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EX-23.1 - CONSENT OF CROWE HORWATH LLP - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex231.htm
EX-31.2 - SECTION 302 CFO CERTIFICATION - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex312.htm
EX-31.1 - SECTION 302 CEO CERTIFICATION - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex311.htm
EX-10.18 - FORM OF AGREEMENT FOR CPP COMPENSATION STANDARDS - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex1018.htm
EX-10.19 - FORM OF OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex1019.htm
EX-99.2 - PFO TARP CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM CERTIFICATION - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex992.htm
EX-32.1 - SECTION 906 CEO CERTIFICATION - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex321.htm
EX-32.2 - SECTION 906 CFO CERTIFICATION - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex322.htm
EX-99.1 - PEO TARP CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM CERTIFICATION - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex991.htm
EX-4.1 - AGREEMENT TO FURNISH INSTRUMENTS & AGREEMENTS DEFINING RIGHTS OF LONG-TERM DEBT - PREMIER FINANCIAL CORPdex41.htm
Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x

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

For the fiscal year Ended December 31, 2009

or

 

¨

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

Commission File Number 0-26850

 

 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

OHIO   34-1803915
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio   43512
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (419) 782-5015

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share   The NASDAQ Stock Market
(Title of Class)   (Name of each exchange on which registered)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨

 

Accelerated filer  x

 

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

 

Smaller reporting Company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of March 3, 2010, there were issued and outstanding 8,117,520 shares of the Registrant’s common stock.

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant computed by reference to the average bid and ask price of such stock as of June 30, 2009 was approximately $113.1 million

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting

 

 

 


Table of Contents

First Defiance Financial Corp.

Annual report on Form 10-k

Table of Contents

 

            Page

PART I

  

Item 1.

    

Business

   3

Item 1A.

    

Risk Factors

   24

Item 1B.

    

Unresolved Staff Comments

   31

Item 2.

    

Properties

   31

Item 3.

    

Legal Proceedings

   33

Item 4.

    

Reserved

   33

PART II

  

Item 5.

    

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   33

Item 6.

    

Selected Financial Data

   35

Item 7.

    

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

   36

Item 7A.

    

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   63

Item 8.

    

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   66

Item 9.

    

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures

   124

Item 9A.

    

Controls and Procedures

   124

Item 9B.

    

Other Information

   125

PART III

  

Item 10.

    

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

   125

Item 11.

    

Executive Compensation

   125

Item 12.

    

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   125

Item 13.

    

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

   126

Item 14.

    

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

   126

PART IV

  

Item 15.

    

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

   127

SIGNATURES

   128

 

-2-


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

First Defiance Financial Corp. (“First Defiance” or “the Company”) is a unitary thrift holding company that, through its subsidiaries, First Federal Bank of the Midwest (“First Federal”) and First Insurance & Investments, Inc. (“First Insurance”) (collectively, “the Subsidiaries”), focuses on traditional banking and property and casualty and life and group health insurance products. The Company’s traditional banking activities include originating and servicing residential, commercial, and consumer loans and providing a broad range of depository services. The Company’s insurance activities consist primarily of commissions relating to the sale of property and casualty and life and group health insurance products.

The Company’s philosophy is to grow and prosper, building long-term relationships based on top quality service, high ethical standards and safe and sound assets. The Company operates as a locally oriented, community-based financial services organization, augmented by experienced, centralized support in select critical areas. The Company’s local market orientation is reflected in its market area management and local advisory boards, which are comprised of local business persons, professionals and other community representatives, that assist area management in responding to local banking needs.

The Company’s operating objectives include expansion, diversification within its markets, growth of its fee-based income and growth internally and through acquisitions of financial institutions, branches and financial services businesses. The Company seeks merger or acquisition partners that are culturally similar and have experienced management and possess either significant market area presence or have the potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale and expanded services. The Company regularly evaluates merger and acquisition opportunities and conducts due diligence activities related to possible transactions with other financial institutions. As a result, merger or acquisition discussions and, in some cases, negotiations may take place and future mergers or acquisitions involving cash, debt or equity securities may occur. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values and, therefore, some dilution of the Company’s tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in any future transaction. During 2008, the Company acquired Pavilion Bancorp, Inc (“Pavilion”). The branches of Pavilion’s subsidiary, Bank of Lenawee, became branches of First Federal. Details of this transaction are presented in Note 4 – Acquisitions in the Notes to the financial statements.

First Federal’s current core services agreement expires in the fourth quarter of 2010. Management has evaluated its current provider as well as several other vendors and has chosen to end the contract with their current provider. The conversion of core services to a new provider will take place in the fourth qaurter of 2010. Management understands any change in core systems providors contains risk that could be disruptive to customers. The Company has started the planning process for the core system conversion and will continue throughout the year to assess our readiness.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had consolidated assets of $2.06 billion, consolidated deposits of $1.58 billion, and consolidated stockholders’ equity of $234.1 million. The Company was incorporated in Ohio in June of 1995. Its principal executive offices are located at 601 N. Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512, and its telephone number is (419) 782-5015.

First Defiance’s website, www.fdef.com contains a hyperlink under the Investor Relations section to EDGAR where the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after First Defiance has filed the report with the SEC.

 

-3-


Table of Contents

The Subsidiaries

The Company’s core business operations are conducted through the Subsidiaries:

First Federal Bank of the Midwest: First Federal is a federally chartered stock savings bank headquartered in Defiance, Ohio. As of December 31, 2009, it conducts operations through 27 full service banking center offices in Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Seneca, Williams and Wood counties in northwest Ohio, 1 full service banking center office in Allen county in northeast Indiana and 7 full service banking center offices in Hillsdale and Lenawee counties in southeast Michigan.

On March 14, 2008, First Defiance completed the acquisition of Pavilion Bancorp, Inc (“Pavilion”) and its subsidiary, Bank of Lenawee. That acquisition added eight banking branch offices located in Lenawee and Hillsdale counties in Michigan. On January 21, 2005, First Defiance completed the acquisition of ComBanc, Inc. (“ComBanc”) and its subsidiary, the Commercial Bank, Delphos, Ohio. That acquisition added four branch offices located in Allen County, Ohio which is adjacent to First Defiance’s existing footprint. On April 8, 2005, First Defiance completed the acquisition of the Genoa Savings and Loan Company, (“Genoa”) which added three offices in the metropolitan Toledo, Ohio area.

First Federal is primarily engaged in community banking. It attracts deposits from the general public through its offices and uses those and other available sources of funds to originate residential real estate loans, non-residential real estate loans, commercial loans, home improvement and home equity loans and consumer loans. In addition, First Federal invests in U.S. Treasury and federal government agency obligations, obligations of the State of Ohio and its political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities which are issued by federal agencies, including REMICs and CMOs, and corporate bonds. First Federal’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). First Federal is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) System.

First Insurance & Investments: First Insurance is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Defiance. First Insurance is an insurance agency that conducts business in the Defiance and Bowling Green, Ohio areas. First Insurance offers property and casualty insurance, life insurance and group health insurance.

Securities

First Defiance’s securities portfolio is managed in accordance with a written policy adopted by the Board of Directors and administered by the Investment Committee. The Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Chief Executive Officer of First Federal can each approve transactions up to $3 million. Two of the three officers are required to approve transactions between $3 million and $5 million. All transactions in excess of $5 million must be approved by the Board of Directors.

First Defiance’s investment portfolio includes 39 CMO and REMIC issues totaling $45.3 million, all of which are fully amortizing securities. Management does not believe the risks associated with any of its CMO or REMIC investments are significantly different from risks associated with other pass-through mortgage-backed securities. First Defiance did not have any off-balance sheet derivative securities at December 31, 2009.

 

-4-


Table of Contents

Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when First Defiance has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value.

The carrying value of securities at December 31, 2009 by contractual maturity is shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. For purposes of the maturity table, mortgage-backed securities, which are not due at a single maturity date, have been allocated over maturity groupings based on the weighted-average contractual maturities of underlying collateral. The mortgage-backed securities may mature earlier than their weighted-average contractual maturities because of principal prepayments.

 

     Contractually Maturing     Total  
     Under 1
Year
   Weighted
Average
Rate
    1 - 5
Years
   Weighted
Average
Rate
    6-10
Years
   Weighted
Average
Rate
    Over 10
Years
   Weighted
Average
Rate
    Amount    Yield  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 7,991    4.90   $ 15,565    4.86   $ 6,170    4.84   $ 1,051    4.85   $ 30,777    4.87

REMICs and CMOs

     9,417    4.77        26,990    4.84        7,271    4.46        287    4.32        43,965    4.76   

U.S. government and federal agency obligations

     1,000    4.75        8,000    5.44        1,000    5.25        4,000    4.50        14,000    5.11   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions (1)

     3,025    3.48        3,339    4.73        7,345    4.07        31,097    4.47        44,806    4.36   

Trust preferred stock

     —          —          64    8.38        4,345    3.61        4,409    3.68   
                                             

Total

   $ 21,433      $ 53,894      $ 21,850      $ 40,780      $ 137,957   
                                         

Unamortized premiums/ (discounts)

                         700   

Unrealized gain on securities available for sale

                         721   
                             

Total

                       $ 139,378   
                             

 

(1)

Tax exempt yield based on effective tax rate of 35%. Actual coupon rate is approximately equal to the weighted average rate disclosed in the table times 65%.

The carrying value of investment securities is as follows:

 

     December 31,
     2009    2008    2007
     (In Thousands)

Available-for-sale securities:

        

Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 14,251    $ 14,685    $ 24,918

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     44,733      37,013      28,819

CMOs, REMICS and mortgage-backed securities

     76,798      61,955      49,991

Trust preferred stock and preferred stock

     1,676      3,922      8,642
                    

Total

   $ 137,458    $ 117,575    $ 112,370
                    

Held-to-maturity securities:

        

Mortgage-backed securities

   $ 530    $ 646    $ 817

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     1,390      240      300
                    

Total

   $ 1,920    $ 886    $ 1,117
                    

 

-5-


Table of Contents

For additional information regarding First Defiance’s investment portfolio refer to Note 6 – Investment Securities to the consolidated financial statements.

Interest-Bearing Deposits

First Defiance had interest-earning deposits in the FHLB of Cincinnati and other financial institutions amounting to $1.5 million and $5.2 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company had $90.0 million and $0, respectively in overnight investments with the Federal Reserve which is included in interest-bearing deposits.

Residential Loan Servicing Activities

Servicing mortgage loans for investors involves a contractual right to receive a fee for processing and administering loan payments on mortgage loans that are not owned by the Company and are not included on the Company’s balance sheet. This processing involves collecting monthly mortgage payments on behalf of investors, reporting information to those investors on a monthly basis and maintaining custodial escrow accounts for the payment of principal and interest to investors and property taxes and insurance premiums on behalf of borrowers. At December 31, 2009, First Federal serviced 13,179 loans totaling $1.22 billion. The vast majority of the loans serviced for others are fixed rate conventional mortgage loans.

As compensation for its mortgage servicing activities, the Company receives servicing fees, usually 0.25% per annum of the loan balances serviced, plus any late charges collected from delinquent borrowers and other fees incidental to the services provided. In the event of a default by the borrower, the Company receives no servicing fees until the default is cured.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the number and aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans serviced by the Company, including both fixed and adjustable rate loans, at various interest rates:

 

     December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

Rate

   Number of
Loans
   Aggregate
Principal
Balance
   Percentage of
Aggregate
Principal
Balance
    Number of
Loans
   Aggregate
Principal
Balance
   Percentage of
Aggregate
Principal
Balance
    Number of
Loans
   Aggregate
Principal
Balance
   Percentage of
Aggregate
Principal
Balance
 
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Less than 5.00%

   3,183    $ 355,467    29.10   1,089    $ 88,681    8.05   759    $ 57,448    8.03

5.00% - 5.99%

   5,675      515,795    42.22      5,111      453,548    41.18      3,222      249,600    34.89   

6.00% - 6.99%

   3,688      310,368    25.41      5,302      502,811    45.66      3,897      363,018    50.74   

7.00% - 7.99%

   567      37,410    3.06      749      52,884    4.80      620      41,918    5.86   

8.00% - 8.99%

   56      2,140    0.18      70      2,931    0.27      70      3,164    0.44   

9.00% and over

   10      375    0.03      16      465    0.04      12      339    0.04   
                                                      

Total

   13,179    $ 1,221,555    100.00   12,337    $ 1,101,320    100.00   8,580    $ 715,487    100.00
                                                      

Loan servicing fees decrease as the principal balance on the outstanding loan decreases and as the remaining time to maturity of the loan shortens. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the remaining maturity of the mortgage loans serviced by the Company as of the dates shown.

 

-6-


Table of Contents
     2009     2008     2007  

Maturity

   Number of
Loans
   % of
Number of
Loans
    Unpaid
Principal
Amount
   % of
Unpaid
Principal
Amount
    Number of
Loans
   % of
Number

of Loans
    Unpaid
Principal
Amount
   % of
Unpaid
Principal
Amount
    Number of
Loans
   % of
Number of
Loans
    Unpaid
Principal
Amount
   % of
Unpaid
Principal
Amount
 
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

1–5 years

   659    5.00   $ 37,562    3.07   941    7.63   $ 65,351    5.93   546    6.36   $ 35,049    4.90

6–10 years

   2,181    16.55        111,117    9.10      2,312    18.74        126,206    11.46      1,041    12.13        48,412    6.77   

11–15 years

   2,382    18.07        210,332    17.22      1,795    14.55        141,168    12.82      1,991    23.21        134,243    18.76   

16–20 years

   682    5.17        62,182    5.09      634    5.14        54,303    4.93      830    9.67        68,412    9.56   

21–25 years

   2,239    16.99        213,477    17.48      2,097    17.00        203,117    18.44      590    6.88        49,132    6.87   

More than 25 years

   5,036    38.22        586,885    48.04      4,558    36.94        511,175    46.42      3,582    41.75        380,239    53.14   
                                                                        

Total

   13,179    100.00   $ 1,221,555    100.00   12,337    100.00   $ 1,101,320    100.00   8,580    100.00   $ 715,487    100.00
                                                                        

Lending Activities

General A savings bank generally may not make loans to one borrower and related entities in an amount which exceeds 15% of its unimpaired capital and surplus, although loans in an amount equal to an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus may be made to a borrower if the loans are fully secured by readily marketable collateral. Real estate is not considered “readily marketable collateral.” Certain types of loans are not subject to these limits. In applying these limits, loans to certain borrowers may be aggregated. Notwithstanding the specified limits, a savings bank may lend to one borrower up to $500,000 “for any purpose.” At December 31, 2009, First Federal’s limit on loans-to-one borrower was $34.4 million and its five largest loans (including available lines of credit) or groups of loans to one borrower, including related entities, were $20.3 million, $18.8 million, $17.0 million, $16.0 million and $15.7 million. All of these loans or groups of loans were performing in accordance with their terms at December 31, 2009.

Loan Portfolio CompositionThe net increase or (decrease) in net loans receivable over the prior year was ($12.1 million), $316.8 million, and $49.5 million in 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. First Defiance acquired net loans of $232.5 million in the Pavilion acquisition in 2008. The loan portfolio contains no foreign loans. The Company’s loan portfolio is concentrated geographically in its northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana and southeast Michigan market areas. Management has identified lending for income generating rental properties as an industry concentration. Total loans for income generating property totaled $444.8 million at December 31, 2009, which represents 27% of the Company’s loan portfolio.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio by type of loan at the dates indicated.

 

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Table of Contents
     December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007    2006     2005  
     Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %     Amount    %  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Real estate:

                         

Single family residential

   $ 227,592    13.8   $ 251,807    15.4   $ 231,921    17.9   $ 250,808    20.1   $ 275,497    23.2

Five or more family

residential

     103,169    6.3        78,427    4.8        56,774    4.4        57,263    4.6        50,040    4.2   

Nonresidential real estate

     703,721    42.8        677,313    41.3        545,077    42.1        522,597    41.9        501,943    42.2   

Construction

     48,625    3.0        72,938    4.4        13,146    1.0        17,339    1.4        21,173    1.8   
                                                                 

Total real estate loans

     1,083,107    65.9        1,080,485    65.9        846,918    65.4        848,007    68.0        848,653    71.4   

Other:

                         

Consumer finance

     33,761    2.0        40,567    2.5        37,401    2.9        43,320    3.5        54,657    4.6   

Commercial

     379,408    23.1        356,574    21.8        283,072    21.8        232,914    18.7        171,289    14.4   

Home equity and improvement

     147,977    9.0        161,106    9.8        128,080    9.9        122,789    9.8        113,000    9.5   

Mobile home

     344    —          445    —          342    —          450    —          640    .1   
                                                                 

Total non-real estate loans

     561,490    34.1        558,692    34.1        448,895    34.6        399,473    32.0        339,586    28.6   
                                                                 

Total loans

     1,644,597    100.0     1,639,177    100.0     1,295,813    100.0     1,247,480    100.0     1,188,239    100.0
                                             

Less:

                         

Loans in process

     26,494        20,892        5,085        6,409        8,782   

Deferred loan origination fees

     981        1,050        1,032        1,182        1,303   

Allowance for loan losses

     36,547        24,592        13,890        13,579        13,673   
                                             

Net loans

   $ 1,580,575      $ 1,592,643      $ 1,275,806      $ 1,226,310      $ 1,164,481   
                                             

In addition to the loans reported above, First Defiance had $10.3 million, $11.0 million, $5.8 million, $3.4 million and $5.3 million in loans classified as held for sale at December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The fair value of such loans, which are all single-family residential mortgage loans, approximated their carrying value for all years presented.

Contractual Principal, Repayments and Interest RatesThe following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2009 regarding the dollar amount of gross loans maturing in First Defiance’s portfolio, based on the contractual terms to maturity. Demand loans, loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity and overdrafts are reported as due in one year or less.

 

     Years After December 31, 2009
     Due Less
than 1
   Due 1-2    Due 3-5    Due 5-10    Due
10-15
   Due 15+    Total
     (In Thousands)

Real estate

   $ 190,791    $ 87,177    $ 273,113    $ 427,056    $ 49,477    $ 55,493    $ 1,083,107

Non-real estate:

                    

Commercial

     239,861      48,560      74,073      16,794      120      —        379,408

Home equity and improvement

     15,238      15,905      53,978      5,575      7,151      50,130      147,977

Mobile home

     108      59      93      84      —        —        344

Consumer finance

     16,687      7,737      8,772      455      89      21      33,761
                                                

Total

   $ 462,685    $ 159,438    $ 410,029    $ 449,964    $ 56,837    $ 105,644    $ 1,644,597
                                                

The schedule above does not reflect the actual life of the Company’s loan portfolio. The average life of loans is substantially less than their contractual terms because of prepayments and due-on-sale clauses, which gives First Defiance the right to declare a conventional loan immediately due and payable in the event, among other things, that the borrower sells the real property subject to the mortgage and the loan is not repaid.

 

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The following table sets forth the dollar amount of gross loans due after one year from December 31, 2009 which have fixed interest rates or which have floating or adjustable interest rates.

 

     Fixed
Rates
   Floating or
Adjustable
Rates
   Total
     (In Thousands)

Real estate

   $ 96,462    $ 795,854    $ 892,316

Commercial

     4,849      134,698      139,547

Other

     74,985      75,064      150,049
                    
   $ 176,296    $ 1,005,616    $ 1,181,912
                    

Originations, Purchases and Sales of LoansThe lending activities of First Federal are subject to the written, non-discriminatory, underwriting standards and loan origination procedures established by the Board of Directors and management. Loan originations are obtained from a variety of sources, including referrals from existing customers, real estate brokers, developers and builders, newspaper and radio advertising and walk-in customers.

First Federal’s loan approval process for all types of loans is intended to assess the borrower’s ability to repay the loan, the viability of the loan and the adequacy of the value of the collateral that will secure the loan.

A commercial loan application is first reviewed and underwritten by one of the commercial loan officers, who may approve credits within their lending limit. Another loan officer with limits sufficient to cover the exposure must approve credits exceeding an individual’s lending limit. All credits which exceed $100,000 in aggregate exposure must be presented for review or approval to the Senior Loan Committee comprised of senior lending personnel. Credits which exceed $1,000,000 in aggregate exposure must be presented for approval to the Executive Loan Committee, a committee of First Federal’s Board of Directors.

Residential mortgage applications are accepted by retail lenders or branch managers, who utilize an automated underwriting system to review the loan request. First Federal also receives mortgage applications via an online residential mortgage origination system. A final approval of all residential mortgage applications is made by a member of a centralized underwriting staff within their designated lending limits. Loan requests in excess or outside an individual underwriter’s limit are approved by the Senior Loan Committee and, if necessary, by the Executive Loan Committee.

Retail lenders and branch managers are authorized to originate and approve direct consumer loan requests that are within policy guidelines and within the lender’s approved lending limit. Loans in excess of the lender’s approved lending limit may be approved by retail lending managers up to their approved lending limit. Loans in excess of the retail lending manager’s authorized lending limit or outside of policy must be approved by Senior Loan Committee and, if necessary, by the Executive Loan Committee. Indirect consumer loans originated by auto dealers are underwritten and approved by a designated underwriter in accordance with company policy and lending limits.

 

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First Defiance offers adjustable-rate loans in order to decrease the vulnerability of its operations to changes in interest rates. The demand for adjustable-rate loans in First Defiance’s primary market area has been a function of several factors, including customer preference, the level of interest rates, the expectations of changes in the level of interest rates and the difference between the interest rates offered for fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate loans. The relative amount of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate residential loans that can be originated at any time is largely determined by the demand for each in a competitive environment.

Adjustable-rate loans represented 1.4% of First Defiance’s total originations of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans in 2009 compared to 7.2% and 4.0% during 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Adjustable-rate loans decrease the risks associated with changes in interest rates, but involve other risks, primarily because as interest rates rise, the payment by the borrower rises to the extent permitted by the terms of the loan, thereby increasing the potential for default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by higher interest rates.

The following table shows total loans originated, loan reductions, and the net increase in First Defiance’s total loans and loans held for sale during the periods indicated:

 

     Years Ended December 31,
     2009    2008    2007
     (In Thousands)

Loan originations:

        

Single family residential

   $ 572,500    $ 262,338    $ 216,203

Multi-family residential

     75,632      44,853      22,119

Non-residential real estate

     197,320      225,520      145,675

Construction

     10,241      20,167      18,633

Commercial

     341,477      341,657      243,229

Home equity and improvement

     16,956      40,786      29,934

Consumer finance

     16,530      24,751      23,931
                    

Total loans originated

     1,230,656      960,072      699,724

Loans acquired in acquisitions

     —        236,759      —  

Loan reductions:

        

Loan pay-offs

     317,239      387,475      265,367

Loans sold

     518,453      186,204      137,092

Periodic principal repayments

     390,158      274,579      246,607
                    
     1,225,850      848,258      649,066
                    

Net increase in total loans and loans held for sale

   $ 4,806    $ 348,573    $ 50,658
                    

The gross loans acquired in the Pavilion acquisition in 2008 by category were as follows: Single family residential – $50.0 million; multi-family residential – $6.0 million; non-residential real estate – $100.9 million; commercial – $49.2 million; home equity and improvement – $25.7 million; and consumer finance – $5.0 million.

Asset Quality

First Defiance’s credit policy establishes guidelines to manage credit risk and asset quality. These guidelines include loan review and early identification of problem loans to ensure sound credit decisions.

 

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First Defiance’s credit policies and review procedures are meant to minimize the risk and uncertainties inherent in lending. In following the policies and procedures, management must rely on estimates, appraisals and evaluations of loans and the possibility that changes in these could occur because of changing economic conditions.

Delinquent Loans The following table sets forth information concerning delinquent loans at December 31, 2009, in dollar amount and as a percentage of First Defiance’s total loan portfolio. The amounts presented represent the total outstanding principal balances of the related loans, rather than the actual payment amounts that are past due.

 

     30 to 59 Days     60 to 89 Days     90 Days and Over and
Non accrual
    Total  
     Amount    Percentage     Amount    Percentage     Amount    Percentage     Amount    Percentage  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Single family residential and construction

   $ 2,467    0.15   $ 2,251    0.14   $ 6,024    0.37   $ 10,742    0.66

Nonresidential and Multi- family residential

     2,409    0.15        871    0.05        24,042    1.46        27,322    1.66   

Home equity and improvement

     1,802    0.11        243    0.01        451    0.03        2,496    0.15   

Consumer finance

     339    0.02        38    0.00        59    0.00        436    0.02   

Commercial

     996    0.06        155    0.01        10,615    0.65        11,766    0.72   
                                                    

Total

   $ 8,013    0.49   $ 3,558    0.21   $ 41,191    2.51   $ 52,762    3.21
                                                    

Overall, the level of delinquencies at December 31, 2009 has increased from the levels at December 31, 2008, when First Defiance reported that 2.71% of its outstanding loans were at least 30 days delinquent. The level of total loans 90 or more days delinquent has increased to 2.51% at December 31, 2009 from 1.71% at December 31, 2008. Overall, the level of loans that were 30 to 59 days past due and 60 to 89 days past due decreased from $11.5 million (0.70%) and $4.9 million (0.30%), respectively, at December 31, 2008 to $8.0 million (0.49%) and $3.6 million (0.21%), respectively, at December 31, 2009. Management has assessed the collectability of all loans that are 90 days or more delinquent as part of its procedures in establishing the allowance for loan losses.

Nonperforming AssetsAll loans are reviewed on a regular basis and are placed on a non-accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the collectability of additional interest is deemed insufficient to warrant further accrual. Generally, First Defiance places all loans more than 90 days past due on non-accrual status. We also place loans on non-accrual where the loan is paying as agreed but where the Company believes the financial condition of the borrower is such that this classification is warranted. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, total unpaid interest accrued to date is reversed. Subsequent payments are generally applied to the outstanding principal balance but may be recorded as interest income, depending on the assessment of the ultimate collectability of the loan. First Defiance considers that a loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. First Defiance measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral, if collateral dependent. If the estimated recoverability of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment, First Defiance will recognize impairment by allocating a portion of the allowance for loan losses.

 

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Impaired loans acquired in the ComBanc, Genoa and Pavilion acquisitions have been accounted for under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 310 Subtopic 30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. Such loans were recorded at their fair value, which was estimated based on the expected cash flow of the acquired loan. In the Genoa acquisition, 10 loan relationships with a stated value of $1.5 million were recorded at $721,000. In the ComBanc acquisition, 12 loan relationships with a stated value of $3.4 million were recorded at $2.0 million. In the Pavilion acquisition, 12 loan relationships with a stated value of $6.4 million were recorded at $4.4 million. Of all these impaired loans that were acquired in acquisition at December 31, 2009, 13 loan relationships remained with a contractual balance of $5.0 million and were recorded at $3.4 million. If management’s expectations about the cash flow of those loans changes over time, the difference will be recognized as a yield adjustment over the remaining life of the respective loan. In 2009, $340,000 of impairment was recognized as a yield adjustment. There were no significant changes in the expected cash flows of the remaining loan relationships in 2009.

Loans originated by First Federal having recorded investments of $58.8 million, $27.5 million, and $8.6 million were considered impaired as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. These amounts exclude large groups of small-balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment such as residential mortgage, consumer installment and credit card loans. There was $913,000 of interest received and recorded in income during 2009 related to impaired loans. There was $1,067,000 and $338,000 recorded in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Unrecorded interest income based on the loan’s contractual terms on these impaired loans and all non-performing loans in 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $2.7 million, $1.8 million, and $861,000, respectively. The average recorded investment in impaired loans during 2009, 2008 and 2007 (excluding loans accounted for under Topic 310 Subtopic 30) was $38.9 million, $25.7 million and $9.6 million, respectively. The total allowance for loan losses related to these loans was $12.2 million, $6.0 million, and $1.4 million at December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Real estate acquired by foreclosure is classified as real estate owned until such time as it is sold. First Defiance also repossesses other assets securing loans, consisting primarily of automobiles. When such property is acquired it is recorded at fair value less cost to sell. Costs relating to development and improvement of property are capitalized, whereas costs relating to holding the property are expensed. Valuations are periodically performed by management and a write-down of the value is recorded with a corresponding charge to operations if it is determined that the carrying value of property exceeds its estimated net realizable value. During 2009, First Defiance recognized $1.3 million of expense related to write-downs in value of real estate acquired by foreclosure. The balance of real estate owned at December 31, 2009 was $13.4 million and other repossessed assets totaled $114,000.

As of December 31, 2009, First Defiance’s total non-performing loans amounted to $47.9 million or 2.96% of total loans (net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs), compared to $34.3 million or 2.12% of total loans, at December 31, 2008. Non-performing loans are loans which are more than 90 days past due or loans which have been restructured and identified as troubled debt restructurings. The nonperforming loan balance includes $30.2 million of loans originated by First Federal also considered impaired or acquired loans accounted for under Topic 310 Subtopic 30.

The following table sets forth the amounts and categories of First Defiance’s non-performing assets (excluding impaired loans not considered non-performing) and troubled debt restructurings at the dates indicated.

 

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     December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Nonperforming loans:

          

Single family residential, construction and home improvement

   $ 6,475      $ 5,088      $ 2,608      $ 1,980      $ 2,648   

Nonresidential and multi-family residential real estate

     24,042        19,979        5,917        4,977        1,917   

Commercial

     10,615        2,881        675        272        287   

Mobile home

     —          —          —          —          —     

Consumer finance

     59        69        17        54        100   

Troubled debt restructurings

     6,715        6,250        —          —          —     
                                        

Total nonperforming loans

     47,906        34,267        9,217        7,283        4,952   

Real estate owned

     13,413        6,973        2,410        2,321        315   

Other repossessed assets

     114        27        50        71        89   
                                        

Total repossessed assets

     13,527        7,000        2,460        2,392        404   
                                        

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 61,433      $ 41,267      $ 11,677      $ 9,675      $ 5,356   
                                        

Total nonperforming assets as a

percentage of total assets

     2.99     2.11     0.73     0.63     0.37
                                        

Total nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans*

     2.96     2.12     0.71     0.59     0.42
                                        

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total nonperforming assets

     59.49     59.59     118.95     140.35     255.28
                                        

 

*

Total loans are net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs.

In addition to the $47.9 million of non-performing loans reported above and $32.0 million of loans considered impaired (including loans accounted for under Topic 310 Subtopic 30), which are not included in the non-performing loans reported above, there are approximately $59.8 million of performing nonresidential real estate and commercial loans where known information about possible credit problems of the borrowers causes management to have doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms and which may result in the inclusion of such loans in non-performing loans at some future date. In analyzing these loans for the purpose of determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, management has determined that these loans generally have significant collateral, strong guarantors, or both.

Allowance for Loan LossesFirst Defiance maintains an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan loss is made up of two components. The first is a general reserve, which is used to record loan loss reserves for groups of homogenous loans in which the Company estimates the losses incurred in the portfolio based on quantitative and qualitative factors. Quantitative factors are primarily the historical loss experience of the portfolio for the most recent four quarters. Qualitative factors that may lead the company to add additional general reserves on the non-impaired loan portfolio include such things as: changes in international, national and local economic business conditions, changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans, changes in the political and regulatory environment and changes in the trends of the loan portfolio.

 

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The second component of the allowance for loan loss is the specific reserve in which the Company sets aside reserves based on the analysis of individual credits. In evaluating the adequacy of its allowance each quarter, management grades all loans in the commercial portfolio. In establishing specific reserves, the Company analyzes all substandard, doubtful and loss graded loans quarterly and makes judgments about the risk of loss based on the cash flow of the borrower, the value of any collateral and the financial strength of any guarantors. The Company also considers the impacts of any SBA or FAS guarantees. Management also engages a third-party to do an annual review of all loan relationships in excess of $250,000 which, among other things, independently assesses management’s loan grades.

Loans charged-off are charged against the allowance when such loans meet the Company’s established policy on loan charge-offs and the allowance itself is adjusted quarterly by recording a provision for loan losses. As such, actual losses and losses provided for should be approximately the same if the overall quality, composition and size of the portfolio remained static. To the extent that the portfolio grows at a rapid rate or overall quality deteriorates, the provision generally will exceed charge-offs, as happened in 2009 and 2008. However, in certain circumstances, including in 2006, net charge-offs may exceed the provision for loan losses when management determines that loans previously provided for in the allowance for loan losses are uncollectible and should be charged off. Although management believes that it uses the best information available to make such determinations, future adjustments to the allowances may be necessary, and net earnings could be significantly affected, if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the initial determinations.

At December 31, 2009, First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses amounted to $36.5 million compared to $24.6 million at December 31, 2008. The following table sets forth the activity in First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses during the periods indicated.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Allowance at beginning of year

   $ 24,592      $ 13,890      $ 13,579      $ 13,673      $ 9,956   

Provision for credit losses

     23,232        12,585        2,306        1,756        1,442   

Allowance acquired in acquisitions

     —          4,258        —          —          3,027   

Charge-offs:

          

Single family residential real estate

     (2,281     (1,185     (256     (513     (179

Commercial real estate

     (5,799     (3,758     (1,803     (1,028     (226

Commercial

     (2,664     (813     (99     (177     (270

Consumer finance

     (320     (380     (161     (392     (354

Home equity and improvement

     (762     (363     (81     (166     (25
                                        

Total charge-offs

     (11,826     (6,499     (2,400     (2,276     (1,054

Recoveries

     549        358        405        426        302   
                                        

Net charge-offs

     (11,277     (6,141     (1,995     (1,850     (752
                                        

Ending allowance

   $ 36,547      $ 24,592      $ 13,890      $ 13,579      $ 13,673   
                                        

Allowance for loan losses to total non- performing loans at end of year

     76.29     71.77     150.70     186.45     276.11

Allowance for loan losses to total loans at end of year*

     2.26     1.52     1.08     1.10     1.16

Allowance for loan losses to net charge-offs for the year

     324.08     400.46     696.24     734.00     1,818.22

Net charge-offs for the year to average loans

     0.70     0.41     0.16     0.15     0.07

 

*

Total loans are net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs.

 

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The provision for credit losses, as well as charge-offs, has increased significantly from 2008 to 2009 due mainly to continued deteriorating national and local economic conditions and the declining values of the underlying collateral of collateral dependent loans. The level of charge-offs increased in 2007, 2006 and 2005 because of general growth in the overall portfolio and deteriorating economic conditions, while in 2008 and 2009 there were some large relationships in the commercial real estate portfolio that were charged off due to the effect of the slowing economy. Management anticipates similar charge-off activity in 2010, but believes the level of allowance for loan losses is sufficient to cover the estimated losses incurred but not recognized in the loan portfolio.

The following table sets forth information concerning the allocation of First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses by loan categories at the dates indicated. For information about the percent of total loans in each category to total loans, see “Lending Activities-Loan Portfolio Composition.”

 

     December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     Amount    Percent
of total
loans by
category
    Amount    Percent
of total
loans by
category
    Amount    Percent
of total
loans by
category
    Amount    Percent
of total
loans by
category
    Amount    Percent
of total
loans by
category
 
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Single family residential and construction

   $ 6,048    16.8   $ 3,678    19.8   $ 2,112    18.9   $ 2,077    21.5   $ 1,484    25.0

Nonresidential and Multi-family residential real estate

     18,876    49.1        13,436    46.1        7,750    46.5        7,478    46.5        8,965    46.4   

Other:

                         

Commercial loans

     9,444    23.1        6,351    21.8        3,420    21.8        3,317    18.7        2,287    14.4   

Consumer and home equity and improvement loans

     2,179    11.0        1,127    12.3        608    12.8        707    13.3        937    14.2   
                                                                 
   $ 36,547    100.0   $ 24,592    100.0   $ 13,890    100.0   $ 13,579    100.0   $ 13,673    100.0
                                                                 

Sources of Funds

GeneralDeposits are the primary source of First Defiance’s funds for lending and other investment purposes. In addition to deposits, First Defiance derives funds from loan principal repayments. Loan repayments are a relatively stable source of funds, while deposit inflows and outflows are significantly influenced by general interest rates and money market conditions. Borrowings from the FHLB may be used on a short-term basis to compensate for reductions in the availability of funds from other sources. They may also be used on a longer-term basis for general business purposes. During 2007, First Defiance issued $15.0 million of trust preferred securities through an unconsolidated affiliated trust. Proceeds from the offering were used for general corporate purposes including funding of dividends and stock buybacks as well as bolstering regulatory capital at the First Federal level. First Defiance also issued $20.0 million of similar trust preferred securities in 2005.

Deposits First Defiance’s deposits are attracted principally from within First Defiance’s primary market area through the offering of a broad selection of deposit instruments, including checking accounts, money market accounts, regular savings accounts, and term certificate accounts. Deposit account terms vary, with the principal differences being the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must remain on deposit, and the interest rate.

To supplement its funding needs, First Defiance also utilizes the national market for Certificates of Deposit. Such deposits have maturities ranging from six months to three years. These deposits are issued

 

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at the current rates available to customers in our market areas. The total balance of national certificates of deposit was $47.4 million at December 31, 2009. National CDs at December 31, 2008 totaled $38.5 million.

Average balances and average rates paid on deposits are as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  
     Amount    Rate     Amount    Rate     Amount    Rate  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Non-interest-bearing demand deposits

   $ 176,513    —        $ 159,452    —        $ 104,200    —     

Interest bearing demand deposits

     447,858    0.77     381,627    1.28     310,230    2.67

Savings deposits

     132,589    0.35        135,374    1.02        92,756    1.51   

Time deposits

     790,379    2.81        714,362    3.51        661,974    4.65   
                                       

Totals

   $ 1,547,339    1.69   $ 1,390,815    2.25   $ 1,169,160    3.46
                                       

The following table sets forth the maturities of First Defiance’s retail certificates of deposit having principal amounts of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 

Retail certificates of deposit maturing in quarter ending:

  

March 31, 2010

   $ 29,743

June 30, 2010

     34,421

September 30, 2010

     25,784

December 31, 2010

     11,332

After December 31, 2010

     62,020
      

Total retail certificates of deposit with balances of $100,000 or more

   $ 163,300
      

The following table details the deposit accrued interest payable as of December 31:

 

     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Interest bearing demand deposits and money market accounts

   $ 48    $ 60

Certificates of deposit

     665      1,327
             
   $ 713    $ 1,387
             

For additional information regarding First Defiance’s deposits see Note 12 to the financial statements.

BorrowingsFirst Defiance may obtain advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati by pledging certain of its residential mortgage loans, non-residential loans, multi-family loans, home equity loans and investment securities provided certain standards related to creditworthiness have been met. Such advances are made pursuant to several credit programs, each of which has its own interest rate and range of maturities.

 

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The following table sets forth certain information as to First Defiance’s FHLB advances and other borrowings at the dates indicated.

 

     December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Long-term:

      

FHLB advances

   $ 146,927      $ 146,967      $ 128,236   

Weighted average interest rate

     3.36     4.00     4.97

Short-term:

      

FHLB advances

   $ —        $ 9,100      $ 11,300   

Weighted average interest rate

     —          0.54     4.28

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

   $ 48,398      $ 49,454      $ 30,055   

Weighted average interest rate

     1.05     1.79     3.14

The following table sets forth the maximum month-end balance and average balance of First Defiance’s Long-term FHLB advances and other borrowings during the periods indicated.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Long-term:

      

FHLB advances:

      

Maximum balance

   $ 146,967      $ 153,153      $ 129,020   

Average balance

     146,946        146,054        128,622   

Weighted average interest rate

     3.48     4.17     5.05

The following table sets forth the maximum month-end balance and average balance of First Defiance’s short-term FHLB advances and other borrowings during the periods indicated.

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Short-term:

      

FHLB advances:

      

Maximum balance

   $ —        $ 44,900      $ 45,800   

Average balance

     33        14,004        7,772   

Weighted average interest rate

     0.84     2.17     5.23

Revolving credit agreements:

      

Maximum balance

   $ —        $ 23,200      $ 500   

Average balance

     —          14,416        171   

Weighted average interest rate

     —          4.45     6.20

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase:

      

Maximum balance

   $ 50,920      $ 50,679      $ 30,055   

Average balance

     44,287        36,926        23,739   

Weighted average interest rate

     1.29     2.69     3.04

 

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First Defiance borrows funds under a variety of programs at the FHLB. As of December 31, 2009, there were $146.9 million outstanding under various long-term FHLB advance programs. First Defiance utilizes short-term advances from the FHLB to meet cash flow needs and for short-term investment purposes. At December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, $0.0 million and $9.1 million, respectively, were outstanding under First Defiance’s Cash Management Advance Line of credit. The total available under this line is $15.0 million. Additionally, First Defiance has $100.0 million available under a REPO line of credit. Amounts are generally borrowed under these lines on an overnight basis. First Federal’s total borrowing capacity at the FHLB is limited by various collateral requirements. Eligible collateral includes mortgage loans, home equity loans, non-mortgage loans, cash and investment securities. At December 31, 2009, other than amounts available on the REPO and Cash Management line, First Federal’s additional borrowing capacity with the FHLB was $45.0 million due to these collateral requirements.

As a member of the FHLB of Cincinnati, First Federal must maintain a minimum investment in the capital stock of that FHLB in an amount defined in the FHLB’s regulations. First Federal is permitted to own stock in excess of the minimum requirement and is in compliance with the minimum requirement with an investment in stock of the FHLB of Cincinnati of $19.4 million at December 31, 2009. First Federal also acquired $2.0 million in stock of the FHLB of Indianapolis from the Pavilion acquisition. This stock is required to be held for a minimum of five years from the date the stock was acquired by First Federal, March 14, 2008.

Each FHLB is required to establish standards of community investment or service that its members must maintain for continued access to long-term advances from the FHLB. The standards take into account a member’s performance under the Community Reinvestment Act and its record of lending to first-time homebuyers.

For additional information regarding First Defiance’s FHLB advances and other debt see Notes 13 and 15 to the financial statements.

Subordinated Debentures – In March 2007, the Company sponsored an affiliated trust, First Defiance Statutory Trust II (“Trust Affiliate II”) that issued $15 million of Guaranteed Capital Trust Securities (Trust Preferred Securities). In connection with the transaction, the Company issued $15.5 million of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (Subordinated Debentures) to Trust Affiliate II. Trust Affiliate II was formed for the purpose of issuing Trust Preferred Securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of these capital securities solely in Subordinated Debentures of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures held by Trust Affiliate II are the sole assets of the trust. Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate II are payable quarterly at a fixed rate equal to 6.441% for the first five years and a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 1.50%, repricing quarterly, thereafter.

The Trust Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures. The Company has entered into an agreement that fully and unconditionally guarantees the Trust Preferred Securities subject to the terms of the guarantee. The Trust Preferred Securities and Subordinated Debentures mature on June 15, 2037, but may be redeemed at the Company’s option at any time on or after June 15, 2012, or at any time upon certain events.

In October 2005, the Company formed an affiliated trust, First Defiance Statutory Trust I (“Trust Affiliate I”) that issued $20 million of Trust Preferred Securities. In connection with the transaction, the Company issued $20.6 million of Subordinated Debentures to Trust Affiliate I. Trust Affiliate I was

 

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formed for the purpose of issuing Trust Preferred Securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of these capital securities solely in Subordinated Debentures of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures held by Trust Affiliate I are the sole assets of the trust. Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate I are payable quarterly at a variable rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.38%, or 1.63% as of December 31, 2009. The rate was 3.38% at December 31, 2008.

The Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate I are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures. The Company has entered into an agreement that fully and unconditionally guarantees the Trust Preferred Securities subject to the terms of the guarantee. The Trust Preferred Securities and Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed by the issuer at par after October 28, 2010. The Subordinated Debentures mature on December 15, 2035.

Due to the Company’s participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program, permission must be obtained from the U.S. Treasury in order to call these securities.

Participation in the Capital Purchase Program

In December 2008, First Defiance participated in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”). Under the CPP, First Defiance issued $37.0 million of First Defiance non-voting preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 550,595 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.08 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution and other adjustments. The $37.0 million of Preferred Stock issued by First Defiance under the CPP will qualify as Tier 1 capital. The cash received from the preferred stock issuance is reflected in the financing activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The general purpose of the funds was to maintain and create lending opportunities in our market area.

Employees

First Defiance had 553 employees at December 31, 2009. None of these employees are represented by a collective bargaining agent, and First Defiance believes that it enjoys good relations with its personnel.

Competition

Competition in originating non-residential mortgage and commercial loans comes mainly from commercial banks with banking center offices in the Company’s market area. Competition for the origination of mortgage loans arises mainly from savings associations, commercial banks, and mortgage companies. The distinction among market participants is based on a combination of price, the quality of customer service and name recognition. The Company competes for loans by offering competitive interest rates and product types and by seeking to provide a higher level of personal service to borrowers than is furnished by competitors. First Federal has a significant market share of the lending markets in which it conducts operations.

Management believes that First Federal’s most direct competition for deposits comes from local financial institutions. The distinction among market participants is based on price and the quality of customer service and name recognition. First Federal’s cost of funds fluctuates with general market

 

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interest rates. During certain interest rate environments, additional significant competition for deposits may be expected from corporate and governmental debt securities, as well as from money market mutual funds. First Federal competes for conventional deposits by emphasizing quality of service, extensive product lines and competitive pricing.

Regulation

General – First Defiance and First Federal are subject to regulation, examination and oversight by the OTS. Because the FDIC insures First Federal’s deposits, First Federal is also subject to examination and regulation by the FDIC. First Defiance and First Federal must file periodic reports with the OTS and examinations are conducted periodically by the OTS and the FDIC to determine whether First Federal is in compliance with various regulatory requirements and is operating in a safe and sound manner. First Federal is subject to various consumer protection and fair lending laws. These laws govern, among other things, truth-in-lending disclosure, equal credit opportunity, and, in the case of First Federal, fair credit reporting and community reinvestment. Failure to abide by federal laws and regulations governing community reinvestment could limit the ability of First Federal to open a new branch or engage in a merger transaction. Community reinvestment regulations evaluate how well and to what extent First Federal lends and invests in its designated service area, with particular emphasis on low-to-moderate income communities and borrowers in such areas.

First Defiance is also subject to various Ohio laws which restrict takeover bids, tender offers and control-share acquisitions involving public companies which have significant ties to Ohio.

Regulatory Capital Requirements – First Federal is required by OTS regulations to meet certain minimum capital requirements. Current capital requirements call for tangible capital of 1.5% of adjusted total assets, core capital of 4.0% of adjusted total assets, except for associations with the highest examination rating and acceptable levels of risk, and risk-based capital of 8.0% of risk-weighted assets. The OTS does not have defined capital requirements for unitary thrift holding companies.

The following table sets forth the amount and percentage level of regulatory capital of First Federal at December 31, 2009, and the amount by which it exceeds the minimum capital requirements. Tangible and core capital are reflected as a percentage of adjusted total assets. Total (or risk-based) capital, which consists of core and supplementary capital, is reflected as a percentage of risk-weighted assets. Assets are weighted at percentage levels ranging from 0% to 100% depending on their relative risk.

 

     December 31, 2009  
     Amount    Percent  
     (In Thousands)  

Tangible Capital

   $ 207,554    10.40

Requirement

     29,937    1.50   
             

Excess

   $ 177,617    8.90
             

Core Capital

   $ 207,554    10.40

Requirement

     79,831    4.00   
             

Excess

   $ 127,723    6.40
             

Total risked-based capital

   $ 229,649    13.04

Risk-based requirement

     140,910    8.00   
             

Excess

   $ 88,739    5.04
             

 

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To be categorized as a well-capitalized institution, institutions need to maintain a tier 1 (core) capital ratio of 5%, a tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 6%, and a risk-based capital ratio of 10%. First Federal’s capital at December 31, 2009, meets the standards for a well-capitalized institution. There are no conditions or events since the most recent notification from the OTS regarding those capital standards that management believes have changed any of the well-capitalized categorizations of First Federal.

Dividends – First Defiance’s payment of dividends to its shareholders is generally funded by the payment of dividends by the Subsidiaries. Dividends paid by First Federal to First Defiance are subject to various regulatory restrictions. First Federal can initiate dividend payments equal to its net profits (as defined by statute) for the current year plus the preceding two calendar years. First Federal is required to receive prior approval from its primary regulator, the OTS, before it can pay any dividends to First Defiance, its parent company. At this time, the Company believes it is unlikely that OTS approval would be received. First Federal paid $5.4 million in dividends in 2009 and $10.0 million in 2008. As a result of its participation in the CPP, First Defiance is prohibited, without prior approval from the U.S. Treasury, from paying a quarterly cash dividend of more than $0.26 per share until the earlier of December 5, 2011 or the date the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock is redeemed or transferred to an unaffiliated third party.

Transactions with Insiders and Affiliates – Loans to executive officers, directors and principal shareholders and their related interests must conform to the lending limits. Most loans to directors, executive officers and principal shareholders must be approved in advance by a majority of the “disinterested” members of board of directors of the association with any “interested” director not participating. All loans to directors, executive officers and principal shareholders must be made on terms substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions with the general public or as offered to all employees in a company-wide benefit program. Loans to executive officers are subject to additional restrictions. In addition, all related party transactions must be approved by the Company’s audit committee pursuant to NASDAQ Rule 4350(h), including loans made by financial institutions in the ordinary course of business. All transactions between savings associations and their affiliates must comport with Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act (FRA) and the Federal Reserve Board’s (FRB) Regulation W. An affiliate of a savings association is any company or entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the savings association. First Defiance is an affiliate of First Federal.

Holding Company Regulation – First Defiance is an unitary thrift holding company and is subject to OTS regulations, examination, supervision and reporting requirements. Federal law generally prohibits a thrift holding company from controlling any other savings association or thrift holding company, without prior approval of the OTS, or from acquiring or retaining more than 5% of the voting shares of a savings association or holding company thereof, which is not a subsidiary. If First Defiance was to acquire control of another savings institution, other than through a merger or other business combination with First Federal, First Defiance would become a multiple thrift holding company and its activities would thereafter be limited generally to those activities authorized by the FRB as permissible for bank holding companies.

Deposit Insurance – First Federal is a member of the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”), which is administered by the FDIC. Deposit accounts at First Federal are insured by the FDIC, generally up to a maximum of $100,000 for each separately insured depositor and up to a maximum of $250,000 for self-directed retirement accounts. However, the FDIC increased the deposit insurance available on all deposit accounts to $250,000, effective until June 30, 2010, which was extended from the original December 31, 2009 expiration. The Bank has opted to participate in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program. See “Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program” below.

 

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During 2008, there were higher levels of bank failures which dramatically increased resolution costs of the FDIC and depleted the DIF. In order to maintain a strong funding position and restore reserve ratios of the deposit insurance fund, on December 16, 2008, the FDIC increased assessment rates of insured institutions uniformly by 7 basis points (7 cents for every $100 of deposits), beginning with the first quarter of 2009. Further, beginning April 1, 2009, the FDIC required higher risk institutions to pay a larger share of premiums by factoring in rate adjustments based on secured liabilities and unsecured debt levels. On May 22, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule that imposed a special assessment for the second quarter of 2009 of 5 basis points on each insured depositary institution’s assets minus its Tier 1 capital as of June 30, 2009, which was collected on September 30, 2009 in the amount of $906,000 for First Federal. On November 12, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule requiring insured depository institutions to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012. The prepaid assessments for these periods were collected on December 30, 2009, along with the regular quarterly risk-based deposit insurance assessment for the third quarter of 2009. For the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, the prepaid assessment rate was based on each institution’s total base assessment rate in effect on September 30, 2009, modified to assume that the assessment rate in effect for the institution on September 30, 2009, was in effect for the entire third quarter of 2009. On September 29, 2009, the FDIC increased annual assessment rates uniformly by 3 basis points beginning in 2011. As a result, an institution’s total base assessment rate for purposes of estimating an institution’s assessment for 2011 and 2012 was increased by 3 basis points. Each institution’s prepaid assessment base was calculated using its third quarter 2009 assessment base, adjusted quarterly for an estimated 5% annual growth rate in the assessment base through the end of 2012. First Federal paid $9.3 million for the three-year prepayment in December 2009, of which $592,000 was expensed in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the remainder will be expensed over three years.

In January 2010, the FDIC issued an advance notice of proposed rule-making asking for comments on how the FDIC’s risk-based deposit insurance assessment system could be changed to include the risks of certain employee compensation as criteria in the assessment system.

Insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon finding that an institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. Management does not currently know of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of the deposit insurance.

Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program – On October 14, 2008, the FDIC announced a new program, the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. This program has two components – The Debt Guarantee Program and the Transaction Account Guarantee Program. The Debt Guarantee Program guarantees newly issued senior unsecured debt of a participating organization, up to certain limits established for each institution, issued between October 14, 2008 and June 30, 2009. The FDIC will pay the unpaid principal and interest on an FDIC-guaranteed debt instrument upon the uncured failure of the participating entity to make a timely payment of principal or interest in accordance with the terms of the instrument. The guarantee will remain in effect until June 30, 2012. In return for the FDIC’s guarantee, participating institutions will pay the FDIC a fee based on the amount and maturity of the debt. The Company opted to participate in the Debt Guarantee Program.

 

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The Transaction Account Guarantee Program provides full deposit insurance coverage for non-interest bearing transaction deposit accounts, regardless of dollar amount, until June 30, 2010, which was extended from the original December 31, 2009 expiration. An annualized twenty-five basis point assessment (increased from 10 basis points) on balances in noninterest-bearing transaction accounts that exceed the existing deposit insurance limit of $250,000 will be assessed on a quarterly basis to insured depository institutions that have not opted out of this component of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The Company has opted to participate in the Transaction Account Guarantee Program.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

An investment in the Company’s common stock is subject to risks inherent to the Company’s business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Company are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this report. The risks and uncertainties described below are the not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations.

If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the market price of the Company’s common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Economic conditions may adversely affect First Defiance’s operations and financial condition.

Local Economic Conditions – First Defiance conducts its banking and insurance business primarily in northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana and southeast Michigan. Unemployment rates for the counties within our geographic market area are above the median rate for the United States and above the median rates for the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. As reported for December 2009, the 15 counties in which our offices are located had unemployment rates between 9.6% and 17.3%, and only one, Ottawa County, Ohio, experienced an improvement in its unemployment rate in 2009. In addition, real estate values in First Defiance’s markets have declined and may continue to decline. High unemployment and declining real estate values have a negative impact on the Company’s earnings and financial condition because:

 

   

more borrowers are unable to make payments on their loans;

 

   

the value of collateral securing loans has declined; and

 

   

the overall quality of the loan portfolio has declined.

General Economic Conditions – Dramatic declines in real estate values, along with high unemployment, have disrupted the national credit and capital markets over the last two years. As a result, many financial institutions have had to seek additional capital, to merge with larger and stronger institutions, to seek government assistance or bankruptcy protection and, in some cases, they have been forced into a sale or closed by the bank regulatory agencies. Many lenders and institutional investors have reduced and, in some cases, ceased to provide funding to borrowers, including to other financial institutions, because of concern about the stability of the financial markets and the strength of counterparties. It is difficult to predict how long these economic conditions will exist, which of our markets, products or other businesses will ultimately be affected, and whether management’s actions will effectively mitigate these external factors. The reduced availability of credit, the lack of confidence in the financial sector, decreased consumer confidence, increased volatility in the financial markets and reduced business activity could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

As a result of the challenges presented by economic conditions, First Defiance faces the following risks:

 

   

inability of borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans, or decreases in value of real estate collateral securing the payment of such loans resulting in significant credit losses, which could result in increased delinquencies, foreclosures and customer bankruptcies, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results;

 

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increased regulation of the financial services industry, including heightened legal standards and regulatory requirements or expectations; compliance with such regulation will likely increase costs and may limit the Company’s ability to pursue business opportunities;

 

   

further disruptions in the capital markets or other events, including actions by rating agencies and deteriorating investor expectations, may result in an inability to borrow on favorable terms or at all from other financial institutions;

 

   

increased competition among financial services companies due to the consolidation of financial institutions, which may adversely affect our ability to market the Company’s products and services; and

 

   

further increases in FDIC insurance premiums due to the market developments which have significantly depleted the insurance fund of the FDIC and reduced the ratio of reserves to insured deposits.

Declining Real Estate Values – Approximately 74.9% of the loans in First Federal’s portfolio are secured in whole or in part by real estate. As residential real estate prices have declined in the last two years, defaults and foreclosures have increased. Commercial real estate values have also declined, and the owners of many income-producing properties are experiencing declines in their revenue, which may adversely affect their ability to repay their loans. Foreclosures and resolutions of nonperforming loans require significant personnel resources and involve other costs that may increase our operating expenses. Properties acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure are taking longer to sell in the current economy, which increases the Company’s expenses for managing, maintaining and insuring real estate owned. If First Federal is unable to sell properties at a price that will cover its expenses as well as the unpaid principal and interest on the loan, the resulting write-downs and losses adversely affect First Defiance’s net income.

Volatile Capital Markets – The capital and credit markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption for more than a year. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on credit availability for certain issuers. Continuing market disruption and volatility could have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to access capital and on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

First Defiance’s stock price may fluctuate significantly in the future and these fluctuations may be unrelated to the underlying performance of First Defiance. General market price declines and overall market volatility in the future could adversely affect the price of its common stock, and the current market price of the stock may not be indicative of future market prices.

First Defiance’s stock price has been volatile in the past and several factors could cause the price to fluctuate substantially in the future. These factors include:

 

   

Actions by government regulators;

 

   

First Defiance’s announcements of developments related to its business;

 

   

Fluctuation in our results of operation;

 

   

Sales of substantial amounts of our securities into the marketplace;

 

   

New reports of trends, concerns and other issues related to the financial services industry.

 

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First Defiance’s loan portfolio includes a concentration of commercial real estate loans and commercial loans, which involve risks specific to real estate value and the successful operations of these businesses.

At December 31, 2009, First Federal’s portfolio of commercial real estate loans totaled $806.9 million, or approximately 49.1% of total loans. First Federal’s commercial real estate loans typically have higher principal amounts than residential real estate loans, and many of our commercial real estate borrowers have more than one loan outstanding. As a result, an adverse development on one loan can expose First Defiance to greater risk of loss on other loans. Additionally, repayment of the loans is generally dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic conditions and events outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties.

At December 31, 2009, First Federal’s portfolio of commercial loans totaled $379.4 million, or approximately 23.1% of total loans. Commercial loans generally expose First Defiance to a greater risk of nonpayment and loss than commercial real estate or residential real estate loans since repayment of such loans often depends on the successful operations and income stream of the borrowers. First Federal’s commercial loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower such as accounts receivable, inventory, machinery or real estate. In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers. The collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. Credit support provided by the borrower for most of these loans and the probability of repayment is based on the liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, if any exists.

First Defiance targets its business lending towards small and medium-sized businesses, many of which have fewer financial resources than larger companies and may be more susceptible to economic downturns. If general economic conditions negatively impact these businesses, First Defiance’s results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Increases to the allowance for loan losses may cause First Defiance’s earnings to decrease.

First Defiance makes a number of assumptions and judgments about the collectability of its loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of loans. In determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses, First Defiance relies on loan quality reviews, past loss experience, and an evaluation of economic conditions, among other factors. If its assumptions prove to be incorrect, First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual losses, resulting in additions to the allowance. Material additions to the allowance and any loan losses that exceed First Defiance’s reserves would materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in interest rates can adversely affect First Defiance’s profitability

First Defiance’s earnings and financial condition are dependent to a large degree upon net interest income, which is the difference, or spread, between interest earned from loans and investments and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including:

 

   

the rate of inflation;

 

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economic conditions;

 

   

federal monetary policies; and

 

   

stability of domestic and foreign markets.

Because First Defiance’s interest-bearing liabilities may reprice or mature more quickly than its interest-earning assets, an increase in interest rates could result in a decrease in First Defiance’s net interest income.

First Federal originates a significant amount of residential mortgage loans that it sells in the secondary market. The origination of residential mortgage loans is highly dependent on the local real estate market and the current interest rates. Increasing interest rates tend to reduce the origination of loans for sale and consequently fee income, which First Defiance reports as mortgage banking income. Conversely, decreasing interest rates have the effect of causing clients to refinance mortgage loans faster than anticipated. This causes the value of mortgage servicing rights on the loans sold to be lower than originally anticipated. If this happens, First Defiance may be required to write down the value of its mortgage servicing rights faster than anticipated, which will increase expense and lower earnings. Accelerated repayments on loans and mortgage backed securities could result in the reinvestment of funds at lower rates than the loans or securities were paying.

Laws and regulations may affect First Defiance’s results of operations.

The earnings of financial institutions are affected by the regulations and policies of various regulatory authorities, including the Federal Reserve Board, which regulates the money supply, and the OTS, which regulates the Company and First Federal, and the FDIC, which regulates First Federal. The OTS has extensive supervisory authority over the Company, affecting a comprehensive range of matters relating to ownership and control of First Defiance’s shares, First Defiance’s acquisition of other companies and businesses, permissible activities for the Company to engage in, maintenance of adequate capital levels and other aspects of operations. These supervisory and regulatory powers are intended primarily for the protection for First Defiance’s depositors and customers and the deposit insurance fund, rather than First Defiance’s shareholders.

In connection with its supervision of First Defiance, the OTS presented the Company with a memorandum of understanding, which is a tool employed by bank regulatory agencies to address areas of concern to the regulator. The memorandum for the Company requires that it submit to the OTS specific strategies for increasing and maintaining capital at targets, to be established by First Defiance’s board of directors that are commensurate with First Defiance’s risk profile. At December 31, 2009, First Federal’s capital ratios were 10.40% for tangible capital and 13.04% for total risk-based capital, both of which exceed the regulatory thresholds to be considered “well-capitalized.” The memorandum also requires that First Defiance obtain approval from the OTS before it pays any dividends, including dividends on common shares, or incur, issue, renew, or rollover any debt. First Federal is also agreeing to a memorandum of understanding, the principal terms of which relate to First Federal’s risk profile and asset quality. Compliance with the First Federal memorandum may restrict First Defiance’s operations and adversely affect its financial results.

FDIC insurance premiums have increased substantially in 2009, and First Federal expects to pay higher FDIC premiums in the future because bank failures have significantly reduced the deposit insurance fund’s ratio of reserves to insured deposits. The FDIC adopted a revised risk-based deposit

 

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insurance assessment schedule on February 27, 2009, which raised deposit insurance premiums. On May 22, 2009, the FDIC also implemented a special assessment, which totaled $906,000 for First Federal. Additional special assessments may be imposed by the FDIC for future periods. On November 12, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule that requires insured depository institutions to prepay on December 30, 2009, their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011, and 2012. First Federal’s deposit insurance premiums will also increase because of the MOU. Additional bank failures may require additional significant deposit insurance premium increases, which would affect First Defiance’s income.

First Defiance issued $37.0 million of our Series A Preferred Shares to the U.S. Treasury pursuant to the CPP. The rules and policies applicable to CPP participants continue to evolve and their scope, timing and effect cannot be predicted. Current restrictions include limits on First Defiance’s ability to pay retention awards, bonuses and other incentive compensation during the period in which it has any outstanding securities held by the U.S. Treasury that were issued under the CPP. These limitations may adversely affect First Defiance’s ability to recruit and retain key personnel, especially if it is competing for talent against institutions that are not subject to the same restrictions.

The laws and regulations applicable to the banking industry could change at any time. As a result of ongoing challenges facing the U. S. economy in particular, the potential exists for new laws and regulations, and bank regulatory agencies are expected to be active in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations. Increased regulation could increase First Defiance’s cost of compliance and reduce its income to the extent that they limit the manner in which First Defiance may conduct business, including its ability to offer new products, charge fees for specific products and services, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans and achieve satisfactory interest spreads.

First Defiance’s ability to meet cash flow needs on a timely basis at a reasonable cost may adversely affect net income.

First Defiance’s principal sources of liquidity are local deposits and wholesale funding sources such as FHLB advances, Federal Funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements, and brokered or other out-of-market certificate of deposit purchases. Also, First Defiance maintains a portfolio of securities that can be used as a secondary source of liquidity. First Defiance’s access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize its activities or on terms that are acceptable could be impaired by factors that affect First Defiance directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as further disruptions in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry.

Other possible sources of liquidity include the sale or securitization of loans, the issuance of additional collateralized borrowings beyond those currently utilized with the FHLB, the issuance of debt securities and the issuance of preferred or common securities in public or private transactions, or borrowings from a commercial bank. First Defiance does not currently have any borrowings from a commercial bank, but it has used them in the past. Pursuant to the MOU, First Defiance must obtain OTS approval before incurring or issuing any debt.

Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to First Defiance’s shareholders, or fulfill obligations such as repaying First Defiance’s borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Competition affects First Defiance’s earnings.

First Defiance’s continued profitability depends on its ability to continue to effectively compete to originate loans and attract and retain deposits. Competition for both loans and deposits is intense in the financial services industry. The Company competes in its market area by offering superior service and competitive rates and products. The type of institutions First Defiance competes with include large regional commercial banks, smaller community banks, savings institutions, mortgage banking firms, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance agencies and mutual funds. As a result of their size and ability to achieve economies of scale, certain of First Defiance’s competitors can offer a broader range of products and services than the Company can offer. To stay competitive in its market area, First Defiance may need to adjust the interest rates on its products to match rates of its competition, which could have a negative impact on net interest margin.

The increasing complexity of First Defiance’s operations presents varied risks that could affect its earnings and financial condition

First Defiance processes a large volume of transactions on a daily basis and is exposed to numerous types of risks related to internal processes, people and systems. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk of fraud by persons inside or outside the Company, the execution of unauthorized transactions by employees, errors relating to transaction processing and systems, breaches of data security and our internal control system and compliance with a complex array of consumer and safety and soundness regulations. First Defiance could also experience additional loss as a result of potential legal actions that could arise as a result of operational deficiencies or as a result of noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations.

First Defiance has established and maintains a system of internal controls that provides management with information on a timely basis and allows for the monitoring of compliance with operational standards. These systems have been designed to manage operational risks at an appropriate, cost effective level. Procedures exist that are designed to ensure that policies relating to conduct, ethics, and business practices are followed. Losses from operational risks may still occur, however, including losses from the effects of operational errors.

First Defiance’s operations are also dependent on its existing infrastructure, including equipment and facilities. Extended disruption of vital infrastructure as a result of fire, power loss, natural disaster, telecommunications failures, computer hacking or viruses, terrorist activity or the domestic response to such activity, or other events outside of the control of management could have a material adverse impact on its business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. First Defiance has a business recovery plan, but there are no assurances that such a plan will work as intended or that it will prevent significant interruptions to operations.

Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or customer information, whether through a breach of our computer systems or otherwise, could severely harm our business.

In the normal course of business, First Defiance collects, processes and retains sensitive and confidential client and customer information on behalf of First Defiance and other third parties. Despite the security measures the Company has in place, First Defiance’s facilities and systems, and those of the Company’s third party service providers, may be vulnerable to security breaches, act of vandalism, computer viruses, lost or misplace data, or other similar events. Any security breach involving the

 

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unauthorized disclosure or loss of confidential customer information, whether by First Defiance or by the Company’s third party vendors, could severely damage First Defiance’s reputation, expose the Company to risks of litigation and liability, disrupt First Defiance’s operations and have a material adverse effect on First Defiance’s business.

The issuance of Series A Preferred Shares and Warrants to the U. S. Government may adversely affect the holders of our Common Shares.

First Defiance issued 37,000 Series A Preferred Shares and warrants to purchase 550,595 shares of First Defiance Common Shares to the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program. The dividends accrued and the accretion on discount on the Series A Preferred Shares issued to the U.S. Treasury reduce the net income available to the holders of our Common Shares and our earnings per Common Share. Because the Series A Preferred Shares are cumulative, any dividends not declared or paid will accumulate and will be payable when the payment of dividends is resumed. If the Series A Preferred Shares are not redeemed within five years after their original date of issuance, the annual dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Shares will increase from 5.0% per annum to 9.0% per annum. If we are unable to redeem the Series A Preferred Shares by December 5, 2013, the increase in the annual dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Shares could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and could also adversely affect our ability to declare and pay dividends on our Common Shares. Series A Preferred Shares will also receive preferential treatment in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of First Defiance.

The Common Shares underlying the Warrant represent approximately 6.4% of the Common Shares outstanding as of December 31, 2009 (including the shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant in our total outstanding Common Shares). If the Warrant is exercised, the interest of the existing holders of our Common Shares will be diluted. Although the Treasury Department has agreed not to vote any of the Common Shares acquired upon exercise of the Warrant, a transferee of the Warrant or of any Common Shares acquired upon exercise of the Warrant is not bound by this restriction. Finally, the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares allow the U.S. Treasury to impose additional restrictions, including those on dividends and to unilaterally amend the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares to comply with changes in applicable federal law.

If we fail to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares for six quarterly dividend periods (whether or not consecutive), the Treasury Department will have the right to appoint two directors to our Board of Directors until all accrued but unpaid dividends have been paid. As long as the Series A Preferred Shares are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”), the vote or consent of holders owning at least 66 2/3% of the Series A Preferred Shares outstanding is required for:

 

   

any authorization or issuance of shares ranking senior to the Series A shares;

 

   

any amendments to the rights of the Series A Preferred Shares that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of the Series A shares; or

 

   

the consummation of any merger, share exchange or similar transaction unless the Series A shares remain outstanding, or if we are not the surviving entity in such transaction, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving entity and the Series A shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities have the rights, preferences, privileges and voting power of the Series A shares.

 

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The holders of Series A Preferred Shares, including the U.S. Treasury, may have different interests from the holders of our common shares, and could vote to block transactions that may be in the best interests of the present holders of our common shares.

Regulatory restriction on dividends and our ability to repurchase shares may adversely affect our shareholders and the market price of our common shares.

As long as the Series A shares are outstanding and held by the Treasury Department, we cannot increase the quarterly dividend on our common shares above $.26 per share without prior approval from the Treasury Department. In addition to this restriction, the OTS has directed First Defiance to seek approval of the OTS before paying any dividends on our common shares.

Our principal source of funds to pay dividends on our common shares is distributions from First Federal, which require the prior approval of the OTS. The OTS has advised us that it is not likely to approve any distributions from First Federal for this purpose, to us in the foreseeable future. The OTS has also advised us that we should not pay dividends utilizing borrowings or other sources of funds that we may have access to.

As long as the Series A shares are outstanding and held by the Treasury Department, we cannot repurchase our common shares without the consent of the Treasury Department (other than repurchases in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice and certain other exemptions). Further, the OTS has directed First Defiance to seek approval of the OTS before repurchasing any common shares.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

At December 31, 2009, First Federal conducted its business from its main office at 601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio, and thirty-four other full service banking centers in northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana and southeast Michigan. First Insurance conducted its business from leased office space at 419 5th Street, Suite 1200, Defiance, Ohio and 209 West Poe Road, Bowling Green, Ohio.

In 2009, the Company announced the closure of two branch locations, the Cole Street branch in Lima, Ohio which is owned, and the Hillsdale, Michigan branch which is leased. As of December 31, 2009, the Cole Street branch in Lima, Ohio was transferred at its fair value of $300,000 to other real estate owned and is held for sale. Also, the Hillsdale branch leasehold improvements were written down to a value of $0. These two branches were closed on January 22, 2010.

First Defiance maintains its headquarters in the main office of First Federal at 601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio. Back-office operation departments, including information technology, loan processing and underwriting, deposit processing, accounting and risk management are headquartered in an operations center located at 25600 Elliott Road, Defiance, Ohio.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the office and other properties of the Company at December 31, 2009. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Description/address

 

Leased/Owned

   Net Book Value
of Property
   Deposits
    (In Thousands)

Main Office, First Federal

       

601 Clinton St., Defiance, OH

  Owned    $ 4,729    $ 271,227

Operations Center

       

25600 Elliott Rd., Defiance, OH

  Owned      5,982      N/A

Mobile Banking

       

1011 W. Beecher St., Adrian, MI

  Owned      218      N/A

Branch Offices, First Federal

       

204 E. High St., Bryan, OH*

  Owned      800      125,691

211 S. Fulton St., Wauseon, OH

  Owned      559      58,715

625 Scott St., Napoleon, OH

  Owned      1,192      70,885

1050 East Main St., Montpelier, OH

  Owned      403      36,250

926 East High St., Bryan, OH*

  Owned      90      —  

1800 Scott St., Napoleon, OH

  Owned      1,459      27,335

1177 N. Clinton St., Defiance, OH

  Owned, Land Lease      1,067      37,038

905 N. Williams St., Paulding, OH

  Owned      864      44,058

201 E. High St., Hicksville, OH

  Owned      423      23,670

3900 N. Main St., Findlay, OH

  Owned      1,102      45,451

11694 N. Countyline St., Fostoria, OH

  Owned      713      29,202

1226 W. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH

  Owned      1,115      83,436

301 S. Main St., Findlay, OH

  Owned      1,192      42,145

405 E. Main St., Ottawa, OH

  Owned      384      76,580

124 E. Main St., McComb, OH

  Owned      222      21,929

7591 Patriot Dr., Findlay, OH

  Owned      1,230      31,140

417 W Dussell Dr., Maumee, OH

  Owned, Land Lease      995      39,275

230 E. Second St., Delphos, OH

  Owned      1,160      94,099

105 S. Greenlawn Ave., Elida, OH

  Owned      364      39,089

2600 Allentown Rd., Lima, OH

  Owned      873      38,424

2285 N. Cole St., Lima, OH**

  Owned      —        9,112

22020 W. State Rt. 51, Genoa, OH

  Owned      960      36,978

3426 Navarre Ave., Oregon, OH

  Owned      1,043      25,091

1077 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg, OH

  Owned      1,173      23,176

2565 Shawnee Rd., Lima, OH

  Owned      1,611      27,700

7437 Coldwater Rd., Fort Wayne, IN

  Leased      138      11,559

135 South Main St., Glandorf, OH

  Leased      —        12,776

300 N. Main St., Adrian, MI

  Owned      825      53,194

1701 W. Maumee St., Adrian, MI

  Owned      169      43,900

211 W. Main St., Morenci, MI

  Owned      183      24,621

539 S. Meridian, Hudson, MI

  Owned      637      31,460

8 W. Carleton Rd., Hillsdale, MI**

  Leased      —        11,753

1449 W. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, MI

  Owned      1,588      15,307

501 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, MI

  Leased      13      17,960

First Insurance & Investments

       

419 5th Street, Suite 1200, Defiance, OH

  Leased      158      N/A

209 West Poe Road, Bowling Green, OH

  Leased      18      N/A
               
     $ 35,652    $ 1,580,226
               

 

*

The Bryan East (926 East High St.) deposits are now included in the Bryan Main (204 E. High Street) totals.

 

**

Closed on January 22, 2010.

 

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

First Defiance is involved in routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are believed by management to be immaterial to the financial condition of First Defiance.

 

Item 4. Reserved

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FDEF.” As of March 3, 2010, the Company had 2,361 shareholders of record.

The table below shows the reported high and low sales prices of the common stock and cash dividends declared per share of common stock during the periods indicated in 2008 and 2009.

 

     Years Ending
     December 31, 2009    December 31, 2008
     High    Low    Dividend    High    Low    Dividend

Quarter ended:

                 

March 31

   $ 8.95    $ 3.76    $ .17    $ 22.51    $ 17.30    $ .26

June 30

     14.25      6.10      .085      20.00      15.90      .26

September 30

     18.33      12.00      .04      17.66      10.00      .26

December 31

     18.93      10.06      —        14.50      6.00      .17

First Defiance’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is primarily dependent on the ability of the Subsidiaries to pay dividends to First Defiance. The OTS imposes various restrictions or requirements on the ability of a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company to make capital distributions. The OTS has advised the Company that it is not likely to approve any distributions from First Federal for this purpose in the foreseeable future. The OTS also advised the Company that prior approval would be required to pay dividends utilizing borrowings or other source of funds that the Company may have access to. Capital distributions include, without limitation, payments of cash dividends, repurchases and certain other acquisitions by an association of its shares and payments to stockholders of another association in an acquisition of such other association.

Even if the OTS approves a distribution from First Federal to First Defiance, as a result of participating in the CPP, First Defiance is prohibited, without prior approval of the U.S. Treasury, from paying a quarterly cash dividend of more than $0.26 per share until the earlier of December 5, 2011 or the date the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock is redeemed or transferred to an unaffiliated third party.

First Federal paid $5.4 million in dividends to First Defiance during 2009 and $10.0 million in 2008. First Insurance paid $700,000 in dividends to First Defiance during 2009 and $1.8 million in 2008.

The line graph below compares the yearly percentage change in cumulative total shareholder return on First Defiance common stock and the cumulative total return of the NASDAQ Composite Index, the SNL NASDAQ Bank Index and the SNL Midwest Thrift Index. An investment of $100 on December 31, 2004, and the reinvestment of all dividends are assumed. The performance graph represents past performance and should not be considered to be an indication of future performance.

 

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     Period Ending

Index

   12/31/04    12/31/05    12/31/06    12/31/07    12/31/08    12/31/09

First Defiance Financial Corp.

   100.00    96.95    112.23    84.71    31.84    48.89

NASDAQ Composite

   100.00    101.37    111.03    121.92    72.49    104.31

SNL Bank NASDAQ Index

   100.00    96.95    108.85    85.45    62.06    50.34

SNL Midwest Thrift Index

   100.00    97.72    110.91    93.68    83.25    70.12

LOGO

First Defiance did not have any common stock repurchases during 2009, but has 93,124 shares that may be purchased under a plan announced by the Board of Directors on July 18, 2003. Participation in the CPP prohibits the Company from repurchasing any of its common shares without the prior approval of the U.S. Treasury until the earlier of December 5, 2011 or the date the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock is redeemed or transferred to an unaffiliated third party. The OTS has also prohibited First Defiance from repurchasing its common stock without prior approval of the OTS.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table is derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the five years ended December 31, 2009. The following consolidated selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The operating results of the acquired companies are included with the Company’s results of operations since their respective dates of acquisition.

 

     As of and For the Year Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data  

Financial Condition:

          

Total assets

   $ 2,057,523      $ 1,957,400      $ 1,609,404      $ 1,527,879      $ 1,461,082   

Investment securities

     139,378        118,461        113,487        112,123        114,854   

Loans held-to maturity, net

     1,580,575        1,592,643        1,275,806        1,226,310        1,164,481   

Allowance for loan losses

     36,547        24,592        13,890        13,579        13,673   

Nonperforming assets (1)

     61,433        41,267        11,677        9,675        5,356   

Deposits and borrowers’ escrow balances

     1,580,891        1,470,564        1,218,620        1,139,112        1,070,106   

FHLB advances

     146,927        156,067        139,536        162,228        180,960   

Stockholders’ equity

     234,086        229,159        165,954        159,825        151,216   

Share Information:

          

Basic earnings per share

     0.64        0.91        1.96        2.22        1.75   

Diluted earnings per share

     0.63        0.91        1.94        2.18        1.69   

Book value per common share

     24.26        23.67        23.51        22.38        21.34   

Tangible book value per common share

     16.44        15.67        17.79        16.99        15.81   

Cash dividends per common share

     0.295        0.95        1.01        0.97        0.90   

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

     8,196        7,919        7,178        7,163        7,096   

Shares outstanding end of period

     8,118        8,117        7,059        7,142        7,085   

Operations:

          

Interest income

   $ 100,579      $ 103,463      $ 98,751      $ 93,065      $ 76,174   

Interest expense

     33,257        41,268        50,089        44,043        28,892   

Net interest income

     67,322        62,195        48,662        49,022        47,282   

Provision for loan losses

     23,232        12,585        2,306        1,756        1,442   

Non-interest income

     26,295        19,069        22,130        19,624        15,925   

Non-interest expense

     60,524        57,794        48,113        43,839        43,942   

Income before tax

     9,861        10,885        20,373        23,051        17,823   

Federal income tax

     2,667        3,528        6,469        7,451        5,853   

Net Income

     7,194        7,357        13,904        15,600        11,970   

Performance Ratios:

          

Return on average assets

     0.36     0.40     0.90     1.04     0.88

Return on average equity

     3.09     3.85     8.48     10.03     8.26

Interest rate spread (2)

     3.50     3.51     3.17     3.36     3.63

Net interest margin (2)

     3.76     3.80     3.55     3.68     3.87

Ratio of operating expense to average total assets

     2.99     3.12     3.12     2.93     3.22

Efficiency ratio (3)

     61.50     67.74     67.29     63.31     70.18

Capital Ratios:

          

Equity to total assets at end of period

     11.38     11.71     10.31     10.46     10.35

Tangible common equity to tangible assets at end of period

     6.69     6.72     8.00     8.15     7.88

Average equity to average assets

     11.49     10.30     10.62     10.40     10.62

Asset Quality Ratios:

          

Nonperforming assets to total assets at end of period (1)

     2.99     2.11     0.73     0.63     0.37

Allowance for loan losses to total loans*

     2.26     1.52     1.08     1.10     1.16

Net charge-offs to average loans

     0.70     0.41     0.16     0.15     0.07

 

(1)

Nonperforming assets consist of non-accrual loans that are contractually past due 90 days or more; loans that are deemed impaired under the criteria of FASB ASC Topic 310; loans that have been restructured; and real estate, mobile homes and other assets acquired by foreclosure or deed-in-lieu thereof.

 

(2)

Interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earnings assets and the weighted average rate on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earnings assets. Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate of 35%.

 

(3)

Efficiency ratio represents non-interest expense divided by the sum of tax-equivalent net interest income plus non-interest income, excluding securities gain or losses, net.

 

*

Total loans are net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified as such. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Corporation’s future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Corporation that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per common share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of First Defiance or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “targeted”, “continue”, “remain”, “will”, “should”, “may” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on the Corporation and its customers and the Corporation’s assessment of that impact.

 

   

Volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets.

 

   

Government intervention in the U.S. financial system.

 

   

Changes in the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs.

 

   

Changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements.

 

   

The effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

   

Inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations.

 

   

Political instability.

 

   

Acts of God or of war or terrorism.

 

   

The timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users.

 

   

Changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits.

 

   

Changes in the financial performance and/or condition of the Corporation’s borrowers.

 

   

Technological changes including core system conversions.

 

   

Acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses.

 

   

The ability to increase market share and control expenses.

 

   

Changes in the competitive environment among financial holding companies and other financial service providers.

 

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The effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) with which the Corporation and its subsidiaries must comply.

 

   

The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters.

 

   

The costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments including the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews.

 

   

Greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the integration of new products and lines of business.

 

   

The Corporation’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Recent Market Developments

On February 10, 2009, the Financial Stability Plan (“FSP”) was announced by the U.S. Treasury Department. The FSP is a comprehensive set of measures intended to strengthen the financial system. The core elements of the plan include making bank capital infusions, creating a private sector investment fund to buy troubled assets, establishing guidelines for loan modification programs and expanding the Federal Reserve lending program. Throughout 2009, the Treasury Department announced various programs in implementation of the FSP, and sent numerous legislative proposals to Congress for consideration. We continue to monitor these developments and assess their potential impact on our business.

On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) was enacted. ARRA is intended to provide stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn brought about by the subprime mortgage crisis and the resulting credit crunch. The bill has many features including, federal tax cuts, expansion of unemployment benefits and several other social welfare provisions along with domestic spending plans for education, healthcare and infrastructure repair and construction. The new legislation also includes other non-economic stimulus items, such as a limitation on executive compensation in federally aided financial institutions.

On February 18, 2009, the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (“HASP”) was announced by the President of the United States. HASP is intended to support a recovery in the housing market and ensure that workers can continue to pay their mortgage by providing access to low cost refinancing, support low mortgage rates by supporting Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae as well as guidance to help prevent foreclosures.

In response to the financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets and the going concern threats to investment banks and other financial institutions, on October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”) was signed into law. Pursuant to the EESA, the U.S. Treasury was given the authority to, among other things, purchase up to $700 billion of mortgages, mortgage-backed securities and certain other financial instruments from financial institutions for the purpose of stabilizing and providing liquidity to the U.S. financial markets.

On October 14, 2008, the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury announced that the Department of the Treasury will purchase equity stakes in a wide variety of banks and thrifts. Under the program, known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”), from the $700 billion authorized by the EESA, the Treasury made $250 billion of capital available to U.S.

 

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financial institutions in the form of preferred stock. In conjunction with the purchase of preferred stock, the Treasury received from participating financial institutions warrants to purchase common stock with an aggregate market price equal to 15% of the preferred investment. Participating financial institutions were required to adopt the Treasury’s standards for executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the Treasury holds equity issued under the CPP. On December 5, 2008, First Defiance issued to the U.S. Treasury 37,000 shares of First Defiance’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and a warrant to purchase 550,595 First Defiance common shares, par value $0.01 per share at an exercise price of $10.08 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution and other adjustments.

On November 21, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) adopted a final rule relating to the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (“TLG Program”). The TLG Program was announced by the FDIC on October 14, 2008, preceded by the determination of systemic risk by the Secretary of the Department of Treasury (after consultation with the President), as an initiative to counter the system-wide crisis in the nation’s financial sector. Under the TLG Program the FDIC will (i) guarantee, through the earlier of maturity or June 30, 2012, certain newly issued senior unsecured debt issued by participating institutions on or after October 14, 2008, and before June 30, 2009 and (ii) provide full FDIC deposit insurance coverage for non-interest bearing transaction deposit accounts, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (“NOW”) accounts paying less than 0.5% interest per annum and Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (“IOLTA”) accounts held at participating FDIC – insured institutions through December 31, 2009. Effective October 1, 2009, the FDIC extended the expiration date of the TLG Program for six months until June 30, 2010. The fee assessment for deposit insurance coverage increased from the original 10 basis points per quarter to 25 basis points on amounts in covered accounts exceeding $250,000. The Corporation elected to participate in both guarantee programs and to participate in the TLG Program for an additional six months until June 30, 2010.

The following section presents information to assess the financial condition and results of operations of First Defiance. This section should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the supplemental financial data contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

First Defiance is an unitary thrift holding company which conducts business through its subsidiaries, First Federal Bank of the Midwest (“First Federal”) and First Insurance and Investments Inc. (“First Insurance”).

First Federal is a federally chartered stock savings bank that provides financial services to communities based in northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana, and southeastern Michigan where it operates 33 full service banking centers in 12 northwest Ohio counties, 1 northeast Indiana county, and 2 southeastern Michigan counties. During the later part 2009, First Federal made the decision to close two branch facilities, one located in the Lima, Ohio and the other in Hillsdale, Michigan. First Federal also relocated its office facility in Oregon, Ohio during 2009. First Federal opened its newest office on August 6, 2007 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and on February 11, 2008, it opened a center in Glandorf, Ohio.

On March 14, 2008, First Defiance completed the acquisition of Pavilion Bancorp, Inc. (“Pavilion”), which added eight banking centers in Southeast Michigan. Under the terms of the Agreement, First Defiance acquired Pavilion and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bank of Lenawee, which was headquartered in Adrian, Michigan. First Defiance agreed to purchase each outstanding share of Pavilion for 1.4209 shares of First Defiance common stock plus $37.50 in cash. The cash portion of the acquisition was financed from existing sources of liquidity, including a line of credit facility at First Defiance. For more details on the Pavilion acquisition, see Note 4 – Acquisitions in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

First Federal provides a broad range of financial services including checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, real estate mortgage loans, commercial loans, consumer loans, home equity loans and trust and wealth management services through its extensive branch network.

 

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First Insurance sells a variety of property and casualty, group health and life and individual health and life insurance products. Insurance products are sold through First Insurance’s offices in Defiance and Bowling Green, Ohio.

Business Strategy

First Defiance’s primary objective is to be a high performing community banking organization, well regarded in its market areas. First Defiance accomplishes this through emphasis on local decision making and empowering its employees with tools and knowledge to serve its customers’ needs. First Defiance believes in a “Customer First” philosophy that is strengthened by its Trusted Advisor initiative. First Defiance also has a tagline of “Bank with the people you know and trust” as an indication of its commitment to local, responsive, personalized service. First Defiance believes this strategy results in greater customer loyalty and profitability through core relationships. First Defiance is focused on diversification of revenue sources and increased market penetration in areas where the growth potential exists for a balance between acquisition and organic growth. The primary segments of First Defiance’s business strategy is commercial banking, consumer banking, including the origination and sale of single family residential loans, enhancement of fee income, wealth management and insurance sales, each united by a strong customer service culture throughout the organization.

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate Lending – Commercial and commercial real estate lending have been an ongoing focus and a major component of First Federal’s success. First Federal provides primarily commercial real estate and commercial business loans with an emphasis on owner occupied commercial real estate and commercial business lending with a focus on the deposit balances that accompany these relationships. First Federal’s client base tends to be small to middle market customers with annual gross revenues generally between $1 million and $50 million. First Federal’s focus is also on securing multiple guarantors in addition to collateral were possible. These customers require First Federal to have a high degree of knowledge and understanding of their business in order to provide them with solutions to their financial needs. First Federal’s Customer First philosophy and culture complements this need of its clients. First Federal believes this personal service model differentiates First Federal from its competitors, particularly the larger regional institutions. First Federal offers a wide variety of products to support commercial clients including remote deposit capture and other cash management services. First Federal also believes that the small business customer is a strong market for First Federal. First Federal participates in many of the Small Business Administration lending programs. Maintaining a diversified portfolio with an emphasis on monitoring industry concentrations and reacting to changes in the credit characteristics of industries is an ongoing focus.

Consumer Banking – First Federal offers customers a full range of deposit and investment products including demand, NOW, money market, certificates of deposits, CDARS and savings accounts. First Federal offers a full range of investment products through the wealth management department and a wide variety of consumer loan products, including residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, installment loans and education loans. First Federal also offers online banking services, which include online bill pay along with debit cards.

Fee Income Development – Generation of fee income and the diversification of revenue sources are accomplished through the mortgage banking operation, insurance subsidiary and the wealth management department as First Defiance seeks to reduce reliance on retail transaction fee income.

Deposit Growth – First Federal’s focus has been to grow core deposits with an emphasis on total relationship banking with both our retail and commercial customers. First Federal has initiated a pricing strategy that considers the whole relationship of the customer. First Federal will continue to focus on increasing its market share in the communities it serves by providing quality products with extraordinary customer service, business development strategies and branch expansion. First Federal will look to grow its footprint in areas believed to further compliment its overall market share and compliment its strategy of being a high performing community bank.

 

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Asset Quality – Maintaining a strong credit culture is of the utmost importance to First Federal. First Federal has maintained a strong credit approval and review process that has allowed the Company to maintain a credit quality standard that balances the return with the risks of industry concentrations and loan types. First Federal is primarily a collateral lender with an emphasis on cash flow performance, while obtaining additional support from personal guarantees and secondary sources of repayment. First Federal has directed its attention on loan types and markets that it knows well and in which its has historically been successful in. First Federal strives to have loan relationships that are well diversified in both size and industry, and monitor the overall trends in the portfolio to maintain its industry and loan type concentration targets. First Federal maintains a problem loan remediation process that focuses on detection and resolution. First Federal maintains a strong process of internal control that subjects the loan portfolio to periodic internal reviews as well as independent third party loan review.

Expansion Opportunities – First Defiance believes it is well positioned to take advantage of acquisitions or other business opportunities in its market areas, including FDIC-assisted transactions. First Defiance believes it has a track record of successfully accomplishing both acquisitions and de novo branching in its market area. This track record puts the Company in a solid position to enter or expand its business. First Defiance has successfully integrated acquired institutions in the past with the most recent acquisition completed in 2008. First Defiance will continue to be disciplined as well as opportunistic in its approach to future acquisitions and de novo branching with a focus on its primary geographic market area, which it knows well and has been competing in for a long period of time.

Financial Condition

Assets at December 31, 2009 totaled $2.06 billion compared to $1.96 billion at December 31, 2008, an increase of $100.1 million or 5.1%. Cash and equivalents increased $75.0 million to $121.1 million at December 31, 2009 from $46.2 million at December 31, 2008. The increase in assets was funded through growth in deposits, which increased by $110.3 million or 7.5%, to $1.58 billion at December 31, 2009 from $1.47 billion at December 31, 2008.

Securities

The securities portfolio increased $20.9 million to $139.4 million at December 31, 2009. The 2009 activity in the portfolio included $53.9 million of purchases, $25.3 million of amortization and maturities, $6.1 million of securities being sold, other-than-temporary impairment write-downs of $3.9 million and a net increase of $2.4 million in market value on available-for-sale securities.

Loans

Gross Loans receivable remained flat with last year at $1.62 million at both December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. For more details on the loan balances acquired in the Pavilion acquisition, see Note 8 – Loans Receivable and/or Note 4 – Acquisitions in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

The majority of First Defiance’s non-residential real estate and commercial loans are to small and mid-sized businesses. The combined commercial, non-residential real estate and multi-family real estate loan portfolios totaled $1.19 billion and $1.11 billion at December 31, 2009 and 2008 respectively and accounted for approximately 72.1% and 67.9% of First Defiance’s loan portfolio at the end of those respective periods. First Defiance believes it has been able to establish itself as a leader in its market area in the commercial and commercial real estate lending area by hiring experienced lenders and providing a high level of customer service to its commercial lending clients.

The one-to-four family residential portfolio totaled $227.6 million at December 31, 2009, compared with $251.8 million at the end of 2008. At the end of 2009 those loans comprised 13.8% of the total loan portfolio, down from 15.4% at December 31, 2008.

 

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Construction loans, which includes one to four family and commercial real estate properties, declined to $48.6 million at December 31, 2009 compared to $72.9 million at December 31, 2008. These loans accounted for approximately 3.0% and 4.4% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Home equity and home improvement loans declined to $148.0 million at December 31, 2009, from $161.1 million at the end of 2008. At the end of 2009 those loans comprised 9.0% of the total loan portfolio, down from 9.8% at December 31, 2008.

Consumer finance and mobile home loans were just $34.1 million at December 31, 2009, down from $41.0 million at the end of 2008. These loans comprised just 2.0% and 2.5% of the total portfolio at December 31, 2009 and 2008 respectively.

In order to properly assess the collateral dependent loans included in its loan portfolio, the Company has established policies regarding the monitoring of the collateral underlying such loans. The Company requires an appraisal that is less than one year old for all new collateral dependent real estate loans, and all renewed collateral dependent real estate loans where significant new money is extended. The appraisal process is handled by the Credit Department, which selects the appraiser and orders the appraisal for commercial loans greater than $250,000. First Defiance’s loan policy prohibits the account officer from talking or communicating with the appraiser to insure that the appraiser is not influenced by the account officer in any way in making their determination of value.

First Federal generally does not require updated appraisals for performing loans unless significant new money is requested by the borrower.

When a collateral dependent loan is downgraded to classified status, First Federal reviews the most current appraisal on file and if necessary, based on First Federal’s assessment of the appraisal, such as age, market, etc, First Federal will discount this amount to a more appropriate current value based on inputs from lenders and realtors. This amount may then be discounted further by First Federal’s estimation of the carrying and selling costs. In some instances, we may require a new appraisal. Finally, First Federal assesses whether there is any collateral short fall, considering guarantor support and determines if a reserve is necessary.

When a collateral dependent loan moves to non-performing status, First Federal generally gets a new third party appraisal and adjusts the reserve as necessary based upon the new appraisal and an estimate of costs to liquidate the collateral. All properties that are moved into the Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”) category are supported by current appraisals, and the OREO is carried at the appraised value less First Federal’s estimate of the liquidation costs.

First Federal does not adjust any appraisals upward without written documentation of this valuation change from the appraiser. When setting reserves on classified loans, appraisal values may be discounted downward based upon First Federal’s experience with liquidating similar properties.

All collateral dependent loans over 90 days past due and or on non-accrual as well as all Troubled Debt Restructured collateral dependent loans are classified as non-performing loans. Non-performing status automatically occurs in the month in which the 90 day delinquency occurs. For Troubled Debt Restructured collateral dependent loans, the loans are put into non-performing status in the month in which the restructure occurs.

As stated above, once a collateral dependent loan is identified as non-performing, First Federal generally gets an appraisal. Troubled Debt Restructure collateral dependent loans receive an appraisal as part of the restructure credit decision.

 

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Appraisals are received within approximately 60 days after they are requested. The First Federal Loan Loss Reserve Committee reviews the amount of each new appraisal and makes any necessary adjustment to the reserve at its meeting prior to the end of each quarter.

Any partially charged-off collateral dependent loans are considered non-performing, and as such, would need to show an extended period of time with satisfactory payment performance as well as cash flow coverage capability supported by current financial statements before First Federal will consider an upgrade to performing status. If the loan maintains a rate at restructuring that is lower than the market rate for similar credits, the loan will remain classified as Troubled Debt Restructuring until such time as it is paid off or restructured at prevailing rates and terms. First Federal may consider moving the loan to accruing status after six months of satisfactory payment performance.

For loans where First Federal determines that an updated appraisal is not necessary, other means are used to verify the value of the real estate, such as recent sales of similar properties on which First Federal had loans as well as calls to appraisers, brokers, realtors and investors. First Federal monitors and tracks its reserves quarterly to determine accuracy. Based on these results, changes may occur in the processes used. The most recent analysis indicates that First Federal is within its target range of the ultimate losses on liquidated loans being, on average within, 10% of the specific reserves established for these loans.

Loan modifications constitute a Troubled Debt Restructuring if First Federal for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. For loans that are considered Troubled Debt Restructurings, First Federal either computes the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the original loan’s effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, it may measure impairment based on the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral even though Troubled Debt Restructurings are not expected to be deemed collateral dependent. The difference between the carrying value and fair value of the loan is recorded as a valuation allowance.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s assessment of the estimated probable credit losses in the loan portfolio at each balance sheet date. Management analyzes the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses regularly through reviews of the loan portfolio. Consideration is given to economic conditions, changes in interest rates and the effect of such changes on collateral values and borrower’s ability to pay, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio and trends in past due and non-performing loan balances. The allowance for loan losses is a material estimate that is susceptible to significant fluctuation and is established through a provision for loan losses based on management’s evaluation of the inherent risk in the loan portfolio. In addition to extensive in-house loan monitoring procedures, the Company utilizes an outside party to conduct an independent loan review of all commercial loan and commercial real estate loan relationships that exceed $250,000 of aggregate exposure. Management utilizes the results of this outside loan review to assess the effectiveness of its internal loan grading system as well as to assist in the assessment of the overall adequacy of the allowance for loan losses associated with these types of loans.

The provision for loan losses is determined by management as the amount to be added to the allowance for loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted to bring the allowance to a level which, in management’s best estimate, is necessary to absorb probable credit losses within the existing loan portfolio in the normal course of business. The allowance for loan loss is made up of two basic components. The first component is the specific allowance in which the company sets aside reserves based on the analysis of individual credits. The second component is the general reserve. The general reserve is used to record loan loss reserves for groups of homogenous loans in which the Company estimates the losses incurred in the portfolios based on quantitative and qualitative factors. Due to the uncertainty of risks in the loan portfolio, the Company’s judgment on the amount of the allowance necessary to adsorb loans losses is approximate. Table 3 presents the allocation of the specific and general components of the allowance by signification loan types.

 

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In establishing specific reserves, First Federal analyzes all loans on its classified and special mention lists at least quarterly and makes judgments about the risk of loss based on the cash flow of the borrower, the value of any collateral and the financial strength of any guarantor in determining the amount of impairment of individual loans and the specific reserve to be recorded.

For purpose of the general reserve analysis, the loan portfolio is stratified into ten different loan pools based on loan type and by market area to allocate historic loss experience. The loss experience factor applied to the non-impaired loan portfolio was based upon historical losses of the most recent four quarters.

The stratification of the loan portfolio resulted in a quantitative general allowance of $10.5 million at December 31, 2009 compared to $4.7 million at December 31, 2008. The increase in the quantitative allowance was due to the increase in the historical loss factors relating to commercial and commercial real estate loans.

In addition to the quantitative analysis, a qualitative analysis is performed each quarter to provide additional general reserves on the non-impaired loan portfolio for various factors that have a bearing on its loss content, including but not limited to the following:

 

   

Changes in international, national and local economic and business conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments

 

   

Changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio

 

   

Changes in the trends of the volume and severity of past due and classified loans; and changes in trends in the volume of non-accrual loans, troubled debt restructurings and other loan modifications

 

   

The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations

 

   

Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans

 

   

Changes in the political and regulatory environment

 

   

Changes in lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards and collection, charge-off and recovery practices

 

   

Changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff

 

   

Changes in the quality and breadth of the loan review process

The qualitative analysis at December 31, 2009 indicated a general reserve of $8.7 million compared with $9.7 million at December 31, 2008. In light of the continued environment of high unemployment, declining real estate values and sustained economic weakness in the Midwest, management feels it is prudent to build the general loan loss reserves. Out of the fifteen counties that represent the footprint of the Company, only one county in Ohio, Ottawa, has seen an improvement in its unemployment rate in 2009. The following are the unemployment rates for December 2009 and December 2008; except for Michigan as November 2009 was the latest available. The unemployment rates in December 2009 for the following counties in Ohio were; Allen 11.6%, Defiance 12.8%, Fulton 14.3%, Hancock 9.6%, Henry 13.9%, Lucas 12.3%, Ottawa 17.3%, Paulding 12.7%, Putnam 11.0%, Seneca 13.0%, Williams 14.9% and Wood 11.1%, compared to December 2008 in Allen 9.1%, Defiance 9.6%, Fulton 10.5%, Hancock 7.8%, Henry 10.6%, Lucas 10.1%, Ottawa 12.5%, Paulding 9.6%, Putnam 7.6%, Seneca 9.2%, Williams 11.0% and Wood 8.4%. The Company operates in two counties in Michigan, Hillsdale and Lenawee. The unemployment rate in Hillsdale county was 16.6% in November

 

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2009 compared to 13.2% in December 2008 and the unemployment rate in Lenawee county was 15.7% in November 2009 compared to 12.4% in December 2008. The Company operates in one county in Indiana, Allen, which had an unemployment rate of 10.0% in December 2009 compared to 8.1% in December 2008. First Defiance’s general reserve percentages for loans not otherwise classified ranged from 0.34% for installment loans to 1.80% for certain mortgage loans and credit cards were 39.74%.

As a result of the quantitative and qualitative analyses, the Company’s provision for loan losses for 2009 was $23.2 million, compared to $12.6 million for the 2008. The allowance for loan losses was $36.5 million and $24.6 million and represented 2.26% and 1.52% of loans, net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs, as of December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. That increase was mainly the result of the deterioration of economic conditions that continued throughout 2009, that started in 2008 that posed many challenges for the banking industry. Real estate values have declined and some collateral dependent loans no longer have enough collateral value to support the outstanding balance. Management has expanded its credit monitoring functions even further beyond its traditionally strong focus. Additional asset review functions and more delinquent loan reporting requirements have been added to assist in this monitoring. Management will continually review credit concentrations by the industry and has placed lower limits on lending within certain types of loan categories. Management has also segmented the commercial real estate portfolio to track the general performance of these segments to further refine the predictive process of identifying potential problem loans. The provision was offset by charge offs of $7.0 million against specific reserves and $4.8 million against general reserves and recoveries of $549,000 resulting in an increase to the overall allowance for loan loss of $12.0 million. In management’s opinion, the overall allowance for loan losses of $36.5 million as of December 31, 2009 is adequate.

Management also assesses the value of real estate owned as of the end of each accounting period and recognizes write-downs to the value of that real estate in the income statement if conditions dictate. In 2009, First Defiance recorded OREO write-downs that totaled $1.3 million. These amounts were included in other non-interest expense. Management believes that the values recorded at December 31, 2009 for real estate owned and repossessed assets represent the realizable value of such assets.

Total classified loans increased to $128.9 million at December 31, 2009, compared to $85.0 million at December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2009, a total of $46.3 million of loans are classified as substandard for which a specific reserve is required. A total of $78.0 million in additional credits were classified as substandard at December 31, 2009 for which no reserve is required because of factors such as the level of collateral or the strength of guarantors. First Defiance also has classified $4.6 million of loans doubtful at December 31, 2009. By contrast, at December 31, 2008, a total of $29.6 million of loans were classified as substandard for which some level of specific reserve was required and $54.4 million were classified as substandard which did not require any reserve. At December 31, 2008 $983,000 of loans was classified as doubtful.

First Defiance’s ratio of allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was 76.3% at December 31, 2009 compared with 71.8% at December 31, 2008. Management monitors collateral values of all loans included on the watch list that are collateral dependent and believes that allowances for those loans at December 31, 2009 are appropriate.

 

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At December 31, 2009, First Defiance had total non-performing assets of $61.4 million, compared to $41.3 million at December 31, 2008. Non-performing assets include loans that are 90 days past due, restructured loans and real estate owned and other assets held for sale. Non-performing assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008 by category were as follows:

Table 1 – Nonperforming Asset

 

     December 31,
     2009    2008
     (In thousands)

Non-performing loans:

     

Single-family residential

   $ 5,349    $ 4,584

Construction

     675      72

Non-residential and multi-family residential real estate

     24,042      19,979

Commercial

     10,615      2,881

Consumer finance

     59      69

Home Equity and improvement

     451      432

Restructured loans, still accruing

     6,715      6,250
             

Total non-performing loans

     47,906      34,267

Real estate owned and repossessed assets

     13,527      7,000
             

Total non-performing assets

   $ 61,433    $ 41,267
             

The increase in non-performing loans between December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009 is primarily in non-residential and multi-family real estate and commercial loans. The combined balance of these types of non-performing loans was $11.8 million higher at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008. Approximately $11.2 million of 2008 non-performing loans are still considered non-performing loans at December 31, 2009 and $1.6 million of real estate owned at December 31, 2009 was in real estate owned at December 31, 2008. The commercial and non-residential real estate and multi-family real estate loans that are non-performing at December 31, 2009 are comprised of 90 relationships, with 10 relationships making up $21.0 million of the $34.7 million total. The allowance for loan losses includes $5.7 million for those 10 relationships. By comparison, at December 31, 2008, 77 relationships made up the $14.6 million of commercial and non-residential real estate and multi-family real estate loans total of $22.9 million.

Non-performing loans in the single-family residential, non-residential and multi-family residential real estate and commercial loan categories represent 2.35%, 2.98% and 2.80% of the total loans in those categories respectively at December 31, 2009 compared to 1.82%, 2.64% and 0.81% respectively for the same categories at December 31, 2008. While the level of non-performing loans has increased, year over year, management believes that the current allowance for loan losses is appropriate and that the provision for loan losses recorded in 2009 is consistent with both charge-off experience and the risk inherent in the overall credits in the portfolio.

 

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Non-performing assets, which include non-accrual loans, accruing restructured loans and real estate owned, increased to $61.4 million at December 31, 2009 from $41.3 million at December 31, 2008. Non-performing assets and asset quality ratios for First Defiance were as follows at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

Table 2 – Nonperforming Asset and Ratios

 

     December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
     (in thousands)  

Non-accrual loans

   $ 41,191      $ 28,017   

Restructured loans, accruing

     6,715        6,250   
                

Total non-performing loans

   $ 47,906      $ 34,267   

Real estate owned (REO)

     13,527        7,000   
                

Total non-performing assets

   $ 61,433      $ 41,267   
                

Allowance for loans losses as a percentage of total loans*

     2.26     1.52

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing assets

     59.49     59.59

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans

     76.29     71.77

Total non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets

     2.99     2.11

Total non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans*

     2.96     2.12

 

*

Total loans are net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs.

Of the $41.2 million in non-accrual loans, $5.3 million were 1-4 family residential loans, $675,000 were construction loans, $34.7 million were commercial or commercial real estate loans and $510,000 were home equity or consumer loans.

First Federal’s Asset Review Committee meets monthly to review the status of work-out strategies for all criticized relationships, which include all non-accrual loans. Based on such factors as anticipated collateral values in liquidation scenarios, cash flow projections, assessment of net worth of guarantors and all other factors which may mitigate risk of loss, the Asset Review Committee makes recommendations regarding required allowances and proposed charge-offs which are approved by the Senior Loan Committee (in the case of charge-offs) or the Loan Loss Reserve Committee (in the case of specific allowances).

The following table discloses charge-offs, recoveries and provision expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 by loan category ($ in thousands).

Table 3 – Charge-offs, Recoveries and Provision by Category

 

     Commercial
Real Estate
    Commercial     Consumer     Residential
and
Construction
    Home Equity and
improvement
    Total  

Year Ended December 31, 2009

            

Allowance for loans individually evaluated

            

Beginning Specific Allocations

   $ 5,513      $ 2,760      $ 67      $ 1,656      $ 236      $ 10,232   

Charge-Offs

     (4,048     (1,560     (79     (837     (513     (7,037

Recoveries

     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Provisions

     7,112        3,625        103        2,694        585        14,119   
                                                

Ending Specific Allocations

   $ 8,577      $ 4,825      $ 91      $ 3,513      $ 308      $ 17,314   
                                                

Allowance for loans collectively evaluated

            

Beginning General Allocations

   $ 7,923      $ 3,590      $ 391      $ 1,900      $ 556      $ 14,360   

Charge-Offs

     (1,751     (1,104     (241     (1,444     (249     (4,789

Recoveries

     38        191        161        105        54        549   

Provisions

     4,089        1,942        113        1,974        995        9,113   
                                                

Ending General Allocations

   $ 10,299      $ 4,619      $ 424      $ 2,535      $ 1,356      $ 19,233   
                                                

 

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The following table details net charge-offs and nonaccrual loans by loan type. For the twelve months ended and as of December 31, 2009, commercial real estate, which represented 49.06% of total loans, accounted for 51.09% of net charge-offs and 58.37% of nonaccrual loans, and commercial loans, which represented 23.07% of total loans, accounted for 21.94% of net charge-offs and 25.77% of nonaccrual loans. For the twelve months ended and as of December 31, 2008, Commercial real estate, which represented 46.10% of total loans, accounted for 59.20% of net charge-offs and 71.31% of nonaccrual loans, and commercial loans, which represented 21.75% of total loans, accounted for 11.92% of net charge-offs and 10.28% of nonaccrual loans.

Table 4 – Net Charge-offs and Non-accruals by Loan Type

 

     For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009     As of December 31, 2009  
     Net
Charge-offs
   % of Total Net
Charge-offs
    Nonaccrual
Loans
   % of Total Non-
Accrual Loans
 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)  

Residential

   $ 2,176    19.29   $ 5,349    12.99

Construction

     —      0.00     675    1.64

Commercial real estate

     5,761    51.09     24,042    58.37

Commercial

     2,473    21.93     10,615    25.77

Consumer finance

     159    1.41     59    0.14

Home equity and improvement

     708    6.28     451    1.09
                          

Total loans, net on unearned income

   $ 11,277    100.00   $ 41,191    100.00
                          

 

     For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008     As of December 31, 2008  
     Net
Charge-offs
    % of Total Net
Charge-offs
    Nonaccrual
Loans
   % of Total Non-
Accrual Loans
 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)  

Residential

   $ 1,131      18.42   $ 4,584    16.36

Construction

     (4   (0.07 )%      72    0.26

Commercial real estate

     3,635      59.20     19,979    71.31

Commercial

     732      11.92     2,881    10.28

Consumer finance

     287      4.67     69    0.25

Home equity and improvement

     360      5.86     432    1.54
                           

Total loans, net on unearned income

   $ 6,141      100.00   $ 28,017    100.00
                           

 

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Table of Contents

Credit Quality Profile

The following table discloses the period end balances for the loan portfolio by payment status as of December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

Table 5 – Credit Quality Profile

 

     Total
Balance
   Current
and
Performing
   30 to 89
days past
due*
   Non
Accrual
Loans
   Troubled
Debt
Restructuring
   Non Accrual
%
    > 30 Days
Past Due and
Non Accrual
%
 
     (dollars in thousands)  

December 31, 2009

                                     

Residential

   $ 227,592    $ 215,209    $ 4,333    $ 5,349    $ 2,701    2.35   4.25

Construction

     48,625      47,950      —        675      —      1.39   1.39

Commercial real estate

     806,890      775,604      3,280      24,042      3,964    2.98   3.39

Commercial

     379,408      367,592      1,151      10,615      50    2.80   3.10

Consumer finance

     34,105      33,669      377      59      —      0.17   1.28

Home equity and improvement

     147,977      145,481      2,045      451      —      0.30   1.69
                                               

Total loans

   $ 1,644,597    $ 1,585,505    $ 11,186    $ 41,191    $ 6,715    2.51   3.18
                                               

Total Number of Loans

     22,109      21,504      281      283      41     

December 31, 2008

                                     

Residential

   $ 251,807    $ 241,445    $ 4,677    $ 4,584    $ 1,101    1.82   3.68

Construction

     72,938      72,814      52      72      —      0.10   0.17

Commercial real estate

     755,740      728,153      5,403      19,979      2,205    2.64   3.36

Commercial

     356,574      349,078      1,671      2,881      2,944    0.81   1.28

Consumer finance

     41,012      40,384      559      69      —      0.17   1.53

Home equity and improvement

     161,106      156,648      4,026      432      —      0.27   2.77
                                               

Total loans

   $ 1,639,177    $ 1,588,522    $ 16,388    $ 28,017    $ 6,250    1.71   2.71
                                               

Total Number of Loans

     24,354      23,733      402      202      17     

 

*

One residential loan in the amount of $385,000 is not included in the 30 to 89 days past due column as it is a troubled debt restructuring and is included in that category in 2009.

The table below is the credit risk profile trend for the last five quarters using the Company’s internally assigned loan grades. This table was created using data required to be compliant with the Company’s reporting on the thrift financial report.

Table 6 – Credit Risk Profile Trend

 

     Commercial Real Estate
     4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 698,903    $ 695,848    $ 650,573    $ 652,615    $ 655,421

Special Mention

     35,780      30,672      38,429      49,247      47,068

Substandard/Doubtful

     72,207      75,914      79,634      62,979      53,251
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 806,890    $ 802,434    $ 768,636    $ 764,841    $ 755,740
                                  

 

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Table of Contents
     Commercial
      4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 322,152    $ 333,797    $ 338,026    $ 313,369    $ 318,949

Special Mention

     22,441      12,479      17,102      21,125      20,960

Substandard/Doubtful

     34,815      25,605      27,306      15,576      16,665
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 379,408    $ 371,881    $ 382,434    $ 350,070    $ 356,574
                                  
     Residential
      4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 203,649    $ 212,140    $ 214,982    $ 217,765    $ 233,520

Special Mention

     3,897      3,769      4,585      6,052      4,433

Substandard/Doubtful

     20,046      18,049      18,433      17,302      13,854
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 227,592    $ 233,958    $ 238,000    $ 241,119    $ 251,807
                                  
     Construction
      4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 45,091    $ 50,655    $ 40,985    $ 50,434    $ 72,813

Special Mention

     2,768      2,850      2,850      100      —  

Substandard/Doubtful

     766      100      835      —        125
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 48,625    $ 53,605    $ 44,670    $ 50,534    $ 72,938
                                  
     Consumer Financing
      4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 33,935    $ 36,132    $ 37,924    $ 38,589    $ 40,696

Special Mention

     —        —        —        —        —  

Substandard/Doubtful

     170      284      150      87      316
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 34,105    $ 36,416    $ 38,074    $ 38,676    $ 41,012
                                  
     Home Equity and Improvement
      4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 147,076    $ 148,805    $ 149,839    $ 155,221    $ 160,268

Special Mention

     —        —        —        —        —  

Substandard/Doubtful

     901      1,574      1,374      1,447      838
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 147,977    $ 150,379    $ 151,213    $ 156,668    $ 161,106
                                  
     Total
      4th Qtr 2009    3rd Qtr 2009    2nd Qtr 2009    1st Qtr 2009    4th Qtr 2008

Grade

              

Pass

   $ 1,450,806    $ 1,477,377    $ 1,432,329    $ 1,427,993    $ 1,481,667

Special Mention

     64,886      49,770      62,966      76,524      72,461

Substandard/Doubtful

     128,905      121,526      127,732      97,391      85,049
                                  

Total by Exposure

   $ 1,644,597    $ 1,648,673    $ 1,623,027    $ 1,601,908    $ 1,639,177
                                  

 

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Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the activity in First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses during the periods indicated.

Table 7 – Allowance for Loan Loss Activity

 

     For the Quarter Ended
     4th 2009    3rd 2009    2nd 2009    1st 2009    4th 2008
     (Dollars in Thousands)

Allowance at beginning of period

   $ 31,248    $ 25,840    $ 25,694    $ 24,592    $ 23,445

Provision for credit losses

     8,470      8,051      3,965      2,746      3,824

Charge-offs:

              

Residential

     884      744      505      148      369

Commercial real estate

     1,912      1,152      2,066      669      1,480

Commercial

     354      658      950      702      593

Consumer finance

     75      39      83      123      224

Home equity and improvement

     135      196      301      130      57
                                  

Total charge-offs

     3,360      2,789      3,905      1,772      2,723

Recoveries

     189      146      86      128      46
                                  

Net charge-offs

     3,171      2,643      3,819      1,644      2,677
                                  

Ending allowance

   $ 36,547    $ 31,248    $ 25,840    $ 25,694    $ 24,592
                                  

The following table sets forth information concerning the allocation of First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses by loan categories at the dates indicated.

Table 8 – Allowance for Loan Loss Allocation by Loan Category

 

     December 31, 2009     September 30, 2009     June 30, 2009     March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
     Amount    Percent of
total loans
by category
    Amount    Percent of
total loans
by category
    Amount    Percent of
total loans
by category
    Amount    Percent of
total loans
by category
    Amount    Percent of
total loans
by category
 

Residential

   $ 5,827    13.84   $ 5,395    14.19   $ 4,735    14.66   $ 4,364    15.05   $ 3,416    15.36

Construction

     221    2.96     113    3.25     101    2.75     154    3.15     140    4.45

Commercial real estate

     18,876    49.06     16,107    48.67     12,918    47.36     13,538    47.75     13,436    46.10

Commercial

     9,444    23.07     7,183    22.56     5,808    23.56     5,613    21.85     6,350    21.75

Consumer

     515    2.07     618    2.21     672    2.35     681    2.41     458    2.50

Home equity and improvement

     1,664    9.00     1,832    9.12     1,606    9.32     1,344    9.78     792    9.83
                                                                 
   $ 36,547    100.00   $ 31,248    100.00   $ 25,840    100.00   $ 25,694    100.00   $ 24,592    100.00
                                                                 

Key Asset Quality Ratio Trends

Table 9 – Key Asset Quality Ratio Trends

 

     4th Qtr 2009     3rd Qtr 2009     2nd Qtr 2009     1st Qtr 2009     4th Qtr 2008  

Allowance for loan losses / loans*

   2.26   1.92   1.60   1.62   1.52

Allowance for loan losses to net charge-offs

   1,152.54   1,182.29   676.62   1,562.90   918.64

Allowance for loan losses / non-performing assets

   59.49   63.23   52.80   57.73   59.59

Allowance for loan losses / non-performing loans

   76.29   78.00   64.00   70.06   71.77

Non-performing assets / loans plus REO*

   3.77   3.03   3.02   2.79   2.54

Non-performing assets / total assets

   2.99   2.45   2.42   2.21   2.11

Net charge-offs / average loans (annualized)

   0.79   0.66   0.96   0.41   0.67

 

*

Total loans are net of undisbursed funds and deferred fees and costs.

 

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Table of Contents

Loans Acquired with Impairment

Certain loans acquired in the ComBanc, Genoa, and Pavilion acquisitions had evidence that the credit quality of the loan had deteriorated since its origination and in management’s assessment at the acquisition date it was probable that First Defiance would be unable to collect all contractually required payments due. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 310 Subtopic 30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, these loans were recorded based on management’s estimate of the fair value of the loans. At the acquisition date of January 21, 2005, loans with a contractual receivable of $3.4 million were acquired from Combanc which were deemed impaired. Those loans were recorded at a net realizable value of $2.0 million. On April 8, 2005, loans with contractual receivable totals of $1.5 million were acquired from Genoa which were deemed impaired. Those loans were recorded at a net realizable value of $721,000. On March 14, 2008, loans with contractual receivable totals of $6.4 million were acquired from Pavilion and were deemed impaired. Those loans were recorded at a net realizable value of $4.4 million.

As of December 31, 2009, the total contractual receivable for those loans was $5.0 million and the recorded value was $3.4 million.

High Loan-to-Value Mortgage Loans

The majority of First Defiance’s mortgage loans are collateralized by one-to-four-family residential real estate, have loan-to-value ratios of 80% or less, and are made to borrowers in good credit standing. First Federal usually requires residential mortgage loan borrowers whose loan-to-value is greater than 80% to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). Management also periodically reviews and monitors the financial viability of its PMI providers.

First Federal originates and retains a limited number of residential mortgage loans with loan-to-value ratios that exceed 80% where PMI is not required if the borrower possesses other demonstrable strengths. The loan-to-value ratios on these loans are generally limited to 85% and exceptions must be approved by First Federal’s senior loan committee. Management monitors the balance of one-to-four family residential loans, including home equity loans and committed lines of credit that exceed certain loan to value standards (90% for owner occupied residences, 85% for non-owner occupied residences and one-to-four family construction loans, 75% for developed land and 65% for raw land). Total loans that exceed those standards at December 31, 2009 totaled $32.8 million, compared to $33.0 million at December 31, 2008. These loans are generally paying as agreed.

First Defiance does not make interest-only first-mortgage residential loans, nor does it have residential mortgage loan products or other consumer products that allow negative amortization.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill at December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $56.6 million. No impairment of goodwill was recorded in 2009 or 2008. Core deposit intangibles and other intangible assets declined $1.5 million during 2009 to $6.9 million from $8.3 million at the end of 2008. The change in the core deposit intangibles and other intangibles is due to the recognition of $1.5 million of amortization expense during the year.

Deposits

Total deposits at December 31, 2009 were $1.58 billion compared to $1.47 billion at December 31, 2008, an increase of $110.3 million or 7.5%. Non-interest bearing deposits increased $13.1 million or

 

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Table of Contents

7.4% and interest bearing deposits increased $97.2 million or 7.5%. Non-interest bearing checking accounts grew by $13.0 million, money market and interest bearing checking accounts grew by $125.1 million, while savings declined by $2.0 million and retail certificates of deposit declined by $34.7 million. Management periodically utilizes the national market for certificates of deposit to supplement its funding needs. The balance of national CD’s increased to $47.4 million at December 31, 2009, from $38.5 million at December 31, 2008. For more details on the deposit balances in general see Note 12 – Deposits.

Borrowings

FHLB advances totaled $146.9 million at December 31, 2009 compared to $156.1 million at December 31, 2008. The balance at the end of 2009 includes $64.0 million of convertible advances with rates ranging from 2.35% to 5.84%. These advances are all callable by the FHLB, at which point they would convert to a three-month LIBOR advance if not paid off. Those advances have final maturity dates ranging from 2010 to 2018. In addition, First Defiance has advances totaling $27.0 million that are callable by the FHLB only if the three-month LIBOR rate exceeds a strike rate ranging from 7.5% to 8.0%. The rate on those advances ranges from 3.48% to 5.14%. First Defiance also has $20.0 million of three-month LIBOR-based advances with a rate of 0.26%. Lastly, First Defiance has $35.9 million of fixed-rate advances with rates ranging from 1.86% to 4.10%.

First Defiance also has $48.4 million of securities that have been sold at December 31, 2009 with agreements to repurchase, compared to $49.5 million of repurchase funding at December 31, 2008.

In March 2007, the Company issued $15.5 million of Subordinated Debentures. These debentures were issued to an unconsolidated affiliated trust that purchased them with the proceeds from a $15 million issue of trust preferred securities to an outside party. The proceeds of the Subordinated Debentures were used for general corporate purposes. The Subordinated Debentures have a fixed rate equal to 6.441% for the first five years and a floating interest rate based on three-month LIBOR plus 1.50% thereafter. First Defiance also has $20.6 million of subordinated debentures issued in 2005, which have a rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.38%, or 1.63% at December 31, 2009.

Capital Resources

Total shareholders’ equity increased $4.9 million to $234.1 million at December 31, 2009. This increase is primarily the result of the Company’s $7.2 million of net income and an increase in the unrealized gains on available for sale securities. These increases were mostly offset by $2.4 million of common dividends ($0.295 per share declared) and $1.9 million of preferred stock dividends at December 31, 2009. In 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 640,000 shares, 93,124 of which remain available for repurchase. During 2009, no shares were repurchased but a total of 400 stock options were exercised by one employee, resulting in a $5,000 increase in shareholders equity. A total of 29,735 shares were repurchased in 2008 under the repurchase program at an average cost of $21.36, thus reducing stockholders’ equity by $635,000. During 2008, a total of 52,486 stock options were exercised by employees, resulting in a $769,000 increase in shareholders equity. A total of 1,694 shares were returned to the Company in conjunction with option exercises at an average price of $19.44 per share. A total of 93,124 shares remain to be purchased under the authorization. Participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program prohibits the Company from buying back any of its common shares during the period it has TARP Capital Purchase Program funds outstanding. Further, the OTS has required First Defiance to obtain OTS approval prior to the repurchase of any of its common stock.

Results of Operations

Summary

First Defiance reported net income of $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $7.4 million and $13.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007,

 

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respectively. Net income applicable to common shares was $5.2 million in 2009 compared with $7.2 million in 2008 and $13.9 million in 2007. On a diluted per common share basis, First Defiance earned $0.63 in 2009, $0.91 in 2008 and $1.94 in 2007.

First Defiance’s 2009 net income of $7.2 million does not include any acquisition related costs. The 2008 net income amount includes $1.1 million of acquisition related costs that were incurred as part of the Pavilion acquisition. These costs included such items as the expense to terminate certain contracts, retention bonuses with key employees and other costs resulting from the acquisition or related transition efforts. After tax, these costs amounted to $726,000, or $0.09 per diluted common share. Excluding these items, core earnings were $7.2 million, $8.1 million and $13.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively. On a diluted per share basis, core earnings amounted to $0.63, $1.00 and $1.94 for those same three periods. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures assists when comparing results period-to-period in a meaningful and consistent manner and provides a better measure of results for First Defiance’s ongoing operations. A reconciliation of GAAP earnings to core earnings is as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2009    2008     2007
     (in thousands)

GAAP Net Income

   $ 7,194    $ 7,357      $ 13,904

One-time acquisition related charges

     —        1,117        —  

Tax effect

     —        (391     —  
                     

Core Operating Earnings

   $ 7,194    $ 8,083      $ 13,904
                     

Basic earnings per common share:

       

GAAP

   $ 0.64    $ 0.91      $ 1.96
                     

Core Operating Earnings

   $ 0.64    $ 1.01      $ 1.96
                     

Diluted earnings per common share:

       

GAAP

   $ 0.63    $ .91      $ 1.94
                     

Core Operating Earnings

   $ 0.63    $ 1.00      $ 1.94
                     

Net Interest Income

First Defiance’s net interest income is determined by its interest rate spread (i.e. the difference between the yields on its interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its interest-bearing liabilities) and the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

Net interest income was $67.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $62.2 million and $48.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively. The tax-equivalent net interest margin was 3.76%, 3.80% and 3.55% for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively. The decrease in margin between 2008 and 2009 is due to a narrowing of the interest rate spread, which decreased to 3.50% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 3.51% for 2008. The decrease in spread between 2008 and 2009 occurred due to interest-earning asset yields decreasing by 72 basis points (to 5.58% in 2009 from 6.30% in 2008) which was mostly offset by the cost of interest bearing liabilities between the two periods decreasing by 71 basis points (to 2.08% in 2009 from 2.79% in 2008).

The increase in margin between 2007 and 2008 is due to a widening of the interest rate spread, which increased to 3.51% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 3.17% for 2007. The increase in spread between 2007 and 2008 occurred due to interest-earning asset yields decreasing by 85 basis points (to 6.30% in 2008 from 7.15% in 2007) which was more than offset by the cost of interest bearing liabilities between the two periods decreasing by 119 basis points (to 2.79% in 2008 from 3.98% in 2007). The Pavilion acquisition coupled with the average balance of non-interest bearing deposits increasing $55.3 million in 2008 from 2007 contributed to the margin improvement.

 

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Total interest income decreased by $2.9 million or 2.8% to $100.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $103.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income was due to a decline in asset yields, mainly as a result of a drop in yields on loans receivable which declined 53 basis points to 5.86% at December 31, 2009. Interest income from loans decreased to $93.7 million for 2009 compared to $96.5 million in 2008 which represents a decline of 2.9%.

During the same period the average balance of investment securities increased to $128.8 million for 2009 from $118.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Interest income from the investment portfolio increased $17,000 from 2008 to 2009. The tax-equivalent yield on the investment portfolio was 5.23% in 2009 compared to 5.43% in 2008. The investment portfolio yield decreased despite a widening of the overall duration of investments to 4.3 years at December 31, 2009 from 4.0 years at December 31, 2008.

Interest expense decreased by $8.0 million in 2009 compared to 2008, to $33.3 million from $41.3 million. This decrease was due to a 71 basis point decline in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities in 2009 which more than offset the $119.3 million increase in the average balance of those liabilities in 2009. The average balance of interest-bearing deposits increased by $139.5 million at December 31, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008. Interest expense related to interest-bearing deposits was $26.1 million in 2009 and $31.4 million in 2008. Expenses on FHLB advances and other interest bearing funding sources were $5.1 million and $570,000 respectively in 2009 and $6.4 million and $1.6 million respectively in 2008. Interest expense recognized by the Company related to subordinated debentures was $1.5 million in 2009 compared to $1.9 million in 2008.

Total interest income increased by $4.7 million, or 4.8% to $103.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase in interest income was due to an increase in the average balance in loans receivable, to $1.51 billion for the twelve months of 2008 compared to $1.24 billion for 2007. Interest income from loans increased to $96.5 million for 2008 compared to $90.9 million in 2007 which represented growth of 6.2%.

During the same period the average balance of investment securities increased to $118.0 million for 2008 from $112.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Interest income from the investment portfolio increased $21,000 to stay relatively flat at $5.7 million in 2008 and 2007. The tax-equivalent yield on the investment portfolio was 5.43% in 2008 compared to 5.68% in 2007. The investment portfolio yield decreased despite a widening of the overall duration of investments, to 4.0 years at December 31, 2008 from 3.7 years at December 31, 2007.

Interest expense decreased by $8.8 million in 2008 compared to 2007, to $41.3 million from $50.1 million. This decrease was due to a 119 basis point decline in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities in 2008 which more than offset the $221.3 million increase in the average balance of those liabilities in 2008. The average balance of interest-bearing deposits increased by $166.4 million at December 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007. Interest expense related to interest-bearing deposits was $31.4 million in 2008 and $40.4 million in 2007. Expenses on FHLB advances and other interest bearing funding sources were $6.4 million and $1.6 million respectively in 2008 and $6.9 million and $729,000 respectively in 2007. First Defiance issued $15.5 million of junior subordinated debentures in the first quarter of 2007 in conjunction with a trust preferred offering by an unconsolidated affiliated subsidiary. Interest expense recognized by the Company related to subordinated debentures was $1.9 million in 2008 compared to $2.1 million in 2007.

 

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The following table shows an analysis of net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007:

Table 10 – Net Interest Margin

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     (In Thousands)  
     2009     2008     2007  
     Average
Balance
   Interest
(1)
   Yield/
Rate
(2)
    Average
Balance
   Interest
(1)
   Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Interest
(1)
   Yield/
Rate
 
     (Dollars in Thousands)  

Interest-Earning Assets:

                        

Loans receivable

   $ 1,600,725    $ 93,850    5.86   $ 1,511,877    $ 96,627    6.39   $ 1,241,817    $ 90,913    7.32

Securities

     128,806      6,773    5.23     117,972      6,548    5.43     112,577      6,414    5.68

Interest-earning deposits

     71,366      149    0.21     5,383      123    2.28     18,161      924    5.09

Dividends on FHLB stock

     21,376      955    4.47     20,493      1,062    5.18     18,585      1,226    6.60
                                                            

Total interest-earning assets

     1,822,273      101,727    5.58     1,655,725      104,360    6.30     1,391,140      99,477    7.15

Non-interest-earning assets

     202,960           196,620           153,229      
                                    

Total Assets

   $ 2,025,233         $ 1,852,345         $ 1,544,369      
                                    

Interest-Bearing Liabilities:

                        

Interest-bearing deposits

   $ 1,370,826    $ 26,102    1.90   $ 1,231,363    $ 31,354    2.55   $ 1,064,960    $ 40,356    3.79

FHLB advances

     146,978      5,114    3.48     160,407      6,375    3.97     136,484      6,889    5.05

Other borrowings

     44,247      570    1.29     50,962      1,632    3.20     23,841      729    3.06

Subordinated debentures

     36,208      1,471    4.06     36,242      1,907    5.26     32,435      2,115    6.52
                                                            

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,598,259      33,257    2.08     1,478,974      41,268    2.79     1,257,720      50,089    3.98

Non-interest bearing demand deposits

     176,513      —          159,452      —          104,200      —     
                                                

Total including non-interest-bearing demand deposits

     1,774,772      33,257    1.87     1,638,426      41,268    2.52     1,361,920      50,089    3.68

Other non-interest liabilities

     17,742           23,047           18,391      
                                    

Total Liabilities

     1,792,514           1,661,473           1,380,311      

Stockholders’ equity

     232,719           190,872           164,058      
                                    

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,025,233         $ 1,852,345         $ 1,544,369      
                                    

Net interest income; interest rate spread (3)

      $ 68,470    3.50      $ 63,092    3.51      $ 49,388    3.17
                                                

Net interest margin (4)

         3.76         3.80         3.55
                                    

Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities

         114.0         112.0         110.6
                                    

 

(1)

Interest on certain tax exempt loans (amounting to $275,000, $195,000 and $87,000 in 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively) and tax-exempt securities ($1.8 million, $1.4 million and $1.3 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007) is not taxable for Federal income tax purposes. The average balance of such loans was $6.4 million, $4.2 million and $1.8 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007 while the average balance of such securities was $41.9 million, $32.5 million and $27.3 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively. In order to compare the tax-exempt yields on these assets to taxable yields, the interest earned on these assets is adjusted to a pre-tax equivalent amount based on the marginal corporate federal income tax rate of 35%.

 

(2)

At December 31, 2009, the yields earned and rates paid were as follows: loans receivable, 5.88%; securities, 4.60%; FHLB stock, 4.26%; total interest-earning assets, 5.77%; deposits, 1.47%; FHLB advances, 3.36%; other borrowings, 1.05%, subordinated debentures, 3.72%; total interest-bearing liabilities, 1.66%; and interest rate spread, 4.10%.

 

(3)

Interest rate spread is the difference in the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

 

(4)

Net interest margin is net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

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The following table describes the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in volume of interest-related assets and liabilities have affected First Defiance’s tax-equivalent interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (i) changes in volume (change in volume multiplied by prior year rate), (ii) change in rate (change in rate multiplied by prior year volume), and (iii) total change in rate and volume. The combined effect of changes in both rate and volume have been allocated proportionately to the change due to rate and the change due to volume.

Table 11 – Changes in Interest Rates and Volumes

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2009 vs. 2008     2008 vs. 2007  
     Increase
(decrease)

due to
rate
    Increase
(decrease)

due to
volume
    Total
increase

(decrease)
    Increase
(decrease)

due to
rate
    Increase
(decrease)

due to
volume
    Total
increase

(decrease)
 

Interest-Earning Assets

            

Loans

   $ (8,261   $ 5,484      $ (2,777   $ (12,472   $ 18,186      $ 5,714   

Securities

     (356     581        225        (168     302        134   

Interest-earning deposits

     (206     232        26        (352     (449     (801

FHLB stock

     (151     44        (107     (281     117        (164
                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ (8,974   $ 6,341      $ (2,633   $ (13,273   $ 18,156      $ 4,883   
                                                

Interest-Bearing Liabilities

            

Deposits

   $ (8,526   $ 3,274      $ (5,252   $ (14,640   $ 5,638      $ (9,002

FHLB advances

     (754     (507     (1,261     (1,605     1,091        (514

Term notes

     (870     (192     (1,062     36        867        903   

Subordinated Debentures

     (434     (2     (436     (438     230        (208
                                                

Total interest- bearing liabilities

   $ (10,584   $ 2,573      $ (8,011   $ (16,647   $ 7,826      $ (8,821
                                                

Increase (decrease) in net interest income

       $ 5,378          $ 13,704   
                        

Provision for Loan Losses First Defiance’s provision for loan losses was $23.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $12.6 million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively.

Provisions for loan losses are charged to earnings to bring the total allowance for loan losses to a level deemed appropriate by management to absorb probable losses incurred in the loan portfolio. Factors considered by management include identifiable risk in the portfolios, historical experience, the volume and type of lending conducted by First Defiance, the amount of non-performing assets, including loans which meet the FASB ASC Topic 310 definition of impaired, the amount of assets graded by management as substandard, doubtful, or loss, general economic conditions, particularly as they relate to First Defiance’s market areas; and other factors related to the collectability of First Defiance’s loan portfolio. See also Allowance for Loan Losses in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Note 8 to the audited financial statements.

Noninterest IncomeNoninterest income increased by $7.2 million or 37.9% in 2009 to $26.3 million from $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. That followed a decrease of $3.0 million or 13.8% in 2008 from $22.1 million in 2007. Service fees and other charges increased to $13.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $13.3 million for 2008 and $10.8 million for 2007. The fee income in 2009 related to an increase in customer accounts offset by a change in customer behavior patterns that slightly lowered the per average account fee. The growth in fee income in 2008 is primarily related to the additional accounts acquired in the Pavilion acquisition.

 

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First Federal’s overdraft privilege program generally provides for the automatic payment of modest overdraft limits on all accounts deemed to be in good standing when the account is accessed using paper-based check processing, a teller withdrawal, a point-of-sale terminal, an ACH transaction, or an ATM. To be in good standing, an account must be brought to a positive balance within a 30-day period. Overdraft limits are established for all customers without discrimination using a risk assessment approach for each account classification. The approach includes a systematic review and evaluation of the normal deposit flows made to each account classification to establish reasonable and prudent negative balance limits that would be routinely repaid by normal, expected and reoccurring deposits. The risk assessment by portfolio approach assumes a minimal degree of undetermined credit risk associated with unidentified individual accounts that are overdrawn for 30 or more days. Accounts overdrawn for more than 60 days are automatically charged off. Fees are charged as a one-time fee per occurrence and the fee charged for an item that is paid is equal to the fee charged for a non-sufficient fund item that is returned.

Overdrawn balances, net of allowance for losses, are reflected as loans on First Defiance’s balance sheet. The fees charged for this service are established based both on the return of processing costs plus a profit, and on the level of fees charged by competitors in the Company’s market area for similar services. These fees are considered to be compensation for providing a service to the customer and therefore deemed to be noninterest income rather than interest income. Fee income recorded for the years ending December 31, 2009 and 2008 related to the overdraft privilege product, net of adjustments to the allowance for uncollectible overdrafts, were flat at $8.4 million. Accounts charged off are included in noninterest expense. The allowance for uncollectible overdrafts was established June 30, 2006 with a balance of $156,000. The allowance for uncollectible overdrafts was $114,000 at December 31, 2009 and $125,000 at December 31, 2008.

Noninterest income also includes gains, losses and impairment on investment securities. In 2009, First Defiance realized a $3.7 million net loss on securities compared to a $3.2 million net loss in 2008 and a $21,000 net gain in 2007. In 2009 and 2008, First Defiance recognized other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) charges for certain impaired investment securities, where in management’s opinion, the value of the investment will not be recovered. The total OTTI charges in 2009 were $3.9 million and gains on sale or call of securities were $284,000. Management recorded $3.9 million of OTTI on its investment of 9 trust preferred collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) as a result of management’s analysis of the securities. At December 31, 2009 the market value of those CDOs, which had a total original cost of $8.3 million, had been written down to $450,000. In 2008, a $1.9 million OTTI charge was recorded relating to the perpetual preferred securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The OTTI was determined by management as a result of the action taken by the United States Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency on September 7, 2008, which placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship. First Defiance invested $1.0 million each in preferred stock of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in January of 2008. Also in 2008, management recorded $1.3 million of OTTI on its investment in the equity notes of three CDOs as a result of management’s analysis of the securities. At December 31, 2008, the market value of those CDOs, which had a total original cost of $2.0 million, had been written down to $419,000. In 2009, there were 21 securities called or matured and 13 securities sold, resulting in a net gain of $284,000. There was only a minor amount of sales activity in the investment portfolio in 2008 and 2007.

Mortgage banking income includes gains from the sale of mortgage loans, fees for servicing mortgage loans for others an offset for amortization of mortgage servicing rights, and adjustments for impairment in the value of mortgage servicing rights. Mortgage banking income totaled $9.7 million, $3.0 million and $3.6 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The $6.8 million increase in 2009 from 2008 attributable to a $4.3 million increase in the gain on sale of loans, a $4.0 million positive change in the valuation adjustments on mortgage servicing rights and an increase of $323,000 in servicing revenue which was partially offset by an increase of $1.9 million in the amortization of mortgage servicing rights expense. The positive change of $4.0 million in servicing rights valuation adjustments was due to a recapture of $1.3 million in 2009 compared with an impairment charge of $2.7 million in 2008. This was driven by a steady increase in market mortgage rates during 2009. This increase in rates decreased the assumed prepayment speed of the mortgage servicing rights. First

 

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Defiance originated $513.6 million of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market in 2009 compared with $182.3 million in 2008. The primary reason for the increase was the low interest rate environment in the first half of 2009 which led to higher refinance activity. The $622,000 decline in mortgage banking income in 2008 from 2007 was primarily attributable to the impairment charge of $2.7 million on mortgage servicing rights and an increase of $618,000 in the amortization of mortgage servicing rights primarily due to the material decline in long-term mortgage rates during the month of December 2008, which caused an increase in prepayment assumptions. These declines in 2008 were mostly offset by a $831,000 increase in mortgage servicing fees resulting from a $385.8 million increase in the portfolio of mortgage loans serviced for others and gains from sale of mortgage loans, which increased $1.8 million in 2008 from 2007. The interest rate environment that produces increased mortgage origination activity also typically causes increases in mortgage servicing rights amortization and impairment, creating somewhat of a natural hedge in the mortgage banking line of business. The balance of the mortgage servicing right valuation allowance stands at $1.5 million at the end of 2009. See Note 9 to the financial statements.

Insurance and investment commission income declined $475,000 or 8.6% in 2009 primarily due to a decline in contingent income of $353,000 and a decline in property and casualty premiums of $184,000. Contingent commissions are bonus payments received by First Defiance’s insurance subsidiary for effective underwriting. Insurance and investment commission income increased by $218,000 or 4.1% in 2008, primarily due to increases in revenue from employee benefits and property and casualty commissions in 2008. These increases were partially offset by a $30,000 decrease in contingent commission. In February 2007, the Company acquired Huber, Harger, Welt and Smith (“HHWS”), an insurance agency located in Bowling Green, Ohio. Commission income associated with that agency acquisition totaled $1.0 million in 2007.

Noninterest Expense Total noninterest expense for 2009 was $60.5 million compared to $57.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 and $48.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The 2008 total includes $1.1 million of acquisition related charges. Noninterest expense, excluding the acquisition related charges in 2008 was $56.7 million.

Compensation and benefits decreased $931,000 or 3.2% in 2009 to $27.9 million from $28.8 million in 2008. Compensation declined $1.1 million due to the reduction of approximately 38 full time equivalent positions during the year. The Company has focused on staffing levels and has worked to reduce levels without negatively impacting our level of customer service. Work patterns and volumes did change in 2009 due in large part to the economy and lower levels of commercial lending. This decline was partially offset by an increase of $351,000 in medical and other associated costs. Occupancy cost increased $368,000 or 4.9% in 2009 to $7.9 million from $7.5 million in 2008. The Company made the decision to close two branch facilities and relocate a third during the fourth quarter of 2009. The closures were completed in the early part of 2010. The costs associated with these closures were reflected in the fourth quarter of 2009 and recorded in other operating expense. FDIC insurance costs increased $2.3 million or 209.6% to $3.4 million from $1.1 million in 2008. The increase reflects a special assessment of $906,000, a general increase in premium rates and the level of premium due to higher balances of insured deposits. Data processing declined $117,000 or 2.5% in 2009 to $4.5 million from $4.7 million in 2008. The other noninterest expense category (including acquisition related charges in 2008) increased $1.1 million due to credit, collection and OREO charges increasing $2.1 million, legal and consulting increasing $586,000, and loss on the sale of fixed assets increasing $562,000 which were offset by a reduction of $1.1 in acquisition costs, a reduction of $992,000 in fraud losses and a reduction of $326,000 in postage and printing charges.

Compensation and benefits increased by $3.6 million in 2008 compared to 2007, to $28.8 million from $25.2 million. A portion of the increase in compensation from 2007 to 2008 was due to having nine and a half months of compensation and benefits costs associated with the Pavilion acquisition in 2008. The balance of the increase in compensation and benefits resulted from year-over-year merit increases and an increase in staff to support the operations of the Company. Occupancy costs for 2008 increased to $7.5 million from $6.1 million in 2007, with over half of that increase associated

 

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with the Pavilion acquisition. Data processing costs increased $834,000 in 2008 from 2007 directly related to the Pavilion acquisition. First Defiance’s other noninterest expense category also increased to $14.6 million in 2008 from $12.8 million in 2007. The most significant reason for the increase in that category was an $813,000 increase in amortization expense of intangibles relating to the core deposit and customer relationship intangible in conjunction with the Pavilion acquisition and a $727,000 expense associated with losses related to a former investment advisor which was recorded after the denial of coverage under the Company’s fidelity bond. Other items which caused the increase in this expense category include higher levels of advertising (up $166,000), credit and collection expenses (up $402,000) and state franchise tax (up $372,000).

Income Taxes Income taxes amounted to $2.7 million in 2009 compared to $3.5 million in 2008 and $6.5 million in 2007. The effective tax rates for those years were 27.0%, 32.4%, and 31.8%, respectively. The tax rate is lower than the statutory 35% tax rate for the Company mainly because of investments in tax-exempt securities. The earnings on tax-exempt securities are not subject to federal income tax. See note 19 to the financial statements for further details.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial institutions such as First Defiance generate income primarily through lending and investing activities. The risk of loss from lending and investing activities includes the possibility that losses may occur from the failure of another party to perform according to the terms of the loan or investment agreement. This possibility is known as credit risk.

Lending or investing activities that concentrate assets in a way that exposes the Company to a material loss from any single occurrence or group of occurrences increases credit risk. Diversifying loans and investments to prevent concentrations of risks is one way a financial institution can reduce potential losses due to credit risk. Examples of asset concentrations would include multiple loans made to a single borrower and loans of inappropriate size relative to the total capitalization of the institution. Management believes adherence to its loan and investment policies allows it to control its exposure to concentrations of credit risk at acceptable levels. First Defiance’s loan portfolio is concentrated geographically in its northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana and southeast Michigan market areas. Management has also identified lending for income-generating rental properties as an industry concentration. Total loans for income generating property totaled $444.8 million at December 31, 2009, which represents 27.0% of the Company’s loan portfolio. Management believes it has the skill and experience to manage any risks associated with this type of lending. Loans in this category are generally paying as agreed without any unusual or unexpected levels of delinquency. The delinquency rate in this category, which is any loan 30 days or more past due, was 3.25% at December 31, 2009. There are no other industry concentrations that exceed 10% of the Company’s loan portfolio.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s primary source of liquidity is its core deposit base, raised through First Federal’s branch network, along with wholesale sources of funding and its capital base. These funds, along with investment securities, provide the ability to meet the needs of depositors while funding new loan demand and existing commitments.

Cash generated from operating activities was $23.5 million, $22.0 million and $18.7 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by or used in operations during the periods presented consist primarily of proceeds from the sale of loans (less the origination of loans held for sale), the provision for loan losses, depreciation expense, the origination, amortization and impairment of mortgage servicing rights and increases and decreases in other assets and liabilities.

The primary investing activity of First Defiance is lending, which is funded with cash provided from operating and financing activities, as well as proceeds from payment on existing loans and proceeds from

 

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maturities of investment securities. On March 14, 2008, First Defiance completed the acquisition of Pavilion, which was purchased with a combination of stock and cash and resulted in a decrease in cash of $23.9 million. In 2007, First Defiance completed the acquisition of HHWS, financed with the issuance of First Defiance shares of common stock, and realized an increase in cash of $190,000.

In considering the more typical investing activities, during 2009, $25.8 million and $6.4 million was generated from the maturity or sale of available-for-sale investment securities, while $35.6 million was used to fund loan growth and $53.9 million was used to purchase available-for-sale investment securities. During 2008, $30.4 million was generated from the maturity of available-for-sale investment securities, while $114.8 million was used to fund loan growth and $31.8 million was used to purchase available-for-sale investment securities. During 2007, $25.4 million and $2.5 million was generated from the maturity or sale of available-for-sale investment securities, respectively, while $67.7 million was used to fund loan growth and $28.9 million was used to purchase available-for-sale investment securities.

Principal financing activities include the gathering of deposits, the utilization of FHLB advances, and the sale of securities under agreements to repurchase such securities and borrowings from other banks. For 2009, total deposits increased by $110.3 million, including $101.4 million of growth in retail deposits. The amount of deposits acquired from out of market sources increased in 2009 by $8.9 million. For 2008, total deposits increased by $42.7 million excluding the deposits acquired in the Pavilion acquisition, including $4.6 million of growth in retail deposits. The amount of deposits acquired from out-of-market sources increased in 2008 by $38.1 million. For 2007, total deposits increased by $79.4 million, including $96.6 million of growth in retail deposit balances. The amount of deposits acquired from out of market sources declined in 2007 by $17.2 million. Also in 2009, Short-term advances from the FHLB decreased by $9.1 million and there were no borrowings on lines of credit from other banks. Also securities sold under repurchase arrangements decreased by $1.1 million. Also in 2008, Short-term advances from the FHLB decreased by $2.2 million and there were no borrowings on lines of credit from other banks. Also securities sold under repurchase arrangements increased by $7.2 million. Also in 2007, Short-term advances from the FHLB decreased by $21.8 million and there were no borrowings on lines of credit from other banks. Also, securities sold under repurchase arrangements decreased by $369,000. In 2007, First Defiance issued $15.5 million of subordinated debentures to an unconsolidated affiliated trust and that trust issued $15 million of trust preferred stock to outside investors. In 2008, First Defiance issued $37.0 million of preferred stock to the U.S. Treasury. For additional information about cash flows from First Defiance’s operating, investing and financing activities, see the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

At December 31, 2009, First Defiance had the following commitments to fund deposit, advance and borrowing obligations:

Table 12 – Contractual Obligation

 

     Maturity Dates by Period at December 31, 2009

Contractual Obligations

   Total    Less than
1 year
   1-3 years    4-5 years    After 5
years
     (In Thousands)

Certificates of deposit

   $ 761,363    $ 511,118    $ 245,708    $ 3,136    $ 1,401

FHLB overnight advances

     —        —        —        —        —  

FHLB fixed advances including interest (1)

     160,688      14,850      73,279      54,440      18,119

Subordinated debentures

     36,083      —        —        —        36,083

Securities sold under repurchase agreements

     48,398      48,398      —        —        —  

Unrecognized tax benefits

     346      65      216      65      —  

Lease obligations

     5,200      482      667      381      3,670
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 1,012,078    $ 574,913    $ 319,870    $ 58,022    $ 59,273
                                  

 

(1)

Includes principal payments of $146,927 and interest payments of $13,761

 

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At December 31, 2009, First Defiance had the following commitments to fund loan or line of credit obligations:

Table 13 – Commitments

 

     Total    Amount of Commitment Expiration by Period

Commitments

   Amounts
Committed
   Less than
1 year
   1-3 years    4-5 years    After 5
years
     (In Thousands)

Residential real estate loans in process

   $ 29,193    $25,091    $ 3,664    $ 438    $ —  

Commercial loans in process

     14,762    5,353      9,075      334      —  

One-to-four family mortgage loan originations

     16,347    16,347      —        —        —  

Multifamily originations

     5,804    4,804      1,000      —        —  

Other real estate originations

     19,246    15,569      3,677      —        —  

Nonmortgage loan originations

     8,097    8,097      —        —        —  

Consumer lines of credit

     108,820    14,410      17,052      25,692      51,666

Commercial lines of credit

     123,644    121,766      1,128      750      —  
                                

Total loan commitments

     325,913    211,437      35,596      27,214      51,666

Standby letters of credit

     21,299    10,441      10,510      348      —  
                                

Total Commitments

   $ 347,212    $221,878    $ 46,106    $ 27,562    $ 51,666
                                

In addition to the above commitments, at December 31, 2009 First Defiance had commitments to sell $23.8 million of loans to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHLB of Cincinnati or BB&T Mortgage.

To meet its obligations management can adjust the rate of savings certificates to retain deposits in changing interest rate environments; it can sell or securitize mortgage and non-mortgage loans; and it can turn to other sources of financing including FHLB advances, the Federal Reserve Bank, and brokered certificates of deposit. At December 31, 2009, First Defiance had $45.0 million capacity under its agreements with the FHLB.

First Federal is subject to various capital requirements of the OTS. At December 31, 2009, First Federal had capital ratios that exceeded the standard to be considered “well capitalized.” For additional information about First Federal’s capital requirements, see Note 18 – Regulatory Matters to the Consolidated December 31, 2009 Financial Statements.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

First Defiance has established various accounting policies which govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States in the preparation of its financial statements. The significant accounting policies of First Defiance are described in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements. Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities; Management considers such accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions made by management, actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates, which could have a material impact on the carrying value of assets and liabilities and the results of operations of First Defiance.

Allowance for Loan Losses First Defiance believes the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of its consolidated financial statements. In determining the appropriate estimate for the allowance for loan losses, management considers a number of factors relative to both specific credits in the loan portfolio and macro-economic factors relative to the economy of the United States as a whole and the economy of the northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana and southeast Michigan regions in which the Company does business.

Factors relative to specific credits that are considered include a customer’s payment history, a customer’s recent financial performance, an assessment of the value of collateral held, knowledge of the customer’s character, the financial strength and commitment of any guarantors, the existence of any customer or industry concentrations, changes in a customer’s competitive environment and any other issues that may impact a customer’s ability to meet his obligations.

Economic factors that are considered include levels of unemployment and inflation, specific plant or business closings in the Company’s market area, the impact of strikes or other work stoppages, the impact of weather or environmental conditions, especially relative to agricultural borrowers, and other matters that may have an impact on the economy as a whole.

In addition to the identification of specific customers who may be potential credit problems, management considers its historical losses, the results of independent loan reviews, an assessment of the adherence to underwriting standards, the loss experience being reported by other financial institutions operating in the Company’s market area, and other factors in providing for loan losses that have not been specifically classified. While management believes its allowance for loan losses is conservatively determined based on the above factors, it does not believe the allowances to be excessive or unnecessary. Refer to the section titled “Allowance for Loan Losses” and Note 2, Statement of Accounting Policies for a further description of the Company’s estimation process and methodology related to the allowance for loan losses.

Valuation of Mortgage Servicing Rights First Defiance believes the valuation of mortgage servicing rights is a critical accounting policy that requires significant estimates in preparation of its consolidated financial statements. First Defiance recognizes as separate assets the value of mortgage servicing rights, which are acquired through loan origination activities. First Defiance does not purchase any mortgage servicing rights.

Key assumptions made by management relative to the valuation of mortgage servicing rights include the stratification policy used in valuing servicing, assumptions relative to future prepayments of mortgages, the potential value of any escrow deposits maintained or ancillary income received as a result of the servicing activity and discount rates used to value the present value of a future cash flow stream. In assessing the value of the mortgage servicing rights portfolio, management utilizes a third party that specializes in valuing servicing portfolios. That third party reviews key assumptions with management prior to completing the valuation. Prepayment speeds are determined based on projected median prepayment speeds for 15 and 30 year mortgage backed securities. Those speeds are then adjusted up or down based on

 

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the size of the loan. The discount rate used in this analysis is the pretax yield generally required by purchasers of bulk servicing rights as of the valuation date. The value of mortgage servicing rights is especially vulnerable in a falling interest rate environment. Refer also to the section entitled Mortgage Servicing Rights and Note 2—Statement of Accounting Policies, and Note 9—Mortgage Banking, for a further description of First Defiance’s valuation process, methodology and assumptions along with sensitivity analyses.

Valuation of Securities First Defiance believes the valuation of certain securities is a critical accounting policy that requires significant estimates in preparation of its consolidated financial statements. This is pertaining to the Company’s investment in certain trust preferred debt obligations securities (“CDOs”). As required by FASB ASC Topic 320, declines in the fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary, are reflected in earnings as realized losses to the extent the impairment is related to credit losses. The amount of other-than-temporary impairment that does not relate to the credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. The fair value of these CDOs, which are backed by trust preferred securities issued by banks, thrifts and insurance companies, have a fair value of $1.6 million. The market for these securities at December 31, 2009 is not active and markets for similar securities are also not active. The inactivity was evidenced first by a significant widening of the bid-ask spread in the brokered markets in which CDOs trade and then by a significant decrease in the volume of trades relative to historical levels. The new issue market is also inactive as no new CDOs have been issued since 2007. There are currently very few market participants who are willing and/or able to transact for these securities.

The market values for these securities (and any securities other than those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury) are very depressed relative to historical levels. Thus in today’s market, a low market price for a particular bond may only provide evidence of stress in the credit markets in general versus being an indicator of credit problems with a particular issue.

Given the conditions in the debt markets today and the absence of observable transactions in the secondary and new issue markets, management has determined: 1) The few observable transactions and market quotations that are available are not reliable for the purpose of determining fair value at December 31, 2009; 2) An income valuation approach technique (present value technique) that maximizes the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizes the use of observable inputs will be equally or more representative of fair value than the market approach valuation used at the prior measurement dates and 3) The Company’s CDOs will be classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because management determined that significant adjustments were required to determine fair value at the measurement date.

The Company’s CDO valuations were prepared by an independent third party. Their approach to determining fair value involved several steps: 1) Detailed credit and structural evaluation of each piece of collateral in the CDO; 2) Collateral performance projections for each piece of collateral in the CDO (default, recovery and prepayment/amortization probabilities) and 3) Discounted cash flow modeling.

 

Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Asset/Liability Management

A significant portion of the Company’s revenues and net income is derived from net interest income and, accordingly, the Company strives to manage its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities to generate an appropriate contribution from net interest income. Asset and liability management seeks to control the volatility of the Company’s performance due to changes in interest rates. The Company attempts to achieve an appropriate relationship between rate sensitive assets and rate sensitive liabilities. First Defiance does not presently use off balance sheet derivatives to enhance its risk management.

 

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First Defiance monitors interest rate risk on a monthly basis through simulation analysis that measures the impact changes in interest rates can have on net interest income. The simulation technique analyzes the effect of a presumed 100 basis point shift in interest rates (which is consistent with management’s estimate of the range of potential interest rate fluctuations) and takes into account prepayment speeds on amortizing financial instruments, loan and deposit volumes and rates, non-maturity deposit assumptions and capital requirements. The results of the simulation indicate that in an environment where interest rates rise 100 basis points over a 12 month period, First Defiance’s net interest income would increase by just 2.32% over the base case scenario. It should be noted that other areas of First Defiance’s income statement, such as gains from sales of mortgage loans and amortization of mortgage servicing rights are also impacted by fluctuations in interest rates but are not considered in the simulation of net interest income.

The majority of First Defiance’s lending activities are in non-residential real estate and commercial loan areas. While such loans carry higher credit risk than residential mortgage lending, they tend to be more rate sensitive than residential mortgage loans. The balance of First Defiance’s non-residential and multi-family real estate loan portfolio was $806.9 million, which was split between $142.1 million of fixed-rate loans and $664.8 million of adjustable-rate loans at December 31, 2009. The commercial loan portfolio increased to $379.4 million, which is split between $119.0 million of fixed-rate loans and $260.4 million of adjustable-rate loans at December 31, 2009. Certain loans classified as adjustable have fixed rates for an initial term that may be as long as five years. The maturities on fixed-rate loans are generally less than 7 years. First Defiance also has significant balances of home equity and improvement loans ($148.0 million at December 31, 2009) of which $80.2 million fluctuate with changes in the prime lending rate. Approximately $67.8 million of home equity and improvement loans have fixed rates but the maturities on those loans range from three to five years. First Defiance also has consumer loans ($34.1 million at December 31, 2009) which tend to have a shorter duration than residential mortgage loans. Also, to limit its interest rate risk, as well as to provide liquidity, First Federal sells a majority of its fixed-rate mortgage originations into the secondary market.

In addition to the simulation analysis, First Federal also prepares an “economic value of equity” (“EVE”) analysis. This analysis calculates the net present value of First Federal’s assets and liabilities in rate shock environments that range from –300 basis points to +300 basis points. The likelihood of a decrease in interest rates as of December 31, 2009 was considered to be remote given the current interest rate levels and therefore was not included in this analysis. The results of this analysis is reflected in the following table.

Table 14 – Economic Value of Equity Analysis

 

December 31, 2009  
Economic Value of Equity     Economic Value of Equity as % of
Present Value of Assets
 

Change in Rates    

  

$ Amount

  

$ Change

  

% Change

    Ratio     Change  
     (Dollars in Thousands)                   
+ 300 bp    263,012    (9,820)    (3.60 %)    13.42   9 bp 
+ 200 bp    267,908    (4,924)    (1.80 %)    13.47   14 bp 
+ 100 bp    270,927    (1,905)    (0.70 %)    13.43   10 bp 
0 bp    272,832    —      —        13.33   —     

Based on the above analysis, in the event of a 200 basis point increase in interest rates as of December 31, 2009, First Federal would experience a 1.80% decrease in its economic value of equity. During periods of rising rates, the value of monetary assets declines. Conversely, during periods of falling rates, the value of monetary assets increases. It should be noted that the amount of change in value of specific assets and liabilities due to changes in rates is not the same in a rising rate environment as in a falling rate environment. Based on the EVE analysis, the change in the economic value of equity in both rising and falling rate environments is relatively low because both its assets and liabilities have relatively short durations and the durations are fairly closely matched. The average duration of its assets at December 31, 2009 was 1.45 years while the average duration of its liabilities was 1.54 years.

 

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In evaluating First Federal’s exposure to interest rate risk, certain shortcomings inherent in each of the methods of analysis presented must be considered. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market rates while interest rates on other types of financial instruments may lag behind current changes in market rates. Furthermore, in the event of changes in rates, prepayments and early withdrawal levels could differ significantly from the assumptions in calculating the table and the results therefore may differ from those presented.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of First Defiance Financial Corp. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.

Crowe Horwath LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued a report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, is included below.

 

LOGO

 

LOGO

William J. Small

 

Donald P. Hileman

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

 

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of First Defiance Financial Corp. (the Company) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. We also have audited First Defiance Financial Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

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In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of First Defiance Financial Corp. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, First Defiance Financial Corp. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

LOGO

Crowe Horwath LLP

South Bend, Indiana

March 2, 2010

 

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First Defiance Financial Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

     December 31,
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents:

     

Cash and amounts due from depository institutions

   $ 29,613    $ 40,980

Interest-bearing deposits

     91,503      5,172
             
     121,116      46,152

Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value

     137,458      117,575

Securities held-to-maturity, carried at amortized cost (fair value $1,958 and $917 at December 31, 2009
and 2008 respectively)

     1,920      886

Loans receivable, net of allowance of $36,547 and $24,592 at December 31, 2009
and 2008, respectively

     1,580,575      1,592,643

Loans held for sale

     10,346      10,960

Mortgage servicing rights

     8,958      6,611

Accrued interest receivable

     6,851      7,293

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock

     21,376      21,376

Bank owned life insurance

     30,804      28,747

Premises and equipment

     43,597      47,756

Real estate and other assets held for sale

     13,527      7,000

Goodwill

     56,585      56,585

Core deposit and other intangibles

     6,888      8,344

Deferred taxes

     3,289      336

Other assets

     14,233      5,136
             

Total assets

   $ 2,057,523    $ 1,957,400
             

 

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First Defiance Financial Corp

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (continued)

 

     December 31,  
     2009     2008  
     (In Thousands)  

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

    

Liabilities:

    

Deposits:

    

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 189,132      $ 176,063   

Interest-bearing

     1,391,094        1,293,849   
                

Total

     1,580,226        1,469,912   

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank

     146,927        156,067   

Short term borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities

     48,398        49,454   

Subordinated debentures

     36,083        36,083   

Advance payments by borrowers

     665        652   

Other liabilities

     11,138        16,073   
                

Total liabilities

     1,823,437        1,728,241   

Commitments and Contingent (Note 7)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share: 37,000 shares authorized and issued with a liquidation preference of $37,000,000, net of discount

     36,293        36,133   

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share:

    

4,963,000 shares authorized; no shares issued

     —          —     

Common stock, $.01 par value per share:

    

25,000,000 shares authorized; 12,739,496 and 12,739,496 shares issued and
8,117,520 and 8,117,120 shares outstanding, respectively

     127        127   

Common stock warrant

     878        878   

Additional paid-in capital

     140,677        140,449   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $(85) and $(1,025), respectively

     (158     (1,904

Retained earnings

     128,900        126,114   

Treasury stock, at cost, 4,621,976 and 4,622,376 shares respectively

     (72,631     (72,638
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     234,086        229,159   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,057,523      $ 1,957,400   
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)

 

     Years Ended December 31,
     2009     2008     2007

Interest Income

      

Loans

   $ 93,702      $ 96,522      $ 90,866

Investment securities:

      

Taxable

     3,976        4,357        4,475

Tax-exempt

     1,797        1,399        1,260

Interest-bearing deposits

     149        123        924

FHLB stock dividends

     955        1,062        1,226
                      

Total interest income

     100,579        103,463        98,751

Interest Expense

      

Deposits

     26,102        31,354        40,356

Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other

     5,114        6,375        6,889

Subordinated debentures

     1,471        1,907        2,115

Notes payable

     570        1,632        729
                      

Total interest expense

     33,257        41,268        50,089
                      

Net interest income

     67,322        62,195        48,662

Provision for loan losses

     23,232        12,585        2,306
                      

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     44,090        49,610        46,356

Noninterest Income

      

Service fees and other charges

     13,503        13,268        10,788

Mortgage banking income

     9,747        2,990        3,612

Insurance commissions

     5,021        5,496        5,278

Gain on sale of non-mortgage loans

     264        180        226

Gain on sale or call of securities

     284        22        21

Other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on investment securities

      

Total impairment losses on investment securities

     (2,155     (3,182     —  

Losses recognized in other comprehensive income

     (1,785     —          —  
                      

Net impairment loss recognized in earnings

     (3,940     (3,182     —  

Trust income

     415        448        375

Income from bank owned life insurance

     557        323        1,375

Other noninterest income

     444        (476     455
                      

Total noninterest income

     26,295        19,069        22,130

Noninterest Expense

      

Compensation and benefits

     27,898        28,829        25,245

Occupancy

     7,852        7,484        6,100

FDIC insurance

     3,350        1,082        135

Data processing

     4,541        4,658        3,824

Acquisition related charges

     —          1,117        —  

Other noninterest expense

     16,883        14,624        12,809
                      

Total noninterest expense

     60,524        57,794        48,113
                      

Income before income taxes

     9,861        10,885        20,373

Federal income taxes

     2,667        3,528        6,469
                      

Net Income

   $ 7,194      $ 7,357      $ 13,904
                      

Dividends Accrued on Preferred Shares

   $ (1,850   $ (134   $ —  

Accretion on Preferred Shares

     (160     (11     —  
                      

Net Income Applicable to Common Shares

   $ 5,184      $ 7,212      $ 13,904
                      

Earnings per common share:

      

Basic

   $ 0.64      $ 0.91      $ 1.96

Diluted

   $ 0.63      $ 0.91      $ 1.94

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.295      $ 0.95      $ 1.01

See accompanying notes

 

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FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In Thousands, except number of shares)

 

     Preferred
Stock
   Common
Stock
   Common
Stock
Warrant
   Treasury
Stock
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   Stock
Acquired
by ESOP
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Retained
Earnings
    Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ —      $ 117    $ —      $ (69,390   $ 110,285    $ (628   $ (671   $ 120,112      $ 159,825   

Adjustment to initially apply FIN 48

                       (200     (200
                            

Balance at December 31, 2006 adjusted

                         159,625   

Comprehensive income:

                      

Net income

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          13,904        13,904   

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes of $248

     —        —        —        —          —        —          459        —          459   

Change in unrealized loss on postretirement postretirement benefit, net of tax of ($110)

     —        —        —        —          —        —          (203     —          (203
                            

Total comprehensive income

                         14,160   

ESOP shares released

     —        —        —        —          951      426        —          —          1,377   

Stock option expense

     —        —        —        —          260      —          —          —          260   

36,865 shares issued under stock option plan, including income tax benefit of $64

     —        —        —        563        68      —          —          (46     585   

76,435 shares issued in acquisition of HHWS

     —        —        —        1,163        1,087      —          —          —          2,250   

196,474 common shares acquired for treasury

     —        —        —        (5,163     —        —          —          —          (5,163

Dividends declared

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          (7,140     (7,140
                                                                    

Balance at December 31, 2007

     —        117      —        (72,827     112,651      (202     (415     126,630        165,954   

Comprehensive income:

                      

Net income

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          7,357        7,357   

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes of ($790)

     —        —        —        —          —        —          (1,464     —          (1,464

Change in unrealized loss on postretirement benefit, net of tax of ($13)

     —        —        —        —          —        —          (25     —          (25
                            

Total comprehensive income

                         5,868   

ESOP shares released

     —        —        —        —          351      202        —          —          553   

Stock option expense

     —        —        —        —          266      —          —          —          266   

52,486 shares issued under stock option plan, including income tax benefit of $72

     —        —        —        824        63      —          —          (46     841   

1,036,861 shares issued in acquisition of Pavilion

     —        10      —        —          27,118            27,128   

31,429 common shares acquired for treasury

     —        —        —        (635     —        —          —          —          (635

37,000 shares issued to U.S. Treasury CPP

     36,122         —                 —          36,122   

Preferred stock dividends accrued

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          (134     (134

Issuance of common stock warrant

     —        —        878      —          —        —          —          —          878   

Accretion on preferred shares

     11         —                 (11     —     

Common stock dividends declared

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          (7,682     (7,682
                                                                    

Balance at December 31, 2008

     36,133      127      878      (72,638     140,449      —          (1,904     126,114        229,159   

Comprehensive income:

                      

Net income

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          7,194        7,194   

Change in net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes of $844

     —        —        —        —          —        —          1,568        —          1,568   

Change in unrealized gain on postretirement benefit, net of tax of $96

     —        —        —        —          —        —          178        —          178   
                            

Total comprehensive income

                         8,940   

Stock option expense

     —        —        —        —          228      —          —          —          228   

400 shares issued under stock option plan, with no income tax benefit

     —        —        —        7        —        —          —          (2     5   

Preferred stock dividends

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          (1,850     (1,850

Accretion on preferred shares

     160      —        —        —          —        —          —          (160     —     

Common stock dividends declared

     —        —        —        —          —        —          —          (2,396     (2,396
                                                                    

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 36,293    $ 127    $ 878    $ (72,631   $ 140,677    $ —        $ (158   $ 128,900      $ 234,086   
                                                                    

See accompanying notes

 

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FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

Operating Activities

      

Net income

   $ 7,194      $ 7,357      $ 13,904   

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

      

Provision for loan losses

     23,232        12,585        2,306   

Provision for depreciation

     3,832        3,803        2,986   

Net amortization of premium and discounts on loans, securities, deposits and
debt obligations

     170        752        140   

Amortization of mortgage servicing rights

     3,171        1,266        648   

Net impairment (recovery) of mortgage servicing rights

     (1,314     2,676        36   

Amortization of intangibles

     1,456        1,458        646   

Gain on sale of loans

     (9,008     (4,575     (2,816

Loss on sale or disposals of property, plant and equipment

     563        —          108   

Loss on sale or write-down of REO

     1,627        434        805   

FHLB stock dividends

     —          (754     —     

Release of ESOP shares

     —          553        1,377   

OTTI losses on investment securities

     3,940        3,182        —     

Gain on sale of securities

     (284     (22     (21

Change in deferred taxes

     (4,007     (4,672     (257

Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale

     518,747        180,072        127,674   

Stock option expense

     228        266        260   

Origination of loans held for sale

     (513,593     (182,336     (128,537

Income from bank owned life insurance

     (557     (323     (1,375

Change in interest receivable and other assets

     (8,541     2,407        (1,615

Change in accrued interest and other liabilities

     (3,384     (2,122     2,444   
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     23,472        22,007        18,713   

Investing Activities

      

Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity securities

     175        230        324   

Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities

     25,770        30,416        25,359   

Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities

     6,383        —          2,521   

Proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets held for sale

     7,076        2,796        2,923   

Proceeds from sale of office properties and equipment

     1,227        27        18   

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (52,645     (31,811     (28,946

Purchases of held-to-maturity securities

     (1,210     —          —     

Purchases of office properties and equipment

     (1,763     (4,589     (8,687

Investment in bank owned life insurance

     (1,500     —          (2,060

Proceed from insurance death benefit

     —          —          338   

Net cash received in acquisitions

     —          —          190   

Net cash paid in Pavilion acquisition

     —          (23,907     —     

Proceeds from sale of non-mortgage loans

     8,714        10,707        12,234   

Net increase in loans receivable

     (35,598     (114,816     (67,741
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (43,371     (130,947     (63,527

 

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FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

Financing Activities

      

Net increase in deposits

     110,577        42,925        79,590   

Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank long-term advances

     (25,040     (16,408     (873

Net decrease in Federal Home Loan Bank short-term advances

     (9,100     (2,200     (21,800

Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank long-term advances

     25,000        29,000        —     

Increase (decrease) in securities sold under repurchase agreements

     (1,056     7,153        (369

Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debentures

     —          —          15,464   

Purchase of common stock for treasury

     —          (635     (4,923

Cash dividends paid on common stock

     (3,776     (8,137     (7,090

Cash dividends paid on preferred stock

     (1,747     —          —     

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

     —          37,000        —     

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     5        769        281   

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     —          72        64   
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     94,863        89,539        60,344   
                        

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     74,964        (19,401     15,530   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     46,152        65,553        50,023   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 121,116      $ 46,152      $ 65,553   
                        

Supplemental cash flow information:

      

Interest paid

   $ 34,038      $ 42,433      $ 49,411   
                        

Income taxes paid

   $ 8,800      $ 6,772      $ 5,576   
                        

Stock option exercise price paid with common stock

   $ —        $ 33      $ 240   
                        

Transfers from loans to other real estate owned and other assets held for sale

   $ 14,930      $ 6,060      $ 3,796   
                        

Transfers from premises and equipment to other real estate owned and other assets held for sale

   $ 300      $ —        $ —     
                        

First Defiance acquired all of the capital stock of Pavilion Bancorp, Inc. for $55.5 million in 2008.

In conjunction with the acquisition, liabilities were assumed as follows:

 

     Pavilion

Fair value of assets acquired

   $ 287,994

Purchase price

     55,548
      

Liabilities assumed

   $ 232,446
      

See accompanying notes.

 

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Basis of Presentation

First Defiance Financial Corp. (First Defiance) is a unitary thrift holding company that conducts business through its two wholly owned subsidiaries, First Federal Bank of the Midwest (First Federal) and First Insurance and Investments, Inc. (First Insurance). All significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

First Federal is primarily engaged in attracting deposits from the general public through its offices and using those and other available sources of funds to originate loans primarily in the counties in which its offices are located. First Federal’s traditional banking activities include originating and servicing residential, commercial and consumer loans and providing a broad range of depository, trust and wealth management services. First Insurance is an insurance agency that does business in the Defiance and Bowling Green, Ohio areas, offering property and casualty, and group health and life insurance products.

2. Statement of Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated 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 amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant areas where First Defiance uses estimates are the valuation of certain investment securities, the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of mortgage servicing rights and goodwill, the determination of unrecognized income tax benefits, and the determination of post-retirement benefits.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is net income applicable to common shares divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options, warrants and stock grants. Unreleased shares held by the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan are not included in average shares for purposes of calculating earnings per share. As shares are released for allocation, they are included in the average shares outstanding. Also see notes 5 and 20.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and the net unrecognized actuarial losses and unrecognized prior service costs associated with the Company’s Defined Benefit Postretirement Medical Plan. All items included in other comprehensive income are reported net of tax. See also notes 3, 6 and 17.

Cash Flows

Cash and cash equivalents include amounts due from banks and overnight investments with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB). Cash and amounts due from depository institutions include required balances on hand or on deposit at the FHLB and Federal Reserve of

 

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approximately $1,325,000 and $3,290,000, respectively, at December 31, 2009 to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions and repurchase agreements.

Investment Securities

Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase and evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when First Defiance has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity and are reported at cost, adjusted for premiums and discounts that are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the period to maturity.

Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported in other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Realized gains and losses are included in gains (losses) on securities or other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are recognized on the trade date based on the specific identification method.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums and discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities where prepayments are expected. Securities with unrealized losses are reviewed quarterly to determine if value impairment is other–than-temporary. In performing this review management considers the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition of the issuer, the impact of changes in market interest rates on market value and whether the Company intends to sell or it would be more than likely required to sell the securities prior to their anticipated recovery.

FHLB Stock

As a member of the FHLB System, First Federal is required to own stock of the FHLB of Cincinnati in an amount principally equal to 0.15% of total assets plus an amount of at least 2% but no more than 4% of its non-grandfathered mission asset activity (as defined in the FHLB’s regulations). First Federal is permitted to own stock in excess of the minimum requirement. FHLB stock is a restricted equity security that does not have a readily determinable fair value and is carried at cost. It is evaluated for impairment based upon the ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income. At December 31, 2009, the balance at FHLB of Cincinnati was $19.4 million. First Federal acquired $2.0 of stock from the Pavilion acquisition which is held at the FHLB of Indianapolis and is required to be held for five years from the date of acquisition of March 14, 2008.

Loans Receivable

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of deferred loan fees and costs, purchase premiums and discounts and the allowance for loan losses. Deferred fees net of deferred incremental loan origination costs, are amortized to interest income generally over the contractual life of the loan using the interest method without anticipating prepayments.

Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are classified as loans held for sale and are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value, as determined by outstanding commitments from investors. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings. Mortgage loans held for sale are generally sold with servicing rights retained. The carrying value of mortgage loans sold is reduced by the amount allocated to the servicing right. Gains or losses on sales of mortgage loans are based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loan sold.

 

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During 2009, the Company realized losses totaling $281,000 pertaining to loans sold to Fannie Mae but were returned due to underwriting issues. Management does not believe there are any such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.

Interest receivable is accrued on loans and credited to income as earned. The accrual of interest on loans 90 days delinquent or impaired is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payments as they become due. For these loans, interest accrual is only to the extent cash payments are received. The accrual of interest on these loans is generally resumed after a pattern of repayment has been established and the collection of principal and interest is reasonably assured.

Acquired Loans

Valuation allowances for all acquired loans subject to FASB ASC Topic 310 reflect only those losses incurred after acquisition—that is, the present value of cash flows expected at acquisition that are not expected to be collected.

The Company acquires loans individually and in groups or portfolios. At acquisition, the Company reviews each loan to determine whether there is evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination and if it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the loan’s contractual terms. If both conditions exist, the Company determines whether each such loan is to be accounted for individually or whether such loans will be assembled into pools of loans based on common risk characteristics (credit score, loan type and date of origination). The Company considers expected prepayments, and estimates the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest, and other cash flows (expected at acquisition) for each loan and subsequently aggregated pool of loans.

The Company determines the excess of the loan’s or pool’s scheduled contractual principal and contractual interest payments over all cash flows expected at acquisition as an amount that should not be accreted (nonaccretable difference). The remaining amount—representing the excess of the loan’s cash flows expected to be collected over the amount paid—is accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the loan or pool (accretable yield).

Over the life of the loan or pool, the Company continues to estimate cash flows expected to be collected, and evaluates whether the present value of its loans determined using the effective interest rates has decreased and, if so, recognizes a loss. The present value of any subsequent increase in the loan’s or pool’s actual cash flows or cash flows expected to be collected is used first to reverse any existing valuation allowance for that loan or pool. For any remaining increases in cash flows expected to be collected, the Company adjusts the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective basis over the loan’s or pool’s remaining life.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to absorb probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and is based on the size and current risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, an assessment of individual problem loans, actual loss experience, current economic events in specific industries and geographical areas and other pertinent factors, including general economic conditions. Determination of the allowance is inherently subjective as it requires significant estimates, including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on historical loss experience and consideration of economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.

 

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Loan losses are charged off against the allowance when in management’s estimation it is unlikely that the loan will be collected, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance. A provision for loan loss is charged to operations based on management’s periodic evaluation of the factors previously mentioned, as well as other pertinent factors in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at the level deemed adequate by management. The determination of whether a loan is considered past due or delinquent is based on the contractual payment terms.

A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loans agreement. Loans, for which terms have been modified and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are individually evaluated for impairment. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance is allocated so that the loan is reported net at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as consumer and residential real estate loans, are collectively evaluated for impairment, and accordingly, they are not separately identified for impairment disclosures.

Servicing Rights

Servicing rights are recognized separately when they are acquired through sales of loans. Servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sales of loans. Fair value is based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts, when available, or alternatively, is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, such as the cost to service, the discount rate, the custodial earnings rate, an inflation rate, ancillary income, prepayment speeds and default rates and losses. The Company compares the valuation model inputs and results to published industry data in order to validate the model results and assumptions. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into non-interest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans.

Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into groupings based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance for an individual grouping, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in valuation allowances are reported with mortgage banking income on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.

Servicing fee income, which is reported on the income statement with mortgage banking income, is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal, or a fixed amount per loan, and are recorded as income when earned. The amortization of mortgage servicing rights is netted against loan servicing fee income. Servicing fees, net of amortization of mortgage servicing rights (excluding valuation adjustments) totaled $(300,000) million, $1.3 million and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material. See Note 9.

 

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Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain key employees. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Premises and Equipment and Long Lived Assets

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed principally by the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

 

Buildings and improvements

   20 to 50 years

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

   3 to 15 years

Long-lived assets to be held and those to be disposed of and certain intangibles are periodically evaluated for impairment. See Note 10.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill resulting from business combinations prior to January 1, 2009 represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill resulting from business combinations after January 1, 2009, is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually. The Company has selected November 30 as the date to perform the annual impairment test. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life on our balance sheet.

Other intangible assets consist of core deposit and acquired customer relationship intangible assets arising from whole bank, insurance and branch acquisitions. They are initially recorded at fair value and then amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated lives, which range from five years for non-compete agreements to 10 to 20 years for core deposit and customer relationship intangibles. See Note 11.

Real Estate and Other Assets Held for Sale

Other assets held for sale are comprised of properties acquired through foreclosure proceedings or acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure. These properties are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated costs to dispose, at the time of foreclosure or insubstance foreclosure. Losses arising from the acquisition of such property are charged against the allowance for loan losses at the time of acquisition. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, the property is written down against expense. Costs after acquisition are expensed.

Stock Compensation Plans

Compensation cost is recognized for stock options issued to employees and directors, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options. Compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. See Note 21.

 

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Mortgage Banking Derivatives

Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. The Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into, in order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans. Changes in fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking income.

Operating Segments

Management considers the following factors in determining the need to disclose separate operating segments: 1) The nature of products and services, which are all financial in nature; 2) The type and class of customer for the products and services; in First Defiance’s case retail customers for retail bank and insurance products and commercial customers for commercial loan, deposit, life, health and property and casualty insurance needs; 3) The methods used to distribute products or provide services; such services are delivered through banking and insurance offices and through bank and insurance customer contact representatives. Retail and commercial customers are frequently targets for both banking and insurance products; 4) The nature of the regulatory environment; both banking and insurance entities are subject to various regulatory bodies and a number of specific regulations.

Quantitative thresholds as stated in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280, Segment Reporting are monitored. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the reported revenue for First Insurance was 5.3% of total revenue for First Defiance. Total revenue includes net interest income (before provision for loan losses) plus non-interest income. Net income for First Insurance for the year ended December 31, 2009 was 9.2% of consolidated net income. Total assets of First Insurance at December 31, 2009 were 0.4% of total assets. First Insurance does not meet any of the quantitative thresholds of FASB ASC Topic 280. Accordingly, all of the financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable segment.

 

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Dividend Restriction

Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Savings bank to the holding company. See Note 18 for further details on restrictions.

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there are any such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of a sufficient level of future taxable income and recoverable taxes paid in prior years. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.

An effective tax rate of 35% is used to determine after-tax components of other comprehensive income (loss) included in the statements of stockholders’ equity. See Note 19.

The Company adopted guidance issued by the FASB with respect to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes as of January 1, 2007. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2007, the effect of which resulted in $200,000 being recorded as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings. See Note 19.

The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Reclassifications

Some items in the prior year financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In September 2006, the FASB issued guidance that defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance also

 

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establishes a fair value hierarchy about the assumptions used to measure fair value and clarifies assumptions about risk and the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. In February 2008, the FASB issued guidance that delayed the effective date of this fair value guidance for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance that establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in an acquiree, including the recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in a business combination. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued guidance that amends and expands the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The guidance requires qualitative disclosure about objectives and strategies for using derivative and hedging instruments, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of the instruments and gains and losses on such instruments, as well as, disclosures about credit-risk features in derivative agreements. The guidance was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. The new disclosures have been presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB replaced The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM (The Codification) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The Codification was effective for financial statements issued for periods ending after September 15, 2009.

In June 2008, the FASB issued guidance which addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting and, therefore, included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share (EPS) under the two-class method. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of EPS pursuant to the two-class method. This guidance was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. All prior-period EPS data presented were to be adjusted retrospectively (including interim financial statements, summaries of earnings and selected financial data) to conform to the provisions of this guidance. Adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2008, the FASB issued guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plan. These additional disclosures include disclosure of investment policies and fair value disclosures of plan assets, including fair value hierarchy. The guidance also includes a technical amendment that requires a non-public entity to disclose net periodic benefit cost for each annual period for which a statement of income is presented. This guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Upon initial application, provisions of the FSP are not required for earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes. The new disclosures have been presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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In April 2009, the FASB amended existing guidance for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary for debt securities. The guidance requires an entity to assess whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of these criteria is met, the entire difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the amount of impairment is split into two components as follows: 1) other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) related to other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income and 2) OTTI related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the income statement. The credit loss is defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis. Additionally, disclosures about other-than-temporary impairments for debt and equity securities were expanded. This guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The Company elected to early-adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2009. No amounts of previously recognized impairment charges were reversed upon adoption.

In April 2009, the FASB issued guidance that emphasizes that the objective of a fair value measurement does not change even when market activity for the asset or liability has decreased significantly. Fair value is the price that would be received for an asset sold or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. When observable transactions or quoted prices are not considered orderly, then little, if any, weight should be assigned to the indication of the asset or liability’s fair value. Adjustments to those transactions or prices should be applied to determine the appropriate fair value. The guidance, which was applied prospectively, was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 early adoption for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The Company elected to early-adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2009 and it did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Newly Issued Not Yet Effective Standards

In June 2009, the FASB amended previous guidance relating to transfers of financial assets and eliminates the concept of a qualifying special purpose entity. This guidance must be applied as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. This guidance must be applied to transfers occurring on or after the effective date. Additionally, on and after the effective date, the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity is no longer relevant for accounting purposes. Therefore, formerly qualifying special-purpose entities should be evaluated for consolidation by reporting entities on and after the effective date in accordance with the applicable consolidation guidance. The disclosure provisions were also amended and apply to transfers that occurred both before and after the effective date of this guidance. The effect of adopting this new guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

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3. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale and the net unrecognized actuarial losses and unrecognized prior services costs associated with the Company’s Defined Benefit Postretirement Medical Plan. All items reported in other comprehensive income (loss) are reported net of tax. Following is a summary of other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Net income

   $ 7,194      $ 7,357      $ 13,904   

Change in securities available-for-sale:

      

Other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities

     (2,155     (3,182     —     

Other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities associated with credit losses realized in income

     3,940        3,182        —     
                        

Other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities recorded in OCI

     1,785        —          —     

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during the period

     911        (2,232     728   

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses realized in income

     (284     (22     (21
                        

Net unrealized gains (losses)

     627        (2,254     707   

Income tax effect

     (844     (790     (248
                        

Net of tax amount

     1,568        (1,464     459   
                        

Change in unrealized gain on postretirement benefit:

      

Net gain (loss) on defined benefit postretirement medical plan realized during the period

     218        (74     (357

Prior service cost added during the period

     —          (25     —     

Net amortization and deferral

     56        61        44   
                        

Net gain (loss) activity during the period

     274        (38     (313

Income tax effect

     (96     13        110   
                        

Net of tax amount

     178        (25     (203
                        

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     1,746        (1,489     256   
                        

Comprehensive income

   $ 8,940      $ 5,868      $ 14,160   
                        

The following table summarizes the changes within each classification of accumulated comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     Unrealized gains
(losses) on available
for sale securities
    Postretirement
Benefit
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss), net
 
     (In thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ (1,100   $ (804   $ (1,904

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

     1,568        178        1,746   
                        

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 468      $ (626   $ (158
                        
     Unrealized gains
(losses) on available
for sale securities
    Postretirement
Benefit
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss), net
 
     (In thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 364      $ (779   $ (415

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

     (1,464     (25     (1,489
                        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ (1,100   $ (804   $ (1,904
                        

 

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4. Acquisitions

On March 14, 2008, First Defiance completed the acquisition of Pavilion, which was headquartered in Adrian, Michigan. Each Pavilion shareholder received 1.4209 shares of First Defiance common stock and $37.50 in cash for each share of Pavilion stock. In connection with this transaction, 1,036,861 shares of First Defiance common stock were issued at a total value of $27.1 million. The common shares issued were valued at $26.117 per share, representing the average of the closing bid and ask price as of the date of the merger announcement plus two days prior and two days subsequent to the announcement. The total cost of the transaction, including legal and investment banking fees, was $55.5 million. The assets and liabilities of Pavilion were recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value as of the acquisition date. The results of Pavilion’s operations have been included in the First Defiance’s consolidated statement of income from the date of acquisition. Disclosure of pro forma results of this acquisition is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the transaction closed in the first quarter of 2008.

The following tables summarize the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired and the computation of the purchase price and goodwill related to the Pavilion acquisition.

 

     Acquisition Date
March 14, 2008
     (In Thousands)

Assets

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,514

Investment securities

     9,136

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses

     232,499

Premises and equipment

     6,992

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

     2,036

Goodwill and other intangibles

     26,016

Other assets

     6,801
      

Total Assets

     287,994

Liabilities

  

Deposits

     209,385

Borrowings

     18,403

Other liabilities

     4,658
      

Total Liabilities

     232,446
      

Net assets acquired

   $ 55,548
      

 

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     Acquisition Date
March 14, 2008
 
     (In Thousands)  

Purchase price

   $ 55,548   

Pavilion’s carrying value of net assets acquired

     (28,138
        

Excess purchase price over Pavilion’s carrying

  

Value of net assets acquired

     27,410   

Purchase accounting adjustments

  

Portfolio loans

     (6,632

Premises and equipment

     2,579   

Mortgage servicing rights

     (1,010

Deposits

     1,021   

Deferred tax liabilities

     2,648   
        

Total net tangible assets

     (1,394

Core deposit and other intangibles

     (6,251
        

Goodwill

   $ 19,765   
        

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, First Defiance recognized $1,117,000 of acquisition-related charges, of which, $198,000 related to retention bonuses and $171,000 related to termination of certain contracts. The remaining $663,000 includes items related to professional services, start-up costs of system conversions, supplies and other non-recurring costs associated with the completion of the acquisition and the transition of operations.

 

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5. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

 

     2009    2008    2007
     (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share-net income applicable to common shares

   $ 5,184    $ 7,212    $ 13,904
                    

Denominator:

        

Denominator for basic earnings per common share-weighted-average common shares

     8,117      7,889      7,085

Effect of dilutive securities:

        

Employee stock options

     1      22      93

Warrants

     78      8      —  
                    

Dilutive potential common shares

     79      30      93
                    

Denominator for diluted earnings per common share

     8,196      7,919      7,178
                    

Basic earnings per common share

   $ .64    $ .91    $ 1.96
                    

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ .63    $ .91    $ 1.94
                    

Shares under option of 412,150 in 2009, 327,300 in 2008 and 204,453 in 2007 were excluded from the diluted earnings per common share calculation as they were anti-dilutive.

6. Investment Securities

The following tables summarizes the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity investment securities portfolio at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

 

     Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

2009

          

Available-for-sale

          

Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 14,038    $ 252    $ (39   $ 14,251

Mortgage-backed securities

     30,341      1,194      (31     31,504

REMICs

     3,718      205      —          3,923

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     40,878      824      (331     41,371

Trust preferred stock and preferred stock

     4,122      —        (2,446     1,676

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     43,640      1,251      (158     44,733
                            

Total Available-for-Sale

   $ 136,737    $ 3,726    $ (3,005   $ 137,458
                            

Held-to-Maturity

          

Mortgage-backed Securities:

          

FHLMC certificates

   $ 119    $ 7    $ —        $ 126

FNMA certificates

     304      9      —          313

GNMA certificates

     107      3      —          110

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     1,390      19      —          1,409
                            

Total Held-to-Maturity

   $ 1,920    $ 38    $ —        $ 1,958
                            

 

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     Amortized
Cost
   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

2008

          

Available-for-sale

          

Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

   $ 14,180    $ 505    $ —        $ 14,685

Mortgage-backed securities

     34,232      1,137      (3     35,366

REMICs

     4,041      118      —          4,159

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     22,196      486      (252     22,430

Trust preferred stock and preferred stock

     8,038      —        (4,116     3,922

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     36,581      754      (322     37,013
                            

Total Available-for-Sale

   $ 119,268    $ 3,000    $ (4,693   $ 117,575
                            

Held-to-Maturity

          

Mortgage-backed Securities:

          

FHLMC certificates

   $ 141    $ 5    $ —        $ 146

FNMA certificates

     378      1      (2     377

GNMA certificates

     127      1      —          128

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     240      26      —          266
                            

Total Held-to-Maturity

   $ 886    $ 33    $ (2   $ 917
                            

The proceeds from sales of securities and the associated gains are listed below:

 

     2009     2008     2007
     (In Thousands)

Proceeds

   $ 6,383      $ —        $ 2,521

Gross realized gains

     284        —          21

Gross realized losses

     —          —          —  

Other-than-temporary impairment charges

     (3,940     (3,182     —  

Proceeds from calls were $2.0 million, $1.3 million, and $0 in 2009, 2008, and 2007 with gross gains of $0, $22,000, and $0, respectively. No losses on calls were recognized.

The amortized cost and fair value of the securities portfolio at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are shown below by contractual maturity. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities if borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. For purposes of the maturity table for 2009, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and REMICs, which are not due at a single maturity date, have not been allocated over maturity groupings. These securities may mature earlier than their weighted-average contractual maturities because of principal prepayments.

 

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     Available-for-Sale    Held-to-Maturity
     Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

2009

  

Due in one year or less

   $ 3,079    $ 3,142    $ 960    $ 963

Due after one year through five years

     11,321      11,584      120      136

Due after five years through ten years

     8,102      8,319      310      310

Due after ten years

     39,298      37,615      —        —  

MBS/CMO/REMIC

     74,937      76,798      530      549
                           
   $ 136,737    $ 137,458    $ 1,920    $ 1,958
                           
     Available-for-Sale    Held-to-Maturity
     Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
   Amortized
Cost
   Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

2008

  

Due in one year or less

   $ 18,383    $ 18,764    $ 282    $ 286

Due after one year through five years

     51,037      52,076      493      520

Due after five years through ten years

     15,874      16,416      100      100

Due after ten years

     33,974      30,319      11      11
                           
   $ 119,268    $ 117,575    $ 886    $ 917
                           

Securities pledged at year-end 2009 and 2008 had a carrying amount of $122.8 million and $93.0 million and were pledged to secure public deposits, securities sold under repurchase agreements and FHLB advances.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of 283 securities, 41 of which were in an unrealized loss position.

 

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The following table summarizes First Defiance’s securities that were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

     Duration of Unrealized Loss Position     Total  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer    
     Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
   Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Loses
 
     (In Thousands)  

At December 31, 2009

               

Available-for-sale securities:

               

Obligations of U.S. govt. corps. and agencies

   $ 1,961    $ (39   $ —      $ —        $ 1,961    $ (39

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,921      (31     —        —          1,921      (31

Collateralized mortgage obligations and REMICs

     12,007      (287     604      (44     12,611      (331

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     3,879      (55     1,182      (103     5,061      (158

Trust preferred stock and preferred stock

     —        —          1,651      (2,446     1,651      (2,446

Held to maturity securities:

               

Mortgage-backed securities

     —        —          —        —          —        —     
                                             

Total temporarily impaired securities

   $ 19,768    $ (412   $ 3,437    $ (2,593   $ 23,205    $ (3,005
                                             

At December 31, 2008

          

Available-for-sale securities:

          

Obligations of U.S. govt. corps. and agencies

   $ —      $ —        $ —      $ —        $ —      $ —     

Mortgage-backed securities

     317      (3     —        —          317      (3

Collateralized mortgage obligations and REMICs

     451      —          1,004      (252     1,455      (252

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     7,019      (192     2,047      (130     9,066      (322

Trust preferred stock and preferred stock

     678      (889     2,826      (3,227     3,504      (4,116

Held to maturity securities:

               

Mortgage-backed securities

     293      (2     87      —          380      (2
                                             

Total temporarily impaired securities

   $ 8,758    $ (1,086   $ 5,964    $ (3,609   $ 14,722    $ (4,695
                                             

With the exception of Trust Preferred Stock, the above securities all have fixed interest rates, and all securities have defined maturities. Their fair value is sensitive to movements in market interest rates. First Defiance has the ability and intent to hold these investments for a time necessary to recover the amortized cost without impacting its liquidity position and it is not more than likely that the Company will be required to sell the investments before anticipated recovery.

At December 31, 2009, First Defiance decided to sell four of the trust preferred collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) which are held for sale at December 31, 2009. As such, these four securities were written down to a total fair value of $25,000 at December 31, 2009 and are discussed in more detail below. Total OTTI charges were $(3.9) million, $(3.2) million and $0 for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Realized gains from the sales and calls of investment securities totaled $284,000, $22,000, and $21,000 ($185,000, $14,000 and $14,000 after tax) in 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively.

Management evaluates securities for OTTI at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequent when economic or market conditions warrant such an evaluation. The investment portfolio is evaluated for OTTI by segregating the portfolio into two general segments. Investment securities classified as available for sale or held-to-maturity are generally evaluated for OTTI under FASB ASC Topic 320. Certain collateralized debt obligations are evaluated for OTTI under FASB ASC Topic 325, Investment – Other.

Beginning January 1, 2009, when OTTI occurs under either model, the amount of the OTTI recognized in earnings depends on whether an entity intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required

 

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to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current period credit loss. If an entity intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current period credit loss, the OTTI shall be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. If an entity does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current period loss, the OTTI shall be separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors. The amount of OTTI related to the credit loss is determined based on the present value of cash flows expected to be collected compared to the book value of the security and is recognized in earnings. The amount of OTTI related to other factors shall be recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. The previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings shall become the new amortized cost basis of the investment.

The Company held twelve CDOs at December 31, 2009 and 2008, of which, management deemed that the value of three of those CDOs were OTTI at December 31, 2008 and an additional six were OTTI at December 31, 2009; four of the CDOs were written off in full as of December 31, 2009. The Company also holds three Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock investments which were also deemed OTTI at December 31, 2008. In 2009, the Company recorded OTTI write-downs of $(3.9) million ($2.6 million after tax) on nine CDOs.

In 2008, the Company recorded total OTTI write-downs of $(3.2) million which consisted of $(1.9) million ($1.2 million after tax) of write-downs on the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock and $(1.3) million ($833,000 after tax) of write-downs of the three CDOs.

As required under FASB ASC Topic 320, beginning January 1, 2009, declines in the fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses to the extent the impairment is related to credit losses.

Given the conditions in the debt markets today and the absence of observable transactions in the secondary and new issue markets, the Company’s CDOs will be classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because management determined that significant adjustments were required to determine fair value at the measurement date.

The Company’s CDO valuations were prepared by an independent third party. Their approach to determining fair value involved several steps: 1) Detailed credit and structural evaluation of each piece of collateral in the CDO; 2) Collateral performance projections for each piece of collateral in the CDO (default, recovery and prepayment/amortization probabilities) and 3) Discounted cash flow modeling.

Trust Preferred CDOs Discount Rate Methodology

First Defiance uses market-based yield indicators as a baseline for determining appropriate discount rates, and then adjusts the resulting discount rates on the basis of its credit and structural analysis of specific CDO instruments. The primary focus is on the returns a fixed income investor would require in order to allocate capital on a risk adjusted basis. There is currently no active market for trust preferred CDOs, however, First Defiance looks principally to market yields for stand-alone trust preferred securities issued by banks, thrifts and insurance companies for which there is an active and liquid market. The next step is to make a series of adjustments to reflect the differences that nevertheless exist between these products (both credit and structural) and, most importantly, to reflect idiosyncratic credit performance differences (both actual and projected) between these products and the underlying collateral in the specific CDOs. Importantly, as part of the analysis described above, First Defiance considers the fact that structured instruments frequently exhibit leverage not present in stand-alone instruments, and make adjustments as necessary to reflect this additional risk.

 

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Fundamental to this evaluation is an assessment of the likelihood of CDO coverage test failures that would have the effect of diverting cash flow away from the relevant CDO bond for some period of time. Generally speaking, the Company adjusts indicative credit spreads upwards in the case of CDOs that have relatively weaker collateral and/or less cushion with respect to overcollateralization and interest coverage test ratios and downwards if the reverse is true. This aspect of the Company’s discount rate methodology is important because there is frequently a great difference in the risks present in CDO instruments that are otherwise very similar (i.e. CDOs with the same basic type of collateral, the same manager, the same vintage, etc., may exhibit vastly different performance characteristics). With respect to this last point, First Defiance notes that given today’s credit environment, characterized by high default and deferral rates, it is typically the case that deal-specific credit performance (determined on the basis of the credit characteristics of remaining collateral) is the best indicator of what a willing market participant would pay for an instrument.

The Company uses the same methodology for all of its CDOs and believes its valuation methodology is appropriate for all of its CDOs in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 320 as well as other related guidance.

The default and recovery probabilities for each piece of collateral were formed based on the evaluation of the collateral credit and a review of historical industry default data and current/near-term operating conditions. For collateral that has already deferred, the Company assumed a recovery of 10% of par for banks, thrifts or other depository institutions and 15% for insurance companies. Although there is a possibility that the deferring collateral will become current at some point in the future, First Defiance has conservatively assumed that it will continue to defer and gradually will default.

 

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The following table details the nine securities with other-than-temporary impairment, their lowest credit rating at December 31, 2009 and the related credit losses recognized in earnings for the four quarters ended March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009, September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009 (In Thousands):

 

     Preferred
Term VI
Rated
Caa1
   TPREF
Funding
II

Rated
CC
   Alesco
VIII
Rated Ca
   Alesco
Preferred
Funding
XII
Rated Ca
   Alesco
Preferred
Funding
XVI
Rated Ca
   Alesco
Preferred
Term

Sec
XVII
Rated Ca
   Trapeza
CDO I
Rated
Ca
   Alesco
Preferred
Funding
VIII

Not
Rated
   Alesco
Preferred
Funding
IX

Not
Rated
   Total

Amount of OTTI related to credit loss at January 1, 2009

   $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 488    $ 428    $ 440    $ 1,356

Addition – Qtr 1

     15      1      212      —        25      —        369      25      25      672
                                                                     

Amount of OTTI related to credit loss at March 31, 2009

   $ 15    $ 1    $ 212    $ —      $ 25    $ —      $ 857    $ 453    $ 465    $ 2,028
                                                                     

Addition – Qtr 2

     —        123      625      —        84      43      —        —        —        875
                                                                     

Amount of OTTI related to credit loss at June 30, 2009

   $ 15    $ 124    $ 837    $ —      $ 109    $ 43    $ 857    $ 453    $ 465    $ 2,903
                                                                     

Addition – Qtr 3

     —        119      163      34      135      543      —        —        —        994
                                                                     

Amount of OTTI related to credit loss at September 30, 2009

   $ 15    $ 243    $ 1,000    $ 34    $ 244    $ 586    $ 857    $ 453    $ 465    $ 3,897
                                                                     

Addition – Qtr 4

     2      —        —        817      171      409      —        —        —        1,399
                                                                     

Amount of OTTI related to credit loss at December 31, 2009

   $ 17    $ 243    $ 1,000    $ 851    $ 415    $ 995    $ 857    $ 453    $ 465    $ 5,296
                                                                     

The four CDOs which management decided to sell were the Alesco VIII which had been fully written down to zero during 2009, the Alesco Preferred Funding XII, the Alesco Preferred Funding XVI and the Alesco Preferred Term XVII. Management decided to sell these securities in early 2010 based upon significant cash flow deterioration which had occurred during the year including the fourth quarter and were fearful that these securities would soon be worthless similar to Alesco VIII. Additionally, the December 31, 2009 valuation prepared by an independent third party estimated fair value for these securities to be less than 10% of Par which led management to conclude there would be further credit and cash flow deterioration with these securities. Based upon management having the intent to sell these securities at December 31, 2009, these securities were written down to fair value at December 31, 2009.

 

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The following table provides additional information related to First Defiance’s trust preferred securities as of December 31, 2009 (dollars in thousands):

 

Deal

   Class    Book
Value
   Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Loss
    Realized
Losses
2009
    Lowest
Rating
   Current
Number of
Banks and
Insurance
Companies
   Actual
Deferrals
and
Defaults
as a % of
Current
Collateral
    Expected
Deferrals
and
Defaults as
a % of
Remaining
Performing
Collateral
    Excess
Sub-ordination
as a % of
Current
Performing
Collateral
 

Preferred Term VI

   Mezz    $ 243    $ 141    $ (102   $ (17   Caa1    5    60.83   0.00   —  

TPREF Funding II

   B      751      284      (467     (243   CC    21    31.29   27.16   —     

Alesco VIII*

   D-1      0      0      —          (1,000   Ca    *    *      *      *   

Alesco Preferred Funding XVI

   C      5      5      —          (415   Ca    39    26.45   28.97   —     

Alesco Preferred Term Sec XVII

   C-1      10      10      —          (995   Ca    38    31.05   31.63   —     

I-Preferred Term Sec I

   B-1      1,000      496      (504     —        B+    16    9.04   20.13   21.18

Dekania II CDO

   C-1      989      471      (518     —        B    36    —        16.48   28.18

Alesco Preferred Funding XII

   C-1      10      10      —          (851   Ca    68    23.06   22.43   —     

Preferred Term Sec XXVII

   C-1      962      172      (790     —        Ca    37    21.24   21.62   0.52

Trapeza CDO I*

   D      0      0      —          (369   Ca    *    *      *      *   

Alesco Preferred Funding VIII*

   D-1      0      0      —          (25   Not Rated    *    *      *      *   

Alesco Preferred Funding IX*

   I/O      0      0      —          (25   Not Rated    *    *      *      *   
                                             

Total

      $ 3,970    $ 1,589    $ (2,381   $ (3,940            
                                             

 

*

These securities have been written down to a book value of zero and have no underlying collateral support.

The increase in OTTI in 2009 was the result of a significant deterioration in the performance of the underlying collateral. Specifically, depreciation was driven by both realized credit events (i.e. defaults and deferrals) and weakening credit fundamentals in some of the performing collateral, which led to an increased probability of default going forward. Coupled together, this collateral decay resulted in an increase in the Company’s assumed average lifetime default rate from 23.7% at the end of 2008 to a rate of 36.1% at the end of 2009.

7. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Loan Commitments

Loan commitments are made to accommodate the financial needs of First Federal’s customers; however, there are no long-term, fixed-rate loan commitments that result in market risk. Standby letters of credit commit the Company to make payments on behalf of customers when certain specified future events occur. They primarily are issued to facilitate customers’ trade transactions.

Both arrangements have credit risk, essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers, and are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies. Collateral (e.g., securities, receivables, inventory and equipment) is obtained based on Management’s credit assessment of the customer.

 

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The Company’s maximum obligation to extend credit for loan commitments (unfunded loans and unused lines of credit) and standby letters of credit outstanding on December 31 was as follows (in thousands):

 

     2009    2008
     Fixed Rate    Variable Rate    Fixed Rate    Variable Rate

Commitments to make loans

   $ 29,206    $ 64,243    $ 22,710    $ 70,114

Unused lines of credit

     36,772      195,692      44,535      211,291

Standby letters of credit

     263      21,036      67      18,860
                           

Total

   $ 66,241    $ 280,971    $ 67,312    $ 300,265
                           

Commitments to make loans are generally made for periods of 60 days or less.

In addition to the above commitments, at December 31, 2009 First Defiance had commitments to sell $23.8 million of loans to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati or BB&T Mortgage.

Contingent Receivable

The Company recorded a receivable of approximately $800,000 in 2007 relating to claims from various insurance carriers from incurred losses associated with a former employee. In 2008, $73,000 of this receivable was recovered and $727,000 of this receivable was recorded as an expense due to the denial of the insurance claim under the Company’s fidelity bond. In 2009, an additional $190,000 was recovered through a settlement.

8. Loans Receivable

Loans receivable consist of the following at December 31:

 

     December 31  
     2009     2008  
     (In Thousands)  

Real estate loans:

    

Secured by single family residential

   $ 227,592      $ 251,807   

Secured by multi-family residential

     103,169        78,427   

Secured by non-residential real estate

     703,721        677,313   

Construction

     48,625        72,938   
                
     1,083,107        1,080,485   

Other loans:

    

Automobile

     21,661        27,490   

Commercial

     379,408        356,574   

Home equity and improvement

     147,977        161,106   

Other

     12,444        13,522   
                
     561,490        558,692   
                

Total loans

     1,644,597        1,639,177   

Deduct:

    

Undisbursed loan funds

     (26,494     (20,892

Net deferred loan origination fees and costs

     (981     (1,050

Allowance for loan losses

     (36,547     (24,592
                

Totals

   $ 1,580,575      $ 1,592,643   
                

On March 14, 2008, First Defiance acquired loans (including purchase accounting adjustments) of $50.0 million in single family residential loans, $6.0 million in multi-family residential loans, $100.9 million in non-residential real estate, $49.2 million in commercial loans, $2.8 million in auto loans, $25.7 million in home equity and improvement loans and $2.2 million in other loans through the Pavilion acquisition. The associated acquired reserve of those loans was $4.3 million.

 

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Changes in the allowance for loan losses were as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Allowance at beginning of year

   $ 24,592      $ 13,890      $ 13,579   

Provision for credit losses

     23,232        12,585        2,306   

Acquired in acquisitions

     —          4,258        —     

Charge-offs

     (11,826     (6,499     (2,400

Recoveries

     549        358        405   
                        

Net charge-offs

     (11,277     (6,141     (1,995
                        

Ending allowance

   $ 36,547      $ 24,592      $ 13,890   
                        

Individually impaired loans were as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Year-end loans with no allocated allowance for loan losses

   $ 18,239    $ 6,734

Year-end loans with allocated allowance for loan losses

     40,585      20,812
             

Total

   $ 58,824    $ 27,546

Amount of the allowance for loan losses allocated

   $ 12,249    $ 6,030

 

     Years Ended December 31
     2009    2008    2007
     (In Thousands)

Average of individually impaired loans during the year

   $ 38,860    $ 25,682    $ 9,571

Interest income recognized during impairment

     965      1,055      305

Cash-basis interest income recognized

     913      1,067      338

Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual were as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Non-accrual loans

   $ 41,191    $ 28,017

Loans past due over 90 days still on accrual

     —        —  

Troubled Debt Restructurings

     6,715      6,250
             

Total Non Performing Loans

   $ 47,906    $ 34,267

Real estate owned and other assets held for sale

     13,527      7,000
             

Total Non Performing Assets

   $ 61,433    $ 41,267
             

Impaired loans having recorded investments of $58.8 million at December 31, 2009 and $27.5 million at December 31, 2008, have been recognized in conformity with FASB ASC Topic 310. Loans having carrying values of $14.9 million and $6.1 million were transferred to real estate and other assets held for sale in 2009 and 2008, respectively. There was $250,000 and $119,000 of accrued interest recorded on impaired or non-performing loans at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

 

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Specific reserves in the amount of $3.5 million have been allocated to customers whose loan terms have been modified in troubled debt restructurings as of December 31, 2009. First Defiance is not committed to lend additional funds to customers whose loans have been modified.

Certain loans acquired in the Pavilion, ComBanc and Genoa acquisitions had evidence that the credit quality of the loan had deteriorated since its origination and in management’s assessment at the acquisition date it was probable that First Defiance would be unable to collect all contractually required payments due. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 310 Subtopic 30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, these loans have been recorded based on management’s estimate of the fair value of the loans. Details of these loans are as follows:

 

     Contractual
Amount
Receivable
    Impairment
Discount
    Recorded
Loan
Receivable
 
     (in thousands)  

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 4,110      $ 1,683      $ 2,427   

Principal payments received

     (908     —          (908

Loans charged off

     (97     (97     —     

Additional provision for loan loss

     (95     —          (95

Loan accretion recorded

     —          (233     233   

Balance at December 31, 2007

     3,010        1,353        1,657   

Amount recorded for Pavilion Bancorp

     6,362        2,002        4,360   

Principal payments received

     (274     —          (274

Loans charged off

     (234     (234     —     

Loan accretion recorded

     —          (53     53   

Balance at December 31, 2008

     8,864        3,068        5,796   

Principal payments received

     (2,633     —          (2,633

Loans charged off

     (1,110     (1,110     —     

Additional provision for loan loss

     (115     —          (115

Loan accretion recorded

     —          (340     340   
                        

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 5,006      $ 1,618      $ 3,388   
                        

Interest income on loans is as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31
     2009    2008    2007
     (In Thousands)

Commercial and non-residential real estate loans

   $ 73,504    $ 73,973    $ 68,419

Mortgage loans

     9,446      10,115      9,693

Other loans

     10,752      12,434      12,754
                    

Totals

   $ 93,702    $ 96,522    $ 90,866
                    

First Defiance’s loan portfolio is concentrated geographically in its northwest Ohio market area. Management has also identified lending for income-generating rental properties as an industry concentration. Total loans for income generating property totaled $444.8 million at December 31, 2009, which represents 27% of the Company’s loan portfolio. The Company’s loans receivable are primarily to borrowers in the northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana or southeast Michigan areas.

 

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Loans to executive officers, directors, and their affiliates are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008  

Beginning balance

   $ 5,041      $ 5,610   

New loans

     3,405        4,623   

Effect of changes in composition of related parties

     (216     656   

Repayments

     (3,418     (5,848
                

Ending Balance

   $ 4,812      $ 5,041   
                

9. Mortgage Banking

Net revenues from the sales and servicing of mortgage loans consisted of the following:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Gain from sale of mortgage loans

   $ 8,744      $ 4,395      $ 2,590   

Mortgage loan servicing revenue (expense):

      

Mortgage loan servicing revenue

     2,860        2,537        1,706   

Amortization of mortgage servicing rights

     (3,171     (1,266     (648

Mortgage servicing rights valuation adjustments

     1,314        (2,676     (36
                        
     1,003        (1,405     1,022   
                        

Net revenue from sale and servicing of mortgage loans

   $ 9,747      $ 2,990      $ 3,612   
                        

The unpaid principal balance of residential mortgage loans serviced for third parties was $1.2 billion at December 31, 2009 compared to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2008.

Activity for capitalized mortgage servicing rights and the related valuation allowance follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Mortgage servicing assets:

      

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 9,403      $ 6,089      $ 5,609   

Loans sold, servicing retained

     4,204        1,450        1,128   

Servicing assets acquired

     —          3,130        —     

Amortization

     (3,171     (1,266     (648
                        

Carrying value before valuation allowance at end of period

     10,436        9,403        6,089   

Valuation allowance:

      

Balance at beginning of period

     (2,792     (116     (80

Impairment recovery (charges)

     1,314        (2,676     (36
                        

Balance at end of period

     (1,478     (2,792     (116
                        

Net carrying value of MSRs at end of period

   $ 8,958      $ 6,611      $ 5,973   
                        

Fair value of MSRs at end of period

   $ 8,958      $ 6,611      $ 7,000   
                        

Amortization of mortgage servicing rights is computed based on payments and payoffs of the related mortgage loans serviced. Estimates of future amortization expense are not easily estimable.

 

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The Company’s servicing portfolio is comprised of the following:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008

Investor

   Number of
Loans
   Principal
Outstanding
   Number of
Loans
   Principal
Outstanding
     (Dollars in Thousands)

Fannie Mae

   5,071    $ 520,959    4,275    $ 413,078

Freddie Mac

   7,760      656,680    7,959      678,485

Federal Home Loan Bank

   310      41,903    61      7,905

Other

   38      2,013    42      1,852
                       

Totals

   13,179    $ 1,221,555    12,337    $ 1,101,320
                       

Significant assumptions at December 31, 2009 used in determining the value of MSRs include a weighted average prepayment rate of 245 PSA and a weighted average discount rate of 9.00%. Significant assumptions at December 31, 2008 used in determining the value of MSRs include a weighted average prepayment rate of 422 PSA and a weighted average discount rate of 9.00%.

A sensitivity analysis of the current fair value to immediate 10% and 20% adverse changes in those assumptions as of December 31, 2009 is presented below. These sensitivities are hypothetical. Changes in fair value based on a 10% variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in the assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the MSR is calculated independently without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, changes in mortgage interest rates, which drive changes in prepayment rate estimates, could result in changes in the discount rates), which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

 

     10% Adverse
Change
   20% Adverse
Change
     (Dollars in Thousands)

Assumption:

     

Decline in fair value from increase in prepayment rate

   $ 398    $ 760

Declines in fair value from increase in discount rate

     278      519

10. Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are summarized as follows:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Cost:

     

Land

   $ 6,836    $ 6,936

Land improvements

     1,269      1,248

Buildings

     38,529      38,926

Leasehold improvements

     582      808

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     23,987      22,474

Construction in process

     63      1,655
             
     71,266      72,047

Less allowances for depreciation and amortization

     27,669      24,291
             
   $ 43,597    $ 47,756
             

 

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Depreciation expense was $3.8 million, $3.8 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Lease Agreements

The Company has entered into lease agreements covering First Insurance’s main office and Bowling Green, Ohio office, four banking center locations, three land leases for which the Company owns the banking centers, one land lease which is primarily used for parking, one land lease for future branch development and numerous stand-alone Automated Teller Machine sites with varying terms and options to renew.

Future minimum commitments under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

 

2010

   $ 482

2011

     426

2012

     241

2013

     189

2014

     192

Thereafter

     3,670
      

Total

   $ 5,200
      

Rentals under operating leases amounted to $504,000, $444,000 and $446,000, in 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

11. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year is as follows:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Beginning balance

   $ 56,585    $ 36,820

Goodwill acquired or adjusted during the year

     —        19,765
             

Ending balance

   $ 56,585    $ 56,585
             

Impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value, which is determined through a two-step impairment test. Step 1 includes the determination of the carrying value of our reporting units, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, and estimating the fair value of the reporting unit. We determined the fair value of our reporting units and compared it to its carrying value.

Our annual impairment analysis as of November 30, 2009, indicated that the Step 2 analysis was not necessary as the fair values of the reporting units exceeded the carrying amounts.

Acquired Intangible Assets

Acquired intangibles consist of core deposit intangibles, customer relationship intangibles and non-compete agreements from previous Bank and Insurance acquisitions.

 

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Activity in acquired intangibles for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was as follows:

 

     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Value
 
     (In Thousands)  

Balance as of January 1, 2008

   $ 5,851    $ (2,300   $ 3,551   

Intangible assets acquired

     6,251      —          6,251   

Amortization of intangible assets

     —        (1,458     (1,458
                       

Balance as of December 31, 2008

     12,102      (3,758     8,344   

Amortization of intangible assets

     —        (1,456 )      (1,456 ) 
                       

Balance as of December 31, 2009

   $ 12,102    $ (5,214 )    $ 6,888   
                       

Aggregate amortization expense was $1,456,000, $1,458,000 and $646,000 for 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively.

Estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter (in thousands) is as follows:

 

2010

   $  1,284

2011

     1,150

2012

     1,009

2013

     872

2014

     767

Thereafter

     1,806
      

Total

   $ 6,888
      

12. Deposits

The following schedule sets forth interest expense by type of deposit:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009    2008    2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Checking and money market accounts

   $ 3,439    $ 4,876    $ 8,273   

Savings accounts

     460      1,376      1,404   

Certificates of deposit

     22,203      25,102      30,786   
                      
     26,102      31,354      40,463   

Less interest capitalized

     —        —        (107
                      

Totals

   $ 26,102    $ 31,354    $ 40,356   
                      

Accrued interest payable on deposit accounts amounted to $713,000 and $1,387,000 at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which was comprised of $665,000 and $48,000 for certificates of deposit and checking and money market accounts, respectively, at December 31, 2009 and $1,327,000 and $60,000 for certificates of deposit and checking and money market accounts, respectively, at December 31, 2008.

 

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A summary of deposit balances is as follows:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Non-interest bearing checking accounts

   $ 189,132    $ 176,063

Interest bearing checking and money market accounts

     499,575      374,488

Savings deposits

     130,156      132,146

Retail certificates of deposit less than $100,000

     550,710      578,244

Retail certificates of deposit greater than $100,000

     163,300      170,485

Brokered or national certificates of deposit

     47,353      38,486
             
   $ 1,580,226    $ 1,469,912
             

On March 14, 2008, $45.6 million of non-interest-bearing checking accounts, $39.7 million of interest-bearing checking accounts, $26.2 million of savings accounts and $97.9 million of certificates of deposit were acquired in the Pavilion acquisition.

Scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit at December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

2010

   $ 511,118

2011

     220,725

2012

     24,983

2013

     2,312

2014

     824

2015 and thereafter

     1,401
      

Total

   $ 761,363
      

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, deposits of $543.3 million and $429.7 million, respectively, were in excess of the $100,000 FDIC insurance limit. Of these same deposits at December 31, 2009 and 2008, deposits of $229.5 million and $175.1 million, respectively, were in excess of the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit per the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, $56.2 million and $40.3 million, respectively, in investment securities were pledged as collateral against public deposits for certificates in excess of $100,000 and an additional $66.6 million and $52.7 million of securities were pledged at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, as collateral against deposits from private entities in excess of $100,000.

13. Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

First Federal has the ability to borrow funds from the FHLB. First Federal pledges its single-family residential mortgage loan portfolio, certain investment securities, certain first mortgage home equity loans, and certain multi-family or non-residential real estate loans as security for these advances. Advances secured by investment securities must have collateral of at least 105% of the borrowing. Advances secured by residential mortgages must have collateral of at least 125% of the borrowings. Advances secured by multi-family or non-residential real estate loans securities must have 300% collateral coverage. The total level of borrowing is also limited to 50% of total assets and at least 50% of the borrowings must be secured by either one-to-four family residential mortgages or investment securities. Total loans pledged to the FHLB at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were $662.9 million and $677.8 million, respectively. First Federal may obtain advances of up to approximately $202.3 million from the FHLB at December 31, 2009.

 

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At year-end, advances from the FHLB were as follows:

 

Principal Terms

   Advance
Amount
  

Range of Maturities

   Weighted
Average

Interest
Rate
 
(in Thousands)  

December 31, 2009

     

Short-term borrowings

   $ 0   

Overnight

   0.00

Single maturity fixed rate advances

     35,000   

January 2011 to October 2013

   2.39

Single maturity LIBOR based advances

     20,000   

March 2011

   0.26

Putable advances

     64,000   

September 2010 to March 2018

   4.50

Strike-rate advances

     27,000   

March 2011 to February 2013

   4.18

Amortizable mortgage advances

     927   

December 2015

   4.10
            
   $ 146,927      
            

December 31, 2008

        

Short-term borrowings

   $ 9,100   

Overnight

   0.54

Single maturity fixed rate advances

     10,000   

October 2013

   2.60

Single maturity LIBOR based advances

     45,000   

January 2011 to March 2011

   3.49

Putable advances

     64,000   

September 2010 to March 2018

   4.50

Strike-rate advances

     27,000   

March 2011 to February 2013

   4.18

Amortizable mortgage advances

     967   

December 2015

   4.10
            
   $ 156,067      
            

Putable advances are callable at the option of the FHLB on a quarterly basis. Strike rate advances are callable at the option of the FHLB only when three-month LIBOR rates exceed the agreed upon strike rate in the advance contract. Such strike rates range from 7.5% to 8.0%. When called, First Defiance has the option of paying off these advances or converting them to variable rate advances at the three month LIBOR rate. First Defiance has one advance totaling $20 million outstanding at December 31, 2009 that was converted from callable advances. This advance can be paid in full without penalty at any quarterly repricing date.

Estimated future minimum payments by fiscal year based on maturity date and current interest rates are as follows (in thousands):

 

2010

   $ 14,850

2011

     58,256

2012

     15,023

2013

     53,886

2014

     554

Thereafter

     18,119
      

Total minimum payments

     160,688

Less amounts representing interest

     13,761
      

Totals

   $ 146,927
      

First Defiance also utilizes short-term advances from the FHLB to meet cash flow needs and for short-term investment purposes. First Defiance borrows short-term advances under a variety of programs at FHLB. At December 31, 2008, $9.1 million was outstanding under First Defiance’s Cash Management Advance line of credit. At December 31, 2009, there was no amounts outstanding under that line of credit. The total available under this line is $15.0 million. In addition, First Defiance has a $100.0 million REPO Advance line of credit available. There were no borrowings against this line at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. Amounts are generally borrowed under the Cash Management and REPO lines on an overnight basis.

 

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Amounts available under the various lines are also subject to the Company’s overall borrowing limitations. Information concerning short-term advances is summarized as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008  
     (In Thousands, Except Percentages)  

Average daily balance during the year

   $ 33      $ 14,004   

Maximum month-end balance during the year

     0        44,900   

Average interest rate during the year

     0.84     2.17

14. Junior Subordinated Debentures Owed to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trust

In March 2007, the Company sponsored an affiliated trust, First Defiance Statutory Trust II (Trust Affiliate II) that issued $15 million of Guaranteed Capital Trust Securities (Trust Preferred Securities). In connection with the transaction, the Company issued $15.5 million of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (Subordinated Debentures) to Trust Affiliate II. The Company formed Trust Affiliate II for the purpose of issuing Trust Preferred Securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of these capital securities solely in Subordinated Debentures of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures held by Trust Affiliate II are the sole assets of that trust. The Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of this Trust (variable interest entity), therefore the trust is not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements, but rather the subordinated debentures are shown as a liability. Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate II are payable quarterly at a fixed rate equal to 6.441% for the first five years and a floating interest rate based on three-month LIBOR plus 1.5%, repricing quarterly, thereafter.

The Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate II are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or part, upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures. The Company has entered into an agreement that fully and unconditionally guarantees the Trust Preferred Securities subject to the terms of the guarantee. The Trust Preferred Securities and Subordinated Debentures mature on June 15, 2037, but may be redeemed at the Company’s option at any time on or after June 15, 2012, or at any time upon certain events.

The Company also sponsors an affiliated trust, First Defiance Statutory Trust I (Trust Affiliate I), that issued $20 million of Trust Preferred Securities in 2005. In connection with this transaction, the Company issued $20.6 million of Subordinated Debentures to Trust Affiliate I. Trust Affiliate I was formed for the purpose of issuing Trust Preferred Securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of these capital securities solely in Subordinated Debentures of the Company. The Junior Debentures held by Trust Affiliate I are the sole assets of the trust. The Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of this Trust (variable interest entity), therefore the trust is not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements, but rather the subordinated debentures are shown as a liability. Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate I are payable quarterly at a variable rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.38%. The Coupon rate payable on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate I was 1.63% and 3.38% as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 respectively.

The Trust Preferred Securities issued by Trust Affiliate I are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures. The Company has entered into an agreement that fully and unconditionally guarantees the Trust Preferred Securities subject to the terms of the guarantee. The Trust Preferred Securities and Junior Debentures mature December 15, 2035 but may be redeemed by the issuer at par after October 28, 2010.

 

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Due to the Company’s participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program, permission must be obtained from the U.S. Treasury in order to call these securities.

A summary of all junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company to affiliates follows. These amounts represent the par value of the obligations owed to these affiliates, including the Company’s equity interest in the trusts. Junior subordinated debentures owed to the following affiliates were as follows:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008

First Defiance Statutory Trust I due December 2035

   $ 20,619    $ 20,619

First Defiance Statutory Trust II due June 2037

     15,464      15,464
             

Total junior subordinated debentures owed to unconsolidated subsidiary Trusts

   $ 36,083    $ 36,083
             

Interest on both issues of Trust Preferred Securities may be deferred for a period of up to five years at the option of the issuer.

15. Notes Payable and Other Short-term Borrowings

Total short-term borrowings, revolving and term debt is summarized as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008  
     (In Thousands, Except Percentages)  

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

    

Amounts outstanding at year-end

   $ 48,398      $ 49,454   

Year-end interest rate

     1.05     1.79

Average daily balance during year

     44,287        36,926   

Maximum month-end balance during the year

     50,920        50,679   

Average interest rate during the year

     1.29     2.69

Revolving line of credit facilities to financial institutions

    

Average daily balance during year

   $ —        $ 14,416   

Maximum month-end balance during the year

     —          23,200   

Average interest rate during the year

     —       4.45

As of December 31, 2009, First Defiance had no line of credit facilities available for short-term borrowing purposes; all previous lines of credit have expired.

During 2009, First Defiance had the following line of credit facilities expire:

A $20 million fed funds line of credit with a financial institution. The line was unsecured and had an interest rate of the institution’s fed funds rate. The line of credit had no activity in 2009 and there were no amounts outstanding on the line at December 31, 2008. The maximum borrowed at any point in time under the line was $0 million in 2009 and $20.0 million in 2008, and the average balance outstanding was $0 and $339,000 in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The line of credit expired on January 31, 2009.

During 2008, First Defiance had the following line of credit facilities expire:

A $15 million revolving line of credit facility with a financial institution. The facility was unsecured and has an interest rate of fed funds rate plus 0.45%. This facility was not used in 2008.

 

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A $15 million fed funds line of credit with a financial institution. The line was unsecured and has an interest rate of the institution’s fed funds rate. This facility was not used in 2008.

A $22.0 million revolving line of credit with a financial institution. There was no amount outstanding on the line at December 31, 2008. The line was secured by the stock of First Federal Bank and the interest rate was the lender’s prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.50%, whichever was selected by First Defiance. The maximum borrowed at any point in time under the line was $22,000,000 in 2008, and the average balance outstanding was $14,077,000 in 2008. This line of credit was paid off in December 2008.

Further, the Company has agreed with its primary regulator not to incur, issue, renew or roll-over any debt, increase any current lines of credit, or guarantee the debt of any entity without OTSprior approval.

16. Other Non-Interest Expense

The following is a summary of other non-interest expense:

 

     Years Ended December 31,
     2009    2008    2007
     (In Thousands)

Legal and other professional fees

   $ 2,486    $ 1,933    $ 1,840

Marketing

     1,293      1,896      1,729

State franchise taxes

     1,994      1,951      1,579

REO expenses and write-downs

     2,245      583      831

Printing and office supplies

     569      776      679

Amortization of intangibles

     1,456      1,459      646

Postage

     650      768      643

Check charge-offs and fraud losses

     128      1,120      549

Overdraft protection expense

     15      123      492

Credit and collection expense

     1,117      676      274

Other

     4,930      3,339      3,547
                    

Total other non-interest expense

   $ 16,883    $ 14,624    $ 12,809
                    

17. Postretirement Benefits

First Defiance sponsors a defined benefit postretirement plan that is intended to supplement Medicare coverage for certain retirees who meet minimum age requirements. First Federal employees who retired prior to April 1, 1997 who completed 20 years of service after age 40 receive full medical coverage at no cost. Such coverage continues for surviving spouses of those participants for one year, after which coverage may be continued provided the spouse pays 50% of the average cost. First Federal employees retiring after April 1, 1997 are provided medical benefits at a cost based on their combined age and years of service at retirement. Surviving spouses are also eligible for continued coverage after the retiree is deceased at a subsidy level that is 10% less than what the retiree is eligible for. First Federal employees retiring before July 1, 1997 receive dental and vision care in addition to medical coverage. First Federal employees who retire after July 1, 1997 are not eligible for dental or vision care, but those retirees and their spouses each receive up to $200 annually in a medical spending account. Funds in that account may be used for payment of uninsured medical expenses.

 

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First Federal employees who were born after December 31, 1950 are not eligible for the medical coverage described above at retirement. Rather, a medical spending account of up to $10,000 (based on the participant’s age and years of service) will be established to reimburse medical expenses for those individuals. First Insurance employees who were born before December 31, 1950 can continue coverage until they reach age 65, or in lieu of continuing coverage, can elect the medical spending account option, subject to eligibility requirements. Employees hired or acquired after January 1, 2003 are eligible only for the medical spending account option.

Included in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are the following amounts that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost:

 

     December 31  
     2009     2008  
     (In Thousands)  

Unrecognized prior service cost

   $ 66      $ 76   

Unrecognized actuarial losses

     898        1,161   
                

Total recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

     964        1,237   

Income tax effect

     (337     (433
                

Net amount recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

   $ 627      $ 804   
                

The prior service cost and actuarial loss included in other comprehensive income and expected to be recognized in net postretirement benefit cost during the fiscal year-ended December 31, 2010 is $10,000 ($6,500 net of tax) and $40,000 ($26,000 net of tax), respectively.

Reconciliation of Funded Status and Accumulated Benefit Obligation

The plan is not currently funded. The following table summarizes benefit obligation and plan asset activity for the plan measured as of December 31 each year:

 

     December 31  
     2009     2008  
     (In Thousands)  

Change in benefit obligation:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 2,853      $ 2,393   

Service cost

     60        57   

Interest cost

     166        159   

Participant contribution

     27        37   

Plan amendments

     —          25   

Actuarial (gains) / losses

     (218     74   

Acquisition

     —          271   

Benefits paid

     (154     (163
                

Benefit obligation at end of year

     2,734        2,853   

Change in fair value of plan assets:

    

Balance at beginning of year

     —          —     

Employer contribution

     127        126   

Participant contribution

     27        37   

Benefits paid

     (154     (163
                

Balance at end of year

     —          —     
                

Funded status at end of year

   $ (2,734   $ (2,853
                

 

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Net periodic postretirement benefit cost includes the following components:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Service cost-benefits attributable to service during the period

   $ 60      $ 57      $ 49   

Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     166        159        125   

Net amortization and deferral

     56        61        44   
                        

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

     282        277        218   

Net (gain) / loss during the year

     (218     74        357   

Prior service cost added during the year

     —          25        —     

Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses

     (56     (61     (44
                        

Total recognized in comprehensive income

     (274     38        313   
                        

Total recognized in net periodic postretirement benefit cost and other comprehensive income

   $ 8      $ 315      $ 531   
                        

The following assumptions were used in determining the components of the postretirement benefit obligation:

 

     2009     2008  

Weighted average discount rates:

    

Used to determine benefit obligations at December 31

   5.70   6.00

Used to determine net periodic postretirement benefit cost for years ended December 31

   6.00   6.00

Assumed health care cost trend rates at December 31:

    

Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year

   8.50   9.00

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)

   4.00   4.00

Year that rate reaches ultimate trend rate

   2019      2019   

The following benefits are expected to be paid over the next five years and in aggregate for the next five years thereafter. Because the plan is unfunded, the expected net benefits to be paid and the estimated Company contributions are the same amount.

 

     Expected to be Paid
     (In Thousands)

2010

   $ 154

2011

     146

2012

     162

2013

     161

2014

     183

2015 through 2019

     1,002

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effect:

 

     One-Percentage-Point
Increase
   One-Percentage-Point
Decrease
 
     Year Ended December 31    Year Ended December 31  
     2009    2008    2009     2008  
     (In Thousands)  

Effect on total of service and interest cost

   $ 34    $ 29    $ (29   $ (24

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

     351      301      (299     (259

The Company expects to contribute $150,000 before reflecting expected Medicare retiree drug subsidy payments in 2010.

 

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18. Regulatory Matters

First Federal is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the consolidated financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, First Federal must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of First Federal’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. First Federal’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require First Federal to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of Tier I and total capital to risk-weighted assets and of Tier I capital to average assets. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, First Federal meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject and the most recent notification from the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) categorized First Federal as well-capitalized under the regulatory framework. There are no conditions or events since these notifications that management believes have changed any of the well-capitalized categorizations of First Federal. The following schedule presents First Federal’s regulatory capital ratios:

 

     Actual     Required for
Capital Adequacy
Purposes
    Required to be
Well Capitalized
 
     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  

As of December 31, 2009

               

Tangible Capital

   $ 207,554    10.40   $ 29,937    1.50     N/A    N/A   

Tier 1 (Core) Capital

     207,554    10.40     79,831    4.00   $ 99,789    5.00

Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets

     207,554    11.78     70,455    4.00     105,683    6.00

Risk-Based Capital

     229,649    13.04     140,910    8.00     176,138    10.00

As of December 31, 2008

               

Tangible Capital

   $ 202,616    10.70   $ 28,416    1.50     N/A    N/A   

Tier 1 (Core) Capital

     202,616    10.70     75,777    4.00   $ 94,721    5.00

Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets

     202,616    12.03     67,356    4.00     101,034    6.00

Risk-Based Capital

     219,290    13.02     134,712    8.00     168,390    10.00

First Defiance is a unitary thrift holding company and is regulated by the OTS. The OTS does not have defined capital requirements for unitary thrift holding companies.

Dividend Restrictions – Dividends paid by First Federal to First Defiance are subject to various regulatory restrictions. First Federal paid $5.4 million in dividends in 2009 and $10.0 million in dividends in 2008. First Federal can initiate dividend payments equal to its net profits (as defined by statute) for 2008 and 2009 plus 2010 net profits. During 2010, the Bank could declare dividends of approximately $2.6 million plus 2010 net profits to First Defiance. First Federal must receive approval from the OTS prior to the payment of any such dividend, and it may apply to the OTS to pay total dividends that exceed an amount equal to its 2008 to 2010 net profits. First Insurance paid dividends of $700,000 to First Defiance in 2009 and $1.8 million in dividends in 2008.

As a result of its participation in the CPP, First Defiance is prohibited without prior approval of the U.S. Treasury, from paying a quarterly cash dividend of more than $0.26 per share until the earlier of December 5, 2011 or the date the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock is redeemed or transferred to an unaffiliated third party. Further, First Defiance has agreed with its primary regulator to obtain approval of cash dividends prior to declaration.

 

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19. Income Taxes

The components of income tax expense are as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Current:

      

Federal

   $ 6,590      $ 7,534      $ 6,636   

State and local

     84        45        90   

Deferred

     (4,007     (4,051     (257
                        
   $ 2,667      $ 3,528      $ 6,469   
                        

The provision for income taxes differs from that computed at the statutory corporate tax rate as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Tax expense at statutory rate (35%)

   $ 3,451      $ 3,810      $ 7,130   

Increases (decreases) in taxes from:

      

State income tax – net of federal tax benefit

     55        29        59   

ESOP adjustments

     —          (30     152   

Tax exempt interest income, net of TEFRA

     (673     (530     (472

Bank owned life insurance

     (311     130        (511

Stock option expense under FAS 123(R)

     76        90        89   

Other

     69        29        22   
                        

Totals

   $ 2,667      $ 3,528      $ 6,469   
                        

Deferred federal income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

 

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Significant components of First Defiance’s deferred federal income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

     December 31
     2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Deferred federal income tax assets:

     

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 12,648    $ 8,423

Postretirement benefit costs

     952      998

Deferred compensation

     810      645

Impaired loans

     1,227      1,074

Capital loss carry-forward

     621      —  

Impaired investments

     756      1,140

Accrued vacation

     432      428

Allowance for real estate held for sale losses

     200      56

Deferred loan origination fees and costs

     326      337

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

     —        708

Other

     311      565
             

Total deferred federal income tax assets

     18,283      14,374

Deferred federal income tax liabilities:

     

FHLB stock dividends

     3,284      3,284

Goodwill

     2,684      2,284

Mortgage servicing rights

     3,000      2,072

Fixed assets

     1,432      975

Other intangible assets

     2,329      2,815

Loan mark to market

     1,800      2,274

Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

     252      —  

Other

     213      334
             

Total deferred federal income tax liabilities

     14,994      14,038
             

Net deferred federal income tax asset (liability)

   $ 3,289    $ 336
             

The realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company’s ability to generate taxable income in future periods and the reversal of deferred tax liabilities during the same period. The Company has evaluated the available evidence supporting the realization of its deferred tax assets and determined it is more likely than not that the assets will be realized and thus no valuation allowance was required at December 31, 2009.

At year-end 2009, the Company had capital loss carry-forwards of $1.8 million which will expire on December 31, 2014. No valuation allowance has been recorded as management has evaluated evidence supporting the realization of this asset and determining it was more likely than not.

Retained earnings at December 31, 2009 include approximately $11.0 million for which no tax provision for federal income taxes has been made. This amount represents the tax bad debt reserve at December 31, 1987, which is the end of the Company’s base year for purposes of calculating the bad debt deduction for tax purposes. If this portion of retained earnings is used in the future for any purpose other than to absorb bad debts, the amount used will be added to future taxable income. The unrecorded deferred tax liability on the above amount at December 31, 2009 was approximately $3.85 million.

 

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A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 588   

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     —     

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions due to the statute of limitations

     (90

Settlements

     —     
        

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 498   
        

Balance at January 1, 2008

   $ 498   

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     86   

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions due to the statute of limitations

     (140

Settlements

     —     
        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 444   
        

Balance at January 1, 2009

   $ 444   

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     —     

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions due to the statute of limitations

     (98

Settlements

     —     
        

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 346   
        

The Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months.

The total amount of interest and penalties recorded in the income statement, net of the related federal tax benefit, for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $28,000, and the amount accrued for interest and penalties (net of the related federal tax benefit) at December 31, 2009 was $122,000.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in the state of Indiana. The Company is no longer subject to examination by taxing authorities for years before 2006. The Company currently operates primarily in the states of Ohio and Michigan, which tax financial institutions based on their equity rather than their income.

20. Employee Benefit Plans

ESOP Plan

First Defiance has established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) covering all employees of First Defiance age 21 or older who have at least one year of credited service. Contributions to the ESOP are made by First Defiance and are determined by First Defiance’s Board of Directors at their discretion. The contributions may be made in the form of cash or First Defiance common stock. The annual contributions may not be greater than the amount deductible for federal income tax purposes and cannot cause First Federal to violate regulatory capital requirements.

To fund the plan, the ESOP borrowed funds from First Defiance for the purpose of purchasing shares of First Defiance common stock. The ESOP acquired a total of 863,596 shares in 1993 and 1995. The loan outstanding was paid off in June 2008. Principal and interest payments on the loan were due in equal quarterly installments. The loan was collateralized by the shares of First Defiance’s common stock and was repaid by the ESOP with funds from the Company’s contributions to the ESOP, dividends on allocated and unallocated shares and earnings on ESOP assets.

 

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As principal and interest payments on the loan were paid, shares were released from collateral and committed for allocation to active employees, based on the proportion of debt service paid in the year. Shares held by the ESOP which had not been released for allocation were reported as stock acquired by the ESOP plan in the statement of financial condition. As shares were released, First Defiance recorded compensation expense equal to the average fair value of the shares over the period in which the shares were earned. Also, the shares released for allocation were included in the average shares outstanding for earnings per share computations. Dividends on allocated shares were recorded as a reduction of retained earnings and dividends on unallocated shares reduce debt and accrued interest. ESOP compensation expense was $0, $116,000, and $859,000, for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Shares held by the ESOP at December 31 were as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2009     Year Ended December 31, 2008  
     Allocated     Unallocated    Total     Allocated     Unallocated     Total  

Beginning Balance

   527,723      —      527,723      515,618      34,828      550,446   

Allocation of shares to participants

   —        —      —        34,828      (34,828   —     

Distribution of shares to former participants

   (4,777   —      (4,777   (22,723   —        (22,723
                                   

Ending Balance

   522,946      —      522,946      527,723      —        527,723   
                                   

There were no unallocated shares at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

410(k) Plan

Employees of First Defiance are eligible to participate in the First Defiance Financial Corp. 401(k) Employee Savings Plan (First Defiance 401(k)) if they meet certain age and service requirements. Beginning in 2009, under the First Defiance 401(k), First Defiance matches 100% of the participants’ contributions up to 3% of compensation and then 50% of the participants’ contributions for the next 2% of compensation. Previously, matching contributions were 50% of the first 3% of participants contributions. The First Defiance 401(k) also provides for a discretionary First Defiance contribution in addition to the First Defiance matching contribution. First Defiance matching contributions totaled $719,000, $474,000 and $409,000 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. There were no discretionary contributions in any of those years.

21. Stock Option Plans

First Defiance has established incentive stock option plans for its directors and its employees and has reserved 1,727,485 shares of common stock for issuance under the plans. A total of 1,467,204 shares are reserved for employees and 260,281 shares are reserved for directors. As of December 31, 2009, 467,500 options (445,500 for employees and 22,000 for directors) have been granted and remain outstanding at option prices based on the market value of the underlying shares on the date the options were granted. Options granted under all plans vest 20% per year except for the 2009 grant to the Company’s five most-highly compensated employees, which vest 40% in 2011 and then 20% annually, subject to certain other limitations. There are 13,200 options granted under the 1996 plan of which 13,100 are fully vested and currently exercisable, 188,950 options granted under the 2001 plan of which 182,150 are fully vested and currently exercisable and 265,350 options granted under the 2005 plan of which 89,600 are fully vested and currently exercisable. All options expire ten years from date of grant. Vested options of retirees expire on the earlier of the scheduled expiration date or three months after the retirement date.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model using the assumptions noted in the table below. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and post-

 

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vesting termination behavior. The expected term of options granted is based on historical data and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, which takes into account that the options are not transferable. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.

The fair value of options granted was determined using the following weighted-average assumptions as of grant date.

 

     Year Ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007  

Risk-free interest rate

   3.38   4.26   4.84

Expected term

   6.4 years      6.5 years      6.6 years   

Expected stock price volatility

   26.1   22.5   21.8

Dividend yield

   3.62   6.08   3.67

The following table summarizes stock option activity for 2009:

 

     Options
Outstanding
    Weighted
Average
Exercise

Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years)
   Aggregate
Intrinsic

Value
(in $000s)

Outstanding at January 1, 2009

   439,800      $ 20.58      

Granted

   64,350        9.43      

Exercised

   (400     11.75      

Forfeited/Expired

   (36,250     15.92      
                        

Outstanding at December 31, 2009

   467,500      $ 19.41    5.47    $ 117
                        

Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2009

   449,207      $ 19.54    6.70    $ 102
                        

Exercisable at December 31, 2009

   284,850      $ 20.75    3.71    $ 0
                        

Information related to the stock option plans follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31.
     2009    2008    2007
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)

Intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ 1    $ 290    $ 509

Cash received from option exercises*

     5      768      522

Tax benefit realized from option exercises

     —        72      64

Weighted average fair value of options granted

   $ 1.88    $ 1.98    $ 5.27

 

*

- Includes $33,000 and $240,000 of option exercises paid by optionees in First Defiance common stock in 2008 and 2007, respectively. There were no such amounts for 2009.

As of December 31, 2009, there was $424,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the Company Stock Option Plans. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, 98,750 and 146,850 shares, respectively, were available for grant under the Company’s stock option plans. Options forfeited or cancelled under the 1996 plan are no longer available for grant to other participants.

 

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22. Parent Company Statements

Condensed parent company financial statements, which include transactions with subsidiaries, follow:

 

     December 31

Statements of Financial Condition

   2009    2008
     (In Thousands)

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,891    $ 2,023

Investment securities, available for sale, carried at fair value

     —        419

Investment in subsidiaries

     268,505      263,562

Other assets

     1,280      1,101
             

Total assets

   $ 271,676    $ 267,105
             

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

     

Subordinated debentures

   $ 36,083    $ 36,083

Accrued liabilities

     1,507      1,863

Stockholders’ equity

     234,086      229,159
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 271,676    $ 267,105
             

 

     Years Ended December 31  

Statements of Income

   2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Dividends from subsidiaries

   $ 6,050      $ 11,750      $ —     

Interest on loan to ESOP

     —          10        64   

Interest expense

     (1,471     (2,545     (2,124

Other-than-temporary impairment on investment securities

     (419     (1,281     —     

Other income

     (3     35        222   

Noninterest expense

     (881     (785     (698
                        

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     3,276        7,184        (2,536

Income tax credit

     (950     (1,650     (867
                        

Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     4,226        8,834        (1,669

Undistributed equity in (distributions in excess of) earnings of subsidiaries

     2,968        (1,477     15,573   
                        

Net income

   $ 7,194      $ 7,357      $ 13,904   
                        

 

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     Years Ended December 31  

Statements of Cash Flows

   2009     2008     2007  
     (In Thousands)  

Operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 7,194      $ 7,357      $ 13,904   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

      

Distribution in excess of (undistributed equity in) earnings of subsidiaries

     (2,968     1,477        (15,573

OTTI on investment securities

     419        1,281        —     

Change in other assets and liabilities

     741        115        (435
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     5,386        10,230        (2,104

Investing activities:

      

Investment in unconsolidated trust subsidiary

     —          —          (464

Cash paid for Pavilion Bancorp

     —          (27,964     —     

Cash paid for Huber Harger Welt & Smith

     —          —          (175

Principal payments received on ESOP loan

     —          493        641   

Maturities of available-for-sale securities

     —          29        156   
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     —          (27,442     158   

Financing activities:

      

Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debt securities

     —          —          15,464   

Capital contribution to subsidiary

     —          (13,000     —     

Stock options exercised

     5        768        281   

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     —          72        64   

Purchase of common stock for treasury

     —          (635     (4,923

Cash dividends paid

     (5,523     (8,137     (7,090

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

     —          37,000        —     
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     (5,518     16,068        3,796   
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (132     (1,144     1,850   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     2,023        3,167        1,317   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 1,891      $ 2,023      $ 3,167   
                        

23. Fair Value

FASB ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. A fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The price in the principal (or most advantageous) market used to measure the fair value of the asset or liability shall not be adjusted for transaction costs. An orderly transaction is a transaction that assumes exposure to the market for a period prior to the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets and liabilities; it is not a forced transaction. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are (i) independent, (ii) knowledgeable, (iii) able to transact and (iv) willing to transact.

FASB ASC Topic 820 requires the use of valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach, the income approach and/or the cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount on a discounted basis. The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost). Valuation techniques should be consistently applied. Inputs to valuation techniques refer to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Inputs may be observable, meaning those that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available. In that regard, FASB ASC Topic 820 established a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

 

   

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

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Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These might include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other that quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market data by a correlation or other means.

 

   

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for determining fair value of assets and liabilities that reflect an entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

A description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.

Available for sale securities - Securities classified as available for sale are generally reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs where the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service which uses matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows and the bonds’ terms and conditions, among other things. Securities in Level 1 include other federal agency securities. Securities in Level 2 include U.S. Government agencies, mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The Company classifies its pooled trust preferred collateralized debt obligations as Level 3. The portfolio consists of collateralized debt obligations backed by pools of trust preferred securities issued by financial institutions and insurance companies. Based on the lack of observable market data, the Company estimated fair values based on the observable data available and reasonable unobservable market data. The Company estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow model which used appropriately adjusted discount rates reflecting credit and liquidity risks. The Company used an independent third party which is described further in Note 6.

Impaired loans - The fair value of impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan loss is generally based on recent real estate appraisals. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such adjustments are typically significant and result in impaired loans being valued using Level 3 inputs.

Mortgage servicing rights - Mortgage servicing rights are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. MSRs are valued by a third party consultant using a proprietary cash flow valuation model.

Mortgage banking derivative - The fair value of mortgage banking derivatives are based on derivative valuation models using market data inputs as of the valuation date (Level 2).

 

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Real estate held for sale - Real estate held for sale is determined using Level 3 inputs which include current and prior appraisals and estimated costs to sell.

The following table summarizes the financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value:

Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis

 

December 31, 2009    Level 1 Inputs    Level 2 Inputs    Level 3 Inputs    Total Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

Available for sale securities:

  

Obligations of U.S. Government corporations and agencies

   $ —      $ 14,251    $ —      $ 14,251

Mortgage-backed securities

     —        31,504      —        31,504

REMICs

     —        3,923      —        3,923

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        41,371      —        41,371

Trust preferred stock

     —        —        1,589      1,589

Preferred stock

     87      —        —        87

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     —        44,733      —        44,733

Mortgage banking derivative - asset

     —        380      —        380

Mortgage banking derivative - liability

     —        —        —        —  

 

December 31, 2008    Level 1 Inputs    Level 2 Inputs     Level 3 Inputs    Total Fair
Value
 
     (In Thousands)  

Available for sale securities:

  

Obligations of U.S. Government corporations and agencies

   $ —      $ 14,685      $ —      $ 14,685   

Mortgage-backed securities

     —        35,366        —        35,366   

REMICs

     —        4,159        —        4,159   

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        22,430        —        22,430   

Trust preferred stock

     —        —          3,873      3,873   

Preferred stock

     49      —          —        49   

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

     —        37,013        —        37,013   

Mortgage banking derivative - asset

     —        1,264        —        1,264   

Mortgage banking derivative - liability

     —        (166     —        (166

 

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The table below presents a reconciliation and income classification of gains and losses for all assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

     Fair Value Measurements
Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)

(In Thousands)
 

Beginning balance, January 1, 2009

   $ 3,873   

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized) Included in earnings

     (3,940

Included in other comprehensive income (presented gross of taxes)

     1,785   

Purchases, issuances, and settlements

     (130

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     —     
        

Ending balance, December 31, 2009

   $ 1,588   
        

 

     Fair Value Measurements
Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)

(In Thousands)
 

Beginning balance, January 1, 2008

   $ 8,642   

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized) Included in earnings

     (1,281

Included in other comprehensive income (presented gross of taxes)

     (3,281

Purchases, issuances, and settlements

     (207

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     —     
        

Ending balance, December 31, 2008

   $ 3,873   
        

The following table summarizes assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value:

Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Non-Recurring Basis

 

December 31, 2009    Level 1 Inputs    Level 2 Inputs    Level 3 Inputs    Total Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

Impaired loans

   $ —      $ —      $ 28,336    $ 28,336

Mortgage servicing rights

     —        8,958      —        8,958

Real estate held for sale

     —        —        935      935

 

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December 31, 2008    Level 1 Inputs    Level 2 Inputs    Level 3 Inputs    Total Fair
Value
     (In Thousands)

Impaired loans

   $ —      $ —      $ 14,782    $ 14,782

Mortgage servicing rights

     —        6,611      —        6,611

Real estate held for sale

     —        —        90      90

Impaired loans, which are measured for impairment using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans, had a fair value of $28,336,000, with a valuation allowance of $12,249,000 at December 31, 2009. A provision expense of $11,985,000 for year ended December 31, 2009 was included in earnings.

Mortgage servicing rights which are carried at lower of cost or fair value had a fair value of $8,958,000 at December 31, 2009, resulting in a valuation allowance of $1,478,000. A recovery of $1,314,000 was included in the earnings for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Real estate held for sale is determined using Level 3 inputs which include current and prior appraisals and estimated costs to sell. The change in fair value of real estate held for sale was $1,295,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009 was recorded directly as an adjustment to current earnings through non-interest expense.

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 825, the following table is a comparative condensed consolidated statement of financial condition based on carrying amount and estimated fair values of financial instruments as of December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of First Defiance.

Much of the information used to arrive at “fair value” is highly subjective and judgmental in nature and therefore the results may not be precise. Subjective factors include, among other things, estimated cash flows, risk characteristics and interest rates, all of which are subject to change. With the exception of investment securities, the Company’s financial instruments are not readily marketable and market prices do not exist. Since negotiated prices for the instruments, which are not readily marketable depend greatly on the motivation of the buyer and seller, the amounts that will actually be realized or paid per settlement or maturity of these instruments could be significantly different.

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, warehouse and term notes payable, and advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance, and accrued interest receivable and payable as a result of their short-term nature, is considered to be equal to fair value.

As disclosed in more detail in Note 6, investment securities fair value has been based on current market quotations. If market prices are not available, fair value has been estimated based upon the quoted price of similar instruments. It was not practicable to determine the fair value of FHLB stock due to restrictions placed on its transferability.

The fair value of loans which reprice within 90 days is equal to their carrying amount. For other loans, the estimated fair value is calculated based on discounted cash flow analysis, using interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms. The allowance for loan losses is considered to be a reasonable adjustment for credit risk.

 

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FASB ASC Topic 825 requires that the fair value of demand, savings, NOW and certain money market accounts be equal to their carrying amount. The Company believes that the fair value of these deposits may be greater or less than that prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 825.

The carrying value of Subordinated Debentures and deposits with fixed maturities is estimated based on interest rates currently being offered on instruments with similar characteristics and maturities. FHLB advances with maturities greater than 90 days are valued based on discounted cash flow analysis, using interest rates currently being quoted for similar characteristics and maturities. The cost or value of any call or put options is based on the estimated cost to settle the option at December 31, 2009.

 

     December 31, 2009    December 31, 2008
     Carrying
Value
   Estimated
Fair Values
   Carrying
Value
   Estimated
Fair Values
     (In Thousands)

Assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 121,116    $ 121,116    $ 46,152    $ 46,152

Investment securities

     139,378      139,416      118,461      118,492

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

     21,376      N/A      21,376      N/A

Loans, net, including loans held for sale

     1,590,921      1,586,101      1,603,603      1,619,409

Accrued interest receivable

     6,851      6,851      7,293      7,293
                           
     1,879,642    $ 1,874,860      1,796,885    $ 1,812,722
                   

Other assets

     177,881         160,515   
                   

Total assets

   $ 2,057,523       $ 1,957,400   
                   

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

           

Deposits

   $ 1,580,226    $ 1,586,466    $ 1,469,912    $ 1,476,135

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

     146,927      152,643      156,067      162,776

Securities sold under repurchase agreements

     48,398      48,398      49,454      49,454

Subordinated debentures

     36,083      32,057      36,083      26,299

Accrued interest payable

     1,234      1,234      2,015      2,015

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     665      665      652      652
                           
     1,813,533    $ 1,821,463      1,714,183    $ 1,717,331
                   

Other liabilities

     9,904         14,058   
                   

Total liabilities

     1,823,437         1,728,241   

Stockholders’ equity

     234,086         229,159   
                   

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,057,523       $ 1,957,400   
                   

24. Derivative Financial Instruments

Commitments to fund certain mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors are considered derivatives. It is the Company’s practice to enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans when interest rate lock commitments are entered into in order to economically hedge the effect of changes in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans. These mortgage banking derivatives are not designated in hedge relationships. First Federal had

 

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approximately $18.7 million and $63.6 million of interest rate lock commitments at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. There were $23.8 million and $72.2 million of forward commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The fair value of these mortgage banking derivatives are reflected by a derivative asset and a derivative liability. The table below provides data about the carrying values of these derivative instruments:

 

     December 31, 2009    December 31, 2008
     Assets    (Liabilities)         Assets    (Liabilities)      
     Carrying
Value
   Carrying
Value
   Derivative
Net Carrying
Value
   Carrying
Value
   Carrying
Value
    Derivative
Net Carrying
Value
     (In Thousands)

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

                

Mortgage Banking Derivatives

   $ 380    $ —      $ 380    $ 1,264    $ (166   $ 1,098
                                          

The table below provides data about the amount of gains and losses recognized in income on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:

 

     Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
     2009     2008

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

    

Mortgage Banking Derivatives – Gain (Loss)

   $ (718   $ 1,098
              

The above amounts are included in mortgage banking income.

 

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25. Quarterly Consolidated Results of Operations (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of the quarterly consolidated results of operations:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31  
     (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)  

2009

        

Interest income

   $ 25,122      $ 24,822      $ 25,487      $ 25,148   

Interest expense

     9,085        8,643        7,914        7,615   
                                

Net interest income

     16,037        16,179        17,573        17,533   

Provision for loan losses

     2,746        3,965        8,051        8,470   
                                

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     13,291        12,214        9,522        9,063   

Gain (loss) on sale, call or write-down of securities

     (672     (750     (840     (1,394

Noninterest income

     7,476        9,109        6,396        6,970   

Noninterest expense

     14,996        16,133        14,786        14,609   
                                

Income before income taxes

     5,099        4,440        292        30   

Income taxes

     1,691        1,539        (37     (526
                                

Net income

   $ 3,408      $ 2,901      $ 329      $ 556   
                                

Dividends declared on Preferred Shares

     (463     (468     (473     (446

Accretion on Preferred Shares

     (38     (40     (40     (42
                                

Net income applicable to common shares

   $ 2,907      $ 2,393      $ (184   $ 68   
                                

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.36      $ 0.29      $ (0.02   $ 0.01   

Diluted

   $ 0.36      $ 0.29      $ (0.02   $ 0.01   

Average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     8,117        8,117        8,117        8,117   

Diluted

     8,117        8,182        8,117        8,265   

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31  
     (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)  

2008

        

Interest income

   $ 24,639      $ 26,237      $ 26,643      $ 25,945   

Interest expense

     11,048        9,991        10,277        9,952   
                                

Net interest income

     13,591        16,246        16,366        15,993   

Provision for loan losses

     1,058        2,797        4,907        3,824   
                                

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     12,533        13,449        11,459        12,169   

Gain on sale of securities

     (81     (432     (2,051     (596

Noninterest income

     6,096        6,582        6,191        3,360   

Noninterest expense

     13,476        15,515        15,233        13,571   
                                

Income before income taxes

     5,072        4,084        366        1,362   

Income taxes

     1,653        1,349        44        482   
                                

Net income

   $ 3,419      $ 2,735      $ 322      $ 880   
                                

Dividends declared on Preferred Shares

     —          —          —          (134

Accretion on Preferred Shares

     —          —          —          (11
                                

Net income applicable to common shares

   $ 3,419      $ 2,735      $ 322      $ 735   
                                

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.48      $ 0.34      $ 0.04      $ 0.09   

Diluted

   $ 0.47      $ 0.34      $ 0.04      $ 0.09   

Average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     7,195        8,094        8,113        8,117   

Diluted

     7,241        8,126        8,123        8,117   

26. Preferred Stock

On December 5, 2008, as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) Capital Purchase Program, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement and Securities Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Purchase Agreement”) with the United States Department of the Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”), pursuant to which the Company sold $37.0 million shares of newly authorized Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share and liquidation value $1,000 per share (“Senior Preferred Shares”) and also issued warrants (the “Warrants”) to the U.S. Treasury to acquire an additional 550,595 of common shares having an exercise price of $10.08 per share. The warrant has a term of 10 years.

 

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The Senior Preferred Shares qualify as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years, and 9% per annum thereafter. The Senior Preferred Shares may be redeemed by the Company after three years. The Senior Preferred Shares are not subject to any contractual restrictions on transfer, except that the U.S. Treasury or any its transferees may affect any transfer that, as a result of such transfer, would require the Company to become subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the ability of the Company to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration, shares of its Common Stock will be subject to restrictions, including a restriction against increasing dividends from the last quarterly cash dividend per share of $0.26 declared on the Common Stock prior to October 14, 2008. The redemption, purchase or other acquisition of trust preferred securities of the Company or its affiliates also will be restricted. These restrictions will terminate on the earlier of (a) the third anniversary of the date of issuance of the Senior Preferred Shares and (b) the date on which the Senior Preferred Shares have been redeemed in whole or the U.S. Treasury has transferred all of the Senior Preferred Shares to third parties, except that, after the third anniversary of the date of issuance of the Senior Preferred Shares, if the Senior Preferred Shares remain outstanding at such time, the Company may not increase its common dividends per share without obtaining consent of the U.S. Treasury.

The Purchase Agreement also subjects the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the “EESA”). In this connection, as a condition to the closing of the transaction, the Company’s Senior Executive Officers (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) (the “Senior Executive Officers”), (i) voluntarily waived any claim against the U.S. Treasury or the Company for any changes to such officer’s compensation or benefits that are required to comply with the regulation issued by the U.S. Treasury under the TARP Capital Purchase Program and acknowledged that the regulation may require modification of the compensation, bonus, incentive and other benefit plans, arrangements and policies and agreements as they relate to the period the U.S. Treasury owns the Preferred Stock of the Company; and (ii) entered into a letter with the Company amending the Benefit Plans with respect to such Senior Executive Officers as may be necessary, during the period that the Treasury owns the Preferred Stock of the Company, as necessary to comply with Section 111(b) of the EESA.

 

Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

 

Item 9a. Controls and Procedures

First Defiance’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of First Defiance’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2009. Based upon that evaluation, the chief executive officer along with the interim chief financial officer concluded that First Defiance’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2009, are effective.

 

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The information set forth under “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” included in Item 8 above is incorporated herein by reference.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in First Defiance’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the last fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect First Defiance’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9b. Other Information

None

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required herein is incorporated by reference from the sections captioned: “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors”, “Executive Officers”, and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” of the definitive proxy statement to be filed on or about March 19, 2010 (the “Proxy Statement”).

First Defiance has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all officers, directors and employees that complies with SEC requirements, and is available on its Internet site at www.fdef.com under the Investor Relations tab.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Information required by this item is set forth under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Report” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” of the Proxy Statement.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information set forth under the caption “Beneficial Ownership” of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2009 with respect to the shares of First Defiance common stock that may be issued under First Defiance’s existing equity compensation plans.

 

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Plan Category

   Number of securities to
be Issued Upon
Exercise of Outstanding
Options, Warrants and
Rights
   Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
   Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column
(a))
     (a)    (b)    (c)

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders

   467,500    $ 19.41    98,905

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information set forth under the captions “Composition of the Board” and “Related Person Transactions” of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information set forth under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)

Financial Statements

The following documents are filed as Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

(A)     Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Crowe Horwath LLP)

(B)    Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2009 and 2008

(C)    Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(D)     Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(E)    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(F)    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(1)

We are not filing separate financial statement schedules because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the related notes.

 

(2)

The exhibits required by this item are listed in the Exhibit Index of this Form 10-K. The management contracts and compensation plans or arrangements required to be filed to this Form 10-K are listed as Exhibits 10.1 through 10.19.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

March 3, 2010

 

By:

 

/s/ Donald P. Hileman

   

Donald P. Hileman, Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 3, 2010.

 

Signature

       

Title

    

/s/ William J. Small

    

Chairman of the Board, President and

  

William J. Small

    

Chief Executive Officer

  
       

/s/ Donald P. Hileman

    

Executive Vice President and Chief

  

Donald P. Hileman

    

Financial Officer (principal accounting officer)

  
       

/s/ James L. Rohrs

    

Director, Executive Vice President

  

James L. Rohrs

       
       

/s/ Stephen L. Boomer

    

Director, Vice Chairman

  

Stephen L. Boomer

       
       

/s/ John L. Bookmyer

    

Director

  

John L. Bookmyer

       
       

/s/ Dr. Douglas A. Burgei

    

Director

  

Dr. Douglas A. Burgei

       
       

/s/ Peter A. Diehl

    

Director

  

Peter A. Diehl

       
       

/s/ Barb A. Mitzel

    

Director

  

Barb A. Mitzel

       
       

/s/ Dwain I. Metzger

    

Director

  

Dwain I. Metzger

       
       

/s/ Jean A. Hubbard

    

Director

  

Jean A. Hubbard

       
       

/s/ Samuel S. Strausbaugh

    

Director

  

Samuel S. Strausbaugh

       
       

/s/ Thomas A. Voigt

    

Director

  

Thomas A. Voigt

       

 

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Exhibit Index

This report incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information in this document. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this document.

This information may be read and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. The SEC also maintains an internet web site that contains reports, proxy statements, and other information about issuers, like First Defiance, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of the site is http://www.sec.gov. The reports and other information filed by First Defiance with the SEC are also available at the First Defiance Financial Corp. web site. The address of the site is http://www.fdef.com. Except as specifically incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, information on those web sites is not part of this report.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

    
  3.1    Articles of Incorporation    (1)
  3.2    Code of Regulations    (1)
  3.3    Bylaws    (1)
  3.4    Amendment to Articles of Incorporation    (11)
  4.1    Agreement to furnish instruments and agreements defining rights of holders of long-term debt    (17)
  4.2    Form of Warrant for Purchase of Shares of Common Stock    (15)
10.1    1996 Stock Option Plan    (2)
10.2    Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement    (3)
10.3    Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement    (3)
10.4    1996 Management Recognition Plan and Trust    (2)
10.5    2001 Stock Option and Incentive Plan    (5)
10.6    1993 Stock Incentive Plan    (1)
10.7    Employment Agreement with William J. Small    (6)
10.8    Employment Agreement with James L. Rohrs    (7)
10.9    Employment Agreement with Donald P. Hileman    (18)
10.10    Employment Agreement with Gregory R. Allen    (9)
10.11    Description of Annual Bonus    (16)
10.12    2005 Stock Option and Incentive Plan    (10)
10.13    Letter Agreement, dated December 5, 2008, between First Defiance and the U.S. Treasury    (12)
10.14    2008 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan    (13)
10.15    Form of Contingent Award Agreement    (14)
10.16    Form of Stock Option Award Agreement    (4)
10.17    Amendment to all Employment Agreements for CPP    (4)
10.18    Form of Agreement for CPP Compensation Standards    (17)
10.19    Form of Option Award Agreement    (17)
14    Code of Ethics    (16)
21    List of Subsidiaries of the Company    (16)
23.1    Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP    (17)
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (17)
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (17)
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (17)
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (17)
99.1    PEO TARP Capital Purchase Program Certification    (17)
99.2    PFO TARP Capital Purchase Program Certification    (17)

 

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(1)

Incorporated herein by reference to the like numbered exhibit in the Registrant’s Form S-1 (File No. 33-93354).

 

(2)

Incorporated herein by reference to like numbered exhibit in Registrant’s 2001 Form 10-K

 

(3)

Incorporated herein by reference to like numbered exhibit in Registrant’s 2004 Form 10-K

 

(4)

Incorporated herein by reference to like numbered exhibit in Registrant’s 2008 Form 10-K

 

(5)

Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B to the 2001 Proxy Statement

 

(6)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.1 in Form 8-K filed October 1, 2007

 

(7)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.2 in Form 8-K filed October 1, 2007

 

(8)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.3 in Form 8-K filed October 1, 2007

 

(9)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.4 in Form 8-K filed October 1, 2007

 

(10)

Incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to the 2005 Proxy Statement

 

(11)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 3 in Form 8-K filed December 8, 2008

 

(12)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10 in Form 8-K filed December 8, 2008

 

(13)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.1 in Form 8-K filed December 12, 2008

 

(14)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.2 in Form 8-K filed December 12, 2008

 

(15)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 4 in Form 8-K filed December 8, 2008

 

(16)

Incorporated herein by reference to like numbered exhibit in Registrant’s 2007 Form 10-K

 

(17)

Included herein

 

(18)

Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.1 in Form 8-K filed December 16, 2009

 

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