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reduced economic activity. The
pandemic has resulted in authorities implementing numerous measures
to try to contain the virus, such
as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place or
total lock-down orders and business limitations and shutdowns. Such
measures have significantly contributed to rising unemployment
and negatively impacted consumer and business spending. The
United States government has taken steps to attempt to mitigate
some of the more severe anticipated economic effects of
the virus,
including the passage of the CARES Act, but there can be no
assurance that such steps will be effective or achieve their
desired results
in a timely fashion.
We continue to monitor
and evaluate newly enacted and proposed government and banking
regulations issued in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic; further changes in regulation that
impact our business or that impact our customers could
have a
significant impact on our future operations and business strategies.
Our operations and financial results have already been negatively
impacted as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, as discussed
further in
“Part I – Item 2. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations —Overview” and ”—
Results of Operations”.
The pandemic, reduction in economic activity,
and current business limitations and shutdowns have increased
risks to our business that include, but are not limited to:
●
Credit Risk.
We extend
credit primarily to small and mid-sized businesses, and many of
our customers may be particularly
susceptible to business limitations, shutdowns and possible recessions
and may be unable to make scheduled lease or loan
payments during these periods and may be at risk of discontinuing
their operations.
As a result, our delinquencies and credit
losses may substantially increase.
Our risk and exposure to future losses may be amplified to
the extent economic activity
remains shutdown for an extended period, or to the extent businesses
have limited operations or are unable to return to
normal levels of activity after the restrictions are lifted.
Our estimate of expected future credit losses recognized within our
allowance as of June 30,
2020 is based on certain
assumptions, forecasts and estimates about the impact of current
economic conditions on our portfolio of receivables based
on information known as of June 30,
2020, including certain expectations about the extent and timing of impacts
from
COVID-19.
If those assumptions, forecasts or estimates underlying our financial statements
are incorrect, we may
experience significant losses as the ultimate realization of value, or
revisions to our estimates, may be materially different
than the amounts reflected in our consolidated statement of financial
position as of any particular date.
●
Portfolio Risk.
We are
currently experiencing a significant decrease in demand for our lease and
loan products as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have limited visibility to the future
recovery of such demand.
We have shifted
the focus of portions of our operations and certain personnel
to implement specific programs and new
products in response to the pandemic.
In particular, we have focused efforts
on loan modifications and a payment deferral
program, implemented a new PPP loan product, and increased
customer service efforts to respond to our borrower’s
needs.
There can be no assurances that such efforts will be
successful in mitigating any risk of credit loss.
●
Liquidity and Capital Risk.
As of June 30,
2020, all of our capital ratios, and our subsidiary bank’s
capital ratios, were in
excess of all regulatory requirements.
While we currently have sufficient capital, our reported
and regulatory capital ratios
could be adversely impacted by further credit losses and other
COVID-19 related impacts on our operations.
We are
managing the evolving risks of our business while closely monitoring
and forecasting the potential impacts of COVID-19 on
our future operations and financial position, including capital levels.
However, given the uncertainty about
future
developments and the extent and duration of the impacts of COVID
-19 on our business and future operations, we face
elevated risks to our ability to forecast and estimate future capital
levels.
If we fail to meet capital requirements in the future,
our business, financial condition or results of operations may be
adversely affected.
We have historically returned
capital to shareholders through normal dividends, special dividends and
share repurchases.
There can be no assurances that these forms of capital returns are
the optimal use of our capital or that they will continue in
the future.
●
The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to modify our business practices
(including implementing certain
business continuity plans, and developing work from home and
social distancing plans for our employees), and we may take
further actions as may be required by government authorities
or as we determine are in the best interests of our employees,
customers and business partners.
We face increased
risk of any operational or procedural failures due to changes in our
normal business practices necessitated by the pandemic.
These factors may remain prevalent for a significant period of
time and may continue to adversely affect our business,
results of
operations and financial condition even after the COVID-19 pandemic
has subsided.