CHARTER FINANCIAL CORP - FORM 10-Q - February 8, 2016

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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 December 31, 2015
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from             to             
Commission File No. 001-35870
_____________________________________
CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_____________________________________
Maryland
90-0947148
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
1233 O.G. Skinner Drive, West Point, Georgia
31833
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(706) 645-1391
(Registrant’s telephone number)

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
_____________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO   o.
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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  x    NO  o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)
Large accelerated filer
o
Accelerated filer
x
Non-accelerated filer
o  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES  o    NO  x
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 5, 2016 was 15,020,869.


CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (UNAUDITED)
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015 (1)
Assets
Cash and amounts due from depository institutions
$
14,243,071

 
$
9,921,822

Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions
37,638,231

 
20,421,403

Cash and cash equivalents
51,881,302

 
30,343,225

Loans held for sale, fair value of $2,330,930 and $1,444,042
2,285,847

 
1,406,902

Investment securities available for sale
175,988,229

 
184,404,089

Federal Home Loan Bank stock
3,005,600

 
3,515,600

Loans receivable
690,687,371

 
725,673,178

Unamortized loan origination fees, net
(1,121,570
)
 
(1,423,456
)
Allowance for loan losses
(9,695,387
)
 
(9,488,512
)
Loans receivable, net
679,870,414

 
714,761,210

Other real estate owned
3,164,705

 
3,410,538

Accrued interest and dividends receivable
2,495,117

 
2,668,406

Premises and equipment, net
19,455,816

 
19,660,012

Goodwill
4,325,282

 
4,325,282

Other intangible assets, net of amortization
108,241

 
157,226

Cash surrender value of life insurance
48,744,173

 
48,423,510

Deferred income taxes
6,218,864

 
5,674,095

Other assets
7,336,384

 
8,329,239

Total assets
$
1,004,879,974

 
$
1,027,079,334

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Deposits
$
744,233,967

 
$
738,855,076

Federal Home Loan Bank advances
50,000,000

 
62,000,000

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance
790,435

 
1,745,753

Other liabilities
11,487,837

 
19,547,895

Total liabilities
806,512,239

 
822,148,724

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 15,229,064 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 16,027,654 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015
152,291

 
160,277

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015
—

 
—

Additional paid-in capital
85,546,958

 
95,355,054

Unearned compensation – ESOP
(5,106,169
)
 
(5,551,193
)
Retained earnings
118,228,061

 
114,362,386

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
(453,406
)
 
604,086

Total stockholders’ equity
198,367,735

 
204,930,610

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
1,004,879,974

 
$
1,027,079,334

__________________________________
(1)
Financial information at September 30, 2015 has been derived from audited financial statements.




See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
1

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 
Three Months Ended 
 December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Interest income:
 
 
 
Loans receivable
$
9,441,525

 
$
8,904,633

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations
682,456

 
830,677

Federal Home Loan Bank stock
38,928

 
36,708

Other investment securities available for sale
264,054

 
44,853

Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions
12,391

 
41,036

Amortization of FDIC loss share receivable
—

 
(888,911
)
Total interest income
10,439,354

 
8,968,996

Interest expense:
 

 
 

Deposits
665,433

 
732,927

Borrowings
552,882

 
602,746

Total interest expense
1,218,315

 
1,335,673

Net interest income
9,221,039

 
7,633,323

Provision for loan losses
—

 
4,000

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
9,221,039

 
7,629,323

Noninterest income:
 

 
 

Service charges on deposit accounts
1,752,558

 
1,581,978

Bankcard fees
1,145,826

 
947,623

Gain on investment securities available for sale
35,965

 
684

Bank owned life insurance
320,663

 
324,413

Gain on sale of loans and loan servicing release fees
347,856

 
367,002

Brokerage commissions
141,715

 
154,304

Recoveries on acquired loans previously covered under FDIC loss share agreements
2,875,000

 
—

FDIC receivable for loss sharing agreements accretion
—

 
47,461

Other
210,957

 
142,502

Total noninterest income
6,830,540

 
3,565,967

Noninterest expenses:
 

 
 

Salaries and employee benefits
5,262,989

 
5,014,267

Occupancy
1,910,452

 
1,875,663

Legal and professional
379,838

 
240,626

Marketing
260,914

 
265,232

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees
223,843

 
195,590

Net benefit of operations of real estate owned
(21,243
)
 
(57,320
)
Furniture and equipment
168,415

 
150,535

Postage, office supplies and printing
184,712

 
240,607

Core deposit intangible amortization expense
48,985

 
74,308

Other
659,125

 
736,281

Total noninterest expenses
9,078,030

 
8,735,789

Income before income taxes
6,973,549

 
2,459,501

Income tax expense
2,359,271

 
785,998

Net income
$
4,614,278

 
$
1,673,503

Basic net income per share
$
0.31

 
$
0.10

Diluted net income per share
$
0.30

 
$
0.10

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
14,885,529

 
16,175,485

Weighted average number of common and potential common shares outstanding
15,545,216

 
16,709,543





See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
4,614,278

 
$
1,673,503

Reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income, net of taxes of $13,882 and $264, respectively
 
(22,083
)
 
(420
)
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains on investment and mortgage securities available for sale arising during the period, net of taxes of $(650,925) and $459,982, respectively
 
(1,035,409
)
 
731,681

Comprehensive income
 
$
3,556,786

 
$
2,404,764









See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 
Common stock
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
Unearned compensation ESOP
 
Retained earnings
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
Total stockholders' equity
 
Number of shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2014 (1)
18,261,388

 
$
182,614

 
$
119,586,164

 
$
(5,984,317
)
 
$
111,924,543

 
$
(754,135
)
 
$
224,954,869

Net income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,572,162

 
—

 
5,572,162

Dividends paid, $0.20 per share
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,134,319
)
 
—

 
(3,134,319
)
Change in other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,358,221

 
1,358,221

Allocation of ESOP common stock
—

 
—

 
128,135

 
433,124

 
—

 
—

 
561,259

Effect of restricted stock awards
—

 
—

 
792,619

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
792,619

Stock option expense
—

 
—

 
330,995

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
330,995

Issuance of common stock, restricted stock
2,265

 
23

 
(23
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Repurchase of shares
(2,235,999
)
 
(22,360
)
 
(25,482,836
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(25,505,196
)
Balance at September 30, 2015 (1)
16,027,654

 
$
160,277

 
$
95,355,054

 
$
(5,551,193
)
 
$
114,362,386

 
$
604,086

 
$
204,930,610

Net income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4,614,278

 
—

 
4,614,278

Dividends paid, $0.05 per share
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(748,603
)
 
—

 
(748,603
)
Change in other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,057,492
)
 
(1,057,492
)
Allocation of ESOP common stock
—

 
—

 
216,340

 
445,024

 
—

 
—

 
661,364

Effect of restricted stock awards
—

 
—

 
196,070

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
196,070

Stock option expense
—

 
—

 
80,578

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
80,578

Repurchase of shares
(798,590
)
 
(7,986
)
 
(10,301,084
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(10,309,070
)
Balance at December 31, 2015
15,229,064

 
$
152,291

 
$
85,546,958

 
$
(5,106,169
)
 
$
118,228,061

 
$
(453,406
)
 
$
198,367,735

__________________________________
(1)
Financial information at September 30, 2015 and 2014 has been derived from audited financial statements.







See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
4,614,278

 
$
1,673,503

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Provision for acquired loan losses
—

 
4,000

Depreciation and amortization
288,221

 
319,780

Accretion and amortization of premiums and discounts, net
291,481

 
392,788

Accretion of fair value discounts related to acquired loans
(1,168,982
)
 
(1,560,960
)
Accretion of fair value discounts related to FDIC receivable
—

 
(47,461
)
Amortization of FDIC loss share receivable
—

 
888,911

Gain on sale of loans and loan servicing release fees
(347,856
)
 
(367,002
)
Proceeds from sale of loans
12,766,789

 
12,543,287

Originations and purchases of loans held for sale
(13,297,878
)
 
(12,322,906
)
Gain on sale of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and other investments
(35,965
)
 
(684
)
Write down of real estate owned
—

 
11,096

Gain on sale of real estate owned
(184,719
)
 
(137,289
)
Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets
6,581

 
(3,250
)
Restricted stock award expense
196,070

 
198,697

Stock option expense
80,578

 
82,749

Increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance
(320,663
)
 
(324,413
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest and dividends receivable
173,289

 
(38,778
)
Decrease in other assets
636,075

 
865,477

Decrease in other liabilities
(7,398,694
)
 
(1,868,459
)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(3,701,395
)
 
309,086

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale
1,231,330

 
6,439,319

Principal collections on investment securities available for sale
5,403,881

 
5,440,247

Purchase of investment securities available for sale
—

 
(18,094,730
)
Proceeds from maturities or calls of investment securities available for sale
—

 
3,679,050

Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock
510,000

 
—

Net decrease (increase) in loans receivable
35,857,671

 
(20,849,620
)
Net decrease in FDIC receivable
—

 
402,154

Principal reductions of OREO
—

 
39,961

Proceeds from sale of real estate owned
555,531

 
3,291,742

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
—

 
3,250

Disposition of premises and equipment, net of purchases
315,159

 
9,964

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
43,873,572

 
(19,638,663
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Repurchase of shares
(10,309,070
)
 
(14,218,889
)
Dividends paid
(748,603
)
 
(797,596
)
Increase (decrease) in deposits
5,378,891

 
(15,717,127
)
Principal payments on Federal Home Loan Bank advances
(12,000,000
)
 
—

Net decrease in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance
(955,318
)
 
(668,205
)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
continued
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
(18,634,100
)
 
(31,401,817
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
21,538,077

 
(50,731,394
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
30,343,225

 
99,462,953

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
51,881,302

 
$
48,731,559

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
1,213,148

 
$
1,337,642

Income taxes paid
—

 
—

Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:
 
 
 
Real estate acquired through foreclosure of collateral on loans receivable
$
124,979

 
$
1,033,671

Write down of real estate owned reimbursed by the FDIC
—

 
73,792

Gain on real estate sold payable to the FDIC
—

 
437,962

Provision for acquired loan losses reimbursed by the FDIC
—

 
76,000

Issuance of common stock under stock benefit plan
661,364

 
561,259

Unrealized (loss) gain on investment securities available for sale, net
(1,057,492
)
 
731,261









See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6

CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Note 1: Nature of Operations
Charter Financial Corporation (“Charter Financial” or the “Company”) is a savings and loan holding company that was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland in April 2013 to serve as the holding company for CharterBank (the “Bank”). The Bank is a federally-chartered savings bank that was originally founded in 1954 as a federally-chartered mutual savings and loan association.
On April 8, 2013, the Company completed its conversion and reorganization pursuant to which it converted from the mutual holding company form of organization to the stock holding company form of organization. The Company sold 14.3 million shares of common stock for gross offering proceeds of $142.9 million in the offering. Following the conversion and reorganization, the Bank became 100% owned by Charter Financial and Charter Financial became 100% owned by public shareholders.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company operated 14 branch offices in west-central Georgia, east-central Alabama and the Florida Gulf Coast, as well as a cashless branch office in Norcross, Georgia. Additionally, on December 3, 2015, the Company announced plans to acquire CBS Financial Corporation, the parent company of Community Bank of the South. As of December 31, 2015, Community Bank of the South operated four branches in the Atlanta metro area. The transaction is expected to close in April 2016, and is subject to approval by CBS’s shareholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Note 2: Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Charter Financial and the Bank include the accounts of the Company and the Bank as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 (derived from audited financial statements), and for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include all necessary adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three-month period ended December 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year or any other interim period.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of real estate acquired in connection with foreclosures or in satisfaction of loans, the estimates used for fair value acquisition accounting, the estimate of expected cash flows on purchased impaired and other acquired loans, and the assessment for other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. Certain reclassifications of prior fiscal year balances have been made to conform to classifications used in the current fiscal year. These reclassifications did not change net income or stockholders' equity.

Note 3: Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities, which is intended to improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments by requiring: equity investments (other than equity method or consolidation) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e., securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; eliminating the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for organizations that are not public business entities; eliminating the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; and requiring a reporting organization to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk (also referred to as "own credit") when the organization has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. This ASU is effective for public companies

7

for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This ASU permits early adoption of the instrument-specific credit risk provision. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 4: Investment Securities
Investment securities available for sale are summarized as follows:

December 31, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Other investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized loan obligations
$
39,669,031

 
$
19,152

 
$
(289,844
)
 
$
39,398,339

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC certificates
33,716,145

 
317,180

 
(199,231
)
 
33,834,094

FNMA certificates
93,483,148

 
289,978

 
(893,483
)
 
92,879,643

GNMA certificates
1,542,673

 
4,428

 
—

 
1,547,101

Private-label mortgage securities: (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
1,011,341

 
3,387

 
(39,448
)
 
975,280

Split rating (2)
724,819

 
—

 
(6,034
)
 
718,785

Non-investment grade
6,528,052

 
193,094

 
(86,159
)
 
6,634,987

Total
$
176,675,209

 
$
827,219

 
$
(1,514,199
)
 
$
175,988,229

________________________________
(1)
Credit ratings are current as of December 31, 2015.
(2)
Bonds with split ratings represent securities with both investment and non-investment grades.
 
September 30, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Other investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized loan obligations
$
39,637,499

 
$
59,751

 
$
(201,133
)
 
$
39,496,117

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC certificates
35,533,446

 
485,501

 
(27,505
)
 
35,991,442

FNMA certificates
97,676,102

 
787,507

 
(245,560
)
 
98,218,049

GNMA certificates
1,553,500

 
5,095

 
—

 
1,558,595

Collateralized mortgage obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC
36,571

 
2,643

 
—

 
39,214

FNMA
61,929

 
1,386

 
—

 
63,315

Private-label mortgage securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
1,068,490

 
4,040

 
(41,214
)
 
1,031,316

Split rating (1)
880,802

 
—

 
(5,386
)
 
875,416

Non-investment grade
7,040,469

 
179,372

 
(89,216
)
 
7,130,625

Total
$
183,488,808

 
$
1,525,295

 
$
(610,014
)
 
$
184,404,089

______________________________
(1)
Bonds with split ratings represent securities with both investment and non-investment grades.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available for sale as of December 31, 2015, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

8

 
Amortized Cost
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
 
 
 
Due within one year
$
—

 
$
—

Due from one year to five years
4,456,059

 
4,415,985

Due after five years
35,212,972

 
34,982,354

Mortgage-backed securities
137,006,178

 
136,589,890

Total
$
176,675,209

 
$
175,988,229

There were no investment securities available for sale that were called or matured during the three months ended December 31, 2015. Proceeds from called or matured investment securities during the three months ended December 31, 2014 were $3.7 million. Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale during the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, were $1.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively. Gross realized gains on the sale of these securities were $36,224 and $2,507 for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Gross realized losses on the sale of these securities were $259 and $1,823 for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Investment securities available for sale with an aggregate carrying value of $93.7 million and $103.0 million at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively, were available to be pledged to secure Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances, however no securities were pledged at either period end to secure FHLB advances.
Investment securities available for sale that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 are as follows:
 
December 31, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Other investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized loan obligations
$
27,740,650

 
$
(289,844
)
 
$
27,450,806

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 

 
 
FHLMC certificates
15,339,191

 
(199,231
)
 
15,139,960

FNMA certificates
59,235,435

 
(573,328
)
 
58,662,107

Total
$
102,315,276

 
$
(1,062,403
)
 
$
101,252,873

 
September 30, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Other investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized loan obligations
$
19,912,486

 
$
(201,133
)
 
$
19,711,353

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC certificates
16,021,392

 
(27,505
)
 
15,993,887

FNMA certificates
35,454,134

 
(116,303
)
 
35,337,831

Total
$
71,388,012

 
$
(344,941
)
 
$
71,043,071


9

Investment securities available for sale that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 are as follows:
 
December 31, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
FNMA certificates
$
20,791,947

 
$
(320,155
)
 
$
20,471,792

Collateralized mortgage obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
Private-label mortgage securities
2,890,532

 
(131,641
)
 
2,758,891

Total
$
23,682,479

 
$
(451,796
)
 
$
23,230,683

 
September 30, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
FNMA certificates
$
21,182,347

 
$
(129,257
)
 
$
21,053,090

Collateralized mortgage obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
Private-label mortgage securities
3,250,506

 
(135,816
)
 
3,114,690

Total
$
24,432,853

 
$
(265,073
)
 
$
24,167,780

At December 31, 2015 the Company had approximately $132,000 of gross unrealized losses on private-label mortgage securities with aggregate amortized cost of approximately $2.9 million. Previously, in fiscal 2011, the Company recognized $380,000 in credit losses on its investment portfolio. During the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded no other-than-temporary unrealized loss impairment charges. Other than what is discussed in the paragraphs below, the Company is projecting that it will receive essentially all contractual cash flows, so there is no break in yield or additional other than temporary impairment.
Regularly, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether there have been any events or economic circumstances to indicate that a security on which there is an unrealized loss is impaired other-than-temporarily. The assessment considers many factors including the severity and duration of the impairment, the Company’s intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient for recovery in value, recent events specific to the industry, and current characteristics of each security such as delinquency and foreclosure levels, credit enhancements, and projected losses and loss coverage ratios. It is possible that the underlying collateral of these securities will perform worse than current expectations, which may lead to adverse changes in cash flows on these securities and potential future other-than-temporary impairment losses. Events that may trigger material declines in fair values for these securities in the future include but are not limited to, deterioration of credit metrics, significantly higher levels of default and severity of loss on the underlying collateral, deteriorating credit enhancement and loss coverage ratios, or further illiquidity. All of these securities were evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment based on an analysis of the factors and characteristics of each security as previously enumerated. The Company considers these unrealized losses to be temporary impairment losses primarily because of continued sufficient levels of credit enhancements and credit coverage levels of less senior tranches to tranches held by the Company.

10

The following table shows issuer-specific information, including current par value, book value, fair value, credit rating and unrealized gain (loss) for the Company's portfolio of non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations as of December 31, 2015:
Cusip
 
Description
 
Credit Rating (1)
 
Cumulative Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings
 
Current Par Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Market Value
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
 
 
 
 
Moody
 
S&P
 
Fitch
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment Grade
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
36228FQF6
 
GSR 2003-4F 1A2
 
n/a
 
AA+
 
BBB
 
$
—

 
$
148

 
$
148

 
$
149

 
$
1

55265KL80
 
MASTR 2003-8 4A1
 
n/a
 
A+
 
A
 
—

 
137

 
137

 
138

 
1

86359BVF5
 
SARM 2004-6 3A3
 
n/a
 
A+
 
n/a
 
—

 
727

 
726

 
688

 
(38
)
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

 
1,012

 
1,011

 
975

 
(36
)
Split Rating
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17307GDL9
 
CMLTI 2004-HYB1 A31
 
Ba2
 
n/a
 
BBB
 
—

 
725

 
725

 
719

 
(6
)
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

 
725

 
725

 
719

 
(6
)
Non-Investment Grade
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
576433UQ7
 
MARM 2004-13 B1
 
NR
 
CCC
 
n/a
 
380

 
2,915

 
2,534

 
2,723

 
189

576433VN3
 
MARM 2004-15 4A1
 
B3
 
n/a
 
B
 
—

 
1,439

 
1,439

 
1,352

 
(87
)
576433QD1
 
MARM 2004-7 5A1
 
Ba3
 
BB
 
n/a
 
—

 
2,554

 
2,555

 
2,560

 
5

 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
380

 
6,908

 
6,528

 
6,635

 
107

 
 
Grand Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
380

 
$
8,645

 
$
8,264

 
$
8,329

 
$
65

______________________________
(1)
Credit ratings are current as of December 31, 2015.

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are shown in the table below. All amounts are net of tax. The line item affected in the consolidated statements of income by the reclassified amounts is gain on investment securities available for sale.
 
Unrealized Gain/Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
604,086

 
$
(754,135
)
Other comprehensive income/loss before reclassifications
(1,035,409
)
 
731,681

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/loss to gain on investment securities available for sale
(22,083
)
 
(420
)
Net current-period other comprehensive income/loss
(1,057,492
)
 
731,261

Ending balance
$
(453,406
)
 
$
(22,874
)


11

Note 5: Loans Receivable
Loans outstanding, by class, are summarized in the following table:
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
$
182,297,415

 
$
188,043,631

Commercial real estate
396,023,034

 
416,575,608

Commercial
39,836,473

 
37,444,399

Real estate construction
61,816,380

 
77,217,378

Consumer and other
10,714,069

 
6,392,162

Total loans, gross
690,687,371

 
725,673,178

Unamortized loan origination fees, net
(1,121,570
)
 
(1,423,456
)
Allowance for loan losses
(9,695,387
)
 
(9,488,512
)
Total loans, net
$
679,870,414

 
$
714,761,210

Loan Origination and Risk Management. The Company has certain lending policies and procedures in place that are designed to maximize loan income within an acceptable level of risk. Management reviews and approves these policies and procedures on a regular basis. A reporting system supplements the review process by providing management with frequent reports related to loan production, loan quality, concentrations of credit, loan delinquencies and nonperforming and potential problem loans. Diversification in the loan portfolio is a means of managing risk associated with fluctuations in economic conditions.
Commercial real estate loans are generally made by the Company to entities in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and adjoining states and are secured by properties in these states. Commercial real estate lending involves additional risks compared to one- to four-family residential lending. Repayment of commercial real estate loans often depends on the successful operations and income stream of the borrowers, and commercial real estate loans typically involve larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers compared to residential real estate loans. The Company’s underwriting criteria for commercial real estate loans include maximum loan-to-value ratios, debt coverage ratios, secondary sources of repayment, guarantor requirements, net worth requirements and quality of cash flow. As part of the loan approval and underwriting of commercial real estate loans, management undertakes a cash flow analysis, and generally requires a debt-service coverage ratio of at least 1.15 times. In addition, management tracks the level of owner-occupied commercial real estate loans versus non-owner occupied loans. At December 31, 2015, approximately 23.8% of the outstanding principal balance of the Company’s commercial real estate loans was secured by owner-occupied properties.
The Company makes construction and land development loans primarily for the construction of one- to four-family residences but also for multi-family and nonresidential real estate projects on a select basis. The Company offers construction loans to builders including both speculative (unsold) and pre-sold loans to pre-approved local builders. The number of speculative loans that management will extend to a builder at one time depends upon the financial strength and credit history of the builder. The Company’s construction loan program is expected to remain a modest portion of the loan volume and management generally limits the number of outstanding loans on unsold homes under construction within a specific area.
The Company also originates first and second mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit secured by one- to four-family residential properties within Georgia, Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Management currently originates mortgages at all branch locations, but utilizes a centralized processing location to reduce the underwriting risk. The Company originates both fixed rate and adjustable rate one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. Fixed rate 30 year conforming loans are generally originated for resale into the secondary market and loans that are non-conforming due to property exceptions and that have adjustable rates are generally retained in the Company’s portfolio. The non-conforming loans originated are not considered to be subprime loans and the amount of subprime and low documentation loans held by the Company is not material. The Company also offers home equity lines of credit as a complement to one- to four-family residential mortgage lending. The underwriting standards applicable to home equity credit lines are similar to those for one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, except for slightly more stringent credit-to-income and credit score requirements. Home equity loans are generally limited to 80% of the value of the underlying property unless the loan is covered by private mortgage insurance. At December 31, 2015, the Company had $17.7 million of home equity lines of credit and second mortgage loans.
The Company originates consumer loans that consist of loans on deposits, auto loans and various other installment loans. The Company primarily offers consumer loans as an accommodation to customers. Consumer loans tend to have a higher credit risk than residential mortgage loans because they may be secured by rapidly depreciable assets, or may be unsecured. The Company’s consumer lending generally follows accepted industry standards for non-subprime lending, including credit scores and debt to income ratios.

12

The Company’s commercial business loans are generally limited to terms of five years or less. While management typically collateralizes these loans with a lien on commercial real estate or, much less frequently, with a lien on business assets and equipment, the primary underwriting consideration is the business cash flow. Management also generally requires the personal guarantee of the business owner. Interest rates on commercial business loans are generally higher than interest rates on residential or commercial real estate loans due to the risk inherent in this type of loan. Commercial business loans are generally considered to have more risk than residential mortgage loans or commercial real estate loans because the collateral may be in the form of intangible assets and/or readily depreciable inventory. Commercial business loans may also involve relatively large loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers, with the repayment of such loans typically dependent on the successful operation and income stream of the borrower. Such risks can be significantly affected by economic conditions. In addition, commercial business lending generally requires substantially greater supervision efforts by management compared to residential mortgage or commercial real estate lending.
The Company maintains an internal loan review function that reviews and validates the credit risk program on a periodic basis. Results of these reviews are presented to management. The loan review process complements and reinforces the risk identification and assessment decisions made by lenders and credit personnel, as well as the Company’s policies and procedures.
Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans. An aging analysis of past due loans, segregated by class of loans, at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 was as follows:
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
Current
$
685,012,523

 
$
718,875,005

Accruing past due loans:
 
 
 
30-89 days past due
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
1,028,481

 
692,019

Commercial real estate
2,037,207

 
1,748,329

Commercial
79,057

 
94,602

Real estate construction
—

 
—

Consumer and other
17,622

 
44,951

Total 30-89 days past due
3,162,367

 
2,579,901

90 days or greater past due (1)
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
31,958

 
32,217

Commercial real estate
17,542

 
72,273

Commercial
—

 
—

Real estate construction
—

 
—

Consumer and other
—

 
—

Total 90 days or greater past due
49,500

 
104,490

Total accruing past due loans
3,211,867

 
2,684,391

Nonaccruing loans: (2)
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
1,111,040

 
1,469,088

Commercial real estate
1,210,339

 
2,513,204

Commercial
137,152

 
126,432

Real estate construction
—

 
—

Consumer and other
4,450

 
5,058

Nonaccruing loans
2,462,981

 
4,113,782

Total loans
$
690,687,371

 
$
725,673,178

________________________________
(1)
Previously covered loans in the amount of $35,496 and $90,226 at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively, are regarded as accruing loans and included in this section. These loans which are accounted for under ASC 310-30 are reported as accruing loans because of accretable discounts established at the time of acquisition.
(2)
Previously covered loans in the amount of $655,777 and $4.8 million at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively, are regarded as accruing loans and excluded from the nonaccrual section due to the ongoing recognition of accretion income established at the time of acquisition.

Impaired Loans. The Company evaluates “impaired” loans, which includes nonperforming loans and accruing troubled debt restructured loans, having risk characteristics that are unique to an individual borrower on a loan-by-loan basis with balances

13

above a specified level. For smaller loans, the allowance is calculated based on the credit grade utilizing historical loss experience and other qualitative factors.
Impaired loans for the periods ended December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, segregated by class of loans are presented below. At December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, there was no recorded allowance for loan losses on impaired loans.
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 December 31, 2015
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Average Investment in Impaired Loans
 
Interest Income Recognized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
$
1,262,929

 
$
1,820,079

 
$
1,277,937

 
$
1,817

Commercial real estate
8,337,154

 
10,310,327

 
8,378,754

 
115,340

Commercial
137,152

 
252,880

 
144,734

 
—

Real estate construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total impaired loans
$
9,737,235

 
$
12,383,286

 
$
9,801,425

 
$
117,157

The recorded investment in accruing troubled debt restructured loans (“TDR”) at December 31, 2015 totaled $7.3 million and is included in the impaired loan table above.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Average Investment in Impaired Loans
 
Interest Income Recognized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
 
$
1,621,663

 
$
2,166,477

 
$
1,694,775

 
$
14,472

Commercial real estate
 
8,421,326

 
10,406,885

 
8,611,964

 
346,819

Commercial
 
126,432

 
241,581

 
158,547

 
298

Real estate construction
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total impaired loans
 
$
10,169,421

 
$
12,814,943

 
$
10,465,286

 
$
361,589

The recorded investment in accruing troubled debt restructured loans at September 30, 2015 totaled $6.0 million and is included in the impaired loan table above.
Loans are classified as restructured by the Company when certain modifications are made to the loan terms and concessions are granted to the borrowers due to financial difficulty experienced by those borrowers. The Company only restructures loans for borrowers in financial difficulty that have presented a viable business plan to fully pay off all obligations, including outstanding debt, interest, and fees, either by generating additional income from the business or through liquidation of assets. Generally, these loans are restructured to provide the borrower additional time to execute upon their plans. The concessions granted on TDRs generally include terms to reduce the interest rate or extend the term of the debt obligation.
Loans on nonaccrual status at the date of modification are initially classified as nonaccrual TDRs. Loans on accruing status at the date of concession are initially classified as accruing TDRs if the loan is reasonably assured of repayment and performance is expected in accordance with its modified terms. Such loans may be designated as nonaccrual loans subsequent to the concession date if reasonable doubt exists as to the collection of interest or principal under the restructuring agreement. TDRs are returned to accruing status when there is economic substance to the restructuring, there is documented credit evaluation of the borrower’s financial condition, the remaining balance is reasonably assured of repayment in accordance with its modified terms, and the borrower has demonstrated sustained repayment performance in accordance with the modified terms for a reasonable period of time (generally a minimum of six months).
There were no new troubled debt restructurings in the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. At December 31, 2015, restructured loans with a modified balance of $7.3 million were accruing and $317,280 were nonaccruing while restructured loans with a modified balance of $6.1 million were accruing and $1.7 million were nonaccruing at December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, there was one loan in the amount of $108,861 that was restructured within the past twelve months and subsequently defaulted. There were no loans that defaulted within twelve months of their restructure at December 31, 2014.
Acquired Impaired Loans. The following table documents changes in the accretable discount on acquired credit impaired loans during the three months ended December 31, 2015 and the year ended September 30, 2015:

14

 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
$
3,391,288

 
$
5,843,697

Loan accretion
(1,149,075
)
 
(5,874,337
)
Transfer from nonaccretable difference
—

 
3,421,928

Balance, end of period
$
2,242,213

 
$
3,391,288

The following table presents the outstanding balances and related carrying amounts for all purchase credit impaired loans at the periods ended December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015:
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
Contractually required payments receivable
$
27,285,534

 
$
31,522,816

Carrying amount
25,566,514

 
27,353,545

Credit Quality Indicators. As part of the ongoing monitoring of the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, management tracks certain credit quality indicators including the level of classified loans, net charge-offs, nonperforming loans (see details above) and the general economic conditions in its market areas.
The Company utilizes a risk grading to assign a risk grade to each of its loans. Loans are graded on a scale of 1 to 8. The risk grade for each individual loan is determined by the loan officer and other approving officers at the time of loan origination and is adjusted from time to time to reflect an ongoing assessment of loan risk. Risk grades are reviewed on specific loans monthly for all delinquent loans as a part of monthly meetings held by the Loan Committee, quarterly for all nonaccrual and special reserve loans, and annually as part of the Company’s internal loan review process. In addition, individual loan risk grades are reviewed in connection with all renewals, extensions and modifications.
The following table presents the risk grades of the loan portfolio, segregated by class of loans:
December 31, 2015
 
1-4 family residential real estate
 
Commercial real estate
 
Commercial
 
Real estate construction
 
Consumer and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass (1-4)
$
178,772,466

 
$
360,783,972

 
$
39,108,577

 
$
61,816,380

 
$
10,705,770

 
$
651,187,165

Special Mention (5)
193,150

 
8,398,086

 
11,467

 
—

 
—

 
8,602,703

Substandard (6)
3,331,799

 
26,840,976

 
716,429

 
—

 
8,299

 
30,897,503

Doubtful (7)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loss (8)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total loans
$
182,297,415

 
$
396,023,034

 
$
39,836,473

 
$
61,816,380

 
$
10,714,069

 
$
690,687,371

September 30, 2015
 
1-4 family residential real estate
 
Commercial real estate
 
Commercial
 
Real estate construction
 
Consumer and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass (1-4)
$
182,991,645

 
$
380,049,378

 
$
36,697,618

 
$
77,217,378

 
$
6,363,643

 
$
683,319,662

Special Mention (5)
704,509

 
4,461,662

 
12,406

 
—

 
—

 
5,178,577

Substandard (6)
4,347,477

 
32,064,568

 
734,375

 
—

 
28,519

 
37,174,939

Doubtful (7)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loss (8)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total loans
$
188,043,631

 
$
416,575,608

 
$
37,444,399

 
$
77,217,378

 
$
6,392,162

 
$
725,673,178

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense and is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that become uncollectible, based on evaluations of the collectability of loans. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, historical loss rates, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, and current economic

15

conditions and trends that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the collectability of the principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance.
Management’s allowance for loan losses methodology is a loan classification-based system. Management bases the required reserve on a percentage of the loan balance for each type of loan and classification level. Loans may be classified manually and are automatically classified if they are not previously classified when they reach certain levels of delinquency. Unclassified loans are reserved at different percentages based on the loan loss history of the last seven years. Reserve percentages are also adjusted based upon our estimate of the effect that the current economic environment will have on each type of loan.
Management segments its allowance for loan losses into the following four major categories: (1) specific reserves; (2) general allowances for Classified/Watch loans; (3) general allowances for loans with satisfactory ratings; and (4) an unallocated amount. Risk ratings are initially assigned in accordance with CharterBank’s loan and collection policy. An organizationally independent department reviews risk grade assignments on an ongoing basis. Management reviews current information and events regarding a borrowers’ financial condition and strengths, cash flows available for debt repayment, the related collateral supporting the loan and the effects of known and expected economic conditions. When the evaluation reflects a greater than normal risk associated with the individual loan, management classifies the loan accordingly. If the loan is determined to be impaired, management allocates a portion of the allowance for loan losses for that loan based on the fair value of the collateral, if the loan is considered collateral-dependent, as the measure for the amount of the impairment. Impaired and Classified/Watch loans are aggressively monitored.
The allowances for loans by credit grade are further subdivided by loan type. Charter Financial has developed specific quantitative allowance factors to apply to each loan which considers loan charge-off experience over the most recent seven years by loan type. In addition, loss estimates are applied for certain qualitative allowance factors that are subjective in nature and require considerable judgment on the part of management. Such qualitative factors include economic and business conditions, the volume of past due loans, changes in the value of collateral of collateral-dependent loans, and other economic uncertainties. An unallocated component of the allowance is also established for potential losses that exist in the remainder of the portfolio, but have yet to be identified.
The Company incorporates certain refinements and improvements to its allowance for loan losses methodology from time to time. During the prior fiscal year, the Company made minor refinements to the qualitative risk factors but no significant changes to its allowance methodology. The adjustments in the Company's methodology were not material to the overall allowance or provision for the three months ended December 31, 2015 or for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.
An unallocated allowance is generally maintained in a range of 4% to 12% of the total allowance in recognition of the imprecision of the estimates and other factors. In times of greater economic downturn and uncertainty, the higher end of this range is provided.
The Company maintained its allowance for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, in response to inconsistent economic conditions, net charge-offs/recoveries, financial indicators for borrowers in the real estate sectors, continuing low collateral values of commercial and residential real estate, and nonaccrual and impaired loans. However, the Company did not make a provision in either period due to the overall persisting trend of declining net charge-offs and general improvement in the credit quality of the loan portfolio.

16

The following tables are a summary of transactions in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015:
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
1-4 family real estate
 
Commercial real estate
 
Commercial
 
Real estate construction
 
Consumer and other
 
Unallocated
 
Total
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
708,671

 
$
7,787,165

 
$
473,342

 
$
503,112

 
$
16,222

 
$
—

 
$
9,488,512

Charge-offs
(10,841
)
 
—

 
(504
)
 
—

 
(3,222
)
 
—

 
(14,567
)
Recoveries
16,646

 
91,664

 
108,998

 
—

 
4,134

 
—

 
221,442

Provision
(22,266
)
 
(675,850
)
 
(17,191
)
 
(41,689
)
 
19,716

 
737,280

 
—

Ending balance
$
692,210

 
$
7,202,979

 
$
564,645

 
$
461,423

 
$
36,850

 
$
737,280

 
$
9,695,387

Amounts allocated to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Other loans not individually evaluated
692,210

 
7,202,979

 
564,645

 
461,423

 
36,850

 
737,280

 
9,695,387

Ending balance
$
692,210

 
$
7,202,979

 
$
564,645

 
$
461,423

 
$
36,850

 
$
737,280

 
$
9,695,387

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts collectively evaluated for impairment
$
177,812,787

 
$
369,590,945

 
$
35,449,441

 
$
61,816,380

 
$
10,714,069

 
 
 
$
655,383,622

Amounts individually evaluated for impairment
1,262,929

 
8,337,154

 
137,152

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
9,737,235

Amounts related to loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
3,221,699

 
18,094,935

 
4,249,880

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
25,566,514

Ending balance
$
182,297,415

 
$
396,023,034

 
$
39,836,473

 
$
61,816,380

 
$
10,714,069

 
 
 
$
690,687,371


 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
1-4 family real estate
 
Commercial real estate
 
Commercial
 
Real estate construction
 
Consumer and other
 
Unallocated
 
Total
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
980,265

 
$
6,743,105

 
$
426,438

 
$
492,903

 
$
44,538

 
$
783,648

 
$
9,470,897

Charge-offs
(138,340
)
 
(351,841
)
 
(20,348
)
 
—

 
(18,483
)
 
—

 
(529,012
)
Recoveries
15,050

 
145,338

 
316,665

 
864

 
68,710

 
—

 
546,627

Provision (1)
(148,304
)
 
1,250,563

 
(249,413
)
 
9,345

 
(78,543
)
 
(783,648
)
 
—

Ending balance
$
708,671

 
$
7,787,165

 
$
473,342

 
$
503,112

 
$
16,222

 
$
—

 
$
9,488,512

Amounts allocated to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Other loans not individually evaluated
708,671

 
7,787,165

 
473,342

 
503,112

 
16,222

 
—

 
9,488,512

Ending balance
$
708,671

 
$
7,787,165

 
$
473,342

 
$
503,112

 
$
16,222

 
$
—

 
$
9,488,512

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts collectively evaluated for impairment
$
182,841,754

 
$
385,614,400

 
$
36,084,518

 
$
77,217,378

 
$
6,392,162

 
 
 
$
688,150,212

Amounts individually evaluated for impairment
1,621,663

 
8,421,326

 
126,432

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
10,169,421

Amounts related to loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
3,580,214

 
22,539,882

 
1,233,449

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
27,353,545

Ending balance
$
188,043,631

 
$
416,575,608

 
$
37,444,399

 
$
77,217,378

 
$
6,392,162

 
 
 
$
725,673,178

________________________________
(1)
Prior to the early termination of the FDIC loss share agreements in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, only the Company’s loss share percentage of the provision for covered loan losses was recognized in the Statement of Income as a provision expense (benefit). The remainder was recorded as an increase (decrease) to the FDIC receivable for loss sharing agreements in the Statement of Financial Condition.


17

Note 6: Income Per Share
Basic net income per share for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was computed by dividing net income to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, which consists of issued shares less unallocated employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) shares and unvested restricted shares.
Diluted net income per share for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was computed by dividing net income by weighted average shares outstanding plus potential common shares resulting from dilutive stock options and unvested restricted shares, determined using the treasury stock method.
 
Three Months Ended 
 December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income
$
4,614,278

 
$
1,673,503

Denominator:
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
14,885,529

 
16,175,485

Common stock equivalents
659,687

 
534,058

Diluted shares
15,545,216

 
16,709,543

Net income per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.31

 
$
0.10

Diluted
$
0.30

 
$
0.10

For the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 there were 405,679 and 219,864, respectively, of dilutive stock options. Additionally, for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were 254,008 and 314,194 shares, respectively, of dilutive unvested restricted stock. There were no shares which were subject to options issued with exercise prices in excess of the average market value per share during the periods ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Note 7: Real Estate Owned
The following is a summary of transactions in real estate owned:
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
$
3,410,538

 
$
7,315,791

Real estate acquired through foreclosure of loans receivable
124,979

 
3,237,134

Proceeds from real estate sold
(555,531
)
 
(7,676,904
)
Provision for losses on real estate owned recognized in noninterest expense
—

 
(246,891
)
Gain on sale of real estate owned recognized in noninterest expense
184,719

 
397,392

Gain on real estate sold payable to the FDIC
—

 
1,273,132

Increase of FDIC receivable for loss sharing agreements
—

 
(830,225
)
Principal reductions
—

 
(58,891
)
Balance, end of period
$
3,164,705

 
$
3,410,538

Included in the tables above is approximately $918,000 of foreclosed residential real estate property at December 31, 2015. Additionally, the Company had approximately $178,000 of consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate in the process of foreclosure at December 31, 2015.


18

Note 8: Employee Benefits
The Company has a 2002 stock option plan which allows for stock option awards of the Company’s common stock to eligible directors and key employees of the Company. The option price is determined by a committee of the board of directors at the time of the grant and may not be less than 100% of the market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. For options granted under the 2002 stock option plan, when granted, the options vest over periods of up to four or five years from grant date or upon death, disability, or qualified retirement. All options must be exercised within a 10-year period from grant date. The Company may grant either incentive stock options, which qualify for special federal income tax treatment, or non-qualified stock options, which do not receive such tax treatment. The Company’s stockholders have authorized 882,876 shares for the plan, of which 81,241 have been issued or retired upon the exercise of the option granted under the plan, 646,972 are granted and outstanding and no shares are available to be granted at December 31, 2015 within this plan. All share and share amounts related to employee benefits have been updated to reflect the completion of the second-step conversion on April 8, 2013 at a conversion ratio of 1.2471. As of December 31, 2015, 539,468 shares have vested under this plan. During the three months ended December 31, 2015, 72,955 options from this plan vested.
In addition to the plan above, on December 19, 2013, the Company's stockholders approved the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, which allows for stock option awards of the Company’s common stock to eligible directors and key employees of the Company. The option price is determined by a committee of the board of directors at the time of the grant and may not be less than 100% of the market value of the common stock on the date of the grant. When granted, the options vest from one year to five years from grant date or upon death or disability. All options must be exercised within a 10-year period from the grant date. The Company may grant either incentive stock options, which qualify for special federal income tax treatment, or non-qualified stock options, which do not receive such tax treatment. The Company’s stockholders have authorized 1,428,943 shares for the plan, of which 1,004,680 were granted and outstanding as of December 31, 2015, with the remaining 424,263 shares available to be granted at December 31, 2015. During the three months ended December 31, 2015, 33,000 options from this plan were granted and 194,335 options from this plan vested. As of December 31, 2015, 388,670 shares have vested under this plan.
The fair value of the 33,000 options granted during the three months ended December 31, 2015, was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton model with the following assumptions:
 
 
33,000 Options
 
 
 
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.18 - 1.40%
Dividend yield
 
1.52 - 1.58%
Expected life at date of grant (months)
 
96 months
Volatility
 
13.13 - 13.70%
Weighted average grant-date fair value
 
$1.12 - 1.31
The following table summarizes activity for shares under option and weighted average exercise price per share:
 
Shares
 
Weighted average exercise price/share
 
Weighted average remaining life (years)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options outstanding – September 30, 2015
1,618,652

 
$
9.91

 
7

Options exercised
—

 
—

 
—

Options forfeited
—

 
—

 
—

Options granted
33,000

 
12.71

 
10

Options outstanding – December 31, 2015
1,651,652

 
$
9.97

 
6

Options exercisable – December 31, 2015
928,138

 
$
9.51

 
6

The stock price at December 31, 2015 was greater than the exercise prices on 1,651,652 options outstanding and therefore had an intrinsic value of $5,359,024. The total intrinsic value of all 928,138 shares exercisable at December 31, 2015 was $3,438,618.

19

Stock option expense was $80,578 and $82,749 for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The following table summarizes information about the options outstanding at December 31, 2015:
 
Number of options outstanding at
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
Remaining contractual life in years
 
 
 
Exercise price per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
384,458

 
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
$
8.82

 
 
 
174,594

 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
$
8.18

 
 
 
66,720

 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
$
7.22

 
 
 
16,212

 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
$
7.34

 
 
 
4,988

 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
$
7.79

 
 
 
971,680

 
 
 
 
8
 
 
 
$
10.89

 
 
 
30,000

 
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
$
12.66

 
 
 
3,000

 
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
$
13.16

 
 
 
1,651,652

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In addition to the above, the Company implemented the Charter Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan as described above, which has 571,577 shares authorized, and during the year ended September 30, 2014, the Company granted 360,092 shares of restricted stock to key employees and directors. During the three months ended December 31, 2015, 72,015 shares vested. The remaining 211,485 shares are available to be granted at December 31, 2015.
 
Shares
 
Weighted average grant date fair 
value per award
 
 
 
 
Unvested restricted stock awards - September 30, 2015
288,077

 
$
10.89

Granted
—

 
—

Vested
72,015

 
10.89

Canceled or expired
—

 
—

Unvested restricted stock awards – December 31, 2015
216,062

 
$
10.89

Grants between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2013 will be expensed to the earlier of scheduled vesting or substantive vesting which is when the recipient becomes qualified for retirement at age 65. Grants subsequent to December 1, 2013 will be expensed to the scheduled vesting.

Note 9: Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
In the normal course of business, the Company makes various commitments and incurs certain contingent liabilities, which are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The commitments and contingent liabilities include guarantees, commitments to extend credit, and standby letters of credit. At December 31, 2015, commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit totaled $141.3 million. The Company does not anticipate any material losses as a result of these transactions.
In the normal course of business, the Company is party (both as plaintiff and defendant) to certain matters of litigation. In the opinion of management, none of these matters should have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operation.

Note 10: Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement
Accounting standards define fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Accounting standards also establish a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The applicable standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: Level 1- Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date; Level 2- Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; Level 3- Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company evaluates fair value measurement inputs on an ongoing basis in order to determine if there is a change of sufficient significance to warrant a transfer between levels. For example, changes in market activity or the addition of new unobservable

20

inputs could, in the Company’s judgment, cause a transfer to either a higher or lower level. For the three months ended December 31, 2015, there were no transfers between levels.
All of the Company’s available for sale securities fall into Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. These securities are priced via independent service providers. In obtaining such valuation information, the Company has evaluated the valuation methodologies used to develop the fair values.
At December 31, 2015, the Company holds, as part of its investment portfolio, available for sale securities reported at fair value consisting of collateralized loan obligations (“CLO”), mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. The fair value of the majority of these securities is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including matrix pricing and broker-quote based applications. Inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads, prepayment speeds and other relevant items. These are inputs used by a third-party pricing service used by the Company. To validate the appropriateness of the valuations provided by the third party, the Company regularly updates its understanding of the inputs used and compares valuations to an additional third party source.
The Company also holds assets available for sale reported at fair value and included in other assets on the Company's balance sheet, consisting of one former branch, a parcel of land adjacent to a current branch and a parcel of land initially acquired as a proposed branch site. These assets are included in other assets on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The fair value of these assets is determined using current appraisals adjusted at management’s discretion to reflect any decline in the fair value of the properties since the time the appraisal was performed. Appraisal values are reviewed and monitored internally and fair value is reassessed at least quarterly or more frequently when circumstances occur that indicate a change in fair value. All of the Company’s assets held for sale fall into level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis:
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below.
 
December 31, 2015
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized loan obligations
$
39,398,339

 
$
—

 
$
39,398,339

 
$
—

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC certificates
33,834,094

 
—

 
33,834,094

 
—

FNMA certificates
92,879,643

 
—

 
92,879,643

 
—

GNMA certificates
1,547,101

 
—

 
1,547,101

 
—

Private-label mortgage securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
975,280

 
—

 
975,280

 
—

Split rating (1)
718,785

 
—

 
718,785

 
—

Non-investment grade
6,634,987

 
—

 
6,634,987

 
—

Total investment securities available for sale
175,988,229

 
—

 
175,988,229

 
—

Assets held for sale
1,300,304

 
—

 
—

 
1,300,304

Total recurring assets at fair value
$
177,288,533

 
$
—

 
$
175,988,229

 
$
1,300,304

__________________________________
(1)
Bonds with split ratings represent securities with both investment and non-investment grades.

21

 
September 30, 2015
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized loan obligations
$
39,496,117

 
$
—

 
$
39,496,117

 
$
—

Mortgage–backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC certificates
35,991,442

 
—

 
35,991,442

 
—

FNMA certificates
98,218,049

 
—

 
98,218,049

 
—

GNMA certificates
1,558,595

 
—

 
1,558,595

 
—

Collateralized mortgage obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLMC
39,214

 
—

 
39,214

 
—

FNMA
63,315

 
—

 
63,315

 
—

Private-label mortgage securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
1,031,316

 
—

 
1,031,316

 
—

Split rating (1)
875,416

 
—

 
875,416

 
—

Non-investment grade
7,130,625

 
—

 
7,130,625

 
—

Total investment securities available for sale
184,404,089

 
—

 
184,404,089

 
—

Assets held for sale
1,657,084

 
—

 
—

 
1,657,084

Total recurring assets at fair value
$
186,061,173

 
$
—

 
$
184,404,089

 
$
1,657,084

__________________________________
(1)
Bonds with split ratings represent securities with both investment and non-investment grades.

When a determination is made to classify a financial instrument within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy, the determination is based upon the significance of the unobservable factors to the overall fair value measurement. However, since Level 3 financial instruments typically include, in addition to the unobservable or Level 3 components, observable components (that is, components that are actively quoted and can be validated to external sources), the losses below include changes in fair value due in part to observable factors that are part of the valuation methodology.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of Level 3 assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
Fair value, beginning balance
$
1,657,084

 
$
1,744,584

Sales
(356,780
)
 
—

Valuation loss recognized in noninterest expense
—

 
(87,500
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
—

 
—

Fair value, ending balance
$
1,300,304

 
$
1,657,084


22

Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis:
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are summarized below.
 
 
 
 Fair value measurements using:
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
3,258,405

 
—

 
—

 
3,258,405

Other real estate owned
3,164,705

 
—

 
—

 
3,164,705

September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
3,357,250

 
—

 
—

 
3,357,250

Other real estate owned
3,410,538

 
—

 
—

 
3,410,538

Loans considered impaired are loans for which, based on current information and events, it is probable that the creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans are subject to nonrecurring fair value adjustments to reflect write-downs that are based on the market price or current appraised value of the collateral, adjusted to reflect local market conditions or other economic factors. After evaluating the underlying collateral, the fair value of the impaired loans is determined by allocating specific reserves from the allowance for loan and lease losses to the loans. Thus, the fair value reflects the loan balance as adjusted by partial chargedowns less the specifically allocated reserve. Certain collateral-dependent impaired loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral. Impairment is measured based on the fair value of the collateral, which is typically derived from appraisals that take into consideration prices in observed transactions involving similar assets and similar locations. Each appraisal is updated on an annual basis, either through a new appraisal or through the Company’s comprehensive internal review process. Appraised values are reviewed and monitored internally and fair value is re-assessed at least quarterly or more frequently when circumstances occur that indicate a change in fair value. The fair value of impaired loans that are not collateral dependent is measured using a discounted cash flow analysis considered to be a Level 3 input.
OREO is initially accounted for at fair value, less estimated costs to dispose of the property. Any excess of the recorded investment over fair value, less costs to dispose, is charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses at the time of foreclosure. A provision is charged to earnings for subsequent losses on OREO when market conditions indicate such losses have occurred. The ability of the Company to recover the carrying value of OREO is based upon future sales of the real estate. The ability to effect such sales is subject to market conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control, and future declines in the value of the real estate would result in a charge to earnings. The recognition of sales and gain on sales is dependent upon whether the nature and terms of the sales, including possible future involvement of the Company, if any, meet certain defined requirements. If those requirements are not met, sale and gain recognition is deferred. OREO represents real property taken by the Company either through foreclosure or through a deed in lieu thereof from the borrower. The fair value of OREO is based on property appraisals adjusted at management’s discretion to reflect a further decline in the fair value of properties since the time the appraisal analysis was performed. It has been the Company’s experience that appraisals may become outdated due to the volatile real-estate environment. Appraised values are reviewed and monitored internally and fair value is re-assessed at least quarterly or more frequently when circumstances occur that indicate a change in fair value. Therefore, the inputs used to determine the fair value of OREO and repossessed assets fall within Level 3. The Company may include within OREO other repossessed assets received as partial satisfaction of a loan. These assets are not material and do not typically have readily determinable market values and are considered Level 3 inputs.
The following table provides information describing the valuation processes used to determine recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2015:
 
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
General Range (Discount)
 
Weighted Average Discount
Impaired Loans
$
3,258,405

 
Property appraisals
 
Management discount for property type and recent market volatility
 
17%
 
—
 
52%
 
35%
OREO
$
3,164,705

 
Property appraisals
 
Management discount for property type and recent market volatility
 
14%
 
—
 
51%
 
32%
Assets Held for Sale
$
1,300,304

 
Valuation analysis
 
Management discount for property type and recent market volatility
 
0%
 
—
 
44%
 
26%

23

Accounting standards require disclosures of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the Statement of Condition, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. Also, the fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.
INVESTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND FHLB STOCK – The fair value of investment and mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale is estimated based on bid quotations received from securities dealers. The FHLB stock is considered a restricted stock and is carried at cost which approximates its fair value.
LOANS RECEIVABLE – Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type. The fair value of performing loans is calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit risk inherent in the loan. The estimate of maturity is based on the Company’s historical experience with repayments for each loan classification, modified, as required, by an estimate of the effect of the current economic and lending conditions.
Fair value for significant nonperforming loans is based on recent external appraisals. If appraisals are not available, estimated cash flows are discounted using a rate commensurate with the risk associated with the estimated cash flows. Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows, and discount rates are determined using available market information and specific borrower information. In prior periods, the Company affected estimated fair value by a liquidation discount of 5.5%. Due to the continued stabilization of the whole loan market, this liquidation discount was discontinued during the year ended September 30, 2014.
LOANS HELD FOR SALE – Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market value. The fair values of loans held for sale are based on commitments on hand from investors within the secondary market for loans with similar characteristics.
ASSETS HELD FOR SALE – The fair value of assets held for sale by the Company is generally based on the most recent appraisals of the asset or other market information as it becomes available to management.
DEPOSITS – The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as noninterest-bearing demand deposits, savings, money market and checking accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand. The fair value of time deposits is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
BORROWINGS – The fair value of the Company’s FHLB advances is estimated based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The fair value of securities sold under agreements to repurchase approximates the carrying amount because of the short maturity of these borrowings. The discount rate is estimated using rates quoted for the same or similar issues or the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.
ACCRUED INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS RECEIVABLE AND PAYABLE – The carrying amount of accrued interest and dividends receivable on loans and investments and payable on borrowings and deposits approximate their fair values.
COMMITMENTS TO EXTEND CREDIT AND STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT – The value of these unrecognized financial instruments is estimated based on the fee income associated with the commitments which, in the absence of credit exposure, is considered to approximate their settlement value. Since no significant credit exposure existed, and because such fee income is not material to the Company's financial statements at December 31, 2015 and at September 30, 2015, the fair value of these commitments is not presented.
Many of the Company's assets and liabilities are short-term financial instruments whose carrying amounts reported in the Statement of Condition approximate fair value. These items include cash and due from banks, interest-bearing bank balances, federal funds sold, other short-term borrowings and accrued interest receivable and payable balances. The estimated fair value of the Company’s remaining on-balance sheet financial instruments as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 is summarized below:

24

 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Total Estimated Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
51,881,302

 
$
51,881,302

 
$
51,881,302

 
$
—

 
$
—

Investments available for sale
175,988,229

 
175,988,229

 
—

 
175,988,229

 
—

FHLB stock
3,005,600

 
3,005,600

 
—

 
3,005,600

 
—

Loans receivable, net
679,870,414

 
677,889,396

 
—

 
—

 
677,889,396

Loans held for sale
2,285,847

 
2,330,930

 
—

 
2,330,930

 
—

Assets held for sale
1,300,304

 
1,300,304

 
—

 
—

 
1,300,304

Accrued interest and dividends receivable
2,495,117

 
2,495,117

 
—

 
490,113

 
2,005,004

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
$
744,233,967

 
$
744,956,126

 
$
—

 
$
744,956,126

 
$
—

FHLB advances
50,000,000

 
52,708,818

 
—

 
52,708,818

 
—

Accrued interest payable
226,644

 
226,644

 
—

 
226,644

 
—

 
September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Total Estimated Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
30,343,225

 
$
30,343,225

 
$
30,343,225

 
$
—

 
$
—

Investments available for sale
184,404,089

 
184,404,089

 
—

 
184,404,089

 
—

FHLB stock
3,515,600

 
3,515,600

 
—

 
3,515,600

 
—

Loans receivable, net
714,761,210

 
710,729,157

 
—

 
—

 
710,729,157

Loans held for sale
1,406,902

 
1,444,042

 
—

 
1,444,042

 
—

Assets held for sale
1,657,084

 
1,657,084

 
—

 
—

 
1,657,084

Accrued interest and dividends receivable
2,668,406

 
2,668,406

 
—

 
517,509

 
2,150,897

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 


 


 


Deposits
$
738,855,076

 
$
739,513,754

 
$
—

 
$
739,513,754

 
$
—

FHLB advances
62,000,000

 
65,418,947

 
—

 
65,418,947

 
—

Accrued interest payable
221,476

 
221,476

 
—

 
221,476

 
—



25

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations at and for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions and may describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “potential, ” “seek,” or similar expressions. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, that are worse than expected; competition among depository and other financial institutions; changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments; adverse changes in the securities markets; changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements; our ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities; the adverse effect of a breach of our computer system; our ability to successfully integrate acquired entities; our incurring higher than expected loan charge-offs with respect to assets acquired in FDIC-assisted acquisitions; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board; and changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015 under Part I Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release publicly the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
Overview
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and other interest-earning assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents), and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits and FHLB advances.
Our principal business consists of attracting deposits from the general public and investing those funds primarily in loans. We make commercial real estate loans, loans secured by first mortgages on owner-occupied, one- to four-family residences, consumer loans, loans secured by first mortgages on non-owner-occupied one- to four-family residences, construction loans secured by one- to four-family residences, commercial business loans and multi-family real estate loans. While our primary business is the origination of loans funded through retail deposits, we also invest in certain investment securities and mortgage-backed securities, and use FHLB advances and other borrowings as additional funding sources or for contingency funding.
The Company is significantly affected by prevailing general and local economic conditions, particularly market interest rates, and by government policies concerning, among other things, monetary and fiscal affairs and the federal regulation of financial institutions. Deposit balances are influenced by a number of factors, including interest rates paid on competing personal investment products, the level of personal income, and the personal rate of savings within our market areas. Lending activities are influenced by the demand for housing and other loans, changing loan underwriting guidelines, as well as interest rate pricing competition from other lending institutions. The primary sources of funds for lending activities include deposits, loan repayments, investment income, borrowings, and funds provided from operations.
On a weekly basis, management reviews deposit flows, loan demand, cash levels, and changes in several market rates to assess all pricing strategies. Generally, deposit pricing is based upon a survey of competitors in the Bank’s market areas, and the need to attract funding and retain maturing deposits.
Net income was $4.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014.

26

Atlanta Metro Expansion
As announced on December 3, 2015, the Company entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with CBS Financial Corporation (“CBS”), the parent company of Community Bank of the South. Community Bank of the South currently operates four branches located in Smyrna and Marietta, Georgia, and will add approximately $369 million in assets, $330 million in deposits, and $296 million in gross loans to CharterBank's operations. Upon consummation of the pending merger, approximately 60% of the Company's loans and deposits will be in the Atlanta Combined Statistical Area (“CSA”). The transaction is expected to close in April 2016.

Critical Accounting Policies
Critical accounting policies are those that involve significant judgments and assessments by management, and which could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. As discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, the Company considers its critical accounting policies to be the allowance for loan losses, other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities, real estate owned, goodwill and other intangible assets, deferred income taxes, and estimation of fair value. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies during the three months ended December 31, 2015.

Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015
Assets. Total assets decreased $22.2 million to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015. This decrease was due in part an outlay of cash to pay off $12.0 million of overnight borrowing from the FHLB in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Net loans declined $34.9 million, or 4.9%, to $679.9 million at December 31, 2015, from $714.8 million at September 30, 2015.
Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents increased $21.5 million to $51.9 million at December 31, 2015, up from $30.3 million at September 30, 2015. This increase was primarily due to a significant amount of loan prepayments and an increase in retail deposits, partially offset by the repurchase of shares under the ongoing stock buyback program and the repayment of overnight borrowings at the FHLB.
Loans. At December 31, 2015, net loans were $679.9 million, or 67.7% of total assets, compared with $714.8 million, or 69.6% of total assets, at September 30, 2015. As indicated by the table below, there was a noticeable decrease in net loans in the current period due to prepayments on a small number of large loan relationships. The prepayments were primarily due to the collateral in these loan relationships being sold, including a local home builder who was acquired by a national builder. We anticipate this trend reversing in the second half of fiscal 2016 as we expect to see portfolio growth through both acquisitions and organic sources. Despite this quarter over quarter decline, net loans increased $52.1 million, or 8.3%, since December 31, 2014.
________________________________
(1)
Loans are shown net of deferred loan fees, allowance for loan losses, nonaccretable differences and accretable discounts.


27

Investment Securities Portfolio. At December 31, 2015, our investment securities portfolio totaled $176.0 million, compared to $184.4 million at September 30, 2015. The decrease was attributable to $5.6 million in principal paydowns, $1.2 million in net sales of securities and a $1.6 million increase in unrealized losses on available for sale securities during the first three months of fiscal 2016.
During fiscal 2015 and the first quarter of fiscal 2016, we have had no additional other-than-temporary impairment charges on non-agency collateralized mortgage backed securities. Through December 31, 2015, we had recorded a cumulative $380,000 of other-than-temporary impairment charges with respect to one private label security. No other non-agency collateralized mortgage backed securities in our investment portfolio were other- than- temporarily impaired at December 31, 2015.
Bank Owned Life Insurance. We invest in bank owned life insurance to provide us with a funding source for our benefit plan obligations. Bank owned life insurance also generally provides us noninterest income that is non-taxable. The total cash surrender values of bank owned life insurance policies at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015 were $48.7 million and $48.4 million, respectively.
Deposits. Total deposits increased $5.3 million to $744.2 million at December 31, 2015 from $738.9 million at September 30, 2015. The increase was attributable to increases of $4.8 million, $4.2 million and $1.9 million in money market accounts, transaction accounts and retail CDs, respectively. This growth was partially offset by $5.0 million of a three-month brokered CD that matured during the quarter ended December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, $713.6 million of deposits were retail deposits. We currently have $30.6 million deposits classified as wholesale deposits, which are brokered deposits. The following table shows deposit fees earned and deposit balances by category for the quarter end periods indicated:
 
 
 
Deposit Balances
 
Deposit & Bankcard Fees
 
Checking
 
Savings
 
Money Market
 
Total Core Deposits
 
Retail Certificates of Deposit
 
Wholesale Certificates of Deposit
 
Total Deposits
 

 
(dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2015
$
2,898

 
$
331,570

 
$
50,017

 
$
131,997

 
$
513,584

 
$
200,061

 
$
30,589

 
$
744,234

September 30, 2015
2,767

 
327,373

 
50,566

 
127,215

 
505,154

 
198,124

 
35,577

 
738,855

June 30, 2015
2,679

 
328,961

 
51,292

 
125,468

 
505,721

 
197,750

 
30,767

 
734,238

March 31, 2015
2,507

 
328,012

 
49,848

 
122,990

 
500,850

 
205,118

 
30,835

 
736,803

December 31, 2014
2,530

 
310,891

 
48,380

 
124,017

 
483,288

 
218,187

 
—

 
701,475

September 30, 2014
2,512

 
314,201

 
48,486

 
123,561

 
486,248

 
230,944

 
—

 
717,192

June 30, 2014
2,370

 
312,962

 
48,752

 
124,678

 
486,392

 
243,217

 
—

 
729,609

March 31, 2014
2,235

 
314,788

 
48,775

 
128,022

 
491,585

 
250,479

 
—

 
742,064

December 31, 2013
2,256

 
295,848

 
47,531

 
131,010

 
474,389

 
258,265

 
5,000

 
737,654

Borrowings. Our borrowings consist of advances from the FHLB of Atlanta. At December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, borrowings totaled $50.0 million and $62.0 million, respectively. The year-to-date decrease was due to $12.0 million of variable rate overnight borrowings that were repaid in the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The remaining fixed-rate borrowings mature in May 2016 and February 2019.
Based upon actual collateral pledged, excluding cash, additional advances of $96.8 million were available along with securities available for sale with lendable collateral value of $89.0 million that were also available to be pledged at December 31, 2015.
At December 31, 2015, approximately $60.6 million of credit was available to us at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta based on loan collateral pledged. The line of credit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta was not used other than during periodic testing to ensure the line was functional.
Stockholders’ Equity. At December 31, 2015, total stockholders’ equity totaled $198.4 million, or $13.03 per net share, a $6.6 million decline from September 30, 2015 due to $10.3 million of shares repurchased, a $1.1 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss and $749,000 of cash dividends paid, partially offset by $4.6 million of net income during the three months ended December 31, 2015. Despite the decrease in total stockholders’ equity, tangible book value increased to $12.73 per share at December 31, 2015 compared with $12.48 per share at September 30, 2015, due to the stock repurchases and associated reduced weighted average share count for the three months ended December 31, 2015.


28

Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
General. Net income increased $2.9 million to $4.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $1.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily due to $2.9 million of recoveries on previously charged-off loss share loans recognized in noninterest income during the current year period, combined with a $1.6 million increase in net interest income. Net interest income increased primarily due to 13.4% increase in the average balance of loans receivable combined with a 19 basis point increase in yield on loans for the three months ended December 31, 2015 compared with the prior year quarter.
Interest Income. Total interest income increased $1.4 million, or 16.4%, to $10.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $9.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. This increase was attributable to an increase in loan interest income, excluding accretion and amortization of the FDIC loss share receivable, of $929,000, combined with an increase in net discount accretion and amortization of $497,000. The average balance of loans receivable for the three months ended December 31, 2015, increased $83.8 million to $707.9 million, compared with the prior year period, while yield on loans increased to 5.33% from 5.14%.
The table below shows discount accretion included in income over the past seven years and for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 and the remaining discount to be recognized as of December 31, 2015:
 
 
Loan Accretion (Amortization)
 
 
2009
 
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
 
1Q 2016
 
 
Remaining(2)
 
 
(in thousands)
NCB
 
$
1,698

 
$
4,519

 
$
2,272

 
$
751

 
$
844

 
$
239

 
$
68

 
 
$
—

 
 
$
—

MCB
 
—

 
3,242

 
5,742

 
3,740

 
3,086

 
3,110

 
2,621

 
 
285

 
 
466

FNB
 
—

 
—

 
252

 
4,497

 
4,993

 
3,245

 
3,256

 
 
884

 
 
1,828

Total
 
1,698

 
7,761

 
8,266

 
8,988

 
8,923

 
6,594

 
5,945

 
 
1,169

 
 
2,294

Amortization (1)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,507
)
 
(2,387
)
 
 
—

 
 
—

Net
 
$
1,698

 
$
7,761

 
$
8,266

 
$
8,988

 
$
8,923

 
$
3,087

 
$
3,558

 
 
$
1,169

 
 
$
2,294

__________________________________
(1)
Based on revised estimated cash flows related to covered loans, $2.4 million of the FDIC indemnification asset was amortized as an offset to loan interest income in the year ended September 30, 2015 and $3.5 million in the year ended September 30, 2014.
(2)
Due to the termination of all loss share agreements with the FDIC in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the FDIC indemnification asset was fully impaired and no amortization will be taken in future periods.

Interest on mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations decreased $149,000 to $682,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $831,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. This decrease was primarily attributable to a $32.5 million, or 18.7%, decrease in the average balance of such securities to $141.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year due in part to the growth in our CLO portfolio. Interest on other investment securities, which consisted of municipal securities and CLOs, increased $219,000 to $264,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $45,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 as other investment securities average balances increased $23.9 million to $39.5 million. Additionally, the average yield increased to 2.67% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from 1.15% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 as municipal securities were sold and replaced with higher yielding collateralized loan obligations.

29

The following table shows selected average yield and cost information for the quarter end periods indicated:
 
 Three Months Ended
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
 
June 30, 2015
 
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yield on loans
5.33%
 
5.40%
 
5.02%
 
4.95%
 
5.14%
Yield on securities
2.10%
 
2.00%
 
1.99%
 
2.01%
 
1.85%
Yield on assets
4.56%
 
4.58%
 
4.16%
 
4.10%
 
4.07%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of deposits
0.42%
 
0.42%
 
0.43%
 
0.43%
 
0.48%
Cost of CDs
0.88%
 
0.88%
 
0.92%
 
0.93%
 
1.04%
Cost of interest bearing checking
0.12%
 
0.13%
 
0.12%
 
0.12%
 
0.13%
Cost of bank rewarded checking
0.20%
 
0.20%
 
0.20%
 
0.20%
 
0.23%
Cost of savings
0.03%
 
0.02%
 
0.02%
 
0.02%
 
0.02%
Cost of MMDA
0.23%
 
0.22%
 
0.20%
 
0.21%
 
0.22%
Cost of borrowings
4.28%
 
3.81%
 
4.36%
 
4.29%
 
4.35%
Cost of liabilities
0.71%
 
0.70%
 
0.72%
 
0.74%
 
0.80%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan/deposit spread
4.91%
 
4.98%
 
4.59%
 
4.52%
 
4.66%
Asset/liability spread
3.85%
 
3.88%
 
3.44%
 
3.36%
 
3.27%
Interest Expense. Total interest expense decreased $117,000, or 8.8%, to $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to $1.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. Interest expense declined due in part to a nine basis point, or 11.3%, decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 0.71% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from 0.80% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, reflecting continued low market interest rates. While the cost of interest-bearing liabilities fell during the three months ended December 31, 2015, the average balances increased $22.2 million to $689.2 million compared to the prior year quarter.
Interest expense on deposits decreased $68,000, or 9.1%, to $665,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $733,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to a six basis point decrease in the average cost of deposits to 0.42% for the current quarter compared to 0.48% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in the average cost of deposits was largely due to low market interest rates and a decrease in higher costing certificates of deposit. Despite a $7.4 million, or 3.3%, increase in the average balance of CDs for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, the cost fell $73,000 to $508,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, from $581,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, reflecting the 16 basis point decrease in the average cost to 0.88%. Interest expense on FHLB advances decreased $50,000 to $553,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to $603,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, due to a decrease of $3.8 million, or 6.8%, in the average balance of advances.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased $1.6 million, or 20.8%, to $9.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, from $7.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The net increase was due to an increase in interest income of $1.5 million combined with a decrease in interest expense of $117,000. Net interest income included $1.2 million of net purchase discount accretion income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $672,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. Additionally, the year over year increase in average loans of $83.8 million combined with a 19 basis point increase in yield contributed to the increase in net interest income.
Despite an increase of $26.0 million in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to the prior year period, total interest expense decreased 8.8%. As the table below indicates, our net interest margin increased 56 basis points to 4.03% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from 3.47% for the prior year quarter, while our net interest rate spread increased 58 basis points to 3.85% for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 from 3.27% for the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Additionally, net interest margin excluding the effects of purchase accounting was 3.51% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to 3.14% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2015, there was $2.3 million of discount remaining to accrete into interest income over the remaining life of the acquired loans with the accretion heavily weighted towards the early quarters based on current cash flow projections.

30

 
For the Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Average Yield/Cost (10)
 
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Average Yield/Cost (10)
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions
$
23,371

 
$
12

 
0.21
%
 
$
63,892

 
$
41

 
0.26
%
FHLB common stock and other equity securities
3,078

 
39

 
5.06

 
3,460

 
37

 
4.24

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale
141,087

 
682

 
1.93

 
173,610

 
831

 
1.91

Other investment securities available for sale (1)
39,486

 
264

 
2.67

 
15,549

 
45

 
1.15

Loans receivable (1)(2)(3)(4)
707,926

 
8,273

 
4.67

 
624,082

 
7,343

 
4.71

Accretion and amortization of loss share loans receivable (5)
 
 
1,169

 
0.66

 
 
 
672

 
0.43

Total interest-earning assets
914,948

 
10,439

 
4.56

 
880,593

 
8,969

 
4.07

Total noninterest-earning assets
94,441

 
 
 
 

 
110,087

 
 
 
 

Total assets
$
1,009,389

 
 
 
 

 
$
990,680

 
 
 
 

Liabilities and Equity:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest bearing checking
$
177,536

 
$
55

 
0.12
%
 
$
166,124

 
$
54

 
0.13
%
Bank rewarded checking
46,705

 
23

 
0.20

 
47,313

 
27

 
0.23

Savings accounts
50,390

 
4

 
0.03

 
48,232

 
2

 
0.02

Money market deposit accounts
130,890

 
75

 
0.23

 
125,302

 
69

 
0.22

Certificate of deposit accounts
232,011

 
508

 
0.88

 
224,592

 
581

 
1.04

Total interest-bearing deposits
637,532

 
665

 
0.42

 
611,563

 
733

 
0.48

Borrowed funds
51,630

 
553

 
4.28

 
55,381

 
603

 
4.35

Total interest-bearing liabilities
689,162

 
1,218

 
0.71

 
666,944

 
1,336

 
0.80

Noninterest-bearing deposits
103,433

 
 
 
 

 
95,240

 
 
 
 

Other noninterest-bearing liabilities
10,916

 
 
 
 

 
11,630

 
 
 
 

Total noninterest-bearing liabilities
114,349

 
 
 
 

 
106,870

 
 
 
 

Total liabilities
803,511

 
 
 
 

 
773,814

 
 
 
 

Total stockholders' equity
205,878

 
 
 
 

 
216,866

 
 
 
 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
1,009,389

 
 
 
 

 
$
990,680

 
 
 
 

Net interest income
 

 
$
9,221

 
 

 
 

 
$
7,633

 
 

Net interest-earning assets (6)
 

 
$
225,786

 
 

 
 

 
$
213,649

 
 

Net interest rate spread (7)
 

 
 

 
3.85
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.27
%
Net interest margin (8)
 

 
 

 
4.03
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.47
%
Net interest margin, excluding the effects of purchase accounting (9)
 
 
 
 
3.51
%
 
 
 
 
 
3.14
%
Ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
 
 
 
 
132.76
%
 
 
 
 
 
132.03
%
__________________________________
(1)
Tax exempt or tax-advantaged securities and loans are shown at their contractual yields and are not shown at a tax equivalent yield.
(2)
Includes net loan fees deferred and accreted pursuant to applicable accounting requirements.
(3)
Interest income on loans is interest income as recorded in the income statement and, therefore, does not include interest income on nonaccrual loans.
(4)
Interest income on loans excludes discount accretion and amortization of the indemnification asset.
(5)
Accretion of accretable purchase discount on loans acquired in FDIC-assisted acquisitions and amortization of the overstatement of FDIC indemnification asset.
(6)
Net interest-earning assets represent total average interest-earning assets less total average interest-bearing liabilities.
(7)
Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(8)
Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.
(9)
Net interest margin, excluding the effects of purchase accounting represents net interest income excluding accretion and amortization of loss share loans receivable as a percentage of average net interest earning assets excluding loan accretable discounts in the amount of $3.1 million and $5.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
(10)
Annualized.

31

Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table presents the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income for the periods indicated. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rates (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The combined column represents the net change in volume between the two periods multiplied by the net change in rate between the two periods. The net column represents the sum of the prior columns.
 
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
Compared to the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014
 
Increase/(Decrease) Due to
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Combined
 
Net
 
(dollars in thousands)
Interest Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions
$
(26
)
 
$
(7
)
 
$
4

 
$
(29
)
FHLB common stock and other equity securities
(4
)
 
7

 
(1
)
 
2

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations available for sale
(156
)
 
9

 
(2
)
 
(149
)
Other investment securities available for sale
69

 
59

 
91

 
219

Loans receivable
1,077

 
309

 
41

 
1,427

Total interest-earning assets
$
960

 
$
377

 
$
133

 
$
1,470

Interest Expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Checking accounts
$
4

 
$
(7
)
 
$
—

 
$
(3
)
Savings accounts
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

Money market deposit accounts
3

 
2

 
1

 
6

Certificate of deposit accounts
19

 
(89
)
 
(3
)
 
(73
)
Total interest-bearing deposits
26

 
(92
)
 
(2
)
 
(68
)
Borrowed funds
(41
)
 
(10
)
 
1

 
(50
)
Total interest-bearing liabilities
$
(15
)
 
$
(102
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(118
)
Net change in net interest income
$
975

 
$
479

 
$
134

 
$
1,588

Provision for Loan Losses. No provision for loan losses was recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2015 due to the trend of declining levels of charge-offs, along with an overall improvement in the loan portfolio in recent quarters. During the prior year period, a net provision of $4,000 related to acquired covered loans was recorded.
Net recoveries for the three months ended December 31, 2015 were $207,000, compared to net charge-offs of $44,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2014. The allowance for loan losses was $9.7 million, or 1.40% of total loans receivable, at December 31, 2015. Our nonperforming loans decreased to $2.5 million, or 0.36%, of total loans at December 31, 2015 from $3.3 million of total loans at December 31, 2014. As a result, our allowance as a percent of nonperforming loans increased to 391.42% at December 31, 2015. While our allowance coverage ratios strengthened during the quarter, based on our analysis, we did not feel it was appropriate to record negative provision at this time. See our discussion on the allowance for further information.
Noninterest Income. Noninterest income increased $3.2 million, or 91.6%, to $6.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $3.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The increase was attributable to a $369,000 increase in bankcard fee and other deposit fee income along with $2.9 million in nonrecurring recoveries on charged-off loans that were previously covered by loss share agreements with the FDIC.

32

The following table shows noninterest income by category for the periods indicated.
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
Dec 31, 2015
 
Sep 30, 2015
 
Jun 30, 2015
 
Mar 31, 2015
 
Dec 31, 2014
 
(dollars in thousands)
Service charges on deposit accounts
$
1,753

 
$
1,691

 
$
1,663

 
$
1,513

 
$
1,582

Bankcard fees
1,146

 
1,076

 
1,016

 
994

 
948

Gain on sale of loans and loan servicing release fees
348

 
459

 
435

 
352

 
367

Brokerage commissions
142

 
165

 
211

 
202

 
154

Bank owned life insurance
321

 
321

 
321

 
279

 
324

Gain (loss) on investment securities available for sale
36

 
—

 
—

 
(28
)
 
1

FDIC receivable (impairment) accretion
—

 
(2,529
)
 
20

 
27

 
47

Other (1)
3,085

 
313

 
150

 
112

 
143

Total noninterest income
$
6,831

 
$
1,496

 
$
3,816

 
$
3,451

 
$
3,566

__________________________________
(1)
$2.9 million of recoveries on loans that were previously covered by loss share agreements with the FDIC were recognized in noninterest income in the three months ended December 31, 2015.

Noninterest Expense. Total noninterest expense increased to $9.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $8.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The overall increase was primarily attributable to increases in salaries and employee benefits and legal and professional fees.
The following table shows noninterest expense by category for the periods indicated:
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
Dec 31, 2015
 
Sep 30, 2015
 
Jun 30, 2015
 
Mar 31, 2015
 
Dec 31, 2014
 
(dollars in thousands)
Salaries and employee benefits
$
5,263

 
$
5,586

 
$
5,035

 
$
5,078

 
$
5,014

Occupancy
1,910

 
2,030

 
1,927

 
1,838

 
1,876

Legal and professional
380

 
404

 
352

 
385

 
241

Marketing
261

 
344

 
306

 
367

 
265

Furniture and equipment
168

 
278

 
229

 
224

 
151

Postage, office supplies, and printing
185

 
186

 
222

 
224

 
241

Core deposit intangible amortization expense
49

 
60

 
64

 
68

 
74

Federal insurance premiums and other regulatory fees
224

 
191

 
189

 
180

 
196

Net (benefit) cost of operations of other real estate owned
(21
)
 
(19
)
 
(30
)
 
142

 
(57
)
Other
659

 
922

 
757

 
557

 
735

Total noninterest expense
$
9,078

 
$
9,982

 
$
9,051

 
$
9,063

 
$
8,736

Income Taxes. Income taxes increased to $2.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $786,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. Our effective tax rate was 33.8% in the quarter ended December 31, 2015 and 32.0% in the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The increase was due primarily to a relatively small change in favorable permanent tax differences in comparison to the significant increase in taxable income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.


33

Asset Quality
Delinquent Loans and Foreclosed Assets. Our policies require that management continuously monitor the status of the loan portfolio and report to the Loan Committee of the Board of Directors on a monthly basis. These reports include information on delinquent loans and foreclosed real estate, and our actions and plans to cure the delinquent status of the loans and to dispose of the foreclosed property. The Loan Committee is comprised of three outside directors including the chairman, a permanent position, and two other positions, which alternate between four outside directors. Additionally, two inside directors serve as ex officio members of the committee.
We generally stop accruing interest income when we consider the timely collectability of interest or principal to be doubtful. We generally stop accruing for loans that are 90 days or more past due unless the loan is well secured and we determine that the ultimate collection of all principal and interest is not in doubt. When we designate loans as nonaccrual, we reverse all outstanding unpaid interest that we had previously credited. These loans remain on nonaccrual status until a regular pattern of timely payments is established.
Impaired loans are individually assessed to determine whether the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the collateral or the present value of the expected cash flows to be received. Smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as residential mortgage loans and consumer loans, are collectively evaluated for impairment.
Real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure is classified as OREO until it is sold. When real estate is acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, it is recorded at the lower of the related loan balance or its fair value as determined by an appraisal, less estimated costs of disposal. If the value of the property is less than the loan, less any related specific loan loss reserve allocations, the difference is charged against the allowance for loan losses. Any subsequent write-down of OREO or loss at the time of disposition is charged against earnings.

34

Nonperforming Assets. The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of our nonperforming assets at the dates indicated.
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
 
(dollars in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans: (1) (2)
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
$
1,112

 
$
1,470

Commercial real estate
1,210

 
2,513

Commercial
137

 
126

Real estate construction
—

 
—

Consumer and other loans
4

 
5

Total nonaccrual loans
2,463

 
4,114

Loans delinquent 90 days or greater and still accruing:
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
14

 
14

Commercial real estate
—

 
—

Commercial
—

 
—

Real estate construction
—

 
—

Consumer and other loans
—

 
—

Total loans delinquent 90 days or greater and still accruing
14

 
14

Total nonperforming loans
2,477

 
4,128

Other real estate owned:
 
 
 
1-4 family residential real estate
919

 
1,104

Commercial real estate
2,246

 
2,307

Commercial
—

 
—

Real estate construction
—

 
—

Consumer and other loans
—

 
—

Total real estate owned
3,165

 
3,411

Total nonperforming assets
$
5,642

 
$
7,539

Ratios:
 
 
 
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans, gross
0.36
%
 
0.57
%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets
0.56
%
 
0.73
%
__________________________________
(1)
Included in nonaccrual loans is $317,000 and $1.6 million of non-accruing troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively.
(2)
Acquired FAS ASC 310-30 loans that were previously covered under loss share agreements with the FDIC, and have associated accretable discount remaining, in the amount of $656,000 and $4.8 million are excluded from this table as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively. Due to the recognition of accretion income that was established at the time of acquisition, FAS ASC 310-30 loans that were greater than 90 days delinquent or otherwise considered nonperforming loans are regarded as performing loans for reporting purposes.

Nonperforming assets decreased $1.9 million during the three months ended December 31, 2015 due primarily to a $1.7 million decrease in nonaccrual loans combined with a slight decrease in real estate owned. We have 33 loans that remain nonperforming at December 31, 2015, and the largest nonperforming loan had a balance of $621,000 and was secured by commercial real estate.
For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, interest income recognized on impaired loans, which includes nonperforming loans and accruing troubled debt restructured loans, was approximately $117,000 and $362,000, respectively. Additional gross interest income that would have been recorded had our impaired loans been current in accordance with their original terms was approximately $53,000 and $288,000, respectively, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015.
Allowance for Loan Losses on Loans. The allowance for loan losses represents a reserve for probable loan losses in the loan portfolio. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is evaluated periodically based on a review of all significant loans with particular emphasis on impaired, nonaccrual, past due and other loans that management believes require special attention. The determination of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting policy.

35

Additions to the allowance for loan losses are made periodically to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level based on management’s analysis of loss inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the provision for loan losses is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, loss risk as determined based on a loan grading system, the level of nonperforming loans, historical loss experience, delinquency trends, the amount of losses charged to the allowance in a given period, and an assessment of economic conditions. Management believes the current allowance for loan losses is adequate based on its analysis of the losses in the portfolio.
The Company did not make a provision in the quarter ended December 31, 2015 due to the long term trend of declining net charge-offs and overall improvement in the credit quality of the loan portfolio. The following table sets forth activity in our allowance for loan losses for the period indicated.
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
1-4 family real estate
 
Commercial real estate
 
Commercial
 
Real estate construction
 
Consumer and other
 
Unallocated
 
Total
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
708,671

 
$
7,787,165

 
$
473,342

 
$
503,112

 
$
16,222

 
$
—

 
$
9,488,512

Charge-offs
(10,841
)
 
—

 
(504
)
 
—

 
(3,222
)
 
—

 
(14,567
)
Recoveries
16,646

 
91,664

 
108,998

 
—

 
4,134

 
—

 
221,442

Provision
(22,266
)
 
(675,850
)
 
(17,191
)
 
(41,689
)
 
19,716

 
737,280

 
—

Ending balance
$
692,210

 
$
7,202,979

 
$
564,645

 
$
461,423

 
$
36,850

 
$
737,280

 
$
9,695,387

Amounts allocated to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Other loans not individually evaluated
692,210

 
7,202,979

 
564,645

 
461,423

 
36,850

 
737,280

 
9,695,387

Ending balance
$
692,210

 
$
7,202,979

 
$
564,645

 
$
461,423

 
$
36,850

 
$
737,280

 
$
9,695,387

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts collectively evaluated for impairment
$
177,812,787

 
$
369,590,945

 
$
35,449,441

 
$
61,816,380

 
$
10,714,069

 
 
 
$
655,383,622

Amounts individually evaluated for impairment
1,262,929

 
8,337,154

 
137,152

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
9,737,235

Amounts related to loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
3,221,699

 
18,094,935

 
4,249,880

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
25,566,514

Ending balance
$
182,297,415

 
$
396,023,034

 
$
39,836,473

 
$
61,816,380

 
$
10,714,069

 
 
 
$
690,687,371

Our allowance for loan loss methodology is a loan classification-based system. Our allowance for loan losses is segmented into the following four major categories: (1) specific reserves; (2) general allowances for Classified/Watch loans; (3) general allowances for loans with satisfactory ratings; and (4) an unallocated amount. We base the required reserve on a percentage of the loan balance for each type of loan and classification level. Loans may be classified manually and are automatically classified if they are not previously classified when they reach certain levels of delinquency. Unclassified loans are reserved at different percentages based on our loan loss history for the last two years. Reserve percentages are also adjusted based upon our estimate of the effect that the current economic environment will have on each type of loan.
Potential problem loans are loans as to which management has serious doubts about the ability of the borrowers to comply with present repayment terms. Management classifies potential problem loans as either special mention or substandard. Potential problem loans aggregated $39.5 million and $42.4 million at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively, with $8.6 million and $5.2 million classified special mention and $30.9 million and $37.2 million classified substandard at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively.
Our largest substandard loan relationship at December 31, 2015 had a balance of $4.8 million. As of December 31, 2015, all loans in the relationship are current and interest due has been paid. The loan relationship is collateralized by income producing properties in Alabama. We believe we are adequately collateralized, even at lower current real estate values.
The allowance for loan losses represented 391.42% and 229.85% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively. This increase was due to a $1.7 million decline in nonperforming loans in the current period along with a slight increase in our allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 1.40% and 1.30% at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively. The increase was due to $207,000 of net recoveries that impacted our allowance for loan losses and no provision recorded in the current period, along with a 4.88% drop in net loan

36

balances at December 31, 2015. Management retained an unallocated allowance to maintain the overall allowance at a level reflective of continued economic uncertainties.
The growth in the allowance as a percentage of total loans was due primarily to the decline in total loan balances during the quarter. As noted earlier, this decline in loan balances in the current period was due to prepayments on a small number of large loan relationships and we do not feel that this will be an ongoing trend based on our loan growth over the past six quarters. For the quarter, rather than releasing allowance and recording negative provision, we maintained the level of the allowance by recording unallocated reserve which is in keeping with our allowance policies. Should the loan trends witnessed during this quarter continue, we may be required to release reserves in future periods.
Management reviews the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a continuous basis. Management considered the allowance for loan losses adequate at December 31, 2015 to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. However, adverse economic circumstances or other events, including additional loan review, future regulatory examination findings or changes in borrowers' financial conditions, could result in increased losses in the loan portfolio or in the need for increases in the allowance for loan losses.
Liquidity Management. Liquidity is defined as the ability to meet current and future short-term financial obligations. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposit inflows, advances from the FHLB, loan payments and prepayments, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations repayments and maturities and sales of loans and other securities. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions and competition. Our Asset/Liability Management Committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring our liquidity targets and strategies in order to ensure that sufficient liquidity exists for meeting the borrowing needs of our customers as well as unanticipated contingencies. At December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, we had access to immediately available funds of approximately $209.3 million and $180.5 million, respectively, including overnight funds, FHLB borrowing capacity and a Federal Reserve line of credit. Additionally, securities with lendable collateral value of $89.0 million and $97.9 million were available to be pledged at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively.
We regularly adjust our investments in liquid assets based upon our assessment of expected loan demand, expected deposit flows, yields available on interest-earning deposits and securities, and the objectives of our asset/liability management program. Excess liquid assets are invested generally in interest-earning deposits and short- and intermediate-term securities.
Our most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents. The levels of these assets are subject to our operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At December 31, 2015, cash and cash equivalents totaled $51.9 million. Securities classified as available-for-sale, which provide additional sources of liquidity, totaled $176.0 million at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, we had $50.0 million in advances outstanding from the FHLB. However, based on available pledged and unpledged collateral other than cash, $96.8 million and $89.0 million, respectively, in additional advances were available as of December 31, 2015.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in our Consolidated Financial Statements.
At December 31, 2015, we had $41.4 million of new loan commitments outstanding, and $62.3 million of unfunded construction and development loans. In addition to commitments to originate loans, we had $37.6 million of unused lines of credit to borrowers. Certificates of deposit due within one year of December 31, 2015 totaled $124.1 million, or 16.7% of total deposits. If these deposits do not remain with us, we will be required to seek other sources of funds, including other certificates of deposit and FHLB advances. Depending on market conditions, we may be required to pay higher rates on such deposits or other borrowings than we currently pay on the certificates of deposit due on or before December 31, 2016. We believe, however, based on past experience that a significant portion of our certificates of deposit will remain with us. We have the ability to attract and retain deposits by adjusting the interest rates offered.
Our primary investing activities are the origination of loans and the purchase of securities. During the three months ended December 31, 2015, we originated $51.4 million of loans. No securities were purchased during the period.
Financing activities consist primarily of additions to deposit accounts and FHLB advances. We experienced a net increase in total deposits of $5.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to increases of $8.4 million and $1.9 million in core deposits and retail CDs, respectively. We also had $5.0 million of three-month brokered CDs mature during the period. Deposit flows are affected by the overall level of interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by us and our local competitors and other factors.

37

Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the FHLB which provides an additional source of funds. FHLB advances have been used primarily to fund loan demand and to purchase securities.
Capital Management and Resources. The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, including a risk-based capital measure. The risk-based capital guidelines include both a definition of capital and a framework for calculating risk-weighted assets by assigning balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet items to broad risk categories. Our regulatory capital ratios currently reflect the incorporation of Basel III and these changes had a minor impact on our capital ratios. The Bank upstreamed $17.5 million to the holding company during the second quarter of fiscal 2015 which is also reflected in these ratios at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the Bank exceeded all of its regulatory capital requirements. The Bank is considered “well capitalized” under regulatory guidelines.
 
 
Actual
 
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
 
To be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
$
182,496

 
23.23
%
 
$
62,839

 
8.00
%
 
$
78,549

 
10.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
172,801

 
22.00

 
47,129

 
6.00

 
62,839

 
8.00

Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
172,801

 
22.00

 
35,347

 
4.50

 
51,057

 
6.50

Tier 1 leverage (to average assets)
 
172,801

 
17.19

 
40,213

 
4.00

 
50,266

 
5.00

September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
$
177,322

 
21.71
%
 
$
65,350

 
8.00
%
 
$
81,687

 
10.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
167,834

 
20.55

 
49,012

 
6.00

 
65,350

 
8.00

Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
167,834

 
20.55

 
36,759

 
4.50

 
53,097

 
6.50

Tier 1 leverage (to average assets)
 
167,834

 
16.04

 
41,857

 
4.00

 
52,321

 
5.00

The Company continues to seek strategic means to deploy the additional capital from the stock offering completed in 2013. This may include stock buybacks, dividends, loan portfolio growth when available and appropriately priced acquisitions of other financial institutions.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. In the normal course of operations, we engage in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, are not recorded in our consolidated financial statements. These transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk. Such transactions are used primarily to manage customers’ requests for funding and take the form of loan commitments and lines of credit.
For the three months ended December 31, 2015, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Qualitative Aspects of Market Risk. The Company’s most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk. We manage the interest rate sensitivity of our interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets in an effort to minimize the adverse effects of changes in the interest rate environment. Deposit accounts typically react more quickly to changes in market interest rates than mortgage loans because of the shorter maturities of deposits. As a result, sharp increases in interest rates may adversely affect our earnings. We employ several strategies to manage the interest rate risk inherent in our mix of assets and liabilities, including:
•
selling fixed rate mortgages we originate to the secondary market;
•
maintaining the diversity of our existing loan portfolio by originating commercial real estate and consumer loans, which typically have adjustable rates and/or shorter terms than residential mortgages;
•
emphasizing loans with adjustable interest rates;
•
maintaining fixed rate borrowings from the FHLB of Atlanta; and
•
increasing retail transaction deposit accounts, which typically have long durations.
We have an Asset/Liability Management Committee to communicate, coordinate and control all aspects involving asset/liability management. The committee establishes and monitors the volume, maturities, pricing and mix of assets and funding

38

sources with the objective of managing assets and funding sources to provide results that are consistent with liquidity, growth, risk limits and profitability goals.
Quantitative Aspects of Market Risk. We compute the amounts by which the difference between the present value of an institution's assets and liabilities (the institution's net portfolio value or “NPV”) would change in the event of a range of assumed changes in market interest rates. Our simulation model uses a discounted cash flow analysis to measure the interest rate sensitivity of NPV. Depending on current market interest rates we historically have estimated the economic value of these assets and liabilities under the assumption that interest rates experience an instantaneous and sustained increase of 100, 200, or 300 basis points, or a decrease of 100 and 200 basis points. A basis point equals one-hundredth of one percent, and 100 basis points equals one percent. An increase in interest rates from 3% to 4% would mean, for example, a 100 basis point increase in the “Change in Interest Rates” column below. Given the current relatively low level of market interest rates, a NPV calculation for an interest rate decrease of greater than 100 basis points has not been prepared.
The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2015, our calculation of the estimated changes in the Bank’s net portfolio value that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel shift in the interest rate yield curve.
Change in Interest Rates (bp) (1)
 
Estimated NPV (2)
 
Estimated Increase (Decrease) in NPV
 
Percentage Change in NPV
 
NPV Ratio as a Percent of
Present Value of Assets (3)(4)
 
Increase (Decrease) in NPV Ratio as a
Percent or Present Value of Assets (3)(4)
(dollars in thousands)
300
 
$
213,311

 
$
(10,401
)
 
(4.6)%
 
21.3%
 
(1.0)%
200
 
$
216,837

 
$
(6,875
)
 
(3.1)%
 
21.6%
 
(0.7)%
100
 
$
220,329

 
$
(3,383
)
 
(1.5)%
 
22.0%
 
(0.3)%
—
 
$
223,712

 
$
—

 
—%
 
22.3%
 
—%
(100)
 
$
217,984

 
$
(5,728
)
 
(2.6)%
 
21.8%
 
(0.5)%
__________________________________
(1)
Assumes an instantaneous uniform change in interest rates at all maturities.
(2)
NPV is the difference between the present value of an institution’s assets and liabilities.
(3)
Present value of assets represents the discounted present value of incoming cash flows on interest-earning assets.
(4)
NPV Ratio represents NPV divided by the present value of assets.

The table above indicates that at December 31, 2015, in the event of a 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would experience a 3.1% decrease in net portfolio value. In the event of a 100 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would experience a 2.6% decrease in net portfolio value. Additionally, our internal policy states that our minimum NPV of estimated present value of assets and liabilities shall range from a low of 5.5% for a 300 basis point change in rates to 7.5% for no change in interest rates. As of December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with our Board approved policy limits.
The effects of interest rates on net portfolio value and net interest income are not predictable. Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions, including relative levels of market interest rates, prepayments, and deposit run-offs, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. Certain shortcomings are inherent in these computations. Although some assets and liabilities may have similar maturity or periods of repricing, they may react at different times and in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Rates on other types of assets and liabilities may lag behind changes in market interest rates. Assets, such as adjustable rate mortgages, generally have features that restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. After a change in interest rates, prepayments and early withdrawal levels could deviate significantly from those assumed in making the calculations set forth above. Additionally, increased credit risk may result if our borrowers are unable to meet their repayment obligations as interest rates increase.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective for the purpose of ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (1) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In addition, no change in the Company’s internal

39

control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


40

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may be party to various legal proceedings incident to our business. At December 31, 2015, we were not a party to any pending legal proceedings that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risk factors that may affect future results were discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 and in Charter Federal or Charter Financial’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. We do not believe that there have been any material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. of Part I in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(a)
Not applicable
(b)
Not applicable
(c)
The following table presents a summary of the Company's share repurchases during the quarter ended December 31, 2015:
Shares repurchased during the period:
 
Total number of share repurchases
 
Average price paid per share
 
Total number of shares purchased as
part of publicly announced program (1)
 
Maximum number of shares that may yet
be purchased under the program (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
October 1 - October 31, 2015
 
83,907

 
$
12.71

 
7,171,483

 
325,094

November 1 - November 30, 2015
 
24,112

 
$
13.27

 
7,195,595

 
300,982

December 1 - December 31, 2015
 
690,571

 
$
12.92

 
7,886,166

 
410,411

Total
 
798,590

 
$
12.91

 
7,886,166

 
410,411

__________________________________
(1)
In December 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program, the fifth approved and announced program since December 2013, allowing the repurchase of up to 800,000 shares, or approximately 5%, of the Company's outstanding shares. As a result of the five share repurchase programs initiated in December 2013 and following, shares have been repurchased at a total cost of approximately $89.1 million.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information
None.


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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
 
 
2.1
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 3, 2015, by and among Charter Financial Corporation, CHFN Merger Sub, LLC and CBS Financial Corporation
 
 
 
3.1
 
Articles of Incorporation of Charter Financial Corporation (1)
 
 
 
3.2
 
Bylaws of Charter Financial Corporation (2)
 
 
 
4.1
 
Specimen Stock Certificate of Charter Financial Corporation (3)
 
 
 
31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(c) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(c) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
32.1
 
Section 1350 Certifications
 
 
 
101
 
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2015, (ii) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, (iii) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and the year ended September 30, 2015 (iv) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Comprehensive Income for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, (v) the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and (vi) the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
__________________________________
(1)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-185482) of Charter Financial Corporation, a Maryland corporation, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2012.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-185482) of Charter Financial Corporation, a Maryland corporation, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2012.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.0 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-185482) of Charter Financial Corporation, a Maryland corporation, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2012.






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Signatures

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

 
 
CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 8, 2016
By:
/s/ Robert L. Johnson
 
 
 
 
Robert L. Johnson
 
 
 
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 8, 2016
By:
/s/ Curtis R. Kollar
 
 
 
 
Curtis R. Kollar
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 







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