Form 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-K

 


x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

or

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 0-51331

 


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 


 

Maryland   75-3199276

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

15W060 North Frontage Road, Burr Ridge, Illinois   60527
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 894-6900

 


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class:   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered:
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark whether the issuer is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.    Yes  ¨    No  x.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

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).

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    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.

At March 13, 2007, there were 23,442,441 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s outstanding voting common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2006, determined using a per share closing price on that date of $17.30, as quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market, was $385,423,205.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None

 



PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Forward Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains, and other periodic reports and press releases of BankFinancial Corporation may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” or similar expressions. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ from those predicted. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on operations and could affect management’s outlook or our future prospects include, but are not limited to: higher than expected overhead, infrastructure and compliance costs, changes in market interest rates, a flattening or inversion of the yield curve, less than anticipated balance sheet growth, lack of demand for loan products, unanticipated changes in secondary mortgage market conditions, deposit flows, pricing, underwriting and other forms of competition, adverse federal or state legislative or regulatory developments, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve Board, deteriorating economic conditions that could result in increased delinquencies in our loan portfolio, the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, demand for financial services and multi-family, commercial and residential real estate loans in our market area, the possible short-term dilutive effect of potential acquisitions or de novo branches, if any, changes in accounting principles, policies and guidelines, and future adverse developments concerning Freddie Mac or the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances and events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement was made.

BankFinancial Corporation

BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, became the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BankFinancial, F.S.B. (the “Bank”) on June 23, 2005, when we consummated a plan of conversion and reorganization that the Bank and its predecessor holding companies, BankFinancial MHC, Inc. (“BankFinancial MHC”) and BankFinancial Corporation, a federal corporation, adopted on August 25, 2004. BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, was organized in 2004 to facilitate the mutual-to-stock conversion and to become the holding company for the Bank upon its completion.

As part of the mutual-to-stock conversion, BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, sold 24,466,250 shares of common stock in a subscription offering for $10.00 per share. The separate corporate existences of BankFinancial MHC and BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, ceased upon the completion of the mutual-to-stock conversion. For a further discussion of the mutual-to-stock conversion, see our Prospectus as filed on April 29, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities Act of 1933 (File Number 333-119217).

BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, did not engage in any business prior to the completion of the mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005. Consequently, this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflects the financial condition and operating results of BankFinancial MHC and BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, and their subsidiaries, including the Bank, until June 23, 2005, and of BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, thereafter. The words “Company,” “we” and “our” thus are intended to refer to BankFinancial MHC, BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, and their subsidiaries with respect to matters and time periods occurring on or before June 23, 2005, and to BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries, with respect to matters and time periods occurring thereafter.

 

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We manage our operations as one unit, and thus do not have separate operating segments. Our chief operating decision-makers use consolidated results to make operating and strategic decisions.

BankFinancial, F.S.B.

The Bank is a full-service, community-oriented savings bank principally engaged in the business of commercial, family and personal banking, and offers our customers a broad range of loan, deposit, and other financial products and services through 18 full-service banking offices located in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will Counties, Illinois, and through our Internet Branch, www.bankfinancial.com.

The Bank’s primary business is making loans and accepting deposits. The Bank also offers our customers a variety of financial products and services that are related or ancillary to loans and deposits, including cash management, merchant processing, funds transfers, bill payment and other online banking transactions, automated teller machines, safe deposit boxes, wealth management, and general insurance agency and title insurance services.

The Bank’s primary lending area consists of the counties where our branch offices are located, and contiguous counties in the States of Illinois and Indiana. We derive substantially all of our revenues from these geographic areas. The Bank’s primary market for deposits is currently concentrated around the areas where our full-service banking offices are located.

The Bank was organized in 1924, and was operated as a traditional savings bank until 2000, when we implemented a strategy to transform the Bank into a multi-faceted financial institution with a diversified balance sheet, enhanced capabilities in commercial banking products and services, an expanded geographic presence in the Chicago metropolitan area, and managerial and technological resources and an infrastructure capable of supporting future growth. In furtherance of this strategy, we have actively sought to change the composition of our loans and deposits, expand our multi-family and commercial real estate lending activities, and implement additional commercial lending and leasing capabilities and product lines. We also acquired Success Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary, Success National Bank in 2001, and University National Bank in Chicago’s Hyde Park community on April 5, 2006. See Acquisition.

Lending Activities

Our loan portfolio consists primarily of investment and business loans (multi-family, nonresidential real estate, commercial, construction and land loans, and commercial leases), which represent 69.6% of our loan portfolio. At December 31, 2006, $297.1 million, or 22.2%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of multi-family mortgage loans; $320.7 million, or 24.0%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of nonresidential real estate loans; $89.3 million, or 6.7%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of commercial loans; $139.2 million, or 10.4%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of commercial leases; $85.2 million, or 6.4%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of construction and land loans; and $397.5 million, or 29.7%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, including home equity loans and lines of credit and other second mortgage loans.

Deposit Activities

Our deposit accounts consist principally of savings accounts, NOW accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs and other qualified plan accounts. We provide commercial checking accounts and related services, such as merchant processing and cash management. We also provide low-cost checking account services for low and moderate income customers. We rely on our favorable locations, customer service, competitive pricing, our Internet Branch and related deposit services such as cash management to attract and retain deposit accounts.

At December 31, 2006, our deposits totaled $1.130 billion. Interest-bearing deposits totaled $995.5 million and noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $134.1 million, which included $8.2 million in internal checking accounts such as bank cashier checks and money orders, and $11.2 million in title insurance escrow funds. Savings, money market and NOW deposits totaled $650.0 million, and certificates of deposit totaled $345.5 million, of which $281.1 million had maturities of one year or less.

 

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Related Products and Services

The Bank’s Wealth Management Group provides investment, financial planning and other wealth management services to our customers through arrangements with a third party broker-dealer. The Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Financial Assurance Services, Inc., sells life insurance, fixed annuities, property and casualty insurance and other insurance products on an agency basis, and also offers title insurance and title agency services through its Financial Title Services Division. During the year ended December 31, 2006, Financial Assurance Services reported net income of $381,000, and had 16 employees. The Bank’s other wholly owned subsidiary, BF Asset Recovery Corporation, is in the business of holding title to certain Bank-owned real estate, and had no net income or loss for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Acquisition

On April 5, 2006, the Company completed its acquisition of University National Bank, a privately held community bank with approximately $113 million in assets and $104 million in deposits, and two banking offices in the Hyde Park community in Chicago, Illinois, for approximately $24 million in cash pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement with University Bancorporation dated November 29, 2005. Immediately upon the completion of the stock purchase, University National Bank was merged into the Bank. The acquisition, which was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, resulted in goodwill of $11.7 million and an other intangible of $3.3 million. The transaction was treated, for federal and state income tax purposes, as a purchase of University National Bank’s assets pursuant to applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, making the goodwill and core deposit intangible arising from the transaction tax-deductible over a period of 15 years. University National Bank’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations only since the effective date of the acquisition.

Website and Stockholder Information

The website for the Company and the Bank is located at www.bankfinancial.com. Information on this website does not constitute part of this Form 10-K.

The Company makes available, free of charge, its Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, its current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after such forms are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Copies of these documents are available to stockholders at BankFinancial’s Internet site, www.bankfinancial.com under Stockholder Information and at the SEC’s Internet site, www.sec.gov.

Competition

We face significant competition in both originating loans and attracting deposits. The Chicago metropolitan area and the counties in which we operate have a high concentration of financial institutions, many of which are significantly larger institutions and have greater financial resources than we have, and many of which are our competitors to varying degrees. Our competition for loans comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banking companies, credit unions, leasing companies, insurance companies, real estate conduits and other companies that provide financial services to businesses and individuals. Our most direct competition for deposits has historically come from commercial banks, savings banks and credit unions. We face additional competition for deposits from non-depository competitors such as the mutual fund industry, securities and brokerage firms and insurance companies.

We seek to meet this competition by emphasizing personalized banking and local decision-making. Specifically, we promote and maintain relationships and build customer loyalty within local communities by emphasizing decentralized regional management and by focusing our marketing and community involvement on the specific needs of individual neighborhoods. In addition, we, from time to time, seek to meet competition for loans by offering our current and prospective borrowers preferred rates and terms on deposit products for new lending business. We do not rely on any individual, group, or entity for a material portion of our deposits.

 

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Employees

At December 31, 2006, we had 420 full-time employees and 32 part-time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit and we consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

Supervision And Regulation

General

As a federally chartered savings bank, the Bank is regulated and supervised by the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which a financial institution may engage, and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s deposit insurance funds and depositors. Under this system of federal regulation, financial institutions are periodically examined to ensure that they satisfy applicable standards with respect to their capital adequacy, assets, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market interest rates. After completing an examination, the primary federal regulator of the institution critiques the financial institution’s operations in a report of examination and assigns its rating (known as an institution’s CAMELS rating). Under federal law, an institution may not disclose its CAMELS rating to the public.

The Bank is a member of, and owns stock in, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (“FHLBC” or “FHLB”), which is one of the 12 regional banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank also is regulated to a lesser extent by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with regard to reserves it must maintain against deposits and other matters. The OTS examines the Bank and prepares reports for the consideration of its Board of Directors on any identified operating deficiencies. The Bank’s relationship with its depositors and borrowers also is regulated to a great extent by both federal and state laws, especially in matters concerning the ownership of deposit accounts and the form and content of the Bank’s loan documents.

There can be no assurance that laws, rules and regulations will not change in the future, which could make compliance more difficult or expensive or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. Any change in these laws or regulations, or in regulatory policy, whether by the FDIC, the OTS, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or Congress, could have a material adverse impact on the Company, the Bank and their respective operations.

Federal Banking Regulation

Business Activities. A federal savings bank derives its lending and investment powers from the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, and the regulations of the OTS. Under these laws and regulations, the Bank may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential and nonresidential real estate, commercial business and consumer loans, certain types of securities and certain other loans and assets. The Bank also may establish subsidiaries that may engage in activities not otherwise permissible for the Bank directly, including real estate investment and insurance agency activities.

Capital Requirements. The regulations of the OTS require savings banks to meet three minimum capital standards: a ratio of tangible capital to adjusted total assets of 1.5%, a ratio of Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted total assets of 4.0% (3% for institutions receiving the highest rating on the CAMELS rating system), and a ratio of total capital to total risk-adjusted assets of 8.0%. The prompt corrective action standards discussed below, in effect, establish a minimum 2% tangible capital standard.

The risk-based capital standard for savings banks requires the maintenance of Tier 1, or core capital, and total capital (which is defined as core capital and supplementary capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 4% and 8%, respectively. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets, are multiplied by a risk-weight factor of 0% to 100%, assigned by the OTS capital regulation based on the risks inherent in the type of asset. Core capital is defined as common stockholders’ equity (including retained earnings), certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, less intangibles other than certain mortgage servicing rights and credit card relationships.

 

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The components of supplementary capital currently include cumulative perpetual preferred stock, long-term preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock, allowance for loan and lease losses up to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and up to 45% of net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values. Overall, the amount of supplementary capital included as part of total capital cannot exceed 100% of core capital.

At December 31, 2006, the Bank’s capital exceeded all applicable requirements.

Loans to One Borrower. A federal savings bank generally may not make a loan or extend credit to a single or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of unimpaired capital and surplus. An additional amount may be loaned, equal to 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus, if the loan is secured by readily marketable collateral, which generally does not include real estate. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank was in compliance with the loans-to-one-borrower limitations.

Qualified Thrift Lender Test. As a federal savings bank, the Bank is subject to a qualified thrift lender, or “QTL,” test. Under the QTL test, the Bank must maintain at least 65% of its “portfolio assets” in “qualified thrift investments” in at least nine months of the most recent 12-month period. “Portfolio assets” generally means total assets of a savings institution, less the sum of specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, and the value of property used in the conduct of the savings bank’s business.

“Qualified thrift investments” include various types of loans made for residential and housing purposes, investments related to those purposes, including certain mortgage-backed and related securities, and loans for personal, family, household and certain other purposes up to a limit of 20% of portfolio assets. “Qualified thrift investments” also include 100% of an institution’s credit card loans, education loans and small business loans. The Bank also may satisfy the QTL test by qualifying as a “domestic building and loan association” as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. At December 31, 2006, the Bank maintained approximately 71.19% of its portfolio assets in qualified thrift investments, and as of that date, satisfied the QTL test. A savings bank that fails the QTL test must either convert to a bank charter or operate under specified restrictions, including limits on growth, branching, new investment, FHLB advances and dividends. The OTS order approving our mutual-to-stock conversion requires us to maintain our federal savings bank charter until at least June 23, 2008.

Capital Distributions. The regulations of the OTS govern capital distributions by a federal savings bank, which include cash dividends, stock repurchases and other transactions charged to the institution’s capital account. A savings bank must file an application for approval of a capital distribution if:

 

   

the total capital distributions for the applicable calendar year exceed the sum of the savings bank’s net income for that year to date plus the savings bank’s retained net income for the preceding two years;

 

   

the savings bank would not be at least adequately capitalized following the distribution;

 

   

the distribution would violate any applicable statute, regulation, agreement or OTS-imposed condition; or

 

   

the savings bank is not eligible for expedited treatment of its filings.

Even if an application is not otherwise required, every savings bank that is a subsidiary of a holding company must still file a notice with the OTS at least 30 days before the board of directors declares a dividend or approves a capital distribution.

The OTS may disapprove a notice or application if:

 

   

the savings bank would be undercapitalized following the distribution;

 

   

the proposed capital distribution raises safety and soundness concerns; or

 

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the capital distribution would violate a prohibition contained in any statute, regulation or agreement.

Liquidity. A federal savings bank is required to maintain a sufficient amount of liquid assets to ensure its safe and sound operation.

Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws. All savings banks have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act and related regulations of the OTS to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a federal savings bank, the OTS is required to assess the savings bank’s record of compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices on the basis of characteristics specified in those statutes. A savings bank’s failure to comply with the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act could, at a minimum, result in regulatory restrictions on its activities. The failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act could result in enforcement actions by the OTS, as well as other federal regulatory agencies and the Department of Justice. The Bank received an “Outstanding” Community Reinvestment Act rating in its most recent OTS examination in 2005.

Privacy Standards. Financial institutions are subject to regulations implementing the privacy protection provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. These regulations require the Bank to disclose its privacy policy, including identifying with whom it shares “nonpublic personal information,” to customers at the time of establishing the customer relationship and annually thereafter. In addition, the Bank is required to provide its customers with the ability to “opt-out” of having the Bank share their nonpublic personal information with unaffiliated third parties before it can disclose such information, subject to certain exceptions. The implementation of these regulations did not have a material adverse effect on the Bank. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also allows each state to enact legislation that is more protective of consumers’ personal information.

The OTS and other federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines establishing standards for safeguarding customer information to implement certain provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The guidelines describe the agencies’ expectations for the creation, implementation and maintenance of an information security program, which would include administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the size and complexity of a financial institution and the nature and scope of its activities. The standards set forth in the guidelines are intended to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information, to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such records, and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such records or other information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. The Bank has implemented these guidelines, and such implementation did not have a material adverse effect on our operations.

Transactions with Related Parties. A federal savings bank’s authority to engage in transactions with its “affiliates” is limited by OTS regulations and by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and its implementing Regulation W. The term “affiliates” for these purposes generally means any company that controls or is under common control with an insured depository institution, although subsidiaries of federal savings banks are generally not considered affiliates for the purposes of Sections 23A 8

and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Company is an affiliates of the Bank. In general, transactions with affiliates must be on terms that are as favorable to the savings bank as comparable transactions with non-affiliates. In addition, certain types of these transactions are restricted to an aggregate percentage of the savings bank’s capital. Collateral in specified amounts must usually be provided by affiliates in order to receive loans from the savings bank. OTS regulations also prohibit a savings bank from lending to any of its affiliates that are engaged in activities that are not permissible for bank holding companies, and from purchasing the securities of any affiliate, other than a subsidiary.

The Bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons, is currently governed by the requirements of Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board. Among other things, these provisions require that extensions of credit to insiders be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and that do not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features, and not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits

 

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are based, in part, on the amount of the Bank’s capital. In addition, extensions of credit in excess of certain limits must be approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors. The Bank does not extend credit to its directors and executive officers.

Enforcement. The OTS has primary enforcement responsibility over federal savings institutions, and has the authority to bring enforcement action against the Bank and all “institution-affiliated parties,” including stockholders, attorneys, appraisers and accountants who knowingly or recklessly participate in wrongful action likely to have an adverse effect on an insured institution. Formal enforcement action may range from the issuance of a capital directive or cease and desist order to removal of officers and/or directors of the institution, receivership, conservatorship or the termination of deposit insurance. Civil monetary penalties cover a wide range of violations and actions, and range up to $25,000 per day, unless a finding of reckless disregard is made, in which case penalties may be as high as $1 million per day. The FDIC also has the authority to recommend to the Director of the OTS that enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular savings institution. If action is not taken by the Director, the FDIC has authority to take action under specified circumstances.

Standards for Safety and Soundness. Federal law requires each federal banking agency to prescribe certain standards for all insured depository institutions. These standards relate to, among other things, internal controls, information systems and audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, compensation and other operational and managerial standards as the agency deems appropriate. The federal banking agencies adopted Interagency Guidelines Prescribing Standards for Safety and Soundness to implement the safety and soundness standards required under federal law. The guidelines set forth the safety and soundness standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. The guidelines address internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, credit underwriting, loan documentation, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits. If the appropriate federal banking agency determines that an institution fails to meet any standard prescribed by the guidelines, the agency may require the institution to submit to the agency an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard.

Prompt Corrective Action Regulations. Under the prompt corrective action regulations, the OTS is required and authorized to take supervisory actions against undercapitalized savings banks. For this purpose, a savings bank is placed in one of the following five categories based on the savings bank’s capital:

 

   

well-capitalized (at least 5% leverage capital, 6% tier 1 risk-based capital and 10% total risk-based capital);

 

   

adequately capitalized (at least 4% leverage capital, 4% tier 1 risk-based capital and 8% total risk-based capital);

 

   

undercapitalized (less than 3% leverage capital, 4% tier 1 risk-based capital or 8% total risk-based capital);

 

   

significantly undercapitalized (less than 3% leverage capital, 3% tier 1 risk-based capital or 6% total risk-based capital); and

 

   

critically undercapitalized (less than 2% tangible capital).

Generally, the banking regulator is required to appoint a receiver or conservator for a savings bank that is “critically undercapitalized.” The regulation also provides that a capital restoration plan must be filed with the OTS within 45 days of the date a bank receives notice that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized.” In addition, numerous mandatory supervisory actions become immediately applicable to the savings bank, including, but not limited to, restrictions on growth, investment activities, capital distributions and affiliate transactions. The OTS may also take any one of a number of discretionary supervisory actions against undercapitalized savings banks, including the issuance of a capital directive and the replacement of senior executive officers and directors.

 

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At December 31, 2006, the Bank met the criteria for being considered “well-capitalized.”

Insurance of Deposit Accounts. Deposit accounts in the Bank are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the FDIC (effective March 31, 2006, the FDIC merged the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Insurance Fund into a single insurance fund, the DIF), generally up to a maximum of $100,000 per separately insured depositor and up to a maximum of $250,000 for self-directed retirement accounts. The Bank’s deposits, therefore, are subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based system for determining deposit insurance assessments. The FDIC is authorized to raise the assessment rates as necessary to maintain the required ratio of reserves to insured deposits of 1.25%. In addition, all FDIC-insured institutions must pay assessments to the FDIC at an annual rate of approximately 0.0122% of insured deposits to fund interest payments on bonds maturing in 2017 that were issued by a federal agency to recapitalize the predecessor to the Savings Association Insurance Fund.

On February 15, 2006, federal legislation to reform federal deposit insurance was signed into law. This law requires, among other things, the merger of the Savings Association Insurance Fund and the Bank Insurance Fund into a unified insurance deposit fund, an increase in the amount of federal deposit insurance coverage per separately insured deposits (with a cost of living adjustment to become effective in five years), and the reserve ratio to be modified to provide for a range between 1.15% and 1.50% of estimated insured deposits.

On November 2, 2006, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation adopted final regulations that assess insurance premiums based on risk. As a result, the new regulation will enable the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to more closely tie each financial institution’s deposit insurance premiums to the risk it poses to the deposit insurance fund. Under the new risk-based assessment system, which becomes effective in the beginning of 2007, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will evaluate the risk of each financial institution based on its supervisory rating, its financial ratios, and its long-term debt issuer rating. The new rates for nearly all of the financial institution industry will vary between five and seven cents for every $100 of domestic deposits. We received a notification from the FDIC on October 16, 2006, that our one-time assessment credit was $1.8 million. At the same time, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation also adopted final regulations designating the reserve ratio for the deposit insurance fund during 2007 at 1.25% of estimated insured deposits.

Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements. Federal savings banks are prohibited, subject to some exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service, on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution.

Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which consists of 12 regional Federal Home Loan Banks. The Federal Home Loan Bank System provides a central credit facility primarily for member institutions. As a member of the FHLBC, the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLBC in an amount at least equal to 1% of the aggregate principal amount of its unpaid residential mortgage loans and similar obligations at the beginning of each year, or 1/20 of its borrowings from the FHLBC, whichever is greater. As of December 31, 2006, the Bank was in compliance with this requirement.

Federal Reserve System

Federal Reserve Board regulations require savings banks to maintain noninterest-earning reserves against their transaction accounts, such as negotiable order of withdrawal and regular checking accounts. At December 31, 2006, the Bank was in compliance with these reserve requirements. The balances maintained to meet the reserve requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve Board may be used to satisfy liquidity requirements imposed by the OTS.

 

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The USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act

The USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act require financial institutions to develop programs to detect and report money-laundering and terrorist activities, as well as suspicious activities. The USA PATRIOT Act also gives the federal government new powers to address terrorist threats through enhanced domestic security measures, expanded surveillance powers, increased information sharing and broadened anti-money laundering requirements. The federal banking agencies are required to take into consideration the effectiveness of controls designed to combat money-laundering activities in determining whether to approve a merger or other acquisition application of a member institution. Accordingly, if we engage in a merger or other acquisition, our controls designed to combat money laundering would be considered as part of the application process. In addition, non-compliance with these laws and regulations could result in fines, penalties and other enforcement measures. We have developed policies and continue to augment procedures and systems designed to comply with these laws and regulations.

Holding Company Regulation

The Company is a unitary savings and loan holding company, subject to regulation and supervision by the OTS. The OTS has enforcement authority over the Company and its non-savings institution subsidiaries. Among other things, this authority permits the OTS to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a risk to the Bank.

Under prior law, a unitary savings and loan holding company generally had no regulatory restrictions on the types of business activities in which it could engage, provided that its subsidiary savings bank was a qualified thrift lender. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, however, restricts the activities of unitary savings and loan holding companies not existing on, or applied for before, May 4, 1999 to those permissible for financial holding companies or for multiple savings and loan holding companies. The Company is not a grandfathered unitary savings and loan holding company, and therefore is limited to the activities permissible for financial holding companies or for multiple savings and loan holding companies. A financial holding company may engage in activities that are financial in nature, including underwriting equity securities and insurance, incidental to financial activities or complementary to a financial activity. A multiple savings and loan holding company is generally limited to activities permissible for bank holding companies under Section 4(c)(8) of the Bank Holding Company Act, subject to the prior approval of the OTS, and certain additional activities authorized by OTS regulations.

Federal law prohibits a savings and loan holding company, directly or indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries, from acquiring control of another savings institution or holding company thereof, without prior written approval of the OTS. It also prohibits the acquisition or retention of, with specified exceptions, more than 5% of the equity securities of a company engaged in activities that are not closely related to banking or financial in nature or acquiring or retaining control of an institution that is not federally insured. In evaluating applications by holding companies to acquire savings institutions, the OTS must consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the savings institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the insurance fund, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive factors.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted in response to public concerns regarding corporate accountability in connection with certain accounting scandals. The stated goals of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are to increase corporate responsibility, to provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies, and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures pursuant to the securities laws. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act generally applies to all companies that file or are required to file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act includes specific additional disclosure requirements, requires the Securities and Exchange Commission and national securities exchanges to adopt extensive additional disclosure, corporate governance and other related rules, and mandates further studies of certain issues by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act represents significant federal involvement in matters traditionally left to state regulatory systems, such as the regulation of the accounting profession, and to state corporate law, such as the relationship between a board of directors and management and between a board of directors and its committees.

 

11


Federal Securities Laws

The Company’s common stock is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. the Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of shares of common stock issued in the offering does not cover the resale of those shares. Shares of common stock purchased by persons who are not affiliates of the Company may be resold without registration. Shares purchased by an affiliate of the Company will be subject to the resale restrictions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. If the Company meets the current public information reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, each affiliate of the Company that complies with the other conditions of Rule 144, including those that require the affiliate’s sale to be aggregated with those of other persons, would be able to sell in the public market, without registration, a number of shares not to exceed, in any three-month period, the greater of 1% of the outstanding shares of the Company or the average weekly volume of trading in the shares during the preceding four calendar weeks. In the future, the Company may permit affiliates to have their shares registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933.

Taxation

Federal Taxation. The Company and the Bank are subject to federal income taxation in the same general manner as other corporations, with some exceptions discussed below. The following discussion of federal taxation is intended only to summarize material federal income tax matters and is not a comprehensive description of the tax rules applicable to the Company and the Bank.

Method of Accounting. For federal income tax purposes, the Company currently reports its income and expenses on the accrual method of accounting and uses a tax year ending December 31 for filing its consolidated federal income tax returns. The Small Business Protection Act of 1996 eliminated the use of the reserve method of accounting for bad debt reserves by savings institutions, effective for taxable years beginning after 1995.

Bad Debt Reserves. Prior to the Small Business Protection Act of 1996, the Bank was permitted to establish a reserve for bad debts for tax purposes and to make annual additions to the reserve. These additions could, within specified formula limits, be deducted in arriving at the Bank’s taxable income. As a result of the Small Business Protection Act of 1996, the Bank must use the specific charge off method in computing its bad debt deduction for tax purposes.

Taxable Distributions and Recapture. Prior to the Small Business Protection Act of 1996, bad debt reserves created prior to 1988 were subject to recapture into taxable income if the Bank failed to meet certain thrift asset and definition tests. The Small Business Protection Act of 1996 eliminated these thrift-related recapture rules. However, under current law, pre-1988 reserves remain subject to tax recapture should the Bank make certain distributions from its tax bad debt reserve or cease to maintain a financial institution charter. At December 31, 2006, the Bank’s total federal pre-1988 reserve was approximately $14.9 million. This reserve reflects the cumulative effects of federal tax deductions by the Bank for which no federal income tax provision has been made.

Alternative Minimum Tax. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, imposes an alternative minimum tax at a rate of 20% on a base of regular taxable income plus certain tax preferences, referred to as “alternative minimum taxable income.” The alternative minimum tax is payable to the extent alternative minimum taxable income is in excess of an exemption amount. Net operating losses can, in general, offset no more than 90% of alternative minimum taxable income. Certain payments of alternative minimum tax may be used as credits against regular tax liabilities in future years. At December 31, 2006, the Company had an alternative minimum tax credit carryforward of approximately $900,000.

Net Loss Carryovers. A financial institution may carry back net operating losses to the preceding two taxable years (five years for losses incurred in 2001 and 2002) and forward to the succeeding 20 taxable years. At December 31, 2006, the Company had no net operating loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes. At December 31, 2006, the Company included in deferred tax assets a $1.1 million asset for capital loss carryforwards, which expires in 2011. Based upon projections of future taxable income, including capital gains, management believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be fully realized and thus a valuation allowance is not needed.

 

12


Corporate Dividends. We may exclude from our income 100% of dividends received from the Bank as a member of the same affiliated group of corporations.

State and Local Taxation. We pay income tax to the State of Illinois. As a Maryland business corporation, we are required to file annual returns and pay annual fees to the State of Maryland, but these fees are not material in amount. At December 31, 2006, the Company had no net operating loss carryforward for state income tax purposes.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The risks set forth below may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition to the risks set forth below and the other risks described in Item 1, Business, Forward-Looking Statements, and Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, there may also be additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results. As a result, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

Changes in Market Interest Rates Could Adversely Affect Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Our financial condition and results of operations are significantly affected by changes in market interest rates because our assets, primarily loans, and our liabilities, primarily deposits, are monetary in nature. Our results of operations depend substantially on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income that we earn on our interest-earning assets and the interest expense that we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities. We are unable to predict changes in market interest rates that are affected by many factors beyond our control, including inflation, recession, unemployment, money supply, domestic and international events and changes in the United States and other financial markets. Our net interest income is affected not only by the level and direction of interest rates, but also by the shape of the yield curve and relationships between interest sensitive instruments and key driver rates, including credit risk spreads, and by balance sheet growth, customer loan and deposit preferences and the timing of changes in these variables which themselves are impacted by changes in market interest rates. As a result, changes in market interest rates can significantly impact our net interest income as well as the fair market valuation of our assets and liabilities.

Our Return on Stockholders’ Equity Will Continue to Be Low In the Near Future as a Result of the 2005 Subscription Offering

Net income divided by average stockholders’ equity, known as return on equity, is a ratio that many investors use to compare the performance of a financial institution to its peers. Our capital remains relatively high by industry standards pending a more optimal deployment of the additional capital raised in our mutual-to-stock conversion. Until we can increase our net interest income and noninterest income, we expect our return on equity to continue to be below the industry average, which may negatively affect the value of our shares of common stock.

Our Nonresidential Real Estate Loans, Multi-family Mortgage Loans, Construction and Land Loans, Commercial Loans and Commercial Leases Expose Us to Increased Credit Risks

At December 31, 2006, our portfolio of nonresidential real estate loans totaled $320.7 million, or 24.0% of total loans; our portfolio of multi-family mortgage loans totaled $297.1 million, or 22.2% of total loans; our portfolio of construction and land loans totaled $85.2 million, or 6.4% of total loans; our portfolio of commercial loans totaled $89.3 million, or 6.7% of total loans; and our portfolio of commercial leases totaled $139.2 million, or 10.4% of total loans. We plan to continue to originate these types of loans and retain them in our portfolio, although we may participate portions of some of these loans to other financial institutions. These types of loans generally have greater

 

13


credit risk than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans because repayment of the loans often depends on the successful business operations of the borrower. These loans typically have larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers compared to one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. Many of our borrowers also have more than one nonresidential real estate, multi-family mortgage, construction or commercial loan or lease outstanding with us. Consequently, an adverse development involving one or more loans or credit relationships can expose us to significantly greater risk of loss compared to an adverse development involving a one- to four-family residential mortgage loan.

Our Concentration of Loans within Certain Segments of the Healthcare Industry Exposes Us to Increased Credit Risk

At December 31, 2006, we had $53.0 million of loans to healthcare providers, including loans to nursing homes and hospice care companies and leases to hospitals for equipment. These loans represented 4.0% of our total loan portfolio as of that date. Of these loans, $20.9 million, or 39.4%, were collateralized by real estate. The remainder consisted of working capital lines of credit secured by government accounts receivable, of which we are a joint payee, or by leased equipment. Loans to healthcare providers have unique credit risks. A healthcare provider’s income stream is subject to many factors beyond the control of the healthcare provider, including the risk that the provider will not be reimbursed for all services provided. The State of Illinois has experienced budget shortfalls in recent years, causing delays in state reimbursement for healthcare costs. Government reimbursement rates are also subject to change, including retroactive adjustments. For example, a significant overpayment to a healthcare provider can result in the provider owing significant governmental repayments to the federal or state government. A healthcare provider’s profitability also depends on its ability to maintain certain levels of occupancy. Unexpected declines in occupancy rates can restrict a provider’s cash flow. Any of these factors can impair the ability of our healthcare provider borrowers to make loan repayments, which could result in significant loss to us.

At December 31, 2006, we had not taken any charge-offs within this segment of our loan portfolio, but we have established a specific loan loss reserve allowance in the amount of $253,000 for loans to one borrower with an aggregate principal balance of $6.3 million. This loan loss reserve was reduced during 2006 primarily due to our receipt of current appraisals reflecting increases in the value of certain non-residential real estate securing loans. The loans to this borrower are also partially secured by additional collateral, including home equity and other personal assets. In addition, based on weaknesses in the financial performance of, and untimely or incomplete financial statements for, certain nursing homes operated by another borrower, we classified as substandard loans to this other borrower, which had an aggregate principal balance of $5.5 million, even though we did not establish a specific loan loss allowance for these loans. These loans were current on their loan payments to us as of December 31, 2006.

If Our Allowance for Loan Losses is Not Sufficient to Cover Actual Loan Losses, Our Earnings Could Decrease

In the event that our loan customers do not repay their loans according to the terms of the loans, and the collateral securing the repayment of these loans is insufficient to cover any remaining loan balance, we could experience significant loan losses or increase our provision for loan losses or both, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectibility of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets, if any, serving as collateral for the repayment of our loans. At December 31, 2006, our allowance for loan losses was $10.6 million, representing 0.79% of total loans and 115.1% of nonperforming loans as of that date. In determining the amount of our allowance for loan losses, we rely on our loan quality reviews, our experience and our evaluation of economic conditions, among other factors. We also make assumptions concerning our legal positions and the priority of our interests in contested legal or bankruptcy proceedings, and at times we may lack sufficient information to establish specific reserves for loans involved in such proceedings. For example, we have not yet established specific reserves for $16.2 million in highly-seasoned residential mortgage loans and $4.6 million in commercial loans that we purchased from a loan servicing company that commenced bankruptcy proceedings in December of 2006 pending the receipt of additional information and future developments in the bankruptcy proceeding. If our assumptions concerning any of these matters are incorrect, our allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover probable incurred losses in our loan portfolio, which may require additions to our allowance. Any material additions to our allowance for loan losses would materially decrease our net income.

Our Ability to Successfully Conduct Acquisitions Will Affect Our Ability to Grow Our Franchise and Compete Effectively in Our Marketplace

On April 5, 2006, we completed the acquisition of University National Bank. We will also consider the possible acquisition of other banks, thrifts and other financial services companies to supplement internal growth. Our efforts to acquire other financial institutions and financial service companies may not be successful. Numerous potential

 

14


acquirors exist for most acquisition candidates, creating intense competition, which particularly affects the purchase price for which the institution can be acquired. In many cases, our competitors have significantly greater resources than we have, and greater flexibility to structure the consideration for the transaction. We may not participate in specific acquisition opportunities if we consider the proposed transaction unacceptable. We also may not be the successful bidder in acquisition opportunities that we pursue due to the willingness or ability of other potential acquirors to propose a higher purchase price or more attractive terms and conditions than we are willing or able to propose. If we are unable to or do not conduct acquisitions, our ability to deploy effectively the capital we raised in the offering, expand our geographic presence and improve our results of operations could be adversely affected.

The Risks Presented by the Acquisition of Other Institutions Could Adversely Affect Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations

If we are successful in conducting acquisitions, we will be presented with many risks that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. An institution that we acquire may have unknown asset quality issues or unknown or contingent liabilities that we did not discover or fully recognize in the due diligence process, thereby resulting in unanticipated losses. The acquisition of other institutions typically requires the integration of different corporate cultures, loan and deposit products, pricing strategies, data processing systems and other technologies, accounting, internal audit and financial reporting systems, operational processes, policies, procedures and internal controls, marketing programs and personnel of the acquired institution in order to make the transaction economically advantageous. The integration process is complicated and time consuming, and could divert our attention from other business concerns and be disruptive to our customers and the customers of the acquired institution. Our failure to successfully integrate an acquired institution could result in the loss of key customers and employees, and prevent us from achieving expected synergies and cost savings. Acquisitions also result in professional fees, purchase price adjustments, the amortization of core deposit intangibles and other expenses that could adversely affect our earnings, and in goodwill that could become impaired, requiring us to recognize further charges. We may finance acquisitions with borrowed funds, thereby increasing our leverage and reducing our liquidity, or with potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities.

Since Our Business is Concentrated in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, a Downturn in the Economy of This Area May Adversely Affect Our Business

Our lending and deposit gathering activities are concentrated primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area. Our success depends on the general economic conditions of this area and surrounding areas. In addition, many of the loans in our loan portfolio are secured by real estate located in the Chicago metropolitan area. Negative conditions in the real estate markets where collateral for a mortgage loan is located could adversely affect the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the value of the collateral securing the loan. Real estate values are affected by various other factors, including supply and demand, changes in general or regional economic conditions, interest rates, governmental rules or policies and natural disasters. Adverse changes in the regional and general economy could also reduce our growth rate, impair our ability to collect loans and generally have a negative effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Non-Compliance with USA PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act, or Other Laws and Regulations Could Result in Fines or Sanctions, and Curtail Expansion Opportunities

Financial institutions are required under the USA PATRIOT and Bank Secrecy Acts to develop programs to prevent financial institutions from being used for money laundering and terrorist activities. Financial institutions are also obligated to file suspicious activity reports with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network if such activities are detected. These rules also require financial institutions to establish procedures for identifying and verifying the identity of customers seeking to open new financial accounts. Failure or the inability to comply with these regulations could result in fines or penalties, curtailment of expansion opportunities, intervention or sanctions by regulators and costly litigation or expensive additional controls and systems. During the last few years, several banking institutions have received large fines for non-compliance with these laws and regulations. We have developed policies and continue to augment procedures and systems designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations.

 

15


The Bank’s Ability to Pay Dividends is Subject to Regulatory Limitations Which, to the Extent the Company Requires Such Dividends in the Future, May Affect its Ability to Pay Dividends

The Company is a separate legal entity from its subsidiaries and does not have significant operations of its own. Dividends from the Bank provide a significant source of cash for the Company. The availability of dividends from the Bank is limited by various statutes and regulations. It is possible, depending upon the financial condition of the Bank and other factors, that the OTS, as the Bank’s primary regulator, could assert that the payment of dividends or other payments by the Bank are an unsafe or unsound practice. In the event the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not be able to pay dividends on its common stock. Consequently, the potential inability to receive dividends from the Bank could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Our Future Success Is Dependent On Our Ability To Compete Effectively In The Highly Competitive Banking Industry

We face substantial competition in all phases of our operations from a variety of different competitors. Our future growth and success will depend on our ability to compete effectively in this highly competitive environment. To date, we have grown our business successfully by focusing on our geographic markets and emphasizing the high level of service and responsiveness desired by our customers. We compete for loans, deposits and other financial services with other commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, brokerage houses, mutual funds, insurance companies, real estate conduits, and specialized finance companies. Many of our competitors offer products and services that we do not offer, and many have substantially greater resources and lending limits, name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans and deposits more aggressively than we do, and smaller newer competitors may also be more aggressive in pricing loans and deposits in order to increase their market share. Some of the financial institutions and financial services organizations with which we compete are not subject to the extensive regulations imposed on savings banks and their holding companies. As a result, these nonbank competitors have certain advantages over us in accessing funding and in providing various financial services.

Various Factors May Make Takeover Attempts That You Want to Succeed More Difficult to Achieve, Which May Affect the Value of Shares of Our Common Stock

Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, federal regulations, Maryland law and various other factors may make it more difficult for companies or persons to acquire control of the Company without the consent of our board of directors. You may want a takeover attempt to succeed because, for example, a potential acquiror could offer a premium over the then prevailing price of our shares of common stock. The Office of Thrift Supervision regulations prohibit, for three years following the completion of a mutual-to-stock conversion, the direct or indirect acquisition of more than 10% of any class of equity security of a converted savings institution without the prior approval of the Office of Thrift Supervision. Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws also may make it difficult to remove our current board of directors or management if our board of directors opposes the removal. We have elected to be subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act, which places restrictions on mergers and other business combinations with large stockholders. In addition, our articles of incorporation provide that certain mergers and other similar transactions, as well as amendments to our articles of incorporation, must be approved by stockholders owning at least two-thirds of our shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter unless first approved by at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies. If approved by at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies, the action must still be approved by a majority of our shares entitled to vote on the matter. In addition, a director can be removed from office, but only for cause, if such removal is approved by stockholders owning at least two-thirds of our shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter, unless first approved by at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors (excluding the director whose removal is sought), assuming no vacancies. If approved by at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies, the removal may be with or without cause, but must still be approved by a majority of our voting shares entitled to vote on the matter. Additional provisions include limitations on the voting rights of any beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock. Our bylaws, which can only be amended by the board of directors, also contain provisions regarding the timing, content and procedural requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations.

 

16


We Continually Encounter Technological Change, and May Have Fewer Resources Than Many of Our Competitors to Continue to Invest In Technological Improvements

The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers.

Our Business May Be Adversely Affected by the Highly Regulated Environment In Which We Operate

We are subject to extensive federal and state legislation, regulation, examination and supervision. Recently enacted, proposed and future legislation and regulations could have an adverse effect on our business and operations. Our success depends on our continued ability to comply with these laws and regulations. Some of these regulations may increase our costs. While we cannot predict what effect any future changes in these laws or regulations or their interpretations would have on us, these changes or interpretations may adversely affect our future operations.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

As of December 31, 2006, the net book value of our properties was $31.0 million. The following is a list of our offices:

 

Burr Ridge (Executive Office)

   Deerfield    Northbrook

15W060 North Frontage Road

   630 N. Waukegan Road    1368 Shermer Road

Burr Ridge, IL 60527

   Deerfield, IL 60015    Northbrook, IL 60062

Calumet City

   Hazel Crest    Olympia Fields

1901 Sibley Boulevard

   3700 W. 183rd Street    21110 S. Western Avenue

Calumet City, IL 60409

   Hazel Crest, IL 60429    Olympia Fields, IL 60461

Calumet Park

   Joliet    Orland Park

1333 W. 127th Street

   1401 N. Larkin    48 Orland Square Drive

Calumet Park, IL 60827

   Joliet, IL 60435    Orland Park, IL 60462

Chicago – Hyde Park

   Lincolnshire    Schaumburg

1354 East 55th Street

   One Marriott Drive    1005 Wise Road

Chicago, IL 60615

   Lincolnshire, IL 60069    Schaumburg, IL 60193

Chicago – Hyde Park East

   Lincolnwood    South Libertyville

55th at Lake Park Avenue

   3443 W. Touhy    1123 S. Milwaukee Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

   Lincolnwood, IL 60712    Libertyville, IL 60048

Chicago Ridge

   Naperville   

6415 W. 95th Street

   1200 East Ogden Avenue   

Chicago Ridge, IL 60415

   Naperville, IL 60563   

Chicago-Lincoln Park

   North Libertyville   

2424 N. Clark Street

   1409 W. Peterson Road   

Chicago-Lincoln Park, IL 60614

   Libertyville, IL 60048   

Except for our Chicago-Lincoln Park, Northbrook, and Hyde Park East offices, which are leased, all of our offices are owned.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, based on currently available information, the resolution of these legal actions is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report, the Company did not submit any matters to the vote of security holders.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our shares of common stock are traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “BFIN.” The approximate number of holders of record of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2006 was 2,191. Certain shares of the Company’s common stock are held in “nominee” or “street” name, and accordingly, the number of beneficial owners of such shares is not known or included in the foregoing number.

The following table presents quarterly market information provided by the Nasdaq Stock Market for the Company’s common stock and cash dividends paid for the periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. The Company began trading on the Nasdaq National Market on June 24, 2005. Accordingly, no information prior to that date is available.

 

2005 and 2006 Quarterly Periods

   High    Low    Close    Cash
Dividends Paid

Quarter ended December 31, 2006

   $ 18.50    $ 17.23    $ 17.81    $ 0.06

Quarter ended September 30, 2006

     18.11      16.31      17.49      0.06

Quarter ended June 30, 2006

     17.30      15.15      17.30      0.06

Quarter ended March 31, 2006

     16.41      14.55      15.92      —  

Quarter ended December 31, 2005

     14.91      12.99      14.68      —  

Quarter ended September 30, 2005

     15.00      13.10      14.20      —  

Quarter ended June 30, 2005

     13.86      13.02      13.33      —  

For a discussion of the Bank’s ability to pay dividends, see Part I, Item I, Business –”Supervision and Regulation—Federal Banking Regulation—Capital Distributions.”

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

The Company had no sales of unregistered stock during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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Repurchases of Our Equity Securities

The following table sets forth information in connection with purchases of our common stock made by or on behalf of us during the fourth quarter of 2006:

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
  

Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs

  

Maximum Number of

Shares that May Yet

be Purchased under
the Plans or Programs (1)

October 1, 2006 through October 31, 2006

   28,600    $ 17.458    28,600    1,667,325

November 1, 2006 through November 30, 2006

   161,100      17.391    161,100    1,506,225

December 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006

   36,900      17.555    36,900    1,469,325
                   

Totals

   226,600    $ 17.426    226,600   
                   

(1) On August 30, 2006, our Board of Directors approved the repurchase, from time to time, on the open market or through negotiated transactions, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, of up to 2,446,625 outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. The authorization will expire on March 31, 2007.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plan

The following table sets forth information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2006:

 

   (Column A)     (Column B)   Column C)

Plan Category

  

Number of
Securities to be

Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights

  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
  Number of
Securities
Remaining
Available for Future
Issuance under 2006
Equity Incentive
Plan (Excluding
Securities Reflected
in Column (A))

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

   1,942,950   $ 17.63   1,308,275

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

   —       —     —  
          

Total

   1,942,950     17.63   1,308,275

Column (A) represents stock options and restricted stock outstanding under the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Future equity awards under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan may take the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance unit awards, restricted stock, restricted performance stock, restricted stock units, stock awards or cash. Column (B) represents the weighted-average exercise price of the outstanding stock options only; the outstanding restricted stock awards are not included in this calculation. Column (C) represents the maximum aggregate number of future equity awards that can be made under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2006.

 

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Stock Performance Graph

The following Performance Graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.

We completed our mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005, in connection with which the Company sold an aggregate of 24,466,250 shares of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share. The Company’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “BFIN” on June 24, 2005, and the per share closing price of one share of the Company’s common stock on that date was $13.60. The following graph represents $100 invested in our common stock at the $13.60 per share closing price on June 24, 2005. The graph illustrates the comparison of the cumulative total returns for the common stock of the Company, the Russell 2000 Index, the NASDAQ Bank Index and the America’s Community Bankers NASDAQ Index for the periods indicated.

There can be no assurance that our stock performance will continue in the future with the same or similar trend depicted in the graph below. We will not make or endorse any predictions as to future stock performance.

June 24, 2005 = 100

LOGO

 

     6/24/2005    12/31/2005    12/31/2006

BankFinancial Corporation

   100.00    107.94    132.36

Russell 2000 Index

   100.00    107.49    127.24

NASDAQ Bank Index

   100.00    103.94    116.64

America’s Community Bankers NASDAQ Index

   100.00    104.94    118.97

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following information is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, or, prior to June 24, 2005, BankFinancial MHC, Inc. For additional information, reference is made to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

 

     At December 31,
     2006    2005    2004    2003    2002
     (Dollars in thousands)

Selected Financial Condition Data:

              

Total assets

   $ 1,613,122    $ 1,614,436    $ 1,492,782    $ 1,457,911    $ 1,490,726

Loans, net

     1,329,915      1,231,891      1,091,952      1,067,248      1,077,932

Loans held-for-sale

     298      375      5,531      5,280      11,166

Securities available-for-sale at fair value

     117,853      248,238      268,093      257,520      233,572

Goodwill

     22,579      10,865      10,865      10,865      10,865

Core deposit intangible

     9,648      8,248      9,882      11,583      13,352

Deposits

     1,129,585      1,067,874      1,115,696      1,073,897      1,054,762

Borrowings

     138,148      191,388      264,742      268,225      307,180

Equity

     326,015      328,777      94,888      96,687      103,498

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005    2004     2003     2002  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Selected Operating Data:

           

Interest and dividend income

   $ 94,086     $ 80,212    $ 66,738     $ 68,686     $ 82,633  

Interest expense

     37,489       28,802      23,470       30,552       38,765  
                                       

Net interest income

     56,597       51,410      43,268       38,134       43,868  

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     (136 )     518      (22 )     (579 )     (422 )
                                       

Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses

     56,733       50,892      43,290       38,713       44,290  

Noninterest income

     10,509       8,665      8,618       8,355       6,424  

Noninterest expense (1)

     52,370       44,206      50,715       64,061       44,920  
                                       

Income (loss) before income tax expense

     14,872       15,351      1,193       (16,993 )     5,794  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     4,826       4,278      (264 )     (7,415 )     748  
                                       

Net income (loss)

   $ 10,046     $ 11,073    $ 1,457     $ (9,578 )   $ 5,046  
                                       

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.45     $ 0.29      N.A.       N.A.       N.A.  

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.45     $ 0.29      N.A.       N.A.       N.A.  

N.A. – Not applicable

           

(footnotes on following page)

 

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     At or For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  

Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:

          

Performance Ratios:

          

Return on assets (ratio of net income (loss) to average total assets)

     0.61 %     0.70 %   0.10 %   (0.66 %)   0.33 %

Return on equity (ratio of net income (loss) to average equity)

     3.02       5.18     1.54     (9.98 )   4.98  

Net interest rate spread (2)

     2.89       3.04     2.96     2.50     2.71  

Net interest margin (3)

     3.68       3.44     3.14     2.77     2.99  

Efficiency ratio (4)

     78.04       73.58     97.74     137.80     89.32  

Noninterest expense to average total assets

     3.19       2.79     3.46     4.39     2.89  

Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities

     132.67       120.45     110.49     111.72     110.76  

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.18     $ —       N.A.     N.A.     N.A.  

Dividend payout ratio

     44.3 %     —       N.A.     N.A.     N.A.  

Asset Quality Ratios:

          

Nonperforming assets to total assets

     0.57 %     0.36 %   0.44 %   0.60 %   0.99 %

Nonperforming loans to total loans

     0.69       0.46     0.59     0.66     1.27  

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans

     115.13       201.19     168.90     169.02     90.51  

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

     0.79       0.93     1.00     1.12     1.15  

Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans outstanding

     0.07       0.00     0.09     (0.01 )   0.05  

Capital Ratios:

          

Equity to total assets at end of period

     20.21 %     20.36 %   6.36 %   6.63 %   6.94 %

Average equity to average assets

     20.25       13.48     6.45     6.58     6.53  

Tier 1 leverage ratio (bank only)

     15.05       13.82     7.12     7.18     7.59  

Other Data:

          

Number of full service offices

     18       16     16     16     16  

Employees (full time equivalents)

     438       451     446     482     483  

(1) Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 includes $8.8 million of impairment loss on securities available-for-sale. Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2003 includes $8.3 million of prepayment penalties related to the restructuring of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and $12.5 million of impairment loss on securities available-for-sale.
(2) The net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities for the period.
(3) The net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets for the period.
(4) The efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The discussion and analysis that follows focuses on the factors affecting our consolidated financial condition at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, and our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. The consolidated financial statements and related notes and the discussion of our critical accounting policies appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report should be read in conjunction with this discussion and analysis.

Overview

Loans. Net loans receivable increased by $98.0 million, or 8.0%, to $1.330 billion at December 31, 2006, from $1.232 billion at December 31, 2005. Non-residential real estate loans increased by $45.3 million. Commercial loans increased by $20.4 million. Commercial leases increased by $17.3 million. Multi-family real estate loans increased by $16.9 million. Construction and land loans increased by $4.5 million. One- to four-family residential mortgage loans decreased by $6.7 million.

Securities Available for Sale. Securities available for sale decreased $130.3 million, or 52.5%, to $117.9 million at December 31, 2006, from $248.2 million at December 31, 2005. The decrease reflected $81.0 million of securities acquired in our University National Bank acquisition, offset by sales of approximately $230.0 million of investment securities during the year. We continued to evaluate the securities available for sale portfolio for opportunities to improve yields and reduce liquidity volatility. The proceeds of these sales were used primarily to fund loan growth, retire maturing wholesale certificates of deposit and Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and to fund stock repurchases. Given the inverted yield curve during the latter half of 2006, we concluded that it was financially beneficial to reduce our holdings of investment securities and reduce wholesale funding.

Deposits. Deposits increased $61.7 million, or 5.8%, to $1.130 billion at December 31, 2006, from $1.068 billion at December 31, 2005. The increase reflects approximately $103.5 million in deposits relating to the University National Bank acquisition, including $32.9 million in non-interest-bearing deposits. Net of the University National Bank acquisition, deposits decreased $41.8 million, partially due to our retirement of $18.5 million in maturing wholesale certificates of deposit.

Borrowings. Borrowings decreased $53.3 million, or 27.8%, to $138.1 million at December 31, 2006, from $191.4 million at December 31, 2005. Consistent with our planning, we repaid borrowings with the proceeds of the securities sales that took place during the year, given the lack of profitable opportunities for reinvestment resulting from the inverted yield curve.

Stockholders’ Equity. Total stockholders’ equity totaled $326.0 million at December 31, 2006, compared to $328.8 million at December 31, 2005, due primarily to the repurchase of 977,300 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $17.3 million and the declaration of cash dividends totaling $4.4 million, which were partially offset by our 2006 net income of $10.0 million and a $3.2 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Net Income. We had net income of $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to net income of $11.1 million in 2005 and $1.5 million in 2004. Our basic earnings per common share was $0.45 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Our basic earnings per share in 2005 was $0.29 which is calculated based only on the period of time from the completion of our mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005, through the period ended December 31, 2005. There were no common shares outstanding during 2004.

Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased $5.2 million to $56.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $51.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Factors contributing to the increase in net interest income included a 24 basis point increase in our net interest margin to 3.68%, a $168.2 million increase in average loans to $1.300 billion, a $111.5 million decrease in average investment securities available-for-sale to $203.9 million and a $82.5 million decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities to $1.159 billion. In 2004, net interest income was $43.3 million.

 

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Provision for Loan Losses. We recorded a credit for loan losses of $136,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to provision for loan losses of $518,000 in 2005 and a credit for loan losses of $22,000 for 2004.

Noninterest Income. Noninterest income increased to $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $8.7 million for 2005 and $8.6 million in 2004. Deposit service charges and fees increased by $310,000, insurance commissions and annuities income increased by $473,000 and title insurance agency commissions and fees increased by $395,000. There were $101,000 in gains on the sale of securities and $395,000 in gains on the disposition of premises and equipment recorded in 2006, compared to no gains or losses on the sale of securities and gains on the disposition of premises and equipment of $21,000 and $91,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2004, we recorded net gains of $599,000 in gains on the sale of securities, and no gains or losses on the sale of securities in 2005.

Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $52.4 million, compared to $44.2 million for 2005 and $50.7 million for 2004. Noninterest expense for 2006 includes $5.4 million in stock-based compensation expense compared to $718,000 in 2005. Noninterest expense for 2004 included $8.8 million of pre-tax impairment losses on our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac floating rate preferred stocks due to our application of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 59 (“SAB No. 59”) to those securities.

Income Taxes. We recorded income tax expense of $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $4.3 million for 2005 and an income tax benefit of $264,000 for 2004.

Key Strategic Initiatives And Events

Mutual-to-Stock Conversion. Our mutual-to-stock conversion was completed on June 23, 2005. In the conversion, we issued 24,466,250 shares of common stock in a subscription offering for $10.00 per share. The net proceeds of the subscription offering totaled $220.7 million, excluding $19.6 million in stock purchased by our ESOP.

Completed Acquisition. On April 5, 2006, the Company completed its acquisition of University National Bank, a privately held community bank with approximately $113 million in assets and $104 million in deposits, and two banking offices in the Hyde Park community in Chicago, Illinois, for approximately $24 million in cash. Immediately upon the completion of the stock purchase, University National Bank was merged into the Bank. The acquisition, which was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, resulted in goodwill of $11.7 million and an other intangible of $3.3 million. The transaction was treated, for federal and state income tax purposes, as a purchase of University National Bank’s assets pursuant to applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, making the goodwill and core deposit intangible arising from the transaction tax-deductible over a period of 15 years. University National Bank’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations only since the effective date of the acquisition.

Stock Repurchase Program. On August 30, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to 2,446,625 shares of its common stock, which represented approximately 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The authorization permits shares to be repurchased in open market or negotiated transactions, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The authorization may be utilized at management’s discretion, subject to the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements, and to price and other internal limitations established by the Company’s Board of Directors. The authorization will expire on March 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2006, we had repurchased 977,300 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $17.3 million under this authorization.

Quarterly Cash Dividends. The Board of Directors declared our first quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share on March 29, 2006 for payment in the second quarter, and subsequently paid quarterly dividends of $0.06 in each of the third and fourth quarters. Total cash dividends paid in 2006 were $4.4 million. On January 31, 2007, the Board of Directors declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share payable on March 2, 2007.

Investment Securities Portfolio Sales. During 2006, we sold approximately $230.0 million of investment securities. The sales of the securities occurred for several reasons. First, we increased borrowings during the first quarter of

 

25


2006 to provide short-term funding for targeted loan originations in anticipation of the closing of our acquisition of University National Bank, and consistent with our planning, we repaid the increased borrowings with the proceeds of the sale of a substantial portion of University National Bank’s securities portfolio following our closing of the acquisition. Second, given the inverted yield curve that existed during the last half of 2006 and the diminishing effect it had on the profitability of investment securities, we used some of the proceeds of the sales to further reduce our balances of higher-cost borrowings or wholesale deposits. In addition, we may reinvest a portion of the sale proceeds in bank-owned life insurance in an effort to mitigate existing and potential employee benefits expense.

Equity Incentive Plan. On June 27, 2006, the Company’s stockholders approved the BankFinancial Corporation 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, which authorized the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company to grant a variety of cash-based and equity-based incentive awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares and other incentive awards, to employees and directors aggregating up to 3,425,275 shares of the Company’s common stock. Subsequently in 2006, the Human Resources Committee granted stock options to purchase 1,301,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and 816,000 shares of restricted stock to certain employees and directors of the Company. The 2006 Equity Incentive Plan was established by the Board of Directors to promote the long-term financial success of the Company, to attract, retain and reward persons who can and do contribute to such success, and to further align the participants’ interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

Economic And Competitive Conditions

Business conditions remained relatively stable during 2006. Despite intensifying pressures throughout the year on credit spreads and overall yields on higher-quality loans to commercial borrowers and lessees, we experienced loan growth rates in the multi-family, commercial real estate, commercial loan and commercial lease portfolios that modestly exceeded our expectations. We do not necessarily anticipate these annualized growth rates continuing into 2007 absent fundamental changes to market conditions. Construction loans remained essentially constant, with disbursements on existing projects slightly exceeding repayments on sold properties. Consistent with our expectations for 2006 and 2007, residential loans decreased, with home equity loans declining somewhat more than expected due to continuing competition both as to price and underwriting standards. We expect the pressures on the credit spreads and the underwriting standards on loans to continue in 2007.

The overall portfolio quality of multi-family and commercial real estate portfolios remained stable. The healthcare loan portfolio continued to receive priority resolution attention with our exposure expected to continue its decline in 2007. Our construction loan portfolio quality remained stable in 2006 but as absorption periods lengthen, we will continue to closely monitor our borrowers’ capability to continue making debt service payments on their construction projects and fund any unbudgeted construction costs. Our portfolios of commercial leases and loans remained consistent in 2006; we expect the portfolio to generally follow the strength of the overall US and global economy in terms of credit performance for 2007. Overall residential loan portfolio quality also remained consistent as we continue to underwrite loans consistent with our historical standards.

Competition for deposits, especially in the rates paid on money market and certificate of deposit accounts, steadily intensified throughout the year. The addition of University National Bank and our generally competitive position during the year mitigated the effect of these trends on deposit retention and growth rates as of December 31, 2006, but a greater impact is likely in 2007 if conditions persist. Our concerns remain about the migration of long-term core deposits to higher-rate accounts and to out-of-market institutions. We will continue to focus on new small business accounts in 2007 as our 2006 marketing efforts resulted in a somewhat faster growth rate in new account openings and enrollments in business-related services such as merchant processing and cash management in the second half of the year. We also noted that competition for lower-cost checking customers is also impacting the predictability of non-interest income related to deposit accounts as customers may respond more frequently to highly aggressive promotions of overdraft protection plans and other “no-fee” offers on these account types.

Though the net interest margin and net interest spread values exhibited stable to positive behavior during 2006, we believe that narrowing commercial credit spreads, coupled with future deposit migration risk, make it likely that the Company will experience some future compression in these vital measurements. The principal drivers of any such compression will be the current pricing conditions for high-quality organic loan growth, together with actions needed to retain valuable commercial credit customers and deposit customers in addition to the continuing adverse effects of the current yield curve.

 

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The addition of University National Bank and the adoption of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan increased non-interest expenses during 2006. We continue our reviews of products, services and functions to ensure they are appropriate to current and anticipated business conditions as well as the core focus of the Company. Of primary importance is the ongoing targeting of resources to core customer service, internal controls and compliance and our outreach efforts for new customers within our communities. We believe that one of the principal ways to deliver results for stockholders in this difficult operating environment is to optimize the organization’s discretionary expenditures towards those customer segments that most closely align to the Company’s commercial community bank mission.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that the most critical accounting policies upon which our financial condition and results of operation depend, and which involve the most complex subjective decisions or assessments, are as follows:

Allowance for Loan Losses. Arriving at an appropriate level of allowance for loan losses involves a high degree of judgment. Our allowance for loan losses provides for probable incurred losses based upon evaluations of known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. We review the level of the allowance on a quarterly basis and establish the provision for loan losses based upon historical loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, information about specific borrower situations, estimated collateral values, economic conditions and other factors to assess the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Among the material estimates that we must make to establish the allowance are: loss exposure at default; the amount and timing of future cash flows on affected loans; value of collateral; and determination of loss factors to be applied to the various elements of the portfolio. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Although we believe that we use the best information available to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if borrower financial, collateral valuation or economic conditions differ substantially from the information and assumptions used in making the evaluation. In addition, as an integral part of their examination process, our regulatory agencies periodically review the allowance for loan losses. These agencies may require us to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination. A large loss could deplete the allowance and require increased provisions to replenish the allowance, which would negatively affect earnings.

Intangible Assets. Acquisitions accounted for under purchase accounting must follow Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” SFAS No. 141 requires us to record as assets on our financial statements both goodwill, an intangible asset which is equal to the excess of the purchase price which we pay for another company over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, and identifiable intangible assets such as core deposit intangibles and non-compete agreements. Under SFAS No. 142, we evaluate goodwill at least annually, or when business conditions suggest an impairment may have occurred, for impairment, and we will reduce its carrying value through a charge to earnings if impairment exists. Core deposit and other identifiable intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The valuation techniques used by us to determine the carrying value of tangible and intangible assets acquired in acquisitions and the estimated lives of identifiable intangible assets involve estimates for discount rates, projected future cash flows and time period calculations, all of which are susceptible to change based on changes in economic conditions and other factors. Future events or changes in the estimates that we used to determine the carrying value of our goodwill and identifiable intangible assets or which otherwise adversely affect their value or estimated lives could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. As of December 31, 2006, our intangible assets consisted of goodwill of $22.6 million and core deposit intangibles of $9.6 million.

Mortgage Servicing Rights. Mortgage servicing rights represent the present value of the future servicing fees from the right to service loans in our loan servicing portfolio. Mortgage servicing rights are recognized as assets for both purchased rights and for the allocation value of retained servicing rights on loans sold. The most critical accounting

 

27


policy associated with mortgage servicing is the methodology used to determine the fair value of capitalized mortgage servicing rights, which requires a number of estimates, the most critical of which is the mortgage loan prepayment speed assumption. The mortgage loan prepayment speed assumption is significantly affected by interest rates. In general, during periods of falling interest rates, mortgage loans prepay faster and the value of our mortgage servicing assets declines. Conversely, during periods of rising rates, the value of mortgage servicing rights generally increases due to slower rates of prepayments. The amount and timing of mortgage servicing rights amortization is adjusted monthly based on actual results. In addition, on a quarterly basis, we perform a valuation review of mortgage servicing rights for potential declines in value. This quarterly valuation review entails applying current assumptions to the portfolio classified by interest rates and, secondarily, by geographic and prepayment characteristics. Based on the significance of any changes in assumptions since the preceding appraisal, this valuation may include an independent appraisal of the fair value of our servicing portfolio.

Income Taxes. We consider accounting for income taxes a critical accounting policy due to the subjective nature of certain estimates that are involved in the calculation. We use the asset/liability method of accounting for income taxes in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities. We must assess the realization of the deferred tax asset and, to the extent that we believe that recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance is established. Adjustments to increase or decrease the valuation allowance are charged or credited, respectively, to income tax expense. No valuation allowances were required at December 31, 2006. Although we have determined a valuation allowance is not required for any deferred tax assets, there is no guarantee that these assets will be recognizable in the future.

Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005

Balance Sheet

Total assets decreased $1.3 million, or 0.1%, to $1.613 billion at December 31, 2006, from $1.614 billion at December 31, 2005, due primarily to the combined effect of sales of investment securities, reductions in wholesale deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, deposit declines and cash expenditures to fund stock repurchases, dividend payments and our acquisition of University National Bank, the effect of which was partially offset by an increase in net loans receivable.

Our loan portfolio consists primarily of investment and business loans, which make up approximately 69.7% of our gross loans. Net loans receivable increased by $98.0 million, or 8.0%, to $1.330 billion at December 31, 2006, from $1.232 billion at December 31, 2005. Commercial leases increased by $17.3 million, or 14.2%, to $139.2 million. Commercial loans increased by $20.4 million, or 29.5%, to $89.3 million. Multi-family real estate loans increased by $16.9 million, or 6.0%, to $297.1 million. Construction and land loans increased by $4.5 million, or 5.6%, to $85.2 million. One- to four-family residential mortgage loans decreased by $6.7 million, or 1.6%, to $397.5 million.

The allowance for loan losses decreased by $892,000 from December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2006, due principally to a $1.4 million decrease in the portion of the allowance for loan losses that we allocated to impaired loans pursuant to SFAS No. 114, offset by a $509,000 increase in the portion of the allowance that we allocated to general loan and lease losses pursuant to SFAS No. 5. Of the $1.4 million decrease in SFAS No. 114 allocated reserves, $693,000 resulted from a charge-off of a fully reserved commercial loan due to the conclusion of legal proceedings. We acquired this loan in our acquisition of Success Bancshares in 2001 and have been maintaining specific reserves against it since we closed that acquisition. As a result of the combined effect of this activity, we recorded a credit for loan losses of $136,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Net securities available-for-sale decreased $130.3 million, or 52.5%, to $117.9 million at December 31, 2006, from $248.2 million at December 31, 2005. The decrease was primarily the result of the sale of $230.0 million of investment securities and $81.8 million of principal repayments, offset by $81.0 million of investment securities acquired in the University National Bank transaction. The proceeds of the sale of these securities were used principally to fund loan growth, retire maturing wholesale certificates of deposits and maturing Federal Home Loan Bank advances, and fund stock repurchases. We continue to evaluate the securities available for sale portfolio for opportunities to improve yields and reduce liquidity volatility.

 

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Cash and cash equivalents increased by $29.3 million to $67.3 million at December 31, 2006, compared to $38.0 million at December 31, 2005. Other assets decreased by $4.9 million, or 41.2%, to $7.0 million at December 31, 2006, from $11.9 million at December 31, 2005, principally due to a decrease in deferred taxes.

Deposits increased $61.7 million, or 5.8%, to $1.130 billion at December 31, 2006, from $1.068 billion at December 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to the $103.5 million in deposits resulting from the acquisition of University National Bank, offset by net outflows in core deposits and reductions in wholesale deposits. Core deposits (savings, money market, noninterest bearing demand and NOW accounts) increased $66.7 million, or 9.3%, totaling 69.4% of total deposits at December 31, 2006, compared to 67.2% of total deposits at December 31, 2005.

Borrowings decreased $53.3 million, or 27.8%, to $138.1 million at December 31, 2006, from $191.4 million at December 31, 2005. The decrease in borrowings was due in part to the impact of our near term strategy to sell a portion of our investment securities and use the net proceeds to reduce wholesale funding in order to mitigate the impact of the inverted yield curve environment.

Total stockholders’ equity was $326.0 million at December 31, 2006, compared to $328.8 million at December 31, 2005. Total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2006 reflected the repurchase and retirement of 977,300 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately $17.3 million, cash dividends declared totaling $4.4 million, which were partially offset by $3.0 million in unrealized net gains on securities available-for-sale, net of tax, and net income of $10.0 million.

Loan Portfolio

We originate multi-family mortgage loans, nonresidential real estate loans, commercial loans, commercial leases, and construction and land loans. In addition, we originate one- to four-family residential mortgage loans and consumer loans. We also purchase and sell loan participations from time to time. The following briefly describes our principal loan products.

Multi-family Mortgage Loans. Loans secured by multi-family mortgages totaled approximately $297.1 million, or 22.2% of our total loan portfolio, at December 31, 2006. Multi-family mortgage loans generally are secured by multi-family rental properties, such as apartment buildings, including subsidized apartment units. The majority of our multi-family mortgage loans have adjustable interest rates following an initial fixed-rate period, typically between three and five years.

Nonresidential Real Estate Loans. Loans secured by nonresidential real estate totaled $320.7 million, or 24.0% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2006. We emphasize nonresidential real estate loans with initial principal balances between $1.0 million and $5.0 million. The nonresidential real estate properties securing these loans are predominantly office buildings, light industrial buildings, shopping centers and mixed-use developments and, to a lesser extent, more specialized properties such as nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Substantially all of our nonresidential real estate loans are secured by properties located in our primary market area. Our nonresidential real estate loans are typically written as three- or five-year adjustable-rate mortgage loans or mortgage loans with balloon maturities of three or five years. Amortization of these loans is typically based on 20- to 25-year payout schedules. We also originate some 15-year fixed-rate, fully amortizing loans.

Commercial Loans. Commercial loans amounted to $89.3 million, or 6.7% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2006. These totals include unsecured commercial loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $10.1 million. We generally make commercial loans to customers in our market area for the purpose of financing equipment acquisition, expansion, working capital and other general business purposes. The terms of these loans generally range from less than one year to five years. The loans are either negotiated on a fixed-rate basis or carry adjustable interest rates indexed to a lending rate that is determined internally, or a short-term market rate index.

Commercial Leases. Commercial leases totaled $139.2 million, or 10.4% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2006. Our commercial leases are secured primarily by technology equipment and other capital equipment through an assignment of the lease and a security interest in the equipment being leased. Leases generally are non-recourse to the leasing company. Consequently, we underwrite leases by examining the creditworthiness of the lessee rather than the lessor. The lessee acknowledges our security interest in the leased equipment and agrees to

 

29


send lease payments directly to us. Lessees tend to be publicly-traded companies with investment-grade rated debt or companies that have not issued public debt and therefore do not have a public debt rating. We require that a minimum of 50% of our commercial leases be to companies with an investment grade public debt rating by Moody’s or Standard & Poors, or an equivalent rating. Commercial leases to these entities have a maximum maturity of ten years and a maximum outstanding credit exposure of $7.3 million to any single entity. Leases to companies without public debt ratings generally involve companies with net worth in excess of $25.0 million and are subjected to the same internal credit analysis as any other commercial customer. Commercial leases to these lessees have a maximum maturity of five years and a maximum outstanding credit exposure of $5.0 million.

Construction and Land Loans. Construction and land loans amounted to $85.2 million, or 6.4% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2006. These loans generally consist of land acquisition loans to help finance the purchase of land intended for further development, including single-family houses, multi-family housing and commercial income property, development loans to builders in our market area to finance improvements to real estate, consisting mostly of single-family subdivisions, typically to finance the cost of utilities, roads, sewers and other development costs. Builders generally rely on the sale of single-family homes to repay development loans, although in some cases the improved building lots may be sold to another builder, often in conjunction with development loans. In general, the maximum loan-to-value ratio for a land acquisition loan is 65% of the appraised value of the property, and the maximum term of these loans is two years. The maximum amount loaned on a development loan is generally limited to the cost of the improvements, and advances are made in accordance with a schedule reflecting the cost of the improvements. Advances are generally limited to 90% of actual construction costs and, as required by applicable regulations, a 75% loan to completed appraised value ratio.

One- to Four-Family Residential Mortgage Lending. Conforming and non-conforming fixed-rate and adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans totaled $397.5 million, or 29.7% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2006, including home equity loans and lines of credit totaling $10.7 million, or 0.8% of our total loan portfolio, and $75.9 million, or 5.7% of our total loan portfolio, respectively. We generally originate both fixed- and adjustable-rate loans in amounts up to the maximum conforming loan limits as established by Fannie Mae, which is currently $417,000 for single-family homes. At December 31, 2006, our adjustable-rate residential mortgage loan portfolio totaled $223.7 million, and included $11.4 million in loans that reprice once a year and $212.3 million in loans that reprice periodically after an initial fixed-rate period of three years or more. During 2005, we securitized some of our conforming adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans and retained the servicing rights. In addition to traditional one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, we offer home equity loans and home equity lines of credit that are secured by the borrower’s primary residence.

 

30


Loan Portfolio Composition. The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio, excluding loans held for sale, by type of loan at the dates indicated.

 

     At December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

One- to four-family residential

   $ 397,545     29.71 %   $ 404,196     32.63 %   $ 362,701     32.97 %   $ 350,275     32.54 %   $ 453,884     42.00 %

Multi-family mortgage

     297,131     22.21       280,238     22.62       241,713     21.97       240,733     22.36       212,441     19.65  

Nonresidential real estate

     320,729     23.97       275,418     22.23       277,380     25.22       270,128     25.09       251,459     23.27  

Construction and land

     85,222     6.37       80,705     6.52       59,369     5.40       64,403     5.98       36,879     3.41  

Commercial loans

     89,346     6.68       68,988     5.58       63,727     5.79       67,950     6.31       79,459     7.35  

Commercial leases

     139,164     10.40       121,898     9.84       86,362     7.85       72,962     6.78       37,166     3.44  

Consumer

     3,869     0.29       2,022     0.16       2,755     0.25       3,502     0.32       3,909     0.36  

Other (1)

     4,959     0.37       5,219     0.42       6,044     0.55       6,621     0.62       5,572     0.52  
                                                                      

Total loans

     1,337,965     100.00 %     1,238,684     100.00 %     1,100,051     100.00 %     1,076,574     100.00 %     1,080,769     100.00 %
                                        

Loans in process

     148         2,180         824         993         8,466    

Net deferred loan origination costs

     2,424         2,541         2,096         1,715         1,158    

Allowance for loan losses

     (10,622 )       (11,514 )       (11,019 )       (12,034 )       (12,461 )  
                                                  

Total loans, net

   $ 1,329,915       $ 1,231,891       $ 1,091,952       $ 1,067,248       $ 1,077,932    
                                                  

(1) Includes municipal loans.

 

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Loan Portfolio Maturities

The following table summarizes the scheduled repayments of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2006. Demand loans, loans having no stated repayment schedule or maturity and overdraft loans are reported as being due in one year or less.

 

Scheduled Repayments of Loans:

  

Within 1

Year

  

One Year

Through

Five Years

  

Beyond
Five

Years

   Total
     (Dollars in thousands)

One- to four-family residential

   $ 82,808    $ 22,033    $ 292,704    $ 397,545

Multi-family mortgage

     15,599      69,379      212,153      297,131

Nonresidential real estate

     73,752      193,167      53,810      320,729

Construction and land

     84,947      —        275      85,222

Commercial loans, leases and other

     84,652      136,882      11,935      233,469

Consumer

     2,036      1,501      332      3,869
                           

Total loans

   $ 343,794    $ 422,962    $ 571,209    $ 1,337,965
                           
              Total
               

Loans maturing after one year:

           

Predetermined (fixed) interest rates

            $ 465,742

Adjustable interest rates

              528,429
               

Total loans

            $ 994,171
               

Nonperforming Loans and Assets

We review loans on a regular basis, and place loans on nonaccrual status when either principal or interest is 90 days or more past due. In addition, we place loans on nonaccrual status when we believe that there is sufficient reason to question the borrower’s ability to continue to meet contractual principal or interest payment obligations. Interest accrued and unpaid at the time a loan is placed on nonaccrual status is reversed from interest income. Interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are not recognized as income unless warranted based on the borrower’s financial condition and payment record.

At December 31, 2006, we had nonaccrual loans of $9.2 million, an increase of $3.5 million from December 31, 2005. Increases in nonaccrual loans occurred in nonresidential real estate loans ($1.9 million), one- to four-family residential loans ($728,000), multifamily real estate loans ($688,000) and commercial loans ($260,000). No interest income was recognized on these nonaccrual loans. The gross interest income that would have been recorded at December 31, 2006 had the nonaccrual loans remained on accrual status in 2006 totaled $391,000.

Real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure is classified as real estate owned (“REO”) until such time as it is sold. When real estate is acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, it is recorded at its fair value, less estimated costs of disposal. If the fair value of the property is less than the loan balance, the difference is charged against the allowance for loan losses. At December 31, 2006, we had no REO.

 

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The following table below sets forth the amounts and categories of our nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets at the dates indicated.

 

     At December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Nonaccrual loans:

          

One- to four-family residential

   $ 2,212     $ 1,484     $ 1,725     $ 2,793     $ 4,233  

Multi-family mortgage

     1,165       477       1,226       —         751  

Nonresidential real estate

     4,378       2,464       2,093       3,616       7,298  

Construction and land

     —         —         —         345       —    

Commercial loans

     1,419       1,159       1,259       366       1,486  

Commercial leases

     47       139       221       —         —    

Consumer

     5       —         —         —         —    
                                        

Total nonperforming loans

     9,226       5,723       6,524       7,120       13,768  
                                        

Real estate owned:

          

One- to four-family residential

     —         153       —         749       723  

Nonresidential real estate

     —         —         —         —         230  

Land

     —         —         —         885       —    
                                        

Total real estate owned

     —         153       —         1,634       953  
                                        

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 9,226     $ 5,876     $ 6,524     $ 8,754     $ 14,721  
                                        

Ratios:

          

Nonperforming loans to total loans

     0.69 %     0.46 %     0.59 %     0.66 %     1.27 %

Nonperforming assets to total assets

     0.57       0.36       0.44       0.60       0.99  

Risk Classification of Assets

Our policies, consistent with regulatory guidelines, provide for the classification of loans and other assets that are considered to be of lesser quality as substandard, doubtful, or loss assets. An asset is considered substandard if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or the collateral pledged, if any. Substandard assets include those characterized by the distinct possibility that we will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as doubtful have all of the weaknesses inherent in assets classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present also make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable. Assets classified as loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted.

On the basis of our review of our assets at December 31, 2006, classified assets consisted of substandard assets of $24.0 million and doubtful assets of $371,000, and we had no loans classified as loss assets. The classified assets total includes $8.8 million of nonperforming loans. Included in substandard assets are $17.8 million of loans to healthcare providers. As of December 31, 2006, we had not taken any charge-offs on these types of loans, but we established a specific loan loss reserve allowance in the amount of $253,000 for loans to one health care borrower with an aggregate principal balance of $6.3 million. At December 31, 2006 we also classified loans to a second health care borrower as substandard based on weaknesses in the financial performance of, and untimely or incomplete financial statements for, certain nursing homes operated by this borrower, which had an aggregate principal balance of $5.5 million. We did not establish a specific loan loss allowance for this relationship at this time and these loans were current on their loan payments to us as of December 31, 2006. Also classified at December 31, 2006 were two well-secured commercial real estate loans to a single borrower totaling $2.2 million; these loans were brought current in the first quarter of 2007 through the borrower’s exercise of its statutory right to reinstate the loans during a foreclosure proceeding that we initiated. As of December 31, 2006, we had $12.1 million of assets designated as special mention.

 

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Allowance for Loan Losses

We establish provisions for loan losses, which are charged to operations in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level we consider necessary to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, we consider past and current loss experience, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay a loan and the levels of nonperforming and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or later events change. We assess the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis and make provisions for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance.

We provide for loan losses based on the allowance method. Accordingly, all loan losses are charged to the related allowance and all recoveries are credited to it. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are provided by charges to income based on various factors which, in our judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating probable incurred losses. We regularly review the loan portfolio and make provisions for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The allowance for loan losses consists of three components:

 

   

specific allowances established for any impaired multi-family mortgage, nonresidential real estate, construction and land, commercial, and commercial lease loans for which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the measured value of the loan;

 

   

allowances for loan losses for each loan type based on historical loan loss experience; and

 

   

adjustments to historical loss experience (general allowances), maintained to cover uncertainties that affect our estimate of probable incurred losses for each loan type.

The adjustments to historical loss experience are based on our evaluation of several factors, including levels of, and trends in, past due and classified loans; levels of, and trends in, charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans, including any credit concentrations in the loan portfolio; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; and national and local economic trends and conditions.

We evaluate the allowance for loan losses based upon the combined total of the specific, historical loss and general components. Generally, when the loan portfolio increases, absent other factors, the allowance for loan loss methodology results in a higher dollar amount of estimated probable incurred losses than would be the case without the increase. Conversely, when the loan portfolio decreases, absent other factors, the allowance for loan loss methodology generally results in a lower dollar amount of estimated probable losses than would be the case without the decrease.

We regularly review our loan portfolio to determine whether any loans require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. When we classify loans as either substandard or doubtful, we allocate a portion of the related general loss allowances to such loans as we deem prudent. The allowance for loan losses represents amounts that have been established to recognize incurred losses in the loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the date of the financial statements. When we classify problem loans as loss, we charge-off such amount. While we use the best information available to make evaluations, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the information used in making the evaluations. Our determination as to the risk classification of our loans and the amount of our loss allowances are subject to review by our regulatory agencies, which can require that we establish additional loss allowances.

We acquired a portfolio of highly-seasoned residential mortgage loans in 2006 with an approximate balance at December 31, 2006 of $16.2 million from a loan servicing company. We also acquired a portfolio of commercial loans in 2005 with an approximate balance at December 31, 2006 of $4.6 million from the same loan servicing company. The loan servicing company filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in late December, 2006, thus creating substantial doubt as to the value of its recourse obligation if we experience any losses in the acquired residential loan portfolio. The bankruptcy court appointed a bankruptcy trustee in late January, 2007. The bankruptcy trustee has

 

34


suspended servicing remittances to all loan servicing clients of the debtor pending the completion of an accounting and further direction from the bankruptcy court, and as a result, we have not received the monthly scheduled servicing remittances that were due in January, 2007 and February, 2007, which approximate $350,000 each month. The bankruptcy trustee recently reported that the loan servicing trust account has a current balance in excess of $4.6 million, but that the trust account is substantially out of balance and is insufficient to pay all of the debtor’s obligations to its servicing clients. On March 2, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order permitting the Company to transfer the servicing of these loans. The Company has arranged for a substitute loan servicing company and the transfer is now in process. The Bankruptcy Court also established a timetable by which the Trustee will provide an accounting of all funds and documents in the Trustee’s possession and perform other tasks related to the transfer of the loan servicing rights. We have engaged counsel to seek a turnover of past servicing remittances that have not been paid, and to defend against competing claims that have been asserted to the serviced loans or the servicing remittances. We have not yet established any specific reserves for these purchased loans pending the receipt of additional information and future developments in the bankruptcy proceeding, including the outcome of the Trustee’s reports scheduled for late March, 2007 or early April, 2007.

 

35


The following table sets forth activity in our allowance for loan losses for the years indicated.

 

     At or For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 11,514     $ 11,019     $ 12,034     $ 12,461     $ 13,465  

Charge-offs:

          

One- to four-family residential

     —         —         —         (29 )     (100 )

Multi-family mortgage

     —         —         —         —         (31 )

Nonresidential real estate

     —         —         (1,127 )     —         (70 )

Construction and land

     —         —         —         —         —    

Commercial loans

     (946 )     (49 )     (218 )     (368 )     (1,046 )

Commercial leases

     —         —         —         —         —    

Consumer

     (26 )     (66 )     (48 )     (36 )     (45 )
                                        

Total charge-offs

     (972 )     (115 )     (1,393 )     (433 )     (1,292 )

Recoveries:

          

One- to four-family residential

     —         —         68       26       286  

Multi-family mortgage

     —         —         —         —         —    

Nonresidential real estate

     —         —         —         275 (1)     275 (1)

Construction and land

     —         —         —         —         —    

Commercial loans

     —         88       311       278       —    

Commercial leases

     —         —         —         —         149  

Consumer

     4       4       21       6       —    
                                        

Total recoveries

     4       92       400       585       710  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

     (968 )     (23 )     (993 )     152       (582 )

Allowance of acquired bank

     212       —         —         —         —    

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     (136 )     518       (22 )     (579 )     (422 )
                                        

Balance at end of year

   $ 10,622     $ 11,514     $ 11,019     $ 12,034     $ 12,461  
                                        

Ratios:

          

Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans outstanding

     0.07 %     0.00 %     0.09 %     (0.01 )%     0.05 %

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans

     115.13       201.19       168.90       169.02       90.51  

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

     0.79       0.93       1.00       1.12       1.15  

(1) Recoveries relate to loans previously charged off by Success Bancshares.

Net Charge-offs and Recoveries

Net charge-offs increased by $945,000 to $968,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $23,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Total charge-offs increased by $857,000 to $972,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $115,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Total recoveries in 2006 decreased by $88,000.

Net charge-offs decreased by $970,000 to $23,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $993,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. Total charge-offs decreased by $1.3 million to $115,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Total recoveries in 2005 decreased by $308,000 compared to 2004. Total recoveries in 2004 included a $300,000 recovery on a commercial loan that Success National Bank had charged-off prior to our acquisition of Success Bancshares.

The credit for loan losses was $136,000 in 2006 compared to provision for loan losses of $518,000 in 2005 and a credit for loan losses of $22,000 in 2004.

 

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Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses

The following table sets forth our allowance for loan losses allocated by loan category. The allowance for loan losses allocated to each category is not necessarily indicative of future losses in any particular category and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in other categories.

 

     At December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  
    

Allowance

for Loan
Losses

  

Loan

Balances by
Category

  

Percent

of Loans

in Each
Category
to Total
Loans

   

Allowance

for Loan
Losses

  

Loan

Balances by
Category

  

Percent

of Loans

in Each
Category
to Total
Loans

   

Allowance

for Loan
Losses

  

Loan

Balances by
Category

  

Percent

of Loans
in Each
Category
to Total
Loans

 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

One- to four-family

residential

   $ 1,855    $ 397,545    29.71 %   $ 1,418    $ 404,196    32.63 %   $ 1,289    $ 362,701    32.97 %

Multi-family mortgage

     1,908      297,131    22.21       2,102      280,238    22.62       1,950      241,713    21.97  

Nonresidential real estate

     2,846      320,729    23.97       3,423      275,418    22.23       3,304      277,380    25.22  

Construction and land

     1,120      85,222    6.37       1,210      80,705    6.52       899      59,369    5.40  

Commercial loans

     1,667      89,346    6.68       2,362      68,988    5.58       2,736      63,727    5.79  

Commercial leases

     1,112      139,164    10.40       718      121,898    9.84       543      86,362    7.85  

Consumer

     40      3,869    0.29       17      2,022    0.16       18      2,755    0.25  

Other (1)

     74      4,959    0.37       104      5,219    0.42       121      6,044    0.55  

Unallocated

     —        —      —         160      —      —         159      —      —    
                                                            

Total

   $ 10,622    $ 1,337,965    100.00 %   $ 11,514    $ 1,238,684    100.00 %   $ 11,019    $ 1,100,051    100.00 %
                                                            
     At December 31,                  
     2003     2002                  
     Allowance
for Loan
Losses
   Loan
Balances by
Category
  

Percent

of Loans
in Each

Category
to Total
Loans

    Allowance
for Loan
Losses
  

Loan

Balances by
Category

  

Percent

of Loans
in Each

Category
to Total
Loans

                 
     (Dollars in thousands)                  

One- to four-family

residential

   $ 1,322    $ 350,275    32.54 %   $ 1,643    $ 453,884    42.00 %        

Multi-family mortgage

     1,797      240,733    22.36       1,592      212,441    19.65          

Nonresidential real estate

     4,313      270,128    25.09       5,410      251,459    23.27          

Construction and land

     976      64,403    5.98       553      36,879    3.41          

Commercial loans

     2,908      67,950    6.31       2,727      79,459    7.35          

Commercial leases

     365      72,962    6.78       186      37,166    3.44          

Consumer

     26      3,502    0.32       51      3,909    0.36          

Other (1)

     166      6,621    0.62       139      5,572    0.52          

Unallocated

     161      —      —         160      —      —            
                                                

Total

   $ 12,034    $ 1,076,574    100.00 %   $ 12,461    $ 1,080,769    100.00 %        
                                                

(1) Includes municipal loans.

 

37


Investment Securities

Our investment policy is established by our Board of Directors. The policy emphasizes safety of the investment, liquidity requirements, potential returns, cash flow targets, and consistency with our interest rate risk management strategy.

At December 31, 2006, our debt securities consisted of mortgage-backed pass-through securities issued or sponsored by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, SBA guaranteed loan participation certificates, Federal agency notes, and municipal securities. Our equity securities consisted almost entirely of shares of two floating rate preferred stocks issued by Freddie Mac, a government-sponsored entity and one Freddie Mac fixed-rate preferred stock. All securities were classified as available for sale pursuant to SFAS No. 115 as of December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

We hold the FHLBC common stock to qualify for membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank System and to be eligible to borrow funds under the FHLBC’s advance program. The aggregate cost and fair value of our FHLBC common stock as of December 31, 2006 was $15.6 million based on its par value. There is no market for our FHLBC common stock. Due to our receipt of stock dividends and a reduction of our outstanding FHLBC advances, we owned shares of FHLBC common stock at December 31, 2006 with a par value that was $7.2 million more than we were required to own, to maintain our membership, in the Federal Home Loan Bank System and to be eligible to obtain advances (“excess” or “voluntary” capital stock).

During 2006, the FHLBC was allowed to carry out limited redemptions of excess or voluntary capital stock. We redeemed $9.8 million of excess or voluntary FHLBC capital stock during the year.

The following table sets forth the composition, amortized cost and fair value of our securities available for sale at the dates indicated.

 

     At December 31,
     2006    2005    2004
     Amortized
Cost
   Fair Value    Amortized
Cost
   Fair Value    Amortized
Cost
   Fair Value
     (Dollars in thousands)

Investment Securities:

                 

Municipal securities

   $ 2,660    $ 2,711    $ 3,085    $ 3,145    $ 3,470    $ 3,464

SBA guaranteed loan participation certificates

     628      623      1,859      1,853      1,958      1,941

Equity securities:

                 

Freddie Mac

     38,275      43,112      65,600      67,375      65,600      63,960

Fannie Mae

     —        —        18,360      19,795      18,360      18,360

Other debt securities

     45,746      45,723      —        —        —        —  
                                         

Total investment securities available-for-sale

     87,309      92,169      88,904      92,168      89,388      87,725
                                         

Mortgage-Backed Securities:

                 

Pass-through securities:

                 

Fannie Mae

     14,506      14,630      146,433      143,098      161,768      161,002

Freddie Mac

     3,967      3,971      10,182      10,009      16,360      16,166

Ginnie Mac

     1,238      1,202      1,349      1,321      1,504      1,500

CMOs and REMICs

     5,841      5,881      1,615      1,642      1,673      1,700
                                         

Total mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale

     25,552      25,684      159,579      156,070      181,305      180,368
                                         

Total securities available-for-sale

   $ 112,861    $ 117,853    $ 248,483    $ 248,238    $ 270,693    $ 268,093
                                         

 

38


We determine the fair value of our investment securities in accordance with the guidance set forth in SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” and SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” Pursuant to this guidance, we determine fair value based on the most recent quoted market price, if available, for the security as of the applicable balance sheet date. If a quoted market price for a specific security is not currently available, we estimate the fair value based on the quoted market price of another security with similar characteristics, adjusted to reflect objectively measurable differences such as coupon rates and reset dates. In the absence of current quoted market prices for the same or a similar security, we use other valuation techniques to determine fair value, such as obtaining broker-dealer valuations or estimating fair value based on valuation modeling. The fair value of a security is used to determine the amount of any unrealized losses that must be reflected in our other comprehensive income and the net book value of our investment securities. Similarly, if we determine that a security is other-than-temporarily impaired pursuant to SAB No. 59, we use the fair value of the security to determine the amount of the impairment loss and the adjusted cost basis for the security.

The Company evaluated the securities in its investment portfolio that had significant declines in fair value at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and concluded that the declines were primarily attributable to changes in market interest rates rather than credit quality or other issuer-specific factors. Since the Company had the ability and intent at December 31, 2006, to hold these investments until a recovery occurred or the securities matured, and the carrying cost of these securities was projected to recover as market interest rates change and or the securities approached maturities, the Company did not consider the declines in fair value to be other-than-temporary impairments. No unrealized losses existed at December 31, 2006 or 2005 with respect to our marketable equity securities, including our Freddie Mac floating rate preferred stocks. The Company previously reduced the combined carrying value of certain of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stocks by recording an impairment charge of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

39


Portfolio Maturities and Yields. The composition and maturities of the investment debt securities portfolio and the mortgage-backed securities portfolio at December 31, 2006 are summarized in the following table. Maturities are based on the final contractual payment dates, and do not reflect the impact of prepayments or early redemptions that may occur. Municipal securities yields have not been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis as the amount is immaterial.

 

     One Year or Less     More than One Year
through Five Years
    More than Five Years
through Ten Years
    More than Ten Years     Total Securities
     Amortized
Cost
   Weighted
Average
Yield
    Amortized
Cost
   Weighted
Average
Yield
    Amortized
Cost
   Weighted
Average
Yield
    Amortized
Cost
   Weighted
Average
Yield
    Amortized
Cost
   Weighted
Average
Yield
    Fair Value
     (Dollars in thousands)

Mortgage-Backed Securities:

                           

Pass-through securities:

                           

Fannie Mae

   $ —      —   %   $ —      —   %   $ 1,850    5.14 %   $ 12,656    6.24 %   $ 14,506    6.10 %   $ 14,630

Freddie Mac

     —      —         42    6.42       239    5.24       3,686    5.75       3,967    5.73       3,971

Ginnie Mae

     —      —         —      —         —      —         1,238    5.11       1,238    5.11       1,202

CMOs and REMICs

     10    5.88       1,251    5.17       681    5.45       3,899    5.91       5,841    5.70       5,881
                                                                       

Total

     10    5.88       1,293    5.21       2,770    5.22       21,479    6.03       25,552    5.90       25,684
                                                                       

Investment Securities:

                           

Municipal securities

     450    4.06       1,695    4.32       515    4.47       —      —         2,660    4.31       2,711

SBA guaranteed loan participation certificates

     —      —         —      —         —      —         628    5.94       628    5.94       623

Corporate bonds and other securities

     45,746    4.97       —      —         —      —         —      —         45,746    4.97       45,723

Equity securities

     —      —         —      —         —      —         38,275    5.85       38,275    5.85       43,112
                                                                       

Total

     46,196    4.96       1,695    4.32       515    4.47       38,903    5.86       87,309    5.34       92,169
                                                                       

Total securities available-for-sale

   $ 46,206    4.96 %   $ 2,988    4.71 %   $ 3,285    5.11 %   $ 60,382    5.92 %   $ 112,861    5.47 %   $ 117,853
                                                                       

 

40


Sources of Funds

Deposits. At December 31, 2006, our deposits totaled $1.130 billion. Interest-bearing deposits totaled $995.5 million and noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $134.1 million. NOW, savings and money market deposits totaled $650.0 million at December 31, 2006. Demand deposits at December 31, 2006 included $8.2 million in internal checking accounts, such as bank cashier checks and money orders, and $11.2 million in title insurance escrow funds. At December 31, 2006, we had a total of $345.5 million in certificates of deposit, of which $281.1 million had maturities of one year or less. Although we have a significant portion of our deposits in shorter-term certificates of deposit, we monitor activity on these accounts and, based on historical experience and our current pricing strategy, we believe we will retain a significant portion of these accounts upon maturity.

Our deposits are obtained predominantly from the areas in which our branch offices are located. We rely on our favorable locations, customer service, competitive pricing, our Internet Branch and related deposit services such as cash management to attract and retain these deposits. While we accept certificates of deposit in excess of $100,000 for which we may provide preferential rates, we generally do not solicit such deposits because they are more difficult to retain than core deposits. At December 31, 2006, we had a total of $10.4 million of brokered certificates of deposits.

The following table sets forth the distribution of total deposit accounts, by account type, for the periods indicated.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  
     Average
Balance
   Percent     Weighted
Average
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Percent     Weighted
Average
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Percent     Weighted
Average
Rate
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Demand deposits:

                     

Retail

   $ 33,020    3.00 %   —   %   $ 23,512    2.10 %   —   %   $ 23,643    2.15 %   —   %

Commercial

     90,594    8.24     —         85,435    7.62     —         79,455    7.22     —    
                                             

Total demand deposits

     123,614    11.24     —         108,947    9.72     —         103,098    9.37     —    

NOW deposits

     241,378    21.95     1.71       268,404    23.93     0.85       232,193    21.10     0.54  

Savings deposits

     123,413    11.22     0.83       128,867    11.49     0.78       134,491    12.22     0.61  

Money market deposits

     252,109    22.93     4.00       223,334    19.92     2.84       181,596    16.50     1.47  

Certificates of deposit

     359,119    32.66     4.10       391,883    34.94     2.79       449,218    40.81     2.11  
                                             

Total deposits

   $ 1,099,633    100.00 %     $ 1,121,435    100.00 %     $ 1,100,596    100.00 %  
                                             

The following table sets forth certificates of deposit by time remaining until maturity at December 31, 2006.

 

     Maturity     
     3 Months
or Less
   Over 3 to 6
Months
   Over 6 to 12
Months
   Over 12
Months
   Total
     (Dollars in thousands)

Certificates of deposit less than $100,000

   $ 77,326    $ 63,756    $ 58,184    $ 51,394    $ 250,660

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more

     33,118      32,730      16,012      12,930      94,790
                                  

Total of certificates of deposit

   $ 110,444    $ 96,486    $ 74,196    $ 64,324    $ 345,450
                                  

 

41


Borrowings. Our borrowings consist primarily of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and repurchase agreements. The following table sets forth information concerning balances and interest rates on our borrowings at the dates and for the periods indicated.

 

     At or For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Balance at end of year

   $ 138,148     $ 191,388     $ 264,742  

Average balance during year

     183,286       229,355       251,331  

Maximum outstanding at any month end

     241,048       274,311       268,832  

Weighted average interest rate at end of year

     4.30 %     3.72 %     2.97 %

Average interest rate during year

     4.11 %     3.58 %     3.69 %

At December 31, 2006, we had the ability to borrow an additional $167.0 million under our credit facilities with the FHLBC. Furthermore, we had unpledged securities that could be used to support borrowings in excess of $47.0 million.

At December 31, 2006, we had available pre-approved overnight federal funds borrowing capacity of $65.0 million. At December 31, 2006, there were no outstanding federal funds borrowings. At December 31, 2006, we also had a line of credit available with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for $20.3 million. At December 31, 2006, there was no outstanding balance on the line of credit.

Comparison of Operating Results For the Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

Comparability Considerations

Mutual-to-Stock Conversion. Our operating results for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 do not lend themselves to ready comparison due to, among other things, various factors relating to the consummation of our mutual-to-stock conversion in June of 2005, including cash inflows resulting from stock subscription order receipts and the issuance of common stock, cash outflows resulting from subscription order refunds, the transitory impact that refundable subscription order receipts had on earnings and deposit balances during the second and third quarters of 2005 and the subsequent deployment of the net proceeds of the subscription offering.

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. In 2006, we acquired University National Bank in the second quarter of 2006 and the second half of the year included expenses related to equity-based compensation. These and other related factors had varying degrees of impact on the changes that occurred to our financial condition and operating results between the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, including changes to the composition of our assets and liabilities that affected our results of operation.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. In 2004 we recorded impairment losses relating to our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac floating rate preferred stocks due to our application of SAB No. 59 to those securities, and yield adjustment amortization expense in 2004 and 2005 relating to our restructuring of $170.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings in July 2003. These and other related factors had varying degrees of impact on the changes that occurred to our financial condition and operating results between the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, including changes to the composition of our assets and liabilities that affected our results of operation.

Net Income

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. We recorded net income of $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to net income of $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The principal factors affecting the change in net income from year to year included a $5.2 million, or 10.1%, increase in our net interest income; a $1.8 million, or 21.3%, increase in noninterest income; and a $654,000 decrease in our provision for loan losses. These increases were offset by a $8.2 million, or 18.5%, increase in noninterest expense; and a $548,000, or 12.8%, increase in income tax expense. Our net income for the full year 2006 and for the last six months of 2005

 

42


was favorably affected by the completion of our mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005, and reflected increased interest income and reduced interest expense on borrowings resulting from our deployment of the net proceeds from the subscription offering undertaken in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion, which totaled $220.7 million (excluding the $19.6 million in stock purchased by our ESOP), to increase average interest-earning assets and reduce average borrowings and wholesale deposits. Our operating results for 2006 included $5.4 million in expenses for equity-based compensation and benefits, compared to $717,000 for 2005, relating to equity-based awards that were made during the third and fourth quarters of 2006 pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan that our stockholders approved in June of 2006, and additional expenses arising from our first full year of making contributions to the ESOP that we established in connection with our mutual-to-stock conversion in June of 2005. Our 2005 net income was also negatively affected by a $388,000 yield adjustment amortization expense, pre-tax, relating to our restructuring of $170.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings in July 2003. There was no remaining yield adjustment amortization expense recorded during 2006. Our earnings per share of common stock for year ended December 31, 2006 was $0.45 per share. Earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2005 was $0.29 and only includes the net income for the period for which common shares were outstanding which was from the completion of our mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005 through December 31, 2005.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. We recorded net income of $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to net income of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Our 2005 net income was favorably affected by the completion of our mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005, and reflected increased interest income and reduced interest expense on borrowings resulting from our deployment of the net proceeds from the subscription offering undertaken in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion, which totaled $220.7 million (excluding the $19.6 million in stock purchased by our ESOP), to increase average interest earning assets and reduce average borrowings and wholesale deposits. Our 2004 net income was negatively affected, in part, by our recording an $8.8 million impairment loss, pre-tax, on our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac floating rate preferred stocks due to our application of SAB No. 59 to those securities. The impairment loss reduced our 2004 net income by $5.3 million, after-tax. Our 2004 net income was also negatively affected by a $2.5 million yield adjustment amortization expense, pre-tax, relating to our restructuring of $170.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings in July 2003 compared to $388,000 recorded in 2005. The yield adjustment amortization expense reduced our 2004 and 2005 net income by $1.5 million and $234,000, after tax, respectively. Earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2005 is reported as $0.29 and only includes the net income for the period for which common shares were outstanding, which was from the completion of our mutual-to-stock conversion on June 23, 2005 through December 31, 2005. There were no common shares outstanding during 2004.

Net Interest Income

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. Net interest income increased by $5.2 million, or 10.1%, to $56.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $51.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Our net interest rate spread decreased by 15 basis points to 2.89% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 3.04% for 2005. The decrease resulted primarily from the flattening and inverting of the yield curve that has occurred since early 2005, and increasing competition in the Chicago banking market for loans and deposits. Notwithstanding these market conditions and the resulting decrease in our net interest rate spread, our net interest margin increased by 24 basis points to 3.68% for 2006, from 3.44% for 2005, due to our deployment of the $220.7 million in net proceeds of our subscription offering to retire term debt and reduce borrowings and wholesale deposits, and our replacement of a significant portion of the short-term securities and interest-bearing deposits in which the offering proceeds were initially invested with higher yielding loans. As expected, our acquisition of University National Bank on April 5, 2006, helped to mitigate the adverse impact that these market conditions had on our net interest margin. In addition, our average earning assets increased $42.2 million to $1.538 billion in 2006, from $1.496 billion in 2005, and our average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $82.5 million to $1.159 billion in 2006, from $1.242 billion in 2005, principally as a result of our deployment of the net proceeds of our subscription offering. Our net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2005, included approximately $450,000 in net interest spread that we earned on the investment of approximately $167.1 million in subscription order receipts that we subsequently refunded to depositors whose subscription orders could not be filled.

Interest income increased by $13.9 million, or 17.3%, to $94.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $80.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in interest income resulted primarily from a 76 basis point increase in the average yield on interest earning assets to 6.12% for the year ended December 31, 2006,

 

43


from 5.36% for the year ended December 31, 2005, and from a $42.2 million increase in total average interest-earning assets to $1.538 billion for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $1.496 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Interest income on loans increased by $16.9 million, or 25.3%, to $83.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $66.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in interest income on loans resulted primarily from a 54 basis point increase in the average yield on loans to 6.43% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 5.89% for the year ended December 31, 2005, due to higher market interest rates, and from a $168.2 million, or 14.9%, increase in the average balance of loans outstanding to $1.300 billion for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $1.131 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Interest income on securities available-for-sale decreased $2.4 million, or 21.1%, to $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease of $111.5 million, or 35.3%, in the average balance of securities available-for-sale to $203.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $315.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This decrease in average balances since 2005 reflected the impact of holding and investing approximately $436.8 million of subscription order receipts in short-term government agency securities until the subscription offering was completed on June 23, 2005. Thereafter, funds representing accepted subscription orders were paid to the Company, and funds due the subscribers for unfilled subscription orders were refunded. By the end of the third quarter of 2005, substantially all of the subscription order refunds had been paid. We also decided to reduce our portfolio of investment securities available-for-sale during 2006 as the flat or inverted yield curve did not present profitable opportunities for carrying such additional investments. Partially offsetting the decrease in average balances was an 81 basis point increase in the yield on securities available-for-sale to 4.50% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 3.69% for the year ended December 31, 2005, due to increases in the coupon rates for certain securities.

Dividend income on our Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago stock decreased $484,000, or 40.1%, to $724,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The average balance of these securities decreased by $3.1 million to $21.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, due to the redemption of $9.8 million of these securities in 2006. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago also reduced its dividend rate from 5.5% as of the first quarter of 2005 to 3.10% as of the fourth quarter of 2006. As a result, the average dividend yield on our Federal Home Loan Bank stock decreased to 3.32% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 4.86% for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Interest income on interest-bearing deposit accounts that we owned decreased $70,000, or 9.4%, to $676,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $746,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005. The average balance of these interest-bearing deposits decreased by $11.5 million to $12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The average yield on our interest-bearing deposits increased to 5.32% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 3.08% for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Interest expense increased by $8.7 million, or 30.2%, to $37.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to increased interest expense on deposits, which was partially offset by decreased interest expense on borrowings.

Interest expense on deposits increased by $9.4 million, or 45.4%, to $30.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $20.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in interest expense on deposits was primarily due to a 104 basis point increase in the average rates paid on deposits, which was partially offset by a $36.5 million, or 3.6%, decrease in the average balance of deposits. The average balances of money market deposits increased $28.8 million, or 12.9% for the year ended December 31, 2006. The average balances of savings accounts, NOW deposits and certificates of deposit decreased $5.5 million, or 4.2%, $27.0 million, or 10.1%, and $32.8 million, or 8.4%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2006. The average cost of deposits was 3.07% for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to 2.03% for the year ended December 31, 2005. All categories of interest-bearing deposit accounts showed increases in average rates paid for 2006 compared to 2005. The average cost of certificates of deposits increased 131 basis points to 4.10% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 2.79% for the year ended December 31, 2005. The average cost of all other interest-bearing deposit accounts also increased for the year ended December 31, 2006, with the most significant increase occurring with respect to money market accounts. The average cost of money market accounts increased 116 basis points to 4.00% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 2.84% for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

44


Interest expense on borrowings decreased by $672,000, or 8.2%, to $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This decrease was due in part to a $46.1 million, or 20.1%, decrease in the average balance of borrowings, which was offset by a 53 basis point increase in the average cost of such borrowings to 4.11% for the year ended December 31, 2006, from 3.58% for the year ended December 31, 2005. The decrease in average borrowings is due in part to our use of a portion of the net proceeds of the sale of investment securities to repay wholesale borrowings. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 also included $388,000 in yield adjustment amortization expense relating to the prepayment penalty that we incurred in restructuring our Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings in July of 2003, while there was no yield adjustment expense recorded in 2006 in connection with the restructuring as final amortization was completed in 2005.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. Net interest income increased by $8.1 million, or 18.8%, to $51.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $43.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Several factors favorably affected this increase in net interest income in 2005. Our net interest margin increased 30 basis points to 3.44% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 3.14% for the year ended December 31, 2004, and our net interest rate spread increased 8 basis points to 3.04% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 2.96% for the year ended December 31, 2004. In addition, our average earning assets increased $116.0 million to $1.496 billion in 2005, from $1.380 billion in 2004, and our average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $7.0 million to $1.242 billion in 2005, from $1.249 billion in 2004, principally as a result of our deployment of the net proceeds of our subscription offering totaling $220.7 million.

Interest income increased by $13.5 million, or 20.2%, to $80.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $66.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in interest income resulted primarily from a 52 basis point increase in the average yield on interest earning assets to 5.36% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 4.84% for the year ended December 31, 2004, and from a $116.0 million increase in total average interest-earning assets to $1.496 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $1.380 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Interest income on loans increased by $9.5 million, or 16.7%, to $66.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in interest income on loans resulted primarily from a 66 basis point increase in the average yield on loans to 5.89% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 5.23% for the year ended December 31, 2004, due to higher market interest rates, and from a $40.1 million, or 3.7%, increase in the average balance of loans outstanding to $1.131 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $1.091 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Interest income on securities available-for-sale increased $3.5 million, or 42.9%, to $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase resulted primarily from a 51 basis point increase in the yield on securities available-for-sale to 3.69% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 3.18% for the year ended December 31, 2004, due to increases in the coupon rates for certain securities. In addition, the average balance of securities available-for-sale securities increased $59.4 million, or 23.2%, to $315.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $256.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. This increase in average balances during 2005 reflected the impact of holding and investing approximately $436.8 million of subscription order receipts in short term government agency securities until the subscription offering was completed on June 23, 2005. Thereafter, funds representing accepted subscription orders were paid to the Company, and funds due the subscribers for unfilled subscription orders were refunded. By the end of the third quarter of 2005, substantially all of the subscription order refunds had been paid.

Dividend income on our Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago stock decreased $212,000, or 14.9%, to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The average balance of these securities increased by $1.3 million to $24.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, due to the receipt of stock dividends. The average dividend yield on our Federal Home Loan Bank stock decreased to 4.86% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 6.04% for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

45


Interest income on interest-bearing deposit accounts that we owned increased $642,000 to $746,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $104,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The average balance of these interest-bearing deposits increased by $15.2 million to $24.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The average yield on our interest-bearing deposits increased to 3.08% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 1.15% for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Interest expense increased by $5.3 million, or 22.7%, to $28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $23.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was primarily due to increased interest expense on deposits, which was partially offset by decreased interest expense on borrowings.

Interest expense on deposits increased by $6.4 million, or 45.1%, to $20.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in interest expense on deposits was primarily due to a $15.0 million, or 1.5%, increase in the average balance of deposits, and a 61 basis point increase in the average rates paid on deposits. The average balances of money market deposits and NOW accounts increased $41.7 million, or 23.0%, and $36.2 million, or 15.6%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2005. The average balances of savings accounts and certificates of deposit decreased $5.6 million, or 4.2%, and $57.3 million, or 12.8%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2005. The average cost of deposits was 2.03% for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to 1.42% for the year ended December 31, 2004. All categories of interest-bearing deposit accounts showed increases in average rates paid for 2005 compared to 2004. The average cost of certificates of deposits increased 68 basis points to 2.79% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 2.11% for the year ended December 31, 2004. The average cost of all other interest-bearing deposit accounts also increased for the year ended December 31, 2005, with the most significant increase occurring with respect to money market accounts. The average cost of money market accounts increased 137 basis points to 2.84% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 1.47% for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Interest expense on borrowings decreased by $1.1 million, or 11.5%, to $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. This decrease was due in part to a $22.0 million, or 8.7%, decrease in the average balance of borrowings, and an 11 basis point decrease in the average cost of such borrowings to 3.58% for the year ended December 31, 2005, from 3.69% for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease in average borrowings is due in part to our use of $30 million of the net proceeds of the subscription offering to repay the $30 million in term debt that we incurred in acquiring Success Bancshares in 2001 and in redeeming trust preferred securities assumed in that acquisition. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 also included $388,000 in yield adjustment amortization expense relating to the prepayment penalty that we incurred in restructuring our Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings in July of 2003, compared to the $2.5 million in yield adjustment amortization expense that we recorded as interest expense in 2004 in connection with the restructuring.

 

46


The following table sets forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments were made, as the effect of these adjustments would not be material. Average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccrual loans were included in the computation of average balances, but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees and expenses, discounts and premiums, purchase accounting adjustments and Federal Home Loan Bank advance prepayment penalties that are amortized or accreted to interest income or expense.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004  
     Average
Outstanding
Balance
    Interest    Yield/Rate     Average
Outstanding
Balance
    Interest    Yield/Rate     Average
Outstanding
Balance
    Interest    Yield/Rate  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Interest-earning assets:

                     

Loans

   $ 1,299,597     $ 83,502    6.43 %   $ 1,131,374     $ 66,618    5.89 %   $ 1,091,293     $ 57,070    5.23 %

Securities available-for-sale

     203,900       9,184    4.50       315,379       11,640    3.69       255,999       8,144    3.18  

Stock in FHLB

     21,813       724    3.32       24,870       1,208    4.86       23,521       1,420    6.04  

Other

     12,713       676    5.32       24,219       746    3.08       9,022       104    1.15  
                                                               

Total interest-earning assets

     1,538,023       94,086    6.12       1,495,842       80,212    5.36       1,379,835       66,738    4.84  
                                 

Noninterest-earning assets

     102,220            88,837            86,107       
                                       

Total assets

   $ 1,640,243          $ 1,584,679          $ 1,465,942       
                                       

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                     

Savings deposits

   $ 123,413       1,019    0.83     $ 128,867       1,005    0.78     $ 134,491       825    0.61  

Money market deposits

     252,109       10,096    4.00       223,334       6,350    2.84       181,596       2,667    1.47  

NOW deposits

     241,378       4,128    1.71       268,404       2,290    0.85       232,193       1,249    0.54  

Certificates of deposit

     359,119       14,714    4.10       391,883       10,953    2.79       449,218       9,457    2.11  
                                                               

Total deposits

     976,019       29,957    3.07       1,012,488       20,598    2.03       997,498       14,198    1.42  

Borrowings

     183,286       7,532    4.11       229,355       8,204    3.58       251,331       9,272    3.69  
                                                               

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,159,305       37,489    3.23       1,241,843       28,802    2.32       1,248,829       23,470    1.88  
                                 

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     123,614            108,947            103,098       

Noninterest-bearing liabilities

     25,110            20,257            19,518       
                                       

Total liabilities

     1,308,029            1,371,047            1,371,445       

Equity

     332,214            213,632            94,497       
                                       

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 1,640,243          $ 1,584,679          $ 1,465,942       
                                       

Net interest income

     $ 56,597        $ 51,410        $ 43,268   
                                 

Net interest rate spread (1)

        2.89 %        3.04 %        2.96 %

Net interest-earning assets (2)

   $ 378,718          $ 253,999          $ 131,006       
                                       

Net interest margin (3)

        3.68 %        3.44 %        3.14 %

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

     132.67 %          120.45 %          110.49 %     

(1) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(2) Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

 

47


The following table presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for the major categories of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Information is provided for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with respect to changes attributable to changes in volume (i.e., changes in average balances multiplied by the prior-period average rate), and changes attributable to rate (i.e., changes in average rate multiplied by prior-period average balances). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume that cannot be segregated have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2006 vs. 2005     2005 vs. 2004  
     Increase (Decrease) Due
to
   

Total

Increase
(Decrease)

    Increase (Decrease)
Due to
   

Total

Increase
(Decrease)

 
     Volume     Rate       Volume     Rate    
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Interest-earning assets:

            

Loans

   $   10,465     $ 6,419     $ 16,884     $ 2,156     $   7,392     $ 9,548  

Securities available- for-sale

     (4,673 )     2,217       (2,456 )     2,068       1,428       3,496  

Stock in FHLB

     (135 )     (349 )     (484 )     78       (290 )     (212 )

Other

     (456 )     386       (70 )     322       320       642  
                                                

Total interest-earning assets

     5,201       8,673       13,874       4,624       8,850       13,474  
                                                

Interest-bearing liabilities:

            

Savings deposits

     (44 )     58       14       (36 )     216       180  

Money market deposits

     898       2,848       3,746       726       2,957       3,683  

NOW deposits

     (252 )     2,090       1,838       219       822       1,041  

Certificates of deposit

     (981 )     4,742       3,761       (1,318 )     2,814       1,496  

Borrowings

     (1,789 )     1,117       (672 )     (792 )     (276 )     (1,068 )
                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     (2,168 )     10,855       8,687       (1,201 )     6,533       5,332  
                                                

Change in net interest income

   $ 7,369     $ (2,182 )   $ 5,187     $ 5,825     $ 2,317     $ 8,142  
                                                

Provision for Loan Losses

We establish provisions for loan losses, which are charged to operations in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level we consider necessary to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, we consider past and current loss experience, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay a loan and the levels of nonperforming and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or later events change. We assess the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis and make provisions for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance.

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. We recorded a credit for loan losses of $136,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to a provision for loan losses of $518,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005. The credit for loan losses recorded for 2006 reflected lower specific reserves against certain loans due to higher collateral levels, and offset by net growth in total loans of $99.3 million during 2006. The portion of the allowance for loan losses that we allocate to impaired loans pursuant to SFAS No. 114 decreased $1.4 million to $402,000 at December 31, 2006 from $1.8 million at December 31, 2005. Recoveries of $576,000 specific reserves were primarily due to our receipt of current appraisals reflecting increases in the value of certain non-residential real estate securing loans to two health care borrowers. The loans to these borrowers are also partially secured by additional collateral, including home equity and other personal assets, and in the case of one of the borrowers, by marketable securities. Fluctuations in the specific reserves attributable to loans to these borrowers should be expected to occur in the future due to possible changes in the market value of the collateral, and any declines in their market value could result in future provisions for additional specific reserves. Of the $1.4 million decrease in reserves allocated pursuant to

 

48


SFAS No. 114, we charged off $836,000, which included a $693,000 charge-off of a fully reserved commercial loan due to the conclusion of legal proceedings. We acquired this loan in our acquisition of Success Bancshares in 2001 and have been maintaining specific reserves against it since we closed that acquisition. Net loan charge-offs for 2006 were $968,000, or 0.07% of average loans compared to $23,000, 0.00% of average loans, in 2005. Nonperforming loans increased by $3.5 million to $9.2 million at December 31, 2006, from $5.7 million at December 31, 2005. The allowance for loan losses was $10.6 million, or 0.79% of total loans, at December 31, 2006, compared to $11.5 million, or 0.93% of total loans, at December 31, 2005. The allowance for loan losses represented 115.13% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2006, and 201.19% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2005. To the best of our knowledge, we have recorded all losses that are both probable and reasonable to estimate for each reporting period.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. We recorded a provision for loan losses of $518,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to a credit for loan losses of $22,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The provision for loan losses recorded for 2005 reflected net loan growth of $139.9 million during 2005, and the corresponding need to increase the general portion of our allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses allocated to impaired loans decreased $243,000 to $1.8 million at December 31, 2005, from $2.1 million at December 31, 2004. Net loan charge-offs for 2005 were $23,000. The credit recorded for 2004 reflected recoveries of $400,000, which were offset by charge-offs of $1.4 million. The recoveries in 2004 included a $300,000 recovery on a commercial loan that Success National Bank had charged-off prior to our acquisition of Success Bancshares. Nonperforming loans decreased by $801,000 to $5.7 million at December 31, 2005, from $6.5 million at December 31, 2004. The allowance for loan losses was $11.5 million, or 0.93% of total loans at December 31, 2005, compared to $11.0 million, or 1.00% of total loans at December 31, 2004. The allowance for loan losses represented 201.19% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2005, and 168.90% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2004. To the best of our knowledge, we have recorded all losses that are both probable and reasonable to estimate for each reporting period.

Noninterest Income

 

     Years Ended December 31,     Percent Change  
     2006     2005     2004     2006/2005     2005/2004  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Noninterest income:

          

Deposit fees and service charges

   $ 4,198     $ 3,888     $ 3,565     8.0 %   9.1 %

Other fee income

     1,916       1,852       1,568     3.5     18.1  

Insurance commissions and annuities income

     1,321       848       782     55.8     8.4  

Gain on sale of loans

     246       206       321     19.4     (35.8 )

Gain on sales of securities

     101       —         599     N.M.     (100.0 )

Gain on disposition of premises and equipment

     395       21       91     N.M.     (76.9 )

Loan servicing fees

     938       1,031       987     (9.0 )   4.5  

Amortization and impairment of servicing assets

     (448 )     (508 )     (772 )   11.8     34.2  

Operations of real estate owned

     (45 )     4       509     N.M.     (99.2 )

Other

     1,887       1,323       968     42.6     36.7  
                            

Total noninterest income

   $ 10,509     $ 8,665     $ 8,618     21.3     0.5  
                            

N.M. = not meaningful

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. Our noninterest income increased by $1.8 million to $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2006 included approximately $400,000 in noninterest income relating to the operations of the two former University National Bank facilities. We experienced a $310,000, or 8.0%, increase in deposit service charges and fees to $4.2 million, and a $64,000, or 3.5%, increase in other fee income to $1.9 million, of which $218,000 and $77,000, respectively, related to those two facilities. Income from insurance commissions and annuities increased by $473,000, or 55.8%, to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $848,000 for 2005, due to increased activity resulting from the availability of higher market interest rates on fixed annuities and successful sales initiatives. Gains on sales of loans increased by $40,000, or 19.4%, to $246,000 for 2006, from $206,000 for 2005, primarily because of higher loan sale volumes. We recorded a $55,000 gain on the

 

49


redemption of MasterCard Class B common stock and $46,000 in net gains on the sale of investment securities during 2006, while there were no such gains in 2005. We recognized $395,000 in net gains on the disposition of premises and equipment during 2006 compared to $21,000 recognized in 2005. Loan servicing fees decreased $93,000, or 9.0%, to $938,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $1.0 million for 2005. Mortgage servicing rights amortization expense decreased $177,000, or 26.0% to $506,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $683,000 for the same period in 2005. We recorded a mortgage servicing rights valuation reserve recovery of $58,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to a recovery of $175,000 for the same period in 2005. Net expenses from real estate owned totaled $45,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to net revenues of $4,000 for the same period in 2005. Other income increased $564,000, or 42.6%, to $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $1.3 million for 2005, due in part to $106,000 in fees that we recorded in connection with the sale of surplus real estate, a recovery of $42,000 in connection with a prior fraud loss, and a $395,000, or 40.6%, net increase in title insurance agency commissions and fees earned by Financial Title Services, a division of our subsidiary, Financial Assurance Services.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. Our noninterest income increased by $47,000 to $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Deposit service charges and fees increased by $323,000, or 9.1%, to $3.9 million for 2005, from $3.6 million for 2004. Other fee income increased by $284,000, or 18.1%, to $1.9 million for 2005, from $1.6 million for 2004. Insurance commissions and annuities income increased by $66,000, or 8.4%, to $848,000 for 2005, from $782,000 for 2004. Gain on sales of loans decreased $115,000 to $206,000 for 2005, from $321,000 for 2004. This decrease reflected a higher volume of originations of fixed-rate residential mortgage loans for 2004 than 2005, all of which were sold in the secondary mortgage market. We recognized no gain on the sale of securities for 2005, compared to the $599,000 gain on the sale of securities that we recognized for 2004. Amortization and impairment of mortgage servicing rights decreased by $264,000 to $508,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $772,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The higher long-term mortgage rates in 2005 compared to 2004 led to lower expected prepayment rates, which resulted in reduced amortization and impairment of our mortgage servicing rights. Net income from REO operations declined to $4,000 for 2005, compared to $509,000 for 2004, primarily because we did not hold material amounts of REO during 2005. Other income increased $355,000 to $1.3 million in 2005 and included a net increase of $230,000, or 31.0%, in title insurance agency commissions and fees in 2005 compared to 2004.

Noninterest Expense

 

     Years Ended December 31,    Percent Change  
     2006    2005    2004    2006/2005     2005/2004  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Noninterest Expense:

             

Compensation and benefits

   $ 34,454    $ 28,227    $ 25,875    22.1 %   9.1 %

Office occupancy and equipment

     5,602      5,058      5,112    10.8     (1.1 )

Advertising and public relations

     1,193      841      856    41.9     (1.8 )

Information technology

     3,341      2,967      2,765    12.6     7.3  

Supplies, telephone and postage

     2,100      1,901      1,961    10.5     (3.1 )

Amortization of intangibles

     1,873      1,634      1,701    14.6     (3.9 )

Loss on impairment of securities available for sale

     —        —        8,793    —       (100.0 )

Other

     3,807      3,578      3,652    6.4     (2.0 )
                         

Total noninterest expense

   $ 52,370    $ 44,206    $ 50,715    18.5     (12.8 )
                         

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. For the year ended December 31, 2006, noninterest expense increased by $8.2 million, or 18.5%, to $52.4 million, from $44.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The operations of the two former University National Bank facilities contributed approximately $1.4 million to this increase in noninterest expense. Compensation expense increased by $6.3 million, or 22.1%, to $34.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, from $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Expense relating to equity-based compensation and benefits was $5.4 million in 2006, compared to $717,000 during 2005, primarily due to equity-based awards that were made pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan and additional expenses arising from our first full year of making contributions to our ESOP. In addition, $925,000 related to general merit increases, staff

 

50


additions and incentive programs, $319,000 represented increased non-ESOP employee benefit costs, including health care expenses, payroll taxes and 401(k) plan expenses, and approximately $496,000 of increased compensation and commission-related expense at Financial Assurance and its division, Financial Title Services, partially due to higher levels of insurance, annuity and title insurance agency activities. Except for merit increases, we generally target base compensation increases to compare to the consumer price index. Information technology expenses increased by $374,000, or 12.6%, to $3.3 million for 2006, compared to $3.0 million for 2005, primarily due to approximately $132,000 related to our need to maintain a separate core banking data processing system for the two former University National Bank facilities pending the completion of the conversion of that system into our core banking data processing system in the third quarter of 2006 and for expenses paid to an outside consultant for a Sarbanes-Oxley compliant internal controls review, including the design and implementation of enhancements to our corporate performance management and reporting systems. Occupancy and equipment increased $544,000, or 10.8%, to $5.6 million for 2006 compared to $5.1 million for 2005 primarily due to a $185,000 expense for feasibility and design costs related to a possible reconstruction of an existing branch office, to increased maintenance expenses, real estate taxes and energy costs and to the operation of the two former University National Bank facilities. Advertising and public relations expenses increased $352,000, or 41.9% to $1.2 million. Of this amount, approximately $40,000 related to our first Annual Meeting of Stockholders in June of 2006, including the preparation and mailing of proxy materials and our annual report to our stockholders, proxy solicitation and other annual meeting expenses, and approximately $52,000 of this increase related to our acquisition of University National Bank. The remainder of the increase in advertising and public relations was principally due to a cross-media campaign to increase retail and small business deposit relationships at targeted branches. Supplies, telephone and postage expenses increased $199,000, or 10.5%, to $2.1 million. Our acquisition of University National Bank resulted in the recording of a core deposit intangible of $3.3 million, and increased our intangible amortization expense by $239,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Other expenses increased by $229,000, or 6.4%, due a $97,000 adjustment to franchise taxes payable to the State of Illinois due to the extent to which our mutual-to-stock conversion increased our paid-in capital, and to higher insurance, legal and accounting and auditing costs.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, noninterest expense decreased by $6.5 million, or 12.8%, to $44.2 million, from $50.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Noninterest expense for 2004 included an $8.8 million impairment loss, pre-tax, that we recorded in 2004 due to our application of SAB No. 59 to our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac floating rate preferred stocks. Excluding the impact of the loss on impairment of securities available for sale in 2004, noninterest expense would have increased by $2.3 million, or 5.4%. Compensation expense increased by $2.3 million, or 9.1%, to $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $25.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Of this amount, $718,000 related to expenses for the ESOP that we established in connection with our mutual-to-stock conversion. In addition, $694,000 related to the impact of general merit increases, staff additions and incentive programs, $216,000 represented increased non-ESOP employee benefit costs, including health care expenses, payroll taxes and 401(k) plan expenses, and $479,000 represented a reduction in the amount of compensation costs that were capitalized as direct loan origination costs. Except for merit increases, we generally target base compensation increases to compare to the consumer price index. Information technology expenses increased by $202,000, or 7.3%, to $3.0 million for 2005, compared to $2.8 million for 2004, primarily due to expenses paid to an outside consultant for a Sarbanes-Oxley compliant internal controls review, including the design and implementation of enhancements to our corporate performance management and reporting systems. Categories of expense that decreased during 2005 included occupancy and equipment, advertising and public relations, supplies, telephone and postage and other expenses totaling $270,000, or 2.0% of these expense categories.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Comparison of Year 2006 to 2005. For the year ended December 31, 2006, we recorded income tax expense of $4.8 million, compared to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The income tax expense for 2005 reflects $500,000 in tax benefits relating to prior years, the majority of which relates to tax returns for which the applicable statute of limitations expired during the third quarter of 2005. The effective tax rate for 2006 was 32.5% compared to 27.9% in 2005.

Comparison of Year 2005 to 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we recorded income tax expense of $4.3 million, compared to an income tax benefit of $264,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The income tax expense for 2005 reflects $500,000 in tax benefits relating to prior years, the majority of which relates to tax

 

51


returns for which the applicable statute of limitations expired during the third quarter of 2005. The income tax benefit recorded in 2004 was primarily due to the dividends received deduction that we receive in connection with the dividends on our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stocks. The effective tax rate for 2005 was 27.9% compared to a tax benefit recorded in 2004.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The financial statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). GAAP generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.

Management of Interest Rate Risk

Qualitative Analysis. We believe that our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk. Interest rate risk results from timing differences in the maturity or repricing of our assets, liabilities and off balance sheet contracts (i.e., forward loan commitments), the effect of loan prepayments and deposit withdrawals, the difference in the behavior of lending and funding rates arising from the use of different indices and “yield curve risk” arising from changing rate relationships across the spectrum of maturities for constant or variable credit risk investments. In addition to directly affecting net interest income, changes in market interest rates can also affect the amount of new loan originations, the ability of borrowers to repay variable rate loans, the volume of loan prepayments and refinancings, the carrying value of investment securities classified as available-for-sale and the flow and mix of deposits.

The general objective of our interest rate risk management is to determine the appropriate level of risk given our business strategy and then manage that risk in a manner that is consistent with our policy to reduce, to the extent possible, the exposure of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates. Our Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which consists of certain members of senior management, evaluates the interest rate risk inherent in certain assets and liabilities, our operating environment and capital and liquidity requirements, and modifies our lending, investing and deposit gathering strategies accordingly. The Board of Directors’ Asset/Liability Management Committee then reviews the ALCO’s activities and strategies, the effect of those strategies on our net interest margin, and the effect that changes in market interest rates would have on the economic value of our loan and securities portfolios as well as the intrinsic value of our deposits and borrowings, and reports to the full Board of Directors.

We actively evaluate interest rate risk in connection with our lending, investing and deposit activities. In an effort to better manage interest-rate risk, we have increased our focus on the origination of adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans, as well as the origination of nonresidential mortgage loans, adjustable rate construction loans and commercial loans. In addition, depending on market interest rates and our capital and liquidity position, we generally sell all or a portion of our longer-term, fixed-rate residential loans, usually on a servicing-retained basis. Further, we primarily invest in shorter-duration securities, which generally have lower yields compared to longer-term investments. Shortening the average maturity of our interest-earning assets by increasing our investments in shorter-term loans and securities, as well as loans with variable rates of interest, helps to better match the maturities and interest rates of our assets and liabilities, thereby reducing the exposure of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates. Finally, we have classified all of our investment portfolio as available-for-sale so as to provide flexibility in liquidity management.

We utilize a combination of analyses to monitor the Bank’s exposure to changes in interest rates. The economic value of equity analysis is a model that estimates the change in net portfolio value (“NPV”) over a range of interest rate scenarios. NPV is the discounted present value of expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts. In calculating changes in NPV, we assume estimated loan prepayment rates, reinvestment rates and deposit decay rates that seem most likely based on historical experience during prior interest rate changes.

 

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Our net interest income analysis utilizes the data derived from the dynamic GAP analysis, described below, and applies several additional elements, including actual interest rate indices and margins, contractual limitations such as interest rate floors and caps and the US Treasury yield curve as of the balance sheet date. In addition, we apply consistent parallel yield curve shifts (in both directions) to determine possible changes in net interest income if the theoretical yield curve shifts occurred instantaneously. Net interest income analysis also adjusts the dynamic GAP repricing analysis based on changes in prepayment rates resulting from the parallel yield curve shifts.

Our dynamic GAP analysis determines the relative balance between the repricing of assets and liabilities over multiple periods of time (ranging from overnight to five years). Dynamic GAP analysis includes expected cash flows from loans and mortgage-backed securities, applying prepayment rates based on the differential between the current interest rate and the market interest rate for each loan and security type. This analysis identifies mismatches in the timing of asset and liability repricing but does not necessarily provide an accurate indicator of interest rate risk because it omits the factors incorporated into the net interest income analysis.

Quantitative Analysis. The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 2006, the estimated changes in the Bank’s NPV and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel shift in the U.S. Treasury yield curve. Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions including relative levels of market interest rates, loan prepayments and deposit decay, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results.

 

     NPV     Net Interest Income  

Change in

Interest Rates

(basis points)

   Estimated
NPV
  

Estimated Increase (Decrease)

in NPV

   

Estimated

Net Interest
Income

  

Increase (Decrease) in

Estimated Net Interest Income

 
      Amount     Percent        Amount     Percent  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

+300

   $ 288,261    $ (14,166 )   (4.68 )%   $ 52,578    $ (3,608 )   (6.42 )%

+200

     292,588      (9,839 )   (3.25 )     53,312      (2,874 )   (5.12 )

+100

     297,948      (4,479 )   (1.48 )     53,915      (2,271 )   (4.04 )

0

     302,427      —       —         56,186      —       —    

-100

     306,162      3,735     1.24       54,224      (1,962 )   (3.49 )

-200

     307,582      5,155     1.70       54,120      (2,066 )   (3.68 )

-300

     305,827      3,400     1.12       53,905      (2,281 )   (4.06 )

The table set forth above indicates that at December 31, 2006, in the event of an immediate 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, the Bank would be expected to experience a 1.70% increase in NPV and a $2.1 million decrease in net interest income. In the event of an immediate 200 basis point increase in interest rates, the Bank would be expected to experience a 3.25% decrease in NPV and a $2.9 million decrease in net interest income. This data does not reflect any actions that we may undertake in response to changes in interest rates, such as changes in rates paid on certain deposit accounts based on local competitive factors, which could reduce the actual impact on NPV and net interest income, if any.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodology used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes in NPV and net interest income requires that we make certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. The NPV and net interest income table presented above assumes that the composition of our interest-rate sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the beginning of a period remains constant over the period being measured and, accordingly, the data does not reflect any actions that we may undertake in response to changes in interest rates, such as changes in rates paid on certain deposit accounts based on local competitive factors. The table also assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration to maturity or the repricing characteristics of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the NPV and net interest income table provides an indication of our sensitivity to interest rate changes at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and will differ from actual results.

 

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Liquidity Management

Liquidity Management - Bank. The overall objective of our liquidity management is to ensure the availability of sufficient cash funds to meet all financial commitments and to take advantage of investment opportunities. We manage liquidity in order to meet deposit withdrawals on demand or at contractual maturity, to repay borrowings as they mature, and to fund new loans and investments as opportunities arise.

Our primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and securities, and, to a lesser extent, wholesale borrowings, the proceeds from maturing securities and short-term investments, and the proceeds from the sales of loans and securities. The scheduled amortization of loans and securities, as well as proceeds from borrowings, are predictable sources of funds. Other funding sources, however, such as deposit inflows, mortgage prepayments and mortgage loan sales are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Our primary investing activities are the origination for investment or sale of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, the origination for investment of multi-family mortgage, nonresidential real estate, commercial leases, construction, commercial and other loans, and the purchase of investment securities and mortgage-backed securities. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, our loans originated for sale totaled $23.9 million, $20.8 million and $47.6 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, our loans originated for investment totaled $659.9 million, $493.5 million and $427.5 million, respectively. Purchases of loans totaled $34.5 million, $113.9 million and $115.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Purchases of securities available-for-sale totaled $95.1million, $10.7 billion and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The significantly high level of purchases in 2005 reflects the impact of holding and temporarily investing approximately $436.8 million of subscription order receipts pending completion of the mutual-to-stock conversion.

These activities were funded primarily by principal repayments on loans and securities, and the sale of loans and securities. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, principal repayments on loans totaled $614.6 million, $442.5 million and $439.1 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, principal repayments on securities available-for-sale totaled $30.0 million, $45.8 million and $44.2 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, proceeds from maturities on securities available-for-sale totaled $51.8 million, $10.7 billion and $525,000, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, the proceeds from the sale of loans totaled $24.7 million, $26.1 million and $47.7 million, respectively. In addition, during the years ended December 31, 2005, and 2004 we securitized $24.2 million and $78.6 million of conforming adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the proceeds from the sale of securities available-for-sale totaled $230.0 million and from the redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago stock totaled $9.8 million.

Loan origination commitments totaled $22.8 million at December 31, 2006, and consisted of $15.1 million of fixed-rate loans and $7.7 million of adjustable-rate loans. Unused lines of credit and standby letters of credit granted to customers were $229.7 million and $3.5 million, respectively, at December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2006, commitments to sell mortgages totaled $2.8 million.

Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and other conditions on deposit products offered by our banking competitors, and other factors. We had net deposit outflows of $41.8 million, $47.8 million, and net deposit increase of $42.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. At times during recent periods, we have not actively competed for higher cost deposit accounts, including certificates of deposit, choosing instead to fund loan growth from the repayment of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. With the completion of our subscription offering during June of 2005, we specifically allowed the level of wholesale certificates of deposit to decline as we deployed these proceeds over the short term. Certificates of deposit that are scheduled to mature in one year or less from December 31, 2006 totaled $281.1 million. Based upon prior experience and our current pricing strategy, we believe that a significant portion of these deposits will remain with us.

 

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We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet current loan commitments and lines of credit and maturing certificates of deposit that are not reinvested with us. We generally remain fully invested and utilize additional sources of funds through FHLBC advances, of which $130.0 million were outstanding at December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2006 we had the ability to borrow an additional $167.0 million under our credit facilities with the FHLBC. Furthermore, we have unpledged securities that could be used to support borrowings in excess of $25.0 million. Finally, at December 31, 2006 we had available pre-approved overnight federal funds borrowing lines of $65.0 million and a line of credit available with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago of $20.3 million. At December 31, 2006, there was no outstanding balance on these credit lines.

We minimize the funds required to originate one- to four-family residential mortgage loans in two ways. We sell in the secondary market virtually all of our eligible fixed-rate one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. From time to time, we also securitize the conforming adjustable-rate one- to four-family residential mortgage loans that we originate and hold the securities we receive in exchange, although we did not complete any securitizations during 2006. The resulting mortgage-backed securities that we retain on our balance sheet can be sold more readily to meet our liquidity or interest rate management needs. Because the securities carry a lower risk-weight than the underlying loans, the securitizations also lower our regulatory capital requirements.

Liquidity Management - Company. The liquidity needs of the Company on an unconsolidated basis consist primarily of operating expenses, dividends to stockholders and stock repurchases. The primary source of liquidity for the Company currently is $37 million of cash and cash equivalents and periodic cash dividends from the Bank.

During 2006, there were $10.5 million of dividends paid to the Company by the Bank. Under the rules of the OTS, the Bank is not permitted to pay dividends on its capital stock to the Company, its sole stockholder, if the dividend would reduce the Bank’s stockholder’s equity below the amount of the liquidation account established in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion. The Bank may pay dividends without the approval of the OTS so long as the Bank meets its applicable regulatory capital requirements before and after the payment of the dividends and its total dividends do not exceed its net income to date over the calendar year plus retained net income over the preceding two years. The OTS has discretion to prohibit permissible capital distributions on general safety and soundness grounds and must be given 30 days advance notice of all capital distributions from the Bank to the Company, including dividends. At January 1, 2007, the Bank had the ability to pay dividends of $9.3 million to the Company without the prior approval of the OTS.

During 2006, the Company expended approximately $24 million to complete the purchase of University National Bank, $17.3 million to repurchase shares of our common stock and paid $4.4 million in cash dividends to stockholders. These funds were sourced from existing cash and cash equivalents held by the Company.

As of December 31, 2006, we were not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that have or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our liquidity. As of December 31, 2006, we had no other material commitments for capital expenditures.

Capital Management

Capital Management - Bank. The overall objectives of our capital management are to ensure the availability of sufficient capital to support loan, deposit and other asset and liability growth opportunities and to maintain capital to absorb unforeseen losses or writedowns that are inherent in the business risks associated within the banking industry. We seek to balance the need for higher capital levels to address such unforeseen risks and the goal to achieve an adequate return on the capital invested by our stockholders.

The Bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

 

55


The prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications, including well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, capital distributions are limited, as is asset growth and expansion, and plans for capital restoration are required.

Following the completion of the mutual-to-stock conversion, the Company contributed $120.9 million of the net proceeds from the subscription offering to the Bank as additional equity capital. This contribution represented an approximate doubling of the capital base of the Bank. Offsetting this contribution was the impact of the $19.6 million borrowed by our ESOP, which represents a reduction in capital as unearned compensation expense.

At year-end, actual capital ratios and minimum required ratios for the Bank were:

 

     Actual Ratio    

Minimum

Required for
Capital

Adequacy
Purposes

   

Minimum Required to

Be Well Capitalized

Under Prompt

Corrective Action
Provisions

 

December 31, 2006

      

Total capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   20.09 %   8.00 %   10.00 %

Tier 1 (core) capital (to risk-weighted assets)

   19.26     4.00     6.00  

Tier 1 (core) capital (to adjusted total assets)

   15.05     4.00     5.00  

December 31, 2005

      

Total capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   19.01 %   8.00 %   10.00 %

Tier 1 (core) capital (to risk-weighted assets)

   18.21     4.00     6.00  

Tier 1 (core) capital (to adjusted total assets)

   13.82     4.00     5.00  

See Note 14 – Regulatory Matters in our Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of regulatory capital.

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Office of Thrift Supervision categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since those notifications that management believes have changed the institution’s category.

Capital Management – Company. On June 23, 2005, the Company completed its mutual-to-stock conversion and sold 24,466,250 shares of common stock in a subscription offering at $10.00 per share and raised $240.3 million (net of offering expenses). The Company contributed $120.9 million of the net proceeds to the Bank, paid off $30 million of term debt, loaned $19.6 million to our ESOP and retained the remaining proceeds of approximately $72 million. As a result of this offering, the Company has capital levels substantially above that required to support the current size and risk profile of the Company and its subsidiary, the Bank.

Stockholders’ equity totaled $326.0 million at December 31, 2006, compared to $328.8 million at December 31, 2005, a decrease of $2.8 million, or 0.8%. This decrease was primarily due to the payment of $4.4 million in cash dividends and the repurchase and retirement of 977,300 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $17.3 million during the last four months of 2006, which was partially offset by net income of $10.0 million and a $3.2 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income.

The OTS has no specific quantitative capital regulations for savings and loan holding companies on either a consolidated or unconsolidated basis to which the Company must comply. There are several capital measurements that the OTS uses to evaluate the adequacy of a savings and loan holding company’s capital. One measurement is the tangible capital ratio. The tangible capital ratio (the ratio of tangible capital to tangible total assets (stockholders’ equity less goodwill and intangible assets divided by total assets less goodwill and intangible assets)) for the Company on a consolidated basis measures the percentage of consolidated tangible equity capital supporting our consolidated tangible total assets. The tangible equity ratio was 18.58% at December 31, 2006, compared to 19.41% at December 31, 2005.

 

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As stated in our Prospectus dated April 15, 2005, our strategy for utilizing the capital raised in the offering encompasses several components, including debt reduction, funding our ESOP, financing acquisitions, paying dividends to stockholders, repurchasing shares of our common stock and for other general corporate purposes. In addition to the capital distribution regulations (See “Supervision and Regulation—Federal Banking Regulation—Capital Distributions), under current OTS regulations, we were not permitted to repurchase shares of our common stock during the first year following the conversion, except when extraordinary circumstances exist and with prior regulatory approval.

On August 30, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to 2,446,625 shares of BankFinancial’s common stock, which represented approximately 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The authorization permits shares to be repurchased in open market or negotiated transactions, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The authorization may be utilized at management’s discretion, subject to the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements, and to price and other internal limitations established by the Company’s Board of Directors. The authorization will expire on March 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2006, we had repurchased 977,300 shares of common stock under this authorization. For additional information, see “Part II. Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. Repurchases of Our Equity Securities.”

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

Commitments. As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, unused lines of credit and commitments to sell loans. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans made by us. Although we consider commitments to extend credit in determining our allowance for loan losses, at December 31, 2006, we had made no provision for losses on commitments to extend credit, and had no specific or general allowance for losses on such commitments, as we have had no historical loss experience with commitments to extend credit and we believed that no probable and reasonably estimable losses were inherent in our portfolio as a result of our commitments to extend credit. For additional information, see Note 15, “Loan Commitments and Other Related Activities,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Contractual Obligations. In the ordinary course of our operations, we enter into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include operating leases for premises and equipment.

The following table summarizes our significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations and other funding needs by payment date at December 31, 2006. The payment amounts represent those amounts due to the recipient and do not include any unamortized premiums or discounts or other similar carrying amount adjustments.

 

     Payments Due by Period

Contractual Obligations

  

Less than

One Year

   One to Three
Years
   Three to Five
Years
   More than
Five Years
   Total
     (Dollars in thousands)

Certificates of deposit

   $ 281,126    $ 60,542    $ 3,782    $ —      $ 345,450

Borrowings

     103,148      10,000      25,000      —        138,148

Standby letters of credit

     2,726      673      25      40      3,464

Operating leases

     705      859      674      7,943      10,181
                                  

Total

   $ 387,705    $ 72,074    $ 29,481    $ 7,983    $ 497,243
                                  

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 256,078    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 256,078
                                  

 

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

For information regarding market risk see Item 7- “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operation” – Management of Interest Rate Risk.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

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REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management of BankFinancial Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting.

Management evaluates the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and tests for reliability of recorded financial information through a program of ongoing internal audits. Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Management assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the “Internal Control-Integrated Framework,” adopted by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management concludes that, as of December 31, 2006, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued their report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. That report follows under the heading, Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

 

/s/ F. Morgan Gasior

 

/s/ Paul A. Cloutier

F. Morgan Gasior   Paul A. Cloutier
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

59


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition of BankFinancial Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006. We also have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements, an opinion on management’s assessment, and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of BankFinancial Corporation as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

 

    Crowe Chizek and Company LLC

Oak Brook, Illinois

 

March 8, 2007

 

 

60


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

December 31, 2006 and 2005

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    

December 31,

2006

   

December 31,

2005

 

ASSETS

    

Cash and due from other financial institutions

   $ 38,286     $ 34,437  

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

     29,051       3,589  
                

Cash and cash equivalents

     67,337       38,026  

Securities available-for-sale, at fair value

     117,853       248,238  

Loans held-for-sale

     298       375  

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses:

    

December 31, 2006, $10,622; and December 31, 2005, $11,514

     1,329,915       1,231,891  

Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank, at cost

     15,598       25,434  

Premises and equipment, net

     35,005       32,819  

Accrued interest receivable

     7,869       6,598  

Goodwill

     22,579       10,865  

Core deposit intangible

     9,648       8,248  

Other assets

     7,020       11,942  
                

Total assets

   $ 1,613,122     $ 1,614,436  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Liabilities

    

Deposits

     1,129,585       1,067,874  

Borrowings

     138,148       191,388  

Advance payments by borrowers taxes and insurance

     8,285       7,969  

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

     11,089       18,428  
                

Total liabilities

     1,287,107       1,285,659  

Commitments and contingent liabilities

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized,

none issued or outstanding

     —         —    

Common Stock, $0.01 par value, shares authorized: 100,000,000;

shares issued at December 31, 2006, 24,304,950

and at December 31, 2005, 24,466,250

     243       245  

Additional paid-in capital

     227,741       240,235  

Retained earnings, substantially restricted

     113,128       107,528  

Unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares

     (18,105 )     (19,084 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     3,008       (147 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     326,015       328,777  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,613,122     $ 1,614,436  
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

61


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Interest and dividend income

      

Loans, including fees

   $ 83,502     $ 66,618     $ 57,070  

Securities

     9,184       11,640       8,144  

Other

     1,400       1,954       1,524  
                        

Total interest income

     94,086       80,212       66,738  

Interest expense

      

Deposits

     29,957       20,598       14,198  

Borrowings

     7,532       8,204       9,272  
                        

Total interest expense

     37,489       28,802       23,470  
                        

Net interest income

     56,597       51,410       43,268  

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     (136 )     518       (22 )
                        

Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses

     56,733       50,892       43,290  

Noninterest income

      

Deposit service charges and fees

     4,198       3,888       3,565  

Other fee income

     1,916       1,852       1,568  

Insurance commissions and annuities income

     1,321       848       782  

Gain on sale of loans

     246       206       321  

Gain on sale of securities

     101       —         599  

Gain on disposition of premises and equipment

     395       21       91  

Loan servicing fees

     938       1,031       987  

Amortization and impairment of servicing assets

     (448 )     (508 )     (772 )

Operations of real estate owned

     (45 )     4       509  

Other

     1,887       1,323       968  
                        

Total noninterest income

     10,509       8,665       8,618  

Noninterest expense

      

Compensation and benefits

     34,454       28,227       25,875  

Office occupancy and equipment

     5,602       5,058       5,112  

Advertising and public relations

     1,193       841       856  

Information technology

     3,341       2,967       2,765  

Supplies, telephone, and postage

     2,100       1,901       1,961  

Amortization of intangibles

     1,873       1,634       1,701  

Loss on impairment of securities available for sale

     —         —         8,793  

Other

     3,807       3,578       3,652  
                        

Total noninterest expense

     52,370       44,206       50,715  
                        

Income before income taxes

     14,872       15,351       1,193  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     4,826       4,278       (264 )
                        

Net income

   $ 10,046     $ 11,073     $ 1,457  
                        

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.45     $ 0.29       N.A.  
                  

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.45     $ 0.29       N.A.  
                  

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     22,368,032       22,539,693       N.A.  

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

     22,372,228       22,539,693       N.A.  

N.A. = Not Applicable

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

62


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

(In thousands)

 

    

Common

Stock

    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Unearned
Employee
Stock
Ownership
Plan Shares
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total     Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Balance at December 31, 2003    $ —       $ —       $ 94,998     $ —       $ 1,689     $ 96,687    

Comprehensive loss

              

Net income

     —         —         1,457       —         —         1,457     $ 1,457  

Change in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax effects

     —         —         —         —         (3,256 )     (3,256 )     (3,256 )
                    

Total comprehensive loss

               $ (1,799 )
                                                        
Balance at December 31, 2004    $ —       $ —       $ 96,455     $ —       $ (1,567 )   $ 94,888    

Comprehensive income

              

Net income

     —         —         11,073       —         —         11,073     $ 11,073  

Change in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax effects

     —         —         —         —         1,420       1,420       1,420  
                    

Total comprehensive income

               $ 12,493  
                    

Net proceeds from common stock issued

     245       240,007       —         (19,573 )     —         220,679    

ESOP shares earned

     —         228       —         489       —         717    
                                                  
Balance at December 31, 2005    $ 245     $ 240,235     $ 107,528     $ (19,084 )   $ (147 )   $ 328,777    

Comprehensive income:

              

Net income

     —         —         10,046       —         —         10,046     $ 10,046  

Change in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax effects

     —         —         —         —         3,155       3,155       3,155  
                    

Total comprehensive income

               $ 13,201  
                    

Purchase and retirement of common stock (977,300 shares)

     (10 )     (17,280 )     —         —         —         (17,290 )  

Nonvested stock awards:

              

Issuance of shares of restricted stock (816,000 shares)

     8       (8 )     —         —         —         —      

Stock-based compensation expense

     —         4,030       —         —         —         4,030    

Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.18 per share)

     —         —         (4,446 )     —         —         (4,446 )  

ESOP shares earned

     —         764       —         979       —         1,743    
                                                  
Balance at December 31, 2006    $ 243     $ 227,741     $ 113,128     $ (18,105 )   $ 3,008     $ 326,015    
                                                  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

63


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

(In thousands)

 

     2006     2005     2004  
Cash flows from operating activities       

Net income

   $ 10,046     $ 11,073     $ 1,457  

Adjustments to reconcile to net income to net cash

From operating activities

      

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     (136 )     518       (22 )

ESOP shares earned

     1,743       717       —    

Stock-based compensation expense

     4,030       —         —    

Depreciation and amortization

     3,441       3,561       3,500  

Amortization of premiums and discounts

     (3 )     269       161  

Amortization of core deposit and other intangible assets

     1,888       2,109       2,837  

Amortization and impairment of servicing assets

     448       508       772  

Amortization of premium on early extinguishment of debt

     —         388       2,499  

Net change in net deferred loan origination costs

     117       (445 )     (381 )

Net loss (gain) on sale of real estate owned

     18       —         (542 )

Net gain on sale of loans

     (246 )     (206 )     (321 )

Net gain on sale of securities

     (101 )     —         (599 )

Loss on impairment of securities available for sale

     —         —         8,793  

Net gain on disposition of premises and equipment

     (395 )     —         —    

Loans originated for sale

     (23,888 )     (20,775 )     (47,631 )

Proceeds from sale of loans

     24,711       26,137       47,701  

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago stock dividends

     —         (1,208 )     (1,420 )

Net change in:

      

Deferred income tax

     2,458       633       (395 )

Accrued interest receivable

     (721 )     (1,178 )     (219 )

Other assets

     (2,287 )     (410 )     (621 )

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

     (7,725 )     8,046       (1,197 )
                        

Net cash from operating activities

     13,398       29,737       14,372  
Cash flows from investing activities       

Securities available-for-sale

      

Proceeds from sales

     229,990       —         10,551  

Proceeds from maturities

     51,839       10,656,891       525  

Proceeds from principal repayments

     30,001       45,821       44,213  

Purchases of securities

     (95,086 )     (10,656,506 )     (1,510 )

Loans receivable

      

Principal payments on loans receivable

     614,604       442,486       439,065  

Purchases of loans

     (34,455 )     (113,877 )     (115,166 )

Originated for investment

     (659,864 )     (493,514 )     (427,457 )

Proceeds from redemption of stock in Federal Home Loan Bank

     9,836       —         —    

Proceeds from sale of real estate owned

     114       —         2,733  

Purchase of premises and equipment, net

     (1,154 )     (2,320 )     (2,312 )

Cash paid, net of cash and cash equivalents, in acquisition

     (13,368 )     —         —    
                        

Net cash from investing activities

     132,457       (121,019 )     (49,358 )

 

(Continued)

64


BANFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

(In thousands)

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Cash flows from financing activities

      

Net change in deposits

   $ (41,812 )   $ (47,822 )   $ 42,085  

Net change in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and

Insurance

     244       895       (449 )

Net change in borrowings

     (53,240 )     (73,742 )     (5,982 )

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

     —         220,679       —    

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

     (17,290 )     —         —    

Cash dividends paid on common stock

     (4,446 )     —         —    
                        

Net cash from financing activities

     (116,544 )     100,010       35,654  
                        

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     29,311       8,728       668  

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     38,026       29,298       28,630  
                        

Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 67,337     $ 38,026     $ 29,298  
                        

Supplemental disclosures:

      

Interest paid

   $ 37,366     $ 28,247     $ 21,144  

Income taxes paid

     3,670       3,200       —    

Loans transferred to other real estate

     —         153       557  

Loans securitized

     —         24,213       78,626  

Due from broker for sale of securities not settled

     —         —         205  

Supplemental Disclosures of Noncash Investing Activities—Acquisition

      

Noncash assets acquired:

      

Investment securities available for sale

   $ 81,014     $ —       $ —    

Loans, net

     17,782       —         —    

Premises and equipment, net

     2,878       —         —    

Goodwill, net

     11,714       —         —    

Other intangible assets, net

     3,272       —         —    

Other assets

     999       —         —    
                        

Total noncash assets acquired

     117,659       —         —    
                        

Liabilities assumed:

      

Deposits

   $ 103,485     $ —       $ —    

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     806       —         —    
                        

Total liabilities assumed

     104,291       —         —    
                        

Cash paid, net of cash and cash equivalents, in acquisition

   $ 13,368     $ —       $ —    
                        

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

65


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation: BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation organized in 2004 (the “Company”), became the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BankFinancial, F.S.B. (the “Bank”) on June 23, 2005, upon the consummation of a plan of conversion and reorganization adopted by the predecessor holding companies for the Bank, BankFinancial MHC, Inc. (“BankFinancial MHC”) and BankFinancial Corporation, a federal corporation.

Pursuant to the plan of conversion and reorganization, BankFinancial MHC converted from the mutual form of ownership to the stock form of ownership through a series of transactions that terminated the separate corporate existences of BankFinancial MHC and BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation. BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, then sold 24,466,250 shares of common stock in a subscription offering for $10.00 per share, and became the sole stockholder of the Bank. For a further discussion of BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, and the operations of BankFinancial MHC, BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, and the Bank for certain periods prior to the consummation of the conversion and reorganization, see the Company’s Prospectus as filed on April 29, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities Act of 1933 (File Number 333-119217).

BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, did not engage in any business prior to the consummation of the conversion and reorganization on June 23, 2005. Consequently, the 2005 consolidated financial statements reflect the financial condition and operating results of BankFinancial MHC, Inc., BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, and their subsidiaries until June 23, 2005, and of BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries thereafter. The words “Company,” “we” and “our” are therefore intended to refer to BankFinancial MHC, BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, and their subsidiaries, including the Bank, with respect to matters and time periods occurring on or before June 23, 2005, and to refer to BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, with respect to matters and time periods occurring thereafter.

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of and transactions of BankFinancial MHC, Inc., BankFinancial Corporation, the federal corporation, BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, the Bank, and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Financial Assurance Services, Inc. and BankFinancial Asset Recovery Corporation (collectively, “the Company”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Nature of Business: The Company’s revenues, operating income, and assets are primarily from the banking industry. All of the Company’s banking operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment for financial reporting purposes as defined by SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.” Loan origination customers are mainly located in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. To supplement loan originations, the Company purchases mortgage loans for which the underlying collateral is predominantly located in Illinois. The loan portfolio is concentrated in loans that are primarily secured by real estate.

Use of Estimates: To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and future results could differ. The allowance for loan losses, loan servicing rights, impairment of securities and fair value of financial instruments are particularly subject to change.

Interest-bearing Deposits in Other Financial Institutions: Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions maturing in less than 90 days and are carried at cost.

 

66


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Cash Flows: Cash and cash equivalents include cash, deposits with other financial institutions maturing in less than 90 days, and daily federal funds sold. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions, borrowings, and advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance.

Securities: Debt securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are classified as available-for-sale. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of tax. Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities where prepayments are anticipated. Gains and losses on sales are based on the amortized cost of the security sold. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are other-than-temporary are reflected as realized losses. In determining if losses are other-than-temporary, management considers: (1) the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost or adjusted cost, as applicable (2) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security for a period sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock: The Bank is a member of the FHLB system. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost and classified as a restricted security. Because this stock is viewed as a long term investment, impairment is based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

Loans Held for Sale: Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or market, as determined by outstanding commitments from investors. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings.

Mortgage loans held for sale are generally sold with servicing rights retained. The carrying value of mortgage loans sold is reduced by the cost allocated to the servicing right. Gains and losses on sales of mortgage loans are based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loan sold.

Loans and Loan Income: Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses, premiums and discounts on loans purchased, and net deferred loan costs. Interest income on loans is recognized in income over the term of the loan based on the amount of principal outstanding.

Premiums and discounts associated with loans purchased are amortized over the contractual term of the loan using the level-yield method.

Interest income is reported on the interest method and includes amortization of net deferred loan fees and costs over the contractual loan term, adjusted for prepayments. Interest income is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the loan is well-secured and in process of collection. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

All interest accrued but not received for loans placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

 

67


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Allowance for Loan Losses: The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan loss experience; the nature and volume of the portfolio; information about specific borrower situations; and estimated collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.

The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired or loans otherwise classified as substandard or doubtful. The general component covers nonclassified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors.

A loan is impaired when full payment under the loan terms is not expected. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are individually evaluated for impairment. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance is allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as consumer and residential real estate loans, are collectively evaluated for impairment, and accordingly, they are not separately identified for impairment disclosures.

Mortgage Servicing Rights: Mortgage servicing rights are recognized as assets for purchased rights and for the allocated value of retained servicing rights on loans sold. Mortgage servicing rights are expensed in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. Impairment is evaluated based on the fair value of the assets, using groupings of the underlying loans as to interest rates and then, secondarily, prepayment characteristics. Any impairment of a grouping is reported as a valuation allowance.

The estimated fair value of mortgage servicing rights is the present value of the expected future cash flows over the projected life of the loan. Assumptions used in the present value calculation are based on actual performance of the underlying servicing along with general market consensus.

Real Estate Owned: Real estate properties acquired in collection of a loan are initially recorded at fair value at acquisition, establishing a new cost basis. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Expenses, gains and losses on disposition, and changes in the valuation allowance are reported in noninterest income.

Premises and Equipment: Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is included in noninterest expense and is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Useful lives are estimated to be 25 to 40 years for buildings and improvements that extend the life of the original building, 10 to 20 years for routine building improvements, 5 to 15 years for furniture and equipment, 2 to 5 years for computer hardware and software and no greater than 4 years on automobiles. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred and significant repairs are capitalized.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill results from business acquisitions and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment will be recognized in the period identified. There was no impairment to goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Other intangible assets consist of core deposit intangible assets arising from whole bank acquisitions. They are initially measured at fair value and then are amortized on an accelerated method over their estimated useful lives.

 

68


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Long-Term Assets: Premises and equipment, core deposit and other intangible assets, and other long-term assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments: Financial instruments include off-balance-sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Income Taxes: Income tax expense is the sum of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Retirement Plans: Employee 401(k) and profit sharing plan expense is the amount of matching contributions and any annual discretionary contribution made at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. Deferred compensation expense allocates the benefits over years of service.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”): The cost of shares issued to the ESOP, but not yet allocated to participants, is shown as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. Compensation expense is based on the market price of shares as they are committed to be released to participant accounts. Dividends on allocated ESOP shares reduce retained earnings; dividends on unearned ESOP shares reduce debt and accrued interest.

Earnings Per Common Share: Basic earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. ESOP shares are considered outstanding for this calculation unless unearned. Dilutive earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effect of restricted stock shares and the additional potential shares issuable under stock options.

Loss Contingencies: Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe that there now are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.

Restrictions on Cash: Cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of $11.8 million and $10.6 million was required to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These balances do not earn interest.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments: Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market value information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

Comprehensive Income (Loss): Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, which are also recognized as separate components of stockholders’ equity.

Stock-based Compensation: In 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-based Payment following stockholder approval of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Accordingly, the Company has recorded stock-based employee compensation cost using the fair value method. Prior to June 27, 2006, there was no stock-based compensation plan.

 

69


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Transfers of Financial Assets: Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards: Effective June 28, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), Share-based Payment. See “Stock-based Compensation” above for further discussion of the effect of adopting this standard.

In September 2006, the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued SAB 108, which was issued to address diversity in practice in quantifying financial statement misstatements and the potential under current practice for the build up of improper amounts on the balance sheet. The adoption of SAB 108 had no effect on the Company’s financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2006.

Effect of Newly Issued But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards:

In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments-an amendment to FASB Statements No. 133 and 140. This Statement permits fair value re-measurement for any hybrid financial instruments, clarifies which instruments are subject to the requirements of Statement No. 133, and establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets and other items. The new standard is effective for financial assets acquired or issued after the beginning of the entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. Management does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets – an amendment to FASB Statement No. 140.” The new standard requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability each time it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract in any of the following situations: (1) a transfer of financial assets that meets the requirements for sale accounting; (2) a transfer of financial assets to a special purpose entity in a guaranteed mortgage securitization and the transferor retains the securitized assets and classifies them as available for sale or trading securities pursuant to SFAS No. 115; or (3) an acquisition or assumption of an obligation to service a financial asset not related to the servicer or its consolidated affiliates. The servicing assets and liabilities must initially be measured at fair value, if practicable, and the assets or liabilities either be amortized or recorded at fair value at each reporting date. SFAS No. 156 allows a one-time reclassification for entities with servicing rights. It also requires a separate presentation of servicing assets and servicing liabilities at fair value in the statement of financial position. SFAS No. 156 is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after September 15, 2006, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company will implement this standard as of the beginning of our fiscal year 2007. The Company currently uses the amortization method to account for our mortgage servicing rights and we expect to continue this practice after implementation of SFAS No. 156. Therefore, we do not expect the adoption of this standard will have a significant impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), which was issued to require that all tax positions be evaluated using consistent criteria and measurement and further supplemented by enhanced disclosure. FIN 48, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” prescribes the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. This interpretation provides clear criteria for subsequently recognizing, derecognizing, and measuring such tax positions for financial statement purposes, as well as provides guidance on accrual of interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective January 1, 2007 for calendar year-end companies. Differences between the

 

70


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

amounts recognized in the statements of financial position prior to the adoption of FIN 48 and the amounts reported after adoption would be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded to the beginning balance of retained earnings. The cumulative-effect adjustment would not apply to those items that would not have been recognized in earnings, such as the effect of adopting FIN 48 on tax positions related to business combinations. The Company has evaluated the impact of the pronouncement and believes there would be no impact to the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” to provide guidance on how to measure fair value, which would apply broadly to financial and non-financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value under other authoritative accounting pronouncements. The statement defines fair value, provides a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs that should be used in valuation techniques used to measure fair value, and expands current disclosures about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities. The disclosures focus on the methods used for the measurements and their effect on earnings and would apply whether the assets were measured at fair value in all periods, such as trading securities, or in only some periods, such as for impaired assets. A transition adjustment would be recognized as a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings for the fiscal year in which statement is initially adopted. This adjustment is measured as the difference between the carrying amounts and the fair values of those financial instruments at the date of adoption. The statement is effective January 1, 2008 for calendar-year companies and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will adopt the statement on January 1, 2008. The fair value disclosures required by this statement will be effective or the first interim period in which the statement is adopted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the statement on its financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.

NOTE 2 - ACQUISITIONS

On April 5, 2006, the Company acquired University National Bank, a privately held community bank with approximately $113 million in assets, including $10.7 in cash and cash equivalents, and $104 million in deposits, and two banking offices in the Hyde Park community in Chicago, Illinois, for approximately $24 million in cash pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement with University Bancorporation dated November 29, 2005. The Company believes that the acquisition of University National Bank will be beneficial as it expands our presence in metropolitan Chicago, compliments our existing branch network and allows for the extension of our products and services into these communities. Immediately upon the completion of the stock purchase, University National Bank was merged into the Bank. The acquisition, which was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, resulted in goodwill of $11.7 million and an other intangible of $3.3 million. The core deposit intangible will be amortized over its estimated useful life. Goodwill will not be amortized but instead evaluated periodically for impairment. The transaction was treated, for federal and state income tax purposes, as a purchase of University National Bank’s assets pursuant to applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, making the goodwill and core deposit intangible arising from the transaction tax-deductible over a period of 15 years. University National Bank’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations only since the effective date of the acquisition. The acquisition was deemed to be an immaterial acquisition under GAAP, as such additional disclosures have been omitted.

 

71


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 3 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Amounts reported in earnings per share reflect earnings available to common stockholders for the period divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, exclusive of unearned ESOP shares and unvested restricted stock shares. Stock options and restricted stock are regarded as potential common stock and are considered in the diluted earnings per share calculations to the extent that they would have a dilutive effect if converted to common stock computed. Earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2005 is calculated based on the period of time from the completion date of our mutual-to-stock conversion, June 23, 2005, through the period ended December 31, 2005.

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2006     2005     2004

Net income

   $ 10,046     $ 11,073     $ 1,457

Less: net income before conversion

     —         4,457       1,457
                      

Net income available to common stockholders

   $ 10,046     $ 6,616     $ —  
                      

Average common shares outstanding

     24,468,293       24,466,250       —  

Less: Unearned ESOP shares

     (1,863,247 )     (1,926,557 )     —  

Unvested restricted stock shares

     (237,014 )     —         —  
                      

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     22,368,032       22,539,693       —  
                      
Basic earnings per common share    $ 0.45     $ 0.29       N.A.
                  

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2006    2005    2004

Net income

   $ 10,046    $ 11,073    $ 1,457

Less: net income before conversion

     —        4,457      1,457
                    

Net income available to common stockholders

   $ 10,046    $ 6,616    $ —  
                    

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     22,368,032      22,539,693      —  

Add: net effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted stock

     4,196      —        —  
                    

Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding

     22,372,228      22,539,693      —  
                    
Dilutive earnings per common share    $ 0.45    $ 0.29      N.A.
                

Number of antidilutive stock options excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation

     1,301,000      N.A.      N.A.

Weighted average exercise price of anti-dilutive option shares

   $ 17.63      N.A.      N.A.

N.A. – not applicable

 

72


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 - SECURITIES

The fair value of securities available-for-sale and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31 is as follows:

 

     Fair Value   

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

  

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

2006

        

Municipal

   $ 2,711    $ 52    $ (1 )

Mortgage-backed securities

     19,803      161      (69 )

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     5,881      41      (1 )

SBA-guaranteed loan participation certificates

     623      1      (6 )

Corporate bonds and other securities

     45,723      —        (23 )

Equity securities

     43,112      4,837      —    
                      
   $ 117,853    $ 5,092    $ (100 )
                      

2005

        

Municipal

   $ 3,145    $ 62    $ (2 )

Mortgage-backed securities

     154,428      228      (3,764 )

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     1,642      27      —    

SBA-guaranteed loan participation certificates

     1,853      1      (7 )

Equity securities

     87,170      4,010      (800 )
                      
   $ 248,238    $ 4,328    $ (4,573 )
                      

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations consist of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) issues at December 31, 2006 and 2005. Equity securities consist of Freddie Mac preferred stock at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and include Fannie Mae preferred stock at December 31, 2005. All of our investment securities reflected in the preceding table were classified as available-for-sale.

The fair values of securities available-for-sale at December 31, 2006 by contractual maturity are shown below. Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

     2006

Due in one year or less

   $ 46,173

Due after one year through five years

     1,723

Due after five years through ten years

     538
      
     48,434

Mortgage-backed securities

     19,803

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     5,881

SBA-guaranteed loan participation certificates

     623

Equity securities

     43,112
      

Total

   $ 117,853
      

Securities pledged at December 31, 2006 and 2005 had a carrying amount of $36.9 million and $78.8 million, respectively, and were pledged to secure certain depository relationships, advances from the FHLB of Chicago, and a line of credit with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

 

73


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 - SECURITIES (continued)

Sale of securities available-for-sale were as follows:

 

     2006     2005    2004

Proceeds

   $ 229,990     $ —      $ 10,551

Gross gains

     3,746       —        599

Gross losses

     (3,645 )     —        —  

Securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2006 and 2005 not recognized in income are as follows:

 

     Less than 12 Months    12 Months or More    Total
     Fair Value    Unrealized
Loss
   Fair Value    Unrealized
Loss
   Fair Value    Unrealized
Loss

2006

                 

Municipal

   $ —      $ —      $ 139    $ 1    $ 139    $ 1

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,254      9      2,740      60      4,994      69

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —        —        42      1      42      1

SBA-guaranteed loan participation certificates

     345      1      144      5      489      6

Corporate bonds and other securities

     45,723      23      —        —        45,723      23
                                         

Total temporarily impaired

   $ 48,322    $ 33    $ 3,065    $ 67    $ 51,387    $ 100
                                         

2005

                 

Municipal

   $ 413    $ 2    $ —      $ —      $ 413    $ 2

Mortgage-backed securities

     49,916      800      90,283      2,964      140,199      3,764

SBA-guaranteed loan participation certificates

     1,258      1      151      6      1,409      7

Equity securities

     20,450      800      —        —        20,450      800
                                         

Total temporarily impaired

   $ 72,037    $ 1,603    $ 90,434    $ 2,970    $ 162,471    $ 4,573
                                         

Securities with significant declines in fair value are evaluated on a quarterly basis to determine whether they should be considered other-than-temporarily impaired under Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 59, which provides that if a marketable security is in an unrealized loss position, whether due to general market conditions or industry or issuer specific factors, the holder must assess whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. The Company has developed a methodology for conducting periodic impairment testing on marketable equity securities with dividends that adjust periodically based on market interest rate indices (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stocks included in equity securities). A determination of the severity of the impairment and the continuous duration of the impairment (generally as well as the continuous duration of any impairment exceeding 5%) is made.

The Company evaluated the securities in our investment portfolio that had significant declines in fair value at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and concluded that the declines were primarily attributable to increases in interest rates rather than credit quality or other issuer-specific factors. Since the Company had the ability and intent at December 31, 2006, to hold these investments until a recovery occurred or the securities matured, and the carrying cost of these securities was projected to recover as market interest rates change and or the securities approached maturities, the Company did not consider the declines in fair value to be other-than-temporary impairments. No unrealized losses existed at December 31, 2006 or 2005 with respect to our marketable equity securities, including our Freddie Mac floating rate preferred stocks. The Company reduced the combined carrying value of certain of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stocks by recording an impairment charge of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

74


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 5 - LOANS RECEIVABLE

 

Loans receivable are as follows:

 

     2006     2005  

Secured by one- to four-family residential real estate

   $ 397,545     $ 404,196  

Secured by multi-family mortgage loans

     297,131       280,238  

Nonresidential real estate

     320,729       275,418  

Construction and land loans

     85,222       80,705  

Commercial loans

     89,346       68,988  

Commercial leases

     139,164       121,898  

Consumer loans

     3,869       2,022  

Other loans (including municipal)

     4,959       5,219  
                

Total loans

     1,337,965       1,238,684  

Loans in process

     148       2,180  

Net deferred loan origination costs

     2,424       2,541  

Allowance for loan losses

     (10,622 )     (11,514 )
                

Loans, net

   $ 1,329,915     $ 1,231,891  
                

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, there were approximately $243.1 million and $254.1 million, respectively, of loans purchased from other financial institutions included in the amount of loans secured by one- to four-family residential real estate.

Activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Beginning balance

   $ 11,514     $ 11,019     $ 12,034  

Allowance of acquired bank

     212       —         —    

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     (136 )     518       (22 )

Loans charged off

     (972 )     (115 )     (1,393 )

Recoveries

     4       92       400  
                        

Ending balance

   $ 10,622     $ 11,514     $ 11,019  
                        

 

75


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 5 - LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

Impaired loans were as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Year-end loans with allocated allowance for loan losses

   $ 4,639    $ 7,793

Year-end loans with no allocated allowance for loan losses

     17,481      6,881
             

Total

   $ 22,120    $ 14,674
             

Amount of the allowance for loan losses allocated

   $ 402    $ 1,813

Average of impaired loans during the period

   $ 16,409    $ 15,215

Interest income received on impaired loans was approximately $1.4 million, $881,000, and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004.

Nonperforming loans were as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Loans past due over 90 days still on accrual

   $ —      $ —  

Nonaccrual loans

     9,226      5,723

Nonperforming loans and impaired loans are defined differently. Some loans may be included in both categories, whereas other loans may only be included in one category. The nonaccrual loans reflected above include a $2.0 million restructured loan at December 31, 2005. Although this restructured loan was current as to all scheduled payments as of December 31, 2005, the loan will remain on nonaccrual status until the borrowers achieve a sustained period of payment performance, and until then, all interest payments made on the loan will be recorded on a cash basis as received. At December 31, 2006 the loan was delinquent and interest payments made on the loan are continuing to be recorded on a cash basis as received.

As of December 31, 2006, the Company has approximately $16.2 million of one-to four-family residential mortgages and $4.6 million of commercial loans being serviced by a loan servicing company, which filed bankruptcy in late December 2006. The Company has not received payments from the loan servicing company since the time of the bankruptcy filing, which amounts to approximately $700,000 through the end of February 2007. Management and legal counsel are currently investigating this matter and at this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the loss, if any, as a result of the loan servicing company’s bankruptcy.

 

76


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 6 - SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET ACTIVITIES

 

First mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. The unpaid principal balances of these loans were approximately $322.4 million, $366.1 million, and $393.9 million at December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. Custodial escrow balances maintained in connection with the foregoing loan servicing were approximately $7.0 million, $7.7 million, and $10.1 million at December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

Capitalized mortgage servicing rights are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. Activity for capitalized mortgage servicing rights and the related valuation allowance was as follows.

 

     2006     2005  

Servicing rights

    

Beginning of year

   $ 2,526     $ 2,823  

Additions

     189       386  

Amortized to expense

     (506 )     (683 )
                

Balance, end of year

   $ 2,209     $ 2,526  
                

Valuation allowance

    

Beginning of year

   $ 58     $ 233  

Additions expensed

     —         160  

Reductions credited to expense

     (58 )     (335 )
                

Balance, end of year

   $ —       $ 58  
                

Carrying value of mortgage servicing rights

   $ 2,209     $ 2,468  
                

Fair value of mortgage servicing rights

   $ 3,021     $ 3,096  
                

The estimated fair value of mortgage servicing rights is the present value of the expected future cash flows over the projected life of the loan. Assumptions used in the present value calculation are based on actual performance of the underlying servicing along with general market consensus. The expected cash flow is the net amount of all mortgage servicing income and expense items. The expected cash flows are discounted at an interest rate appropriate for the associated risk given the current market conditions. Significant assumptions are as follows:

 

     2006     2005  

Prepayment speed

     20.79 %     22.12 %

Discount rate

     12.00 %     12.00 %

Average servicing cost per loan

   $ 60.00     $ 54.00  

Escrow float rate

     5.16 %     4.65 %

 

77


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 6 - SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET ACTIVITIES (continued)

 

Key economic assumptions used in measuring the fair value of the Company’s mortgage servicing rights as of December 31, 2006 and the effect on the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights from adverse changes in those assumptions, are as follows:

 

     (Dollars in thousands)  

Fair value of mortgage servicing rights

   $ 3,021  

Weighted average annual prepayment speed

     20.79 %

Decrease in fair value from 10% adverse change

     148  

Decrease in fair value from 20% adverse change

     279  

Weighted-average annual discount rate

     12.00 %

Decrease in fair value from 10% adverse change

     98  

Decrease in fair value from 20% adverse change

     190  

These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. As the figures indicate, changes in fair value based on variations in individual assumptions generally cannot be used to predict changes in fair value based upon further variations of the same assumptions. Also, in the above table, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the retained interest is calculated independently without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another factor, which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

The estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years is as follows:

 

2007

   $ 511

2008

     391

2009

     300

2010

     231

2011

     179

NOTE 7 - SECURITIZATIONS

The Company securitizes conforming adjustable rate residential mortgage loans with Fannie Mae. The Company retains servicing responsibilities for these securitizations. The Company receives annual servicing fees approximating 0.25 percent of the outstanding balance. Fannie Mae has no recourse to the Company’s other assets for failure of debtors to pay loans when due. The Company receives securities in exchange for loans in these transactions and records no gain or loss. During 2005, and 2004, $24.2 million, and $78.6 million of adjustable rate residential mortgage loans were securitized and the securities received in exchange were classified as available-for-sale. There were no loans securitized during 2006.

 

78


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 8 - ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE

 

Accrued interest receivable is summarized as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Investment securities

   $ 426    $ 623

Loans receivable

     7,443      5,975
             
   $ 7,869    $ 6,598
             

NOTE 9 - PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

Premises and equipment are as follows:

 

     2006     2005  

Land and land improvements

   $ 11,515     $ 9,086  

Buildings and improvements

     29,729       28,457  

Furniture and equipment

     9,058       8,506  

Computer equipment

     11,620       11,178  
                
     61,922       57,227  

Accumulated depreciation

     (26,917 )     (24,408 )
                
   $ 35,005     $ 32,819  
                

Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment was $3.4 million, $3.6 million, and $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

The Company leases certain branch facilities under noncancelable operating lease agreements expiring through 2032. Rent expense, net of sublease income, for facilities was $284,000, $208,000, and $215,000 in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively, excluding taxes, insurance, and maintenance. The projected minimum rental under existing leases, not including taxes, insurance, and maintenance, as of December 31, 2006 is as follows:

 

2007

   $ 705

2008

     504

2009

     355

2010

     335

2011 and thereafter

     8,282
      

Total

   $ 10,181
      

The Company has subleased some of these branch facilities and currently is entitled to receive income of approximately:

 

2007

   $  226

2008

     94
      

Total

   $ 320
      

 

79


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 10 - CORE DEPOSIT INTANGIBLE

 

Core deposit intangible assets were as follows:

 

     2006    2005
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization

Amortized intangible assets:

           

Core deposit intangibles

   $ 18,612    $ 8,964    $ 15,340    $ 7,092
                           

Aggregate amortization expense was $1.9 million, $1.6 million and $1.7 million for 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

Estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years is as follows:

 

2007

   $ 1,879

2008

     1,784

2009

     1,690

2010

     1,595

2011

     1,404

NOTE 11 - DEPOSITS

Year-end deposits are as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Non-interest-bearing demand

   $ 134,097    $ 117,443

Interest-bearing NOW

     274,391      227,893

Money market

     260,796      248,871

Savings

     114,851      123,260

Certificates of deposit

     345,450      350,407
             
   $ 1,129,585    $ 1,067,874
             

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more were approximately $94.8 million and $94.0 million at year-end 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Certificates of deposit include brokered accounts of $10.4 million, including $4.2 million of brokered internet certificates of deposit, and $21.0 million, including $11.2 million of brokered internet certificates of deposit, at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit for the next five years are as follows:

 

2007

   $ 281,126

2008

     49,180

2009

     11,362

2010

     2,415

2011

     1,367

 

80


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 11 - DEPOSITS (continued)

 

Interest expense on deposit accounts is summarized as follows for the periods indicated:

 

     2006    2005    2004

Interest-bearing NOW

   $ 4,128    $ 2,290    $ 1,249

Money market accounts

     10,096      6,350      2,667

Savings

     1,019      1,005      825

Certificates of deposit

     14,714      10,953      9,457
                    
   $ 29,957    $ 20,598    $ 14,198
                    

NOTE 12 - BORROWINGS

Borrowed funds are summarized as follows:

 

     December 31, 2006    December 31, 2005
     Contractual Interest Rate
Range
   

Weighted

Average
Contractual

Rate

    Amount   

Weighted

Average

Contractual
Rate

    Amount

Fixed-rate advance from FHLB due:

             

Within 1 year

   2.66 %   5.16 %   3.61 %   $ 95,000    2.68 %   $ 57,236

1 to 2 years

   5.14     5.14     5.14       10,000    3.52       90,000

2 to 3 years

   —       —       —         —      —         —  

3 to 4 years

   —       —       —         —      —         —  

4 to 5 years

   6.44     6.44     6.44       25,000    6.44       25,000
                                     

Total fixed rate advances

   2.66 %   6.44 %   4.27 %     130,000    3.66 %     172,236

Open Line advance, due on demand

   —       —       —         —      4.41       13,000
                                     

Total FHLB funds

   2.66     6.44     4.27       130,000    3.72       185,236

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

   4.82     4.82     4.82       8,148    3.75       6,152
                                     

Total borrowings

   2.66 %   6.44 %   4.30 %   $ 138,148    3.72 %   $ 191,388
                                     

In July 2003, the Bank elected to pursue certain balance sheet restructuring strategies as a result of the historically low interest rate environment. The restructuring consisted of retiring $25.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances and replacing the other $145.0 million with new FHLB advances with a weighted average coupon of 1.38% and a weighted average maturity of approximately one year. The Company incurred a net pre-tax prepayment penalty of $15.4 million, recognized an immediate loss of $8.3 million on the early extinguishment of debt, and deferred the remaining prepayment penalty in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force 96-19, Debtor’s Accounting for a Modification or Exchange of Debt Instruments. The remaining portion of the prepayment penalty was amortized as a yield adjustment over the life of the refinanced borrowings. The prepayment penalty was completely amortized during 2005.

The Company maintains a collateral pledge agreement covering secured advances whereby the Company has agreed to at all times keep on hand, free of all other pledges, liens, and encumbrances, specifically identified whole first mortgages on improved residential property not more than 90-days delinquent to secure advances from the FHLB of Chicago. All stock in the FHLB of Chicago is pledged as additional collateral for these advances. At December 31, 2006, $256.0 million and $119.8 million of first mortgage and multi-family mortgage loans, respectively, collateralized the advances. At December 31, 2006, we had the ability to borrow an additional $167.0 million under our credit facilities with the FHLB of Chicago. Furthermore, we have unpledged securities that could be used to support borrowings in excess of $25.0 million.

 

81


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 12 - BORROWINGS (continued)

 

At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company had available pre-approved overnight federal funds borrowing and repurchase agreement lines of $65 million. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company also had a line of credit available with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for $20.3 million and $18.3 million, respectively. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, there was no outstanding balance on these lines.

NOTE 13 - INCOME TAXES

The income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:

 

     2006    2005    2004  

Current

   $ 2,368    $ 3,645    $ 131  

Deferred

     2,458      633      (395 )
                      

Total income tax expense (benefit)

   $ 4,826    $ 4,278    $ (264 )
                      

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed at the statutory federal corporate tax rate of 34% to the income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Provision computed at the statutory federal tax rate

   $ 5,056     $ 5,219     $ 406  

State taxes and other, net

     586       (194 )     (216 )

Dividends received deduction

     (816 )     (747 )     (454 )
                        
   $ 4,826     $ 4,278     $ (264 )
                        

Effective income tax rate

     32.45 %     27.87 %     (22.13 %)

Retained earnings at December 31, 2006 and 2005 include approximately $14.9 million for which no deferred federal income tax liability has been recorded. This amount represents an allocation of income to bad debt deductions for tax purposes alone.

 

82


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 13 - INCOME TAXES (continued)

 

The net deferred tax asset is as follows:

 

     2006     2005  

Gross deferred tax assets

    

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 4,121     $ 4,576  

Branch closing reserve

     69       144  

Alternative minimum tax and capital loss carryforwards

     1,960       1,494  

Impairment of securities available for sale

     3,424       8,446  

Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale

     —         97  

Other

     567       340  
                
     10,141       15,097  

Gross deferred tax liabilities

    

Net deferred loan origination costs

     (1,635 )     (1,718 )

FHLB stock dividends

     (1,829 )     (3,518 )

Purchase accounting adjustments

     (3,094 )     (3,800 )

Accumulated depreciation

     (394 )     (455 )

Mortgage servicing rights

     (857 )     (981 )

Unrealized gain on securities available for sale

     (1,984 )     —    

Other

     (613 )     (351 )
                
     (10,406 )     (10,823 )
                

Net deferred tax asset (liability)

   $ (265 )   $ 4,274  
                

At December 31, 2006, the Company included in deferred tax assets a $1.1 million asset for capital loss carryforwards, which expires in 2011. The alternative minimum tax credits have no expiration date. Based upon projections of future taxable income, including capital gains, management believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be fully realized and thus a valuation allowance is not needed.

NOTE 14 - REGULATORY MATTERS

The Bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory—and possibly additional discretionary—actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

The prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications, including well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, capital distributions are limited, as is asset growth and expansion, and plans for capital restoration are required.

 

83


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 14 - REGULATORY MATTERS (continued)

 

At year-end, actual capital levels and minimum required levels for the Bank were:

 

     Actual    

Minimum Required for

Capital Adequacy
Purposes

   

Minimum Required to Be

Well Capitalized Under

Prompt Corrective Action
Provisions

 
     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  

December 31, 2006

               

Total capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   $ 247,253    20.09 %   $ 98,479    8.00 %   $ 123,098    10.00 %

Tier 1 (core) capital (to risk-weighted assets)

     237,033    19.26       49,239    4.00       73,859    6.00  

Tier 1 (core) capital (to adjusted total assets)

     237,033    15.05       63,017    4.00       78,771    5.00  

December 31, 2005

               

Total capital (to risk- weighted assets)

   $ 229,922    19.01 %   $ 96,772    8.00 %   $ 120,965    10.00 %

Tier 1 (core) capital (to risk-weighted assets)

     220,220    18.21       48,386    4.00       72,579    6.00  

Tier 1 (core) capital (to adjusted total assets)

     220,220    13.82       63,748    4.00       79,684    5.00  

The following is a reconciliation of the Bank’s equity under GAAP to regulatory capital.

 

     2006     2005  

GAAP equity

   $ 268,433     $ 235,908  

Disallowed intangible assets

     (28,392 )     (15,835 )

Unrealized (gain) loss on securities available-for-sale

     (3,008 )     147  
                

Tier I capital

     237,033       220,220  

General regulatory loan loss reserves

     10,220       9,702  
                

Total regulatory capital

   $ 247,253     $ 229,922  
                

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the most recent notification from the Office of Thrift Supervision categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the institution’s category.

Federal regulations require the Bank to comply with a Qualified Thrift Lender (“QTL”) test, which generally requires that 65% of assets be maintained in housing-related finance and other specified assets. If the QTL test is not met, limits are placed on growth, branching, new investment, FHLB advances, and dividends or the institution must convert to a commercial bank charter. Management considers the QTL test to have been met.

The Bank is subject to restrictions on the amount of dividends it may declare without prior regulatory approval. The Bank’s retained earnings available for dividends without prior approval was approximately $9.3 million as of January 1, 2007.

NOTE 15 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). Employees are eligible to participate in the ESOP after attainment of age 21 and completion of one year of service. In connection with the conversion and reorganization, the ESOP borrowed $19.6 million from the Company, and used the proceeds of the loan to purchase 1,957,300 common shares issued in the subscription offering at $10.00 per share. The loan is secured by shares purchased with the loan proceeds and will be repaid by the ESOP with funds from the Bank’s discretionary contributions to the ESOP and

 

84


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 15 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (continued)

 

earnings on ESOP assets. The Bank has committed to make discretionary contributions to the ESOP sufficient to service the loan over a period not to exceed 20 years. When loan payments are made, ESOP shares are allocated to participants based on relative compensation and expense is recorded. Participants receive their earned shares at the end of employment.

Contributions to the ESOP during 2006 and 2005 were $728,000 and $208,000, respectively. Expense related to the ESOP, net of dividends received on unallocated ESOP shares, was $1.4 million, $718,000 and $10,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Shares held by the ESOP were as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Allocated to participants

     146,797      48,933

Unearned

     1,810,503      1,908,367
             

Total ESOP shares

     1,957,300      1,957,300
             

Fair value of unearned shares

   $ 32,245    $ 28,015
             

Profit Sharing Plan/401(k) Plan. The Company has a defined contribution plan (“profit sharing plan”) covering all of its eligible employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the profit sharing plan after attainment of age 21 and completion of one year of service. The Company matches employee contributions up to 5% of an employee’s wages. The Company may also contribute an additional amount annually at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Contributions totaling $728,000, $791,000, and $717,000 were made for the years ended 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

NOTE 16 - EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS

On June 27, 2006, the Company’s stockholders approved the BankFinancial Corporation 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, which authorized the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company to grant a variety of cash- and equity-based incentive awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares and other incentive awards, to employees and directors aggregating up to 3,425,275 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company has adopted the requirements of SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment.

During 2006, the Human Resources Committee granted stock options to purchase 1,301,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to certain employees and directors of the Company. The exercise price for the stock options is the fair market value of the common stock on the dates of the grants. The stock options generally vest annually over three to five year periods commencing in the fourth quarter of 2006, and vesting is subject to acceleration in certain circumstances. The stock options will expire if not exercised within five years from the date of grant.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a closed form option valuation (Black-Scholes) model that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. The risk-free interest rate was determined using the yield available on the option grant date for a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury security with a term equivalent to the expected life of the option. The expected life for options granted represents the period the option is expected to be outstanding and was determined by applying the simplified method as allowed by SAB 107. The expected volatility was determined using historical volatilities based on historical data for the NASDAQ Bank Index because the Company lacked sufficient history in its stock. Estimated forfeitures were assumed to be zero due to the lack of historical experience for the Company.

 

85


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 16 - EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS (continued)

 

The Company estimated the grant date fair value of options awarded in fiscal 2006 using the Black-Scholes Option-Pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Assumptions  

Risk-free interest rate

     4.75 %

Expected option life (years)

     3.57  

Expected stock price volatility

     11.29 %

Current quarterly cash dividend

   $ 0.06  

Projected dividend growth

     5.00 %

Weighted average fair value of options granted during year

   $ 1.476  

The Company recognized $413,000 of stock-based compensation expenses relating to the granting of stock options for the year ended December 31, 2006, respectively. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had $1.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years as follows:

 

2007

   $ 413

2008

     413

2009

     356

2010

     324

 

Stock Options

   Number of
Shares
  

Weighted

Average
Exercise Price

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term
(in years)

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value (1)

Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005

   —      $ —        

Stock options granted

   1,301,000      17.63      

Stock options exercised

   —        —        

Stock options forfeited

   —        —        
                 

Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2006

   1,301,000    $ 17.63    4.7    $ 234
                 

Stock options exercisable at December 31, 2006

   245,200    $ 17.63    4.7    $ 44

(1) Stock option aggregate intrinsic value represents the number of shares subject to options multiplied by the difference (if positive) in the closing market price of the common stock underlying the options on the date shown and the weighted average exercise price.

 

86


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 16 - EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS (continued)

 

During 2006, the Company granted 816,000 shares of restricted stock to certain employees and directors of the Company. The awards generally vest annually over varying periods from three to five years commencing in the fourth quarter of 2006, and vesting is subject to acceleration in certain circumstances. The cost of such awards will be accrued ratably as compensation expense over such respective periods based on expected vesting dates. The Company recognized $3.6 million of expenses relating to the grant of shares of restricted stock during the year ended December 31, 2006. As of December 31, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested shares of restricted stock was $10.8 million. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years is as follows:

 

2007

   $ 3,479

2008

     3,479

2009

     2,099

2010

     1,724

 

Restricted Stock

   Number of
Shares (2)
   

Weighted

Average Fair

Value at

Grant Date

  

Weighted

Average

Term to Vest

(in years)

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value (3)

Shares outstanding at December 31, 2005

   —       $ —        

Shares granted

   816,000       17.63      

Shares vested

   (174,050 )     17.63      

Shares forfeited

   —         —        
                  

Shares outstanding at December 31, 2006

   641,950     $ 17.63    2.2    $ 11,433
                  

(2) The end of period balances consist only of unvested shares.
(3) Restricted stock aggregate intrinsic value represents the number of shares of restricted stock multiplied by the market price of the common stock underlying the outstanding shares on the date shown.

NOTE 17 - LOAN COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES

The Company is party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk. The Company uses these financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of customers and to effectively manage exposure to interest rate risk. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, unused lines of credit, and commitments to sell loans. When viewed in terms of the maximum exposure, those instruments may involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Credit risk is the possibility that a counterparty to a financial instrument will be unable to perform its contractual obligations. Interest rate risk is the possibility that, due to changes in economic conditions, the Company’s net interest income will be adversely affected.

The following is a summary of the contractual or notional amount of each significant class of off-balance-sheet financial instruments outstanding. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty for commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, and unused lines of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments.

 

87


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 17 - LOAN COMMITMENTS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES (continued)

 

The contractual or notional amounts are as follows:

 

     2006    2005

Financial instruments wherein contractual amounts represent credit risk

     

Commitments to extend credit

   $ 22,849    $ 42,265

Standby letters of credit

     3,464      2,734

Unused lines of credit

     233,229      240,909

Commitments to sell mortgages

     2,836      632

Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if it is deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. The collateral held varies, but primarily consists of single-family residential real estate.

NOTE 18 - FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments is as follows:

 

     2006     2005  
     Carrying
Amount
   

Estimated

Fair Value

    Carrying
Amount
   

Estimated

Fair Value

 

Financial assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 67,337     $ 67,337     $ 38,026     $ 38,026  

Securities

     117,853       117,853       248,238       248,238  

Loans held-for-sale

     298       298       375       375  

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses

     1,329,915       1,330,778       1,231,891       1,231,982  

FHLB stock

     15,598       15,598       25,434       25,434  

Accrued interest receivable

     7,869       7,869       6,598       6,598  

Mortgage servicing rights

     2,209       3,021       2,468       3,096  

Financial liabilities

        

Non-interest-bearing demand deposits

   $ (134,097 )   $ (134,097 )   $ (117,443 )   $ (117,443 )

NOW and money market deposits

     (535,187 )     (535,187 )     (476,764 )     (476,764 )

Savings

     (114,851 )     (114,851 )     (123,260 )     (123,260 )

Certificates of deposit

     (345,450 )     (346,481 )     (350,407 )     (349,892 )

Borrowings

     (138,148 )     (138,805 )     (191,388 )     (191,227 )

Accrued interest payable

     (1,184 )     (1,184 )     (1,048 )     (1,048 )

For purposes of the above, the following assumptions were used:

Cash and Cash Equivalents: The estimated fair values for cash and cash equivalents are based on their carrying value due to the short-term nature of these assets.

Securities: The estimated fair values of securities are based on quoted market prices when they are currently available. If a quoted market price for a specific security is not currently available, the Company estimates the fair value based on the quoted market price of another security with similar characteristics, adjusted to reflect objectively measurable differences such as coupon rates and reset dates. In the absence of current quoted market prices for the same or a similar security, the Company uses other valuation techniques to determine fair value, such as obtaining broker-dealer valuations or estimating fair value based on valuation modeling. Significant judgment is involved in determining fair value in the absence of current quoted market prices.

 

88


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 18 - FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

 

Loans: The estimated fair value for loans has been determined by calculating the present value of future cash flows based on the current rate the Company would charge for similar loans with similar maturities, applied for an estimated time period until the loan is assumed to be repriced or repaid. The estimated fair values of loans held-for-sale are based on quoted market prices.

Mortgage servicing rights: The estimated fair value of mortgage servicing rights is the present value of the expected future cash flows over the projected life of the loan. Assumptions used in the present value calculation are based on actual performance of the underlying servicing along with general market consensus.

Deposit Liabilities: The estimated fair value for certificate deposits has been determined by calculating the present value of future cash flows based on estimates of rates the Company would pay on such deposits, applied for the time period until maturity. The estimated fair values of non-interest-bearing demand, NOW, money market, and savings deposits are assumed to approximate their carrying values as management establishes rates on these deposits at a level that approximates the local market area. Additionally, these deposits can be withdrawn on demand.

Borrowings: The estimated fair values of advances from the FHLB and note payable are based on current market rates for similar financing. The estimated fair value of securities sold under agreements to repurchase is assumed to equal its carrying value due to the short-term nature of the liability.

Accrued Interest: The estimated fair values of accrued interest receivable and payable are assumed to equal their carrying value.

Off-Balance-Sheet Instruments: Off-balance-sheet items consist principally of unfunded loan commitments, standby letters of credit, and unused lines of credit. The estimated fair values of unfunded loan commitments, standby letters of credit, and unused lines of credit are not material.

While the above estimates are based on management’s judgment of the most appropriate factors, as of the balance sheet date, there is no assurance that the estimated fair values would have been realized if the assets were disposed of or the liabilities settled at that date, since market values may differ depending on the various circumstances. The estimated fair values would also not apply to subsequent dates.

In addition, other assets and liabilities that are not financial instruments, such as premises and equipment, are not included in the above disclosures.

 

89


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 19 - OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) components and related taxes were as follows:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities available-for- sale

   $ 5,237     $ 2,355     $ (14,152 )

Tax effect

     (2,020 )     (935 )     6,418  
                        

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities available-for-sale, net of tax

     3,217       1,420       (7,734 )
                        

Less reclassification adjustments for net gains recognized in income

     (101 )     —         (599 )

Tax effect

     39       —         272  
                        

Less reclassification adjustments for net gains recognized in income, net of tax

     (62 )     —         (327 )
                        

Loss on impairment of securities available-for-sale

     —         —         8,793  

Tax effect

     —         —         (3,988 )
                        

Loss on impairment of securities available-for- sale, net of tax

     —         —         4,805  
                        

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 3,155     $ 1,420     $ (3,256 )
                        

NOTE 20 - COMPANY ONLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Condensed financial information of BankFinancial Corporation as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and BankFinancial MHC, Inc. as of December 31, 2004 follows:

Condensed Statements of Financial Condition

 

     2006    2005

ASSETS

     

Cash in subsidiary

   $ 36,805    $ 72,321

Loan receivable from ESOP

     18,870      19,365

Investment in subsidiary

     268,433      235,908

Other assets

     1,907      2,294
             

Total assets

   $ 326,015    $ 329,888
             

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     —        1,111

Total stockholders’ equity

     326,015      328,777
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 326,015    $ 329,888
             

 

90


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 20 - COMPANY ONLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued)

 

Condensed Statements of Income

 

     2006     2005     2004  
Interest income    $ 1,355     $ 717     $ —    

Dividends from subsidiary

     10,500       —         —    

Other expense

     1,529       377       36  
                        
      

Income (loss) before income tax and undistributed subsidiary income

     10,326       340       (36 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (66 )     128       (14 )
                        

Income (loss) before equity in undistributed subsidiary income

     10,392       212       (22 )
Equity in undistributed subsidiary income      (346 )     10,861       1,479  
                        
      

Net income

   $ 10,046     $ 11,073     $ 1,457  
                        
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows  
     2006     2005     2004  
Cash flows from operating activities       

Net income

   $ 10,046     $ 11,073     $ 1,457  

Adjustments

      

Equity in undistributed subsidiary income

     346       (10,861 )     (1,479 )

Change in other assets

     387       (2,232 )     1,933  

Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (1,111 )     1,111       (1,936 )
                        

Net cash from operating activities

     9,668       (909 )     (25 )
Cash flows from investing activities       

Cash paid in acquisition

     (23,943 )     —         —    

Principal payments received on ESOP loan

     495       208       —    

Capital contribution to subsidiary bank

     —         (147,859 )     —    
                        

Net cash from investing activities

     (23,448 )     (147,651 )     —    
                        
Cash flows from financing activities       

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

     (17,290 )     —         —    

Cash dividends paid on common stock

     (4,446 )     —         —    

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

     —         220,679       —    
                        

Net cash from financing activities

     (21,736 )     220,679       —    
                        

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (35,516 )     72,119       (25 )

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     72,321       202       227  
                        
Ending cash and cash equivalents    $ 36,805     $ 72,321     $ 202  
                        

 

91


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 21 – SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)

 

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2006  
    

First

Quarter

    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter
 

Interest Income

   $ 22,292     $ 23,683     $ 24,244    $ 23,867  

Interest Expense

     8,480       9,363       9,792      9,854  
                               

Net interest income

     13,812       14,320       14,452      14,013  

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     196       156       49      (537 )
                               

Net interest income

     13,616       14,164       14,403      14,550  

Non interest income

     2,731       2,587       2,658      2,533  

Non interest expense

     11,628       12,457       12,895      15,390  
                               

Income before income taxes

     4,719       4,294       4,166      1,693  

Income tax expense

     1,579       1,390       1,371      486  
                               

Net Income

   $ 3,140     $ 2,904     $ 2,795    $ 1,207  
                               

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.14     $ 0.13     $ 0.12    $ 0.06  

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.14     $ 0.13     $ 0.12    $ 0.06  
     Year Ended December 31, 2005  
     First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter
 

Interest Income

   $ 18,093     $ 20,143     $ 20,785    $ 21,191  

Interest Expense

     6,834       7,577       6,837      7,554  
                               

Net interest income

     11,259       12,566       13,948      13,637  

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     (76 )     (264 )     334      524  
                               

Net interest income

     11,335       12,830       13,614      13,113  

Non interest income

     1,801       1,947       2,464      2,453  

Non interest expense

     10,729       10,576       11,391      11,510  
                               

Income before income taxes

     2,407       4,201       4,687      4,056  

Income tax expense

     771       1,380       990      1,137  
                               

Net Income

   $ 1,636     $ 2,821     $ 3,697    $ 2,919  
                               

Basic earnings per common share

     N.A.       N.A.     $ 0.16    $ 0.13  

Diluted earnings per common share

     N.A.       N.A.     $ 0.16    $ 0.13  

N.A. = Not Applicable

The Company recorded net income of $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2006. Our operating results for the fourth quarter of 2006 included a $3.5 million expense for equity-based compensation and benefits, relating to the ESOP that was established in connection with our mutual-to-stock conversion in June of 2005 and the awards granted during the year under the Equity Incentive Plan approved by stockholders in June of 2006. We recorded a credit for loan losses of $537,000 for the fourth quarter of 2006. The change in the allowance for loan losses of $586,000 between the third and fourth quarters of 2006 was principally impacted by a $982,000 decrease in the portion of the allowance for loan losses that we allocate to impaired loans pursuant to SFAS No. 114 to $402,000 at December 31, 2006 from $1.4 million at September 30, 2006.

 

92


BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 22 – MUTUAL TO STOCK CONVERSION

 

On June 23, 2005, the Company completed the conversion from a mutual holding company form of organization to the stock form of organization and sold 24,466,250 shares of common stock at $10.00 per share in a subscription offering to eligible account holders, the Company’s tax-qualified employee benefit plans, supplemental eligible account holders and other members of the Company.

At the time of conversion, the Company established a liquidation account in an amount equal to its net worth as of December 31, 2004. The liquidation account will be maintained for the benefit of eligible depositors who continue to maintain their accounts at the Company after conversion. The liquidation account will be reduced annually to the extent that eligible depositors have reduced their qualifying deposits. Subsequent increases will not restore an eligible account holder’s interest in the liquidation account. In the unlikely event of a complete liquidation, each eligible depositor will be entitled to receive a distribution from the liquidation account in an amount proportionate to the current adjusted qualifying balances for the accounts held. Accordingly, retained earnings of the Company are deemed to be restricted up to the balance of the liquidation account.

 

93


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the fiscal year (the “Evaluation Date”). Based upon that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely alerting them to the material information relating to us (or our consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:

The annual report of management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report thereon issued by our independent registered public accounting firm are set forth under “Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” under “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

(c) Changes in internal controls.

There were no changes made in our internal controls during the period covered by this report or, to our knowledge, in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect these controls.

See the Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

Not Applicable.

 

94


PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Directors and Executive Officers. The information concerning our directors and executive officers required by this item will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by amendment to this Form 10-K, not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance. The information concerning compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by our directors, officers and 10 percent stockholders required by this item will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by amendment to this Form 10-K, not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

Code of Ethics. We have adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions. A copy of our Code of Ethics is attached as Exhibit 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. We have also adopted a Code of Business Conduct, pursuant to Nasdaq requirements, that applies generally to our directors, officers, and employees.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information concerning compensation required by this item will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by amendment to this Form 10-K, not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

95


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management required by this item will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by amendment to this Form 10-K, not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The information concerning certain relationships and related transactions required by this will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by amendment to this Form 10-K, not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information concerning principal accountant fees and services will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by amendment to this Form 10-K, not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)(1)Financial Statements

The following consolidated financial statement of the registrant and its subsidiaries are filed as part of this document under “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

  (A) Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm

 

  (B) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition—at December 31, 2006 and 2005

 

  (C) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

 

  (D) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

 

  (E) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004

 

  (F) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(a)(2)Financial Statement Schedules

None.

 

(a)(3)Exhibits

The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference to the location indicated.

 

   

Exhibit

 

Location

  3.1   Articles of Incorporation of BankFinancial Corporation   Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

 

96


  3.2   Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation   Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
  3.3   Articles of Amendment to Charter of BankFinancial Corporation   Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
  3.4   Restated Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation  

Filed herewith

  4   Form of Common Stock Certificate of BankFinancial Corporation   Exhibit 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.1   Employee Stock Ownership Plan   Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.2   Deferred Compensation Plan   Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.3   Employment Agreement with F. Morgan Gasior   Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.4   Employment Agreement with James J. Brennan   Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.5   Employment Agreement with Paul A. Cloutier   Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.6   Employment Agreement with Robert J. O’Shaughnessy   Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.7   Employment Agreement with Christa N. Calabrese   Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.8   Form of Employment Agreement with F. Morgan Gasior   Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.9   Form of Employment Agreement with Senior Executive Officers   Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
10.11   Form of Employment Agreement for Named Executive Officers   Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

 

97


10.12    Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Terms    Exhibit 10.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.13    2006 BankFinancial Corporation Equity Incentive Plan    Appendix C to the Definitive Form 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2006 (File No. 000-51331)
10.14    Form of Performance Based Incentive Stock Option Award Terms    Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.15    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Terms    Exhibit 10.3 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.16    Form of Performance Based Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Terms    Exhibit 10.4 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.17    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement    Exhibit 10.5 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.18    Form of Performance Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement    Exhibit 10.6 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.19    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement    Exhibit 10.7 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
10.20    Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement    Exhibit 10.8 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006
14    Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers    Exhibit 14 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company (file no. 0001193125-06-064000), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2006
21    Subsidiaries of Registrant    Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (file no. 333-119217), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004
23    Consent of Crowe Chizek and Company LLC    Filed herewith
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith
32    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*    Furnished herewith

* A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

98


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

  BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION
Date: March 15, 2007   By:  

/s/ F. Morgan Gasior

    F. Morgan Gasior
    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
    (Duly Authorized Representative)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signatures

  

Title

   Date

/s/ F. Morgan Gasior

F. Morgan Gasior

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief

Executive Officer and President

(Principal Executive Officer)

   March 15, 2007

/s/ Paul A. Cloutier

Paul A. Cloutier

  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and

Accounting Officer)

   March 15, 2007

/s/ Cassandra J. Francis

Cassandra J. Francis

   Director    March 15, 2007

/s/ John M. Hausmann

John M. Hausmann

   Director    March 15, 2007

/s/ Sherwin R. Koopmans

Sherwin R. Koopmans

   Director    March 15, 2007

/s/ Joseph A. Schudt

Joseph A. Schudt

   Director    March 15, 2007

/s/ Terry R. Wells

Terry R. Wells

   Director    March 15, 2007

/s/ Glen R. Wherfel

Glen R. Wherfel

   Director    March 15, 2007

 

99

Restated Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation

Exhibit 3.4

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

RESTATED BYLAWS

Article 1. Stockholders

Section 1.01 An annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of Directors and the transaction of any other business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held during the month of June each year, on a date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.

Section 1.02 Special Meetings.

(a) Calling of Special Meetings. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called by the by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by majority of the Whole Board. For the purposes of these Bylaws, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of Directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption. Subject to the requirements of this Section 1.02, special meetings of the stockholders shall be called by the Secretary only upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

(b) Notice and Procedural Requirements for Special Meetings.

(1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder that must be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution fixing the Request Record Date.

If the Board of Directors, within 10 days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the 10th day after the first date on which the Record Date Request Notice is received by the Secretary.

(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting, one or more written requests for a special meeting signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) of all of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Request”) shall be delivered to the Secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request: (i) shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the Secretary); (ii) shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request; (iii) shall set forth the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), the class, series


and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned by each such stockholder, and the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned by such stockholder beneficially but not of record; (iv) shall be sent to the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal executive office by registered mail, return receipt requested; and (v) shall be received by the Secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation or the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.

(3) The Secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice of meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 1.02(b), the Secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the mailing of any notice of the meeting.

(4) Except as provided in the next sentence, any special meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated in a resolution approved by a majority of the Whole Board. In the case of any special meeting called by the Secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the Secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m. local time on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for any special meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting, and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of Section 1.02(b)(3).

(5) If written revocations of requests for a special meeting have been delivered to the Secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and have not been revoked, requests for a special meeting to the Secretary, the Secretary shall: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been mailed, refrain from mailing the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting; or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been mailed and if the Secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Secretary’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting, revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before 10 days before the commencement of the meeting. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the Secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

(6) The Board of Directors may, but shall not be obligated to, appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported request shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business

 

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Days after receipt by the Secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the Secretary represent at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock that would be entitled to vote at such meeting. Nothing contained in this Section 1.02(b)(6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Section 1.03 Notice of Meetings. Not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before each stockholders’ meeting, the Secretary shall give notice of the meeting in writing or by electronic transmission to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting and to each other stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting. The notice shall state: (a) the time and place of the meeting; (b) the purpose of the meeting, but only if the meeting is a special meeting or notice of the purpose of the meeting is otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland, as now or hereafter in force (referred to herein as the “MGCL”) or other applicable law; and (c) the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and may vote at the meeting. Notice is given to a stockholder when it is personally delivered to the stockholder, left at the stockholder’s usual place of business, mailed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, or, subject to the requirements of the MGCL, transmitted to the stockholder by electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. If two or more stockholders share an address, notice to such stockholders may be given by a single notice to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL. Each person who is entitled to notice waives notice if such person, before or after the meeting, delivers a written waiver or a waiver by electronic transmission that is filed with the records of the stockholders’ meeting, or is present at the meeting in person or by proxy.

Section 1.04 Adjournment. A meeting of stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time to time by the chairman of the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a time and date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At an adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

Section 1.05 Quorum. At any meeting of the stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting on any matter (after giving due effect to the provisions of Article 6, Section F of the Charter of the Corporation) constitutes a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by the Charter of the Corporation. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. The stockholders present either in person or by proxy at a meeting that has been duly called and convened may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 1.06 Voting; Proxies.

(a) Voting. Subject to the limitations set forth in Article 6, Section F of the Charter of the Corporation, and any other provisions of the Charter of the Corporation that provide for a greater or lesser number of votes per share or limit or deny voting rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders, subject to the provisions of Article 6, Section F of the Charter. A plurality of all the votes cast (after giving due effect to the provisions of Article 6, Section F of the Charter) at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a Director. Each share may be voted (after giving due effect to the provisions of Article 6, Section F of the Charter) for as many individuals as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast (after giving due effect to the provisions of Article 6, Section F of the Charter) at a meeting of stockholders duly called and

 

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at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or the Charter of the Corporation for a specific action.

(b) Proxies. A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. A stockholder may authorize another person to act as proxy by signing a writing authorizing such person to act as proxy. Signing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholder’s authorized agent signing the writing or causing the stockholder’s signature to be affixed to the writing by any reasonable means, including facsimile signature. A stockholder may also authorize another person to act as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a facsimile or other means of electronic transmission to the person authorized to act as proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization, or other person authorized by the person who will act as proxy to receive the transmission. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy. A proxy may be made irrevocable if the proxy so states, but only for so long as it is coupled with an interest.

Section 1.07 Conduct of Business.

(a) Conduct of Meeting. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting. In the absence of such appointment, the Chairman of the Board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or the absence of the Chairman of the Board, one of the following officers present at the meeting in the order of their rank: the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary, and the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, shall serve as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary, or, in the Secretary’s absence, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of both the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary, a person appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting. In the event that the Secretary presides at a meeting of the stockholders, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting.

(b) Order of Business; Rules and Regulations. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation: (i) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (ii) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (iii) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (iv) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (v) determining when the polls should be opened and closed; (vi) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (vii) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; and (viii) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders are not required to be held in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order or other rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 1.08 Conduct of Voting.

(a) Inspectors of Election. The Board of Directors shall appoint one or more persons as inspectors of election, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof, in accordance with these Bylaws and applicable law. If an inspector or inspectors are not appointed, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors. If a person who has been appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may fill the vacancy. The inspectors shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting,

 

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the existence of a quorum, the qualifications of voters, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by him or her or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

(b) Manner of Voting. All voting, except where otherwise required by applicable law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. Every vote taken by ballot shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors appointed by the chairman of the meeting. No candidate for election as a Director at a meeting shall serve as an inspector at such meeting.

(c) Voting by Certain Holders. Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the President or a Vice-President, a general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any Director or other fiduciary may vote stock registered in his or her name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

(d) Stock Owned by the Corporation. Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

Section 1.09 Stockholder Nominations of Directors and Proposals.

(a) Nominations and Proposals for Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 1.09(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the requirements of this Section 1.09(a).

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 1.09, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 1.09(a)(2) and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Chicago, Illinois Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Chicago, Illinois Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

 

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The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such individual, (B) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by such individual, (C) the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (D) all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned by such stockholder and by such Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder and by any such Stockholder Associated Person; (iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person covered by clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (2) of this Section 1.09(a), the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger and current name and address, if different, and of such Stockholder Associated Person; and (v) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a Director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.09(a) to the contrary, in the event the Board of Directors increases or decreases the maximum or minimum number of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.09(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for such newly created Directorships for which the term of office will expire at the next annual meeting, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Chicago, Illinois Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(4) For purposes of this Section 1.09, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean: (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder; (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder; and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.

(b) Nominations and Proposals for Special Meetings of Stockholders.

(1) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

(2) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that Directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 1.09(a) and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures and other requirements set forth in this Section 1.09.

 

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(3) In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a Director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 1.09(a)(2) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Chicago, Illinois Time on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) Additional Requirements for Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.

(1) Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a Director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.09. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 1.09.

(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 1.09 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as Directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 1.09. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 1.09.

(3) For purposes of this Section 1.09, (a) the “date of mailing of the notice” shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for election of Directors and (b) “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.09, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.09. Nothing in this Section 1.09 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

Section 1.10 Participation via Conference Communications. The Board of Directors may, but shall not be obligated to, allow stockholders to participate in any annual or special meeting of stockholders by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL.

Section 1.11 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the place determined by the Board of Directors, and if the Board of Directors determines to hold a meeting solely by remote communication, the meeting need not be held at any place.

Section 1.12 Informal Action by Stockholders. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if there is filed with the records of the stockholders’ meetings a unanimous written consent which sets forth the action and is signed by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and a written waiver of any right to dissent signed by each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting but not entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

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Article 2. Board of Directors

Section 2.01 General Powers, Number, Tenure and Qualifications.

(a) General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, to the fullest extent permitted by the Charter of the Corporation, the MGCL and any other applicable law, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall have the unqualified power: (i) to authorize dividends and other distributions from time to time in accordance with law; (ii) to purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine; (iii) to authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith; (iv) to remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other person for the time being; (v) to confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents; (vi) to adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; (vii) to adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and (viii) to adopt from time to time regulations or policies, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation’s business and affairs.

(b) Number of Directors. The initial number of Directors shall be the number provided in the Charter. The Board of Directors may alter the number of Directors provided in the Charter at any time by establishing, increasing or decreasing the number of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the Whole Board (rounded up to the nearest whole number), provided that the number of Directors shall never be less than the minimum number of Directors required by the MGCL, and provided further that the tenure of office of a Director shall not be shortened by any increase or decrease in the number of Directors. The tenure of office of any Director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of Directors shall be determined as provided in Section 2.03.

(c) Classes of Directors; Initial Tenure. The Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of preferred stock, shall initially be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as reasonably possible, to be known as Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3, respectively. The initial term of office of the members of Class 1 shall expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2006; the initial term of office of the members of Class 2 shall expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2007; and the initial term of office of the members of Class 3 shall expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2008. The Board of Directors may establish new classes of Directors or otherwise change the number of classes of Directors at any time and to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the Whole Board (rounded up to the nearest whole number). Each Director shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, including upon the delay of or the failure to hold any annual meeting of stockholders.

(d) Terms of Office after Initial Term. At each annual meeting of stockholders, commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2006, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms of office will expire at the conclusion of such annual meeting shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless the Board of Directors shall by resolution establish a different term of office for such Directors.

(e) Qualifications; Age Limit. Each Director shall be a stockholder of the Corporation. No person more than 75 years of age shall be eligible for election, reelection, appointment, or reappointment to the Board of the Corporation, but upon attaining age 75, a Director may serve for the remainder of the full term for which he or she was elected or chosen and shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

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Section 2.02 Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such other duties as are provided in these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board or if one is not elected, the Board of Directors shall designate another Director to perform such duties and functions.

Section 2.03 Vacancies, Including Newly Created Directorships. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of stock, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors, however arising, including, without limitation, vacancies arising from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of one or more Directors and from newly created or established Directorships, may be filled only by Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even if the remaining Directors do not constitute a quorum, and any Director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which such vacancy occurred. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the tenure of any Director then in office. If for any reason any or all the Directors cease to be Directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining Directors hereunder (even if fewer than the minimum number of Directors required by the MGCL remain in office).

Section 2.04 Removal. A Director may be removed only in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the Corporation.

Section 2.05 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors. A written notice of each regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall not be required.

Section 2.06 Special Meetings.

(a) Calling of Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer, or by one-third (1/3) of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors or the person calling the meeting shall fix.

(b) Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting of the Board of directors shall be given to each Director who has not waived notice, except that the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution setting the place, date and time for holding one or more special meetings without giving notice other than such resolution. In the absence of such a resolution, notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, United States mail, personal delivery or courier to each Director at his or her business or residence address and/or telephone or facsimile number. The notice shall inform the recipient of the purpose and general business to be transacted at the special meeting.

(c) Time of Notice. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors given by telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission or personal delivery shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. It shall not be necessary to give notice of any special meeting to any Director who attends the meeting except when a Director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened, or to any Director who, in a writing executed and filed with the records of the meeting either before or after the meeting, waives such notice.

(d) When Notice is Deemed Given. Notice of a special Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be given: (i) by telephone, when the Director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the Director or his or her agent is a party; (ii) by electronic mail notice, upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the Director; (iii) by facsimile transmission, upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the Director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt; (iv) by United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid; and (v) by courier, when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed to the intended recipient.

 

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Section 2.07 Quorum. A majority of the Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, provided that if there is only one Director, the one Director will constitute a quorum, and if there are two or three Directors, two Directors shall constitute quorum. If a quorum shall fail to be present at any meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof other than an announcement made prior to or at the time of adjournment. The Directors present at a meeting that has been duly called and convened but which has not been adjourned may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of a sufficient number of Directors from the meeting to leave less than a quorum present, and in such case, the action of the majority of Directors present shall constitute the action of the Board of Directors unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by the MGCL or other applicable law, the Charter of the Corporation or these Bylaws.

Section 2.08 Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. A Director’s participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute his or her presence at the meeting.

Section 2.09 Conduct of Business; Board Action. At any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Chairman of the Board may from time to time determine. The action of a majority of the Directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the action of the Board of Directors unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by the MGCL or other applicable law, the Charter of the Corporation or these Bylaws.

Section 2.10 Action without a Meeting. Any action permitted or required to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken if a unanimous consent that sets forth the action is given in writing by each Director and filed in paper or electronic form with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.11 Adjournment. Any regular of special meeting of the Board of Directors may be adjourned from time to time by the Chairman of the Board or by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the Directors present to reconvene at the same or some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting other than an announcement made at or prior to the time of adjournment.

Section 2.12 Compensation of Directors. Pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, the Corporation may compensate Directors for their services as Directors, including, without limitation, compensation for services as a member of the Board of Directors and as a member or the chairman of a committee of the Board of Directors, and may reimburse Directors for expenses incurred in performing such services as Directors, including expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors. Nothing in this Section 2.12 shall preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 2.13 Presumption of Assent. A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless such Director: (a) announces his or her dissent to such action at the meeting, and (b) such dissent is (i) entered in the minutes of the meeting; (ii) filed in writing with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the meeting is adjourned; or (iii) forwarded in writing by such Director to the secretary of the meeting within 24 hours after the meeting is adjourned, by certified mail, return receipt requested, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service. A Director who votes in favor of an action or fails to make his or her dissent to such action known at the meeting at which such action is taken shall have no right to dissent to such action.

 

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Section 2.14 Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records. In performing his or her duties, a Director shall be entitled to rely on any opinion, report or statement, including a financial statement of financial data, prepared or presented by: (a) an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the Director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the maters presented; (b) a lawyer, certified public accountant, appraiser, financial advisor, consultant, expert or other person as to a matter which the Director reasonably believes to be within such person’s professional or expert competence; or (c) a committee of the Board of Directors on which the Director does not serve as to a matter within its designated authority if the Director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence. A Director who performs his or her duties in reliance on such an opinion, report or statement shall have immunities and protections to the fullest extent afforded by the MGCL and other applicable law.

Article 3. Committees

Section 3.01 Committees of the Board of Directors.

(a) General Provisions. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating Committee, and such other committees as the Board of Directors deems necessary or desirable. The membership of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee shall consist of independent directors to the extent required by the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Board of Directors may delegate to any committee so appointed any of the powers and authorities of the Board of Directors to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL and any other applicable law.

(b) Composition. Each committee shall be composed of one or more Directors or any other number of members specified in these Bylaws. The Chairman of the Board may recommend committees, committee memberships, and committee chairmanships to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to establish committee charters, appoint the chairman and the members of any committee, change the membership of any committee, to fill all vacancies on committees, to designate alternate members to replace or act in the place of any absent or disqualified member of a committee, or to dissolve any committee.

(c) Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, if appointed, shall consist of not less than three members who meet the applicable independence requirements referenced in Section 3.01(a), and shall have authority: (i) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 1.09 of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw provision; (ii) to recommend to the Board of Directors nominees for election to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing; and (iii) to take such other actions as may be authorized or permitted pursuant to any resolution or committee charter approved by the Board of Directors. No Director shall serve on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee at a meeting at which he or she has been or is seeking to be proposed as a nominee.

(d) Issuance of Stock. If the Board of Directors has given general authorization for the issuance of stock providing for or establishing a method or procedure for determining the maximum number of shares to be issued, a committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with that general authorization or any stock option or other plan or program adopted by the Board of Directors, may authorize or fix the terms of stock subject to classification or reclassification and the terms on which any stock may be issued, including all terms and conditions required or permitted to be established or authorized by the Board of Directors. Any committee so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors if the resolution that designated the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide.

 

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Section 3.02 Conduct of Business.

(a) Procedures. The chairman of each committee shall determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting the business of the committee, except as otherwise required by these Bylaws, applicable law or a resolution of the Board of Directors.

(b) Quorum; Committee Action. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which case one member of the committee shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is present, the action of the majority of committee members present shall constitute the action of the committee unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by the MGCL or other applicable law, the Charter of the Corporation, these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

(c) Committee Meetings. Regular meetings of committees shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors or the committee and publicized among all members of the committee. A written notice of a regular committee meeting shall not be required. The chairman of a committee or any two members of the committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may call and fix the time and place of any special meeting of a committee. Notice of special meetings of a committee shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors.

(d) Participation in Committee Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. A Director’s participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute his or her presence at the meeting.

(e) Action without a Meeting. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

(f) Adjournment. Any regular or special meeting of a committee the Board of Directors may be adjourned from time to time by the chairman of the committee or a resolution approved by a majority of the members of the committee to reconvene at the same or some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting other than an announcement made at or prior to the time of adjournment.

Article 4. Officers

Section 4.01 Generally.

(a) Offices; Election and Appointment. The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, one or more Vice-Presidents, and such other officers as the Board may deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time appoint one or more Senior Vice-Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Assistant Secretaries or Assistant Treasurers, in each case subject to the ratification of such appointments by the Board of Directors no less frequently than annually. Any two or more offices except President and Vice-President may be held by the same individual.

(b) Tenure. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

(c) Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation and the person so removed. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer to remove subordinate officers.

 

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(d) Resignation. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time as is required by any contract between the officer and the Corporation, or if no such contract exists, as is specified in the notice of resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer and the Corporation.

(e) Interim Appointments; Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Board of Directors may fill such vacancy for the balance of the term. In the absence or incapacity of any officer, the Board of Directors may designate another person to fill such office on an acting basis.

(f) Powers and Duties. All officers shall each have such powers and duties as are specified in or assigned pursuant to this Article 4.

Section 4.02 Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervisory power and authority over the policies and affairs of the Corporation, the management and oversight of the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business, and such other duties, powers and authorities as are provided in these Bylaws, or as are from time to time assigned by the Board of Directors, or as are usually incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall also see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and of any committee thereof are carried into effect, and shall preside over each meeting of the stockholders unless the Board of Directors has designated another person to perform such functions. The person who is Chief Executive Officer may also serve as the Chairman of the Board and/or the President.

Section 4.03 President. The President shall have such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as are from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or if one is not elected, the President shall perform the duties and exercise the functions of the Chief Executive Officer unless the Board of Directors has designated another person to perform such duties and exercise such duties and functions.

Section 4.04 Secretary. The Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep the minutes of the Corporation, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall sign or countersign such instruments as require his or her signature, shall maintain and preserve the Charter and Bylaws of the Corporation and the proceedings of regular and special meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, and shall have such other duties, powers and authorities as are provided in these Bylaws, or as are from time to time assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or as are usually incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary, when present, shall act as Secretary of each regular and special meeting of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders unless the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer designates another person to perform such duties and functions.

Section 4.05 Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer. The Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer shall have charge of all monies and securities of the Corporation, other than monies and securities of any division of the Corporation which has a treasurer or chief financial officer appointed by the Board of Directors, and shall keep regular books of account. The Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer shall deposit the funds of the Corporation in the name of the Corporation with such banks or trust companies or other entities as the Board of Directors from time to time shall designate or otherwise approve. The Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer shall sign or countersign such instruments as require his or her signature, and shall have such other duties, powers and authorities as are provided in these Bylaws, or as are from time to time assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or as are usually incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer.

Section 4.06 Vice-Presidents. The Corporation may have one or more classes of Vice-Presidents, including Executive Vice-Presidents, Senior Vice-Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Assistant Vice-Presidents. All Vice-Presidents shall have such duties as are provided in these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Section 4.07 Other Officers. The Board of Directors may designate and fill such other offices in its discretion and the persons holding such other offices shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer may from time to time assign.

Section 4.08 Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer, shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting or otherwise with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other Corporation.

Article 5. Stock

Section 5.01 Certificates of Stock. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in the manner permitted by the MGCL and contain the statements and information required by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation shall provide to record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

Section 5.02 Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 5.06, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.

Section 5.03 Record Dates or Closing of Transfer Books. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than 10 days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders: (a) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (b) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the Directors, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted. When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired, or when the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.

Section 5.04 Stock Ledger. The Corporation shall maintain a stock ledger that contains the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of stock of each class that the stockholder holds. The stock ledger may be in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual inspection. The original or a duplicate of the stock ledger shall be kept at the offices of a transfer agent for the particular class of stock or, if none, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.

 

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Section 5.05 Certification of Beneficial Owners. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder of the Corporation may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may certify; the purpose for which the certification may be made; the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt of a certification that complies with the procedure adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section, the person specified in the certification is, for the purpose set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

Section 5.06 Lost Stock Certificates. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine the conditions for issuing a new stock certificate in place of one that is alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or the Board of Directors may delegate such power to any officer or officers of the Corporation. Any officer designated by the Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing the issuance of a new certificate, an officer designated by the Board of Directors may, in his or her discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner’s legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he shall require and/or to give bond, with sufficient surety, to the Corporation to indemnify it against any loss or claim which may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.

Section 5.07 Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

Article 6. Finance

Section 6.01 Checks, Drafts and Other Instruments. All checks, drafts and orders for the payment of money, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of the Corporation, shall be signed by such officer of the Corporation as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such a determination by the Board of Directors, all such checks, drafts and orders for the payment of money, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, of the Corporation shall be signed by any two of the following officers: the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer.

Section 6.02 Annual Statement of Affairs. The Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer shall prepare annually a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Corporation, which shall include a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year. The statement of affairs shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the stockholders, and within 20 days after the meeting, placed on file at the Corporation’s principal office.

Section 6.03 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the 12 calendar month period ending on December 31st of each year.

Section 6.04 Dividends. Distributions upon the stock of the Corporation, including dividends, may be authorized by the Board of Directors and may be paid in money, property or stock, subject to the provisions of the MGCL, any other applicable law and the Charter of the Corporation. If a stock dividend or stock split is not considered a distribution under the MGCL, it may be authorized by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the MGCL.

 

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Section 6.05 Loans. No loans constituting borrowed money shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidence of indebtedness for borrowed money shall be issued in its name unless authorized by the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 6.06 Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in any of depositories as the Board of Directors may designate or approve.

Article 7. Miscellaneous

Section 7.01 Principal Office. The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.

Section 7.02 Additional Offices. The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require. The principal executive office of the Corporation shall be 15 W 060 North Frontage Road, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527, unless the Board of Directors designates a different principal executive office.

Section 7.03 Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Section 7.04 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words “Incorporated Maryland.” The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof. Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 7.05 Notices.

(a) Notices to the Corporation. All notices required to be given to the Corporation shall be given as provided in these Bylaws or as required by applicable law. If applicable law or these Bylaws do not specify the manner of giving notice to the Corporation in a specific situation, such notice shall be in writing and shall sent by United States mail, personal delivery or private courier to the Corporation at its principal executive office, in each case addressed to the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary of the Corporation. Unless these Bylaws or applicable law require otherwise, notices given to the Corporation by personal delivery, private courier or United States mail and addressed in the manner specified above shall be effective only upon actual receipt by the Corporation, and notices given to the Corporation by telephone, facsimile transmission, electronic mail or any other means shall be ineffective, whether or not actually received by the Corporation.

(b) Other Notices. All notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation may be effectively given by personal delivery, private courier or United States mail unless a different manner of notice is required by these Bylaws, the MGCL, any other applicable law or contract. The Corporation may also effectively give notice to a stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation by electronic mail or facsimile transmission provided that promptly after the transmission of such notice the Corporation sends a paper copy of such notice to the recipient by personal delivery, private courier or United States mail. All notices to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be addressed to him, her or it at his, her or its last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. All notices sent to any such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be deemed to be given if sent: (i) by personal delivery when personally delivered to the intended recipient; (ii) by United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, properly addressed to the intended recipient, with postage thereon prepaid; (iii) by courier, when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed to the intended recipient; (iv) by electronic mail, upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given by the intended recipient to the

 

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Corporation or appearing on its books and records, provided that a documentary copy of such notice is also sent to the recipient as provided herein; and (v) by facsimile transmission, upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given by the intended recipient to the Corporation or appearing on its books and records and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt, provided that a documentary copy of such notice is also sent to the recipient as provided herein.

Section 7.06 Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice, signed by the corporation or a stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to the Corporation or such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

Section 7.07 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded and the day of the event shall be included.

Section 7.08 Control Share Acquisition Opt-out. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter of the Corporation or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the MGCL (or any successor statute) shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, shall, to the extent provided by any successor Bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

Article 8. Amendments

Section 8.01. Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter, amend, restate or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, alteration, amendment, restatement or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall be pursuant to a resolution approved by 2/3 of the Whole Board (rounded up to the nearest whole number).

 

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Consent of Crowe Chizek and Company LLC

Exhibit 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Number 333-127737) of BankFinancial Corporation, of our reports dated March 8, 2007, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of BankFinancial Corporation and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which reports appear in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of BankFinancial Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

Crowe Chizek and Company LLC

Oak Brook, Illinois

March 14, 2007

Section 302 CEO Certification

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, F. Morgan Gasior, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 15, 2007  

/S/ F. Morgan Gasior

  F. Morgan Gasior
 

Chairman of the Board,

Chief Executive Officer and President

Section 302 CFO Certification

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Paul A. Cloutier, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 15, 2007  

/S/ Paul A. Cloutier

  Paul A. Cloutier
 

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Section 906 CEO and CFO Certification

Exhibit 32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002

F. Morgan Gasior, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and Paul A. Cloutier, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each certify in his capacity as an officer of the Company that he has reviewed the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (the “Report”) and that to the best of his knowledge:

 

  1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: March 15, 2007  

/S/ F. Morgan Gasior

  F. Morgan Gasior
 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

and President

Date: March 15, 2007  

/S/ Paul A. Cloutier

  Paul A. Cloutier
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.