SAFE & SOUND® STAR RATINGS™
Memorandum on findings
BORREGO SPRINGS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
7777 ALVARADO ROAD
LA MESA, California 91942
STAR RATING:
3



Predictive Indicator
neutral
As of
December 31,
2012
Federal Reserve System Identifier 962265
HOLDING COMPANY INFORMATION
(Based on data from the previous quarter.)
|
This bank is not owned by a holding company.
|
INTRODUCTION
U.S. commercial banks are chartered under either federal or state jurisdiction for the purposes of accepting funds for deposit and extending loans to either individual or business borrowers. Banks are subject to credit, interest rate, and operational risk, and, because of both their public purpose and their importance to the nation’s economy, banks become the object of intense regulatory scrutiny.
U.S. thrift institutions are chartered under either federal or state jurisdiction for the primary purpose of utilizing deposited funds to issue loans secured by real estate. Currently, real estate-backed loans account for approximately 45% of total thrift industry assets, and one-to-four family residential mortgages comprise nearly 65% of the industry’s real estate loan portfolio. Thrift institutions are subject to credit, interest rate, and operational risk, and, during the last twenty years, thrifts have made great strides toward reducing historic mismatches between asset and liability maturities.
Recent Changes to thrift call reporting may impact institution ratings as a result of altered peer groupings as well as other factors.
The Bankrate proprietary commercial bank rating model analyzes capitalization,
asset quality, earnings, and liquidity and produces composite and component
"Star" ratings that can be used as a measure of the rated entity's financial
safety and soundness. Additionally, early warning components of the model
highlight operating characteristics of immediate concern and recommended
follow-up actions. "The analyses are not adjusted for TARP funding and those
institutions receiving funds may receive ratings that would differ were the
TARP funds adjusted out of the analyses. You can check whether or not this
institution has received TARP funding and whether or not they have paid it
back at
http://bailout.propublica.org/main/list/index."
INSTITUTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
| BORREGO SPRINGS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
|
December 31,
2012 |
|
1 year
|
|
3
/25.69 |
| neutral |
|
4
/77.00 |
|
1
/12.72 |
|
4
/59.60 |
|
4
/55.57 |
| 141.7080 million |
| 121.0750 million |
| 96.9790 million |
| 15.9650 million |
| 940.00 thousand |
COMPONENT HIGHLIGHTS
Earnings Highlights
Bank profitability is critical to building capital, establishing adequate loss reserves, and providing dividends to shareholders.
|
| Return on Equity | 6.38 | Very Healthy |
| Net Interest Margin | 4.84 | Strong |
| Level of Non-interest Income (1) | 6.19 | Solid |
| Overhead (1) | 8.26 | Significantly Higher Than Average |
(1) = As a percentage of average assets
Note: All ratios are based on the latest four quarters of income and expense
Component star rating:
1

Asset quality highlights
Asset quality is a major determinant of the viability of any banking institution. Poor asset quality will have a very direct impact upon the other components and bank regulators invest substantial amounts of time and resources in gauging the quality of a bank's loans and investments.
|
| Nonperforming Asset Ratio (2) | 44.70 | Substantially Higher Than Standard |
| Loss Reserve Coverage (3) | 83.30 | Below Normal |
| Loan Yield | 6.87 | Conservative |
| Asset Growth Rate | 7.93 | Normal |
(2) = Nonperforming Assets/Equity plus Loss Reserves
(3) = Loan Loss Reserves/Nonperforming Loans
Capital highlights
Bank capitalization stands as a protection against loss for bank customers, creditors, shareholders, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Regulators place a high degree of importance upon assessments of capitalization and assign regulatory benchmarks as determinants of capital adequacy.
|
| Net Worth to Total Assets | 11.27 | Above Peer Norm |
| Regulatory Capital Ratio | 15.22 | Exceeded Requirement |
Liquidity highlights
Liquidity provides funding for normal bank operations and represents a reserve for unanticipated disintermediation. Liquidity can be both an asset and a liability concept.
|
| Balance Sheet Liquidity | 11.85 | Substantially Below Normal |
| Purchased Liabilities | 4.45 | No Greater Than Average Dependence |
Early warning highlights
Early warning indicators identify areas of potential concern, which may lead to financial deterioration and thus, require inquiry or in-depth investigation.
For this bank we have noted:
- Overhead
- Nonperforming Assets
- Commercial Real Estate and Construction Lending
|
Institution Commentary
OVERVIEW of InstitutionBORREGO SPRINGS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION is a
nationally
chartered banking institution, which, as of
December 31,
2012,
reported $141.7080 million in total assets.
At that date, loans and deposits held by the bank amounted to
$96.9790 million and $121.0750 million,
respectively. The bank's
December 31,
2012
equity base of $15.9650 million produced an Equity/Assets ratio of
11.27%, as of that date.
COMPOSITE SUMMARY
Bankrate believes that, as of
December 31,
2012,
this bank exhibited a generally satisfactory condition, characterized by
normal overall, sustainable profitability,
very questionable asset quality,
strong capitalization and
seemingly ample liquidity.
EARNINGS ANALYSIS
For the twelve months ended
December 31,
2012,
the bank recorded net income
of $940.00 thousand. The bank experienced a return on average assets (ROA) of
0.66% over the latest four quarters. Year earlier
twelve month results amounted to a net profit
of $1.0320 million, or a
0.73%
ROA over the most recent four quarters at that time. An ROA of at least 1.0% is deemed satisfactory in accordance with banking
industry standards, and the industry's annualized ROA for the twelve months
of 2012 was approximately 1.00% for commercial banks
and 1.06% for thrift institutions.
We have concluded that for the four quarters ending
December 31,
2012,
the bank achieved a very healthy
return on equity.
We deem net interest margin to have been strong.
Noninterest income was solid.
We also observed overhead ratios that were significantly higher than average, and the composition of overhead should be thoroughly analyzed.
Importantly, net interest margins, noninterest income components, and overhead expense levels
represent operating factors that combine to impact overall operating results.
ASSET QUALITY ANALYSIS
The bank revealed, as previously stated, very questionable
asset quality. Our conclusion with respect to asset quality incorporates our analysis
of data depicting regional economic conditions as well as our computations of
a substantially higher than standard
December 31,
2012 nonperforming asset ratio,
below normal
reserve coverage for nonperforming loans;
and
much greater than average
holdings of commercial real estate and construction loans, two categories
that can intensify credit risk.
The bank's current level of nonperforming assets could lead to sharp
write-downs and consequent substantial loss provisions. Hence, careful
monitoring and additional inquiry are warranted.
Commercial real estate and construction loans should be examined for:
- Loan underwriting and appraisal standards that differ from normal bank guidelines.
- Loan-to-value benchmarks deemed not in conformance with prudent underwriting requirements.
- Speculative construction activity.
- The deferral of interest payments during construction periods.
- The funding of the entire amount of construction costs and land valuation.
Other asset categories, such as farm and consumer loans, which may carry
more than usual default potential, should not have a substantial negative impact
upon future results.
Loan yield can measure financial reward versus credit risk. Excessive loan yield may be an
indicator of existing or future problems. Our loan review indicates that the bank has assumed a
seemingly prudent position between credit risk and financial reward.
CAPITAL ANALYSIS
For the one year period ended
December 31,
2012, the bank reported
a strong rate of growth in equity capital.
Balance sheet structural changes, through the one year period of time ended
December 31,
2012, have
highly improved
the bank's capital position. Our analytical methodology does take into account the quantity,
quality, and durability of net worth, and, as set forth above, we have determined, based upon
our series of tests, that the bank demonstrates
strong
capitalization. We have calculated the bank's
December 31,
2012
Total Risk-Based Capital position, a computation used by industry regulators, and have concluded
that this bank exceeded
the requirement, set by regulation, for this test.
LIQUIDITY ANALYSIS
As of
December 31,
2012, the bank displayed
Substantially Below Normal
balance sheet liquidity and a
No Greater Than Average Dependence
upon wholesale, or non-core liabilities, which include all borrowings, such as Federal Home
Loan Bank Advances, and CD's greater than $250,000.
Accounting principles require some securities to be categorized as "Available-for-Sale."
Changes in market value of these securities are reflected through the GAAP (Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles) net worth of the institution. Based upon the bank's
present balance sheet, changes in the value of the current level of securities reported
as "Available-for-Sale"
might not have a substantial impact
upon future net worth of the bank.
INSTITUTION SUMMARY
This bank has been rated
generally satisfactory.
Negative factors that impacted that rating follow:
As noted previously, early warning indicators, possibly requiring specific
investigation include:
- Overhead
- Nonperforming Assets
- Commercial Real Estate and Construction Lending
PREDICTIVE INDICATOR
As stated, we have determined a composite Star rating for this bank of
3



, indicative of a
generally satisfactory
financial condition. At times, financial conditions of banks change rapidly and significantly.
Hence, our Safe & Sound Star ratings should not be deemed predictive of likely future ratings.
However, in view of early warning indicators set forth within this report, in combination with
the institution's financial data, we believe that the Star rating for this institution is
unlikely to change
within the ensuing twelve month period.