UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011
   
  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 Number: 0-51852

 

NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

UNITED STATES   06-1786701
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
325 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, New York   10601
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (914) 684-2500

 

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

 

Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   Nasdaq Global Market

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company x

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2011 was approximately $36.9 million.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of March 16, 2012 was 12,644,752.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.



 


 

 

INDEX

 

    Page
Part I    
     
Item 1. Business 1
Item 1A. Risk Factors 19
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 24
Item 2. Properties 24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 25
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 25
     
Part II    
     
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 26
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 27
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 29
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 54
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 54
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 54
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 54
Item 9B. Other Information 54
     
Part III    
     
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 55
Item 11. Executive Compensation 55
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 55
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 56
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 56
     
Part IV    
     
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 57
     
SIGNATURES  

 

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This report contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not historical facts; rather, they are statements based on Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.’s current expectations regarding its business strategies, intended results and future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends” and similar expressions.

 

Management’s ability to predict results or the effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could affect actual results include interest rate trends, the general economic climate in the market area in which Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. operates, as well as nationwide, Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.’s ability to control costs and expenses, competitive products and pricing, loan delinquency rates, demand for loans and deposits, changes in quality or composition of our loan portfolio and changes in federal and state legislation and regulation. For further discussion of factors that may affect our results, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”). These factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

PART I

 

Item 1. BUSINESS

 

General

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (“Northeast Community Bancorp” or the “Company”) is a federally chartered stock holding company established on July 5, 2006 to be the holding company for Northeast Community Bank (the “Bank”). Northeast Community Bancorp’s business activity is the ownership of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank. Northeast Community Bancorp does not own or lease any property but instead uses the premises, equipment and other property of the Bank with the payment of appropriate rental fees, as required by applicable law and regulations, under the terms of an expense allocation agreement.

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC (the “MHC”) is the Company’s federally chartered mutual holding company parent. As a mutual holding company, the MHC is a non-stock company that has as its members the depositors of Northeast Community Bank. The MHC does not engage in any business activity other than owning a majority of the common stock of Northeast Community Bancorp. So long as we remain in the mutual holding company form of organization, the MHC will own a majority of the outstanding shares of Northeast Community Bancorp.

 

Northeast Community Bank was originally chartered in 1934. In 2006, Northeast Community Bank changed its name from “Fourth Federal Savings Bank” to “Northeast Community Bank.”

 

We operate as a community-oriented financial institution offering traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in our market area and our lending territory. We attract deposits from the general public and use those funds to originate multi-family residential and mixed-use real estate and non-residential loans, which we hold for investment. We have been originating multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate loans for over 75 years. In 2007, we established a new commercial and industrial loan department and have increased this portfolio from no commercial and industrial loans at March 31, 2007 to $43.3 million of commercial and industrial loans committed with $23.7 million drawn at December 31, 2011. We do not currently originate one-to four-family residential loans.

 

We currently act as a residential mortgage loan broker for nationally recognized third-party mortgage originators. Under this program, our newly formed mortgage brokerage team markets one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, collects loan applications and forwards such documentation to a third-party mortgage originator who makes all credit decisions and originates all loans.  We receive an agreed upon fee from the third-party mortgage originator upon the closing of the loan.

 

In November 2007, we completed the acquisition of the operating assets of Hayden Financial Group, LLC, an investment advisory firm located in Westport, Connecticut. This acquisition gives us the ability to offer investment advisory and financial planning services under the name Hayden Wealth Management Group, a division of the Bank, through a networking arrangement with a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor.

 

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On December 27, 2011, the Bank submitted an application to the New York Department of Financial Services to convert its charter from a federally-chartered savings bank to a New York State chartered savings bank. The MHC and the Company will retain their federal charters following the Bank’s charter conversion. Subject to receiving the necessary regulatory approvals, the charter conversion is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

 

Available Information

 

Our website address is www.necommunitybank.com. Information on our website should not be considered a part of this Form 10-K.

 

Market Area

 

We are headquartered in White Plains, New York, which is located in Westchester County and we operate through our main office in White Plains (which also serves as a loan production office), our four full-service branch offices in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan (New York County) and Bronx (Bronx County), our two full-service branch offices in Danvers (Essex County) and Plymouth (Plymouth County), Massachusetts and our loan production office in Danvers, Massachusetts. We generate deposits through our main office and six branch offices. We conduct lending activities throughout the Northeastern United States, including New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

 

Our primary market area includes a population base with a broad cross section of wealth, employment and ethnicity. We operate in markets that generally have experienced relatively slow demographic growth, a characteristic typical of mature urban markets located throughout the Northeast region. New York County is a relatively affluent market, reflecting the influence of Wall Street along with the presence of a broad spectrum of Fortune 500 companies. Comparatively, Bronx County is home to a broad socioeconomic spectrum, with a significant portion of the respective populations employed in relatively low and moderate wage blue collar jobs. Westchester County is also an affluent market, serving as a desired suburban location for commuting into New York City as well as reflecting growth of higher paying jobs in the county, particularly in White Plains. The counties in which the Danvers and Plymouth offices currently operate include a mixture of rural, suburban and urban markets. The economies of these areas were historically based on manufacturing, but, similar to many areas of the country, the underpinnings of these economies are now more service oriented, with employment spread across many economic sectors including service, finance, health-care, technology, real estate and government.

 

While each of the states in our lending area has different economic characteristics, our customer base in these states tends to be similar to our customer base in New York and is comprised mostly of owners of low to moderate income apartment buildings or non-residential real estate in low to moderate income areas. Outside the State of New York, our largest concentration of real estate loans is in Massachusetts.

 

Competition

 

We face significant competition for the attraction of deposits. The New York and Boston metropolitan areas have a significant concentration of financial institutions, including large money center and regional banks, community banks and credit unions. Over the past 10 years, consolidation of the banking industry in the New York and Boston metropolitan areas has continued, resulting in larger and increasingly efficient competitors. We also face competition for depositors’ funds from money market funds, mutual funds and other corporate and government securities. At June 30, 2011, which is the most recent date for which data is available from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, we held less than 1.00% of the deposits in each of the counties in New York and Massachusetts in which our offices are located.

 

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We also face significant competition for the origination of loans. Our competition for loans comes primarily from financial institutions in our lending territory, and, to a lesser extent, from other financial service providers such as insurance companies, hedge funds and mortgage companies. As our lending territory is based around densely populated areas surrounding urban centers, we face significant competition from regional banks, savings banks and commercial banks in the New York and Boston metropolitan areas as well as in the other states that we designate as our lending territory. The competition for loans that we encounter, as well as the types of institutions with which we compete, varies from time to time depending upon certain factors, including the general availability of lendable funds and credit, general and local economic conditions, current interest rate levels, volatility in the mortgage markets and other factors which are not readily predictable.

 

We expect competition to increase in the future as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and the continuing trend of consolidation in the financial services industry. Technological advances, for example, have lowered the barriers to market entry, allowed banks and other lenders to expand their geographic reach by providing services over the Internet and made it possible for non-depository institutions to offer products and services that traditionally have been provided by banks. Competition for deposits and the origination of loans could limit our future growth.

 

Lending Activities

 

General. We originate loans primarily for investment purposes. The largest segment of our loan portfolio is multi-family residential real estate loans. We also originate mixed-use real estate loans and non-residential loans and in 2007 we began originating commercial and industrial loans. To a limited degree, we make consumer loans. We currently do not originate one- to four-family residential loans. We consider our lending territory to be the Northeastern United States, including New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

 

Due to market conditions, we discontinued purchasing participation interests in construction loans effective the first quarter of 2009 and in 2009, we ceased originating all construction loans due to prevailing conditions in the real estate market.

 

Multi-family and Mixed-use Real Estate Loans. We offer adjustable rate mortgage loans secured by multi-family and mixed-use real estate. These loans are comprised primarily of loans on moderate income apartment buildings located in our lending territory and include, loans on cooperative apartment buildings (in the New York area), and loans for Section 8 multi-family housing. In New York, most of the apartment buildings that we lend on are rent-stabilized. Mixed-use real estate loans are secured by properties that are intended for both residential and business use. Until 2004, our policy had been to originate multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans primarily in the New York metropolitan area. In January 2004, we opened our first location outside of New York and now originate multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans in several northeastern states.

 

We originate a variety of adjustable-rate and balloon multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans. The adjustable-rate loans have fixed rates for a period of up to five years and then adjust every one, two, three or five years thereafter, based on the terms of the loan. Maturities on these loans can be up to 15 years, and typically they amortize over a 20 to 30-year period. Interest rates on our adjustable-rate loans are adjusted to a rate that equals the applicable one-, two-, three- or five-year constant maturity U.S. Treasury index plus a margin. The balloon loans have a maximum maturity of five years. The lifetime interest rate cap is five percentage points over the initial interest rate of the loan (four percentage points for loans with one-, two- and three-year terms). Due to the nature of our borrowers and our lending niche, the typical multi-family or mixed-use real estate loan refinances within the first five-year period and, in doing so, generates prepayment penalties ranging from five points to one point of the outstanding loan balance. Under our loan-refinancing program, borrowers who are current under the terms and conditions of their contractual obligations can apply to refinance their existing loans to the rates and terms then offered on new loans after the payment of their contractual prepayment penalties. These refinances are not considered troubled debt restructures.

 

In making multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans, we primarily consider the net operating income generated by the real estate to support the debt service, the financial resources, income level and managerial expertise of the borrower, the marketability of the property and our lending experience with the borrower. We typically require a personal guarantee of the borrower, but may not do so depending on the location, building condition or credit profile. We rate the property underlying the loan as Class A, B or C. Our current policy is to require a minimum debt service coverage ratio (the ratio of earnings after subtracting all operating expenses to debt service payments) of 1.25x depending on the rating of the underlying property. On multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans, our current policy is to finance up to 75% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price of the property securing the loan on purchases and refinances of Class A and B properties and up to 65% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price for properties that are rated Class C. Properties securing multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans are appraised by independent appraisers, inspected by us and generally require Phase 1 environmental surveys.

 

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We have been originating multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans in the New York market area for more than 75 years. In the New York market area, our ability to continue to grow our portfolio is dependent on the continuation of our relationships with mortgage brokers, as the multi-family and mixed-use real estate loan market is primarily broker driven. We have longstanding relationships with mortgage brokers in the New York market area, who are familiar with our lending practices and our underwriting standards. We also deal directly with building owners throughout our lending territory.

 

In the Massachusetts market area, the primary source of mortgage loan originations are from personal contacts by our loan officers, referrals from existing customers and advertising. We generally retain for our portfolio all of the loans that we originate in the Massachusetts market area.

 

The majority of the multi-family real estate loans in our portfolio are secured by twenty unit to one hundred unit apartment buildings. At December 31, 2011, the majority of our mixed-use real estate loans are secured by properties that are at least 75% residential, but contain some non-residential space.

 

On December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding multi-family real estate loan had a balance of $8.6 million and was performing according to its terms at December 31, 2011. This loan is secured by a 216 unit apartment complex located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The largest mixed-use real estate loan had a balance of $3.9 million and was performing according to its terms at December 31, 2011. This loan is secured by a mixed-use building with 10 apartment units and 5 commercial units located in Jamaica, New York. As of December 31, 2011, the average loan balance in our multi-family and mixed-use portfolio was approximately $701,000.

 

Non-residential Real Estate Loans. Our non-residential real estate loans are generally secured by office buildings, medical facilities and retail shopping centers that are primarily located within our lending territory.

 

Our non-residential real estate loans are structured in a manner similar to our multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans, typically at a fixed rate of interest for three to five years and then a rate that adjusts every three to five years over the term of the loan, which is typically 15 years. Interest rates and payments on these loans generally are based on the one-, two-, three- or five-year constant maturity U. S. Treasury index plus a margin. The lifetime interest rate cap is five percentage points over the initial interest rate of the loan (four percentage points for loans with one-, two- and three-year terms). Loans are secured by first mortgages that generally do not exceed 75% of the property’s appraised value. Properties securing non-residential real estate loans are appraised by independent appraisers and inspected by us.

 

We also charge prepayment penalties, with five points of the outstanding loan balance generally being charged on loans that refinance in the first year of the mortgage, scaling down to one point on loans that refinance in year five. These loans are typically repaid or the term extended before maturity, in which case a new rate is negotiated to meet market conditions and an extension of the loan is executed for a new term with a new amortization schedule. Our non-residential real estate loans tend to refinance within the first five-year period.

 

Our assessment of credit risk and our underwriting standards and procedures for non-residential real estate loans are similar to those applicable to our multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans. In reaching a decision on whether to make a non-residential real estate loan, we consider the net operating income of the property, the borrower’s expertise, credit history and profitability and the value of the underlying property. In addition, with respect to rental properties, we will also consider the term of the lease and the credit quality of the tenants. We have generally required that the properties securing non-residential real estate loans have debt service coverage ratios (the ratio of earnings after subtracting all operating expenses to debt service payments) of at least 1.30x. Phase 1 environmental surveys and property inspections are required for all loans.

 

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At December 31, 2011, we had $83.6 million in non-residential real estate loans outstanding, or 23.4% of total loans. Due to market conditions, we did not originate any non-residential real estate loans during 2010. During the second half of 2011, we resumed originations of non-residential real estate.

 

At December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding non-residential real estate loan had an outstanding balance of $5.1 million. This loan is secured by a multi-tenant, two-story commercial building located in New York, New York, and was performing according to its terms at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding non-residential real estate loan relationship with one borrower was comprised of six loans totaling $12.3 million secured by six office buildings located in the Syracuse, New York area. These six loans were performing according to their terms at December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, the average balance of loans in our non-residential loan portfolio was $1.0 million.

 

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2010, we had one note, which was treated as a loan in our non-residential loan portfolio with a net present value of $10.9 million that we received in connection with the sale of our First Avenue branch office building. On November 4, 2011 the note, including expenses and interest, was paid off. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Sale of New York City Branch Office.”

 

Equity Lines of Credit on Real Estate Loans. Northeast Community Bank offers equity lines of credit on multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate properties on which it holds the first mortgage.

 

For existing borrowers only, we offer an equity line of credit program secured by a second mortgage on the borrower’s multi-family and mixed-use property. All lines of credit are underwritten separately from the first mortgage and support debt service ratios and loan-to-value ratios that when combined with the first mortgage meet or exceed our current underwriting standards for multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans. Borrowers typically hold these lines in reserve and use them for ongoing property improvements or to purchase additional properties when the opportunity arises.

 

Our equity lines of credit are typically interest only for the first five years and then the remaining term of the line of credit is tied to the remaining term on the first mortgage on the multi-family or mixed-use property. After the first five years, a payment of both principal and interest is required. Interest rates and payments on our equity lines of credit are indexed to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal and adjusted as the prime rate changes. Interest rate adjustments on equity lines of credit are limited to a specified maximum percentage over the initial interest rate.

 

Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Loans. Continuing our plan to diversify our portfolio, both geographically and by product type, in March 2007 we hired two individuals with significant commercial and industrial lending experience, a senior lending officer and a commercial underwriter, for our new commercial and industrial lending department. Interest rates and payments on our commercial and industrial loans are typically indexed to the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal and adjusted as the prime rate changes. Our commercial and industrial loan portfolio increased from $28.9 million with $12.1 million drawn at December 31, 2010 to $43.3 million of commercial and industrial loans committed with $23.7 million drawn at December 31, 2011.

 

At December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding commercial and industrial loan was a line of credit totaling $3.0 million, with a $2.6 million outstanding balance and a remaining available line of credit of $384,000. This loan is secured by the assets of a mechanical construction business.

 

At December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding commercial and industrial loan relationship with one borrower totaled $3.0 million and was comprised of one term loan with an outstanding balance of $1.2 million and one line of credit with an outstanding balance of $1.8 million. The loans are secured by the assets of a construction business.

 

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At December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding commercial and industrial line of credit relationship with one borrower was comprised of two lines of credit totaling $5.8 million, with outstanding balances totaling $2.2 million and remaining available lines of credit totaling $3.6 million. One of the lines of credit totaling $3.8 million, with a $2.2 million outstanding balance and a remaining available line of $1.6 million, is the Company’s largest commercial and industrial line of credit. The two lines of credit serve as a warehousing line of credit for a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan originator located in New York City and are secured by these Small Business Administration loans.

 

All the aforementioned commercial and industrial loans were performing according to their terms at December 31, 2011.

 

Construction Loans. Historically, we have purchased participation interests in loans to finance the construction of multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential buildings. We perform our own underwriting analysis on each of our participation interests before purchasing such loans. Construction loans are typically for twelve to twenty-four month terms and pay interest only during that period. All construction loans are underwritten as if they will be rental properties and must meet our normal debt service and loan to value ratio requirements on an as completed basis. The outstanding balance of construction loan participation interests purchased totaled $9.1 million at December 31, 2011. Due to current market conditions, we discontinued purchasing participation interests in construction loans effective the first quarter of 2009.

 

At December 31, 2011, the largest outstanding construction loan participation consisted of four loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $7.7 million (net of loans in process of $85,000) for a total potential exposure of $7.7 million. This balance represents our 25% participation ownership of the loans. These loans are secured by a hotel. As of December 31, 2011, the loans were delinquent and in process of foreclosure. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional discussion on our nonaccrual loans.

 

Consumer Loans. We offer loans secured by savings accounts or certificates of deposit (share loans) and overdraft protection for checking accounts which is linked to statement savings accounts and has the ability to transfer funds from the statement savings account to the checking account when needed to cover overdrafts. At December 31, 2011, our portfolio of consumer loans was $68,000, or 0.02% of total loans.

 

Loan Underwriting Risks

 

Adjustable-Rate Loans. While we anticipate that adjustable-rate loans will better offset the adverse effects of an increase in interest rates as compared to fixed-rate loans, the increased payments required of adjustable-rate loan borrowers in a rising interest rate environment could cause an increase in delinquencies and defaults. The marketability of the underlying property also may be adversely affected in a high interest rate environment. In addition, although adjustable-rate loans help make our loan portfolio more responsive to changes in interest rates, the extent of this interest sensitivity is limited by the lifetime interest rate adjustment limits.

 

Multi-family, Mixed-use and Non-residential Real Estate Loans. Loans secured by multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate generally have larger balances and involve a greater degree of risk than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. Of primary concern in multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate lending is the current and potential cash flow of the property and the borrower’s demonstrated ability to operate that type of property. Payments on loans secured by income properties often depend on successful operation and management of the properties. As a result, repayment of such loans may be subject to a greater extent than residential real estate loans to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy. To monitor cash flows on income producing properties, we require borrowers to provide annual financial statements for all multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate loans. In reaching a decision on whether to make a multi-family, mixed-use or non-residential real estate loan, we consider the net operating income of the property, the borrower’s expertise, credit history and profitability and the value of the underlying property. In addition, with respect to non-residential real estate properties, we also consider the term of the lease and the quality of the tenants. An appraisal of the real estate used as collateral for the real estate loan is also obtained as part of the underwriting process. We have generally required that the properties securing these real estate loans have debt service coverage ratios (the ratio of earnings after subtracting all operating expenses to debt service payments) of at least 1.30x. In underwriting these loans, we take into account projected increases in interest rates in determining whether a loan meets our debt service coverage ratios at the higher interest rate under the adjustable rate mortgage. Environmental surveys and property inspections are utilized for all loans.

 

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Commercial and Industrial Loans. Unlike residential mortgage loans, which are generally made on the basis of a borrower’s ability to make repayment from the operation and cash flow from the real property whose value tends to be more ascertainable, commercial and industrial loans are of higher risk and tend to be made on the basis of a borrower’s ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the borrower’s business. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial and industrial loans may depend substantially on the success of the business itself. Further, any collateral securing such loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value.

 

Construction Loans. In past years, we had purchased participation interests in loans to finance the construction of multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential buildings. Due to market conditions, we discontinued purchasing participation interests in construction loans effective the first quarter of 2009. Construction financing affords us the opportunity to achieve higher interest rates and fees with shorter terms to maturity than does residential mortgage loans. However, construction financing is generally considered to involve a higher degree of risk of loss than long-term financing on improved, occupied real estate due to (1) the increased difficulty at the time the loan is made of estimating the building costs and the selling price of the property to be built; (2) the increased difficulty and costs of monitoring the loan; (3) the higher degree of sensitivity to increases in market rates of interest; and (4) the increased difficulty of working out loan problems. We have sought to minimize this risk by limiting the amount of construction loan participation interests outstanding at any time and by spreading the participations among multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential projects. We perform our own underwriting analysis on each of our construction loan participation interests before purchasing such loans and therefore believe there is no greater risk of default on these obligations than on a construction loan originated by the Bank. See “Mortgage and Construction Loan Originations and Participations” below.

 

Consumer Loans. Because the only consumer loans we offer are secured by passbook savings accounts, certificates of deposit accounts or statement savings accounts, we do not believe these loans represent a risk of loss to the Bank.

 

Mortgage and Construction Loan Originations and Participations. Our mortgage loan originations come from a number of sources. In the New York Region, the primary source of mortgage loan originations are referrals from brokers, existing customers, advertising and personal contacts by our loan officers. Over the years, we have developed working relationships with many mortgage brokers in our lending territory. Under the terms of the agreements with such brokers, the brokers refer potential loans to us. The loans are underwritten and approved by us utilizing our underwriting policies and standards. The mortgage brokers typically receive a fee from the borrower upon the funding of the loans by us. Historically, mortgage brokers have been the source of the majority of the multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate loans originated by us. We generally retain for our portfolio all of the loans that we originate in the New York Region.

 

In the Massachusetts market area, the primary source of mortgage loan originations are from personal contacts by our loan officers, referrals from existing customers and advertising. We generally retain for our portfolio all of the loans that we originate in the Massachusetts market area.

 

During 2011, we continued our policy of not purchasing participation interests in loans to finance the construction of multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential properties. Consequently, the outstanding balance of the construction loan participation interests purchased decreased to $9.1 million at December 31, 2011. We perform our own underwriting analysis on each of our participation interests before purchasing such loans and therefore believe there is no greater risk of default on these obligations. However, in a purchased participation loan, we do not service the loan and thus are subject to the policies and practices of the lead lender with regard to monitoring delinquencies, pursuing collections and instituting foreclosure proceedings, all of which are reviewed and approved in advance of any participation transaction. We review all of the documentation relating to any loan in which we participate, including annual financial statements provided by a borrower. Additionally, we receive monthly statements on the loan from the lead lender.

 

Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Loan Originations. We originate commercial and industrial loans from contacts made by our commercial loan officers in New York and Massachusetts. Our commercial and industrial lending department does not utilize the services of loan brokers.

 

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The Bank will consider granting credit to commercial and industrial businesses located within our lending area, which is defined as the Northeastern United States. The Bank will consider the credit needs of businesses located in our lending area if we can effectively service the credit and if the customer has a strong financial position.

 

We will consider loans to small businesses with revenues normally not to exceed $65.0 million. The small business may be one that manufactures wholesale or retail products and/or services. Generally, we will consider loans to small businesses such as: retail sales and services, such as grocery, restaurants, clothing, furniture, appliances, hardware, automotive parts, automobiles and trucks; wholesale businesses, such as automotive parts and industrial parts and equipment; manufacturing businesses, such as tool and die shops and commercial manufacturers and contractors with strong financials and well-known principals, attorneys, accountants, and dental groups.

 

Mortgage and Construction Loan Approval Procedures and Authority. Our lending activities follow written, non-discriminatory, underwriting standards and loan origination procedures established by our board of directors and management. The board has granted the “Loan Committee” (which is comprised of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and an executive vice president) with loan approval authority for mortgage loans up to $2.0 million. Mortgage loans in amounts greater than $2.0 million must be approved by the Loan Committee and a majority of the non-employee directors. At each monthly meeting of the board of directors, the board ratifies all commitments issued, regardless of size.

 

Commercial and Industrial Loan Approval Procedures and Authority. Our commercial and industrial lending activities follow written, non-discriminatory, underwriting standards and loan origination procedures established by our board of directors and management. The board has granted the “C&I Loan Committee” (which is comprised of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, executive vice president, and the senior commercial and industrial analyst with loan approval authority for commercial and industrial loans up to $2.0 million. Loans in amounts greater than $2.0 million, in addition to being approved by the C&I Loan Committee, must be approved by a majority of the non-employee directors. At each monthly meeting of the board of directors, the board ratifies all commitments issued, regardless of size.

 

Loan Commitments. We issue commitments for adjustable-rate loans conditioned upon the occurrence of certain events. Commitments to originate adjustable-rate loans are legally binding agreements to lend to our customers. Generally, our adjustable-rate loan commitments expire after 60 days.

 

Investment Activities

 

We have legal authority to invest in various types of liquid assets, including U.S. Treasury obligations, securities of various federal agencies and municipal governments, deposits at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and certificates of deposit of federally insured institutions. Within certain regulatory limits, we also may invest a portion of our assets in mutual funds. While we have the authority under applicable law to invest in derivative securities, we had no investments in derivative securities at December 31, 2011.

 

At December 31, 2011, our interest-bearing deposits, securities, and short-term investments totaled $100.6 million and consisted primarily of $80.1 million in interest earning deposits with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, $12.6 million in mortgage-backed securities issued primarily by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, $3.7 million in collateralized mortgage obligations issued primarily by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, $2.6 million in short-term certificates of deposits at other financial institutions, and $1.6 million in Federal Home Loan Bank of New York common stock. At December 31, 2011, we had no investments in callable securities.

 

Our investment management policy is designed to provide adequate liquidity to meet any reasonable decline in deposits and any anticipated increase in the loan portfolio through conversion of secondary reserves to cash and to provide safety of principal and interest through investment in securities under limitations and restrictions prescribed in banking regulations. Consistent with liquidity and safety requirements, our policy is designed to generate a significant amount of stable income and to provide collateral for advances and repurchase agreements. The policy is also designed to serve as a counter-cyclical balance to earnings in that the investment portfolio will absorb funds when loan demand is low and will infuse funds when loan demand is high.

 

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Deposit Activities and Other Sources of Funds

 

General. Deposits, borrowings and loan repayments are the major sources of our funds for lending and other investment purposes. Loan repayments are a relatively stable source of funds, while deposit inflows and outflows and loan prepayments are significantly influenced by general interest rates and money market conditions.

 

Deposit Accounts. Except for certificates of deposit previously obtained through two nationwide listing services, as described below, substantially all of our depositors are residents of the States of New York and Massachusetts. We offer a variety of deposit accounts with a range of interest rates and terms. Our deposits principally consist of interest-bearing demand accounts (such as NOW and money market accounts), regular savings accounts, noninterest-bearing demand accounts (such as checking accounts) and certificates of deposit. At December 31, 2011, we did not utilize brokered deposits. Deposit account terms vary according to the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must remain on deposit and the interest rate, among other factors. In determining the terms of our deposit accounts, we consider the rates offered by our competition, our liquidity needs, profitability to us, maturity matching deposit and loan products, and customer preferences and concerns. We generally review our deposit mix and pricing weekly. Our current strategy is to offer competitive rates and to be in the lower to middle of the market for rates on all types of deposit products.

 

Our deposits are typically obtained from customers residing in or working in the communities in which our branch offices are located, and we rely on our long-standing relationships with our customers and competitive interest rates to retain these deposits. In the future, as we open new branches in other states, we expect our deposits will also be obtained from those states. We may also, in the future, utilize our website to attract deposits.

 

Borrowings. We may utilize advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to supplement our supply of investable funds. The Federal Home Loan Bank functions as a central reserve bank providing credit for its member financial institutions. As a member, we are required to own capital stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank and are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our whole first mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities which are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States), provided certain standards related to creditworthiness have been met. Advances are made under several different programs, each having its own interest rate and range of maturities. Depending on the program, limitations on the amount of advances are based either on a fixed percentage of a bank’s net worth or on the Federal Home Loan Bank’s assessment of the bank’s creditworthiness.

 

Mortgage Brokering Operations

 

In 2011, we initiated a program under which we act as a residential mortgage loan broker for nationally recognized third-party mortgage originators. Under this program, our newly formed mortgage brokerage team markets one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, collects loan applications and forwards such documentation to the third-party mortgage originator who makes all credit decisions and originates all loans.  We receive an agreed upon fee from the third-party mortgage originator upon the closing of the loan. We currently market these services solely through our branch network in Massachusetts. Our mortgage brokerage team is also available to meet with our customers and assist them with the application process. In addition to ensuring that our customers are provided with an extensive range of one- to four-family products, this arrangement is expected to enhance fee income and lessen our reliance on net interest income.

 

Investment Advisory and Financial Planning Activities

 

In November 2007, Northeast Community Bank purchased for $2.0 million the operating assets of Hayden Financial Group, LLC. The Bank formed a Division within the Bank known as Hayden Wealth Management Group, and the Division offers investment advisory and financial planning services through a networking arrangement with a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor.

 

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Hayden Wealth Management Group performs a wide range of financial planning and investment advisory services based on the needs of a diversified client base including, but not limited to: wealth management based on a clients’ time dimension, risk aversion/tolerance, value system and specific purposes of a portfolio; transition planning from one career to another, especially the transition to retirement; conducting risk assessment and management on issues related to various kinds of insurance covered contingencies; and providing assistance relating to the ultimate disposition of assets. In this capacity, Hayden Wealth Management Group coordinates with estate planning attorneys as needed.

 

Personnel

 

As of December 31, 2011, we had 99 full-time employees and 5 part-time employees, none of whom is represented by a collective bargaining unit. We believe our relationship with our employees is good.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On October 31, 2011 a complaint was filed by Stilwell Value Partners IV, L.P. in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the “Court”), against the Company, NorthEast Community Bancorp MHC (the “MHC”) and each of the directors of the Company and the MHC. The complaint alleges that the directors have breached their fiduciary duties by not expanding the Company board to allow for disinterested consideration of a “second-step” conversion of the MHC.  As for relief, the complaint requests, among other things, that the Company’s board of directors be increased by at least three new members, that such new members be given sole responsibility to determine whether the Company should engage in a second-step conversion and that the Court order the Company to engage in a second-step conversion. The Company believes that the claims asserted are without merit and intends to vigorously defend the case. On December 14, 2011, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. The plaintiff has filed an opposition to the Company’s motion to dismiss and a cross motion for leave to amend the complaint in the event the court were to conclude that the initial complaint fails to state a viable claim. The Company expects there will be a ruling on the motion to dismiss in the near future.

 

The Company and Bank are also subject to claims and litigation that arise primarily in the ordinary course of business. Based on information presently available and advice received from legal counsel representing the Company and Bank in connection with such claims and litigation, it is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate determination of such claims and litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

 

Subsidiaries

 

Northeast Community Bancorp’s only subsidiary is Northeast Community Bank. The Bank has one wholly owned subsidiary, New England Commercial Properties LLC, a New York limited liability company. New England Commercial Properties was formed in October 2007 to facilitate the purchase or lease of real property by the Bank and to hold real estate owned acquired by the Bank through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. As of December 31, 2011, New England Commercial Properties, LLC had no assets other than title to a foreclosed multi-family property located in Newark, New Jersey.

 

REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

 

General

 

Northeast Community Bank, as an insured federal savings bank, is subject to extensive regulation, examination and supervision by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as its primary federal regulator, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as its deposits insurer. Northeast Community Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System and its deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund managed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Northeast Community Bank must file reports with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation concerning its activities and financial condition in addition to obtaining regulatory approvals prior to entering into certain transactions such as mergers with, or acquisitions of, other financial institutions. There are periodic examinations by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and, under certain circumstances, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to evaluate Northeast Community Bank’s safety and soundness and compliance with various regulatory requirements. This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which an institution can engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the insurance fund and depositors. The regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes. Any change in such policies, whether by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or Congress, could have a material adverse impact on Northeast Community Bancorp, Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC and Northeast Community Bank and their operations.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC, as savings and loan holding companies, are required to file certain reports with, are subject to examination by, and otherwise must comply with the rules and regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). Northeast Community Bancorp also is subject to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the federal securities laws.

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) made extensive changes to the regulation of financial institutions, including Northeast Community Bank. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Office of Thrift Supervision was eliminated and responsibility for the supervision and regulation of federal savings associations such as Northeast Community Bank was transferred to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on July 21, 2011. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is the agency that is primarily responsible for the regulation and supervision of national banks. At the same time, the responsibility for supervising savings and loan holding companies like Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC and Northeast Community Bancorp was transferred to the Federal Reserve Board. Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act created a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as an independent bureau of the Federal Reserve Board. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau assumed responsibility for the implementation of the federal financial consumer protection and fair lending laws and regulations and has authority to impose new requirements. However, institutions of less than $10 billion in assets, such as Northeast Community Bank, will continue to be examined for compliance with consumer protection and fair lending laws and regulations by, and be subject to the enforcement authority of, their prudential regulators. Many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act require the issuance of regulations before their impact on operations can be fully assessed by management. However, there is a significant possibility that the Dodd-Frank Act will, at a minimum, result in increased regulatory burden and compliance costs for Northeast Community Bank, Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC.

 

Certain of the regulatory requirements that are applicable to Northeast Community Bank, Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC are described below. This description of statutes and regulations is not intended to be a complete explanation of such statutes and regulations and their effects on Northeast Community Bank, Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual statutes and regulations.

 

Regulation of Federal Savings Associations

 

Business Activities. Federal law and regulations govern the activities of federal savings banks, such as Northeast Community Bank. These laws and regulations delineate the nature and extent of the business activities in which federal savings banks may engage. In particular, certain lending authority for federal savings banks, e.g., commercial, non-residential real property loans and consumer loans, is limited to a specified percentage of the institution’s capital or assets.

 

The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes depository institutions to pay interest on demand deposits effective July 31, 2011. Depending upon competitive responses, that change could have an adverse impact on Northeast Community Bank’s interest expense.

 

Capital Requirements. The applicable capital regulations require federal savings banks to meet three minimum capital standards: a 1.5% tangible capital to total assets ratio, a 4% leverage ratio (3% for institutions receiving the highest rating on the CAMELS examination rating system) and an 8% risk-based capital ratio. In addition, the prompt corrective action standards discussed below also establish, in effect, a minimum 2% tangible capital standard, a 4% leverage ratio (3% for institutions receiving the highest rating on the CAMELS system) and, together with the risk-based capital standard itself, a 4% Tier 1 risk-based capital standard. The regulations also require that, in meeting the tangible, leverage and risk-based capital standards, banks must generally deduct investments in and loans to subsidiaries engaged in activities as principal that are not permissible for a national bank.

 

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The risk-based capital standard requires federal savings banks to maintain Tier 1 (core) and total capital (which is defined as core capital and supplementary capital, less certain specified deductions from total capital such as reciprocal holdings of depository institution capital, instruments and equity investments) to risk-weighted assets of at least 4% and 8%, respectively. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets, recourse obligations, residual interests and direct credit substitutes, are multiplied by a risk-weight factor of 0% to 100%, assigned by the capital regulation based on the risks believed inherent in the type of asset. Core (Tier 1) capital is generally defined as common stockholders’ equity (including retained earnings), certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, less intangibles other than certain mortgage servicing rights and credit card relationships. The components of supplementary (Tier 2) capital currently include cumulative preferred stock, long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, subordinated debt and intermediate preferred stock, the allowance for loan and lease losses limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and up to 45% of unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values. Overall, the amount of supplementary capital included as part of total capital cannot exceed 100% of core capital.

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also has authority to establish individual minimum capital requirements in appropriate cases upon a determination that an institution’s capital level is or may become inadequate in light of the particular circumstances. At December 31, 2011, Northeast Community Bank exceeded each of these capital requirements.

 

Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is required to take certain supervisory actions against undercapitalized institutions, the severity of which depends upon the institution’s degree of undercapitalization. Generally, a savings bank that has a ratio of total capital to risk weighted assets of less than 8%, a ratio of Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets of less than 4% or a ratio of core capital to total assets of less than 4% (3% or less for institutions with the highest examination rating) is considered to be “undercapitalized.” A savings bank that has a total risk-based capital ratio less than 6%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of less than 3% or a leverage ratio that is less than 3% is considered to be “significantly undercapitalized” and a savings bank that has a tangible capital to assets ratio equal to or less than 2% is deemed to be “critically undercapitalized.” Subject to a narrow exception, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is required to appoint a receiver or conservator within specified time frames for an institution that is “critically undercapitalized.” An institution must file a capital restoration plan with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency within 45 days of the date it receives notice that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized.” Compliance with the plan must be guaranteed by any parent holding company. In addition, numerous mandatory supervisory actions become immediately applicable to an undercapitalized institution, including, but not limited to, increased monitoring by regulators and restrictions on growth, capital distributions and expansion. “Significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized” institutions are subject to more extensive mandatory regulatory actions. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency could also take any one of a number of discretionary supervisory actions, including the issuance of a capital directive and the replacement of senior executive officers and directors.

 

At December 31, 2011, Northeast Community Bank met the criteria for being considered “well-capitalized.”

 

Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws. All insured financial institutions have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act and related regulations to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a federal savings bank, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is required to assess the savings bank’s record of compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices on the basis of characteristics specified in those statutes. An association’s failure to comply with the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act could result in denial of certain corporate applications, such as branches or mergers, or restrictions on its activities. Responsibility for administering the Community Reinvestment Act, unlike other fair lending laws, is not being transferred to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act rating has been an “Outstanding” for the past 17 years.

 

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Loans to One Borrower. Federal law provides that savings banks are generally subject to the limits on loans to one borrower applicable to national banks. Generally, subject to certain exceptions, savings banks may not make a loan or extend credit to a single or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of its unimpaired capital and surplus. An additional amount may be lent, equal to 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus, if secured by specified readily-marketable collateral.

 

Standards for Safety and Soundness. The federal banking agencies have adopted Interagency Guidelines prescribing Standards for Safety and Soundness in various areas such as internal controls and information systems, internal audit, loan documentation and credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and quality, earnings and compensation, fees and benefits. The guidelines set forth the safety and soundness standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. If the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency determines that a savings bank fails to meet any standard prescribed by the guidelines, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency may require the savings bank to submit an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard.

 

Limitation on Capital Distributions. Federal regulations impose limitations upon all capital distributions by a savings bank, including cash dividends, payments to repurchase its shares and payments to stockholders of another institution in a cash-out merger. Under the regulations, an application to and the prior approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is required before any capital distribution if the institution does not meet the criteria for “expedited treatment” of applications under Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regulations (i.e., generally, examination and Community Reinvestment Act ratings in the two top categories), the total capital distributions for the calendar year exceed net income for that year plus the amount of retained net income for the preceding two years, the institution would be undercapitalized following the distribution or the distribution would otherwise be contrary to a statute, regulation or agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. If an application is not required, the institution must still provide 30 days prior written notice to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) of the capital distribution if, like Northeast Community Bank, it is a subsidiary of a holding company, as well as a written notice filing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. If Northeast Community Bank’s capital were ever to fall below its regulatory requirements or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency notified it that it was in need of increased supervision, its ability to make capital distributions could be restricted. In addition, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency could prohibit a proposed capital distribution that would otherwise be permitted by the regulation, if the agency determines that such distribution would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

 

Qualified Thrift Lender Test. Federal law requires savings banks to meet a qualified thrift lender test. Under the test, a savings association is required to either qualify as a “domestic building and loan association” under the Internal Revenue Code or maintain at least 65% of its “portfolio assets” (total assets less: (i) specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets; (ii) intangibles, including goodwill; and (iii) the value of property used to conduct business) in certain “qualified thrift investments” (primarily multi-family residential mortgages and related investments, including certain mortgage-backed securities but also including education, credit card and small business loans) in at least 9 months out of each 12 month period.

 

A savings bank that fails the qualified thrift lender test is subject to certain operating restrictions. The Dodd-Frank Act also specifies that failing the qualified thrift lender test is a violation of law that could result in an enforcement action and dividend limitations. As of December 31, 2011, Northeast Community Bank maintained 92.5% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments and, therefore, met the qualified thrift lender test.

 

Transactions with Related Parties. Federal law permits Northeast Community Bank to lend to, and engage in certain other transactions with (collectively, “covered transactions”), “affiliates” (i.e., generally, any company that controls or is under common control with an institution), including Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC and their other subsidiaries. The aggregate amount of covered transactions with any individual affiliate is limited to 10% of the capital and surplus of the savings institution. The aggregate amount of covered transactions with all affiliates is limited to 20% of the savings institution’s capital and surplus. Loans and other specified transactions with affiliates are required to be secured by collateral in an amount and of a type described in federal law. The purchase of low quality assets from affiliates is generally prohibited. Transactions with affiliates must be on terms and under circumstances that are at least as favorable to the institution as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated companies. In addition, savings banks are prohibited from lending to any affiliate that is engaged in activities that are not permissible for bank holding companies and no savings institution may purchase the securities of any affiliate other than a subsidiary.

 

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The Sarbanes-Oxley Act generally prohibits loans by Northeast Community Bancorp to its executive officers and directors. However, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act contains a specific exemption from such prohibition for loans by Northeast Community Bank to its executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking regulations. Federal regulations require that all loans or extensions of credit to executive officers and directors of insured institutions must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. Northeast Community Bank is therefore prohibited from making any new loans or extensions of credit to executive officers and directors at different rates or terms than those offered to the general public. Notwithstanding this rule, federal regulations permit Northeast Community Bank to make loans to executive officers and directors at reduced interest rates if the loan is made under a benefit program generally available to all other employees and does not give preference to any executive officer or director over any other employee. Loans to executive officers are subject to additional limitations based on the type of loan involved.

 

In addition, loans made to a director or executive officer in an amount that, when aggregated with the amount of all other loans to the person and his or her related interests, are in excess of the greater of $25,000 or 5% of Northeast Community Bank’s capital and surplus, up to a maximum of $500,000, must be approved in advance by a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors.

 

Enforcement. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has primary enforcement responsibility over federal savings banks and has the authority to bring actions against the institution and all institution-affiliated parties, including stockholders, and any attorneys, appraisers and accountants who knowingly or recklessly participate in wrongful action likely to have an adverse effect on an insured institution. Formal enforcement action may range from the issuance of a capital directive or cease and desist order to removal of officers and/or directors to institution of receivership, conservatorship or termination of deposit insurance. Civil penalties cover a wide range of violations and can amount to $25,000 per day, or even $1 million per day in especially egregious cases. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has authority to recommend to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency that enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular savings institution. If action is not taken by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has authority to take such action under certain circumstances. Federal law also establishes criminal penalties for certain violations.

 

Assessments. Federal savings banks were previously required to pay assessments to the Office of Thrift Supervision to fund its operations. The general assessments, paid on a semi-annual basis, are based upon the savings institution’s total assets, including consolidated subsidiaries, financial condition and complexity of its portfolio. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which succeeded the Office of Thrift Supervision, is similarly funded through assessments on regulated institutions. The Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency assessments paid by Northeast Community Bank for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $62,000 and $38,000, respectively, for a total assessment of $100,000.

 

Insurance of Deposit Accounts. Northeast Community Bank’s deposits are insured up to applicable limits, which have been increased to $250,000 per depositor, by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s existing risk-based assessment system, insured institutions are assigned to one of four risk categories based on supervisory evaluations, regulatory capital levels and certain other factors, with less risky institutions paying lower assessments. Effective April 1, 2009, assessment rates ranged from seven to 77.5 basis points. On February 7, 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation issued final rules, effective April 1, 2011, implementing changes to the assessment rules resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act. Initially, the base assessment rates will range from two and one half to 45 basis points. The rate schedules will automatically adjust in the future when the Deposit Insurance Fund reaches certain milestones. No institution may pay a dividend if in default of the federal deposit insurance assessment.

 

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation imposed on all insured institutions a special emergency assessment of five basis points of total assets minus Tier 1 capital, as of June 30, 2009 (capped at ten basis points of an institution’s deposit assessment base), in order to cover losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund. That special assessment was collected on September 30, 2009. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provided for similar assessments during the final two quarters of 2009, if deemed necessary. However, in lieu of further special assessments, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation required insured institutions to prepay estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 through the fourth quarter of 2012. The estimated assessments, which include an assumed annual assessment base increase of 5%, were recorded as a prepaid expense asset as of December 31, 2009. As of June 30, 2010, and each quarter thereafter, a charge to earnings is recorded for each regular assessment with an offsetting credit to the prepaid asset.

 

Due to difficult economic conditions, deposit insurance per account owner was recently raised to $250,000. That change was made permanent by the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation adopted an optional Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program by which, for a fee, non-interest bearing transaction accounts (defined to include IOLTA and certain NOW accounts) would receive unlimited insurance coverage until December 31, 2010 and certain senior unsecured debt issued by institutions and their holding companies between October 13, 2008 and June 30, 2010 would be guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation through June 30, 2012, or in some cases, December 31, 2012. Northeast Community Bank participates in the unlimited non-interest bearing transaction account coverage and Northeast Community Bank, Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC opted not to participate in the unsecured debt guarantee program. The Dodd-Frank Act extended the unlimited coverage for certain non-interest bearing transaction accounts through December 31, 2012.

 

In addition to the assessment for deposit insurance, institutions are required to make payments on bonds issued in the late 1980s by the Financing Corporation to recapitalize a predecessor deposit insurance fund. That payment is established quarterly and during the four quarters ended December 31, 2011 averaged 1.04 basis points of assessable deposits.

 

The Dodd-Frank Act increased the minimum target Deposit Insurance Fund ratio from 1.15% of estimated insured deposits to 1.35% of estimated insured deposits. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation must seek to achieve the 1.35% ratio by September 30, 2020. Insured institutions with assets of $10 billion or more are supposed to fund the increase. The Dodd-Frank Act eliminated the 1.5% maximum fund ratio, instead leaving it to the discretion of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has authority to increase insurance assessments. A significant increase in insurance premiums would likely have an adverse effect on the operating expenses and results of operations of Northeast Community Bank. Management cannot predict what insurance assessment rates will be in the future.

 

Insurance of deposits may be terminated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The management of Northeast Community Bank does not know of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of deposit insurance.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank System. Northeast Community Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which consists of 12 regional Federal Home Loan Banks. The Federal Home Loan Bank provides a central credit facility primarily for member institutions. Northeast Community Bank, as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in that Federal Home Loan Bank. Northeast Community Bank was in compliance with this requirement with an investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock at December 31, 2011 of $1.6 million. Federal Home Loan Bank advances must be secured by specified types of collateral.

 

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The Federal Home Loan Banks are required to provide funds for the resolution of insolvent thrifts in the late 1980s and to contribute funds for affordable housing programs. These requirements, as well as general financial results, could reduce the amount of dividends that the Federal Home Loan Banks pay to their members and could also result in the Federal Home Loan Banks imposing a higher rate of interest on advances to their members. If dividends were reduced, or interest on future Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased, our net interest income would likely also be reduced.

 

Federal Reserve System. The Federal Reserve Board regulations require savings banks to maintain non-interest earning reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and regular checking accounts). The regulations generally provided that reserves be maintained against aggregate transaction accounts as follows: a 3% reserve ratio is assessed on net transaction accounts up to and including $55.2 million; a 10% reserve ratio is applied above $55.2 million. The first $10.7 million of otherwise reservable balances are exempted from the reserve requirements. The amounts are adjusted annually and, for 2011, required a 3% ratio for up to $58.8 million and an exception of $10.7 million. Northeast Community Bank complies with the foregoing requirements.

 

Holding Company Regulation

 

General. Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC are savings and loan holding companies within the meaning of federal law. As such, they are subject to Federal Reserve Board regulations, examinations, supervision, reporting requirements and regulations concerning corporate governance and activities. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board has enforcement authority over Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC and their non-savings institution subsidiaries. Among other things, this authority permits the Federal Reserve Board to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a serious risk to Northeast Community Bank.

 

As part of the Dodd-Frank Act regulatory restructuring, the responsibilities of the Office of Thrift Supervision as to savings and loan holding companies were transferred to the Federal Reserve Board on July 21, 2011. The Federal Reserve Board is the agency that regulates bank holding companies.

 

Restrictions Applicable to Mutual Holding Companies. According to federal law and Federal Reserve Board regulations, a mutual holding company, such as Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC, may generally engage in the following activities: (1) investing in the stock of a bank; (2) acquiring a mutual savings bank through the merger of such savings bank into a bank subsidiary of such holding company or an interim bank subsidiary of such holding company; (3) merging with or acquiring another holding company, one of whose subsidiaries is a bank; and (4) any activity approved by the Federal Reserve Board for a bank holding company or financial holding company or previously approved by Federal Reserve Board for multiple savings and loan holding companies. In addition, mutual holding companies may engage in activities permitted for financial holding companies. Financial holding companies may engage in a broad array of financial service activities including insurance and securities.

 

Federal law prohibits a savings and loan holding company, including a federal mutual holding company, from directly or indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries, acquiring more than 5% of the voting stock of another savings association, or its holding company, without prior written approval of the Federal Reserve Board. Federal law also prohibits a savings and loan holding company from acquiring more than 5% of a company engaged in activities other than those authorized for savings and loan holding companies by federal law, or acquiring or retaining control of a depository institution that is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In evaluating applications by holding companies to acquire savings associations, the Federal Reserve Board must consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the company and institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the insurance funds, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive factors.

 

The Federal Reserve Board is prohibited from approving any acquisition that would result in a multiple savings and loan holding company controlling savings associations in more than one state, except: (1) the approval of interstate supervisory acquisitions by savings and loan holding companies, and (2) the acquisition of a savings association in another state if the laws of the state of the target savings institution specifically permit such acquisitions. The states vary in the extent to which they permit interstate savings and loan holding company acquisitions.

 

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Stock Holding Company Subsidiary Regulation. The Federal Reserve Board has adopted regulations governing the two-tier mutual holding company form of organization and subsidiary stock holding companies that are controlled by mutual holding companies. Northeast Community Bancorp is the stock holding company subsidiary of Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC. Northeast Community Bancorp is permitted to engage in activities that are permitted for Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC subject to the same restrictions and conditions.

 

Capital Requirements. Savings and loan holding companies are not currently subject to specific regulatory capital requirements. The Dodd-Frank Act, however, requires the Federal Reserve Board to promulgate consolidated capital requirements for depository institution holding companies that are no less stringent, both quantitatively and in terms of components of capital, than those applicable to institutions themselves. There is a five year transition period from the July 21, 2010 date of enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act before the capital requirements will apply to savings and loan holding companies. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the Federal Reserve Board to promulgate regulations implementing the “source of strength” policy that holding companies act as a source of strength to their subsidiary depository institutions by providing capital, liquidity and other support in times of financial stress.

 

Source of Strength. The Dodd-Frank Act also extends the “source of strength” doctrine to savings and loan holding companies. The regulatory agencies must issue regulations implementing the “source of strength” policy that holding companies act as a source of strength to their subsidiary depository institutions by providing capital and other support to their subsidiary institutions in times of financial distress.

 

Dividends and Stock Repurchases. The Federal Reserve Board has issued a policy statement regarding the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares of common stock by bank holding companies that it has made applicable to savings and loan holding companies as well. In general, the policy provides that dividends should be paid only out of current earnings and only if the prospective rate of earnings retention by the holding company appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Regulatory guidance provides for prior regulatory review of capital distributions in certain circumstances such as where the company’s net income for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid over that period, is insufficient to fully fund the dividend or the company’s overall rate of earnings retention is not consistent with the company’s capital needs and overall financial condition. The ability of a holding company to pay dividends may be restricted if a subsidiary bank becomes undercapitalized. Moreover, a company should inform the Federal Reserve Board reasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid. The policy statement also provides for regulatory review prior to a holding company redeeming or repurchasing regulatory capital instruments when the holding company is experiencing financial weaknesses or redeeming or repurchasing common stock or perpetual preferred stock that would result in a net reduction as of the end of a quarter in the amount of such equity instruments outstanding compared with the beginning of the quarter in which the redemption or repurchase occurred. These regulatory policies could affect the ability of the Company to pay dividends, repurchase shares of common stock or otherwise engage in capital distributions.

 

Waivers of Dividends by Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC. Office of Thrift Supervision regulations required Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC to notify the Office of Thrift Supervision if it proposed to waive receipt of dividends from Northeast Community Bancorp. The Office of Thrift Supervision reviewed dividend waiver notices on a case-by-case basis, and, in general, did not object to any such waiver if: (i) the waiver would not be detrimental to the safe and sound operation of the savings association; and (ii) the mutual holding company’s board of directors determines that such waiver is consistent with such directors’ fiduciary duties to the mutual holding company’s members. Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC has waived receipt of all dividends from Northeast Community Bancorp in prior years and in 2011.

 

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The Federal Reserve Board, which took over the Office of Thrift Supervision’s supervisory duties for savings and loan holding companies, has adopted an interim final rule which requires the MHC to notify the Federal Reserve Board if it proposes to waive receipt of dividends from the Company. In addition, the interim final rule also requires that the MHC obtain the approval of a majority of the eligible votes of members of the MHC (generally Bank depositors) before it can waive dividends. For a grandfathered company such as the MHC that waived dividends prior to December 1, 2009, the Federal Reserve Board may not object to a dividend waiver request if the board of directors of the mutual holding company expressly determines that a waiver of the dividend is consistent with its fiduciary duties to members and the waiver would not be detrimental to the safe and sound operation of the savings association subsidiaries of the holding company. The Federal Reserve Board’s interim final rule regarding dividend waiver requests is subject to comment and there can be no assurances as to the timing of changes to the interim final rule, if any, the form of the final dividend waiver regulations or the effect of such regulations on the MHC’s ability to waive dividends.

 

Conversion of Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC to Stock Form. Federal Reserve Board regulations permit Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC to convert from the mutual form of organization to the capital stock form of organization. There can be no assurance when, if ever, a conversion transaction will occur, and the board of directors has no current intention or plan to undertake a conversion transaction. In a conversion transaction, a new holding company would be formed as the successor to Northeast Community Bancorp, Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC’s corporate existence would end, and certain depositors of Northeast Community Bank would receive the right to subscribe for additional shares of the new holding company. In a conversion transaction, each share of common stock held by stockholders other than Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC would be automatically converted into a number of shares of common stock of the new holding company based on an exchange ratio designed to ensure that stockholders other than Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC own the same percentage of common stock in the new holding company as they owned in Northeast Community Bancorp immediately before conversion. The total number of shares held by stockholders other than Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC after a conversion transaction would be increased by any purchases by such stockholders in the stock offering conducted as part of the conversion transaction.

 

Acquisition of Control. Under the federal Change in Bank Control Act, a notice must be submitted to the Federal Reserve Board if any person (including a company), or group acting in concert, seeks to acquire direct or indirect “control” of a savings and loan holding company or savings association. Under certain circumstances, a change of control may occur, and prior notice is required, upon the acquisition of 10% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the company or institution, unless the Federal Reserve Board has found that the acquisition will not result in a change of control. Under the Change in Bank Control Act, the Federal Reserve Board generally has 60 days from the filing of a complete notice to act, taking into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquirer and the anti-trust effects of the acquisition. Any company that so acquires control would then be subject to regulation as a savings and loan holding company.

 

Future Legislation. Various legislation affecting financial institutions and the financial industry is from time to time introduced in Congress.  Such legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways, and could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance depending upon whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. With the recent enactments of the Dodd-Frank Act, the nature and extent of future legislative and regulatory changes affecting financial institutions is very unpredictable at this time.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

The Board of Directors annually elects the executive officers of Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC, Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bank, who serve at the Board’s discretion. Our executive officers are:

 

Name   Position
Kenneth A. Martinek   President and Chief Executive Officer of the MHC, the Company and the Bank
Salvatore Randazzo   Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the MHC, the Company and the Bank

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Changes in interest rates may have a negative impact on earnings and asset values.

 

Our net interest income is the interest we earn on loans and investment less the interest we pay on our deposits and borrowings. Our net interest margin is the difference between the yield we earn on our assets and the interest rate we pay for deposits and our other sources of funding. Changes in interest rates—up or down—could adversely affect our net interest margin and, as a result, our net interest income. Although the yield we earn on our assets and our funding costs tend to move in the same direction in response to changes in interest rates, one can rise or fall faster than the other, causing our net interest margin to expand or contract. Our liabilities tend to be shorter in duration than our assets, so they may adjust faster in response to changes in interest rates. As a result, when interest rates rise, our funding costs may rise faster than the yield we earn on our assets, causing our net interest margin to contract until the yield catches up. Changes in the slope of the “yield curve”—or the spread between short-term and long-term interest rates—could also reduce our net interest margin. Normally, the yield curve is upward sloping, meaning short-term rates are lower than long-term rates. Because our liabilities tend to be shorter in duration than our assets, when the yield curve flattens or even inverts, we could experience pressure on our net interest margin as our cost of funds increases relative to the yield we can earn on our assets. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management—Interest Rate Risk Management.”

 

Our emphasis on multi-family residential, mixed-use and non-residential real estate lending and our recent expansion into commercial and industrial lending and participation in construction loans could expose us to increased lending risks.

 

Our primary business strategy centers on continuing our emphasis on multi-family and mixed-use real estate loans. At December 31, 2011, $324.1 million, or 90.6%, of our loan portfolio consisted of multi-family residential, mixed-use and non-residential real estate loans. As a result, our credit risk profile is generally higher than traditional thrift institutions that have higher concentrations of one- to four-family residential loans.

 

Loans secured by multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate generally expose a lender to greater risk of non-payment and loss than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans because repayment of the loans often depends on the successful operation of the property and the income stream of the underlying property. Such loans typically involve larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers compared to one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. Accordingly, an adverse development with respect to one loan or one credit relationship can expose us to greater risk of loss compared to an adverse development with respect to a one-to-four family residential mortgage loan. We seek to minimize these risks through our underwriting policies, which require such loans to be qualified on the basis of the property’s net income and debt service ratio; however, there is no assurance that our underwriting policies will protect us from credit-related losses.

 

As with loans secured by multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate, commercial and industrial loans tend to be of higher risk than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. We seek to minimize the risks involved in commercial and industrial lending by underwriting such loans on the basis of the cash flows produced by the business; by requiring that such loans be collateralized by various business assets, including inventory, equipment, and accounts receivable, among others; and by requiring personal guarantees, whenever possible. However, the capacity of a borrower to repay a commercial and industrial loan is substantially dependent on the degree to which his or her business is successful. In addition, the collateral underlying such loans may depreciate over time, may not be conducive to appraisal, or may fluctuate in value, based upon the business’ results. At December 31, 2011, $23.7 million, or 6.6%, of our loan portfolio consisted of commercial and industrial loans.

 

Our participation interests in construction loans present a greater level of risk than loans secured by improved, occupied real estate due to: (1) the increased difficulty at the time the loan is made of estimating the building costs and the selling price of the property to be built; (2) the increased difficulty and costs of monitoring the loan; (3) the higher degree of sensitivity to increases in market rates of interest; and (4) the increased difficulty of working out loan problems. We have sought to minimize this risk by limiting the amount of construction loan participation interests outstanding at any time and spreading the participations between multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential projects. At December 31, 2011, the outstanding balance of our construction loan participation interests totaled $9.1 million, or 2.5% of our total loan portfolio. We currently do not participate in construction loans.

 

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A return of recessionary conditions could result in increases in our level of non-performing loans and/or reduce demand for our products and services, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Following a national home price peak in mid-2006, falling home prices and sharply reduced sales volumes, along with the collapse of the United States’ subprime mortgage industry in early 2007, significantly contributed to a recession that officially lasted until June 2009, although the effects continued thereafter. Dramatic declines in real estate values and high levels of foreclosures resulted in significant asset write-downs by financial banks, which have caused many financial banks to seek additional capital, to merge with other banks and, in some cases, to fail. Concerns over the United States’ credit rating (which was recently downgraded by Standard & Poor’s), the European sovereign debt crisis, and continued high unemployment in the United States, among other economic indicators, have contributed to increased volatility in the capital markets and diminished expectations for the economy.

 

A return of recessionary conditions and/or continued negative developments in the domestic and international credit markets may significantly affect the markets in which we do business, the value of our loans and investments, and our ongoing operations, costs and profitability. Further declines in real estate values and sales volumes and continued high unemployment levels may result in higher than expected loan delinquencies and a decline in demand for our products and services. These negative events may cause us to incur losses and may adversely affect our capital, liquidity, and financial condition.

 

Our non-performing assets could expose us to increased risk of loss, which may negatively affect our earnings.

 

Our non-performing assets have increased in the past few years as a result of the economic recession. At December 31, 2011, we had total non-performing assets of $21.1 million, or 4.3% of total assets, a $1.7 million decrease from December 31, 2010 and a $272,000 increase from December 31, 2009. Our non-performing assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We do not record interest income on non-accrual loans or investments or on real estate owned. We must reserve for probable losses, which are established through a current period charge to income in the provision for loan losses, and from time to time, write down the value of properties in our other real estate owned portfolio to reflect changing market values. Additionally, there are legal fees associated with the resolution of problem assets as well as carrying costs such as taxes, insurance and maintenance related to our other real estate owned. Further, the resolution of non-performing assets requires the active involvement of management, which can distract us from the overall supervision of operations and other income-producing activities of Northeast Community Bank. Finally, if our estimate of the allowance for loan losses is inadequate, we will have to increase the allowance accordingly. At December 31, 2011, our allowance for loan losses amounted to 2.1% of total loans outstanding and 36.2% of nonperforming loans.

 

Our allowance for loan losses may be inadequate, which could hurt our earnings.

 

When borrowers default and do not repay the loans that we make to them, we may lose money. The allowance for loan losses is the amount estimated by management as necessary to cover probable losses in the loan portfolio at the statement of financial condition date. The allowance is established through the provision for loan losses, which is charged to income. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses necessarily involves a high degree of judgment. Among the material estimates required to establish the allowance are: loss exposure at default; the amount and timing of future cash flows on impacted loans; value of collateral; and determination of loss factors to be applied to the various elements of the portfolio. If our estimates and judgments regarding such matters prove to be incorrect, our allowance for loan losses might not be sufficient, and additional loan loss provisions might need to be made. Depending on the amount of such loan loss provisions, the adverse impact on our earnings could be material. Our allowance for loan losses amounted to 2.1% of total loans outstanding and 36.2% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2011. Our allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2011 may not be sufficient to cover future loan losses. A large loss or series of losses could deplete the allowance and require increased provisions to replenish the allowance, which would negatively affect earnings.

 

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In addition, bank regulators may require us to make a provision for loan losses or otherwise recognize further loan charge-offs following their periodic review of our loan portfolio, our underwriting procedures, and our loan loss allowance. Any increase in our allowance for loan losses or loan charge-offs as required by such regulatory authorities could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Please see “Allowance for Loan Losses” under “Critical Accounting Policies” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” for a discussion of the procedures we follow in establishing our loan loss allowance.

 

Income from mortgage brokering operations is volatile, and reduced demand for residential mortgage loans may negatively impact our net income.

 

We act as a residential mortgage loan broker for nationally recognized third-party mortgage originators, earning noninterest income in the form of other loan fees and service charges. When interest rates rise, the demand for mortgage loans tends to fall and may reduce the number of loans that are originated through our mortgage brokering operations. In addition to interest rate levels, weak or deteriorating economic conditions also tend to reduce loan demand. Reduced demand for residential mortgage loans will negatively impact our mortgage brokering operations and the noninterest income that we generate from such operations.

 

Strong competition within our primary market area and our lending territory could hurt our profits and slow growth.

 

We face intense competition both in making loans in our lending territory and attracting deposits in our primary market area. This competition has made it more difficult for us to make new loans and at times has forced us to offer higher deposit rates. Price competition for loans and deposits might result in us earning less on our loans and paying more on our deposits, which would reduce net interest income. Competition also makes it more difficult to grow loans and deposits. As of June 30, 2011, the most recent date for which information is available from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, we held approximately 0.02% of the deposits in New York County, New York, approximately 0.60% and 0.06% of the deposits in Bronx and Westchester Counties, New York, respectively, and 0.23% and 0.96% of the deposits in Essex and Plymouth Counties, Massachusetts, respectively. Competition also makes it more difficult to hire and retain experienced employees. Some of the banks with which we compete have substantially greater resources and lending limits than we have and may offer services that we do not provide. We expect competition to increase in the future as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and the continuing trend of consolidation in the financial services industry. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to compete successfully in our primary market area and our lending territory.

 

The market price of our common stock may be materially adversely affected by market volatility.

 

Many publicly traded financial services companies have recently experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance or prospects of such companies. We may experience market fluctuations that are not directly related to our operating performance but are influenced by the market’s perception of the state of the financial services industry in general and, in particular, the market’s assessment of general credit quality conditions, including default and foreclosure rates in the industry.

 

Increased and/or special FDIC assessments will hurt our earnings.

 

The recent economic recession has caused a high level of bank failures, which has dramatically increased FDIC resolution costs and led to a significant reduction in the balance of the Deposit Insurance Fund. As a result, the FDIC has significantly increased the initial base assessment rates paid by financial institutions for deposit insurance. Increases in the base assessment rate have increased our deposit insurance costs and negatively impacted our earnings. In addition, in May 2009, the FDIC imposed a special assessment on all insured institutions. Our special assessment, which was reflected in earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, was $205,000. In lieu of imposing an additional special assessment, the FDIC required all institutions to prepay their assessments for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012, which for us totaled $1.5 million. Additional increases in the base assessment rate or additional special assessments would negatively impact our earnings.

 

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We operate in a highly regulated environment and we may be adversely affected by changes in laws and regulations.

 

We are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, our primary federal regulator, and by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as insurer of our deposits. Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC and Northeast Community Bancorp are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve Board. Northeast Community Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Such regulation and supervision governs the activities in which an institution and its holding company may engage, and are intended primarily for the protection of the insurance fund and the depositors and borrowers of Northeast Community Bank rather than for holders of Northeast Community Bancorp common stock. Regulatory authorities have extensive discretion in their supervisory and enforcement activities, including the imposition of restrictions on our operations, the classification of our assets and determination of the level of our allowance for loan losses. Any change in such regulation and oversight, whether in the form of regulatory policy, regulations, legislation or supervisory action, may have a material impact on our operations.

 

Recently enacted financial regulatory reform may have a material impact on our operations.

 

On July 21, 2010, the President signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act restructures the regulation of depository institutions. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Office of Thrift Supervision, which formerly regulated the Bank, was merged into the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Savings and loan holding companies, including Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC, will be regulated by the Federal Reserve Board. Also included is the creation of a new federal agency to administer consumer protection and fair lending laws, a function that was formerly performed by the depository institution regulators. The federal preemption of state laws that was formerly accorded federally chartered depository institutions has been reduced as well and State Attorneys General now have greater authority to bring a suit against a federally chartered institution, such as Northeast Community Bank, for violations of certain state and federal consumer protection laws. The Dodd-Frank Act also imposes consolidated capital requirements on savings and loan holding companies effective in five years, which will limit our ability to borrow at the holding company and invest the proceeds from such borrowings as capital in Northeast Community Bank that could be leveraged to support additional growth. The Dodd-Frank Act contains various other provisions designed to enhance the regulation of depository institutions and prevent the recurrence of a financial crisis such as occurred in 2008-2009. The full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on our business and operations will not be known for years until regulations implementing the statute are written and adopted. The Dodd-Frank Act may have a material impact on our operations, particularly through increased regulatory burden and compliance costs.

 

In addition to the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, the federal regulatory agencies recently have begun to take stronger supervisory actions against financial institutions that have experienced increased loan losses and other weaknesses as a result of the current economic crisis. The actions include the entering into of written agreements and cease and desist orders that place certain limitations on their operations. Federal bank regulators recently have also been using with more frequency their ability to impose individual minimal capital requirements on banks, which requirements may be higher than those imposed under the Dodd-Frank Act or which would otherwise qualify the bank as being “well capitalized” under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s prompt corrective action regulations. If we were to become subject to a supervisory agreement or higher individual capital requirements, such action may have a negative impact on our ability to execute our business plans, as well as our ability to grow, pay dividends or engage in mergers and acquisitions and may result in restrictions in our operations. See “Regulation and Supervision – Federal Banking Regulation – Capital Requirements” for a discussion of regulatory capital requirements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC’s majority control of our common stock will enable it to exercise voting control over most matters put to a vote of stockholders and will prevent stockholders from forcing a sale or a second-step conversion transaction you may like.

 

The MHC owns a majority of Northeast Community Bancorp’s common stock and, through its board of directors, will be able to exercise voting control over most matters put to a vote of stockholders. The same directors and officers who manage Northeast Community Bancorp and Northeast Community Bank also manage the MHC. As a federally chartered mutual holding company, the board of directors of the MHC must ensure that the interests of depositors of Northeast Community Bank are represented and considered in matters put to a vote of stockholders of Northeast Community Bancorp. Therefore, the votes cast by the MHC may not be in your personal best interests as a stockholder. For example, the MHC may exercise its voting control to defeat a stockholder nominee for election to the board of directors of Northeast Community Bancorp. In addition, stockholders will not be able to force a merger or second-step conversion transaction without the consent of the MHC. Some stockholders may desire a sale or merger transaction, since stockholders typically receive a premium for their shares, or a second-step conversion transaction, since fully converted institutions tend to trade at higher multiples than mutual holding companies.

 

The amount of dividends we pay on our common stock, if any, may be limited by the ability of NorthEast Community Bancorp, MHC to waive receipt of dividends.

 

The MHC owns a majority of the Company’s outstanding stock.  As a result, when and if the Company pays dividends to its shareholders, it also is required to pay dividends to the MHC unless the MHC is permitted by its federal regulator to waive the receipt of dividends.  Historically, the MHC’s federal regulator has permitted the MHC to waive its right to dividends declared by the Company on the shares that it owns.  The MHC has received the approval of the Federal Reserve Board to waive dividends paid by the Company for the quarters ended September 30, 2011, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012.  It is expected that the MHC will continue to waive future dividends, except to the extent dividends are needed to fund the MHC’s continuing operations, and subject to the ability of the MHC to obtain regulatory approval in the future of its requests to waive dividends.

 

The Federal Reserve Board, as successor regulatory agency to the Office of Thrift Supervision for the MHC, has adopted an interim final rule which requires the MHC to notify the Federal Reserve Board if it proposes to waive receipt of dividends from the Company. In addition, the interim final rule also requires that the MHC obtain the approval of a majority of the eligible votes of members of the MHC (generally Bank depositors) before it can waive dividends.  For a grandfathered company such as the MHC that waived dividends prior to December 1, 2009, the Federal Reserve Board may not object to a dividend waiver request if the board of directors of the mutual holding company expressly determines that a waiver of the dividend is consistent with its fiduciary duties to members and the waiver would not be detrimental to the safe and sound operation of the savings association subsidiaries of the holding company.  The Federal Reserve Board’s interim final rule regarding dividend waiver requests is subject to comment and there can be no assurances as to the timing of changes to the interim final rule, if any, the form of the final dividend waiver regulations or the effect of such regulations on the MHC’s ability to waive dividends.

 

While the MHC is grandfathered for purposes of the Federal Reserve Board dividend waiver regulations, we cannot assure that the Federal Reserve Board will grant dividend waiver requests in the future and, if granted, there can be no assurance as to the conditions, if any, the Federal Reserve Board will place on future dividend waiver requests.  The denial of a dividend waiver request or the imposition of burdensome conditions on an approval of a waiver request may significantly limit the amount of dividends the Company pays in the future, if any.

 

The Federal Reserve Board policy on remutualization transactions could prohibit acquisition of Northeast Community Bancorp, which may adversely affect our stock price.

 

Current Federal Reserve Board regulations permit a mutual holding company to be acquired by a mutual institution in a remutualization transaction. However, Northeast Community Bancorp’s former regulator, the Office of Thrift Supervision, had adopted a policy statement indicating that it viewed remutualization transactions as raising significant issues concerning disparate treatment of minority stockholders and mutual members of the target entity and raising issues concerning the effect on the mutual members of the acquiring entity. The Federal Reserve Board has not adopted a similar policy statement or issued on the matter and future Federal Reserve Board regulation may negatively affect Northeast Community Bancorp. Under certain circumstances, the Federal Reserve Board may give these issues special scrutiny and reject applications providing for the remutualization of a mutual holding company unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that the Federal Reserve Board’s concerns are not warranted in the particular case. Should the Federal Reserve Board prohibit or otherwise restrict these transactions in the future, our per share stock price may be adversely affected.

 

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

We conduct our business through our main office, six other full-service branch offices, and our investment advisory and financial planning services office located in Westport, Connecticut. The following table sets forth certain information relating to these facilities as of December 31, 2011.

 

Location  Year Opened   Date of Lease Expiration   Owned/ Leased   Net Book Value 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Corporate Headquarters and Main Office:                    
                     
325 Hamilton Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601
   1994    N/A    Owned   $1,045 
                     
Branch Offices and Loan Production Office:                    
                     
1470 First Avenue
New York, NY 10021 (1)
   2006    07/30/2014    Leased     
                     
590 East 187th Street
Bronx, New York 10458
   1972    N/A    Owned    498 
                     
242 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011 (2)
   1996    N/A    Owned/Leased    817 
                     
1751 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10128
   1978    09/30/2015    Leased    15 
                     
87 Elm Street
Danvers, MA  01923
   2009    N/A    Owned    1,531 
                     
8  No. Park Avenue
Plymouth, MA  02360
   2009    N/A    Owned    1,799 
                     
35 Edgell Road
Framingham, MA  01701 (3)
   Pending    N/A    Owned    1,311 
                     
66 Elm Street
Danvers, MA  01923 (4)
   2011    N/A    Owned    984 
                     
Other Properties:                    
                     
1353-55 First Avenue
New York, NY 10021 (5)
   1946    2109    Leased     
                     
830 Post Road East
Westport, Connecticut  06880
   2007    07/31/2015    Leased     

 


(1) The Company has temporarily relocated its branch office at 1353-55 First Avenue to this property due to the sale and renovation of the building located at 1353-55 First Avenue.  See footnote 5 below.
(2) This property is owned by us, but is subject to a 99 year land lease, the term of which expires in 2084.
(3) The Company expects to open the Framingham branch office during the second quarter of 2012.
(4) Loan production office.
(5) In June 2007, the Company sold this building and temporarily relocated its branch office located at 1353-55 First Avenue to 1470 First Avenue, New York, New York, while 1353-55 First Avenue is being renovated. On June 30, 2007, the Bank entered into a 99 year lease agreement for office space on the first floor of the building at 1353-55 First Avenue so that the Bank may continue to operate a branch office at this location after the building has been renovated. The lease will commence upon completion of construction at 1353-55 First Avenue.

 

 

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On October 31, 2011 a complaint was filed by Stilwell Value Partners IV, L.P. in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the “Court”), against the Company, NorthEast Community Bancorp MHC (the “MHC”) and each of the directors of the Company and the MHC. The complaint alleges that the directors have breached their fiduciary duties by not expanding the Company board to allow for disinterested consideration of a “second-step” conversion of the MHC.  As for relief, the complaint requests, among other things, that the Company’s board of directors be increased by at least three new members, that such new members be given sole responsibility to determine whether the Company should engage in a second-step conversion and that the Court order the Company to engage in a second-step conversion. The Company believes that the claims asserted are without merit and intends to vigorously defend the case. On December 14, 2011, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. The plaintiff has filed an opposition to the Company’s motion to dismiss and a cross motion for leave to amend the complaint in the event the court were to conclude that the initial complaint fails to state a viable claim. The Company expects there will be a ruling on the motion to dismiss in the near future.

 

The Company and Bank are also subject to claims and litigation that arise primarily in the ordinary course of business. Based on information presently available and advice received from legal counsel representing the Company and Bank in connection with such claims and litigation, it is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate determination of such claims and litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the trading symbol “NECB.” The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of the common stock, as reported by NASDAQ, and the dividends declared by the Company during each quarter of the two most recent fiscal years. See Item 1, “Business—Regulation and Supervision—Regulation of Federal Savings Institutions—Limitation on Capital Distributions” and Note 2 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information relating to restrictions on dividends.

 

   Dividends   High   Low 
                
2011:               
                
First Quarter  $0.03   $6.30   $5.58 
Second Quarter   0.03    6.90    5.80 
Third Quarter   0.03    6.86    5.91 
Fourth Quarter   0.03    6.48    5.41 
                
2010:               
                
First Quarter  $0.03   $7.25   $5.52 
Second Quarter   0.03    7.50    4.68 
Third Quarter   0.03    6.40    4.40 
Fourth Quarter   0.03    6.25    5.55 

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC, the Company’s majority stockholder, has waived receipt of all dividends declared by the Company. During 2011, the aggregate amount of dividends waived was $873,000. On a cumulative basis, $3,928,000 of such dividends have been waived through December 31, 2011.

 

As of February 29, 2012, there were approximately 282 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2011 and had no approved repurchase program at December 31, 2011.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

   At or For the Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007 
   (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 
Financial Condition Data:                         
Total assets  $489,289   $466,008   $527,276   $424,228   $343,895 
Cash and cash equivalents   82,583    44,453    88,718    36,534    39,146 
Securities held to maturity   16,099    19,858    11,845    2,078    2,875 
Securities available for sale   149    162    176    182    320 
Loans receivable, net   350,894    364,798    386,266    363,616    283,133 
Bank owned life insurance   16,736    16,145    10,522    8,902    8,515 
Deposits   353,636    326,830    379,518    261,430    225,978 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   20,000    25,000    35,000    40,000     
Total stockholders’ equity   107,065    108,139    107,448    110,502    108,829 
                          
Operating Data:                         
Interest income  $22,151   $24,642   $24,373   $21,947   $17,602 
Interest expense   5,177    8,435    10,092    8,550    5,918 
Net interest income   16,974    16,207    14,281    13,397    11,684 
Provision for loan losses   1,113    3,487    7,314    411    338 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses   15,861    12,720    6,967    12,986    11,346 
Gain (loss) on sale of premises, equipment and deposits   10    1,924            18,962 
Noninterest income   1,882    1,718    1,498    1,794    805 
Noninterest expenses   14,201    13,590    13,893    11,500    9,826 
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes   3,552    2,772    (5,428)   3,280    21,287 
Income tax (benefit) provision   1,197    904    (2,812)   1,178    9,150 
Net income (loss)  $2,355   $1,868   $(2,616)  $2,102   $12,137 
Net income (loss) per share – basic and diluted  $0.19   $0.15   $(0.20)  $0.16   $0.95 
Dividends declared per share  $0.12   $0.12   $0.12   $0.12   $0.06 

 

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   At or For the Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007 
Performance Ratios:                         
Return on average assets (1)   0.51%   0.37%   (0.54)%   0.54%   3.94%
Return on average equity (1)   2.18    1.72    (2.37)   1.91    11.70 
Interest rate spread (2)   3.53    2.96    2.49    2.73    3.13 
Net interest margin (3)   3.89    3.39    3.08    3.63    4.09 
Noninterest expense to average assets   3.07    2.67    2.86    2.96    3.19 
Efficiency ratio (1) (4)   75.27    68.47    88.05    75.70    31.24 
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities   130.26    124.48    127.33    138.82    146.61 
Average equity to average assets   23.37    21.30    22.77    28.35    33.67 
                          
Capital Ratios - Bank:                         
Tangible capital   18.02    18.41    16.01    19.45    24.18 
Core capital   18.02    18.41    16.01    19.45    24.18 
Total risk-based capital   31.30    29.84    27.70    30.65    37.50 
                          
Asset Quality Ratios:                         
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans   2.07    2.06    1.72    0.51    0.53 
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonperforming loans   36.19    35.07    33.41    57.92    65.48 
Net charge-offs to average outstanding loans during the period   0.37    0.67    0.62    0.01    0.02 
Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans   5.72    5.87    5.14    0.88    0.80 
                          
Other Data:                         
Number of:                         
Real estate loans outstanding   449    468    497    491    485 
Deposit accounts   12,170    13,042    15,781    14,449    15,025 
Offices (5)   10    9    10    9    9 

 


(1) 2007 operations included a non-recurring gain of $18,962,000 from the gain on sale of the building in which our First Avenue branch was located.  If such gain, net of income taxes at the 2007 marginal income tax rate, were removed, return on average assets, return on average equity and the efficiency ratio would be 0.43%, 1.28%, and 78.68%, respectively.
(2) Represents the difference between the weighted average yield on average interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets.
(4) Represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
(5) At December 31, 2011, includes our main office, our six other full-service branch offices, our loan production office, our investment advisory service office in Westport, Connecticut, and a leased property for future branch office use.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

Income. Our primary source of pre-tax income is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income, which is the income that we earn on our loans and investments, and interest expense, which is the interest that we pay on our deposits and borrowings. Other significant sources of pre-tax income are prepayment penalties on multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential real estate loans and service charges – mostly from service charges on deposit accounts – and fees for various services.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for losses inherent in the loan portfolio. We evaluate the need to establish allowances against losses on loans on a quarterly basis. When additional allowances are necessary, a provision for loan losses is charged to earnings.

 

Expenses. The noninterest expenses we incur in operating our business consist of salary and employee benefits expenses, occupancy and equipment expenses, advertising expenses, federal insurance premiums and other miscellaneous expenses.

 

Salary and employee benefits consist primarily of the salaries and wages paid to our employees, payroll taxes and expenses for health insurance, retirement plans and other employee benefits.

 

Occupancy and equipment expenses, which are the fixed and variable costs of buildings and equipment, consist primarily of depreciation charges, ATM and data processing expenses, furniture and equipment expenses, maintenance, real estate taxes and costs of utilities. Depreciation of premises and equipment is computed using the straight-line method based on the useful lives of the related assets, which range from three to 40 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or term of the lease.

 

Advertising expenses include expenses for print, promotions, third-party marketing services and premium items.

 

Federal insurance premiums are payments we make to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for insurance of our deposit accounts.

 

Other expenses include expenses for professional services, office supplies, postage, telephone, insurance, charitable contributions, regulatory assessments and other miscellaneous operating expenses.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

We consider accounting policies involving significant judgments and assumptions by management that have, or could have, a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets or on income to be critical accounting policies. We consider the following to be our critical accounting policies: allowance for loan losses and deferred income taxes.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is the amount estimated by management as necessary to cover probable credit losses in the loan portfolio at the statement of financial condition date. The allowance is established through the provision for loan losses, which is charged to income. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses necessarily involves a high degree of judgment. Among the material estimates required to establish the allowance are: loss exposure at default; the amount and timing of future cash flows on impacted loans; value of collateral; and determination of loss factors to be applied to the various elements of the portfolio. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Management reviews the level of the allowance on a quarterly basis and establishes the provision for loan losses based upon an evaluation of the portfolio, past loss experience, current economic conditions and other factors related to the collectibility of the loan portfolio.

 

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Although we believe that we use the best information available to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if economic conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluation. In addition, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as an integral part of its examination process, periodically reviews our allowance for loan losses. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency could require us to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on its judgments about information available to it at the time of its examination. A large loss could deplete the allowance and require increased provisions to replenish the allowance, which would negatively affect earnings. For additional discussion, see note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this filing.

 

Deferred Income Taxes. We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. If current available information raises doubt as to the realization of the deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance is established. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We exercise significant judgment in evaluating the amount and timing of recognition of the resulting tax liabilities and assets. These judgments require us to make projections of future taxable income. The judgments and estimates we make in determining our deferred tax assets, which are inherently subjective, are reviewed on a continual basis as regulatory and business factors change. Any reduction in estimated future taxable income may require us to record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance would result in additional income tax expense in the period, which would negatively affect earnings.

 

Sale of New York City Branch Office

 

On June 29, 2007, the Company completed the sale of its branch office building located at 1353-55 First Avenue, New York, New York (the “Property”). The sale price for the Property was $28.0 million. At closing, the Company received $10.0 million in cash and an $18.0 million zero coupon promissory note recorded at its then present value of $16.3 million. The Note, as restructured, including expenses and interest, was paid off on November 4, 2011.

 

In connection with the sale of the branch office building, the Bank entered into a 99-year lease agreement to enable the Bank to retain a branch office at 1353-55 First Avenue. This lease will be effective upon the completion of the renovation of the property. We have temporarily relocated our First Avenue branch office to 1470 First Avenue while 1353-55 First Avenue is being renovated.

 

Sale of Brooklyn Branch

 

On December 6, 2010 the Bank completed the sale of its branch office located at 2047 86th Street, Brooklyn, New York to Poncé De Leon Federal Bank. The Bank transferred approximately $27.7 million in deposits to Ponce De Leon Federal Bank in connection with the closing of the transaction. Ponce De Leon Federal Bank did not acquire any loans as part of the transaction. A $1.9 million gain was recognized from the sale of the Brooklyn branch office.

 

Acquisition of the Business Assets of Hayden Financial Group LLC

 

On November 16, 2007, the Bank acquired the operating assets of Hayden Financial Group LLC (“Hayden”), an investment advisory firm located in Connecticut, at a cost of $2.0 million. The Bank paid $1.3 million at closing, and $700,000 will be paid in four annual installments of $175,000. The acquisition of these business assets has enabled the Bank to expand the services it provides to include investment advisory and financial planning services to the then-existing Hayden customer base as well as future customers through a networking arrangement with a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser. In connection with this transaction, we acquired intangible assets related to customer relationships of $710,000 and goodwill of $1,310,000 and booked a note payable with a present value of $625,000. The intangible asset has been determined to have an 11.7-year life and, absent impairment issues, is being amortized to operations over that period using the straight-line method. Both the intangible assets and goodwill will be subject to impairment review on no less than an annual basis. The note is payable in four annual installments, one on each succeeding note anniversary date, of $175,000. The note was initially recorded at $625,000, assuming a 4.60% discount rate.

 

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In November 2011, on the note’s final installment due date, the holder of the note elected to defer the final installment payment until 2012. As such, the note payable was reclassified as an account payable of $175,000 at December 31, 2011. The note discount accreted during 2011 totaled $7,000. The acquired business is being operated as a division of the Bank and, during 2011, generated total revenues of approximately $894,000.

 

Balance Sheet Analysis

 

Overview. Total assets at December 31, 2011 increased by $23.3 million, or 5.0%, to $489.3 million from total assets of $466.0 million at December 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to increases of $38.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, $2.1 million in premises and equipment, net, $1.3 million in other assets, and $591,000 in bank owned life insurance, offset by decreases of $13.9 million in loans receivable, net, $3.8 million in investment securities held-to-maturity, $348,000 in certificates of deposits at other financial institutions, $313,000 in real estate owned, $251,000 in Federal Home Loan Bank stock, and $205,000 in accrued interest receivable.

 

These increases primarily resulted from increases of $26.8 million in deposits and $2.7 million in accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $5.0 million in Federal Home Loan Bank advances. As of December 31, 2011, the Company, on a consolidated basis, had stockholders equity of $107.1 million, or 21.9% of assets.

 

During the second half of 2011, we began increasing our origination of loans secured by real-estate. We have not re-entered the construction loan market. In 2010, we proactively reduced mortgage origination levels for mixed-use and non-residential real estate loans, based on our unwillingness to offer rates and terms on loan products that, in our opinion, do not accurately reflect the risk associated with particular loan types in the current economic and real estate environment.  In 2009, we ceased originating all construction loans due to prevailing conditions in the real estate market.

 

Loans. Our primary lending activity is the origination of loans secured by real estate. We originate real estate loans secured by multi-family residential real estate, mixed-use real estate and non-residential real estate. To a much lesser extent, we originate commercial and industrial and consumer loans. At December 31, 2011, loans receivable, net, totaled $350.9 million, a decrease of $13.9 million, or 3.8%, from total loans receivable, net, of $364.8 million at December 31, 2010. The promissory notes that the Bank received in connection with the sale of the Bank’s branch office building located at 1353-55 First Avenue, which was paid off on November 4, 2011 and had a $10.9 million balance at December 31, 2010, were included in the non-residential segment of our real estate loan portfolio for 2010.

 

The largest segment of our real estate loans is multi-family residential loans. As of December 31, 2011, these loans totaled $189.3 million, or 52.9% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $190.0 million, or 51.2% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2011, mixed-use loans totaled $51.2 million, or 14.3% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $55.2 million, or 14.9% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2010. Non-residential real estate loans totaled $83.6 million, or 23.4% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2011, compared to $100.9 million, or 27.2% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, one- to four-family residential real estate loans totaled $627,000 and $211,000, or 0.2% and 0.1% of our total loan portfolio, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2011, our commercial and industrial loan portfolio totaled $43.3 million in committed loans, with $23.7 million drawn against such commitments, compared to $28.9 million in committed loans, with $12.1 million drawn against such commitments at December 31, 2010. Although we discontinued in 2010 the purchase of participation interests in construction loans secured by multi-family, mixed-use and non-residential properties, we purchased participation interests in these types of properties in 2009. We perform our own underwriting analysis on each of our participation interests before purchasing such loans. The outstanding balance of construction loan participation interests purchased totaled $9.1 million, or 2.5% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2011 compared to $12.9 million or 3.5% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2010.

 

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In addition, we also originate several types of consumer loans secured by savings accounts or certificates of deposit (share loans) and overdraft protection for checking accounts which is linked to statement savings accounts and has the ability to transfer funds from the statement savings account to the checking account when needed to cover overdrafts. Consumer loans totaled $68,000 and represented 0.02% of total loans at December 31, 2011 compared to $63,000, or 0.01%, of total loans at December 31, 2010.

 

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The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007 
   Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Real estate:                                                  
Residential Real Estate:                                                  
One- to four-family  $627    0.18%  $211    0.06%  $244    0.06%  $275    0.08%  $304    0.11%
Multi-family(1)   189,253    52.93    190,042    51.15    201,059    51.30    186,199    51.11    138,767    48.95 
Mixed-use(1)   51,229    14.33    55,244    14.87    59,779    15.25    58,317    16.00    52,559    18.54 
Total residential real estate loans   241,109    67.43    245,497    66.08    261,082    66.61    244,791    67.19    191,630    67.60 
                                                   
Non-residential real estate (1)   83,602    23.38    100,925    27.16    105,194    26.84    102,785    28.21    79,305    27.98 
Total real estate   324,711    90.81    346,422    93.24    366,276    93.45    347,576    95.40    270,935    95.58 
                                                   
Construction loans   9,065    2.54    12,913    3.48    15,121    3.86    9,025    2.48    9,456    3.34 
Commercial and industrial loans   23,725    6.64    12,140    3.27    10,400    2.65    7,620    2.09    2,977    1.05 
                                                   
Consumer:                                                  
Overdraft lines of credit   44    0.01    48    0.01    60    0.02    57    0.02    69    0.02 
Passbook loans   24    0.01    15    0.00    90    0.02    57    0.01    19    0.01 
Total consumer loans   68    0.02    63    0.01    150    0.04    114    0.03    88    0.03 
Total loans   357,569    100.00%   371,538    100.00%   391,947    100.00%   364,335    100.00%   283,456    100.00%
                                                   
Net deferred loan costs   722         907         1,052         1,146         1,166      
Allowance for losses   (7,397)        (7,647)        (6,733)        (1,865)        (1,489)     
Loans, net  $350,894        $364,798        $386,266        $363,616        $283,133      

 


(1) Includes equity lines of credit that we originate on properties on which we hold the first mortgage.

 

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The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2011 regarding the dollar amount of loans repricing or maturing during the periods indicated. The table does not include any estimate of prepayments which significantly shorten the average life of all loans and may cause our actual repayment experience to differ from that shown below. Demand loans having no stated maturity are reported as due in one year or less.

 

   At December 31, 2011 
   Residential Real Estate Loans   Non-Residential Real Estate Loans   Commercial and Industrial Loans   Construction Loans   Consumer and other Loans   Total Loans 
   (In thousands) 
One year or less  $46,453   $19,865   $19,496   $9,065   $68   $94,947 
More than one year to five years   186,362    57,414    3,446            247,222 
More than five years   8,294    6,323    783            15,400 
Total  $241,109   $83,602   $23,725   $9,065   $68   $357,569 

 

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of all loans at December 31, 2011 that are due after December 31, 2012 and have either fixed or adjustable interest rates.

 

   Fixed Rates   Adjustable Rates   Total 
   (In thousands) 
Residential real estate:               
One- to four-family  $488   $44   $532 
Multi-family   1,430    156,669    158,099 
Mixed-use   1,289    34,735    36,024 
Non-residential real estate   429    63,308    63,737 
Construction loans            
Commercial and industrial loans   3,524    706    4,230 
Consumer and other loans            
Total  $7,160   $255,462   $262,622 

 

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The following table shows loan origination, purchase and sale activity during the periods indicated.

 

   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007 
   (In thousands) 
Total loans at beginning of period  $371,538   $391,947   $364,335   $283,456   $201,591 
Loans originated:                         
Residential real estate:                         
One-to-four family   450                 
Multi-family   34,505    5,210    22,423    70,450    43,376 
Mixed-use   1,550        7,922    6,616    16,098 
Non-residential real estate   7,043    420    6,920    42,954    24,451 
Commercial and industrial loans   8,728    2,558    3,026    4,794    3,012 
Consumer and other loans           35    87    17 
Total loans originated   52,276    8,188    40,326    124,901    86,954 
Construction loan participation purchased           5,198    5,406    11,695 
Permanent loan participation purchased               2,971     
Loan from sale of building                   16,341 
Deduct:                         
Loan principal repayments   62,527    25,979    17,583    44,034    32,060 
Charge offs   1,375    2,618    2,446    35    49 
Loan sales               7,045    1,505 
Total deductions   63,902    28,597    20,029    51,114    33,614 
Other increases (decreases), net   (2,343)       2,117    (1,285)   489 
Total loans at end of period  $357,569   $371,538   $391,947   $364,335   $283,456 

 

Securities. Our securities portfolio consists primarily of residential mortgage-backed securities. Securities decreased by $3.8 million, or 18.8%, from $20.0 million at December 31, 2010, to $16.2 million at December 31, 2011. The decrease was primarily due to maturities and repayments of $3.8 million.

 

The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair values of our securities portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
   Amortized Cost   Fair Value   Amortized Cost   Fair Value   Amortized Cost   Fair Value 
   (In thousands) 
Securities available for sale:                              
Fannie Mae common stock  $   $   $   $   $   $ 
Mortgage-backed securities- residential   145    149    157    162    174    176 
Total  $145   $149   $157   $162   $174   $176 
                               
Securities held to maturity:                              
Mortgage-backed securities - residential   16,099    16,662    19,858    20,342    11,845    11,875 
Total  $16,099   $16,662   $19,858   $20,342   $11,845   $11,875 

 

During 2009, the Company determined that its investment in Fannie Mae common stock was other than-temporarily impaired and wrote off its entire $4,000 investment.

 

At December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had no investments in a single company or entity that had an aggregate book value in excess of 10% of our consolidated equity.

 

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The following table sets forth the stated final maturities and weighted average yields of debt securities at December 31, 2011. Certain mortgage-backed securities have adjustable interest rates and will re-price annually within the various maturity ranges. These re-pricing schedules are not reflected in the table below. At December 31, 2011, mortgage-backed securities with adjustable rates totaled $12.6 million.

 

   One Year or Less   More than One Year to Five Years   More than Five Years to Ten Years   More than Ten Years   Total 
   Carrying Value   Weighted Average Yield   Carrying Value   Weighted Average Yield   Carrying Value   Weighted Average Yield   Carrying Value   Weighted Average Yield   Carrying Value   Weighted Average Yield 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Securities available for sale:                                                  
Mortgage-backed securities  $       $       $       $149    2.34%  $149    2.34%
Total securities available for sale  $       $       $       $149    2.34%  $149    2.34%
                                                   
Securities held to maturity:                                                  
Mortgage-backed securities  $       $3    1.42%  $218    2.69%  $15,878    3.53%  $16,099    3.52%
Total securities held to maturity  $       $3    1.42%  $218    2.69%  $15,878    3.53%  $16,099    3.52%

 

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Deposits. Our primary source of funds is retail deposit accounts which are comprised of savings accounts, demand deposits and certificates of deposit held primarily by individuals and businesses within our primary market area and, prior to 2010 but resumed in 2011 to a small extent, non-broker certificates of deposit gathered through two nationwide certificate of deposit listing services. The non-broker certificates of deposits were accepted from banks, credit unions, non-profit organizations and certain corporations in amounts greater then $75,000 and less then $250,000. Although we curtailed the use of the certificate of deposit listing services in 2010, we resumed the use of these services in 2011 by obtaining $10.0 million in non-broker certificates of deposits.

 

Deposits increased by $26.8 million, or 8.2%, in the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase in deposits was primarily attributable to efforts by the Company to increase deposits in the two Massachusetts branch offices through an increase in our marketing campaign and the offering of competitive interest rates in our savings, NOW and money market deposit accounts. This resulted in increases of $31.6 million in NOW and money market deposit accounts, $24.6 million in savings accounts, and $5.2 million in noninterest bearing demand deposits, offset by a decrease of $34.6 million in certificates of deposits.

 

The following table sets forth the balances of our deposit products at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
   Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
                               
NOW and money market deposit accounts  $115,411    32.6%  $83,839    25.7%  $72,755    19.2%
Savings accounts   80,548    22.8    55,898    17.1    60,033    15.8 
Noninterest bearing demand deposits   15,046    4.3    9,839    3.0    11,594    3.0 
Certificates of deposit   142,631    40.3    177,254    54.2    235,136    62.0 
                               
Total  $353,636    100.0%  $326,830    100.0%  $379,518    100.0%

 

At December 31, 2011, there were $19.5 million in money market deposits that are fully-insured brokered deposits as defined in the FDIC call report instructions. These money market deposits were obtained from one of our retail depositors and then transferred into the Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) Network in order to obtain full FDIC insurance coverage for our customer. These types of deposits are known in the ICS Network as reciprocal deposits, which the Company considers as core deposits and not brokered deposits. At December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had no ICS reciprocal deposits.

 

The following table indicates the amount of certificates of deposit with balances over $100,000 by time remaining until maturity as of December 31, 2011. We do not solicit jumbo certificates of deposit nor do we offer special rates for jumbo certificates. The minimum deposit to open a certificate of deposit ranges from $500 to $2,500.

 

Maturity Period  Certificates of Deposit 
   (In thousands) 
Three months or less  $5,636 
Over three through six months   11,675 
Over six through twelve months   32,256 
Over twelve months   24,765 
Total  $74,332 

 

Borrowings. We may utilize borrowings from a variety of sources to supplement our supply of funds for loans and investments and to meet deposit withdrawal requirements. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) decreased to $20.0 million as of December 31, 2011 from $25.0 million FHLB advances outstanding as of December 31, 2010.

 

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The contractual maturities of FHLB advances at December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

   Amount   Weighted Average Interest Rate 
Advances maturing in:          
One year or less  $5,000    0.59%
After one to two years   10,000    3.70%
After two to three years   5,000    3.64%
   $20,000    2.91%

 

In conjunction with the Hayden acquisition on November 16, 2007, the Company incurred a four-year zero-coupon note payable of $700,000. The note is payable in four annual installments, one on each succeeding note anniversary date, of $175,000. The note was initially recorded at $625,000, assuming a 4.60% discount rate. The note payable balance at December 31, 2011 was zero because, in November 2011, on the note’s final installment due date, the holder of the note elected to defer the final installment payment until 2012. As such, the note payable was reclassified as an account payable of $175,000 at December 31, 2011. The note discount accreted during 2011 totaled $7,000.

 

Stockholders’ Equity. Stockholders’ equity decreased by $1.1 million, or 1.0%, to $107.0 million at December 31, 2011, from $108.1 million at December 31, 2010. The decrease was primarily due to treasury stock purchases of $3.0 million pursuant to the Company’s stock repurchase plan and cash dividends of $614,000, offset by comprehensive income of $2.4 million and $160,000 for ESOP shares earned for the period.

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC, the Company’s majority stockholder, received approval of the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Federal Reserve Board to waive its right to receive its share of cash dividends declared by the Company in 2011, which totaled approximately $873,000, and for similar quarterly cash dividends, if any, to be paid for the first quarter of 2012. On a cumulative basis, $3.9 million of such dividends have been waived through December 31, 2011. See “Risk Factors—The amount of dividends we pay on our common stock, if any, may be limited by the ability of NorthEast Community Bancorp, MHC to waive receipt of dividends.”

 

Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

Overview.

 

   2011   2010   % Change 2011/2010
   (Dollars in thousands) 
                
Net income  $2,355   $1,868    26.1%
Return on average assets   0.51%   0.37%   37.8%
Return on average equity   2.18%   1.72%   26.7%
Average equity to average assets   23.37%   21.30%   9.7%

 

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased by $487,000, or 26.1%, to $2.4 million from $1.9 million in 2010. The increase was primarily the result of an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses, offset by increases in non-interest expense and provision for income taxes and a decrease in non-interest income.

 

Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased by $767,000, or 4.7%, to $17.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, from $16.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase in net interest income resulted primarily from a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities that exceeded the decrease in the yield on our interest-earning assets. The net interest spread increased by 57 basis points to 3.53% for the year ended December 31, 2011, from 2.96% for the year ended December 31, 2010. The net interest margin increased by 50 basis points to 3.89% for the year ended December 31, 2011, from 3.39% for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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The increase in the interest rate spread and the net interest margin in 2011 compared to 2010 was due to the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities decreasing more than the corresponding decrease in the yield on our interest-earning assets. The cost of our interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 65 basis points to 1.54% for the year ended December 31, 2011, from 2.19% for the year ended December 31, 2010. The yield on our interest-earning assets decreased by 8 basis points to 5.07% for the year ended December 31, 2011, from 5.15% for the year ended December 31, 2011. The decrease in both the yield on our interest-earning assets and the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities was due to the low interest rate environment in 2010 that continued throughout 2011.

 

Average Balances and Yields. The following table presents information regarding average balances of assets and liabilities, the total dollar amounts of interest income and dividends from average interest-earning assets, the total dollar amounts of interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, and the resulting annualized average yields and costs. The yields and costs for the periods indicated are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balances of assets or liabilities, respectively, for the periods presented. For purposes of this table, average balances have been calculated using average daily balances. Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Loan fees are included in interest income on loans. Interest income on loans and investment securities has not been calculated on a tax equivalent basis because the impact would be insignificant.

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010       2009 
   Average Balance   Interest and Dividends   Yield/ Cost   Average Balance   Interest and Dividends   Yield/ Cost   Average Balance   Interest and Dividends   Yield/ Cost 
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
Assets:                                             
Interest-earning assets:                                             
Loans  $369,188   $21,423    5.80%  $385,882   $23,577    6.11%  $389,547   $23,925    6.14%
Securities   20,781    687    3.31    26,962    956    3.55    5,042    218    4.32 
Other interest-earning assets   46,825    41    0.09    65,633    109    0.17    68,564    230    0.34 
Total interest-earning assets   436,794    22,151    5.07    478,477    24,642    5.15    463,153    24,373    5.26 
Allowance for loan losses   (7,768)             (6,234)             (2,546)          
Noninterest-earning assets   33,440              37,148              25,026           
Total assets  $462,466             $509,391             $485,633           
                                              
Liabilities and equity:                                             
Interest-bearing liabilities:                                             
Interest-bearing demand  $82,587   $698    0.85%  $83,560   $1,174    1.40%  $37,253   $423    1.14%
Savings and club accounts   62,093    424    0.68    60,100    407    0.68    63,737    461    0.72 
Certificates of deposit   167,603    3,425    2.04    209,889    5,810    2.77    219,125    7,796    3.56 
Total interest-bearing deposits   312,283    4,547    1.46    353,549    7,391    2.09    320,115    8,680    2.71 
                                              
Borrowings   23,034    630    2.74    30,841    1,044    3.39    43,622    1,412    3.24 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   335,317    5,177    1.54    384,390    8,435    2.19    363,737    10,092    2.77 
                                              
Noninterest-bearing demand   12,027              10,158              2,920           
Other liabilities   7,033              6,367              8,410           
Total liabilities   354,377              400,915              375,067           
                                              
Stockholders’ equity   108,089              108,476              110,566           
Total liabilities and
Stockholders’ equity
  $462,466             $509,391             $485,633           
Net interest income       $16,974             $16,207             $14,281      
Interest rate spread             3.53              2.96              2.49 
Net interest margin             3.89              3.39              3.08 
Net interest-earning assets  $101,477             $94,087             $99,416           
Interest-earning assets to interest- bearing liabilities   130.26%             124.48%             127.33%          

 

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Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table sets forth the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (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 net column represents the sum of the prior columns. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to changes in both rate and volume that cannot be segregated have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.

 

   2011 Compared to 2010   2010 Compared to 2009 
   Increase (Decrease) Due to       Increase (Decrease) Due to     
   Volume   Rate   Net   Volume   Rate   Net 
   (In thousands) 
Interest and dividend income:                              
Loans receivable  $(996)  $(1,158)  $(2,154)  $(224)  $(124)  $(348)
Investment securities   (208)   (61)   (269)   784    (46)   738 
Other interest-earning assets   (26)   (42)   (68)   (9)   (112)   (121)
Total interest-earning assets   (1,230)   (1,261)   (2,491)   551    (282)   269 
                               
Interest expense:                              
Interest-bearing demand deposits   (14)   (462)   (476)   631    120    751 
Savings accounts   14    3    17    (26)   (28)   (54)
Certificates of deposit   (1,037)   (1,348)   (2,385)   (317)   (1,669)   (1,986)
Borrowings   (235)   (179)   (414)   (430)   62    (368)
Total interest-bearing liabilities   (1,273)   (1,985)   (3,258)   (142)   (1,515)   (1,657)
Net change in interest income  $43   $724   $767   $693   $1,233   $1,926 

 

Provision for Loan Losses. We recorded provisions for loan losses of $1.1 million and $3.5 million for 2011 and 2010, respectively. During 2011, we charged-off $1.4 million against eleven non-performing multi-family mortgage loans and one non-performing non-residential mortgage loan to reduce the aggregate carrying value to $3.5 million as of December 31, 2011. During 2010, we charged-off $2.6 million against fifteen non-performing multi-family mortgage loans and six non-performing non-residential mortgage loans to reduce the aggregate carrying value to $10.3 million as of December 31, 2010. The primary reason for the decreased provision during 2011 was a reduced level of charge offs and troubled debt restructurings. The Company’s Special Assets Group continues to monitor our loan portfolio and reviews at least quarterly and, more frequently, if necessary all non-performing loans, potential non-performing loans, and restructured loans. An analysis of the changes in the allowance for loan losses is presented under “Risk Management – Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Loan Losses.”

 

We recorded recoveries of $12,000 and $45,000 during the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

Noninterest Income. The following table shows the components of noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

   2011   2010   % Change 2011/2010
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Other loan fees and service charges  $390   $313    24.6%
Net gain from premises and equipment   10    1,924    (99.5)
Earnings on bank owned life insurance   591    623    (5.1)
Investment advisory fees   894    769    16.3 
Other   7    13    (46.2)
   Total  $1,892   $3,642    (48.1)

 

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The decrease in noninterest income was primarily due to a $1.9 million gain from the sale of the Brooklyn branch office that occurred in December 2010, a $32,000 decrease in earnings on bank owned life insurance, and a $6,000 decrease in other noninterest income, partially offset by a $125,000 increase in fee income generated by Hayden Wealth Management Group, the Company’s investment advisory and financial planning services division, and a $77,000 increase in other loan fees and service charges, which was positively impacted by our new mortgage brokering operations.

 

Noninterest Expense. The following table shows the components of noninterest expense and the percentage changes for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

   Year Ended December 31,     
   2011   2010   % Change 2011/2010
   (Dollars in thousands)     
Salaries and employee benefits  $7,204   $7,028    2.5%
Net occupancy expense of premises   1,156    1,226    (5.7)
Equipment   625    541    15.5 
Outside data processing   799    850    (6.0)
Advertising   178    64    179.1 
REO expenses   182    307    (40.6)
FDIC insurance premiums   404    514    (21.4)
Service contracts   301    283    6.4 
Insurance   199    212    (6.5)
Audit and accounting   327    333    (1.7)
Directors compensation   320    305    4.7 
Telephone   209    212    (1.4)
Office supplies and stationary   97    128    (23.7)
Director, officer, and employee expenses   505    247    104.6 
Legal fees   559    603    (7.2)
Other   1,136    737    54.2 
Total noninterest expenses  $14,201   $13,590    4.5 

 

Non-interest expense increased by $611,000, or 4.5%, to $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 from $13.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $399,000 in other noninterest expense, $176,00 in salaries and employee benefits, $114,000 in advertising expense, and $84,000 in equipment expense, offset by decreases of $125,000 in real estate owned expense, $110,000 in FDIC insurance expense, $70,000 in net occupancy expense, and $51,000 in outside data processing expense.

 

Other noninterest expense increased by $399,000, or 54.2%, to $1.1 million in 2011 from $737,000 in 2010 due to our expansion efforts in Massachusetts, in particular costs associated with our new mortgage brokering operations.

 

Salaries and employee benefits, which represented 50.7% of the Company’s non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011, increased by $176,000, or 2.5%, to $7.2 million in 2011 from $7.0 million in 2010 due to the hiring of additional loan production staff in the Company’s Massachusetts locations, offset by a reduction in staff in various departments and the sale of the Brooklyn branch office in December 2010.

 

Advertising expense increased by $114,000, or 178.1%, to $178,000 in 2011 from $64,000 in 2010 due to an increase in marketing efforts to expand our Massachusetts operations. Equipment expense increased by $84,000, or 15.5%, to $625,000 in 2011 from $541,000 in 2010 due to purchases of additional equipment to support our Massachusetts expansion efforts.

 

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Real estate owned expenses decreased to $182,000 in 2011 due primarily to a loss of $140,000 on the disposition of a multi-family property and net operating expenses of $42,000 in connection with the maintenance and operation of foreclosed properties. This compared to real estate owned expense of $307,000 in 2010 due to the Bank’s recognition of loss of $103,000 on the disposition of a multi-family property and two gasoline stations and net operating expenses of $204,000 in connection with the maintenance and operation of foreclosed properties (consisting of a multi-family property and two gasoline stations which were foreclosed and sold and two multi-family properties).

 

FDIC insurance expense decreased by $110,000, or 21.4%, to $404,000 in 2011 from $514,000 in 2010 due to a change in the FDIC assessment base and assessment formula. Occupancy expense decreased by $70,000, or 5.7%, to $1.16 million in 2011 from $1.23 million in 2010 due to the sale of the Brooklyn branch office, offset by the addition of a facility to house the Massachusetts loan operations.

 

Outside data processing expense decreased by $51,000, or 6.0%, to $799,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 from $850,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010 due primarily to the sale of the Brooklyn branch office and several one-time additional services provided in 2010 by the Company’s core data processing vendor.

 

Provision for Income Taxes. Income taxes increased by $293,000, or 32.4%, to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 from $904,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase resulted primarily from a $780,000 increase in pre-tax income in 2011 compared to 2010. The effective tax rate was 33.7% for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to 32.6% for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Risk Management

 

Overview. Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are credit risk, interest rate risk and operational risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan or investment when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of net interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Operational risks include risks related to fraud, regulatory compliance, processing errors, technology and disaster recovery. Other risks that we face are market risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as available-for-sale securities, that are accounted for on a mark-to-market basis. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations to depositors, lenders or borrowers. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity or press, whether true or not, could cause a decline in our customer base or revenue.

 

Credit Risk Management. Our strategy for credit risk management focuses on having well-defined credit policies and uniform underwriting criteria and providing prompt attention to potential problem loans. We underwrite each mortgage loan application on its merits, applying risk factors to insure that each transaction is considered on an equitable basis.

 

When a borrower fails to make a required loan payment, we take a number of steps to attempt to have the borrower cure the delinquency and restore the loan to current status. When the ten day grace period expires and the payment has not been received, a late payment notice is mailed and telephone contact is initiated. Throughout the rest of the month that payment is due, the borrower is called several times. If the payment has not been received by the end of the month, the borrower is informed that the loan will be placed in foreclosure within two weeks. On the 45th day after payment is due, the loan is forwarded to the problem loan officer who will review the file and may authorize an acceleration letter. Once a foreclosure action has been instituted, a written agreement between the Bank and the debtor will be required to discontinue the foreclosure action. We may consider loan workout arrangements with certain borrowers under certain circumstances. If no satisfactory resolution to the delinquency is forthcoming, the note and mortgage may be sold prior to a foreclosure sale or the real property securing the loan would be sold at foreclosure.

 

In addition, nonperforming loans and potential nonperforming loans are reviewed on a regular basis by management’s Special Assets Group (“SAG”). The Board authorized the SAG to address the increase in non-performing loans as a result of the economic and real estate collapse that began in 2008. The Board and Senior Management believe that individual attention for each troubled loan gives that loan the best opportunity of recovery or disposal at the least cost to the Bank.

 

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The SAG is comprised of the chief executive officer, a director of special assets who is a loan workout specialist, one special asset coordinator and one facilities officer specializing in building management. The SAG’s mandate is to identify problem and potential problem loans in conjunction with the internal loan review process, to evaluate the loan and determine the cause of the problem and whether there is a realistic probability that the loan can be returned to a performing status over a reasonable time frame, and to ascertain whether the borrower is willing and able to work with the Bank in an effort to save the loan and their investment.

 

Once it is determined that the borrower is willing and able to cooperate in the effort, SAG assumes responsibility for the loan and devises a plan to correct the deficiencies. The plan may take the form of a short term forbearance agreement, a moderate or longer term restructure agreement or an A/B note and mortgage split. With the cooperation of the borrower, SAG will implement the plan and monitor its progress to assure as timely a resolution as possible.

 

It is our belief that it is in the Bank’s and the borrower’s best interest to work to keep a property viable and performing during these difficult economic times, thereby helping to limit loan losses when there is a reasonable expectation that the property will be able to support the original debt once the current crisis has passed. A successful plan will ultimately return the loan to a performing status and the Plan will terminate when the loan is reclassified as performing.

 

Should a workable plan not be possible, the SAG is charged with disposing of the loan as quickly and cost effectively as possible. This may be accomplished through foreclosure, a sale of the note and mortgage or a short sale.

 

In connection with the above, in 2009 and 2010 the Bank entered into short-term restructuring agreements with 26 borrowers whose loans in the aggregate totaled $30.9 million. Each of these loans was performing prior to the restructuring and have continued to perform under the terms of the restructuring agreements. Restructuring terms were generally consistent with market terms. We do not consider these loans to be impaired.

 

Management reports to the board of directors monthly regarding the amount of loans past-due more than 30 days.

 

Analysis of Nonperforming and Classified Assets. We generally consider repossessed assets and loans that are 90 days or more past due to be nonperforming assets. It is generally our policy to continue to accrue interest on past-due loans and loans in foreclosure as long as management determines that these loans are well secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, the accrual of interest ceases and the allowance for any uncollectible accrued interest is established and charged against operations. Typically, payments received on a nonaccrual loan are applied to interest only if collection of principal is reasonably assured.

 

Real estate that we acquire as a result of a foreclosure action or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is classified as foreclosed real estate until it is sold. When property is acquired, it is initially recorded at fair market value at the date of foreclosure establishing a new cost basis. Holding costs and declines in fair value after acquisition of the property result in charges against income.

 

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The following table provides information with respect to our nonperforming assets at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Nonaccrual loans:                         
Residential real estate:                         
One- to four-family  $   $   $   $   $ 
Multi-family   4,229    2,219    5,806    261    666 
Mixed-use   722                 
Non-residential real estate   6,634    5,457    14,344    1,614    1,200 
Construction   7,661    11,575             
Commercial and industrial                    
Consumer and other loans                   1 
Total   19,246    19,251    20,150    1,875    1,867 
                          
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:                         
Residential real estate:                         
One- to four-family                    
Multi-family   1,192    2,555            407 
Mixed-use                    
Non-residential real estate                    
Construction                    
Commercial and industrial                    
Consumer and other loans                    
Total   1,192    2,555            407 
Total of nonaccrual and 90 days or more past due loans   20,438    21,806    20,150    1,875    2,274 
                          
Foreclosed real estate   620    933    636    832     
Other nonperforming loans               1,345     
Total nonperforming assets   21,058    22,739    20,786    4,052    2,274 
                          
Accruing troubled debt restructurings   14,039    30,893    13,175         
Nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings   1,435                 
Total troubled debt restructurings   15,474    30,893    13,175         
Less nonaccrual troubled debt restructuring in total nonaccrual loans   1,435                   
                          
Troubled debt restructurings and total nonperforming assets  $35,097   $53,632   $33,961   $4,052   $2,274 
                          
Total nonperforming loans to total loans   5.72%   5.87%   5.14%   0.88%   0.80%
Total nonperforming assets to total assets   4.30%   4.88%   3.94%   0.96%   0.66%
Total nonperforming assets and troubled debt restructurings to total assets   7.17%   11.51%   6.44%   0.96%   0.66%

 

 

Other than disclosed in the above table and in the classified assets table below, management believes that there are no other loans at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 that we have serious doubts about the ability of the borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms.

 

Troubled debt restructurings occur when we grant borrowers concessions that we would not otherwise grant but for economic or legal reasons pertaining to the borrower’s financial difficulties. These concessions may include, but are not limited to, modifications of the terms of the debt, the transfer of assets or the issuance of any equity interest by the borrower to satisfy all or part of the debt, or the substitution or addition of borrower(s). Generally, we will not upgrade the internal classification of a troubled debt restructuring until the borrower has demonstrated the ability to make principal and interest payments under the restructure terms for at least six consecutive months.

 

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The non-accrual multi-family mortgage loans, net of charge-offs of $326,000, totalled $4.2 million at December 31, 2011, consisting primarily of the following mortgage loans:

 

(1) A delinquent loan with an outstanding balance of $1.6 million secured by a three apartment building complex. The Company filed a foreclosure action and the court granted the Company’s request for the appointment of a receiver for the property. The receiver’s managing agent is collecting the rents and paying operating expenses and taxes. The court appointed receiver is moving forward with filing a contempt motion against the borrower for its failure to turn over security deposits and books and records. The Supreme Court has also agreed to let the Company move forward with a summary judgment motion returnable on February 3, 2012. A specific reserve of $127,000 has been established to mark the loan to fair value. On February 27, 2012, the loan was satisfied with an additional loss of $50,000.

 

(2) A delinquent loan with an outstanding balance of $1.2 million secured by an apartment building. The delinquency is the result of a lawsuit filed by the previous owner claiming that the debtor never owned record title to the mortgaged property. The Company filed a lawsuit seeking a declaration that the mortgage is a valid encumbrance against the property. A ruling on the Company’s motion for Preliminary Injunction and Motion for Lis Pendens is expected shortly. No trial date has been set, but we do not expect a trial date until early 2012. All payments of principal, interest and escrow are being paid to the trustee with taxes paid by the trustee. We do not anticipate a loss on this loan.

 

(3) Three mortgage loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $994,000, net of charge-offs of $326,000, secured by three separate apartment buildings. The Company has filed foreclosure actions on all three mortgages. Updated appraisals have been submitted to the court and a foreclosure sale is anticipated within six weeks. Based on the appraisals and projected cash flow analyses, the Company established specific allowances totaling $221,000 which are believed to be adequate. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust the specific reserves if necessary.

 

The one non-accrual mixed-use mortgage loan totaled $722,000 at December 31, 2011, consisting of the following mortgage loan:

 

(1) An outstanding balance of $722,000 secured by a mixed-use apartment building. The Company filed a foreclosure action and the court granted the Company’s request for the appointment of a receiver of rents for the property. The receiver’s managing agent delivered the appropriate notices to all tenants as required by law. We expect to move the Court for an order of foreclosure and sale and anticipate a sale date by July 2012.  We will continue to monitor the progress of the foreclosure action and make adjustments to the allowances accordingly.

 

The non-accrual non-residential mortgage loans, net of charge-offs of $400,000, totaled $6.6 million at December 31, 2011, consisting primarily of the following mortgage loans:

 

(1) An outstanding balance of $4.5 million secured by an office building containing 42,400 useable square feet. The Company holds both a foreclosure judgment authorizing a sheriff’s sale of the property and a money judgment against all obligors. The sheriff’s sale was originally scheduled for late December 2011, but we agreed to adjourn it for a month at a time under a forbearance agreement conditioned upon monthly tax escrow payments being made timely and all income in excess of the operating expenses being paid to the Bank. The forbearance agreement expires on April 30, 2012. We will monitor the cash flow and require continuing capital improvements be made to the building to allow it to better compete within its market. Based on a current appraisal and projected cash flow analysis, we do not anticipate a loss on this loan at this time.

 

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(2) An outstanding balance of $1.2 million secured by an office building. Based on a current appraisal and projected cash flow analysis, the Company established a specific allowance of $333,000 against the loan. We expect to foreclose on the loan in the next nine months and will continue to monitor the condition of the building and adjust the allowances accordingly.

 

The non-accrual construction mortgage loans, net of loans in process of $85,000, totaled $7.7 million at December 31, 2011, consisting of the following mortgage loans:

 

(1) Four construction mortgage loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $7.7 million (net of loans in process of $85,000), representing a 25% interest in a participation loan, secured by a newly completed boutique hotel. Additional security consists of a general guarantee of the two principals and an assignment of LLC interests in two other properties. During the fourth quarter of 2010 and throughout 2011, the Company recorded specific allowances in the amount of $1.7 million to cover the anticipated loss on the sale of the notes and mortgages. In December 2011, the borrower and the participating banks reached an agreement to rewrite the total debt to $24,000,000. In return, the borrower has agreed to certain conditions, which include but are not limited to, paying all outstanding taxes, paying interest in advance for two years, turning over management of the hotel to an independent third party acceptable to the participating banks and other conditions set by the banks. The personal guarantees of the principals will remain. We anticipate the plan will be approved by the Court within four months. We will continue to monitor the operations of the hotel and adjust our allowance accordingly.

 

The one loan that is 90 days or more and still accruing is the following multi-family mortgage loan:

 

(1) A delinquent loan with an outstanding balance of $1.2 million secured by an apartment building. The borrower and all of the borrower’s related properties are operating under chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and are making regularly scheduled payments as approved by the Trustee. We will continue to monitor the operations of the building and adjust the allowances accordingly.

 

Except for the above-mentioned second non-accrual multi-family mortgage loan, we are in the process of foreclosing on all of the identified multi-family, mix-use, non-residential, and construction properties. Based on recent fair value analyses of these properties, the Company does not expect any losses beyond the amounts already charged off or reserved for. Except for the above-mentioned second non-accrual multi-family mortgage loan, all of the identified loans have been classified as substandard. The Company did not classify the above-mentioned second non-accrual multi-family mortgage loan because the asset is well protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the borrower and there is no evidence of potential weaknesses or deterioration of the asset.

 

Interest income that would have been recorded for the year ended December 31, 2011 had non-accruing loans been current in accordance with their original terms amounted to approximately $1.2 million. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Bank recognized interest income of approximately $59,000 on the nonaccrual loans.

 

At December 31, 2011, we owned one foreclosed property with a net balance of $620,000 consisting of a six unit multi-family building. We renovated this property and have leased two of the six units. We expect to market the property in the near future.

 

Federal regulations require us to review and classify our assets on a regular basis. In addition, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has the authority to identify problem assets and, if appropriate, require them to be classified. There are three classifications for problem assets: substandard, doubtful and loss. “Substandard assets” must have one or more defined weaknesses and are characterized by the distinct possibility that we will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. “Doubtful assets” have the weaknesses of substandard assets with the additional characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values questionable, and there is a high possibility of loss. An asset classified “loss” is considered uncollectible and of such little value that continuance as an asset of the institution is not warranted. The regulations also provide for a “special mention” category, described as assets which do not currently expose us to a sufficient degree of risk to warrant classification but do possess credit deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving our close attention. We recognize a loss as soon as a reasonable determination of that loss can be made. We directly charge, against earnings, that portion of the asset that is determined to be uncollectible. If an accurate determination of the loss is impossible, for any reason, we will establish an allowance in an amount sufficient to absorb the most probable loss expected. In cases where a reasonable determination of a loss cannot be made, we will adjust our allowance to reflect a potential loss until a more accurate determination can be made.

 

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The following table shows the aggregate amounts of our classified assets at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
   (In thousands) 
                
Special mention assets  $4,259   $7,567   $33,221 
Substandard assets   24,146    22,103    12,160 
Doubtful and loss assets            
Total classified assets  $28,405   $29,670   $45,381 

 

The decrease in classified assets was due to the Company’s close monitoring of non-performing loans, despite the continued weakness in the economy adversely impacting the commercial and multi-family real estate markets. On the basis of management’s review of assets, we classified $4.3 million of our assets at December 31, 2011 as special mention or potential problem loans compared to $7.6 million classified as special mention at December 31, 2010. In addition, we classified $24.1 million at December 31, 2011 as substandard compared to $22.1 million at December 31, 2010.

 

The decrease in special mention assets was due to the resolution of three multi-family mortgage loans and one nonresidential mortgage loan totaling $3.6 million that were performing at December 31, 2011 and the reclassification of three nonresidential mortgage loans totaling $3.1 million from special mention to substandard, offset by two multi-family mortgage loans and one mixed-used mortgage loan totaling $3.3 million that were newly classified as special mention.

 

The increase in substandard assets was due to six multi-family mortgage loans, one mixed-use mortgage loan, and one nonresidential mortgage loan totaling $5.1 million that were newly classified as substandard and three nonresidential mortgage loans totaling $3.1 million that were reclassified from special mention to substandard, offset by four multi-family mortgage loans and three construction mortgage loans totaling $6.4 million that were satisfied or performing.

 

We have charged off $326,000 in losses on these classified assets. In this regard, we have charged off $326,000 in losses for three substandard multi-family loans, resulting in a net total balance of $964,000.

 

The substandard loans at December 31, 2011 consisted of twenty loans in the aggregate – eight multi-family mortgage loans, one mixed-use mortgage loan, seven non-residential mortgage loans, and four construction mortgage loans. See the non-accrual loan discussion above for a description of the material non-accrual loans that are also classified as substandard multi-family mortgage loans, the one substandard mixed-use mortgage loan, four of the seven substandard non-residential mortgage loans, and the four substandard construction mortgage loans.

 

Additional substandard multi-family mortgage loans include one that was current, has an outstanding balance of $1.7 million, and is secured by a 6 unit apartment building, and a second that was eighteen months delinquent and accruing, has an outstanding balance of $1.2 million, and is secured by a 7 unit apartment building.

 

Additional substandard non-residential mortgage loans include one that was current, has an outstanding balance of $1.5 million, and is secured by seven unit office building, and a second that was current, has an outstanding balance of $1.1 million, and is secured by a gas station and car wash.

 

The remaining $6.0 million of accruing substandard loans consists of five multi-family and non-residential loans.

 

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Delinquencies. The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
   30-59  Days Past Due   60-89  Days Past Due   30-59 Days Past Due   60-89 Days Past Due   30-59  Days Past Due   60-89 Days Past Due 
   (In thousands) 
                               
Residential real estate:                              
One- to four-family  $   $   $   $   $   $ 
Multi-family       545    1,450            477 
Mixed-use                        
Non-residential real estate                       1,285 
Construction                        
Commercial and industrial                        
Consumer and other loans           2             
Total  $   $545   $1,452   $   $   $1,762 

 

Delinquent loans at December 31, 2011 consisted of one multi-family mortgage loan. The Bank has classified the delinquent multi-family loan as substandard at December 31, 2011 and the loan is included in the classified loan schedule listed above.

 

Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable credit losses in the loan portfolio. We evaluate the need to establish allowances against losses on loans on a quarterly basis. When additional allowances are necessary, a provision for loan losses is charged to earnings. The recommendations for increases or decreases to the allowance are presented by management to the board of directors.

 

Our methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses consists of: (1) a specific allowance on identified impaired and problem loans, if appropriate; and (2) a general valuation allowance on the remainder of the loan portfolio. Although we determine the amount of each element of the allowance separately, the entire allowance for loan losses is available for the entire portfolio.

 

Specific Allowance Required for Identified Impaired Loans. We establish an allowance on certain identified impaired loans when the loan balance exceeds the fair value, discounted cash flows or observable market price of the underlying collateral and when collection of the full amount outstanding becomes improbable.

 

General Valuation Allowance on the Remainder of the Loan Portfolio. We establish a general allowance for pools of loans by loan class, including those that are not impaired and subject to specific allowances to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities. This general valuation allowance is determined by segregating the loans by loan category and assigning a historical loss factor to each category. The historical loss factors are adjusted for qualitative factors that, in management’s judgment, affect the collectability of the portfolio as of the evaluation date. These qualitative factors may include changes in existing general economic and business conditions affecting our primary lending areas and the national economy, legal and regulatory issues, policies and procedures in underwriting standards, staff lending experience, recent loss experience in particular segments of the portfolio, collateral value, loan volumes and concentration, specific reserve and classified asset trends, delinquency trends and risk rating trends. These loss factors are subject to ongoing evaluation to ensure their relevance in the current economic environment.

 

At December 31, 2011, our allowance for loan losses was $7.4 million and represented 2.07% of total gross loans. At December 31, 2010, our allowance for loan losses was $7.6 million and represented 2.06% of total gross loans. At December 31, 2009, our allowance for loan losses was $6.7 million and represented 1.72% of total gross loans. The primary reason for the decrease in allowance for loan losses from 2010 to 2011 was the decrease in total loans due mainly to decreases in non-residential real estate, mixed-use, and construction loans, offset by increases in commercial loans.

 

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The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for loan losses by loan category at the dates indicated.

 

   At December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
   Amount   % of Allowance to Total Allowance   % of  Loans in Category to Total Loans   Amount   % of Allowance to Total Allowance   % of  Loans in Category to Total Loans   Amount   % of Allowance to Total Allowance   % of  Loans in Category to Total Loans 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Residential real estate:                                             
One- to four-family  $    0.0%   0.2%  $    0.0%   0.1%  $    0.0%   0.1%
Multi-family   3,390    45.8    52.9    3,450    45.1    51.1    3,350    49.8    51.3 
Mixed-use   391    5.3    14.3    474    6.2    14.9    598    8.9    15.3 
Non-residential real estate   1,596    21.6    23.4    1,560    20.4    27.1    2,495    37.0    26.8 
Construction   1,724    23.3    2.5    2,083    27.2    3.5    186    2.8    3.9 
Commercial and industrial   296    4.0    6.7    80    1.1    3.3    104    1.5    2.6 
Consumer and other loans       0.0    0.0        0.0    0.0        0.0    0.0 
Total allowance for loan losses  $7,397    100.0%   100.0%  $7,647    100.0%   100.0%  $6,733    100.0%   100.0%

 

   At December 31, 
   2008   2007 
   Amount   % of Allowance to Total Allowance   % of  Loans in Category to Total Loans   Amount   % of Allowance to Total Allowance   % of  Loans in Category to Total Loans 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Residential real estate:                              
One- to four-family  $    0.0%   0.1%  $    0.0%   0.1%
Multi-family   604    32.4    51.1    472    31.7    49.0 
Mixed-use   319    17.1    16.0    250    16.8    18.5 
Non-residential real estate   841    45.1    28.2    691    46.4    28.0 
Construction   21    1.1    2.5    50    3.4    3.3 
Commercial and industrial   80    4.3    2.1    25    1.7    1.1 
Consumer and other loans       0.0    0.0        0.0    0.0 
Total allowance for loan losses  $1,865    100.0%   100.0%  $1,489    100.0%   100.0%

 

Although we believe that we use the best information available to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary and our results of operations could be adversely affected if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the determinations. Furthermore, while we believe we have established our allowance for loan losses in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, there can be no assurance that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, in reviewing our loan portfolio, will not request us to increase our allowance for loan losses. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses based on judgments different from ours. In addition, because future events affecting borrowers and collateral cannot be predicted with certainty, there can be no assurance that increases will not be necessary should the quality of any loans deteriorate as a result of the factors discussed above. Any material increase in the allowance for loan losses may adversely affect our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Analysis of Loan Loss Experience. The following table sets forth an analysis of the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated.

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
Allowance at beginning of period  $7,647   $6,733   $1,865   $1,489   $1,200 
Provision for loan losses   1,113    3,487    7,314    411    338 
                          
Charge offs:                         
Residential real estate:                         
One- to four-family                    
Multi-family   (1,358)   (1,211)   (857)        
Mixed-use               (35)   (49)
Non-residential real estate   (17)   (1,407)   (1,589)        
Construction                    
Commercial and industrial                    
Consumer and other loans                    
Total charge-offs   (1,375)   (2,618)   (2,446)   (35)   (49)
                          
Recoveries:                         
Residential real estate:                         
One- to four-family                    
Multi-family   12    45             
Mixed-use                    
Non-residential real estate                    
Construction                    
Commercial and industrial                    
Consumer and other loans                    
Total recoveries   12    45             
Net charge-offs   (1,363)   (2,573)   (2,446)   (35)   (49)
                          
Allowance at end of period  $7,397   $7,647   $6,733   $1,865   $1,489 
                          
Allowance to nonperforming loans   36.19%   35.07%   33.41%   57.92%   65.48%
Allowance to total loans outstanding at the end of the period   2.07%   2.06%   1.72%   0.51%   0.53%
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during the period   0.37%   0.67%   0.62%   0.01%   0.02%

 

 

Interest Rate Risk Management. 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 while decreases in interest rates may beneficially affect our earnings. To reduce the potential volatility of our earnings, we have sought to improve the match between asset and liability maturities and rates, while maintaining an acceptable interest rate spread. Our strategy for managing interest rate risk emphasizes: originating mortgage real estate loans that re-price to market interest rates in three to five years; purchasing securities that typically re-price within a three year time frame to limit exposure to market fluctuations; and, where appropriate, offering higher rates on long term certificates of deposit to lengthen the re-pricing time frame of our liabilities. We currently do not participate in hedging programs, interest rate swaps or other activities involving the use of derivative financial instruments.

 

We have an Asset/Liability Committee, comprised of our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, executive vice president, chief retail banking officer, and treasurer, whose function is 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 sources with the objective of managing assets and funding sources to provide results that are consistent with liquidity, growth, risk limits and profitability goals.

 

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Our goal is to manage asset and liability positions to moderate the effects of interest rate fluctuations on net interest income and net income.

 

Net Portfolio Value Analysis. We use a net portfolio value analysis to review our level of interest rate risk. This analysis measures interest rate risk by computing changes in net portfolio value of our cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items in the event of a range of assumed changes in market interest rates. Net portfolio value represents the market value of portfolio equity and is equal to the market value of assets minus the market value of liabilities, with adjustments made for off-balance sheet items. These analyses assess the risk of loss in market risk-sensitive instruments in the event of a sudden and sustained 50 to 300 basis point increase or 50 and 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates with no effect given to any steps that we might take to counter the effect of that interest rate movement.

 

The following table presents the change in the net portfolio value of the Bank at December 31, 2011 that would occur in the event of an immediate change in interest rates based on certain assumptions, with no effect given to any steps that we might take to counteract that change.

 

   Net Portfolio Value (Dollars in thousands)   Net Portfolio Value as % of Portfolio Value of Assets 
Basis Point (“bp”) Change in Rates  $ Amount   $ Change   % Change   NPV Ratio   Change 
                          
300  $97,472   $(720)   (1)%   20.27%   20  bp 
200   97,927    (264)       20.24%   17  bp 
100   98,234    43        20.19%   12  bp 
50   98,226    35        20.13%   6  bp 
0   98,191              20.07%     
(50)   96,864    (1,327)   (1)   19.81%   (26)  bp 
(100)   95,720    (2,471)   (3)   19.59%   (47)  bp 

 

We use various assumptions in assessing interest rate risk. These assumptions relate to interest rates, loan prepayment rates, deposit decay rates and the market values of certain assets under differing interest rate scenarios, among others. As with any method of measuring interest rate risk, certain shortcomings are inherent in the methods of analyses presented in the foregoing tables. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to re-pricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Additionally, certain assets, such as adjustable-rate mortgage loans, have features that restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Further, in the event of a change in interest rates, expected rates of prepayments on loans and early withdrawals from certificates could deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the table. Prepayment rates can have a significant impact on interest income. Because of the large percentage of loans we hold, rising or falling interest rates have a significant impact on the prepayment speeds of our earning assets that in turn affect the rate sensitivity position. When interest rates rise, prepayments tend to slow. When interest rates fall, prepayments tend to rise. Our asset sensitivity would be reduced if prepayments slow and vice versa. While we believe these assumptions to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that assumed prepayment rates will approximate actual future loan repayment activity.

 

Liquidity Management. Liquidity is the ability to meet current and future financial obligations of a short-term nature. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposit inflows, loan repayments, maturities and sales of securities and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

 

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We regularly adjust our investments in liquid assets based upon our assessment of: (1) expected loan demand; (2) expected deposit flows; (3) yields available on interest-earning deposits and securities; and (4) the objectives of our asset/liability management policy.

 

Our most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents. The levels of these assets depend on our operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $82.6 million at December 31, 2011 and consist primarily of deposits at other financial institutions (Predominantly the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York) and miscellaneous cash items. Securities classified as available-for-sale provide an additional source of liquidity. Total securities classified as available-for-sale were $149,000 at December 31, 2011 and $162,000 at December 31, 2010.

 

At December 31, 2011, we had $28.5 million in loan commitments outstanding. At December 31, 2011, this consisted of $17.9 million in unused commercial and industrial loan lines of credit, $6.5 million of real estate loan origination commitments, $3.8 million in unused real estate equity lines of credit, $153,000 in unused consumer lines of credit, and $121,000 in construction loans in process. Certificates of deposit due within one year of December 31, 2011 totaled $97.1 million. This represented 68.1% of certificates of deposit at December 31, 2011. We believe the large percentage of certificates of deposit that mature within one year reflects customers’ hesitancy to invest their funds for long periods in the current low interest rate environment. If these maturing deposits do not remain with us, we will be required to seek other sources of funds, including other certificates of deposit and borrowings. 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, 2011. 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. Our primary financing activities consist of activity in deposit accounts. At December 31, 2011, we had the ability to borrow $69.5 million, net of $20.0 million in outstanding advances, from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. 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. We generally manage the pricing of our deposits to be competitive and to maintain or increase our core deposit relationships depending on our level of real estate loan and commercial loan commitments outstanding. Occasionally, we offer promotional rates on certain deposit products to attract deposits or to lengthen repricing time frames.

 

The Company is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, the Company is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its shareholders. The Company’s liquidity may depend, in part, upon its receipt of dividends from the Bank because the Company has no source of income other than earnings from the investment of the net proceeds from its initial public offering. The amount of dividends that the Bank may declare and pay to the Company in any calendar year, without the receipt of prior approval from the Federal Reserve but with prior notice to the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, cannot exceed net income for that year to date plus retained net income (as defined) for the preceding two calendar years. At December 31, 2011, the Company had liquid assets of $14.9 million.

 

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The following table presents our primary investing and financing activities during the periods indicated.

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010   2009 
   (In thousands) 
Investing activities:               
Loans disbursed or closed  $(52,276)  $(8,188)  $(40,326)
Purchase of loan participations           (5,198)
Loan principal repayments   62,527    25,979    17,583 
Sale of loans            
Proceeds from maturities and principal repayments of securities   4,699    14,526    392 
Purchases of securities   (984)   (22,568)   (10,151)
Purchase of bank owned life insurance       (5,000)   (1,200)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment       2,797     
Purchases of premises and equipment   (2,828)   (209)   (4,552)
                
Financing activities:               
Increase (decrease) in deposits   26,806    (52,688)   118,088 
Proceeds from FHLB-NY advances   10,000        10,000 
Repayment of FHLB-NY advances   (15,000)   (10,000)   (15,000)

 

Capital Management. We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve, 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. At December 31, 2011, we exceeded all of our regulatory capital requirements. We are considered “well capitalized” under regulatory guidelines.

 

The capital from our initial public offering increased our liquidity and capital resources. In addition, the sale of our First Avenue branch office building in the second quarter of 2007 further increased our capital in 2007. Over time, the initial level of liquidity will be reduced as net proceeds from the stock offering and the sale of the branch office building are used for general corporate purposes, including the funding of lending activities. Our financial condition has been enhanced by the capital from the offering, resulting in increased net interest-earning assets. However, the large increase in equity resulting from the capital raised in the offering and the branch office building sale will, initially, have an adverse impact on our return on equity. From time to time, we may consider capital management tools such as cash dividends and common stock repurchases.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. In the normal course of operations, we engage in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, are not recorded in our 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 information about our loan commitments and unused lines of credit, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We currently have no plans to engage in hedging activities in the future.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we engaged in no off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Effect of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

The financial statements and related financial data presented in this Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the change in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation on our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates generally have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than do general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or to the same extent as the prices of goods and services.

 

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The information required by this item is included herein beginning on page F-1.

 

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

  (a)   Disclosure 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.
       
  (b)   Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
       
      Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
       
  (c)   Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
       
      There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Directors

 

For information concerning Northeast Community Bancorp’s directors, the information contained under the section captioned “Item 1—Election of Directors” in Northeast Community Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Officers

 

For information relating to officers of Northeast Community Bancorp, the section captioned “Item 1—Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement, and Part I, Item 1, “Business—Executive Officers of the Registrant” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are incorporated by reference.

 

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

 

For information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the information contained under the section captioned “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Disclosure of Code of Ethics

 

Northeast Community Bancorp has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, a copy of which can be found in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.necommunitybank.com.

 

Corporate Governance

 

For information regarding the audit committee and its composition and the audit committee financial expert, the section captioned “Corporate Governance and Board Matters” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information regarding executive compensation is set forth under the section captioned “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS

 

  (a)   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
       
      Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the section captioned “Stock Ownership” in the Proxy Statement.
       
  (b)   Security Ownership of Management
       
      Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the section captioned “Stock Ownership” in the Proxy Statement.

 

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  (c)   Changes in Control
       
      Management of Northeast Community Bancorp knows of no arrangements, including any pledge by any person or securities of Northeast Community Bancorp, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the registrant.
       
  (d)   Equity Compensation Plan Information
       
      None.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

The information relating to certain relationships and related transactions and director independence is set forth under the sections captioned “Transactions with Related Persons” and “Corporate Governance and Board Matters – Director Independence” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information relating to the principal accountant fees and services is set forth under the section captioned “Ratification of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

  (1) The financial statements required in response to this item are incorporated by reference from Item 8 of this report.
     
  (2) All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not required or applicable, or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
     
  (3) Exhibits

 

  3.1 Amended and Restated Charter of Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (1)
  3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (2)
  4.1 Specimen Stock Certificate of Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (1)
  10.1 Northeast Community Bank Employee Severance Compensation Plan (1)
  10.2 Northeast Community Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and Participation Agreement with Salvatore Randazzo (1)*
  10.3 Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. Employment Agreement for Kenneth A. Martinek and Salvatore Randazzo (1)*
  10.4 Northeast Community Bank Employment Agreement for Kenneth A. Martinek and Salvatore Randazzo (1)*
  10.5 Northeast Community Bank Directors’ Retirement Plan (1)*
  10.6 Northeast Community Bank Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan (1)*
  10.7 Northeast Community Bank Executive Incentive Deferral Plan (3)*
  10.8 Northeast Community Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended, and Participation Agreement with Kenneth A. Martinek (4)*
  21.0 List of Subsidiaries
  23.0 Consent of ParenteBeard LLC
  31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
  31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
  32.0 Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
  101.0** The following materials from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of  Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.
     
 
  * Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
  ** Furnished, not filed.
     
  (1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, initially filed with the SEC on March 12, 2006.
  (2) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 30, 2007.
  (3) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.
  (4) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
     
Date: March 30, 2012 By: /s/ Kenneth A. Martinek
    Kenneth A. Martinek
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name   Title   Date
         
/s/ Kenneth A. Martinek   President, Chief Executive Officer   March 30, 2012
Kenneth A. Martinek   and Director    
    (principal executive officer)    
         
/s/ Salvatore Randazzo   Executive Vice President, Chief   March 30, 2012
Salvatore Randazzo   Operating Officer and Chief    
    Financial Officer and Director    
    (principal accounting and    
    financial officer)    
         
/s/ Diane B. Cavanaugh   Director   March 30, 2012
Diane B. Cavanaugh        
         
/s/ Arthur M. Levine   Director   March 30, 2012
Arthur M. Levine        
         
/s/ Charles A. Martinek   Director   March 30, 2012
Charles A. Martinek        
         
/s/ John F. McKenzie   Director   March 30, 2012
John F. McKenzie        
         
/s/ Linda M. Swan   Director   March 30, 2012
Linda M. Swan        
         
/s/ Harry (Jeff) A.S. Read   Director   March 30, 2012
Harry (Jeff) A.S. Read        
         
/s/ Kenneth H. Thomas   Director   March 30, 2012
Kenneth H. Thomas        

 


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Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The internal control process has been designed under our supervision to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, utilizing the framework established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 is effective.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, transactions and dispositions of assets; and provide reasonable assurances that: (1) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; (2) receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and (3) unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements are prevented or timely detected.

 

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ ParenteBeard LLC

 

Clark, New Jersey
March 30, 2012

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In thousands, except share and per share data) 
     
Assets          
           
Cash and amounts due from depository institutions  $2,517   $2,494 
Interest-bearing deposits   80,066    41,959 
Cash and cash equivalents   82,583    44,453 
Certificates of deposit   2,640    2,988 
Securities available-for-sale   149    162 
Securities held-to-maturity (fair value of $16,662 and $20,342, respectively)   16,099    19,858 
Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of $7,397 and $7,647 respectively   350,894    364,798 
Premises and equipment, net   8,907    6,784 
Federal Home Loan Bank of NY stock, at cost   1,633    1,884 
Bank owned life insurance   16,736    16,145 
Accrued interest receivable   1,499    1,704 
Goodwill   1,310    1,310 
Intangible assets   466    527 
Real estate owned   620    933 
Other assets   5,753    4,462 
Total Assets  $489,289   $466,008 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
           
Liabilities:          
           
Deposits:          
Non-interest-bearing  $15,046   $9,839 
Interest-bearing   338,590    316,991 
Total deposits   353,636    326,830 
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance   3,353    3,384 
Federal Home Loan Bank of NY advances   20,000    25,000 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   5,235    2,487 
Note payable       168 
Total Liabilities   382,224    357,869 
           
Stockholders’ Equity:          
           
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued        
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 19,000,000 shares authorized; 13,225,000 shares issued; outstanding: 12,644,752 shares at December 31,  2011 and 13,114,800 at December 31, 2010   132    132 
Additional paid-in capital   57,292    57,391 
Unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) shares   (3,629)   (3,888)
Retained earnings   57,076    55,335 
Treasury stock – at cost, 580,248 shares and 110,200 shares, respectively   (3,712)   (664)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (94)   (167)
Total Stockholders’ Equity   107,065    108,139 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  $489,289   $466,008 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In thousands, except per share data) 
           
Interest Income:          
Loans  $21,423   $23,577 
Interest-earning deposits   41    109 
Securities – taxable   687    956 
           
Total Interest Income   22,151    24,642 
           
Interest Expense:          
Deposits   4,547    7,391 
Borrowings   630    1,044 
           
Total Interest Expense   5,177    8,435 
           
Net Interest Income   16,974    16,207 
           
Provision for Loan Losses   1,113    3,487 
           
Net Interest Income after Provision for Loan Losses   15,861    12,720 
           
Non-Interest Income:          
Other loan fees and service charges   390    313 
Gain on disposition of premises, equipment and deposits   10    1,924 
Earnings on bank owned life insurance   591    623 
Investment advisory fees   894    769 
Other   7    13 
           
Total Non-Interest Income   1,892    3,642 
           
Non-Interest Expenses:          
Salaries and employee benefits   7,204    7,028 
Net occupancy expense   1,156    1,226 
Equipment   625    541 
Outside data processing   799    850 
Advertising   178    64 
Real estate owned expenses   182    307 
FDIC insurance premiums   404    514 
Other   3,653    3,060 
           
Total Non-Interest Expenses   14,201    13,590 
           
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes   3,552    2,772 
           
Provision for Income Taxes   1,197    904 
           
Net Income  $2,355   $1,868 
           
Net Income per Common Share – Basic  $0.19   $0.15 
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding – Basic   12,458    12,709 
           
Dividends Declared per Common Share  $0.12   $0.12 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

   Common Stock   Additional Paid- in Capital   Unearned ESOP Shares   Retained Earnings   Treasury Stock   Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss   Total Equity   Comprehensive Income 
                                         
Balance - January 1, 2010  $132   $57,496   $(4,147)  $54,121   $   $(154)  $107,448      
                                         
Comprehensive income:                                        
Net income               1,868            1,868   $1,868 
Unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of taxes of $(1)                       2    2    2 
Pension liability – DRP, net of taxes of $(10)                       (15)   (15)   (15)
Purchase of 110,200 shares of treasury stock                   (664)       (664)     
Cash dividends declared ($0.12 per share)               (654)           (654)     
ESOP shares earned       (105)   259                154      
Total Comprehensive Income                                     $1,855 
Balance - December 31, 2010   132    57,391    (3,888)   55,335    (664)   (167)   108,139      
                                         
Comprehensive income:                                        
Net income               2,355            2,355    2,355 
Unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of taxes of $(-)                       (1)   (1)   (1)
Pension liability – DRP, net of taxes of $(50)                       74    74    74 
Purchase of 470,048 shares of treasury stock                   (3,048)       (3,048)     
Cash dividends declared ($0.12 per share)               (614)           (614)     
ESOP shares earned       (99)   259                160      
Total Comprehensive Income                                     $2,428 
Balance - December 31, 2011  $132   $57,292   $(3,629)  $57,076   $(3,712)  $(94)  $107,065      

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:          
Net income  $2,355   $1,868 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Net amortization of securities premiums and discounts   61    46 
Provision for loan losses   1,113    3,487 
Depreciation   651    772 
Net amortization of deferred loan fees and costs   141    158 
Amortization of intangible assets   61    61 
Accretion of discount on note payable   7    15 
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense   (2,950)   189 
Retirement plan expense   676    609 
Loss on sale of real estate owned   140    103 
Earnings on bank owned life insurance   (591)   (623)
Gain on disposition of premises, equipment and deposits   (10)   (1,924)
ESOP compensation expense   160    154 
Change in accrued interest receivable   205    220 
Change  in other assets   1,609    1,437 
Change  in accounts payable and accrued expenses   2,021    24 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   5,649    6,596 
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:          
Net decrease in loans   12,650    16,775 
Purchase of securities held-to-maturity   (984)   (22,568)
Principal repayments on securities available-for-sale   12    17 
Principal repayments on securities held-to-maturity   4,682    14,509 
Purchases of certificates of deposit       (2,988)
Proceeds from maturities of certificates of deposit   348    8,715 
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned   150    648 
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment   87    2,797 
Net redemption of FHLB of NY stock   251    393 
Purchases of premises and equipment   (2,828)   (209)
Purchase of bank owned life insurance       (5,000)
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities   14,368    13,089 
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:          
Net increase (decrease) in deposits   26,806    (52,688)
Proceeds from FHLB of NY advances   10,000     
Repayment of FHLB of NY advances   (15,000)   (10,000)
Repayment of note payable       (175)
Purchase of treasury stock   (3,048)   (664)
Increase (decrease) in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance   (31)   231 
Cash dividends paid to minority shareholders   (614)   (654)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities   18,113    (63,950)
           
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents   38,130    (44,265)
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning   44,453    88,718 
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Ending  $82,583   $44,453 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Supplementary Cash Flows Information:          
           
Income taxes paid  $1,135   $ 
           
Interest paid  $5,177   $8,442 
           
Supplementary Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:          
Real estate owned received in settlement of loans  $   $1,048 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The following is a description of the Company’s business and significant accounting and reporting policies:

 

Nature of Business

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) is a Federally-chartered corporation that was organized to be a mid-tier holding company for Northeast Community Bank (the “Bank”) in conjunction with the Bank’s reorganization from a mutual savings bank to a mutual holding company structure on July 5, 2006. The Company’s primary activity is the ownership and operation of the Bank.

 

The Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits and investing those funds into mortgage and commercial loans. When demand for loans is low, the Bank invests in debt securities. Currently the Bank conducts banking operations from its headquarters in White Plains, New York, its four full service branches in New York City, New York, its two full service branches in Danvers and Plymouth, Massachusetts and its loan production office in Danvers, Massachusetts, gathering deposits and lending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to southern New Hampshire.

 

The Bank also offers investment advisory and financial planning services under the name Hayden Wealth Management Group, a division of the Bank, through a networking arrangement with a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor.

 

New England Commercial Properties LLC (“NECP”), a New York limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank, was formed in October 2007 to facilitate the purchase or lease of real property by the Bank. New England Commercial Properties, LLC currently owns one foreclosed multi-family property located in Newark, New Jersey.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Bank, and NECP and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, have been included.

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain recorded amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The most significant estimate pertains to the allowance for loan losses. The borrowers’ abilities to meet contractual obligations and collateral value are the most significant assumptions used to arrive at the estimate. The risks associated with such estimates arise when unforeseen conditions affect the borrowers’ abilities to meet the contractual obligations of the loan and result in a decline in the value of the supporting collateral. Such unforeseen changes may have an adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company.

 

In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

 

On December 27, 2011, the Bank submitted an application to the New York Department of Financial Services to convert its charter from a federally-chartered savings bank to a New York State chartered savings bank. The MHC and the Company will retain their federal charters following the Bank’s charter conversion.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Nature of Business (Continued)

 

Subject to receiving the necessary regulatory approvals, the charter conversion is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

 

Additionally, the Company is exposed to significant changes in market interest rates. Such changes could have an adverse effect on consolidated earnings and consolidated financial position, particularly in those situations in which the maturities or re-pricing of assets are different than the maturities or re-pricing of the supporting liabilities.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and amounts due from depository institutions and interest-bearing deposits in other banks, all with original maturities of three months or less.

 

Certificates of Deposit

 

Certificates of deposit are carried at cost which approximates fair value and have maturities of less than one year.

 

Securities

 

The Company is required to classify its securities among three categories: held to maturity, trading, and available for sale. Management determines the appropriate classification at the time of purchase. Held to maturity securities are those debt securities which management has the intent and the Bank has the ability to hold to maturity and are reported at amortized cost (unless there is other than temporary impairment). Trading securities are those debt and equity securities which are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Available for sale securities are those debt and equity securities which are neither held to maturity securities nor trading securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of the related income tax effect, excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The Company did not have trading securities in its portfolio during 2011 or 2010.

 

If the fair value of a security is less than its amortized cost, the security is deemed to be impaired. Management evaluates all securities with unrealized losses quarterly to determine if such impairments are temporary or other-than-temporary. Temporary impairments on available for sale securities are recognized, on a tax-effected basis, through other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) with offsetting adjustments to the carrying value of the security and the balance of related deferred taxes. Temporary impairments on held to maturity securities are not recorded in the consolidated financial statements; however, information concerning the amount and duration of unrealized losses on held to maturity securities is disclosed.

 

Other-than-temporary impairments on all equity securities and on debt securities that the Company has decided to sell, or will, more likely than not, be required to sell prior to the full recovery of fair value to a level equal to or exceeding amortized cost, are recognized in earnings. If neither of these conditions regarding the likelihood of sale apply for a debt security, the other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated into credit-related and noncredit-related components. Credit-related impairment generally represents the amount by which the present value of the cash flows that are expected to be collected on a debt security fall below its amortized cost. The noncredit-related component represents the remaining portion of the impairment not otherwise designated as credit-related. The Company recognizes credit-related other-than-temporary impairments in earnings. Noncredit-related other-than-temporary impairments on debt securities are recognized in OCI. Premiums and discounts on all securities are amortized/accreted to maturity by use of the level-yield method. Gain or loss on sales of securities is based on the specific identification method.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Loans

 

Loans are stated at unpaid principal balances plus net deferred loan origination fees and costs less an allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans receivable is recorded on the accrual basis. An allowance for uncollected interest is established on loans where management has determined that the borrowers may be unable to meet contractual principal and/or interest obligations or where interest or principal is 90 days or more past due, unless the loans are well secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual, an allowance for uncollected interest is established and charged against current income. Thereafter, interest income is not recognized unless the financial condition and payment record of the borrower warrant the recognition of interest income. Generally, loans are restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current, has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time (generally six months) and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual principal is no longer in doubt. Interest on loans that have been restructured is accrued according to the renegotiated terms. Net loan origination fees and costs are deferred and amortized into income over the contractual lives of the related loans by use of the level yield method. Past due status of loans is based upon the contractual due date.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date and is recorded as a reduction to loans. The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses, and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for loan losses, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. All, or part, of the principal balance of loans receivable are charged off to the allowance as soon as it is determined that the repayment of all, or part, of the principal balance is highly unlikely.  

 

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be reasonably anticipated. Management performs a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance. The allowance is based on the Bank’s past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors.

 

This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

 

The allowance consists of specific and general reserves. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as impaired. For loans that are classified as impaired, a specific allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment records, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis.

 

The Bank does not evaluate consumer loans for impairment, unless such loans are part of a larger relationship that is impaired, or are classified as a troubled debt restructuring.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

The estimated fair values of substantially all of the Bank’s impaired loans are measured based on the estimated fair value of the loan’s collateral or discounted cash flows.

 

For loans secured by real estate, estimated fair values are determined primarily through in-house or third-party appraisals. When a real estate secured loan becomes impaired, a decision is made regarding whether an updated certified appraisal of the real estate is necessary. This decision is based on various considerations, including the age of the most recent appraisal, the loan-to-value ratio based on the original appraisal and the condition of the property. Appraised values are discounted to arrive at the estimated selling price of the collateral, which is considered to be the estimated fair value. The discounts also include estimated costs to sell the property.

 

For loans secured by non-real estate collateral, such as accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, estimated fair values are determined based on the borrower’s financial statements, inventory reports, accounts receivable aging or equipment appraisals or invoices. Indications of value from these sources are generally discounted based on the age of the financial information or the quality of the assets.

 

The general component covers pools of loans by loan class including loans not considered impaired, as well as smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as residential real estate and consumer loans. These pools of loans are evaluated for loss exposure based upon historical loss rates and expected loss given default derived from the Bank’s internal risk rating process for each of these categories of loans, adjusted for qualitative factors. These qualitative risk factors include:

 

  1. Changes in policies and procedures in underwriting standards and collections.
  2. Changes in economic conditions.
  3. Changes in nature and volume of lending.
  4. Experience of origination team.
  5. Changes in past due loan volume and severity of classified assets.
  6. Quality of loan review system.
  7. Collateral values in general throughout lending territory.
  8. Concentrations of credit.
  9. Competition, legal and regulatory issues.

 

Each factor is assigned a value to reflect improving, stable or declining conditions based on management’s best judgment using relevant information available at the time of the evaluation. Adjustments to the factors are supported through documentation of changes in conditions in a narrative accompanying the allowance for loan loss calculation.

 

The allowance calculation methodology includes further segregation of loan classes into risk rating categories. The borrower’s overall financial condition, repayment sources, guarantors and value of collateral, if appropriate, are evaluated annually for commercial loans or when credit deficiencies arise, such as delinquent loan payments, for commercial, residential and consumer loans. Credit quality risk ratings include regulatory classifications of pass, special mention, substandard, doubtful and loss.  Loans criticized as special mention have potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention.  If uncorrected, the potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects.  Loans classified substandard have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt.  They include loans that are inadequately protected by the current sound net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

Loans classified doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in loans classified substandard with the added characteristic that collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of current conditions and facts, is highly improbable.  Loans classified as a loss are considered uncollectible and are charged to the allowance for loan losses. Loans not classified are rated pass.

 

The allowance calculation for each pool of loans is also based on the loss factors that reflect the Bank’s historical charge-off experience adjusted for current economic conditions applied to loan groups with similar characteristics or classifications in the current portfolio. To help ensure that risk ratings are accurate and reflect the present and future capacity of borrowers to repay a loan as agreed, the Bank has a structured loan rating process which allows for a periodic review of its loan portfolio and the early identification of potential impaired loans. Such system takes into consideration, among other things, delinquency status, size of loans, type of collateral and financial condition of the borrowers. The Bank’s President is ultimately responsible for the timely and accurate risk rating of the loan portfolio.

 

Loans whose terms are modified are classified as troubled debt restructurings if the Bank grants such borrowers concessions and it is deemed that those borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. Concessions granted under a troubled debt restructuring generally involve a temporary reduction in interest rate or an extension of a loan’s stated maturity date at a below market rate. Adversely classified, non-accrual troubled debt restructurings may be reclassified if principal and interest payments, under the modified terms, are current for six consecutive months after modification.

 

Based on management’s comprehensive analysis of the loan portfolio, management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate as of December 31, 2011.

 

Concentration of Risk

 

The Bank’s lending activity is concentrated in loans secured by multi-family and non-residential real estate located primarily in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Bank also had deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance limit at other financial institutions. At December 31, 2011, such deposits totaled $80.1 million held by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. Generally, deposits in excess of $250,000 are not insured by the FDIC.

 

Premises and Equipment

 

Land is stated at cost. Buildings and improvements, leasehold improvements and furnishings and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed on the straight-line method over the following useful lives:

 

   Years
Buildings  30 - 50
Building improvements  10 - 50
Leasehold improvements  1 - 15
Furnishings and equipment  3 - 5

 

Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations in the years incurred.

 

F-11
Table of Contents

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”)

 

The Bank owns life insurance on the lives of certain of its officers. The cash surrender value is recorded as an asset and the change in cash surrender value is included in non-interest income and is tax-exempt. The BOLI is invested in a General Account Portfolio and a Yield Portfolio account and is managed by an independent investment firm. The BOLI can be liquidated, if necessary, with tax consequences. However, the Bank intends to hold these policies and, accordingly, the Bank has not provided for deferred income taxes on the earnings from the increase in cash surrender value.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Stock

 

Federal law requires a member institution of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) system to hold stock of its district FHLB according to a predetermined formula. The stock carried at cost.

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets at December 31, 2011 and 2010, totaled $466,000 and $527,000, respectively, and consist of the value of customer relationships acquired in a business combination completed by the Company in November 2007. The Company is amortizing these assets, using the straight-line method, over 11.7 years. Amortization expense is included in other non-interest expenses. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of intangible assets on an annual basis to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining useful life. If the estimate of an intangible asset’s remaining useful life is changed, the Company will amortize the remaining carrying value of the intangible asset prospectively over the revised remaining useful life. The Company reviews intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. If intangible assets are found to be impaired, the amount recognized for impairment is equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value. The fair value is estimated based upon the present value of discounted future cash flows or other reasonable estimates of fair value. No impairment charges were recorded in 2011 or 2010.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill at December 31, 2011 and 2010, totaled $1.3 million and consists of goodwill acquired in the business combination completed by the Company in November 2007. The Company tests goodwill during the fourth quarter of each year for impairment, or more frequently if certain indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest that impairment may exist. The Company utilizes a two-step approach. The first step requires a comparison of the carrying value of the reporting unit to the fair value of the unit. The Company estimates the fair value of the reporting unit through internal analyses and external valuation, which utilizes an income approach based on the present value of future cash flows. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, impairment exists and the Company will perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step of the goodwill impairment test, if necessary, compares the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with its carrying value.

 

The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner that the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination is determined. The Company allocates the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, including identifiable intangible assets, as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Any excess of the value of a reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. No impairment charges were recorded in 2011 or 2010.

 

F-12
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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Real Estate Owned

 

Real estate owned is carried at the lower of cost or fair value of the related property, as determined by current appraisals less estimated costs to sell. Foreclosed real estate is initially recorded at fair value minus estimated costs to sell at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. Write-downs on these properties, which occur after the initial transfer from the loan portfolio, are recorded as operating expenses. Costs of holding such properties are charged to expense in the current period. Gains, to the extent allowable, and losses on the disposition of these properties are reflected in current operations.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company, the Bank and NECP file a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are allocated to the Company, Bank and NECP based upon their respective income or loss included in the consolidated income tax return. The Company, the Bank and NECP file combined or separate state and city income tax returns depending on the particular requirements of each jurisdiction.

 

Federal, state and city income tax expense has been provided on the basis of reported income. The amounts reflected on the tax returns differ from these provisions due principally to temporary differences in the reporting of certain items for financial reporting and income tax reporting purposes. The tax effect of these temporary differences is accounted for as deferred taxes applicable to future periods. Deferred income tax expense or (benefit) is determined by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. The realization of deferred tax assets is assessed and a valuation allowance provided, when necessary, for that portion of the asset, which is not more likely than not to be realized.

 

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company has not identified any significant income tax uncertainties through the evaluation of its income tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and has not recognized any liabilities for tax uncertainties as of December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company’s policy is to recognize income tax related interest and penalties in income tax expense; such amounts were not significant during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. The tax years subject to examination by federal, state, and city taxing authorities are 2008 through 2011.

 

Advertising Costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The Company records in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related deferred income taxes, unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities and the prior service cost and actuarial gains and losses of the Outside Directors Retirement Plan (“DRP”) that have not yet been recognized in expense.

 

F-13
Table of Contents

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Continued)

 

Gains and losses on the sale of securities, if any, are reclassified to non-interest income upon the sale of the related securities or upon the recognition of a security impairment loss. A portion of the prior service cost and actuarial losses of the DRP is recorded in expense annually.

  

At December 31, 2011, accumulated other comprehensive loss totaled $94,000 and included $4,000 of unrealized gains on available for sale securities less $2,000 of related deferred income taxes and $180,000 in prior service cost and actuarial losses of the DRP less $83,000 of related deferred income taxes. At December 31, 2010, accumulated other comprehensive loss totaled $167,000 and included $5,000 of unrealized gains on available for sale securities net of $2,000 of related deferred income taxes and $303,000 in prior service cost and actuarial losses of the DRP net of $133,000 of related deferred income taxes.

 

Net Income Per Common Share

 

Basic net income per common share is calculated by dividing the net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed in a manner similar to basic net income per common share except that the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is increased to include the incremental common shares (as computed using the treasury stock method) that would have been outstanding if all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents were issued during the period. Common stock equivalents may include restricted stock awards and stock options. The Company has not granted any restricted stock awards or stock options and had no potentially dilutive common stock equivalents. Unallocated common shares held by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") are not included in the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating both basic and diluted net income per common share until they are committed to be released.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and using these deposits, together with other funds, to purchase securities and to make loans secured by real estate. The potential for interest-rate risk exists as a result of the generally shorter duration of interest-sensitive liabilities compared to the generally longer duration of interest-sensitive assets. In a rising rate environment, liabilities will re-price faster than assets, thereby reducing net interest income. For this reason, management regularly monitors the maturity structure of the Bank’s assets and liabilities in order to measure its level of interest-rate risk and to plan for future volatility.

 

Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into off-balance-sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit. Such financial instruments are recorded in the consolidated statement of financial condition when funded.

 

Note 2 – Mutual Holding Company Reorganization and Regulatory Matters

 

On July 5, 2006, the Bank reorganized from a mutual savings bank to a mutual holding company structure. In the reorganization, the Company sold 5,951,250 shares of its common stock to the public and issued 7,273,750 shares of its common stock to Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC (“MHC”). The net proceeds received from the common stock offering were $57.6 million. Costs incurred in connection with the common stock offering were recorded as a reduction of gross proceeds from the offering and totaled approximately $1.9 million. The

 

F-14
Table of Contents

 

Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 2 – Mutual Holding Company Reorganization and Regulatory Matters (Continued)

 

Company also provided a term loan to the Bank’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan to enable it to purchase 518,420 shares of Company common stock at $10.00 per share as part of the reorganization.

 

The MHC, which owned 57.5% of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2011, must hold at least 50.1% of the Company’s stock so long as the MHC exists.

 

All depositors who had membership or liquidation rights with respect to the Bank as of the effective date of the reorganization will continue to have such rights solely with respect to the MHC as long as they continue to hold deposit accounts with the Bank. In addition, all persons who become depositors of the Bank subsequent to the date of the transaction will have such membership and liquidation rights with respect to the MHC. Borrowers of the Bank as of the date of the transaction will have the same membership rights in the MHC that they had in the Bank immediately prior to the date of the transaction as long as their existing borrowings remain outstanding.

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) regulations impose limitations upon all capital distributions, including cash dividends, by savings institutions such as the Bank. Under these regulations, an application to and a prior approval of the OCC are required before any capital distribution if (1) the institution does not meet the criteria for “expedited treatment” of applications under OCC regulations; (2) total capital distributions for the calendar year exceed net income for that year plus the amount of retained net income for the preceding two years; (3) the institution would be undercapitalized following the distribution; or (4) the distribution would otherwise be contrary to statute, regulation or agreement with the OCC. If an application is not required, the Bank would still be required to provide the OCC with prior notification. The Company’s ability to pay dividends, should any be declared, may depend on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Company.

 

Office of Thrift Supervision regulations required Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC to notify the Office of Thrift Supervision if it proposed to waive receipt of dividends from Northeast Community Bancorp. The Office of Thrift Supervision reviewed dividend waiver notices on a case-by-case basis, and, in general, did not object to any such waiver if: (i) the waiver would not be detrimental to the safe and sound operation of the savings association; and (ii) the mutual holding company’s board of directors determines that such waiver is consistent with such directors’ fiduciary duties to the mutual holding company’s members. Northeast Community Bancorp, MHC has waived receipt of all dividends from Northeast Community Bancorp in prior years and in 2011.

 

The Federal Reserve Board, as successor regulatory agency to the Office of Thrift Supervision for the MHC, has adopted an interim final rule which requires the MHC to notify the Federal Reserve Board if it proposes to waive receipt of dividends from the Company. In addition, the interim final rule also requires that the MHC obtain the approval of a majority of the eligible votes of members of the MHC (generally Bank depositors) before it can waive dividends. For a grandfathered company such as the MHC that waived dividends prior to December 1, 2009, the Federal Reserve Board may not object to a dividend waiver request if the board of directors of the mutual holding company expressly determines that a waiver of the dividend is consistent with its fiduciary duties to members and the waiver would not be detrimental to the safe and sound operation of the savings association subsidiaries of the holding company. The Federal Reserve Board’s interim final rule regarding dividend waiver requests is subject to comment and there can be no assurances as to the timing of changes to the interim final rule, if any, the form of the final dividend waiver regulations or the effect of such regulations on the MHC’s ability to waive dividends.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 2 – Mutual Holding Company Reorganization and Regulatory Matters (Continued)

 

Dividends declared by the Company in 2011 and 2010 and waived by the MHC totaled approximately $873,000 and $873,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, total dividends waived by the MHC aggregated $3,928,000.

 

The Bank is required to maintain certain levels of capital in accordance with the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) and OCC regulations. Under these capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk-weightings and other factors.

 

Under the OCC regulations, the Bank must have: (1) tangible capital equal to 1.5% of tangible assets, (2) core capital equal 3% of tangible assets, and (3) total (risk-based) capital equal to 8% of risk-weighted assets. Tangible capital consists generally of stockholders’ equity less most intangible assets. Core capital consists of tangible capital plus certain intangible assets such as qualifying purchased mortgage-servicing rights. Risk-based capital consists of core capital plus the general allowance for loan losses.

 

Under the prompt corrective action rule issued by the federal banking authorities, an institution must have a leverage ratio of 4% or greater, a tier 1 capital ratio of 4% or greater and a total risk-based capital ratio of 8% or greater in order to be considered adequately capitalized. The Bank was in compliance with these requirements at December 31, 2011.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 2 – Mutual Holding Company Reorganization and Regulatory Matters (Continued)

 

The following tables present a reconciliation of capital per U.S. GAAP and regulatory capital and information about the Bank’s capital levels at the dates presented:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
GAAP capital  $88,107   $85,602 
Less:  Goodwill and intangible assets   (1,776)   (1,837)
  Directors retirement plan AOCI   96    170 
  Unrealized gain on securities available for sale   (2)   (3)
  Disallowed deferred tax assets   (1,957)   (2,290)
           
Core and Tangible Capital   84,468    81,642 
           
Add:  Allowable general valuation allowances   3,513    3,570 
           
Total Capital  $87,981   $85,212 

 

   Actual   For Capital Adequacy Purposes   To be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions 
   Amount   Ratio   Amount   Ratio   Amount   Ratio 
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
                               
As of December 31, 2011:                              
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)  $87,981    31.30%  $³22,486    ³8.00%  $³ 28,107    ³ 10.00%
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)   84,468    30.05    ³11,243    ³4.00    ³ 16,864    ³   6.00 
Core (Tier 1) capital (to adjusted total assets   84,468    18.02    ³18,749    ³4.00    ³ 23,436    ³   5.00 
Tangible capital (to adjusted total assets)   84,468    18.02    ³  7,031    ³1.50    ³    —    ³  
                               
As of December 31, 2010:                              
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)  $85,212    29.84%  $³22,848    ³8.00%  $³ 28,559    ³ 10.00%
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)   81,642    28.59    ³11,424    ³4.00    ³ 17,136    ³ 6.00 
Core (Tier 1) capital (to adjusted total assets   81,642    18.41    ³17,742    ³4.00    ³ 22,177    ³ 5.00 
Tangible capital (to adjusted total assets)   81,642    18.41    ³  6,653    ³1.50    ³     ³  

 

Based on the most recent notification by the OCC, the Bank was categorized as “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There have been no conditions or events that have occurred since notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 3 - Acquisition

 

On November 16, 2007, the Company acquired the operating assets of Hayden Financial Group LLC (“Hayden”), an investment advisory firm located in Connecticut, at a cost of $2,020,000, including $95,000 of expenses directly related to the transaction. The acquisition of these business assets has enabled the Bank to expand the services it provides to include investment advisory and financial planning services to the then-existing Hayden customer base as well as future customers. In connection with this transaction, the Company recorded intangible assets related to customer relationships of $710,000, goodwill of $1,310,000 and a note payable with a present value of $625,000. The acquired business is being operated as a division of the Bank and, during 2011 and 2010, generated total revenues of approximately $894,000 and $769,000, respectively.

 

Note 4 - Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk

 

The Bank is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments are commitments to extend credit. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

The Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:          
Commitments to extend credit  $6,512   $1,730 
Construction loans in process   121    271 
Commitments to fund unused lines of credit:          
Commercial lines   21,725    17,357 
Consumer lines   153    154 
           
   $28,511   $19,512 

 

Commitments to extend credit are legally binding agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 5 - Securities Available for Sale

 

   December 31, 2011 
   Amortized Cost   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value 
   (In Thousands) 
Mortgage-backed securities - residential:                    
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation  $93   $2   $   $95 
Federal National Mortgage Association   52    2        54 
                     
   $145   $4   $   $149 

 

   December 31, 2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Mortgage-backed securities - residential:                    
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation  $102   $4   $   $106 
Federal National Mortgage Association   55    1        56 
                     
   $157   $5   $   $162 

 

There were no sales of securities available for sale during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

Contractual final maturities of mortgage-backed securities were as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   Amortized Cost   Fair Value   Amortized Cost   Fair Value 
   (In Thousands) 
Due after ten years  $145   $149   $157   $162 

 

The maturities shown above are based upon contractual final maturity. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities due to scheduled monthly repayments and due to the underlying borrowers having the right to prepay their obligations.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 6 - Securities Held to Maturity

 

   December 31, 2011 
   Amortized Cost   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value 
   (In Thousands) 
Mortgage-backed securities - residential:                    
Government National Mortgage Association  $11,884   $414   $   $12,298 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation   299    8        307 
Federal National Mortgage Association   275    7        282 
Collateralized mortgage obligations - GSE   3,640    134        3,774 
Other   1            1 
                     
   $16,099   $563   $   $16,662 

 

   December 31, 2010 
   Amortized Cost   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value 
   (In Thousands) 
Mortgage-backed securities - residential:                    
Government National Mortgage Association  $14,521   $355   $   $14,876 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation   345    11        356 
Federal National Mortgage Association   352    9        361 
Collateralized mortgage obligations - GSE   4,639    109        4,748 
Other   1            1 
   $19,858   $484   $   $20,342 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 6 - Securities Held to Maturity (Continued)

 

Contractual final maturities of mortgage-backed securities were as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   Amortized Cost   Fair Value   Amortized Cost   Fair Value 
   (In Thousands) 
Due after one but within five years  $3   $3   $   $ 
Due after five but within ten years   218    223    306    312 
Due after ten years   15,878    16,436    19,552    20,030 
                     
   $16,099   $16,662   $19,858   $20,342 

 

The maturities shown above are based upon contractual final maturity. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities due to scheduled monthly repayments and due to the underlying borrowers having the right to prepay their obligations.

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Residential real estate:          
One-to-four family  $627   $211 
Multi-family   189,253    190,042 
Mixed use   51,229    55,244 
           
    241,109    245,497 
Non-residential real estate   83,602    100,925 
Construction   9,065    12,913 
Commercial and Industrial   23,725    12,140 
Consumer   68    63 
           
Total Loans   357,569    371,538 
           
Allowance for loan losses   (7,397)   (7,647)
Deferred loan fees and costs   722    907 
           
Net Loans  $350,894   $364,798 

 

Loans serviced for the benefit of others totaled approximately $6,827,000 and $9,543,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The Company had no loans to related parties at December 31, 2011 and 2010. In addition, the Company did not originate any loans to related parties in 2011 and 2010.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

The following is an analysis of the allowance for loan losses:

 

Allowance for Loan Losses for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands)

 

   Residential Real Estate   Non-
residential Real Estate
   Construction   Commercial and Industrial   Consumer   Total 
Allowance for credit losses:                              
Beginning balance  $3,924   $1,560   $2,083   $80   $   $7,647 
Charge-offs   1,358    17                1,375 
Recoveries   12                    12 
Provision   1,203    53    (359)   216        1,113 
Ending balance  $3,781   $1,596   $1,724   $296   $   $7,397 
                               
Ending balance:  individually evaluated for impairment  $456   $333   $1,661   $   $   $2,450 
                               
Ending balance:  collectively evaluated for impairment  $3,325   $1,263   $63   $296   $   $4,947 
                               
Loan receivables:                              
Ending balance  $241,109   $83,602   $9,065   $23,725   $68   $357,569 
                               
Ending balance:  individually evaluated for impairment  $12,871   $9,764   $7,660   $   $   $30,295 
                               
Ending balance:  collectively evaluated for impairment  $228,238   $73,838   $1,405   $23,725   $68   $327,274 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 (in thousands)

 

   Residential Real Estate   Non-
residential Real Estate
   Construction   Commercial and Industrial   Consumer   Total 
Allowance for credit losses:                              
Beginning balance  $3,948   $2,495   $186   $104   $   $6,733 
Charge-offs   1,211    1,407                2,618 
Recoveries   45                    45 
Provision   1,142    472    1,897    (24)       3,487 
Ending balance  $3,924   $1,560   $2,083   $80   $   $7,647 
                               
Ending balance:  individually evaluated for impairment  $368   $82   $1,756   $   $   $2,206 
                               
Ending balance:  collectively evaluated for impairment  $3,556   $1,478   $327   $80   $   $5,441 
                               
Loan receivables:                              
Ending balance  $245,497   $100,925   $12,913   $12,140   $63   $371,538 
                               
Ending balance:  individually evaluated for impairment  $7,696   $10,399   $11,575   $   $   $29,670 
                               
Ending balance:  collectively evaluated for impairment  $237,801   $90,526   $1,338   $12,140   $63   $341,868 

 

The following is an analysis of our impaired loans.

 

Impaired Loans for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands)

 

2011  Recorded Investment   Unpaid Principal Balance   Related Allowance   Average Recorded Investment   Interest Income Recognized 
With no related allowance recorded:                         
Residential real estate-Multi-family  $10,081   $10,081   $   $10,245   $422 
Non-residential real estate   8,601    8,601        8,560    108 
Construction                    
Subtotal   18,682    18,682        18,805    530 
                          
With an allowance recorded:                         
Residential real estate-Multi-family   2,790    2,790    456    2,717    7 
Non-residential real estate   1,163    1,163    333    1,154    28 
Construction   7,660    7,660    1,661    7,566    10 
Subtotal   11,613    11,613    2,450    11,437    45 
                          
Total:                         
Residential real estate-Multi-family   12,871    12,871    456    12,962    429 
Non-residential   9,764    9,764    333    9,714    136 
Construction   7,660    7,660    1,661    7,566    10 
Total  $30,295   $30,295   $2,450   $30,242   $575 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

Impaired Loans for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 (in thousands)

 

2010  Recorded Investment   Unpaid Principal Balance   Related Allowance   Average Recorded Investment   Interest Income Recognized 
With no related allowance recorded:                         
Residential real estate-Multi-family  $6,608   $6,608   $   $6,505   $246 
Non-residential real estate   9,903    9,903        10,086    268 
Construction                    
Subtotal   16,511    16,511        16,591    514 
                          
With an allowance recorded:                         
Residential real estate-Multi-family   1,088    1,088    368    1,147     
Non-residential real estate   496    496    82    414    5 
Construction   11,575    11,575    1,756    11,696    464 
Subtotal   13,159    13,159    2,206    13,257    469 
                          
Total:                         
Residential real estate-Multi-family   7,696    7,696    368    7,652    246 
Non-residential   10,399    10,399    82    10,500    273 
Construction   11,575    11,575    1,756    11,696    464 
Total  $29,670   $29,670   $2,206   $29,848   $983 

 

The following table sets forth the composition of our nonaccrual loans at the dates indicated.

 

Loans Receivable on Nonaccrual Status as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands)

 

   2011   2010 
           
Residential real estate-Multi-family  $4,951   $2,219 
Non-residential real estate   6,634    5,457 
Construction loans   7,661    11,575 
           
Total  $19,246   $19,251 

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Bank recognized interest income of approximately $59,000 and $464,000, respectively, on the non-accrual loans. Interest income that would have been recorded had the loans been on the accrual status would have amounted to approximately $1,173,000 and $941,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Bank is not committed to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans have been placed on the non-accrual status.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

The following table provides information about delinquencies in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

Age Analysis of Past Due Loans as of December 31, 2011 (in Thousands)

 

   30-59 Days Past Due   60 – 89 Days Past Due   Greater Than 90 Days   Total Past Due   Current   Total Loans Receivable   Recorded Investment > 90 Days and Accruing 
                                    
Residential real estate:                                   
One- to four-family  $   $   $   $   $627   $627   $ 
Multi-family           5,422    5,422    183,831    189,253    1,192 
Mixed-use           722    722    50,507    51,229     
Non-residential real estate       545    6,634    7,179    76,423    83,602     
Construction loans           7,660    7,660    1,405    9,065     
Commercial and Industrial loans                   23,725    23,725     
Consumer                   68    68     
Total loans  $   $545   $20,438   $20,983   $336,586   $357,569   $1,192 

 

Age Analysis of Past Due Loans as of December 31, 2010 (in Thousands)

 

   30-59 Days Past Due   60 – 89 Days Past Due   Greater Than 90 Days   Total Past Due   Current   Total Loans Receivable   Recorded Investment > 90 Days and Accruing 
                                    
Residential real estate:                                   
One- to four-family  $   $   $   $   $211   $211   $ 
Multi-family   1,450        4,774    6,224    183,818    190,042    2,555 
Mixed-use                   55,244    55,244     
Non-residential real estate           5,457    5,457    95,468    100,925     
Construction loans           11,575    11,575    1,338    12,913     
Commercial and Industrial loans                   12,140    12,140     
Consumer   2            2    61    63     
Total loans  $1,452   $   $21,806   $23,258   $348,280   $371,538   $2,555 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

The following tables provide certain information related to the credit quality of our loan portfolio.

 

Credit Quality Indicators as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands)

 

Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade

 

   Residential Real Estate   Non-residential Real Estate   Construction   Commercial and Industrial   Consumer   Total 
Grade:                              
Pass  $230,128   $73,838   $1,405   $23,725   $68   $329,164 
Special Mention   4,259                    4,259 
Substandard   6,722    9,764    7,660            24,146 
Total  $241,109   $83,602   $9,065   $23,725   $68   $357,569 

 

Credit Quality Indicators as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands)

 

Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade

 

   Residential Real Estate   Non-residential Real Estate   Construction   Commercial and Industrial   Consumer   Total 
Grade:                              
Pass  $237,801   $90,526   $1,338   $12,140   $63   $341,868 
Special Mention   2,625    4,942                7,567 
Substandard   5,071    5,457    11,575            22,103 
Total  $245,497   $100,925   $12,913   $12,140   $63   $371,538 

 

The following table shows the breakdown of loans modified during the year ended December 31, 2011:

 

   Twelve Months Ended December 31, 
   2011 
       Recorded   Recorded 
       Investment   Investment 
   Number of   Prior to   After 
(dollars in thousands)  Modifications   Modification   Modification 
Residential real estate:               
Multi-family   2   $2,279   $1,935 

 

Both loans had an interest rate of 6.5% with an amortization of 25 years that was modified to a rate of 5% and an amortization of 30 years.

 

As of December 31, 2011, none of the loans that were modified during the previous twelve months had defaulted in the preceding twelve month period ended December 31, 2011.

 

As a result of the adopting the amendments in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-02, the Company reassessed all restructurings that occurred on or after the beginning of the current fiscal year (January 1, 2011) for identification as troubled debt

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 7 - Loans Receivable and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)

 

restructurings. The Company identified no loans for which the allowance for loan losses had previously been measured under a general allowance for loan losses methodology that are now considered troubled debt restructurings in accordance with Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-02.

 

Note 8 - Premises and Equipment, Net

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
     
Land  $1,534   $1,291 
Buildings and improvements   8,888    7,954 
Leasehold improvements   615    615 
Furnishings and equipment   7,299    5,798 
           
Total   18,336    15,658 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization   (9,429)   (8,874)
           
Net  $8,907   $6,784 

 

At December 31, 2011, construction in progress of $1.3 million relating to a new branch office in Framingham, Massachusetts is included in furnishings and equipment. The Company is committed to an additional $560,000 for this project.

 

Note 9 - Accrued Interest Receivable, Net

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
     
Loans  $3,465   $2,902 
Securities   48    60 
Total   3,513    2,962 
Allowance for uncollected interest   (2,014)   (1,258)
Net  $1,499   $1,704 

 

Note 10 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill and intangible assets at December 31 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   2011   2010 
Goodwill  $1,310   $1,310 
Customer relationships intangible   466    527 
Total  $1,776   $1,898 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 10 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Continued)

 

The gross amount of intangible assets was $710,000 at both December 31, 2011 and 2010. Amortization expense of intangible assets was $61,000 during each of the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Scheduled amortization for each of the next five years and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):

 

2012  $61 
2013   61 
2014   61 
2015   61 
2016   61 
Thereafter   161 

 

Note 11 - Real Estate Owned (“REO”)

 

The Company owned one property valued at approximately $620,000 at December 31, 2011. Further declines in real estate values may result in impairment charges in the future. Routine holding costs are charged to expense as incurred and improvements to real estate owned that enhance the value of the real estate are capitalized. REO expense during 2011 amounted to $182,000, including a loss of $140,000 on the sale of one property and net holding expenses of $42,000.

 

The Company held two properties valued at approximately $933,000 at December 31, 2010. REO expenses during 2010 amounted to $307,000, including a loss of $103,000 on the sale of three properties and net holding expenses of $204,000.

 

Note 12 - Deposits

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   Amount   Weighted Average Interest Rate   Amount   Weighted Average Interest Rate 
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
Demand deposits:                    
Non-interest bearing  $15,046    0.00%  $9,839    0.00%
NOW and money market   115,411    0.91%   83,839    0.86%
    130,457    0.80%   93,678    0.77%
                     
Savings accounts   80,548    0.87%   55,898    0.60%
                     
Certificates of deposit maturing in:                    
One year or less   97,063    1.62%   143,728    2.02%
After one to two years   26,731    1.63%   24,019    3.44%
After two to three years   4,731    2.51%   3,809    2.88%
After three to four years   5,954    2.04%   2,901    3.11%
After four years   8,152    2.38%   2,797    2.06%
                     
    142,631    1.71%   177,254    2.25%
                     
   $353,636    1.18%  $326,830    1.54%

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 12 – Deposits (Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, certificates of deposits over $100,000 totaled $74,332,000 and $86,802,000, respectively. At December 31, 2011, there were $19.5 million in money market deposits that are fully-insured brokered deposits as defined in the FDIC call report instructions. These money market deposits were obtained from one of our retail depositors and then transferred into the Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) Network in order to obtain full FDIC insurance coverage for our customer. These types of deposits are known in the ICS Network as reciprocal deposits, which the Company considers as core deposits and not brokered deposits. At December 31, 2010, the Company had no ICS reciprocal deposits.

 

Interest expense on deposits consists of the following:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Demand deposits  $698   $1,174 
Savings accounts   424    407 
Certificates of deposit   3,425    5,810 
           
   $4,547   $7,391 

 

Note 13 – Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) Advances

 

   December 31,
   2011  2010
   Amount   Weighted Average Interest Rate  Amount   Weighted Average Interest Rate
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
Advances maturing in:                    
One year or less  $5,000    0.59%  $10,000    2.80%
After one to two years   10,000    3.70%       -% 
After two to three years   5,000    3.64%   10,000    3.70%
After four to five years       -%    5,000    3.64%
                     
   $20,000    2.91%  $25,000    3.33%

 

At December 31, 2011, none of the above advances were subject to early call or redemption features.

 

At December 31, 2011, the advances were secured by a pledge of the Bank’s investment in the capital stock of the FHLB and a blanket assignment of the Bank’s otherwise unpledged qualifying mortgage loans.

 

At December 31, 2011, the Bank had the ability to borrow $69.5 million, net of $20.0 million in outstanding advances, from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 14 - Note Payable

 

In conjunction with the Hayden acquisition on November 16, 2007, the Company incurred a four-year, zero-coupon note payable of $700,000. The note is payable in four annual installments, one on each succeeding note anniversary date, of $175,000. The note was initially recorded at $625,000, assuming a 4.60% discount rate. The note payable balance at December 31, 2011 and 2010, was $-0- and $168,000, respectively, and the note discount accreted during 2011 and 2010 totaled $7,000 and $15,000, respectively. The holder of the note elected to defer the final payment until 2012. As such, the note payable was reclassified as accounts payable of $175,000 at December 31, 2011.

 

Note 15 - Income Taxes

 

The Bank qualifies as a savings institution under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and was, therefore, prior to January 1, 1996, permitted to deduct from taxable income an allowance for bad debts based upon eight percent of taxable income before such deduction, less certain adjustments. Retained earnings at December 31, 2011 and 2010, include approximately $4.1 million of such bad debt deductions which, in accordance with U.S. GAAP is considered a permanent difference between the book and income tax basis of loans receivable, and for which deferred income taxes have not been provided. If such amount is used for purposes other than for bad debt losses, including distributions in liquidation, it will be subject to income tax at the then current rate.

 

The components of income taxes (benefit) are summarized as follows:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Current tax expense  $4,147   $715 
Deferred tax expense (benefit)   (2,950)   189 
           
Income Tax Expense  $1,197   $904 

 

The following table presents a reconciliation between the reported income taxes and the income taxes, which would be computed by applying normal federal income tax rates to income before taxes:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (Dollars In Thousands) 
Federal income tax at statutory rates  $1,208   $942 
State and City tax, net of federal income tax effect   220    202 
Non-taxable income on bank owned life insurance   (201)   (212)
Other   (30)   (28)
           
Income Tax Expense  $1,197   $904 
           
Effective Income Tax Rate   33.7%   32.6%

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 15 - Income Taxes (continued)

 

The tax effects of significant items comprising the net deferred tax asset are as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Deferred tax assets:          
Allowance for loan losses  $2,064   $2,269 
Reserve for uncollected interest   441    525 
Depreciation   171    143 
Benefit plans   1,206    879 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss - DRP   83    133 
Other   43    8 
           
Total Deferred Tax Assets   4,008    3,957 
           
Deferred tax liability:          
Unrealized gain on securities available for sale   2    2 
Goodwill   146    109 
Other       52 
Gain on sale of building       2,834 
           
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities   148    2,997 
           
Net Deferred Tax Asset, Included in Other Assets  $3,860   $960 

 

Note 16 - Other Non-Interest Expenses

 

The following is an analysis of other non-interest expenses:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Service contracts  $301   $283 
Insurance   199    212 
Audit and accounting   327    333 
Directors compensation   320    305 
Telephone   209    212 
Office supplies and stationary   97    128 
Director, officer, and employee expenses   505    247 
Legal fees   559    603 
Other   1,136    737 
   $3,653   $3,060 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 17 - Benefits Plans

 

Outside Director Retirement Plan (“DRP”)

 

Effective January 1, 2006, the Bank implemented the DRP. This plan is an unfunded non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering all non-employee directors meeting eligibility requirements as specified in the plan document. The following table sets forth the funded status of the DRP and components of net pension periodic expense measured as of December 31:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (Dollars In Thousands) 
Benefit Obligation – beginning  $738   $659 
Service cost   54    53 
Interest cost   42    39 
Actuarial loss (Gain)   (33)   (13)
           
Benefit Obligation – ending  $801   $738 
           
Funded Status – Accrued liability included in accounts payable and accrued expenses  $801   $738 
Accumulated benefit obligations  $756   $690 
           
Discount rate   6.00%   6.00%
Salary increase rate   2.00%   2.00%

 

Net periodic pension expense:          
Service cost  $54   $53 
Interest cost   42    39 
Actuarial loss recognized   5    6 
Prior service cost recognized   21    21 
           
Total net periodic pension expense included in other non-interest expenses  $122   $119 
Discount rate   6.00%   6.00%
Salary increase rate   2.00%   2.00%

 

Benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be paid for the years ended December 31 as follows (in thousands):

 

2012  $60 
2013   60 
2014   60 
2015   92 
2016   92 
Thereafter   496 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 17 - Benefits Plans (Continued)

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”)

 

Effective January 1, 2006, the Bank implemented the SERP. This plan is a non-contributory defined benefit plan that covers the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Mortgage Officer. The Chief Mortgage Officer, who resigned and left the Bank in 2010, is no longer participating in the SERP.

 

Under the SERP, each of these individuals will be entitled to receive, upon retirement at age 65 (or 60 in the case of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer), an annual benefit, paid in monthly installments, equal to 50% of his average base salary in the three-year period preceding retirement. Each individual may also retire early and receive a reduced benefit (0.25% reduction in benefit for each month by which retirement age is less than 65 years (or 60 in the case of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer)) upon the attainment of both age 60 and 20 years of service (or upon the attainment of 20 years of service in the case of the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer). Additional terms related to death while employed, death after retirement, disability before retirement and termination of employment are fully described within the plan document. The benefit payment term is the greater of 15 years or the executives remaining life. No benefits are expected to be paid during the next ten years.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, expenses of $556,000 and $515,000, respectively, were recorded for this plan and are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations under Salaries and Employee Benefits. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, a liability for this plan of $1,657,000 and $1,101,000, respectively, is included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition under Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses.

 

401(k) Plan

 

The Bank maintains a 401(k) plan for all eligible employees. Participants are permitted to contribute from 1% to 15% of their annual compensation up to the maximum permitted under the Internal Revenue Code. The Bank through August 2006, made matching contributions equal to 100% of the employees contribution up to 5% of annual compensation. In September 2006, the Bank ceased making matching contributions to the 401(k) plan.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

 

In conjunction with the Company’s initial public stock offering, the Bank established an ESOP for all eligible employees (substantially all full-time employees). The ESOP borrowed $5,184,200 from the Company and used those funds to acquire 518,420 shares of Company common stock at $10.00 per share. The loan from the Company carries an interest rate of 8.25% and is repayable in twenty annual installments through 2025. Each year, the Bank intends to make discretionary contributions to the ESOP equal to the principal and interest payment required on the loan from the Company. The ESOP may further pay down the principal balance of the loan by using dividends paid, if any, on the shares of Company common stock it owns. The balance remaining on the ESOP loan was $4,201,000 and $4,359,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Shares purchased with the loan proceeds serve as collateral for the loan and are held in a suspense account for future allocation among ESOP participants. As the loan principal is repaid, shares will be released from the suspense account and become eligible for allocation. The allocation among plan participants will be as described in the ESOP governing document.

 

ESOP shares initially pledged as collateral were recorded as unearned ESOP shares in the stockholders’ equity section of the consolidated statement of financial condition. Thereafter, on a monthly basis over a 240 month period, approximately 2,160 shares are committed to be released and compensation expense is recorded equal to the shares committed to be released multiplied by the average closing price of the Company’s stock during that month. ESOP expense during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, totaled approximately $160,000 and $154,000, respectively. Dividends on unallocated shares, which totaled approximately $47,000 and $51,000 during 2011 and 2010, respectively, are recorded as a reduction of the ESOP loan. Dividends on allocated shares, which totaled approximately $15,000 and $12,000 during 2011 and 2010, respectively, are charged to retained earnings.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 17 - Benefits Plans (Continued)

 

ESOP shares are summarized as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Allocated shares   129,605    103,684 
Shares committed to be released   25,921    25,921 
Unearned shares   362,894    388,815 
           
Total ESOP Shares   518,420    518,420 
           
Fair value of unearned shares  $2,036,000   $2,177,000 

 

Note 18 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

Lease Commitments

 

Rentals under operating leases for certain branch offices and land amounted to $458,000 and $422,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2011, the minimum rental commitments under all non-cancelable leases with initial or remaining terms of more than one year are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,     
2012  $334 
2013   342 
2014   269 
2015   108 
2016   16 
Thereafter   1,106 
   $2,175 

 

Other

 

On October 31, 2011 a complaint was filed by Stilwell Value Partners IV, L.P. in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the "Court"), against the Company, NorthEast Community Bancorp MHC (the "MHC") and each of the directors of the Company and the MHC. The complaint alleges that the directors have breached their fiduciary duties by not expanding the Company board to allow for disinterested consideration of a "second-step" conversion of the MHC.  As for relief, the complaint requests, among other things, that the Company’s board of directors be increased by at least three new members, that such new members be given sole responsibility to determine whether the Company should engage in a second-step conversion and that the Court order the Company to engage in a second-step conversion. The Company believes that the claims asserted are without merit and intends to vigorously defend the case. On December 14, 2011, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. The plaintiff has filed an opposition to the Company’s motion to dismiss and a cross motion for leave to amend the complaint in the event the court were to conclude that the initial complaint fails to state a viable claim. The Company expects there will be a ruling on the motion to dismiss in the near future.

 

The Company and Bank are also subject to claims and litigation that arise primarily in the ordinary course of business. Based on information presently available and advice received from legal counsel representing the Company and Bank in connection with such claims and litigation, it is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate determination of such claims and litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 19 - Fair Value Disclosures

 

The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. The Company’s securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, we may be required to record at fair value other assets and liabilities on a non-recurring basis, such as securities held to maturity, impaired loans and other real estate owned. U.S. GAAP has established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

  Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
     
  Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported with little or no market activity).

 

An asset’s or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

For financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the fair value measurements by level within the fair value hierarchy used are as follows:

 

Description  Total   (Level 1) Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets   (Level 2) Significant Other Observable Inputs   (Level 3) Significant Unobservable Inputs 
December 31, 2011:   (In Thousands) 
Mortgage-backed securities - residential:                    
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation  $95   $   $95   $ 
                     
Federal National Mortgage Association   54        54     
                     
December 31, 2010:                    
Mortgage-backed securities - residential:                    
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation  $106   $   $106   $ 
                     
Federal National Mortgage Association   56        56     

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 19- Fair Value Disclosures (continued)

 

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). Financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

Description  Total   (Level 1) Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets   (Level 2) Significant Other Observable Inputs   (Level 3) Significant Unobservable Inputs 
   (In Thousands) 
December 31, 2011:                    
Impaired loans  $9,163   $   $   $9,163 
December 31, 2010:                    
Impaired loans  $10,953   $   $   $10,953 

 

Management uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments; however, there are inherent weaknesses in any estimation technique. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments, the fair value estimates herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a sales transaction on the dates indicated. The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of their respective year-ends and have not been re-evaluated or updated for purposes of these financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than the amounts reported at each year-end.

 

The following information should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the entire Company since a fair value calculation is only provided for a limited portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Due to a wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between the Company’s disclosures and those of other companies may not be meaningful. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Certificates of Deposit and Accrued Interest Receivable and Payable

 

For these short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Securities

 

Fair values for securities available for sale and held to maturity are determined utilizing Level 2 inputs. For these securities, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayments speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things.

 

Loans

 

Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. The total loan portfolio is first divided into performing and non-performing categories. Performing loans are then segregated into adjustable and fixed rate interest terms. Fixed rate loans are segmented by type, such as construction and land development, other loans secured by real estate, commercial and industrial loans, and loans to individuals. Certain types, such as commercial and industrial loans and loans to individuals, are further segmented by maturity and type of collateral.

 

F-36
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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 19 - Fair Value Disclosures (Continued)

 

For performing loans, fair value is calculated by discounting scheduled future cash flows through estimated maturity using a market rate that reflects the credit and interest-rate risks inherent in the loans. The discounted value of the cash flows is reduced by a credit risk adjustment based on internal loan classifications.

 

For non-performing loans, fair value is calculated by first reducing the carrying value by a credit risk adjustment based on internal loan classifications, and then discounting the estimated future cash flows from the remaining carrying value at a market rate.

 

For impaired loans which the Company has measured and recorded impairment generally based on the fair value of the loan’s collateral, fair value is generally determined based upon independent third-party appraisals of the properties, or discounted cash flows based upon the expected proceeds.  These assets are typically included as Level 3 fair values, based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements.  

 

FHLB of New York Stock

 

The carrying amount of the FHLB of New York stock is equal to its fair value, and considers the limited marketability of this security.

 

Deposit Liabilities

 

The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as non-interest-bearing demand deposits, money market accounts, interest checking accounts, and savings accounts is equal to the amount payable on demand. Time deposits are segregated by type, size, and remaining maturity. The fair value of time deposits is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is based on rates currently offered in the market.

 

FHLB of New York Advances

 

The fair value of the FHLB advances is estimated based on the discounted value of future contractual payments. The discount rate is equivalent to the estimated rate at which the Company could currently obtain similar financing.

 

Note Payable

 

The fair value of the note payable is estimated based on the discounted value of future contractual payments. The discount rate is equivalent to the estimated rate at which the Company could currently obtain similar financing.

 

Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of commitments to extend credit is estimated based on an analysis of the interest rates and fees currently charged to enter into similar transactions, considering the remaining terms of the commitments and the credit-worthiness of the potential borrowers. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the estimated fair values of these off-balance-sheet financial instruments were immaterial.

 

F-37
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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 19 - Fair Value Disclosures (Continued)

 

The carrying amounts and estimated fair value of our financial instruments are as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   Carrying Amount   Estimated Fair Value   Carrying Amount   Estimated Fair Value 
   (In Thousands) 
Financial assets:                    
Cash and cash equivalents  $82,583   $82,583   $44,453   $44,453 
Certificates of deposit   2,640    2,640    2,988    2,988 
Securities available for sale   149    149    162    162 
Securities held to maturity   16,099    16,662    19,858    20,342 
Loans receivable   350,894    361,974    364,798    372,322 
FHLB stock   1,633    1,633    1,884    1,884 
Accrued interest receivable   1,499    1,499    1,704    1,704 
                     
Financial liabilities:                    
Deposits   353,636    356,950    326,830    330,471 
FHLB advances   20,000    20,686    25,000    26,759 
Note payable           168    173 

 

Note 20 – Parent Company Only Financial Information

 

The following are the condensed financial statements for Northeast Community Bancorp (Parent company only) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the years then ended.

 

Statements of Financial Condition

 

   December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Assets          
Cash and due from banks  $14,914   $18,319 
Investment in subsidiary   88,107    85,602 
ESOP loan receivable   4,201    4,359 
Other assets       22 
Total Assets  $107,222   $108,302 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $157   $163 
Total Liabilities   157    163 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity   107,065    108,139 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  $107,222   $108,302 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 20 – Parent Company Only Financial Information (Continued)

 

Statements of Income

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
Interest income – interest- earning deposits  $55   $66 
Interest income – ESOP loan   360    371 
Operating expenses   (272)   (265)
           
Income before Income Tax Expense and Equity in Undistributed Earnings of Subsidiary   143    172 
           
Income tax expense   60    50 
           
Income before Equity in Undistributed Earnings of Subsidiary   83    122 
           
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary   2,272    1,746 
           
Net Income  $2,355   $1,868 

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 20 – Parent Company Only Financial Information (Continued)

 

Statements of Cash Flow

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
   (In Thousands) 
     
Cash Flows from Operating Activities          
Net income  $2,355   $1,868 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary   (2,272)   (1,746)
Decrease (increase) in other assets   22    (18)
Decrease in other liabilities   (6)   (522)
           
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities   98    (418)
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities          
Repayment of ESOP loan   158    145 
           
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities   158    145 
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities          
Cash dividends paid   (614)   (654)
Purchase of treasury stock   (3,048)   (664)
           
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities   (3,661)   (1,318)
           
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (3,405)   (1,591)
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning   18,319    19,910 
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Ending  $14,914   $18,319 

 

Note 21 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The FASB has issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-02, A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring, to clarify the accounting principles applied to loan modifications, as defined by FASB ASC Subtopic 310-40, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors. This ASU clarifies guidance on a creditor’s evaluation of whether or not a concession has been granted, with an emphasis on evaluating all aspects of the modification rather than a focus on specific criteria, such as the effective interest rate test, to determine a concession. This ASU provides guidance on specific types of modifications such as changes in the interest rate of the borrowing, and insignificant delays in payments, as well as guidance on the creditor’s evaluation of whether or not a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. For public entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for the first interim or annual periods beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption. The entity should also disclose information required by ASU 2010-20, Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses, which had previously been deferred by ASU 2011-01, Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20, for interim and annual periods beginning on or after June 15, 2011. The Company adopted this guidance in the period ended September 30, 2011 and disclosed the required information in its consolidated financial statements.

 

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Northeast Community Bancorp, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 21 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)

 

ASU 2011-04: This ASU amends FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, to bring U.S. GAAP for fair value measurements in line with International Accounting Standards. The ASU clarifies existing guidance for items such as: the application of the highest and best use concept to non-financial assets and liabilities; the application of fair value measurement to financial instruments classified in a reporting entity’s stockholder’s equity; and disclosure requirements regarding quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of level 3 assets. The ASU also creates an exception to Topic 820 for entities which carry financial instruments within a portfolio or group, under which the entity is now permitted to base the price used for fair valuation upon a price that would be received to sell the net asset position or transfer a net liability position in an orderly transaction. The ASU also allows for the application of premiums and discounts in a fair value measurement if the financial instrument is categorized in level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Lastly, the ASU contains new disclosure requirements regarding fair value amounts categorized as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy such as: disclosure of the valuation process used; effects of and relationships between unobservable inputs; usage of nonfinancial assets for purposes other than their highest and best use when that is the basis of the disclosed fair value; and categorization by level of items disclosed at fair value, but not measured at fair value for financial statement purposes. For public entities, this ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact the new pronouncement may have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

ASU 2011-05: The provisions of this ASU amend FASB ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, to facilitate the continued alignment of U.S. GAAP with International Accounting Standards. The ASU prohibits the presentation of the components of comprehensive income in the statement of stockholder’s equity. Reporting entities are allowed to present either: a statement of comprehensive income, which reports both net income and other comprehensive income; or separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income. Under previous GAAP, all 3 presentations were acceptable. Regardless of the presentation selected, the Reporting Entity is required to present all reclassifications between other comprehensive and net income on the face of the new statement or statements. The provisions of this ASU are effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 31, 2011 for public entities. As the two remaining options for presentation existed prior to the issuance of this ASU, early adoption is permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact the new pronouncement may have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

ASU 2011-08: Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The purpose of this ASU is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment by adding a new first step to the preexisting goodwill impairment test under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and other. This amendment gives the entity the option to first assess a variety of qualitative factors such as economic conditions, cash flows, and competition to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill has fallen below its carrying value. If the entity determines that it is not likely that the fair value has fallen below its carrying value, then the entity will not have to complete the original two-step test under Topic 350. The amendments in this ASU are effective for impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

ASU 2011-12: Deferral of the Effective Date to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update 2011-05. In response to stakeholder concerns regarding the operational ramifications of the presentation of these reclassifications for current and previous years, the FASB has deferred the implementation date of this provision to allow time for further consideration. The requirement in ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income, for the presentation of a combined statement of comprehensive income or separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income is still effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011 for public companies, and fiscal years ending after December 15, 2011 for nonpublic companies. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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