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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 000-33071

 


 

Charter Financial Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

United States   58-2659667

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

600 Third Avenue, West Point, Georgia 31833

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(706) 645-1391

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

NA

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

 


 

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

 

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

 

As of April 30, 2004, the registrant had 19,823,905 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding. Of such shares outstanding, 15,857,924 shares were held by First Charter, MHC, the registrant’s mutual holding company and 3,965,981 shares were held by the public and directors, officers and employees of the registrant.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    

Item 1.

  Financial Statements of Charter Financial Corporation     
    Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited) March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003    Page 1
    Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) – Three and Six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003    Page 2
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003    Page 3
    Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements    Page 4

Item 2.

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

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    Page 40

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures    Page 41

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

    

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings    Page 42

Item 2.

  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds    Page 42

Item 3.

  Defaults Upon Senior Securities    Page 42

Item 4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    Page 42

Item 5.

  Other Information    Page 42

Item 6.

  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    Page 42
    Signatures    Page 43
   

Certifications

    


Table of Contents

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

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

 

  general and local economic conditions;

 

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

 

  the ability of our customers to make loan payments;

 

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

 

  changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines;

 

  changes in legislation or regulation; and

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003

 

(unaudited)

 

    

March 31,

2004


    September 30,
2003


 
Assets               

Cash and amounts due from depository institutions

   $ 8,927,970     9,926,321  

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

     2,193,789     1,994,168  
    


 

Cash and cash equivalents

     11,121,759     11,920,489  
    


 

Loans held for sale, market value of $2,826,701 and $2,058,892 at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, respectively

     2,805,564     2,026,261  

Freddie Mac common stock

     272,886,730     242,904,000  

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     374,084,194     394,432,288  

Other investment securities available for sale

     20,374,656     21,628,603  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     10,811,300     13,610,000  

Loans receivable

     310,651,303     299,877,198  

Unamortized loan origination fees, net

     (685,911 )   (544,202 )

Allowance for loan losses

     (6,519,787 )   (6,779,576 )
    


 

Loans receivable, net

     303,445,605     292,553,420  
    


 

Real estate owned

     798,755     683,577  

Accrued interest and dividends receivable

     2,676,732     3,200,112  

Premises and equipment, net

     9,463,976     9,382,894  

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     6,055,304     6,168,074  

Other assets

     1,432,390     1,985,645  
    


 

Total assets

   $ 1,015,956,965     1,000,495,363  
    


 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity               

Liabilities:

              

Deposits

   $ 291,001,112     279,385,708  

Borrowings

     358,167,100     388,441,220  

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     858,198     1,191,597  

Deferred income taxes

     100,858,850     88,196,330  

Other liabilities

     12,133,322     12,921,426  
    


 

Total liabilities

     763,018,582     770,136,281  
    


 

Stockholders’ Equity:

              

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 19,823,205 and 19,822,405 shares issued at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, respectively; 19,570,476 and 19,569,676 shares outstanding at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, respectively

     198,232     198,224  

Additional paid-in capital

     37,878,245     37,491,011  

Treasury stock, at cost; 252,729 shares at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003

     (7,836,234 )   (7,836,234 )

Unearned compensation - ESOP

     (2,454,940 )   (2,624,940 )

Retained earnings

     61,070,606     59,190,493  

Accumulated other comprehensive income:

              

Net unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale

     164,082,474     143,940,528  
    


 

Total stockholders’ equity

     252,938,383     230,359,082  
    


 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,015,956,965     1,000,495,363  
    


 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31, 2004


  

Three Months
Ended

March 31, 2003


    Six Months
Ended
March 31, 2004


   Six Months
Ended
March 31, 2003


 

Interest and dividend income:

                        

Loans receivable

   $ 4,439,902    4,028,171     8,895,341    7,847,658  

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations

     3,384,421    2,879,942     6,981,780    6,314,293  

Equity securities

     1,491,615    1,360,228     2,813,138    2,558,498  

Debt securities

     102,982    87,960     183,785    193,706  

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

     23,783    27,383     38,058    52,283  
    

  

 
  

Total interest and dividend income

     9,442,703    8,383,684     18,912,102    16,966,438  
    

  

 
  

Interest expense:

                        

Deposits

     1,174,647    1,410,296     2,418,502    2,791,114  

Borrowings

     2,848,817    3,301,059     5,898,016    6,941,179  
    

  

 
  

Total interest expense

     4,023,464    4,711,355     8,316,518    9,732,293  
    

  

 
  

Net interest income

     5,419,239    3,672,329     10,595,584    7,234,145  

Provision for loan losses

     —      —       30,000    —    
    

  

 
  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     5,419,239    3,672,329     10,565,584    7,234,145  
    

  

 
  

Noninterest income:

                        

Gain on sale of loans and servicing released loan fees

     309,963    643,150     552,116    1,231,748  

Service charges on deposit accounts

     672,522    356,294     1,235,370    758,035  

Gain on sale of Freddie Mac common stock

     592,280    —       1,125,022    —    

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

     34,435    —       77,472    102,839  

Loan servicing fees

     57,732    78,515     89,699    139,407  

Equity in loss of limited partnership

     —      (61,031 )   —      (106,746 )

Brokerage commissions

     58,885    106,228     127,882    168,708  

Other

     118,481    5,019     183,835    8,765  
    

  

 
  

Total noninterest income

     1,844,298    1,128,175     3,391,396    2,302,756  
    

  

 
  

Noninterest expenses:

                        

Salaries and employee benefits

     2,504,589    2,603,228     5,051,366    5,065,227  

Occupancy

     620,546    564,258     1,280,421    1,069,295  

Legal and professional

     238,941    300,225     504,314    613,672  

Marketing

     247,743    231,186     438,164    392,490  

Furniture and equipment

     134,408    178,534     257,514    328,181  

Postage, office supplies, and printing

     94,437    175,764     220,309    291,090  

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees

     56,122    53,525     109,977    104,059  

Net cost of operations of real estate owned

     43,025    42,561     51,375    40,998  

Deposit premium amortization expense

     55,226    19,088     112,770    19,088  

Other

     287,752    431,543     656,138    849,168  
    

  

 
  

Total noninterest expenses

     4,282,789    4,599,912     8,682,348    8,773,268  
    

  

 
  

Income before income taxes

     2,980,748    200,592     5,274,632    763,633  

Income tax expense

     775,033    36,283     1,353,166    100,673  
    

  

 
  

Net income

   $ 2,205,715    164,309     3,921,466    662,960  
    

  

 
  

Basic and diluted net income per share

   $ 0.11    0.01     0.20    0.03  
    

  

 
  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     19,427,475    19,538,136     19,418,770    19,532,500  
    

  

 
  

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     19,478,094    19,545,123     19,456,818    19,534,833  
    

  

 
  

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

(unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
March 31, 2004


    Six Months Ended
March 31, 2003


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

              

Net income

   $ 3,921,466     662,960  

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

              

Provision for loan losses

     30,000     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     481,385     370,789  

Allocation of ESOP common stock

     171,977     171,664  

Gain on sale of premises and equipment

     —       (5 )

Equity in loss of limited partnership

     —       106,746  

Amortization of premiums and discounts, net

     363,569     1,982,520  

Gain on sale of loans

     (552,116 )   (1,231,748 )

Proceeds from sale of loans

     19,590,221     42,601,050  

Originations and purchases of loans held for sale

     (19,817,408 )   (41,228,155 )

Gain on sale of Freddie Mac common stock

     (1,125,022 )   —    

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

     (77,472 )   (102,839 )

Provision for loss on real estate owned

     23,694     352  

Loss on sales of real estate owned

     10,579     43,306  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

              

Decrease in accrued interest and dividends receivable

     523,380     389,726  

Decrease in other assets

     487,528     1,064,284  

(Decrease) increase in other liabilities

     (426,255 )   1,786,961  
    


 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     3,605,526     6,617,611  
    


 

Cash flows from investing activities:

              

Purchases of equity securities and other investment securities available for sale

     (19,550,000 )   (800,000 )

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

     81,956,393     7,403,679  

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

     106,676,750     289,575,828  

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

     (165,755,213 )   (240,475,791 )

Net cash paid for EBA Bancshares, Inc.

     —       (3,791,005 )

Proceeds from sale of other investment securities available for sale

     13,769,236     —    

Principal collections on other investment securities available for sale

     —       —    

Proceeds from sale of Freddie Mac common stock

     1,165,543     —    

Proceeds from maturities of other securities available for sale

     7,000,000     4,000,000  

Purchase of FHLB stock

     (3,845,000 )   (5,687,500 )

Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock

     6,643,700     7,590,000  

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

     (11,246,021 )   2,888,002  

Proceeds from sale of real estate owned

     174,385     288,777  

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment

     —       5,000  

Purchases of premises and equipment, net of dispositions

     (383,970 )   (1,536,876 )
    


 

Net cash provided by investing activities

     16,605,803     59,460,114  
    


 

Cash flows from financing activities:

              

Purchase of common stock for treasury

     —       (6,050,580 )

Issuance of common stock

     23,408     —    

Dividends paid

     (2,041,352 )   (732,497 )

Net increase in deposits

     11,615,404     4,679,080  

Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     290,475,000     334,500,000  

Principal payments on advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     (341,350,000 )   (350,250,000 )

Proceeds from other borrowings

     914,720,500     607,990,000  

Principal payments on other borrowings

     (894,119,620 )   (651,710,000 )

Net decrease in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     (333,399 )   (446,321 )
    


 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (21,010,059 )   (62,020,318 )
    


 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (798,730 )   4,057,407  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     11,920,489     10,118,137  
    


 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 11,121,759     14,175,544  
    


 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

              

Interest paid

   $ 8,416,446     9,670,921  
    


 

Income taxes paid

   $ 954,453     887,893  
    


 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:

              

Real estate acquired through foreclosure of the loans receivable

   $ 323,836     223,340  
    


 

Issuance of ESOP common stock

   $ 533,833     123,691  
    


 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

Charter Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(1) Basis of Presentation

 

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

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Charter Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, CharterBank and Charter Insurance Company, as of March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, and for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 are unaudited and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in Charter Financial’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.

 

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

 

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

 

(2) Plan of Reorganization

 

On October 16, 2001, CharterBank converted from a federally-chartered mutual savings and loan association into a two-tiered mutual holding company structure and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Charter Financial. Charter Financial sold 3,964,481 shares of its common stock to the public, representing 20% of the outstanding shares, at $10.00 per share and received net proceeds of $37.2 million. Charter Financial contributed 50% of the net proceeds from the initial public offering to CharterBank. An additional 15,857,924 shares, or 80% of the outstanding shares of Charter Financial, were issued to First Charter, MHC. An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was established and such ESOP acquired 317,158 shares of Charter Financial in the offering, using the proceeds of a loan from Charter Financial. The ESOP loan is recorded as unearned compensation reducing stockholders’ equity of Charter Financial. The net proceeds of the offering, adjusted for the ESOP, totaled approximately $34.0 million.

 

4


Table of Contents

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

 

(3) Earnings per Share

 

Earnings per share are calculated according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128 “Earnings per Share.” ESOP shares are only considered outstanding for earnings per share calculations when the shares have been committed to be released. Presented below are the calculations for basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31,

2004


  

Three Months
Ended

March 31,

2003


  

Six Months
Ended

March 31,

2004


  

Six Months
Ended

March 31,

2003


Basic:

                           

Net income

   $ 2,205,715    $ 164,309    $ 3,921,466    $ 662,960

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     19,427,475      19,538,136      19,418,770      19,532,500

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.11    $ 0.01    $ 0.20    $ 0.03

Diluted:

                           

Net income

   $ 2,205,715    $ 164,309    $ 3,921,466    $ 662,960

Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     19,478,094      19,545,123      19,456,818      19,534,833

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.11    $ 0.01    $ 0.20    $ 0.03

 

5


Table of Contents

(4) Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The primary component of other comprehensive income (loss) for the Company is net unrealized gains and losses on Freddie Mac common stock and investment and mortgage-backed securities available for sale. The table below summarizes total comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


   

Six Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2004

   2003

    2004

   2003

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 4,989,265    $ (15,962,950 )   $ 24,063,412    $ (5,722,067 )

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

     2,783,550      (16,127,259 )     20,141,946      (6,385,027 )
    

  


 

  


Net income

   $ 2,205,715    $ 164,309     $ 3,921,466    $ 662,960  
    

  


 

  


 

(5) Stock-Based Compensation

 

During 2003, the Company amended the 2001 Stock Option Plan (the Plan) to allow for stock option awards for up to 707,943 shares of the Company’s common stock to eligible directors and employees. At March 31, 2004, the Company had granted 152,000 options under the Plan of which 800 have been exercised and 1,000 forfeited. Under the provisions of the Plan, the option price is determined by a committee of the board of directors at the time of grant and may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant of such option. When granted, these options vest over a five-year period. The Company accounts for the Plan under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under the Plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation.

 

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Table of Contents
    

Three Months
Ended March 31,

2004


   

Three Months
Ended March 31,

2003


   

Six Months
Ended March 31,

2004


   

Six Months
Ended March 31,

2003


 

Net income, as reported

   $ 2,205,715     $ 164,309     $ 3,921,466     $ 662,960  

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

     (36,709 )     (37,146 )     (73,418 )     (74,298 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 2,169,006     $ 127,163     $ 3,848,048     $ 588,662  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per share:

                                

Basic – as reported

   $ 0.11     $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ 0.03  

Basic – pro forma

   $ 0.11     $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ 0.03  

Diluted – as reported

   $ 0.11     $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ 0.03  

Diluted – pro forma

   $ 0.11     $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ 0.03  

 

(6) Business Combination

 

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

 

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

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,


    Six Months
Ended March 31,


 
     2003

    2003

 

Interest income

   $ 8,988     $ 18,725  

Net interest income before provision for loan losses

   $ 3,926     $ 8,013  

Noninterest income

   $ 1,142     $ 2,382  

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,863 )   $ (1,360 )

 

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(7) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

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

 

Goodwill

   $ 4,325,282

Deposit premium

     1,975,941
    

     $ 6,301,223
    

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets include costs in excess of net assets acquired and deposit premiums recorded in connection with the acquisition of EBA. The deposit premium is being amortized using the double-declining balance method over thirteen years. Charter Financial recorded amortization expense related to the deposit premium of $55,226 and $112,770 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2004, respectively.

 

At March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, other intangible assets is summarized as follows:

 

     2004

   2003

Deposit premium

   $ 1,975,941    1,975,941

Less accumulated amortization

     245,919    133,149
    

  
     $ 1,730,022    1,842,792
    

  

 

(8) Covered Call Program

 

At March 31, 2004, the Company had covered call options on Freddie Mac common stock outstanding on 173,300 shares for which it received $213,030 in premium. During the six months ended March 31, 2004, holders of the covered call options exercised their options to purchase 19,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. The Company recorded a pretax gain of $1,125,000 on the sale of these shares to the option holders. At March 31, 2004, the fair value of the remaining options was $50,765. The Company has recorded the unrealized gain in the income statement as the derivative instruments are not accounted for as hedges.

 

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Item 2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial

Condition and

Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  Gains from sales of one-to-four family mortgage loans declined in the quarters ended December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004 due to sharply lower refinance volumes and, to a much lesser extent, the retention of 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans for the Bank’s own portfolio.

 

  Our exposure to interest rate risk was stable to slightly improved from the prior quarter as we funded fixed rate mortgage securities with fixed rate borrowings.

 

  Non-performing loans were lower than they were for the previous quarter. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. No provision is indicated as losses and risk in the loan portfolio are essentially the same.

 

  The pilot program of writing covered call options on Freddie Mac common stock resulted in the exercise of call options resulting in $592,280 in pre-tax gain on sale of such stock for the quarter.

 

  Our book value per share of $13.02 at March 31, 2004 of which $8.45 is provided by the after tax equity in our Freddie Mac stock investment.

 

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  Freddie Mac common stock appreciated from $58.32 per share at December 31, 2003 to $59.06 at March 31, 2004. This was the reason for our other comprehensive income of $5.0 million. Our book value per share increased $0.21 per share.

 

  A regular quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share and a special dividend of an additional 20 cents per share were paid to our minority shareholders during the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

 

Management Strategy

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Managing our Capital. The third major component of our strategy is capital management. We increased our capital leverage with the additional retail assets and deposits acquired in the Eagle acquisition. While our current retail focus is increasing market share within our existing market, we regularly evaluate expanding our capital leverage by extending the market area through de novo branching or acquisitions. We maintained our wholesale leverage of mortgage securities and borrowings. Wholesale leverage generally enhances income, but not franchise value, and thus is a low priority capital management tool for us. During the third fiscal quarter of 2003, we increased our regular quarterly dividend from 10 cents to 20 cents per share. During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, we paid a special dividend in the amount 20 cents per share in addition to the regular 20 cent per share quarterly dividend. Our capacity to pay dividends is

 

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enhanced when First Charter, MHC is willing and permitted by the Office of Thrift Supervision to waive receipt of its portion of the dividends. We continue to evaluate our dividend policy and the appropriateness of special dividends and/or share repurchases.

 

General

 

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

 

Charter Financial’s principal business is its ownership of CharterBank. Charter Financial also owns 1,665,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock and Charter Insurance Company, a Hawaiian corporation which generates fee income by reinsuring a portion of CharterBank’s loan originations which carry private mortgage insurance. Charter Insurance Company owns 400,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. Additionally, CharterBank owns 2,555,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock. On a consolidated basis, Charter Financial owns 4,620,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock.

 

Our balance sheet at March 31, 2004 contains $272.9 million of Freddie Mac common stock, of which $266.6 million is unrealized gain. Noninterest-bearing liabilities include $102.9 million in deferred taxes related to the unrealized gain on the Freddie Mac common stock. Accumulated other comprehensive income includes $163.7 million representing the net unrealized gain on the Freddie Mac common stock.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Capital and Capital Management

 

CharterBank has traditionally been a well-capitalized savings association. The following table sets forth the tier 1 capital levels, risk-based capital levels, and ratios for the past ten quarters.

 

For the Quarters Ended


   Tier 1
Capital


   Risk-
Weighted
Capital
Ratio


    Regulatory
Core
Capital
Ratio


   

Total

Risk -

Based
Capital


  

Total

Risk -

Based
Capital
Ratio


 
     (Dollars in millions)  

March 31, 2004

   $ 69.2    14.16 %   9.38 %   $ 135.6    27.71 %

December 31, 2003

     67.4    13.90     8.89       134.7    27.81  

September 30, 2003

     66.4    13.80     8.78       131.0    27.23  

June 30, 2003

     68.0    14.22     8.81       130.7    27.34  

March 31, 2003

     67.6    14.33     9.38       135.2    28.67  

December 31, 2002

     73.9    16.39     11.03       147.8    32.78  

September 30, 2002

     73.6    16.34     10.16       147.3    32.67  

June 30, 2002

     72.5    15.97     9.84       144.9    31.94  

March 31, 2002

     72.6    17.18     11.04       144.5    34.27  

December 31, 2001

     72.1    16.46     11.16       144.0    32.85  

 

At March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, we exceeded each of the applicable regulatory capital requirements. Tier 1 capital as a percent of total regulatory assets is consistently above the “well-capitalized” requirement of 5.0%. Total risk-based capital ratios significantly exceed the applicable “well-capitalized” requirement for risk-based capital of 10.0%. CharterBank exceeded the “well-capitalized” level of its various regulatory capital requirements by amounts ranging from $32.3 million to $86.6 million at March 31, 2004.

 

We initiated a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share in December 2002 and increased the dividend to $0.20 per share in June 2003. We also paid a special dividend of $0.20 per share in March 2004. First Charter, MHC waived its receipt of dividends in all periods paid. The Board

 

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of Directors will determine future dividends as well as other capital management strategies such as additional leverage, stock repurchases and special dividends. The Board of Directors will consider, among other factors, capital levels, results of operations, tax considerations, regulatory and regulatory business plan considerations, industry standards and economic conditions in determining such future dividends.

 

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

 

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

 

Charter Financial’s primary sources of cash are distributions from CharterBank and possible sales of Freddie Mac common stock. CharterBank is generally permitted by the Office of Thrift Supervision to distribute its current year’s and prior two years undistributed earnings if CharterBank is well-capitalized after the distribution. Distributions in excess of this level require additional approval from the Office of Thrift Supervision.

 

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

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (“Unrealized Equity”) is comprised of net unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale. Accumulated other comprehensive income at March 31, 2004 was $164.1 million, a $20.2 million increase from September 30, 2003 of $143.9 million as the price per share of our investment in Freddie Mac common stock increased from $52.35 to $59.06. The following table shows realized and unrealized equity and the Freddie Mac common stock price for the past nine quarters. A comparison of the unrealized equity and Freddie Mac common stock price demonstrates the relationship between the price of Freddie Mac common stock and our unrealized equity.

 

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Realized

Equity


  

Unrealized

Equity


  

Total

Capital


  

Freddie Mac

Common

Stock Price


     (Dollars in Thousands)

March 31, 2004

   $ 88,856    $ 164,082    $ 252,938    $ 59.06

December 31, 2003

     87,444      161,299      248,743      58.32

September 30, 2003

     86,419      143,940      230,359      52.35

June 30, 2003

     84,408      142,589      226,997      50.77

March 31, 2003

     87,208      149,576      236,784      53.10

December 31, 2002

     91,825      165,703      257,528      59.05

September 30, 2002

     93,205      155,961      249,166      55.90

June 30, 2002

     92,099      170,181      262,280      61.20

March 31, 2002

     92,273      174,094      266,367      63.37

December 31, 2001

     91,473      181,378      272,851      65.40

 

As indicated in the following tables, other comprehensive income was $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to a loss of $16.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The income and loss was primarily the result of the change in the price of Freddie Mac common stock during the periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. The price of Freddie Mac common stock increased by $0.74 and decreased by $5.95 per share, for the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003, respectively.

 

     Shares

   Market Price
Per Share


   Total Market
Value


   Unrealized Gain,
Net of Tax


December 31, 2003

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

March 31, 2004

   4,620,500    $ 59.06    $ 272,886,730      163,718,144
         

  

  

Change in Freddie Mac stock

        $ 0.74             1,754,052

Other comprehensive income related to mortgage securities and other investments

                        1,029,498
                       

Total other comprehensive income

                      $ 2,783,550
                       

 

     Shares

   Market Price
Per Share


    Total Market
Value


   Unrealized Gain,
Net of Tax


 

December 31, 2002

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

March 31, 2003

   4,655,000    $ 53.10     $ 247,180,500      147,890,476  
         


 

  


Change in Freddie Mac stock

        $ (5.95 )            (17,006,111 )

Other comprehensive income related to mortgage securities and other investments

                         878,852  
                        


Total other comprehensive loss

                       $ (16,127,259 )
                        


 

As indicated in the tables following, other comprehensive income was $20.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004, compared to a loss of $6.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003. The income and loss was primarily the result of the change in the price of

 

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Freddie Mac common stock during the periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. The price of Freddie Mac common stock increased by $6.71 and decreased by $2.80 per share, for the six months ended March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003, respectively.

 

     Shares

   Market Price
Per Share


   Total Market
Value


   Unrealized Gain,
Net of Tax


September 30, 2003

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

March 31, 2004

   4,620,500    $ 59.06    $ 272,886,730      163,718,144
         

         

Change in Freddie Mac stock

        $ 6.71             18,434,290

Other comprehensive income related to mortgage securities

and other investments

                        1,707,656
                       

Total other comprehensive income

                      $ 20,141,946
                       

 

     Shares

   Market Price
Per Share


    Total Market
Value


   Unrealized Gain,
Net of Tax


 

September 30, 2002

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

March 31, 2003

   4,655,000    $ 53.10     $ 247,180,500      147,890,476  
         


        


Change in Freddie Mac stock

        $ (2.80 )            (8,002,876 )

Other comprehensive income related to mortgage securities and other investments

                         1,617,849  
                        


Total other comprehensive loss

                       $ (6,385,027 )
                        


 

We believe that our ownership of Freddie Mac common stock continues to present attractive appreciation and dividend growth potential. Since the sale of Freddie Mac common stock would result in the realization of a substantial current tax liability for us, we have no current plans to liquidate our Freddie Mac common stock investment. We continually evaluate our investment in Freddie Mac common stock considering the appreciation and dividend potential of the Freddie Mac common stock, the income tax impact of a strategy, alternative investments or uses of sales proceeds and the portion of our capital that the after-tax unrealized gain represents.

 

In June 2003, we implemented a pilot program of writing covered call options on Freddie Mac common stock with 250,000 shares of stock. When we write a call option we receive a fee or premium. If the call option expires unexercised we retain this premium and record it as income. If the call option is exercised the premium is added to the sale proceeds and increases the gain on the sale of Freddie Mac stock. If a call option is in the money as the maturity of the call approaches, we evaluate the economics of allowing the call to be exercised or buying the call to prevent its exercise. The decision to allow the exercise or to repurchase the option is based on several factors including the strike price at which the option would be exercised, alternative investments for the proceeds of the sale, tax considerations, the proportion of realized to unrealized equity and the cost to repurchase the option. To the extent that the premium on unexercised options exceeds the premium when we repurchase a call option to prevent its

 

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exercise and thus the sale of the underlying Freddie Mac stock, the net premiums enhance our income and our return on investment. We entered into the pilot program with a limited number of shares to improve our understanding of the mechanics and the economics of the program. We are considering a modest expansion of the pilot program to allow us to better determine the income enhancement targets and whether the program can be used to help us manage the proportion of realized capital to unrealized capital.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2003, we sold 15,000 shares of Freddie Mac common stock and during the six months ended March 31, 2004, we sold 19,500 shares of Freddie Mac common stock through exercises of call options.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. Approximately 87.52% of the Bank’s loan portfolio is secured by real estate. The loan portfolio is broadly composed of residential real estate loans of 44.42%, construction loans of 5.53%, commercial real estate loans of 37.57%, commercial non real estate loans of 6.31% and consumer loans of 6.17%.

 

In recent years, the Bank has made an effort to build its business lines, and loans secured by commercial real properties now make up 37.57% of the loan portfolio. The Company’s largest funded loan is a $6.2 million loan on a medical office building in the metro Atlanta area. The largest industry concentration of commercial purpose loans is the hospitality industry where we have an aggregate of $21.7 million to various hotel and motel operations. In a significant number of the loans secured by commercial properties, the properties are occupied by the owner and the ongoing operations of the business provide the cash to service the debt. Construction and development loans, which comprise 5.53% of the real estate loan portfolio, are carefully monitored since the repayment is generally dependent upon the liquidation of the real estate and is impacted by national and local economic conditions.

 

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

 

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

 

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In addition, judgments and estimates are made in the determination of premium amortization on investment securities as well as the determination of income tax expense.

 

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

 

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

 

Also, the goodwill and core deposit premium will be evaluated annually for impairment in accordance with SFAS 142. The evaluation of impairment will be considered a critical accounting policy due to the subjective nature of the calculation and the assumptions used.

 

Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003

 

At March 31, 2004 our total assets were $1.0 billion, up $15.5 million from September 30, 2003. The increase in total assets is a combination of the increased price of our Freddie Mac common stock, increased balances in our loan portfolio and a decrease in our mortgage securities balances. On the liability side of the balance sheet, increases in deposits and accumulated other comprehensive income were partially offset by a decrease in borrowings.

 

The following table shows the actual balance of loans outstanding at March 31, 2004 as well as the quarterly average balances of loans outstanding. The risk and return characteristics of loans vary significantly by the type of loan.

 

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For the Quarters Ended


   1-4 Family
Residential


   Construction

  

Nonresidential

Real Estate


   Consumer

  

Commercial
Non-

Real Estate


   Total
Loans


   Percent
Change
per
Quarter


 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Actual Balance:

                                                

March 31, 2004

   $ 138,001    $ 17,185    $ 116,711    $ 19,149    $ 19,605    $ 310,651    NA  

Average Balance:

                                                

March 31, 2004

   $ 135,671      17,145      113,155      19,778      20,967      306,716    1.0  

December 31, 2003

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

September 30, 2003

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

June 30, 2003

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

March 31, 2003

   $ 105,334      14,290      78,399      20,175      21,162      239,360    9.7  

December 31, 2002

   $ 103,440      9,985      68,627      19,544      16,614      218,210    0.2  

September 30, 2002

   $ 105,461      7,161      68,491      19,912      16,661      217,686    0.7  

June 30, 2002

   $ 107,436      11,270      67,231      19,752      10,421      216,110    (2.1 )

March 31, 2002

   $ 114,801      10,809      66,114      20,787      8,308      220,819    (3.3 )

December 31, 2001

   $ 126,126      10,055      61,670      22,501      7,902      228,344    —    

 

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

 

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations decreased 5.14% from $394.4 million at September 30, 2003 to $374.1 million at March 31, 2004. The market value of Freddie Mac common stock increased $30.0 million, or 12.35%, from $242.9 million to $272.9 million, as the price per share of Freddie Mac common stock increased from $52.35 at September 30, 2003 to $59.06 at March 31, 2004.

 

Total deposits increased from $279.4 million at September 30, 2003 to $291.0 million at March 31, 2004. The Bank has de-emphasized certificates of deposit as sources of funding and focused on attracting and retaining core deposits in order to reduce interest expense. Accordingly, as shown in the table following, over the last two years, core deposits (checking, money market and savings accounts) have increased from $50.4 million to $117.5 million. Approximately $21.9 million of the increase in the March 2003 quarter was a result of the acquisition of Eagle Bank. Fees on core deposit accounts increased from $229,000 in the December 2001 quarter to $672,500 in the March 2004 quarter. In the quarter ending March 31, 2004 the Bank obtained a new governmental MMDA deposit of approximately $20 million.

 

19


Table of Contents
     Deposit
Fees


   Transaction
Accounts


   Savings

   MMDA

   Certificates

     (Dollars in thousands)

March 31, 2004

   $ 673    $ 61,672    $ 14,816    $ 53,514    $ 160,999

December 31, 2003

     563      56,061      14,610      28,884      171,765

September 30, 2003

     496      53,048      15,419      31,079      179,840

June 30, 2003

     463      50,024      14,647      33,934      178,006

March 31, 2003

     356      46,609      14,779      34,169      181,926

December 31, 2002

     402      32,621      9,302      26,167      140,462

September 30, 2002

     351      34,237      9,132      26,110      141,267

June 30, 2002

     289      32,297      9,317      26,689      146,064

March 31, 2002

     246      30,495      8,955      17,312      147,185

December 31, 2001

     229      24,865      8,148      17,352      145,800

 

Management will continue to use FHLB advances and repurchase agreements to fund the securities and loan portfolio growth. The maturity dates of new advances will be determined at the time the advance is taken and will be based on interest rates, the Company’s interest rate risk profile and other factors. Repurchase agreements are generally less than 45 days to maturity and carry rates at or slightly above LIBOR. Borrowings decreased $30.2 million or 8.4% from $388.4 million at September 30, 2003 to $358.2 million at March 31, 2004 as mortgage securities also decreased $20.3 million.

 

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

 

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

 

Total capital increased to $252.9 million at March 31, 2004 from $230.4 million at September 30, 2003. Unrealized equity increased to $164.1 at March 31, 2004 from $143.9 million at September 30, 2003 primarily as a result of the price of Freddie Mac stock increasing to $59.06 per share at March 31, 2004 from $52.35 at September 30,2003. Realized capital increased to $88.9 million at March 31, 2003 from $86.4 million at September 30, 2003.

 

20


Table of Contents

Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months

Ended

March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

General

 

Net income was $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, which was $2.0 million higher than the net income of $164,309 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The most significant factors in the earnings increase were the significantly higher net interest income and the $592,280 gain on the sale of Freddie Mac common stock related to our covered call program.

 

Net Interest Income

 

As shown in the table following, net interest income increased $1.7 million from $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. For the same periods, our net interest spread increased from 0.34% to 1.23% and our net interest margin from 1.56% to 2.13%.

 

For the Quarters Ended


   Net
Interest
Income


  

Net
Interest

Rate
Spread


   

Net Interest

Margin


    Net
Amortization
of Premium on
Mortgage-
related
Securities


   Yield on Freddie
Mac Common
Stock


 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

March 31, 2004

   $ 5,419    1.23 %   2.13 %   $ 129    1.97 %

December 31, 2003

     5,176    1.19     2.07       204    1.91  

September 30, 2003

     4,345    0.89     1.79       456    2.04  

June 30, 2003

     3,951    0.53     1.64       663    1.83  

March 31, 2003

     3,672    0.34     1.56       995    1.84  

December 31, 2002

     3,562    0.18     1.51       970    1.51  

September 30, 2002

     4,512    0.48     1.81       207    1.41  

June 30, 2002

     4,029    0.16     1.66       200    1.36  

March 31, 2002

     3,529    (0.14 )   1.52       408    1.35  

December 31, 2001

     3,824    (0.28 )   1.70       17    1.23  

 

As the preceding table illustrates, the net amortization of premiums on mortgage securities has had a significant impact on net interest income, spread and margin. Charges against interest income for net premium amortization reached its peak in the March 2003 quarter, with amortization of $995,000. By March 2004, net amortization of premiums on mortgage-related securities had returned to a more normal level at $129,000. The high level of premium amortization in the earlier periods was caused by the “refinancing boom” in one-to-four family mortgages which was triggered by low mortgage interest rates. As borrowers refinanced, mortgages underlying the securities we owned were paid off earlier than expected causing our securities to pay off sooner than expected and triggering acceleration of amortization.

 

21


Table of Contents

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

 

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

 

For the Quarters Ended


   Yield on
Mortgage
Securities


    Yield on
Loans


    Costs of
Certificates
of Deposit


    Costs of
Deposits


    Costs of
Borrowings


 

March 31, 2004

   3.40 %   5.79 %   2.38 %   1.81 %   2.94 %

December 31, 2003

   3.47     5.87     2.48     1.95     3.01  

September 30, 2003

   2.84     6.12     2.64     2.08     3.19  

June 30, 2003

   2.78     6.31     2.91     2.31     3.53  

March 31, 2003

   2.85     6.73     3.16     2.52     3.66  

December 31, 2002

   3.22     7.00     3.45     2.76     3.79  

September 30, 2002

   3.99     7.54     3.68     2.99     3.75  

June 30, 2002

   3.76     7.53     3.93     3.24     3.94  

March 31, 2002

   3.36     7.94     4.33     3.63     4.15  

December 31, 2001

   4.32     8.17     5.12     4.32     4.65  

 

Costs of borrowings have steadily decreased from 4.65% in the December 2001 quarter to 2.94% in the March 2004 quarter as adjustable rate borrowings have decreased in rate and fixed rate borrowings have matured and been replaced by lower rate borrowings. While the majority of the borrowings have monthly rate resets, we have $180.8 million of fixed rate borrowings with a weighted average remaining maturity of approximately six years and an average rate of 4.91%.

 

The yield on mortgage securities has varied over the past ten quarters from a high in the December 2001 quarter of 4.32% to a low of 2.78% in June 2003 and ending at 3.40% in March 2004. The yield in the March, June and September 2003 quarters was significantly impacted by high net premium amortization as mortgage security portfolios were paid off rapidly due to low mortgage rates and record rates of refinancing. Additionally, yields on securities declined during early fiscal 2003 as a result of management’s decision to reinvest the heavy cash inflows from rapidly prepaying fixed rate mortgage securities into adjustable rate mortgage securities. In August of 2003, management increased its investment in fixed rate mortgage securities and by March 31, 2004, fixed rate mortgage securities comprised 47% of the total mortgage securities portfolio, compared to 35% at March 31, 2003.

 

As shown in the preceding table, the yield on loans has declined 121 basis points over the past six quarters from 7.00% for the December 2002 quarter to 5.79% for the March 2004 quarter. The yield reduction is primarily the result of older, higher yield loans paying off in the low interest rate environment and being replaced with new, lower yielding loans. During June of 2003 the Bank began retaining 15 year single family loans in its loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2004, the Bank held $29.0 million of these loans in its portfolio with an average rate of 4.83%. Average loans outstanding increased from $239.4 million during the March 2003 quarter to $306.7 million for the March 2004 quarter. Approximately $55.3 million of loans were acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

22


Table of Contents

Also, shown in the preceding table, the costs of deposits decreased 251 basis points from 4.32% for the December 2001 quarter to 1.81% for the March 2004 quarter. The average cost of certificates of deposits dropped 274 basis points, more than overall deposits. At current rates, management’s ability to lower the rate on deposits is very limited.

 

The 238 basis point drop in loan yield, from the December 2001 quarter to the March 2004 quarter, was comparable to the 251 basis point decrease in the costs of deposits for the same period. For these same two periods the decline in mortgage securities yields, of 92 basis points, was significantly less than the decrease of 171 basis points in the cost of borrowings. This provided a significant boost to the net interest spread, margin and income, when, in addition, the increase in dividends on Freddie Mac common stock contributed to the increase in net interest income.

 

Interest income increased by $1,059,000 to $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from $8.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The main drivers were an increase of $504,479 in interest on mortgage securities and an increase in interest on loans of $411,731 resulting from higher average loan balances. Higher loan balances were due, in part, to the loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

Interest expense fell by $687,891 from $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Interest expense on deposits and borrowings decreased $235,649 and $452,241, respectively, in 2004 compared to 2003. The reduction in interest expense on both borrowings and deposits is due to lower interest rates.

 

In the table following, we derived the yields and costs by dividing income or expense by the average balance of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown. We derived average balances from actual daily balances over the periods indicated. Interest income includes the recognition of certain fees over the lives of the underlying loans. The table also shows the actual balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as of March 31, 2004.

 

The table also depicts the significant effect of the Freddie Mac common stock on our traditional bank measures, such as net interest income, net interest rate spread, and net interest margin. The table shows these measures with and without the effects of the Freddie Mac common stock. We believe this comparison provides our shareholders with useful information so that they may compare CharterBank with its peer group using traditional bank ratios, excluding the effect of the Freddie Mac common stock. Freddie Mac common stock had a dividend return on cost basis of approximately 88.62% at March 31, 2004. However, the dividend yield on the market value of the Freddie Mac common stock was 1.97%.

 

23


Table of Contents

Average Balance Table

For the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

     For the Three Months Ended March 31,

   

Balance as of

March 31,

2004


     2004

    2003

   
    

Average

Balance


   Interest

  

Average

Yield/

Cost


   

Average

Balance


   Interest

  

Average

Yield/

Cost


   
     (Dollars in thousands)

Assets:

                                              

Interest-earning assets:

                                              

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions (1)

   $ 2,989    $ 24    3.21 %   $ 8,090    $ 28    1.38 %   $ 2,194

FHLB common stock and other equity securities

     12,119      105    3.47       13,539      150    4.43       10,811

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     398,420      3,384    3.40       404,490      2,880    2.85       374,084

Other investment securities available for sale

     14,300      103    2.88       10,697      88    3.29       20,375

Loans receivable (2)

     306,716      4,440    5.79       239,360      4,028    6.73       310,651
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock

     734,544      8,056    4.39       676,176      7,174    4.24       718,115

Freddie Mac common stock

     281,534      1,386    1.97       263,079      1,210    1.84       272,887
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-earning assets including Freddie Mac common stock (3)

     1,016,078      9,442    3.72       939,255      8,384    3.57       991,002

Total noninterest-earning assets

     24,672      —              18,730      —              24,955
    

  

        

  

        

Total assets

   $ 1,040,750      9,442          $ 957,985      8,384          $ 1,015,957
    

               

               

Liabilities and Equity:

                                              

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                              

NOW accounts

   $ 37,422    $ 42    0.45     $ 24,969    $ 54    0.87     $ 38,946

Savings accounts

     14,737      9    0.24       11,687      16    0.55       14,816

Money market deposit accounts

     42,084      141    1.34       29,701      97    1.31       53,514

Certificate of deposit accounts

     164,843      982    2.38       157,561      1,244    3.16       160,999
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-bearing deposits

     259,086      1,174    1.81       223,918      1,411    2.52       268,275

Borrowed funds

     387,244      2,849    2.94       360,350      3,301    3.66       358,167
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     646,330      4,023    2.49       584,268      4,712    3.23       626,442

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     21,873                   14,349      —              22,727

Other noninterest-bearing liabilities

     114,547      —              110,059      —              113,850
    

  

        

  

        

Total noninterest-bearing liabilities

     136,420      —              124,408      —              136,577

Total liabilities

     782,750      4,023            708,676      4,712            763,019

Total stockholders’ equity

     258,000      —              249,309                   252,938
    

  

        

  

        

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,040,750      4,023          $ 957,985      4,712          $ 1,015,957
    

               

               

Net interest income including Freddie Mac common stock

          $ 5,419                 $ 3,672             
           

               

            

Net interest rate spread, including Freddie Mac common stock (4)

                 1.23 %                 0.34 %      

Net interest margin including Freddie Mac common stock (5)

                 2.13 %                 1.56 %      

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

                 157.21 %                 160.76 %      

Net interest income, excluding Freddie Mac common stock dividends

          $ 4,033                 $ 2,462             
           

               

            

Net interest rate spread, excluding Freddie Mac common stock (6)

                 1.90 %                 1.01 %      

Net interest margin, excluding Freddie Mac common stock (7)

                 2.20 %                 1.46 %      

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

                 113.65 %                 115.73 %      

 

(footnotes on following page)

 

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Table of Contents

(1) Interest income included $15,628 which was earned on a federal income tax refund.
(2) Non accrual loans have been included in the average balance of loans outstanding while interest income on these loans has been included only to the extent that interest income has been recognized in the income statement.
(3) Dividends on Freddie Mac common stock, of which the lesser of 70% of the dividend or 70% of taxable income is excluded from taxable income, are not computed on a tax equivalent basis. We do not hold any other tax exempt or tax advantaged securities
(4) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5) Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.
(6) Net interest rate spread, excluding Freddie Mac common stock, represents the difference between the weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(7) Net interest margin, excluding Freddie Mac common stock, represents net interest income excluding Freddie Mac common stock dividends as a percentage of average interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock.

 

The relatively low interest rate spread is a combination of a balance sheet structure with a high proportion of Freddie Mac common stock, which has a low yield of 1.97% compared to loans and mortgage securities, and a high proportion of mortgage securities which also yield significantly less than loans. The margin is also impacted by high rate borrowings, which were put on in fiscal 2001 to reduce interest rate risk, and the recent effects of low interest rates on residential mortgage loans, including the high prepayments of portfolio mortgage loans and securities.

 

The following table is a reconciliation of net interest margin with and without Freddie Mac common stock.

 

    

Three Months

Ending

March 31, 2004


   

Three Months

Ending

March 31, 2003


    

Net

Interest

Spread


   

Net

Interest

Margin


   

Net

Interest

Spread


   

Net

Interest

Margin


Including Freddie Mac Common Stock

   1.23     2.13     0.34     1.56

Excluding Freddie Mac Common Stock

   1.90     2.20     1.01     1.46
    

 

 

 

Attributable to Freddie Mac Common Stock

   (0.67 )   (0.07 )   (0.67 )   0.10
    

 

 

 

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

No provision for loan losses was taken for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

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Table of Contents

While national economic statistics indicate some improvement in overall economic conditions, the local economy remains uncertain with West Point Stevens, one of the largest employers in our market area, in bankruptcy. West Point Stevens announced in November 2003, and January 2004 that it was closing three mills and laying off 1,150 employees in our market area. The impact of mill closings announced late in 2003 and in January 2004 have not yet impacted loan delinquencies. The layoffs associated with the mill closings did not occur until late in the quarter ended March 31, 2004. In addition, the individuals laid off had severance payments and presumably were able to make loan payments and provide for other living expenses from their severance. We anticipate that we will see the impact of these layoffs in delinquencies in the June or September 2004 quarters. Actual charge-offs may be spread out over as much as two years.

 

As measured by our matrix methodology, the loan portfolio has slightly less risk than at December 31, 2003. The loan portfolio grew by $3.6 million with approximately $3 million in growth in the low risk 1-4 family loans, approximately $3 million in growth in the moderate risk commercial real estate loans and with shrinkage in the high risk commercial and consumer loans. Non-accrual loans dropped by $450,000 at March 31, 2004 compared to December 31, 2003.

 

The unallocated allowance changed by less than $5,000. The allowance required by the matrix methodology dropped by $225,000 while the total allowance dropped by a slightly lesser amount of $222,000. Local economic conditions are very similar to those at December 31, 2003 which we have reflected through a virtually unchanged unallocated allowance. We also experienced changes in other factors, which we believe are appropriately covered by the matrix methodology. These other factors are the increase in the portfolio and the high level of charge-offs which were offset by the reduction in non-accrual loans and the change to a slightly lower risk mix of loans.

 

While net charge-offs for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 were high compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2003, our methodology did not prescribe an addition to the allowance. The losses had previously been considered in the allowance for loan losses, primarily through the allowance of the acquired Eagle Bank. Net charge-offs for the quarter were $222,406 compared to $67,381. Of these net charge-offs, $216,206 in the quarter ending March 31, 2004 and $33,275 in the quarter ended December 31, 2003 were attributable to the loans acquired through the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

Noninterest Income

 

Noninterest income improved from $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The table below shows the components of noninterest income for the last ten quarters. There was a $592,280 gain on sale of Freddie Mac common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2004, while there were no sales for the three months ended March 31, 2003 resulting from the exercise of calls written as a part of the Company’s covered call program. Other income included $80,559 in income on the covered call program, which was started during fiscal 2003.

 

26


Table of Contents

Fees on deposits increased to $672,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from $356,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 as we increased both the balance and number of our transaction accounts and the levels of fees per account. Gain on sale of loans decreased to $309,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from $643,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 as interest rates on home mortgages increased making it much less attractive for borrowers to refinance their mortgages. Our remaining equity in earnings of a limited partnership, which invested in loan servicing rights, was charged off in fiscal 2003, and, therefore, reflected no activity in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a loss of $61,031 in the three months ended March 31, 2003. Other income for the March 2004 quarter included $58,885 in brokerage commissions on the sale of alternative investments which was a decrease from the same quarter the prior year.

 

For the Quarters Ended


  

Loan

Servicing

Fees


   

Deposit

Fees


  

Gain on

Sale of

Loans


  

Gain (Loss)

on Sale of

Investments


   

Equity in

Gain (Loss)

of Limited

Partnership


   

Other

Income


     (Dollars in thousands)

March 31, 2004

   $ 58     $ 672    $ 309    $ 627     $ —       $ 177

December 31, 2003

     32       563      242      576       —         134

September 30, 2003

     27       496      657      773       —         170

June 30, 2003

     (11 )     463      886      4       —         126

March 31, 2003

     79       356      643      —         (61 )     111

December 31, 2002

     61       402      589      103       (46 )     66

September 30, 2002

     64       351      539      205       (792 )     39

June 30, 2002

     72       289      354      (1,481 )     54       29

March 31, 2002

     89       246      438      15       268       —  

December 31, 2001

     81       229      529      444       (95 )     60

 

Noninterest Expense

 

Noninterest expense decreased $317,122 to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from $4.6 million for the same period in 2003. The table following shows the components of noninterest expense for the past six quarters.

 

    

March

2004


  

December

2003


  

September

2003


  

June

2003


  

March

2003


  

December

2002


 

Compensation & employee benefits

   $ 2,505    $ 2,547    $ 2,664    $ 2,845    $ 2,603    $ 2,462  

Occupancy

     621      660      603      567      565      505  

Legal & professional

     239      265      347      301      300      313  

Marketing

     248      190      266      197      231      161  

Furniture & equipment

     134      123      144      159      179      150  

Postage, office supplies, and printing

     94      126      134      146      176      115  

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees

     56      54      55      52      54      51  

Net cost (gain) of operations of real estate owned

     43      8      18      92      43      (2 )

Deposit premium amortization expense

     55      58      58      57      19      —    

Other

     288      369      368      379      430      418  
    

  

  

  

  

  


Total

   $ 4,283    $ 4,400    $ 4,657    $ 4,795    $ 4,600    $ 4,173  
    

  

  

  

  

  


 

27


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Compensation and benefits for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $2.5 million; approximately $99,000 lower than the three months ended March 31, 2003 and approximately $42,000 lower than the three months ended December 31, 2003. The quarterly cost of the Company’s restricted stock grants dropped $180,000 per quarter as the first stock grants fully vested on August 1, 2003. Additional shares will fully vest on August 1, 2004 which will result in a reduction of approximately $89,000 in expense per quarter after that date. Costs of future restricted stock grants will depend on the number of shares granted, the price of the stock on the date of the grant, and the vesting period. The expense reduction in the restricted stock was offset by the expense of the employees acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition and by a general increase in compensation and benefits.

 

Deposit premium amortization was $55,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $19,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The Eagle Bank acquisition was closed in late February 2003 so the 2003 period includes one month of amortization while the 2004 period includes three months of amortization. The three months ended March 31, 2003 included integration expenses related to the acquisition of Eagle Bank in several categories including marketing, legal and professional, and postage, office supplies and printing.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes increased to $775,033 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from $36,283 for the three months ended March 31, 2003, for an increase of $738,750. The effective tax rate increased from 18.09% for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to 26.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The impact of the corporate dividends received deduction, which applies to dividends on Freddie Mac common stock, was the primary driver of the lower effective tax rate in the quarter ended March 31, 2003 and had a lesser impact on the quarter ended March 31, 2004 due to the higher level of taxable income in the 2004 quarter.

 

Comparison of Operating Results for the Six Months Ended

March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

General

 

Net income was $3.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004, which was $3.3 million higher than the net income of $663,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2003. The most significant factors in the earnings increase were the significantly higher net interest income and the $1,125,022 gain on the sale of Freddie Mac common stock related to our covered call program.

 

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Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income increased $3.4 million from $7.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $10.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. For the same periods, our net interest spread increased from 0.27% to 1.22% and our net interest margin from 1.53% to 2.10%.

 

The net amortization of premiums on mortgage securities has had a significant impact on net interest income, spread and margin. Charges against interest income for net premium amortization for the six months ended March 31, 2003 totaled $1,965,000. For the six months ended March 31, 2004, net amortization of premiums on mortgage-related securities had returned to a more normal level at $333,000. The high level of premium amortization in the earlier periods was caused by the “refinancing boom” in one-to-four family mortgages which was triggered by low mortgage interest rates. As borrowers refinanced, mortgages underlying the securities we owned were paid off earlier than expected causing our securities to pay off sooner than expected and triggering acceleration of amortization.

 

Interest income increased by $1.9 million to $18.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004 from $17.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003. The main drivers were an increase in interest on loans of $1.0 million resulting from higher average loan balances and higher yields on mortgage securities due to lower net amortization of premiums on mortgage securities. Higher loan balances were due, in part, to the loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

Interest expense fell by $1.4 million from $9.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $8.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Interest expense on deposits and borrowings decreased $372,612 and $1.0 million, respectively, in 2004 compared to 2003. The reduction in interest expense on both borrowings and deposits is due to lower interest rates. The decrease in interest expense on deposits was moderated by the increase in deposit balances.

 

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

 

Costs of borrowings have decreased from 3.73% in the six months ended March 31, 2003 to 2.97% in the six months ended March 31, 2004. While the majority of the borrowings have monthly interest rate resets, we have $180.8 million of fixed rate borrowings with a weighted average remaining maturity of approximately six years and an average rate of 4.91%.

 

In the table following, we derived the yields and costs by dividing income or expense by the average balance of interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown. We derived average balances from actual daily balances over the periods indicated. Interest income includes the recognition of certain fees over the lives of the underlying loans. The table also shows the actual balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as of March 31, 2004.

 

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The table also depicts the significant effect of the Freddie Mac common stock on our traditional bank measures, such as net interest income, net interest rate spread, and net interest margin. The table shows these measures with and without the effects of the Freddie Mac common stock. We believe this comparison provides our shareholders with useful information so that they may compare CharterBank with its peer group using traditional bank ratios, excluding the effect of the Freddie Mac common stock. Freddie Mac common stock had a dividend return on cost basis of approximately 82.70% at March 31, 2004. However, the dividend yield on the market value of the Freddie Mac common stock was 1.94%. The appreciation in the market value of the Freddie Mac common stock is the reason for our strong accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

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Average Balance Table

For the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

     For the Six Months Ended March 31,

   

Balance as of

March 31,

2004


     2004

    2003

   
    

Average

Balance


   Interest

  

Average

Yield/

Cost


   

Average

Balance


   Interest

  

Average

Yield/

Cost


   
     (Dollars in thousands)

Assets:

                                              

Interest-earning assets:

                                              

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions (1)

   $ 3,598    $ 38    2.11 %   $ 6,937    $ 52    1.50 %   $ 2,194

FHLB common stock and other equity securities

     12,728      223    3.50       13,681      324    4.74       10,811

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale

     406,668      6,982    3.43       415,542      6,314    3.04       374,084

Other investment securities available for sale

     12,331      184    2.98       11,390      194    3.41       20,375

Loans receivable (2)

     305,131      8,895    5.83       228,669      7,848    6.86       310,651
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock

     740,456      16,322    4.41       676,219      14,732    4.36       718,115

Freddie Mac common stock

     266,588      2,590    1.94       267,349      2,234    1.67       272,887
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-earning assets including Freddie Mac common stock (3)

     1,007,044      18,912    3.76       943,568      16,966    3.60       991,002

Total noninterest-earning assets

     24,307      —              17,055      —              24,955
    

  

        

  

        

Total assets

   $ 1,031,351      18,912          $ 960,623      16,966          $ 1,015,957
    

               

               

Liabilities and Equity:

                                              

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                              

NOW accounts

   $ 35,167    $ 86    0.49     $ 24,208    $ 106    0.88     $ 38,946

Savings accounts

     14,883      21    0.28       10,434      33    0.63       14,816

Money market deposit accounts

     36,583      236    1.29       28,055      195    1.39       53,514

Certificate of deposit accounts

     170,625      2,076    2.43       149,057      2,457    3.30       160,999
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-bearing deposits

     257,258      2,419    1.88       211,754      2,791    2.64       268,275

Borrowed funds

     396,590      5,898    2.97       372,322      6,941    3.73       358,167
    

  

  

 

  

  

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     653,848      8,317    2.54       584,076      9,732    3.33       626,442

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     21,452                   12,189      —              22,727

Other noninterest-bearing liabilities

     108,474      —              111,051      —              113,850
    

  

        

  

        

Total noninterest-bearing liabilities

     129,926      —              123,240      —              136,577

Total liabilities

     783,774      8,317            707,316      9,732            763,019

Total stockholders’ equity

     247,577      —              253,307                   252,938
    

  

        

  

        

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,031,351      8,317          $ 960,623      9,732          $ 1,015,957
    

               

               

Net interest income including Freddie Mac common stock

          $ 10,595                 $ 7,234             
           

               

            

Net interest rate spread, including Freddie Mac common stock (4)

                 1.22 %                 0.27 %      

Net interest margin including Freddie Mac common stock (5)

                 2.10 %                 1.53 %      

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

                 154.02 %                 161.55 %      

Net interest income, excluding Freddie Mac common stock dividends

          $ 8,005                 $ 5,000             
           

               

            

Net interest rate spread, excluding Freddie Mac common stock (6)

                 1.87 %                 1.03 %      

Net interest margin, excluding Freddie Mac common stock (7)

                 2.16 %                 1.48 %      

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

                 113.25 %                 115.78 %      

 

(footnotes on following page)

 

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(1) Interest income included $15,628 which was earned on a federal income tax refund.
(2) Non accrual loans have been included in the average balance of loans outstanding while interest income on these loans has been included only to the extent that interest income has been recognized in the income statement.
(3) Dividends on Freddie Mac common stock, of which the lesser of 70% of the dividend or 70% of taxable income is excluded from taxable income, are not computed on a tax equivalent basis. We do not hold any other tax exempt or tax advantaged securities.
(4) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5) Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.
(6) Net interest rate spread, excluding Freddie Mac common stock, represents the difference between the weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(7) Net interest margin, excluding Freddie Mac common stock, represents net interest income excluding Freddie Mac common stock dividends as a percentage of average interest-earning assets excluding Freddie Mac common stock.

 

The relatively low spread is a combination of a balance sheet structure with a high proportion of Freddie Mac common stock, which has a low yield of 1.94% compared to loans and mortgage securities, and a high proportion of mortgage securities which also yield significantly less than loans. The margin is also impacted by high rate borrowings, which were put on in fiscal 2001 to reduce interest rate risk as well as the recent effects of low interest rates on residential mortgage loans, including amortization of premium on CMO’s and the high prepayments of portfolio mortgage loans and securities.

 

The following table is a reconciliation of net interest margin with and without Freddie Mac common stock.

 

    

Six Months Ending

March 31, 2004


   

Six Months Ending

March 31, 2003


    

Net

Interest

Spread


   

Net

Interest

Margin


   

Net

Interest

Spread


   

Net

Interest

Margin


Including Freddie Mac Common Stock

   1.22     2.10     0.27     1.53

Excluding Freddie Mac Common Stock

   1.87     2.16     1.03     1.48
    

 

 

 

Attributable to Freddie Mac Common Stock

   (0.65 )   (0.06 )   (0.76 )   0.05
    

 

 

 

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

The provision for loan losses was $30,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004, while no provision was taken for the six months ended March 31, 2003. The Bank had net charge-offs of $289,789 for the six months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $54,500 for the six months ended March 31, 2003. For the six months ended March 31, 2004, $249,481 of the net charge-offs related to loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

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Noninterest Income

 

Noninterest income improved from $2.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $3.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The 2004 gain on the sale of Freddie Mac common stock was $1,125,022 resulting from the exercise of calls written as a part of the Company’s pilot covered call program. Other income included $139,791 in income on the covered call program, which was started during fiscal 2003. Loan servicing income was $90,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $140,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2003. Loan servicing income has steadily declined as the Company currently sells loans servicing released and does not replace the runoff of loans serviced that provided this income stream. Our remaining equity in earnings of a limited partnership, which invested in loan servicing rights, was charged off in fiscal 2003, and, therefore, reflected no activity in the six months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a loss of $106,746 in the six months ended March 31, 2003. Other income for the six month period included $128,000 in brokerage commissions on the sale of alternative investments which was a decrease from the same period in the prior year.

 

Noninterest Expense

 

Noninterest expense decreased $91,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004 from the same period in 2003. The table following shows the components of noninterest expense for the six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

     For the Six Months Ended

     March 31,
2004


   March 31,
2003


     (Dollars in thousands)

Compensation & employee benefits

   $ 5,052    $ 5,065

Occupancy

     1,281      1,070

Legal & professional

     504      613

Marketing

     438      392

Furniture & equipment

     257      329

Postage, office supplies, and printing

     220      291

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees

     110      105

Net cost of operations of real estate owned

     51      41

Deposit premium amortization expense

     113      19

Other

     657      848
    

  

Total

   $ 8,683    $ 8,773
    

  

 

Compensation and benefits for the six months ended March 31, 2004 was $5.1 million; approximately $13,000 lower than the six months ended March 31, 2003. The quarterly cost of the Company’s restricted stock grants dropped $180,000 per quarter as the first stock grants fully vested on August 1, 2003. Additional shares will fully vest on August 1, 2004 which will result in a reduction of approximately $89,000 per quarter after that date. Costs of future restricted stock grants will depend on the number of shares granted, the price of the stock on the date of the

 

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grant and the vesting period. The expense reduction in the restricted stock was offset by the expense of the employees acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition and by a general increase in compensation and benefits.

 

Occupancy expense was up $211,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the six months ended March 31, 2003. Approximately $94,000 of the increase is directly attributable to the Eagle Bank acquisition, with other portions of the increase due to information systems including electronic banking expenses and indirectly attributable to costs of operating facilities and servicing customers acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

Deposit premium amortization was $113,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $19,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2003. The Eagle Bank acquisition was effective in late February of 2003 so there was only one month’s amortization recorded in the 2003 period.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes increased to $1,353,166 for the six months ended March 31, 2004 from $100,673 for the six months ended March 31, 2003, for an increase of $1,252,493. The effective tax rate increased from 13.18% for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to 25.65% for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The impact of the corporate dividends received deduction, which applies to dividends on Freddie Mac common stock, contributed to the lower effective tax rate in 2003. The dividends received deduction had a greater impact on the 2003 period than the 2004 period due to the lower level of taxable income in the 2003 period.

 

Asset Quality

 

The following table shows that nonperforming loans rose from $5.1 million at September 30, 2003 to $5.5 million at March 31, 2004. Nonperforming loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition made up $560,000 of these loans at March 31, 2004. Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans grew from 1.71% at September 30, 2003 to 1.77% at March 31, 2004. Approximately 90% of our nonaccrual loans had real estate as collateral at March 31, 2004.

 

Nonperforming loans are not accruing interest. The following table shows under-performing loans and nonperforming assets.

 

     March 31, 2004

    September 30, 2003

 
     (In thousands)  

Under-performing loans

   $ 163     $ 633  
    


 


Total nonperforming loans

     5,503       5,124  

Foreclosed real estate, net

     799       684  
    


 


Total nonperforming assets

   $ 6,302     $ 5,808  
    


 


Nonperforming loans to total loans

     1.77 %     1.71 %

Nonperforming assets to total assets

     0.62 %     0.58 %

 

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Under-performing loans are loans 90 days or more delinquent or 90 days past maturity date that are still accruing interest. Under-performing loans decreased from $633,000 at September 30, 2003 to $163,000 at March 31, 2004. Under-performing loans at September 30, 2003 included a loan in the amount of $585,000 that we have treated as nonperforming at December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004. None of the under-performing loans were acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition.

 

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

 

During fiscal 2004, the allowance for loan losses decreased by $260,000 to $6.5 million at March 31, 2004, due to net charge-offs of $289,788. Of the net charge-offs, $249,481 related to loans acquired in the Eagle Bank acquisition. When reviewing the allowance for loan losses, it is important to understand the Company’s lending strategy. The largest components of our loan portfolio are one-to-four family residential loans and commercial real estate loans. Economic downturns resulting in reduced capacity to repay and/or depreciated property values are the chief risks to this lending strategy. The Company has mitigated the risk associated with these types of borrowers through prudent loan to value ratios and regular monitoring of economic conditions.

 

Additions to the allowance for loan losses are made periodically to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level based on management’s analysis of loss inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the provision for loan losses is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, loss risk as determined based on a loan grading system, the level of non-performing loans, historical loss experience, delinquency trends, the amount of losses charged to the allowance in a given period, and an assessment of economic conditions. A provision for losses of $30,000 was charged for the six months ended March 31, 2004, while there was no provision for the six months ended March 31, 2003. Management considers the current allowance for loan losses to be adequate based on its analysis of the losses in the portfolio.

 

Our allowance for loan loss methodology is a loan classification based system. We base the required reserve on a percentage of the loan balance for each type of loan and classification level. Doubtful, substandard and special mention loans are reserved at 50.0%, 15.0% and 5.0% respectively. These percentages for doubtful and substandard loans were reduced during fiscal 2003 from 60.0% and 17.5% based on historical losses on the Company’s real estate loans. Loans may be classified manually and are automatically classified if they are not previously classified when they reach certain levels of delinquency. Unclassified loans are reserved at different percentages based on our perception of the inherent losses in the type of loan. The conforming one-to-four family loans in the portfolio are reserved at lower percentages than other loans. Reserve percentages are based on each individual lending program and its loss history and underwriting characteristics, including loan to value, credit score, debt coverage, collateral, and capacity to service debt.

 

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We have no loans that are not currently disclosed as non-accrual, past due, underperforming or restructured, where there is known information about possible credit problems of borrowers that causes management to have serious doubts about their ability to comply with present loan repayment terms.

 

Commitments

 

The Company had commitments to fund loans at March 31, 2004 of approximately $37.4 million. Commitments to fund loans include unused consumer credit lines of approximately $9.4 million, unused commercial credit lines of approximately $7.1 million, unfunded construction loans of approximately $16.0 million, mortgage loans, primarily for portfolio, of approximately $900,000, and nonresidential loans of approximately $4.0 million. Conforming one-to-four family thirty year fixed rate loans are generally sold on a best efforts basis at the time the rate is committed to the customer so the Company has no interest rate risk on these loans.

 

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

 

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

 

The following table is a summary of the Companys commitments to extend credit, leases and funding sources consisting of deposits, FHLB advances and borrowed funds.

 

     Commitments and Contractual Obligations

    

Due in

1 Year


  

Due in

2 Years


  

Due in

3 Years


  

Due in

4 Years


  

Due in

5 Years


Loan commitments to originate 1-4 family mortgage loans

   $ 892,820    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —  

Loan commitments to fund construction loans in process

     15,984,570      —        —        —        —  

Loan commitments to originate nonresidential mortgage loans

     3,972,000      —        —        —        —  

Available home equity and unadvanced lines of credit

     16,500,816      —        —        —        —  

Letters of credit

     337,550      —        —        —        —  

Commitment to purchase mortgage-backed security

     10,018,750      —        —        —        —  

Lease agreements

     109,324      53,498      44,292      44,292      14,764

Deposits

     241,838,132      21,997,997      10,954,548      10,500,285      5,710,150

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     141,942,100      —        —        —        —  

FHLB advances

     39,225,000      —        25,000,000      25,000,000      —  
    

  

  

  

  

Total commitments and contractual obligations

   $ 470,821,062    $ 22,051,495    $ 35,998,840    $ 35,544,577    $ 5,724,914
    

  

  

  

  

 

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

 

Derivative Instruments

 

We did not have any commitments to originate loans held for sale at March 31, 2004. In prior periods these commitments were accounted for at fair value.

 

The commitments to sell loans are best effort, forward sale agreements, and not mandatory forward sale commitments. The best effort agreements are not derivative instruments and, therefore, are not accounted for as derivatives. The interest rate caps and floors in our adjustable rate loans are clearly and closely related to the interest rate in the loan and, therefore, the floors and caps are not accounted for separately from the loan as a derivative instrument. The commitment to purchase investment securities is a firm forward commitment which is accounted for as a derivative instrument and recorded at fair value.

 

Liquidity

 

The term “liquidity” refers to our ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to fund loan originations, loan purchases, deposit withdrawals and operating expenses. The Office of Thrift Supervision requires that CharterBank maintain a sufficient amount of liquid assets to maintain its safe and sound operation. CharterBank monitors its liquidity position frequently and anticipates that we will have sufficient funds to meet our current funding commitments.

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are:

 

  Deposits

 

  Borrowings

 

  Scheduled amortization and prepayments of loan principal and mortgage related securities

 

  Maturities and calls of investment securities

 

  Funds provided by operations

 

Deposit flows are affected by the level of interest rates, by the interest rates and products offered by competitors, and by other factors. Total deposits were $291.0 million at March 31,

 

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2004, compared to $279.4 million at September 30, 2003. Total deposits increased by $11.6 million during the six months ended March 31, 2004. Wholesale deposits were $58.1 million at March 31, 2004 compared to $49.7 million at September 30, 2003. Wholesale deposits included $7.0 million and $5.9 million in brokered deposits at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, respectively. Time deposit accounts scheduled to mature within one year were $111.6 million and $129.5 million at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, respectively. While CharterBank has experienced certificates of deposit run-off, we anticipate that a significant portion of these certificates of deposit will remain on deposit. CharterBank continues to target growth of transaction-based deposit accounts to lower its overall cost of funds and provide cross-selling opportunities.

 

We can borrow funds from the FHLB based on eligible collateral of loans and securities up to a limit of 30% of assets. At March 31, 2004, our maximum borrowing capacity from the FHLB was approximately $312.0 million compared to $306.5 million at September 30, 2003. At March 31, 2004, we had outstanding FHLB borrowings of $216.2 million compared to $267.1 million at September 30, 2003, with unused borrowing capacity of $95.8 million and $39.4 million, respectively.

 

In addition, we may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with approved broker-dealers. At March 31, 2004, repurchase agreements totaled $141.9 million, a $20.6 million increase from the amount outstanding at September 30, 2003 of $121.3 million. Reverse repurchase agreements are agreements that allow us to borrow money using our securities as collateral. We can also obtain funds in the brokered deposit markets.

 

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

 

Loan repayment and maturing investment securities are a relatively predictable source of funds. However, deposit flows, calls of investment securities and prepayments of loans and mortgage-backed securities are strongly influenced by interest rates, general and local economic conditions and competition in the marketplace. These factors reduce the predictability of the timing of these sources of funds. Principal repayments on mortgage related securities totaled $106.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Ongoing levels of cash flow will depend on the level of mortgage rates and possible mortgage refinancing.

 

The low interest rate environment, specifically low one-to-four family mortgage rates, has dramatically increased refinancing activity and, accordingly, cash flow from prepayments of mortgage securities. The level of this increased cash flow depends on the ongoing level of refinancing, and, thus, it is difficult to determine at this time. However, most projections indicate higher interest rates and significantly lower levels of refinancing which would reduce this cash flow in 2004.

 

Our primary investing activities are:

 

  The origination of commercial real estate, one-to-four family real estate, commercial and consumer loans

 

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  The purchase of mortgage and investment securities
  Capital expenditures

 

During the six months ended March 31, 2004, we originated approximately $84.9 million in total loans. Residential mortgage loans accounted for 39.87% of the originations, construction loans for 18.69%, commercial and commercial real estate for 35.68%, and consumer loans for 5.76%. At March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003, CharterBank had loan commitments to borrowers of approximately $37.4 million and $39.2 million, respectively, and available home equity and unadvanced lines of credit of approximately $16.5 million and $14.8 million, respectively. Of the $38.0 million in residential mortgage loans originated, $22.3 million were sold to investors. During the third quarter of 2003, the Company began retaining conforming 15-year one-to-four family loans, with approximately $29.0 million being retained as of March 31, 2004.

 

Purchases of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and other investment securities totaled $185.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004, and $242.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003. CharterBank has relied on wholesale fundings including advances from the FHLB, repurchase agreements and brokered deposits to purchase securities in the past two fiscal years.

 

Capital expenditures of $384,000 during the six months ended March 31, 2004 included approximately $312,000 for branch expansions. We anticipate that capital expenditures for acquisition of branch sites, construction, expansion and renovation of retail facilities and possibly relocating support functions to one location as well as a change in application system during fiscal 2004 will be between $3.0 million and $7.0 million. Except for these expenditures and any changes in our intentions to repurchase shares as outlined in “Capital and Capital Management,” we do not anticipate any other material capital expenditures during fiscal year 2004. We do not have any balloon or other payments due on any long-term obligations or any off-balance sheet items, other than the commitments and unused lines of credit noted above.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Charter Financial does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on Charter Financial’s financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

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

 

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

As of March 31, 2004, there were no substantial changes from the interest rate sensitivity analysis or the market value of portfolio equity for various changes in interest rate analysis calculated as of September 30, 2003. The foregoing disclosures related to the market risk of Charter Financial should be read in conjunction with Charter Financial’s audited consolidated financial statements, related notes and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended September 30, 2003 included in Charter Financial’s 2003 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

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Item 4

Controls and Procedures

 

Management, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Vice President, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Vice President concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in all material respects, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.

 

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

 

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Part II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

(e) During the three and six months ended March 31, 2004, the Company did not repurchase any of its common stock. The Company currently does not have a stock repurchase program in place.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

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

 

The Company held its annual meeting of shareholders on February 25, 2004 (the “Meeting”). The proposal submitted to the shareholders at the Meeting was approved. The proposal submitted to shareholders and the tabulation of votes for the proposal is as follows:

 

1. Election of two candidates to the board of directors.

 

The number of votes cast with respect to this matter was as follows:

 

Nominee


   For

   Against

   Abstentions

John W. Johnson, Jr.

   18,853,049    2,976    none

William B. Hudson

   18,853,549    2,476    none

 

There were no broker non-votes applicable to this matter.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

(a) Not applicable

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

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

 

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

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

The Company furnished a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated January 29, 2004, pursuant to Item 12 to report the issuance of and furnish its press release describing first quarter earnings.

 

The Company furnished a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated February 25, 2004, pursuant to Item 9 to report that management made a presentation at the Company’s 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on February 25, 2004, and to furnish the presentation materials.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

    CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
   

(Registrant)

Date: May 11, 2004

 

By:

 

/s/ Robert L. Johnson


       

Robert L. Johnson

       

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 11, 2004

 

By:

 

/s/ Curtis R. Kollar


       

Curtis R. Kollar

       

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President

       

And Treasurer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

 

Description


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

 

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