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significant environmental liabilities or costs or fail to comply with regulatory requirements
with respect to these properties, our business,
financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially
and adversely affected.
The costs and effects of litigation, regulatory actions, investigations
or similar matters, or adverse facts and developments
related thereto, could materially affect our business, operating results
and financial condition.
We may be involved from time to time in a variety of litigation, investigations or
similar matters arising out of our business. It is
inherently difficult to assess the outcome of these matters and we may
not prevail in proceedings or litigation. Insurance may not cover all
such claims or losses, our indemnification rights may not be honored and
we may suffer damage to our reputation, regardless of the merit or
eventual outcome of a claim. The ultimate judgments or settlements in any litigation or investigation
could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition,
premiums for insurance covering the financial and banking sectors
are
rising. We may not be able to obtain appropriate types or levels of insurance in the future, nor may
we be able to obtain adequate replacement
policies with acceptable terms or at historic rates, if at all.
We also participated in the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, a government
lending program implemented to aid individuals and
businesses in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December 31, 2022, approximately $500 million
have been forgiven by the
Small Business Administration, and we continued to hold PPP loans receivable of $3 million. We have credit risk on PPP loans if a
determination is made by the Small Business Administration that there is a deficiency in the manner in which a PPP loan was originated,
funded, or serviced by us, such as an issue with the eligibility of a borrower to receive
a PPP loan. Since the inception of the PPP, many
banks have been subject to litigation related to agent fees and application processing.
We and other banks may also be subject to the risk of
litigation in connection with other aspects of the PPP, including but not
limited to borrowers seeking forgiveness of their loans. As a result of
our ongoing and future participation in the PPP and similar government stimulus and relief programs, we may
experience losses arising from
fraud, litigation or regulatory action.
Financial counterparties expose the Company to risks.
We maintain correspondent bank relationships, manage certain loan
participations, engage in securities transactions and engage in
other activities with financial counterparties that are customary to our
industry. Many of these transactions expose us to counterparty credit,
liquidity and/or reputational risk in the event of default by the counterparty,
negative publicity and complaints about the counterparty or the
financial services industry in general. Although we seek to manage these risks through internal controls and procedures,
we may experience
loss or interruption of business, damage to our reputation, or incur additional
costs or liabilities as a result of unforeseen events with these
counterparties. Any financial cost, liability or reputational damage could have a material adverse effect on our
business, which in turn, could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Severe weather, natural disasters, pandemics and other external events could
significantly impact our business.
Severe weather, including tornadoes, droughts and hailstorms, as well as wildfires
and other natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war
or terrorism and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on
our ability to conduct business. Such events could affect the
stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding
loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause
significant property damage, result in loss of revenue or cause us to incur additional
expenses. Operations in our markets could be disrupted
by both the evacuation of large portions of the population as well as damage or
lack of access to our banking and operation facilities. Military
and political conflicts, including the current military conflict between Russia and
Ukraine, may increase volatility in commodity and energy
prices, create supply chain issues and cause instability in financial markets, which
may adversely affect us and our clients. Other severe
weather or natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war or terrorism or other adverse
external events may occur in the future. Although
management has established business continuity plans and procedures, the
occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The further spread of COVID-19 and its variants may adversely impact our
business, financial condition and results of
operations in the short-term and for the foreseeable future.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to economic
activity and financial markets and adversely impacted our
business, financial condition and results of operations. Given the ongoing
and dynamic nature of COVID-19 and its variants, the ultimate
effects on the broader economy and the markets in which we serve continue to be uncertain
and difficult to predict. Future impacts to our
business and clients could be widespread and material, such as increased unemployment,
continued supply-chain interruptions, declines in
demand for loans and other banking services and products, reduction
in business activity and financial transactions, increased commercial
property vacancy rates, declines in the value of loan collateral, including energy
and real-estate collateral, declines in the credit quality of our
loan portfolio, volatile performance of our investment securities portfolio,
and overall economic and financial market instability. In addition,
actions taken by governmental and regulatory authorities in response to the
pandemic have impacted, and may continue to impact, the
banking and financial services industries. Additional regulation may be enacted in the future that could further
impact our business.