Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number: 0-16471

 


First Citizens BancShares, Inc

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   56-1528994

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

4300 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina   27609
(Address of principle executive offices)   (Zip code)

(919) 716-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve 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 ninety days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of ‘accelerated filer and large accelerated filer’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨.

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

Class A Common Stock—$1 Par Value—8,756,778 shares

Class B Common Stock—$1 Par Value—1,677,675 shares

(Number of shares outstanding, by class, as of November 5, 2007)

 



Table of Contents

INDEX

 

          Page
PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006    3
   Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006    4
   Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006    5
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006    6
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    7-9
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    10-25
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    26
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    26
PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    27
Item 5.    Other Information    27
Item 6.    Exhibits    27


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(thousands, except share data)

   September 30*
2007
   December 31#
2006
   September 30*
2006

Assets

        

Cash and due from banks

   $ 827,083    $ 1,010,984    $ 909,702

Overnight investments

     512,933      348,597      571,080

Investment securities available for sale

     3,231,811      3,001,890      2,830,810

Investment securities held to maturity

     34,339      219,158      287,215

Loans and leases

     10,763,158      10,273,043      10,160,661

Less allowance for loan and lease losses

     133,576      132,004      131,652

Net loans and leases

     10,629,582      10,141,039      10,029,009
                    

Premises and equipment

     745,529      702,926      679,822

Income earned not collected

     83,759      71,562      63,733

Goodwill

     102,625      102,625      102,625

Other intangible assets

     6,374      8,000      8,573

Other assets

     137,835      122,916      151,028
                    

Total assets

   $ 16,311,870    $ 15,729,697    $ 15,633,597
                    

Liabilities

        

Deposits:

        

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 2,607,203    $ 2,682,997    $ 2,724,938

Interest-bearing

     10,373,244      10,060,327      9,956,212
                    

Total deposits

     12,980,447      12,743,324      12,681,150

Short-term borrowings

     1,393,049      1,150,847      1,129,510

Long-term obligations

     404,266      401,198      424,351

Other liabilities

     132,533      123,509      121,978
                    

Total liabilities

     14,910,295      14,418,878      14,356,989

Shareholders’ Equity

        

Common stock:

        

Class A—$1 par value (8,756,778 shares issued for all periods)

     8,757      8,757      8,757

Class B—$1 par value (1,677,675 shares issued for all periods)

     1,678      1,678      1,678

Surplus

     143,766      143,766      143,766

Retained earnings

     1,223,180      1,148,372      1,118,047

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     24,194      8,246      4,360
                    

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,401,575      1,310,819      1,276,608
                    

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 16,311,870    $ 15,729,697    $ 15,633,597
                    

* Unaudited
# Derived from the 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Income

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  

(thousands, except share and per share data; unaudited)

   2007    2006     2007    2006  

Interest income

          

Loans and leases

   $ 185,705    $ 176,799     $ 541,691    $ 505,330  

Investment securities:

          

U. S. Government

     36,619      29,615       103,278      80,484  

State, county and municipal

     53      57       167      177  

Dividends

     791      846       2,327      2,460  
                              

Total investment securities interest and dividend income

     37,463      30,518       105,772      83,121  

Overnight investments

     8,952      8,853       25,766      22,371  
                              

Total interest income

     232,120      216,170       673,229      610,822  

Interest expense

          

Deposits

     89,224      75,990       252,247      199,599  

Short-term borrowings

     15,108      11,801       41,764      27,970  

Long-term obligations

     6,853      8,982       20,506      24,953  
                              

Total interest expense

     111,185      96,773       314,517      252,522  
                              

Net interest income

     120,935      119,397       358,712      358,300  

Provision for credit losses

     17,333      3,758       21,799      13,460  
                              

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     103,602      115,639       336,913      344,840  

Noninterest income

          

Cardholder and merchant services income

     25,526      23,146       72,405      63,877  

Service charges on deposit accounts

     20,193      18,025       56,662      54,491  

Wealth advisory services

     12,922      10,556       36,238      31,260  

Fees from processing services

     7,967      7,522       23,951      22,003  

Mortgage income

     1,529      1,722       5,068      3,536  

Insurance commissions

     1,907      1,643       5,718      5,421  

ATM income

     1,700      1,530       4,921      5,229  

Other service charges and fees

     3,806      3,974       11,492      11,948  

Securities transactions

     1,376      (120 )     1,376      (659 )

Other

     359      2,290       1,105      5,048  
                              

Total noninterest income

     77,285      70,288       218,936      202,154  

Noninterest expense

          

Salaries and wages

     62,520      58,534       180,919      170,883  

Employee benefits

     15,295      11,034       41,297      38,863  

Occupancy expense

     14,331      13,353       42,193      38,617  

Equipment expense

     13,995      13,300       41,672      39,055  

Other

     40,765      37,902       122,297      112,292  
                              

Total noninterest expense

     146,906      134,123       428,378      399,710  
                              

Income before income taxes

     33,981      51,804       127,471      147,284  

Income taxes

     11,362      18,877       45,017      53,988  
                              

Net income

   $ 22,619    $ 32,927     $ 82,454    $ 93,296  
                              

Average shares outstanding

     10,434,453      10,434,453       10,434,453      10,434,453  

Net income per share

   $ 2.17    $ 3.16     $ 7.90    $ 8.94  
                              

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(thousands, unaudited)

   Class A
Common
Stock
   Class B
Common
Stock
   Surplus    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,029,005     $ (2,147 )   $ 1,181,059  

Adjustment resulting from adoption of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108

              4,354         4,354  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

     —        —        —        93,296       —         93,296  

Unrealized securities gains, net of deferred taxes

     —        —        —        —         7,707       7,707  

Change in unrecognized loss on cash flow hedge, net of deferred taxes

     —        —        —        —         (1,200 )     (1,200 )
                                             

Comprehensive income

     —        —        —        93,296       6,507       99,803  

Cash dividends

     —        —        —        (8,608 )     —         (8,608 )
                                             

Balance at September 30, 2006

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,118,047     $ 4,360     $ 1,276,608  
                                             

Balance at December 31, 2006

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,148,372     $ 8,246     $ 1,310,819  

Adjustment resulting from adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48

     —        —        —        962       —         962  

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

     —        —        —        82,454       —         82,454  

Unrealized securities gains, net of deferred taxes

     —        —        —        —         16,545       16,545  

Change in unrecognized loss on cash flow hedge, net of deferred taxes

     —        —        —        —         (597 )     (597 )
                                             

Comprehensive income

     —        —        —        82,454       15,948       98,402  

Cash dividends

     —        —        —        (8,608 )     —         (8,608 )
                                             

Balance at September 30, 2007

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,223,180     $ 24,194     $ 1,401,575  
                                             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Nine months ended September 30,  
     2007     2006  
     (thousands)  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 82,454     $ 93,296  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

    

Amortization of intangibles

     1,626       1,745  

Provision for credit losses

     21,799       13,460  

Deferred tax benefit

     3,226       1,329  

Change in current taxes payable

     (1,167 )     6,184  

Depreciation

     38,708       35,810  

Change in accrued interest payable

     4,411       14,965  

Change in income earned not collected

     (12,197 )     (8,854 )

Securities losses (gains)

     (1,376 )     659  

Origination of loans held for sale

     (404,313 )     (330,315 )

Proceeds from sale of loans

     401,271       355,835  

Loss (gain) on sale of loans

     362       (619 )

Gain on sale of branches

     —         (826 )

Loss on premises and equipment, net

     1,654       272  

Net amortization of premiums and discounts

     (3,281 )     (3,899 )

Net change in other assets

     4,748       (54,716 )

Net change in other liabilities

     5,492       3,498  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     143,417       127,824  
                

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Net change in loans outstanding

     (540,501 )     (522,350 )

Purchases of investment securities held to maturity

     —         (26,074 )

Purchases of investment securities available for sale

     (1,315,394 )     (857,977 )

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held to maturity

     184,819       379,254  

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available for sale

     1,117,274       332,208  

Net change in overnight investments

     (164,336 )     (90,068 )

Dispositions of premises and equipment

     980       5,428  

Additions to premises and equipment

     (79,787 )     (82,104 )

Purchase and sale of branches, net of cash transferred

     —         (19,450 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (796,945 )     (881,133 )
                

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Net change in time deposits

     352,561       592,780  

Net change in demand and other interest-bearing deposits

     (115,438 )     (64,935 )

Net change in short-term borrowings

     241,112       247,289  

Origination of long-term obligations

     —         118,557  

Cash dividends paid

     (8,608 )     (8,608 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     469,627       885,083  
                

Change in cash and due from banks

     (183,901 )     131,774  

Cash and due from banks at beginning of period

     1,010,984       777,928  
                

Cash and due from banks at end of period

   $ 827,083     $ 909,702  
                

CASH PAYMENTS FOR:

    

Interest

   $ 310,106     $ 237,557  

Income taxes

     44,608       45,743  
                

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Unrealized securities gains

   $ 27,144     $ 12,680  

Unrealized loss on interest rate swap

   $ (1,682 )   $ (1,981 )
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note A

Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements contain all material adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (BancShares) as of and for each of the periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the 2006 First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Form 10-K. Certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with statement presentations for 2007. However, the reclassifications have no effect on shareholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.

Note B

Operating Segments

BancShares conducts its banking operations through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB) and IronStone Bank (ISB). Although FCB and ISB offer similar products and services to customers, each entity operates in distinct geographic markets and each entity operates under a separate charter. The financial results and trends of ISB reflect the impact of the de novo nature of its growth.

FCB is a mature banking institution that operates under a state bank charter from its branch network in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. ISB began operations in 1997 and currently operates in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon and Washington under a federal thrift charter. ISB has announced plans to expand into Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Missouri; and Kansas City, Kansas.

In the aggregate, FCB and its consolidated subsidiaries, which are integral to its branch operation, and ISB account for more than 90 percent of consolidated assets, revenues and net income. Other includes activities of the parent company and Neuse, Incorporated, a subsidiary that owns real property used in the banking operation. For 2006, other also includes American Guaranty Insurance Corporation, a property insurance company that was sold January 1, 2007.

The adjustments in the accompanying tables represent the elimination of the impact of certain inter-company transactions. The adjustments to interest income and interest expense neutralize the earnings and cost of inter-company borrowings. The adjustments to noninterest income and noninterest expense reflect the elimination of management fees and other services fees paid by one company to another within BancShares’ consolidated group.


Table of Contents
     As of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2007
     ISB     FCB    Other     Total    Adjustments     Consolidated

Interest income

   $ 104,625     $ 561,085    $ 33,275     $ 698,985    $ (25,756 )   $ 673,229

Interest expense

     57,036       239,616      43,621       340,273      (25,756 )     314,517
                                            

Net interest income

     47,589       321,469      (10,346 )     358,712      —         358,712

Provision for credit losses

     6,213       15,586      —         21,799      —         21,799
                                            

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     41,376       305,883      (10,346 )     336,913      —         336,913

Noninterest income

     10,199       215,942      422       226,563      (7,627 )     218,936

Noninterest expense

     59,236       376,356      413       436,005      (7,627 )     428,378
                                            

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (7,661 )     145,469      (10,337 )     127,471      —         127,471

Income taxes

     (2,413 )     51,008      (3,578 )     45,017      —         45,017
                                            

Net income (loss)

   $ (5,248 )   $ 94,461    $ (6,759 )   $ 82,454    $ —       $ 82,454
                                            

Total assets

   $ 2,355,070     $ 13,598,556    $ 2,609,780     $ 18,563,406    $ (2,251,536 )   $ 16,311,870

Loans and leases

     2,026,329       8,736,829      —         10,763,158      —         10,763,158

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     23,290       110,286      —         133,576      —         133,576

Deposits

     1,950,052       11,069,332      —         13,019,384      (38,937 )     12,980,447
     As of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2006
     ISB     FCB    Other     Total    Adjustments     Consolidated

Interest income

   $ 91,558     $ 517,803    $ 21,618     $ 630,979    $ (20,157 )   $ 610,822

Interest expense

     41,557       192,460      38,662       272,679      (20,157 )     252,522
                                            

Net interest income

     50,001       325,343      (17,044 )     358,300      —         358,300

Provision for credit losses

     2,366       11,094      —         13,460      —         13,460
                                            

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     47,635       314,249      (17,044 )     344,840      —         344,840

Noninterest income

     8,264       199,293      868       208,425      (6,271 )     202,154

Noninterest expense

     54,425       349,998      1,558       405,981      (6,271 )     399,710
                                            

Income (loss) before income taxes

     1,474       163,544      (17,734 )     147,284      —         147,284

Income taxes

     820       59,347      (6,179 )     53,988      —         53,988
                                            

Net income (loss)

   $ 654     $ 104,197    $ (11,555 )   $ 93,296    $ —       $ 93,296
                                            

Total assets

   $ 2,055,508     $ 13,436,636    $ 2,286,128     $ 17,778,272    $ (2,144,675 )   $ 15,633,597

Loans and leases

     1,821,736       8,338,925      —         10,160,661      —         10,160,661

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     21,568       110,084      —         131,652      —         131,652

Deposits

     1,651,460       11,199,431      —         12,850,891      (169,741 )     12,681,150


Table of Contents

Note C

Employee Benefits

BancShares recognized pension expense totaling $8,637 and $9,142, respectively, in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. Pension expense is included as a component of employee benefit expense.

 

     Nine month periods ended September 30,  

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

   2007     2006  

Service cost

   $ 12,851     $ 11,569  

Interest cost

     15,931       13,328  

Expected return on assets

     (22,583 )     (18,289 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     851       185  

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     1,587       2,349  
                

Total net periodic benefit cost

   $ 8,637     $ 9,142  
                

During 2007, active pension plan participants were offered an option to discontinue accrual of benefits under the defined benefit plan and to participate in an enhanced 401(k) savings plan or to remain in the existing defined benefit plan and continue to participate in the existing 401(k) savings plan. Based on the elections made by participants, the recognition of $762 of prior service cost was accelerated and is included in amortization of prior service cost during 2007.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for 2007 is 8.50 percent, and the assumed discount rate is 5.75 percent.

Note D

Income Taxes

BancShares and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. BancShares and its subsidiaries each file separate state income tax returns except where unitary filing is required. BancShares and its subsidiaries are generally no longer subject to federal, state or local income tax examinations for years before 2002.

BancShares adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, BancShares recognized a decrease in the liability for uncertain tax positions of $962, which was accounted for as an increase to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at the date of adoption of FIN 48 was $1,700. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate at the date of adoption of FIN 48 was $500. BancShares recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense. At the date of adoption of FIN 48, BancShares had recognized approximately $700 for the payment of interest and penalties. BancShares is not aware of any positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.


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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INTRODUCTION

Management’s discussion and analysis of earnings and related financial data are presented to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries (BancShares). This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes presented within this report. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

During the fourth quarter of 2006, BancShares retroactively adopted the provisions of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108) to an effective date of January 1, 2006 by recognizing the cumulative effect of the change. Upon the adoption of SAB 108, we recorded an adjusting entry to recognize $7.2 million in income earned not collected and $2.8 million in income tax payable. The net impact of $4.4 million was recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2006. Certain other amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform to statement presentations for 2007 and, except for the entry recorded in conjunction with the SAB 108 adoption, the reclassifications had no effect on shareholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.

OVERVIEW

BancShares is a financial holding company with two wholly-owned banking subsidiaries: First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB), a North Carolina-chartered bank, and IronStone Bank (ISB), a federally-chartered thrift institution. FCB operates branches in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. ISB operates in Georgia, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado. ISB has announced plans to expand into Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Missouri; and Kansas City, Kansas.

BancShares’ earnings and cash flows are derived primarily from the commercial banking activities conducted by its banking subsidiaries. These activities include commercial and consumer lending, deposit and cash management products, cardholder, merchant, wealth management services as well as various other products and services typically offered by commercial banks. FCB and ISB gather interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposits from retail and commercial customers. BancShares and its subsidiaries also secure funding through various non-deposit sources. We invest the liquidity generated from these funding sources in various types of interest-earning assets such as loans and leases, investment securities and overnight investments. We also invest in bank premises, furniture and equipment used to conduct the subsidiaries’ commercial banking business.

Various external factors influence customer demand for our loan, lease and deposit products. In an effort to stimulate and control the rate of growth of economic activity, monetary actions by the Federal Reserve are significant to the interest rate environment in which we operate. At any point in time, both the existing level and anticipated movement of interest rates have a profound impact on customer demand for our products, our pricing of those products and on our profitability.

In addition to the interest rate environment, the general strength of the economy influences demand as well as the quality and collectibility of our loan and lease portfolio. External economic indicators such as consumer bankruptcy rates and business debt service capacity closely follow trends in the economic cycle. Demand for our deposit and cash management products is highly dependent on interest rates and, to some extent, the volatility of alternative investment markets.

Although we are unable to control the external factors that influence our business, through the utilization of various liquidity, interest rate and credit risk management tools, we seek to minimize the potentially adverse risks of unforeseen and potentially unfavorable economic trends and take advantage of favorable economic conditions when appropriate.

Financial institutions frequently focus their strategic and operating emphasis on maximizing profitability and therefore measure their relative success by reference to the profitability measures of return on average assets or return on average shareholders’ equity. BancShares’ profitability measures have historically compared unfavorably to the returns of similar-sized financial holding companies. We have historically placed significant emphasis upon asset quality, balance sheet liquidity, capital conservation and de novo expansion, even when those priorities and initiatives may be detrimental to short-term profitability.


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Based on our organization’s strengths and competitive position within the financial services industry, we believe opportunities for significant growth and expansion exist. We operate in diverse and growing geographic markets and believe that through competitive products and superior customer service, we can increase our business volumes and profitability. In recent years, we have focused our efforts on business owners, medical and other professionals and individuals who are financially active. We seek to increase fee income in areas such as merchant processing, working capital finance, insurance, cash management, wealth management and other private banking services. We also focus on opportunities to generate income by providing various processing services to other banks, certain of which are affiliated institutions.

We attempt to mitigate certain of the risks that can endanger our profitability and growth prospects. While we are attentive to all areas of risk, economic risk is especially problematic due to the lack of control and the potential material impact upon our financial results. Specific economic risks include recession, rapid movements in interest rates, changes in the yield curve and significant shifts in inflation expectations. Compared to our larger competitors, our relatively small asset size and limited capital resources create a level of economic risk that requires constant and focused management attention.

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

BancShares realized a decrease in earnings during the third quarter of 2007 compared to the third quarter of 2006. Consolidated net income during the third quarter of 2007 was $22.6 million, compared to $32.9 million earned during the corresponding period of 2006. The $10.3 million or 31.3 percent earnings decrease resulted from significantly higher provision for credit losses and noninterest expense, offset in part by higher noninterest income. The annualized return on average assets equaled 0.56 percent during the third quarter of 2007, compared to 0.84 percent during the same period of 2006. The annualized return on average equity equaled 6.48 percent during 2007, compared to 10.41 percent during the same period of 2006. Net income per share during the third quarter of 2007 and 2006 totaled $2.17 and $3.16 respectively.

For the first nine months of 2007, BancShares recorded net income of $82.5 million, compared to $93.3 million earned during the first nine months of 2006. The $10.8 million or 11.6 percent decrease was attributable to higher provision for credit losses and increased noninterest expense, while noninterest income increased during 2007 when compared to the same period of 2006. Net income per share for the first nine months of 2006 was $7.90, compared to $8.94 during the same period of 2006. On an annualized basis, BancShares returned 0.70 percent on average assets during the first nine months of 2007, compared to 0.83 percent from the corresponding period of 2006. Annualized return on average equity for the first nine months of 2007 was 8.14 percent, down from 10.19 percent during the same period of 2006.

The inverted yield curve and highly-competitive loan and deposit pricing continue to adversely impact net interest income. For the third quarter, net interest income increased $1.5 million or 1.3 percent, while for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, net interest income increased $412,000, an increase of 0.1 percent when compared to the same period of 2006.


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Financial Summary    Table 1

 

     2007     2006    

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

(thousands, except share data and
ratios)

  

Third

Quarter

    Second
Quarter
   

First

Quarter

    Fourth
Quarter
   

Third

Quarter

    2007     2006  

Summary of Operations

              

Interest income

   $ 232,120     $ 223,473     $ 217,637     $ 219,494     $ 216,170     $ 673,229     $ 610,822  

Interest expense

     111,185       103,884       99,448       101,215       96,773       314,517       252,522  
                                                        

Net interest income

     120,935       119,589       118,189       118,279       119,397       358,712       358,300  

Provision for credit losses

     17,333       934       3,532       7,460       3,758       21,799       13,460  
                                                        

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     103,602       118,655       114,657       110,819       115,639       336,913       344,840  

Noninterest income

     77,285       72,620       69,031       69,234       70,288       218,936       202,154  

Noninterest expense

     146,906       142,878       138,595       131,391       134,123       428,378       399,710  
                                                        

Income before income taxes

     33,981       48,397       45,093       48,662       51,804       127,471       147,284  

Income taxes

     11,362       17,546       16,109       15,467       18,877       45,017       53,988  
                                                        

Net income

   $ 22,619     $ 30,851     $ 28,984     $ 33,195     $ 32,927     $ 82,454     $ 93,296  
                                                        

Net interest income-taxable equivalent

   $ 122,980     $ 121,409     $ 119,964     $ 120,080     $ 121,082     $ 364,353     $ 362,817  
                                                        

Selected Quarterly Averages

              

Total assets

   $ 16,092,009     $ 15,725,976     $ 15,572,613     $ 15,633,189     $ 15,477,992     $ 15,798,770     $ 15,109,404  

Investment securities

     3,162,011       3,047,753       3,092,261       3,176,845       3,072,113       3,100,930       2,978,353  

Loans and leases

     10,623,247       10,360,913       10,230,858       10,167,157       10,106,194       10,406,443       9,929,972  

Interest-earning assets

     14,476,247       14,118,884       13,908,622       13,984,789       13,851,788       14,169,997       13,520,314  

Deposits

     12,728,527       12,524,786       12,502,206       12,601,708       12,571,525       12,586,002       12,402,826  

Interest-bearing liabilities

     12,052,307       11,698,285       11,557,940       11,601,752       11,485,378       11,771,321       11,148,071  

Long-term obligations

     405,101       405,339       408,277       424,597       500,564       406,227       458,925  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,385,284     $ 1,353,739     $ 1,323,327     $ 1,292,771     $ 1,254,551     $ 1,353,820     $ 1,224,183  

Shares outstanding

     10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  
                                                        

Selected Quarter-End Balances

              

Total assets

   $ 16,311,870     $ 16,008,605     $ 15,853,778     $ 15,729,697     $ 15,633,597     $ 16,311,870     $ 15,633,597  

Investment securities

     3,266,150       3,023,799       3,031,798       3,221,048       3,118,025       3,266,150       3,118,025  

Loans and leases

     10,763,158       10,513,041       10,262,356       10,273,043       10,160,661       10,763,158       10,160,661  

Interest-earning assets

     14,542,241       14,232,802       14,094,002       13,842,688       13,849,766       14,542,241       13,849,766  

Deposits

     12,980,447       12,772,322       12,722,532       12,743,324       12,681,150       12,980,447       12,681,150  

Interest-bearing liabilities

     12,170,559       11,830,904       11,671,127       11,612,372       11,510,073       12,170,559       11,510,073  

Long-term obligations

     404,266       405,314       405,356       401,198       424,351       404,266       424,351  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,401,575     $ 1,367,980     $ 1,342,327     $ 1,310,819     $ 1,276,608       1,401,575     $ 1,276,608  

Shares outstanding

     10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  
                                                        

Profitability Ratios (averages)

              

Rate of return (annualized) on:

              

Total assets

     0.56 %     0.79 %     0.75 %     0.84 %     0.84 %     0.70 %     0.83 %

Shareholders’ equity

     6.48       9.14       8.88       10.19       10.41       8.14       10.19  

Dividend payout ratio

     12.67       9.29       9.89       8.65       8.70       10.44       9.23  
                                                        

Liquidity and Capital Ratios (averages)

              

Loans and leases to deposits

     83.46 %     82.72 %     81.83 %     80.68 %     80.39 %     82.68 %     80.06 %

Shareholders’ equity to total assets

     8.61       8.61       8.50       8.27       8.11       8.57       8.10  

Time certificates of $100,000 or more to total deposits

     17.67       16.95       16.60       16.17       15.74       17.11       15.06  
                                                        

Per Share of Stock

              

Net income

   $ 2.17     $ 2.96     $ 2.78     $ 3.18     $ 3.16     $ 7.90     $ 8.94  

Cash dividends

     0.275       0.275       0.275       0.275       0.275       0.825       0.825  

Book value at period end

     134.32       131.10       128.64       125.62       112.35       134.32       121.93  

Tangible book value at period end

     123.88       120.61       118.10       115.02       111.68       123.88       111.26  
                                                        


Table of Contents

INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS

Interest-earning assets include loans and leases, investment securities and overnight investments, all of which reflect varying interest rates based on the risk level and maturity of the underlying asset. Riskier investments typically carry a higher interest rate, but expose the investor to potentially higher levels of default. We have historically focused on maintaining high asset quality, which results in a loan and lease portfolio subjected to strenuous underwriting and monitoring procedures. Our investment securities portfolio includes high-quality assets, primarily United States Treasury and federal government agency securities. Generally, the investment securities portfolio grows and shrinks based on loan, lease and deposit trends. When deposit growth exceeds loan and lease demand, we invest excess funds in the securities portfolio. Conversely, when loan and lease demand exceeds deposit growth, we use proceeds from maturing securities to fund loan and lease demand. Overnight investments are selectively made with other financial institutions that are within our risk tolerance.

Interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2007 averaged $14.48 billion, an increase of $624.5 million or 4.5 percent from the third quarter of 2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, interest-earning assets averaged $14.17 billion, an increase of $649.7 million or 4.8 percent over the same period of 2006. These increases resulted from modest growth in the loan, lease and investment securities portfolios.

Loans and Leases. At September 30, 2007 and 2006, loans and leases totaled $10.76 billion and $10.16 billion, respectively. The $602.5 million or 5.9 percent growth from September 30, 2006 to September 30, 2007 resulted from growth within the commercial mortgage, commercial and industrial loan and revolving mortgage portfolios.

Commercial mortgage loans totaled $3.90 billion at September 30, 2007, representing 36.2 percent of the total loan and lease portfolio. This represents an increase of $272.7 million or 7.5 percent since September 30, 2006. A large percentage of our commercial mortgage portfolio is secured by owner-occupied facilities, rather than investment property. These owner-occupied secured loans are underwritten based primarily upon the cash flow from the operation of the business rather than the value of the real estate collateral. Demand for commercial real estate financing remains stable for owner-occupied medical and professional facilities, although competition for this type of high-quality lending remains strong.

Commercial and industrial loans totaled $1.62 billion or 15.0 percent of total loans and leases outstanding. These loans have increased $135.8 million or 9.2 percent since September 30, 2006. Customer demand for these loans has remained generally stable in existing markets, but expansion into new markets has fueled growth. During the third quarter of 2007, we reclassified our working capital finance receivables from other assets to loans and adjusted prior periods to reflect the current presentation format. The amounts reclassified totaled $33.7 million, $33.5 million and $31.2 million at September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively,

Revolving mortgage loans totaled $1.45 billion, representing 13.5 percent of total loans and leases outstanding, an increase of $123.6 million or 9.3 percent since September 30, 2006. These loans remain a significant component of our retail loan portfolio.

Consumer loans totaled $1.38 billion or 12.8 percent of total loans at September 30, 2007, an increase of $43.4 million or 3.3 percent since September 30, 2006. While we are active in automobile lending on both a direct and indirect basis, these loans have experienced only modest growth over the past five quarters, accounting for 12.8 percent of total loans at September 30, 2007. Construction and land development loans totaled $816.3 million at September 30, 2007, a 2.1 percent reduction from September 30, 2006. These loans represent 7.6 percent of total loans and leases.

We anticipate moderate growth in commercial mortgage and commercial and industrial loans in the fourth quarter of 2007, as our expansion into new markets allows us to reach new business customers. Our expansion will also continue to mitigate risks resulting from geographic concentrations. All growth projections are subject to change as a result of economic deterioration or improvement, competitive forces and other external factors.

Investment Securities. Investment securities available for sale totaled $3.23 billion at September 30, 2007, compared to $2.83 billion at September 30, 2006. Available-for-sale securities are reported at their aggregate fair value. Investment securities held to maturity totaled $34.3 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $287.2 million at September 30, 2006. Securities that are classified as held-to-maturity reflect our ability and positive intent to hold those investments until maturity. The growth in investment securities available for sale and the corresponding reduction in investment securities held to maturity results from our decision to increase balance sheet liquidity and flexibility. Table 3 presents detailed information relating to the investment securities portfolio.


Table of Contents
Outstanding Loans and Leases by Type   Table 2

 

     2007    2006

(thousands)

  

Third

Quarter

   Second
Quarter
  

First

Quarter

   Fourth
Quarter
  

Third

Quarter

Real estate:

              

Construction and land development

   $ 816,328    $ 784,960    $ 779,718    $ 783,680    $ 833,505

Commercial mortgage

     3,899,289      3,815,113      3,739,948      3,725,752      3,626,600

Residential mortgage

     1,037,460      1,038,602      1,020,945      1,025,235      1,040,202

Revolving mortgage

     1,454,659      1,374,212      1,301,311      1,326,403      1,331,055

Other mortgage

     153,487      159,421      157,576      165,223      167,238
                                  

Total real estate

     7,361,223      7,172,308      6,999,498      7,026,293      6,998,600

Commercial and industrial

     1,615,550      1,589,519      1,551,532      1,526,818      1,479,792

Consumer

     1,375,001      1,362,356      1,345,631      1,360,524      1,331,597

Lease financing

     329,535      315,965      302,581      294,366      284,230

Other

     81,849      72,893      63,114      65,042      66,442
                                  

Total loans and leases

     10,763,158      10,513,041      10,262,356      10,273,043      10,160,661

Less allowance for loan and lease losses

     133,576      129,276      132,640      132,004      131,652
                                  

Net loans and leases

   $ 10,629,582    $ 10,383,765    $ 10,129,716    $ 10,141,039    $ 10,029,009
                                  

Income on Interest-Earning Assets. Interest income amounted to $232.1 million during the third quarter of 2007, a $16.0 million or 7.4 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006. Improved yields and marginal growth in the volume of interest-earning assets accounted for the increase in interest income when compared to the same period of 2006. The taxable-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2007 equaled 6.51 percent, compared to 6.25 percent for the corresponding period of 2006.

Loan and lease interest income for the third quarter of 2007 equaled $185.7 million, an increase of $8.9 million or 5.0 percent from the third quarter of 2006, the combined result of balance sheet growth and higher yields. The taxable-equivalent yield on the loan and lease portfolio was 7.08 percent during the third quarter of 2007, up 11 basis points from the same period of 2006. The higher yield resulted from new loans and leases originated at current market rates. Average loans and leases increased $517.1 million, a 5.1 percent growth rate from the third quarter of 2006 to the same period of 2007.

Interest income earned on the investment securities portfolio amounted to $37.5 million during the third quarter of 2007 versus $30.5 million during the same period of 2006, an increase of $6.9 million or 22.8 percent. This increase in income is the result of significantly improved yields and slightly higher average volume. The taxable-equivalent yield increased 79 basis points from 4.10 percent in the third quarter of 2006 to 4.89 percent in the third quarter of 2007 due to the reinvestment of proceeds from maturing securities into securities at higher rates. Average investment securities increased $89.9 million or 2.9 percent from $3.07 billion during the third quarter of 2006 to $3.16 billion during the third quarter of 2007.

Interest income totaled to $673.2 million during the first nine months of 2007, a $62.4 million or 10.2 percent increase from the same period of 2006, the result of improved yields and growth in interest-earning assets. The taxable-equivalent yield increased 33 basis points from 6.08 percent for the first nine months of 2006 to 6.41 percent during the same period of 2006. Average interest-earning assets increased $649.7 million or 4.8 percent from $13.5 billion during the first nine months of 2006 to $14.2 billion during the first nine months of 2007.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, loan and lease interest income equaled $541.7 million, an increase of $36.4 million or 7.2 percent from the same period of 2006. The improvement in interest income reflects the combined favorable impact of a 4.8 percent increase in average loans and leases and a 17 basis point increase in the blended yield.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, income earned on the investment securities portfolio totaled $105.8 million, compared to $83.1 million during the same period of 2006, an increase of $22.7 million or 27.3 percent. This increase was the result of an 86 basis point increase in the taxable-equivalent yield and a 4.1 percent increase in average investment securities.


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Investment Securities

Table 3

 

     September 30, 2007     September 30, 2006  

(thousands)

   Cost    Fair Value    Average
Maturity
(Yrs./Mos.)
   Taxable
Equivalent
Yield
    Cost   

Fair

Value

   Average
Maturity
(Yrs./Mos.)
   Taxable
Equivalent
Yield
 

Investment securities available for sale:

                      

U. S. Government:

                      

Within one year

   $ 1,639,356    $ 1,641,945    0/6    4.71 %   $ 1,473,897    $ 1,460,075    0/5    3.47 %

One to five years

     1,421,207      1,432,361    1/7    4.79       1,235,798      1,233,452    1/8    4.74  

Five to ten years

     6,332      6,200    5/10    4.88       6,383      6,153    6/9    4.88  

Over ten years

     80,273      78,474    27/3    5.48       54,530      53,262    27/5    5.32  
                                                  

Total

     3,147,168      3,158,980    1/8    4.77       2,770,608      2,752,942    1/6    4.08  

State, county and municipal:

                      

Within one year

     701      699    0/7    3.84       931      926    0/7    2.96  

One to five years

     2,147      2,123    2/4    4.08       2,309      2,283    2/7    3.91  

Five to ten years

     470      474    5/5    4.90       903      906    5/10    4.67  

Over ten years

     66      65    21/0    4.44       160      161    25/9    3.27  
                                                  

Total

     3,384      3,361    2/9    4.15       4,303      4,276    3/10    3.84  

Other

                      

Ten to twenty years

     8,304      9,923    10/8    11.13       10,920      10,920    11/8    11.08  
                                                  

Total

     8,304      9,923    10/8    11.13       10,920      10,920    11/8    11.08  

Equity securities

     34,364      59,547           35,695      62,672      
                                                  

Total investment securities available for sale

   $ 3,193,220    $ 3,231,811         $ 2,821,526    $ 2,830,810      
                                                  

Investment securities held to maturity:

                      

U. S. Government:

                      

Within one year

   $ 26,530    $ 26,518    0/2    3.66 %   $ 250,072    $ 248,673    0/5    3.34 %

One to five years

     —        —      0    —         27,805      27,433    1/2    3.65  

Five to ten years

     5,772      5,753    9/6    5.53       47      47    9/8    6.74  

Over ten years

     204      235    20/5    6.28       7,464      7,453    11/7    5.60  
                                                  

Total

     32,506      32,506    1/11    4.01       285,388      283,606    0/9    3.43  

State, county and municipal:

                      

Within one year

     —        —             —        —        

One to five years

     149      153    1/7    5.88       148      154    2/7    5.88  

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        

Over ten years

     1,434      1,536    10/7    6.02       1,429      1,556    11/7    6.02  
                                                  

Total

     1,583      1,689    9/9    6.01       1,577      1,710    10/9    6.01  

Other

                      

Within one year

     250      250    0/10    3.25       —        —        

One to five years

     —        —             250      250    1/10    3.25  

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        
                                                  

Total

     250      250    1/10    3.25       250      250    1/10    3.25  

Total investment securities held to maturity

     34,339      34,445    1/1    2.97       287,215      285,566    1/1    3.44  
                                                  

Total investment securities

   $ 3,227,559    $ 3,266,256         $ 3,108,741    $ 3,116,376      
                                                  

Average maturity assumes callable securities mature on their earliest call date; yields are based on amortized cost; yields related to securities that are exempt from federal and/or state income taxes are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming statutory rates of 35% for federal income tax purposes and 6.9% for state income taxes for all periods.


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INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES

Interest-bearing liabilities include our interest-bearing deposits as well as short-term borrowings and long-term obligations. Deposits represent our primary funding source, although we also utilize non-deposit borrowings to stabilize our liquidity base and to fulfill commercial customer requirements for cash management services. Certain of our long-term borrowings also provide capital strength under existing guidelines established by the Federal Reserve Bank and other banking regulators.

Deposits. At September 30, 2007, deposits totaled $12.98 billion, an increase of $299.3 million over September 30, 2006. Interest-bearing deposits averaged $10.19 billion during the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $253.8 million or 2.6 percent from the third quarter of 2006. Average time deposits increased $238.0 million or 4.6 percent to $5.38 billion from the third quarter of 2006 to the same period of 2007. Average money market balances increased $177.9 million from $2.68 billion during the third quarter of 2006 to $2.86 billion during the third quarter of 2007. We expect time deposit and money market account balances will increase moderately throughout the remainder of 2007, although competition for deposit business in our market areas is extremely intense.

Short-term Borrowings At September 30, 2007, short-term borrowings totaled $1.39 billion compared to $1.13 billion at September 30, 2006. For the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, short-term borrowings averaged $1.45 billion and $1.04 billion, respectively, an increase of $408.6 million or 39.1 percent. During the third quarter of 2007, master notes averaged $999.6 million, compared to $693.3 million in the third quarter of 2006, a growth rate of 44.2 percent. Overnight repurchase agreements averaged $316.5 million during the third quarter of 2007, a 36.9 percent growth rate over the third quarter of 2006. We attribute the growth in master notes and repurchase agreements to strong customer demand and successful delivery of cash management services to our commercial customers.

Long-term Obligations. Long-term obligations averaged $405.1 million during the third quarter of 2007 compared to $500.6 million during the third quarter of 2006, a $95.5 million reduction that resulted from the early redemption of $100.0 million of trust preferred capital trust securities during the fourth quarter of 2006.

Expense on Interest-Bearing Liabilities. Interest expense amounted to $111.2 million during the third quarter of 2007, a 14.9 percent increase from the third quarter of 2006. Higher rates and increased average volume caused the $14.4 million variance. The rate on average interest-bearing liabilities equaled 3.66 percent during the third quarter of 2007, a 32 basis point increase in the aggregate blended rate when compared to the third quarter of 2006. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $566.9 million or 4.9 percent from third quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2007.

For the year-to-date, interest expense equaled $314.5 million, compared to $252.5 million for the same period of 2006. The $62.0 million or 24.6 percent increase results from higher interest rates and growth in balances attributable to both cash management products and time deposits. The rate on interest-bearing liabilities increased from 3.03 percent during the first nine months of 2006 to 3.57 percent for the same period of 2007, a 54 basis point increase. The rate on time deposits increased 77 basis points from 3.83 percent to 4.60 percent while the rate on average money market accounts increased 54 basis points from 2.83 percent to 3.37 percent.

For the first nine months of 2007, average interest-bearing liabilities increased $623.3 million or 5.6 percent from $11.15 billion to $11.77 billion. Average time deposits increased $304.5 million to $5.22 billion, an increase of 6.2 percent. Average master notes increased $273.6 million or 45.1 percent from $606.8 million to $880.4 million. Money market accounts and repurchase agreements increased $131.9 million and $100.9 million, respectively, during the same time period.


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Consolidated Taxable Equivalent Rate/Volume Variance Analysis—Third Quarter

Table 4

 

     2007     2006     Increase (decrease) due to:  

(thousands)

   Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Volume     Yield/
Rate
    Total
Change
 

Assets

                      

Loans and leases

   $ 10,623,247    $ 186,266    7.08 %   $ 10,106,194    $ 177,243    6.97 %   $ 7,644     $ 1,379     $ 9,023  

Investment securities:

                      

U. S. Government

     3,087,119      38,046    4.89       2,993,301      30,803    4.08       1,048       6,195       7,243  

State, county and municipal

     4,940      110    8.83       5,828      81    5.51       (16 )     45       29  

Other

     69,952      791    4.49       72,984      846    4.60       (35 )     (20 )     (55 )
                                                                

Total investment securities

     3,162,011      38,947    4.89       3,072,113      31,730    4.10       997       6,220       7,217  

Overnight investments

     690,989      8,952    5.14       673,481      8,853    5.22       233       (134 )     99  
                                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 14,476,247    $ 234,165    6.51 %   $ 13,851,788    $ 217,826    6.25 %   $ 8,874     $ 7,465     $ 16,339  
                                                                

Liabilities

                      

Deposits:

                      

Checking With Interest

   $ 1,389,902    $ 515    0.15 %   $ 1,486,969    $ 462    0.12 %   $ (44 )   $ 97     $ 53  

Savings

     566,171      310    0.22       631,265      337    0.21       (39 )     12       (27 )

Money market accounts

     2,862,224      24,851    3.44       2,684,308      21,693    3.21       1,521       1,637       3,158  

Time deposits

     5,376,100      63,548    4.69       5,138,065      53,499    4.13       2,637       7,412       10,049  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing deposits

     10,194,397      89,224    3.47       9,940,607      75,991    3.03       4,075       9,158       13,233  

Federal funds purchased

     53,017      679    5.08       35,235      448    5.04       227       4       231  

Repurchase agreements

     316,545      2,743    3.44       231,291      2,142    3.67       762       (161 )     601  

Master notes

     999,577      10,742    4.26       693,344      7,820    4.47       3,370       (448 )     2,922  

Other short-term borrowings

     83,670      944    4.48       84,337      1,391    6.54       (10 )     (437 )     (447 )

Long-term obligations

     405,101      6,853    6.77       500,564      8,982    7.18       (1,665 )     (464 )     (2,129 )
                                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 12,052,307    $ 111,185    3.66 %   $ 11,485,378    $ 96,774    3.34 %   $ 6,759     $ 7,652     $ 14,411  
                                                                

Interest rate spread

         2.85 %         2.91 %      
                                                                

Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets

      $ 122,980    3.37 %      $ 121,052    3.47 %   $ 2,115     $ (187 )   $ 1,928  
                                                                

Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Yields related to loans and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming a statutory federal income tax rate of 35.0% and state income tax rate of 6.9% for each period. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $2,045 for 2007 and $1,655 for 2006.

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income totaled $120.9 million during the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $1.5 million or 1.3 percent from the third quarter of 2006. The taxable-equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets equaled 3.37 percent for the third quarter of 2007, compared to 3.47 percent achieved for the third quarter of 2006. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, net interest income grew by $412,000 or 0.1 percent from the same period of 2006 due to a 15 basis point contraction in the taxable-equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets.

The unfavorable impact of the reduction in the taxable-equivalent net yield offset the benefit realized by balance sheet growth for both the third quarter and the nine-month periods.

For both the third quarter and the first nine months of 2007, the contraction in the net yield on interest-earning assets resulted primarily from the unfavorable impact of the flat yield curve which has persisted since early 2006.


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Consolidated Taxable Equivalent Rate/Volume Variance Analysis—Nine Months

Table 5

 

     2007     2006     Increase (decrease) due to:  

(thousands)

   Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Volume     Yield/
Rate
    Total
Change
 

Assets

                      

Loans and leases

   $ 10,406,443    $ 543,209    6.98 %   $ 9,929,972    $ 506,549    6.81 %   $ 24,152     $ 12,508     $ 36,660  

Investment securities:

                      

U. S. Government

     3,024,812      107,305    4.74       2,899,001      83,707    3.86       4,075       19,523       23,598  

State, county and municipal

     5,447      263    6.46       6,284      252    5.36       (37 )     48       11  

Other

     70,671      2,327    4.40       73,068      2,460    4.50       (80 )     (53 )     (133 )
                                                                

Total investment securities

     3,100,930      109,895    4.74       2,978,353      86,419    3.88       3,958       19,518       23,476  

Overnight investments

     662,624      25,766    5.20       611,989      22,371    4.89       1,914       1,481       3,395  
                                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 14,169,997    $ 678,870    6.41 %   $ 13,520,314    $ 615,339    6.08 %   $ 30,024     $ 33,507     $ 63,531  
                                                                

Liabilities

                      

Deposits:

                      

Checking With Interest

   $ 1,446,877    $ 1,435    0.13 %   $ 1,537,549    $ 1,411    0.12 %   $ (86 )   $ 110     $ 24  

Savings

     582,343      936    0.21       664,105      1,056    0.21       (124 )     4       (120 )

Money market accounts

     2,791,710      70,360    3.37       2,659,822      56,397    2.83       3,006       10,957       13,963  

Time deposits

     5,218,719      179,516    4.60       4,914,240      140,734    3.83       9,601       29,181       38,782  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing deposits

     10,039,649      252,247    3.36       9,775,716      199,598    2.73       12,397       40,252       52,649  

Federal funds purchased

     67,033      2,585    5.16       40,767      1,434    4.70       967       184       1,151  

Repurchase agreements

     297,079      7,888    3.55       196,162      4,930    3.36       2,608       350       2,958  

Master notes

     880,377      28,505    4.33       606,824      18,915    4.17       8,698       892       9,590  

Other short-term borrowings

     80,956      2,786    4.60       69,677      2,692    5.17       414       (320 )     94  

Long-term obligations

     406,227      20,506    6.73       458,925      24,953    7.25       (2,761 )     (1,686 )     (4,447 )
                                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 11,771,321    $ 314,517    3.57 %   $ 11,148,071    $ 252,522    3.03 %   $ 22,323     $ 39,672     $ 61,995  
                                                                

Interest rate spread

         2.84 %         3.05 %      
                                                                

Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets

      $ 364,353    3.44 %      $ 362,817    3.59 %   $ 7,701     $ (6,165 )   $ 1,536  
                                                                

Average loan and lease balances include nonaccrual loans and leases. Yields related to loans, leases and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming a statutory federal income tax rate of 35% and a state income tax rate of 6.90% for each period. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $5,641 and $4,517 for 2007 and 2006, respectively.

NONINTEREST INCOME

The growth of noninterest income is essential to our ability to sustain adequate levels of profitability. The primary sources of noninterest income are cardholder and merchant services income, service charges on deposit accounts, wealth advisory services and fees from processing services.

During the first nine months of 2007, noninterest income amounted to $218.9 million, compared to $202.2 million during the same period of 2006. The $16.8 million or 8.3 percent increase was primarily due to improvements in cardholder and merchant services income, wealth advisory services, service charges on deposits, fees from processing services and securities transactions. Cardholder and merchant services generated $72.4 million during the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $8.5 million or 13.4 percent versus the comparable period of 2006. This increase resulted from higher merchant discount and interchange income, the result of growth in transaction volumes generated by both debit and credit cardholders.


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Fees from wealth advisory services equaled $36.2 million in the first nine months of 2007 compared to $31.3 million in 2006. The $5.0 million or 15.9 percent increase resulted from higher levels of assets under management and increased broker dealer revenues. Service charges on deposit accounts generated $56.7 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $2.2 million or 4.0 percent from 2006 due to increased insufficient fund and overdraft charges. BancShares recorded securities gains totaling $1.4 million during the first nine months of 2007 compared to securities losses of $659,000 during the same period of 2006. The 2007 gain resulted from the sale of our ownership interest in MasterCard Incorporated.

Other income declined $3.9 million during 2007. This reduction reflects the combined impact of a $1.3 million reduction in income arising from our investments in affordable housing projects, the absence of premium income generated by two insurance companies sold on January 1, 2007 and a $936,000 gain on the 2006 sale of a branch office.

During the third quarter of 2007, total noninterest income equaled $77.3 million, an increase of $7.0 million over the third quarter of 2006. Factors contributing to the 10.0 percent increase were higher cardholder and merchant services income, deposit services charges, fees from wealth advisory services and securities transactions.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

The primary components of noninterest expense are salaries and related employee benefit costs, occupancy expenses related to branch offices and support facilities, and equipment costs related to branch offices and technology.

Noninterest expense equaled $428.4 million for the first nine months of 2007, a $28.7 million or 7.2 percent increase over the $399.7 million recorded during the same period of 2006. ISB’s noninterest expense increased from $54.4 million for the first nine months of 2006 to $59.2 million in 2007, a $4.8 million or 8.8 percent increase, the result of continued expansion of its branch footprint.

Salaries and wages totaled $180.9 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $10.0 million or 5.9 percent when compared to the same period of 2006. The increase resulted from new branch offices, headcount additions in several support functions and the effect of mid-year 2007 merit increases.

Employee benefits expense totaled $41.3 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $2.4 million. This 6.3 percent increase resulted from costs related to executive post-employment benefits and increased employee health care expenses. Pension expense declined for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007.

During 2007, active pension plan participants were offered an option to discontinue accrual of benefits under the defined benefit plan and to participate in an enhanced 401(k) savings plan or to remain in the existing defined benefit plan and continue to participate in the existing 401(k) savings plan. Based on the elections made by participants, the recognition of $762,000 of prior service cost was accelerated and is included in employee benefit expense during 2007.

Occupancy expense amounted to $42.2 million during the first nine months of 2007 and $38.6 million during 2006. The $3.6 million or 9.3 percent increase resulted from higher building costs arising from branch expansion and the new headquarters facility. For the first nine-month period, equipment costs rose $2.6 million or 6.7 percent from $39.1 million in 2006 to $41.7 million in the third quarter of 2007, due to higher technology costs as well as furniture and equipment expense in new branch offices and the corporate headquarters facility.

Other expenses increased $10.0 million or 8.9 percent from the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period of 2007. The cost of customer-related rewards programs increased $3.2 million or 53.1 percent from 2006 to 2007. Cardholder-related processing expenses increased $3.1 million or 10.8 percent during 2007 due to growth in merchant, debit and credit card transaction volumes. Also contributing to the increase in other expense was $1.2 million of various fixed asset investments written off during 2007 including the unamortized cost of closed branches and future development plans for the headquarters site.

For the third quarter of 2007, noninterest expense totaled $146.9 million, a $12.8 million or 9.5 percent increase over the same period of 2006. Salary expense equaled $62.5 million during the third quarter of 2007, up $4.0 million or 6.8 percent due primarily to merit increases that were effective mid-year and associates hired in new branch offices and in support functions. Employee benefits increased $4.3 million or 38.6 percent from 2006 to 2007 due to accruals for executive post-employment benefits. Other expenses increased $2.9 million or 7.6 percent during the third quarter of 2007 when compared to the same period of 2006 primarily due to higher cardholder-related processing expenses and the costs associated with cardholder reward programs.


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INCOME TAXES

BancShares continually monitors and evaluates the potential impact of current events on the estimates used to establish income tax expenses and income tax liabilities. On a periodic basis, we evaluate our income tax positions based on current tax law, positions taken by various tax auditors within the jurisdictions that BancShares is required to file income tax returns as well as potential or pending audits or assessments by such tax auditors.

On January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies uncertainty in income taxes recognized by establishing a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement treatment of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in a reduction in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, resulting in a $962,000 increase in the beginning balance of retained earnings.

Income tax expense amounted to $45.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $54.0 million during the same period of 2006. The 16.6 percent decrease in income tax expense was primarily the result of lower pretax earnings, and changes to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance effective in the fourth quarter of 2006. The effective tax rates for these periods were 35.3 percent and 36.7 percent, respectively. Income tax expense amounted to $11.4 million during the third quarter of 2007, compared to $18.9 million during the same period of 2006. The 39.8 percent decrease in income tax expense was primarily the result of lower pretax earnings. The effective tax rates for these periods were 33.4 percent and 36.4 percent, respectively.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY

BancShares continues to exceed minimum regulatory capital standards, and the banking subsidiaries remain well-capitalized. At September 30, 2007 and 2006, the leverage capital ratios of BancShares were 9.59 percent and 9.93 percent, respectively, surpassing the minimum level of 3 percent. As a percentage of risk-adjusted assets, BancShares’ Tier 1 capital ratios were 12.96 percent at September 30, 2007 and 13.64 percent at September 30, 2006. The minimum ratio allowed is 4 percent of risk-adjusted assets. The total risk-adjusted capital ratios were 15.30 percent at September 30, 2007 and 16.10 percent as of September 30, 2006. The minimum total capital ratio is 8 percent.

ISB’s continued de novo growth and operating losses has required BancShares to infuse significant amounts of capital into ISB to support its expanding balance sheet. BancShares infused $17.0 million into ISB during the first nine months of 2007 including $7.0 million during the third quarter. Since ISB was formed in 1997, BancShares has provided $297.0 million in capital. The cumulative loss incurred since ISB’s inception totals $32.3 million. BancShares’ prospective capacity to provide capital to support the growth and expansion of ISB is highly dependent upon FCB’s ability to return adequate capital through dividends to BancShares.

RISK MANAGEMENT

In the normal course of business, BancShares is exposed to various risks. To manage the major risks that are inherent in the operation of a financial holding company and to provide reasonable assurance that our long-term business objectives will be attained, various policies and risk management processes identify, monitor and manage risk within acceptable tolerances. Management continually refines and enhances its risk management policies and procedures to maintain effective risk management.

The most significant risk exposures are credit, interest rate and liquidity risk. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the amount of a loan or investment when it is contractually due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of net interest income as a result of mismatches between maturities of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in market interest rates. Liquidity risk is the inability to adequately fund obligations to depositors, creditors or borrowers.


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Credit Risk. The maintenance of excellent asset quality is one of our key performance measures. BancShares manages and monitors extensions of credit and the quality of the loan and lease portfolio through rigorous initial underwriting processes and periodic ongoing reviews. Underwriting standards reflect credit policies and procedures, and the majority of our credit decision processes are centralized. We maintain a credit review function that conducts independent risk reviews and analyses for the purpose of ensuring compliance with credit policies and to monitor asset quality trends. The independent risk reviews include portfolio analysis by geographic location and horizontal reviews across industry sectors within the banking subsidiaries. BancShares strives to identify potential credit problems as early as possible, to take charge-offs or write-downs as appropriate and to maintain adequate allowances for credit losses that are inherent in the loan and lease portfolio.

We maintain a well-diversified loan and lease portfolio, and seek to avoid the risk associated with large concentrations within specific geographic areas or industries. Our continuing expansion into new markets has allowed us to mitigate our historic exposure to geographic concentration in North Carolina and Virginia. We have endeavored to ensure that rigorous centralized underwriting and monitoring controls are functioning effectively, and we will continue to place emphasis upon maintaining strong lending standards in new markets.

In recent years, we have aggressively sought opportunities to provide financial services to businesses associated with and professionals within the medical community. Due to strong growth within this segment of our loan and lease portfolio, our loans and leases to borrowers in medical, dental or related fields totaled $1.95 billion as of September 30, 2007, which represents 18.1 percent of total loans and leases outstanding, compared to $1.68 billion or 16.6 percent at September 30, 2006. Except for this single concentration, no other industry represented more than 10 percent of total loans and leases outstanding at September 30, 2007.

Nonperforming Assets. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans and leases and other real estate. Other real estate includes foreclosed property as well as branch facilities that we have closed but not sold. At September 30, 2007, BancShares’ nonperforming assets amounted to $23.4 million or 0.22 percent of loans and leases plus foreclosed properties, compared to $25.1 million at September 30, 2006. Management views these levels of nonperforming assets as evidence of strong asset quality, but continues to closely monitor nonperforming assets, taking necessary actions to minimize potential exposure.

Allowance for credit losses. At September 30, 2007, the allowance for credit losses totaled $140.9 million or 1.31 percent of total loans and leases, compared to 1.36 percent at September 30, 2006. The allowance for credit losses includes the allowance for loan and lease losses and the reserve for unfunded credit commitments. We continuously analyze the growth and risk characteristics of the loan and lease portfolio under current economic conditions in order to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance. Such factors as the financial condition of borrowers, fair market value of collateral and other considerations are recognized in estimating probable credit losses.

The provision for credit losses charged to operations during the first nine months of 2007 equaled $21.8 million, compared to $13.5 million during the same period of 2006. Net charge-offs during the first nine months of 2007 equaled $19.6 million compared to $11.0 million during 2006. The $8.6 million increase resulted from losses from two individually-significant relationships during the third quarter of 2007. These two losses totaled $8.1 million and were incurred within our commercial and industrial loan and lease finance portfolios. On an annualized basis, net charge-offs represent 0.25 percent of average loans and leases during the first nine months of 2007 compared to 0.15 percent in the first nine months of 2006. Table 6 provides details concerning the allowance and provision for credit losses during the past five quarters.

During the second quarter of 2007, we adopted several refinements to the methodology used to establish the allowance for loan and lease losses. Based on actual repayment history of an isolated pool of revolving mortgage loans, we determined that an adjustment to the formula used to calculate the allowance was appropriate. As a result, the allowance for revolving mortgage loans declined by $4.5 million. In addition, in reliance on credit grade migration data for commercial mortgage and commercial and industrial loans collected over a period of several years, the allowance related to these loans declined by $4.1 million. Finally, in recognition of data suggesting the banking industry has begun to experience a period of credit deterioration, we increased the amount of the unallocated allowance by approximately $2.5 million.


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Summary of Loan and Lease Loss Experience and Risk Elements

Table 6

 

     2007     2006     Nine Months Ended
September 30
 

(thousands, except ratios)

  

Third

Quarter

    Second
Quarter
   

First

Quarter

    Fourth
Quarter
   

Third

Quarter

   
             2007     2006  

Allowance for credit losses at beginning of period

   $ 136,396     $ 139,496     $ 138,646     $ 138,246     $ 137,121     $ 138,646     $ 135,770  

Provision for credit losses

     17,333       934       3,532       7,462       3,758       21,799       13,460  

Net charge-offs:

              

Charge-offs

     (14,099 )     (4,954 )     (3,980 )     (8,241 )     (4,189 )     (23,033 )     (16,175 )

Recoveries

     1,241       920       1,298       1,179       1,556       3,459       5,191  
                                                        

Net charge-offs

     (12,858 )     (4,034 )     (2,682 )     (7,062 )     (2,633 )     (19,574 )     (10,984 )
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses at end of period

   $ 140,871     $ 136,396     $ 139,496     $ 138,646     $ 138,246     $ 140,871     $ 138,246  
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses includes:

              

Allowance for loan and lease losses

   $ 133,576     $ 129,276     $ 132,640     $ 132,004     $ 131,652     $ 133,576     $ 131,652  

Liability for unfunded credit commitments

     7,295       7,120       6,856       6,642       6,594       7,295       6,594  
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses at end of period

   $ 140,871     $ 136,396     $ 139,496     $ 138,646     $ 138,246     $ 140,871     $ 138,246  
                                                        

Historical Statistics

              

Average loans and leases

   $ 10,623,247     $ 10,360,913     $ 10,230,858     $ 10,167,157     $ 10,106,194     $ 10,406,443     $ 9,929,972  

Loans and leases at period-end

     10,763,158       10,513,041       10,262,356       10,273,043       10,160,661       10,763,158       10,160,661  
                                                        

Risk Elements

              

Nonaccrual loans and leases

   $ 18,227     $ 12,458     $ 14,943     $ 14,882     $ 18,348     $ 18,227     $ 18,348  

Other real estate

     5,202       6,352       6,245       6,028       6,711       5,202       6,711  
                                                        

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 23,429     $ 18,810     $ 21,188     $ 20,910     $ 25,059     $ 23,429     $ 25,059  
                                                        

Accruing loans and leases 90 days or more past due

   $ 10,322     $ 9,289     $ 8,396     $ 5,185     $ 6,974     $ 10,322     $ 6,974  
                                                        

Ratios

              

Net charge-offs (annualized) to average total loans and leases

     0.48 %     0.16 %     0.11 %     0.28 %     0.10 %     0.25 %     0.15 %

Percent of total loans and leases at period-end:

              

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     1.24       1.23       1.29       1.28       1.30       1.24       1.30  

Liability for unfunded credit commitments

     0.07       0.07       0.07       0.06       0.06       0.07       0.06  
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses

     1.31       1.30       1.36       1.35       1.36       1.31       1.36  
                                                        

Nonperforming assets to total loans plus other real estate

     0.22       0.18       0.21       0.20       0.25       0.22       0.25  
                                                        

During the third quarter of 2007, due to deteriorating conditions within our $44.0 million working capital finance portfolio, we increased our allowance for loan and lease losses by $2.0 million.

Management considers the resulting allowance adequate to absorb estimated probable losses that relate to loans and leases outstanding at September 30, 2007, although future additions may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions and other factors. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require the recognition of adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk results principally from assets and liabilities maturing or repricing at different points in time, from assets and liabilities repricing at the same point in time but in different amounts and from short-term and long-term interest rates changing in different magnitudes, an event frequently described by the resulting impact on the shape of the yield curve. External interest rates may also have a direct or indirect impact on the interest rate and repricing characteristics of loans and leases that are originated as well as the rate characteristics of our interest-bearing liabilities.

We do not typically utilize interest rate swaps, floors, collars or other derivative financial instruments to attempt to hedge our rate sensitivity and general balance sheet interest rate risk. However, during the second quarter of 2006, in conjunction with the issuance of $115.0 million in trust preferred securities, we entered into an interest rate swap to synthetically convert the variable rate coupon on the securities to a fixed rate of 7.125 percent for a period of five years.

During the first nine months of 2007 our exposure to interest rate risk has increased due to growing net one-year liability sensitivity. As a result, our simulations of future amounts of net interest income under both rising and declining interest rate scenarios indicate that our net interest income will vary by approximately 4 percent with net interest income increasing when rates decline and contracting when rates increase. The magnitude of the net one-year liability sensitivity is projected to continue to grow during the remainder of 2007.


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Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk results from the mismatching of asset and liability cash flows. BancShares manages this risk by structuring its balance sheet prudently and by maintaining various borrowing resources to fund potential cash needs. BancShares has historically maintained a strong focus on liquidity, and, while we have access to non-deposit borrowing sources, we prefer to fund loan demand with core bank deposits. Accordingly, generating acceptable levels of deposit growth is a continuing challenge, particularly during periods of strong loan demand. BancShares also maintains additional sources for borrowed funds through federal funds lines of credit and other borrowing facilities. At September 30, 2007, BancShares had access to $525.0 million in unfunded borrowings through its correspondent bank network. Brokered deposits have been utilized by ISB to augment its liquidity base with balances totaling $119.3 million as of September 30, 2007 compared to $100.6 million at December 31, 2006. There were no brokered deposits outstanding at September 30, 2006.

Once we have generated the needed liquidity and satisfied our loan and lease demand, residual liquidity is invested in overnight and longer-term investment products. Investment securities available for sale provide immediate liquidity as needed, although we have historically held our available-for-sale securities until maturity. In addition, investment securities held to maturity provide an ongoing liquidity source based on the scheduled maturity dates of the securities.

SEGMENT REPORTING

BancShares conducts its banking operations through its two banking subsidiaries, FCB and ISB. Although FCB and ISB offer similar products and services to customers, each entity operates in distinct geographic markets and has separate management groups. We monitor growth and financial results in these institutions separately and, within each institution, by geographic segregation.

Although FCB has grown through acquisition in certain of its markets, throughout its history the majority of its expansion has been accomplished on a de novo basis. However, because of FCB’s size, market share and maturity as well as the current modest expansion of its branch network, the costs associated with de novo branching are not material to FCB’s financial performance. Since it first opened in 1997, ISB has followed a similar business model for growth and expansion. Yet, due to the magnitude of the number of branch offices that have yet to attain sufficient size for profitability, the financial results and trends of ISB are significantly affected by its current and continuing growth. Each new market ISB enters creates additional operating costs that are typically not fully offset by operating revenues until the third year after initial opening. ISB’s rapid growth into new markets and within existing markets has continued to adversely impact its financial performance.

IronStone Bank. ISB’s assets totaled $2.36 billion at September 30, 2007 compared to $2.06 billion at September 30, 2006, an increase of $299.6 million or 14.6 percent.

ISB reported a net loss of $5.2 million during the first nine months of 2007, compared to net income of $654,000 reported during 2006. Decreased earnings resulted from higher operating costs from expansion of its branch network, a significant increase in its provision for credit losses and lower net interest income.

Net interest income totaled $47.6 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2007, a reduction of $2.4 million or 4.8 percent from the same period of 2006, the result of a 59 basis point reduction in ISB’s taxable-equivalent net yield on interest earning assets.

Noninterest expense increased $4.8 million or 8.8 percent during the first nine months of 2007 versus the same period of 2006. Occupancy expense was up $1.7 million or 17.8 percent due to continuing growth of the branch network. Employee benefit costs increased $717,000 or 17.8 percent due to higher health care costs and costs related to executive post-employment accruals.

The provision for credit losses increased $3.8 million during the first nine months of 2007 due to higher net charge-offs and provisions associated with working capital finance loans. Net charge-offs were $4.4 million during the first nine months of 2007, compared to $675,000 during the same period in 2006. On an annualized basis, the ratio of year-to-date net charge-offs to average loans and leases outstanding equaled 0.31 percent, compared to 0.05 percent in the prior year.

ISB’s noninterest income increased $1.9 million or 23.4 percent during the first nine months of 2007, primarily the result of strong growth among cardholder and merchant services income.

As its growth continues, ISB will incur incremental operating costs, particularly in the areas of personnel, occupancy and equipment. As a result of the anticipated continued expansion, a low net yield on interest-earning assets and a large provision for credit losses arising from forecasted loan and lease growth, we expect that losses will likely extend into the foreseeable future.


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First Citizens Bank. FCB’s total assets increased $161.9 million from $13.44 billion at September 30, 2006 to $13.60 billion at September 30, 2007, a 1.2 percent annual growth rate. FCB generated net income of $94.5 million during the first three quarters of 2007, compared to net income of $104.2 million during 2006. The $9.7 million decrease in net income was due to higher provision for credit losses and noninterest expense and lower levels of net interest income partially offset by growth in noninterest income.

Provision for credit losses increased $4.5 million or 40.5 percent during 2007 due primarily to higher charge-offs and provisions associated with working capital finance loans. Noninterest expense increased $24.2 million or 6.9 percent due to higher personnel and occupancy costs. Due to continuing pressures that have resulted in an inverted yield curve for much of 2007, net interest income declined $3.9 million on a year-to-date basis.

CURRENT ACCOUNTING AND REGULATORY ISSUES

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies uncertainty in income taxes recognized by establishing a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement treatment of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in a reduction in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, resulting in a $962,000 increase to the beginning balance of retained earnings.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Statement 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but clarifies and standardizes some divergent practices that have emerged since prior guidance was issued. Statement 157 will become effective for BancShares on January 1, 2008. There will be no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Summary of Statement No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (Statement 158). Statement 158 requires sponsors of defined benefit and other post-retirement plans to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of that plan as an asset or liability in the sponsor’s statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. The recognition of the funded status of the defined benefit plan and additional disclosures outlined in Statement 158 were reflected in BancShares’ December 31, 2006 consolidated financial statements as a component of comprehensive income. However, accounting standards intended that the initial adjustment to reflect the adoption of Statement 158 be recorded as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income outside of comprehensive income. The disclosure in our 2007 10-K will be modified to properly report the Statement 158 adoption entry apart from comprehensive income. Statement 158 also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position, although that requirement is not effective until 2008.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (Statement 159). Statement 159 provides an option to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. Unrealized gains and losses on specific financial assets and liabilities that are designated to be carried at fair value will be recognized in earnings thereafter. The fair value option may be applied arbitrarily, is irrevocable and may only be applied to entire instruments, not to portions of instruments. The provisions of Statement 159 are effective for BancShares beginning January 1, 2008. We continue to evaluate the provisions of Statement 159.

Management is not aware of any current recommendations by regulatory authorities that, if implemented, would have or would be reasonably likely to have a material effect on liquidity, capital ratios or results of operations.


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Form 10-Q and exhibits relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, expectations or beliefs about future events or results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents filed by us from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “potential” or “continue,” or similar terms or the negative of these terms, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of BancShares’ management about future events.

Factors that could influence the accuracy of those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the timing and rate of our expansion activity, the financial success or changing strategies of our customers, customer acceptance of our services, products and fee structure, the competitive nature of the financial services industry, our ability to compete effectively against other financial institutions in our banking markets, actions of government regulators, the level of market interest rates and our ability to manage our interest rate risk, changes in general economic conditions particularly changes that affect our loan and lease portfolio, the abilities of our borrowers to repay their loans and leases, the values of collateral and other developments or changes in our business that we do not expect.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We have no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the potential economic loss resulting from changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk can either result in diminished current fair values of financial instruments or reduced net interest income in future periods. As of September 30, 2007, BancShares’ market risk profile has not changed significantly from December 31, 2006. Changes in fair value that result from movement in market rates cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Therefore, the impact that future changes in market rates will have on the fair values of financial instruments is uncertain.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. BancShares’ management, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of BancShares’ disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Based upon their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, BancShares’ disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that it is able to record, process, summarize and report in a timely manner the information required to be disclosed in reports it files under the Exchange Act.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. During the third quarter of 2007, management became aware of deficiencies in certain internal control procedures within the Working Capital Finance lending function. These deficiencies relate primarily to credit policy and underwriting, general ledger reconciliation, monitoring and control of reserve accounts and repurchase of delinquent receivables. Management has concluded that the aggregation of those deficiencies constitutes a significant deficiency in the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting.

As a result of the identification of the deficiencies, during the third quarter, management instituted new processes and evaluation techniques to ensure that the assets and reserve accounts in the Working Capital Finance lending function are adequately evaluated for collectibility in a timely manner. Additional changes and enhancements in internal controls in the Working Capital Finance lending function are expected to be implemented during the fourth quarter of 2007 to further strengthen the design and operation of our system of internal control over financial reporting.

Except as described above, no change in BancShares’ internal control over financial reporting was identified during the above evaluation that occurred during the third quarter of 2007 and that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, BancShares’ internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Along with the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. In addition to the risks described in that report and investment risks that apply in the case of any financial institution, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed by other risks we have not yet identified or that we may believe are immaterial or unlikely.

 

Item 5. Other Information

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB), has entered into a written agreement with our executive officer Frank B. Holding. The new agreement supersedes and replaces a similar agreement that previously was in effect with Mr. Holding and reflects an increase in the amount of payments provided for in the previous agreement, as well as revisions to update other terms.

Under the new agreement between FCB and Mr. Holding, FCB will make monthly payments of $39,489 following his separation from service on January 1, 2011, or on a later date elected by him at least 12 months prior to his original separation from service date. In return for those payments, Mr. Holding has agreed to provide limited consulting services to, and not to “compete” (as defined in the agreements) against FCB during the payment period. If Mr. Holding dies while employed by FCB, or before all payments have been made following separation from service, remaining payments under his agreement will be made to his designated beneficiary or estate. If Mr. Holding’s employment is terminated for any reason other than separation from service at an agreed upon age or death, the agreement also will terminate and no payments will be made. FCB may terminate Mr. Holding’s agreement for any reason without obligation at any time prior to his separation from service at an agreed upon age or death.

The agreement was approved by FCB’s Board of Directors following the review and favorable recommendation of the joint Compensation Committee of our and FCB’s Board of Directors.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

10.1

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Lewis R. Holding

10.2

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Frank B. Holding

10.3

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and James B. Hyler

10.4

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Carol B. Yochem

10.5

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Frank B. Holding, Jr.

10.6

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Hope H. Connell

10.7

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s IronStone Bank and James M. Parker

10.8

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Kenneth A. Black

31.1

  Certification of Chief Executive Officer

31.2

  Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32

  Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer


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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.

 

Dated: November 5, 2007   FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
 

(Registrant)

  By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

    Kenneth A. Black
    Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer


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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description

10.1

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Lewis R. Holding (filed herewith)

10.2

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Frank B. Holding (filed herewith)

10.3

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and James B. Hyler (filed herewith)

10.4

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Carol B. Yochem (filed herewith)

10.5

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Frank B. Holding, Jr. (filed herewith)

10.6

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Hope H. Connell (filed herewith)

10.7

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s IronStone Bank and James M. Parker (filed herewith)

10.8

  Executive Consultation, Separation from Service and Death Benefit Agreement between Registrant’s subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Kenneth A. Black (filed herewith)

31.1

  Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith)

31.2

  Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith)

32

  Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith)