caty_10q-033113.htm
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OFTHE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013 
OR
[  ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OFTHE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
 
Commission file number 0-18630
 
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   95-4274680
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, California   90012
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 625-4700
 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.Yes þ No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer þ  
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes o  No þ
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
Common stock, $.01 par value, 78,864,841 shares outstanding as of April 30, 2013.
 
 
1

 
 
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
1ST QUARTER 2013 REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION   5
         
Item 1.
  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)   5
    NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)   8
Item 2. 
  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.   34
Item 3.
  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    61
Item 4. 
  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.   62
         
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION   62
         
Item 1.
  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.   62
Item 1A
  RISK FACTORS.   62
Item 2.
  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.   62
Item 3.
  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.   63
Item 4.
  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.   63
Item 5.
  OTHER INFORMATION.   63
Item 6.
  EXHIBITS.   63
         
SIGNATURES
  65
 
 
2

 
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
 
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the term “Bancorp” refers to Cathay General Bancorp and the term “Bank” refers to Cathay Bank. The terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Bancorp and the Bank collectively. The statements in this report include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding management’s beliefs, projections, and assumptions concerning future results and events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provision for forward-looking statements in these provisions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including statements about anticipated future operating and financial performance, financial position and liquidity, growth opportunities and growth rates, growth plans, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business prospects, strategic alternatives, business strategies, financial expectations, regulatory and competitive outlook, investment and expenditure plans, financing needs and availability, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “hopes,” “intends,” “may,” “optimistic,” “plans,” “potential,” “possible,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by us are based on estimates, beliefs, projections, and assumptions of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Such risks and uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse developments or conditions related to or arising from:
 
 
·
U.S. and international business and economic conditions;
 
 
·
credit risks of lending activities and deterioration in asset or credit quality;
 
 
·
current and potential future supervisory action by bank supervisory authorities;
 
 
·
increased costs of compliance and other risks associated with changes in regulation and the current regulatory environment, including the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), and the potential for substantial changes in the legal, regulatory, and enforcement framework and oversight applicable to financial institutions in reaction to recent adverse financial market events, including changes pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act;
 
 
·
potential goodwill impairment;
 
 
·
liquidity risk;
 
 
·
fluctuations in interest rates;
 
 
·
inflation and deflation;
 
 
·
risks associated with acquisitions and the expansion of our business into new markets;
 
 
·
real estate market conditions and the value of real estate collateral;
 
 
·
environmental liabilities;
 
 
·
our ability to compete with larger competitors;
 
 
·
the possibility of higher capital requirements, including implementation of the Basel III capital standards of the Basel Committee;
 
 
3

 
 
 
·
our ability to retain key personnel;
 
 
·
successful management of reputational risk;
 
 
·
natural disasters and geopolitical events;
 
 
·
general economic or business conditions in California, Asia, and other regions where the Bank has operations;
 
 
·
restrictions on compensation paid to our executives as a result of our participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program;
 
 
·
failures, interruptions, or security breaches of our information systems;
 
 
·
our ability to adapt our systems to technological changes, including successfully implementing our core system conversion;
 
 
·
adverse results in legal proceedings;
 
 
·
changes in accounting standards or tax laws and regulations;
 
 
·
market disruption and volatility;
 
 
·
restrictions on dividends and other distributions by laws and regulations and by our regulators and our capital structure;
 
 
·
successfully raising additional capital, if needed, and the resulting dilution of interests of holders of our common stock; and
 
 
·
the soundness of other financial institutions.
 
These and other factors are further described in Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (Item 1A in particular), other reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other filings it makes with the SEC from time to time. Actual results in any future period may also vary from the past results discussed in this report. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak to the date of this report. We have no intention and undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to publicly announce any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect future developments or events, except as required by law.

Bancorp’s filings with the SEC are available at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by request directed to Cathay General Bancorp, 9650 Flair Drive, El Monte, California 91731, Attention: Investor Relations (626) 279-3286.
 
 
4

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Assets
           
Cash and due from banks
  $ 155,525     $ 144,909  
Short-term investments and interest bearing deposits
    215,794       411,983  
Securities held-to-maturity (market value of $823,906 in 2012)
    -       773,768  
Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $2,149,786 in 2013 and $1,290,676 in 2012)
    2,190,296       1,291,480  
Trading securities
    4,758       4,703  
Loans
    7,364,340       7,429,147  
Less: Allowance for loan losses
    (178,692 )     (183,322 )
Unamortized deferred loan fees, net
    (10,186 )     (10,238 )
Loans, net
    7,175,462       7,235,587  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    37,130       41,272  
Other real estate owned, net
    45,316       46,384  
Affordable housing investments, net
    83,868       85,037  
Premises and equipment, net
    102,067       102,613  
Customers’ liability on acceptances
    22,334       41,271  
Accrued interest receivable
    26,992       26,015  
Goodwill
    316,340       316,340  
Other intangible assets, net
    4,883       6,132  
Other assets
    139,950       166,595  
                 
Total assets
  $ 10,520,715     $ 10,694,089  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Deposits
               
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits
  $ 1,279,986     $ 1,269,455  
Interest-bearing deposits:
               
NOW deposits
    622,454       593,133  
Money market deposits
    1,124,240       1,186,771  
Savings deposits
    472,122       473,805  
Time deposits under $100,000
    685,758       644,191  
Time deposits of $100,000 or more
    3,241,114       3,215,870  
Total deposits
    7,425,674       7,383,225  
                 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,150,000       1,250,000  
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank
    126,200       146,200  
Other borrowings for affordable housing investments
    19,232       18,713  
Long-term debt
    171,136       171,136  
Acceptances outstanding
    22,334       41,271  
Other liabilities
    56,574       54,040  
Total liabilities
    8,971,150       9,064,585  
Commitments and contingencies
    -       -  
Stockholders’ equity
               
Preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 129,000 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013, and 258,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012
    127,724       254,580  
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 83,066,773 issued and 78,859,208 outstanding at March 31, 2013, and 82,985,853 issued and 78,778,288 outstanding at December 31, 2012
    831       830  
Additional paid-in-capital
    769,955       768,925  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net
    23,477       465  
Retained earnings
    744,867       721,993  
Treasury stock, at cost (4,207,565 shares at March 31, 2013, and at December 31, 2012)
    (125,736 )     (125,736 )
Total Cathay General Bancorp stockholders' equity
    1,541,118       1,621,057  
Noncontrolling interest
    8,447       8,447  
Total equity
    1,549,565       1,629,504  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 10,520,715     $ 10,694,089  

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5

 
 
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Interest and Dividend Income
           
Loans receivable, including loan fees
  $ 88,840     $ 90,701  
Investment securities- taxable
    11,786       17,723  
Investment securities- nontaxable
    967       1,052  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    250       66  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    -       5  
Deposits with banks
    208       588  
Total interest and dividend income
    102,051       110,135  
                 
Interest Expense
               
Time deposits of $100,000 or more
    6,757       9,540  
Other deposits
    2,766       3,916  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    11,392       14,655  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    80       53  
Long-term debt
    924       1,320  
Short-term borrowings
    -       -  
Total interest expense
    21,919       29,484  
Net interest income before provision for credit losses
    80,132       80,651  
Provision/(credit) for loan losses
    -       (4,000 )
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    80,132       84,651  
                 
Non-Interest Income
               
Securities gains, net
    6,292       2,215  
Letters of credit commissions
    1,461       1,526  
Depository service fees
    1,474       1,389  
Other operating income
    5,654       3,701  
Total non-interest income
    14,881       8,831  
                 
Non-interest Expense
               
Salaries and employee benefits
    22,853       19,878  
Occupancy expense
    3,644       3,584  
Computer and equipment expense
    2,676       2,463  
Professional services expense
    5,817       4,742  
FDIC and State assessments
    1,738       2,489  
Marketing expense
    437       1,406  
Other real estate owned expense
    623       4,693  
Operations of affordable housing investments, net
    1,695       1,960  
Amortization of core deposit intangibles
    1,396       1,457  
Costs associated with debt redemption
    5,645       2,750  
Other operating expense
    2,604       2,449  
Total non-interest expense
    49,128       47,871  
Income before income tax expense
    45,885       45,611  
Income tax expense
    16,887       16,547  
Net income
    28,998       29,064  
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    151       151  
Net income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp
    28,847       28,913  
Dividends on preferred stock and noncash charge from repayment
    (5,184 )     (4,117 )
Net income attributable to common stockholders
    23,663       24,796  
                 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
               
Unrealized holding gain arising during the period
    26,659       5,479  
Less: reclassification adjustments included in net income
    3,647       1,284  
Total other comprehensive gain, net of tax
    23,012       4,195  
Total comprehensive income
  $ 51,859     $ 33,108  
                 
Net income per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.30     $ 0.32  
Diluted
  $ 0.30     $ 0.32  
Cash dividends paid per common share
  $ 0.01     $ 0.01  
Average common shares outstanding
               
Basic
    78,795,564       78,678,645  
Diluted
    78,815,141       78,690,132  
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
6

 
 
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three months ended March 31
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
           
Net income
  $ 28,998     $ 29,064  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
               
Credit for loan losses
    -       (4,000 )
Provision/(credit) for losses on other real estate owned
    (37 )     2,740  
Deferred tax liability
    6,227       2,356  
Depreciation
    1,527       1,471  
Net losses on sale and transfer of other real estate owned
    44       712  
Net gains on sale of loans
    (567 )     (278 )
Proceeds from sales of loans
    23,672       25,140  
Originations of loans held-for-sale
    (23,105 )     (24,836 )
Net change in trading securities
    (55 )     (99,930 )
Write-downs on venture capital investments
    92       137  
Gain on sales and calls of securities
    (6,292 )     (2,215 )
Amortization/accretion of security premiums/discounts, net
    1,114       1,314  
Amortization of other intangible assets
    1,428       1,491  
Excess tax short-fall from share-based payment arrangements
    69       565  
Stock based compensation and stock issued to officers as compensation
    1,037       546  
Net change in accrued interest receivable and other assets
    4,081       38,156  
Net change in other liabilities
    1,612       1,527  
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
    39,845       (26,040 )
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
               
Decrease in short-term investments
    196,189       19,900  
Increase in securities purchased under agreements to resell
    -       (50,000 )
Purchase of investment securities available-for-sale
    (508,865 )     (424,637 )
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available-for-sale
    320,234       148,134  
Proceeds from repayments, maturities and calls of investment securities available-for-sale
    57,495       226,173  
Proceeds from repayments, maturities and calls of investment securities held-to-maturity
    50,973       67,979  
Redemptions of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    4,142       2,533  
Net decrease in loans
    61,833       131,822  
Purchase of premises and equipment
    (1,014 )     (905 )
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned
    1,351       10,186  
Net increase in investment in affordable housing
    (1,614 )     (4,902 )
Net cash provided by investing activities
    180,724       126,283  
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
                 
Net increase in deposits
    42,362       130,717  
Net decrease in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (100,000 )     -  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    298,020       260,000  
Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
    (317,500 )     (485,000 )
Cash dividends paid
    (3,828 )     (4,012 )
Redemption of series B preferred stock
    (129,000 )     -  
Repayment of other borrowings
    -       (879 )
Proceeds from shares issued under Dividend Reinvestment Plan
    62       67  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    -       647  
Excess tax short-fall from share-based payment arrangements
    (69 )     (565 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (209,953 )     (99,025 )
                 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    10,616       1,218  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period
    144,909       117,888  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period
  $ 155,525     $ 119,106  
                 
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
               
Cash paid during the period:
               
Interest
  $ 22,827     $ 30,699  
Income taxes paid/(refund)
  $ 8,562     $ (20,424 )
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Net change in unrealized holding gain on securities available-for-sale, net of tax
  $ 23,012     $ 4,195  
Transfers investment securities to available-for-sale from held-to-maturity
  $ 722,466     $ -  
Transfers to other real estate owned from loans held for investment
  $ 366     $ 8,338  
Loans transferred from held for investment to held for sale, net
  $ -     $ 15,986  
Loans to facilitate the sale of other real estate owned
  $ 75     $ -  
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
7

 
 
CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Business

Cathay General Bancorp (“Bancorp”) is the holding company for Cathay Bank (the “Bank” and, together, the “Company”), six limited partnerships investing in affordable housing investments in which the Bank is the sole limited partner, and GBC Venture Capital, Inc.  The Bancorp also owns 100% of the common stock of five statutory business trusts created for the purpose of issuing capital securities.  The Bank was founded in 1962 and offers a wide range of financial services.  As of March 31, 2013, the Bank operated twenty branches in Southern California, eleven branches in Northern California, eight branches in New York State, three branches in Illinois, three branches in Washington State, two branches in Texas, one branch in Massachusetts, one branch in New Jersey, one branch in Hong Kong, and a representative office in Shanghai and in Taipei.  Deposit accounts at the Hong Kong branch are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013.  For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates subject to change are the allowance for loan losses, goodwill impairment, and other-than-temporary impairment.

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2013-01, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.”  ASU No. 2013-01 clarifies that the scope of Update 2011-11 applies to derivatives, repurchase agreements, and securities lending transactions to the extent that they are either offset in the financial statements or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.  ASU 2013-01 became effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013.  Adoption of ASU 2013-01 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 15 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the disclosure of adoption of ASU 2013-01.
 
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02 “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.”  ASU 2013-02 amends Topic 220, “Comprehensive Income,” to improve the reporting of reclassification out of accumulated other comprehensive income.  The amendments do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements.  However, the amendments require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified and to present significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income.  ASU 2013-02 became effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012.  Adoption of ASU 2013-02 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  See Note 15 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the disclosure of adoption of ASU 2013-02.
 
 
8

 
 
4. Earnings per Share
 
Basic earnings per share exclude dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in earnings.  Potential dilution is excluded from computation of diluted per-share amounts when a net loss from operations exists.
 
Outstanding stock options with anti-dilutive effect were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.   The following table sets forth earnings per common share calculations:
 

   
Three months ended March 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Net income attributable to Cathay General Bancorp
  $ 28,847     $ 28,913  
Dividends on preferred stock and noncash charge from repayment
    (5,184 )     (4,117 )
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 23,663     $ 24,796  
                 
Weighted-average shares:
               
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
    78,795,564       78,678,645  
Dilutive effect of weighted-average outstanding common share equivalents
               
  Stock options
    19,577       11,487  
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
    78,815,141       78,690,132  
                 
Average stock options and warrants with anti-dilutive effect
    5,630,813       6,227,224  
Earnings per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.30     $ 0.32  
Diluted
  $ 0.30     $ 0.32  

5. Stock-Based Compensation
 
Under the Company’s equity incentive plans, directors and eligible employees may be granted incentive or non-statutory stock options and/or restricted stock units, or awarded non-vested stock. As of March 31, 2013, the only options granted by the Company were non-statutory stock options to selected Bank officers and non-employee directors at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  Such options have a maximum ten-year term and vest in 20% annual increments (subject to early termination in certain events) except certain options granted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 2005 and 2008.  If such options expire or terminate without having been exercised, any shares not purchased will again be available for future grants or awards.  There were no options granted during the first quarter of 2013 or during 2012.
 
Option compensation expense totaled $129,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and $194,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012.  Stock-based compensation is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards.  All unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was fully recognized as of March 31, 2013.
 
 
9

 
 
No stock options were exercised in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 39,784 shares issued on the exercise of stock options in the first quarter of 2012.  Cash received totaled $647,000 and the aggregate intrinsic value totaled $34,000 from the exercise of stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2012.  The table below summarizes stock option activity for the periods indicated:
 
   
Shares
   
Weighted-average
exercise price
   
Weighted-average
remaining contractual
life (in years)
   
Aggregate
intrinsic
value (in thousands)
 
                         
Balance, December 31, 2012
    3,996,630     $ 29.45       2.2     $ -  
Exercised
    -       -                  
Forfeited
    (339,340 )     20.45                  
Balance, March 31, 2013
    3,657,290     $ 30.28       2.2     $ -  
Exercisable, March 31, 2013
    3,657,290     $ 30.28       2.2     $ -  
 
At March 31, 2013, 2,674,892 shares were available under the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan for future grants.
 
The Company granted restricted stock units for 125,133 shares at an average closing price of $18.24 per share in 2012 and for 147,661 shares at an average closing price of $14.78 in 2011. The Company granted restricted stock units for 14,416 shares on March 14, 2013, at the closing price of $20.57.  The restricted stock units granted in 2011, 2012, and 2013 are scheduled to vest two years from grant date.
 
 
The following table presents information relating to the restricted stock units as of March 31, 2013:
 
   
Units
 
Balance at December 31, 2012
    256,616  
   Granted
    14,416  
   Forfeited
    -  
   Vested
    (62,657 )
Balance at March 31, 2013
    208,375  
 
The compensation expense related to the restricted stock units was $609,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $353,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012.   Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units was $2.4 million at March 31, 2013, and is expected to be recognized over the next 1.5 years.
 
The following table summarizes the tax short-fall from share-based payment arrangements:
 
 
10

 
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Short-fall of tax deductions in excess of grant-date fair value
  $ (69 )   $ (565 )
Benefit of tax deductions on grant-date fair value
    596       663  
Total benefit of tax deductions
  $ 527     $ 98  
 
6. Investment  Securities
 
Investment securities were $2.2 billion at March 31, 2013, compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2012.  During the first quarter of 2013, due to the ongoing discussions regarding corporate income tax rates which could have a negative impact on the after-tax yields and fair values of the Company’s portfolio of municipal securities, the Company determined it may sell such securities in response to market conditions. As a result, the Company reclassified its municipal securities from securities held-to-maturity to securities available-for-sale.  Concurrent with this reclassification, the Company also reclassified all other securities held-to-maturity, which together with the municipal securities had an amortized cost on the date of transfer of $722.5 million, to securities available-for-sale. At the reclassification date, a net unrealized gain was recorded in other comprehensive income for these securities totaling $40.5 million.
 
The following table reflects the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair values of investment securities as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012:
 

   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Securities Available-for-Sale
                       
U.S. treasury securities
  $ 359,880     $ 234     $ -     $ 360,114  
State and municipal securities
    59,805       3,653       -       63,458  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,449,816       42,335       1,553       1,490,598  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    8,631       369       54       8,946  
Asset-backed securities
    136       -       4       132  
Corporate debt securities
    264,949       657       9,149       256,457  
Mutual funds
    6,000       48       13       6,035  
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities
    569       3,987       -       4,556  
Total securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,149,786     $ 51,283     $ 10,773     $ 2,190,296  
Total investment securities
  $ 2,149,786     $ 51,283     $ 10,773     $ 2,190,296  
 
 
11

 
 
 
 
   
December 31, 2012
 
 
 
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Securities Held-to-Maturity
                       
State and municipal securities
  $ 129,037     $ 9,268     $ -     $ 138,305  
Mortgage-backed securities
    634,757       40,801       -       675,558  
Corporate debt securities
    9,974       69       -       10,043  
Total securities held-to-maturity
  $ 773,768     $ 50,138     $ -     $ 823,906  
                                 
Securities Available-for-Sale
                               
U.S. treasury securities
  $ 509,748     $ 228     $ 5     $ 509,971  
Mortgage-backed securities
    404,505       12,194       5       416,694  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    9,772       430       34       10,168  
Asset-backed securities
    145       -       4       141  
Corporate debt securities
    349,973       106       14,102       335,977  
Mutual funds
    6,000       79       -       6,079  
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities
    569       1,766       -       2,335  
Trust preferred securities
    9,964       151       -       10,115  
Total securities available-for-sale
  $ 1,290,676     $ 14,954     $ 14,150     $ 1,291,480  
Total investment securities
  $ 2,064,444     $ 65,092     $ 14,150     $ 2,115,386  

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities at March 31, 2013, by contractual maturities, are shown below.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or repayment penalties.   

   
Securities available-for-sale
 
   
Amortized cost
   
Fair value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 299,974     $ 300,139  
Due after one year through five years
    186,517       184,546  
Due after five years through ten years
    222,033       221,132  
Due after ten years (1)
    1,441,262       1,484,479  
                 
Total
  $ 2,149,786     $ 2,190,296  
 
(1) Equity securities are reported in this category

 
Proceeds from sales of mortgage-backed securities were zero and repayments, maturities and calls of mortgage-backed securities were $98.4 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to proceeds from sales of $117.6 million and repayments, maturities, and calls of $94.2 million during the same quarter a year ago.  Proceeds from sales of other investment securities were $320.2 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to $30.6 million during the same quarter a year ago.  Proceeds from maturity and calls of investment securities were $10.1 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to $200.0 million during the same quarter a year ago.  Gains of $6.3 million and no losses of  were realized on sales and calls of investment securities during the first quarter of 2013 compared to gains of $2.8 million  and losses of $595,000 realized for the same quarter a year ago.
 
 
12

 
 
The Company's unrealized loss on investments in corporate bonds relates to 27 issues of investments in bonds of financial institutions, all of which were investment grade at the date of acquisition and as of March 31, 2013.  The unrealized losses were primarily caused by the widening of credit spreads since the dates of acquisition. The contractual terms of those investments do not permit the issuers to settle the security at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. The Company currently does not believe it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the investments. Therefore, it is expected that these bonds would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. Because the Company does not intend to sell and would not be required to sell these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be at maturity, it does not consider its investments in these corporate bonds to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2013.

The temporarily impaired securities represent 24.2% of the fair value of investment securities as of March 31, 2013.  Unrealized losses for securities with unrealized losses for less than twelve months represent 0.5%, and securities with unrealized losses for twelve months or more represent 4.4%, of the historical cost of these securities.  Unrealized losses on these securities generally resulted from increases in interest rate spreads subsequent to the date that these securities were purchased.
 
At March 31, 2013, management believed the impairment was temporary and, accordingly, no impairment loss has been recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.  The Company expects to recover the amortized cost basis of its debt securities, and has no intent to sell and will not be required to sell available-for-sale debt securities that have declined below their cost before their anticipated recovery.
 
The table below shows the fair value and unrealized losses of the temporarily impaired securities in our investment securities portfolio as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012:
 
 
13

 
 
   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Temporarily impaired securities
 
       
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or longer
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                     
Securities Available-for-Sale
                                   
Mortgage-backed securities
  $ 321,604     $ 1,551     $ 163     $ 1     $ 321,767     $ 1,552  
Mortgage-backed securities-Non-agency
    -       -       96       1       96       1  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    -       -       417       54       417       54  
Asset-backed securities
    -       -       132       4       132       4  
Corporate debt securities
    9,855       145       195,996       9,004       205,851       9,149  
Mutual funds
    1,987       13       -       -       1,987       13  
Total securities available-for-sale
  $ 333,446     $ 1,709     $ 196,804     $ 9,064     $ 530,250     $ 10,773  
Total investment securities
  $ 333,446     $ 1,709     $ 196,804     $ 9,064     $ 530,250     $ 10,773  
 
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Temporarily Impaired Securities
 
                                     
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or longer
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                     
Securities Held-to-Maturity
                                   
                                     
Total securities held-to-maturity
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Securities Available-for-Sale
                                               
U.S. treasury securities
  $ 49,969     $ 5     $ -     $ -     $ 49,969     $ 5  
Mortgage-backed securities
    231       1       170       1       401       2  
Mortgage-backed securities-Non-agency
    -       -       96       2       96       2  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    -       -       439       35       439       35  
Asset-backed securities
    -       -       141       4       141       4  
Corporate debt securities
    52,468       2,532       253,430       11,570       305,898       14,102  
Total securities available-for-sale
  $ 102,668     $ 2,538     $ 254,276     $ 11,612     $ 356,944     $ 14,150  
Total investment securities
  $ 102,668     $ 2,538     $ 254,276     $ 11,612     $ 356,944     $ 14,150  
 
 
Investment securities having a carrying value of $1.36 billion at March 31, 2013, and $1.45 billion at December 31, 2012, were pledged to secure public deposits, other borrowings, treasury tax and loan, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, interest rate swaps, and foreign exchange transactions. 
 
7. Loans
 
Most of the Company’s business activity is with Asian customers located in Southern and Northern California; New York City, New York; Houston and Dallas, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Edison, New Jersey; and Hong Kong.  The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans are collateralized with real property or other pledged collateral of the borrowers.  Loans are generally expected to be paid off from the operating profits of the borrowers, refinancing by another lender, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral.
 
 
14

 
 
 
The components of loans in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, were as follows:
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Type of Loans:
           
Commercial loans
  $ 2,031,789     $ 2,127,107  
Residential mortgage loans
    1,183,460       1,146,230  
Commercial mortgage loans
    3,759,580       3,768,452  
Equity lines
    191,462       193,852  
Real estate construction loans
    184,067       180,950  
Installment and other loans
    13,982       12,556  
Gross loans
    7,364,340       7,429,147  
Less:
               
Allowance for loan losses
    (178,692 )     (183,322 )
Unamortized deferred loan fees
    (10,186 )     (10,238 )
Total loans, net
  $ 7,175,462     $ 7,235,587  

At March 31, 2013, recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $230.5 million and was comprised of non-accrual loans of $100.3 million, and accruing troubled debt restructured (“TDR”) loans of $130.2 million.  At December 31, 2012, recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $248.6 million and was comprised of non-accrual loans of $103.9 million and accruing TDR’s of $144.7 million.  For impaired loans, the amounts previously charged off represent 22.1% at March 31, 2013, and 23.2% at December 31, 2012, of the contractual balances for impaired loans.  The following table presents the average balance and interest income recognized related to impaired loans for the periods  indicated:

   
Impaired Loans
 
   
Average Recorded Investment
   
Interest Income Recognized
 
   
Three months ended
March 31,
   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
2013
   
2012
 
    (In thousands)  
Commercial loans
  $ 22,126     $ 45,142     $ 183     $ 257  
Real estate construction loans
    42,068       66,455       66       176  
Commercial mortgage loans
    162,257       184,867       1,562       1,088  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    17,797       17,715       84       40  
Total
  $ 244,248     $ 314,179     $ 1,895     $ 1,561  
 
The following table presents impaired loans and the related allowance for credit losses as of the dates indicated:
 
 
15

 
 
   
Impaired Loans
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Unpaid Principal Balance
   
Recorded
Investment
   
Allowance
   
Unpaid Principal Balance
   
Recorded
Investment
   
Allowance
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                     
With no allocated allowance
                                   
Commercial loans
  $ 14,437     $ 12,294     $ -     $ 29,359     $ 18,963     $ -  
Real estate construction loans
    9,304       7,277       -       9,304       7,277       -  
Commercial mortgage loans
    153,872       120,563       -       189,871       152,957       -  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    3,643       3,633       -       4,303       4,229       -  
Subtotal
  $ 181,256     $ 143,767     $ -     $ 232,837     $ 183,426     $ -  
With allocated allowance
                                               
Commercial loans
  $ 11,854     $ 7,180     $ 1,717     $ 7,804     $ 4,959     $ 1,467  
Real estate construction loans
    54,657       34,795       8,080       54,718       34,856       8,158  
Commercial mortgage loans
    31,407       30,187       6,242       14,163       12,928       1,336  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    16,704       14,615       1,318       14,264       12,428       1,222  
Subtotal
  $ 114,622     $ 86,777     $ 17,357     $ 90,949     $ 65,171     $ 12,183  
Total impaired loans
  $ 295,878     $ 230,544     $ 17,357     $ 323,786     $ 248,597     $ 12,183  

The following table presents the aging of the loan portfolio by type as of March 31, 2013, and as of December 31, 2012:


   
March 31, 2013
 
 
 
30-59 Days
 Past Due
 
60-89 Days
 Past Due
 
Greater
than 90
Days Past
Due
 
Non-accrual
 Loans
 
Total Past Due
 
Loans Not
Past Due
 
Total
 
Type of Loans:
 
(In thousands)
 
Commercial loans
  $ 15,766   $ -   $ 333   $ 13,192   $ 29,291   $ 2,002,498   $ 2,031,789  
Real estate construction loans
    634     -     -     36,237     36,871     147,196     184,067  
Commercial mortgage loans
    56,343     4,133     467     39,221     100,164     3,659,416     3,759,580  
Residential mortgage loans
    11,189     1,134     -     11,679     24,002     1,350,920     1,374,922  
Installment and other loans
    -     -     -     -     -     13,982     13,982  
Total loans
  $ 83,932   $ 5,267   $ 800   $ 100,329   $ 190,328   $ 7,174,012   $ 7,364,340  
 
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
30-59 Days
 Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Greater
 than 90
 Days Past
Due
 
Non-accrual
 Loans
 
Total Past Due
 
Loans Not
Past Due
 
Total
 
Type of Loans:
 
(In thousands)
 
Commercial loans
  $ 16,832   $ 1,610   $ 630   $ 19,958   $ 39,030   $ 2,088,077   $ 2,127,107  
Real estate construction loans
    -     1,471     -     36,299     37,770     143,180     180,950  
Commercial mortgage loans
    21,570     3,627     -     35,704     60,901     3,707,551     3,768,452  
Residential mortgage loans
    5,324     1,972     -     11,941     19,237     1,320,845     1,340,082  
Installment and other loans
    -     -     -     -     -     12,556     12,556  
Total loans
  $ 43,726   $ 8,680   $ 630   $ 103,902   $ 156,938   $ 7,272,209   $ 7,429,147  

The determination of the amount of the allowance for credit losses for impaired loans is based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectibility when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for credit losses.   The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for credit losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment.   This allowance evaluation process is also applied to troubled debt restructurings since they are  considered  to be impaired loans.
 
 
16

 
 
A troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) is a formal modification of the terms of a loan when the lender, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower.  The concessions may be granted in various forms, including a change in the stated interest rate, a reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, or an extension of the maturity date that causes significant delay in payment.

TDRs on accrual status are comprised of the loans that have, pursuant to the Bank’s policy, performed under the restructured terms and have demonstrated sustained performance under the modified terms for six months before being returned to accrual status.  The sustained performance considered by management pursuant to its policy includes the periods prior to the modification if the prior performance met or exceeded the modified terms.  This would include cash paid by the borrower prior to the restructure to set up interest reserves.

At March 31, 2013, accruing TDRs were $130.2 million and non-accrual TDRs were $49.9 million compared to accruing TDRs of $144.7 million and non-accrual TDRs of $47.7 million at December 31, 2012.  The Company allocated specific reserves of $4.7 million to accruing TDRs and $7.6 million to non-accrual TDRs at March 31, 2013, and $1.1 million to accruing TDRs and $7.8 million to non-accrual TDRs at December 31, 2012.  The following table presents TDRs that were modified during the first quarter of 2013 and 2012, their specific reserve at March 31, 2013, and charge-offs during the first quarters of 2013 and 2012:
`
   
Three months ended March 31, 2013
   
March 31, 2013
 
   
No. of Contracts
   
Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Charge-offs
   
Specific Reserve
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                               
Commercial loans
    4       4,007       4,007     $ -     $ 61  
Commercial mortgage loans
    2       1,175       1,175       -       10  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    6       1,696       1,696       -       265  
Total
    12     $ 6,878     $ 6,878     $ -     $ 336  
 
   
Three months ended March 31, 2012
     
March 31, 2012
 
   
No. of Contracts
   
Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Charge-offs
   
Specific Reserve
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                               
Commercial loans
    5     $ 1,988     $ 1,988     $ -     $ 68  
Commercial mortgage loans
    9       26,693       23,375       3,318       268  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    2       1,587       1,587       -       -  
Total
    16     $ 30,268     $ 26,950     $ 3,318     $ 336  
 
17

 
 
Modifications of the loan terms during the first quarter of 2013 were in the form of changes in the stated interest rate, and in payment terms to interest only from principal and interest, multiple note structure, and shortening of the maturity date.  The length of time for which modifications involving a reduction of the stated interest rate were documented ranged from six months to twelve months from the modification date.  Modifications involving a shortening of the maturity date were for periods up to three years from the modification date, adjusted from longer term original maturity dates of over 25 years. 

We expect that the TDR loans on accruing status as of March 31, 2013, which were all performing in accordance with their restructured terms, will continue to comply with the restructured terms because of the reduced principal or interest payments on these loans.  A summary of TDRs by type of concession, and by type of loan as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, is shown below:
 
   
March 31, 2013
 
Accruing TDRs
 
Principal
 Deferral
   
Rate
Reduction
   
Rate
Reduction and
 Payment
Deferral
   
Total
 
          (In thousands)        
Commercial loans
  $ 491     $ 2,994     $ 2,797     $ 6,282  
Real estate construction loans
    -       -       5,834       5,834  
Commercial mortgage loans
    27,565       16,153       67,812       111,530  
Residential mortgage loans
    1,455       1,604       3,510       6,569  
Total accruing TDRs
  $ 29,511     $ 20,751     $ 79,953     $ 130,215  
 
 
   
March 31, 2013
 
Non-accrual TDRs
 
Interest
Deferral
 
Principal
Deferral
   
Rate
Reduction
   
 
 
Rate Reduction
and Forgiveness
of Principal
   
Rate Reduction
 and Payment
 Deferral
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Commercial loans
  $ -     $ 2,425     $ -     $ 1,475     $ -     $ 3,900  
Real estate construction loans
    -       16,577       9,449       -       -       26,026  
Commercial mortgage loans
    1,606       2,777       5,067       -       7,088       16,538  
Residential mortgage loans
    267       2,146       295       -       706       3,414  
Total non-accrual TDRs
  $ 1,873     $ 23,925     $ 14,811     $ 1,475     $ 7,794     $ 49,878  
 
 
   
December 31, 2012
 
Accruing TDRs
 
Principal
Deferral
   
Rate
Reduction
   
Rate Reduction
and Forgiveness
of Principal
   
Rate Reduction
and Payment
Deferral
   
Total
 
          (In thousands)        
Commercial loans
  $ 531     $ 3,020     $ -     $ 413     $ 3,964  
Real estate construction loans
    -       -       -       5,834       5,834  
Commercial mortgage loans
    27,003       16,656       739       85,783       130,181  
Residential mortgage loans
    1,461       1,024       -       2,231       4,716  
Total accruing TDRs
  $ 28,995     $ 20,700     $ 739     $ 94,261     $ 144,695  
 
 
 
18

 
 
   
December 31, 2012
 
Non-accrual TDRs
 
Interest
Deferral
 
Principal
Deferral
   
Rate
Reduction
   
 
 
Rate Reduction
and Forgiveness
of Principal
   
Rate Reduction
and Payment
Deferral
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Commercial loans
  $ -     $ 912     $ -     $ 1,518     $ -     $ 2,430  
Real estate construction loans
    -       16,767       9,579       -       -       26,346  
Commercial mortgage loans
    1,685       2,817       5,746       -       5,076       15,324  
Residential mortgage loans
    275       2,010       586       -       760       3,631  
Total non-accrual TDRs
  $ 1,960     $ 22,506     $ 15,911     $ 1,518     $ 5,836     $ 47,731  
 
 
The activity within our TDR loans for the periods indicated are shown below:
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
Accruing TDRs
 
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Beginning balance
  $ 144,695     $ 120,016  
New restructurings
    4,816       21,712  
Restructured loans restored to accrual status
    630       2,853  
Payments
    (17,892 )     (1,348 )
Restructured loans placed on nonaccrual
    (2,034 )     -  
Ending balance
  $ 130,215     $ 143,233  
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
Non-accrual TDRs
 
2013
   
2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Beginning balance
  $ 47,731     $ 50,870  
New restructurings
    2,062       5,238  
Restructured loans placed on nonaccrual
    2,034       -  
Charge-offs
    (679 )     (4,018 )
Payments
    (640 )     (27,694 )
Restructured loans restored to accrual status
    (630 )     (2,853 )
                 
Ending balance
  $ 49,878     $ 21,543  
 
 
A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 60 to 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.  One land loan of $2.0 million and two commercial loans of $111,000 were modified as TDRs within the previous twelve months and subsequently defaulted as of March 31, 2013, for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  Collectively, these three TDRs did not incur any charge-offs within the twelve months ended March 31, 2013.
 
Under the Company’s internal underwriting policy, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the foreseeable future without the modification in order to determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty.
 
As of March 31, 2013, there were no commitments to lend additional funds to those borrowers whose loans have been restructured, were considered impaired, or were on non-accrual status.
 
As part of the on-going monitoring of the credit quality of our loan portfolio, the Company utilizes a risk grading matrix to assign a risk grade to each loan.  The risk rating categories can be generally described by the following grouping for non-homogeneous loans: 
 
 
19

 
 
    Pass/Watch – These loans range from minimal credit risk to lower than average, but still acceptable, credit risk.
       
    Special Mention Borrower is fundamentally sound and loan is currently protected but adverse trends are apparent that, if not corrected, may affect ability to repay.  Primary source of loan repayment remains viable but there is increasing reliance on collateral or guarantor support.
       
    Substandard These loans are inadequately protected by current sound net worth, paying capacity or pledged collateral.  Well-defined weaknesses exist that could jeopardize repayment of debt.  Loss may not be imminent, but if weaknesses are not corrected, there is a good possibility of some loss.
       
    Doubtful – The possibility of loss is extremely high, but due to identifiable and important pending events (which may strengthen the loan) a loss classification is deferred until the situation is better defined.
       
    Loss – These loans are considered uncollectible and of such little value that to continue to carry the loan as an active asset is no longer warranted.
 
The following table presents loan portfolio by risk rating as of March 31, 2013, and as of December 31, 2012:

   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Pass/Watch
   
Special Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
    (In thousands)  
Commercial loans
  $ 1,870,832     $ 72,872     $ 82,957     $ 5,128     $ 2,031,789  
Real estate construction loans
    120,395       17,692       37,212       8,768       184,067  
Commercial mortgage loans
    3,360,744       148,987       249,608       241       3,759,580  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    1,358,500       1,915       14,106       401       1,374,922  
Installment and other loans
    13,982       -       -       -       13,982  
                                         
Total gross loans
  $ 6,724,453     $ 241,466     $ 383,883     $ 14,538     $ 7,364,340  

   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Pass/Watch
   
Special Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
    (In thousands)  
Commercial loans
  $ 1,944,989     $ 76,776     $ 94,077     $ 11,265     $ 2,127,107  
Real estate construction loans
    109,269       18,000       45,171       8,510       180,950  
Commercial mortgage loans
    3,344,783       162,455       261,214       -       3,768,452  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    1,322,768       816       16,084       414       1,340,082  
Installment and other loans
    12,556       -       -       -       12,556  
                                         
Total gross loans
  $ 6,734,365     $ 258,047     $ 416,546     $ 20,189     $ 7,429,147  

The allowance for loan losses and the reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments are significant estimates that can and do change based on management’s process in analyzing the loan portfolio and on management’s assumptions about specific borrowers, underlying collateral, and applicable economic and environmental conditions, among other factors.
 
 
20

 

The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment and based on impairment method as of March 31, 2013, and as of December 31, 2012.

   
Commercial
Loans
   
Real Estate
Construction
Loans
   
Commercial
Mortgage
Loans
   
Residential
Mortgage Loans
and Equity Lines
   
Installment and
Other Loans
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2013
                                   
Loans individually evaluated for impairment
                                   
Allowance
  $ 1,717     $ 8,080     $ 6,242     $ 1,318     $ -     $ 17,357  
Balance
  $ 19,474     $ 42,071     $ 150,750     $ 18,249     $ -     $ 230,544  
                                                 
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
                                               
Allowance
  $ 59,339     $ 12,617     $ 78,574     $ 10,773     $ 32     $ 161,335  
Balance
  $ 2,012,315     $ 141,996     $ 3,608,830     $ 1,356,673     $ 13,982     $ 7,133,796  
                                                 
Total allowance
  $ 61,056     $ 20,697     $ 84,816     $ 12,091     $ 32     $ 178,692  
Total balance
  $ 2,031,789     $ 184,067     $ 3,759,580     $ 1,374,922     $ 13,982     $ 7,364,340  
                                                 
December 31, 2012
                                               
Loans individually evaluated for impairment
                                               
Allowance
  $ 1,467     $ 8,158     $ 1,336     $ 1,222     $ -     $ 12,183  
Balance
  $ 23,922     $ 42,133     $ 165,885     $ 16,657     $ -     $ 248,597  
                                                 
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
                                               
Allowance
  $ 64,634     $ 14,859     $ 81,137     $ 10,481     $ 28     $ 171,139  
Balance
  $ 2,103,185     $ 138,817     $ 3,602,567     $ 1,323,425     $ 12,556     $ 7,180,550  
                                                 
Total allowance
  $ 66,101     $ 23,017     $ 82,473     $ 11,703     $ 28     $ 183,322  
Total balance
  $ 2,127,107     $ 180,950     $ 3,768,452     $ 1,340,082     $ 12,556     $ 7,429,147  

The following table details activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three  months ended March 31, 2013, and March 31, 2012.  Allocation of a portion of the allowance to one category of loans does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other categories.
 
 
21

 
 
 
   
Commercial
Loans
   
Real Estate
Construction
Loans
   
Commercial
Mortgage
Loans
   
Residential
Mortgage
and Equity Lines
   
Installment
and Other
Loans
   
 
 
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                     
2013 Beginning Balance
  $ 66,101     $ 23,017     $ 82,473     $ 11,703     $ 28     $ 183,322  
Provision/(credit) for possible credit losses
    (3,310 )     (2,399 )     2,968       795       4       (1,942 )
Charge-offs
    (2,690 )     -       (990 )     (410 )     -       (4,090 )
Recoveries
    955       79       365       3       -       1,402  
Net (charge-offs)/recoveries
    (1,735 )     79       (625 )     (407 )     -       (2,688 )
                                                 
March 31, 2013 Ending Balance
  $ 61,056     $ 20,697     $ 84,816     $ 12,091     $ 32     $ 178,692  
Reserve for impaired loans
  $ 1,717     $ 8,080     $ 6,242     $ 1,318     $ -     $ 17,357  
Reserve for non-impaired loans
  $ 59,339     $ 12,617     $ 78,574     $ 10,773     $ 32     $ 161,335  
Reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments
  $ 837     $ 311     $ 2,122     $ 33     $ 2     $ 3,305  
                                                 
                                                 
2012 Beginning Balance
  $ 65,658     $ 21,749     $ 108,021     $ 10,795     $ 57     $ 206,280  
                                                 
Provision/(credit) for possible credit losses
    (1,041 )     (6,439 )     4,318       (260 )     15       (3,407 )
                                                 
Charge-offs
    (4,959 )     (875 )     (8,222 )     (779 )     (25 )     (14,860 )
Recoveries
    746       3,557       2,058       366       3       6,730  
Net (charge-offs)/recoveries
    (4,213 )     2,682       (6,164 )     (413 )     (22 )     (8,130 )
                                                 
March 31, 2012 Ending Balance
  $ 60,404     $ 17,992     $ 106,175     $ 10,122     $ 50     $ 194,743  
Reserve for impaired loans
  $ 1,272     $ -     $ 2,529     $ 1,806     $ -     $ 5,607  
Reserve for non-impaired loans
  $ 59,119     $ 17,993     $ 103,657     $ 8,317     $ 50     $ 189,136  
Reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments
  $ 720     $ 635     $ 84     $ 34     $ 2     $ 1,475  

8. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various litigation concerning transactions entered into during the normal course of business.  Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not believe that the resolution of such litigation will have a material effect upon its consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity taken as a whole. Although the Company establishes accruals for legal proceedings when information related to the loss contingencies represented by those matters indicates both that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company does not have accruals for all legal proceedings where there is a risk of loss. In addition, amounts accrued may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from the legal proceedings in question. Thus, ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued for legal loss contingencies.
 
In the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of loans, or through commercial or standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees.  These instruments represent varying degrees of exposure to risk in excess of the amounts included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The contractual or notional amount of these instruments indicates a level of activity associated with a particular class of financial instrument and is not a reflection of the level of expected losses, if any.
 
 
22

 
 
9. Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $1.15 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.78% at March 31, 2013, compared to $1.3 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.84% at December 31, 2012.  In 2012, the Company modified $200.0 million of securities sold under agreements to repurchase by extending the term by an additional four years on average, reducing the rate by an average of 168 basis points and removing the callable feature.  In 2012, the Company prepaid securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaling $150 million with a weighted average rate of 4.43% and incurred prepayment penalties of $9.4 million.  In the first quarter of 2013, the Company prepaid securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaling $100 million with a weighted average rate of 4.61% and incurred prepayment penalties of $5.6 million. Five floating-to-fixed rate agreements totaling $300.0 million have initial floating rates for a period of time ranging from six months to one year, with floating rates ranging from the three-month LIBOR minus 200 basis points to three-month LIBOR minus 340 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.78% to 5.07%.  After the initial floating rate term, the counter parties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the fixed rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. Thirteen fixed-to-floating rate agreements totaling $650.0 million have initial fixed rates ranging from 1.00% to 3.50% with initial fixed rate terms ranging from six months to 18 months.  For the remaining term, the rates float at 8% minus the three-month LIBOR rate with a maximum rate ranging from 3.25% to 3.79% and minimum rate of 0.0%.  After the initial fixed rate term, the counter parties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the floating rate reset date and quarterly thereafter.  The table below provides summary data for the $950 million of callable securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of March 31, 2013:
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fixed-to-floating
   
Floating-to-fixed
   
Total
 
Rate type
  Float Rate    
Fixed Rate
       
Rate index
 
8% minus 3 month LIBOR
             
Maximum rate
    3.79 %     3.53 %     3.50 %     3.50 %     3.53 %     3.25 %                  
Minimum rate
    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %                  
No. of agreements
    3       1       4       3       1       1       1       4       18  
Amount
  $ 150.0     $ 50.0     $ 200.0     $ 150.0     $ 50.0     $ 50.0     $ 100.0     $ 200.0     $ 950.0  
Weighted average rate
    3.78 %     3.53 %     3.50 %     3.50 %     3.53 %     3.25 %     4.78 %     5.00 %     3.98 %
Final maturity
    2014       2014       2014       2015       2015       2015       2014       2017          
 
The table below provides summary data for non-callable fixed rate securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of March 31, 2013:
 
Maturity
 
No. of
Agreements
   
Amount
(In thousands)
   
Weighted Average
Interest Rate
 
3 years to 5 years
    2     $ 100,000       2.71 %
Over 5 years
    2       100,000       2.86 %
Total
    4     $ 200,000       2.78 %
 
These transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold. The Company may have to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements, as necessary.  The underlying collateral pledged for the repurchase agreements consists of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency security debt, and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2013, and $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2012.
 
 
23

 
 
10. Income Taxes
 
Income tax expense totaled $16.9 million, or an effective tax rate of 36.9%, for the first quarter of 2013, compared to an income tax expense of $16.5 million, or an effective tax rate of 36.4%, for the same period a year ago.  The effective tax rate includes the impact of the utilization of low income housing tax credits and recognition of other tax credits for both years.
 
As of December 31, 2012, the Company had income tax refunds receivable of $12.4 million. These income tax receivables are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
 
The Company’s tax returns are open for audits by the Internal Revenue Service back to 2010 and by the California Franchise Tax Board back to 2003.  The Company is under audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for the years 2003 to 2007.  As the Company is presently under audit by a number of tax authorities, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits could change significantly over the next twelve months. The Company does not expect that any such changes would have a material impact on its annual effective tax rate.
 
11. Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company adopted ASC Topic 820 on January 1, 2008, and determined the fair values of our financial instruments based on the following:

 
·
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
·
Level 2 - Observable prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; directly observable market inputs for substantially the full term of the asset and liability; market inputs that are not directly observable but are derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
 
·
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that a market participant would use.

The Company uses the following methodologies to measure the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis:
 
Securities Available for Sale. For certain actively traded agency preferred stocks, mutual funds, and U.S. Treasury securities, the Company measures the fair value based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement.  The Company also measures securities by using quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.  This category generally includes U.S. Government agency securities, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), commercial MBS, collateralized mortgage obligations, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds and trust preferred securities.
 
Trading Securities. The Company measures the fair value of trading securities based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement. The Company also measures the fair value for other trading securities based on quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.
 
 
24

 
 
Warrants. The Company measures the fair value of warrants based on unobservable inputs based on assumption and management judgment, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Currency Option and Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Company measures the fair value of currency option and foreign exchange contracts based on dealer quotes on a recurring basis, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Interest Rate Swaps. Fair value of interest rate swaps is derived from observable market prices for similar assets on a recurring basis, a Level 2 measurement.
 
The valuation techniques for the assets and liabilities valued on a nonrecurring basis are as follows:
 
Impaired Loans. The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis.  However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to collateral dependent impaired loans are recorded based on either the current appraised value of the collateral, a Level 2 measurement, or management’s judgment and estimation of value reported on older appraisals that are then adjusted based on recent market trends, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Goodwill.  The Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in ASC Topic 350.  The two-step impairment testing process, if needed, begins by assigning net assets and goodwill to our three reporting unitsCommercial Lending, Retail Banking, and East Coast Operations.  The Company then completes “step one” of the impairment test by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit (as determined based on the discussion below) with the recorded book value (or “carrying amount”) of its net assets, with goodwill included in the computation of the carrying amount.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired, and “step two” of the impairment test is not necessary.  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, step two of the impairment test is performed to determine the amount of impairment.  Step two of the impairment test compares the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill to the “implied fair value” of that goodwill.  The implied fair value of goodwill is computed by assuming that all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit would be adjusted to the current fair value, with the offset as an adjustment to goodwill.  This adjusted goodwill balance is the implied fair value used in step two.  An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. In connection with the determination of fair value, certain data and information is utilized, including earnings forecasts at the reporting unit level for the next four years.  Other key assumptions include terminal values based on future growth rates and discount rates for valuing the cash flows, which have inputs for the risk-free rate, market risk premium and adjustments to reflect inherent risk and required market returns.  Because of the significance of unobservable inputs in the valuation of goodwill impairment, goodwill subject to nonrecurring fair value adjustments is classified as a Level 3 measurement.
 
 
25

 
 
Core Deposit Intangibles. Core deposit intangibles is initially recorded at fair value based on a valuation of the core deposits acquired and is amortized over its estimated useful life to its residual value in proportion to the economic benefits consumed.  The Company assesses the recoverability of this intangible asset on a nonrecurring basis using the core deposits remaining at the assessment date and the fair value of cash flows expected to be generated from the core deposits, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Other Real Estate Owned. Real estate acquired in the settlement of loans is initially recorded at fair value based on the appraised value of the property on the date of transfer, less estimated costs to sell, a Level 2 measurement.  From time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments are made to other real estate owned based on the current updated appraised value of the property, also a Level 2 measurement, or management’s judgment and estimation of value reported on older appraisals that are then adjusted based on recent market trends, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Investments in Venture Capital.  The Company periodically reviews its investments in venture capital for other-than-temporary impairment on a nonrecurring basis.  Investments in venture capital were written down to their fair value based on available financial reports from venture capital partnerships and management’s judgment and estimation, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Equity Investments. The Company records equity investments at fair value on a nonrecurring basis based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement.
 
The following table presents the Company’s hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012:
 
 
March 31, 2013
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Total at
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
    (In thousands)  
Assets
     
                         
Securities available-for-sale
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 360,114     $ -     $ -     $ 360,114  
State and municipal securities
    -       63,458       -       63,458  
Mortgage-backed securities
    -       1,490,598       -       1,490,598  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    -       8,946       -       8,946  
Asset-backed securities
    -       132       -       132  
Corporate debt securities
    -       256,457       -       256,457  
Mutual funds
    6,035       -       -       6,035  
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities
    -       4,556       -       4,556  
Total securities available-for-sale
    366,149       1,824,147       -       2,190,296  
Trading securities
    -       4,758       -       4,758  
Warrants
    -       -       98       98  
Option contracts
    -       8       -       8  
Foreign exchange contracts
    -       2,987       -       2,987  
Total assets
  $ 366,149     $ 1,831,900     $ 98     $ 2,198,147  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
                                 
Option contracts
  $ -     $ 2     $ -     $ 2  
Foreign exchange contracts
    -       1,850       -       1,850  
Total liabilities
  $ -     $ 1,852     $ -     $ 1,852  
 
 
26

 

December 31, 2012
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Total at
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
    (In thousands)  
Assets
                 
                         
Securities available-for-sale
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 509,971     $ -     $ -     $ 509,971  
Mortgage-backed securities
    -       416,694       -       416,694  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    -       10,168       -       10,168  
Asset-backed securities
    -       141       -       141  
Corporate debt securities
    -       335,977       -       335,977  
Mutual funds
    6,079       -       -       6,079  
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities
    -       2,335       -       2,335  
Trust preferred securities
    10,115       -       -       10,115  
Other equity securities
    -       -       -       -  
Total securities available-for-sale
    526,165       765,315       -       1,291,480  
Trading securities
    -       4,703       -       4,703  
Warrants
    -       -       104       104  
Option contracts
    -       -       -       -  
Foreign exchange contracts
    -       2,924       -       2,924  
Total assets
  $ 526,165     $ 772,942     $ 104     $ 1,299,211  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
                                 
Option contracts
  $ -     $ 2     $ -     $ 2  
Foreign exchange contracts
    -       1,586       -       1,586  
Total liabilities
  $ -     $ 1,588     $ -     $ 1,588  
 
 
The Company measured the fair value of its warrants on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs.  The fair value of warrants was $98,000 at March 31, 2013, compared to $104,000 at December 31, 2012.  The fair value adjustment of warrants was included in other operating income in the first quarter of 2013.
 
For financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that were still reflected in the balance sheet at March 31, 2013, the following table provides the level of valuation assumptions used to determine each adjustment and the carrying value of the related individual assets as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, and the total losses/(gains) for the periods indicated:
 
 
27

 
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
Total Losses/(gains)
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Total at
   
Three months ended
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
   
March 31, 2013
   
March 31, 2012
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Assets      
                                     
Impaired loans by type:
                                   
Commercial loans
  $ -     $ -     $ 5,463     $ 5,463     $ 463     $ 859  
Commercial mortgage loans
    -       -       23,736       23,736       41       -  
Construction- residential
    -       -       500       500       -       -  
Construction- other
    -       -       46,162       46,162       -       -  
Real estate loans
    -       -       -       -       -       1,357  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    -       -       13,299       13,299       189       526  
Land loans
    -       -       208       208       48       -  
Total impaired loans
    -       -       89,368       89,368       741       2,742  
Other real estate owned (1)
    -       24,892       4,515       29,407       (66 )     2,824  
Investments in venture capital
    -       -       9,026       9,026       92       137  
Equity investments
    142       -       -       142       -       -  
Total assets
  $ 142     $ 24,892     $ 102,909     $ 127,943     $ 767     $ 5,703  
 
 (1) Other real estate owned balance of $45.3 million in the consolidated balance sheet is net of estimated disposal costs.

 
   
December 31, 2012
 
Total Losses
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Total at
 
Twelve months ended
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
December 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Assets      
                                 
Impaired loans by type:
                               
Commercial loans
  $ -     $ -     $ 3,492     $ 3,492   $ -   $ 877  
Commercial mortgage loans
    -       -       11,295       11,295     440     -  
Construction- residential
    -       -       500       500     -     -  
Construction- other
    -       -       46,153       46,153     65     -  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    -       -       11,206       11,206     605     820  
Land loans
    -       -       297       297     162     46  
Total impaired loans
    -       -       72,943       72,943     1,272     1,743  
Other real estate owned (1)
    -       27,149       4,841       31,990     10,904     7,003  
Investments in venture capital
    -       -       9,001       9,001     309     379  
Equity investments
    142       -       -       142     181     200  
Total assets
  $ 142     $ 27,149     $ 86,785     $ 114,076   $ 12,666   $ 9,325  
 
 (1) Other real estate owned balance of $46.4 million in the consolidated balance sheet is net of estimated disposal costs.
 
The significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs used in the fair value measurement of collateral for collateral-dependent impaired loans was primarily based on the appraised value of collateral adjusted by estimated sales cost and commissions.  The Company generally obtains new appraisal reports every six months.  As the Company’s primary objective in the event of default would be to monetize the collateral to settle the outstanding balance of the loan, less marketable collateral would receive a larger discount. During the reported periods, collateral discounts ranged from 45% in the case of accounts receivable collateral to 65% in the case of inventory collateral.
 
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of loans held for sale was primarily based on the quoted price or sale price adjusted by estimated sales cost and commissions.  The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other real estate owned (“OREO”) was primarily based on the appraised value of OREO adjusted by estimated sales cost and commissions.
 
 
28

 
 
The Company applies estimated sales cost and commission ranging from 3% to 6% to collateral value of impaired loans, quoted price or loan sale price of loans held for sale, and appraised value of OREOs.
 
The significant unobservable inputs in the Black-Scholes option pricing model for the fair value of warrants are the expected life of warrant ranging from 1 to 4 years, risk-free interest rate from 0.25% to 0.56%, and stock volatility from 12.6% to 17.4%.
 
12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents.  For cash and cash equivalents, the carrying amount was assumed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value, a Level 1 measurement.
 
Short-term Investments.  For short-term investments, the carrying amount was assumed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value, a Level 1 measurement.
 
Securities Purchased under Agreements to Resell. The fair value of securities purchased under agreements to resell is based on dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Securities.  For securities, including securities held-to-maturity, available-for-sale and for trading, fair values were based on quoted market prices at the reporting date.  If a quoted market price was not available, fair value was estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes.  For certain actively traded agency preferred stocks and U.S. Treasury securities, the Company measures the fair value based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement.  The Company also measures securities by using quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.  This category generally includes U.S. Government agency securities, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), commercial MBS, collateralized mortgage obligations, asset-backed securities, and corporate bonds.
 
Loans.  Fair values were estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics.  Each loan category was further segmented into fixed and adjustable rate interest terms and by performing and non-performing categories.
 
The fair value of performing loans was calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan, a Level 3 measurement.
 
The fair value of impaired loans was calculated based on the net realizable fair value of the collateral or the observable market price of the most recent sale or quoted price from loans held for sale.  The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis.  Nonrecurring fair value adjustments to collateral dependent impaired loans are recorded based on the current appraised value of the collateral, a Level 2 measurement.
 
 
29

 
 
Deposit Liabilities.  The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts, and certain money market deposits was assumed to be the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit was estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits with similar remaining maturities, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase.  The fair value of securities sold under agreements to repurchase is based on dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank.  The fair value of the advances is based on quotes from the FHLB to settle the advances, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Other Borrowings.  This category includes borrowings from other financial institutions.  The fair value of other borrowings is calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk, a Level 3 measurement. 
 
Long-term Debt.  The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices or dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Currency Option and Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Company measures the fair value of currency option and foreign exchange contracts based on dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Interest Rate Swaps. Fair value of interest rate swaps was derived from observable market prices for similar assets, a Level 2 measurement.
 
Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments.  The fair value of commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees written were 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 counter parties.  The fair value of guarantees and letters of credit was based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counter parties at the reporting date.  Off-balance-sheet financial instruments were fair valued based on the assumptions that a market participant would use, a Level 3 measurement.
 
Fair value was estimated in accordance with ASC Topic 825, formerly SFAS 107.  Fair value estimates were made at specific points in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument.  These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Bank’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument.  Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Bank’s financial instruments, fair value estimates were based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors.  These estimates were subjective in nature and involved uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision.  Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.  The following table presents the estimated fair value of financial instruments as of March 31, 2013, and as of December 31, 2012:
 
 
30

 
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial Assets
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 155,525     $ 155,525     $ 144,909     $ 144,909  
Short-term investments
    215,794       215,794       411,983       411,983  
Securities held-to-maturity
    -       -       773,768       823,906  
Securities available-for-sale
    2,190,296       2,190,296       1,291,480       1,291,480  
Trading securities
    4,758       4,758       4,703       4,703  
Loans, net
    7,175,462       7,119,348       7,235,587       7,169,732  
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    37,130       37,130       41,272       41,272  
Warrants
    98       98       104       104  
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
Option contracts
  $ 1,113     $ 8     $ 105     $ -  
Foreign exchange contracts
    211,674       2,987       188,145       2,924  
                                 
 
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
                                 
Deposits
  $ 7,425,674     $ 7,431,517     $ 7,383,225     $ 7,389,015  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,150,000       1,244,735       1,250,000       1,361,585  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    126,200       126,962       146,200       146,789  
Other borrowings
    19,232       16,232       18,713       14,573  
Long-term debt
    171,136       101,715       171,136       98,392  
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
Option contracts
  $ 465     $ 2     $ 104     $ 2  
Foreign exchange contracts
    165,603       1,850       133,669       1,586  
                                 
 
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments
                               
Commitments to extend credit
  $ 1,762,592     $ (1,867 )   $ 1,740,463     $ (1,875 )
Standby letters of credit
    45,814       (173 )     44,672       (204 )
Other letters of credit
    57,750       (33 )     71,073       (34 )
Bill of lading guarantees
    128       -       77       -  
 
 
The following table presents the level in the fair value hierarchy for the estimated fair values of only financial instruments that are not already on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012.
 
 
31

 
 
   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Estimated
Fair Value
Measurements
   
 
 
Level 1
   
 
 
Level 2
   
 
 
Level 3
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial Assets
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 155,525     $ 155,525     $ -     $ -  
Short-term investments
    215,794       215,794       -       -  
Securities available-for-sale
    2,190,296       366,149       1,824,147       -  
Trading securities
    4,758       -       4,758       -  
Loans, net
    7,119,348       -       -       7,119,348  
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    37,130       -       37,130       -  
Warrants
    98       -       -       98  
Financial Liabilities
                               
Deposits
    7,431,517       -       -       7,431,517  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,244,735       -       1,244,735       -  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    126,962       -       126,962       -  
Other borrowings
    16,232       -       -       16,232  
Long-term debt
    101,715       -       101,715       -  

   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Estimated
Fair Value
Measurements
   
 
 
Level 1
   
 
 
Level 2
   
 
 
Level 3
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial Assets
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 144,909     $ 144,909     $ -     $ -  
Short-term investments
    411,983       411,983       -       -  
Securities held-to-maturity
    823,906       -       823,906       -  
Securities available-for-sale
    1,291,480       526,165       765,315       -  
Trading securities
    4,703       -       4,703       -  
Loans, net
    7,169,732       -       -       7,169,732  
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    41,272       -       41,272       -  
Warrants
    104       -       -       104  
Financial Liabilities
                               
Deposits
    7,389,015       -       -       7,389,015  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,361,585       -       1,361,585       -  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    146,789       -       146,789       -  
Other borrowings
    14,573       -       -       14,573  
Long-term debt
    98,392       -       98,392       -  

 
13. Goodwill and Goodwill Impairment

The Company’s policy is to assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis or between annual assessments if a triggering event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.  Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.
 
The Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in ASC Topic 350.  The two-step impairment testing process conducted by us, if needed, begins by assigning net assets and goodwill to our three reporting units Commercial Lending, Retail Banking, and East Coast Operations.  The Company then completes “step one” of the impairment test by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit (as determined based on the discussion below) with the recorded book value (or “carrying amount”) of its net assets, with goodwill included in the computation of the carrying amount.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired, and “step two” of the impairment test is not necessary.  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, step two of the impairment test is performed to determine the amount of impairment.  Step two of the impairment test compares the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill to the “implied fair value” of that goodwill.  The implied fair value of goodwill is computed by assuming that all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit would be adjusted to the current fair value, with the offset as an adjustment to goodwill.  This adjusted goodwill balance is the implied fair value used in step two.  An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.
 
 
32

 
 
At March 31, 2013, the Company’s market capitalization was above book value and there was no triggering event that required the Company to assess goodwill for impairment as of an interim date.

14. Financial Derivatives
 
It is the policy of the Company not to speculate on the future direction of interest rates.  However, the Company enters into financial derivatives in order to seek mitigation of exposure to interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  We believe that these transactions, when properly structured and managed, may provide a hedge against inherent interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and against risk in specific transactions.  In such instances, the Company may protect its position through the purchase or sale of interest rate futures contracts for a specific cash or interest rate risk position.  Other hedge transactions may be implemented using interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors, financial futures, forward rate agreements, and options on futures or bonds.  Prior to considering any hedging activities, we seek to analyze the costs and benefits of the hedge in comparison to other viable alternative strategies.  All hedges will require an assessment of basis risk and must be approved by the Bank’s Investment Committee.
 
The Company follows ASC Topic 815 which establishes accounting and reporting standards for financial derivatives, including certain financial derivatives embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all financial derivatives as assets or liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and measurement of those financial derivatives at fair value.  The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a financial derivative is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge.
 
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts with various counter parties to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates for foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts, or foreign currency option contracts entered into with our clients. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are recorded at fair value in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of these contracts as well as the related foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts or foreign currency option contracts are recognized immediately in net income as a component of non-interest income. Period end gross positive fair values are recorded in other assets and gross negative fair values are recorded in other liabilities.  At March 31, 2013, the notional amount of option contracts totaled $1.6 million with a net positive fair value of $5,700. Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $211.7 million had a positive fair value of $3.0 million at March 31, 2013.  Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $165.6 million had a negative fair value of $1.9 million at March 31, 2013. At December 31, 2012, the notional amount of option contracts totaled $209,000 with a net negative fair value of $2,000. Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $188.1 million had a positive fair value of $2.9 million at December 31, 2012.  Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $133.7 million had a negative fair value of $1.6 million at December 31, 2012.
 
 
33

 
 
15. Balance Sheet Offsetting
 
Certain financial instruments, including resell and repurchase agreements, securities lending arrangements and derivatives, may be eligible for offset in the consolidated balance sheet and/or subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements. The Company’s securities sold with agreement to repurchase and derivative transactions with upstream financial institution counterparties are generally executed under International Swaps and Derivative Association (“ISDA”) master agreements which include “right of set-off” provisions. In such cases there is generally a legally enforceable right to offset recognized amounts and there may be an intention to settle such amounts on a net basis.  Nonetheless, the Company does not generally offset such financial instruments for financial reporting purposes.
 
Financial instruments that are eligible for offset in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, are presented in the following tables:
 
                     
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement
of Financial Position
 
(In thousands)  
Gross Amounts of Recognized
Liabilities
   
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Financial Position
   
Net Amounts of Liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Position
   
Financial
Instruments
   
Collateral
Posted
   
Net
Amount
 
March 31, 2013                                    
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   $ 1,150,000       -     $ 1,150,000       -     $ (1,150,000 )     -  
                                                 
December 31, 2012                                                
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   $ 1,250,000       -     $ 1,250,000       -     $ (1,250,000 )     -  
 
 
16. Stockholders’ Equity
 
Total equity was $1.55 billion at March 31, 2013, a decrease of $79.9 million, or 4.9%, from $1.63 billion at December 31, 2012, primarily due to the redemption on March 20, 2013, of $129 million, or 50%, of the Bancorp’s Series B Preferred Stock issued under the U.S. Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program offset by increases of $29.0 million in net income and $23.0 million in other comprehensive income.  A $1.3 million noncash charge associated with the redemption of Series B Preferred Stock was reflected in net income available to common stockholders.
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income as of March 31, 2013, was all from unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale.  Activity in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, and reclassification out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2013, was as follows:
 
   
Three months ended
March 31, 2013
 
   
Pre-tax
   
Tax expense
   
Net-of-tax
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Beginning balance, net of tax
              $ 465  
Net unrealized gains arising during the period
  $ 7,947     $ 3,343     $ 4,604  
Reclassification adjustment for net securities gains included in net income
    (6,292 )     (2,645 )     (3,647 )
Net unrealized gains arising from transferring securities held-to-maturity to available-for-sale
    38,052       15,997       22,055  
Total other comprehensive income
  $ 39,707     $ 16,695     $ 23,012  
Ending balance, net of tax
                  $ 23,477  
 
 
Item 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
The following discussion is given based on the assumption that the reader has access to and has read the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
 
34

 
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
The discussion and analysis of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and results of operations are based upon its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
Management of the Company considers the following to be critical accounting policies:
 
Accounting for the allowance for credit losses involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of net loans.  The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances as described in “Allowance for Credit Losses” under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Accounting for investment securities involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the carrying value of securities and the recognition of any “other-than-temporary” impairment to our investment securities. The judgments and assumptions used by management are described in “Investment Securities” under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Accounting for income taxes involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the amount of taxes currently payable and the income tax expense recorded in the financial statements.  The judgments and assumptions used by management are described in “Income Taxes” under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Accounting for goodwill and goodwill impairment involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the amount of goodwill and noninterest expense recorded in the financial statements.  The judgments and assumptions used by management are described in “Goodwill and Goodwill Impairment” under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
Accounting for other real estate owned involves significant judgments and assumptions by management, which have a material impact on the value of other real estate owned and noninterest expense recorded in the financial statements.  The judgments and assumptions used by management are described in “Valuation of Other Real Estate Owned” under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
 
35

 
 
Highlights

 
·
Redemption on March 20, 2013, of $129 million, or 50%, of the Bancorp’s Series B Preferred Stock issued under the U.S. Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program.
 
·
Memorandum of Understanding of Cathay General Bancorp lifted by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco effective April 5, 2013.
 
·
Increase in the net interest margin to 3.35% for the first quarter of 2013 compared to 3.28% for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Quarterly Statement of Operations Review

Net Income

Net income available to common stockholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, was $23.7 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 4.6%, compared to net income available to common stockholders of $24.8 million for the same quarter a year ago.  Diluted earnings per share available to common stockholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, was $0.30 compared to $0.32 for the same quarter a year ago due primarily to the reversal for credit losses in 2012, increases in salaries and employee benefits, increases in costs associated with debt redemption, and the $1.3 million noncash charge associated with the redemption of preferred shares issued to the U.S. Treasury offset by increases in gains on sale of securities and in commissions from wealth management.

Return on average stockholders’ equity was 7.20% and return on average assets was 1.12% for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, compared to a return on average stockholders’ equity of 7.62% and a return on average assets of 1.10% for the same quarter a year ago.
 
Financial Performance

   
Three months ended March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net income (in millions)
  $ 28.8     $ 28.9  
Net income available to common stockholders (in millions)
  $ 23.7     $ 24.8  
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.30     $ 0.32  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.30     $ 0.32  
Return on average assets
    1.12 %     1.10 %
Return on average total stockholders' equity
    7.20 %     7.62 %
Efficiency ratio
    51.71 %     53.50 %

 
Net Interest Income Before Provision for Credit Losses
 
Net interest income before provision for credit losses decreased $519,000, or 0.6%, to $80.1 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to $80.7 million during the same quarter a year ago.  The decrease was due primarily to the decrease in interest income from investment securities and loans offset by the decrease in interest expense from time deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.
 
The net interest margin, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, was 3.35% for the first quarter of 2013, compared to 3.28% for the fourth quarter of 2012, and 3.33% for the first quarter of 2012.  The decrease in the interest expense on time deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase offset by decrease in earnings on investment securities and loans contributed to the increase in the net interest margin.
 
 
36

 
 
For the first quarter of 2013, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 4.26%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities was 1.18%, and the cost of interest bearing deposits was 0.63%.  In comparison, for the first quarter of 2012, the yield on average interest-earning assets was 4.54%, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities was 1.51%, and the cost of interest bearing deposits was 0.86%. The interest spread, defined as the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of funds on average interest-bearing liabilities, increased 5 basis points to 3.08% for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, from 3.03% for the same quarter a year ago, primarily for the reasons discussed above.
 
The following table sets forth information concerning average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities, and the yields and rates paid on those assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and March 31, 2012.  Average outstanding amounts included in the table are daily averages.
 
 
37

 
 

Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Average
Balance
   
Interest
Income/
Expense
   
Average
Yield/
Rate (1)(2)
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
Income/
Expense
   
Average
Yield/
Rate (1)(2)
 
Interest earning assets:
                                   
Commercial loans
  $ 2,073,827     $ 20,768       4.06 %   $ 1,857,339     $ 19,366       4.19 %
Residential mortgage loans
    1,357,346       15,942       4.70       1,183,518       15,030       5.08  
Commercial mortgage loans
    3,761,187       49,706       5.36       3,701,953       53,412       5.80  
Real estate construction loans
    181,254       2,387       5.34       235,771       2,802       4.78  
Other loans and leases
    13,252       37       1.13       19,005       91       1.93  
Total loans and leases (1)
    7,386,866       88,840       4.88       6,997,586       90,701       5.21  
Taxable securities
    2,006,091       11,786       2.38       2,323,166       17,723       3.07  
Tax-exempt securities (3)
    124,182       1,488       4.86       133,094       1,619       4.89  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    41,041       250       2.47       52,627       66       0.50  
Interest bearing deposits
    196,615       208       0.43       267,157       588       0.88  
Federal funds sold & securities purchased under agreements to resell
    -       -       -       22,802       5       0.09  
Total interest-earning assets
    9,754,795       102,572       4.26       9,796,432       110,702       4.54  
Non-interest earning assets:
                                               
Cash and due from banks
    139,378                       115,447                  
Other non-earning assets
    763,909                       853,392                  
Total non-interest earning assets
    903,287                       968,839                  
Less: Allowance for loan losses
    (183,547 )                     (206,241 )                
Deferred loan fees
    (10,071 )                     (7,860 )                
Total assets
  $ 10,464,464                     $ 10,551,170                  
                                                 
Interest bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest bearing demand accounts
  $ 600,110     $ 235       0.16     $ 465,921     $ 175       0.15  
Money market accounts
    1,164,125       1,580       0.55       976,109       1,395       0.57  
Savings accounts
    466,952       92       0.08       424,198       88       0.08  
Time deposits
    3,878,847       7,615       0.80       4,395,102       11,798       1.08  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    6,110,034       9,522       0.63       6,261,330       13,456       0.86  
                                                 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,197,222       11,393       3.86       1,400,000       14,655       4.21  
Other borrowings
    48,807       80       0.66       30,117       53       0.71  
Long-term debt
    171,136       924       2.19       171,136       1,320       3.10  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    7,527,199       21,919       1.18       7,862,583       29,484       1.51  
Non-interest bearing liabilities:
                                               
Demand deposits
    1,221,552                       1,071,387                  
Other liabilities
    82,940                       82,227                  
Total equity
    1,632,773                       1,534,973                  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 10,464,464                     $ 10,551,170                  
Net interest spread (4)
                    3.08 %                     3.03 %
Net interest income (4)
          $ 80,653                     $ 81,218          
Net interest margin (4)
                    3.35 %                     3.33 %
 
(1) Yields and amounts of interest earned include loan fees. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balance.
(2) Calculated by dividing net interest income by average outstanding interest-earning assets.
(3) The average yield has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis for certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.
(4) Net interest spread, net interest income, and net interest margin on interest-earning assets have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.
 
The following table summarizes the changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in volume and changes in interest rates:
 
 
38

 
 
Taxable-Equivalent Net Interest Income — Changes Due to Rate and Volume(1)
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
2013-2012
Increase (Decrease) in
Net Interest Income Due to:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Changes in
Volume
   
Changes in
Rate
   
Total Change
 
 
                     
Interest-earning assets:
                   
Loans and leases
    4,581       (6,442 )     (1,861 )
Taxable securities
    (2,251 )     (3,686 )     (5,937 )
Tax-exempt securities (2)
    (119 )     (12 )     (131 )
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    (18 )     202       184  
Deposits with other banks
    (129 )     (251 )     (380 )
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    (5 )     -       (5 )
                         
Total increase/(decrease) in interest income
    2,059       (10,189 )     (8,130 )
                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Interest bearing demand accounts
    51       9       60  
Money market accounts
    249       (64 )     185  
Savings accounts
    8       (4 )     4  
Time deposits
    (1,293 )     (2,890 )     (4,183 )
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (2,071 )     (1,191 )     (3,262 )
Other borrowed funds
    30       (3 )     27  
Long-term debts
    -       (396 )     (396 )
Total decrease in interest expense
    (3,026 )     (4,539 )     (7,565 )
Changes in net interest income
  $ 5,085     $ (5,650 )   $ (565 )
 
(1)
Changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to changes due to volume and changes due to rate.
(2)
The amount of interest earned on certain securities of states and political subdivisions and other securities held has been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory Federal income tax rate of 35%.
 
 
Provision for Credit Losses
 
There was no provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2013 compared to a credit of $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2012.  The provision for credit losses was based on the review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2013.  The provision for credit losses represents the charge against or benefit toward current earnings that is determined by management, through a credit review process, as the amount needed to establish an allowance that management believes to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio, including unfunded commitments.  The following table summarizes the charge-offs and recoveries for the periods indicated:
 
 
39

 
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
   
March 31, 2012
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Charge-offs:
                 
Commercial loans
  $ 2,690     $ 3,228     $ 4,959  
Construction loans- residential
    -       -       140  
Construction loans- other
    -       -       735  
Real estate loans (1)
    1,130       1,265       8,927  
Real estate- land loans
    270       177       74  
Installment and other loans
    -       -       25  
Total charge-offs
    4,090       4,670       14,860  
Recoveries:
                       
Commercial loans
    955       719       746  
Construction loans- residential
    46       76       1,899  
Construction loans- other
    33       452       1,658  
Real estate loans (1)
    359       2,036       1,631  
Real estate- land loans
    9       24       793  
Installment and other loans
    -       -       3  
Total recoveries
    1,402       3,307       6,730  
Net charge-offs
  $ 2,688     $ 1,363     $ 8,130  
 
(1) Real estate loans include commercial mortgage loans, residential mortgage loans and equity lines.
 
 
 
Non-Interest Income
 
Non-interest income, which includes revenues from depository service fees, letters of credit commissions, securities gains (losses), gains (losses) on loan sales, wire transfer fees, and other sources of fee income, was $14.9 million for the first quarter of 2013, an increase of $6.1 million, or 68.5%, compared to $8.8 million for the first quarter of 2012. The increase in non-interest income in the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to an increase of $4.1 million from gains on sale of securities, an increase of $831,000 in commissions from wealth management, and a decrease of $755,000 from trading security losses.
 
Non-Interest Expense
 
Non-interest expense increased $1.2 million, or 2.6%, to $49.1 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $47.9 million in the same quarter a year ago.  The efficiency ratio was 51.71% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 53.50% for the same quarter a year ago.
 
Prepayment penalties increased $2.8 million to $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $2.8 million in the same quarter a year ago.  The Company prepaid securities sold under agreements to repurchase of $100.0 million in the first quarter of 2013 and prepaid $100.0 million of FHLB advances in the first quarter of 2012.  Salaries and employee benefits increased $3.0 million, or 15.0%, in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter a year ago primarily due the hiring of new employees as well as the addition of temporary employees related to the upcoming core system conversion.  Professional expense increased $1.1 million to $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $4.7 million in the same quarter a year ago primarily due to higher legal collection expenses.  Offsetting the above increases were a $4.1 million decrease in other real estate owned (“OREO”) expenses, a $969,000 decrease in marketing expenses, and a $751,000 decrease in FDIC and state assessments.  Decreases in the OREO provision and OREO operating expenses contributed primarily to the decrease in OREO expenses.
 
 
40

 
 
Income Taxes
 
The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2013 was 36.9% compared to 36.4% in the first quarter of 2012.  The effective tax rate includes the impact of the utilization of low income housing tax credits and the recognition of other tax credits.
 
Balance Sheet Review

Assets
 
Total assets were $10.5 billion at March 31, 2013, a decrease of $173.4 million, or 1.6%, from $10.69 billion at December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $196.2 million decrease in short-term investments and interest bearing deposits, a $64.8 million decrease in loans and a $25.1 million decrease in income tax receivable and deferred tax assets offset by a $125.0 million increase in investment securities.
 
Investment Securities
 
Investment securities represented 20.8% of total assets at March 31, 2013, compared with 19.3% of total assets at December 31, 2012. The carrying value of investment securities at March 31, 2013, was $2.19 billion compared with $2.06 billion at December 31, 2012.  Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value and had a net unrealized gain of $23.5 million at March 31, 2013, compared with a net unrealized gain of $465,000 at December 31, 2012. During the first quarter of 2013, due to the ongoing discussions regarding corporate income tax rates which could have a negative impact on the after-tax yields and fair values of the Company’s portfolio of municipal securities, the Company determined it may sell such securities in response to market conditions. As a result, the Company reclassified its municipal securities from securities held-to-maturity to securities available-for-sale.  Concurrent with this reclassification, the Company also reclassified all other securities held-to-maturity, which together with the municipal securities had an amortized cost on the date of transfer of $722.5 million, to securities available-for-sale. At the reclassification date, a net unrealized gain was recorded in other comprehensive income for these securities totaling $40.5 million.
 
The following table reflects the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair values of investment securities as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012:
 
   
March 31, 2013
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
 
 
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Securities Available-for-Sale
                       
U.S. treasury securities
  $ 359,880     $ 234     $ -     $ 360,114  
State and municipal securities
    59,805       3,653       -       63,458  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,449,816       42,335       1,553       1,490,598  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    8,631       369       54       8,946  
Asset-backed securities
    136       -       4       132  
Corporate debt securities
    264,949       657       9,149       256,457  
Mutual funds
    6,000       48       13       6,035  
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities
    569       3,987       -       4,556  
Total securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,149,786     $ 51,283     $ 10,773     $ 2,190,296  
Total investment securities
  $ 2,149,786     $ 51,283     $ 10,773     $ 2,190,296  
 
 
41

 
 
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
 
 
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Securities Held-to-Maturity
                       
State and municipal securities
  $ 129,037     $ 9,268     $ -     $ 138,305  
Mortgage-backed securities
    634,757       40,801       -       675,558  
Corporate debt securities
    9,974       69       -       10,043  
Total securities held-to-maturity
  $ 773,768     $ 50,138     $ -     $ 823,906  
                                 
Securities Available-for-Sale
                               
U.S. treasury securities
  $ 509,748     $ 228     $ 5     $ 509,971  
Mortgage-backed securities
    404,505       12,194       5       416,694  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    9,772       430       34       10,168  
Asset-backed securities
    145       -       4       141  
Corporate debt securities
    349,973       106       14,102       335,977  
Mutual funds
    6,000       79       -       6,079  
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities
    569       1,766       -       2,335  
Trust preferred securities
    9,964       151       -       10,115  
Total securities available-for-sale
  $ 1,290,676     $ 14,954     $ 14,150     $ 1,291,480  
Total investment securities
  $ 2,064,444     $ 65,092     $ 14,150     $ 2,115,386  
 
 
For additional information, see Note 6 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report.
 
Investment securities having a carrying value of $1.36 billion at March 31, 2013, and $1.45 billion at December 31, 2012, were pledged to secure public deposits, other borrowings, treasury tax and loan, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, interest rate swaps, and foreign exchange transactions. 
 
Loans
 
Gross loans were $7.36 billion at March 31, 2013, a decrease of $64.8 million, or 0.9%, from $7.43 billion at December 31, 2012, primarily due to a decrease of $95.3 million, or 4.5%, in commercial loans and a decrease of $8.9 million, or 0.2%, in commercial mortgage loans offset by an increase of $37.2 million, or 3.2%, in residential mortgage loans.  The following table sets forth the classification of loans by type, mix, and percentage change as of the dates indicated:
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
% of Gross Loans
   
December 31, 2012
   
% of Gross Loans
   
% Change
 
Type of Loans
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Commercial loans
  $ 2,031,789       27.6 %   $ 2,127,107       28.6 %     -4.5 %
Residential mortgage loans
    1,183,460       16.1       1,146,230       15.4       3.2  
Commercial mortgage loans
    3,759,580       51.0       3,768,452       50.7       (0.2 )
Equity lines
    191,462       2.6       193,852       2.6       (1.2 )
Real estate construction loans
    184,067       2.5       180,950       2.5       1.7  
Installment and other loans
    13,982       0.2       12,556       0.2       11.4  
                                         
Gross loans
  $ 7,364,340       100 %   $ 7,429,147       100 %     -0.9 %
                                         
Allowance for loan losses
    (178,692 )             (183,322 )             (2.5 )
Unamortized deferred loan fees
    (10,186 )             (10,238 )             (0.5 )
                                         
Total loans, net
  $ 7,175,462             $ 7,235,587               -0.8 %
 
 
42

 
 
 
Non-performing Assets
 
Non-performing assets include loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, non-accrual loans, and other real estate owned.   The Company’s policy is to place loans on non-accrual status if interest and/or principal is past due 90 days or more, or in cases where management deems the full collection of principal and interest unlikely.  After a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed and charged against current income and subsequent  payments received are generally first applied towards the outstanding principal balance of the loan.  Depending on the circumstances, management may elect to continue the accrual of interest on certain past due loans if partial payment is received and/or the loan is well collateralized and in the process of collection.   The loan is generally returned to accrual status when the borrower has brought the past due principal and interest payments current and, in the opinion of management, the borrower has demonstrated the ability to make future payments of principal and interest as scheduled.
 
Management reviews the loan portfolio regularly for problem loans.  During the ordinary course of business, management becomes aware of borrowers that may not be able to meet the contractual requirements of the loan agreements.  Such loans are placed under closer supervision with consideration given to placing the loans on non-accrual status, the need for an additional allowance for loan losses, and (if appropriate) partial or full charge-off.
 
The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 1.4% at March 31, 2013, compared to 1.4% at December 31, 2012.  Total non-performing assets decreased $4.5 million, or 3.0%, to $146.4 million at March 31, 2013, compared to $150.9 million at December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $3.6 million, or 3.4%, decrease in non-accrual loans and a $1.1 million, or 2.3%, decrease in other real estate owned.
 
As a percentage of gross loans, excluding loans held for sale, plus other real estate owned, our non-performing assets decreased to 1.98% at March 31, 2013, from 2.02% at December 31, 2012. The non-performing portfolio loan coverage ratio, defined as the allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans, increased to 180.0% at March 31, 2013, from 176.7% at December 31, 2012.
 
The following table presents the breakdown of non-performing assets by category as of the dates indicated:
 
 
43

 

(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
% Change
   
March 31, 2012
   
% Change
 
Non-performing assets
                         
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more
  $ 800   $ 630     27     $ 1,389       (42 )
Non-accrual loans:
                                   
Construction loans- residential
    3,271     2,984     10       3,593       (9 )
Construction loans- non-residential
    32,966     33,315     (1 )     7,118       363  
Land loans
    8,325     6,053     38       9,688       (14 )
Commercial real estate loans, excluding land loans
    30,896     29,651     4       66,931       (54 )
Commercial loans
    13,192     19,958     (34 )     30,329       (57 )
Residential mortgage loans
    11,679     11,941     (2 )     13,838       (16 )
Total non-accrual loans:
  $ 100,329   $ 103,902     (3 )   $ 131,497       (24 )
Total non-performing loans
    101,129     104,532     (3 )     132,886       (24 )
Other real estate owned
    45,316     46,384     (2 )     87,806       (48 )
Total non-performing assets
  $ 146,445   $ 150,916     (3 )   $ 220,692       (34 )
Accruing troubled debt restructurings (TDRs)
  $ 130,215   $ 144,695     (10 )   $ 143,233       (9 )
Non-accrual TDRs (included in non-accrual loans above)
  $ 49,878   $ 47,731     4     $ 21,543       132  
Non-accrual loans held for sale
  $ -   $ -     -     $ 500       (100 )
                                     
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 178,692   $ 183,322     (3 )   $ 194,743       (8 )
Allowance for off-balance sheet credit commitments
    3,304     1,362     143       1,475       124  
Allowance for credit losses
  $ 181,996   $ 184,684     (1 )   $ 196,218       (7 )
                                     
Total gross loans outstanding, at period-end (1)
  $ 7,364,340   $ 7,429,147     (1 )   $ 6,908,544       7  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans, at period-end (2)
    176.70 %   175.37 %           146.55 %        
                                     
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans, at period-end (1)
    2.43 %   2.47 %           2.82 %        
Allowance for credit losses to gross loans, at period-end (1)
    2.47 %   2.49 %           2.84 %        
(1) Excludes loans held for sale at period-end.
                                       
(2) Excludes non-accrual loans held for sale at period-end.
                                       
 
 
Non-accrual Loans
 
At March 31, 2013, total non-accrual loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $100.3 million, a decrease of $31.2 million, or 23.7%, from $131.5 million at March 31, 2012, and a decrease of $3.6 million, or 3.4%, from $103.9 million at December 31, 2012.  The allowance for the collateral-dependent loans is calculated based on the difference between the outstanding loan balance and the value of the collateral as determined by recent appraisals, sales contracts, or other available market price information. The allowance for collateral-dependent loans varies from loan to loan based on the collateral coverage of the loan at the time of designation as non-performing. We continue to monitor the collateral coverage, based on recent appraisals, of these loans on a quarterly basis and adjust the allowance accordingly.  Non-accrual loans also include those troubled debt restructurings that do not qualify for accrual status.
 
 
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The following tables present the type of properties securing the non-accrual portfolio loans and the type of businesses the borrowers engaged in as of the dates indicated:
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Real
Estate (1)
   
Commercial
   
Real
Estate (1)
   
Commercial
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Type of Collateral
                       
Single/multi-family residence
  $ 20,674     $ 2,062     $ 20,996     $ 2,073  
Commercial real estate
    58,138       1,399       56,895       1,433  
Land
    8,325       -       6,053       -  
Personal property (UCC)
    -       9,731       -       16,452  
Total
  $ 87,137     $ 13,192     $ 83,944     $ 19,958  
 
(1) Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, residential mortgage loans and equity lines.
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
Real
Estate (1)
   
Commercial
   
Real
Estate (1)
   
Commercial
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Type of Business
                       
Real estate development
  $ 60,908     $ 2,109     $ 56,995     $ 2,387  
Wholesale/Retail
    14,943       5,993       15,398       3,908  
Food/Restaurant
    554       328       562       341  
Import/Export
    -       4,749       -       13,309  
Other
    10,731       13       10,989       13  
Total
  $ 87,136     $ 13,192     $ 83,944     $ 19,958  
 
(1) Real estate includes commercial mortgage loans, real estate construction loans, residential mortgage loans and equity lines.
 
 

Other Real Estate Owned
 
At March 31, 2013, other real estate owned totaled $45.3 million, which decreased $1.1 million, or 2.3%, compared to $46.4 million at December 31, 2012, and decreased $42.5 million, or 48.4%, compared to $87.8 million at March 31, 2012.
 
Impaired Loans
 
A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that a creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement based on current circumstances and events.  The assessment for impairment occurs when and while such loans are on non-accrual as a result of delinquency status of over 90 days or receipt of information indicating that full collection of principal is doubtful, or when the loan has been restructured in a troubled debt restructuring. Those loans with a balance less than our defined selection criteria, generally a loan amount less than $500,000  (less than $100,000 for quarters before March 31, 2012), are treated as a homogeneous portfolio.  If loans meeting the defined criteria are not collateral dependent, we measure the impairment based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate.  If loans meeting the defined criteria are collateral dependent, we measure the impairment by using the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral.  We obtain an appraisal to determine the amount of impairment at the date that the loan becomes impaired.  The appraisals are based on “as is” or bulk sale valuations.  To ensure that appraised values remain current, we generally obtain an updated appraisal every six months from qualified independent appraisers.  Furthermore, if the most current appraisal is dated more than three months prior to the effective date of the impairment test, we validate the most current value with third party market data appropriate to the location and property type of the collateral.  If the third party market data indicates that the value of our collateral property values has declined since the most recent valuation date, we adjust downward the value of the property to reflect current market conditions.  If the fair value of the collateral, less cost to sell, is less than the recorded amount of the loan, we then recognize impairment by creating or adjusting an existing valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses.  If an impaired loan is expected to be collected through liquidation of the collateral, the amount of impairment, excluding disposal costs, which range between 3% to 6% of the fair value, depending on the size of the impaired loan, is charged off against the allowance for loan losses.  Non-accrual impaired loans, including troubled debt restructurings, are not returned to accrual status unless the unpaid interest has been brought current and full repayment of the recorded balance is expected or if the borrower has made six consecutive monthly payments of the scheduled amounts due, and troubled debt restructurings are reviewed for continued impairment until they are no longer reported as troubled debt restructurings.
 
 
45

 
 
At March 31, 2013, recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $230.5 million and was comprised of non-accrual loans of $100.3 million, and accruing troubled debt restructured (“TDR”) loans of $130.2 million.  At December 31, 2012, recorded investment in impaired loans totaled $248.6 million and was comprised of non-accrual loans of $103.9 million and accruing TDR’s of $144.7 million.  For impaired loans, the amounts previously charged off represent 22.1% at March 31, 2013, and 23.2% at December 31, 2012, of the contractual balances for impaired loans.  As of March 31, 2013, $87.1 million, or 86.9%, of the $100.3 million non-accrual loans were secured by real estate compared to $83.9 million, or 80.8%, of the $103.9 million of non-accrual loans that were secured by real estate at December 31, 2012. In light of changing property values in the current economic fluctuation affecting the real estate markets, the Bank has obtained current appraisals, sales contracts, or other available market price information which provide updated factors in evaluating potential loss.
 
At March 31, 2013, $17.4 million of the $178.7 million allowance for loan losses was allocated for impaired loans and $161.3 million was allocated to the general allowance.  At December 31, 2012, $12.2 million of the $183.3 million allowance for loan losses was allocated for impaired loans and $171.1 million was allocated to the general allowance.
 
The allowance for credit losses to non-accrual loans increased to 181.4% at March 31, 2013, from 177.8% at December 31, 2012, primarily due to decreases in non-accrual loans.  Non-accrual loans also include those troubled debt restructurings that do not qualify for accrual status.
 
The following table presents impaired loans and the related allowance as of the dates indicated:
 
 
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Impaired Loans
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
   
Recorded
Investment
   
Allowance
   
Unpaid Principal Balance
   
Recorded
Investment
   
Allowance
 
   
(In thousands)
 
       
                                     
With no allocated allowance
                                   
Commercial loans
  $ 14,437     $ 12,294     $ -     $ 29,359     $ 18,963     $ -  
Real estate construction loans
    9,304       7,277       -       9,304       7,277       -  
Commercial mortgage loans
    153,872       120,563       -       189,871       152,957       -  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    3,643       3,633       -       4,303       4,229       -  
Subtotal
  $ 181,256     $ 143,767     $ -     $ 232,837     $ 183,426     $ -  
With allocated allowance
                                               
Commercial loans
  $ 11,854     $ 7,180     $ 1,717     $ 7,804     $ 4,959     $ 1,467  
Real estate construction loans
    54,657       34,795       8,080       54,718       34,856       8,158  
Commercial mortgage loans
    31,407       30,187       6,242       14,163       12,928       1,336  
Residential mortgage and equity lines
    16,704       14,615       1,318       14,264       12,428       1,222  
Subtotal
  $ 114,622     $ 86,777     $ 17,357     $ 90,949     $ 65,171     $ 12,183  
Total impaired loans
  $ 295,878     $ 230,544     $ 17,357     $ 323,786     $ 248,597     $ 12,183  
 

 
Loan Interest Reserves
 
In accordance with customary banking practice, construction loans and land development loans are originated where interest on the loan is disbursed from pre-established interest reserves included in the total original loan commitment.  Our construction and land development loans generally include optional renewal terms after the maturity of the initial loan term.  New appraisals are obtained prior to extension or renewal of these loans in part to determine the appropriate interest reserve to be established for the new loan term.  Loans with interest reserves are underwritten to the same criteria, including loan to value and, if applicable, pro forma debt service coverage ratios, as loans without interest reserves.  Construction loans with interest reserves are monitored on a periodic basis to gauge progress towards completion.  Interest reserves are frozen if it is determined that additional draws would result in a loan to value ratio that exceeds policy maximums based on collateral property type.  Our policy limits in this regard are consistent with supervisory limits and range from 65% in the case of land to 85% in the case of one to four family residential construction projects.
 
As of March 31, 2013, construction loans of $65.7 million were disbursed with pre-established interest reserves of $10.5 million compared to $51.8 million of such loans disbursed with pre-established interest reserves of $9.7 million at December 31, 2012.  The balance for construction loans with interest reserves which have been extended was $4.0 million with pre-established interest reserve of $256,000 at March 31, 2013, compared to $4.0 million with pre-established interest reserves of $314,000, at December 31, 2012.  Land loans of $5.6 million were disbursed with pre-established interest reserves of $857,000 at March 31, 2013, compared to $11.2 million land loans disbursed with pre-established interest reserves of $978,000 at December 31, 2012.  The balance for land loans with interest reserves which have been extended was zero at March 31, 2013 and zero at December 31, 2012. 
 
 
47

 

At March 31, 2013, the Bank had no loans on non-accrual status with available interest reserves.  At March 31, 2013, $3.3 million of non-accrual residential construction loans, $33.0 million of non-accrual non-residential construction loans, and $4.4 million of non-accrual land loans had been originated with pre-established interest reserves.  At December 31, 2012, the Bank had no loans on non-accrual status with available interest reserves.  At December 31, 2012, $3.0 million of non-accrual residential construction loans, $33.3 million of non-accrual non-residential construction loans, and $4.2 million of non-accrual land loans had been originated with pre-established interest reserves.   While loans with interest reserves are typically expected to be repaid in full according to the original contractual terms, some loans require one or more extensions beyond the original maturity.  Typically, these extensions are required due to construction delays, delays in sales or lease of property, or some combination of these two factors.
 
Loan Concentration
 
Most of the Company’s business activities are with customers located in the predominantly Asian areas of Southern and Northern California; New York City, New York; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Edison, New Jersey; and Hong Kong.  The Company has no specific industry concentration, and generally its loans are collateralized with real property or other pledged collateral of the borrowers.  Loans are generally expected to be paid off from the operating profits of the borrowers, refinancing by another lender, or through sale by the borrowers of the secured collateral. There were no loan concentrations to multiple borrowers in similar activities which exceeded 10% of total loans as of March 31, 2013, or as of December 31, 2012.
 
The federal banking regulatory agencies issued final guidance on December 6, 2006, regarding risk management practices for financial institutions with high or increasing concentrations of commercial real estate ("CRE") loans on their balance sheets. The regulatory guidance reiterates the need for sound internal risk management practices for those institutions that have experienced rapid growth in CRE lending, have notable exposure to specific types of CRE, or are approaching or exceeding the supervisory criteria used to evaluate the CRE concentration risk, but the guidance is not to be construed as a limit for CRE exposure. The supervisory criteria are: (1) total reported loans for construction, land development, and other land represent 100% of the institution's total risk-based capital, and (2) both total CRE loans represent 300% or more of the institution's total risk-based capital and the institution's CRE loan portfolio has increased 50% or more within the last thirty-six months.  Total loans for construction, land development, and other land represented 18.6% of total risk-based capital as of March 31, 2013, and 19.2% as of December 31, 2012.  Total CRE loans represented 220% of total risk-based capital as of March 31, 2013, and 228% as of December 31, 2012 and were below the Bank’s internal limit for CRE loans of 300% of total capital at both dates.
 
Allowance for Credit Losses
 
The Bank maintains the allowance for credit losses at a level that is considered adequate to absorb the estimated and known risks in the loan portfolio and off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments.  Allowance for credit losses is comprised of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments.  With this risk management objective, the Bank’s management has an established monitoring system that is designed to identify impaired and potential problem loans, and to permit periodic evaluation of impairment and the adequacy level of the allowance for credit losses in a timely manner.
 
 
48

 
 
In addition, the Bank’s Board of Directors has established a written credit policy that includes a  credit review and control system which it believes should be effective in ensuring that the Bank maintains an adequate allowance for credit losses.   The Board of Directors provides oversight for the allowance evaluation process, including quarterly evaluations, and determines whether the allowance is adequate to absorb losses in the credit portfolio.  The determination of the amount of the allowance for credit losses and the provision for credit losses is based on management’s current judgment about the credit quality of the loan portfolio and takes into consideration known relevant internal and external factors that affect collectibility when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for credit losses.   The nature of the process by which the Bank determines the appropriate allowance for credit losses requires the exercise of considerable judgment.   Additions to the allowance for credit losses are made by charges to the provision for credit losses.  While management utilizes its best judgment based on the information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Bank’s control, including the performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications. Identified credit exposures that are determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for credit losses.   Recoveries of previously charged off amounts, if any, are credited to the allowance for credit losses.  A weakening of the economy or other factors that adversely affect asset quality could result in an increase in the number of delinquencies, bankruptcies, or defaults, and a higher level of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and provision for credit losses in future periods.
 
The allowance for loan losses was $178.7 million and the allowance for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments was $3.3 million at March 31, 2013, which represented the amount believed by management to be sufficient to absorb credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio, including unfunded commitments.  The allowance for credit losses, which is the sum of the allowances for loan losses and for off-balance sheet unfunded credit commitments, was $182.0 million at March 31, 2013, compared to $184.7 million at December 31, 2012, a decrease of $2.7 million, or 1.5%.  The allowance for credit losses represented 2.47% of period-end gross loans and 180.0% of non-performing loans at March 31, 2013.  The comparable ratios were 2.49% of period-end gross loans and 176.7% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2012.  The following table sets forth information relating to the allowance for loan losses, charge-offs, recoveries, and the reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments for the periods indicated:
 
 
49

 
 
   
For the three months ended
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2012
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Allowance for Loan Losses                  
                   
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 183,322     $ 206,280     $ 184,438  
Provision/(reversal) for credit losses
    -       (4,000 )     -  
Transfers from/(to) reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments
    (1,942 )     593       247  
Charge-offs :
                       
Commercial loans
    (2,690 )     (4,959 )     (3,228 )
Construction loans-residential
    -       (140 )     -  
Construction loans-other
    -       (735 )     -  
Real estate loans
    (1,130 )     (8,927 )     (1,265 )
Land loans
    (270 )     (74 )     (177 )
Installment loans and other loans
    -       (25 )     -  
Total charge-offs
    (4,090 )     (14,860 )     (4,670 )
Recoveries:
                       
Commercial loans
    955       746       719  
Construction loans-residential
    46       1,899       76  
Construction loans-other
    33       1,658       452  
Real estate loans
    359       1,631       2,036  
Land loans
    9       793       24  
Installment loans and other loans
    -       3       -  
Total recoveries
    1,402       6,730       3,307  
                         
Balance at end of period
  $ 178,692     $ 194,743     $ 183,322  
                         
Reserve for off-balance sheet credit commitments
                       
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 1,362     $ 2,069     $ 1,610  
Provision/(reversal) for credit losses/transfers
    1,942       (594 )     (247 )
Balance at end of period
  $ 3,304     $ 1,475     $ 1,363  
                         
Average loans outstanding during the period (1)
  $ 7,386,866     $ 6,995,821     $ 7,318,749  
Total gross loans outstanding, at period-end (1)
  $ 7,364,340     $ 6,908,544     $ 7,429,147  
Total non-performing loans, at period-end (1)
  $ 101,129     $ 132,886     $ 104,532  
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during the period
    0.15 %     0.47 %     0.07 %
Provision for loan losses to average loans outstanding during the period
  $ -       -0.23 %   $ -  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans at period-end
    176.70 %     146.55 %     175.37 %
                         
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans at period-end
    2.43 %     2.82 %     2.47 %
 (1) Excludes loans held for sale at period end.

 
Our allowance for loan losses consists of the following:
 
 
 • 
Specific allowance: For impaired loans, we provide specific allowances for loans that are not collateral dependent based on an evaluation of the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate and for loans that are collateral dependent based on the fair value of the underlying collateral determined by the most recent valuation information received, which may be adjusted based on factors such as changes in market conditions from the time of valuation.  If the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the deficiency will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses or, alternatively, a specific allocation will be established.
 
 
50

 
 
 
General allowance: The unclassified portfolio is segmented on a group basis. Segmentation is determined by loan type and common risk characteristics.  The non-impaired loans are grouped into 23 segments: two commercial segments, ten commercial real estate segments, three residential construction segments, three non-residential construction segments, one SBA segment, one installment loans segment, one residential mortgage segment, one equity lines of credit segment, and one overdrafts segment.  The allowance is provided for each segmented group based on the group’s historical loan loss experience aggregated based on loan risk classifications which takes into account the current financial condition of the borrowers and guarantors, the prevailing value of the underlying collateral if collateral dependent, charge-off history, management’s knowledge of the portfolio, general economic conditions, and environmental factors which include the trends in delinquency and non-accrual, and other significant factors, such as the national and local economy, volume and composition of the portfolio, strength of management and loan staff, underwriting standards, and concentration of credit. In addition, management reviews reports on past-due loans to ensure appropriate classifications.  During the second quarter of 2009, in light of the continued deterioration in the economy and the increases in non-accrual loans and charge-offs, and based in part on regulatory considerations, we shortened the period used in the migration analysis from five years to four years to better reflect the impact of the most recent charge-offs, which increased the allowance for loan losses by $3.9 million; we increased the general allowance to reflect the higher loan delinquency trends, the weaker national and local economy and the increased difficulty in assigning loan grades, which increased the allowance for loan losses by $13.2 million, and we also applied the environmental factors described above to loans rated Minimally Acceptable, Special Mention and Substandard, which increased the allowance for loan losses by $11.8 million.  During the fourth quarter of 2009, we changed our migration loss analysis to reduce the weighting of the first two years of the four-year migration analysis by half to better reflect the impact of more recent losses, and further segmented the construction loan portfolios into three geographic segments.  The changes made during the fourth quarter of 2009 did not have a significant impact on the allowance for loan losses.  During the first quarter of 2010, we increased the number of segments for commercial real estate loans from one to ten.  In addition, we changed our migration loss analysis for loans rated Pass to use as the reserve factor the total weighted average losses during the last four years for each loan segment as well as the weighting for the four-year migration so that the first two years are weighted one-third and the most recent two years are weighted two-thirds.  The changes made during the first quarter of 2010 increased the allowance for loan losses by $10.4 million.  During the second quarter of 2010, we further refined our methodology to give greater weighting to the most recent twelve months of charge-offs in the calculation of the loan loss reserve percentage for Pass rated loans, which increased the allowance for loan losses by $10.4 million; we discontinued the weighting in the four-year migration analysis for loans rated lower than Pass, which increased the allowance for loan losses by $7.1 million; and we increased the environmental factors for purchased syndicated loans, which increased the allowance for loan  losses by $2.0 million.   During the first quarter of 2011, we combined the number of segments for construction loans from nine to two by consolidating the previous three geographic groups of East Coast, Texas and all other regions into one bankwide region in light of the convergence of credit quality for construction loans of the three separate regions, which increased the allowance for loan losses by $4.8 million.
 
The table set forth below reflects management’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category and the ratio of each loan category to the total average loans as of the dates indicated:
 
 
51

 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
Type of Loan:
 
Amount
   
Percentage of
Loans in Each
Category
to Average
Gross Loans
   
Amount
   
Percentage of
Loans in Each
Category
to Average
Gross Loans
 
Commercial loans
  $ 61,056       28.1 %   $ 66,101       27.4 %
Residential mortgage loans (1)
    12,091       18.4       11,703       17.4  
Commercial mortgage loans
    84,816       50.9       82,473       52.2  
Real estate construction loans
    20,697       2.4       23,017       2.8  
Installment and other loans
    32       0.2       28       0.2  
Total
  $ 178,692       100 %   $ 183,322       100 %
 
(1) Residential mortgage loans includes equity lines.
 
 
The allowance allocated to commercial loans was $61.1 million at March 31, 2013, compared to $66.1 million at December 31, 2012.  The decline is due partly to decreases in impaired and classified loans and partly to the decrease in total commercial loans.  Commercial loans decreased $95.3 million, or 4.5%, to $2.03 billion at March 31, 2013, from $2.13 billion at December 31, 2012.
 
The allowance allocated to commercial mortgage loans increased from $82.5 million at December 31, 2012, to $84.8 million at March 31, 2013, which was primarily due to increases in specific reserves for two impaired commercial mortgage loans.  The overall allowance for total commercial mortgage loans was 2.3% at March 31, 2013, and 2.2% at December 31, 2012.
 
The allowance allocated for construction loans decreased to $20.7 million, or 11.2%, of construction loans at March 31, 2013, compared to $23.0 million, or 12.7%, of construction loans at December 31, 2012, primarily due to the repayment of  classified construction loans.
 
Deposits
 
Total deposits were $7.43 billion at March 31, 2013, an increase of $42.4 million, or 0.6%, from $7.38 billion at December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $41.6 million, or 6.5%, increase in time deposits under $100,000 and a $25.2 million, or 0.8%, increase in time deposits of $100,000 or more, a $29.3 million, or 4.9%, increase in NOW deposits, and a $10.5 million, or 0.8%, increase in non-interest bearing demand deposits, offset by a $62.5 million, or 5.3%, decrease in money market deposits.  The following table displays the deposit mix as of the dates indicated:
 
 
52

 
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
% of Total
   
December 31, 2012
   
% of Total
 
Deposits
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Non-interest-bearing demand
  $ 1,279,986       17.2 %   $ 1,269,455       17.2 %
NOW
    622,454       8.4       593,133       8.0  
Money market
    1,124,240       15.1       1,186,771       16.1  
Savings
    472,122       6.4       473,805       6.4  
Time deposits under $100,000
    685,758       9.2       644,191       8.7  
Time deposits of $100,000 or more
    3,241,114       43.7       3,215,870       43.6  
Total deposits
  $ 7,425,674       100.0 %   $ 7,383,225       100.0 %
 
Borrowings
 
Borrowings include Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, funds obtained as advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco, and borrowings from other financial institutions.
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $1.15 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.78% at March 31, 2013, compared to $1.3 billion with a weighted average rate of 3.84% at December 31, 2012.  In 2012, the Company modified $200.0 million of securities sold under agreements to repurchase by extending the term by an additional four years on average, reducing the rate by an average of 168 basis points and removing the callable feature.  In 2012, the Company prepaid securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaling $150 million with a weighted average rate of 4.43% and incurred prepayment penalties of $9.4 million.  In the first quarter of 2013, the Company prepaid securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaling $100 million with a weighted average rate of 4.61% and incurred prepayment penalties of $5.6 million. Five floating-to-fixed rate agreements totaling $300.0 million have initial floating rates for a period of time ranging from six months to one year, with floating rates ranging from the three-month LIBOR minus 200 basis points to three-month LIBOR minus 340 basis points. Thereafter, the rates are fixed for the remainder of the term, with interest rates ranging from 4.78% to 5.07%.  After the initial floating rate term, the counter parties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the fixed rate reset date and quarterly thereafter. Thirteen fixed-to-floating rate agreements totaling $650.0 million have initial fixed rates ranging from 1.00% to 3.50% with initial fixed rate terms ranging from six months to 18 months.  For the remaining term, the rates float at 8% minus the three-month LIBOR rate with a maximum rate ranging from 3.25% to 3.79% and minimum rate of 0.0%.  After the initial fixed rate term, the counter parties have the right to terminate the transaction at par at the floating rate reset date and quarterly thereafter.  The table below provides summary data for the $950 million of callable securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of March 31, 2013:
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fixed-to-floating
 
Floating-to-fixed
   
Total
 
Rate type
 
Float Rate
 
Fixed Rate
       
Rate index
 
8% minus 3 month LIBOR
                 
Maximum rate
    3.79 %     3.53 %     3.50 %     3.50 %     3.53 %     3.25 %                  
Minimum rate
    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %                  
No. of agreements
    3       1       4       3       1       1       1       4       18  
Amount
  $ 150.0     $ 50.0     $ 200.0     $ 150.0     $ 50.0     $ 50.0     $ 100.0     $ 200.0     $ 950.0  
Weighted average rate
    3.78 %     3.53 %     3.50 %     3.50 %     3.53 %     3.25 %     4.78 %     5.00 %     3.98 %
Final maturity
    2014       2014       2014       2015       2015       2015       2014       2017          
 
 
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The table below provides summary data for non-callable fixed rate securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of March 31, 2013:
 
Maturity
 
No. of
Agreements
   
Amount
(In thousands)
   
Weighted Average
Interest Rate
 
3 years to 5 years
    2     $ 100,000       2.71 %
Over 5 years
    2       100,000       2.86 %
Total
    4     $ 200,000       2.78 %
 
These transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold. The Company may have to provide additional collateral for the repurchase agreements, as necessary.  The underlying collateral pledged for the repurchase agreements consists of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency security debt, and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2013, and $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2012.
 
Advances from the FHLB were $126.2 million with weighted average rate of 0.53% at March 31, 2013, compared to $146.2 million with weighted average rate of 0.44% at December 31, 2012.
 
Long-term Debt

Long-term debt was $171.1 million at both March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012.  Long-term debt is comprised of subordinated debt, which qualifies as Tier II capital for regulatory purposes, and Junior Subordinated Notes, which qualifies as Tier I capital for regulatory purposes, issued in connection with our various pooled trust preferred securities offerings.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations to make future payments as of March 31, 2013.   Payments for deposits and borrowings do not include interest.   Payments related to leases are based on actual payments specified in the underlying contracts.
 
 
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Payment Due by Period
 
   
 
1 year
or less
   
More than
1 year but
less than
3 years
   
3 years or
more but
less than
5 years
   
 
5 years
or more
   
 
 
 
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                               
Contractual obligations:
                             
Deposits with stated maturity dates
  $ 3,519,610     $ 345,651     $ 61,605     $ 6     $ 3,926,872  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (1)
    -       750,000       200,000       -       950,000  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (2)
    -       -       100,000       100,000       200,000  
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank
    80,000       -       46,200       -       126,200  
Other borrowings
    -       -               19,232       19,232  
Long-term debt
    -       -       50,000       121,136       171,136  
Operating leases
    6,008       7,054       2,106       620       15,788  
Total contractual obligations and other commitments
  $ 3,605,618     $ 1,102,705     $ 459,911     $ 240,994     $ 5,409,228  
 
(1)
These repurchase agreements have a final maturity of 5-year, 7-year and 10-year from origination date but are callable on a quarterly basis after six months, one year, or 18 months for the 7-year term and one year for the 5-year and 10-year term.
 
(2) These repurchase agreements are non-callable.  

In the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions, which, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets.   We enter into these transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers.  These transactions include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Loan Commitments.   We enter into contractual commitments to extend credit, normally with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses, at specified rates and for specific purposes.   Substantially all of our commitments to extend credit are contingent upon customers maintaining specific credit standards at the time of loan funding.  We minimize our exposure to loss under these commitments by subjecting them to credit approval and monitoring procedures.  Management assesses the credit risk associated with certain commitments to extend credit in determining the level of the allowance for credit losses.

Standby Letters of Credit.   Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by us to secure the obligations of a customer to a third party.  In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of an agreement with the third party, we would be required to fund the commitment.  The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment.  If the commitment is funded, we would be entitled to seek reimbursement from the customer.  Our policies generally require that standby letter of credit arrangements contain security and debt covenants similar to those contained in loan agreements.
 
 
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Capital Resources

Total equity was $1.55 billion at March 31, 2013, a decrease of $79.9 million, or 4.9%, from $1.63 billion at December 31, 2012, primarily due to the redemption on March 20, 2013, of $129 million, or 50%, of the Bancorp’s Series B Preferred Stock issued under the U.S. Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program offset by increases of $29.0 million in net income and $23.0 million in other comprehensive income.
 
The following table summarizes changes in total equity for the three months ended March 31, 2013:
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Three months ended
March 31, 2013
 
Net income
  $ 28,998  
Stock issued to officers as compensation
    299  
Proceeds from shares issued through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan
    62  
Net tax short-fall from stock-based compensation expense
    (69 )
Share-based compensation
    739  
Other comprehensive income
    23,012  
Preferred stock dividends and noncash charge from repayment
    (3,191 )
Redemption of series B preferred stock
    (129,000 )
Cash dividends paid to common stockholders
    (788 )
Net increase in total equity
  $ (79,938 )

Capital Adequacy Review

Management seeks to maintain the Company's capital at a level sufficient to support future growth, protect depositors and stockholders, and comply with various regulatory requirements.
 
Both the Bancorp’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital continued to exceed the regulatory minimum requirements as of March 31, 2013.  In addition, the capital ratios of the Bank place it in the “well capitalized” category which is defined as institutions with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than 6.0%, total risk-based capital ratio equal to or greater than 10.0%, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratio equal to or greater than 5.0%.  We intend to continue working towards redeeming the remaining Series B Preferred Stock issued under the U.S. Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program.  Such repayment is subject to regulatory approval.
 
The following table presents Bancorp’s and the Bank’s capital and leverage ratios as of March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012:
 
 
56

 
 
   
Cathay General Bancorp
   
Cathay Bank
 
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
   
March 31, 2013
   
December 31, 2012
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
   
%
   
Balance
   
%
   
Balance
   
%
   
Balance
   
%
 
                                                 
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
  $ 1,324,220       16.38     $ 1,426,566       17.36     $ 1,289,967       15.97     $ 1,259,005       15.33  
Tier 1 capital minimum requirement
    323,355       4.00       328,713       4.00       323,069       4.00       328,440       4.00  
Excess
  $ 1,000,865       12.38     $ 1,097,853       13.36     $ 966,898       11.97     $ 930,565       11.33  
                                                                 
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
  $ 1,467,991       18.16     $ 1,571,060       19.12     $ 1,431,926       17.73     $ 1,402,691       17.08  
Total capital minimum requirement
    646,710       8.00       657,426       8.00       646,138       8.00       656,880       8.00  
Excess
  $ 821,281       10.16     $ 913,634       11.12     $ 785,788       9.73     $ 745,811       9.08  
                                                                 
Tier 1 capital (to average assets)
                                                               
 – Leverage ratio
  $ 1,324,220       13.06     $ 1,426,566       13.82     $ 1,289,967       12.73     $ 1,259,005       12.22  
Minimum leverage requirement
    405,441       4.00       412,844       4.00       405,200       4.00       412,272       4.00  
Excess
  $ 918,779       9.06     $ 1,013,722       9.82     $ 884,767       8.73     $ 846,733       8.22  
                                                                 
Risk-weighted assets
  $ 8,083,881             $ 8,217,821             $ 8,076,719             $ 8,211,004          
Total average assets (1)
  $ 10,136,030             $ 10,321,104             $ 10,130,000             $ 10,306,790          
 
(1) The quarterly total average assets reflect all debt securities at amortized cost, equity security with readily determinable fair values at the lower of cost or fair value, and equity securities without readily determinable fair values at historical cost.
 
 
On June 7, 2012, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a series of proposed rules that would revise their risk-based and leverage capital requirements and their method for calculating risk-weighted assets to make them consistent with the agreements that were reached by the Basel Committee in Basel III and certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The proposed rules, which would be fully phased in by January 1, 2019, would apply to all depository institutions, top-tier bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of $500 million or more, and top-tier savings and loan holding companies (“banking organizations”). Among other things, the proposed rules establish a new common equity Tier 1 minimum capital requirement of 4.5% and a higher minimum Tier 1 capital requirement of 6.0% and assign higher risk weightings (150%) to exposures that are more than 90 days past due or are on non-accrual status and certain commercial real estate facilities that finance the acquisition, development or construction of real property. Additionally, the U.S. implementation of Basel III contemplates that, for banking organizations with less than $15 billion in assets, the ability to treat trust preferred securities as Tier 1 capital would be phased out over a ten-year period. The proposed rules also require unrealized gains and losses on certain securities holdings to be included for purposes of calculating regulatory capital requirements. The proposed rules limit a banking organization’s capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments if the banking organization does not hold a “capital conservation buffer” consisting of 2.5% of a specified amount of common equity Tier 1 capital in addition to the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The proposed rules suggested an effective date of January 1, 2013, and indicated that the changes would be phased in from January 1, 2013, through January 1, 2019. However, due to the volume of public comments received and the wide range of views expressed during the comment period, the agencies in November 2012 announced that they did not expect any of the proposed rules would become effective on January 1, 2013.
 
While the proposed regulatory capital requirements, when finalized, will likely result in generally higher regulatory capital standards for the Bancorp and the Bank, it is difficult at this time to predict when or how many of the proposed provisions will ultimately be adopted or whether broader exemptions may be provided for community banks. In addition, bank regulators may also continue their past policies of expecting banks to maintain additional capital beyond the new minimum requirements. The implementation of more stringent requirements to maintain higher levels of capital or to maintain higher levels of liquid assets could adversely impact the Bancorp’s net income and return on equity, restrict the ability to pay dividends and require the raising of additional capital.
 
 
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Failure to meet statutorily mandated capital guidelines or more restrictive ratios separately established for a financial institution could subject a bank or bank holding company to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, a prohibition on accepting or renewing brokered deposits, limitations on the rates of interest that the institution may pay on its deposits and other restrictions on its business.  Significant additional restrictions can be imposed on FDIC-insured depository institutions that fail to meet applicable capital requirements under the regulatory agencies’ prompt corrective action authority.
 
Dividend Policy
 
Holders of common stock are entitled to dividends as and when declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Although we have historically paid cash dividends on our common stock, we are not required to do so. Commencing with the second quarter of 2009, our Board of Directors reduced our common stock dividend to $.08 per share and to $.01 per share thereafter. The amount of future dividends will depend on our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, and will be determined by our Board of Directors.  As discussed in “Regulatory Matters” below, we are subject to Federal Reserve supervisory policies, including informing and consulting with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco sufficiently in advance of any planned capital actions (i.e. TARP redemption, increased dividend payments, stock redemptions).  On November 17, 2010, the Federal Reserve issued guidance that bank holding companies participating in government capital programs still outstanding should not increase dividend payouts. There can be no assurance that our regulators will not object to any capital actions. The terms of our Series B Preferred Stock and Junior Subordinated Notes also limit our ability to pay dividends on our common stock.  If we are not current in our payment of dividends on our Series B Preferred Stock or in our payment of interest on our Junior Subordinated Notes, we may not pay dividends on our common stock.
 
The Company declared a cash dividend of $.01 per share for distribution to holders of our common stock on March 15, 2013, on 78,799,276 shares outstanding.  Total cash dividends of $788,000 were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2013.
 
Country Risk Exposures

The Company’s total assets were $10.5 billion and total foreign country risk net exposures were $735.4 million at March 31, 2013.  Total foreign country risk net exposures at March 31, 2013, were comprised primarily of $233.5 million from Hong Kong, $205.6 million from England, $132.3 million from China, $46.9 million from Switzerland, $55.0 million from France, $30.0 million from Australia, $12.6 million from Taiwan, $8.3 million from Canada, $6.6 million from Korea, $2.2 million from Singapore, and $2.0 million from Macau.  Risk is determined based on location of the borrowers, issuers, and counterparties.
 
 
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All foreign country risk net exposures were to non-sovereign counterparties except $45.4 million due from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority at March 31, 2013.

Unfunded exposures were $40.5 million at March 31, 2013, and were comprised primarily of $40.0 million of unfunded loans to two financial institutions in China, a $190,000 unfunded loan to a borrower in Taiwan, and a $313,000 unfunded loan to a borrower in Canada.

Financial Derivatives
 
It is the policy of the Company not to speculate on the future direction of interest rates.  However, the Company enters into financial derivatives in order to seek mitigation of exposure to interest rate risks related to our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  We believe that these transactions, when properly structured and managed, may provide a hedge against inherent interest rate risk in the Company’s assets or liabilities and against risk in specific transactions.  In such instances, the Company may protect its position through the purchase or sale of interest rate futures contracts for a specific cash or interest rate risk position.  Other hedge transactions may be implemented using interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors, financial futures, forward rate agreements, and options on futures or bonds.  Prior to considering any hedging activities, we seek to analyze the costs and benefits of the hedge in comparison to other viable alternative strategies.  All hedges will require an assessment of basis risk and must be approved by the Bank’s Investment Committee.
 
The Company follows ASC Topic 815 which established accounting and reporting standards for financial derivatives, including certain financial derivatives embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition of all financial derivatives as assets or liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets and measurement of those financial derivatives at fair value. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a financial derivative is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge.
 
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts with various counterparties to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates for foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts, or foreign currency option contracts entered into with our clients. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are recorded at fair value in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of these contracts as well as the related foreign exchange certificates of deposit, foreign exchange contracts or foreign currency option contracts are recognized immediately in net income as a component of non-interest income. Period end gross positive fair values are recorded in other assets and gross negative fair values are recorded in other liabilities.  At March 31, 2013, the notional amount of option contracts totaled $1.6 million with a net positive fair value of $5,700. Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $211.7 million had a positive fair value of $3.0 million at March 31, 2013.  Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $165.6 million had a negative fair value of $1.9 million at March 31, 2013. At December 31, 2012, the notional amount of option contracts totaled $209,000 with a net negative fair value of $2,000. Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $188.1 million had a positive fair value of $2.9 million at December 31, 2012.  Spot and forward contracts in the total notional amount of $133.7 million had a negative fair value of $1.6 million at December 31, 2012.
 
 
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Liquidity
 
Liquidity is our ability to maintain sufficient cash flow to meet maturing financial obligations and customer credit needs, and to take advantage of investment opportunities as they are presented in the marketplace.  Our principal sources of liquidity are growth in deposits, proceeds from the maturity or sale of securities and other financial instruments, repayments from securities and loans, federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and advances from the FHLB.  At March 31, 2013, our liquidity ratio (defined as net cash plus short-term and marketable securities to net deposits and short-term liabilities) was 15.9% compared to 15.3% at December 31, 2012.
 
The Bank is a shareholder of the FHLB of San Francisco, enabling it to have access to lower cost FHLB financing when necessary.  As of March 31, 2013, the Bank had an approved credit line with the FHLB of San Francisco totaling $1.21 billion.  Advances from FHLB were $126.2 million at March 31, 2013.  The Bank expects to be able to access this source of funding, if required, in the near term.  The Bank has pledged a portion of its commercial and real estate loans to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Discount Window under the Borrower-in-Custody program to secure these borrowings.  At March 31, 2013, the borrowing capacity under the Borrower-in-Custody program was $104.1 million.
 
Liquidity can also be provided through the sale of liquid assets, which consist of federal funds sold, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and unpledged investment securities. At March 31, 2013, investment securities and trading securities totaled $2.20 billion, with $1.36 billion pledged as collateral for borrowings and other commitments. The remaining $836.6 million was available as additional liquidity or to be pledged as collateral for additional borrowings.
 
Approximately 90% of the Company’s time deposits mature within one year or less as of March 31, 2013.  Management anticipates that there may be some outflow of these deposits upon maturity due to the keen competition in the Bank’s marketplace.  However, based on our historical run-off experience, we expect that the outflow will be minimal and can be replenished through our normal growth in deposits.  Management believes the above-mentioned sources will provide adequate liquidity to the Bank to meet its daily operating needs.
 
The business activities of the Bancorp consist primarily of the operation of the Bank and limited activities in other investments.  Under the memorandum of understanding the Bancorp entered into with the FRB SF, we agreed that we will not, without the FRB SF’s prior written approval, receive any dividends or any other form of payment or distribution representing a reduction of capital from the Bank. The Bank did not pay a dividend to the Bancorp in 2010 or 2011, but paid dividends of $154.7 million to Bancorp following regulatory approval in 2012, and will pay additional dividends in 2013  to maintain Bancorp’s cash balance equal to at least two years of Bancorp’s operating expenses.
 
Regulatory Matters
 
Until it was terminated effective April 5, 2013, the Bancorp was subject to a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (FRB SF) that was entered on December 17, 2009, by which we were restricted, subject to the FRB SF’s approval, from receiving dividends or distributions from the Bank, or paying dividends or making other capital distributions.  In addition, we agreed to notify the FRB SF prior to effecting certain changes to our senior executive officers and Board of Directors and we were limited and/or prohibited, in certain circumstances, in making golden parachute severance and indemnification payments. We also agreed that we would not, without approval of the FRB SF, incur, renew, increase or guaranty any debt, (ii) issue any trust preferred securities, or (iii) purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any of our stock. However, we remain subject to Federal Reserve supervisory policies, including informing and consulting with the FRB SF sufficiently in advance of any planned capital actions (i.e. TARP redemptions, increased dividend payments, stock redemptions).
 
 
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Until it was terminated effective November 7, 2012, the Bank was also subject to a memorandum of understanding with the California Department of Financial Institutions and the FDIC that was entered into on March 1, 2010, by which the Bank agreed to undertake certain steps to strengthen its operations.
 
Item 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
We use a net interest income simulation model to measure the extent of the differences in the behavior of the lending and funding rates to changing interest rates, so as to project future earnings or market values under alternative interest rate scenarios.  Interest rate risk arises primarily through the Company’s traditional business activities of extending loans and accepting deposits.  Many factors, including economic and financial conditions, movements in interest rates and consumer preferences affect the spread between interest earned on assets and interest paid on liabilities.  The net interest income simulation model is designed to measure the volatility of net interest income and net portfolio value, defined as net present value of assets and liabilities, under immediate rising or falling interest rate scenarios in 100 basis point increments.
 
Although the modeling is very helpful in managing interest rate risk, it does require significant assumptions for the projection of loan prepayment rates on mortgage related assets, loan volumes and pricing, and deposit and borrowing volume and pricing, that might prove inaccurate.  Because these assumptions are inherently uncertain, the model cannot precisely estimate net interest income, or precisely predict the effect of higher or lower interest rates on net interest income.  Actual results will differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rate changes, the differences between actual experience and the assumed volume, changes in market conditions, and management strategies, among other factors.  The Company monitors its interest rate sensitivity and attempts to reduce the risk of a significant decrease in net interest income caused by a change in interest rates.
 
We have established a tolerance level in our policy to define and limit net interest income volatility to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points. When the net interest rate simulation projects that our tolerance level will be met or exceeded, we seek corrective action after considering, among other things, market conditions, customer reaction, and the estimated impact on profitability.  The Company’s simulation model also projects the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities.  We have established a tolerance level in our policy to value the net economic value of our portfolio of assets and liabilities to a change of plus or minus 15% when the hypothetical rate change is plus or minus 200 basis points.
 
The table below shows the estimated impact of changes in interest rate on net interest income and market value of equity as of March 31, 2013:
 
 
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Change in Interest Rate (Basis Points)
Net Interest
Income
Volatility (1)
 
Market Value
of Equity
Volatility (2)
+200
5.7
 
1.7
+100
1.6
 
1.0
-100
2.0
 
-0.5
-200
1.9
 
-0.2
       
 
(1)
The percentage change in this column represents net interest income of the Company for 12 months in a stable interest rate environment versus the net interest income in the various rate scenarios.
(2)
The percentage change in this column represents net portfolio value of the Company in a stable interest rate environment versus the net portfolio value in the various rate scenarios.

 
Item 4.      CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
 
The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.  Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first fiscal quarter of 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.      LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
Bancorp’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Cathay Bank, is a party to ordinary routine litigation from time to time incidental to various aspects of its operations.  Management does not believe that any such litigation is expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
 
Item 1A.   RISK FACTORS.

There is no material change in the risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, in response to Item 1A in Part I of Form 10-K.
 
Item 2.      UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
 
 
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ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period
(a) Total
Number of
Shares (or
Units)
Purchased
(b)
Average
Price
Paid per
Share (or
Unit)
(c) Total
Number of
Shares (or
Units)
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
Month #1 (January 1, 2013 - January 31, 2013)
0
$0
0
622,500
Month #2 (February 1, 2012 - February 28, 2013)
0
$0
0
622,500
Month #3 (March 1, 2013 - March 31, 2013)
0
$0
0
622,500
Total
0
$0
0
622,500

For a discussion of limitations on the payment of dividends, see “Dividend Policy” and “Regulatory Matters” under Part I—Item 2—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Item 3.      DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

Item 4.      MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

Item 5.      OTHER INFORMATION.

None.
 
Item 6.      EXHIBITS.

 
(i)
Exhibit 31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
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(ii)
Exhibit 31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
(iii)
Exhibit 32.1  Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
(iv)
Exhibit 32.2  Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
(v)
Exhibit 101.INS XBRL Instance Document *

 
(vi)
Exhibit 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*

 
(vii)
Exhibit 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*

 
(viii)
Exhibit 101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*

 
(ix)
Exhibit 101.LAB  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*

 
(x)
Exhibit 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*

____________________
* XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information shall not be deemed to be filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise shall not be subject to liability under these sections, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 

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

 
         
Date: May 8, 2013        
 
   
/s/ Dunson K. Cheng
 
 
   
Dunson K. Cheng
 
 
   
Chairman, President, and
 
     
Chief Executive Officer
 
         
         
         
Date: May 8, 2013        
      /s/ Heng W. Chen  
     
Heng W. Chen
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 



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