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EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPaf20150630ex31d1.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPaf20150630ex31d2.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPaf20150630ex32d1.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2015

OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from         to        
 
Commission file number 001-11967
 
ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
11-3170868
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)
 
Number)
 
 
 
One Astoria Bank Plaza, Lake Success, New York
 
11042-1085
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(516) 327-3000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x  NO ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as these items are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨    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
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
 
Classes of Common Stock
 
Number of Shares Outstanding, July 31, 2015
 
$0.01 Par Value
 
100,793,269



 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




1


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
At June 30, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
Assets:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Cash and due from banks
 
$
168,790

 
 
 
$
143,185

 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Encumbered
 
107,523

 
 
 
110,784

 
Unencumbered
 
321,222

 
 
 
273,575

 
Total available-for-sale securities
 
428,745

 
 
 
384,359

 
Held-to-maturity securities, fair value of $2,152,091 and $2,131,371, respectively:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Encumbered
 
1,097,541

 
 
 
1,147,991

 
Unencumbered
 
1,059,341

 
 
 
985,813

 
Total held-to-maturity securities
 
2,156,882

 
 
 
2,133,804

 
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost
 
138,384

 
 
 
140,754

 
Loans held-for-sale, net
 
8,318

 
 
 
7,640

 
Loans receivable
 
11,514,056

 
 
 
11,957,448

 
Allowance for loan losses
 
(107,500
)
 
 
 
(111,600
)
 
Loans receivable, net
 
11,406,556

 
 
 
11,845,848

 
Mortgage servicing rights, net
 
11,463

 
 
 
11,401

 
Accrued interest receivable
 
36,752

 
 
 
36,628

 
Premises and equipment, net
 
110,950

 
 
 
111,622

 
Goodwill
 
185,151

 
 
 
185,151

 
Bank owned life insurance
 
435,144

 
 
 
430,768

 
Real estate owned, net
 
23,399

 
 
 
35,723

 
Other assets
 
184,822

 
 
 
173,138

 
Total assets
 
$
15,295,356

 
 
 
$
15,640,021

 
Liabilities:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Deposits:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Savings
 
$
2,186,470

 
 
 
$
2,237,142

 
Money market
 
2,446,428

 
 
 
2,373,484

 
NOW and demand deposit
 
2,287,319

 
 
 
2,198,777

 
Certificates of deposit
 
2,307,553

 
 
 
2,695,506

 
Total deposits
 
9,227,770

 
 
 
9,504,909

 
Federal funds purchased
 
370,000

 
 
 
455,000

 
Reverse repurchase agreements
 
1,100,000

 
 
 
1,100,000

 
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances
 
2,340,000

 
 
 
2,384,000

 
Other borrowings, net
 
248,957

 
 
 
248,691

 
Mortgage escrow funds
 
132,902

 
 
 
115,400

 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
247,205

 
 
 
251,951

 
Total liabilities
 
13,666,834

 
 
 
14,059,951

 
Stockholders’ Equity:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Series C (150,000 shares authorized; and 135,000 shares issued and outstanding)
 
129,796

 
 
 
129,796

 
Common stock, $0.01 par value (200,000,000 shares authorized; 166,494,888 shares issued; and 100,791,839 and 99,940,399 shares outstanding, respectively)
 
1,665

 
 
 
1,665

 
Additional paid-in capital
 
895,984

 
 
 
897,049

 
Retained earnings
 
2,024,611

 
 
 
1,992,833

 
Treasury stock (65,703,049 and 66,554,489 shares, at cost, respectively)
 
(1,357,727
)
 
 
 
(1,375,322
)
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(65,807
)
 
 
 
(65,951
)
 
Total stockholders’ equity
 
1,628,522

 
 
 
1,580,070

 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
15,295,356

 
 
 
$
15,640,021

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 
 
For the 
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
For the 
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage loans
$
51,375

 
$
62,294

 
$
105,337

 
$
127,248

Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans
48,611

 
43,347

 
96,103

 
86,737

Consumer and other loans
2,242

 
2,085

 
4,432

 
4,171

Mortgage-backed and other securities
15,238

 
14,116

 
30,308

 
27,793

Interest-earning cash accounts
107

 
80

 
196

 
149

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock
1,461

 
1,458

 
2,983

 
3,291

Total interest income
119,034

 
123,380

 
239,359

 
249,389

Interest expense:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Deposits
9,944

 
12,823

 
20,673

 
26,052

Borrowings
23,940

 
24,783

 
47,815

 
49,593

Total interest expense
33,884

 
37,606

 
68,488

 
75,645

Net interest income
85,150

 
85,774

 
170,871

 
173,744

Provision for loan losses credited to operations
(2,967
)
 
(5,742
)
 
(3,310
)
 
(4,111
)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
88,117

 
91,516

 
174,181

 
177,855

Non-interest income:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Customer service fees
8,871

 
9,030

 
17,082

 
18,050

Other loan fees
553

 
647

 
1,106

 
1,255

Gain on sales of securities
72

 

 
72

 

Mortgage banking income, net
2,076

 
610

 
2,403

 
1,410

Income from bank owned life insurance
2,179

 
2,139

 
4,376

 
4,128

Other
1,591

 
1,419

 
3,236

 
2,671

Total non-interest income
15,342

 
13,845

 
28,275

 
27,514

Non-interest expense:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
General and administrative:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
37,655

 
34,415

 
73,936

 
67,803

Occupancy, equipment and systems
18,980

 
17,793

 
38,638

 
35,967

Federal deposit insurance premium
4,335

 
7,277

 
8,536

 
15,846

Advertising
2,801

 
2,438

 
5,065

 
4,150

Other
8,105

 
9,670

 
15,813

 
18,050

Total non-interest expense
71,876

 
71,593

 
141,988

 
141,816

Income before income tax expense
31,583

 
33,768

 
60,468

 
63,553

Income tax expense
152

 
11,468

 
9,730

 
9,704

Net income
31,431

 
22,300

 
50,738

 
53,849

Preferred stock dividends
2,194

 
2,194

 
4,388

 
4,388

Net income available to common shareholders
$
29,237

 
$
20,106

 
$
46,350

 
$
49,461

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
0.29

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.50

Diluted earnings per common share
$
0.29

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
99,664,442

 
98,275,886

 
99,459,376

 
98,191,434

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
99,664,442

 
98,275,886

 
99,459,376

 
98,191,434


 See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
 
 
For the 
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
For the 
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(In Thousands)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
31,431

 
$
22,300

 
$
50,738

 
$
53,849

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net unrealized (loss) gain on securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 


 


Net unrealized holding (loss) gain on securities arising during the period
(2,748
)
 
4,699

 
(755
)
 
7,692

Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities included in net income
(43
)
 

 
(43
)
 

Net unrealized (loss) gain on securities available-for-sale
(2,791
)
 
4,699

 
(798
)
 
7,692

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
417

 
161

 
886

 
296

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
27

 
31

 
56

 
61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
(2,347
)
 
4,891

 
144

 
8,049

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
$
29,084

 
$
27,191

 
$
50,882

 
$
61,898

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


4


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
Total
 
Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-in Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Treasury Stock
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
1,580,070

 
$
129,796

 
$
1,665

 
$
897,049

 
$
1,992,833

 
$
(1,375,322
)
 
 
$
(65,951
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
50,738

 

 

 

 
50,738

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
144

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends on preferred stock ($32.50 per share)
(4,388
)
 

 

 

 
(4,388
)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends on common stock ($0.08 per share)
(8,024
)
 

 

 

 
(8,024
)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales of treasury stock (475,182 shares)
6,055

 

 

 

 
(3,765
)
 
9,820

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock grants (426,552 shares)

 

 

 
(5,562
)
 
(3,252
)
 
8,814

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forfeitures of restricted stock (50,294 shares)

 

 

 
583

 
456

 
(1,039
)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation
3,916

 

 

 
3,903

 
13

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net tax benefit excess from stock-based compensation
11

 

 

 
11

 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at June 30, 2015
$
1,628,522

 
$
129,796

 
$
1,665

 
$
895,984

 
$
2,024,611

 
$
(1,357,727
)
 
 
$
(65,807
)
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


5


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In Thousands)
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Net income
 
$
50,738

 
 
 
$
53,849

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

 
 
 
 

 
Net amortization on loans
 
6,219

 
 
 
5,678

 
Net amortization on securities and borrowings
 
4,855

 
 
 
4,701

 
Net provision for loan and real estate losses credited to operations
 
(2,774
)
 
 
 
(3,287
)
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
6,134

 
 
 
5,804

 
Net gain on sales of loans and securities
 
(1,081
)
 
 
 
(816
)
 
Mortgage servicing rights amortization and valuation allowance adjustments, net
 
611

 
 
 
1,437

 
Stock-based compensation
 
3,916

 
 
 
4,253

 
Originations of loans held-for-sale
 
(61,079
)
 
 
 
(40,957
)
 
Proceeds from sales and principal repayments of loans held-for-sale
 
60,759

 
 
 
41,650

 
  Increase in accrued interest receivable
 
(124
)
 
 
 
(154
)
 
Bank owned life insurance income and insurance proceeds received, net
 
(4,376
)
 
 
 
(3,045
)
 
Increase in other assets
 
(11,436
)
 
 
 
(54
)
 
(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
(3,882
)
 
 
 
5,461

 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
48,480

 
 
 
74,520

 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Originations of loans receivable
 
(767,399
)
 
 
 
(726,125
)
 
Loan purchases through third parties
 
(117,596
)
 
 
 
(72,375
)
 
Principal payments on loans receivable
 
1,311,864

 
 
 
937,327

 
Proceeds from sales of delinquent and non-performing loans
 
6,183

 
 
 
1,310

 
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity
 
(272,524
)
 
 
 
(276,388
)
 
Purchases of securities available-for-sale
 
(88,156
)
 
 
 

 
Principal payments on securities held-to-maturity
 
245,317

 
 
 
161,171

 
Principal payments on securities available-for-sale
 
22,977

 
 
 
20,194

 
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale
 
19,026

 
 
 

 
Net redemptions of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock
 
2,370

 
 
 
1,919

 
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net
 
15,524

 
 
 
29,314

 
Purchases of premises and equipment, net of proceeds from sales
 
(5,478
)
 
 
 
(4,400
)
 
Net cash provided by investing activities
 
372,108

 
 
 
71,947

 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Net decrease in deposits
 
(277,139
)
 
 
 
(195,939
)
 
Net (decrease) increase in borrowings with original terms of three months or less
 
(129,000
)
 
 
 
163,000

 
Repayments of borrowings with original terms greater than three months
 

 
 
 
(100,000
)
 
Net increase in mortgage escrow funds
 
17,502

 
 
 
18,228

 
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock
 
6,055

 
 
 
4,064

 
Cash dividends paid to stockholders
 
(12,412
)
 
 
 
(12,335
)
 
Net tax benefit excess from stock-based compensation
 
11

 
 
 

 
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(394,983
)
 
 
 
(122,982
)
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
25,605

 
 
 
23,485

 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
143,185

 
 
 
121,950

 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
168,790

 
 
 
$
145,435

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosures:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Interest paid
 
$
68,450

 
 
 
$
75,519

 
Income taxes paid
 
$
17,732

 
 
 
$
6,741

 
Additions to real estate owned
 
$
3,736

 
 
 
$
31,646

 
Loans transferred to held-for-sale
 
$
6,205

 
 
 
$
187,769

 
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

6


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
1.  Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Astoria Financial Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Astoria Bank and its subsidiaries, referred to as Astoria Bank, and AF Insurance Agency, Inc.  As used in this quarterly report, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Astoria Financial Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.  All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of our financial condition as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our results of operations and other comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, changes in our stockholders’ equity for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.  In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities for the consolidated statements of financial condition as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and amounts of revenues, expenses and other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.  The results of operations and other comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations and other comprehensive income to be expected for the remainder of the year.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. 

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our December 31, 2014 audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Income Tax Legislation

New York State, or NY State, income tax reform legislation, or the 2014 NY State legislation, was enacted on March 31, 2014.  While the 2014 NY State legislation generally became effective in 2015, the nature of the changes resulted in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets in the 2014 first quarter. Prior to the effective date of the 2014 NY State legislation, we were subject to taxation in NY State under an alternative taxation method based on assets.  The 2014 NY State legislation, among other things, removed that alternative method.  Further, the new law (1) required that we be taxed in a manner that resulted in an increase in our NY State income tax expense beginning in 2015 and (2) caused us to recognize temporary differences and net operating loss carry-forward benefits in 2014 which we were unable to recognize previously.

On April 13, 2015, a package of additional legislation, or the 2015 NY State legislation, was signed into law in NY State that, among other things, (1) largely conforms New York City, or NY City, banking income tax laws to the 2014 NY State legislation, and (2) makes technical corrections to the 2014 NY State legislation. The 2015 NY State legislation is effective retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015. In addition, on June 30, 2015, the State of Connecticut enacted tax legislation that changed the method for calculating Connecticut income taxes, resulting in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets. Under GAAP, the effects of changes in tax law on current and deferred taxes are accounted for in the period that

7


includes the enactment date of the change, which means that we recorded the impacts of the legislation in the second quarter of 2015.

The tax law changes effective in 2014 and 2015 resulted in an increase in our net deferred tax asset with a corresponding reduction in income tax expense of $11.5 million in the 2014 first quarter and a reduction in income tax expense of $11.4 million in the 2015 second quarter comprised of (i) the elimination of our valuation allowance totaling $7.2 million, which previously offset certain deferred tax assets, and (ii) the recognition of additional deferred tax assets totaling $4.2 million, primarily related to NY City taxation.

As a result of these changes to state and local tax legislation, we expect our effective income tax rate in future periods to be higher than that in prior periods.

2.  Securities
 
The following tables set forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at the dates indicated.
 
At June 30, 2015
(In Thousands)
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
Available-for-sale:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

GSE (1) issuance REMICs and CMOs (2)
$
314,975

 
 
$
3,663

 
 
 
$
(2,238
)
 
 
$
316,400

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
3,986

 
 
22

 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
4,006

GSE pass-through certificates
11,738

 
 
573

 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
12,309

Total residential mortgage-backed securities
330,699

 
 
4,258

 
 
 
(2,242
)
 
 
332,715

Obligations of GSEs
98,682

 
 

 
 
 
(2,654
)
 
 
96,028

Fannie Mae stock
15

 
 

 
 
 
(13
)
 
 
2

Total securities available-for-sale
$
429,396

 
 
$
4,258

 
 
 
$
(4,909
)
 
 
$
428,745

Held-to-maturity:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
1,450,045

 
 
$
13,315

 
 
 
$
(15,281
)
 
 
$
1,448,079

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
298

 
 

 
 
 
(7
)
 
 
291

GSE pass-through certificates
260,948

 
 
2,009

 
 
 
(2,837
)
 
 
260,120

Total residential mortgage-backed securities
1,711,291

 
 
15,324

 
 
 
(18,125
)
 
 
1,708,490

Multi-family mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

GSE issuance REMICs
237,771

 
 
1,451

 
 
 
(553
)
 
 
238,669

Obligations of GSEs
207,344

 
 
21

 
 
 
(2,909
)
 
 
204,456

Other
476

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
476

Total securities held-to-maturity
$
2,156,882

 
 
$
16,796

 
 
 
$
(21,587
)
 
 
$
2,152,091

 
(1)    Government-sponsored enterprise
(2)    Real estate mortgage investment conduits and collateralized mortgage obligations

8


 
At December 31, 2014
(In Thousands)
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair
Value
Available-for-sale:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
266,946

 
 
$
3,608

 
 
 
$
(1,556
)
 
 
$
268,998

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
5,071

 
 
34

 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
5,104

GSE pass-through certificates
12,919

 
 
640

 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
13,557

Total residential mortgage-backed securities
284,936

 
 
4,282

 
 
 
(1,559
)
 
 
287,659

Obligations of GSEs
98,680

 
 

 
 
 
(1,982
)
 
 
96,698

Fannie Mae stock
15

 
 

 
 
 
(13
)
 
 
2

Total securities available-for-sale
$
383,631

 
 
$
4,282

 
 
 
$
(3,554
)
 
 
$
384,359

Held-to-maturity:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
1,575,402

 
 
$
14,536

 
 
 
$
(14,041
)
 
 
$
1,575,897

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
2,482

 
 
31

 
 
 
(7
)
 
 
2,506

GSE pass-through certificates
281,685

 
 
2,442

 
 
 
(3,877
)
 
 
280,250

Total residential mortgage-backed securities
1,859,569

 
 
17,009

 
 
 
(17,925
)
 
 
1,858,653

Multi-family mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSE issuance REMICs
154,381

 
 
554

 
 
 
(590
)
 
 
154,345

Obligations of GSEs
119,336

 
 
42

 
 
 
(1,523
)
 
 
117,855

Other
518

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
518

Total securities held-to-maturity
$
2,133,804

 
 
$
17,605

 
 
 
$
(20,038
)
 
 
$
2,131,371


The following tables set forth the estimated fair values of securities with gross unrealized losses at the dates indicated, segregated between securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months and those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer at the dates indicated.
 
 
At June 30, 2015
 
 
Less Than Twelve Months
 
Twelve Months or Longer
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Gross Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Gross Unrealized
Losses
Available-for-sale:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
119,668

 
 
$
(2,238
)
 
 
$

 
 
$

 
 
$
119,668

 
 
$
(2,238
)
 
Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
32

 
 
(1
)
 
 
83

 
 
(1
)
 
 
115

 
 
(2
)
 
GSE pass-through certificates
43

 
 
(1
)
 
 
97

 
 
(1
)
 
 
140

 
 
(2
)
 
Obligations of GSEs
24,492

 
 
(491
)
 
 
71,536

 
 
(2,163
)
 
 
96,028

 
 
(2,654
)
 
Fannie Mae stock

 
 

 
 
2

 
 
(13
)
 
 
2

 
 
(13
)
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
available-for-sale
$
144,235

 
 
$
(2,731
)
 
 
$
71,718

 
 
$
(2,178
)
 
 
$
215,953

 
 
$
(4,909
)
 
Held-to-maturity:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
378,600

 
 
$
(2,836
)
 
 
$
317,649

 
 
$
(12,445
)
 
 
$
696,249

 
 
$
(15,281
)
 
Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 
 

 
 
291

 
 
(7
)
 
 
291

 
 
(7
)
 
GSE pass-through certificates
39,186

 
 
(273
)
 
 
115,769

 
 
(2,564
)
 
 
154,955

 
 
(2,837
)
 
Multi-family mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
GSE issuance REMICs
94,128

 
 
(553
)
 
 

 
 

 
 
94,128

 
 
(553
)
 
Obligations of GSEs
131,976

 
 
(1,977
)
 
 
24,069

 
 
(932
)
 
 
156,045

 
 
(2,909
)
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
held-to-maturity
$
643,890

 
 
$
(5,639
)
 
 
$
457,778

 
 
$
(15,948
)
 
 
$
1,101,668

 
 
$
(21,587
)
 
 

9


 
At December 31, 2014
 
 
Less Than Twelve Months
 
Twelve Months or Longer
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Available-for-sale:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
20,587

 
 
$
(159
)
 
 
$
75,444

 
 
$
(1,397
)
 
 
$
96,031

 
 
$
(1,556
)
 
Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 
 

 
 
96

 
 
(1
)
 
 
96

 
 
(1
)
 
GSE pass-through certificates
53

 
 
(1
)
 
 
64

 
 
(1
)
 
 
117

 
 
(2
)
 
Obligations of GSEs
24,586

 
 
(395
)
 
 
72,112

 
 
(1,587
)
 
 
96,698

 
 
(1,982
)
 
Fannie Mae stock

 
 

 
 
2

 
 
(13
)
 
 
2

 
 
(13
)
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
available-for-sale
$
45,226

 
 
$
(555
)
 
 
$
147,718

 
 
$
(2,999
)
 
 
$
192,944

 
 
$
(3,554
)
 
Held-to-maturity:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
121,861

 
 
$
(302
)
 
 
$
500,348

 
 
$
(13,739
)
 
 
$
622,209

 
 
$
(14,041
)
 
Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs

 
 

 
 
294

 
 
(7
)
 
 
294

 
 
(7
)
 
GSE pass-through certificates

 
 

 
 
164,453

 
 
(3,877
)
 
 
164,453

 
 
(3,877
)
 
Multi-family mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 


 
GSE issuance REMICs
100,355

 
 
(590
)
 
 

 
 

 
 
100,355

 
 
(590
)
 
Obligations of GSEs

 
 

 
 
79,413

 
 
(1,523
)
 
 
79,413

 
 
(1,523
)
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
held-to-maturity
$
222,216

 
 
$
(892
)
 
 
$
744,508

 
 
$
(19,146
)
 
 
$
966,724

 
 
$
(20,038
)
 

We held 94 securities which had an unrealized loss at June 30, 2015 and 80 securities which had an unrealized loss at December 31, 2014At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, substantially all of the securities in an unrealized loss position had a fixed interest rate and the cause of the temporary impairment was directly related to changes in interest rates.  We generally view changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary, which is consistent with our experience.  None of the unrealized losses are related to credit losses.  Therefore, at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the impairments were deemed temporary based on (1) the direct relationship of the decline in fair value to movements in interest rates, (2) the estimated remaining life and high credit quality of the investments and (3) the fact that we had no intention to sell these securities and it was not more likely than not that we would be required to sell these securities before their anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis and we expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, proceeds from sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio totaled $19.0 million, resulting in gross realized gains of $72,000. There were no sales of securities from the available-for-sale portfolio during the six months ended June 30, 2014.

At June 30, 2015, available-for-sale debt securities, excluding mortgage-backed securities, had an amortized cost of $98.7 million, an estimated fair value of $96.0 million and contractual maturities in 2021 and 2022At June 30, 2015, held-to-maturity debt securities, excluding mortgage-backed securities, had an amortized cost of $207.8 million, an estimated fair value of $204.9 million and contractual maturities primarily in 2021 through 2025.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to prepay or call obligations with or without prepayment penalties.
 
At June 30, 2015, the amortized cost of callable securities in our portfolio totaled $306.0 million, of which $289.6 million are callable within one year and at various times thereafter. The balance of accrued interest receivable for securities totaled $7.1 million at June 30, 2015 and $6.7 million at December 31, 2014.
 

10


3. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses
 
The following tables set forth the composition of our loans receivable portfolio, and an aging analysis by accruing and non-accrual loans, by segment and class at the dates indicated.
 
At June 30, 2015
 
Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
30-59 Days
 
60-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total Past Due
 
Current
 
Total
Accruing loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
10,810

 
$
3,769

 
$

 
$
14,579

 
$
624,504

 
$
639,083

Full documentation amortizing
31,191

 
5,124

 

 
36,315

 
4,731,728

 
4,768,043

Reduced documentation interest-only
15,684

 
4,917

 

 
20,601

 
451,641

 
472,242

Reduced documentation amortizing
9,483

 
2,824

 

 
12,307

 
424,345

 
436,652

Total residential
67,168

 
16,634

 

 
83,802

 
6,232,218

 
6,316,020

Multi-family
5,023

 
1,127

 
737

 
6,887

 
3,931,487

 
3,938,374

Commercial real estate
1,692

 

 
2,234

 
3,926

 
854,329

 
858,255

Total mortgage loans
73,883

 
17,761

 
2,971

 
94,615

 
11,018,034

 
11,112,649

Consumer and other loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity and other consumer
1,067

 
499

 

 
1,566

 
164,175

 
165,741

Commercial and industrial

 

 

 

 
71,354

 
71,354

Total consumer and other loans
1,067

 
499

 

 
1,566

 
235,529

 
237,095

Total accruing loans
$
74,950

 
$
18,260

 
$
2,971

 
$
96,181

 
$
11,253,563


$
11,349,744

Non-accrual loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
1,155

 
$

 
$
12,338

 
$
13,493

 
$
11,361

 
$
24,854

Full documentation amortizing
1,567

 
1,795

 
21,020

 
24,382

 
7,601

 
31,983

Reduced documentation interest-only
536

 
492

 
13,513

 
14,541

 
23,261

 
37,802

Reduced documentation amortizing
491

 
342

 
5,397

 
6,230

 
3,345

 
9,575

Total residential
3,749

 
2,629

 
52,268

 
58,646

 
45,568

 
104,214

Multi-family
296

 
339

 
4,113

 
4,748

 
1,334

 
6,082

Commercial real estate
816

 

 
560

 
1,376

 
1,806

 
3,182

Total mortgage loans
4,861

 
2,968

 
56,941

 
64,770

 
48,708

 
113,478

Consumer and other loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity and other consumer

 

 
6,243

 
6,243

 
143

 
6,386

Commercial and industrial

 

 

 

 

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

 
6,243

 
6,243

 
143

 
6,386

Total non-accrual loans
$
4,861

 
$
2,968


$
63,184


$
71,013


$
48,851


$
119,864

Total loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
11,965

 
$
3,769

 
$
12,338

 
$
28,072

 
$
635,865

 
$
663,937

Full documentation amortizing
32,758

 
6,919

 
21,020

 
60,697

 
4,739,329

 
4,800,026

Reduced documentation interest-only
16,220

 
5,409

 
13,513

 
35,142

 
474,902

 
510,044

Reduced documentation amortizing
9,974

 
3,166

 
5,397

 
18,537

 
427,690

 
446,227

Total residential
70,917

 
19,263

 
52,268

 
142,448

 
6,277,786

 
6,420,234

Multi-family
5,319

 
1,466

 
4,850

 
11,635

 
3,932,821

 
3,944,456

Commercial real estate
2,508

 

 
2,794

 
5,302

 
856,135

 
861,437

Total mortgage loans
78,744

 
20,729

 
59,912

 
159,385

 
11,066,742

 
11,226,127

Consumer and other loans (gross):


 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Home equity and other consumer
1,067

 
499

 
6,243

 
7,809

 
164,318

 
172,127

Commercial and industrial

 

 

 

 
71,354

 
71,354

Total consumer and other loans
1,067

 
499

 
6,243

 
7,809

 
235,672

 
243,481

Total loans
$
79,811

 
$
21,228

 
$
66,155

 
$
167,194

 
$
11,302,414

 
$
11,469,608

Net unamortized premiums and deferred loan
origination costs
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
44,448

Loans receivable
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
11,514,056

Allowance for loan losses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(107,500
)
Loans receivable, net
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
11,406,556



11


 
At December 31, 2014
 
Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
30-59 Days
 
60-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total Past Due
 
Current
 
Total
Accruing loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
13,943

 
$
7,332

 
$

 
$
21,275

 
$
804,880

 
$
826,155

Full documentation amortizing
25,878

 
7,611

 
144

 
33,633

 
4,948,391

 
4,982,024

Reduced documentation interest-only
18,490

 
2,584

 

 
21,074

 
547,350

 
568,424

Reduced documentation amortizing
11,024

 
1,648

 

 
12,672

 
384,250

 
396,922

Total residential
69,335

 
19,175

 
144

 
88,654

 
6,684,871

 
6,773,525

Multi-family
3,646

 
2,222

 
1,790

 
7,658

 
3,893,539

 
3,901,197

Commercial real estate
1,686

 
493

 
2,159

 
4,338

 
863,615

 
867,953

Total mortgage loans
74,667

 
21,890

 
4,093

 
100,650

 
11,442,025

 
11,542,675

Consumer and other loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity and other consumer
2,430

 
962

 

 
3,392

 
175,121

 
178,513

Commercial and industrial

 

 

 

 
64,815

 
64,815

Total consumer and other loans
2,430

 
962

 

 
3,392

 
239,936

 
243,328

Total accruing loans
$
77,097

 
$
22,852

 
$
4,093

 
$
104,042

 
$
11,681,961

 
$
11,786,003

Non-accrual loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
2,371

 
$
358

 
$
11,502

 
$
14,231

 
$
13,796

 
$
28,027

Full documentation amortizing
204

 
238

 
14,211

 
14,653

 
7,016

 
21,669

Reduced documentation interest-only
820

 
453

 
16,289

 
17,562

 
25,022

 
42,584

Reduced documentation amortizing
596

 
1,066

 
2,843

 
4,505

 
3,226

 
7,731

Total residential
3,991

 
2,115

 
44,845

 
50,951

 
49,060

 
100,011

Multi-family
648

 
346

 
7,127

 
8,121

 
3,735

 
11,856

Commercial real estate
790

 

 
729

 
1,519

 
4,293

 
5,812

Total mortgage loans
5,429

 
2,461

 
52,701

 
60,591

 
57,088

 
117,679

Consumer and other loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity and other consumer

 

 
6,040

 
6,040

 

 
6,040

Commercial and industrial

 

 

 

 

 

Total consumer and other loans

 

 
6,040

 
6,040

 

 
6,040

Total non-accrual loans
$
5,429

 
$
2,461

 
$
58,741

 
$
66,631

 
$
57,088

 
$
123,719

Total loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
16,314

 
$
7,690

 
$
11,502

 
$
35,506

 
$
818,676

 
$
854,182

Full documentation amortizing
26,082

 
7,849

 
14,355

 
48,286

 
4,955,407

 
5,003,693

Reduced documentation interest-only
19,310

 
3,037

 
16,289

 
38,636

 
572,372

 
611,008

Reduced documentation amortizing
11,620

 
2,714

 
2,843

 
17,177

 
387,476

 
404,653

Total residential
73,326

 
21,290

 
44,989

 
139,605

 
6,733,931

 
6,873,536

Multi-family
4,294

 
2,568

 
8,917

 
15,779

 
3,897,274

 
3,913,053

Commercial real estate
2,476

 
493

 
2,888

 
5,857

 
867,908

 
873,765

Total mortgage loans
80,096

 
24,351

 
56,794

 
161,241

 
11,499,113

 
11,660,354

Consumer and other loans (gross):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity and other consumer
2,430

 
962

 
6,040

 
9,432

 
175,121

 
184,553

Commercial and industrial

 

 

 

 
64,815

 
64,815

Total consumer and other loans
2,430

 
962

 
6,040

 
9,432

 
239,936

 
249,368

Total loans
$
82,526

 
$
25,313

 
$
62,834

 
$
170,673

 
$
11,739,049

 
$
11,909,722

Net unamortized premiums and deferred loan
origination costs
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
47,726

Loans receivable
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
11,957,448

Allowance for loan losses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(111,600
)
Loans receivable, net
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
11,845,848



12


We segment our one-to-four family, or residential, mortgage loan portfolio by interest-only and amortizing loans, full documentation and reduced documentation loans and origination time periods and analyze our historical loss experience and delinquency levels and trends of these segments.  We analyze multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans by portfolio using predictive modeling techniques for loans originated after 2010 and by geographic location for loans originated prior to 2010.  We analyze our consumer and other loan portfolio by home equity lines of credit, commercial and industrial loans and other consumer loans and perform similar historical loss analyses.

We analyze our historical loss experience over 12, 15, 18 and 24 month periods.  The loss history used in calculating our quantitative allowance coverage percentages varies based on loan type.  Also, for a particular loan type we may not have sufficient loss history to develop a reasonable estimate of loss and consider our loss experience for other, similar loan types and may evaluate those losses over a longer period than two years.  Additionally, multi-family and commercial real estate loss experience may be adjusted based on the composition of the losses (loan sales, short sales and partial charge-offs).  Our evaluation of loss experience factors considers trends in such factors over the prior two years for substantially all of the loan portfolio, with the exception of multi-family and commercial real estate loans originated after 2010, for which our evaluation includes detailed modeling techniques.  These modeling techniques utilize data inputs for each loan in the portfolio, including credit facility terms and performance to date, property details and borrower financial performance data. The model also incorporates real estate market data from an established real estate market database company to forecast future performance of the properties, and includes a loan loss predictive model based on studies of defaulted commercial real estate loans. The model then generates a probability of default, loss given default and ultimately an estimated loss for each loan quarterly over the remaining life of the loan. The appropriate timeframe from which to assign an estimated loss percentage to the pool of loans is assessed by management. We update our historical loss analyses quarterly and evaluate the need to modify our quantitative allowances as a result of our updated charge-off and loss analyses.  We also consider qualitative factors with the purpose of assessing the adequacy of the overall allowance for loan losses as well as the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category.

Allowance adequacy calculations are adjusted quarterly, based on the results of our quantitative and qualitative analyses, to reflect our current estimates of the amount of probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio in determining our allowance for loan losses.  The portion of the allowance allocated to each loan category does not represent the total available to absorb losses which may occur within the loan category, since the total allowance for loan losses is available for losses applicable to the entire loan portfolio.


13


The following tables set forth the changes in our allowance for loan losses by loan receivable segment for the periods indicated.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
 
Mortgage Loans
 
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
Residential
 
 
 
 
Total
Balance at April 1, 2015
 
$
43,481

 
 
$
40,082

 
 
$
17,118

 
 
 
$
9,819

 
 
$
110,500

Provision charged (credited) to operations
 
1,497

 
 
(1,663
)
 
 
(1,728
)
 
 
 
(1,073
)
 
 
(2,967
)
Charge-offs
 
(1,602
)
 
 
(103
)
 
 

 
 
 
(86
)
 
 
(1,791
)
Recoveries
 
1,170

 
 
478

 
 

 
 
 
110

 
 
1,758

Balance at June 30, 2015
 
$
44,546

 
 
$
38,794

 
 
$
15,390

 
 
 
$
8,770

 
 
$
107,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
 
 
Mortgage Loans
 
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
Residential
 
 
 
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2015
 
$
46,283

 
 
$
39,250

 
 
$
17,242

 
 
 
$
8,825

 
 
$
111,600

Provision (credited) charged to operations
 
(354
)
 
 
(1,407
)
 
 
(1,710
)
 
 
 
161

 
 
(3,310
)
Charge-offs
 
(3,359
)
 
 
(345
)
 
 
(142
)
 
 
 
(435
)
 
 
(4,281
)
Recoveries
 
1,976

 
 
1,296

 
 

 
 
 
219

 
 
3,491

Balance at June 30, 2015
 
$
44,546

 
 
$
38,794

 
 
$
15,390

 
 
 
$
8,770

 
 
$
107,500


 
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
 
 
Mortgage Loans
 
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
Residential
 
 
 
 
Total
Balance at April 1, 2014
 
$
74,717

 
 
$
34,578

 
 
$
14,698

 
 
 
$
10,007

 
 
$
134,000

Provision (credited) charged to operations
 
(9,132
)
 
 
2,686

 
 
735

 
 
 
(31
)
 
 
(5,742
)
Charge-offs
 
(12,834
)
 
 
(270
)
 
 

 
 
 
(527
)
 
 
(13,631
)
Recoveries
 
3,801

 
 
81

 
 

 
 
 
91

 
 
3,973

Balance at June 30, 2014
 
$
56,552

 
 
$
37,075

 
 
$
15,433

 
 
 
$
9,540

 
 
$
118,600

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
 
 
Mortgage Loans
 
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
Residential
 
 
 
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2014
 
$
80,337

 
 
$
36,703

 
 
$
13,136

 
 
 
$
8,824

 
 
$
139,000

Provision (credited) charged to operations
 
(12,608
)
 
 
1,274

 
 
5,273

 
 
 
1,950

 
 
(4,111
)
Charge-offs
 
(16,927
)
 
 
(1,139
)
 
 
(2,976
)
 
 
 
(1,424
)
 
 
(22,466
)
Recoveries
 
5,750

 
 
237

 
 

 
 
 
190

 
 
6,177

Balance at June 30, 2014
 
$
56,552

 
 
$
37,075

 
 
$
15,433

 
 
 
$
9,540

 
 
$
118,600




14


The following table sets forth the balances of our residential interest-only mortgage loans at June 30, 2015 by the period in which such loans are scheduled to enter their amortization period.
 
(In Thousands)
Recorded
Investment
Amortization scheduled to begin in:
 

12 months or less
$
559,500

13 to 24 months
377,632

25 to 36 months
188,770

Over 36 months
48,079

Total
$
1,173,981


The following tables set forth the balances of our residential mortgage and consumer and other loan receivable segments by class and credit quality indicator at the dates indicated.
 
 
At June 30, 2015
 
 
Residential Mortgage Loans
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 
Full Documentation
 
 
Reduced Documentation
 
Home Equity and Other Consumer
 
Commercial and Industrial
(In Thousands)
Interest-only
 
Amortizing
 
Interest-only
 
Amortizing
 
 
Performing
 
$
639,083

 
 
$
4,768,043

 
 
$
472,242

 
 
$
436,652

 
 
$
165,741

 
 
$
71,354

Non-performing:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Current or past due less than 90 days
 
12,516

 
 
10,963

 
 
24,289

 
 
4,178

 
 
143

 
 

Past due 90 days or more
 
12,338

 
 
21,020

 
 
13,513

 
 
5,397

 
 
6,243

 
 

Total
 
$
663,937

 
 
$
4,800,026

 
 
$
510,044

 
 
$
446,227

 
 
$
172,127

 
 
$
71,354

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2014
 
 
Residential Mortgage Loans
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 
Full Documentation
 
 
Reduced Documentation
 
Home Equity and Other Consumer
 
Commercial and Industrial
(In Thousands)
Interest-only
 
Amortizing
 
Interest-only
 
Amortizing
 
 
Performing
 
$
826,155

 
 
$
4,981,880

 
 
$
568,424

 
 
$
396,922

 
 
$
178,513

 
 
$
64,815

Non-performing:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Current or past due less than 90 days
 
16,525

 
 
7,458

 
 
26,295

 
 
4,888

 
 

 
 

Past due 90 days or more
 
11,502

 
 
14,355

 
 
16,289

 
 
2,843

 
 
6,040

 
 

Total
 
$
854,182

 
 
$
5,003,693

 
 
$
611,008

 
 
$
404,653

 
 
$
184,553

 
 
$
64,815

 
The following table sets forth the balances of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan receivable segments by credit quality indicator at the dates indicated.
 
 
At June 30, 2015
 
 
 
At December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial Real Estate
(In Thousands)
Multi-Family
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Not criticized
 
$
3,868,976

 
 
 
$
811,729

 
 
 
$
3,850,068

 
 
 
$
817,404

 
Criticized:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Special mention
 
51,296

 
 
 
16,415

 
 
 
30,975

 
 
 
22,584

 
Substandard
 
23,444

 
 
 
32,199

 
 
 
31,264

 
 
 
32,664

 
Doubtful
 
740

 
 
 
1,094

 
 
 
746

 
 
 
1,113

 
Total
 
$
3,944,456

 
 
 
$
861,437

 
 
 
$
3,913,053

 
 
 
$
873,765

 


15


The following tables set forth the balances of our loans receivable and the related allowance for loan loss allocation by segment and by the impairment methodology followed in determining the allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated. 
 
At June 30, 2015
 
Mortgage Loans
 
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 

 
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
Residential
 
 
 
 
Total
Loans:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
$
190,952

 
$
29,499

 
 
$
16,982

 
 
$
5,854

 
$
243,287

Collectively evaluated for impairment
6,229,282

 
3,914,957

 
 
844,455

 
 
237,627

 
11,226,321

Total loans
$
6,420,234

 
$
3,944,456

 
 
$
861,437

 
 
$
243,481

 
$
11,469,608

Allowance for loan losses:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
$
11,056

 
$
999

 
 
$
906

 
 
$
4,334

 
$
17,295

Collectively evaluated for impairment
33,490

 
37,795

 
 
14,484

 
 
4,436

 
90,205

Total allowance for loan losses
$
44,546

 
$
38,794

 
 
$
15,390

 
 
$
8,770

 
$
107,500


 
At December 31, 2014
 
Mortgage Loans
 
 
Consumer and Other Loans
 
 

 
 
 
Multi-Family
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
Residential
 
 
 
 
Total
Loans:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
$
181,402

 
$
42,611

 
 
$
19,270

 
 
$
5,153

 
$
248,436

Collectively evaluated for impairment
6,692,134

 
3,870,442

 
 
854,495

 
 
244,215

 
11,661,286

Total loans
$
6,873,536

 
$
3,913,053

 
 
$
873,765

 
 
$
249,368

 
$
11,909,722

Allowance for loan losses:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
$
10,304

 
$
3,172

 
 
$
2,446

 
 
$
3,810

 
$
19,732

Collectively evaluated for impairment
35,979

 
36,078

 
 
14,796

 
 
5,015

 
91,868

Total allowance for loan losses
$
46,283

 
$
39,250

 
 
$
17,242

 
 
$
8,825

 
$
111,600

 
The following table summarizes information related to our impaired loans by segment and class at the dates indicated.
 
At June 30, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
(In Thousands)
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Related
Allowance
 
Net Investment
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Related
Allowance
 
Net Investment
With an allowance recorded:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
49,005

 
$
41,113

 
$
(3,809
)
 
$
37,304

 
$
55,352

 
$
46,331

 
$
(3,391
)
 
$
42,940

Full documentation amortizing
58,641

 
53,254

 
(2,025
)
 
51,229

 
43,044

 
39,994

 
(1,425
)
 
38,569

Reduced documentation interest-only
85,832

 
72,588

 
(4,521
)
 
68,067

 
90,171

 
76,960

 
(4,661
)
 
72,299

Reduced documentation amortizing
25,884

 
23,997

 
(701
)
 
23,296

 
19,463

 
18,117

 
(827
)
 
17,290

Multi-family
9,187

 
8,487

 
(999
)
 
7,488

 
34,972

 
28,109

 
(3,172
)
 
24,937

Commercial real estate
10,653

 
7,972

 
(906
)
 
7,066

 
24,991

 
19,270

 
(2,446
)
 
16,824

Consumer and other loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity lines of credit
6,181

 
5,854

 
(4,334
)
 
1,520

 
5,436

 
5,153

 
(3,810
)
 
1,343

Without an allowance recorded:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Multi-family
24,551

 
21,012

 

 
21,012

 
16,308

 
14,502

 

 
14,502

Commercial real estate
12,122

 
9,010

 

 
9,010

 

 

 

 

Total impaired loans
$
282,056

 
$
243,287

 
$
(17,295
)
 
$
225,992

 
$
289,737

 
$
248,436

 
$
(19,732
)
 
$
228,704



16


The following tables set forth the average recorded investment, interest income recognized and cash basis interest income related to our impaired loans by segment and class for the periods indicated.

 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(In Thousands)
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Cash Basis
Interest
Income
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Cash Basis
Interest
Income
With an allowance recorded:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
42,150

 
$
295

 
$
291

 
$
105,897

 
$
618

 
$
608

Full documentation amortizing
50,619

 
380

 
391

 
41,213

 
307

 
306

Reduced documentation interest-only
74,210

 
840

 
821

 
132,784

 
1,087

 
1,083

Reduced documentation amortizing
21,888

 
203

 
207

 
24,981

 
134

 
138

Multi-family
14,731

 
75

 
81

 
37,277

 
364

 
380

Commercial real estate
13,751

 
100

 
101

 
21,232

 
262

 
274

Consumer and other loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity lines of credit
6,179

 
20

 
22

 
5,067

 
3

 
7

Without an allowance recorded:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation amortizing

 

 

 
913

 

 

Multi-family
17,014

 
138

 
138

 
11,782

 
136

 
137

Commercial real estate
4,505

 
266

 
266

 

 

 

Total impaired loans
$
245,047

 
$
2,317

 
$
2,318

 
$
381,146

 
$
2,911

 
$
2,933


 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(In Thousands)
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Cash Basis
Interest
Income
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Cash Basis
Interest
Income
With an allowance recorded:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
43,544

 
$
608

 
$
614

 
$
107,224

 
$
1,222

 
$
1,244

Full documentation amortizing
47,077

 
798

 
816

 
39,505

 
653

 
645

Reduced documentation interest-only
75,126

 
1,528

 
1,527

 
135,308

 
2,163

 
2,146

Reduced documentation amortizing
20,631

 
392

 
401

 
25,189

 
265

 
263

Multi-family
19,190

 
159

 
183

 
31,434

 
730

 
764

Commercial real estate
15,591

 
197

 
209

 
16,084

 
462

 
559

Consumer and other loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity lines of credit
5,837

 
32

 
39

 
5,030

 
13

 
21

Without an allowance recorded:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation amortizing

 

 

 
609

 

 

Multi-family
16,177

 
534

 
534

 
18,785

 
274

 
275

Commercial real estate
3,003

 
277

 
275

 
4,755

 

 

Total impaired loans
$
246,176

 
$
4,525

 
$
4,598

 
$
383,923

 
$
5,782

 
$
5,917





17


The following tables set forth information about our mortgage loans receivable by segment and class at June 30, 2015 and 2014 which were modified in a troubled debt restructuring, or TDR, during the periods indicated.
 
Modifications During the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(Dollars In Thousands)
Number
of Loans
 
Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2015
 
Number
of Loans
 
Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2014
Residential:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Full documentation interest-only
 
4

 
 
 
$
1,315

 
 
 
$
1,309

 
 
 
7

 
 
 
$
2,940

 
 
 
$
2,939

 
Full documentation amortizing
 
5

 
 
 
1,142

 
 
 
1,136

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Reduced documentation interest-only
 
1

 
 
 
209

 
 
 
209

 
 
 
4

 
 
 
1,278

 
 
 
1,277

 
Reduced documentation amortizing
 
2

 
 
 
339

 
 
 
339

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Multi-family
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
357

 
 
 
357

 
Commercial real estate
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
254

 
 
 
251

 
Total
 
12

 
 
 
$
3,005

 
 
 
$
2,993

 
 
 
13

 
 
 
$
4,829

 
 
 
$
4,824

 

 
Modifications During the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(Dollars In Thousands)
Number
of Loans
 
Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2015
 
Number
of Loans
 
Pre-
Modification
Recorded
Investment
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2014
Residential:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Full documentation interest-only
 
8

 
 
 
$
3,350

 
 
 
$
3,340

 
 
 
18

 
 
 
$
7,797

 
 
 
$
7,374

 
Full documentation amortizing
 
11

 
 
 
3,201

 
 
 
3,126

 
 
 
3

 
 
 
519

 
 
 
489

 
Reduced documentation interest-only
 
5

 
 
 
1,896

 
 
 
1,903

 
 
 
8

 
 
 
2,301

 
 
 
2,290

 
Reduced documentation amortizing
 
2

 
 
 
339

 
 
 
339

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
317

 
 
 
262

 
Multi-family
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
1,060

 
 
 
946

 
Commercial real estate
 
2

 
 
 
2,902

 
 
 
2,864

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
913

 
 
 
892

 
Total
 
28

 
 
 
$
11,688

 
 
 
$
11,572

 
 
 
35

 
 
 
$
12,907

 
 
 
$
12,253

 

The following tables set forth information about our mortgage loans receivable by segment and class at June 30, 2015 and 2014 which were modified in a TDR during the twelve month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 and had a payment default subsequent to the modification during the periods indicated.

 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(Dollars In Thousands)
Number
of Loans
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2015
 
Number
of Loans
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2014
Residential:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Full documentation interest-only
 
4

 
 
 
$
1,957

 
 
 

 
 
 
$

 
Full documentation amortizing
 
1

 
 
 
387

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
447

 
Reduced documentation interest-only
 
4

 
 
 
1,967

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
579

 
Reduced documentation amortizing
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
93

 
Multi-family
 
2

 
 
 
1,036

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Commercial real estate
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
1,569

 
Total
 
11

 
 
 
$
5,347

 
 
 
5

 
 
 
$
2,688

 



18


 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(Dollars In Thousands)
Number
of Loans
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2015
 
Number
of Loans
 
Recorded
Investment at
June 30, 2014
Residential:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Full documentation interest-only
 
4

 
 
 
$
1,957

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
$
399

 
Full documentation amortizing
 
2

 
 
 
845

 
 
 
2

 
 
 
447

 
Reduced documentation interest-only
 
4

 
 
 
1,967

 
 
 
3

 
 
 
889

 
Reduced documentation amortizing
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
93

 
Multi-family
 
2

 
 
 
1,036

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Commercial real estate
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
1,569

 
Total
 
12

 
 
 
$
5,805

 
 
 
9

 
 
 
$
3,397

 

Included in loans receivable at June 30, 2015 are loans in the process of foreclosure collateralized by residential real estate property with a recorded investment of $37.8 million.

For additional information regarding our loans receivable and allowance for loan losses, see “Asset Quality” and “Critical Accounting Policies” in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or “MD&A.”

4. Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Effective January 1, 2015, we adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-11, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) — Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures,” which applies to all entities that enter into repurchase-to-maturity transactions or repurchase financings (reverse repurchase agreements or securities sold under agreements to repurchase).  The amendments in this update changed the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and linked repurchase financings (a transfer of a financial asset executed contemporaneously with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty) to secured borrowing accounting, which is consistent with the accounting for other repurchase agreements.  All of our repurchase agreements (reverse repurchase agreements) are accounted for as secured borrowings.  Therefore, our adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, effective for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015, the amendments in this update require an entity to disclose information on transfers accounted for as sales in transactions that are economically similar to repurchase agreements, which for us is not applicable as we have no such transfers. The amendments in this guidance also require, effective for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015, the following disclosures to increase transparency about the types of collateral pledged in repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings. 


19


The following table details the remaining contractual maturities of our reverse repurchase agreements at June 30, 2015.
Year
 
Amount
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
2018
 
$
200,000

 
(1
)
2019
 
600,000

 
(1
)
2020
 
300,000

 
(2
)
Total
 
$
1,100,000

 
 

(1)
Callable in 2015.
(2)
Includes $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2015, $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2016 and $100.0 million of borrowings which are callable in 2017.

The outstanding reverse repurchase agreements at June 30, 2015 were fixed rate and collateralized by GSE securities, of which 83% were residential mortgage-backed securities and 17% were obligations of GSEs. Securities collateralizing these agreements are classified as encumbered securities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The amount of excess collateral required is governed by each individual contract. The primary risk associated with these secured borrowings is the requirement to pledge a market value based balance of collateral in excess of the borrowed amount. The excess collateral pledged represents an unsecured exposure to the lending counterparty. As the market value of the collateral changes, both through changes in discount rates and spreads as well as related cash flows, additional collateral may need to be pledged. In accordance with our policies, eligible counterparties are defined and monitored to minimize our exposure.


20


5.  Earnings Per Common Share

The following table is a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per common share, or EPS.
  
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Net income
 
$
31,431
 
 
 
$
22,300
 
 
 
$
50,738
 
 
$
53,849
 
 
Preferred stock dividends
 
(2,194
)
 
 
(2,194
)
 
 
(4,388
)
 
(4,388
)
 
Net income available to common shareholders
 
29,237
 
 
 
20,106
 
 
 
46,350
 
 
49,461
 
 
Income allocated to participating securities
 
(295
)
 
 
(232
)
 
 
(394
)
 
(552
)
 
Net income allocated to common shareholders
 
$
28,942
 
 
 
$
19,874
 
 
 
$
45,956
 
 
$
48,909
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
99,664,442
 
 
98,275,886
 
 
99,459,376
 
98,191,434
 
 
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units (1) (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
99,664,442
 
 
98,275,886
 
 
99,459,376
 
98,191,434
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic EPS
 
 
$
0.29

 
 
 
$
0.20

 
 
 
$
0.46

 
 
$
0.50

 
Diluted EPS
 
 
$
0.29

 
 
 
$
0.20

 
 
 
$
0.46

 
 
$
0.50

 
 
(1)
Excludes options to purchase 12,000 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2015; options to purchase 1,011,219 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014; options to purchase 16,334 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2015; and options to purchase 1,030,651 shares of common stock which were outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2014 because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
(2)
Excludes 1,029,336 unvested restricted stock units which were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2015; 803,318 unvested restricted stock units which were outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014; 896,425 unvested restricted stock units which were outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2015; and 731,973 unvested restricted stock units which were outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2014 because the performance conditions have not been satisfied.


21


6.  Other Comprehensive Income/Loss
 
The following tables set forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax effects, at the dates indicated and the changes during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

(In Thousands)
At  
 March 31, 2015
 
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
At 
 June 30, 2015
Net unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale
 
$
6,679

 
 
 
$
(2,791
)
 
 
 
$
3,888

 
Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(67,007
)
 
 
 
417

 
 
 
(66,590
)
 
Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(3,132
)
 
 
 
27

 
 
 
(3,105
)
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(63,460
)
 
 
 
$
(2,347
)
 
 
 
$
(65,807
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
At 
 December 31, 2014
 
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
At 
 June 30, 2015
Net unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale
 
$
4,686

 
 
 
$
(798
)
 
 
 
$
3,888

 
Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(67,476
)
 
 
 
886

 
 
 
(66,590
)
 
Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(3,161
)
 
 
 
56

 
 
 
(3,105
)
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(65,951
)
 
 
 
$
144

 
 
 
$
(65,807
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
At  
 March 31, 2014
 
Other
Comprehensive
Income
 
At 
 June 30, 2014
Net unrealized (loss) gain on securities available-for-sale
 
$
(1,373
)
 
 
 
$
4,699

 
 
 
$
3,326

 
Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(30,465
)
 
 
 
161

 
 
 
(30,304
)
 
Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(3,254
)
 
 
 
31

 
 
 
(3,223
)
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(35,092
)
 
 
 
$
4,891

 
 
 
$
(30,201
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
At 
 December 31, 2013
 
Other
Comprehensive
Income
 
At 
 June 30, 2014
Net unrealized (loss) gain on securities available-for-sale
 
$
(4,366
)
 
 
 
$
7,692

 
 
 
$
3,326

 
Net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(30,600
)
 
 
 
296

 
 
 
(30,304
)
 
Prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits
 
(3,284
)
 
 
 
61

 
 
 
(3,223
)
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(38,250
)
 
 
 
$
8,049

 
 
 
$
(30,201
)
 
 
The following tables set forth the components of other comprehensive (loss) income for the periods indicated.
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended 
 June 30, 2015
 
(In Thousands)
Before Tax
Amount
 
Income Tax
Expense
 
After Tax
Amount
Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period
 
$
(4,491
)
 
 
 
$
1,743

 
 
 
$
(2,748
)
 
Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities included in net income
 
(72
)
 
 
 
29

 
 
 
(43
)
 
Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale
 
$
(4,563
)
 
 
 
$
1,772

 
 
 
$
(2,791
)
 
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
729

 
 
 
(312
)
 
 
 
417

 
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
48

 
 
 
(21
)
 
 
 
27

 
Other comprehensive loss
 
$
(3,786
)
 
 
 
$
1,439

 
 
 
$
(2,347
)
 

22


 
 
For the Six Months Ended 
 June 30, 2015
 
(In Thousands)
Before Tax
Amount
 
Income Tax
Expense
 
After Tax
Amount
Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period
 
$
(1,268
)
 
 
 
$
513

 
 
 
$
(755
)
 
Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities included in net income
 
(72
)
 
 
 
29

 
 
 
(43
)
 
Net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale
 
$
(1,340
)
 
 
 
$
542

 
 
 
$
(798
)
 
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
1,486

 
 
 
(600
)
 
 
 
886

 
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
95

 
 
 
(39
)
 
 
 
56

 
Other comprehensive income
 
$
241

 
 
 
$
(97
)
 
 
 
$
144

 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended 
 June 30, 2014
 
(In Thousands)
Before Tax
Amount
 
Income Tax
Expense
 
After Tax
Amount
Net unrealized holding gain on securities available-for-sale arising during the period
 
$
7,263

 
 
 
$
(2,564
)
 
 
 
$
4,699

 
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
249

 
 
 
(88
)
 
 
 
161

 
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
48

 
 
 
(17
)
 
 
 
31

 
Other comprehensive income
 
$
7,560

 
 
 
$
(2,669
)
 
 
 
$
4,891

 
 
 
For the Six Months Ended 
 June 30, 2014
 
(In Thousands)
Before Tax
Amount
 
Income Tax
Expense
 
After Tax
Amount
Net unrealized holding gain on securities available-for-sale arising during the period
 
$
11,891

 
 
 
$
(4,199
)
 
 
 
$
7,692

 
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
457

 
 
 
(161
)
 
 
 
296

 
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost on pension plans and other postretirement benefits included in net income
 
95

 
 
 
(34
)
 
 
 
61

 
Other comprehensive income
 
$
12,443

 
 
 
$
(4,394
)
 
 
 
$
8,049

 

The following tables set forth information about amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to, and the affected line items in, the consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated.
 
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Income Statement
Line Item
(In Thousands)
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
 
Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities
 
$
72

 
 
 
$

 
 
Gain on sales of securities
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss (1)
 
(729
)
 
 
 
(249
)
 
 
Compensation and benefits
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost (1)
 
(48
)
 
 
 
(48
)
 
 
Compensation and benefits
Total reclassifications, before tax
 
(705
)
 
 
 
(297
)
 
 
 
Income tax effect
 
304

 
 
 
105

 
 
Income tax expense
Total reclassifications, net of tax
 
$
(401
)
 
 
 
$
(192
)
 
 
Net income
  

23


 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Income Statement
Line Item
(In Thousands)
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
 
Reclassification adjustment for gain on sales of securities
 
$
72

 
 
 
$

 
 
Gain on sales of securities
Reclassification adjustment for net actuarial loss (1)
 
(1,486
)
 
 
 
(457
)
 
 
Compensation and benefits
Reclassification adjustment for prior service cost (1)
 
(95
)
 
 
 
(95
)
 
 
Compensation and benefits
Total reclassifications, before tax
 
(1,509
)
 
 
 
(552
)
 
 
 
Income tax effect
 
610

 
 
 
195

 
 
Income tax expense
Total reclassifications, net of tax
 
$
(899
)
 
 
 
$
(357
)
 
 
Net income

(1)
These other comprehensive income components are included in the computations of net periodic (benefit) cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan. See Note 7 for additional details.

7.  Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
The following tables set forth information regarding the components of net periodic (benefit) cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan for the periods indicated.
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
 
 
Other Postretirement
Benefits
 
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
(In Thousands)
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
Service cost
 
$

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
596

 
 
 
$
402

 
Interest cost
 
2,455

 
 
 
2,592

 
 
 
226

 
 
 
243

 
Expected return on plan assets
 
(3,634
)
 
 
 
(3,709
)
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)
 
729

 
 
 
342

 
 
 

 
 
 
(93
)
 
Amortization of prior service cost
 
48

 
 
 
48

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Net periodic (benefit) cost
 
$
(402
)
 
 
 
$
(727
)
 
 
 
$
822

 
 
 
$
552

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
 
 
Other Postretirement
Benefits
 
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In Thousands)
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
Service cost
 
$

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
1,065

 
 
 
$
621

 
Interest cost
 
4,965

 
 
 
5,225

 
 
 
502

 
 
 
465

 
Expected return on plan assets
 
(7,267
)
 
 
 
(7,422
)
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)
 
1,486

 
 
 
701

 
 
 

 
 
 
(244
)
 
Amortization of prior service cost
 
95

 
 
 
95

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Net periodic (benefit) cost
 
$
(721
)
 
 
 
$
(1,401
)
 
 
 
$
1,567

 
 
 
$
842

 

8.  Stock Incentive Plans

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, 400,320 shares of restricted common stock were granted to select officers under the 2014 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan for Officers and Employees of Astoria Financial Corporation, or the 2014 Employee Stock Plan, of which 397,890 shares remain outstanding at June 30, 2015 and substantially all of which vest one-third per year on or about December 14, beginning December 2015.  In the event the grantee terminates his/her employment due to death or disability, or in the event we experience a change in control, as defined and specified in the 2014 Employee Stock Plan, all restricted common stock granted pursuant to such plan immediately vests.  Also, during the six months ended

24


June 30, 2015, 409,800 performance-based restricted stock units were granted to select officers under the 2014 Employee Stock Plan, of which 407,200 units remain outstanding at June 30, 2015.  Each restricted stock unit granted represents a right, under the 2014 Employee Stock Plan, to receive one share of our common stock in the future, subject to meeting certain criteria.  The restricted stock units have specified performance objectives within a specified performance measurement period and no voting or dividend rights prior to vesting and delivery of shares.  The performance measurement period for these restricted stock units is the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 and the vest date is February 1, 2018.  Shares will be issued on the vest date at a specified percentage of units granted, ranging from 0% to 125%, based on actual performance during the performance measurement period.  However, in the event of a change in control prior to the end of the performance measurement period, the restricted stock units will vest on the change in control date and shares will be issued at 100% of units granted.  Absent a change in control, if a grantee’s employment terminates prior to the end of the performance measurement period all restricted stock units will be forfeited.  In the event a grantee’s employment terminates during the period on or after the end of the performance measurement period through the vest date due to death, disability, retirement or a change in control, the grantee will remain entitled to the shares otherwise earned. 

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, 26,232 shares of restricted common stock were granted to directors under the Astoria Financial Corporation 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, as amended, of which 21,860 remain outstanding at June 30, 2015 and vest 100% in February 2018, although awards immediately vest upon death, disability, mandatory retirement, involuntary termination or a change in control, as such terms are defined in the plan.

The following table summarizes restricted common stock and performance-based restricted stock unit activity in our stock incentive plans for the six months ended June 30, 2015.
 
 
Restricted Common Stock
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
 
Number of
Units
 
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2015
 
752,701

 
 
 
$
11.90

 
 
 
776,500

 
 
 
$
10.66

 
Granted
 
426,552

 
 
 
13.04

 
 
 
409,800

 
 
 
12.64

 
Vested
 
(4,000
)
 
 
 
(8.95
)
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Forfeited
 
(50,294
)
 
 
 
(11.59
)
 
 
 
(46,900
)
 
 
 
(10.92
)
 
Unvested at June 30, 2015
 
1,124,959

 
 
 
12.36

 
 
 
1,139,400

 
 
 
11.36

 
 
Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and totaled $1.3 million, net of taxes of $1.0 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $2.3 million, net of taxes of $1.6 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2015.  Stock-based compensation expense totaled $1.4 million, net of taxes of $790,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and $2.8 million, net of taxes of $1.5 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2014. At June 30, 2015, pre-tax compensation cost related to all nonvested awards of restricted common stock and restricted stock units not yet recognized totaled $14.3 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.9 years, which excludes $4.3 million of pre-tax compensation cost related to 65,000 shares of performance-based restricted common stock and 297,050 performance-based restricted stock units, for which compensation cost will begin to be recognized when the achievement of the performance conditions becomes probable.
 

25


9. Investments in Affordable Housing Limited Partnerships

Effective January 1, 2015, we adopted the guidance in ASU 2014-01, “Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects,” which applies to all reporting entities that invest in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit. The amendments in this update modify the conditions that a reporting entity must meet to be eligible to use a method other than the equity or cost methods to account for qualified affordable housing project investments. If the modified conditions are met, the amendments permit an entity to use the proportional amortization method to amortize the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the amount of tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognize the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). We have not elected to use the proportional amortization method for our investments in qualified affordable housing projects. Therefore, our adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the amendments introduce new recurring disclosures about all investments in qualified affordable housing projects which are presented below.

As part of our community reinvestment initiatives, we invest in affordable housing limited partnerships that make equity investments in multi-family affordable housing properties. We receive affordable housing tax credits and other tax benefits for these investments.

Our investment in affordable housing limited partnerships, reflected in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition, totaled $17.7 million at June 30, 2015 and $18.3 million at December 31, 2014. Our funding obligation related to such investments, reflected in other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition, totaled $14.0 million at June 30, 2015 and $15.0 million at December 31, 2014. Funding installments are due on an "as needed" basis, currently projected over the next four years, the timing of which cannot be estimated.

Expense related to our investments in affordable housing limited partnerships, included in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income, totaled $299,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $376,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Such expenses totaled $556,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $752,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Affordable housing tax credits and other tax benefits recognized as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income totaled $348,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $551,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Such tax credits and other tax benefits totaled $706,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

10.  Regulatory Matters
 
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Reform Act, in July 2013, the federal bank regulatory agencies, or the Agencies, issued final rules, or the Final Capital Rules, that subjected many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation, to consolidated capital requirements effective January 1, 2015. The Final Capital Rules also revised the quantity and quality of required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements, consistent with the Reform Act and the Third Basel Accord adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, or Basel III capital standards.  In doing so, the Final Capital Rules:
 
Established a new minimum Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (common equity tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets) of 4.5% and increased the minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio from

26


4.0% to 6.0%, while maintaining the minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% and the minimum Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 4.0%.
Revised the rules for calculating risk-weighted assets to enhance their risk sensitivity.
Phased out trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock as Tier 1 capital.
• 
Added a requirement to maintain a minimum Conservation Buffer, composed of Common equity tier 1 capital, of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, to be applied to the new Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and the Total risk-based capital ratio, which means that banking organizations, on a fully phased in basis no later than January 1, 2019, must maintain a minimum Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 7.0%, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.5% and a minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 10.5%.
Changed the definitions of capital categories for insured depository institutions for purposes of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 prompt corrective action provisions.  Under these revised definitions, to be considered well-capitalized, an insured depository institution must have a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of at least 5.0%, a Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0% and a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0%.
 
The new minimum regulatory capital ratios and changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets became effective for Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank on January 1, 2015.  The required minimum Conservation Buffer will be phased in incrementally, starting at 0.625% on January 1, 2016 and increasing to 1.25% on January 1, 2017, 1.875% on January 1, 2018 and 2.5% on January 1, 2019. The rules impose restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary cash bonus payments if the minimum Conservation Buffer is not met.

At June 30, 2015, the capital levels of both Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and their regulatory capital ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes. The following table sets forth information regarding the regulatory capital requirements applicable to Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank at June 30, 2015.
 
Actual
 
Minimum
Capital Requirements
 
To be Well Capitalized
Under Prompt
Corrective Action
Provisions
(Dollars in Thousands)
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
Astoria Financial Corporation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage
$
1,493,488

 
9.83
%
 
$
607,703

 
4.00
%
 
$
759,629

 
5.00
%
Common equity tier 1 risk-based
1,373,101

 
15.59

 
396,238

 
4.50

 
572,344

 
6.50

Tier 1 risk-based
1,493,488

 
16.96

 
528,318

 
6.00

 
704,424

 
8.00

Total risk-based
1,602,063

 
18.19

 
704,424

 
8.00

 
880,530

 
10.00

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Astoria Bank:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage
$
1,654,366

 
10.95
%
 
$
604,495

 
4.00
%
 
$
755,619

 
5.00
%
Common equity tier 1 risk-based
1,654,366

 
18.83

 
395,447

 
4.50

 
571,201

 
6.50

Tier 1 risk-based
1,654,366

 
18.83

 
527,263

 
6.00

 
703,017

 
8.00

Total risk-based
1,762,941

 
20.06

 
703,017

 
8.00

 
878,771

 
10.00



27


11.  Fair Value Measurements

We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  We group our assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.  These levels are:

Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
Level 2 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include the use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques. The results cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the asset or liability.

We base our fair values on the estimated price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, with additional considerations when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased and on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly.  We maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

Our securities available-for-sale portfolio is carried at estimated fair value on a recurring basis, with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity.  Additionally, in connection with our mortgage banking activities we have commitments to fund loans held-for-sale and commitments to sell loans, which are considered free-standing derivative financial instruments, the fair values of which are not material to our financial condition or results of operations.


28


The following tables set forth the carrying values of our assets measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at the dates indicated.

 
Carrying Value at June 30, 2015
(In Thousands)
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
Securities available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 

 
 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
316,400

 
$

 
$
316,400

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
4,006

 

 
4,006

GSE pass-through certificates
12,309

 

 
12,309

Obligations of GSEs
96,028

 

 
96,028

Fannie Mae stock
2

 
2

 

Total securities available-for-sale
$
428,745

 
$
2

 
$
428,743

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying Value at December 31, 2014
(In Thousands)
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
Securities available-for-sale:
 

 
 

 
 

Residential mortgage-backed securities:
 

 
 

 
 

GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
$
268,998

 
$

 
$
268,998

Non-GSE issuance REMICs and CMOs
5,104

 

 
5,104

GSE pass-through certificates
13,557

 

 
13,557

Obligations of GSEs
96,698

 

 
96,698

Fannie Mae stock
2

 
2

 

Total securities available-for-sale
$
384,359

 
$
2

 
$
384,357


The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Residential mortgage-backed securities
Residential mortgage-backed securities comprised 78% of our securities available-for-sale portfolio at June 30, 2015 and 75% at December 31, 2014.  The fair values for these securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service.  Our pricing service uses various modeling techniques to determine pricing for our mortgage-backed securities, including option pricing and discounted cash flow models.  The inputs to these models include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, monthly payment information and collateral performance.  GSE securities, for which an active market exists for similar securities making observable inputs readily available, comprised 99% of our available-for-sale residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio at June 30, 2015 and 98% at December 31, 2014.

We review changes in the pricing service fair values from month to month taking into consideration changes in market conditions including changes in mortgage spreads, changes in treasury yields and changes in pricing on 15 and 30 year pass-through mortgage-backed securities.  Significant month over month price changes are analyzed further using discounted cash flow models and, on occasion, third party quotes.  Based upon our review of the prices provided by our pricing service, the estimated fair values incorporate observable market inputs commonly used by buyers and sellers of these types of securities at the measurement date in orderly transactions between market participants, and, as such, are classified as Level 2.


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Obligations of GSEs
Obligations of GSEs comprised 22% of our securities available-for-sale portfolio at June 30, 2015 and 25% at December 31, 2014 and consisted of debt securities issued by GSEs.  The fair values for these securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service.  Our pricing service gathers information from market sources, including new issue and secondary markets, and integrates relative credit information, observed market movements and sector news into their pricing applications and models.  Based upon our review of the prices provided by our pricing service, the estimated fair values incorporate observable market inputs commonly used by buyers and sellers of these types of securities at the measurement date in orderly transactions between market participants, and, as such, are classified as Level 2.

Fannie Mae stock
The fair value of the Fannie Mae stock in our available-for-sale securities portfolio is obtained from quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets and, as such, is classified as Level 1.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

From time to time, we may be required to record at fair value assets or liabilities on a non-recurring basis, such as mortgage servicing rights, or MSR, loans receivable, certain loans held-for-sale and real estate owned, or REO.  These non-recurring fair value adjustments involve the application of lower of cost or market accounting or impairment write-downs of individual assets.

The following table sets forth the carrying values of those of our assets which were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at the dates indicated.  The fair value measurements for all of these assets fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 
 
Carrying Value
 
(In Thousands)
At June 30, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
Non-performing loans held-for-sale, net
 
$
150

 
 
 
$
153

 
Impaired loans
 
141,775

 
 
 
140,663

 
MSR, net
 
11,463

 
 
 
11,401

 
REO, net
 
15,300

 
 
 
19,375

 
Total
 
$
168,688

 
 
 
$
171,592

 
 

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The following table provides information regarding the gains (losses) recognized on our assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for the periods indicated.
 
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(In Thousands)
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
Non-performing loans held-for-sale, net (1)
 
$

 
 
 
$
(8,806
)
 
Impaired loans (2)
 
(3,442
)
 
 
 
(2,220
)
 
MSR, net (3)
 
616

 
 
 
(123
)
 
REO, net (4)
 
(60
)
 
 
 
(1,888
)
 
Total
 
$
(2,886
)
 
 
 
$
(13,037
)
 
 
(1)
Losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses in the case of a write-down upon the transfer of a loan to held-for-sale. Losses subsequent to the transfer of a loan to held-for-sale are charged to other non-interest income.
(2)
Losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses.
(3)
Gains (losses) are credited/charged to mortgage banking income, net.
(4)
Gains (losses) are credited/charged to the allowance for loan losses in the case of an estimated fair value adjustment upon the transfer of a loan to REO. Losses subsequent to the transfer of a loan to REO are charged to REO expense which is a component of other non-interest expense.

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

Loans held-for-sale, net (non-performing loans held-for-sale)
Included in loans held-for-sale, net, are non-performing loans held-for-sale for which fair values are estimated through either preliminary bids from potential purchasers of the loans or the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral discounted for factors necessary to solicit acceptable bids, and adjusted as necessary based on management’s experience with sales of similar types of loans and, as such, are classified as Level 3.  At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we held-for-sale one non-performing loan, which was a multi-family mortgage loan.

Loans receivable, net (impaired loans)
Loans which meet certain criteria are evaluated individually for impairment.  A loan is considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Impaired loans were comprised of 79% residential mortgage loans, 19% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and 2% home equity lines of credit at June 30, 2015 and 73% residential mortgage loans, 25% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and 2% home equity lines of credit at December 31, 2014.  Impaired loans for which a fair value adjustment was recognized were comprised of 75% residential mortgage loans, 24% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and 1% home equity lines of credit at June 30, 2015 and 69% residential mortgage loans, 30% multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and 1% home equity lines of credit at December 31, 2014.  Our impaired loans are generally collateral dependent and, as such, are generally carried at the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs.

We obtain updated estimates of collateral values on residential mortgage loans at 180 days past due and earlier in certain instances, including for loans to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy, and, to the extent the loans remain delinquent, annually thereafter.  Updated estimates of collateral value on residential loans are obtained primarily through automated valuation models. Additionally, our loan servicer performs property inspections to monitor and manage the collateral on our residential loans when they become 45 days past due and monthly thereafter until the foreclosure process is complete.  We obtain updated estimates of collateral

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value using third party appraisals on non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans when the loans initially become non-performing and annually thereafter and multi-family and commercial real estate loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and annually thereafter.  Appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by our internal certified appraisers. We analyze our home equity lines of credit when such loans become 90 days past due and consider our lien position, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral value and the results of recent property inspections in determining the need for an individual valuation allowance. Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.  The fair values of impaired loans cannot be determined with precision and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the loan and, as such, are classified as Level 3.

MSR, net
The right to service loans for others is generally obtained through the sale of residential mortgage loans with servicing retained.  MSR are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value.  The estimated fair value of MSR is obtained through independent third party valuations through an analysis of future cash flows, incorporating estimates of assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value including market discount rates, prepayment speeds, servicing income, servicing costs, default rates and other market driven data, including the market’s perception of future interest rate movements and, as such, are classified as Level 3.  At June 30, 2015, our MSR were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 9.49%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 11.76% and a weighted average life of 6.0 years.  At December 31, 2014, our MSR were valued based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 9.48%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 12.35% and a weighted average life of 5.7 years.  Management reviews the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of MSR to ensure they reflect current and anticipated market conditions.

REO, net
REO represents real estate acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure. At June 30, 2015, REO totaled $23.4 million, including residential properties with a carrying value of $21.4 million. At December 31, 2014, REO totaled $35.7 million, including residential properties with a carrying value of $33.7 million. REO is generally initially recorded at estimated fair value less estimated selling costs.  Thereafter, we maintain a valuation allowance representing decreases in the properties' estimated fair value. The fair value of REO is estimated through current appraisals, in conjunction with a drive-by inspection and comparison of the REO property with similar properties in the area by either a licensed appraiser or real estate broker.  As these properties are actively marketed, estimated fair values are periodically adjusted by management to reflect current market conditions and, as such, are classified as Level 3.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Quoted market prices available in formal trading marketplaces are typically the best evidence of the fair value of financial instruments.  In many cases, financial instruments we hold are not bought or sold in formal trading marketplaces.  Accordingly, fair values are derived or estimated based on a variety of valuation techniques in the absence of quoted market prices.  Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information about the financial instrument.  These estimates do not reflect any possible tax ramifications, estimated transaction costs, or any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time our entire holdings of a particular financial instrument.  Because no market exists for a certain portion of our financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics and other such factors.  These estimates are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision.  Changes

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in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.  For these reasons and others, the estimated fair value disclosures presented herein do not represent our entire underlying value.  As such, readers are cautioned in using this information for purposes of evaluating our financial condition and/or value either alone or in comparison with any other company.

The following tables set forth the carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments which are carried in the consolidated statements of financial condition at either cost or at lower of cost or fair value in accordance with GAAP, and are not measured or recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at the dates indicated.

 
At June 30, 2015
 
Carrying Value
 
Estimated Fair Value
(In Thousands)
 
Total
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities held-to-maturity
$
2,156,882

 
$
2,152,091

 
$
2,152,091

 
$

FHLB-NY stock
138,384

 
138,384

 
138,384

 

Loans held-for-sale, net (1)
8,318

 
8,354

 

 
8,354

Loans receivable, net (1)
11,406,556

 
11,466,373

 

 
11,466,373

MSR, net (1)
11,463

 
11,466

 

 
11,466

Financial Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Deposits
9,227,770

 
9,253,520

 
9,253,520

 

Borrowings, net
4,058,957

 
4,264,239

 
4,264,239

 


 
At December 31, 2014
 
Carrying Value
 
Estimated Fair Value
(In Thousands)
 
Total
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities held-to-maturity
$
2,133,804

 
$
2,131,371

 
$
2,131,371

 
$

FHLB-NY stock
140,754

 
140,754

 
140,754

 

Loans held-for-sale, net (1)
7,640

 
7,955

 

 
7,955

Loans receivable, net (1)
11,845,848

 
11,967,608

 

 
11,967,608

MSR, net (1)
11,401

 
11,406

 

 
11,406

Financial Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Deposits
9,504,909

 
9,534,918

 
9,534,918

 

Borrowings, net
4,187,691

 
4,395,604

 
4,395,604

 


_______________________________________________________
(1)
Includes assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

The following is a description of the methods and assumptions used to estimate fair values of our financial instruments which are not measured or recorded at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis.

Securities held-to-maturity
The fair values for substantially all of our securities held-to-maturity are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service using similar methods and assumptions as used for our securities available-for-sale which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, or FHLB-NY, stock
The fair value of FHLB-NY stock is based on redemption at par value.

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Loans held-for-sale, net
Included in loans held-for-sale, net, are 15 and 30 year fixed rate residential mortgage loans originated for sale that conform to GSE guidelines (conforming loans) for which fair values are estimated using market reference rates and spreads, credit spread adjustments, discounted cash flow analysis, benchmark pricing and option based pricing, as appropriate.

Loans receivable, net
Fair values of loans are estimated using market reference rates and spreads, credit spread adjustments, discounted cash flow analysis, benchmark pricing and option based pricing, as appropriate.

This technique of estimating fair value is extremely sensitive to the assumptions and estimates used.  While we have attempted to use assumptions and estimates which are the most reflective of the loan portfolio and the current market, a greater degree of subjectivity is inherent in determining these fair values than for fair values obtained from formal trading marketplaces.  In addition, our valuation method for loans, which is consistent with accounting guidance, does not fully incorporate an exit price approach to fair value.

Deposits
The fair values of deposits with no stated maturity, such as savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit (checking) accounts, are equal to the amount payable on demand.  The fair values of certificates of deposit are based on discounted contractual cash flows using the weighted average remaining life of the portfolio discounted by the corresponding Swap Curve.

Borrowings, net
The fair values of borrowings are based upon an industry standard option adjusted spread, or OAS, model. This OAS model is calibrated to available counter party dealers' market quotes, as necessary.

Outstanding commitments
Outstanding commitments include commitments to extend credit and unadvanced lines of credit for which fair values were estimated based on an analysis of the interest rates and fees currently charged to enter into similar transactions.  The fair values of these commitments are immaterial to our financial condition.
 

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12.  Litigation

In the ordinary course of our business, we are routinely made a defendant in or a party to pending or threatened legal actions or proceedings which, in some cases, seek substantial monetary damages from or other forms of relief against us.  In our opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe it unlikely that such actions or proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

City of New York Notice of Determination
By “Notice of Determination” dated September 14, 2010 and August 26, 2011, or the 2010 and 2011 Notices, the City of New York notified us of alleged tax deficiencies in the amount of $13.3 million, including interest and penalties, related to our 2006 through 2008 tax years.  The deficiencies related to our operation of Fidata Service Corp., or Fidata, and Astoria Federal Mortgage Corp., or AF Mortgage, subsidiaries of Astoria Bank.  We disagree with the assertion of the tax deficiencies.  Hearings in this matter, or the 2006-08 Tax Matter, were held before the New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal, or the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal, in March and April 2013. On October 29, 2014, the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal issued a decision favorable to us canceling the 2010 and 2011 Notices. The City of New York appealed the decision of the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal. The parties have prepared and submitted briefs to the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal and are awaiting the scheduling of a hearing date for the appeal. At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that we will succeed in defending against the City of New York’s appeal. Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at June 30, 2015 with respect to this matter.

By “Notice of Determination” dated November 19, 2014, or the 2014 Notice, the City of New York notified us of an alleged tax deficiency in the amount of $6.1 million, including interest and penalties, related to our 2009 and 2010 tax years. This deficiency related to our operation of Fidata and AF Mortgage and the basis of the 2014 Notice is substantially the same as that of the 2010 and 2011 Notices. We disagree with the assertion of the tax deficiency and we filed a Petition for Hearing with the City of New York on February 13, 2015 to oppose the 2014 Notice. By notice dated June 4, 2015, the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal informed the parties that these proceedings have been adjourned pending the resolution of the 2006-08 Tax Matter, the outcome of which may be determinative of some or all of the issues in this matter. At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that we will succeed in refuting the City of New York’s position asserted in the 2014 Notice. Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at June 30, 2015 with respect to this matter.

No assurance can be given as to whether or to what extent we will be required to pay the amount of the tax deficiencies asserted by the City of New York, whether additional tax will be assessed for years subsequent to 2010, that these matters will not be costly to oppose, that these matters will not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations or that, ultimately, any such impact will not be material.

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13.  Impact of Accounting Standards and Interpretations

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2014-12, “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718) — Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period,” which applies to all entities that grant their employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period.  The amendments in this update require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition.  As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award.  The amendments in ASU 2014-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015 and may be applied either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date, or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter.  Early adoption is permitted. The terms of our share-based payment awards currently do not provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. Therefore, this guidance is not expected to have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest — Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) — Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs,” which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this update. Therefore this guidance will not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations. The amendments in ASU 2015-03 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015, and must be adopted on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our debt issuance costs are presented as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

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ITEM 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.  These statements may be identified by the use of the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.
 
Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These factors include, without limitation, the following:
 
the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events that may be subject to circumstances beyond our control;
increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions;
changes in the interest rate environment;
changes in deposit flows, loan demand or collateral values;
changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines;
changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which we do business, or conditions in the real estate or securities markets or the banking industry;
legislative or regulatory changes, including the implementation of the Reform Act and any actions regarding foreclosures;
enhanced supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the FRB, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;
effects of changes in existing U.S. government or government-sponsored mortgage programs;
our ability to successfully implement technological changes;
our ability to successfully consummate new business initiatives;
litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; or
our ability to implement enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls commensurate with shifts in our business strategies and regulatory expectations.
 
We have no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.

37


Executive Summary
 
The following overview should be read in conjunction with our MD&A in its entirety.
 
Astoria Financial Corporation is a Delaware corporation organized as the unitary savings and loan holding company of Astoria Bank.  As the premier Long Island community bank, Astoria Bank offers a wide range of financial services and solutions designed to meet customers’ personal, family and business banking needs.  Our goals are to enhance shareholder value while continuing to strengthen and expand our position as a more fully diversified, full service community bank. We focus on growing our core businesses of mortgage portfolio lending and deposit gathering while maintaining strong asset quality and controlling operating expenses.  We continue to implement our strategies to diversify earning assets and to increase low cost savings, money market and NOW and demand deposit (checking) accounts, or core deposits.  These strategies include a greater level of participation in the local multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage lending markets and expanding our array of business banking products and services, focusing on small and middle market businesses with an emphasis on attracting clients from larger competitors.  Our physical presence consists presently of our branch network of 87 locations plus our dedicated business banking office in midtown Manhattan. We continue to explore opportunities to selectively expand into other prime locations in Manhattan and on Long Island from which to better serve and build our business banking relationships. We expect to open our 88th branch in Long Island City, New York before the end of 2015.

We are impacted by both national and regional economic factors, with residential mortgage loans from various regions of the country held in our portfolio and our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio concentrated in the New York metropolitan area, which includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Although the U.S. economy has shown signs of modest improvement, the operating environment continues to remain challenging. Interest rates have been at or near historical lows and we expect them to remain low for the near term. Long-term interest rates declined during 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, while rising later in the second quarter of 2015, with the ten-year U.S. Treasury rate decreasing from 2.17% at the end of December 2014 to 1.92% at the end of March 2015 and increasing to 2.35% at the end of June 2015. The national unemployment rate has decreased to 5.3% for June 2015 from 5.6% for December 2014 and 5.5% for March 2015, and new job growth in 2015 has continued its slow pace. We believe market conditions generally remain favorable in the New York metropolitan area with respect to our multi-family mortgage loan origination activities, though some competitor institutions in this market have offered rates and/or product terms at levels which we have chosen not to offer.

Net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2015 increased compared to the three months ended June 30, 2014. This increase was primarily attributable to an $11.4 million reduction in income tax expense reflecting the impact of tax legislation enacted during the 2015 second quarter, primarily related to New York City taxation. Net income available to common shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2015 decreased compared to the six months ended June 30, 2014. A decline in pre-tax income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the 2014 periods, reflected decreases in net interest income and the provision for loan losses credited to operations and an increase in non-interest expenses, partially offset by an increase in non-interest income.

Net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 decreased compared to the 2014 periods, reflecting a decline in interest income which was partially offset by a decline in interest expense. The decrease in interest income for the 2015 second quarter and the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the comparable 2014 periods, reflected a significant decline in the average balance of our residential mortgage loan portfolio as well as a decline in the average yield on mortgage loans, partially offset by increases in the average balances of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other

38


securities. The decrease in interest expense compared to the same periods a year ago was primarily due to a decline in the average balance and average rate of our certificates of deposit, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of borrowings, reflecting in part the restructuring of borrowings primarily in the 2014 fourth quarter.

The provision for loan losses credited to operations for the three months ended June 30, 2015 totaled $3.0 million compared to a provision for loan losses credited to operations of $5.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014. In the second quarter of 2014, we designated the majority of our non-performing residential mortgage loans at that time as held-for-sale and marked them to market, based upon prices indicated. As a result, previously established reserves in the amount of $5.7 million applicable to these loans were released and credited to operations. For the six months, the provision for loans losses credited to operations was $3.3 million in 2015 compared to $4.1 million in 2014. The allowance for loan losses totaled $107.5 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $111.6 million at December 31, 2014. The reduction in the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014, and the provision credited to operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, reflects the results of our quarterly reviews of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Changes in the composition and size of our loan portfolio have resulted in reduced reserve needs in the 2015 periods. We continue to maintain our allowance for loan losses at a level which we believe is appropriate given the levels of delinquent and non-performing loans and continued improvement in our loan loss experience, as well as the improved asset quality in our loan portfolio as a result of reductions in the balances of certain loan classes we believe bear higher risk, the high quality of our loan originations and the contraction of the overall loan portfolio.

Non-interest income increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to higher mortgage banking income, net, partially offset by lower customer service fees. Non-interest expense was essentially unchanged for the 2015 second quarter and six month periods compared to the 2014 periods as increases in compensation and benefits expense, occupancy expense, and advertising expense, were substantially offset by decreases in federal deposit insurance premium expense and other non-interest expense, primarily foreclosure and REO related expenses.

Total assets declined during the six months ended June 30, 2015 reflecting a decrease in residential mortgage loans, partially offset by growth in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio, which represented 42% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2015. During the first half of 2015, our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio grew at a slower pace than had previously been experienced as we maintained our disciplined approach to lending. Our residential mortgage loan portfolio continued to decline in the 2015 second quarter, reflecting an excess of mortgage loan repayments over originations and purchases. We remain focused on the strategic shift in our balance sheet.

While total deposits declined during the six months ended June 30, 2015 as a result of a decline in certificates of deposit, core deposits, particularly checking accounts, increased during the 2015 period. At June 30, 2015, core deposits represented 75% of total deposits, up from 72% at December 31, 2014. Total deposits included $980.9 million of business deposits at June 30, 2015, up $50.4 million from December 31, 2014, substantially all of which were core deposits. We expect that the continued growth of our business banking operations should allow us to continue to grow our low cost core deposits.

In addition to the challenging economic environment in which we compete, the regulation and oversight of our business has changed significantly in recent years. The Final Capital Rules approved by the Agencies in 2013 subjected many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation, to consolidated capital requirements effective January 1, 2015. The Final Capital Rules also revised the quantity and quality of required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements, revised the calculation of

39


risk-weighted assets to enhance their risk sensitivity and added a requirement to maintain a minimum Conservation Buffer. The new minimum regulatory capital ratios and changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets became effective for Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank on January 1, 2015. The required minimum Conservation Buffer will be phased in incrementally starting on January 1, 2016. At June 30, 2015, the capital levels of both Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and their regulatory capital ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes.

We look forward to continuing to strengthen and expand our position as a more fully diversified, full service community bank. Despite the current low interest rate environment, we continued to see positive results from the strategic shift in our balance sheet in the 2015 second quarter, such as the increase in both consumer and business core deposits. We have maintained our disciplined approach to lending in this low interest rate, low spread environment, and expect to see growth in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio for the balance of 2015.

Available Information
 
Our internet website address is www.astoriabank.com.  Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports can be obtained free of charge from our investor relations website at http://ir.astoriabank.com.  The above reports are available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC.  Such reports are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by our March 31, 2015 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and this report, contains a summary of our significant accounting policies.  Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  Our policies with respect to the methodologies used to determine the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of MSR, judgments regarding goodwill and securities impairment and the estimates related to income taxes and our pension plans and other postretirement benefits are our most critical accounting policies because they are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations, involve a higher degree of complexity and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments which often require assumptions and estimates about highly uncertain matters.  Actual results may differ from our assumptions, estimates and judgments.  The use of different assumptions, estimates and judgments could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition.  These critical accounting policies are reviewed quarterly with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.  The following description of these policies should be read in conjunction with the corresponding section of our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Allowance for Loan Losses
 
We establish and maintain an allowance for loan losses based on our evaluation of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio.  Loan charge-offs in the period the loans, or portions thereof, are deemed uncollectible reduce the allowance for loan losses.  Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off increase the allowance for loan losses in the period they are received. The allowance is adjusted to an appropriate level through provisions for loan losses charged or credited to operations to increase or decrease the allowance

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based on a comprehensive analysis of our loan portfolio.  We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance on a quarterly basis.  The allowance is comprised of both valuation allowances related to individual loans and general valuation allowances, although the total allowance for loan losses is available for losses applicable to the entire loan portfolio.  In estimating specific allocations of the allowance, we review loans deemed to be impaired and measure impairment losses based on either the fair value of the collateral, the observable market price of the loan or the present value of expected future cash flows.  A loan is considered impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include the financial condition of the borrower, payment history, delinquency status, collateral value, our lien position and the probability of collecting principal and interest payments when due. When an impairment analysis indicates the need for a specific allocation of the allowance on an individual loan, such allocation would be established sufficient to cover probable incurred losses at the evaluation date based on the facts and circumstances of the loan.  When available information confirms that specific loans, or portions thereof, are uncollectible, these amounts are charged-off against the allowance for loan losses. For loans individually classified as impaired, the portion of the recorded investment in excess of either the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs, for collateral dependent loans, the observable market price of the loan or the present value of the discounted cash flows of a modified loan, is charged-off.

Our Asset Review Department employs a risk based loan review approach for multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and commercial and industrial loans with balances of $250,000 or greater. Under this approach, individual loans are selected by a combination of individual loan reviews, targeted loan reviews, concentration of credit reviews and reviews of loans to one borrower to achieve, at a minimum on an annual basis, a review coverage rate of the outstanding principal balance of 30% for the multi-family mortgage loan portfolio, 40% for the commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio and 60% for the commercial and industrial loan portfolio. Further, multi-family and commercial real estate portfolio management personnel also perform annual reviews for certain multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and recommend further review by our Credit and Asset Review Departments, as appropriate. The residential mortgage loan portfolio, home equity and other consumer loan portfolio and commercial and industrial loans with balances of less than $250,000 are reviewed collectively by delinquency and net loss trends.

Our residential mortgage loans are individually evaluated for impairment at 180 days past due and earlier in certain instances, including for loans to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy, and, to the extent the loans remain delinquent, annually thereafter.  Updated estimates of collateral values on residential loans are obtained primarily through automated valuation models. Additionally, our loan servicer performs property inspections to monitor and manage the collateral on our residential loans when they become 45 days past due and monthly thereafter until the foreclosure process is complete. We obtain updated estimates of collateral value using third party appraisals on non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans when the loans initially become non-performing and annually thereafter and multi-family and commercial real estate loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and annually thereafter.  Appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by our internal certified appraisers.  We analyze our home equity lines of credit when such loans become 90 days past due and consider our lien position, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral value and the results of recent property inspections in determining the need for an individual valuation allowance.  We also obtain updated estimates of collateral value for certain other loans when the Asset Classification Committee believes repayment of such loans may be dependent on the value of the underlying collateral. Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.


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Other current and anticipated economic conditions on which our individual valuation allowances rely are the impact that national and/or local economic and business conditions may have on borrowers, the impact that local real estate markets may have on collateral values, the level and direction of interest rates and their combined effect on real estate values and the ability of borrowers to service debt.  For multi-family and commercial real estate loans, additional factors specific to a borrower or the underlying collateral are considered.  These factors include, but are not limited to, the composition of tenancy, occupancy levels for the property, location of the property, cash flow estimates and, to a lesser degree, the existence of personal guarantees.  We also review all regulatory notices, bulletins and memoranda with the purpose of identifying upcoming changes in regulatory conditions which may impact our calculation of individual valuation allowances.  Our primary banking regulator periodically reviews our reserve methodology during regulatory examinations and any comments regarding changes to reserves or loan classifications are considered by management in determining valuation allowances.

The determination of the loans on which full collectibility is not reasonably assured, the estimates of the fair value of the underlying collateral and the assessment of economic and regulatory conditions are subject to assumptions and judgments by management.  Individual valuation allowances and charge-off amounts could differ materially as a result of changes in these assumptions and judgments.

Estimated losses for loans that are not individually deemed to be impaired are determined on a loan pool basis using our historical loss experience and various other qualitative factors and comprise our general valuation allowances.  General valuation allowances represent loss allowances that have been established to recognize the inherent risks associated with our lending activities which, unlike individual valuation allowances, have not been allocated to particular loans.  The determination of the adequacy of the general valuation allowances takes into consideration a variety of factors.

We segment our residential mortgage loan portfolio by interest-only and amortizing loans, full documentation and reduced documentation loans and origination time periods and analyze our historical loss experience and delinquency levels and trends of these segments.  We analyze multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans by portfolio using predictive modeling techniques for loans originated after 2010 and by geographic location for loans originated prior to 2010.  We analyze our consumer and other loan portfolio by home equity lines of credit, commercial and industrial loans and other consumer loans and perform similar historical loss analyses.  In our analysis of non-performing loans, we consider our aggregate historical loss experience with respect to the ultimate disposition of the underlying collateral along with the migration of delinquent loans based on the portfolio segments noted above.  These analyses and the resulting loss rates are used as an integral part of our judgment in developing estimated loss percentages to apply to the loan portfolio segments. We monitor credit risk on interest-only hybrid adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM, loans that were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, in the same manner that we monitor credit risk on all interest-only hybrid ARM loans.  We monitor interest rate reset dates of our loan portfolio, in the aggregate, and the current interest rate environment and consider the impact, if any, on borrowers’ ability to continue to make timely principal and interest payments in determining our allowance for loan losses.  We also consider the size, composition, risk profile and delinquency levels of our loan portfolio, as well as our credit administration and asset management procedures.  We monitor property value trends in our market areas by reference to various industry and market reports, economic releases and surveys, and our general and specific knowledge of the real estate markets in which we lend, in order to determine what impact, if any, such trends may have on the level of our general valuation allowances.  In addition, we evaluate and consider the impact that current and anticipated economic and market conditions may have on the loan portfolio and known and inherent risks in the portfolio.  We update our analyses quarterly and refine our evaluations as experience provides clearer guidance, our product offerings change and as economic conditions evolve.

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We analyze our historical loss experience over 12, 15, 18 and 24 month periods. The loss history used in calculating our quantitative allowance coverage percentages varies based on loan type.  Also, for a particular loan type we may not have sufficient loss history to develop a reasonable estimate of loss and consider our loss experience for other, similar loan types and may evaluate those losses over a longer period than two years.  Additionally, multi-family and commercial real estate loss experience may be adjusted based on the composition of the losses (loan sales, short sales and partial charge-offs).  Our evaluation of loss experience factors considers trends in such factors over the prior two years for substantially all of the loan portfolio, with the exception of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans originated after 2010, for which our evaluation includes detailed modeling techniques.  These modeling techniques utilize data inputs for each loan in the portfolio, including credit facility terms and performance to date, property details and borrower financial performance data. The model also incorporates real estate market data from an established real estate market database company to forecast future performance of the properties, and includes a loan loss predictive model based on studies of defaulted commercial real estate loans. The model then generates a probability of default, loss given default and ultimately an estimated loss for each loan quarterly over the remaining life of the loan. The appropriate timeframe from which to assign an estimated loss percentage to the pool of loans is assessed by management. We update our historical loss analyses quarterly and evaluate the need to modify our quantitative allowances as a result of our updated charge-off and loss analyses.

We consider qualitative factors with the purpose of assessing the adequacy of the overall allowance for loan losses as well as the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category.  The qualitative factors we consider generally include, but are not limited to, changes in (1) lending policies and procedures, (2) economic and business conditions and developments that affect collectibility of our loan portfolio, (3) the nature and volume of our loan portfolio and in the terms of loans, (4) the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other staff, (5) the volume and severity of past due, non-accrual and adversely classified loans, (6) the quality of the loan review system, (7) the value of underlying collateral, (8) the existence or effect of any credit concentrations and (9) external factors such as competition and legal or regulatory requirements.  In addition to the nine qualitative factors noted, we also review certain analytical information such as our coverage ratios and peer analysis.

We use ratio analyses as a supplemental tool for evaluating the overall reasonableness of the allowance for loan losses.  As such, we consider our asset quality ratios as well as the allowance ratios and coverage percentages set forth in both peer group and regulatory agency data.  We also consider any comments from our primary banking regulator resulting from their review of our general valuation allowance methodology during regulatory examinations.  We consider the observed trends in our asset quality ratios in combination with our primary focus on our historical loss experience and the impact of current economic conditions.  After evaluating these variables, we determine appropriate allowance coverage percentages for each of our portfolio segments and the appropriate level of our allowance for loan losses.  We do not determine the appropriate level of our allowance for loan losses based exclusively on a single factor or asset quality ratio.  We periodically review the actual performance and charge-off history of our loan portfolio and compare that to our previously determined allowance coverage percentages and individual valuation allowances.  In doing so, we evaluate the impact the previously mentioned variables may have had on the loan portfolio to determine which changes, if any, should be made to our assumptions and analyses.

Allowance adequacy calculations are adjusted quarterly, based on the results of our quantitative and qualitative analyses, to reflect our current estimates of the amount of probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio in determining our allowance for loan losses.  Allocations of the allowance to each loan category are adjusted quarterly to reflect probable inherent losses using the same quantitative and qualitative analyses used in connection with the overall allowance adequacy calculations.  The portion of the allowance allocated to each

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loan category does not represent the total available to absorb losses which may occur within the loan category, since the total allowance for loan losses is available for losses applicable to the entire loan portfolio.

Based on our evaluation of the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of delinquent and non-performing loans, our loss history, the housing and real estate markets and the current economic environment, we determined that an allowance for loan losses of $107.5 million was appropriate at June 30, 2015, compared to $110.5 million at March 31, 2015 and $111.6 million at December 31, 2014. The provision for loan losses credited to operations totaled $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at the reporting dates.  Actual results could differ from our estimates as a result of changes in economic or market conditions.  Changes in estimates could result in a material change in the allowance for loan losses.  While we believe that the allowance for loan losses has been established and maintained at levels that reflect the risks inherent in our loan portfolio, future adjustments may be necessary if portfolio performance or economic or market conditions differ substantially from the conditions that existed at the time of the initial determinations.

For additional information regarding our allowance for loan losses, see “Provision for Loan Losses Credited to Operations” and “Asset Quality” in this document and Part II, Item 7, “MD&A,” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Valuation of MSR

The initial asset recognized for originated MSR is measured at fair value.  The fair value of MSR is estimated by reference to current market values of similar loans sold servicing released.  MSR are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income.  We apply the amortization method for measurement of our MSR.  MSR are assessed for impairment based on fair value at each reporting date.  Impairment exists if the carrying value of MSR exceeds the estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of MSR is obtained through independent third party valuations.  MSR impairment, if any, is recognized in a valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to earnings.  Increases in the fair value of impaired MSR are recognized only up to the amount of the previously recognized valuation allowance.

At June 30, 2015, our MSR had a carrying value of $11.5 million, net of a valuation allowance of $2.1 million, which approximated the estimated fair value based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 9.49%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 11.76% and a weighted average life of 6.0 years. At December 31, 2014, our MSR had a carrying value of $11.4 million, net of a valuation allowance of $2.7 million, which approximated the estimated fair value based on expected future cash flows considering a weighted average discount rate of 9.48%, a weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages of 12.35% and a weighted average life of 5.7 years.

The fair value of MSR is highly sensitive to changes in assumptions.  Changes in prepayment speed assumptions generally have the most significant impact on the fair value of our MSR.  Generally, as interest rates decline, mortgage loan prepayments accelerate due to increased refinance activity, which results in a decrease in the fair value of MSR.  As interest rates rise, mortgage loan prepayments slow down, which results in an increase in the fair value of MSR.  Thus, any measurement of the fair value of our MSR is limited by the conditions existing and the assumptions utilized as of a particular point in time, and those assumptions may not be appropriate if they are applied at a different point in time.


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Goodwill Impairment

Goodwill is presumed to have an indefinite useful life and is tested, at least annually, for impairment at the reporting unit level.  If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, further evaluation is not necessary.  However, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, further evaluation is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying amount to determine if a write-down of goodwill is required.  Impairment exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

For purposes of our goodwill impairment testing, we have identified a single reporting unit.  We consider the quoted market price of our common stock on our impairment testing date as an initial indicator of estimating the fair value of our reporting unit.  We also consider the average price of our common stock, both before and after our impairment test date, as well as market-based control premiums in determining the estimated fair value of our reporting unit.  In addition to our internal goodwill impairment analysis, we periodically obtain a goodwill impairment analysis from an independent third party valuation firm.  The independent third party utilizes multiple valuation approaches including comparable transactions, control premium, public market peers and discounted cash flow.  Management reviews the assumptions and inputs used in the third party analysis for reasonableness.

At June 30, 2015, the carrying amount of our goodwill totaled $185.2 million. As of September 30, 2014, we performed our annual goodwill impairment test internally and obtained an independent third party analysis and concluded there was no goodwill impairment. We would test our goodwill for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our reporting unit below its carrying amount. No events have occurred and no circumstances have changed since our annual impairment test date that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our reporting unit below its carrying amount. The identification of additional reporting units, the use of other valuation techniques or changes to the input assumptions used in our analysis or the analysis by our third party valuation firm could result in materially different evaluations of impairment.

Securities Impairment

Our available-for-sale securities portfolio is carried at estimated fair value with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity.  Debt securities which we have the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried at amortized cost.  The fair values for our securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service.

Our securities portfolio is comprised primarily of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by a GSE as issuer. GSE issuance mortgage-backed securities comprised 88% of our securities portfolio at June 30, 2015. Non-GSE issuance mortgage-backed securities at June 30, 2015 comprised less than 1% of our securities portfolio and had an amortized cost of $4.3 million, with 93% classified as available-for-sale and 7% classified as held-to-maturity. Our non-GSE issuance securities are primarily investment grade securities and have performed similarly to our GSE issuance securities. Credit quality concerns have not significantly impacted the performance of our non-GSE securities or our ability to obtain reliable prices. The balance of our securities portfolio is primarily comprised of debt securities issued by GSEs.

The fair value of our securities portfolio is primarily impacted by changes in interest rates. We conduct a periodic review and evaluation of the securities portfolio to determine if a decline in the fair value of any security below its cost basis is other-than-temporary. Our evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment,

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or OTTI, considers the duration and severity of the impairment, our assessments of the reason for the decline in value, the likelihood of a near-term recovery and our intent and ability to not sell the securities. We generally view changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary, which is consistent with our experience. If such decline is deemed other-than-temporary, the security is written down to a new cost basis and the resulting loss is charged to earnings as a component of non-interest income, except for the amount of the total OTTI for a debt security that does not represent credit losses which is recognized in other comprehensive income/loss, net of applicable taxes. At June 30, 2015, we held 94 securities with an estimated fair value totaling $1.32 billion which had an unrealized loss totaling $26.5 million. Of the securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2015, $529.5 million, with an unrealized loss of $18.1 million, had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or longer. At June 30, 2015, the impairments were deemed temporary based on (1) the direct relationship of the decline in fair value to movements in interest rates, (2) the estimated remaining life and high credit quality of the investments and (3) the fact that we had no intention to sell these securities and it was not more likely than not that we would be required to sell these securities before their anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis and we expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.

Income Taxes

Our provision for income tax expense is based on our income, statutory tax rates and other provisions of tax law applicable to us in various jurisdictions. We file income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and in NY State and NY City jurisdictions, as well as various other state jurisdictions in which we do business. In establishing a provision for income tax expense, we must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws to our business activities, as well as the timing of when certain items may affect taxable income. Our interpretations may be subject to review during examination by taxing authorities and disputes may arise over our tax positions. We attempt to resolve these disputes during the tax examination and audit process and ultimately through the court systems when applicable. Changes to our income tax estimates can occur due to changes in tax rates, implementation of new business strategies, resolution of matters with taxing authorities regarding previously taken tax positions and newly enacted statutory, judicial and regulatory guidance. Such changes could affect the amount of our provision for income taxes and could be material to our financial condition or results of operations.

Our income tax expense consists of income taxes that are currently payable and deferred income taxes. We also maintain a reserve related to certain tax positions and strategies that management believes contain an element of uncertainty and evaluate each of our tax positions and strategies to determine whether the reserve continues to be appropriate. Accruals of interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense. Our current income tax expense approximates taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period. Our deferred income tax expense results from changes in our deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent decreases or increases in taxes expected to be paid in the future because of future reversals of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities and net operating loss carryforwards. We assess our deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if realization of a deferred tax asset is not considered to be more likely than not. We evaluate the recoverability of these future tax deductions by assessing the adequacy of expected taxable income from all sources, including taxable income in carryback years, reversal of taxable temporary differences, forecasted operating earnings and available tax planning strategies. These sources of taxable income rely heavily on estimates and we use our historical experience and our short- and long-range business forecasts in making such estimates. We have recorded deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities and valuation allowances, of $112.9 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $100.4 million at March 31, 2015 and $103.5 million at December 31, 2014. We believe that our historical and future results of operations, and tax planning strategies which could be

46


employed, will more likely than not generate sufficient taxable income to enable us to realize our net deferred tax assets. If changes in circumstances lead us to change our judgment about our ability to realize deferred tax assets in future years, we would adjust our valuation allowances in the period that our change in judgment occurs and record a corresponding increase or charge to income.

Pension Benefits and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

Astoria Bank has a qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering employees meeting specified eligibility criteria.  In addition, Astoria Bank has non-qualified and unfunded supplemental retirement plans covering certain officers and directors.  In 2012, all such plans were amended to, among other things, change the manner in which benefits were computed for service through April 30, 2012 and to suspend accrual of additional benefits effective April 30, 2012.  We also sponsor a health care plan that provides for postretirement medical and dental coverage to select individuals.

We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan, which is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation at the measurement date, in other assets or other liabilities in our consolidated statements of financial condition.  Changes in the funded status are recognized through other comprehensive income/loss in the period in which the changes occur. Astoria Bank’s policy is to fund pension costs in accordance with the minimum funding requirement.

There are several key assumptions which we provide our actuary which have a significant impact on the pension benefits and other postretirement benefit obligations as well as benefits expense.  These include the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets.  We continually review and evaluate all actuarial assumptions affecting the pension benefits and other postretirement benefit plans.  We monitor these rates in relation to the current market interest rate environment and update our actuarial analysis accordingly.

The discount rate is used to calculate the present value of the benefit obligations at the measurement date and the expense to be recorded in the following period.  A lower discount rate will result in a higher benefit obligation and expense, while a higher discount rate will result in a lower benefit obligation and expense.  Discount rate assumptions are determined by reference to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve, adjusted for Astoria Bank benefit plan specific cash flows.  We compare these rates to other yield curves and market indices, such as the Mercer Mature Plan Index and Bloomberg AA Discount Curve, for reasonableness and make adjustments, as necessary, so the discount rates used reflect current market data and trends.

To determine the expected return on plan assets, we consider the long-term historical return information on plan assets, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets and the historical returns on indices comparable to the fund classes in which the plan invests.

For further information on the actuarial assumptions used for our pension benefits and other postretirement benefit plans, see Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our primary source of funds is cash provided by principal and interest payments on loans and securities. The most significant liquidity challenge we face is the variability in cash flows as a result of changes in mortgage refinance activity. Principal payments on loans and securities increased to $1.58 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $1.12 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily reflecting an increase in mortgage loan prepayments as longer-term interest rates moved lower for a significant portion of the first half of 2015.

In addition to cash provided by principal and interest payments on loans and securities, our other sources of funds include cash provided by operating activities, deposits and borrowings. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $48.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $74.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Deposits decreased $277.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $195.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to decreases in certificates of deposit, partially offset by increases in core deposits. During the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, we continued to allow high cost certificates of deposit to run off. Total deposits included business deposits of $980.9 million at June 30, 2015, substantially all of which are core deposits, an increase of $50.4 million since December 31, 2014, reflecting our continued focus on our business banking operations, a component of the strategic shift in our balance sheet. At June 30, 2015, core deposits represented 75% of total deposits, up from 72% at December 31, 2014. This reflects our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet, reducing high cost certificates of deposit and increasing low cost core deposits. Net borrowings decreased $128.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015 and increased $63.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in net borrowings for the six months ended June 30, 2015 reflects decreases in both federal funds purchased and FHLB-NY advances. The increase in net borrowings during the six months ended June 30, 2014 was primarily due to an increase in federal funds purchased.

Our primary use of funds is for the origination and purchase of mortgage loans and, to a lesser degree, for the purchase of securities. Gross mortgage loans originated and purchased for portfolio during the six months ended June 30, 2015 totaled $815.3 million, of which $452.7 million were multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan originations, $246.3 million were residential mortgage loan originations and $116.3 million were purchases of individual residential mortgage loans through our third party loan origination program. This compares to gross mortgage loans originated and purchased for portfolio during the six months ended June 30, 2014 totaling $753.0 million, of which $571.5 million were multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan originations, $109.9 million were residential mortgage loan originations and $71.6 million were residential mortgage loan purchases. Given the low interest rate environment, and consistent with our strategy to diversify our earning assets, we have focused on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage lending and our business banking operations, with reduced emphasis on the origination and purchase of residential mortgage loans. Although residential mortgage loan originations and purchases increased during the first half of 2015, as refinance activity increased with the decline in longer-term interest rates in the 2015 first quarter and into the 2015 second quarter, they did not keep pace with the level of repayments during the same period. Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan originations declined for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the six months ended 2014 despite our continued commitment to grow these portfolios, as we maintained our disciplined approach in this challenging lending environment, while some competitor institutions offered rates and/or product terms at levels which we have chosen not to offer and which we believe do not fit our current risk tolerance. Purchases of securities totaled $360.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $276.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Our policies and procedures with respect to managing funding and liquidity risk are established to ensure our safe and sound operation in compliance with applicable bank regulatory requirements. Our liquidity

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management process is sufficient to meet our daily funding needs and cover both expected and unexpected deviations from normal daily operations. Processes are in place to appropriately identify, measure, monitor and control liquidity and funding risk. The primary tools we use for measuring and managing liquidity risk include cash flow projections, diversified funding sources, stress testing, a cushion of liquid assets and contingency funding plans.

We maintain liquidity levels to meet our operational needs in the normal course of our business. The levels of our liquid assets during any given period are dependent on our operating, investing and financing activities. Cash and due from banks totaled $168.8 million at June 30, 2015 and $143.2 million at December 31, 2014. At June 30, 2015, we had $1.74 billion of borrowings with a weighted average interest rate of 0.65% maturing over the next 12 months. We have the flexibility to either repay or rollover these borrowings as they mature. Included in our borrowings are various obligations which, by their terms, may be called by the counterparty. At June 30, 2015, we had $1.95 billion of callable borrowings, of which $1.00 billion were contractually callable by the counterparty within the next 12 months and on a quarterly basis thereafter. We believe the potential for these borrowings to be called does not present a liquidity concern as they have above current market coupons and, as such, are not likely to be called absent a significant increase in market interest rates. In addition, to the extent such borrowings were to be called, we believe we can readily obtain replacement funding, although such funding may be at higher rates. At June 30, 2015, FHLB-NY advances totaled $2.34 billion, or 58% of total borrowings. We do not believe any of our borrowing counterparty concentrations represent a material risk to our liquidity. In addition, we had $1.24 billion of certificates of deposit at June 30, 2015 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.39% maturing over the next 12 months. We believe we have the ability to retain or replace a significant portion of such deposits based on our pricing and historical experience.

The following table details our borrowing and certificate of deposit maturities and their weighted average interest rates at June 30, 2015.

 
Borrowings
 
Certificates of Deposit
 
 
 
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
 
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Amount
 
 
 
Amount
 
Contractual Maturity:
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
12 months or less
$
1,735

 
 
0.65
%
 
 
$
1,242

 
1.39
%
 
13 to 36 months
375

 
 
3.73

 
 
628

 
1.01

 
37 to 60 months
1,850

(1)
 
3.52

 
 
437

 
1.49

 
Over 60 months
100

(2)
 
4.05

 
 
1

 
1.71

 
Total
$
4,060

 
 
2.33
%
 
 
$
2,308

 
1.31
%
 

(1)
Includes $900.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.57%, which are callable by the counterparty within the next 12 months and on a quarterly basis thereafter, and $950.0 million of borrowings, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.47%, which are callable by the counterparty in 13 to 36 months.
(2)
Callable by the counterparty within the next 12 months and on a quarterly basis thereafter.

Through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York discount window we have the ability to borrow additional funds should the need arise on a short-term basis, primarily overnight. Our borrowing capacity through the discount window totaled approximately $483.0 million at June 30, 2015. In order to have the ability to borrow through the discount window, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York requires that collateral is pledged. In accordance with such requirements, at June 30, 2015 we had pledged as collateral with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York securities with an amortized cost of $96.5 million and commercial real estate mortgage loans with an unpaid principal balance of $899.8 million. We view the discount window as a secondary source of liquidity and, during the six months ended June 30, 2015, we did not utilize this source.

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Additional sources of liquidity at the holding company level have included public and private issuances of debt and equity securities into the capital markets.  Holding company debt obligations are included in other borrowings.  We have an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on file with the SEC that we renewed in the 2015 second quarter, which allows us to periodically offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, individually or in any combination, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, senior notes, subordinated notes, warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock and units consisting of one or more of the foregoing.  This shelf registration statement provides us with greater capital management flexibility and enables us to more readily access the capital markets in order to pursue growth opportunities that may become available to us in the future or should there be any changes in the regulatory environment that call for increased capital requirements.  Although the shelf registration statement does not limit the amount of the foregoing items that we may offer and sell, our ability and any decision to do so is subject to market conditions and our capital needs.  Our ability to continue to access the capital markets for additional financing at favorable terms may be limited by, among other things, market conditions, interest rates, our capital levels, Astoria Bank’s ability to pay dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation, our credit profile and ratings and our business model.

We have registered 1,500,000 shares of our common stock under the Securities Act for offer and sale from time to time pursuant to the Astoria Financial Corporation Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, or the Stock Purchase Plan, which allows our shareholders to automatically reinvest the cash dividend paid on all or a portion of their shares of our common stock into additional shares of our common stock and make optional cash purchases, up to $10,000 per month, of additional shares of our common stock, unless we grant a waiver permitting a higher amount of optional cash purchases. Shares of common stock may be purchased either directly from us from authorized but unissued shares or from treasury shares, or on the open market. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, 475,182 shares of our common stock were purchased pursuant to the Stock Purchase Plan directly from us from treasury shares for net proceeds totaling $6.1 million.

Astoria Financial Corporation’s primary uses of funds include payment of dividends on common and preferred stock and payment of interest on its debt obligations. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, Astoria Financial Corporation paid dividends on common and preferred stock totaling $12.4 million. On June 18, 2015, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock aggregating $2.2 million, or $16.25 per share, for the quarterly period from April 15, 2015 through and including July 14, 2015, which was paid on July 15, 2015 to stockholders of record as of June 30, 2015. On July 22, 2015, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share on shares of our common stock payable on September 1, 2015 to stockholders of record as of August 14, 2015.

Our ability to pay dividends, service our debt obligations and repurchase common stock is dependent primarily upon receipt of capital distributions from Astoria Bank. Astoria Bank paid dividends to Astoria Financial Corporation totaling $25.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015. Since Astoria Bank is a federally chartered savings association, there are regulatory limits on its ability to make distributions to Astoria Financial Corporation. Astoria Bank is required to notify the OCC and the FRB prior to declaring a dividend. See Part I, Item 1, “Business - Regulation and Supervision - Limitations on Capital Distributions,” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of limitations on capital distributions from Astoria Bank.

See “Financial Condition” for further discussion of the changes in stockholders’ equity.

At June 30, 2015, our tangible common equity ratio, which represents common stockholders’ equity less goodwill divided by total assets less goodwill, was 8.69%. Pursuant to the Reform Act, in July 2013, the

50


Agencies issued Final Capital Rules that subjected many savings and loan holding companies, including Astoria Financial Corporation, to consolidated capital requirements effective January 1, 2015. The Final Capital Rules also revised the quantity and quality of required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements, consistent with the Reform Act and the Basel III capital standards. For a more detailed description of these rules, see Part I, Item 1, “Business - Regulation and Supervision - Capital Requirements,” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. At June 30, 2015, the capital levels of both Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and their regulatory capital ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes.

At June 30, 2015, Astoria Financial Corporation's Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 9.83%, Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 15.59%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 16.96% and Total risk-based capital ratio was 18.19%, and Astoria Bank’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 10.95%, Common equity tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratios were 18.83% and Total risk-based capital ratio was 20.06%. For additional information on the regulatory capital ratios of Astoria Financial Corporation and Astoria Bank at June 30, 2015, see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) in Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements (Unaudited)."

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
 
We are a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of our business in order to meet the financing needs of our customers and in connection with our overall interest rate risk management strategy.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk.  In accordance with GAAP, these instruments are either not recorded in the consolidated financial statements or are recorded in amounts that differ from the notional amounts.  Such instruments primarily include lending commitments and lease commitments.

Lending commitments include commitments to originate and purchase loans and commitments to fund unused lines of credit.  We also have commitments to fund loans held-for-sale and commitments to sell loans in connection with our mortgage banking activities which are considered derivative financial instruments.  Commitments to sell loans totaled $24.6 million at June 30, 2015.  The fair values of our mortgage banking derivative financial instruments are immaterial to our financial condition and results of operations.  We also have contractual obligations related to operating lease commitments which have not changed significantly from December 31, 2014.

The following table details our contractual obligations at June 30, 2015.

 
Payments Due by Period
(In Thousands)
Total
 
Less than
One Year
Over
One to
Three Years
 
Over
Three to
Five Years
More than
Five Years
On-balance sheet contractual obligations:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
Borrowings with original terms greater than three months
$
3,050,000

 
$
725,000

 
$
375,000

 
 
$
1,850,000

 
$
100,000

 
Off-balance sheet contractual obligations:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
Commitments to originate and purchase loans (1)
321,837

 
321,837

 

 
 

 

 
Commitments to fund unused lines of credit (2)
184,873

 
184,873

 

 
 

 

 
Total
$
3,556,710

 
$
1,231,710

 
$
375,000

 
 
$
1,850,000

 
$
100,000

 

(1)   Includes commitments to originate loans held-for-sale of $16.8 million.
(2)   Includes commitments to fund commercial and industrial lines of credit of $97.3 million, home equity lines of credit of $53.2 million, and other consumer lines of credit of $34.4 million.


51


In addition to the contractual obligations previously discussed, we have liabilities for gross unrecognized tax benefits and interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions which have not changed significantly from December 31, 2014 and are not included in the table above as the amounts and timing of their resolution cannot be estimated.  For further information regarding these liabilities, see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Similarly, we have an obligation related to our investments in affordable housing limited partnerships totaling $14.0 million at June 30, 2015 which is not included in the table above as the timing of funding installments, which are due on an "as needed" basis, currently projected over the next four years, cannot be estimated. We also have contingent liabilities related to assets sold with recourse and standby letters of credit which have not changed significantly from December 31, 2014.

For further information regarding our off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations, see Part II, Item 7, “MD&A,” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Comparison of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and Operating Results for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014

Financial Condition

Total assets declined $344.7 million to $15.30 billion at June 30, 2015, from $15.64 billion at December 31, 2014, primarily attributable to a net decline in our loan portfolio, partially offset by an increase in our securities portfolio. Loans receivable decreased $443.4 million to $11.51 billion at June 30, 2015, from $11.96 billion at December 31, 2014, and represented 75% of total assets at June 30, 2015. Growth in our multi-family mortgage loan portfolio was more than offset by the decline in our residential mortgage loan portfolio resulting in a net decline of $434.2 million in our total mortgage loan portfolio to $11.23 billion at June 30, 2015, compared to $11.66 billion at December 31, 2014. The decline in our mortgage loan portfolio reflects repayments of $1.24 billion which were in excess of originations and purchases of $815.3 million during the first half of 2015.

Our multi-family mortgage loan portfolio increased $31.4 million to $3.94 billion at June 30, 2015, from $3.91 billion at December 31, 2014, and represented 34% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2015. Our commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio decreased slightly to $861.4 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $873.8 million at December 31, 2014 and represented 8% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2015. Multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations totaled $452.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015. Our levels of originations reflect our continued commitment to grow these portfolios while maintaining our disciplined approach. However, our originations of commercial real estate mortgage loans did not keep pace with the levels of repayments resulting in a slight decline in that portfolio. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan originations reflected loan balances averaging approximately $2.5 million with a weighted average loan-to-value ratio, at the time of origination, of approximately 51% and a weighted average debt service coverage ratio of approximately 1.50.

Our residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased $453.3 million to $6.42 billion at June 30, 2015, from $6.87 billion at December 31, 2014, and represented 56% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2015. Residential mortgage loan repayments continued to outpace our origination and purchase volume during the six months ended June 30, 2015, reflecting our reduced emphasis on the origination and purchase of residential mortgage loans and the reduced interest rate environment that has prevailed for a significant portion of the first half of 2015. Residential mortgage loan originations and purchases totaled $362.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015, of which $246.3 million were originations and $116.3 million were

52


purchases. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the loan-to-value ratio of our residential mortgage loan originations and purchases for portfolio, at the time of origination or purchase, averaged approximately 60% and the loan amount averaged approximately $620,000.

Our securities portfolio increased $67.5 million to $2.59 billion at June 30, 2015 compared to $2.52 billion at December 31, 2014 and represented 17% of total assets at June 30, 2015. Purchases totaling $360.7 million were in excess of repayments of $268.3 million and sales of $19.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015. At June 30, 2015, our securities portfolio was comprised primarily of fixed rate REMIC and CMO securities which had an amortized cost of $2.01 billion, a weighted average current coupon of 2.84%, a weighted average collateral coupon of 4.15% and a weighted average life of 4.1 years.

Total liabilities declined $393.1 million to $13.67 billion at June 30, 2015, from $14.06 billion at December 31, 2014, primarily due to declines in total deposits and borrowings. Deposits totaled $9.23 billion at June 30, 2015, or 68% of total liabilities, a decline of $277.1 million compared to $9.50 billion at December 31, 2014. While total deposits declined during the 2015 second quarter, primarily as a result of a decrease of $388.0 million in certificates of deposit, core deposits increased $110.8 million. At June 30, 2015, core deposits totaled $6.92 billion and represented 75% of total deposits, up from 72% at December 31, 2014. This reflects our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet. The net increase in core deposits at June 30, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014, primarily reflected an increase of $88.5 million in checking accounts, both consumer and business banking accounts, to $2.29 billion billion at June 30, 2015 and an increase of $72.9 million in money market accounts to $2.45 billion at June 30, 2015. The net increase in core deposits during the six months ended June 30, 2015 reflects our efforts to grow our core deposits, including our efforts to expand our business banking customer base, as well as customers' preference for the liquidity these types of deposits provide. At June 30, 2015, total deposits included $980.9 million of business deposits, an increase of $50.4 million since December 31, 2014, substantially all of which were core deposits.

Total borrowings, net, decreased $128.7 million to $4.06 billion at June 30, 2015, from $4.19 billion at December 31, 2014. The decrease in borrowings was due to a decrease of $85.0 million in federal funds purchased and a decrease of $44.0 million in FHLB-NY advances.

Stockholders' equity increased $48.5 million to $1.63 billion at June 30, 2015, from $1.58 billion at December 31, 2014. The increase in stockholders’ equity was primarily due to net income of $50.7 million, sale of treasury stock of $6.1 million, and stock-based compensation of $3.9 million, partially offset by dividends on common and preferred stock totaling $12.4 million.


53


Results of Operations

General

Net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2015 increased $9.1 million to $29.2 million, or $0.29 diluted EPS, compared to $20.1 million, or $0.20 diluted EPS, for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in net income available to common shareholders and diluted EPS for the 2015 second quarter compared to the 2014 second quarter was largely due to a reduction in income tax expense of $11.4 million, or $0.11 diluted EPS, in the 2015 period, caused mainly by the 2015 NY State income tax legislation enacted in the 2015 second quarter. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and “Income Tax Expense” below for further discussion of the impact of the 2015 NY State legislation. This reduction in income tax expense was partially offset by a $2.8 million decline in the provision for loan losses credited to operations in the 2015 second quarter compared to the 2014 period.

Return on average common stockholders’ equity increased to 7.89% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 5.61% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity, which represents average common stockholders’ equity less average goodwill, increased to 9.01% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 6.44% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increases in the returns on average common stockholders’ equity and average tangible common stockholders’ equity were due to the increase in net income available to common shareholders, partially offset by the increase in average common stockholders’ equity for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2014. Return on average assets increased to 0.82% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 0.57% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, reflecting the increase in net income, coupled with a reduction in average assets, for the 2015 second quarter, compared to the 2014 second quarter.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, net income available to common shareholders decreased $3.1 million to $46.4 million, or $0.46 diluted EPS, compared to $49.5 million, or $0.50 diluted EPS, for the six months ended June 30, 2014. This decrease was primarily due to decreases in both net interest income and provision for loan losses credited to operations and a slight increase in non-interest expense, partially offset by an increase in non-interest income.

Return on average common stockholders' equity decreased to 6.30% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 6.98% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity decreased to 7.21% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 8.03% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The decreases in the returns on average common stockholders’ equity and average tangible common stockholders’ equity were due to the decrease in net income available to common shareholders, coupled with an increase in average common stockholders’ equity for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2014. Return on average assets decreased to 0.65% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 0.69% for the six months ended June 30, 2014, reflecting the decrease in net income, partially offset by a reduction in average assets for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 include an $11.5 million net tax benefit reflecting the impact of the 2014 NY State legislation enacted on March 31, 2014. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, this reduction in income tax expense increased diluted EPS by $0.12 per common share, return on average common stockholders’ equity by 162 basis points, return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity by 187 basis points, and return on average assets by 15 basis points. See Note 1 of

54


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and “Income Tax Expense” below for further discussion of the impact of the 2014 NY State legislation.

Income and expense and related financial ratios adjusted to exclude the effect of the 2015 NY State legislation and the 2014 NY State legislation represent non-GAAP financial measures which we believe provide investors with a meaningful comparison for effectively evaluating our operating results. Non-GAAP financial ratios are calculated by substituting non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income available to common shareholders and non-GAAP income tax expense for net income, net income available to common shareholders and income tax benefit in the corresponding calculations.

The following tables provide a reconciliation between the non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures as reported in our consolidated statement of income for the periods indicated and related financial ratios.
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
As Reported
 
Effect of
Change in
Tax Legislation
 
Non-GAAP
 
As Reported
 
Effect of
Change in
Tax Legislation
 
Non-GAAP
Income before income tax expense
 
$
31,583

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
31,583

 
 
 
$
33,768

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
33,768

 
Income tax expense
 
152

 
 
 
11,404

 
 
 
11,556

 
 
 
11,468

 
 
 

 
 
 
11,468

 
Net income
 
31,431

 
 
 
(11,404
)
 
 
 
20,027

 
 
 
22,300

 
 
 

 
 
 
22,300

 
Preferred stock dividends
 
2,194

 
 
 

 
 
 
2,194

 
 
 
2,194

 
 
 

 
 
 
2,194

 
Net income available to common shareholders
 
$
29,237

 
 
 
$
(11,404
)
 
 
 
$
17,833

 
 
 
$
20,106

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
20,106

 
Basic and diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.29

 
 
 
$
(0.11
)
 
 
 
$
0.18

 
 
 
$
0.20

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
0.20

 
Return on average:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stockholders’ equity
 
7.89
%
 
 
 
(3.08
)%
 
 
 
4.81
%
 
 
 
5.61
%
 
 
 
%
 
 
 
5.61
%
 
Tangible common stockholders’ equity
 
9.01

 
 
 
(3.51
)
 
 
 
5.50

 
 
 
6.44

 
 
 

 
 
 
6.44

 
Assets
 
0.82

 
 
 
(0.30
)
 
 
 
0.52

 
 
 
0.57

 
 
 

 
 
 
0.57

 
Effective tax rate
 
0.48

 
 
 
36.11

 
 
 
36.59

 
 
 
33.96

 
 
 

 
 
 
33.96

 

55



 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
As Reported
 
Effect of
Change in
Tax Legislation
 
Non-GAAP
 
As Reported
 
Effect of
Change in
Tax Legislation
 
Non-GAAP
Income before income tax expense
 
$
60,468

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
60,468

 
 
 
$
63,553

 
 
 
$

 
 
 
$
63,553

 
Income tax expense
 
9,730

 
 
 
11,404

 
 
 
21,134

 
 
 
9,704

 
 
 
11,487

 
 
 
21,191

 
Net income
 
50,738

 
 
 
(11,404
)
 
 
 
39,334

 
 
 
53,849

 
 
 
(11,487
)
 
 
 
42,362

 
Preferred stock dividends
 
4,388

 
 
 

 
 
 
4,388

 
 
 
4,388

 
 
 

 
 
 
4,388

 
Net income available to common shareholders
 
$
46,350

 
 
 
$
(11,404
)
 
 
 
$
34,946

 
 
 
$
49,461

 
 
 
$
(11,487
)
 
 
 
$
37,974

 
Basic and diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.46

 
 
 
$
(0.11
)
 
 
 
$
0.35

 
 
 
$
0.50

 
 
 
$
(0.12
)
 
 
 
$
0.38

 
Return on average:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Common stockholders’ equity
 
6.30
%
 
 
 
(1.55
)%
 
 
 
4.75
%
 
 
 
6.98
%
 
 
 
(1.62
)%
 
 
 
5.36
%
 
Tangible common stockholders’ equity
 
7.21

 
 
 
(1.77
)
 
 
 
5.44

 
 
 
8.03

 
 
 
(1.87
)
 
 
 
6.16

 
Assets
 
0.65

 
 
 
(0.14
)
 
 
 
0.51

 
 
 
0.69

 
 
 
(0.15
)
 
 
 
0.54

 
Effective tax rate
 
16.09

 
 
 
18.86

 
 
 
34.95

 
 
 
15.27

 
 
 
18.07

 
 
 
33.34

 

Net Interest Income

Net interest income represents the difference between income on interest-earning assets and expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income depends primarily upon the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the corresponding interest rates earned or paid. Our net interest income is significantly impacted by changes in interest rates and market yield curves and their related impact on cash flows. See Part I, Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” for further discussion of the potential impact of changes in interest rates on our results of operations.

Net interest income decreased $624,000 to $85.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $85.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and decreased $2.8 million to $170.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $173.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, reflecting an overall decrease in our balance sheet, partially offset by an increase of our net interest margin. The net interest rate spread increased five basis points to 2.28% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.23% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and decreased one basis points to 2.26% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.27% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The net interest margin increased four basis points to 2.35% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.31% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and was unchanged at 2.34% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014. The decreases in net interest income reflected a decline in interest income which was partially offset by a decline in interest expense. The decrease in interest income for the 2015 second quarter, compared to the 2014 second quarter, reflected a significant decline in the average balance and average yield of our residential mortgage loan portfolio, partially offset by increases in the average balances of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities. The decrease in interest expense for the 2015 second quarter compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to a decline in the average balance and average cost of our certificates of deposit, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of borrowings reflecting in part the restructuring of borrowings, primarily in the 2014 fourth quarter, and a decline in the average balance of borrowings. The decrease in interest income for the first half of 2015, compared to the first half of 2014, reflected a significant decline in the average balance of our residential mortgage loan portfolio and declines in the average yield of mortgage loans, partially offset by increases in the average balances of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and

56


other securities. The decrease in interest expense for the first half of 2015 compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to a decline in the average balance and average cost of our certificates of deposit, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of borrowings. The average balance of net interest-earning assets increased $78.6 million to $1.13 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $1.05 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and increased $76.8 million to $1.10 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $1.03 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

The changes in average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their related yields and costs are discussed in greater detail under “Interest Income” and “Interest Expense.”

Analysis of Net Interest Income

The following table sets forth certain information about the average balances of our assets and liabilities and their related yields and costs for the periods indicated. Average yields are derived by dividing income by the average balance of the related assets and average costs are derived by dividing expense by the average balance of the related liabilities, for the periods shown. Average balances are derived from average daily balances. The yields and costs include amortization of fees, costs, premiums and discounts which are considered adjustments to interest rates.

57



 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(Dollars in Thousands)
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
 
 
 
 
(Annualized)
 
 
 
 
 
(Annualized)
Assets:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Interest-earning assets:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Mortgage loans (1):
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Residential
$
6,585,358

 
$
51,375

 
 
3.12
%
 
 
$
7,731,250

 
$
62,294

 
 
3.22
%
 
Multi-family and commercial
real estate
4,808,839

 
48,611

 
 
4.04

 
 
4,297,463

 
43,347

 
 
4.03

 
Consumer and other loans (1)
250,253

 
2,242

 
 
3.58

 
 
238,164

 
2,085

 
 
3.50

 
Total loans
11,644,450

 
102,228

 
 
3.51

 
 
12,266,877

 
107,726

 
 
3.51

 
Mortgage-backed and other securities (2)
2,551,521

 
15,238

 
 
2.39

 
 
2,325,214

 
14,116

 
 
2.43

 
 Interest-earning cash accounts
147,230

 
107

 
 
0.29

 
 
104,033

 
80

 
 
0.31

 
FHLB-NY stock
137,635

 
1,461

 
 
4.25

 
 
147,224

 
1,458

 
 
3.96

 
Total interest-earning assets
14,480,836

 
119,034

 
 
3.29

 
 
14,843,348

 
123,380

 
 
3.32

 
Goodwill
185,151

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
185,151

 
 

 
 
 

 
Other non-interest-earning assets
730,500

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
674,527

 
 

 
 
 

 
Total assets
$
15,396,487

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
$
15,703,026

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Savings
$
2,211,870

 
276

 
 
0.05

 
 
$
2,411,953

 
301

 
 
0.05

 
Money market
2,421,514

 
1,599

 
 
0.26

 
 
2,103,462

 
1,160

 
 
0.22

 
NOW and demand deposit (3)
2,284,443

 
194

 
 
0.03

 
 
2,136,667

 
175

 
 
0.03

 
Total core deposits
6,917,827

 
2,069

 
 
0.12

 
 
6,652,082

 
1,636

 
 
0.10

 
Certificates of deposit
2,384,967

 
7,875

 
 
1.32

 
 
3,016,811

 
11,187

 
 
1.48

 
Total deposits
9,302,794

 
9,944

 
 
0.43

 
 
9,668,893

 
12,823

 
 
0.53

 
Borrowings
4,052,628

 
23,940

 
 
2.36

 
 
4,127,661

 
24,783

 
 
2.40

 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
13,355,422

 
33,884

 
 
1.01

 
 
13,796,554

 
37,606

 
 
1.09

 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
428,607

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
343,589

 
 

 
 
 

 
Total liabilities
13,784,029

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
14,140,143

 
 

 
 
 

 
Stockholders’ equity
1,612,458

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
1,562,883

 
 

 
 
 

 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
15,396,487

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
$
15,703,026

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income/
net interest rate spread (4)
 

 
$
85,150

 
 
2.28
%
 
 
 

 
$
85,774

 
 
2.23
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest-earning assets/
net interest margin (5)
$
1,125,414

 
 

 
 
2.35
%
 
 
$
1,046,794

 
 

 
 
2.31
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of interest-earning assets to
interest-bearing liabilities
1.08 x

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
1.08 x

 
 

 
 
 

 
__________________________________
(1)
Mortgage loans and consumer and other loans include loans held-for-sale and non-performing loans and exclude the allowance for loan losses.
(2)
Securities available-for-sale are included at average amortized cost.
(3)
NOW and demand deposit accounts include non-interest bearing accounts with an average balance of $935.9 million for the three months ending June 30, 2015 and $902.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.
(4)
Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on average interest-earning assets and the average cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)
Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.



58



 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
(Dollars in Thousands)
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
 
 
 
 
(Annualized)
 
 
 
 
 
(Annualized)
Assets:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Interest-earning assets:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Mortgage loans (1):
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Residential
$
6,700,820

 
$
105,337

 
 
3.14
%
 
 
$
7,857,298

 
$
127,248

 
 
3.24
%
 
Multi-family and commercial
real estate
4,820,377

 
96,103

 
 
3.99

 
 
4,225,270

 
86,737

 
 
4.11

 
Consumer and other loans (1)
252,808

 
4,432

 
 
3.51

 
 
238,561

 
4,171

 
 
3.50

 
Total loans
11,774,005

 
205,872

 
 
3.50

 
 
12,321,129

 
218,156

 
 
3.54

 
Mortgage-backed and other securities (2)
2,527,947

 
30,308

 
 
2.40

 
 
2,294,045

 
27,793

 
 
2.42

 
 Interest-earning cash accounts
139,033

 
196

 
 
0.28

 
 
100,299

 
149

 
 
0.30

 
FHLB-NY stock
141,046

 
2,983

 
 
4.23

 
 
149,401

 
3,291

 
 
4.41

 
Total interest-earning assets
14,582,031

 
239,359

 
 
3.28

 
 
14,864,874

 
249,389

 
 
3.36

 
Goodwill
185,151

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
185,151

 
 

 
 
 

 
Other non-interest-earning assets
725,667

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
666,483

 
 

 
 
 

 
Total assets
$
15,492,849

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
$
15,716,508

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
Savings
$
2,221,086

 
551

 
 
0.05

 
 
$
2,440,149

 
605

 
 
0.05

 
Money market
2,400,339

 
3,154

 
 
0.26

 
 
2,065,862

 
2,420

 
 
0.23

 
NOW and demand deposit (3)
2,246,517

 
383

 
 
0.03

 
 
2,109,164

 
340

 
 
0.03

 
Total core deposits
6,867,942

 
4,088

 
 
0.12

 
 
6,615,175

 
3,365

 
 
0.10

 
Certificates of deposit
2,467,172

 
16,585

 
 
1.34

 
 
3,084,022

 
22,687

 
 
1.47

 
Total deposits
9,335,114

 
20,673

 
 
0.44

 
 
9,699,197

 
26,052

 
 
0.54

 
Borrowings
4,143,921

 
47,815

 
 
2.31

 
 
4,139,474

 
49,593

 
 
2.40

 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
13,479,035

 
68,488

 
 
1.02

 
 
13,838,671

 
75,645

 
 
1.09

 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
412,890

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
330,332

 
 

 
 
 

 
Total liabilities
13,891,925

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
14,169,003

 
 

 
 
 

 
Stockholders’ equity
1,600,924

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
1,547,505

 
 

 
 
 

 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
15,492,849

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
$
15,716,508

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income/
net interest rate spread (4)
 

 
$
170,871

 
 
2.26
%
 
 
 

 
$
173,744

 
 
2.27
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest-earning assets/
net interest margin (5)
$
1,102,996

 
 

 
 
2.34
%
 
 
$
1,026,203

 
 

 
 
2.34
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of interest-earning assets to
interest-bearing liabilities
1.08 x

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
1.07 x

 
 

 
 
 

 
__________________________________
(1)
Mortgage loans and consumer and other loans include loans held-for-sale and non-performing loans and exclude the allowance for loan losses.
(2)
Securities available-for-sale are included at average amortized cost.
(3)
NOW and demand deposit accounts include non-interest bearing accounts with an average balance of $909.8 million for the six months ending June 30, 2015 and $890.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.
(4)
Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on average interest-earning assets and the average cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)
Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.


59


Rate/Volume Analysis

The following table presents the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected our interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated.  Information is provided in each category with respect to (1) the changes attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate), (2) the changes attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume), and (3) the net change.  The changes attributable to the combined impact of volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.
 
 
Increase (Decrease) for the
Three Months ended June 30, 2015
Compared to the
Three Months ended June 30, 2014
 
Increase (Decrease) for the
Six Months ended June 30, 2015
Compared to the
Six Months ended June 30, 2014
(In Thousands)
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net
Interest-earning assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
(9,027
)
 
$
(1,892
)
 
$
(10,919
)
 
$
(18,113
)
 
$
(3,798
)
 
$
(21,911
)
Multi-family and commercial real estate
5,157

 
107

 
5,264

 
11,957

 
(2,591
)
 
9,366

Consumer and other loans
108

 
49

 
157

 
249

 
12

 
261

Mortgage-backed and other securities
1,358

 
(236
)
 
1,122

 
2,750

 
(235
)
 
2,515

Interest-earning cash accounts
32

 
(5
)
 
27

 
57

 
(10
)
 
47

FHLB-NY stock
(99
)
 
102

 
3

 
(178
)
 
(130
)
 
(308
)
Total
(2,471
)
 
(1,875
)
 
(4,346
)
 
(3,278
)
 
(6,752
)
 
(10,030
)
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Savings
(25
)
 

 
(25
)
 
(54
)
 

 
(54
)
Money market
200

 
239

 
439

 
407

 
327

 
734

NOW and demand deposit
19

 

 
19

 
43

 

 
43

Certificates of deposit
(2,184
)
 
(1,128
)
 
(3,312
)
 
(4,231
)
 
(1,871
)
 
(6,102
)
Borrowings
(440
)
 
(403
)
 
(843
)
 
54

 
(1,832
)
 
(1,778
)
Total
(2,430
)
 
(1,292
)
 
(3,722
)
 
(3,781
)
 
(3,376
)
 
(7,157
)
Net change in net interest income
$
(41
)
 
$
(583
)
 
$
(624
)
 
$
503

 
$
(3,376
)
 
$
(2,873
)
 
Interest Income

Interest income decreased $4.4 million to $119.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $123.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $362.5 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $14.48 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $14.84 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 3.29% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 3.32% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average balance of interest-earning assets was primarily due to a significant decline in the average balance of residential mortgage loans, partially offset by increases in the average balances of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities. The decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets was primarily due to a lower average yield on residential mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities, offset in part by the impact of the increase in the average balance of our higher yielding multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans.

Interest income on residential mortgage loans decreased $10.9 million to $51.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $62.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of

60


$1.14 billion in the average balance to $6.59 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $7.73 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average yield to 3.12% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 3.22% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average balance of residential mortgage loans reflected the continued decline of this portfolio as repayments outpaced our originations over the past year. The decrease in the average yield was primarily due to new originations at lower interest rates than the interest rates on loans repaid over the past year and the impact of the downward repricing of our ARM loans. Net premium and deferred loan origination cost amortization totaled $3.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $2.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Interest income on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans increased $5.3 million to $48.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $43.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to an increase of $511.4 million in the average balance to $4.81 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $4.30 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a slight increase in the average yield to 4.04% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 4.03% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in the average balance of multi-family and commercial real estate loans was attributable to originations of such loans which exceeded repayments over the past year. The increase in the average yield was primarily due to larger prepayment penalties collected in the three months ended June 30, 2015 than June 30, 2014, partially offset by new originations at interest rates below the weighted average interest rate of the portfolio as well as the interest rates on loans repaid, coupled with the impact of the downward repricing of our ARM loans. Prepayment penalties increased $2.5 million to $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Interest income on mortgage-backed and other securities increased $1.1 million to $15.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $14.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to an increase of $226.3 million in the average balance of the portfolio to $2.55 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $2.33 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, reflecting securities purchases over the past year in excess of repayments and sales, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield to 2.39% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.43% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Net premium amortization totaled $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Interest income decreased $10.0 million to $239.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $249.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 3.28% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 3.36% for the six months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease of $282.8 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $14.58 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $14.86 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets was primarily due to a lower average yield on mortgage loans. The decrease in the average balance of interest-earning assets was primarily due to a decline in the average balance of residential mortgage loans offset by increases in the average balances of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed and other securities.

Interest income on residential mortgage loans decreased $21.9 million to $105.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $127.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $1.16 billion in the average balance to $6.70 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $7.86 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average yield to 3.14% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 3.24% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Net premium and deferred loan origination cost amortization totaled $5.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $5.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

61



Interest income on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans increased $9.4 million to $96.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $86.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to an increase of $595.1 million in the average balance to $4.82 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $4.23 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield to 3.99% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 4.11% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Prepayment penalties increased $2.5 million to $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $3.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Interest income on mortgage-backed and other securities increased $2.5 million to $30.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $27.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to an increase of $233.9 million in the average balance of the portfolio to $2.53 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $2.29 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, reflecting securities purchases over the past year in excess of repayments and sales. The average yield decreased slightly to 2.40% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.42% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Net premium amortization on mortgage-backed and other securities totaled $4.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

The principal reasons for the changes in the average yields and average balances of the various assets noted above for the six months ended June 30, 2015 are consistent with the principal reasons for the changes noted for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $3.7 million to $33.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $37.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $441.1 million in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $13.36 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $13.80 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.01% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 1.09% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average balance and average cost of interest-bearing liabilities primarily reflected decreases in the average balance and average cost of certificates of deposit and borrowings.

Interest expense on total deposits decreased $2.9 million to $9.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $12.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $366.1 million in the average balance of total deposits to $9.30 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $9.67 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 0.43% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 0.53% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The decreases in the average balance and average cost of total deposits was primarily due to decreases in the average balance and average cost of certificates of deposit, partially offset by increases in the average balance and average cost of money market accounts. The decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit and the increase in the average balance of money market accounts were reflective of our efforts to reposition the liability mix of our balance sheet to increase our core deposits and reduce certificates of deposit.

Interest expense on certificates of deposit decreased $3.3 million to $7.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $11.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $631.8 million in the average balance, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 1.32% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 1.48% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average cost of certificates of deposit reflects the impact of certificates of deposit at higher interest rates maturing and being replaced at lower interest rates. During the three months ended June 30, 2015, $514.0 million of

62


certificates of deposit, with a weighted average interest rate of 0.98% and a weighted average maturity at inception of 26 months, matured and $345.6 million of certificates of deposit were issued or repriced, with a weighted average interest rate of 0.44% and a weighted average maturity at inception of 19 months.

Interest expense on borrowings decreased $843,000 to $23.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $24.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $75.0 million in the average balance to $4.05 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $4.13 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and a decrease in the average cost to 2.36% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.40% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The decline in the average balance of borrowings reflects a decreased utilization of short term borrowings. The decline in the average cost of borrowings for the 2015 second quarter compared to the 2014 second quarter was primarily due to the restructuring of $600.0 million of borrowings, primarily in the 2014 fourth quarter, which resulted in a reduction of the weighted average interest rate on such borrowings from 4.19% to 3.73% and an extension of terms from a weighted average remaining term at the time of the restructuring of approximately 2.5 years to approximately 4.5 years.

Interest expense decreased $7.1 million to $68.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $75.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $359.6 million in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $13.48 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $13.84 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.02% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 1.09% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities primarily reflected a decrease in the average balance of certificates of deposit, partially offset by increases in the average balances of core deposits and borrowings. The decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities was primarily due to decreases in the average cost of certificates of deposit and borrowings.

Interest expense on total deposits decreased $5.4 million to $20.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $26.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $364.1 million in the average balance of total deposits to $9.34 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $9.70 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 0.44% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 0.54% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the average balance of total deposits was primarily due to decreases in the average balances of certificates of deposit and savings accounts, partially offset by increases in money market and checking accounts. The decrease in the average cost of total deposits was primarily due to a decrease in the average cost of certificates of deposit, partially offset by an increase in the average cost of our money market accounts.

Interest expense on certificates of deposit decreased $6.1 million to $16.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $22.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, due to a decrease of $616.9 million in the average balance, coupled with a decrease in the average cost to 1.34% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 1.47% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, $1.19 billion of certificates of deposit, with a weighted average interest rate of 1.19% and a weighted average maturity at inception of 28 months, matured and $786.6 million of certificates of deposit were issued or repriced, with a weighted average interest rate of 0.56% and a weighted average maturity at inception of 22 months.

Interest expense on money market accounts increased $734,000 to $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $2.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to an increase of $334.5 million in the average balance to $2.40 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $2.07

63


billion for the six months ended June 30, 2014, coupled with a increase in the average cost to 0.26% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 0.23% for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Interest expense on borrowings decreased $1.8 million to $47.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $49.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to a decrease in the average cost to 2.31% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 2.40% for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Except as noted above, the principal reasons for the changes in the average costs and average balances of the various liabilities noted above for the six months ended June 30, 2015 are consistent with the principal reasons for the changes noted for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Provision for Loan Losses Credited to Operations

We review our allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis. Material factors considered during our quarterly review are the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of delinquent and non-performing loans, our loss history and our evaluation of the housing and real estate markets and the current economic environment. We continue to closely monitor the local and national real estate markets and other factors related to risks inherent in our loan portfolio. We are impacted by both national and regional economic factors, with residential mortgage loans from various regions of the country held in our portfolio and our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio concentrated in the New York metropolitan area.

We recorded a provision for loan losses credited to operations of $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. This compares to a provision for loan losses credited to operations of $5.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The allowance for loan losses totaled $107.5 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $110.5 million at March 31, 2015 and $111.6 million at December 31, 2014, representing 0.93% of total loans at June 30, 2015, March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 87.52% at June 30, 2015, compared to 92.95% at March 31, 2015 and 87.32% at December 31, 2014. The reduction in the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014, and the provision credited to operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, reflects the results of our quarterly reviews of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. We continue to maintain our allowance for loan losses at a level which we believe is appropriate given the levels of delinquent and non-performing loans and continued improvement in our loan loss experience, as well as the improved asset quality in our loan portfolio as a result of reductions in the balances of certain loan classes we believe bear higher risk, such as residential interest-only loans and loans originated prior to 2008 and multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans originated prior to 2011, the high quality of our loan originations and the contraction of the overall loan portfolio.

Non-performing loans, which are comprised primarily of mortgage loans and exclude loans held-for-sale, totaled $122.8 million, or 1.07% of total loans, at June 30, 2015, compared to $127.8 million, or 1.07% of total loans, at December 31, 2014. The decrease in non-performing loans at June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 is primarily attributable to a decrease in non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, partially offset by an increase in non-performing residential mortgage loans. The changes in non-performing loans during any period are taken into account when determining the allowance for loan losses because the allowance coverage percentages related to our non-performing loans are generally higher than the allowance coverage percentages related to our performing loans. In evaluating our allowance coverage percentages for non-performing loans, we consider our aggregate historical loss experience with respect to the ultimate disposition of the underlying collateral. Net loan charge-offs totaled $33,000 for the

64


three months ended June 30, 2015 and $790,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015. This compares to $9.7 million, or 31 basis points of average loans outstanding, annualized, for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and $16.3 million or 26 basis points of average loans outstanding, annualized, for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Net loan charge-offs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 included $8.7 million related to the designation of a pool of non-performing residential mortgage loans as loans held-for-sale as of June 30, 2014.

When analyzing our asset quality trends and coverage ratios, consideration is given to the accounting for non-performing loans, particularly when reviewing our allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans ratio. Included in our non-performing loans are residential mortgage loans which are 180 days or more past due for which we update our estimates of collateral values annually. We record a charge-off for the portion of the recorded investment in these loans in excess of the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated selling costs. Therefore, certain losses inherent in our non-performing residential mortgage loans are being recognized through a charge-off at 180 days past due and annually thereafter. The impact of updating these estimates of collateral value and recognizing any required charge-offs is to increase charge-offs and reduce the allowance for loan losses required on these loans. Therefore, when reviewing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans, the impact of these charge-offs is considered. Non-performing residential mortgage loans which were 180 days or more past due at June 30, 2015 totaled $35.9 million, net of $4.5 million in charge-offs related to such loans, compared to $23.8 million, net of $2.1 million in charge-offs related to such loans, at December 31, 2014.

While ratio analyses are used as a supplemental tool for evaluating the overall reasonableness of the allowance for loan losses, the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is ultimately determined by the actual losses and charges recognized in the portfolio. We update our loss analyses quarterly to ensure that our allowance coverage percentages are adequate and the overall allowance for loan losses is our best estimate of loss as of a particular point in time. Our 2015 second quarter analysis of loss severity on residential mortgage loans, defined as the ratio of net write-downs taken through disposition of the asset (typically the sale of REO or a short sale) to the loan’s original principal balance, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 26%, unchanged from our 2015 first quarter analysis and our 2014 fourth quarter analysis. Our analysis in the 2015 second quarter involved a review of residential REO sales and short sales which occurred during the 12 months ended March 31, 2015, as well as the sale of a substantial portion of our non-performing residential mortgage loans in the 2014 third quarter, and included both full documentation and reduced documentation loans in a variety of states with varying years of origination. Our 2015 second quarter analysis of charge-offs on multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, which generally related to certain delinquent and non-performing loans transferred to held-for-sale and loans modified in a TDR during the 12 months ended March 31, 2015, indicated an average loss severity of approximately 29%, compared to approximately 32% in our 2015 first quarter analysis and 28% in our 2014 fourth quarter analysis. We consider our average loss severity experience as a gauge in evaluating the overall adequacy of our allowance for loan losses. However, the uniqueness of each multi-family and commercial real estate loan, particularly multi-family loans within New York City, many of which are rent stabilized, is also factored into our analyses. We also consider the growth in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio in evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was approximately 88% at June 30, 2015, which exceeds our average loss severity experience for our mortgage loan portfolios, supporting our determination that our allowance for loan losses is adequate to cover potential losses. For additional information on the designation of a pool of non-performing residential mortgage loans as loans held-for-sale at June 30, 2014 and the subsequent sale in the 2014 third quarter, see Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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We obtain updated estimates of collateral values on residential mortgage loans at 180 days past due and earlier in certain instances, including for loans to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy, and, to the extent the loans remain delinquent, annually thereafter. Updated estimates of collateral values on residential loans are obtained primarily through automated valuation models. Additionally, our loan servicer performs property inspections to monitor and manage the collateral on our residential loans when they become 45 days past due and monthly thereafter until the foreclosure process is complete. We obtain updated estimates of collateral value using third party appraisals on non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans when the loans initially become non-performing and annually thereafter and multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans modified in a TDR at the time of the modification and annually thereafter. Appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by our internal certified appraisers. We analyze our home equity lines of credit when such loans become 90 days past due and consider our lien position, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral value and the results of recent property inspections in determining the need for an individual valuation allowance. We also obtain updated estimates of collateral value for certain other loans when the Asset Classification Committee believes repayment of such loans may be dependent on the value of the underlying collateral. Adjustments to final appraised values obtained from independent third party appraisers and automated valuation models are not made.

During the 2015 first quarter, total delinquent loans declined $28.0 million to $142.7 million at March 31, 2015, compared to $170.7 million at December 31, 2014. The decrease in total delinquent loans at March 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 included a decrease of $17.0 million in delinquent residential mortgage loans, due primarily to a decline in loans which were 30-59 days past due, and a decline of $10.1 million in delinquent multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, due primarily to a decline in loans which were 90 days or more past due. Net loan charge-offs increased to $757,000 for the 2015 first quarter compared to net loan recoveries of $316,000 for the 2014 fourth quarter. We continued to update our charge-off and loss analysis, including our predictive models, during the 2015 first quarter and updated our allowance coverage percentages accordingly. As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased compared to December 31, 2014 and totaled $110.5 million at March 31, 2015 which resulted in a provision for loan losses credited to operations of $343,000 for the 2015 first quarter. During the 2015 second quarter, total delinquent loans increased $24.5 million to $167.2 million at June 30, 2015 compared to March 31, 2015. The increase in total delinquent loans at June 30, 2015 compared to March 31, 2015 included an increase of $19.9 million in delinquent residential mortgage loans, due in large part to an increase in loans which were 30-59 days past due, and an increase of $5.4 million in delinquent multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, due to an increase in loans which were 90 days or more past due. Net loan charge-offs decreased to $33,000 for the 2015 second quarter compared to $757,000 for the 2015 first quarter. We continued to update our charge-off and loss analyses, including our predictive models, during the 2015 second quarter and updated our allowance coverage percentages accordingly. As a result of these factors, our allowance for loan losses decreased compared to March 31, 2015 and totaled $107.5 million at June 30, 2015 which resulted in a provision for loan losses credited to operations of $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

There are no material assumptions relied on by management which have not been made apparent in our disclosures or reflected in our asset quality ratios and activity in the allowance for loan losses. We believe our allowance for loan losses has been established and maintained at levels that reflect the risks inherent in our loan portfolio, giving consideration to the composition and size of our loan portfolio, the levels and composition of delinquent and non-performing loans, our loss history and our evaluation of the housing and real estate markets and the current economic environment. The balance of our allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in our loan portfolio at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.


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For further discussion of the methodology used to determine the allowance for loan losses, see “Critical Accounting Policies-Allowance for Loan Losses” and for further discussion of our loan portfolio composition and non-performing loans, see “Asset Quality” and Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements (Unaudited).”

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income increased $1.5 million to $15.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $13.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 primarily due to an increase in mortgage banking income, net. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, non-interest income increased $761,000 to $28.3 million, from $27.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to increases in mortgage banking income, net, and other non-interest income, partially offset by a decrease in customer service fees.

Mortgage banking income, net, which includes loan servicing fees, net gain on sales of loans, amortization of MSR and provision for MSR valuation, increased $1.5 million to $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $610,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, mortgage banking income, net increased $1.0 million to $2.4 million, from $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. These increases were primarily due to a recovery recorded in the valuation allowance for the impairment of MSR in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to provisions recorded for the 2014 periods. The recovery recorded in 2015 was reflective of a decrease in the weighted average constant prepayment rate on mortgages and a corresponding increase in the estimated weighted average life of the servicing portfolio at June 30, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014, primarily attributable to the increase in the U.S. Treasury rates at the end of the 2015 second quarter. Net gain on sales of loans totaled $569,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $347,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and $794,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in net gain on sales of loans primarily reflected an increase in the volume of loans sold during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, attributable to an increase in the levels of originations of such loans in 2015 compared to 2014.

Customer service fees decreased $159,000 to $8.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $9.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and decreased $1.0 million to $17.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $18.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. These declines were primarily due to lower checking account charges, including overdraft charges, and automated teller machine fees.
Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased $283,000 to $71.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $71.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and increased $172,000 to $142.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $141.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, as increases in compensation and benefits expense, occupancy, equipment and systems expense and advertising expense were substantially offset by decreases in federal deposit insurance premium expense and other non-interest expense. Our percentage of general and administrative expense to average assets, annualized, was 1.87% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 1.83% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 1.82% for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 1.80% for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to the decline in average assets, coupled with the increase in general and administrative expense.


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Compensation and benefits expense increased $3.3 million to $37.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, from $34.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and increased $6.1 million to $73.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from $67.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, reflective, in part, of growth in our business banking and certain risk management and systems areas. The increases included higher salaries, pension and other postretirement benefit costs and employer matching contributions for the 401(k) plan for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, partially offset by lower stock-based compensation costs for the first half of 2015 compared to the first half of 2014. Net periodic cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan totaled $420,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $846,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to a net periodic benefit of $175,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and $559,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in recognized net actuarial loss.

Occupancy, equipment and systems expense increased $1.2 million to $19.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and increased $2.6 million to $38.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $36.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, reflecting increases in building repairs and maintenance, software maintenance and other data processing charges, depreciation expense and rent expense.

Federal deposit insurance premium expense decreased $3.0 million to $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $7.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and decreased $7.3 million to $8.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $15.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to a reduction in our assessment rate. Other non-interest expense decreased $1.6 million to $8.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and decreased $2.3 million to $15.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to $18.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to a decline in foreclosure and other REO related expenses, partially offset by an increase in consulting expense.

Income Tax Expense

For the three months ended June 30, 2015, income tax expense totaled $152,000. On April 13, 2015, 2015 NY State legislation was signed into law in NY State that, among other things, (1) conforms NY City banking income tax laws to the 2014 NY State legislation, and (2) makes technical corrections to the 2014 NY State legislation. The 2015 NY State legislation is effective retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015. In addition, on June 30, 2015, the State of Connecticut enacted tax legislation which, for us, results in an increased apportionment of income subject to Connecticut taxation. The result of these legislative changes was the recognition of certain deferred tax assets and a reduction in income tax expense of $11.4 million. The impact of this change in tax legislation partially offset our income tax expense resulting from current operations of $11.6 million for the 2015 second quarter, representing an effective tax rate of 36.6%. This compares to income tax expense of $11.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, representing an effective tax rate of 34.0%. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) in Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements (Unaudited)," for additional information.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, income tax expense totaled $9.7 million, essentially flat compared to the six months ended June 30, 2014. Both periods' results were impacted by changes in tax legislation that reduced income tax by $11.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and by $11.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The nature of the changes in the 2014 NY State legislation resulted in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets, with a corresponding reduction of income tax expense in the six months ended June 30, 2014. Prior to the effective date of the 2014 NY State legislation, we were subject

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to taxation in NY State under an alternative taxation method based on assets. The 2014 NY State legislation, among other things, removed that alternative method. Further, the new law (1) required that we will be taxed in a manner that resulted in an increase in our tax expense beginning in 2015 and (2) caused us to recognize temporary differences and net operating loss carry-forward benefits in 2014 which we were unable to recognize previously. The impact of these 2015 legislative changes partially offset our income tax expense resulting from current operations of $21.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, representing an effective tax rate of 35.0%. The impact of the 2014 NY State legislation partially offset our income tax expense resulting from current operations of $21.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, representing an effective tax rate of 33.3%. See "Results of Operations - General" for a reconciliation of income tax expense as reported and income tax expense excluding the impact of these legislative changes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 which is a non-GAAP financial measure.

Asset Quality

One of our key operating objectives has been and continues to be to maintain a high level of asset quality.  We continue to employ sound underwriting standards for new loan originations.  Through a variety of strategies, including, but not limited to, collection efforts and the marketing of delinquent and non-performing loans and foreclosed properties, we have been proactive in addressing problem and non-performing assets which, in turn, has helped to maintain the strength of our financial condition.

As a result of our continuing efforts to reposition the asset mix of our balance sheet, we have experienced increases in our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio and declines in our residential mortgage loan portfolio over the past few years. Our multi-family mortgage loan portfolio increased to represent 34% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2015, compared to 33% at December 31, 2014, and our commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolio increased to represent 8% of our total loan portfolio compared to 7% at December 31, 2014. In contrast, our residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased to represent 56% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2015, compared to 58% at December 31, 2014. At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the remaining 2% of our total loan portfolio was comprised of consumer and other loans.

We continue to adhere to prudent underwriting standards.  We underwrite our residential mortgage loans primarily based upon our evaluation of the borrower’s ability to pay.  We do not originate negative amortization loans, payment option loans or other loans with short-term interest-only periods.  Additionally, we do not originate one-year ARM loans.  The ARM loans in our portfolio which currently reprice annually represent hybrid ARM loans (interest-only and amortizing) which have passed their initial fixed rate period.  Interest-only loans in our portfolio require the borrower to pay interest only during the first ten years of the loan term. After the tenth anniversary of the loan, principal and interest payments are required to amortize the loan over the remaining loan term. During the 2010 third quarter, we stopped offering interest-only loans.  At June 30, 2015, $1.15 billion of residential mortgage loans originated in prior years as interest-only loans were included in our portfolio of amortizing residential mortgage loans as a result of a refinance with us or through the conversion to amortizing loans at the end of their initial interest-only period, of which $207.7 million were refinanced or converted to amortizing loans during the six months ended June 30, 2015. Non-performing amortizing residential mortgage loans at June 30, 2015 included $27.2 million of loans originated as interest-only loans that are amortizing as a result of a refinance with us or through the conversion to amortizing at the end of their initial interest-only period. Reduced documentation loans in our portfolio are comprised primarily of SIFA (stated income, full asset) loans.  To a lesser extent, reduced documentation loans in our portfolio also include SISA (stated income, stated asset) loans.  During the 2007 fourth quarter, we stopped offering reduced documentation loans.


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At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, full documentation loans comprised 91% of our total mortgage loan portfolio and comprised 85% of our residential mortgage loan portfolio at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  The following table provides further details on the composition of our residential mortgage loan portfolio in dollar amounts and percentages of the portfolio at the dates indicated.
 
At June 30, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
(Dollars in Thousands)
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
Residential mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only (1)
$
663,937

 
10.34
%
 
$
854,182

 
12.43
%
Full documentation amortizing
4,800,026

 
74.77

 
5,003,693

 
72.79

Reduced documentation interest-only (1)(2)
510,044

 
7.94

 
611,008

 
8.89

Reduced documentation amortizing (2)
446,227

 
6.95

 
404,653

 
5.89

Total residential mortgage loans
$
6,420,234

 
100.00
%
 
$
6,873,536

 
100.00
%
 
(1)
Includes interest-only hybrid ARM loans originated prior to 2007 which were underwritten at the initial note rate, which may have been a discounted rate, totaling $795.6 million at June 30, 2015 and $1.06 billion at December 31, 2014.
(2)
Includes SISA loans totaling $145.0 million at June 30, 2015 and $148.9 million at December 31, 2014.

Non-Performing Assets
 
The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing assets at the dates indicated.
(Dollars in Thousands)
At June 30, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
Non-performing loans (1) (2):
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Mortgage loans:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Residential
 
$
104,214

 
 
 
$
100,155

 
Multi-family
 
6,819

 
 
 
13,646

 
Commercial real estate
 
5,416

 
 
 
7,971

 
Consumer and other loans
 
6,386

 
 
 
6,040

 
Total non-performing loans
 
122,835

 
 
 
127,812

 
REO, net (3)
 
23,399

 
 
 
35,723

 
Total non-performing assets
 
$
146,234

 
 
 
$
163,535

 
Non-performing loans to total loans
 
1.07
%
 
 
 
1.07
%
 
Non-performing loans to total assets
 
0.80

 
 
 
0.82

 
Non-performing assets to total assets
 
0.96

 
 
 
1.05

 
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans
 
87.52

 
 
 
87.32

 
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
 
0.93

 
 
 
0.93

 
 _______________________________________________
(1)
Non-performing loans, substantially all of which are non-accrual loans, included loans modified in a TDR totaling $64.6 million at June 30, 2015 and $68.4 million at December 31, 2014. Non-performing loans exclude loans which have been modified in a TDR that have been returned to accrual status.
(2)
Includes mortgage loans 90 days or more past due, primarily as to their maturity date but not their interest due, and still accruing interest totaling $3.0 million at June 30, 2015 and $4.1 million at December 31, 2014.
(3)
REO is net of a valuation allowance of $876,000 at June 30, 2015 and $839,000 at December 31, 2014 and included residential properties with a carrying value of $21.4 million at June 30, 2015 and $33.7 million at December 31, 2014.

Total non-performing assets decreased $17.3 million to $146.2 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $163.5 million at December 31, 2014, primarily due to a decrease in REO, net, coupled with a decrease in non-performing loans, which are comprised primarily of mortgage loans and exclude loans held-for-sale. The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets decreased to 0.96% at June 30, 2015, compared to 1.05% at December 31, 2014, due to the decline in non-performing assets, partially offset by a decrease in total assets. REO, net, decreased $12.3 million to $23.4 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $35.7 million at December 31, 2014. This decline reflected an excess of the volume of REO sold over the volume of loans that shifted from non-performing delinquent loans to REO through the completion of the foreclosure process

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during the first half of 2015. Non-performing loans, the most significant component of non-performing assets, decreased $5.0 million to $122.8 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $127.8 million at December 31, 2014. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 1.07% at June 30, 2015, unchanged from December 31, 2014. The decrease in non-performing loans at June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 was primarily attributable to a decrease in non-performing multi-family mortgage loans, due in large part to the sale of a group of related loans to an unrelated third party at a price that approximated the recorded investment in the loans.

We may agree, in certain instances, to modify the contractual terms of a borrower’s loan.  In cases where such modifications represent a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, the modification is considered a TDR.  Modifications as a result of a TDR may include, but are not limited to, interest rate modifications, payment deferrals, restructuring of payments to interest-only from amortizing and/or extensions of maturity dates.  Modifications which result in insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls are generally not classified as a TDR. Residential mortgage loans discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing are also reported as loans modified in a TDR as relief granted by a court is also viewed as a concession to the borrower in the loan agreement.  Loans modified in a TDR are individually classified as impaired and are initially placed on non-accrual status regardless of their delinquency status and reported as non-performing loans.  Loans modified in a TDR which are included in non-performing loans totaled $64.6 million at June 30, 2015 and $68.4 million at December 31, 2014, of which $53.5 million at June 30, 2015 and $60.4 million at December 31, 2014 were current or less than 90 days past due. Loans modified in a TDR remain as non-performing loans in non-accrual status until we determine that future collection of principal and interest is reasonably assured.  Where we have agreed to modify the contractual terms of a borrower’s loan, we require the borrower to demonstrate performance according to the restructured terms, generally for a period of at least six months, prior to returning the loan to accrual status.  Loans modified in a TDR which have been returned to accrual status are excluded from non-performing loans, but remain classified as impaired.  As a result of the migration of restructured loans from non-accrual to accrual status as borrowers complied with the terms of their restructure agreement for a satisfactory period of time, restructured accruing loans increased to $107.2 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $106.0 million at December 31, 2014.

We discontinue accruing interest on loans when they become 90 days past due as to their payment due date and at the time a loan is deemed a TDR.  We may also discontinue accruing interest on certain other loans because of deterioration in financial or other conditions of the borrower.  In addition, we reverse all previously accrued and uncollected interest through a charge to interest income.  While loans are in non-accrual status, interest due is monitored and, presuming we deem the remaining recorded investment in the loan to be fully collectible, income is recognized only to the extent cash is received until a return to accrual status is warranted.  In some circumstances, we may continue to accrue interest on mortgage loans 90 days or more past due, primarily as to their maturity date but not their interest due.  In other cases, we may defer recognition of income until the principal balance has been recovered.  If all non-accrual loans at June 30, 2015 and 2014 had been performing in accordance with their original terms, we would have recorded interest income, with respect to such loans, of $2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $6.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.  Actual payments recorded as interest income, with respect to such loans, totaled $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

In addition to non-performing loans, we had $131.5 million of potential problem loans at June 30, 2015, including $82.6 million of residential mortgage loans and $46.0 million of multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, compared to $132.8 million of potential problem loans at December 31, 2014, including $85.3 million of residential mortgage loans and $46.5 million of multi-family and commercial real estate

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mortgage loans. Such loans include loans 60-89 days past due and accruing interest and certain other internally adversely classified loans.

Non-performing residential mortgage loans continue to include a greater concentration of reduced documentation loans as compared to the entire residential mortgage loan portfolio. Reduced documentation loans represented only 15% of the residential mortgage loan portfolio, yet represented 45% of non-performing residential mortgage loans at June 30, 2015. The following table provides further details on the composition of our non-performing residential mortgage loans in dollar amounts and percentages of the portfolio, at the dates indicated.

 
At June 30, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
(Dollars in Thousands)
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
Non-performing residential mortgage loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Full documentation interest-only
$
24,854

 
23.85
%
 
$
28,027

 
27.98
%
Full documentation amortizing
31,983

 
30.69

 
21,813

 
21.78

Reduced documentation interest-only
37,802

 
36.27

 
42,584

 
42.52

Reduced documentation amortizing
9,575

 
9.19

 
7,731

 
7.72

Total non-performing residential mortgage loans (1)
$
104,214

 
100.00
%
 
$
100,155

 
100.00
%

(1)
Includes $51.9 million of loans less than 90 days past due at June 30, 2015, of which $45.6 million were current, and includes $55.2 million of loans less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2014, of which $49.1 million were current.

The following table provides details on the geographic composition of both our total and non-performing residential mortgage loans at June 30, 2015.
 
 
Residential Mortgage Loans
At June 30, 2015
(Dollars in Millions)
Total Loans
 
Percent of
Total Loans
 
Total
Non-Performing
Loans (1)
 
Percent of
Total
Non-Performing
Loans
 
Non-Performing
Loans
as Percent of
State Totals
State:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
New York
 
$
1,920.1

 
 
 
30.0
%
 
 
 
$
10.5

 
 
 
10.1
%
 
 
 
0.55
%
 
Connecticut
 
631.8

 
 
 
9.8

 
 
 
6.1

 
 
 
5.9

 
 
 
0.97

 
Illinois
 
548.5

 
 
 
8.5

 
 
 
13.0

 
 
 
12.5

 
 
 
2.37

 
Massachusetts
 
543.8

 
 
 
8.5

 
 
 
3.7

 
 
 
3.6

 
 
 
0.68

 
Virginia
 
494.0

 
 
 
7.7

 
 
 
11.9

 
 
 
11.4

 
 
 
2.41

 
New Jersey
 
448.6

 
 
 
7.0

 
 
 
18.2

 
 
 
17.3

 
 
 
4.06

 
Maryland
 
412.4

 
 
 
6.4

 
 
 
16.0

 
 
 
15.4

 
 
 
3.88

 
California
 
352.8

 
 
 
5.5

 
 
 
10.8

 
 
 
10.4

 
 
 
3.06

 
Washington
 
206.6

 
 
 
3.2

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Texas
 
163.1

 
 
 
2.5

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
All other states (2)(3)
 
698.5

 
 
 
10.9

 
 
 
14.0

 
 
 
13.4

 
 
 
2.00

 
Total
 
$
6,420.2

 
 
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
$
104.2

 
 
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
1.62
%
 

(1) Includes $51.9 million of loans which were current or less than 90 days past due.
(2) Includes 25 states and Washington, D.C.
(3) Includes Florida with $112.1 million of total loans, of which $4.2 million were non-performing loans.

At June 30, 2015, substantially all of our multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans and all of the non-performing multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans were secured by properties located in the New York metropolitan area.


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Delinquent Loans

The following table shows a comparison of delinquent loans at the dates indicated.  Delinquent loans are reported based on the number of days the loan payments are past due.

 
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
 
90 Days or More
Past Due
(Dollars in Thousands)
Number
of
Loans
 
Amount
 
Number
of
Loans
 
Amount
 
Number
of
Loans
 
Amount
At June 30, 2015:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Mortgage loans:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Residential
 
227

 
 
$
70,917

 
 
65

 
 
$
19,263

 
 
175

 
 
$
52,268

Multi-family
 
30

 
 
5,319

 
 
10

 
 
1,466

 
 
20

 
 
4,850

Commercial real estate
 
5

 
 
2,508

 
 

 
 

 
 
2

 
 
2,794

Consumer and other loans
 
28

 
 
1,067

 
 
12

 
 
499

 
 
50

 
 
6,243

Total delinquent loans
 
290

 
 
$
79,811

 
 
87

 
 
$
21,228

 
 
247

 
 
$
66,155

Delinquent loans to total loans
 
 

 
 
0.69
%
 
 
 

 
 
0.18
%
 
 
 

 
 
0.57
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2014:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Mortgage loans:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Residential
 
255

 
 
$
73,326

 
 
70

 
 
$
21,290

 
 
148

 
 
$
44,989

Multi-family
 
26

 
 
4,294

 
 
11

 
 
2,568

 
 
26

 
 
8,917

Commercial real estate
 
7

 
 
2,476

 
 
1

 
 
493

 
 
2

 
 
2,888

Consumer and other loans
 
58

 
 
2,430

 
 
17

 
 
962

 
 
52

 
 
6,040

Total delinquent loans
 
346

 
 
$
82,526

 
 
99

 
 
$
25,313

 
 
228

 
 
$
62,834

Delinquent loans to total loans
 
 

 
 
0.69
%
 
 
 

 
 
0.21
%
 
 
 

 
 
0.53
%

Delinquent loans totaled $167.2 million at June 30, 2015, a decline of $3.5 million compared to $170.7 million at December 31, 2014. The decrease in total delinquent loans at June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 includes decreases of $4.1 million in delinquent multi-family mortgage loans, due primarily to a decline in loans which were 90 days or more past due, and $1.6 million in consumer and other loans, due primarily to a decline in loans which were 30-89 days past due, partially offset by an increase of $2.8 million in delinquent residential mortgage loans due to an increase in loans which were 90 days or more past due, partially offset by a decrease in loans which were 30-89 days past due.

During the 2015 second quarter, total delinquent loans increased $24.5 million to $167.2 million at June 30, 2015 compared to March 31, 2015. The increase in total delinquent loans at June 30, 2015 compared to March 31, 2015 included an increase of $19.9 million in delinquent residential mortgage loans, due in large part to an increase in loans which were 30-59 days past due, and an increase of $5.4 million in delinquent multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, due to an increase in loans which were 90 days or more past due.


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Allowance for Loan Losses
 
The following table summarizes activity in the allowance for loan losses.
(In Thousands)
For the 
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30, 2015
Balance at January 1, 2015
 
$
111,600

 
Provision credited to operations
 
(3,310
)
 
Charge-offs:
 
 
 
Residential
 
(3,359
)
 
Multi-family
 
(345
)
 
Commercial real estate
 
(142
)
 
Consumer and other loans
 
(435
)
 
Total charge-offs
 
(4,281
)
 
Recoveries:
 
 

 
Residential
 
1,976

 
Multi-family
 
1,296

 
Consumer and other loans
 
219

 
Total recoveries
 
3,491

 
Net charge-offs
 
(790
)
 
Balance at June 30, 2015
 
$
107,500

 
 
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
As a financial institution, the primary component of our market risk is interest rate risk.  The objective of our interest rate risk management policy is to maintain an appropriate mix and level of assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items to enable us to meet our earnings and/or growth objectives, while maintaining specified minimum capital levels as required by our primary banking regulator and as established by our Board of Directors.  We use a variety of analyses to monitor, control and adjust our asset and liability positions, primarily interest rate sensitivity gap analysis, or gap analysis, and net interest income sensitivity analysis.  Additional interest rate risk modeling is done by Astoria Bank in conformity with regulatory requirements.

Gap Analysis

Gap analysis measures the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets anticipated to mature or reprice within specific time periods and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities anticipated to mature or reprice within the same time periods.  Gap analysis does not indicate the impact of general interest rate movements on our net interest income because the actual repricing dates of various assets and liabilities will differ from our estimates and it does not give consideration to the runoff and repricing rates of the assets and liabilities. In addition to the foregoing, the exercise of embedded call options modeled in the Gap analysis may differ from actual experience.

The following table, referred to as the Gap Table, sets forth the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at June 30, 2015 that we anticipate will reprice or mature in each of the future time periods shown using certain assumptions based on our historical experience and other market-based data available to us.  The Gap Table includes $450.0 million of callable borrowings that mature in three to five years, that are classified according to their projected call dates in the more than one year to three years category. In addition, the Gap Table includes callable securities with an amortized cost of $306.0 million, substantially all of which are callable within one year and at various times thereafter, classified according to their maturity dates in the more than five years category. The classification of callable borrowings and

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securities according to their maturity or projected call dates is based on the market value analytics of our interest rate risk model.  As indicated in the Gap Table, our one-year interest rate sensitivity gap at June 30, 2015 was positive 1.34% compared to negative 1.87% at December 31, 2014.

 
At June 30, 2015
(Dollars in Thousands)
One Year
or Less
 
More than
One Year
to
Three Years
 
More than
Three Years
to
Five Years
 
More than
Five Years
 
Total
Interest-earning assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage loans (1)
$
4,024,640

 
$
2,964,044

 
$
2,275,634

 
$
1,952,608

 
$
11,216,926

Consumer and other loans (1)
220,324

 
9,445

 
4,496

 
3,265

 
237,530

Interest-earning cash accounts
137,481

 

 

 

 
137,481

Securities available-for-sale (2)
64,117

 
67,752

 
59,594

 
237,933

 
429,396

Securities held-to-maturity
330,859

 
391,499

 
339,654

 
1,094,870

 
2,156,882

FHLB-NY stock

 

 

 
138,384

 
138,384

Total interest-earning assets
4,777,421

 
3,432,740

 
2,679,378

 
3,427,060

 
14,316,599

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Savings
294,118

 
353,410

 
294,092

 
1,244,850

 
2,186,470

Money market
1,223,214

 
733,867

 
489,347

 

 
2,446,428

NOW and demand deposit
76,215

 
211,863

 
191,437

 
1,807,804

 
2,287,319

Certificates of deposit
1,243,288

 
627,114

 
437,151

 

 
2,307,553

Borrowings, net (3)
1,735,000

 
823,957

 
1,400,000

 
100,000

 
4,058,957

Total interest-bearing liabilities
4,571,835

 
2,750,211

 
2,812,027

 
3,152,654

 
13,286,727

Interest rate sensitivity gap
205,586

 
682,529

 
(132,649
)
 
274,406

 
$
1,029,872

Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap
$
205,586

 
$
888,115

 
$
755,466

 
$
1,029,872

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap as a
percentage of total assets
1.34
 %
 
5.81
 %
 
4.94
 %
 
6.73
 %
 
 

Cumulative net interest-earning assets as a
percentage of interest-bearing liabilities
104.50
 %
 
112.13
 %
 
107.45
 %
 
107.75
 %
 
 

 _______________________________________________
(1)
Mortgage loans and consumer and other loans include loans held-for-sale and exclude non-accrual loans, except non-accrual residential mortgage loans which are current or less than 90 days past due, and the allowance for loan losses.
(2)
At amortized cost.
(3)
Classified according to projected repricing, maturity or call date.



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Net Interest Income Sensitivity Analysis

In managing interest rate risk, we also use an internal income simulation model for our net interest income sensitivity analyses.  These analyses measure changes in projected net interest income over various time periods resulting from hypothetical changes in interest rates.  The interest rate scenarios most commonly analyzed reflect gradual and reasonable changes over a specified time period, which is typically one or two years.  The base net interest income projection utilizes similar assumptions as those reflected in the Gap Table, assumes that cash flows are reinvested in similar assets and liabilities and that interest rates as of the reporting date remain constant over the projection period.  For each alternative interest rate scenario, corresponding changes in the cash flow and repricing assumptions of each financial instrument, consisting of all our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities included in the Gap Table, are made to determine the impact on net interest income.

We perform analyses of interest rate increases and decreases of up to 400 basis points (when reasonably practical) over various time horizons although changes in interest rates of 200 basis points over a one year horizon is a more common and reasonable scenario for analytical purposes. Assuming the entire yield curve was to increase 200 basis points, through quarterly parallel increments of 50 basis points, our projected net interest income for the 12 month period beginning July 1, 2015 would decrease by approximately 2.76% from the base projection. At December 31, 2014, in the up 200 basis point scenario, our projected net interest income for the 12 month period beginning January 1, 2015 would have decreased by approximately 7.18% from the base projection. The current low interest rate environment prevents us from performing an income simulation for a decline in interest rates of the same magnitude and timing as our rising interest rate simulation, since certain asset yields, liability costs and related indices are below 2.00%. However, assuming the entire yield curve was to decrease 100 basis points through quarterly parallel decrements of 25 basis points, subject to floors, beginning with our June 30, 2015 analysis, that have been established based on historical observation, our projected net interest income for the 12 month period beginning July 1, 2015 would decrease by approximately 2.19% from the base projection. At December 31, 2014, in the down 100 basis point scenario, our projected net interest income for the 12 month period beginning January 1, 2015 would have decreased by approximately 2.66% from the base projection. The December 31, 2014 analysis did not include the floor assumptions used in the June 30, 2015 analysis.

Various shortcomings are inherent in both gap analyses and net interest income sensitivity analyses.  Certain assumptions may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to market changes.  Similarly, prepayment estimates and similar assumptions are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision.  Changes in interest rates may also affect our operating environment and operating strategies as well as those of our competitors.  In addition, certain adjustable rate assets have limitations on the magnitude of rate changes over specified periods of time.  Accordingly, although our net interest income sensitivity analyses may provide an indication of our interest rate risk exposure, such analyses are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and our actual results will differ.  Additionally, certain assets, liabilities and items of income and expense which may be affected by changes in interest rates, albeit to a much lesser degree, and which do not affect net interest income, are excluded from this analysis.  These include income from bank owned life insurance and changes in the fair value of MSR.  With respect to these items alone, and assuming the entire yield curve was to increase 200 basis points, through quarterly parallel increments of 50 basis points, our projected net income for the 12 month period beginning July 1, 2015 would increase by approximately $2.8 million.  Conversely, assuming the entire yield curve was to decrease 100 basis points, through quarterly parallel decrements of 25 basis points, our projected net income for the 12 month period beginning July 1, 2015 would decrease by approximately $2.6 million with respect to these items alone.


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For further information regarding our market risk and the limitations of our gap analysis and net interest income sensitivity analysis, see Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Monte N. Redman, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Frank E. Fusco, our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of June 30, 2015.  Based upon their evaluation, they each found that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings
 
In the ordinary course of our business, we are routinely made a defendant in or a party to pending or threatened legal actions or proceedings which, in some cases, seek substantial monetary damages from or other forms of relief against us.  In our opinion, after consultation with legal counsel, we believe it unlikely that such actions or proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

City of New York Notice of Determination
By "Notice of Determination" dated September 14, 2010 and August 26, 2011, or the 2010 and 2011 Notices, the City of New York notified us of alleged tax deficiencies in the amount of $13.3 million, including interest and penalties, related to our 2006 through 2008 tax years. The deficiencies related to our operation of Fidata and AF Mortgage, subsidiaries of Astoria Bank. We disagree with the assertion of the tax deficiencies. Hearings in the 2006-08 Tax Matter were held before the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal in March and April 2013. On October 29, 2014, the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal issued a decision favorable to us canceling the 2010 and 2011 Notices. The City of New York appealed the decision of the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal. The parties have prepared and submitted briefs to the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal and are awaiting the scheduling of a hearing date for the appeal. At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that we will succeed in defending against the City of New York’s appeal. Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at June 30, 2015 with respect to this matter.

By “Notice of Determination” dated November 19, 2014, or the 2014 Notice, the City of New York notified us of an alleged tax deficiency in the amount of $6.1 million, including interest and penalties, related to our 2009 and 2010 tax years. This deficiency related to our operation of Fidata and AF Mortgage and the basis of the 2014 Notice is substantially the same as that of the 2010 and 2011 Notices. We disagree with the assertion of the tax deficiency and we filed a Petition for Hearing with the City of New York on February 13, 2015 to oppose the 2014 Notice. By notice dated June 4, 2015, the NYC Tax Appeals Tribunal informed the parties that these proceedings have been adjourned pending the resolution of the 2006-08 Tax Matter,

77


the outcome of which may be determinative of some or all of the issues in this matter. At this time, management believes it is more likely than not that we will succeed in refuting the City of New York’s position asserted in the 2014 Notice. Accordingly, no liability or reserve has been recognized in our consolidated statement of financial condition at June 30, 2015 with respect to this matter.

No assurance can be given as to whether or to what extent we will be required to pay the amount of the tax deficiencies asserted by the City of New York, whether additional tax will be assessed for years subsequent to 2010, that these matters will not be costly to oppose, that these matters will not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations or that, ultimately, any such impact will not be material.

ITEM 1A.  Risk Factors

For a summary of risk factors relevant to our operations, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in our March 31, 2015 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  There were no material changes in risk factors relevant to our operations since March 31, 2015.
 

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ITEM 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
Our twelfth stock repurchase plan, approved by our Board of Directors on April 18, 2007, authorized the purchase of 10,000,000 shares, or approximately 10% of our common stock then outstanding, in open-market or privately negotiated transactions.  At June 30, 2015, a maximum of 8,107,300 shares may yet be purchased under this plan.  However, we are not currently repurchasing additional shares of our common stock and have not since the 2008 third quarter.
 
ITEM 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5.  Other Information
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 6.  Exhibits

See Index of Exhibits on page 81.


79


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Astoria Financial Corporation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
August 7, 2015
 
By:
/s/
Monte N. Redman
 
 
 
 
 
Monte N. Redman
 
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
August 7, 2015
 
By:
/s/
Frank E. Fusco
 
 
 
 
 
Frank E. Fusco
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Executive Vice President and
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
August 7, 2015
 
By:
/s/
John F. Kennedy
 
 
 
 
 
John F. Kennedy
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Accounting Officer

80


ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit No.
 
Identification of Exhibit
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certifications of Chief Financial Officer.
 
 
 
32.1
 
Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Pursuant to SEC rules, this exhibit will not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that section.
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document



81