Document


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
FORM 8-K 
 
 
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 30, 2016
 
 
 
 BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) 
 
 
 
Maryland
0-51331
75-3199276
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File No.)
(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
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Current Report includes “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include statements relating to the future plans, strategies and expectations of BankFinancial Corporation (the “Company”) and BankFinancial, N.A. (the “Bank”), as well as future revenues, earnings, losses, financial performance, financial condition, asset quality metrics and future prospects. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” or similar expressions. A variety of factors could cause actual results to differ from those expected at the time of this Current Report. For a discussion of some of the factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as supplemented by subsequent filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to review all information contained in these reports, including the risk factors discussed therein. Copies of these filings are available at no cost on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov or on the Company’s web site at www.bankfinancial.com. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes.

Item 8.01.
Other Events

On November 30, 2016, the Federal Reserve Board approved the Company's previously filed application to register as a Bank Holding Company.  Following the receipt of the Federal Reserve Board's approval, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, BankFinancial F.S.B. met all existing conditions required for approval of the Bank's application to convert from a federal savings bank to a national bank.   On November 30, 2016, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency authorized the Bank to begin operations as a national bank.  Accordingly, effective at 11:59 PM on November 30, 2016, BankFinancial Corporation is a registered Bank Holding Company and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary is operating as BankFinancial, National Association. 

The change to the national bank charter will immediately facilitate the expansion of the Bank’s commercial lending and leasing activities, including small business lending.

Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a)
Not Applicable.
(b)
Not Applicable.
(c)
Not Applicable.
(d)
Exhibits.

Exhibit No.    Description
99.1    Press Release dated November 30, 2016





SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 30, 2016
 
By:
/s/ F. Morgan Gasior
 
 
 
 
 
F. Morgan Gasior
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President






EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Description
99.1    Press Release dated November 30, 2016



Exhibit


Exhibit No. 99.1
https://cdn.kscope.io/229b310c2cde3a0e88544866dec2a793-bfinlogoa01a02a02a01a02a02.gif
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BankFinancial Converts to National Bank Charter
Burr Ridge, Illinois - (November 30, 2016) BankFinancial Corporation (Nasdaq - BFIN) announced its conversion to a Bank Holding Company registered with the Federal Reserve Board effective at the close of operations on November 30, 2016. Concurrently, its wholly-owned bank subsidiary will become BankFinancial, National Association (N.A.) pursuant to its conversion to a National Bank charter.
As of September 30, 2016, the Bank’s commercial loans and lease portfolio was $411.6 million, reflecting total portfolio growth of 45% since December 31, 2014. The Bank’s commercial loan and lease portfolio comprised 26.7% of total assets. The National Bank charter now permits the Bank to continue the expansion of its commercial lending operations, including lending to small businesses.
“We are really excited about the National Bank charter” said Regional Commercial Banking Executive Vice President Kevin Cook. “Our team of commercial bankers in Chicago offers working capital lines of credit, equipment loans and real estate loans to small and mid-size businesses in the Chicago area. The National Bank charter now removes all of our previous limits on growth and we intend to take full advantage of our new capacity.”
“The National Bank charter perfectly suits our nationwide focus on commercial equipment leasing, and finance, and will greatly enhance our ability to serve independent equipment lessors throughout the United States” said William Deutsch, President of National Commercial Leasing. “The National Bank charter also adds some important new capacity for innovative products that can significantly strengthen non-interest income and deposit relationships with our commercial equipment lessors.”
Added Brad Roiland, Sr. Vice President of National Health Care: “The National Bank charter will be extremely helpful in expanding our outreach to health care businesses, whether critical access hospitals, federally-qualified health centers, ambulatory surgical centers or home health providers. The ability to provide focused credit facilities and electronic depository services to eligible health care providers anywhere in the United States is critical to success in this market.”
“The Bank is now poised to be a leader in all of its commercial lending platforms. We look forward to working within our local communities and nationwide to deliver exactly what our individuals, families, and commercial loan and deposit customers need from a 21st Century financial institution” said F. Morgan Gasior, CEO of BankFinancial Corporation.
BankFinancial Corporation is the bank holding company for BankFinancial, N.A., a national banking association providing depository, wealth management and trust services to individuals, families and businesses through 19 full-service banking offices, located in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will Counties, IL and also providing selected commercial loans and leases on a local, regional and national basis. At September 30, 2016, BankFinancial had total assets of $1.540 billion, total loans of $1.242 billion, total deposits of $1.317 billion and stockholders’ equity of $204 million. BankFinancial Corporation’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol BFIN. Additional information may be found at the company's website, www.bankfinancial.com.
This release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A variety of factors could cause BankFinancial’s actual results to differ from those expected at the time of this release. For a discussion of some of the factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to BankFinancial’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC, as supplemented by subsequent filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to review all information contained in these reports, including the risk factors discussed therein. Copies of these filings are available at no cost on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov or on BankFinancial’s web site at www.bankfinancial.com. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes.
For Further Information Contact:
 
 
Shareholder, Analyst and Investor Inquiries:
 
Media Inquiries:
Elizabeth A. Doolan
Senior Vice President – Finance
BankFinancial Corporation
Telephone: 630-242-7151
 
Gregg T. Adams
President – Marketing & Sales
BankFinancial N.A.
Telephone: 630-242-7234