gsbc-10q093014.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2014

Commission File Number 0-18082

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
 
43-1524856
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
     
1451 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri
 
65804
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
     
(417) 887-4400
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  
Yes /X/     No /  /
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes/X/   No /  /
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
(Check one):
Large accelerated filer /  /
Accelerated filer /X/
Non-accelerated filer /  /
Smaller reporting company /  /
   
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company) 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 
Yes /  /   No /X/
 
The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock: 13,727,671 shares of common stock, par value $.01, outstanding at November 6, 2014.
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 


PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(In thousands, except number of shares)

   
SEPTEMBER 30,
   
DECEMBER 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Cash
  $ 94,682     $ 96,167  
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions
    126,704       131,758  
Cash and cash equivalents
    221,386       227,925  
Available-for-sale securities
    425,156       555,281  
Held-to-maturity securities (fair value $505  – September 2014;
               
     $912 - December 2013)
    450       805  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    30,361       7,239  
Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of
               
     $38,081 – September 2014; $40,116 - December 2013
    2,921,310       2,439,530  
FDIC indemnification asset
    51,603       72,705  
Interest receivable
    11,214       11,408  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    63,334       72,904  
Other real estate owned, net
    43,762       53,514  
Premises and equipment, net
    120,891       104,534  
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    7,945       4,583  
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    12,013       9,822  
          Total Assets
  $ 3,909,425     $ 3,560,250  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Deposits
  $ 3,071,170     $ 2,808,626  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    190,664       126,757  
Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers
    171,828       134,981  
Short-term borrowings
    1,155       1,128  
Structured repurchase agreements
          50,000  
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
    30,929       30,929  
Accrued interest payable
    1,024       1,099  
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    7,744       3,721  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    22,258       18,502  
Current and deferred income tax liability
    3,603       3,809  
          Total Liabilities
    3,500,375       3,179,552  
Stockholders' Equity:
               
Capital stock
               
Serial preferred stock – $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued
     and outstanding September 2014 and December 2013 - 57,943 shares,
     $1,000 liquidation amount
    57,943       57,943  
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares;
     issued and outstanding September 2014  – 13,706,950 shares;
               
     December 2013 - 13,673,709 shares
    137       137  
Additional paid-in capital
    21,486       19,567  
Retained earnings
    322,529       300,589  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    6,955       2,462  
          Total Stockholders' Equity
    409,050       380,698  
          Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
  $ 3,909,425     $ 3,560,250  
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


 
 
 
2
 
 
 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
   
THREE MONTHS ENDED
 
   
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
         
Retrospectively
Adjusted – Note 3
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
INTEREST INCOME
           
Loans
  $ 44,948     $ 40,087  
Investment securities and other
    2,659       2,932  
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME
    47,607       43,019  
INTEREST EXPENSE
               
Deposits
    2,884       2,822  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    461       1,005  
Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements
    13       587  
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
    143       141  
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE
    3,501       4,555  
NET INTEREST INCOME
    44,106       38,464  
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    945       2,677  
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    43,161       35,787  
 
               
NON-INTEREST INCOME
               
Commissions
    284       158  
Service charges and ATM fees
    5,168       4,729  
Net realized gains on sales of loans
    1,543       1,179  
Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities
    321       110  
Late charges and fees on loans
    248       284  
Gain (loss) on derivative interest rate products
    10       (125
Accretion (amortization) of income/expense related to business acquisitions
    (6,463 )     (6,339 )
Other income
    667       933  
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME
    1,778       929  
 
               
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
               
Salaries and employee benefits
    14,884       13,034  
Net occupancy and equipment expense
    6,172       5,216  
Postage
    935       790  
Insurance
    940       1,083  
Advertising
    522       433  
Office supplies and printing
    393       320  
Telephone
    695       679  
Legal, audit and other professional fees
    1,389       1,186  
Expense on foreclosed assets
    982       1,068  
Partnership tax credit investment amortization
    420       556  
Other operating expenses
    2,066       1,791  
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
    29,398       26,156  
 
               
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    15,541       10,560  
 
               
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    3,951       2,121  
 
               
NET INCOME
    11,590       8,439  
                 
Preferred stock dividends
    145       145  
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 11,445     $ 8,294  

 
3
 
 



 
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
0.84
 
 
$
0.61
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
0.83
 
 
$
0.61
 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
0.20
 
 
$
0.18
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements














































See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
 
4
 
 


GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)

   
NINE MONTHS ENDED
 
   
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
         
Retrospectively
Adjusted – Note 3
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
INTEREST INCOME
           
Loans
  $ 125,669     $ 122,226  
Investment securities and other
    8,617       11,630  
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME
    134,286       133,856  
INTEREST EXPENSE
               
Deposits
    8,297       9,611  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    2,446       2,968  
Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements
    1,082       1,758  
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
    418       421  
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE
    12,243       14,758  
NET INTEREST INCOME
    122,043       119,098  
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    4,099       14,573  
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    117,944       104,525  
 
               
NON-INTEREST INCOME
               
Commissions
    910       836  
Service charges and ATM fees
    14,064       13,800  
Net realized gains on sales of loans
    2,700       4,236  
Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities
    963       241  
Late charges and fees on loans
    827       785  
Gain (loss) on derivative interest rate products
    (223 )     283  
Initial gain recognized on business acquisition
    10,805        
Accretion (amortization) of income/expense related to business acquisitions
    (20,061 )     (17,900 )
Other income
    3,347       3,898  
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME
    13,332       6,179  
 
               
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
               
Salaries and employee benefits
    41,371       39,334  
Net occupancy and equipment expense
    16,786       15,451  
Postage
    2,572       2,454  
Insurance
    2,820       3,204  
Advertising
    1,690       1,599  
Office supplies and printing
    1,050       950  
Telephone
    2,112       2,169  
Legal, audit and other professional fees
    3,230       2,936  
Expense on foreclosed assets
    3,173       3,478  
Partnership tax credit investment amortization
    1,300       1,552  
Other operating expenses
    13,585       5,663  
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
    89,689       78,790  
 
               
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    41,587       31,914  
 
               
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
    10,125       6,858  
 
               
NET INCOME
    31,462       25,056  
                 
Preferred stock dividends
    435       435  
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 31,027     $ 24,621  


 
5
 
 
 



 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
2.27
 
 
$
1.81
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
2.25
 
 
$
1.80
 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
0.60
 
 
$
0.54
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
6
 
 
 


GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)

   
THREE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Net Income
  $ 11,590     $ 8,439  
                 
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities, net
               
of taxes (credit) of $127 and $(2,812), for 2014 and 2013, respectively
    236       (5,221 )
                 
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income,
               
net of taxes of $(112) and $(38), for 2014 and 2013, respectively
    (209 )     (72 )
                 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge, net of taxes (credit) of $29
               
and $(24), for 2014 and 2013, respectively
    53       (45 )
                 
Comprehensive Income
  $ 11,670     $ 3,101  
                 

   
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Net Income
  $ 31,462     $ 25,056  
                 
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities, net of
               
taxes (credit) of $2,805 and $(6,863), for 2014 and 2013, respectively
    5,209       (12,745 )
                 
Non-credit component of unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale debt
               
securities for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment
               
has been recognized, net of taxes  (credit) of $0 and $(20), for
               
2014 and 2013, respectively
          (37 )
                 
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income,
               
net of taxes of $(337) and $(84), for 2014 and 2013, respectively
    (626 )     (157 )
                 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge, net of taxes (credit) of $(67)
               
and $(24), for 2014 and 2013, respectively
    (90 )     (45 )
                 
Comprehensive Income
  $ 35,955     $ 12,072  
                 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements




 
 
 
7
 
 
 


GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
 
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
31,462
 
 
$
25,056
 
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
 
 
101,872
 
 
 
184,382
 
Originations of loans held for sale
 
 
(122,252
)
 
 
(171,035
)
Items not requiring (providing) cash:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
 
6,410
 
 
 
5,971
 
Amortization of other assets
 
 
2,385
 
 
 
5,421
 
Compensation expense for stock option grants
   
409
     
333
 
Provision for loan losses
 
 
4,099
 
 
 
14,573
 
Net gains on loan sales
 
 
(2,700
)
 
 
(4,236
)
Net gains on sale of available-for-sale investment securities
   
(963
)
 
 
(241
)
Net gains on sale of premises and equipment
 
 
(46
)
 
 
(10
)
Loss on sale of foreclosed assets
 
 
1,360
 
 
 
1,823
 
Initial gain recognized on business acquisition
   
(10,805
)
   
 
Amortization of deferred income, premiums, discounts
 
 
     
 
   
and fair value adjustments
 
 
17,023
 
 
 
22,518
 
(Gain) loss on derivative interest rate products
   
223
 
 
 
(284
)
Deferred income taxes
 
 
(4,370
)
 
 
(13,625
)
Changes in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest receivable
 
 
1,232
 
 
 
1,823
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
 
4,187
 
 
 
(8,339
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
 
2,685
 
 
 
4,376
 
Income taxes refundable/payable
 
 
           1,744
 
 
 
668
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
33,955
 
 
 
69,174
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase in loans
 
 
(243,837
)
 
 
(19,044
)
Purchase of loans
 
 
           (73,244
)
 
 
           (20,388
)
Cash received from acquisitions
   
189,437
   
 
 
Cash received from FDIC loss sharing reimbursements
   
7,532
   
 
24,583
 
Purchase of premises and equipment
 
 
(11,598
)
 
 
(9,761
)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
 
 
198
 
 
 
1,275
 
Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets
 
 
17,661
 
 
 
35,973
 
Capitalized costs on foreclosed assets
 
 
(95
)
 
 
(291
)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities
   
179,204
   
 
108,485
 
Proceeds from maturing investment securities
   
110
   
 
 
Proceeds from called investment securities
 
 
6,235
 
 
 
4,160
 
Principal reductions on mortgage-backed securities
 
 
78,228
 
 
 
179,710
 
Purchase of available-for-sale securities
 
 
(40,661
)
 
 
(92,425
)
Redemption (purchase) of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
 
 
(2,191
)
 
 
240
 
Net cash provided by investing activities
 
 
106,979
 
 
 
212,517
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Net decrease in certificates of deposit
 
 
(89,219
)
 
 
(163,327
)
Net decrease in checking and savings deposits
 
 
(106,924
)
 
 
(136,191
)
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
2,517,000
     
1,980
 
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
 
(2,450,300
)
 
 
(246
)
Net increase (decrease)  in short-term borrowings
 
 
36,307
 
 
 
(44,625
)
Repayments of structured repurchase agreements
   
(50,000
)
   
(3,000
)
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
 
 
3,395
 
 
 
3,660
 
Dividends paid
 
 
(8,371
)
 
 
(5,361
)
Purchase of company stock
   
(512
)
   
 
Stock options exercised
 
 
1,151
 
 
 
1,092
 
Net cash used in financing activities
 
 
(147,473
)
 
 
(346,018
)
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
 
(6,539
)
 
 
(64,327
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
 
227,925
 
 
 
404,141
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
221,386
 
 
$
339,814
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 

 
 
 
8
 
 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Great Southern") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The financial statements presented herein reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the periods presented. Those adjustments consist only of normal recurring adjustments. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. The consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2013, has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company as of that date.   Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on net income.
 
Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company's annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOTE 2: NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND OPERATING SEGMENTS
 
The Company operates as a one-bank holding company.  The Company’s business primarily consists of the operations of Great Southern Bank (the “Bank”), which provides a full range of financial services to customers primarily located in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Arkansas.  In addition, the Company operates commercial loan production offices in Dallas, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The Company and the Bank are subject to the regulation of certain federal and state agencies and undergo periodic examinations by those regulatory agencies.
 
The Company’s banking operation is its only reportable segment.  The banking operation is principally engaged in the business of originating residential and commercial real estate loans, construction loans, commercial business loans and consumer loans and funding these loans through attracting deposits from the general public, accepting brokered deposits and borrowing from the Federal Home Loan Bank and others.  The operating results of this segment are regularly reviewed by management to make decisions about resource allocations and to assess performance.  Selected information is not presented separately for the Company’s reportable segment, as there is no material difference between that information and the corresponding information in the consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3: RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-01 to amend FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures.  The objective of this Update is to provide guidance on accounting for investments by a reporting entity in flow-through limited liability entities that manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit.  The amendments in the Update permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met.  Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit).  The Update would be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2015; however, early adoption was permitted.  The Company elected to adopt this Update early, adopting it during the three months ended March 31, 2014.  There was no material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, except that the investment amortization expense which was previously included in Other Noninterest Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income was moved from Other Noninterest Expense to Provision for Income Taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  For the three months ended September 30, 2013, $1.0 million was moved from Other Noninterest Expense to Provision for Income Taxes.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, $2.9 million was moved from Other Noninterest Expense to Provision for Income Taxes.  This had the effect of reducing Noninterest Expense and increasing Provision for Income Taxes, but did not have any impact on Net Income.

 
9
 
 


In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-04 to amend FASB ASC Topic 310, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors.  The objective of the amendments in this Update is to reduce diversity by clarifying when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, that is, when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan such that the loan receivable should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized.  The amendments in this Update clarify that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction.  The Update will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2015, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 660): Summary and Amendments that Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40). The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the industry topics of the codification. For public companies, this update will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early application is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements, but does not expect the guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

NOTE 4: STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Previously, the Company's stockholders approved the Company's reincorporation to the State of Maryland. Under Maryland law, there is no concept of "Treasury Shares." Instead, shares purchased by the Company constitute authorized but unissued shares under Maryland law. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America state that accounting for treasury stock shall conform to state law. The cost of shares purchased by the Company has been allocated to Common Stock and Retained Earnings balances.

NOTE 5: EARNINGS PER SHARE
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
 
Basic:
           
Average shares outstanding
    13,696       13,647  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 11,445     $ 8,294  
Per common share amount
  $ 0.84     $ 0.61  
                 
Diluted:
               
Average shares outstanding
    13,696       13,647  
Net effect of dilutive stock options – based on the treasury
               
stock method using average market price
    89       58  
Diluted shares
    13,785       13,705  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 11,445     $ 8,294  
Per common share amount
  $ 0.83     $ 0.61  
                 


 
10
 
 


   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
 
Basic:
           
Average shares outstanding
    13,693       13,634  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 31,027     $ 24,621  
Per share amount
  $ 2.27     $ 1.81  
                 
Diluted:
               
Average shares outstanding
    13,693       13,634  
Net effect of dilutive stock options – based on the treasury
               
stock method using average market price
    75       58  
Diluted shares
    13,768       13, 692  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 31,027     $ 24,621  
Per share amount
  $ 2.25     $ 1.80  
                 
Options to purchase 118,600 and 304,630 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three month periods because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market prices of the common shares for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Options to purchase 232,735 and 304,630 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the nine month periods because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market prices of the common shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

NOTE 6: INVESTMENT SECURITIES
 
   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
         
Tax
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Equivalent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                         
U.S. government agencies
  $ 20,000     $     $ 1,063     $ 18,937       2.00 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    273,358       4,502       1,233       276,627       2.02  
States and political subdivisions
    120,060       6,713       226       126,547       5.37  
Equity securities
    847       2,198             3,045        
    $ 414,265     $ 13,413     $ 2,522     $ 425,156       2.98 %
                                         
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                                 
States and political subdivisions
  $ 450     $ 55     $     $ 505       7.37 %

   
December 31, 2013
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
         
Tax
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Equivalent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                         
U.S. government agencies
  $ 20,000     $     $ 2,745     $ 17,255       2.00 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    365,020       4,824       2,266       367,578       2.04  
Small Business Administration
                                       
loan pools
    43,461       1,394             44,855       1.34  
States and political subdivisions
    122,113       2,549       1,938       122,724       5.47  
Equity securities
    847       2,022             2,869        
    $ 551,441     $ 10,789     $ 6,949     $ 555,281       2.74 %
                                         
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                                 
States and political subdivisions
  $ 805     $ 107     $     $ 912       7.37 %


 
11
 
 



The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2014, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One year or less
  $ 110     $ 111  
After one through five years
    1,472       1,486  
After five through ten years
    7,504       7,794  
After ten years
    130,974       136,093  
Securities not due on a single maturity date
    273,358       276,627  
Equity securities
    847       3,045  
                 
    $ 414,265     $ 425,156  
                 

The held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2014, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
After one through five years
  $ 450     $ 505  

Certain investments in debt securities are reported in the financial statements at an amount less than their historical cost. Total fair value of these investments at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, was approximately $131.5 million and $237.6 million, which is approximately 30.9% and 42.7% of the Company’s available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment portfolio, respectively.

Based on an evaluation of available evidence, including recent changes in market interest rates, credit rating information and information obtained from regulatory filings, management believes the declines in fair value for these debt securities are temporary at September 30, 2014.

The following table shows the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

   
September 30, 2014
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
Description of Securities
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
U.S. government agencies
  $     $     $ 20,000     $ (1,063 )   $ 20,000     $ (1,063 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    51,442       (514 )     46,054       (719 )     97,496       (1,233 )
State and political
                                               
subdivisions
    2,561       (8 )     11,393       (218 )     13,954       (226 )
    $ 54,003     $ (522 )   $ 77,447     $ (2,000 )   $ 131,450     $ (2,522 )


 
12
 
 



   
December 31, 2013
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
Description of Securities
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
U.S. government agencies
  $ 20,000     $ (2,745 )   $     $     $ 20,000     $ (2,745 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    127,901       (1,871 )     39,255       (395 )     167,156       (2,266 )
State and political
                                               
subdivisions
    50,401       (1,938 )                 50,401       (1,938 )
    $ 198,302     $ (6,554 )   $ 39,255     $ (395 )   $ 237,557     $ (6,949 )

Gross gains of $656,000 and $1.3 million and gross losses of $335,000 and $335,000 resulting from sales of available-for-sale securities were realized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.  Gross gains of $644,000 and $795,000 and gross losses of $534,000 and $554,000 resulting from sales of available-for-sale securities were realized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.  Gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on the specific-identification method.

Other-than-temporary Impairment.  Upon acquisition of a security, the Company decides whether it is within the scope of the accounting guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets or will be evaluated for impairment under the accounting guidance for investments in debt and equity securities.

The accounting guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets provides incremental impairment guidance for a subset of the debt securities within the scope of the guidance for investments in debt and equity securities.  For securities where the security is a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets, the Company uses the beneficial interests in securitized financial asset impairment model.  For securities where the security is not a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets, the Company uses the debt and equity securities impairment model.  The Company does not currently have securities within the scope of this guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets.

The Company routinely conducts periodic reviews to identify and evaluate each investment security to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.  The Company considers the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position, the relative amount of the unrealized loss compared to the carrying value of the security, the type of security and other factors.  If certain criteria are met, the Company performs additional review and evaluation using observable market values or various inputs in economic models to determine if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary.  The Company uses quoted market prices for marketable equity securities and uses broker pricing quotes based on observable inputs for equity investments that are not traded on a stock exchange.  For non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations, to determine if the unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, the Company projects total estimated defaults of the underlying assets (mortgages) and multiplies that calculated amount by an estimate of realizable value upon sale in the marketplace (severity) in order to determine the projected collateral loss.  The Company also evaluates any current credit enhancement underlying these securities to determine the impact on cash flows.  If the Company determines that a given security position will be subject to a write-down or loss, the Company records the expected credit loss as a charge to earnings.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, no securities were determined to have impairment that was other than temporary.

Credit Losses Recognized on Investments.  Certain debt securities have experienced fair value deterioration due to credit losses, as well as due to other market factors, but are not otherwise other-than-temporarily impaired.

 
13
 
 



The following table provides information about debt securities for which only a credit loss was recognized in income and other losses are recorded in other comprehensive income.
 

   
Accumulated
 
   
Credit Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Credit losses on debt securities held
     
  January 1, 2013
  $ 4,176  
    Additions related to other-than-temporary losses not previously recognized
     
    Additions related to increases in credit losses on debt securities for which
       
      other-than-temporary impairment losses were previously recognized
     
    Reductions due to final principal payments
    (4,176 )
         
  September 30, 2013
  $  


Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and the affected line items in the statements of income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, were as follows:

   
Amounts Reclassified from Other Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Affected Line Item in the Statements
   
2014
   
2013
 
of Income
   
(In Thousands)
   
               
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-
           
Net realized gains on available-
for-sale securities
  $ 321     $ 110  
for-sale securities
                 
(Total reclassified amount before tax)
Income Taxes
    (112 )     (38 )
Provision for income taxes
Total reclassifications out of accumulated
                 
other comprehensive income
  $ 209     $ 72    

   
Amounts Reclassified from Other Comprehensive Income
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Affected Line Item in the Statements
   
2014
   
2013
 
of Income
   
(In Thousands)
   
               
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-
           
Net realized gains on available-
for-sale securities
  $ 963     $ 241  
for-sale securities
                 
(Total reclassified amount before tax)
Income Taxes
    (337 )     (84 )
Provision for income taxes
Total reclassifications out of accumulated
                 
other comprehensive income
  $ 626     $ 157    
                   


 


 
14
 
 



NOTE 7: LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 43,386     $ 34,662  
Subdivision construction
    35,344       40,409  
Land development
    48,581       57,841  
Commercial construction
    361,971       184,019  
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    78,984       89,133  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    143,414       145,908  
Commercial real estate
    872,294       780,690  
Other residential
    353,225       325,599  
Commercial business
    349,387       315,269  
Industrial revenue bonds
    42,941       42,230  
Consumer auto
    274,250       134,717  
Consumer other
    78,676       82,260  
Home equity lines of credit
    61,152       58,283  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts (TeamBank)
    15,294       49,862  
Acquired loans no longer covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements,                  
    net of discounts (TeamBank) ("acquired non-covered loans")
    28,341        
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts (Vantus Bank)
    43,653       57,920  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts (Sun Security Bank)
    54,394       64,843  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts (InterBank)
    203,787       213,539  
Acquired loans not covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements, net of
               
discounts (Valley Bank)  (“acquired non-covered loans”)
    152,497        
      3,241,571       2,677,184  
Undisbursed portion of loans in process
    (279,435 )     (194,544 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (38,081 )     (40,116 )
Deferred loan fees and gains, net
    (2,745 )     (2,994 )
    $ 2,921,310     $ 2,439,530  
                 
Weighted average interest rate
    4.78 %     5.10 %


 
15
 
 


Classes of loans by aging were as follows:
   
September 30, 2014
 
                                       
Total Loans
 
               
Past Due
                     
> 90 Days
 
   
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
90 Days
   
Total Past
         
Total Loans
   
Past Due and
 
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
or More
   
Due
   
Current
   
Receivable
   
Still Accruing
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family
                                         
residential construction
  $     $     $ 223     $ 223     $ 43,163     $ 43,386     $  
Subdivision construction
                1,223       1,223       34,121       35,344        
Land development
                265       265       48,316       48,581        
Commercial construction
                            361,971       361,971        
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                                       
family residential
    184       565       1,616       2,365       76,619       78,984       170  
Non-owner occupied one- to
                                                       
four-family residential
          168       2,997       3,165       140,249       143,414        
Commercial real estate
          59       2,968       3,027       869,267       872,294        
Other residential
                            353,225       353,225        
Commercial business
    21       13       427       461       348,926       349,387        
Industrial revenue bonds
                1,205       1,205       41,736       42,941        
Consumer auto
    144       1,331       131       1,606       272,644       274,250        
Consumer other
    168       1,025       649       1,842       76,834       78,676       244  
Home equity lines of credit
    46       404       337       787       60,365       61,152        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (TeamBank)
    65       115       415       595       14,699       15,294        
Acquired non-covered loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
                                                       
 (TeamBank)
                            28,341       28,341        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (Vantus Bank)
    85       12       1,022       1,119       42,534       43,653       56  
FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
                                                       
(Sun Security Bank)
    353       149       2,714       3,216       51,178       54,394        
FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
                                                       
(InterBank)
    696       1,375       14,731       16,802       186,985       203,787        
Acquired non-covered loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
                                                       
(Valley Bank)
    9,727       2,716       12,329       24,772       127,725       152,497        
      11,489       7,932       43,252       62,673       3,178,898       3,241,571       470  
Less FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
and acquired non-covered
                                                       
loans, net of discounts
    10,926       4,367       31,211       46,504       451,462       497,966       56  
                                                         
Total
  $ 563     $ 3,565     $ 12,041     $ 16,169     $ 2,727,436     $ 2,743,605     $ 414  


 
16
 
 



   
December 31, 2013
 
                                       
Total Loans
 
               
Past Due
                     
> 90 Days
 
   
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
90 Days
   
Total Past
         
Total Loans
   
Past Due and
 
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
or More
   
Due
   
Current
   
Receivable
   
Still Accruing
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family
                                         
residential construction
  $     $     $     $     $ 34,662     $ 34,662     $  
Subdivision construction
                871       871       39,538       40,409        
Land development
    145       38       338       521       57,320       57,841        
Commercial construction
                            184,019       184,019        
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                                       
family residential
    1,233       344       3,014       4,591       84,542       89,133       211  
Non-owner occupied one- to
                                                       
four-family residential
    1,562       171       843       2,576       143,332       145,908       140  
Commercial real estate
    2,856       131       6,205       9,192       771,498       780,690        
Other residential
                            325,599       325,599        
Commercial business
    17       19       5,208       5,244       310,025       315,269        
Industrial revenue bonds
                2,023       2,023       40,207       42,230        
Consumer auto
    955       127       168       1,250       133,467       134,717        
Consumer other
    1,258       333       732       2,323       79,937       82,260       257  
Home equity lines of credit
    168       16       504       688       57,595       58,283        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (TeamBank)
    414       130       1,396       1,940       47,922       49,862       6  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (Vantus Bank)
    675       31       2,356       3,062       54,858       57,920       42  
FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
                                                       
(Sun Security Bank)
    510       121       4,241       4,872       59,971       64,843       147  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (InterBank)
    6,024       1,567       16,768       24,359       189,180       213,539       20  
      15,817       3,028       44,667       63,512       2,613,672       2,677,184       823  
Less FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
    7,623       1,849       24,761       34,233       351,931       386,164       215  
                                                         
Total
  $ 8,194     $ 1,179     $ 19,906     $ 29,279     $ 2,261,741     $ 2,291,020     $ 608  

Nonaccruing loans (excluding FDIC-supported loans, net of discount and acquired non-covered loans, net of discount) are summarized as follows:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 223     $  
Subdivision construction
    1,223       871  
Land development
    265       338  
Commercial construction
           
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    1,446       2,803  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    2,997       703  
Commercial real estate
    2,968       6,205  
Other residential
           
Commercial business
    1,632       5,208  
Industrial revenue bonds
          2,023  
Consumer auto
    131       168  
Consumer other
    405       475  
Home equity lines of credit
    337       504  
                 
    Total
  $ 11,627     $ 19,298  

 
17
 
 


The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Also presented is the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of September 30, 2014:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Balance June 30, 2014
  $ 5,073     $ 1,723     $ 16,476     $ 8,249     $ 2,582     $ 3,979     $ 38,082  
Provision (benefit) charged to expense
    (1,647 )     545       2,838       (2,499 )     632       1,076       945  
Losses charged off
    (106 )           (520 )     (1 )     (50 )     (1,107 )     (1,784 )
Recoveries
    120       14       170       24             510       838  
Balance September 30, 2014
  $ 3,440     $ 2,282     $ 18,964     $ 5,773     $ 3,164     $ 4,458     $ 38,081  
                                                         
Balance January 1, 2014
  $ 6,235     $ 2,678     $ 16,939     $ 4,464     $ 6,451     $ 3,349     $ 40,116  
Provision (benefit) charged to expense
    (1,280 )     (423 )     2,704       1,263       (619 )     2,454       4,099  
Losses charged off
    (1,803 )     (2 )     (1,239 )     (131 )     (2,737 )     (2,891 )     (8,803 )
Recoveries
    288       29       560       177       69       1,546       2,669  
Balance September 30, 2014
  $ 3,440     $ 2,282     $ 18,964     $ 5,773     $ 3,164     $ 4,458     $ 38,081  
                                                         
Ending balance:
                                                       
Individually evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 1,340     $     $ 1,736     $ 1,514     $ 596     $ 198     $ 5,384  
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 2,100     $ 2,274     $ 16,800     $ 4,241     $ 2,559     $ 4,221     $ 32,195  
Loans acquired and accounted
                                                       
for under ASC 310-30
  $     $ 8     $ 428     $ 18     $ 9     $ 39     $ 502  
                                                         
                                                         
Loans
                                                       
Individually evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 11,284     $ 10,203     $ 28,899     $ 7,791     $ 5,126     $ 1,256     $ 64,559  
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 289,844     $ 343,022     $ 843,395     $ 402,761     $ 387,202     $ 412,822     $ 2,679,046  
Loans acquired and accounted
                                                       
for under ASC 310-30
  $ 248,701     $ 54,594     $ 106,877     $ 20,084     $ 18,251     $ 49,459     $ 497,966  
                                                         

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013:
   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Balance July 1, 2013
  $ 6,125     $ 3,373     $ 16,419     $ 5,789     $ 5,664     $ 2,815     $ 40,185  
Provision (benefit) charged to expense
    (234 )     (372 )     1,474       1,291       (1,732 )     2,250       2,677  
Losses charged off
    (847 )     (201 )     (608 )     (346 )     (1,303 )     (2,215 )     (5,520 )
Recoveries
    87       6       888       50       648       435       2,114  
Balance September 30, 2013
  $ 5,131     $ 2,806     $ 18,173     $ 6,784     $ 3,277     $ 3,285     $ 39,456  
                                                         
Balance January 1, 2013
  $ 6,822     $ 4,327     $ 17,441     $ 3,938     $ 5,096     $ 3,025     $ 40,649  
Provision (benefit) charged to expense
    292       1,329       6,736       3,413       137       2,666       14,573  
Losses charged off
    (2,088 )     (2,887 )     (7,138 )     (675 )     (2,672 )     (3,884 )     (19,344 )
Recoveries
    105       37       1,134       108       716       1,478       3,578  
Balance September 30, 2013
  $ 5,131     $ 2,806     $ 18,173     $ 6,784     $ 3,277     $ 3,285     $ 39,456  
                                                         

 
18
 
 



The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of December 31, 2013:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Individually evaluated for
                                         
impairment
  $ 2,501     $     $ 90     $ 473     $ 4,162     $ 218     $ 7,444  
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 3,734     $ 2,678     $ 16,845     $ 3,991     $ 2,287     $ 3,131     $ 32,666  
Loans acquired and accounted
                                                       
for under ASC 310-30
  $     $     $ 4     $     $ 2     $     $ 6  
                                                         
Loans
                                                       
Individually evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 13,055     $ 10,983     $ 31,591     $ 12,628     $ 8,755     $ 1,389     $ 78,401  
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
  $ 297,057     $ 314,616     $ 791,329     $ 229,232     $ 306,514     $ 273,871     $ 2,212,619  
Loans acquired and accounted
                                                       
for under ASC 310-30
  $ 206,964     $ 35,095     $ 84,591     $ 6,989     $ 4,883     $ 47,642     $ 386,164  


The portfolio segments used in the preceding two tables correspond to the loan classes used in all other tables in Note 7 as follows:
 
·
The one-to four-family residential and construction segment includes the one- to four-family residential construction, subdivision construction, owner occupied one- to four-family residential and non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential classes
·
The other residential segment corresponds to the other residential class
·
The commercial real estate segment includes the commercial real estate and industrial revenue bonds classes
·
The commercial construction segment includes the land development and commercial construction classes
·
The commercial business segment corresponds to the commercial business class
·
The consumer segment includes the consumer auto, consumer other and home equity lines of credit classes

A loan is considered impaired, in accordance with the impairment accounting guidance (FASB ASC 310-10-35-16), when based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due from the borrower in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan. Impaired loans include not only nonperforming loans but also include loans modified in troubled debt restructurings where concessions have been granted to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties.


 
19
 
 


Impaired loans (excluding FDIC-supported loans, net of discount and acquired non-covered loans, net of discount), are summarized as follows:

   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Unpaid
       
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                   
One- to four-family residential construction
  $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    2,304       4,716       373  
Land development
    7,791       8,224       1,514  
Commercial construction
                 
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,366       5,064       517  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,614       4,837       450  
Commercial real estate
    28,899       30,210       1,736  
Other residential
    10,203       10,203        
Commercial business
    2,150       2,173       596  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,976       4,288        
Consumer auto
    175       227       26  
Consumer other
    635       764       95  
Home equity lines of credit
    446       473       77  
                         
    Total
  $ 64,559     $ 71,179     $ 5,384  

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
September 30, 2014
 
   
Average
         
Average
       
   
Investment
   
Interest
   
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
in Impaired
   
Income
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Loans
   
Recognized
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                         
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 121     $     $ 59     $  
Subdivision construction
    2,207       8       2,549       38  
Land development
    7,650       70       10,403       213  
Commercial construction
                       
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,665       56       5,100       168  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,550       53       4,137       163  
Commercial real estate
    29,531       298       30,204       988  
Other residential
    10,304       86       10,665       296  
Commercial business
    2,163       31       2,657       99  
Industrial revenue bonds
    3,362       192       2,998       192  
Consumer auto
    216       4       182       11  
Consumer other
    678       15       690       57  
Home equity lines of credit
    415       6       461       20  
                                 
    Total
  $ 65,862     $ 819     $ 70,105     $ 2,245  


 
20
 
 



   
At or for the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
                     
Average
       
         
Unpaid
         
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family residential construction
  $     $     $     $ 36     $  
Subdivision construction
    3,502       3,531       1,659       3,315       163  
Land development
    12,628       13,042       473       13,389       560  
Commercial construction
                             
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    5,802       6,117       593       5,101       251  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    3,751       4,003       249       4,797       195  
Commercial real estate
    31,591       34,032       90       42,242       1,632  
Other residential
    10,983       10,983             13,837       434  
Commercial business
    6,057       6,077       4,162       6,821       179  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,698       2,778             2,700       27  
Consumer auto
    216       231       32       145       16  
Consumer other
    604       700       91       630       63  
Home equity lines of credit
    569       706       95       391       38  
                                         
    Total
  $ 78,401     $ 82,200     $ 7,444     $ 93,404     $ 3,558  

   
September 30, 2013
 
         
Unpaid
       
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                   
One- to four-family residential construction
  $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    3,785       3,896       851  
Land development
    15,444       15,848       2,192  
Commercial construction
                 
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    5,174       5,393       430  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,351       5,233       369  
Commercial real estate
    40,981       42,507       2,416  
Other residential
    11,367       11,367       169  
Commercial business
    6,138       6,140       1,512  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,698       2,778        
Consumer auto
    184       228       28  
Consumer other
    595       664       89  
Home equity lines of credit
    410       424       91  
                         
    Total
  $ 91,127     $ 94,478     $ 8,147  


 
21
 
 



   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2013
   
September 30, 2013
 
   
Average
         
Average
       
   
Investment
   
Interest
   
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
in Impaired
   
Income
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Loans
   
Recognized
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                         
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 48     $     $ 48     $ 5  
Subdivision construction
    4,062       34       3,206       140  
Land development
    15,573       111       13,025       477  
Commercial construction
                       
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    5,035       60       4,899       176  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,832       12       5,112       173  
Commercial real estate
    40,792       506       44,374       1,246  
Other residential
    11,444       136       14,895       353  
Commercial business
    6,274       86       7,074       161  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,698             2,701       14  
Consumer auto
    153       7       130       11  
Consumer other
    593       12       639       44  
Home equity lines of credit
    333       10       316       20  
                                 
    Total
  $ 91,837     $ 974     $ 96,419     $ 2,820  


At September 30, 2014, $25.1 million of impaired loans had specific valuation allowances totaling $5.4 million.  At December 31, 2013, $18.0 million of impaired loans had specific valuation allowances totaling $7.4 million.

Included in certain loan categories in the impaired loans are troubled debt restructurings that were classified as impaired. Troubled debt restructurings are loans that are modified by granting concessions to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties.  These concessions could include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions intended to maximize collection.  The types of concessions made are factored into the estimation of the allowance for loan losses for troubled debt restructurings primarily using a discounted cash flows or collateral adequacy approach.

The following tables present newly restructured loans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 by type of modification:
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
                     
Total
 
   
Interest Only
   
Term
   
Combination
   
Modification
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Mortgage loans on real estate:
                       
One -to four- family residential
  $ 308     $     $     $ 308  
One -to four- family residential
                               
    construction
                223       223  
Commercial business
          243             243  
Consumer
          6             6  
                                 
    $ 308     $ 249     $ 223     $ 780  


 
22
 
 



   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
                     
Total
 
   
Interest Only
   
Term
   
Combination
   
Modification
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Mortgage loans on real estate:
                       
Subdivision construction
  $     $ 250     $     $ 250  
One -to four- family residential
                               
    construction
                223       223  
One -to four- family residential
    308       386             694  
Commercial real estate
    506       1,929             2,435  
Commercial business
          1,881             1,881  
Industrial revenue bonds
          1,150             1,150  
Consumer
          59             59  
                                 
    $ 814     $ 5,655     $ 223     $ 6,692  

At September 30, 2014, the Company had $52.1 million of loans that were modified in troubled debt restructurings and impaired, as follows:  $8.6 million of construction and land development loans, $15.6 million of single family and multi-family residential mortgage loans, $23.9 million of commercial real estate loans, $3.7 million of commercial business loans and $250,000 of consumer loans.  Of the total troubled debt restructurings at September 30, 2014, $47.4 million were accruing interest and $19.8 million were classified as substandard using the Company’s internal grading system, which is described below.  The Company had no troubled debt restructurings which were modified in the previous 12 months and subsequently defaulted during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  When loans modified as troubled debt restructuring have subsequent payment defaults, the defaults are factored into the determination of the allowance for loan losses to ensure specific valuation allowances reflect amounts considered uncollectible.  At December 31, 2013, the Company had $10.9 million of construction and land development loans, $16.6 million of single family and multi-family residential mortgage loans, $24.8 million of commercial real estate loans, $1.5 million of commercial business loans and $310,000 of consumer loans that were modified in troubled debt restructurings and impaired.  Of the troubled debt restructurings totaling $54.1 million at December 31, 2013, $49.6 million were accruing interest and $22.1 million were classified as substandard using the Company’s internal grading system.

During the three months ended September 30, 2014, loans designated as troubled debt restructurings totaling $1.4 million met the criteria for placement back on accrual status.  The $1.4 million was made up of $1.4 million of commercial real estate loans and $6,000 of consumer loans.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, loans designated as troubled debt restructurings totaling $2.1 million met the criteria for placement back on accrual status.  The $2.1 million was made up of $1.5 million of commercial real estate loans, $591,000 of residential mortgage loans and $6,000 of consumer loans.
 
The Company reviews the credit quality of its loan portfolio using an internal grading system that classifies loans as “Satisfactory,” “Watch,” “Special Mention,” “Substandard” and “Doubtful.”  Substandard loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if certain deficiencies are not corrected.  Doubtful loans are those having all the weaknesses inherent to those classified Substandard with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.  Special mention loans possess potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention but do not expose the Bank to a degree of risk that warrants substandard classification.  Loans classified as watch are being monitored because of indications of potential weaknesses or deficiencies that may require future classification as special mention or substandard.  Loans not meeting any of the criteria previously described are considered satisfactory.  The FDIC-covered loans are evaluated using this internal grading system.  These loans are accounted for in pools and are currently substantially covered through loss sharing agreements with the FDIC.  Minimal adverse classification in the loan pools was identified as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The acquired non-covered loans are also evaluated using this internal grading system.  These loans are accounted for in pools and minimal adverse classification in the loan pools was identified as of September 30, 2014.  See Note 8 for further discussion of the acquired loan pools and loss sharing agreements.  The loan grading system is presented by loan class below:

 
23
 
 


         
September 30, 2014
 
               
Special
                   
   
Satisfactory
   
Watch
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
         
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family residential
                                   
   construction
  $ 43,163     $     $     $ 223     $     $ 43,386  
Subdivision construction
    33,310       21             2,013             35,344  
Land development
    37,514       5,000             6,067             48,581  
Commercial construction
    361,971                               361,971  
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                               
   family residential
    76,166       611             2,207             78,984  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-
                                               
   family residential
    139,070       350             3,994             143,414  
Commercial real estate
    808,064       51,967             12,263             872,294  
Other residential
    341,224       10,045             1,956             353,225  
Commercial business
    347,691       446             1,250             349,387  
Industrial revenue bonds
    41,114       622             1,205             42,941  
Consumer auto
    274,079                   171             274,250  
Consumer other
    78,149       4             523             78,676  
Home equity lines of credit
    60,707                   445             61,152  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
    discounts (TeamBank)
    15,275                   19             15,294  
Acquired non--covered loans, net
                                               
    of discounts (TeamBank)
    28,333                   8             28,341  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
   discounts (Vantus Bank)
    43,252                   401             43,653  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
   discounts (Sun Security Bank)
    53,859                   535             54,394  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
   discounts (InterBank)
    202,904                   883             203,787  
Acquired non-covered loans,
                                               
   net of discounts (Valley Bank)
    152,497                               152,497  
                                                 
     Total
  $ 3,138,342     $ 69,066     $     $ 34,163     $     $ 3,241,571  

         
December 31, 2013
 
               
Special
                   
   
Satisfactory
   
Watch
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
         
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family residential
                                   
   construction
  $ 34,364     $ 298     $     $     $     $ 34,662  
Subdivision construction
    36,524       706             3,179             40,409  
Land development
    45,606       1,148             11,087             57,841  
Commercial construction
    184,019                               184,019  
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                               
   family residential
    84,931       503             3,699             89,133  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-
                                               
   family residential
    137,003       6,718             2,187             145,908  
Commercial real estate
    727,668       37,937             15,085             780,690  
Other residential
    311,320       12,323             1,956             325,599  
Commercial business
    307,540       1,803             3,528       2,398       315,269  
Industrial revenue bonds
    39,532       675             2,023             42,230  
Consumer auto
    134,516                   201             134,717  
Consumer other
    81,769       6             485             82,260  
Home equity lines of credit
    57,713                   570             58,283  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
    discounts (TeamBank)
    49,702                   160             49,862  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
   discounts (Vantus Bank)
    57,290                   630             57,920  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
   discounts (Sun Security Bank)
    63,360                   1,483             64,843  
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                               
   discounts (InterBank)
    213,539                               213,539  
                                                 
     Total
  $ 2,566,396     $ 62,117     $     $ 46,273     $ 2,398     $ 2,677,184  


 
24
 
 


NOTE 8: ACQUIRED LOANS, LOSS SHARING AGREEMENTS AND FDIC INDEMNIFICATION ASSETS

On March 20, 2009, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to assume all of the deposits (excluding brokered deposits) and acquire certain assets of TeamBank, N.A., a full service commercial bank headquartered in Paola, Kansas.

The loans, commitments and foreclosed assets purchased in the TeamBank transaction are covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  Under the loss sharing agreement, the Bank shares in the losses on assets covered under the agreement (referred to as covered assets). On losses up to $115.0 million, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of the losses. On losses exceeding $115.0 million, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 95% of the losses.  Realized losses covered by the loss sharing agreement include loan contractual balances (and related unfunded commitments that were acquired), accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days, the book value of foreclosed real estate acquired, and certain direct costs, less cash or other consideration received by the Bank.  This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans, which five-year period ended March 31, 2014.  The value of this loss sharing agreement was considered in determining fair values of loans and foreclosed assets acquired.  The loss sharing agreement is subject to the Bank following servicing procedures as specified in the agreement with the FDIC.  The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement were recorded as an indemnification asset at their preliminary estimated fair value on the acquisition date.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.  A discount was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $-0-.  The amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $0 and $134,000, respectively.
 
On September 4, 2009, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Vantus Bank, a full service thrift headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa.
 
The loans, commitments and foreclosed assets purchased in the Vantus Bank transaction are covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  Under the loss sharing agreement, the Bank shares in the losses on assets covered under the agreement (referred to as covered assets). On losses up to $102.0 million, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of the losses. On losses exceeding $102.0 million, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 95% of the losses. Realized losses covered by the loss sharing agreement include loan contractual balances (and related unfunded commitments that were acquired), accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days, the book value of foreclosed real estate acquired, and certain direct costs, less cash or other consideration received by the Bank.  This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans, which five year period ended on September 30, 2014.  The value of this loss sharing agreement was considered in determining fair values of loans and foreclosed assets acquired.  The loss sharing agreement is subject to the Bank following servicing procedures as specified in the agreement with the FDIC.  The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement were recorded as an indemnification asset at their preliminary estimated fair value on the acquisition date.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.  A discount was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $-0-.  The amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $19,000 and $99,000, respectively.

On October 7, 2011, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Sun Security Bank, a full service bank headquartered in Ellington, Missouri.
 
The loans and foreclosed assets purchased in the Sun Security Bank transaction are covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  Under the loss sharing agreement, the FDIC agreed to cover 80% of the losses on the loans (excluding approximately $4 million of consumer loans) and foreclosed assets purchased subject to certain limitations.  Realized losses covered by the loss sharing agreement include loan contractual balances (and related unfunded commitments that were acquired), accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days, the book value of foreclosed real estate acquired, and certain direct costs, less cash or other consideration received by Great Southern.  This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans.  The value of this loss sharing agreement was considered in determining fair values of loans and foreclosed assets acquired.  The loss sharing agreement is subject to the Bank following servicing procedures as specified in the agreement with the FDIC.  The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement were recorded as an indemnification asset at their preliminary estimated fair value on the acquisition date.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets

 
25
 
 


acquired, no goodwill was recorded.  A discount was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $0 and $105,000, respectively.  The amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $210,000 and $827,000, respectively.

On April 27, 2012, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Inter Savings Bank, FSB (“InterBank”), a full service bank headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
 
The loans and foreclosed assets purchased in the InterBank transaction are covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  Under the loss sharing agreement, the FDIC agreed to cover 80% of the losses on the loans (excluding approximately $60,000 of consumer loans) and foreclosed assets purchased subject to certain limitations.  Realized losses covered by the loss sharing agreement include loan contractual balances (and related unfunded commitments that were acquired), accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days, the book value of foreclosed real estate acquired, and certain direct costs, less cash or other consideration received by Great Southern.  This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans.  The value of this loss sharing agreement was considered in determining fair values of loans and foreclosed assets acquired.  The loss sharing agreement is subject to the Bank following servicing procedures as specified in the agreement with the FDIC.  The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement were recorded as an indemnification asset at their preliminary estimated fair value on the acquisition date.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.  A premium was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount amortized to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $133,000 and $417,000, respectively.  The amount amortized to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $155,000 and $485,000, respectively.
 
On June 20, 2014, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with the FDIC to purchase a substantial portion of the loans and investment securities, as well as certain other assets, and assume all of the deposits, as well as certain other liabilities, of Valley Bank (“Valley”), a full-service bank headquartered in Moline, Illinois, with significant operations in Iowa.  This transaction did not include a loss sharing agreement.
 
Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded. A premium was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount amortized to yield during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $263,000.
 
Fair Value and Expected Cash Flows.  At the time of these acquisitions, the Company determined the fair value of the loan portfolios based on several assumptions. Factors considered in the valuations were projected cash flows for the loans, type of loan and related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan, current discount rates and whether or not the loan was amortizing. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques. Management also estimated the amount of credit losses that were expected to be realized for the loan portfolios. The discounted cash flow approach was used to value each pool of loans. For non-performing loans, fair value was estimated by calculating the present value of the recoverable cash flows using a discount rate based on comparable corporate bond rates. This valuation of the acquired loans is a significant component leading to the valuation of the loss sharing assets recorded.

The amount of the estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools in excess of the fair values recorded for the loan pools is referred to as the accretable yield.  The accretable yield is recognized as interest income over the estimated lives of the loans.  The Company continues to evaluate the fair value of the loans including cash flows expected to be collected.  Increases in the Company’s cash flow expectations are recognized as increases to the accretable yield while decreases are recognized as impairments through the allowance for loan losses.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, increases in expected cash flows related to the acquired loan portfolios resulted in adjustments of $5.1 million and $25.0 million, respectively, to the accretable yield to be spread over the estimated remaining lives of the loans on a level-yield basis. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, similar such adjustments totaling $11.9 million and $26.9 million, respectively, were made to the accretable yield.  The current year increases in expected cash flows also reduced the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, this resulted in corresponding adjustments of $4.1 million and $20.0 million, respectively, to the indemnification assets to be amortized on a level-yield basis over the remainder of the loss sharing agreements or the remaining expected lives of the loan pools, whichever is shorter.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, corresponding adjustments of $9.4 million and $21.3 million, respectively, were made to the indemnification assets.


 
26
 
 


Because these adjustments will be recognized over the remaining lives of the loan pools and the remainder of the loss sharing agreements, respectively, they will impact future periods as well.  The remaining accretable yield adjustment that will affect interest income is $29.6 million and the remaining adjustment to the indemnification assets, including the effects of the clawback liability related to Interbank, that will affect non-interest income (expense) is $(26.0) million.  Of the remaining adjustments, we expect to recognize $7.2 million of interest income and $(6.0) million of non-interest income (expense) in the remainder of 2014.  Additional adjustments may be recorded in future periods from the FDIC-assisted acquisitions, as the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools.

The impact of adjustments on the Company’s financial results is shown below:

 
Three Months Ended
Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2014
September 30, 2013
 
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data
 
and Basis Points Data)
             
Impact on net interest income/
           
net interest margin (in basis points)
  $ 8,848  
98 bps
  $ 8,412  
101 bps
Non-interest income
    (7,438 )       (7,310 )  
    Net impact to pre-tax income
  $ 1,410       $ 1,102    
    Net impact net of taxes
  $ 917       $ 716    
    Impact to diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.07       $ 0.05    

   
Nine Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data
   
and Basis Points Data)
                 
Impact on net interest income/
               
net interest margin (in basis points)
  $ 25,836  
101 bps
  $ 26,508  
103 bps
Non-interest income
    (21,915 )       (22,529 )  
    Net impact to pre-tax income
  $ 3,921       $ 3,979    
    Net impact net of taxes
  $ 2,549       $ 2,586    
    Impact to diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.19       $ 0.19    


The loss sharing asset is measured separately from the loan portfolio because it is not contractually embedded in the loans and is not transferable with the loans should the Bank choose to dispose of them. Fair value was estimated using projected cash flows available for loss sharing based on the credit adjustments estimated for each loan pool (as discussed above) and the loss sharing percentages outlined in the Purchase and Assumption Agreement with the FDIC. These cash flows were discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC. The loss sharing asset is also separately measured from the related foreclosed real estate.

The loss sharing agreement on the InterBank transaction includes a clawback provision whereby if credit loss performance is better than certain pre-established thresholds, then a portion of the monetary benefit is shared with the FDIC.  The pre-established threshold for credit losses is $115.7 million for this transaction.  The monetary benefit required to be paid to the FDIC under the clawback provision, if any, will occur shortly after the termination of the loss sharing agreement, which in the case of InterBank is 10 years from the acquisition date.
 
At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Bank’s internal estimate of credit performance was expected to be better than the threshold set by the FDIC in the loss sharing agreement.  Therefore, a separate clawback liability totaling $5.8 million and $3.7 million was recorded as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
 

 
27
 
 


As changes in the fair values of the loans and foreclosed assets are determined due to changes in expected cash flows, changes in the amount of the clawback liability will occur.
 
TeamBank Loans, Foreclosed Assets and Indemnification Asset.  The following tables present the balances of the FDIC indemnification asset related to the TeamBank transaction at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $389.9 million since the transaction date because of $256.1 million of repayments from borrowers, $61.6 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $72.2 million in charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed during the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.
 
   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 46,222     $ 169  
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (2,061 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (43,635 )     (156 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    526       13  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    83 %     77 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value
    438       10  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    327        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
           
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 765     $ 10  

   
December 31, 2013
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 53,553     $ 664  
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (2,882 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (49,862 )     (647 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    809       17  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    82 %     76 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value
    665       13  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    593        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (10 )      
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 1,248     $ 13  


 
28
 
 


Vantus Bank Loans, Foreclosed Assets and Indemnification Asset.  The following tables present the balances of the FDIC indemnification asset related to the Vantus Bank transaction at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $286.7 million since the transaction date because of $240.6 million of repayments from borrowers, $16.5 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $29.6 million in charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed during the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.

   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 44,877     $ 1,205  
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (456 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (43,653 )     (1,015 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    768       190  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    74 %     %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value(1)
    566        
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    278        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
           
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 844     $  

(1)
Includes $153,000 impairment of indemnification asset for foreclosed assets.  Resolution of certain items related to commercial foreclosed assets did not occur prior to the expiration of the non-single-family loss sharing agreement for Vantus Bank on September 30, 2014.



   
December 31, 2013
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 60,011     $ 1,986  
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (1,202 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (57,920 )     (1,092 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    889       894  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    78 %     80 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value
    690       716  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    919        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (32 )      
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 1,577     $ 716  



 
29
 
 


Sun Security Bank Loans, Foreclosed Assets and Indemnification Asset.  The following tables present the balances of the FDIC indemnification asset related to the Sun Security Bank transaction at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.  Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $171.7 million since the transaction date because of $112.8 million of repayments from borrowers, $27.6 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $31.3 million of charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed during the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.
 
   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 62,722     $ 2,598  
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
   due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (3,540 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (54,394 )     (1,521 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    4,788       1,077  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    66 %     80 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value
    3,173       862  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    2,827        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (363 )     (63 )
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 5,637     $ 799  

   
December 31, 2013
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 78,524     $ 3,582  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    (105 )      
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (5,062 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (64,843 )     (2,193 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    8,514       1,389  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    70 %     80 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value
    5,974       1,111  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    4,049        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (680 )     (93 )
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 9,343     $ 1,018  



 
30
 
 


InterBank Loans, Foreclosed Assets and Indemnification Asset.  The following table presents the balances of the FDIC indemnification asset related to the InterBank transaction at September 30, 2014.  Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $138.8 million since the transaction date because of $107.2 million of repayments by the borrower, $11.4 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $20.2 million of charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed during the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.

   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 254,427     $ 5,076  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    1,488        
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (23,518 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (203,787 )     (3,976 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    28,610       1,100  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    82 %     80 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value(1)
    23,444       880  
FDIC loss share clawback
    3,793        
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    18,814        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (3,350 )     (33 )
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 42,701     $ 847  

(1)
Includes $400,000 impairment of indemnification asset for loans
 

   
December 31, 2013
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 284,975     $ 6,543  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    1,905        
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (21,218 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (213,539 )     (5,073 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    52,123       1,470  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    82 %     80 %
                 
Estimated loss sharing value
    42,654       1,176  
FDIC loss share clawback
    2,893        
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    16,974        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (4,874 )     (33 )
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 57,647     $ 1,143  


 
31
 
 


Valley Bank Loans and Foreclosed Assets.  The following table presents the balances of the loans and discount related to the Valley Bank transaction at September 30, 2014.  Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $14.1 million since the transaction date because of $12.3 million of repayments by the borrower and $1.8 million of charge-offs to customer loan balances.  The Valley Bank transaction did not include a loss sharing agreement; however, the loans were recorded at a discount, which is accreted to yield over the life of the loans.

   
September 30, 2014
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 179,065     $  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    1,752        
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
           
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (152,497 )      
                 
Expected loss remaining
  $ 28,320     $  

   
June 20, 2014
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis
  $ 193,186     $  
Non-credit premium/(discount)
    2,015        
Original estimated fair value of assets
    (165,098 )      
                 
Expected loss remaining
  $ 30,103     $  




 
32
 
 


Changes in the accretable yield for acquired loan pools were as follows for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
 
               
Sun Security
             
   
TeamBank
   
Vantus Bank
   
Bank
   
InterBank
   
Valley Bank
 
   
(In Thousands)
       
                               
Balance, July 1, 2013
  $ 8,610     $ 8,647     $ 10,055     $ 34,967     $  
Accretion
    (1,450 )     (1,832 )     (4,795 )     (7,034 )      
Reclassification from
                                       
nonaccretable yield(1)
    1,109       (379 )     5,293       7,774        
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2013
  $ 8,269     $ 6,436     $ 10,553     $ 35,707     $  
                                         
Balance July 1, 2014
  $ 7,434     $ 4,578     $ 9,427     $ 41,108     $ 22,811  
Accretion
    (887 )     (859 )     (2,119 )     (10,002 )     (2,062 )
Reclassification from
                                       
nonaccretable yield(1)
    725       916       789       4,857        
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2014
  $ 7,272     $ 4,635     $ 8,097     $ 35,963     $ 20,749  

(1)
Represents increases in estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools, primarily due to lower estimated credit losses.  The numbers also include changes in expected accretion of the loan pools for TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank for the three months ended September 30, 2014, totaling $522,000, $831,000, $139,000 and $707,000, respectively, and for the three months ended September 30, 2013, totaling $340,000, $0, $4.3 million and $7.3 million, respectively. There have not yet been any changes to the expected accretion of the loan pools for Valley Bank.


Changes in the accretable yield for acquired loan pools were as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
 
               
Sun Security
             
   
TeamBank
   
Vantus Bank
   
Bank
   
InterBank
   
Valley Bank
 
   
(In Thousands)
       
                               
Balance, January 1, 2013
  $ 12,128     $ 13,538     $ 11,259     $ 42,574     $  
Accretion
    (7,050 )     (7,492 )     (13,021 )     (20,423 )      
Reclassification from
                                       
nonaccretable yield(1)
    3,191       390       12,315       13,556        
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2013
  $ 8,269     $ 6,436     $ 10,553     $ 35,707     $  
                                         
Balance January 1, 2014
  $ 7,402     $ 5,725     $ 11,113     $ 40,095     $  
Additions
                            22,976  
Accretion
    (3,169 )     (2,990 )     (7,343 )     (28,404 )     (2,227 )
Reclassification from
                                       
nonaccretable yield(1)
    3,039       1,900       4,327       24,272        
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2014
  $ 7,272     $ 4,635     $ 8,097     $ 35,963     $ 20,749  

(1)
Represents increases in estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools, primarily due to lower estimated credit losses.  The numbers also include changes in expected accretion of the loan pools for TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, totaling $2.8 million, $1.8 million, $1.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, totaling $2.5 million, $516,000, $9.0 million and $14.9 million, respectively.  There have not yet been any changes to the expected accretion of the loan pools for Valley Bank.


 
33
 
 


NOTE 9: OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED

Major classifications of other real estate owned were as follows:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Foreclosed assets held for sale
           
   One- to four-family construction
  $     $  
   Subdivision construction
    9,778       11,652  
   Land development
    17,752       16,788  
   Commercial construction
          2,132  
   One- to four-family residential
    1,564       744  
   Other residential
    3,577       5,900  
   Commercial real estate
    1,779       4,135  
   Commercial business
    59       77  
   Consumer
    565       969  
      35,074       42,397  
   FDIC-supported foreclosed assets, net of discounts
    6,668       9,006  
                 
Foreclosed assets held for sale, net
    41,742       51,403  
                 
Other real estate owned not acquired through
               
     foreclosure
    2,020       2,111  
                 
Other real estate owned
  $ 43,762     $ 53,514  

Other real estate owned not acquired through foreclosure includes 12 properties, 11 of which were branch locations that have been closed and are held for sale, and one of which is land which was acquired for a potential branch location.
 
Expenses applicable to foreclosed assets included the following:
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Net (gain) loss on sales of foreclosed assets
  $ 126     $ 27  
Valuation write-downs
    158       258  
Operating expenses, net of rental income
    698       783  
                 
    $ 982     $ 1,068  

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Net (gain) loss on sales of foreclosed assets
  $ 72     $ (255 )
Valuation write-downs
    1,357       1,313  
Operating expenses, net of rental income
    1,744       2,420  
                 
    $ 3,173     $ 3,478  



 
34
 
 


NOTE 10: DEPOSITS

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
2014
   
2013
   
(In Thousands)
Time Deposits:
         
0.00% - 0.99%
 $
802,532
   $
669,698
1.00% - 1.99%
 
245,047
   
251,118
2.00% - 2.99%
 
65,449
   
61,042
3.00% - 3.99%
 
9,424
   
9,413
4.00% - 4.99%
 
1,712
   
1,852
5.00% and above
 
420
   
819
Total time deposits (0.77% - 0.69%)
 
1,124,584
   
993,942
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits
 
521,705
   
522,805
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits (0.19% - 0.20%)
 
1,424,881
   
1,291,879
Total Deposits
 $
3,071,170
   $
2,808,626


NOTE 11: ADVANCES FROM FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consisted of the following:
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
 
         
Average
         
Average
 
         
Interest
         
Interest
 
Due In
 
Amount
   
Rate
   
Amount
   
Rate
 
   
(In Thousands)
   
(In Thousands)
   
(In Thousands)
       
                         
2014
  $ 149,015       0.21 %   $ 2,315       1.02 %
2015
    10,065       3.87       10,065       3.87  
2016
    70       5.06       25,070       3.81  
2017
    30,825       3.20       85,825       3.92  
2018
    81       5.06       81       5.06  
2019 and thereafter
    529       5.51       529       5.51  
                                 
      190,585       0.91       123,885       3.85  
                                 
Unamortized fair value adjustment
    79               2,872          
                                 
    $ 190,664             $ 126,757          


Included in the Bank’s FHLB advances at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, was a $10.0 million advance with a maturity date of October 26, 2015.  The interest rate on this advance is 3.86%.  The advance has a call provision that allows the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka to call the advance quarterly.
 
Included in the Bank’s FHLB advances at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, was a $30.0 million advance with a maturity date of November 24, 2017.  The interest rate on this advance is 3.20%.  The advance has a call provision that allows the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to call the advance quarterly.
 
Included in the Bank’s FHLB advances at December 31, 2013, was a $25.0 million advance with a maturity date of December 7, 2016.  The interest rate on this advance was 3.81%.  This advance was repaid by the Bank in June 2014.
 
Included in the Bank’s FHLB advances at December 31, 2013, was a $30.0 million advance with a maturity date of March 29, 2017.  The interest rate on this advance was 4.07%.  This advance was repaid by the Bank in June 2014.

Included in the Bank’s FHLB advances at December 31, 2013, was a $25.0 million advance with a maturity date of June 20, 2017.  The interest rate on this advance was 4.57%.  This advance was repaid by the Bank in June 2014.
 

 
35
 
 


The Company prepaid $80 million of its Federal Home Loan Bank advances and $50 million of structured repurchase agreements (see Note 12) in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 as part of a strategy to utilize the Bank’s liquidity and improve net interest margin.  As a result, the Company incurred one-time prepayment penalties totaling $7.4 million, which were included in other operating expenses.
 
 
NOTE 12: STRUCTURED REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
In September 2008, the Company entered into a structured repurchase borrowing transaction for a total of $50 million.  This borrowing bore interest at a fixed rate of 4.34%, was scheduled to mature September 15, 2015, and had a call provision that allowed the repurchase counterparty to call the borrowing quarterly.  The Company pledged investment securities to collateralize this borrowing.
 
In June 2014, the Company elected to repay this structured repurchase borrowing.
 

NOTE 13: INCOME TAXES

Reconciliations of the Company’s effective tax rates to the statutory corporate tax rates were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Tax at statutory rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %
Nontaxable interest and dividends
    (3.1 )     (4.3 )
Tax credits
    (8.4 )     (12.2 )
State taxes
    1.7       3.0  
Other
    0.2       (1.4 )
                 
      25.4 %     20.1 %

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Tax at statutory rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %
Nontaxable interest and dividends
    (3.3 )     (4.3 )
Tax credits
    (9.2 )     (11.1 )
State taxes
    1.5       2.1  
Other
    0.4       (0.2 )
                 
      24.4 %     21.5 %

The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have not been audited recently by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the state taxing authorities with respect to income or franchise tax returns, and as such, tax years through December 31, 2005, have been closed without audit. The Company, through one of its subsidiaries, is a partner in two partnerships currently under IRS examination for 2006 and 2007. As a result, the Company’s 2006 and subsequent tax years remain open for examination. The IRS audits of the two partnerships are ongoing.  The IRS has raised questions about the validity of the allocation of a portion of the credits by one of the partnerships.  At this time, the Company believes that the partnership has sufficient technical support for its allocation position regarding these credits and that it is more likely than not these allocations will ultimately be sustained; therefore, a reserve for uncertain tax positions is not required.

 
36
 
 


NOTE 14: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Topic 820 also specifies a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
·  
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1): Inputs that are quoted unadjusted prices in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market for the asset is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
 
·  
Other observable inputs (Level 2): Inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity including quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices for securities in inactive markets and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
 
·  
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): Inputs that reflect assumptions of a source independent of the reporting entity or the reporting entity's own assumptions that are supported by little or no market activity or observable inputs.
 
Financial instruments are broken down as follows by recurring or nonrecurring measurement status. Recurring assets are initially measured at fair value and are required to be remeasured at fair value in the financial statements at each reporting date. Assets measured on a nonrecurring basis are assets that, due to an event or circumstance, were required to be remeasured at fair value after initial recognition in the financial statements at some time during the reporting period.


 Recurring Measurements

         
Fair value measurements using
 
         
Quoted prices
             
         
in active
             
         
markets
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
for identical
   
observable
   
unobservable
 
         
assets
   
inputs
   
inputs
 
   
Fair value
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
September 30, 2014
                       
U.S. government agencies
  $ 18,937     $     $ 18,937     $  
Mortgage-backed securities
    276,627             276,627        
States and political subdivisions
    126,547             126,547        
Equity securities
    3,045             3,045        
Mortgage servicing rights
    189                   189  
Interest rate derivative asset
    2,050                   2,050  
Interest rate derivative liability
    (1,489 )                 (1,489 )
                                 
December 31, 2013
                               
U.S. government agencies
  $ 17,255     $     $ 17,255     $  
Mortgage-backed securities
    367,578             367,578        
Small Business Administration loan pools
    44,855             44,855        
States and political subdivisions
    122,724             122,724        
Equity securities
    2,869             2,869        
Mortgage servicing rights
    211                   211  
Interest rate derivative asset
    2,544                   2,544  
Interest rate derivative liability
    (1,613 )                 (1,613 )


 
37
 
 


The following is a description of inputs and valuation methodologies used for assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.  There have been no significant changes in the valuation techniques during the three-month period ended September 30, 2014.

Securities Available for Sale. Investment securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values used by the Company are obtained from an independent pricing service, which represent either quoted market prices for the identical asset or fair values determined by pricing models, or other model-based valuation techniques, that consider observable market data, such as interest rate volatilities, LIBOR yield curve, credit spreads and prices from market makers and live trading systems.  Recurring Level 2 securities include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, Small Business Administration (SBA) loan pools, state and municipal bonds and equity securities. Inputs used for valuing Level 2 securities include observable data that may include dealer quotes, benchmark yields, market spreads, live trading levels and market consensus prepayment speeds, among other things. Additional inputs include indicative values derived from the independent pricing service’s proprietary computerized models. There were no Recurring Level 3 securities at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

Mortgage Servicing Rights. Mortgage servicing rights do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices.  Accordingly, fair value is estimated using discounted cash flow models.  Due to the nature of the valuation inputs, mortgage servicing rights are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values used by the Company are obtained from an independent valuation service, and are based on prevailing observable market data, such as the LIBOR swap curves and Overnight Index Swap “OIS” curves, and derived from proprietary models based on well recognized financial principles and reasonable estimates about future market conditions (which may include assumptions and estimates that are not readily observable in the marketplace).  Included in the fair values are credit valuation adjustments which represent the consideration of credit risk (credit standing) of the counterparties to the transaction and the effect of any credit enhancements related to the transaction.  Certain inputs to the credit valuation models may be based on assumptions and best estimates that are not readily observable in the marketplace.

The Company considers transfers between the levels of the hierarchy to be recognized at the end of related reporting periods.  From December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014, no assets for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis transferred between any levels of the hierarchy.


Level 3 Reconciliation

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of recurring fair value measurements recognized in the accompanying balance sheet using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs.


   
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, July 1
  $ 196     $ 246  
Additions
    28       32  
Amortization
    (35 )     (42 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 189     $ 236  
                 


 
38
 
 



   
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, January 1
  $ 211     $ 152  
Additions
    81       224  
Amortization
    (103 )     (140 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 189     $ 236  
                 

   
Interest Rate Derivative Asset
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, July 1
  $ 1,722     $ 1,379  
Change in fair value through earnings
    (210 )     182  
Balance, September 30
  $ 1,512     $ 1,561  
                 

   
Interest Rate Derivative Asset
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, January 1
  $ 1,859     $ 2,112  
Change in fair value through earnings
    (347 )     (551 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 1,512     $ 1,561  
                 


    
Interest Rate Cap Derivative Asset Designated as Hedging Instrument
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, July 1
  $ 462     $  
Additions
          738  
Change in fair value through other
               
comprehensive income
    76       (69 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 538     $ 669  
                 

    
Interest Rate Cap Derivative Asset Designated as Hedging Instrument
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, January 1
  $ 685     $  
Additions
          738  
Change in fair value through other
               
comprehensive income
    (147 )     (69 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 538     $ 669  
                 


 
39
 
 




   
Interest Rate Swap Liability
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, July 1
  $ 1,711     $ 1,019  
Change in fair value through earnings
    (222 )     307  
Balance, September 30
  $ 1,489     $ 1,326  
                 

 
   
Interest Rate Swap Liability
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, January 1
  $ 1,613     $ 2,160  
Change in fair value through earnings
    (124 )     (834 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 1,489     $ 1,326  
                 

 
Nonrecurring Measurements
 
The following tables present the fair value measurements of assets measured at fair value during the periods presented on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 

         
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
         
Quoted prices
             
         
in active
             
         
markets
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
for identical
   
observable
   
unobservable
 
         
assets
   
inputs
   
inputs
 
   
Fair value
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
September 30, 2014
                       
Impaired loans
                       
One- to four-family residential construction
  $     $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    275                   275  
Land development
    3,952                   3,952  
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    1,505                   1,505  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    954                   954  
Commercial real estate
    5,343                   5,343  
Other residential
                       
Commercial business
    317                   317  
Consumer auto
    46                   46  
Consumer other
    411                   411  
Home equity lines of credit
    239                   239  
Total impaired loans
  $ 13,042     $     $     $ 13,042  
                                 
Foreclosed assets held for sale
  $ 1,887     $     $     $ 1,887  
                                 


 
40
 
 



December 31, 2013
                       
Impaired loans
                       
One- to four-family residential construction
  $     $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    145                   145  
Land development
    1,474                   1,474  
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    349                   349  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    388                   388  
Commercial real estate
    5,224                   5,224  
Other residential
    1,440                   1,440  
Commercial business
    61                   61  
Consumer auto
    19                   19  
Consumer other
    275                   275  
Home equity lines of credit
    70                   70  
Total impaired loans
  $ 9,445     $     $     $ 9,445  
                                 
Foreclosed assets held for sale
  $ 2,169     $     $     $ 2,169  

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Loans Held for Sale.  Mortgage loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of carrying value or fair value.  The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics.  As such, the Company classifies mortgage loans held for sale as Nonrecurring Level 2.  Write-downs to fair value typically do not occur as the Company generally enters into commitments to sell individual mortgage loans at the time the loan is originated to reduce market risk.  The Company typically does not have commercial loans held for sale.  At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the aggregate fair value of mortgage loans held for sale exceeded their cost.  Accordingly, no mortgage loans held for sale were marked down and reported at fair value.
 
 Impaired Loans.  A loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that all of the principal and interest due may not be collected according to its contractual terms. Generally, when a loan is considered impaired, the amount of reserve required under FASB ASC 310, Receivables, is measured based on the fair value of the underlying collateral. The Company makes such measurements on all material loans deemed impaired using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans. The fair value of collateral used by the Company is determined by obtaining an observable market price or by obtaining an appraised value from an independent, licensed or certified appraiser, using observable market data. This data includes information such as selling price of similar properties and capitalization rates of similar properties sold within the market, expected future cash flows or earnings of the subject property based on current market expectations, and other relevant factors. All appraised values are adjusted for market-related trends based on the Company’s experience in sales and other appraisals of similar property types as well as estimated selling costs.  Each quarter management reviews all collateral dependent impaired loans on a loan-by-loan basis to determine whether updated appraisals are necessary based on loan performance, collateral type and guarantor support.  At times, the Company measures the fair value of collateral dependent impaired loans using appraisals with dates prior to one year from the date of review.  These appraisals are discounted by applying current, observable market data about similar property types such as sales contracts, estimations of value by individuals familiar with the market, other appraisals, sales or collateral assessments based on current market activity until updated appraisals are obtained.  Depending on the length of time since an appraisal was performed and the data provided through our reviews, these appraisals are typically discounted 10-40%.  The policy described above is the same for all types of collateral dependent impaired loans.

The Company records impaired loans as Nonrecurring Level 3. If a loan’s fair value as estimated by the Company is less than its carrying value, the Company either records a charge-off of the portion of the loan that exceeds the fair value or establishes a reserve within the allowance for loan losses specific to the loan.  Loans for which such charge-offs or reserves were recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or the year ended December 31, 2013, are shown in the table above (net of reserves).

 
41
 
 


Foreclosed Assets Held for Sale.  Foreclosed assets held for sale are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell at the date of foreclosure.  Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less estimated cost to sell.  Foreclosed assets held for sale are classified as Level 3.  The foreclosed assets represented in the table above have been re-measured during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 or the year ended December 31, 2013, subsequent to their initial transfer to foreclosed assets.

The following disclosure relates to financial assets for which it is not practicable for the Company to estimate the fair value at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

FDIC Indemnification Asset: As part of the Purchase and Assumption Agreements, the Bank and the FDIC entered into loss sharing agreements. These agreements cover realized losses on loans and foreclosed real estate, subject to certain limitations which are more fully described in Note 8.

Under the TeamBank agreement, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of the first $115 million in realized losses and 95% for realized losses that exceed $115 million.  The indemnification asset was originally recorded at fair value on the acquisition date (March 20, 2009) and at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value was $775,000 and $1.3 million, respectively.
 
Under the Vantus Bank agreement, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of the first $102 million in realized losses and 95% for realized losses that exceed $102 million.  The indemnification asset was originally recorded at fair value on the acquisition date (September 4, 2009) and at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value of the FDIC indemnification asset was $844,000 and $2.3 million, respectively.
 
Under the Sun Security Bank agreement, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of realized losses.  The indemnification asset was originally recorded at fair value on the acquisition date (October 7, 2011) and at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value of the FDIC indemnification asset was $6.4 million and $10.4 million, respectively.
 
Under the InterBank agreement, the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of realized losses.  The indemnification asset was originally recorded at fair value on the acquisition date (April 27, 2013) and at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value of the FDIC indemnification asset was $43.5 million and $58.8 million, respectively.
 
From the dates of acquisition, each of the four agreements extend ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and five years for other loans.  The loss sharing assets are measured separately from the loan portfolios because they are not contractually embedded in the loans and are not transferable with the loans should the Bank choose to dispose of them.  Fair values on the acquisition dates were estimated using projected cash flows available for loss sharing based on the credit adjustments estimated for each loan pool and the loss sharing percentages.  These cash flows were discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursements from the FDIC.  The loss sharing assets are also separately measured from the related foreclosed real estate.  Although the assets are contractual receivables from the FDIC, they do not have effective interest rates.  The Bank will collect the assets over the next several years.  The amount ultimately collected will depend on the timing and amount of collections and charge-offs on the acquired assets covered by the loss sharing agreements.  While the assets were recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition dates, it is not practicable to complete fair value analyses on a quarterly or annual basis.  Estimating the fair value of the FDIC indemnification asset would involve preparing fair value analyses of the entire portfolios of loans and foreclosed assets covered by the loss sharing agreements from all four acquisitions on a quarterly or annual basis.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of all other financial instruments recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition at amounts other than fair value:

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock. The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Loans and Interest Receivable.  The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.  Loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations.  The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value.

 
42
 
 


Deposits and Accrued Interest Payable.  The fair value of demand deposits and savings accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, i.e., their carrying amounts.  The fair value of fixed maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.  The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances.  Rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of existing advances.

Short-Term Borrowings.  The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Subordinated Debentures Issued to Capital Trusts.  The subordinated debentures have floating rates that reset quarterly.  The carrying amount of these debentures approximates their fair value.

Structured Repurchase Agreements.  Structured repurchase agreements are collateralized borrowings from a counterparty.  In addition to the principal amount owed, the counterparty also determines an amount that would be owed by either party in the event the agreement is terminated prior to maturity by the Company.  The fair values of the structured repurchase agreements are estimated based on the amount the Company would be required to pay to terminate the agreement at the reporting date.

Commitments to Originate Loans, Letters of Credit and Lines of Credit.  The fair value of commitments is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties.  For fixed rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.  The fair value of letters of credit is based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.

The following table presents estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments.  The fair values of certain of these instruments were calculated by discounting expected cash flows, which method involves significant judgments by management and uncertainties.  Fair value is the estimated amount at which financial assets or liabilities could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.  Because no market exists for certain of these financial instruments and because management does not intend to sell these financial instruments, the Company does not know whether the fair values shown below represent values at which the respective financial instruments could be sold individually or in the aggregate.

   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Hierarchy
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Hierarchy
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Level
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Level
 
    (In Thousands)   
Financial assets
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 221,386     $ 221,386       1     $ 227,925     $ 227,925       1  
Held-to-maturity securities
    450       505       2       805       912       2  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    30,361       30,361       2       7,239       7,239       2  
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
    2,921,310       2,931,098       3       2,439,530       2,442,917       3  
Accrued interest receivable
    11,214       11,214       3       11,408       11,408       3  
Investment in FHLB stock
    12,013       12,013       3       9,822       9,822       3  
                                                 
Financial liabilities
                                               
Deposits
    3,071,170       3,076,464       3       2,808,626       2,813,779       3  
FHLB advances
    190,664       193,004       3       126,757       131,281       3  
Short-term borrowings
    172,983       172,983       3       136,109       136,109       3  
Structured repurchase agreements
                3       50,000       53,485       3  
Subordinated debentures
    30,929       30,929       3       30,929       30,929       3  
Accrued interest payable
    1,024       1,024       3       1,099       1,099       3  
Unrecognized financial instruments (net of
                                               
contractual value)
                                               
Commitments to originate loans
                3                   3  
Letters of credit
    31       31       3       76       76       3  
Lines of credit
                3                   3  


 
43
 
 


NOTE 15:  DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
 
Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives
 
The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions.  The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities.  The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk, primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its assets and liabilities.  In the normal course of business, the Company may use derivative financial instruments (primarily interest rate swaps) from time to time to assist in its interest rate risk management.  The Company has interest rate derivatives that result from a service provided to certain qualifying loan customers that are not used to manage interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and are not designated in a qualifying hedging relationship.  The Company manages a matched book with respect to its derivative instruments in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  In addition, the Company has interest rate derivatives that are designated in a qualified hedging relationship.
 
Nondesignated Hedges
 
The Company has interest rate swaps that are not designated in qualifying hedging relationships.  Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and result from a service the Company provides to certain loan customers, which the Company began offering during the fourth quarter of 2011.  The Company executes interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies.  Those interest rate swaps are simultaneously hedged by offsetting interest rate swaps that the Company executes with a third party, such that the Company minimizes its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  As the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings.  As of September 30, 2014, the Company had 27 interest rate swaps totaling $127.9 million in notional amount with commercial customers, and 27 interest rate swaps with the same notional amount with third parties related to this program.  As of December 31, 2013, the Company had 24 interest rate swaps totaling $114.0 million in notional amount with commercial customers, and 24 interest rate swaps with the same notional amount with third parties related to this program.  In addition, seven interest rate swaps were added as a result of certain loans acquired in the Valley Bank transaction.  Valley’s program did not include back to back swaps with the customer; there is only a swap with a counterparty.  At September 30, 2014, the notional amount of these swaps was $7.8 million.  During the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized a net gain of $10,000 and a net loss of $125,000, respectively, in noninterest income related to changes in the fair value of these swaps.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized a net loss of $223,000 and a net gain of $283,000, respectively, in noninterest income related to changes in the fair value of these swaps.
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
As a strategy to maintain acceptable levels of exposure to the risk of changes in future cash flows due to interest rate fluctuations, the Company entered into two interest rate cap agreements for a portion of its floating rate debt associated with its trust preferred securities.  The agreement with a notional amount of $25 million states that the Company will pay interest on its trust preferred debt in accordance with the original debt terms at a rate of 3-month LIBOR + 1.60%.  Should interest rates rise above a certain threshold, the counterparty will reimburse the Company for interest paid such that the Company will have an effective interest rate on that portion of its trust preferred securities no higher than 2.37%.  The second agreement with a notional amount of $5 million states that the Company will pay interest on its trust preferred debt in accordance with the original debt terms at a rate of 3-month LIBOR + 1.40%.  Should interest rates rise above a certain threshold, the counterparty will reimburse the Company for interest paid such that the Company will have an effective interest rate on that portion of its trust preferred securities no higher than 2.17%.  The agreements were effective on August 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013, respectively, and each has a term of four years.
 
The effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.  Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.
 

 
44
 
 


The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:
 
 
Location in
 
Fair Value
 
 
Consolidated Statements
 
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
of Financial Condition
 
2014
   
2013
 
     
(In Thousands)
 
Derivatives designated as
             
  hedging instruments
             
               
Interest rate caps
Prepaid expenses and other assets
  $ 538     $ 685  
                   
Total derivatives designated
                 
  as hedging instruments
    $ 538     $ 685  
                   
Derivatives not designated
                 
  as hedging instruments
                 
                   
Asset Derivatives
                 
Interest rate products
Prepaid expenses and other assets
  $ 1,512     $ 1,859  
                   
Total derivatives not designated
                 
  as hedging instruments
    $ 1,512     $ 1,859  
                   
Liability Derivatives
                 
Interest rate products
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  $ 1,489     $ 1,613  
                   
Total derivatives not designated
                 
as hedging instruments
    $ 1,489     $ 1,613  
                   

 
The following table presents the effect of derivative instruments on the statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
 
   
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
    (In Thousands)   
       
Interest rate cap
  $ 53     $ (45 )
                 
 

   
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
    (In Thousands)   
       
Interest rate cap
  $ (90 )   $  (45 )
                 


 
Agreements with Derivative Counterparties
 
The Company has agreements with its derivative counterparties.  If the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.  If the Bank fails to maintain its status as a well-capitalized institution, then the counterparty could terminate the derivative positions and the Company would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements.  Similarly, the Company could be required to settle its obligations under certain of its agreements if certain regulatory events occurred, such as the issuance of a formal directive, or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded below a specified level.
 

 
45
 
 


As of September 30, 2014, the termination value of derivatives in a net liability position, which included accrued interest but excluded any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $820,000.  The Company has minimum collateral posting thresholds with its derivative counterparties.  The Company’s activity with its derivative counterparties had previously met the level in which the minimum collateral posting thresholds take effect and the Company had posted $1.3 million of collateral to satisfy the agreements at September 30, 2014.  If the Company had breached any of these provisions at September 30, 2014, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at the termination value.
 

NOTE 16: FDIC-ASSISTED ACQUISITION
 
On June 20, 2014, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with the FDIC to purchase a substantial portion of the loans and investment securities, as well as certain other assets, and assume all of the deposits, as well as certain other liabilities, of Valley Bank (“Valley”), a full-service bank headquartered in Moline, IL, with significant operations in Iowa.  The provisional fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction were as follows:
 

   
June 20,
 
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Cash
  $ 2,729  
Due from banks
    106,680  
Cash and cash equivalents
    109,409  
         
Investment securities
    88,513  
Loans receivable, net of discount on loans purchased of $30,102
    165,098  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,004  
Premises
    10,850  
Core deposit intangible
    2,800  
Other assets
    1,060  
Total assets acquired
    378,734  
         
Liabilities
       
Demand and savings deposits
    186,902  
Time deposits
    179,125  
Total deposits
    366,027  
         
Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers
    567  
Accounts payable
    561  
Accrued interest payable
    182  
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
    592  
Total liabilities assumed
    367,929  
         
Gain recognized on business acquisition
  $ 10,805  



 
46
 
 


Under the terms of the Purchase and Assumption Agreement, the FDIC agreed to transfer net assets to Great Southern at a discount of $37.5 million to compensate Great Southern for estimated losses related to the loans acquired.  No premium was paid to the FDIC for the deposits, resulting in a net purchase discount of $37.5 million.  Details related to the transfer are as follows:
 
   
June 20,
 
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
       
Net liabilities as determined by the FDIC
  $ (21,897 )
Cash transferred by the FDIC
    59,394  
Discount per Purchase and Assumption Agreement
    37,497  
         
Purchase accounting adjustments
       
Loans
    (28,088 )
Deposits
    (399 )
Investments
    (1,005 )
Core deposit intangible
    2,800  
         
Gain recognized on business acquisition
  $ 10,805  

The acquisition of the net assets of Valley was determined to constitute a business acquisition in accordance with FASB ASC 805.  FASB ASC 805 allows a measurement period of up to one year to adjust initial fair value estimates as of the acquisition date.  Therefore, provisional measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded on a preliminary basis at fair value on the date of acquisition.  Based upon the preliminary acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.  The transaction resulted in a preliminary bargain purchase gain of $10.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014.  The transaction also resulted in the recording of a deferred tax liability in the initial amount of $3.6 million.
 
The carrying amount of assets related to the Valley Bank transaction at June 20, 2014 (the acquisition date), consisted of impaired loans required to be accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC 310-30 and other loans not subject to the specific criteria of FASB ASC 310-30, but accounted for under the guidance of FASB ASC 310-30 (FASB ASC 310-30 by Policy Loans) as shown in the following table:
 

 
         
FASB ASC
     
   
FASB
    310-30      
   
ASC
   
by
     
    310-30    
Policy
     
   
Loans
   
Loans
   
Total
   
(In Thousands)
                     
Loans
  $ 3,920     $ 161,178    $
165,098

On the acquisition date, the preliminary estimate of the contractually required payments receivable for all FASB ASC 310-30 loans acquired was $5.7 million, the cash flows expected to be collected were $4.0 million including interest, and the estimated fair value of the loans was $3.9 million.  These amounts were determined based upon the estimated remaining life of the underlying loans, which include the effects of estimated prepayments.  At June 20, 2014, a majority of these loans were valued based on the liquidation value of the underlying collateral, because the expected cash flows were primarily based on the liquidation of underlying collateral and the timing and amount of the cash flows could not be reasonably estimated.
 
On the acquisition date, the preliminary estimate of the contractually required payments receivable for all FASB ASC 310-30 by Policy Loans acquired in the acquisition was $187.4 million, of which $28.4 million of cash flows were not expected to be collected, and the estimated fair value of the loans was $161.2 million.  A majority of these loans were valued as of their acquisition dates based on the liquidation value of the underlying collateral, because the expected cash flows were primarily based on the liquidation of underlying collateral and the timing and amount of the cash flows could not be reasonably estimated.
 
At September 30, 2014, the Company has finalized its initial analysis of these loans without adjustments to the preliminary estimated recorded carrying values.
 

 
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The amount of the estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools in excess of the fair values recorded for the loan pools is referred to as the accretable yield.  The accretable yield is recognized as interest income over the estimated lives of the loans.  The initial accretable yield recorded for Valley was $23.0 million.  The amount accreted to income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $2.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.  The net remaining accretable yield at September 30, 2014 was $20.7 million.















 
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

Forward-looking Statements

When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other documents filed or furnished by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in the Company's press releases or other public or stockholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, (i) non-interest expense reductions from the Great Southern banking center consolidation might be less than anticipated and the costs of the consolidation and impairment of the value of the affected premises might be greater than expected; (ii) expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the Company’s merger and acquisition activities, including but not limited to the recently completed Valley Bank FDIC-assisted transaction, might not be realized within the anticipated time frames or at all, the amount of the gain the Company ultimately recognizes from the recently completed Valley Bank FDIC-assisted transaction might be materially different from the preliminary gain recorded, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; (iii) changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in the Company’s market areas; (iv) fluctuations in interest rates; (v) the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; (vi) the possibility of other-than-temporary impairments of securities held in the Company’s securities portfolio; (vii) the Company’s ability to access cost-effective funding; (viii) fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; (ix) demand for loans and deposits in the Company’s market areas; (x) legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company’s business, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and its implementing regulations, and the overdraft protection regulations and customers’ responses thereto; (xi) monetary and fiscal policies of the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; (xii) results of examinations of the Company and Great Southern by their regulators, including the possibility that the regulators may, among other things, require the Company to increase its allowance for loan losses or to write-down assets; (xiii) the uncertainties arising from the Company’s participation in the Small Business Lending Fund program, including uncertainties concerning the potential future redemption by us of the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock investment under the program, including the timing of, regulatory approvals for, and conditions placed upon, any such redemption; (xiv) costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; and (xv) competition. The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above and other risks described from time to time in documents filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake-and specifically declines any obligation- to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Allowance for Loan Losses and Valuation of Foreclosed Assets

The Company believes that the determination of the allowance for loan losses involves a higher degree of judgment and complexity than its other significant accounting policies. The allowance for loan losses is calculated with the objective of maintaining an allowance level believed by management to be sufficient to absorb estimated loan losses. Management's determination of the adequacy of the allowance is based on periodic evaluations of the loan portfolio and other relevant factors. However, this evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates of, among other things, expected default probabilities, loss once loans default, expected commitment usage, the amounts and

 
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timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, value of collateral, estimated losses, and general amounts for historical loss experience.

The process also considers economic conditions, uncertainties in estimating losses and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. All of these factors may be susceptible to significant change. To the extent actual outcomes differ from management estimates, additional provisions for loan losses may be required which would adversely impact earnings in future periods. In addition, the Bank’s regulators could require additional provisions for loan losses as part of their examination process.

Additional discussion of the allowance for loan losses is included in "Item 1. Business - Allowances for Losses on Loans and Foreclosed Assets." Inherent in this process is the evaluation of individual significant credit relationships. From time to time certain credit relationships may deteriorate due to payment performance, cash flow of the borrower, value of collateral, or other factors. In these instances, management may have to revise its loss estimates and assumptions for these specific credits due to changing circumstances. In some cases, additional losses may be realized; in other instances, the factors that led to the deterioration may improve or the credit may be refinanced elsewhere and allocated allowances may be released from the particular credit. For the periods included in the financial statements contained in this report, management's overall methodology for evaluating the allowance for loan losses has not changed significantly.

In addition, the Company considers that the determination of the valuations of foreclosed assets held for sale involves a high degree of judgment and complexity. The carrying value of foreclosed assets reflects management’s best estimate of the amount to be realized from the sales of the assets.  While the estimate is generally based on a valuation by an independent appraiser or recent sales of similar properties, the amount that the Company realizes from the sales of the assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in the financial statements, resulting in losses that could adversely impact earnings in future periods.

Carrying Value of Loans Acquired in FDIC-assisted Transactions and Indemnification Asset

The Company considers that the determination of the carrying value of loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions and the carrying value of the related FDIC indemnification assets involve a high degree of judgment and complexity. The carrying value of the acquired loans and the FDIC indemnification assets reflect management’s best ongoing estimates of the amounts to be realized on each of these assets. The Company determined initial fair value accounting estimates of the assumed assets and liabilities in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations. However, the amount that the Company realizes on these assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in its financial statements, based upon the timing of collections on the acquired loans in future periods. Because of the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC on certain of these assets, the Company should not incur any significant losses related to these assets. To the extent the actual values realized for the acquired loans are different from the estimates, the indemnification asset will generally be impacted in an offsetting manner due to the loss sharing support from the FDIC.  Subsequent to the initial valuation, the Company continues to monitor identified loan pools and related loss sharing assets for changes in estimated cash flows projected for the loan pools, anticipated credit losses and changes in the accretable yield.  Analysis of these variables requires significant estimates and a high degree of judgment.  See Note 8 “Acquired Loans, Loss Sharing Agreements and FDIC Indemnification Assets” included in Item 1 for additional information regarding the TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank, InterBank and Valley Bank FDIC-assisted transactions.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are subject to an impairment test at least annually and more frequently if circumstances indicate their value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment using a process that estimates the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units compared with its carrying value. The Company defines reporting units as a level below each of its operating segments for which there is discrete financial information that is regularly reviewed. As of September 30, 2014, the Company has one reporting unit to which goodwill has been allocated – the Bank.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then no impairment is recorded. If the carrying value amount exceeds the fair value of a reporting unit, further testing is completed comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying value to measure the amount of impairment. Intangible assets that are not amortized will be tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair values of those assets to their carrying values. At September 30, 2014, goodwill consisted of $1.2 million at the Bank reporting unit.  Goodwill increased $790,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2014,

 
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due to the acquisition of certain loans, deposits and other assets of Boulevard Bank.  Other identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of seven years. At September 30, 2014, the amortizable intangible assets consisted of core deposit intangibles of $6.8 million, including $2.7 million related to the Valley Bank transaction in June 2014.  These amortizable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their value may not be recoverable based on a comparison of fair value.

While the Company believes no impairment existed at September 30, 2014, different conditions or assumptions used to measure fair value of reporting units, or changes in cash flows or profitability, if significantly negative or unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the outcome of the Company’s impairment evaluation in the future.

Current Economic Conditions

Changes in economic conditions could cause the values of assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements to change rapidly, resulting in material future adjustments in asset values, the allowance for loan losses, or capital that could negatively impact the Company’s ability to meet regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity.

The previous economic downturn elevated unemployment levels and negatively impacted consumer confidence.  It also had a detrimental impact on industry-wide performance nationally as well as the Company's Midwest market areas.  Since 2012, improvement in several economic indicators have been noted, including increasing consumer confidence levels, increased economic activity and a continued decline in unemployment levels.

The national unemployment rate decreased from 6.7% as of December 2013 to 5.9% in September 2014.  Unemployment levels as of September 2014 decreased from the December 2013 levels in all but two of the states in which Great Southern has officesAll but two states boasted unemployment levels lower or equal to the national unemployment rate.  Unemployment rates as of September 2014 follow: Missouri at 6.3%, Arkansas at 6.2%, Kansas at 4.8%, Iowa at 4.6%, Nebraska at 3.6%, Minnesota at 4.1%, Oklahoma at 4.7% and Texas at 5.2%.  Four of these eight states had unemployment rates among the eleven lowest in the country.  Of the larger metropolitan areas in which Great Southern does business (based on September 2014 information), the St. Louis market area continues to carry the highest level of unemployment at 6.3%, which is a decrease from the 6.6% rate reported as of December 2013. The unemployment rate at 5.1% for the Springfield market area was well below national and state unemployment averages.  Metropolitan areas in Iowa and Nebraska boasted unemployment levels ranging from 2.8% - 4.4%, ranking them among the lowest unemployment levels in the nation. 

Annualized, inflation-adjusted GDP growth settled at 4.6% in the second quarter of 2014, rebounding from a negative first quarter (which was attributed partially to adverse weather conditions).  The growth exceeded market expectation, particularly considering international headlines.  The ABA’s Economic Advisory Committee, a council of 14 chief economists from large banking organizations, has forecasted real GDP rising 3% for the remainder of 2014, with the unemployment rate trending lower.  The improvement in economic factors has allowed policy makers to scale back on economic stimuli put in place in past years to combat financial turmoil.  The Federal Reserve completed its bond purchase program in October 2014 and we believe that increases in short-term interest rates could begin around the middle of 2015.
 
Consumer confidence continues to contribute heavily to GDP growth with consumer spending gaining momentum based on July and August retail sales. Consumer confidence rebounded in October 2014 based on a more favorable assessment of the current job market and business conditions with the Consumer Sentiment index survey published by Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan indicating levels exceeding analysts’ expectations and marking the highest level since July 2007.

Sales of new single-family houses reached a six-year high in September, hitting an annual pace of 467,000 units.  New home sales in September were 0.2% above the pace of revised August sales.  The Midwest region saw the largest improvement at 12.3%.

The median sales price of new houses sold in September 2014 was $259,000; the average sales price was $313,200.  The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of September was 207,000 which represented a supply of 5.3 months at the current sales rate.


 
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Existing-home sales rose 2.4% in September 2014 to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.17 million units annually, according to the National Association of Realtors.  National sales were at their highest pace of the year but remain 1.7% below last year’s level.  In the Midwest, existing home sales declined 5.6% to a level of 1.17 million units in September reflecting a 4.9% decline from September 2013.   The median price in the Midwest was $165,100, up 4.9% from a year ago.  Overall, pending home sales rose nationally in September 2014 reflecting a 1% increase from the same time frame in 2013.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.97% during the week of October 12 – 18, 2014, its lowest level since June 2013. 

Permit activity continues to be constrained at least partially due to smaller builders’ limited access to credit, builder concerns about the re-emergence of entry-level consumers to the market in the face of student debt and tighter credit underwriting standards and a general decline in affordability and purchase power over the last year. While tight inventories will help to sustain price growth, it also limits turnover and could further erode affordability. Without a stronger response from home builders, consumers may struggle with options and affordability if income growth cannot compensate. For our market areas, permit activity annualized through September 2014 indicates a potential increase of 10% over 2013 levels.  These numbers may fluctuate significantly based on a variety of factors.

The performance of commercial real estate markets also improved substantially in the Company’s market areas as shown by increased real estate sales activity and financing of those activities. According to real estate services firm CoStar Group, retail, office and industrial types of commercial real estate properties continue to show improvement in occupancy, absorption and rental income, both nationally and in our market areas.

While current economic indicators for the Midwest show improvement in employment, housing starts and prices, commercial real estate occupancy, absorption and rental income, our management will continue to closely monitor regional, national and global economic conditions as these could have significant impacts on our market areas.

General

The profitability of the Company and, more specifically, the profitability of its primary subsidiary, Great Southern Bank (the "Bank"), depends primarily on its net interest income, as well as provisions for loan losses and the level of non-interest income and non-interest expense. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income the Bank earns on its loan and investment portfolios, and the interest it pays on interest-bearing liabilities, which consists mainly of interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is affected by the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rates earned or paid on these balances. When interest-earning assets approximate or exceed interest-bearing liabilities, any positive interest rate spread will generate net interest income.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Great Southern's total assets increased $349.2 million, or 9.8%, from $3.56 billion at December 31, 2013, to $3.91 billion at September 30, 2014. Full details of the current period changes in total assets are provided in the “Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 

Loans.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net loans increased $481.8 million, or 19.8%, from $2.44 billion at December 31, 2013, to $2.92 billion at September 30, 2014.  Partially offsetting the increases in loans were decreases of $40.7 million in the FDIC-covered loan portfolios.  The net carrying value of the loans acquired in the Valley Bank transaction (acquired non-covered loans) was $152.5 million at September 30, 2014.  Excluding acquired covered loans, acquired non-covered loans and mortgage loans held for sale, total loans increased $367.7 million from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014, with increases in several loan types.  The increase was primarily due to the Valley Bank acquisition and loan growth in our existing banking center network, as well as loans originated through our new commercial loan production offices in Tulsa, Okla., and Dallas, Texas.  As loan demand is affected by a variety of factors, including general economic conditions, and because of the competition we face and our focus on pricing discipline and credit quality, we cannot be assured that our loan growth will match or exceed the level of increases achieved in this period or prior years.  The Company's strategy continues to be focused on maintaining credit risk and interest rate risk at appropriate levels.
 
Loan growth has occurred in several loan types and has come from most of Great Southern’s primary lending locations, including Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Omaha and Minneapolis.  The lending offices in Dallas and Tulsa have now been open for several months and are generating new loans as well.  Net loan balances have increased primarily in the areas of commercial real estate, commercial construction and consumer loans.  Generally, the Company considers these types of loans to involve a higher degree of risk compared to some other types of loans, such as first mortgage loans on one- to four-family, owner-occupied residential properties, and has established certain minimum underwriting standards to assure portfolio quality.  For commercial real estate and construction loans, these standards and procedures include, but are not limited to, an analysis of the borrower’s financial condition, collateral, repayment ability, verification of liquid assets and credit history as required by loan type.  In addition, geographic diversity of collateral, lower loan-to-value ratios and limitations on speculative construction projects help to mitigate overall risk in these loans.  It has been, and continues to be, Great Southern’s practice to verify information from potential borrowers regarding assets, income or payment ability and credit ratings as applicable and as required by the authority approving the loan.  Underwriting standards also include loan-to-value ratios which vary depending on collateral type, debt service coverage ratios or debt payment to income ratios, where applicable, credit histories, use of guaranties and other recommended terms
 
 

 

 
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relating to equity requirements, amortization, and maturity. Great Southern’s loan committee reviews and approves all new loan originations in excess of lender approval authorities. Consumer loans are primarily secured by used motor vehicles and these loans are also subject to certain minimum underwriting standards to assure portfolio quality. Great Southern’s consumer underwriting and pricing standards have been fairly consistent over the past several years. The underwriting standards employed by Great Southern for consumer loans include a determination of the applicant's payment history on other debts, credit scores, employment history and an assessment of ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. Although creditworthiness of the applicant is of primary consideration, the underwriting process also includes a comparison of the value of the security, if any, in relation to the proposed loan amount. See “ITEM 1. BUSINESS – Lending Activities – General, – Commercial Real Estate and Construction Lending, and – Consumer Lending” in the Company’s December 31, 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
While our policy allows us to lend up to 90% of the appraised value on single-family properties, originations of loans with loan-to-value ratios at those levels are minimal. When they are made at those levels, private mortgage insurance is typically required for loan amounts above the 80% level unless our analysis determines minimal additional risk to be involved; therefore, these loans are not considered to have more risk to us than other residential loans.  We consider these lending practices to be consistent with, or more conservative than, what we believe to be the norm for banks our size.  At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, an estimated 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, of total owner occupied one- to four-family residential loans had loan-to-value ratios above 100% at origination.  At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, an estimated 1.8% and 0.5%, respectively, of total non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential loans had loan-to-value ratios above 100% at origination.

At September 30, 2014, troubled debt restructurings totaled $52.1 million, or 1.8% of total loans, down $2.0 million from $54.1 million, or 2.3% of total loans, at December 31, 2013.  Concessions granted to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties may include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions intended to maximize collection.  While the types of concessions made have not changed as a result of the economic recession, the number of concessions granted has increased as reflected in the continued high level of troubled debt restructurings.  Generally, the total dollar amount of new troubled debt restructurings has been less in 2013 and 2014 than it was in the years 2008 through 2012.  During the three months ended September 30, 2014, no loans were restructured into multiple new loans.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, two loans totaling $337,000 were each restructured into multiple new loans.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, four loans totaling $3.5 million were each restructured into multiple new loans.  For further information on troubled debt restructurings, see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

The loss sharing agreements with the FDIC are subject to limitations on the types of losses covered and the length of time losses are covered, and are conditioned upon the Bank complying with its requirements in the agreements with the FDIC, including requirements regarding servicing and other loan administration matters.  The loss sharing agreements extend for ten years for single family real estate loans and for five years for other loans.  At September 30, 2014, approximately four and one half years remained on the loss sharing agreement for single family real estate loans acquired from TeamBank and the remaining loans had an estimated average life of two to ten years.  At September 30, 2014, approximately five years remained on the loss sharing agreement for single family real estate loans acquired from Vantus Bank and the remaining loans had an estimated average life of three to twelve years.  At September 30, 2014, approximately seven years remained on the loss sharing agreement for single family real estate loans acquired from Sun Security Bank and the remaining loans had an estimated average life of four to twelve years.  At September 30, 2014, approximately seven and one half years remained on the loss sharing agreement for single family real estate loans acquired from InterBank and the remaining loans had an estimated average life of six to thirteen years.  The loss sharing agreement for non-single-family loans acquired from TeamBank ended on March 31, 2014.  Any additional losses subsequent to that date in the non-single-family TeamBank portfolio are not be eligible for loss sharing coverage.  The remaining loans in the portfolio had an estimated average life of two to seven years and had a carrying value of $28.3 million at September 30, 2014.  The loss sharing agreement for non-single-family loans acquired from Vantus Bank ended on September 30, 2014.  Going forward, any additional losses in the non-single-family Vantus Bank portfolio will not be eligible for loss sharing coverage.  The remaining loans in the portfolio had an estimated average life of one to seven years and had a carrying value of $23.5 million at September 30, 2014.  At September 30, 2014, approximately two years remained on the loss sharing agreement for non-single-family loans acquired from Sun Security Bank and the remaining loans had an estimated average life of one to two years.  At September 30, 2014, approximately two and one half years remained on the loss sharing agreement for non-single-family loans acquired from InterBank and the remaining loans had an estimated average life of two to four years.  While the expected repayments for certain of the acquired loans extend beyond the terms of the loss sharing agreements, the Bank has identified and will continue to identify problem loans and will make every effort to resolve them within the time limits of the agreements.  The Company may sell any loans remaining at the end of the loss sharing agreement subject to the approval of the FDIC.  Acquired loan pools are currently included in the analysis and estimation of the allowance for loan losses.  However, when the loss sharing agreements end, the allowance for loan losses related to any acquired loans retained in the portfolio may need to increase if additional weakness or losses are determined to be in the portfolio subsequent to the end of the loss sharing agreements.  The loss sharing agreements and their related limitations are described in detail in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report. 

The level of non-performing loans and foreclosed assets affects our net interest income and net income. We generally do not accrue interest income on these loans and do not recognize interest income until the loans are repaid or interest payments have been made for a period of time sufficient to provide evidence of performance on the loans. Generally, the higher the level of non-performing assets, the greater the negative impact on interest income and net income.  


 
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Available-for-sale Securities.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Great Southern's available-for-sale securities decreased $130.1 million, or 23.4%, from $555.3 million at December 31, 2013, to $425.2 million at September 30, 2014.  The decrease was primarily due to the sale of the Company’s Small Business Administration loan pools securities and other mortgage-backed securities during the period and normal monthly payments received related to the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities.  The Small Business Administration securities were sold at a gain of $569,000.  The Valley Bank securities acquired in June 2014 were sold in July 2014 at a gain of approximately $175,000.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Great Southern had cash and cash equivalents of $221.4 million at September 30, 2014, a decrease of $6.5 million, or 2.9%, from $227.9 million at December 31, 2013.  The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to the repayment of $130 million of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) advances and structured repurchase agreements and the origination of new loans. Offsetting these decreases were increases of $109 million of cash and cash equivalents received in the Valley Bank FDIC-assisted acquisition in June 2014, $80 million of cash received related to the Boulevard Bank transaction in March 2014, and proceeds received from the sale of certain of the Company’s investment securities during the period.

Deposits.  The Company attracts deposit accounts through its retail branch network, correspondent banking and corporate services areas, and brokered deposits. The Company then utilizes these deposit funds, along with FHLBank advances and other borrowings, to meet loan demand or otherwise fund its activities. In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, total deposit balances increased $262.5 million, or 9.4%.  Approximately $366 million of deposits were acquired in the FDIC-assisted acquisition of Valley Bank in June 2014.  Approximately $92 million of deposits were acquired in the Boulevard Bank transaction in March 2014.  Transaction account balances increased $131.9 million to $1.95 billion at September 30, 2014, up from $1.81 billion at December 31, 2013, while retail certificates of deposit increased $70.0 million to $937.6 million at September 30, 2014, up from $867.6 million at December 31, 2013.  In addition, at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Bank customer deposits totaling $37.0 million and $76.3 million, respectively, were part of the CDARS program which allows Bank customers to maintain balances in an insured manner that would otherwise exceed the FDIC deposit insurance limit. The FDIC counts these deposits as brokered, but these are deposit accounts that we generate with customers in our local markets.  Brokered deposits were $150 million at September 30, 2014, an increase of $100 million from $50 million at December 31, 2013.  The Company elected to increase brokered deposits to fund a portion of its loan growth during the period.
 
While deposits acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, totaled $458 million, total deposit balances increased $262 million during this same period.  Deposits obtained in the Valley Bank transaction totaling $114 million included certificates of deposit generated through internet bulletin boards.  The Company was allowed to reduce the rate paid on these deposits and did so.  In turn, the customer was allowed to withdraw these funds without penalty.  Approximately $80 million of these deposits were withdrawn through September 30, 2014.  Additionally, deposit balances have decreased as the Company has elected to reduce interest rates on certain types of certificates of deposit, as well as certain types of NOW and money market accounts, including accounts with collateralized deposit balances.

Our deposit balances may fluctuate depending on customer preferences and our relative need for funding.  We do not consider our retail certificates of deposit to be guaranteed long-term funding because customers can withdraw their funds at any time with minimal interest penalty.  When loan demand trends upward, we can increase rates paid on deposits to increase deposit balances and utilize brokered deposits to provide additional funding.  Because the Federal Funds rate is already very low, there may be a negative impact on the Company’s net interest income due to the Company’s inability to lower its funding costs significantly in the current low interest rate environment, although interest rates on assets may decline further.  The level of competition for deposits in our markets is high. While it is our goal to gain deposit market share, particularly checking accounts, in our branch footprint, we cannot be assured of this in future periods.  In addition, while we have been generally lowering our deposit rates over the past several quarters, increasing rates paid on deposits can attract deposits if needed; however, this could negatively impact the Company’s net interest margin. 

Our ability to fund growth in future periods may also depend on our ability to continue to access brokered deposits and FHLBank advances. In times when our loan demand has outpaced our generation of new deposits, we have utilized brokered deposits and FHLBank advances to fund these loans. These funding sources have been attractive to us because we can create either fixed or variable rate funding, as desired, which more closely matches the interest rate nature of much of our loan portfolio. While we do not currently anticipate that our ability to access these sources will be reduced or eliminated in future periods, if this should happen, the limitation on our ability to fund additional loans could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Risk Management.  Our net interest income may be affected positively or negatively by changes in market interest rates. A portion of our loan portfolio is tied to the "prime rate" and adjusts immediately when this rate adjusts (subject to the effect of loan interest rate floors, which are discussed below). We monitor our sensitivity to interest rate changes on an ongoing basis (see "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk").  In addition, our net interest income may be impacted by changes in the cash flows expected to be received from acquired loan pools.  As described in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated

 
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Financial Statements contained in this report, the Company’s evaluation of cash flows expected to be received from acquired loan pools is on-going and increases in cash flow expectations are recognized as increases in accretable yield through interest income.  Decreases in cash flow expectations are recognized as impairments through the allowance for loan losses.

The current level and shape of the interest rate yield curve poses challenges for interest rate risk management. The FRB last changed interest rates on December 16, 2008. Great Southern has a significant portfolio of loans which are tied to a "prime rate" of interest. Most of these loans are tied to some national index of "prime," while some are indexed to "Great Southern prime." The Company has elected to leave its “Great Southern prime rate” of interest at 5.00%. This does not affect a large number of customers, as a majority of the loans indexed to “Great Southern prime” are already at interest rate floors which are provided for in individual loan documents. But for the interest rate floors, a rate cut by the FRB generally would have an anticipated immediate negative impact on the Company’s net interest income due to the large total balance of loans which generally adjust immediately as the Federal Funds rate adjusts. Loans at their floor rates are subject to the risk that borrowers will seek to refinance elsewhere at the lower market rate, however.  Because the Federal Funds rate is already very low, there may also be a negative impact on the Company's net interest income due to the Company's inability to lower its funding costs significantly in the current environment, although interest rates on assets may decline further. Conversely, interest rate increases would normally result in increased interest rates on our prime-based loans.  The interest rate floors in effect may limit the immediate increase in interest rates on these loans, until such time as rates rise above the floors.  However, the Company may have to increase rates paid on deposits to maintain deposit balances and pay higher rates on borrowings.  The impact of the low rate environment on our net interest margin in future periods is expected to be fairly neutral.  As our time deposits mature in future periods, may be able to reduce rates somewhat as they renew.  However, any margin gained by these rate reductions is likely to be offset by reduced yields from our investment securities and our existing loan portfolio as payments are made and the proceeds are potentially reinvested at lower rates. Interest rates on adjustable rate loans may reset lower according to their contractual terms and new loans may be originated at lower market rates.  For further discussion of the processes used to manage our exposure to interest rate risk, see “Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – How We Measure the Risks to Us Associated with Interest Rate Changes.”

The negative impact of declining loan interest rates has been mitigated by the positive effects of the Company’s loans which have interest rate floors. At September 30, 2014, the Company had a portfolio (excluding the loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions) of prime-based loans totaling approximately $504 million with rates that change immediately with changes to the prime rate of interest.  Of those loans, $475 million also had interest rate floors. These floors were at varying rates, with $15 million of these loans having floor rates of 7.0% or greater and another $251 million of these loans having floor rates between 5.0% and 7.0%. In addition, $209 million of these loans have floor rates between 2.75% and 5.0%.  At September 30, 2014, all of these loans were at their floor rates.  At September 30, 2014, the Company had a portfolio (excluding the loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions) of GSB prime-based loans totaling approximately $215 million with rates that change immediately with changes to the GSB prime rate of interest.  Of those loans, $202 million also had interest rate floors.  At September 30, 2014, all of these loans were at their floor rates.  The loan yield for the total loan portfolio was approximately 153 basis points and 185 basis points higher than the national "prime rate of interest" at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, partly because of these interest rate floors. While interest rate floors have had an overall positive effect on the Company’s results during this period, they do subject the Company to the risk that borrowers will elect to refinance their loans with other lenders.  To the extent economic conditions improve, the risk that borrowers will seek to refinance their loans increases.

Non-Interest Income and Operating Expenses.  The Company's profitability is also affected by the level of its non-interest income and operating expenses. Non-interest income consists primarily of service charges and ATM fees, accretion income (net of amortization) related to the FDIC-assisted acquisitions, late charges and prepayment fees on loans, gains on sales of loans and available-for-sale investments and other general operating income.  In 2014 and 2013, increases in the cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios resulted in amortization (expense) recorded relating to reductions of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which are recorded as indemnification assets.  Non-interest income may also be affected by the Company's interest rate hedging activities, if the Company chooses to implement hedges.  See Note 15 “Derivatives and Hedging Activities” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the Bank’s hedging activities.


 
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Operating expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy-related expenses, expenses related to foreclosed assets, postage, FDIC deposit insurance, advertising and public relations, telephone, professional fees, office expenses and other general operating expenses.  Details of the current period changes in non-interest income and non-interest expense are provided in the “Results of Operations and Comparison for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Effect of Federal Laws and Regulations

General. Federal legislation and regulation significantly affect the operations of the Company and the Bank, and have increased competition among commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage banking enterprises and other financial institutions. In particular, the capital requirements and operations of regulated banking organizations such as the Company and the Bank have been and will be subject to changes in applicable statutes and regulations from time to time, which changes could, under certain circumstances, adversely affect the Company or the Bank.

Significant Legislation Impacting the Financial Services Industry. On July 21, 2010, sweeping financial regulatory reform legislation entitled the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act implements far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things, centralize responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all banks, require new capital rules (discussed below), change the assessment base for federal deposit insurance, repeal the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, amend the account balance limit for federal deposit insurance protection, and increase the authority of the Federal Reserve Board to examine the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries.

Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company and the financial services industry more generally. Provisions in the legislation that affect deposit insurance assessments, and payment of interest on demand deposits could increase the costs associated with deposits. Provisions in the legislation that require revisions to the capital requirements of the Company and the Bank could require the Company and the Bank to seek additional sources of capital in the future.

A provision of the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly referred to as the “Durbin Amendment,” directed the FRB to analyze the debit card payments system and fix the interchange rates based upon their estimate of actual costs. The FRB has established the interchange rate for all debit transactions for issuers with over $10 billion in assets, effective October 1, 2011, at $0.21 per transaction. An additional five basis points of the transaction amount and an additional $0.01 may be collected by the issuer for fraud prevention and recovery, provided the issuer performs certain actions. Although the Bank is currently exempt from the provisions of the rule on the basis of asset size, there is some uncertainty about the long-term impact there will be on the interchange rates for issuers below the $10 billion level of assets.

New Capital Rules. The federal banking agencies have adopted new regulatory capital rules that substantially amend the risk-based capital rules applicable to the Bank and the Company. The new rules would implement the “Basel III” regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act. “Basel III” refers to various documents released by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. For the Company and the Bank, the general effective date of the new rules is January 1, 2015, and, for certain provisions, various phase-in periods and later effective dates apply. The chief features of the new rules are summarized below.

The new rules refine the definitions of what constitutes regulatory capital and add a new regulatory capital element, common equity Tier 1 capital. The minimum capital ratios are (i) a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6%; (iii) a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%. In addition to the minimum capital ratios, the new rules include a capital conservation buffer, under which a banking organization must have capital more than 2.5% above each of its minimum risk-based capital ratios in order to avoid restrictions on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying certain discretionary bonuses.

Effective January 1, 2015, the new rules also revise the prompt corrective action framework, which is designed to place restrictions on insured depository institutions if their capital levels show signs of weakness. Under the new prompt corrective action requirements, insured depository institutions would be required to meet the following in order to qualify as “well capitalized:” (i) a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5%; (ii) a Tier 1

 
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risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%; (iii) a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10%; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5%.

Basel III also contains provisions on liquidity including complex criteria establishing a liquidity coverage ratio (“LCR”) and net stable funding ratio (“NSFR”). The purpose of the LCR is to ensure that a bank maintains adequate unencumbered, high quality liquid assets to meet its liquidity needs for 30 days under a severe liquidity stress scenario. The purpose of the NSFR is to promote more medium and long-term funding of assets and activities, using a one-year horizon. The federal banking agencies published proposed regulations on these provisions of Basel III on October 24, 2012. As proposed, these regulations will not apply to a bank holding company that has less than $50 billion of total consolidated assets and is not internationally active.


Business Initiatives

On June 20, 2014, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement (with no loss sharing agreement) with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to acquire certain loans and other assets and assume all of the deposits of Valley Bank, a full-service bank headquartered in Moline, Ill., with significant operations in Iowa. The Company converted the Valley Bank operational systems into Great Southern’s systems on October 24, 2014, which allowed all Great Southern and former Valley Bank customers to conduct business at any banking center throughout the Great Southern six-state retail franchise. Upon completion of the operational conversion, back office operations were consolidated. At the time of the acquisition, Valley Bank operated 13 locations – six locations in the Quad Cities market area and seven in central Iowa, primarily in the Des Moines market area. In September, the Company closed two former Valley Bank locations – one in Moline, Ill., and one in Altoona, Iowa. On October 27, 2014, a new banking center in Ames, Iowa was opened, replacing the previously leased former Valley Banking office. The new Ames location at 402 Lincoln Way provides much better access and visibility.

Other banking center network initiatives include the following:

·
In September 2014, two banking centers were closed - one in Lamar, Mo., and one in Johnston, Iowa.  Both of these offices were leased and were underutilized.  Customer accounts have been moved to other Great Southern locations.

·
Construction of a full-service banking center in Columbia, Mo., is underway.  The new banking center site is located at 3200 S. Providence Road and is expected to open late in the first quarter of 2015.

·
The Company recently purchased a 20,000-square-foot former bank office building in Leawood, Johnson County, Kan., a suburb of the Kansas City metropolitan market area. Scheduled to be open for business in mid-2015, the office will house the Kansas City commercial lending group, currently located in nearby Overland Park, Kan., and a retail banking center.  Additional space in the building is leased to tenants unrelated to the Company.

To enhance customer service, the Company is currently implementing “instant issue” technology in its banking center network so that customers can conveniently receive a fully activated debit card at the time of their visit. Well over half of Great Southern banking centers now have instant issue capabilities. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2014.
 
 
Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company’s total assets increased by $349.2 million to $3.91 billion.  The majority of the increase was attributable to the FDIC-assisted acquisition of Valley Bank and an increase in loans originated by the Bank, partially offset by a reduction in available-for-sale investment securities.

Net loans increased $481.8 million from December 31, 2013, to $2.92 billion at September 30, 2014.  Excluding acquired covered loans, acquired non-covered loans and mortgage loans held for sale, total loans increased $367.7 million from December 31, 2013, to September 30, 2014, with increases primarily in the areas of commercial real estate loans, construction loans, consumer loans, commercial business loans and other residential loans.  Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in net loans acquired in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 FDIC-assisted transactions of $40.7 million, or 10.5%.  The net carrying value of the loans acquired in the Valley transaction was $152.5 million

 
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at September 30, 2014.  The Company's strategy continues to be focused on maintaining credit risk and interest rate risk at appropriate levels given the current credit and economic environments. 

The Company's available-for-sale securities decreased $130.1 million compared to December 31, 2013.  The decrease was due to the sale of the Company’s Small Business Administration loan pools securities and certain mortgage-backed securities during the period and normal monthly payments received related to the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities.  The Small Business Administration securities were sold at a gain of $569,000.  The Valley securities acquired in June 2014 were sold in July 2014 at a gain of approximately $175,000.

The FDIC indemnification asset decreased $21.1 million from December 31, 2013, partially due to the billing and collection of realized losses from the FDIC and primarily due to estimated improved cash flows to be collected from the loan obligors, resulting in reductions in payments expected to be received from the FDIC.  The expected cash flows are further discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Total liabilities increased $320.8 million from $3.18 billion at December 31, 2013 to $3.50 billion at September 30, 2014.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances, offset by decreases in structured repurchase agreements.  Total deposits increased $262.5 million from December 31, 2013.  The increases were primarily due to deposits acquired in the FDIC-assisted acquisition of Valley Bank in June 2014 and the acquisition of deposits from Boulevard Bank in March 2014.  Transaction account balances increased $131.9 million to $1.95 billion at September 30, 2014, up from $1.81 billion at December 31, 2013, while retail certificates of deposit increased $70.0 million to $937.6 million at September 30, 2014, up from $867.6 million at December 31, 2013.  In addition, at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Bank customer deposits totaling $37.0 million and $76.3 million, respectively, were part of the CDARS program which allows Bank customers to maintain balances in an insured manner that would otherwise exceed the FDIC deposit insurance limit. The FDIC counts these deposits as brokered, but these are deposit accounts that we generate with customers in our local markets. The Company decreased interest rates offered on CDARS customer deposits during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Brokered deposits were $150 million at September 30, 2014, an increase of $100 million from $50 million at December 31, 2013.  The Company elected to increase brokered deposits to fund a portion of its loan growth during the period.

Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $63.9 million from $126.8 million at December 31, 2013 to $190.7 million at September 30, 2014.  The increase was due to an additional $149 million of short-term borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank in the second and third quarters of 2014, which were used for liquidity purposes related to the Valley transaction and to fund the Bank’s loan growth, partially offset by $80 million of higher-rate long-term advances which were repaid by the Company in June of 2014.

Structured repurchase agreements decreased $50 million, from $50 million at December 31, 2013, to $0 at September 30, 2014, as the Company repaid these borrowings in June of 2014.

Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers increased $36.8 million from December 31, 2013, to September 30, 2014.  These balances fluctuate over time based on customer demand for this product. 

Total stockholders' equity increased $28.4 million from $380.7 million at December 31, 2013 to $409.1 million at September 30, 2014.  The Company recorded net income of $31.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and common and preferred dividends declared were $8.2 million.  Accumulated other comprehensive income increased $4.5 million due to increases in the fair value of available-for-sale investment securities.  In addition, total stockholders’ equity increased $1.2 million due to stock option exercises and decreased $512,000 due to re-purchases of the Company’s common stock.

Results of Operations and Comparison for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

General

Net income was $11.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to net income of $8.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. This increase of $3.2 million, or 37.3%, was primarily due to an increase in net interest income of $5.6 million, or 14.7%, a decrease in provision for loan losses of $1.7 million, or 64.7%, and an increase in non-interest income of $849,000, or 91.4%, partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense of $3.2 million, or 12.4%, and an increase in income tax expense of $1.8 million, or 86.3%.  Net income

 
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available to common stockholders was $11.4 million and $8.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Net income was $31.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to net income of $25.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This increase of $6.4 million, or 25.6%, was primarily due to a decrease in provision for loan losses of $10.5 million, or 71.9%, an increase in non-interest income of $7.2 million, or 116%, and an increase in net interest income of $2.9 million, or 2.5%, partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense of $10.9 million, or 13.8%, and an increase in income tax expense of $3.3 million, or 47.6%.  Net income available to common stockholders was $31.0 million and $24.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Total Interest Income

Total interest income increased $4.6 million, or 10.7%, during the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013.  The increase was due to a $4.9 million increase in interest income on loans, partially offset by a $273,000 decrease in interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets.  Interest income on loans increased for the three months ended September 30, 2014, due to higher average balances on loans, partially offset by lower average rates of interest.  Total interest income increased $430,000, or 0.3%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The increase was due to a $3.4 million increase in interest income on loans, partially offset by a $3.0 million decrease in interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets.  Interest income on loans increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, due to higher average balances on loans, partially offset by lower average rates of interest.  Interest income from investment securities and other interest-earning assets decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013 primarily due to lower average balances. The lower average balances of investments were primarily due to the sale of the Company’s Small Business Administration loan pools securities, and as a result of management’s decision to not reinvest mortgage-backed securities’ monthly cash flows back into investments, but to utilize the proceeds to fund loan growth.  Prepayments on the mortgages underlying these securities resulted in amortization of premiums which also reduced yields.  In addition, for the 2014 three month period, the reduction in average balances on investments was due to the sale of certain mortgage-backed securities.

Interest Income – Loans

During the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013, interest income on loans increased due to higher average balances, partially offset by lower average interest rates.

Interest income increased $8.8 million as the result of higher average loan balances, which increased from $2.37 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $2.93 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2014.  The higher average balances were primarily due to growth in the commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, construction loans, other residential loans and consumer loans categories.  A portion of this loan growth resulted from the Company acquiring $165.1 million in loans as part of the Valley FDIC-assisted transaction on June 20, 2014, the balance of which were $152.5 million at September 30, 2014.

Interest income decreased $4.0 million as a result of lower average interest rates on loans.  The average yield on loans decreased from 6.70% during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to 6.08% during the three months ended September 30, 2014.  This decrease was due to lower overall loan rates, partially offset by a slightly higher amount of accretion income in the current year period compared to the prior year period resulting from the increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools as previously discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  On an on-going basis, the Company estimates the cash flows expected to be collected from the acquired loan pools. This cash flows estimate has increased, based on the payment histories and reduced loss expectations of the loan pools, resulting in adjustments to be spread on a level-yield basis over the remaining expected lives of the loan pools. The increases in expected cash flows also reduced the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which are recorded as indemnification assets. Therefore, the expected indemnification assets have also been reduced, resulting in adjustments to be amortized on a comparable basis over the remainder of the loss sharing agreements or the remaining expected life of the loan pools, whichever is shorter.  For the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the adjustments increased interest income by $8.8 million and $8.4 million, respectively, and decreased non-interest income by $7.4 million and $7.3 million, respectively.  The net impact to pre-tax income was $1.4 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  As of September 30, 2014, the remaining accretable yield adjustment that

 
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will affect interest income is $29.6 million and the remaining adjustment to the indemnification assets, including the effects of the clawback liability related to InterBank, that will affect non-interest income (expense) is $(26.0 million).  Of the remaining adjustments, we expect to recognize $7.2 million of interest income and $(6.0) million of non-interest income (expense) in the remainder of 2014.  Additional adjustments may be recorded in future periods from the FDIC-assisted transactions, as the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools.  Apart from the yield accretion, the average yield on loans was 4.89% for the three months ended September 30, 2014, down from 5.30% for the three months ended September 30, 2013, as a result of loan pay-offs and normal amortization of higher-rate loans and new loans that were made at current lower market rates.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, interest income on loans increased due to higher average balances, partially offset by decreases due to lower average interest rates.

Interest income increased $15.3 million as the result of higher average loan balances, which increased from $2.39 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to $2.70 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The higher average balances were primarily due to increases in commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, construction loans, other residential loans and consumer loans.  A portion of this loan growth resulted from the Company acquiring $165.1 million in loans as part of the Valley FDIC-assisted transaction on June 20, 2014, the balance of which were $152.5 million at September 30, 2014.

Partially offsetting the increase in interest income described above, interest income decreased $11.8 million as a result of lower average interest rates on loans.  The average yield on loans decreased from 6.84% during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 6.22% during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  This decrease was due to a reduction in overall loan rates and a decrease in additional yield accretion recognized in conjunction with the fair value of the loan pools acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions as discussed above for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and as previously discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  The adjustments increased interest income by $25.8 million and decreased non-interest income by $21.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, for a net impact of $3.9 million to pre-tax income.  The adjustments increased interest income by $26.5 million and decreased non-interest income by $22.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, for a net impact of $4.0 million to pre-tax income.  Apart from the yield accretion, the average yield on loans was 4.94% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, down from 5.36% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 for reasons discussed above.

Interest Income – Investments and Other Interest-earning Assets

Interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013.  Interest income decreased $871,000 as a result of a decrease in average balances from $667.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $486.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Average balances of securities decreased primarily due to the sale of the Company’s Small Business Administration loan pools securities and sales of other investment securities in previous periods of 2014 and the normal monthly payments received on the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, with proceeds being used to fund new loan originations.  Interest income increased $643,000 due to an increase in average interest rates from 1.68% during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to 2.12% during the three months ended September 30, 2014.

Interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Interest income decreased $3.7 million as a result of a decrease in average balances from $763.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to $528.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Interest income increased $740,000 as a result of an increase in average interest rates from 1.98% during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 2.12% during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The reasons for these changes in the comparable nine-month periods are the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month periods.
 
 
The Company’s interest-earning deposits and non-interest-earning cash equivalents currently earn very low or no yield and therefore negatively impact the Company’s net interest margin. At September 30, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $221.4 million compared to $227.9 million at December 31, 2013.  See "Net Interest Income" for additional information on the impact of this interest activity.

 
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Total Interest Expense

Total interest expense decreased $1.1 million, or 23.1%, during the three months ended September 30, 2014, when compared with the three months ended September 30, 2013, due to a decrease in interest expense on FHLBank advances of $544,000, or 54.1%, and a decrease in interest expense on short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements of $574,000, or 97.8%.

Total interest expense decreased $2.5 million, or 17.0%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due to a decrease in interest expense on deposits of $1.3 million, or 13.7%, a decrease in interest expense on FHLBank advances of $522,000, or 17.6%, and a decrease in interest expense on short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements of $676,000, or 38.5%.

Interest Expense – Deposits

Interest expense on demand deposits increased $71,000 due to an increase in average balances from $1.34 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $1.47 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2014.  The increase in average balances of interest-bearing demand deposits was primarily a result of the demand deposits acquired in the Valley transaction, which occurred on June 20, 2014.  The average balance of non-interest-bearing demand deposit accounts increased $21.2 million, from $523.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $544.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Interest expense on demand deposits were unaffected due to average rates of interest that remained unchanged during the 2014 and 2013 three month periods.

Interest expense on demand deposits decreased $349,000 due to a decrease in average rates from 0.25% during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 0.22% during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Interest expense on demand deposits decreased $153,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $1.52 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to $1.44 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Average interest rates decreased due to lower overall market rates of interest in the 2014 period and because the Company continued to pay lower rates in line with the market during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 when compared to the same period in 2013.

Interest expense on time deposits decreased $127,000 as a result of a decrease in average rates of interest from 0.81% during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to 0.76% during the three months ended September 30, 2014 due to a reduction in market rates of interest.  A large portion of the Company’s certificate of deposit portfolio matures within six to eighteen months and therefore reprices fairly quickly; this is consistent with the portfolio over the past several years.  Interest expense on time deposits increased $110,000 due to an increase in average balances of time deposits from $1.03 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $1.09 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2014.  The increase in time deposit balances was primarily due to the deposits acquired in the Valley transaction on June 20, 2014.

Interest expense on time deposits decreased $450,000 due to a decrease in average balances of time deposits from $1.10 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to $1.02 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The decrease in time deposit balances was primarily due to some customers choosing not to renew their deposits with us upon maturity due to lower rates offered by the Company.  Also contributing to the decrease was the decrease in CDARS deposits of $40.6 million compared to September 30, 2013.  These decreases were offset by the increase in average balances during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 due to the deposits acquired in the Valley transaction.  Interest expense on time deposits decreased $362,000 due to a decrease in average rates from 0.82% during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 0.78% during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The reasons for the changes in average interest rates in the comparable nine-month period is the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month period.

Interest Expense – FHLBank Advances, Short-term Borrowings and Structured Repo Borrowings and Subordinated Debentures Issued to Capital Trusts

During the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013, interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased due to lower average rates of interest, partially offset by higher average balances.  Interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased $976,000 due to a decrease in average interest rates from 3.08% in the three months ended September 30, 2013, to 0.85% in the three months ended September 30, 2014.  The

 
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significant decrease in the average rate was due to the repayment of $80 million of the Company’s long-term higher-rate FHLBank advances during June 2014.  As of September 30, 2014, $149 million of the Company’s $191 million of total FHLBank advances are short-term advances with very low interest rates.  Partially offsetting this decrease was an increase in interest expense on FHLBank advances of $432,000 due to an increase in average balances from $129.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $214.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014. This increase was primarily due to additional short-term FHLBank advances obtained by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2014, to fund loan growth and for other short term funding needs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased due to lower average rates of interest, partially offset by higher average balances.  Interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased $1.1 million due to a decrease in average interest rates from 3.11% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 2.06% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Interest expense on FHLBank advances increased $624,000 due to an increase in average balances from $127.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to $158.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The reasons for these changes in the comparable nine-month periods are the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month periods.

Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings decreased $449,000 due to a decrease in average rates on short-term borrowings from 1.06% in the three months ended September 30, 2013, to 0.03% in the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings decreased $125,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $220.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $161.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014.  The decrease in balances of short-term borrowings in the three month period was primarily due to the repayment by the Company of $50 million of structured repurchase agreements at the end of June 2014.  As there were none of the higher-rate structured repurchase agreements during the three-month period, the average rate went down because the interest expense was all related to the lower-rate securities sold under repurchase agreements with customers.

Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings decreased $355,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $245.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to $189.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings decreased $321,000 due to a decrease in average rates on short-term borrowings from 0.96% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 0.76% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The reasons for these changes in the comparable nine-month periods are the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month periods.

During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts were almost unchanged.  Average interest rates were 1.81% in the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 1.83% in the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Average interest rates were 1.82% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to 1.81% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  These are variable-rate debentures which bear interest at an average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 1.57%, adjusting quarterly.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2014 increased $5.6 million to $44.1 million compared to $38.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Net interest margin was 4.91% in the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 4.64% in the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of 27 basis points, or 5.8%.  In both three-month periods, the Company’s margin was positively impacted by the increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools and the resulting increase to accretable yield which were previously discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The positive impact of these changes on the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were increases in interest income of $8.8 million and $8.4 million, respectively, and increases in net interest margin of 98 basis points and 101 basis points, respectively.  Excluding the positive impact of the additional yield accretion, net interest margin increased 30 basis points when compared to the year-ago quarter.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans due to higher average loan balances and a decrease in interest expense on FHLBank advances and short-term borrowings, due to the payoff of FHLBank advances and structured repurchase agreements, as discussed in the June 30, 2014 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  In addition, during 2013 and the first nine months of 2014, market rates on checking and savings deposits remained very low and retail time deposits renewed at somewhat lower rates of interest.

 
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The positive impact from lower deposit rates has continued to diminish as market rates for such deposits are no longer declining. The Company has also experienced decreases in yields on loans and investments, excluding the yield accretion income discussed above. Existing loans continue to repay, and in many cases new loans are originated at rates which are lower than the rates on those repaying loans and may be lower than existing average portfolio rates.

The Company's overall average interest rate spread increased 30 basis points, or 6.6%, from 4.53% during the three months ended September 30, 2013, to 4.83% during the three months ended September 30, 2014. The gross change was due to an 11 basis point increase in the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and a 19 basis point decrease in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. In comparing the two periods, the yield on loans decreased 62 basis points while the yield on investment securities and other interest-earning assets increased 44 basis points. The rate paid on deposits decreased two basis points, the rate paid on short-term borrowings decreased 103 basis points, the rate paid on FHLBank advances decreased 223 basis points, and the rate paid on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts increased two basis points.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 increased $2.9 million to $122.0 million compared to $119.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Net interest margin was 4.75% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 4.60% in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of 15 basis points, or 3.3%.  In both nine-month periods, the Company’s margin was positively impacted by the increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools and the resulting increase to accretable yield which were previously discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The positive impact of these changes on the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were increases in interest income of $25.8 million and $26.5 million, respectively, and increases in net interest margin of 101 basis points and 103 basis points, respectively.  Excluding the positive impact of the additional yield accretion, net interest margin increased 17 basis points when compared to the year-ago period.  The reasons for these changes in the comparable nine-month periods are the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month periods.

The Company's overall interest rate spread increased 14 basis points, or 3.1%, from 4.51% during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 4.65% during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The gross change was due to a seven basis point increase in the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets, and a seven basis point decrease in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.  In comparing the two periods, the yield on loans decreased 62 basis points while the yield on investment securities and other interest-earning assets increased 14 basis points.  The rate paid on deposits decreased four basis points, the rate paid on FHLBank advances decreased 105 basis points, the rate paid on short-term borrowings decreased 20 basis points and the rate paid on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased one basis point.

For additional information on net interest income components, refer to the "Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields" table in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Provision for Loan Losses and Allowance for Loan Losses

Management records a provision for loan losses in an amount it believes sufficient to result in an allowance for loan losses that will cover current net charge-offs as well as risks believed to be inherent in the loan portfolio of the Bank. The amount of provision charged against current income is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, past loss experience, current portfolio mix, actual and potential losses identified in the loan portfolio, economic conditions, and internal as well as external reviews.  Based on the Company’s current assessment of these factors and their expected impact on the loan portfolio, management believes that provision expenses and net charge-offs for 2014 will likely continue to be less than those for 2013.  However, the levels of non-performing assets, potential problem loans, loan loss provisions and net charge-offs fluctuate from period to period and are difficult to predict.

Weak economic conditions, higher inflation or interest rates, or other factors may lead to increased losses in the portfolio and/or requirements for an increase in loan loss provision expense. Management long ago established various controls in an attempt to limit future losses, such as a watch list of possible problem loans, documented loan administration policies and a loan review staff to review the quality and anticipated collectability of the portfolio. Additional procedures provide for frequent management review of the loan portfolio based on loan size, loan type, delinquencies, on-going correspondence with borrowers and problem loan work-outs. Management determines which loans are potentially uncollectible, or represent a greater risk of loss, and makes additional provisions to expense, if necessary, to maintain the allowance at a satisfactory level.

 
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The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2014, decreased $1.7 million to $945,000 when compared with the three months ended September 30, 2013.  The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, decreased $10.5 million to $4.1 million when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  At September 30, 2014, the allowance for loan losses was $38.1 million, a decrease of $2.0 million from December 31, 2013.  Total net charge-offs were $946,000 and $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Two relationships made up $438,000 of the net charge-off total for the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Total net charge-offs were $6.1 million and $15.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The decrease in net charge-offs and provision for loan losses in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, were consistent with our expectations, as indicated in previous filings.  General market conditions, and more specifically, real estate absorption rates and unique circumstances related to individual borrowers and projects also contributed to the level of provisions and charge-offs.  As properties were categorized as potential problem loans, non-performing loans or foreclosed assets, evaluations were made of the values of these assets with corresponding charge-offs as appropriate.

Loans acquired in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 FDIC-assisted transactions are covered by loss sharing agreements between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank which afford Great Southern Bank at least 80% protection from losses in the acquired portfolio of loans.  The FDIC loss sharing agreements are subject to limitations on the types of losses covered and the length of time losses are covered and are conditioned upon the Bank complying with its requirements in the agreements with the FDIC.  These limitations are described in detail in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  The acquired loans were grouped into pools based on common characteristics and were recorded at their estimated fair values, which incorporated estimated credit losses at the acquisition dates.  These loan pools are systematically reviewed by the Company to determine the risk of losses that may exceed those identified at the time of the acquisition.  Techniques used in determining risk of loss are similar to those used to determine the risk of loss for the legacy Bank portfolio, with most focus being placed on those loan pools which include the larger loan relationships and those loan pools which exhibit higher risk characteristics.  Review of the acquired loan portfolio also includes meetings with customers, review of financial information and collateral valuations to determine if any additional losses are apparent.  Former Valley Bank loans are accounted for in pools and were recorded at their fair value at the time of the acquisition as of June 20, 2014; therefore, these loan pools are analyzed rather than the individual loans.

The loss sharing agreement for the non-single-family portion of the loans acquired in the TeamBank transaction ended on March 31, 2014.  Any additional losses in that non-single-family portfolio will not be eligible for loss sharing coverage. At this time, the Company does not expect any material losses in this non-single-family loan portfolio, which had a carrying value of $28.3 million at September 30, 2014.

The loss sharing agreement for the non-single-family portion of the loans acquired in the Vantus Bank transaction ended on September 30, 2014.  Going forward, any additional losses in that non-single-family portfolio will not be eligible for loss sharing coverage. At this time, the Company does not expect any material losses in this non single-family loan portfolio, which had a carrying value of $23.5 million at September 30, 2014.

The Bank’s allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding loans covered by the FDIC loss sharing agreements, was 1.43%, 1.92% and 2.01% at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2013, respectively. Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio at September 30, 2014, based on recent reviews of the Company’s loan portfolio and current economic conditions. If economic conditions were to deteriorate or management’s assessment of the loan portfolio were to change, it is possible that additional loan loss provisions would be required, thereby adversely affecting future results of operations and financial condition.

Non-performing Assets

Former TeamBank (portion of loans still covered by loss sharing agreement), Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank non-performing assets, including foreclosed assets, are not included in the totals or in the discussion of non-performing loans, potential problem loans and foreclosed assets below due to the respective loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which cover at least 80% of principal losses that may be incurred in these portfolios for the applicable terms under the agreements.  At September 30, 2014, there were no material non-performing assets that were previously covered, and are now not covered, under the TeamBank non-single-family loss sharing agreement. Former Valley Bank loans are also excluded from the totals and the discussion of non-performing loans, potential problem loans and foreclosed assets below, although they are not covered by a loss sharing agreement.  Former Valley Bank

 
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loans are accounted for in pools and were recorded at their fair value at the time of the acquisition as of June 20, 2014; therefore, these loan pools are analyzed rather than the individual loans.  In addition, FDIC-supported TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank assets were initially recorded at their estimated fair values as of their acquisition dates of March 20, 2009, September 4, 2009, October 7, 2011 and April 27, 2012, respectively.  The overall performance of the FDIC-covered loan pools acquired in 2009, 2011 and 2012 has been better than original expectations as of the acquisition dates.

As a result of changes in balances and composition of the loan portfolio, changes in economic and market conditions that occur from time to time, and other factors specific to a borrower’s circumstances, the level of non-performing assets will fluctuate.  Non-performing assets, excluding FDIC-covered non-performing assets and non-covered acquired assets, at September 30, 2014, were $47.1 million, a decrease of $15.2 million from $62.3 million at December 31, 2013.  Non-performing assets, excluding FDIC-covered non-performing assets and non-covered acquired assets, as a percentage of total assets were 1.21% at September 30, 2014, compared to 1.75% at December 31, 2013.

Compared to December 31, 2013, non-performing loans decreased $7.9 million to $12.0 million and foreclosed assets decreased $7.3 million to $35.1 million.  Non-performing one-to four-family residential loans comprised $4.9 million, or 41.1%, of the total $12.0 million of non-performing loans at September 30, 2014, an increase of $588,000 from December 31, 2013.  Non-performing commercial real estate loans comprised $3.0 million, or 24.6%, of total non-performing loans at September 30, 2014, a decrease of $3.2 million from December 31, 2013.    Non-performing construction and land development loans comprised $1.7 million, or 14.2%, of total non-performing loans at September 30, 2014, an increase of $503,000 from December 31, 2013.  Non-performing commercial business loans decreased $5.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and were $1.6 million, or 13.6%, of total non-performing loans at September 30, 2014.

Non-performing Loans.  Activity in the non-performing loans category during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
to Non-
Performing
   
Removed
from Non-
Performing
   
Transfers to
Potential
Problem
Loans
   
Transfers to
Foreclosed
Assets
   
Charge-
Offs
   
Payments
   
Ending
Balance,
September 30
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
  $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    871       2,748                   (688 )     (1,037 )     (448 )     1,446  
Land development
    338       102                   (65 )     (80 )     (29 )     266  
Commercial construction
                                               
One- to four-family residential
    4,361       5,171       (76 )     (546 )     (2,075 )     (790 )     (1,096 )     4,949  
Other residential
                                               
Commercial real estate
    6,205       2,838       (1,200 )                 (442 )     (4,434 )     2,967  
Commercial business
    7,231       336       (2,715 )                 (1,974 )     (1,246 )     1,632  
Consumer
    900       735       (273 )     (52 )     (28 )     (130 )     (371 )     781  
                                                                 
Total
  $ 19,906     $ 11,930     $ (4,264 )   $ (598 )   $ (2,856 )   $ (4,453 )   $ (7,624 )   $ 12,041  
                                                                 

At September 30, 2014, the non-performing one- to four-family residential category included 59 loans, 24 of which were added during the quarter.  Of the 24 one- to four-family residential loans added during the quarter, 14 of them were to two borrowers, and were transferred from potential problem loans to non-performing loans during the quarter.  The non-performing commercial real estate category included eight loans, four of which were added during the quarter.  The largest relationship in this category, which was added in a previous quarter, totaled $1.9 million, or 64.7%, of the total category, and is collateralized by a theater property in Branson, Mo.  This category had $4.0 million in payments on two relationships during the quarter.  The properties associated with these relationships were sold during the quarter.  The non-performing commercial business category included eight loans, one of which was added during the quarter.  The largest relationship in this category, which was added in 2010, totaled $1.2 million, or 73.8% of the total category, and is collateralized by an assignment of annual assessments generated by a Community Improvement District for the associated real estate.  The non-performing subdivision construction category included five loans, all of which were added during the current quarter.  The largest relationship in this category totaled $943,000, or 65.2% of the total category, and is collateralized by property in the Kansas City, Mo., area.


 
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Potential Problem Loans.  Compared to December 31, 2013, potential problem loans decreased $5.9 million, or 21.9%. This decrease was due to $7.2 million in loans being removed from potential problem loans due to improvements in the credits, $5.0 million in loans transferred to the non-performing category, $907,000 in charge-offs, $417,000 in loans transferred to foreclosed assets, and $423,000 in payments from customers, partially offset by the addition of $8.0 million of loans to potential problem loans. Potential problem loans are loans which management has identified through routine internal review procedures as having possible credit problems that may cause the borrowers difficulty in complying with the current repayment terms.  These loans are not reflected in non-performing assets, but are considered in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.  Activity in the potential problem loans category during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions to
Potential
Problem
   
Removed
from
Potential
Problem
   
Transfers to
Non-
Performing
   
Transfers to
Foreclosed
Assets
   
Charge-
Offs
   
Payments
   
Ending
Balance,
September 30
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
  $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    2,201       864             (1,806 )           (500 )     (24 )     735  
Land development
    10,857             (5,000 )                             5,857  
Commercial construction
                                               
One- to four-family residential
    2,193       2,208       (250 )     (2,340 )                 (52 )     1,759  
Other residential
    1,956                                           1,956  
Commercial real estate
    8,737       4,557       (1,905 )     (598 )     (417 )     (381 )     (317 )     9,676  
Commercial business
    860       231       (43 )     (225 )                       823  
Consumer
    183       145             (6 )           (26 )     (30 )     266  
                                                                 
Total
  $ 26,987     $ 8,005     $ (7,198 )   $ (4,975 )   $ (417 )   $ (907 )   $ (423 )   $ 21,072  
                                                                 

At September 30, 2014, the commercial real estate category of potential problem loans included seven loans, one of which was added during the current quarter.  The largest relationship in this category, which was added during a previous quarter, had a balance of $4.9 million, or 50.2% of the total category.  The relationship is collateralized by properties located near Branson, Mo. The land development category of potential problem loans included three loans, all of which were added during previous quarters.  The largest relationship in this category totaled $3.8 million, or 65.6% of the total category, and is collateralized by property in the Branson, Mo. area.  The one- to four-family residential category of potential problem loans included 19 loans, one of which was added during the current quarter.  Eleven one-to four-family residential loans were transferred from potential problem loans to non-performing loans during the current quarter, nine of which were to the same borrower.  The other residential category of potential problem loans included one loan which was added in a previous quarter, and is collateralized by properties located in the Branson, Mo., area.  The commercial business category of potential problem loans included five loans, all of which were added in previous quarters.  The largest relationship in this category had a balance of $660,000, or 80.2% of the total category, and is collateralized primarily by automobiles.  The subdivision construction category of potential problem loans included four loans, all of which were added during previous quarters.  The largest relationship in this category had a balance of $250,000, or 34.2% of the total category, and is collateralized by property in southwest Missouri.


 
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Foreclosed Assets.  Of the total $43.8 million of other real estate owned at September 30, 2014, $6.7 million represents the fair value of foreclosed assets covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements and $2.0 million represents properties which were not acquired through foreclosure. The foreclosed assets covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements and the properties not acquired through foreclosure are not included in the following table and discussion of foreclosed assets.  Because sales of foreclosed properties exceeded additions, total foreclosed assets decreased.  Activity in foreclosed assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
   
ORE
Sales
   
Capitalized
Costs
   
ORE Write-
Downs
   
Ending
Balance,
September 30
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
  $     $     $     $     $     $  
Subdivision construction
    11,652       688       (2,545 )           (17 )     9,778  
Land development
    18,920       74       (270 )           (972 )     17,752  
Commercial construction
                                   
One- to four-family residential
    744       2,218       (1,349 )           (49 )     1,564  
Other residential
    5,900             (2,419 )     96             3,577  
Commercial real estate
    4,135       417       (2,773 )                 1,779  
Commercial business
    77             (4 )           (14 )     59  
Consumer
    969       2,357       (2,719 )           (42 )     565  
                                                 
Total
  $ 42,397     $ 5,754     $ (12,079 )   $ 96     $ (1,094 )   $ 35,074  
                                                 

At September 30, 2014, the land development category of foreclosed assets included 33 properties, the largest of which was located in northwest Arkansas and had a balance of $2.3 million, or 12.9% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the land development category of foreclosed assets, 41.7% and 34.3% was located in northwest Arkansas and in the Branson, Mo., area, respectively, including the largest property previously mentioned.  The subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets included 31 properties, the largest of which was located in the St. Louis, Mo. metropolitan area and had a balance of $2.8 million, or 28.5% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets, 20.2% and 13.4% is located in Branson, Mo. and Springfield, Mo., respectively. The commercial real estate category of foreclosed assets included seven properties, the largest of which was located in the Branson, Mo., area and had a balance of $691,000, or 38.9% of the total category.  There were $2.3 million in sales of the commercial real estate category of foreclosed assets during the three months ended September 30, 2014, which included $1.4 million from the sale of a mixed use facility in St. Louis, Mo., $520,000 from the sale of a retail center in the Springfield, Mo., area, and $400,000 from the sale of a former restaurant building in northwest Arkansas.  The other residential category of foreclosed assets included 14 properties, 11 of which were all part of the same condominium community, which was located in Branson, Mo. and had a balance of $2.1 million, or 58.1% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the other residential category of foreclosed assets, 80.4% is located in the Branson, Mo., area, including the largest properties previously mentioned.

Non-interest Income

For the three months ended September 30, 2014, non-interest income increased $849,000 to $1.8 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013, primarily as a result of the following items:

Service charges and ATM fees:  Service charges and ATM fees increased $439,000 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in fee income from the additional accounts acquired in the Valley Bank transaction in June 2014.

Gains on sales of single-family loans: Gains on sales of single-family loans increased $364,000 compared to the prior year period.  $217,000 of this increase was related to the single-family loans acquired in the Valley Bank acquisition and subsequently sold in the secondary market.  The remaining increase was due to an increase in originations of fixed-rate loans in the 2014 period.  Fixed rate loans originated are subsequently sold in the secondary market.

Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities: Gains on sales of available-for-sale securities increased $121,000 compared to the prior year period.  This was primarily due to the sale of the mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations acquired in the Valley Bank acquisition in July 2014, which produced a gain of $175,000.  In addition, the Company sold several mortgage-backed securities in August 2014, which produced a gain of $52,000.

 
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Partially offsetting the increase in non-interest income was a change in the following item:

Amortization of income related to business acquisitions:  The net amortization expense related to business acquisitions was $6.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.  The amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014, was made up of the following items:  $7.1 million of amortization expense related to the changes in cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios and $447,000 of amortization of the clawback liability.  Partially offsetting the expense was income from the accretion of the discount related to the indemnification assets for all of the acquisitions of $453,000 and $185,000 of other loss share income items.  Also partially offsetting the expense was income from the reversal of the impairment of the indemnification asset for Vantus Bank of $350,000, as that portion of the original impairment is now expected to be collected from the FDIC.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, non-interest income increased $7.2 million to $13.3 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013, primarily as a result of the following items:

Initial gain recognized on business acquisition: The Company recognized a preliminary one-time gain of $10.8 million (pre-tax) on the FDIC-assisted acquisition of Valley Bank, which occurred on June 20, 2014.

Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities: Gains on sales of available-for-sale securities increased $722,000 compared to the prior year period.  This was primarily due to the sale of all of the Company’s Small Business Administration securities in June 2014, which produced a gain of $569,000, and the sale of the acquired Valley Bank securities in July 2014 as mentioned above.

Partially offsetting the increase in non-interest income was a change in the following items:

Amortization of income related to business acquisitions:  The net amortization expense related to business acquisitions was $20.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $17.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was made up of the following items:  $21.2 million of amortization expense related to the changes in cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios, $1.2 million of amortization of the clawback liability and $152,000 of impairment of the indemnification asset for Vantus Bank.  The impairment was recorded because the Company does not expect resolution of certain items related to commercial foreclosed assets prior to the expiration of the non-single-family loss sharing agreement for Vantus Bank.  Offsetting the expense was income from the accretion of the discount related to the indemnification assets for all of the acquisitions of $1.9 million and $604,000 of other loss share income items.

Gains on sales of single-family loans: Gains on sales of single-family loans decreased $1.5 million compared to the prior year period.  This was due to a decrease in originations of fixed-rate loans due to higher fixed rates being offered on these loans in the 2014 period which resulted in fewer loans being originated to refinance existing debt.  Fixed rate loans originated are subsequently sold in the secondary market.  The decrease occurred in the first six months of the year and was offset by an increase in gains on sales of single-family loans during the three months ended September 30, 2014, as discussed above.

Other Income:  Other income decreased $551,000 compared to the prior year period primarily due to unusual income received in the 2013 period which was not repeated in the current year period.  In the 2013 period the Company received a one-time payment from MasterCard of approximately $480,000.

Change in interest rate swap fair value:  The Company recorded expense of $(223,000) during the 2014 period due to the decrease in the interest rate swap fair value related to its matched book interest rate derivatives program.  This compares to income of $283,000 recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Non-interest Expense

For the three months ended September 30, 2014, non-interest expense increased $3.2 million to $29.4 million, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013, primarily as a result of the following items:


 
68
 
 


Valley Bank acquisition expenses:  The Company incurred approximately $2.3 million of additional non-interest expenses during the three months related to the FDIC-assisted acquisition of Valley Bank.  Those expenses included approximately $1.0 million of compensation expense, approximately $450,000 of net computer and equipment expense, approximately $279,000 of net occupancy expense, approximately $115,000 of travel, meals and other expenses related to the integration of operations and various other expenses.  We expect that a portion of these expenses will not recur in future periods.

Other operating expenses:  Other operating expenses increased $275,000, to $2.1 million, in the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increase in certain costs to originate consumer and mortgage loans of approximately $146,000 and an increase in amortization of intangible assets of $100,000.  The increase in amortization was due to the amortization of the core deposit intangible related to the Valley acquisition.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, non-interest expense increased $10.9 million to $89.7 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily as a result of the following items:

Other operating expenses:  Other operating expenses increased $7.9 million, to $13.6 million, in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the prior year period primarily due to $7.4 million in prepayment penalties paid as the Company elected to repay $130 million of its FHLBank advances and structured repo borrowings prior to their maturity during the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Valley Bank acquisition expenses:  The Company incurred approximately $2.9 million of additional non-interest expenses during the nine month period related to the FDIC-assisted acquisition of Valley Bank.  Those expenses included approximately $1.3 million of compensation expense, approximately $450,000 of net computer and equipment expense, approximately $313,000 of net occupancy expense, approximately $156,000 of legal, audit and other professional fees expense, approximately $239,000 of travel, meals and other expenses related to due diligence for the transaction and integration issues and various other expenses.  We expect that a portion of these expenses will not recur in future periods.

The Company’s efficiency ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2014, was 64.07% compared to 66.40% for the same period in 2013.  The efficiency ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was 66.25% compared to 62.89% for the same period in 2013.  The improvement in the ratio in the 2014 three month period was primarily due to the increase in net interest income, partially offset by increases in non-interest expense.  The increase in the ratio in the 2014 nine month period was primarily due to the early repayment of certain borrowings in June 2014 and the increase in non-interest expense related to the June 2014 Valley Bank acquisition, partially offset by increases in non-interest income resulting from the initial gain recognized on the Valley Bank acquisition.  The Company’s ratio of non-interest expense to average assets increased from 2.85% and 2.72% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, to 2.99% and 3.15% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.  The increase in the current nine month period ratio was primarily due to the increase in other operating expenses in the 2014 period compared to the 2013 period due to the penalties paid for prepayment of borrowings and other non-interest expenses related to the Valley Bank acquisition.  Average assets for the three months ended September 30, 2014, increased $261 million, or 7.1%, from the three months ended September 30, 2013.  The increase was primarily due to the Valley Bank acquisition in June 2014, and organic loan growth, partially offset by decreases in investment securities.  Average assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, decreased $67 million, or 1.7%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The decrease in average assets in the nine month period was primarily due to decreases in investment securities, interest earning deposits at the Federal Reserve Bank and FDIC indemnification assets, offset by increases in loans due to acquisitions and organic loan growth.

Provision for Income Taxes

In the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company elected to early-adopt FASB ASU No. 2014-01, which amends FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures. This Update impacts the Company’s accounting for investments in flow-through limited liability entities which manage or invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit. The amendments in the Update permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit).

 
69
 
 


The Company has significant investments in such qualified affordable housing projects that meet the required conditions.  The Company’s adoption of this Update did not result in any material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, except that the investment amortization expense, which previously was included in Other Non-interest Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income, is now included in Provision for Income Taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Income presented.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, $1.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively, was moved from Other Noninterest Expense to Provision for Income Taxes.  As a result, there was no change in Net Income for the periods covered in this release.  In addition, there was no cumulative effect adjustment to Retained Earnings.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company's effective tax rate was 25.4% and 24.4%, respectively, which was lower than the statutory federal tax rate of 35%, due primarily to the effects of the tax credits utilized and to tax-exempt investments and tax-exempt loans which reduced the Company’s effective tax rate.  In future periods, the Company expects its effective tax rate typically will be 20-25% of pre-tax net income, assuming it continues to maintain or increase its use of investment tax credits. The Company’s effective tax rate may fluctuate as it is impacted by the level and timing of the Company’s utilization of tax credits and the level of tax-exempt investments and loans and the overall level of pretax income.  At this time, the Company expects to utilize a larger amount of tax credits in 2014 than it did in 2013; however, the Company also expects to have a higher level of pretax income in 2014 compared to 2013.

Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Average balances of loans receivable include the average balances of non-accrual loans for each period. Interest income on loans includes interest received on non-accrual loans on a cash basis.  Interest income on loans includes the amortization of net loan fees which were deferred in accordance with accounting standards.  Fees included in interest income were $1.0 million and $851,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Fees included in interest income were $2.2 million and $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis. The table does not reflect any effect of income taxes.

 
70
 
 

 
   
September 30,
2014(2)
   
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
   
Yield/
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans receivable:
                                   
 One- to four-family residential
   
    4.63
%
 
$
550,479
   
$
11,353
 
8.18
%
$
461,892
   
$
8,434
 
7.24
%
 Other residential
   
4.57
     
388,799
     
5,462
 
5.57
   
285,040
     
5,754
 
8.01
 
 Commercial real estate
   
4.46
     
932,658
     
12,129
 
5.16
   
817,080
     
12,401
 
6.02
 
 Construction
   
4.33
     
274,951
     
3,550
 
5.12
   
210,072
     
3,303
 
6.24
 
 Commercial business
   
4.73
     
307,914
     
4,168
 
5.37
   
248,826
     
3,850
 
6.14
 
 Other loans
   
5.29
     
428,946
     
7,625
 
7.05
   
303,776
     
5,695
 
7.44
 
 Industrial revenue bonds (1)
   
5.47
     
       47,633
     
            661
 
5.50
   
       45,333
     
            650
 
5.68
 
                                               
Total loans receivable
   
4.78
     
2,931,380
     
44,948
 
6.08
   
2,372,019
     
40,087
 
6.70
 
             
 
                               
Investment securities (1)
   
2.97
     
    486,040
     
        2,592
 
2.12
   
667,950
     
2,820
 
1.68
 
Other interest-earning assets
   
0.24
     
148,228
     
67
 
0.18
   
246,708
     
112
 
0.18
 
                                               
Total interest-earning assets
   
4.39
     
3,565,648
     
47,607
 
5.30
   
3,286,677
     
43,019
 
5.19
 
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                             
 Cash and cash equivalents
           
101,239
               
90,021
             
 Other non-earning assets
           
266,846
               
295,593
             
Total assets
         
$
3,933,733
             
$
3,672,291
             
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                             
Interest-bearing demand and savings
   
0.19
   
$
1,467,364
     
789
 
0.21
 
$
1,336,049
     
710
 
0.21
 
Time deposits
   
0.77
     
  1,090,111
     
         2,095
 
0.76
   
1,034,460
     
2,112
 
0.81
 
Total deposits
   
0.44
     
2,557,475
     
2,884
 
0.45
   
2,370,509
     
2,822
 
0.47
 
Short-term borrowings and structured
    repurchase agreements
   
0.03
     
161,178
     
13
 
0.03
   
220,645
     
587
 
1.06
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
   
 
1.81
     
30,929
     
143
 
1.83
   
30,929
     
141
 
1.81
 
FHLB advances
   
0.91
     
    214,282
     
461
 
0.85
   
129,488
     
1,005
 
3.08
 
                                               
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
0.51
     
2,963,864
     
3,501
 
0.47
   
2,751,571
     
4,555
 
0.66
 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                             
 Demand deposits
           
544,760
               
523,578
             
 Other liabilities
           
 18,397
               
 19,689
             
Total liabilities
           
3,527,021
               
3,294,838
             
Stockholders’ equity
           
406,712
               
377,453
             
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
         
$
3,933,733
             
$
3,672,291
             
                                               
Net interest income:
                                             
 Interest rate spread
   
 
3.88%
           
$
44,106
 
4.83
%
       
$
38,464
 
4.53
 Net interest margin*
                       
4.91
%
             
4.64
Average interest-earning assets to
    average interest-bearing liabilities
           
120.3
%
             
119.4
%
           
 
_____________________
   
*
Defined as the Company’s net interest income divided by total interest-earning assets.
   

 (1)
 
 
Of the total average balances of investment securities, average tax-exempt investment securities were $88.4 million and $77.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition, average tax-exempt loans and industrial revenue bonds were $39.0 million and $37.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest income on tax-exempt assets included in this table was $1.4 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest income net of disallowed interest expense related to tax-exempt assets was $1.4 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 (2)
 
The yield/rate on loans at September 30, 2014 does not include the impact of the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions.  See “Net Interest Income” for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2014.


 
 
 
71
 
 


   
September 30, 2014(2)
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
   
Yield/
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans receivable:
                                   
 One- to four-family residential
   
    4.63
%
 
$
483,101
   
$
30,709
 
8.50
%
$
481,032
   
$
25,835
 
7.18
%
 Other residential
   
4.57
     
367,907
     
16,013
 
5.82
   
302,603
     
17,948
 
7.93
 
 Commercial real estate
   
4.46
     
902,867
     
35,851
 
5.31
   
803,493
     
37,432
 
6.23
 
 Construction
   
4.33
     
239,563
     
8,782
 
4.90
   
208,669
     
11,523
 
7.38
 
 Commercial business
   
4.73
     
287,639
     
11,634
 
5.41
   
248,865
     
11,118
 
5.97
 
 Other loans
   
5.29
     
375,048
     
20,736
 
7.39
   
291,406
     
16,184
 
7.43
 
 Industrial revenue bonds (1)
   
5.47
     
       46,771
     
         1,944
 
5.56
   
       51,766
     
2,186
 
5.65
 
                                               
Total loans receivable
   
4.78
     
2,702,896
     
125,669
 
6.22
   
2,387,834
     
122,226
 
6.84
 
             
 
                               
Investment securities (1)
   
2.97
     
    528,794
     
        8,367
 
2.12
   
763,143
     
11,291
 
1.98
 
Other interest-earning assets
   
0.24
     
201,414
     
250
 
0.17
   
313,402
     
339
 
0.14
 
                                               
Total interest-earning assets
   
4.39
     
3,433,104
     
134,286
 
5.23
   
3,464,379
     
133,856
 
5.16
 
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                             
 Cash and cash equivalents
           
93,901
               
87,585
             
 Other non-earning assets
           
266,184
               
308,303
             
Total assets
         
$
3,793,189
             
$
3,860,267
             
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                             
Interest-bearing demand and savings
   
0.19
   
$
1,438,496
     
2,364
 
0.22
 
$
1,523,320
     
2,866
 
0.25
 
Time deposits
   
0.77
     
  1,019,743
     
         5,933
 
0.78
   
1,095,145
     
6,745
 
0.82
 
Total deposits
   
0.44
     
2,458,239
     
8,297
 
0.45
   
2,618,465
     
9,611
 
0.49
 
Short-term borrowings and structured
    repurchase agreements
   
0.03
     
189,845
     
1,082
 
0.76
   
245,351
     
1,758
 
0.96
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
   
 
1.81
     
30,929
     
418
 
1.81
   
30,929
     
421
 
1.82
 
FHLB advances
   
0.91
     
    158,919
     
         2,446
 
2.06
   
127,650
     
2,968
 
3.11
 
                                               
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
0.51
     
2,837,932
     
12,243
 
0.58
   
3,022,395
     
14,758
 
0.65
 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                             
 Demand deposits
           
537,436
               
439,076
             
 Other liabilities
           
 20,093
               
 20,856
             
Total liabilities
           
3,395,461
               
3,482,327
             
Stockholders’ equity
           
397,728
               
377,940
             
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
         
$
3,793,189
             
$
3,860,267
             
                                               
Net interest income:
                                             
 Interest rate spread
   
 
3.88%
           
$
122,043
 
4.65
%
       
$
119,098
 
4.51
 Net interest margin*
                       
4.75
%
             
4.60
Average interest-earning assets to
    average interest-bearing liabilities
           
121.0
%
             
114.6
%
           
 
_____________________
   
*
Defined as the Company’s net interest income divided by total interest-earning assets.
   

 (1)
 
 
Of the total average balances of investment securities, average tax-exempt investment securities were $88.5 million and $79.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition, average tax-exempt loans and industrial revenue bonds were $38.6 million and $38.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest income on tax-exempt assets included in this table was $4.0 million and $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest income net of disallowed interest expense related to tax-exempt assets was $3.9 million and $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 (2)
 
The yield/rate on loans at September 30, 2014 does not include the impact of the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions.  See “Net Interest Income” for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.


 
 
 
72
 
 


Rate/Volume Analysis
 
The following tables present the dollar amounts of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods shown. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (i) changes in rate (i.e., changes in rate multiplied by old volume) and (ii) changes in volume (i.e., changes in volume multiplied by old rate). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately to volume and rate. Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis.
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014 vs. 2013
 
   
Increase
(Decrease)
Due to
       
       
   
Total
Increase
(Decrease)
 
   
Rate
   
Volume
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Loans receivable
 
$
(3,963
)
 
$
8,824
 
 
$
4,861
 
Investment securities
   
643
     
(871
)
   
(228
)
Other interest-earning assets
   
     
(45
)
   
(45
)
Total interest-earning assets
   
(3,320
)
   
7,908
 
   
4,588
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Demand deposits
   
8
     
  71
 
   
79
 
Time deposits
   
(127
)
   
110
 
   
   (17
)
Total deposits
   
(119
)
   
181
 
   
62
 
Short-term borrowings and structured repo
   
 (449
)
   
(125
)
   
(574
)
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust
   
2
     
     
2
 
FHLBank advances
   
(976
)
   
432
 
   
(544
)
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
(1,542
)
   
488
 
   
   (1,054
)
Net interest income
 
$
(1,778
)
 
$
7,420
 
 
$
5,642
 

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2014 vs. 2013
 
   
Increase
(Decrease)
Due to
       
       
   
Total
Increase
(Decrease)
 
   
Rate
   
Volume
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Loans receivable
 
$
(11,812
)
 
$
15,255
 
 
$
3,443
 
Investment securities
   
740
     
(3,664
)
   
(2,924
)
Other interest-earning assets
   
45
     
(134
)
   
(89
)
Total interest-earning assets
   
(11,027
)
   
11,457
 
   
430
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Demand deposits
   
(349
)
   
  (153
)
   
(502
)
Time deposits
   
(362
)
   
(450
)
   
   (812
)
Total deposits
   
(711
)
   
(603
)
   
   (1,314
)
Short-term borrowings and structured repo
   
 (321
)
   
(355
)
   
(676
)
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust
   
(3
)
   
     
(3
)
FHLBank advances
   
(1,146
)
   
624
 
   
 (522
)
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
(2,181
)
   
(334
)
   
   (2,515
)
Net interest income
 
$
(8,846
)
 
$
11,791
 
 
$
2,945
 


 
 
 
73
 
 


Liquidity

Liquidity is a measure of the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash to meet present and future financial obligations in a timely manner through either the sale or maturity of existing assets or the acquisition of additional funds through liability management. These obligations include the credit needs of customers, funding deposit withdrawals, and the day-to-day operations of the Company. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions and certain investment securities and loans. The Company manages its ability to generate liquidity primarily through liability funding in such a way that it believes it maintains overall liquidity sufficient to satisfy its depositors' requirements and meet its customers' credit needs. At September 30, 2014, the Company had commitments of approximately $194.4 million to fund loan originations, $430.9 million of unused lines of credit and unadvanced loans, and $24.2 million of outstanding letters of credit.

The Company's primary sources of funds are customer deposits, FHLBank advances, other borrowings, loan repayments, unpledged securities, proceeds from sales of loans and available-for-sale securities and funds provided from operations. The Company utilizes particular sources of funds based on the comparative costs and availability at the time. The Company has from time to time chosen not to pay rates on deposits as high as the rates paid by certain of its competitors and, when believed to be appropriate, supplements deposits with less expensive alternative sources of funds.

At September 30, 2014, the Company had these available secured lines and on-balance sheet liquidity:

Federal Home Loan Bank line
$491.2 million
Federal Reserve Bank line
$545.3 million
Cash and cash equivalents
$221.4 million
Unpledged securities
$84.5 million

Statements of Cash Flows. During both the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company had positive cash flows from operating activities and investing activities.  Cash flows from financing activities were negative for both the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Cash flows from operating activities for the periods covered by the Statements of Cash Flows have been primarily related to changes in accrued and deferred assets, credits and other liabilities, the provision for loan losses, depreciation, impairments of investment securities, gains on sales of investment securities and the amortization of deferred loan origination fees and discounts (premiums) on loans and investments, all of which are non-cash or non-operating adjustments to operating cash flows. Net income adjusted for non-cash and non-operating items and the origination and sale of loans held for sale were the primary source of cash flows from operating activities. Operating activities provided cash flows of $34.0 million and $69.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, investing activities provided cash of $107.0 million and $212.5 million primarily due to the repayment of investment securities and sale of investment securities, partially offset by the net increase in loans for each of the nine-month periods.  In the 2014 period, the Company received cash of $80.0 million related to the Boulevard Bank transaction and $109.4 million related to the Valley Bank transaction.

Changes in cash flows from financing activities during the periods covered by the Statements of Cash Flows are due to changes in deposits after interest credited, changes in FHLBank advances, changes in short-term borrowings, and changes in structured repurchase agreements, as well as dividend payments to stockholders.  Financing activities used cash of $147.5 million and $346.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Financing activities in the future are expected to primarily include changes in deposits, changes in FHLBank advances, changes in short-term borrowings and dividend payments to stockholders.

Capital Resources

Management continuously reviews the capital position of the Company and the Bank to ensure compliance with minimum regulatory requirements, as well as to explore ways to increase capital either by retained earnings or other means.


 
 
 
74
 
 


At September 30, 2014, the Company's total stockholders' equity was $409.1 million, or 10.5% of total assets. At September 30, 2014, common stockholders' equity was $351.1 million, or 9.0% of total assets, equivalent to a book value of $25.62 per common share. Total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2013, was $380.7 million, or 10.7% of total assets. At December 31, 2013, common stockholders' equity was $322.8 million, or 9.1% of total assets, equivalent to a book value of $23.60 per common share.

At September 30, 2014, the Company’s tangible common equity to total assets ratio was 8.8%, compared to 8.9% at December 31, 2013. The Company’s tangible common equity to total risk-weighted assets ratio was 11.2% at September 30, 2014, compared to 12.3% at December 31, 2013.

Banks are required to maintain minimum risk-based capital ratios. These ratios compare capital, as defined by the risk-based regulations, to assets adjusted for their relative risk as defined by the regulations. Guidelines require banks to have a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, as defined, of 4.00%, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.00%, and a minimum 4.00% Tier 1 leverage ratio. To be considered "well capitalized," banks must have a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, as defined, of 6.00%, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 10.00%, and a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5.00%. On September 30, 2014, the Bank's Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 12.0%, total risk-based capital ratio was 13.3% and the Tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.4%. As of September 30, 2014, the Bank was "well capitalized" as defined by the Federal banking agencies' capital-related regulations. The Federal Reserve Board has established capital regulations for bank holding companies that generally parallel the capital regulations for banks. On September 30, 2014, the Company's Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 13.8%, total risk-based capital ratio was 15.1% and the Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.8%. As of September 30, 2014, the Company was "well capitalized" under the capital ratios described above.  These ratios are the current capital requirements.  As discussed above in “Effect of Federal Laws and Regulations,” the Company and the Bank will be subject to new capital requirements due to the changes from “Basel III,” for which the provisions become effective beginning January 1, 2015.

On August 18, 2011, the Company entered into a Small Business Lending Fund-Securities Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company sold 57,943 shares of the Company’s Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “SBLF Preferred Stock”), to the Secretary of the Treasury for a purchase price of $57,943,000.  The SBLF Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to Treasury’s SBLF program, a $30 billion fund established under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 that was created to encourage lending to small businesses by providing Tier 1 capital to qualified community banks and holding companies with assets of less than $10 billion.  As required by the Purchase Agreement, the proceeds from the sale of the SBLF Preferred Stock were used to redeem the 58,000 shares of preferred stock, previously issued to the Treasury pursuant to the TARP Capital Purchase Program (the “CPP”), at a redemption price of $58.0 million plus the accrued dividends owed on the preferred shares.

The SBLF Preferred Stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital.  The holder of the SBLF Preferred Stock is entitled to receive non-cumulative dividends, payable quarterly, on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.  The dividend rate, as a percentage of the liquidation amount, can fluctuate between one percent (1%) and five percent (5%) per annum on a quarterly basis during the first 10 quarters during which the SBLF Preferred Stock is outstanding, based upon changes in the level of “Qualified Small Business Lending” or “QSBL” (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by the Bank over the adjusted baseline level calculated under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock ($201.4 million).  Based upon the increase in the Bank’s level of QSBL over the adjusted baseline level, the dividend rate has been 1.0%.  For the tenth calendar quarter through four and one half years after issuance, the dividend rate will be fixed at between one percent (1%) and seven percent (7%) based upon the level of qualifying loans.  The Company has now reached the tenth calendar quarter and the dividend rate will be 1.0% until four and one half years after the issuance, which is March 2016.  After four and one half years from issuance, the dividend rate will increase to 9% (including a quarterly lending incentive fee of 0.5%).

The SBLF Preferred Stock is non-voting, except in limited circumstances.  In the event that the Company misses five dividend payments, whether or not consecutive, the holder of the SBLF Preferred Stock will have the right, but not the obligation, to appoint a representative as an observer on the Company’s Board of Directors.  In the event that the Company misses six dividend payments, whether or not consecutive, and if the then outstanding aggregate liquidation amount of the SBLF Preferred Stock is at least $25,000,000, then the holder of the SBLF Preferred Stock will have the right to designate two directors to the Board of Directors of the Company.


 
 
 
75
 
 


The SBLF Preferred Stock may be redeemed at any time at the Company’s option, at a redemption price of 100% of the liquidation amount plus accrued but unpaid dividends to the date of redemption for the current period, subject to the approval of its federal banking regulator.

Dividends. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.20 per share, or 24% of net income per diluted common share for that three month period, and paid a common stock cash dividend of $0.20 per share (which was declared in June 2014).  During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.18 per share, or 30% of net income per diluted common share for that three month period, and paid a common stock cash dividend of $0.18 per share (which was declared in March 2013).  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company declared common stock cash dividends of $0.60 per share, or 27% of net income per diluted common share for that nine month period, and paid common stock cash dividends of $0.38 per share.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company declared common stock cash dividends of $0.54 per share, or 30% of net income per diluted common share for that nine month period, and paid common stock cash dividends of $0.36 per share.  The Board of Directors meets regularly to consider the level and the timing of dividend payments.  The $0.20 per share dividend declared but unpaid as of September 30, 2014, was paid to stockholders on October 10, 2014.  In addition, the Company paid preferred dividends as described below.

The terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock impose limits on the ability of the Company to pay dividends and repurchase shares of common stock. Under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock, no repurchases may be effected, and no dividends may be declared or paid on preferred shares ranking pari passu with the SBLF Preferred Stock, junior preferred shares, or other junior securities (including the common stock) during the current quarter and for the next three quarters following the failure to declare and pay dividends on the SBLF Preferred Stock, except that, in any such quarter in which the dividend is paid, dividend payments on shares ranking pari passu may be paid to the extent necessary to avoid any resulting material covenant breach.

Under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock, the Company may only declare and pay a dividend on the common stock or other stock junior to the SBLF Preferred Stock, or repurchase shares of any such class or series of stock, if, after payment of such dividend, or after giving effect to such repurchase, (i) the dollar amount of the Company’s Tier 1 Capital would be at least equal to the “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” and (ii) full dividends on all outstanding shares of SBLF Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid.  As of September 30, 2014, we satisfied this condition.

The “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” means 90% of $272.7 million, which was the Company’s consolidated Tier 1 capital as of September 30, 2011, less the $58 million in TARP preferred stock then-outstanding and repaid on August 18, 2011, plus the $58 million in SBLF Preferred Stock issued and minus the net loan charge-offs by the Bank since August 18, 2011.  The Tier 1 Dividend Threshold is subject to reduction, beginning on the first day of the eleventh dividend period following the date of issuance of the SBLF Preferred Stock, by $5.8 million (ten percent of the aggregate liquidation amount of the SBLF Preferred Stock initially issued, without regard to any subsequent partial redemptions) for each one percent increase in qualified small business lending from the adjusted baseline level under the terms of the SBLF preferred stock (i.e., $249.7 million) to the ninth dividend period.

Common Stock Repurchases and Issuances. The Company has been in various buy-back programs since May 1990. Our ability to repurchase common stock  is currently limited, but allowed, under the terms of the SBLF preferred stock as noted above, under “-Dividends” and was previously generally precluded due to our participation in the CPP beginning in December 2008.  During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company repurchased 1,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $31.05 per share.  During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company repurchased 18,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $28.45 per share.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock.  During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company issued 23,270 shares of stock at an average price of $30.59 per share to cover stock option exercises.  During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company issued 41,927 shares of stock at an average price of $20.10 per share to cover stock option exercises.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company issued 51,241 shares of stock at an average price of $27.50 per share to cover stock option exercises.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company issued 69,371 shares of stock at an average price of $19.75 per share to cover stock option exercises.


 
 
 
76
 
 


Management has historically utilized stock buy-back programs from time to time as long as management believed that repurchasing the stock would contribute to the overall growth of shareholder value. The number of shares of stock that will be repurchased at any particular time and the prices that will be paid are subject to many factors, several of which are outside of the control of the Company. The primary factors, however, are the number of shares available in the market from sellers at any given time, the price of the stock within the market as determined by the market and the projected impact on the Company’s earnings per share and capital.

On April 21, 2014, Great Southern reiterated that it will consider repurchasing its shares of common stock, from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to its existing repurchase plan.  There are 378,562 remaining shares authorized to be repurchased under this plan.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Asset and Liability Management and Market Risk

A principal operating objective of the Company is to produce stable earnings by achieving a favorable interest rate spread that can be sustained during fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. The Company has sought to reduce its exposure to adverse changes in interest rates by attempting to achieve a closer match between the periods in which its interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets can be expected to reprice through the origination of adjustable-rate mortgages and loans with shorter terms to maturity and the purchase of other shorter term interest-earning assets.

Our Risk When Interest Rates Change

The rates of interest we earn on assets and pay on liabilities generally are established contractually for a period of time. Market interest rates change over time. Accordingly, our results of operations, like those of other financial institutions, are impacted by changes in interest rates and the interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities. The risk associated with changes in interest rates and our ability to adapt to these changes is known as interest rate risk and is our most significant market risk.

How We Measure the Risk to Us Associated with Interest Rate Changes

In an attempt to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates and comply with applicable regulations, we monitor Great Southern's interest rate risk. In monitoring interest rate risk we regularly analyze and manage assets and liabilities based on their payment streams and interest rates, the timing of their maturities and their sensitivity to actual or potential changes in market interest rates.

The ability to maximize net interest income is largely dependent upon the achievement of a positive interest rate spread that can be sustained despite fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. Interest rate sensitivity is a measure of the difference between amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which either reprice or mature within a given period of time. The difference, or the interest rate repricing "gap," provides an indication of the extent to which an institution's interest rate spread will be affected by changes in interest rates. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities repricing during the same period, and is considered negative when the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets during the same period. Generally, during a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap within shorter repricing periods would adversely affect net interest income, while a positive gap within shorter repricing periods would result in an increase in net interest income. During a period of falling interest rates, the opposite would be true. As of September 30, 2014, Great Southern's internal interest rate risk models indicate that, generally, rising interest rates are expected to have a positive impact on the Company’s net interest income, while declining interest rates would have a negative impact on net interest income.  We model various interest rate scenarios for rising and falling rates, including both parallel and non-parallel shifts in rates.  The results of our modeling indicate that net interest income is not likely to be materially affected either positively or negatively in the first twelve months following a rate change, regardless of any changes in interest rates, because our portfolios are relatively well matched in a twelve-month horizon.  The effects of interest rate changes, if any, are expected to be more impacting to net interest income in the 12 to 36 months following a rate change.  In June 2014, $130 million of fixed rate borrowings were repaid.  Excess liquidity and proceeds from the sale of certain investment securities were used to fund these repayments.  The results of our net interest income modeling were not materially affected by these transactions.  As the Federal Funds rate is now very low, the Company’s interest rate floors have been reached on most of its “prime rate” loans. As discussed under “-General-Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Risk Management,” at September 30,

 
 
 
77
 
 


2014 and December 31, 2013, there were $475 million and $502 million, respectively, of adjustable rate loans which were tied to a national prime rate of interest which had interest rate floors.  In addition, Great Southern has elected to leave its “Great Southern Prime Rate” at 5.00% for those loans that are indexed to “Great Southern Prime” rather than a national prime rate of interest. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were $215 million and $248 million, respectively, of loans indexed to “Great Southern Prime.”  While these interest rate floors and, to a lesser extent, the utilization of the “Great Southern Prime” rate have helped keep the rate on our loan portfolio higher in this very low interest rate environment, they will also reduce the positive effect to our loan rates when market interest rates, specifically the “prime rate,” begin to increase. The interest rate on these loans will not increase until the loan floors are reached. Also, a significant portion of our retail certificates of deposit mature in the next twelve months and we expect that they will be replaced with new certificates of deposit at somewhat lower interest rates in some cases.

Interest rate risk exposure estimates (the sensitivity gap) are not exact measures of an institution's actual interest rate risk. They are only indicators of interest rate risk exposure produced in a simplified modeling environment designed to allow management to gauge the Bank's sensitivity to changes in interest rates. They do not necessarily indicate the impact of general interest rate movements on the Bank's net interest income because the repricing of certain categories of assets and liabilities is subject to competitive and other factors beyond the Bank's control. As a result, certain assets and liabilities indicated as maturing or otherwise repricing within a stated period may in fact mature or reprice at different times and in different amounts and cause a change, which potentially could be material, in the Bank's interest rate risk.

In order to minimize the potential for adverse effects of material and prolonged increases and decreases in interest rates on Great Southern's results of operations, Great Southern has adopted asset and liability management policies to better match the maturities and repricing terms of Great Southern's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Management recommends and the Board of Directors sets the asset and liability policies of Great Southern which are implemented by the asset and liability committee. The asset and liability committee is chaired by the Chief Financial Officer and is comprised of members of Great Southern's senior management. The purpose of the asset and liability committee is to communicate, coordinate and control asset/liability management consistent with Great Southern's business plan and board-approved policies. The asset and liability committee establishes and monitors the volume and mix of assets and funding sources taking into account relative costs and spreads, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity needs. The objectives are to manage assets and funding sources to produce results that are consistent with liquidity, capital adequacy, growth, risk and profitability goals. The asset and liability committee meets on a monthly basis to review, among other things, economic conditions and interest rate outlook, current and projected liquidity needs and capital positions and anticipated changes in the volume and mix of assets and liabilities. At each meeting, the asset and liability committee recommends appropriate strategy changes based on this review. The Chief Financial Officer or his designee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on the effects of the policy implementations and strategies to the Board of Directors at their monthly meetings.

In order to manage its assets and liabilities and achieve the desired liquidity, credit quality, interest rate risk, profitability and capital targets, Great Southern has focused its strategies on originating adjustable rate loans, and managing its deposits and borrowings to establish stable relationships with both retail customers and wholesale funding sources.

At times, depending on the level of general interest rates, the relationship between long- and short-term interest rates, market conditions and competitive factors, we may determine to increase our interest rate risk position somewhat in order to maintain or increase our net interest margin.

The asset and liability committee regularly reviews interest rate risk by forecasting the impact of alternative interest rate environments on net interest income and market value of portfolio equity, which is defined as the net present value of an institution's existing assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments, and evaluating such impacts against the maximum potential changes in net interest income and market value of portfolio equity that are authorized by the Board of Directors of Great Southern.

In the normal course of business, the Company may use derivative financial instruments (primarily interest rate swaps) from time to time to assist in its interest rate risk management.  In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company began executing interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies.  Those interest rate swaps are simultaneously hedged by offsetting interest rate swaps that the Company executes with a third party, such that the Company minimizes its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  Because the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements,

 
 
 
78
 
 


changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings. These interest rate derivatives result from a service provided to certain qualifying customers and, therefore, are not used to manage interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities. The Company manages a matched book with respect to its derivative instruments in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.

In 2013, the Company entered into two interest rate cap agreements related to its floating rate debt associated with its trust preferred securities.  The agreements provide that the counterparty will reimburse the Company if interest rates rise above a certain threshold, thus creating a cap on the effective interest rate paid by the Company.  These agreements are classified as hedging instruments, and the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

For further information on derivatives and hedging activities, see Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate. An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures was carried out as of September 30, 2014, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and several other members of our senior management. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) under the Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

We do not expect that our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns in controls or procedures can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any control procedure also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control procedure, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to pending and threatened legal actions, some of which seek substantial relief or damages.  While the ultimate outcome of such legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, after reviewing pending and threatened litigation with counsel, management believes at this time that, except as noted below, the outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 
 
 
79
 
 



On November 22, 2010, a suit was filed against the Bank in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri by a customer alleging that the fees associated with the Bank’s automated overdraft program in connection with its debit cards and ATM cards constitute unlawful interest in violation of Missouri’s usury laws.  The Court has certified a class of Bank customers who have paid overdraft fees on their checking accounts pursuant to the Bank’s automated overdraft program.  The Bank intends to contest this case vigorously.  At this stage of the litigation, it is not possible for management of the Bank to determine the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate the amount of any potential loss.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On November 15, 2006, the Company's Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to 700,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, under a program of open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The plan does not have an expiration date.  From the date we issued our CPP Preferred Stock (December 5, 2008) until the date we redeemed it in connection with our issuance of the SBLF Preferred Stock (August 18, 2011), we were generally precluded from purchasing shares of the Company’s stock without the Treasury's consent.  Our participation in the SBLF program does not preclude us from purchasing shares of the Company’s stock, provided that after giving effect to such purchase, (i) the dollar amount of the Company’s Tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock and (ii) full dividends on all outstanding shares of SBLF Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid, as described under “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources.”

On April 21, 2014, Great Southern reiterated that it will consider repurchasing its shares of common stock, from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to its existing repurchase plan.

Shares purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2014, are indicated below.

   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   
Average
Price
Per Share
   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
As Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plan
   
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plan(1)
                       
July 1, 2014 – July 31, 2014
   
---
   
$
----
     
---
     
379,562
 
August 1, 2014 – August 31, 2014
   
1,000
   
$
31.05
     
1,000
     
378,562
 
September 1, 2014 – September 30, 2014
   
---
   
$
----
     
---
     
378,562
 
     
1,000
   
$
31.05
     
1,000
         

_______________________
   
(1)
Amount represents the number of shares available to be repurchased under the November 2006 plan as of the last calendar day of the month shown.
 


 
 
 
80
 
 


Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 
a)
Exhibits
 
 
See Exhibit Index.











 
 
 
81
 
 


SIGNATURES

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

 
Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
 
Registrant
 
 
Date: November 10, 2014
/s/ Joseph W. Turner
 
Joseph W. Turner
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Date: November 10, 2014
/s/ Rex A. Copeland
 
Rex A. Copeland
Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 


 
 
 
82
 
 


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 
Description
     
(2)
Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation, or succession
     
 
(i)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2009, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of TeamBank, N.A., Paola, Kansas, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 26, 2011 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2.1(i).
     
 
(ii)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2009, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Vantus Bank, Sioux City, Iowa, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2011 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2.1(ii).
     
 
(iii)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2011, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Sun Security Bank, Ellington, Missouri, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1(iii) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2(iii).
     
 
(iv)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2013, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Inter Savings Bank, FSB, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1(iv) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2(iv).
     
 
(v)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement All Deposits, dated as of June 20, 2014, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Valley Bank, Moline, Illinois, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1(v) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2(v).
     
(3)
Articles of incorporation and Bylaws
     
 
(i)
The Registrant's Charter previously filed with the Commission as Appendix D to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 31, 2004 (File No. 000-18082), is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3.1.
     
 
(iA)
The Articles Supplementary to the Registrant's Charter setting forth the terms of the Registrant's Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2011, are incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3(i).
     
 
(ii)
The Registrant's Bylaws, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 23, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3.2.
     
(4)
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
     
 
The Company hereby agrees to furnish the SEC upon request, copies of the instruments defining the rights of the holders of each issue of the Registrant's long-term debt.


 
 
 
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(9)
Voting trust agreement
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(10)
Material contracts
     
 
The Registrant's 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on September 18, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.1.
   
 
The Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File No. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 14, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.2.
   
 
The employment agreement dated September 18, 2002 between the Registrant and William V. Turner previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.3.
   
 
The employment agreement dated September 18, 2002 between the Registrant and Joseph W. Turner previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.4.
   
 
The form of incentive stock option agreement under the Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 000-18082) filed on February 24, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.5.
   
 
The form of non-qualified stock option agreement under the Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 000-18082) filed on February 24, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.6.
   
 
A description of the current salary and bonus arrangements for 2014 for the Registrant's named executive officers previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.7.
   
 
A description of the current fee arrangements for the Registrant's directors previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.8.
   
 
Small Business Lending Fund – Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 18, 2011, between the Registrant and the Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury, previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.9.
   
 
The Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File No. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 4, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.10.
   
 
The form of incentive stock option award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.11.


 
 
 
84
 
 



   
 
The form of non-qualified stock option award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.12.
   
 
The form of stock appreciation right award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.13.
   
 
The form of restricted stock award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.14.
     
(11)
Statement re computation of per share earnings
     
 
Included in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
     
(15)
Letter re unaudited interim financial information
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(18)
Letter re change in accounting principles
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(19)
Report furnished to securityholders.
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(22)
Published report regarding matters submitted to vote of security holders
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(23)
Consents of experts and counsel
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(24)
Power of attorney
     
 
None.
     
(31.1)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
     
 
Attached as Exhibit 31.1
     
(31.2)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Treasurer
     
 
Attached as Exhibit 31.2
     
(32)
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
     
 
Attached as Exhibit 32.


 
 
 
85
 
 



     
(99)
Additional Exhibits
     
 
None.
     
(101)
Attached as Exhibit 101 are the following financial statements from the Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, formatted in Extensive Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) consolidated statements of financial condition, (ii) consolidated statements of income, (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows and (iv) the notes to consolidated financial statements.
     
     

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


 
 
 
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