bank owned life insurance increased $35,000 during the 2004 quarter in comparison to the 2003 quarter.

 

Non-interest expense. Non-interest expense increased 13.7% or $520,000 from $3.8 million for the period ended March 31, 2003 to $4.3 million for the comparable period in 2004. This increase resulted from compensation and employee benefits and occupancy and equipment, two of the major components of non-interest expense, which when combined increased 25.5% or $644,000 from $2.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 to $3.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

 

11


There are several factors contributing to the increase. The Company opened three new full service branches in 2003, one late in the second quarter and two more during the fourth quarter. The Company also opened a full service brokerage office, as previously discussed, during the third quarter, while also acquiring and moving into a new headquarters building during the third quarter. The Company also completed a conversion of its data processing system in the third quarter of 2003. Whereas in the past the Company’s data processing costs were comprised largely of payments to a third party provider, as result of the conversion to an in-house system, our data processing costs are now comprised mainly of compensation and equipment costs and are accordingly classified in those categories. This change resulted in the decrease in the data processing costs presented in the statement of operations of $296,000.

 

Provision for Income taxes. The Company’s effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 31.1% for the period ended March 31, 2004 as compared to 35.7% for the period ended March 31, 2003. This decrease resulted largely from the increase in non-taxable income.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Maintaining adequate liquidity while managing interest rate risk is the primary goal of the Company’s asset and liability management strategy. Liquidity is the ability to fund the needs of the Company’s borrowers and depositors, pay operating expenses, and meet regulatory liquidity requirements. Maturing investments, loan and mortgage-backed security principal repayments, deposit growth and borrowings are presently the main sources of the Company’s liquidity. The Company’s primary uses of liquidity are to fund loans and to make investments.

 

As of March 31, 2004, liquid assets, consisting of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities available for sale were approximately $114.3 million, which represents 17.7% of total assets and 20.1% of total deposits and borrowings. Supplementing this liquidity, the Company, through its bank subsidiaries, had $68.9 million of credit available from the Federal Home Loan Bank and available lines of credit from correspondent banks totaling $22.5 million. At March 31, 2004, outstanding commitments to extend credit were $1.9 million and undisbursed line of credit balances totaled $96.5 million. Management believes that the combined aggregate liquidity position of the Company is sufficient to meet the funding requirements of loan demand and deposit maturities and withdrawals in the near term.

 

Certificates of deposit represented 55.4% of the Company’s total deposits at March 31, 2004. The Company’s growth strategy will include efforts focused at increasing the relative volume of transaction deposit accounts. Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more represented 25.5% of the Company’s total deposits at March 31, 2004. These deposits are generally considered rate sensitive, but management believes many of them are relationship-oriented. While the Company will need to pay competitive rates to retain these deposits at maturity, there are other subjective factors that will determine the Company’s continued retention of those deposits.

 

Banks and bank holding companies, as regulated institutions, must meet required levels of capital. The FDIC, the primary regulator of Catawba Valley Bank and First Gaston Bank, and the Federal Reserve, the primary regulator of Integrity Financial Corporation, have adopted minimum capital regulations or guidelines that categorize components and the level of risk associated with various types of assets. Financial institutions are expected to maintain a level of capital commensurate with the risk profile assigned to its assets in accordance with these guidelines.

 

At March 31, 2004, both Integrity Financial Corporation and each of its bank subsidiaries maintained capital levels exceeding the minimum levels for “well capitalized” bank holding companies and banks.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

The Company’s primary market risk is interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the result of differing maturities or repricing intervals of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and the fact that rates on these financial instruments do not change uniformly. These conditions may impact the earnings generated by the Company’s interest earning assets or the cost of its interest bearing liabilities, thus directly impacting the Company’s overall earnings. The Company’s management actively monitors and manages interest rate risk. One way this is accomplished is through the development of and adherence to the Company’s asset/liability policy. This policy sets forth management’s strategy for matching the risk characteristics of the Company’s interest earning assets and liabilities so as to mitigate the effect of changes in the rate environment. The Company’s market risk profile has not changed significantly since December 31, 2003.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Report, the Company’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s Exchange Act filings. There have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None

 

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

None

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None

 

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

 

None

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

  (a) Exhibits.
31.1   

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2    Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32    Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

  (b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

Form 8-K was filed on March 16, 2004 releasing financial results for year ended December 31, 2003.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Date: May 7, 2004   By:   /s/    R. STEVE AARON
       
       

R. Steve Aaron

President and Chief Executive Officer

     
Date: May 7, 2004   By:   /s/    SUSAN B. MIKELS
       
       

Susan B. Mikels

Chief Financial Officer

 

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