BankFinancial
Annual Report 2021

Plain-text annual report

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K ☒ or ☐ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 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 Its Charter) Maryland (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 75-3199276 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 60 North Frontage Road, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 894-6900 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share Trading Symbol(s) BFIN Name of each exchange on which registered The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC Indicate by check mark whether the issuer is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒. Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒. Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None 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 ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company ☐ ☒ ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒. The aggregate market value of the registrant’s outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2021 determined using a per share closing price on that date of $11.44, as quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, was $149.2 million. At February 23, 2022, there were 13,178,485 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Part III) Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION Form 10-K Annual Report Table of Contents Item 1. Item 1A. Item 1B. Item 2. Item 3. Item 4. Business Risk Factors Unresolved Staff Comments Properties Legal Proceedings Mine Safety Disclosures PART I PART II Item 5. Item 6. Item 7. Item 7A. Item 8. Item 9. Item 9A. Item 9B. Item 9C. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities [Reserved] Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Controls and Procedures Other Information Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jusirisdictions that Prevemt Inspections PART III Item 10. Item 11. Item 12. Item 13. Item 14. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Executive Compensation Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Principal Accountant Fees and Services PART IV Item 15. Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules Form 10-K Summary Signatures Page Number 1 7 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 31 31 61 61 61 61 61 61 62 62 62 62 63 64 Table of Contents ITEM 1. BUSINESS Forward Looking Statements PART I This Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may include statements relating to our future plans, strategies and expectations, as well as our future revenues, expenses, 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,” “continue,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “preliminary,” “project,” “plan,” or similar expressions. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date made. They are frequently based on assumptions that may or may not materialize, and are subject to numerous uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements. We intend all 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 the purpose of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or projected and which could materially and adversely affect our operating results, financial condition or future prospects include, but are not limited to: (i) less than anticipated net loan and lease growth due to intense competition for loans and leases, particularly in terms of pricing, credit underwriting; or a dearth of borrowers who meet our underwriting standards, or the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences; (ii) the impact of re-pricing and competitors’ pricing initiatives on loan and deposit products; (iii) interest rate movements and their impact on the economy, customer behavior and our net interest margin; (iv) adverse economic conditions in general, or specific events such as the COVID-19 pandemic or terrorism, and in the markets in which we lend that could result in increased delinquencies in our loan portfolio or a decline in the value of our investment securities and the collateral for our loans; (v) declines in real estate values that adversely impact the value of our loan collateral, other real estate owned ("OREO"), asset dispositions and the level of borrower equity in their investments; (vi) borrowers that experience legal or financial difficulties that we do not currently foresee; (vii) results of supervisory monitoring or examinations by regulatory authorities, including the possibility that a regulatory authority could, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for loan losses or adversely change our loan classifications, write-down assets, reduce credit concentrations or maintain specific capital levels; (viii) changes, disruptions or illiquidity in national or global financial markets; (ix) the credit risks of lending activities, including risks that could cause changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and charge-offs or changes in estimates relating to the computation of our allowance for loan losses; (x) monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; (xi) factors affecting our ability to access deposits or cost-effective funding, and the impact of competitors' pricing initiatives on our deposit products; (xii) legislative or regulatory changes that have an adverse impact on our products, services, operations and operating expenses; (xiii) higher federal deposit insurance premiums; (xiv) higher than expected overhead, infrastructure and compliance costs; (xv) changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; (xvi) the effects of any federal government shutdown; and (xvii) privacy and cybersecurity risks, including the risks of business interruption and the compromise of confidential customer information resulting from intrusions. These risks and uncertainties, together with the Risk Factors and other information set forth in Item 1A below, should be considered in evaluating forward- looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the future, or 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 (the “Company”), became the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BankFinancial, F.S.B. (the “Bank”) in 2005, when we consummated a plan of conversion and reorganization that the Bank and its predecessor holding companies, BankFinancial MHC, Inc. and BankFinancial Corporation, a federal corporation, adopted in 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. Following the approval of applications that the Company filed with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bank filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Company became a bank holding company and the Bank became a national bank in 2016. As a result of the Bank’s conversion from a federal savings bank charter to a national bank charter, the Bank changed its name from BankFinancial, F.S.B. to BankFinancial, National Association. 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, National Association The Bank is a full-service, national bank providing banking, wealth management and fiduciary services to individuals, families and businesses in the Chicago metropolitan area and on a regional or national basis for commercial finance, healthcare finance, equipment finance, commercial real estate finance and treasury management business customers. The Bank offers our customers a broad range of loan, deposit, trust and other financial products and services through 19 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, funds transfers, bill payment and other online and mobile banking transactions, automated teller machines, safe deposit boxes, trust services, wealth management, and general insurance agency services. The Bank’s lending area consists of the counties where our branch offices are located, contiguous counties in the State of Illinois, as well as commercial credit origination and customer service offices for the Commercial Finance, Commercial Real Estate and Equipment Finance Divisions of the Bank. We originate deposits predominantly from the areas where 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 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) deposit insurance limits, we generally do not solicit such deposits because they are more difficult to retain than core deposits and at times are more costly than wholesale deposits. 1 Table of Contents Lending Activities Our loan portfolio consists primarily of multi-family real estate, nonresidential real estate, commercial loans and leases, which collectively represented $1.019 billion, or 97.0%, of our gross loan portfolio of $1.051 billion at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, $426.1 million, or 40.6%, of our loan portfolio consisted of multi-family mortgage loans; $103.2 million, or 9.8%, of our loan portfolio consisted of nonresidential real estate loans; and $489.5 million, or 46.6%, of our loan portfolio consisted of commercial loans and leases. At December 31, 2021, $30.1 million, or 2.9%, of our loan portfolio consisted of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans, of which $6.0 million, or 0.6%, were loans to investors secured by non-owner occupied residential properties, including home equity loans and lines of credit. Deposit Activities Our deposit accounts consist principally of savings accounts, NOW accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRAs and other retirement accounts. We provide commercial checking accounts and related services such as treasury services. We also provide low-cost checking account services. 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, 2021, our deposits totaled $1.488 billion. Interest-bearing deposits totaled $1.146 billion, or 77.0% of total deposits, and noninterest- bearing demand deposits totaled $342.2 million, or 23.0% of total deposits. Savings, money market and NOW account deposits totaled $939.3 million, or 63.1% of total deposits, and certificates of deposit totaled $206.9 million, or 13.9% of total deposits, of which $167.4 million had maturities of one year or less. Related Products and Services The Bank provides trust and financial planning services through our Trust Department. The Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Financial Assurance Services, Inc. (“Financial Assurance”), sells property and casualty insurance and other insurance products on an agency basis. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Financial Assurance recorded net income of $90,000. At December 31, 2021, Financial Assurance had one full-time employee. The Bank’s other wholly-owned subsidiary, BFIN Asset Recovery Company, LLC (formerly BF Asset Recovery Corporation), holds title to and sells certain Bank-owned real estate acquired through foreclosure and collection actions, and recorded a net loss of $1,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Website and Stockholder Information The website for the Company and the Bank is www.bankfinancial.com. Information on this website does not constitute part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company makes available, free of charge, its Annual Report on 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 (“Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after such forms are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Copies of these documents are available to stockholders at the website for the Company and the Bank, www.bankfinancial.com, under “Investor Relations,” and through the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Competition We face significant competition in originating loans and attracting deposits. The Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area and many of the other geographic markets in which we operate generally have a high concentration of financial institutions, many of which are significantly larger institutions that have greater financial resources than we have, and many of which are our competitors to varying degrees. Our competition for loans and leases comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banking companies, the U.S. Government, 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 online financial institutions and 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 service and efficient decision-making tailored to individual needs. We do not rely on any individual, group or entity for a material portion of our loans or our deposits. Employees At December 31, 2021, the Bank had 196 full-time employees and 47 part-time employees. Our employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit and we consider our working relationship with our employees to be good. Supervision and Regulation General The Bank is a national bank, regulated and supervised primarily by the OCC. The Bank is also subject to regulation by the FDIC in more limited circumstances because the Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC. This regulatory and supervisory structure establishes a comprehensive framework of the activities in which a depository institution may engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund, depositors and the banking system. Under this system of federal regulation, depository 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. The OCC examines the Bank and prepares reports for the consideration of its Board of Directors on any identified deficiencies, if any. After completing an examination, the OCC issues a report of examination and assigns a rating (known as an institution’s CAMELS rating). Under federal law and regulations, an institution may not disclose the contents of its reports of examination or its CAMELS ratings to the public. 2 Table of Contents The Bank is a member of, and owns stock in, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (“FHLB”) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) has limited regulatory jurisdiction over the Bank with regard to reserves it must maintain against deposits, check processing and certain other matters. The Bank’s relationship with its depositors and borrowers also is regulated in some respects by both federal and state laws, especially in matters concerning the ownership of deposit accounts, and the form and content of the Bank’s consumer loan documents. The Company is a bank holding company within the meaning of federal law. As such, it is subject to supervision and examination by the FRB. There can be no assurance that laws, rules and regulations, and regulatory policies will not change in the future. Such changes could make compliance more difficult or expensive or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. Any change in the laws or regulations, or in regulatory policy, whether by the OCC, the FDIC, the FRB, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the United States ("U.S.") Congress could have a material adverse impact on the Company, the Bank and their respective operations. The following summary of laws and regulations applicable to the Bank and Company is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual laws and regulations involved. Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications. On March 22, 2020, the federal banking agencies issued an interagency statement to provide additional guidance to financial institutions who are working with borrowers affected by the coronavirus (“COVID-19”). The statement provided that agencies will not criticize institutions for working with borrowers and will not direct supervised institutions to automatically categorize all COVID-19 related loan modifications as troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). Short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief, are not TDRs. This includes short-term (e.g., six months) modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or other delays in payment that are insignificant. Borrowers considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented. The statement further provided that working with borrowers that were current on existing loans, either individually or as part of a program for creditworthy borrowers who were experiencing short-term financial or operational problems as a result of COVID-19, generally would not be considered TDRs. For modification programs designed to provide temporary relief for current borrowers affected by COVID-19, financial institutions may presume that borrowers that are current on payments are not experiencing financial difficulties at the time of the modification for purposes of determining TDR status, and thus no further TDR analysis is required for each loan modification in the program. The statement indicated that the agencies’ examiners will exercise judgment in reviewing loan modifications, including TDRs, and will not automatically adversely risk rate credits that are affected by COVID-19, including those considered TDRs. In addition, the statement noted that efforts to work with borrowers of one- to-four family residential mortgages, where the loans are prudently underwritten, and not past due or carried on non-accrual status, will not result in the loans being considered restructured or modified for the purposes of their risk-based capital rules. With regard to loans not otherwise reportable as past due, financial institutions are not expected to designate loans with deferrals granted due to COVID-19 as past due because of the deferral. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The CARES Act, which became law on March 27, 2020, provided over $2 trillion to combat COVID-19 and stimulate the economy. The law had several provisions relevant to financial institutions, including: ● Allowing institutions not to characterize loan modifications relating to the COVID-19 pandemic as TDRs and also allowing them to suspend the corresponding impairment determination for accounting purposes. ● The ability of a borrower of a federally backed mortgage loan (VA, FHA, USDA, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) experiencing financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic to request forbearance from paying their mortgage by submitting a request to the borrower’s servicer affirming their financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency. Such a forbearance could be granted for up to 180 days, with an extension for an additional 180-day period upon the request of the borrower. During that time, no fees, penalties or interest beyond the amounts scheduled or calculated as if the borrower made all contractual payments on time and in full under the mortgage contract will accrue on the borrower’s account. Except for vacant or abandoned property, the servicer of a federally backed mortgage is prohibited from taking any foreclosure action, including any eviction or sale action, for not less than the 60-day period beginning March 18, 2020, which period has subsequently been extended several times by administrative action. ● The ability of a borrower of a multi-family federally backed mortgage loan that was current as of February 1, 2020, to submit a request for forbearance to the borrower’s servicer affirming that the borrower is experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency. A forbearance could be granted for up to 30 days, with an extension for up to two additional 30-day periods upon the request of the borrower, with future extensions granted by administrative action. During the time of the forbearance, the multi-family borrower cannot evict or initiate the eviction of a tenant or charge any late fees, penalties or other charges to a tenant for late payment of rent. Additionally, a multi-family borrower that receives a forbearance may not require a tenant to vacate a dwelling unit before a date that is 30 days after the date on which the borrower provides the tenant notice to vacate and may not issue a notice to vacate until after the expiration of the forbearance. The Paycheck Protection Program. The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), established as part of the CARES Act provided 100% federally guaranteed loans to eligible small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) 7(a) loan guaranty program for amounts up to 2.5 times the average monthly “payroll costs” of the business. The entire principal amount of the borrower’s PPP loan, including any accrued interest, is eligible for PPP loan forgiveness so long as employee and compensation levels of the business are maintained and 60% of the loan proceeds are used for payroll expenses, with the remaining 40% of the loan proceeds used for other qualifying expenses, including, but not limited to, mortgage interest, rent and utilities. In May 2021, the SBA announced that PPP funding has been exhausted and the SBA stopped accepting new PPP loan applications. Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. On December 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law, which also contains provisions that could directly impact financial institutions, including extending the authority granted to banks under the CARES Act to elect to temporarily suspend the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for loan modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic through December 31, 2021. 3 Table of Contents Federal Banking Regulation Business Activities. As a national bank, the Bank derives its lending and investment powers from the National Bank Act, as amended, and the regulations of the OCC. Under these laws and regulations, the Bank may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential and nonresidential real estate, commercial business and consumer loans and leases, certain types of securities and certain other loans and assets. Unlike federal savings banks, national banks are not generally subject to specified percentage of assets on various types of lending. The Bank may also establish subsidiaries that engage in activities permitted for the Bank as well as certain other activities. Capital Requirements. Federal regulations require FDIC-insured depository institutions, including national banks, to meet several minimum capital standards: a common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 6.0%, a total capital to risk-based assets of 8% and a 4% Tier 1 capital to total assets leverage ratio. For purposes of the regulatory capital requirements, common equity Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common stockholders’ equity and retained earnings. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common equity Tier 1 and Additional Tier 1 capital. Additional Tier 1 capital generally includes certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Total capital includes Tier 1 capital (common equity Tier 1 capital plus Additional Tier 1 capital) and Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital is comprised of capital instruments and related surplus meeting specified requirements, and may include cumulative preferred stock and long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, intermediate preferred stock and subordinated debt. Also included in Tier 2 capital is the allowance for loan losses limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and, for institutions that have exercised an opt-out election regarding the treatment of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), up to 45% of net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values. Institutions that have not exercised the AOCI opt-out have AOCI incorporated into common equity Tier 1 capital (including unrealized gains and losses on available-for- sale securities). Calculation of all types of regulatory capital is subject to deductions and adjustments specified in the regulations. In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets a bank has for purposes of calculating risk-based capital ratios, assets, including certain off-balance- sheet assets (e.g., recourse obligations, direct credit substitutes, residual interests) are multiplied by a risk weight factor assigned by the regulations based on the risks believed inherent in the type of asset. Higher levels of capital are required for asset categories believed to present greater risk. For example, a risk weight of 0% is assigned to cash and U.S. government securities, a risk weight of 50% is generally assigned to prudently underwritten first lien one-to- four family residential mortgages and certain qualifying multi-family mortgage loans, a risk weight of 100% is assigned to commercial, commercial real estate and consumer loans, a risk weight of 150% is assigned to certain past due loans and high volatility commercial real estate loans, and a risk weight of between 0% to 600% is assigned to permissible equity interests, depending on certain specified factors. In addition to establishing the minimum regulatory capital requirements, regulations limit capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management if the institution does not hold a “capital conservation buffer” consisting of 2.5% of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The capital conservation buffer requirement was fully implemented at 2.5% on January 1, 2019. At December 31, 2021, the Bank’s capital exceeded all applicable regulatory requirements, the Bank was considered well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action framework, as subsequently discussed, and it had an appropriate capital conservation buffer. The Company and the Bank each have adopted Regulatory Capital Policies that provide that the Bank will maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 7.5% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.5%. The capital ratios set forth in the Regulatory Capital Policies will be adjusted if and as necessary. In accordance with the Regulatory Capital Policies, neither the Company nor the Bank will pursue any acquisition or growth opportunity, declare any dividend or conduct any stock repurchase that would cause the Bank's total risk-based capital ratio and/or its Tier 1 leverage ratio to fall below the established capital levels. In addition, in accordance with its Regulatory Capital Policy, the Company expects it will continue to maintain its ability to serve as a source of financial strength to the Bank by holding a combination of cash, liquid assets and credit availability equal to at least $5.0 million for that purpose. Legislation enacted in 2018 required the federal banking agencies, including the OCC, to establish a “community bank leverage ratio” of between 8% to 10% of average total consolidated assets for qualifying institutions with less than $10 billion of assets. Institutions with capital meeting the specified requirement and electing to follow the alternative framework will be deemed to comply with the applicable regulatory capital requirements, including the risk-based requirements, and are considered well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action framework. Eligible institutions may opt into and out of the community bank ratio framework on their quarterly call report. The OCC adopted a final rule that established 9% as the community bank leverage ratio, effective January 1, 2020 for use in the March 31, 2020 call report. The CARES Act lowered the community bank leverage ratio to 8%, with federal regulation making the reduced ratio effective April 23, 2020. Another rule was issued to transition back to the 9% community bank leverage ratio by increasing the ratio to 8.5% for calendar year 2021 and to 9% thereafter. Loans-to-One-Borrower. A national 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, 2021, the Bank was in compliance with the loan-to-one-borrower limitations. Dividends. Federal law and OCC regulations govern cash dividends by a national bank. A national bank is authorized to pay such dividends from undivided profits but must receive prior OCC approval if the total amount of dividends (including the proposed dividend) exceeds its net income in that year and the prior two years less dividends previously paid. A national bank may not pay a dividend if the dividend does not comply with applicable regulatory capital requirements and may be further limited in payment of cash dividends if it does not maintain the capital conservation buffer described previously. 4 Table of Contents Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws. All national banks have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) and related federal regulations to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate- income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a national bank, the OCC is required to evaluate and rate the bank’s record of compliance with the CRA. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices based on the characteristics specified in those statutes. A national bank’s failure to comply with the provisions of the CRA could, at a minimum, result in regulatory restrictions on certain of its activities such as branching or mergers. The failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act could result in enforcement actions by the OCC, as well as other federal regulatory agencies and the Department of Justice. The Bank’s CRA performance has been rated as “Outstanding,” the highest possible CRA rating, in each of the CRA performance evaluations that have been conducted by the Bank’s primary federal regulator since 1998. Transactions with Related Parties. A national bank’s authority to engage in transactions with its “affiliates” is limited by OCC regulations and by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and its implementing regulation, 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 operating subsidiaries of national banks are generally not considered affiliates for the purposes of Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Company is an affiliate of the Bank. In general, transactions with affiliates must be on terms that are at least as favorable to the national bank as comparable transactions with non-affiliates. In addition, certain types of these transactions are restricted to an aggregate percentage of the bank’s capital. Collateral in specified amounts must be provided by affiliates in order to receive loans or other forms of credit from the bank. 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 FRB. These provisions generally 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 not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features (subject to an exception for lending programs open to employees generally). In addition, there are limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate based on a percentage of the Bank’s capital. Extensions of credit in excess of specified limits must receive the prior approval of the Bank’s Board of Directors. Extensions of credit to executive officers are subject to additional restrictions. The Bank does not extend credit to executive officers or members of the Board of Directors. Enforcement. The OCC has primary enforcement responsibility over national banks. This includes authority to bring enforcement actions against the Bank, its directors, officers and employees 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 the removal of officers and/or directors, receivership, conservatorship or the termination of deposit insurance. Civil monetary penalties cover a wide range of violations of laws and regulations, unsafe and unsound practices and certain other actions. The maximum penalties that can be assessed are generally based on the type and severity of the violation, unsafe and unsound practice or other action, and are adjusted annually for inflation. The FDIC has authority to recommend to the OCC that an enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular insured bank. If action is not taken by the OCC, 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 insured depository institutions under its jurisdiction. 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 standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. The guidelines address matters such as internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, credit underwriting, loan documentation, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits. A subsequent set of guidelines was issued for information security. If the OCC determines that a national bank fails to meet any standard prescribed by the guidelines, it may require the institution to submit to the agency an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard and take other appropriate action. Prompt Corrective Action Regulations. Federal law requires that federal bank regulators take “prompt corrective action” with respect to institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For this purpose, the law establishes five capital categories: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. Under the amended regulations, an institution is deemed to be “well- capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater and a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 6.5% or greater. An institution is “adequately capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater and a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 4.5% or greater. An institution is “undercapitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a leverage ratio of less than 4.0% or a common equity Tier 1 ratio of less than 4.5%. An institution is deemed to be “significantly undercapitalized” if it has a total risk- based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, a leverage ratio of less than 3.0% or a common equity Tier 1 ratio of less than 3.0%. An institution is considered to be “critically undercapitalized” if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%. The regulations provide that a capital restoration plan must be filed with the OCC within 45 days of the date a national bank receives notice that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized.” Any holding company for the bank required to submit a capital restoration plan must guarantee the lesser of an amount equal to 5.0% of the bank’s assets at the time it was notified or deemed to be undercapitalized by the OCC, or the amount necessary to restore the bank to adequately capitalized status. This guarantee remains in place until the OCC notifies the bank that it has maintained adequately capitalized status for each of four consecutive calendar quarters, and the OCC has the authority to require payment and collect payment under the guarantee. Various restrictions, including as to growth and capital distributions, also apply to “undercapitalized” institutions. If an “undercapitalized” institution fails to submit an acceptable capital plan, it is treated as “significantly undercapitalized.” “Significantly undercapitalized” institutions must comply with one or more additional restrictions including, but not limited to, an order by the OCC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, a requirement to reduce total assets, cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks, dismiss officers or directors and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers and capital distributions by the parent holding company. Critically undercapitalized institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator. The OCC may also take any one of a number of discretionary supervisory actions against undercapitalized institutions, including the issuance of a capital directive. At December 31, 2021, the Bank met the criteria for being considered “well-capitalized.” The previously referenced final rule establishing an elective “community bank leverage ratio” regulatory capital requirement provides that a qualifying institution whose capital exceeds the community bank leverage ratio and opts to use that framework will be considered “well-capitalized” for purposes of prompt corrective action. 5 Table of Contents Insurance of Deposit Accounts. The Bank’s deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC. Deposit accounts in the Bank are insured up to $250,000 for each separately insured depositor. The FDIC charges insured depository institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. Under the risk-based assessment system, institutions deemed less risky of failure pay lower assessments. Assessments for institutions of less than $10 billion of assets are based on financial measures and supervisory ratings derived from statistical modeling estimating the probability of an institution’s failure within three years. The FDIC has authority to increase insurance assessments. A significant increase in insurance premiums would likely have an adverse effect on the operating expenses and results of operations of the Bank. The Bank cannot predict what its insurance assessment rates will be in the future. An insured institution’s deposit insurance may be terminated by the FDIC upon an administrative finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or regulatory condition imposed in writing. The management of the Bank does not know of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of deposit insurance. Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements. National 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 Reserve System. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System, which consists of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks. As a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in its regional Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in specified amounts. The Bank is also required to maintain noninterest-earning reserves against its transaction accounts, such as negotiable order of withdrawal and regular checking accounts. The balances maintained to meet the reserve requirements may be used to satisfy liquidity requirements imposed by the OCC’s regulations. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank was in compliance with all of these requirements. The FRB also provides a backup source of funding to depository institutions through the regional Federal Reserve Banks pursuant to section 10B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation A. In general, eligible depository institutions have access to three types of discount window credit-primary credit, secondary credit, and seasonal credit. All discount window loans must be collateralized to the satisfaction of the lending regional Federal Reserve Bank. Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which consists of 11 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 FHLB, the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in specified amounts. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank was in compliance with this requirement. 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 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, procedures and systems designed to comply with these laws and regulations. Holding Company Regulation The Company, as a company controlling a national bank, is a bank holding company subject to regulation and supervision by, and reporting to, the FRB. The FRB has enforcement authority over the Company and any nonbank subsidiaries. Among other things, this authority permits the FRB to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a risk to the Bank. The Company's activities are limited to the activities permissible for bank holding companies, which generally include activities deemed by the FRB to be closely related or a proper incident to banking or managing or controlling banks. A bank holding company that meets certain criteria may elect to be regulated as a financial holding company and thereby engage in a broader array of financial activities, such as underwriting equity securities and insurance. The Company has not, up to now, elected to be regulated as a financial holding company. Federal law prohibits a bank holding company from acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of a class of voting securities of, or all or substantially all of the assets of, another bank or bank holding company, without prior written approval of the FRB. In evaluating applications by bank holding companies to acquire banks, the FRB considers, among other things, the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the parties, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund, the convenience and needs of the community, competitive factors and compliance with anti- money laundering laws. 6 Table of Contents Capital. Bank holding companies with greater than $3 billion in total consolidated assets are subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements. The asset threshold was previously $1 billion, which applied to the Company, but federal legislation required the FRB to raise the threshold to $3 billion. That change became effective on August 30, 2018. As a result, holding companies such as the Company with less than $3 billion of assets are not subject to consolidated capital requirements unless otherwise advised by the FRB. Source of Strength Doctrine. The “source of strength doctrine” requires bank holding companies to provide assistance to their subsidiary depository institutions in the event the subsidiary depository institution experiences financial difficulty. The FRB has issued regulations requiring that all bank holding companies serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary depository institutions. To facilitate its ability to serve as a source of strength for the Bank, the Company has adopted a Regulatory Capital Policy, as described earlier under "Federal Bank Regulation: Capital Requirements". Capital Distributions. The FRB has issued a policy statement regarding the payment of dividends by bank holding companies. In general, the policy provides that dividends should be paid only out of current earnings and only if the prospective rate of earnings retention by the holding company appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall supervisory financial condition. Separate regulatory guidance provides for prior consultation with Federal Reserve Bank supervisory staff concerning dividends in certain circumstances, such as where the company’s net income for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid over that period, is insufficient to fully fund the dividend, the proposed dividend exceeds earnings for the period for which it is being paid, or the company’s overall rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall financial condition. The guidance also provides for prior consultation with supervisory staff for material increases in the amount of a bank holding company’s common stock dividend. The ability of a bank holding company to pay dividends may be restricted if a subsidiary bank becomes undercapitalized. FRB regulatory guidance also indicates that a bank holding company should inform Federal Reserve Bank staff prior to redeeming or repurchasing common stock or perpetual preferred stock if the bank holding company is experiencing financial weaknesses or the repurchase or redemption would result in a net reduction, at the end of a quarter, in the amount of such equity instruments outstanding compared with the beginning of the quarter in which the redemption or repurchase occurred. FRB regulations require prior approval for a bank holding company to repurchase or redeem its equity securities if the gross consideration, when combined with net consideration paid for all such repurchases or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, will equal 10% or more of the holding company’s consolidated net worth. There is an exception for well-capitalized bank holding companies that meet specified qualitative criteria. FRB guidance provides for prior consultation with supervisory staff under specified circumstances prior to a holding company repurchasing or redeeming regulatory capital instruments, including common stock, regardless of the applicability of the previously referenced notification requirement. These regulatory policies may affect the ability of the Company to pay dividends, repurchase shares of its common stock or otherwise engage in capital distributions. Acquisition of the Company Under the Change in Bank Control Act, no person may acquire control of a bank holding company, such as the Company, unless the FRB has been given 60 days’ prior written notice and has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition, taking into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquiror and the competitive effects of the acquisition. Control, as defined under the Change in Bank Control Act, means ownership, control of or power to vote 25% or more of any class of voting stock. There is a rebuttable presumption of control upon the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock if the holding company involved has its shares registered under the Exchange Act, or if no other person will own, control or hold the power to vote a greater percentage of that class of voting security after the acquisition. A company that acquires control of a bank holding company, such as the Company, must receive prior FRB approval under that statute. Control, as defined under the Bank Holding Company Act, means ownership, control or power to vote 25% or more of any class of voting stock, control in any manner over the election of a majority of the company’s directors, or a determination by the regulator that the acquiror has the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the company. The FRB adopted a final rule, effective September 30, 2020, that revised its framework for determining whether a company, under the Bank Holding Company Act, exercises a “controlling influence” over a bank or a bank holding company. The FRB’s final rule applies to questions of control under the Bank Holding Company Act but does not extend to the Change in Bank Control Act. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted 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 SEC, under the Exchange Act. The Company has policies, procedures and systems designed to comply with these regulations. Federal Securities Laws The Company’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements of the Exchange Act. ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS An investment in our securities is subject to risks inherent in our business and the industry in which we operate. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and all other information included in this report as well as other filings we make with the SEC. The risks described below may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition to these risks and the other risks and uncertainties 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 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. The value or market price of our securities could decline due to any of these identified or other risks. 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. 7 Table of Contents Risks Related to Competitive Matters Our future growth and success will depend on our ability to compete effectively in a highly competitive environment 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, our competitive strategies have focused on attracting deposits in our local markets, and growing our loan and lease portfolio by emphasizing specific commercial loan and lease products in which we have significant experience and expertise, identifying and targeting markets in which we believe we can effectively compete with larger institutions and other competitors, and offering competitive pricing to commercial borrowers with appropriate risk profiles. We compete for loans, leases, deposits and other financial services with other commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, brokerage houses, mutual funds, insurance companies, real estate conduits, mortgage brokers and specialized finance companies. Many of our competitors offer products and services that we do not offer, and some offer loan structures and have underwriting standards that are not as restrictive as our required loan structures and underwriting standards. Some larger competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits, name recognition and market presence that benefits them in attracting business. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans, leases and deposits more aggressively than we do, and because of their larger capital bases, their underwriting practices for smaller loans may be subject to less regulatory scrutiny than they would be for smaller banks. Newer competitors may be more aggressive in pricing loans, leases 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 or taxation imposed on national 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. 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 leases, 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. Market interest rates are affected by many factors beyond our control, including inflation, recession, unemployment, money supply, domestic and international events, and changes in the U.S. 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, and especially a decline in interest rates, can significantly affect our net interest income as well as the fair market valuation of our assets and liabilities, particularly if they occur more quickly or to a greater extent than anticipated. While we take measures intended to manage the risks from changes in market interest rates, we cannot control or accurately predict changes in market rates of interest, loan prepayments or payoffs, deposit attrition due to changes in interest rates, or be sure that our protective measures are adequate. If the interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other interest-earning assets, our net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected. We would also incur a higher cost of funds to retain our deposits in a rising interest rate environment. While the higher payment amounts we would receive on adjustable-rate or variable-rate loans in a rising interest rate environment may increase our interest income, some borrowers may be unable to afford the higher payment amounts, and this could result in a higher rate of default. Rising interest rates also may reduce the demand for loans and the value of fixed-rate investment securities. Consumers and businesses are increasingly using non-banks to complete their financial transactions, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations Technology and other changes are allowing consumers and businesses to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks through alternative methods. For example, the wide acceptance of Internet-based commerce and mobile device applications has resulted in a number of alternative payment processing systems and lending platforms in which banks play only minor roles. Customers can now maintain funds in prepaid debit cards or digital currencies, and pay bills and transfer funds directly without the direct assistance of banks. The diminishing role of banks as financial intermediaries has resulted and could continue to result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the potential loss of lower cost deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Risks Related to our Business Strategy New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks From time to time, we implement new lines of business, particularly in our Equipment Finance, Commercial Finance and Treasury Services operations, or offer new products and services within existing lines of business in our current markets or new markets. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where credit risks may be volatile due to changing economic conditions. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. As occurred in 2020 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic with respect to certain Equipment Finance products, initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible, which could in turn have a material negative effect on our operating results. Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic The continuing impacts of the novel COVID-19 outbreak, and associated governmental responses, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic dislocation in the United States which resulted in a slow-down in economic activity. Certain state and local governments and federal agencies have restricted judicial enforcement of leases or loan terms, liens and security interests, and have also required lenders to provide forbearance and other relief to borrowers (e.g., waiving late payment and other fees). The federal banking agencies have encouraged financial institutions to prudently work with affected borrowers and recently passed legislation has provided relief from reporting loan classifications due to modifications related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Certain industries have been particularly hard-hit, including the travel and hospitality industry, the restaurant industry and the retail industry. Finally, the spread of the coronavirus has caused us to modify our business practices, including employee travel, employee work locations, and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and conferences. We may take further actions as may be required by government authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers and business partners. 8 Table of Contents Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the circumstances, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. The extent and duration of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including to what extent COVID-19 can be controlled and abated. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences, we could be subject to any of the following risks, any of which could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● demand for our products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow loans and income; higher amounts of liquidity held by borrowers or depositors may continue to result in lower demand for loans and lower fee income related to deposit account activity; a sustained material decrease in net income or a net loss over several quarters could result in a decrease in the rate of our quarterly cash dividend; loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income; collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause loan losses to increase; our allowance for loan losses may have to be increased if borrowers experience financial difficulties beyond forbearance periods, which will adversely affect our net income; the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us; our wealth management and trust revenues may decline with continuing market volatility; a prolonged weakness in economic conditions resulting in a reduction of future projected earnings could result in our recording a valuation allowance against our current outstanding deferred tax assets; we rely on third-party vendors for certain services and the unavailability of a critical service due to the COVID-19 outbreak could have an adverse effect on us; and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation premiums may increase if the agency experiences additional resolution costs. Moreover, our future success and profitability substantially depends on the management skills of our executive officers and directors, many of whom have held officer and director positions with us for many years. The unanticipated loss or unavailability of key employees due to the pandemic could harm our ability to operate our business or execute our business strategy. Due to changes in labor force participation and labor market conditions, we may not be successful in finding and integrating suitable replacements or successors in the event of key employee loss or unavailability, or we may incur higher compensation and benefits expenses to attract or retain qualified personnel. Any one or a combination of the factors identified above could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects. Risks Related to Operational Matters We are subject to information security and operational risks relating to our use of technology and our communications and information systems, including the risk of cyber-attack or cyber-theft Communications and information systems are essential to the conduct of our business, as we use such systems to manage our customer relationships, general ledger and virtually all other aspects of our business. We depend on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our data processing systems, computers, networks and communications systems. Although we take numerous protective measures and otherwise endeavor to protect and maintain the privacy and security of confidential data, these systems may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, other malicious code, cyber-attacks, cyber-theft and other events that could have a security impact. If one or more of such events were to occur, this potentially could jeopardize confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our systems or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our or our customers' operations. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, and we may be subject to litigation and financial losses that are not fully covered by our insurance. Security breaches involving our network or Internet banking systems could expose us to possible liability and deter customers from using our systems. We rely on specific software and hardware systems to provide the security and authentication necessary to protect our network and Internet banking systems from compromises or breaches of our security measures. These precautions may not fully protect our systems from compromises or breaches of our security measures that could result in damage to our reputation and our business. Although we perform most data processing functions internally, we outsource certain services to third parties. If our third-party providers encounter operational difficulties or security breaches, it could affect our ability to adequately process and account for customer transactions, which could significantly affect our business operations. Our operations rely on numerous external vendors We rely on numerous external vendors to provide us with products and services necessary to maintain our day-to-day operations. Accordingly, our operations are exposed to risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements. The failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements because of changes in the vendor's organizational structure, financial condition, support for existing products and services or strategic focus or for any other reason, could be disruptive to our operations, which in turn could have a material negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. We also could be adversely affected to the extent such an agreement is not renewed by the third-party vendor or is renewed on terms less favorable to us. 9 Table of Contents Our business and operations could be significantly impacted if we or our third-party vendors suffer failure or disruptions of information processing systems, systems failures or security breaches We have become increasingly dependent on communications, data processing and other information technology systems to manage and conduct our business and support our day-to-day banking, investment, and trust activities, some of which are provided through third-parties. If we or our third-party vendors encounter difficulties or become the subject of a cyber-attack on or other breach of their operational systems, data or infrastructure, or if we have difficulty communicating with any such third-party system, our business and operations could suffer. Any failure or disruption to our systems, or those of a third-party vendor, could impede our transaction processing, service delivery, customer relationship management, data processing, financial reporting or risk management. Although we take ongoing monitoring, detection, and prevention measures and perform penetration testing and periodic risk assessments, our computer systems, software and networks and those of our third-party vendors may be or become vulnerable to unauthorized access, loss or destruction of data (including confidential client information), account takeovers, unavailability of service, computer viruses, denial of service attacks, malicious social engineering or other malicious code, or cyber-attacks beyond what we can reasonably anticipate and such events could result in material loss. If any of our financial, accounting or other data processing systems fail or have other significant shortcomings, we could be materially adversely affected. Security breaches in our online banking systems could also have an adverse effect on our reputation and could subject us to possible liability. Additionally, we could suffer disruptions to our systems or damage to our network infrastructure from events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, such as electrical or telecommunications outages, natural disasters, widespread health emergencies or pandemics, or events arising from local or larger scale political events, including terrorist acts. There can be no assurance that our policies, procedures and protective measures designed to prevent or limit the effect of a failure, interruption or security breach, or the policies, procedures and protective measures of our third-party vendors, will be effective. If significant failure, interruption or security breaches do occur in our processing systems or those of our third-party providers, we could suffer damage to our reputation, a loss of customer business, additional regulatory scrutiny, or exposure to civil litigation, additional costs and possible financial liability. In addition, our business is highly dependent on our ability to process, record and monitor, on a continuous basis, a large number of transactions. To do so, we are dependent on our employees and therefore, the potential for operational risk exposure exists throughout our organization, including losses resulting from human error. We could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our employees cause a significant operational breakdown or failure. If we fail to maintain adequate infrastructure, systems, controls and personnel relative to our size and products and services, our ability to effectively operate our business may be impaired and our business could be adversely affected. Customer or employee fraud subjects us to additional operational risks Employee errors or omissions, particularly with respect to information security controls, and employee and customer misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Our loans to businesses and individuals and our deposit relationships and related transactions are also subject to exposure to the risk of loss due to fraud and other financial crimes. Misconduct by our employees could include concealing unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence. We have not experienced any material financial losses from employee errors, misconduct or fraud. However, if our internal controls fail to prevent or promptly detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If our enterprise risk management framework is not effective at mitigating risk and loss to us, we could suffer unexpected losses and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected Our enterprise risk management framework seeks to achieve an appropriate balance between risk and return, which is critical to optimizing stockholder value. We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including credit, liquidity, operational, legal, regulatory compliance and reputational. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, including risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses and our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We continually encounter technological change, and may have fewer resources than many of our larger 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 also 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. Risks Related to our Lending Activities Our commercial real estate loans constitute a concentration of credit and thus are subject to enhanced regulatory scrutiny and require us to utilize enhanced risk management techniques A substantial portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate. Our commercial real estate loan portfolio generally consists of multi-family mortgage loans originated in selected geographic markets and nonresidential real estate loans originated predominantly in the Chicago market. At December 31, 2021, our loan portfolio included $426.1 million in multi-family mortgage loans, or 40.6% of total loans, and $81.9 million in non-owner occupied nonresidential real estate loans, or 7.8% of total loans. These commercial real estate loans represented 294.98% of the Bank’s $172.3 million total risk- based capital at December 31, 2021. Concentrations of credit are pools of loans whose collective performance has the potential to affect a bank negatively even if each individual transaction within the pool is soundly underwritten. When loans in a pool are sensitive to the same economic, financial, or business development, that sensitivity, if triggered, could cause the sum of the transactions to perform as if it were a single, large exposure. As such, concentrations of credit add a dimension of risk that compounds the risk inherent in individual loans. 10 Table of Contents The OCC expects banks to implement board-approved policies and procedures to identify, measure, monitor, and control concentration risks, taking into account the potential impact on earnings and capital under stressed market conditions, economic downturns, and periods of general market illiquidity as well as normal market conditions. Enhanced risk management is required for commercial real estate concentrations exceeding 300% of total risk-based capital. The Bank has established board-approved policies and procedures to identify, measure, monitor, control and stress test its concentrations of credit. The Bank has taken other specific steps to mitigate concentrations of credit risk, including the establishment of concentrations of credit limits based on loan type and geography, the maintenance of capital in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements, the establishment of appropriate underwriting standards for specific loan types and geographic markets, active portfolio management and an emphasis on originating multi-family loans that qualify for 50% risk- weighting under the regulatory capital rules. At December 31, 2021, $67.5 million of the Bank’s multi-family loans, or 15.8% of the Bank’s total multi- family loan portfolio, qualified for 50% risk-weighting under the regulatory capital rules. The Bank’s earnings and capital could be materially and adversely impacted if economic, financial, or business developments were to occur that materially and adversely impacted all or a material portion of the Bank’s commercial real estate loans and caused them to perform as a single, large exposure. Repayment of our commercial and commercial real estate loans typically depends on the cash flows of the borrower. If a borrower's cash flows weaken or become uncertain, the loan may need to be classified, the collateral securing the loan may decline in value and we may need to increase our loan loss reserves or record a charge-off We underwrite our commercial and commercial real estate loans primarily based on the historical and expected cash flows of the borrower, or in the case of Accounts Receivable Commercial Finance, primarily based on the creditworthiness of the account debtors as the principal source of repayment. Although we consider collateral in the underwriting process, it is a secondary consideration that generally relates to the risk of loss in the event of a borrower default for most commercial loan types where the borrower's cash flow is the principal source of repayment. We follow the OCC's published guidance for assigning risk-ratings to loans, which emphasizes the strength of the borrower's cash flow, or for asset-based loans, a sustainable source of liquidity to fund business operations. The OCC's loan risk-rating guidance provides that the primary consideration in assigning risk-ratings to standard commercial and commercial real estate loans is the strength of the primary source of repayment, which is defined as a sustainable source of cash under the borrower's control that is reserved, explicitly or implicitly, to cover the debt obligation. The OCC's loan risk-rating guidance for standard commercial loans and commercial real estate loans typically does not consider secondary repayment sources until the strength of the primary repayment source weakens, and collateral values typically do not have a significant impact on a loan's risk rating until a loan is classified. Consequently, if a borrower's cash flows weaken or become uncertain, the loan may need to be classified, whether or not the loan is performing or fully secured. In addition, real estate appraisers typically place significant weight on the cash flows generated by income-producing real estate and the reliability of the cash flows in performing valuations. Thus, economic or borrower-specific conditions that cause a decline in a borrower's cash flows could cause our loan classifications to increase and the net realizable value of the collateral securing our loans to decline, and require us to increase our loan loss reserves, record charge-offs, or increase our capital levels. Repayment of our equipment finance transactions is typically dependent on the cash flows of the lessee, which may be unpredictable, and the collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value We lend money to small and mid-sized independent leasing companies to finance the debt portion of leases. An equipment finance transaction results when a leasing company discounts the equipment rental revenue stream owed to the leasing company by a lessee. Our equipment finance transaction entail many of the same types of risks as our commercial loans. Equipment finance transactions generally are non-recourse to the leasing company, and, consequently, our recourse is limited to the lessee and the leased equipment. As with commercial loans secured by equipment, the equipment securing our lease loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value. We rely on the lessee’s continuing financial stability, rather than the value of the leased equipment, for the repayment of all required amounts under equipment finance transactions. In the event of a default on an equipment finance transaction, the proceeds from the sale of the leased equipment may not be sufficient to satisfy the outstanding unpaid amounts under the terms of the loan. At December 31, 2021, our equipment finance portfolio totaled $402.1 million, or 38.3% of our total loan portfolio. Our loan portfolio includes loans to healthcare providers, and the repayment of these loans is largely dependent upon the receipt of direct or indirect governmental reimbursements At December 31, 2021, we had $116.0 million of loans and unused commitments to a variety of healthcare providers, including lines of credit secured by healthcare receivables. The repayment of these lines of credit is largely dependent on the borrower's receipt of payments and reimbursements under Medicaid, Medicare and in some cases private insurance contracts for the services they have provided. The ability of the borrowers to service loans we have made to them may be adversely impacted by the financial ability of the federal government or individual state governments to make direct reimbursement payments, or, via managed care organizations operating under agreements with the federal government or individual states, to make indirect reimbursements for the services provided. The failure of a direct or indirect payor to make reimbursements owed to the operators of these facilities, or a significant delay in the making of such reimbursements, could adversely affect the ability of the operators of these facilities to repay their obligations to us. In addition, changes to national health care policy involving private health insurance policies may also affect the business prospects and financial condition or operations of commercial loan customers and commercial lessees involved in health care-related businesses. If our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual losses, our earnings would be adversely impacted In the event that our loan customers do not repay their loans according to their terms, and the collateral securing the repayment of these loans is insufficient to cover any remaining loan balance, including expenses of collecting the loan and managing and liquidating the collateral, 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. At December 31, 2021, our allowance for loan losses was $6.7 million, which represented 0.64% of total loans and 895.33% of nonperforming loans as of that date. In determining the amount of our allowance for loan losses, we rely on internal and external loan reviews, our historical experience and our evaluation of economic conditions, among other factors. In addition, we make various estimates and assumptions about the collectability 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. We also make judgments concerning our legal positions and the priority of our liens and security interests in contested legal or bankruptcy proceedings, and at times, we may lack sufficient information to establish adequate specific reserves for loans involved in such proceedings. We base these estimates, assumptions and judgments on information that we consider reliable, but if an estimate, assumption or judgment that we make ultimately proves to be incorrect, additional provisions to our allowance for loan losses may become necessary. In addition, our emphasis on loan and lease growth and on increasing our portfolios of commercial business loans, as well as any future credit deterioration, including as a result of COVID-19, could require us to increase our allowance for loan losses in the future. In addition, as an integral part of their supervisory and/or examination process, the OCC periodically reviews the methodology for and the sufficiency of the allowance for loan losses. The OCC has the authority to require us to recognize additions to the allowance based on their inclusion, exclusion or modification of risk factors or differences in judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination. 11 Table of Contents We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate, and we could become subject to environmental liabilities with respect to one or more of these properties. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing defaulted loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If so, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage, civil fines and criminal penalties regardless of when the hazardous conditions or toxic substances first affected any particular property. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses to address unknown liabilities and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Although we have policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating any foreclosure action on nonresidential real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on us. The foreclosure process may adversely impact our recoveries on non-performing loans The judicial foreclosure process is protracted, which delays our ability to resolve non-performing loans through the sale of the underlying collateral. The longer timelines have been the result of the economic crisis, additional consumer protection initiatives related to the foreclosure process, increased documentary requirements and judicial scrutiny, and, both voluntary and mandatory programs under which lenders may consider loan modifications or other alternatives to foreclosure. These reasons and the legal and regulatory responses have impacted the foreclosure process and completion time of foreclosures for residential mortgage lenders. This may result in a material adverse effect on collateral values and our ability to minimize its losses. Risks Related to Laws and Regulations New or changing tax, accounting, and regulatory rules and interpretations could have a significant impact on our strategic initiatives, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition The banking services industry is extensively regulated. In addition to regulation by our banking regulators, we also are directly subject to the requirements of entities that set and interpret the accounting standards such as the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and indirectly subject to the actions and interpretations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which establishes auditing and related professional practice standards for registered public accounting firms and inspects registered firms to assess their compliance with certain laws, rules, and professional standards in public company audits. These regulations, along with the currently existing tax, accounting, securities, insurance, and monetary laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations, control the methods by which financial institutions and their holding companies conduct business, engage in strategic and tax planning and implement strategic initiatives, and govern financial reporting and disclosures. These laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time, particularly during periods in which the composition of the U.S. Congress and the leadership of regulatory agencies and public sector boards change due to the outcomes of national elections. 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. Under GAAP, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon judgments made following management’s periodic evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence, including prior pre-tax losses and the events or conditions that caused them, forecasts of future taxable income, and current and future economic and business conditions. As of December 31, 2021, we had an NOL carryforward for Illinois, which begins to expire in 2031 and fully expires in 2033 pursuant to changes to Illinois law enacted in 2021. In 2021, we exceeded our Business Plan projection for purposes of deferred tax asset utilization analysis. Based on our long- term Business Plan, we expect that we will fully utilize the Illinois NOL carryforward before it expires in 2033. However, changes in applicable tax laws, regulations, macroeconomic conditions or market conditions may adversely affect this conclusion in future periods and there can be no assurance that we will be able to fully realize our deferred tax assets prior to their scheduled expiration under current applicable law. We could become subject to more stringent capital requirements, which could adversely impact our return on equity, require us to raise additional capital, or constrain us from paying dividends or repurchasing shares Federal regulations establish minimum capital requirements for insured depository institutions, including minimum risk-based capital and leverage ratios, and define “capital” for calculating these ratios. The minimum capital requirements are: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 to risk-based assets capital ratio of 6% (increased from 4%); (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% (unchanged from current rules); and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%. Unrealized gains and losses on certain “available-for-sale” securities holdings are to be included for purposes of calculating regulatory capital requirements unless a one-time opt-out was exercised. The Bank exercised this one-time opt-out option. The regulations also establish a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5% and the following minimum ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7%, (ii) a Tier 1 to risk-based assets capital ratio of 8.5%, and (iii) a total capital ratio of 10.5%. An institution will be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. These limitations will establish a maximum percentage of eligible retained income that can be utilized for such actions. At December 31, 2021, the Bank has met all of these requirements, including the full 2.5% capital conservation buffer. The application of these more stringent capital requirements could, among other things, result in lower returns on equity, require the raising of additional capital, and result in regulatory actions if we were to be unable to comply with such requirements. Furthermore, the imposition of liquidity requirements in connection with the implementation of Basel III could result in our having to lengthen the term of our funding, restructure our business models, and/or increase our holdings of liquid assets. Implementation of changes to asset risk weightings for risk-based capital calculations, items included or deducted in calculating regulatory capital and/or additional capital conservation buffers could result in management modifying its business strategy, and could limit our ability to make distributions, including paying out dividends or buying back shares. Specifically, the Bank’s ability to pay dividends will be limited if it does not have the capital conservation buffer required by the capital rules, which may limit our ability to pay dividends to stockholders. See “Supervision and Regulation-Federal Banking Regulation-Capital Requirements.” 12 Table of Contents Non-compliance with USA PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act, or other laws and regulations could result in fines or sanctions 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. In addition, the U.S. Government has previously imposed laws and regulations relating to residential and consumer lending activities that create significant new compliance burdens and financial risks. We have developed policies and continue to augment procedures and systems designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations, but these policies may not be effective to provide such compliance. Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. An important function of the Federal Reserve Board is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve Board to implement these objectives are open market purchases and sales of U.S. government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in banks’ reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits. The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect on the operating results of financial institutions in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted. FDIC deposit insurance could increase in the future The Dodd-Frank Act required the FDIC to base deposit insurance premiums on an institution's total assets minus its tangible equity instead of its deposits. The FDIC has adopted final regulations that base assessments on a combination of financial ratios and regulatory ratings. The FDIC also revised the assessment schedule and established adjustments that increase assessments so that the range of assessments is now 1.5 basis points to 30 basis points of total assets less tangible equity. If there are any changes in the Bank’s financial ratios and regulatory ratings that require adjustments that increase its assessment, or, if circumstances require the FDIC to impose additional special assessments or further increase its quarterly assessment rates, our results of operations could be adversely impacted. Our sources of funds are limited because of our holding company structure 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. Under these statutes and regulations, the Bank is not permitted to pay dividends on its capital stock to the Company, its sole stockholder, if the dividend would reduce the stockholders' equity of the Bank below the amount of the liquidation account established in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion. National banks may pay dividends without the approval of its primary federal regulator only if they meet applicable regulatory capital requirements before and after the payment of the dividends and total dividends do not exceed net income to date over the calendar year plus its retained net income over the preceding two years. In addition, in accordance with its Regulatory Capital Policy, the Company expects to maintain a combination of cash, liquid assets and credit availability equal to at least $5.0 million to facilitate its ability to serve as a source of financial strength to the Bank. If in the future, the Company utilizes its available cash for other purposes and the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not have sufficient funds to pay dividends. Risks Related to Economic Conditions Changes to U.S. fiscal or monetary policies will continue to affect our loan and deposit portfolio balances and customer behavior. In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board in 2020 commenced unprecedented open market operations to increase liquidity of individuals, households, and businesses which operations continue in effect. The fiscal stimulus provided by the U.S. Government in 2020 and 2021, included but not limited to the Paycheck Protection Act, increases to the child tax credit and other government payments. The resultant increase in liquidity from both monetary and fiscal stimulus has since affected, and continues to affect, the demand for loans and the supply of deposits for all types of borrowers and depositors. In addition, changes in the demand and the average selling price for single-family housing, low interest rates and investor uncertainty with respect to other types of commercial real estate property investments, continue to materially increase the market demand for multi-family residential properties due to the scarcity of housing. The combined effect of these government actions and market responses resulted in significant changes in customer behavior, including reduced utilization of commercial lines of credit and pre-payments of multi-family residential loans, nonresidential real estate loans, and equipment finance transactions. Disruptions in supply-chains, the widespread adoption of hybrid-remote work arrangements, reductions in labor force participation and the aforementioned changes to fiscal policy caused a material increase in inflation of goods and services, including labor during 2021. The increases in domestic and international inflation are likely to result in changes in U.S. and foreign central bank policy with respect to benchmark interest rates such as the Federal Funds Rate and the reduction or termination of open-market securities purchases. The impact of these future potential actions by government authorities are highly uncertain, and such actions may unfavorably impact our loan and deposit portfolio balances, loan originations and repayment activity, liquidity, and asset quality. Adverse changes in local economic conditions and adverse conditions in an industry on which a local market in which we do business depends could negatively affect our financial condition or results of operations Except for our commercial equipment leasing and commercial finance activities, which we conduct on a nationwide basis, and our multi-family lending activities, which we conduct in selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including, but not limited to, the Metropolitan Statistical Areas for Chicago, Illinois, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, Denver, Colorado, and Tampa, Florida, a material portion of our loan and substantially all of our deposit activities are conducted in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Chicago, Illinois. Our loan and deposit activities are directly affected by, and our financial success depends on, economic conditions within the local markets in which we do business, as well as conditions in the industries on which those markets are economically dependent. A deterioration in local economic conditions, as a result of COVID-19 or otherwise, or in the condition of an industry on which a local market depends could adversely affect such factors as unemployment rates, business formations and expansions, housing demand, apartment vacancy rates and real estate values in the local market, and this could result in, among other things, a decline in loan and lease demand, a reduction in the number of creditworthy borrowers seeking loans, an increase in loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, an increase in classified and nonaccrual loans, a decrease in the value of the collateral for our loans, and a decline in the net worth and liquidity of our borrowers and guarantors. Any of these factors could negatively affect our financial condition or results of operations. 13 Table of Contents In addition, our loan portfolio includes fixed- and adjustable-rate first mortgage loans, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit secured by one-to- four family residential properties primarily located in the Chicago metropolitan area. Residential real estate lending is sensitive to regional and local economic conditions that may significantly impact the ability of borrowers to meet their loan payment obligations, making loss levels difficult to predict. Residential loans with high combined loan-to-value ratios generally are more sensitive to declining property values than those with lower combined loan- to-value ratios and therefore may experience a higher incidence of default and severity of losses. In addition, if the borrowers sell their homes, the borrowers may be unable to repay their loans in full from the sale proceeds. As a result, these loans may experience higher rates of delinquencies, defaults and losses, which could in turn adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois continue to experience significant financial difficulties, and this could adversely impact certain borrowers and the economic vitality of the City and State The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois are experiencing significant financial difficulties, including material pension funding shortfalls. These issues could impact the economic vitality of the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois and the businesses operating there, encourage businesses to leave the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois, and discourage new employers from starting or moving businesses to there. These issues could also result in delays in the payment of accounts receivable owed to borrowers that conduct business with the State of Illinois and Medicaid payments to nursing homes and other healthcare providers in Illinois, and impair their ability to repay their loans when due. Risks Related to Accounting Matters A new accounting standard may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations The Financial Accounting Standards Board has adopted a new accounting standard that will be effective for the Company and the Bank for our first fiscal year after December 15, 2022. This standard, referred to as Current Expected Credit Loss, or CECL, will require financial institutions to determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on loans, and recognize the expected credit losses as allowances for loan losses. This will change the current method of providing allowances for loan losses that are probable, which may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses, and to greatly increase the types of data we will need to collect and review to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses. Accordingly, regardless of any actual changes to the composition or performance of our loan portfolio, the new accounting standard may require an increase in our allowance for loan losses or expenses incurred to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses, and may therefore have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Changes in management’s estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and our financial condition or operating results In preparing periodic reports we are required to file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including our consolidated financial statements, our management is and will be required under applicable rules and regulations to make estimates and assumptions as of a specified date. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and experience as of that date and are subject to substantial risk and uncertainty. Materially different results may occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known. Areas requiring significant estimates and assumptions by management include our evaluation of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses and the valuation of deferred taxes. Other Risks Related to Our Business We are required to transition from the use of the LIBOR interest rate index We have certain loans indexed to LIBOR to calculate the loan interest rate. At December 31, 2021, we had $102.4 million, or 9.7%, of our loan portfolio indexed to LIBOR. The LIBOR index will be discontinued for U.S. Dollar setting effective June 30, 2023. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR. The implementation of a substitute index or indices for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with our borrowers may incur significant expenses in effecting the transition, may result in reduced loan balances if borrowers do not accept the substitute index or indices, and may result in disputes or litigation with customers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the substitute index or indices, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Additionally, since alternative rates are calculated differently, the transition may change our market risk profile, requiring changes to risk and pricing models. Various factors may make takeover attempts that you might 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 acquirer could offer a premium over the then prevailing price of our shares of common stock. 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. However, if at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies, approves the removal of a director, 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. 14 Table of Contents Societal responses to climate change could adversely affect our business and performance, including indirectly through impacts on our customers Concerns over the long-term impacts of climate change have led and will continue to lead to governmental efforts around the world to mitigate those impacts. Consumers and businesses also may change their behavior on their own as a result of these concerns. We and our customers will need to respond to new laws and regulations as well as consumer and business preferences resulting from climate change concerns. We and our customers may face cost increases, asset value reductions, operating process changes and other issues. The impact on our customers will likely vary depending on their specific attributes, including reliance on or role in carbon intensive activities. Among the impacts to us could be a drop in demand for our products and services, particularly in certain sectors. In addition, we could face reductions in creditworthiness on the part of some customers or in the value of assets securing loans. Our efforts to take these risks into account in making lending and other decisions, including by increasing our business with climate- focused companies, may not be effective in protecting us from the negative impact of new laws and regulations or changes in consumer or business behavior. ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS None. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES We conduct our business at 19 banking offices located in the Chicago metropolitan area, and from a corporate office. We own all of our banking offices other than our corporate office in Burr Ridge and our Chicago-Lincoln Park and Northbrook banking offices, which are leased. We also operate commercial credit origination and customer service offices for the Commercial Finance, Commercial Real Estate and Equipment Finance Divisions of the Bank, all of which are leased. We believe that all of our properties and equipment are well maintained, in good operating condition and adequate for all of our present and anticipated needs. We believe our facilities in the aggregate are suitable and adequate to operate our banking and related business. Additional information with respect to premises and equipment is presented in Note 6 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES Not applicable. 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 Select Market under the symbol “BFIN.” The approximate number of holders of record of the Company’s common stock as of January 31, 2022 was 1,010. 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. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities The Company had no sales of unregistered stock during the year ended December 31, 2021. Repurchases of Equity Securities As of December 31, 2021, the Company had repurchased 7,317,771 shares of its common stock out of the 7,560,755 shares of common stock authorized under the share repurchase authorization approved on March 30, 2015, as amended and extended from time to time. Pursuant to the amended share repurchase authorization, as of December 31, 2021, there were 242,984 shares of common stock authorized for repurchase. On April 19, 2021, the Board extended the expiration of the Company's share repurchase authorization from April 30, 2021 to November 15, 2021, and increased the total number of shares currently authorized for repurchase by 250,000 shares. On October 28, 2021 and June 24, 2021, the Board increased the number of shares authorized for repurchase by 200,000 and 900,000 shares, respectively. On October 28, 2021, the Board also extended the expiration of the Company's share repurchase authorization from November 15, 2021 to May 15, 2022. Period October 1, 2021 through October 31, 2021 November 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021 December 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 ITEM 6. Reserved 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 99,410 $ 46,238 — 145,648 11.53 11.30 — 99,410 46,238 — 145,648 289,222 242,984 242,984 15 Table of Contents ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The discussion and analysis that follows focuses on certain factors affecting our consolidated financial condition at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and our consolidated results of operations for the two years ended December 31, 2021. Our consolidated financial statements, the 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 2021 in Review The Company ended 2021 in strong financial and operational condition. We gained significant momentum in our commercial credit originations and maintained our historical asset quality and credit discipline. We also maintained operating expense discipline notwithstanding investments in the further expansion of our commercial credit origination capabilities and necessary expenditures for health security and information security. Financial Results of Operations We recorded net income of $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and basic and diluted earnings per common share were $0.53. Net interest income declined by $2.1 million (4.6%) due to lower average loan yields and a lower average loan portfolio balance in 2021 compared to 2020. Noninterest income increased by $323,000 (6.0%) due to higher loan fee income and higher trust fee income related to our growth in commercial loans and trust assets under management. Noninterest expense increased by $2.5 million (6.5%) primarily due to $1.2 million in expense related to our expansion of commercial loan and lease origination, treasury services and trust capabilities. Loan Portfolio For the year ended 2021, total loans increased by $41.6 million (4.2%) to $1.044 billion. Total commercial loans and leases increased by $84.5 million (20.9%) to $489.5 million, reflecting our increasing emphasis on commercial and industrial lending. Total multi-family mortgages and nonresidential real estate loans decreased by $31.6 million (5.6%) to $529.3 million as continued elevated portfolio prepayment rates offset an 80.3% increase in originations. Total other loans decreased by $11.7 million (26.9%) due to our cessation of residential mortgage lending in 2017 and continued prepayments of existing residential mortgage loans. Asset Quality Our asset quality remained stable in 2021. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans was 0.07% and the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.09% at December 31, 2021. Nonperforming commercial-related loans represented 0.04% of total commercial-related loans at December 31, 2021. Our allowance for loan losses decreased to 0.64% of total loans as of December 31, 2021, compared to 0.77% at December 31, 2020, primarily due to a reduction of temporary loan loss reserves established in the earlier stages of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Deposit Portfolio Total deposits increased by $94.9 million (6.8%) due to continued strong liquidity held by retail and commercial depositors. Core deposits represented 86.1% of total deposits, with demand deposits representing 23.0% of total deposits. Capital Adequacy The Company’s capital position remained strong, with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.32% at December 31, 2021. Throughout 2021, the Company maintained its quarterly dividend rate at $0.10 per common share. The Company repurchased 1,541,280 common shares during the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company’s book value per share increased in 2021 by 1.6% to $11.90 per share as of December 31, 2021. Goals for 2022 We will further accelerate our growth in commercial loans and leases, as we realize the benefits of our investments in Equipment Finance and Commercial Finance capabilities that we began implementing in 2021. Though modest in terms of financial impact in 2021, the growth in commercial loan and lease originations is an encouraging sign of the potential contributions of these initiatives to growth in our earnings and loan portfolio balances. We will continue our focus on growth in commercial deposit account relationships and related noninterest income services, particularly Treasury Services products aligned with our commercial credit originations activities. We also expect that the expansion of our Trust Department capabilities in 2021 will continue to provide growth in noninterest income, especially as we introduce our capabilities to our expanding portfolio of business customers. We will expand our use of technology to improve the breadth and efficiency of customer service delivery, and to maintain the environment necessary for safe and efficient operations. The deployment of appropriate information technology will provide greater convenience and additional capabilities for our customers. We must continue to carefully manage information security and other risks inherent to information technology. We expect further volatility in market interest rates, loan demand and deposit balances resulting from changes in U.S. Government and Federal Reserve Bank policies during 2022. We believe we are well prepared for increases in interest rates and changes to market liquidity conditions, but we are mindful of the unpredictable outcomes of government policy changes intended to address anomalies in inflation and labor conditions. We will maintain our focus on operating expense efficiency and asset quality to the maximum extent feasible given the expected economic environment and our 2022 Business Plan priorities. We believe that the cumulative impact of our 2022 Business Plan activities will achieve further growth in our portfolios and in our results of operations commensurate with our long-term objectives for the Company. 16 Table of Contents SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following information is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. For additional information, please refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and related notes included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. $ $ $ $ $ Selected Financial Condition Data: Total assets Loans, net Securities, at fair value Deposits Borrowings Subordinated Notes, net of unamortized issuance costs Equity Selected Operating Data: Interest income Interest expense Net interest income (Recovery of) provision for loan losses Net interest income after (recovery of) provision for loan losses Noninterest income Noninterest expense Income before income taxes Income tax expense (1) Net income Basic and diluted earnings per common share Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data: Performance Ratios: Return on assets (ratio of net income to average total assets) Return on equity (ratio of net income to average equity) Net interest rate spread (2) Net interest margin (3) Efficiency ratio (4) Noninterest expense to average total assets Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities Dividends declared per share Dividend payout ratio Asset Quality Ratios: Nonperforming assets to total assets (5) Nonperforming loans to total loans Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans Allowance for loan losses to total loans Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans outstanding Capital Ratios: Equity to total assets at end of period Average equity to average assets Tier 1 leverage ratio (Bank only) Other Data: Number of full-service offices Employees (full-time equivalents) 2021 At and For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2019 1,700,682 $ 1,044,207 85,694 1,488,431 5,000 19,590 157,466 1,596,842 $ 1,002,578 23,829 1,393,544 4,000 — 172,930 46,566 $ 2,794 43,772 (1,240) 45,012 5,689 40,943 9,758 2,348 7,410 $ 0.53 $ 52,875 $ 6,988 45,887 55 45,832 5,366 38,438 12,760 3,597 9,163 $ 0.61 $ 1,488,015 1,168,008 60,193 1,284,757 61 — 174,372 65,408 13,217 52,191 3,825 48,366 6,172 38,641 15,897 4,225 11,672 0.75 At and For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 2021 2019 0.45% 4.47 2.70 2.78 82.78 2.49 139.96 $ 0.40 75.83% 0.09% 0.07 895.33 0.64 0.02 9.26% 10.11 9.91 19 221 0.59% 5.27 2.91 3.09 75.00 2.48 138.79 $ 0.40 65.28% 0.09% 0.12 634.81 0.77 0.01 10.83% 11.23 10.10 19 210 0.77% 6.58 3.31 3.60 66.21 2.54 131.78 0.40 53.69% 0.07% 0.07 901.06 0.65 (0.37) 11.72% 11.68 10.89 19 222 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 includes a $200,000 valuation reserve recovery related to the Company's Illinois NOL carryforward. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes a $200,000 valuation reserve related to the Company's Illinois NOL carryforward. 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. The net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets for the period. The efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income. Nonperforming assets include nonperforming loans and foreclosed assets. 17 Table of Contents Results of Operations Net Income We recorded net income of $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to net income of $9.2 million for 2020. The decrease in net income was primarily due to decreased net interest income and increased noninterest expense. Our basic and diluted earnings per share of common stock were $0.53 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $0.61 per share of common stock for the year ended December 31, 2020. Net Interest Income Net interest income is our primary source of revenue. Net interest income equals the excess of interest income plus fees earned on interest-earning assets over interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest- bearing liabilities impact net interest income. Interest rate spread and net interest margin are utilized to measure and explain changes in net interest income. Interest rate spread is the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the rate paid for interest-bearing liabilities that fund those assets. The net interest margin is expressed as the percentage of net interest income to average interest-earning assets. The net interest margin exceeds the interest rate spread because noninterest-bearing sources of funds, principally noninterest-bearing demand deposits and stockholders' equity, also support interest-earning assets. The accounting policies underlying the recognition of interest income on loans, securities, and other interest-earning assets are included in Note 1 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Average Balance Sheets The following table sets forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information. 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 are 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, and discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or expense; however, the Company believes that the effect of these inclusions is not material. Average Outstanding Balance 2021 Interest Years Ended December 31, Average Outstanding Balance (Dollars in thousands) Yield/Rate 2020 Interest Yield/Rate Interest-earning Assets: Loans Securities Stock in FHLB and FRB Other Total interest-earning assets Noninterest-earning assets Total assets Interest-bearing Liabilities: Savings deposits Money market accounts NOW accounts Certificates of deposit Total deposits Borrowings and Subordinated Notes Total interest-bearing liabilities Noninterest-bearing deposits Noninterest-bearing liabilities Total liabilities Equity Total liabilities and equity $ 45,188 232 340 806 46,566 119 455 503 1,150 2,227 567 2,794 $ 1,035,672 22,865 7,490 509,997 1,576,024 65,352 $ 1,641,376 $ 193,481 321,189 366,044 226,602 1,107,316 18,741 1,126,057 323,829 25,622 1,475,508 165,868 $ 1,641,376 Net interest income Net interest rate spread (1) Net interest-earning assets (2) Net interest margin (3) Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities $ 43,772 $ 449,967 139.96% 4.36% $ 1.01 4.54 0.16 2.95 $ $ 0.06 0.14 0.14 0.51 0.20 3.03 0.25 $ 2.70% $ 2.78% $ 50,467 854 345 1,209 52,875 145 946 585 5,312 6,988 — 6,988 1,100,642 54,449 7,490 321,220 1,483,801 64,754 1,548,555 165,733 268,222 296,612 335,938 1,066,505 2,612 1,069,117 279,407 26,121 1,374,645 173,910 1,548,555 $ 45,887 414,684 138.79% 4.59% 1.57 4.61 0.38 3.56 0.09 0.35 0.20 1.58 0.65 — 0.65 2.91% 3.09% (1) (2) (3) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets. 18 Table of Contents Net interest income decreased by $2.1 million, or 4.6%, to $43.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $45.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Loan interest income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 included amortized fees of $794,000 and $162,000, respectively, from Paycheck Protection Program loans. The decrease in net interest income was primarily attributable to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets, which was partially offset by a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. Our net interest rate spread decreased 21 basis points to 2.70% for the year ended December 31, 2021, from 2.91% for 2020. Our net interest margin decreased 31 basis points to 2.78% for the year ended December 31, 2021, from 3.09% for 2020. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 61 basis points, or 17.1%, to 2.95% for the year ended December 31, 2021, from 3.56% for 2020. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 40 basis points, or 61.5%, to 0.25% for the year ended December 31, 2021, from 0.65% for 2020. Total average interest-earning assets increased $92.2 million to $1.576 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $1.484 billion for 2020. Our average interest-bearing liabilities increased $56.9 million to $1.126 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $1.069 billion for 2020. Rate/Volume Analysis 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. The Company had no out-of-period items or adjustments to be excluded from the table below. Interest-earning assets: Loans Securities Stock in FHLB and FRB Other Total interest-earning assets Interest-bearing liabilities: Savings deposits Money market accounts NOW accounts Certificates of deposit Borrowings and Subordinated notes Total interest-bearing liabilities Change in net interest income Provision for Loan Losses Years Ended December 31, 2021 vs. 2020 Increase (Decrease) Due to Volume Rate (Dollars in thousands) Total Increase (Decrease) $ $ (2,855) $ (385) — 509 (2,731) 25 157 120 (1,351) — (1,049) (1,682) $ (2,424) $ (237) (5) (912) (3,578) (51) (648) (202) (2,811) 567 (3,145) (433) $ (5,279) (622) (5) (403) (6,309) (26) (491) (82) (4,162) 567 (4,194) (2,115) 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 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. A loan balance is classified as a loss and charged-off when it is confirmed that there is no readily apparent source of repayment for the portion of the loan that is classified as loss. Confirmation can occur upon the receipt of updated third-party appraisal valuation information indicating that there is a low probability of repayment upon sale of the collateral, the final disposition of collateral where the net proceeds are insufficient to pay the loan balance in full, our failure to obtain possession of certain consumer-loan collateral within certain time limits specified by applicable federal regulations, the conclusion of legal proceedings where the borrower’s obligation to repay is legally discharged (such as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding), or when it appears that further formal collection procedures are not likely to result in net proceeds in excess of the costs to collect. We recorded a recovery of loan losses of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a provision for loan losses of $55,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The provision for or recovery of loan losses is a function of the allowance for loan loss methodology we use to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for inherent loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted. The portion of the allowance for loan losses attributable to loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased by $1.0 million, or 13.4%, to $6.7 million at December 31, 2021 from $7.7 million at December 31, 2020. Although the loans collectively evaluated for impairment increased $41.0 million, or 4.1%, to $1.048 billion at December 31, 2021 from $1.007 billion at December 31, 2020, the allowance for loan losses decreased due to changes in the portfolio mix combined with the reduction of temporary loan loss reserves that were established in the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Net recoveries were $204,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to net recoveries of $64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. For further analysis and information on how we determine the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses and analysis of credit quality, see “Critical Accounting Policies,” “Risk Classification of Loans” and “Allowance for Loan Losses.” There were $30,000 of reserves established for loans individually evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2021, compared to $28,000 of reserves at December 31, 2020. 19 Table of Contents Noninterest Income Deposit service charges and fees Loan servicing fees Mortgage brokerage and banking fees Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income Earnings on bank-owned life insurance Other Total noninterest income Years Ended December 31, 2020 2021 (Dollars in thousands) Change $ $ 3,184 $ 731 35 1,136 114 489 5,689 $ 3,196 $ 552 98 961 70 489 5,366 $ (12) 179 (63) 175 44 — 323 Our noninterest income increased by $323,000, or 6.0%, to $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $5.4 million in 2020. Loan servicing fees increased $179,000, or 32.4%, to $731,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $552,000 in 2020, due to the collection of $167,000 of commitment fees, letter of credit fees and a $61,000 release fee from a corporate lessor. Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income increased by $175,000, or 18.2%, to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31,2021, from $961,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, due to increased assets under management. Noninterest Expense Compensation and benefits Office occupancy and equipment Advertising and public relations Information technology Professional fees Supplies, telephone and postage Nonperforming asset management Operations of foreclosed assets, net FDIC insurance premiums Other Total noninterest expense Years Ended December 31, 2020 2021 (Dollars in thousands) Change $ $ 22,638 $ 7,524 742 3,083 1,336 1,615 52 364 478 3,111 40,943 $ 21,323 $ 7,271 591 3,360 1,356 1,232 146 17 348 2,794 38,438 $ 1,315 253 151 (277) (20) 383 (94) 347 130 317 2,505 Noninterest expense increased by $2.5 million, or 6.5%, to $40.9 million, for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $38.4 million, for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in noninterest expense was due in substantial part to increases in compensation and benefits of $1.3 million, or 6.2%, to $22.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $21.3 million in 2020, primarily due to personnel additions in commercial loan and lease originations, risk management, treasury services and the trust department, all of which are targeted for growth and product expansion. Telephone expense increased $464,000 due to the upgrade and conversion of our telephone and data systems and the temporary need to operate concurrent systems. Operations of foreclosed assets increased to $364,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $17,000 for 2020, primarily due to the recording of a $420,000 valuation allowance on foreclosed assets, tax deeds and tax certificates, which was partially offset by gains on sales of foreclosed assets. FDIC insurance premiums increased $130,000, to $478,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $348,000 for 2020, because the 2020 insurance premiums were partially offset by the FDIC's small bank assessment credit. Other noninterest expense increased $317,000, or 11.3%, to $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $2.8 million for 2020, due in part to the reversal of a $116,000 reserve on open commitments for two undrawn letters of credit in 2020. Income Taxes For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded income tax expense of $2.3 million, compared to $3.6 million recorded in 2020. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 was 24.07%, compared to 28.18% for 2020. The effective tax rate increased in 2020 due to the establishment of a $200,000 valuation reserve related to the Company's Illinois NOL carryforward, while in 2021 the effective tax rate was decreased due to the reversal of that $200,000 valuation reserve. Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 Total assets increased $103.8 million, or 6.5%, to $1.701 billion at December 31, 2021, from $1.597 billion at December 31, 2020. The increase in total assets was primarily due to an increase in securities and loans receivable. Securities increased by $61.9 million to $85.7 million at December 31, 2021, from $23.8 million at December 31, 2020, primarily due to the purchase of $76.6 million of U.S. Treasury Notes. Net loans increased $41.6 million, or 4.2%, to $1.044 billion at December 31, 2021, from $1.003 billion at December 31, 2020. Our loan portfolio consists primarily of multi-family real estate, nonresidential real estate, commercial loans and leases, which together totaled 97.0% of gross loans at December 31, 2021. Multi-family mortgage loans decreased by $26.1 million, or 5.8%; nonresidential real estate loans decreased $5.5 million, or 5.0%; commercial loans and leases increased $84.5 million, or 20.9%; and one-to-four family residential mortgage loans decreased by $11.6 million, or 27.7%. The decrease in multi-family loans was primarily due to a significant amount of loan prepayments. The loan prepayments generated $1.4 million of prepayment penalty income for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $1.0 million of prepayment penalty income for 2020. Our allowance for loan losses decreased by $1.0 million, or 13.4%, to $6.7 million at December 31, 2021, from $7.7 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease reflected net recoveries of $204,000 in 2021, and a shift in the risk profile of the loan portfolio mix combined with the reduction of temporary loan loss reserves established in the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. 20 Table of Contents Total liabilities increased $119.3 million, or 8.4%, to $1.543 billion at December 31, 2021, from $1.424 billion at December 31, 2020, primarily due to increases in total deposits, borrowings and subordinated notes. Total deposits increased $94.9 million, or 6.8%, to $1.488 billion at December 31, 2021, from $1.394 billion at December 31, 2020. Money market accounts increased $35.6 million, or 11.9%, to $333.4 million at December 31, 2021, from $297.8 million at December 31, 2020. Interest-bearing NOW accounts increased $67.3 million, or 20.0%, to $404.3 million at December 31, 2021, from $337.0 million at December 31, 2020. Savings accounts increased $22.1 million, or 12.3%, to $201.6 million at December 31, 2021, from $179.6 million at December 31, 2020. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $16.0 million, or 4.9%, to $342.2 million at December 31, 2021, from $326.2 million at December 31, 2020. Retail certificates of deposit decreased $42.4 million, or 17.2%, to $203.5 million at December 31, 2021, from $245.8 million at December 31, 2020. Core deposits (which consist of savings, money market, noninterest-bearing demand and NOW accounts) were 86.1% and 81.8% of total deposits at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company issued $20.0 million of subordinated notes in April of 2021. Total stockholders’ equity was $157.5 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $172.9 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease in total stockholders’ equity was primarily due to the combined impact of our repurchase of 1,541,280 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $17.1 million, and our declaration and payment of cash dividends totaling $5.6 million, during the year ended December 31, 2021. These items were partially offset by net income of $7.4 million that we recorded for the year ended December 31, 2021. 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, 2021, our mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) reflected in the following table were issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and agencies, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae, and are obligations which the federal government has affirmed its commitment to support. All securities reflected in the table were classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2021 and 2020. The following table sets forth the composition, amortized cost and fair value of our securities. At December 31, 2021 2020 Amortized Cost Fair Value Amortized Cost Fair Value (In thousands) $ 76,621 $ 2,728 — 76,553 $ 2,728 — — $ 15,117 402 — 15,117 409 4,660 1,576 4,833 1,580 5,826 2,193 6,108 2,195 $ 85,585 $ 85,694 $ 23,538 $ 23,829 Available-for-sale securities: Securities: U.S. Treasury Notes Certificates of deposits Municipal securities Mortgage-backed securities: Mortgage-backed securities - residential CMOs and REMICs - residential There are no marketable equity securities at December 31, 2021 and 2020. 21 Table of Contents Portfolio Maturities and Yields The composition and maturities of the securities portfolio at December 31, 2021 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. One Year or Less Amortized Cost Weighted Average Yield More than One Year through Five Years More than Five Years through Ten Years Amortized Cost Weighted Average Yield (Dollars in thousands) Amortized Cost Weighted Average Yield More than Ten Years Amortized Cost Weighted Average Yield Securities: U.S. Treasury Notes Certificates of deposit $ — 2,728 —% $ 0.24 76,621 — 0.89% $ — — — —% $ — — — —% — Mortgage-backed securities: Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Ginnie Mae CMOs and REMICs — — 3 — — — 1.37 — 891 — — 82 3.01 — — 1.74 280 6 — — 3.21 1.99 — — 1,468 328 1,684 1,494 2.66 2.82 2.13 0.39 Total securities $ 2,731 0.24% $ 77,594 0.91% $ 286 3.19% $ 4,974 1.81% The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System as a result of its conversion to a national bank charter in 2016. The aggregate cost of our FRB common stock as of December 31, 2021 was $4.7 million based on its par value. The Bank is also a member of the FHLB System. Members of the FHLB System are required to hold a certain amount of common stock to qualify for membership in the FHLB System and to be eligible to borrow funds under the FHLB’s advance program. The aggregate cost of our FHLB common stock as of December 31, 2021 was $2.8 million based on its par value. There is no market for FRB and FHLB common stock. There were no purchases or redemptions of FRB and FHLB capital stock during 2020 and 2021. As a member of the FHLB, we are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, at December 31, 2021, we owned 9,602 shares of excess FHLB common stock. Loan Portfolio We originate multi-family mortgage loans, nonresidential real estate loans, commercial loans and commercial equipment leases. In addition, we also originate consumer loans, and purchase and sell loan participations from time-to-time. Our principal loan products are discussed in Note 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio by type of loan. 2021 Amount Percent At December 31, 2020 Amount Percent (Dollars in thousands) 2019 Amount Percent One-to-four family residential Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases Consumer Net deferred loan origination costs Allowance for loan losses Total loans, net $ $ 30,133 426,136 103,172 — 489,512 1,685 1,050,638 284 (6,715) 1,044,207 41,691 452,241 108,658 499 405,057 1,812 1,009,958 371 (7,751) 1,002,578 4.13% $ 44.78 10.76 0.05 40.10 0.18 100.00% $ 55,750 563,750 134,674 — 418,343 2,211 1,174,728 912 (7,632) 1,168,008 4.75% 47.99 11.46 — 35.61 0.19 100.00% 2.87% $ 40.56 9.82 — 46.59 0.16 100.00% $ 22 Table of Contents Although we originate loans and leases in a number of States, our primary lending area for regulatory purposes consists of the counties in the State of Illinois where our branch offices are located, and contiguous counties. We currently derive the most significant portion of our revenues from these geographic areas. We also engage in multi-family mortgage lending activities in carefully selected metropolitan areas outside our primary lending area. At December 31, 2021, $233.6 million, or 54.8%, of our multi-family mortgage loans were in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Chicago, Illinois; $81.6 million, or 19.2%, were in Texas; $46.1 million, or 10.8%, were in Florida; and $31.1 million, or 7.3%, were in Colorado. This information reflects the location of the collateral for the loan and does not necessarily reflect the location of the borrowers. We engage in certain types of commercial lending and commercial equipment finance activities on a nationwide basis. Loan Portfolio Maturities The following table summarizes the scheduled repayments of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2021. 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: One-to-four family residential Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases Consumer Loans Maturing After One Year: Predetermined (fixed) interest rates Adjustable interest rates Nonperforming Loans and Assets Due in One Year or Less After One Year Through Five Years After Five Through 15 Years (In thousands) After 15 Years Total $ $ 2,565 $ 26,294 29,070 211,743 77 269,749 $ 6,746 $ 56,119 68,331 272,708 1,069 404,973 $ 11,968 $ 140,671 5,771 4,864 539 163,813 $ 8,854 $ 203,052 — 197 — 212,103 $ 30,133 426,136 103,172 489,512 1,685 1,050,638 Total $ $ 338,908 441,981 780,889 We review loans on a regular basis, and generally place loans on nonaccrual status when either principal or interest is 90 days or more past due. In addition, the Company places loans on nonaccrual status when we do not expect to receive full payment of interest or principal. 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 recognized in accordance with our significant accounting policies. Once a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, the borrower must generally demonstrate at least six months of payment performance before the loan is eligible to return to accrual status. We may have loans classified as 90 days or more delinquent and still accruing. Generally, we do not utilize this category of loan classification unless: (1) the loan is repaid in full shortly after the period end date; (2) the loan is well secured and there are no asserted or pending legal barriers to its collection; or (3) the borrower has remitted all scheduled payments and is otherwise in substantial compliance with the terms of the loan, but the processing of loan payments actually received or the renewal of the loan has not occurred for administrative reasons. At December 31, 2021, we had one commercial loan with a recorded investment of $10,000. We typically obtain new third-party appraisals or collateral valuations when we place a loan on nonaccrual status, conduct impairment testing or complete a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) unless the existing valuation information for the collateral is sufficiently current to comply with the requirements of our Appraisal and Collateral Valuation Policy (“ACV Policy”). We also obtain new third-party appraisals or collateral valuations when the judicial foreclosure process concludes with respect to real estate collateral, and when we otherwise acquire actual or constructive title to real estate collateral. In addition to third-party appraisals, we use updated valuation information based on Multiple Listing Service data, broker opinions of value, actual sales prices of similar assets sold by us and approved sales prices in response to offers to purchase similar assets owned by us to provide interim valuation information for consolidated financial statement and management purposes. Our ACV Policy establishes the maximum useful life of a real estate appraisal at 18 months. Because appraisals and updated valuations utilize historical or “ask-side” data in reaching valuation conclusions, the appraised or updated valuation may or may not reflect the actual sales price that we will receive at the time of sale. 23 Table of Contents Real estate appraisals may include up to three approaches to value: the sales comparison approach, the income approach (for income-producing property) and the cost approach. Not all appraisals utilize all three approaches. Depending on the nature of the collateral and market conditions, we may emphasize one approach over another in determining the fair value of real estate collateral. Appraisals may also contain different estimates of value based on the level of occupancy or planned future improvements. “As-is” valuations represent an estimate of value based on current market conditions with no changes to the use or condition of the real estate collateral. “As-stabilized” or “as-completed” valuations assume the real estate collateral will be improved to a stated standard or achieve its highest and best use in terms of occupancy. “As-stabilized” or “as-completed” valuations may be subject to a present value adjustment for market conditions or the schedule of improvements. As part of the asset classification process, we develop an exit strategy for real estate collateral and other foreclosed assets by assessing overall market conditions, the current use and condition of the asset, and its highest and best use. For most income–producing real estate, we believe that investors value most highly a stable income stream from the asset; consequently, we perform a comparative evaluation to determine whether conducting a sale on an “as- is,” “as-stabilized” or “as-improved” basis is most likely to produce the highest net realizable value. If we determine that the “as-stabilized” or “as- improved” basis is appropriate, we then complete the necessary improvements or tenant stabilization tasks, with the applicable time value discount and improvement expenses incorporated into our estimates of the expected costs to sell. As of December 31, 2021, substantially all impaired real estate loan collateral and foreclosed assets were valued on an “as-is basis.” Estimates of the net realizable value of real estate collateral also include a deduction for the expected costs to sell the collateral or such other deductions from the cash flows resulting from the operation and liquidation of the asset as are appropriate. For most real estate collateral subject to the judicial foreclosure process, we apply a 10.0% deduction to the value of the asset to determine the expected costs to sell the asset. This estimate includes one year of real estate taxes, sales commissions and miscellaneous repair and closing costs. If we receive a purchase offer that requires unbudgeted repairs, or if the expected resolution period for the asset exceeds one year, we then include, on a case-by-case basis, the costs of the additional real estate taxes and repairs and any other material holding costs in the expected costs to sell the collateral. For other real estate owned, we apply a 7.0% deduction to determine the expected costs to sell, as expenses for real estate taxes and repairs are expensed when incurred. Nonperforming Assets Summary The following table below sets forth the amounts and categories of our nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets. Nonaccrual loans One-to-four family residential Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases Loans past due over 90 days, still accruing - Commercial loans and leases Foreclosed assets - OREO Other foreclosed assets Total nonperforming assets Ratios Allowance for loan losses to total loans Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans Nonperforming loans to total loans Nonperforming assets to total assets Nonaccrual loans to total loans Nonaccrual loans to total assets Nonperforming Assets 2021 At December 31, 2020 (Dollars in thousands) 2019 $ $ 367 297 76 740 10 — 725 $ 925 296 — 1,221 — 157 — 512 288 — 800 47 186 — $ 1,475 $ 1,378 $ 1,033 0.64% 0.77% 895.33 0.07 0.09 0.07 0.04 634.81 0.12 0.09 0.12 0.08 0.65% 901.06 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.05 Nonperforming assets totaled $1.5 million at December 31, 2021, and $1.4 million at December 31, 2020. Two residential loans and one commercial loan with recorded balances of $4.5 million were transferred to foreclosed assets during the year ended December 31, 2021. We ceased making residential loans in 2017. We continue to experience modest quantities of defaults on our legacy residential loan portfolios principally due either to the borrower’s personal financial condition or death, and/or deteriorated collateral value. Loan Extensions and Modifications Maturing loans are subject to our standard loan underwriting policies and practices. Due to the need to obtain updated borrower and guarantor financial information, collateral information or to prepare revised loan documentation, loans in the process of renewal may appear as past due because the information needed to underwrite a renewal of the loan is not available to us prior to the maturity date of the loan. At times, short-term administrative extensions, which are typically 90 days in duration, are granted to facilitate proper underwriting. In general, loan modifications are subject to a risk- adjusted pricing analysis. 24 Table of Contents When appropriate, we evaluate loan extensions or modifications in accordance with ASC 310-40 and related federal regulatory guidance concerning TDRs and the FFIEC workout guidance to determine the required treatment for nonaccrual status and risk classification purposes. In general, if we grant a loan modification or extension that involves either the absence of principal amortization (other than for revolving lines of credit which are customarily granted on interest-only terms), or if we grant a material extension of an existing loan amortization period in excess of our underwriting standards, the loan will be placed on nonaccrual status and impairment testing conducted to determine whether a specific valuation allowance or loss classification / charge-off is required. If the loan is well secured by an abundance of collateral and the collectability of both interest and principal is probable, the loan may remain on accrual status, but it will be classified as a TDR due to the concession made in the loan principal amortization payment component. A loan in full compliance with the payment requirements specified in a loan modification will not be considered as past due, but may nonetheless be placed on nonaccrual status or be classified as a TDR, as appropriate under the circumstances. In accordance with the FFIEC workout guidance, the Company will restructure a note into two separate notes (A/B structure), charging off the entire B portion of the note. The A note is structured with appropriate loan-to-value and cash flow coverage ratios that provide for a high likelihood of repayment. The A note is classified as a nonperforming note until the borrower has displayed a historical payment performance for a reasonable time prior to and subsequent to the restructuring. A period of sustained repayment for at least six months generally is required to return the note to accrual status provided that management has determined that the performance is reasonably expected to continue. The A note will be classified as a restructured note (either performing or nonperforming) through the calendar year of the restructuring that the historical payment performance has been established. Troubled Debt Restructurings The Company had no TDRs at December 31, 2021 and 2020. Section 4013 of the CARES Act provides that a qualified loan modification is exempt by law from classification as a TDR pursuant to US GAAP. In addition, the Revised Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working With Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (“OCC Bulletin 2020-50”) provides more limited circumstances in which a loan modification is not subject to classification as a TDR and also defined the circumstances where the borrower’s loan is reported as current on loan payments. Pursuant to these new capabilities, we developed several loan forbearance programs to assist borrowers with managing cash flows disrupted due to COVID-19. For additional discussion of these programs, see Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Risk Classification of Loans 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, or designated as special mention. A substandard asset is inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Assets so classified must have a well-defined weakness, or weaknesses, that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. The risk-rating guidance published by the OCC clarifies that a loan with a well- defined weakness does not have to present a probability of default for the loan to be rated substandard, and that an individual loan’s loss potential does not have to be distinct for the loan to be rated substandard. An asset classified as doubtful has all the weaknesses inherent in one classified as substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses 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; such balances are promptly charged-off as required by applicable federal regulations. A special mention asset has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the institution’s credit position at some future date. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification. Based on a review of our loans at December 31, 2021, classified loans consisted of $482,000 of performing substandard loans and $740,000 of nonperforming loans. As of December 31, 2021, we had $1.5 million of loans designated as special mention. 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, trends in nonaccrual loans, 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 the estimates as more information becomes available or events change. 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 that, in our judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating probable incurred credit losses. We review the loan portfolio on an ongoing basis and make provisions for loan losses on a quarterly basis to maintain the allowance for loan losses in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The allowance for loan losses consists of two components: • • specific allowances established for any impaired residential non-owner occupied mortgage, multi-family mortgage, nonresidential real estate, construction and land, commercial loans and leases for which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the measured value of the loan; and general allowances for loan losses for each loan class 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 credit losses for each loan class. 25 Table of Contents 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, and ability 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 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 credit 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 review our loan portfolio on an ongoing basis to determine whether any loans require classification and impairment testing in accordance with applicable regulations and accounting principles. When we classify loans as either substandard or doubtful and in certain other cases, we review the collateral and future cash flow projections to determine if a specific reserve is necessary. The allowance for loan losses represents amounts that have been established to recognize incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the date of the consolidated financial statements. When we classify problem loans as loss, we charge-off such amounts. Our calculation of the general component of the allowance for loan losses includes the FASB disclosure requirement that each loan portfolio category must be segmented into specific loan classes (FASB Standards Update 2010-20 (ASU 210-20), “Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses”). Loan class segmentation tables are presented in Note 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. To maintain consistency, the loan class segmentation was also applied within the 12- quarter loss history that we use to calculate the general component of the allowance for loan losses, inherent risk factor weightings were adjusted based on our evaluation of their relevance to the new loan classes, and duplicative historical loss factors were eliminated from the loan class segmentation. While we use the best information available to make evaluations, future adjustments to the allowance may become necessary if conditions differ substantially from the information that we used in making the evaluations. Our determinations as to the risk classification of our loans and the amount of our allowance for loan losses are subject to review by our regulatory agencies, which can require that we establish additional loss allowances. Net Charge-offs and Recoveries The following table sets forth activity in our allowance for loan losses. 2021 $ $ Balance at beginning of year Charge-offs One-to-four family residential real estate Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases Consumer Recoveries One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Commercial loans and leases Consumer Net recoveries (charge-offs) (Recovery of) provision for loan losses Balance at end of year Ratios Total net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding by portfolio One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases Consumer At or For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 (Dollars in thousands) $ 7,751 7,632 $ 2019 (3) (7) (93) (29) (132) 211 33 90 2 336 204 (1,240) 6,715 $ (9) — — (62) (71) 37 94 4 — 135 64 55 7,751 $ 0.02% 0.01% 0.59% 0.01% (0.01)% —% (1.49)% 0.06% 0.02% —% —% (3.19)% 8,470 (222) (83) (4,443) (31) (4,779) 75 31 10 — 116 (4,663) 3,825 7,632 (0.37)% (0.23)% 0.01% (0.06)% (1.00)% (1.70)% We recorded a recovery of loan losses of $1.2 million in 2021, compared to a $55,000 provision for loan losses in 2020. The provision for or recovery of loan losses is a function of the allowance for loan loss methodology that we use to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for inherent loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted. The portion of the allowance for loan losses attributable to loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased $1.0 million, or 13.4%, to $6.7 million at December 31, 2021 from $7.7 million at December 31, 2020. The reserve established for loans individually evaluated for impairment increased $2,000, to $30,000 at December 31, 2021, from $28,000 at December 31, 2020. Net recoveries were $204,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net recoveries of $64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. A loan balance is classified as a loss and charged-off when it is confirmed that there is no readily apparent source of repayment for the portion of the loan that is classified as loss. Confirmation can occur upon the receipt of updated third-party appraisal valuation information indicating that there is a low probability of repayment upon sale of the collateral, the final disposition of collateral where the net proceeds are insufficient to pay the loan balance in full, our failure to obtain possession of certain consumer-loan collateral within certain time limits specified by applicable federal regulations, the conclusion of legal proceedings where the borrower’s obligation to repay is legally discharged (such as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding), or when it appears that further formal collection procedures are not likely to result in net proceeds in excess of the costs to collect. 26 Table of Contents 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. 2021 Allowance for Loan Losses Loan Balances by Category Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans At December 31, 2020 Allowance for Loan Losses Loan Balances by Category Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans (Dollars in thousands) 2019 Allowance for Loan Losses Loan Balances by Category Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans $ One-to-four family residential Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases Consumer $ Sources of Funds 331 $ 3,377 1,311 — 30,133 426,136 103,172 — 2.87% $ 40.56 9.82 — 518 $ 4,062 1,569 12 41,691 452,241 108,658 499 4.13% $ 44.78 10.76 0.05 675 $ 3,676 1,176 — 55,750 563,750 134,674 — 4.75% 47.99 11.46 — 1,652 44 489,512 1,685 6,715 $ 1,050,638 46.59 0.16 100.00% $ 1,536 54 405,057 1,812 7,751 $ 1,009,958 40.10 0.18 100.00% $ 2,065 40 418,343 2,211 7,632 $ 1,174,728 35.61 0.19 100.00% Deposits. At December 31, 2021, our deposits totaled $1.488 billion. Interest-bearing deposits totaled $1.146 billion and noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $342.2 million. NOW, savings and money market accounts totaled $939.3 million. At December 31, 2021, we had $206.9 million of certificates of deposit outstanding, of which $167.4 million had maturities of one year or less. Although a significant portion of our certificates of deposit are shorter-term certificates of deposit, we believe, based on historical experience and our current pricing strategy, that we will retain a significant portion of the non-brokered accounts upon maturity. The following table sets forth the distribution of total deposit accounts, by account type. Noninterest-bearing demand: Retail Commercial Total noninterest-bearing demand Savings deposits Money market accounts Interest-bearing NOW accounts Certificates of deposit Average Balance 2021 Percent Years Ended December 31, Weighted Average Rate Average Balance (Dollars in thousands) 2020 Percent Weighted Average Rate $ $ 153,398 170,431 323,829 193,481 321,189 366,044 226,602 1,431,145 10.72% 11.91 22.63 13.52 22.44 25.58 15.83 100.00% —% $ — — 0.06 0.14 0.14 0.51 $ 134,065 145,342 279,407 165,733 268,222 296,612 335,938 1,345,912 9.96% 10.80 20.76 12.31 19.93 22.04 24.96 100.00% —% — — 0.09 0.35 0.20 1.58 The following table sets forth certificates of deposit by time remaining until maturity at December 31, 2021: Maturity 3 Months or Less Over 3 to 6 Months Over 6 to 12 Months (In thousands) Over 12 Months Total Certificates of deposit less than $250,000 Certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more Total certificates of deposit $ $ 51,082 $ 8,730 59,812 $ 37,692 $ 3,366 41,058 $ 59,652 $ 6,893 66,545 $ 36,033 $ 3,470 39,503 $ 184,459 22,459 206,918 At December 31, 2021 and 2020 we have $359.8 million and $248.3 million of uninsured deposits; our only uninsured deposits are those in excess of the FDIC insurance limits of $250,000. Borrowings Outstanding. On April 14, 2021, the Company entered into Subordinated Note Purchase Agreements with certain qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors pursuant to which the Company sold and issued $20.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 3.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2031. At December 31, 2021 and 2020 we had $5.0 million and $4.0 million, respectively of FHLB advances at zero interest rate. Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices The Company’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes have been prepared in conformity with US GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation, if any, 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 can have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation. 27 Table of Contents Management of Interest Rate Risk Qualitative Analysis. A 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 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. 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 de-emphasized the origination of residential mortgage loans, and have increased our emphasis on the origination of nonresidential real estate loans, multi-family mortgage loans, commercial loans and leases. 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 our entire 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. 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 U.S. 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 following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2021, 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. Change in Interest Rates (basis points) +400 +300 +200 +100 0 -25 Estimated Increase in NPV Percent Amount Increase (Decrease) in Estimated Net Interest Income Amount Percent (Dollars in thousands) $ 9,671 11,985 10,560 5,642 4.71% $ 5.83 5.14 2.74 4,817 2.34 11,349 8,675 5,853 2,899 (387) 27.14% 20.74 14.00 6.93 (0.93) The table set forth above indicates that at December 31, 2021, in the event of an immediate 25 basis point decrease in interest rates, the Bank would be expected to experience a 2.34% increase in NPV and a $387,000 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 5.14% increase in NPV and a $5.9 million increase 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. 28 Table of Contents 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 amortizations 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 of multi-family mortgage loans, nonresidential real estate loans, commercial loans and leases and the purchase of investment securities and mortgage-backed securities. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our loans originated or purchased for investment totaled $879.1 million and $651.9 million, respectively. Purchases of securities totaled $79.1 million and $44.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These activities were funded primarily by principal repayments on loans and securities. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, principal repayments on loans totaled $834.0 million and $817.4 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, principal repayments on securities totaled $1.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, proceeds from maturities of securities totaled $20.2 million and $77.8 million, respectively. There were no sales of loans or securities during the year ended December 31, 2021. Loan origination commitments totaled $38.9 million at December 31, 2021, and consisted of $14.1 million of fixed-rate loans and $24.8 million of adjustable-rate loans. Unused lines of credit and standby letters of credit granted to customers totaled $184.3 million and $6.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, there were no commitments to sell mortgages. Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and other terms and conditions on deposit products offered by our banking competitors, and other factors, including government fiscal stimulus payments to households and businesses. We had net deposit increases of $94.9 million and $108.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Certificates of deposit that are scheduled to mature in one year or less at December 31, 2021 totaled $167.4 million. 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 renewed or extended. We generally remain fully invested and may utilize additional sources of funds through FHLB advances, of which $5.0 million was outstanding at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021 we had the ability to borrow an additional $274.8 million under our credit facilities with the FHLB. We also have the ability to pledge U.S. Treasury Notes of $75.0 million for FHLB advances. Finally, at December 31, 2021, we had a line of credit available with the FRB. At December 31, 2021, there was no outstanding balance on this credit line. 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 sources of liquidity for the Company currently are $8.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and any cash dividends it may receive from the Bank. In 2020, the Company established a $5.0 million unsecured line of credit with a correspondent bank. Interest is payable at a rate of Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal minus 0.75%, with a minimum rate of 2.40%. The line of credit has been extended since its original maturity date and the current maturity date is March 31, 2022. The line of credit had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2021. The Company issued $20.0 million of subordinated notes in April of 2021. During 2021, we paid $17.1 million to repurchase shares of our common stock and paid $5.6 million in cash dividends to stockholders, using dividends received from the Bank. As of December 31, 2021, we were not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that had or were reasonably likely to have a material impact on our liquidity. As of December 31, 2021, 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 write-downs that are inherent in the business risks associated with 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. The capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations, involve the quantitative measurement of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. The failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in regulatory actions. The final rules implementing Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's capital guidelines for U.S. banks (Basel III rules) became effective in 2015. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital. In addition, as a result of the legislation, the federal banking agencies developed a “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (the ratio of a bank’s tangible equity capital to average total consolidated assets) for financial institutions with assets of less than $10 billion. A “qualifying community bank” that exceeds this ratio will be deemed to be in compliance with all other capital and leverage requirements, including the capital requirements to be considered “well capitalized” under Prompt Corrective Action statutes. The federal banking agencies may consider a financial institution’s risk profile when evaluating whether it qualifies as a community bank for purposes of the capital ratio requirement. The federal banking agencies must set the minimum capital for the new Community Bank Leverage Ratio at not less than 8% and not more than 10%. Beginning in the second quarter 2020 and until the end of 2020, a banking organization that had a leverage ratio of 8% or greater and met certain other criteria could elect to use the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework; and qualifying community banks will have until January 1, 2022, before the Community Bank Leverage Ratio requirement is re-established at greater than 9%. Pursuant to Section 4012 of the CARES Act and related interim final rules, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio is 8.5% for calendar year 2021, and 9% thereafter. A financial institution can elect to be subject to this new definition, and opt-out of this new definition, at any time. As a qualifying community bank, we elected to be subject to this definition beginning in the second quarter of 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank's Community Bank Leverage Ratio was 9.91%. 29 Table of Contents 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 only adequately capitalized institutions require regulatory approval to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, a financial institution’s capital distributions, asset growth and expansion are limited, and the submission of a capital restoration plan is required. The Company and the Bank have each adopted Regulatory Capital Policies that target a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 7.5% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.5% at the Bank. The minimum capital ratios set forth in the Regulatory Capital Policies will be increased and other minimum capital requirements will be established if and as necessary. In accordance with the Regulatory Capital Policies, the Bank will not pursue any acquisition or growth opportunity, declare any dividend or conduct any stock repurchase that would cause the Bank's total risk-based capital ratio and/or its Tier 1 leverage ratio to fall below the targeted minimum capital levels or the capital levels required for capital adequacy plus the capital conservation buffer (“ CCB”). The minimum CCB is 2.5%. As of December 31, 2021 the Bank was well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events that management believes have changed the Bank’s prompt corrective action capitalization category. Capital Management - Company. Total stockholders’ equity was $157.5 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $172.9 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease in total stockholders’ equity was primarily due to the combined impact of our repurchase of 1,541,280 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $17.1 million, and our declaration and payment of cash dividends totaling $5.6 million, during the year ended December 31, 2021. These items were partially offset by net income of $7.4 million that we recorded for the year ended December 31, 2021. Cash Dividends. Our Board of Directors declared four quarterly cash dividends totaling $5.6 million during 2021, consisting of a cash dividend of $0.10 per share for each quarter of 2021. Stock Repurchase Program. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had repurchased 7,317,771 shares of its common stock out of the 7,560,755 shares of common stock authorized under the share repurchase authorization approved on March 30, 2015, as amended and extended from time to time. Pursuant to the share repurchase authorization, as of December 31, 2021, there were 242,984 shares of common stock authorized for repurchase. On April 19, 2021, the Board extended the expiration of the Company's share repurchase authorization from April 30, 2021 to November 15, 2021, and increased the total number of shares currently authorized for repurchase by 250,000 shares. On October 28, 2021 and June 24, 2021, the Board increased the number of shares authorized for repurchase by 200,000 and 900,000 shares, respectively. On October 28, 2021, the Board also extended the expiration of the Company's share repurchase authorization from November 15, 2021 to May 15, 2022. 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 (“ALLL”) involves a high degree of judgment. Our ALLL 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 ALLL. 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; the value of collateral; and a determination of loss factors to be applied to the various elements of the loan portfolio. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Although we believe that we use the best information available to us to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary and the Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected if borrower financial, collateral valuation or economic conditions differ substantially from the information and assumptions used in making the evaluation. While management believes it has established the allowance for loan losses in conformity with US GAAP, our regulators, in reviewing the loan portfolio, may request us to increase our allowance for loan losses based on judgments different from ours. In addition, because future events affecting borrowers and collateral cannot be predicted without uncertainty, the existing allowance for loan losses may not be adequate or increases may be necessary should the quality of any loans or leases deteriorate as a result of the factors discussed above. Any material increase in the ALLL would adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s incurred loss method is a multi-variate model that includes the consideration of historical loss experience and several objective data including levels of, and trends in, past due and classified loans; levels of, and trends in, charge–offs and recoveries; the volume of loans by product type and terms of loans, including any credit concentrations in the loan portfolio and various national and local economic data, trends and conditions. In addition, we evaluate credit environmental factors including changes in underwriting standards, market conditions affecting the valuation of collateral, the ability to enforce loan documents and collateral liens upon default via judicial process, and the experience and ability of lending management and other relevant staff. Given the scope and breadth of the analysis and the interrelationships of data elements, it is not possible to quantify the impact on the ALLL based on changes in specific individual inputs. 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. Under GAAP, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon judgments made following management’s periodic evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence, including prior pre-tax losses and the events or conditions that caused them, forecasts of future taxable income, and current and future economic and business conditions. As of December 31, 2021, we had an NOL carryforward for Illinois, which begins to expire in 2031 and fully expires in 2033 pursuant to changes to Illinois law enacted in 2021. In 2021, we exceeded our Business Plan projection for purposes of deferred tax asset utilization analysis. Based on our long- term Business Plan projections, we expect that we will fully utilize the Illinois NOL carryforward before it expires in 2033. We also performed a stress analysis of our projections as the key known variable in our analysis and determined that we fully utilize the Illinois NOL carryforward by 2033. Based on our 2021 Business Plan performance, we concluded it is more likely than not that we will be able to achieve the Business Plan performance required to fully utilize the Illinois NOL carryforward by 2033. 30 Table of Contents ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK For information regarding market risk see Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management of Interest Rate Risk.” ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 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, 2021, 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 “2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.” Based on this assessment, management concludes that, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. /s/ F. Morgan Gasior F. Morgan Gasior Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President /s/ Paul A. Cloutier Paul A. Cloutier Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 31 Table of Contents REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors BankFinancial Corporation Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of BankFinancial Corporation and Subsidiary (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of their operations their its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. Critical Audit Matters The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. Allowance for Loan Losses – General Component Qualitative Factors As described in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses and represents an amount which, in management’s judgement, will be adequate to absorb losses in the loan portfolio. The Company’s allowance for loan losses balance was $6.7 million at December 31, 2021 and consists of a specific and general component totaling $30 thousand and $6.7 million, respectively. Management estimates the allowance based on loan losses believed to be inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The specific component is established for any impaired residential non-owner occupied mortgage, 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. Management develops the general component based on historical loan loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors not reflected in the historical loss experience. Historical loss ratios are measured on a weighted, rolling twelve-quarter basis. The qualitative factors used by the Company include factors specific to the loan class, such as 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 and ability of lending management and other relevant staff; and national and local economic trends and conditions. The adjustments for qualitative factors require a significant amount of judgment by management and involve a high degree of estimation uncertainty. We identified the qualitative factor component of the allowance for loan losses as a critical audit matter as auditing the underlying qualitative factors required significant auditor judgment as amounts determined by management rely on analysis that is highly subjective and includes significant estimation uncertainty. Our audit procedures related to the qualitative factor component of the allowance for loan losses included the following, among others: ● We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls related to the allowance for loan losses and tested such controls for design and operating effectiveness, including controls related to management’s establishment, review and approval of the qualitative factors, and the completeness and accuracy of data used in determining qualitative factors. ● We evaluated the appropriateness of management’s methodology for estimating the allowance for loan losses. ● We tested the completeness and accuracy of data used by management in determining qualitative factor adjustments by agreeing them to internal and external source data. ● We tested management’s conclusions regarding the appropriateness of the qualitative factor adjustments and agreed the impact to the allowance for loan losses calculation. /s/ RSM LLP We have served as the Company's auditor since 2019 Chicago, Illinois February 28, 2022 32 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (In thousands, except share and per share data) Assets Cash and due from other financial institutions Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions Cash and cash equivalents Securities, at fair value Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses: December 31, 2021, $6,715 and December 31, 2020, $7,751 Foreclosed assets, net Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") and Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB"), at cost Premises and equipment, net Accrued interest receivable Bank-owned life insurance Deferred taxes Other assets Total assets Liabilities Deposits Noninterest-bearing Interest-bearing Total deposits Borrowings Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance Accrued interest payable and other liabilities Total liabilities 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, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 13,228,485 shares issued at December 31, 2021 and 14,769,765 shares issued at December 31, 2020 Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Total stockholders’ equity Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity December 31, 2021 2020 9,095 $ 493,067 502,162 85,694 1,044,207 725 7,490 25,043 4,648 19,129 2,762 8,822 1,700,682 $ 342,176 $ 1,146,255 1,488,431 5,000 19,590 7,993 22,202 1,543,216 14,115 489,381 503,496 23,829 1,002,578 157 7,490 24,675 3,941 19,015 2,741 8,920 1,596,842 326,188 1,067,356 1,393,544 4,000 — 8,670 17,698 1,423,912 — — 132 90,709 66,545 80 157,466 1,700,682 $ 148 107,815 64,754 213 172,930 1,596,842 $ $ $ $ See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements 33 BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except share and per share data) Table of Contents Interest and dividend income Loans, including fees Securities Other Total interest income Interest expense Deposits Subordinated notes Total interest expense Net interest income (Recovery of) provision for loan losses Net interest income after (recovery of) provision for loan losses Noninterest income Deposit service charges and fees Loan servicing fees Mortgage brokerage and banking fees Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income Earnings on bank-owned life insurance Other Total noninterest income Noninterest expense Compensation and benefits Office occupancy and equipment Advertising and public relations Information technology Professional fees Supplies, telephone, and postage Nonperforming asset management Operations of foreclosed assets, net FDIC insurance premiums Other Total noninterest expense Income before income taxes Income tax expense Net income Basic and diluted earnings per common share Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 45,188 $ 232 1,146 46,566 2,227 567 2,794 43,772 (1,240) 45,012 3,184 731 35 1,136 114 489 5,689 22,638 7,524 742 3,083 1,336 1,615 52 364 478 3,111 40,943 9,758 2,348 7,410 $ 0.53 $ 14,031,198 50,467 854 1,554 52,875 6,988 — 6,988 45,887 55 45,832 3,196 552 98 961 70 489 5,366 21,323 7,271 591 3,360 1,356 1,232 146 17 348 2,794 38,438 12,760 3,597 9,163 0.61 14,951,656 $ $ $ See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements 34 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands) Net income Unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period Tax effect Comprehensive loss, net of tax Comprehensive income For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ 7,410 $ (182) 49 (133) 7,277 $ 9,163 (18) 5 (13) 9,150 See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements 35 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (In thousands, except shares and per share data) $ Balance at January 1, 2020 Net income Other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect Repurchase and retirement of common stock (508,699 shares) Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.40 per share) Balance at December 31, 2020 Net income Other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect Repurchase and retirement of common stock (1,541,280 shares) Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.40 per share) Balance at December 31, 2021 $ $ Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 153 $ — — (5) — 148 $ — — (16) — 132 $ 112,420 $ — — (4,605) — 107,815 $ — — (17,106) — 90,709 $ 61,573 $ 9,163 — — (5,982) 64,754 $ 7,410 — — (5,619) 66,545 $ 226 $ — (13) — — 213 $ — (133) — — 80 $ Total 174,372 9,163 (13) (4,610) (5,982) 172,930 7,410 (133) (17,122) (5,619) 157,466 See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements 36 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities Net income Adjustments to reconcile to net income to net cash from operating activities $ 7,410 $ (Recovery of) provision for loan losses Depreciation and amortization Net change in net deferred loan origination costs Gain on sale of foreclosed assets Loss on disposal of other assets Foreclosed assets valuation adjustments Earnings on bank-owned life insurance Net change in: Deferred income tax Accrued interest receivable Other assets Accrued interest payable and other liabilities Net cash from operating activities Cash flows (used in) from investing activities Securities Proceeds from maturities Proceeds from principal repayments Purchases of securities Net (increase) decrease in loans receivable Loan participation purchased Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets Purchase of premises and equipment, net Net cash (used in) from investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Net change in: Deposits Borrowings Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes Costs paid for issuance of subordinated notes Repurchase and retirement of common stock Cash dividends paid on common stock Net cash from financing activities Net change in cash and cash equivalents Beginning cash and cash equivalents Ending cash and cash equivalents Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Interest paid Income taxes paid Income taxes refunded Loans transferred to foreclosed assets Due to broker Recording of right of use asset in exchange for lease obligations in other assets and other liabilities (1,240) 2,072 87 (24) — 420 (114) 28 (703) 1,130 (1,298) 7,768 20,230 1,780 (79,124) (40,190) (5,000) 3,509 (2,335) (101,130) 94,887 1,000 (677) 20,000 (441) (17,122) (5,619) 92,028 (1,334) 503,496 502,162 $ 2,708 $ 3,416 — 4,473 4,936 866 $ $ See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements 37 9,163 55 1,791 541 (22) 5 — (70) 1,137 622 1,300 (1,005) 13,517 77,762 2,691 (44,113) 164,666 — 73 (2,007) 199,072 108,787 3,939 (1,552) — — (4,610) (5,982) 100,582 313,171 190,325 503,496 7,035 191 14 33 — 111 Table of Contents 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 headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, is the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BankFinancial, National Association (the “Bank”). BankFinancial Corporation is a registered Bank Holding Company and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary is operating as BankFinancial, National Association. Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of and transactions of BankFinancial Corporation, the Bank, and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Financial Assurance Services, Inc. and BFIN Asset Recovery Company, LLC (formerly BF Asset Recovery Corporation) (collectively, “the Company”) and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company’s revenues, operating income, and assets are primarily from the banking industry. To supplement loan originations, the Company purchases loans. The loan portfolio is concentrated in loans that are primarily secured by real estate. Use of Estimates: The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual information, and actual results could differ from those estimates. COVID-19: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted, and could further adversely impact, a broad range of industries in which the Company’s customers operate and impair their ability to fulfill their financial obligations to the Company. On March 3, 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee reduced the target federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 1.00% to 1.25%. This rate was further reduced to a target range of 0% to 0.25% on March 16, 2020. This and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainties have arisen which are likely to negatively impact net interest income and noninterest income. Other financial impacts could occur though such potential impact is unknown at this time. Subsequent events: The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosures through the date the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were issued. Interest-bearing Deposits in Other Financial Institutions: Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions maturing in less than 90 days are carried at cost. 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. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss), 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) whether the Company has the intent to sell the debt security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery. Securities also include investments in certificates of deposit with maturities of greater than 90 days. These certificates of deposit are placed with insured institutions for varying maturities and amounts that are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) 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, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income. Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) Stock: The Bank is a member of its regional Federal Reserve Bank. FRB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income. 38 Table of Contents 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) 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 fees and 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. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments. Interest income is reported on the interest method. Interest income is generally discontinued at the earlier of when a loan is 90 days past due or when we do not expect to receive full payment of interest or principal. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. All interest accrued but not received for loans that have been placed on nonaccrual status 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 status. Once a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, the borrower must generally demonstrate at least six months of payment performance before the loan is eligible to return to accrual status. Generally, the Company utilizes the “90 days delinquent, still accruing” category of loan classification when: (1) the loan is repaid in full shortly after the period end date; (2) the loan is well secured and there are no asserted or pending legal barriers to its collection; or (3) the borrower has remitted all scheduled payments and is otherwise in substantial compliance with the terms of the loan, but the processing of payments actually received or the renewal of a loan has not occurred for administrative reasons. Factored Receivables: The Company purchases invoices from its factoring customers in schedules or batches. The face value of the invoices purchased or amount advanced is recorded by the Company as factored receivables, and the unadvanced portions of the invoices purchased, less fees, are considered customer reserves. The customer reserves are held to settle any payment disputes or collection shortfalls, may be used to pay customers’ obligations to various third parties as directed by the customer, are periodically released to or withdrawn by customers, and are reported as noninterest-bearing deposits in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The unpaid principal balances of these receivables were $187,000 at December 31, 2021 and are included in commercial loans and leases. The customer reserves associated with the factored receivables were $122,000 at December 31, 2021. There were no factored receivables as of December 31, 2020. Factoring fees are recognized in interest income as incurred by the customer and deducted from the customer's reserve balances. Other factoring-related fees, which include wire transfer fees, broker fees, and other similar fees, are reported by the Company as loan servicing fees in noninterest income. Impaired Loans: Impaired loans principally consist of nonaccrual loans and troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, management believes that it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Once a loan is determined to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the loan's observable fair value, the fair value of the underlying collateral less selling costs if the loan is collateral-dependent, or the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. If the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the bank's allowance for the impaired collateral dependent loan under ASC 310-10-35 is based on fair value (less costs to sell), but the charge-off (the confirmed “loss”) is based on the appraised value. The remaining recorded investment in the loan after the charge-off will have a loan loss allowance for the amount by which the estimated fair value of the collateral (less costs to sell) is less than its appraised value. Impaired loans with specific reserves are reviewed quarterly for any changes that would affect the specific reserve. Any impaired loan for which a determination has been made that the economic value is permanently reduced is charged-off against the allowance for loan losses to reflect its current economic value in the period in which the determination has been made. At the time a collateral-dependent loan is initially determined to be impaired, we review the existing collateral appraisal. If the most recent appraisal is greater than a year old, a new appraisal is obtained on the underlying collateral. Appraisals are updated with a new independent appraisal at least annually and are formally reviewed by our internal appraisal department upon receipt of a new appraisal. All impaired loans and their related reserves are reviewed and updated each quarter. Troubled Debt Restructurings: A loan is classified as a troubled debt restructuring when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties that leads to a restructuring of the loan, and the Company grants concessions to the borrower in the restructuring that it would not otherwise consider. These concessions may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, extension of maturity date and other actions intended to minimize potential losses. In determining whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties, the Company considers if the debtor is in payment default or would be in payment default in the foreseeable future without the modification, the debtor declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, there is substantial doubt that the debtor will continue as a going concern, the debtor has securities that have been or are in the process of being delisted, the debtor's entity-specific projected cash flows will not be sufficient to service any of its debt, or the debtor cannot obtain funds from sources other than the existing creditors at a market rate for debt with similar risk characteristics. 39 Table of Contents 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) In determining whether the Company has granted a concession, the Company assesses, if it does not expect to collect all amounts due, whether the current value of the collateral will satisfy the amounts owed, whether additional collateral or guarantees from the debtor will serve as adequate compensation for other terms of the restructuring, and whether the debtor otherwise has access to funds at a market rate for debt with similar risk characteristics. Periodically, the Company will restructure a note into two separate notes (A/B structure), charging off the entire B portion of the note. The A note is structured with appropriate loan-to-value and cash flow coverage ratios that provide for a high likelihood of repayment. The A note is classified as a nonperforming note until the borrower has displayed a historical payment performance for a reasonable time prior to and subsequent to the restructuring. A period of sustained repayment for at least six months generally is required to return the note to accrual status provided that management has determined that the performance is reasonably expected to continue. The A note will be classified as a restructured note (either performing or nonperforming) through the calendar year of the restructuring that the historical payment performance has been established. Allowance for Loan Losses: The Company establishes provisions for loan losses, which are charged to the Company’s results of operations to maintain the allowance for loan losses to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, the Company considers past and current loss experience, trends in classified loans, 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 the estimates as more information becomes available or events change. The Company provides 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 that, in our judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating probable incurred credit losses. The Company reviews the loan portfolio on an ongoing basis and makes provisions for loan losses on a quarterly basis to maintain the allowance for loan losses in accordance with US GAAP. The allowance for loan losses consists of two components: • • specific allowances established for any impaired residential non-owner occupied mortgage, 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; and general allowances for loan losses for each loan class 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 credit losses for each loan class. 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 and ability of lending management and other relevant staff; and national and local economic trends and conditions. The Company evaluates the allowance for loan losses based upon the combined total of the specific 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 credit 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. The loss ratio used in computing the required general loan loss reserve allowance for a given class of loan consists of (i) the actual loss ratio (measured on a weighted, rolling twelve-quarter basis), (ii) the change in credit quality within the specific loan class during the period, (iii) the actual inherent risk factor assigned to the specific loan class and (iv) the actual concentration of risk factor assigned to the specific loan class (collectively, the “Specific Loan Class Risk Factors”). The Specific Loan Class Risk Factors are weighted equally in the calculation. In addition, two additional quantitative factors, the National Economic risk factor and the Local Economic risk factor, are also components of the computation but are given different weightings in their computation due to their relative applicability to the specific loan class in the context of the effect of national and local economic conditions on their risk profile and performance. 40 Table of Contents 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) Foreclosed Assets: Foreclosed assets are initially recorded at fair value less cost to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. Physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan occurs when the legal title is obtained upon completion of foreclosure or when the borrower conveys all interest in the property to satisfy the loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. These assets are subsequently accounted for at a lower of cost or fair value less estimated cost to sell. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Operating expenses, gains and losses on disposition, and changes in the valuation allowance are reported in noninterest expense as operations of foreclosed assets. 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, ten to 20 years for routine building improvements, five to 15 years for furniture and equipment, two to five years for computer hardware and software and no greater than four years on automobiles. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred and significant repairs are capitalized. Lease Accounting: The Company adopted FASB ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”), including the adoption of the practical expedients, effective January 1, 2019. Leases (Topic 842) establishes a right of use model that requires a lessee to record a right of use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. The Company enters into operating leases in the normal course of business primarily for several of its branch and corporate locations. At adoption, January 1, 2019, the Company recorded assets and liabilities of $6.7 million as a result of recording additional lease contracts where the Company is lessee. The Company did not restate comparative periods. Currently the Company is obligated under eight non-cancellable operating lease agreements for branch properties, commercial credit origination and customer service offices and its corporate office. The leases have varying terms, the longest of which will end in 2032. The Company's lease agreements include options to renew at the Company's discretion. The extensions are not reasonably certain to be exercised; therefore, they were not considered in the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability. The Company has also elected not to recognize leases with original lease terms of 12 months or less (short- term leases) in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition. The ROU assets are included in other assets and the lease obligations are included in other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Other Intangible Assets: Intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Core deposit intangible assets (“CDI”), are recognized at the time of acquisition based on valuations prepared by independent third parties or other estimates of fair value. In preparing such valuations, variables such as deposit servicing costs, attrition rates, and market discount rates are considered. CDI assets are amortized to expense over their useful lives. CDI were $7,000 at December 31, 2020, and fully amortized at December 31, 2021. Bank-Owned Life Insurance: The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain key executives. The Company owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement. Long-Term Assets: Premises and equipment, right of use assets, 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 total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Under US GAAP, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, the forecasts of future taxable income, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. The Company considers both positive and negative evidence regarding the ultimate realizability of our deferred tax assets. Examples of positive evidence may include the existence, if any, of taxes paid in available carry-back years and the likelihood that taxable income will be generated in future periods. Examples of negative evidence may include a cumulative loss in the current year and prior two years and negative general business and economic trends. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period of the enactment date. This analysis is updated quarterly and adjusted as necessary. At December 31, 2021, the Company had a net deferred tax asset of $2.8 million. The net deferred tax asset was $2.7 million at December 31, 2020, net of a $200,000 valuation allowance against the Illinois net operating loss deduction carryforward. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is "more likely than not" that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, presuming that a tax examination will occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the "more likely than not" test, no tax benefit is recorded. 41 Table of Contents 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) 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. 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. Diluted 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 potential common shares. 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 are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements as of December 31, 2021. 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: Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities, net of tax, which is also recognized as separate components of stockholders’ equity. 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. Operating Segments: While management monitors the revenue streams of the various products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis. Operating results are not reviewed by senior management to make resource allocation or performance decisions. Accordingly, all of the financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment. Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on prior year net income or stockholders’ equity. Newly Issued Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). These amendments require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques applied today will still be permitted, although the inputs to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. For SEC filers who are smaller reporting companies, ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. NOTE 2 – 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. Net income available to common stockholders Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding Basic and diluted earnings per common share 42 For the years ended December 31, 2021 7,410 $ 14,031,198 0.53 $ 2020 9,163 14,951,656 0.61 $ $ Table of Contents NOTE 3 – SECURITIES BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) The fair value of securities and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income is as follows: Available-for-Sale Securities December 31, 2021 U.S. Treasury Notes Certificates of deposit Mortgage-backed securities - residential Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential December 31, 2020 Certificates of deposit Municipal securities Mortgage-backed securities - residential Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value $ $ $ $ 76,621 $ 2,728 4,660 1,576 85,585 $ 15,117 $ 402 5,826 2,193 23,538 $ 8 $ — 173 4 185 $ — $ 7 282 3 292 $ (76) $ — — — (76) $ — $ — — (1) (1) $ 76,553 2,728 4,833 1,580 85,694 15,117 409 6,108 2,195 23,829 Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations reflected in the preceding table were issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities and agencies, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae, and are obligations which the government has affirmed its commitment to support. The amortized cost and fair values of securities available-for-sale at December 31, 2021 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. December 31, 2021 Due in one year or less Due after one year through five years Mortgage-backed securities - residential Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential Amortized Cost $ 2,728 $ 76,621 79,349 4,660 1,576 85,585 $ Fair Value 2,728 76,553 79,281 4,833 1,580 85,694 $ An investment security available-for-sale with a carrying amount of $1.2 million at December 31, 2020 was pledged as collateral on customer repurchase agreements and for other purposes as required or permitted by law; there were no investment securities pledged at December 31, 2021. Securities available-for-sale with unrealized losses at December 31, 2021 and 2020 not recognized in income are as follows: Less than 12 Months Fair Value Unrealized Loss Count 12 Months or More Fair Value Unrealized Loss Count Count Total Fair Value Unrealized Loss December 31, 2021 U.S. Treasury Notes December 31, 2020 Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential 53 $ 62,246 $ (76) — $ — $ — 53 $ 62,246 $ (76) — $ — $ — 3 $ 1,588 $ (1) 3 $ 1,588 $ (1) The Company evaluates marketable investment securities with significant declines in fair value on a quarterly basis to determine whether they should be considered other-than-temporarily impaired under current accounting guidance, which generally 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 of the securities must assess whether the impairment is other-than-temporary. Certain U.S. Treasury Notes that the Company holds in its investment portfolio were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2021, but the unrealized loss was not considered significant under the Company’s impairment testing methodology. In addition, the Company does not intend to sell these securities, and it is not likely that the Company will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery occurs. 43 Table of Contents NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE Loans receivable are as follows: One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases Consumer Net deferred loan origination costs Allowance for loan losses Loans, net BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) December 31, 2021 2020 30,133 $ 426,136 103,172 — 489,512 1,685 1,050,638 284 (6,715) 1,044,207 $ 41,691 452,241 108,658 499 405,057 1,812 1,009,958 371 (7,751) 1,002,578 $ $ Loan Origination/Risk Management. The Company has certain lending policies and procedures in place that are designed to maximize loan income within an acceptable level of risk. The Company reviews and approves these policies and procedures on a periodic basis. A reporting system supplements the review process by providing management with frequent reports related to loan production, loan quality, concentrations of credit, loan delinquencies and nonperforming and potential problem loans via trend and risk rating migration. The Company originates multi-family mortgages, nonresidential real estate, commercial loans, commercial leases and equipment finance transactions, and a limited quantity of construction and land loans. We originated one-to-four family residential mortgage loans until December 31, 2017. We also occasionally purchase and sell loan participations. The following briefly describes our principal loan products. Commercial Real Estate The Company originates real estate loans principally secured by first liens, both non-owner occupied and owner-occupied commercial real estate. The non- owner occupied commercial real estate properties are predominantly multi-family apartment buildings, office buildings, light industrial buildings, shopping centers and mixed-use developments and, to a much lesser extent, more specialized properties such as nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Multi-family mortgage loans generally are secured by multi-family rental properties such as apartment buildings, including subsidized apartment units. In general, loan amounts range between $500,000 and $6.0 million at December 31, 2021. Approximately 45% of the collateral is located outside of our primary market area; however, we do not have a concentration in any single market in excess of 25% of our loan portfolio outside of our primary market area. In underwriting multi-family mortgage loans, the Company considers a number of factors, which include the projected net cash flow to the loan’s debt service requirement (generally requiring a minimum ratio of 120%), the age and condition of the collateral, the financial resources and income level of the borrower, the borrower’s experience in owning or managing similar properties and, proximity to diverse employment opportunities. Multi-family mortgage loans are generally originated in amounts up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan. Personal guarantees are usually obtained on multi-family mortgage loans if the borrower/property owner is a legal entity. Loans secured by multi-family mortgages generally involve a greater degree of credit risk as a result of several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the effects of general economic conditions on income producing properties, and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans. Furthermore, the repayment of loans secured by multi-family mortgages typically depends upon the successful operation of the related real estate property. If the cash flow from the project is reduced below acceptable thresholds, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. The Company emphasizes nonresidential real estate loans with initial principal balances between $500,000 and $6.0 million. Substantially all of our nonresidential real estate loans are secured by properties located in our primary market area. The Company’s nonresidential real estate loans are generally written as three- or five-year adjustable-rate mortgages or mortgages with balloon maturities of three or five years. Amortization on these loans is typically based on 20- to 30-year schedules. The Company also originates some 15-year fixed-rate, fully amortizing loans. In the underwriting of nonresidential real estate loans, the Company generally lends up to 80% of the property’s appraised value. Decisions to lend are based on the economic viability of the property as the primary source of repayment and the creditworthiness of the borrower. In evaluating a proposed commercial real estate loan, we emphasize the ratio of the property’s projected net cash flow to the loan’s debt service requirement (generally requiring a minimum ratio of 120%), computed after deduction for a vacancy factor and property expenses we deem appropriate. Personal guarantees are usually pursued and obtained from nonresidential real estate borrowers. The Company requires title insurance insuring the priority of our lien on real estate collateral, fire and extended coverage casualty insurance, and, if appropriate, flood insurance, in order to protect our security interest in the underlying real property collateral. Nonresidential real estate loans generally carry higher interest rates and have shorter terms and typically involve larger loan balances concentrated with single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. In addition, the payment of loans secured by income-producing properties typically depends on the successful operation of the related real estate project and thus may be subject to a greater extent to adverse conditions in the real estate market and in the general economy. 44 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) Construction and Land Loans Although the Company does not actively originate construction and land loans presently, construction and land loans generally consist of land acquisition loans to help finance the purchase of land intended for further development, including single-family homes, 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. Commercial Loans and Leases The commercial loan and lease category includes all commercial credit facilities extended for the purpose of financing working capital or operating assets, including Equipment Finance, Commercial Finance and Community Finance exposures. In general, commercial credit decisions are based upon our assessment of the borrower’s cash flow, proposed collateral, business and credit history and any additional positive or negative credit risk factors, such as personal or corporate guarantors. In addition to evaluating the borrower’s financial condition, we consider the adequacy of the primary and secondary sources of repayment for the loan. Independent reports of the borrower’s credit history supplement our analysis of the borrower’s creditworthiness and at times may be supplemented with trade credit reports or verifications of credit or assets. We review proposed collateral for a secured transaction to determine its use in business operations, and its potential value as a secondary source of repayment. Where applicable, we evaluate personal or corporate guarantors’ financial capacity and credit history as a tertiary source of repayment. Commercial business loans generally have higher interest rates because they have a higher risk of default since their repayment generally depends on the successful operation of the borrower’s business and the sufficiency of any collateral. Pricing of commercial loans is based primarily on the overall credit risk of the credit exposure, with due consideration given to borrowers with appropriate deposit relationships. Equipment Finance The Company lends money for equipment and software finance transactions (collectively, “equipment finance transactions”) on a national basis. The Company originates equipment finance transactions through equipment leasing companies, banks, vendors and other market sources. Generally, equipment finance transactions are secured by an assignment of the payments due under the obligation and by a security interest in the assets financed. In most cases, the obligor acknowledges our security interest in the assets financed and agrees to send all payments directly to us or to a third-party paying agency. Consequently, the Company underwrites equipment finance transactions by examining the creditworthiness of the obligor and any surety, and the purpose, use and value of the assets financed for collateral purposes. Equipment finance transactions are generally non-recourse to the originating company. Generally, the Company’s equipment finance transactions are secured primarily by technology equipment, medical equipment, material handling equipment and other capital equipment; however, licenses for software essential for the operation of financed equipment, or to the operations of the obligor, are also eligible for financing. The Company conducts equipment finance transactions for the U.S. Government, state and local governments, publicly-traded companies with and without public debt ratings, privately-held companies, and small businesses. Generally, equipment finance transactions have a maximum maturity of five years, repaid on a fully-amortizing basis. The maximum outstanding credit exposure to any Equipment Finance obligor is less than $10 million, except for investment-grade corporate obligors and the U.S. Government; however, the average amount of an Equipment Finance transaction was $1.1 million at December 31, 2021. Commercial Finance The Company lends money to finance small- and medium-size businesses for working capital purposes on a national basis. The Company offers traditional commercial lines of credit, asset-based lines of credit and accounts receivable factoring to companies in manufacturing, distribution/logistics, health care and professional services sectors, including contractors of the U.S. Government; however, not all types of Commercial Finance credit facilities are presently available to all business sectors. Commercial finance borrowers are typically subject to more stringent liquidity and collateral underwriting, and ongoing credit monitoring practices, than traditional commercial bank credit borrowers. Generally, commercial finance transactions have a maximum maturity of two years. The maximum outstanding credit commitment to any Commercial Finance borrower is $15 million for transactions secured by health-care receivables or contract payments due from the U.S. Government; however, the average commercial finance credit commitment was $1.1 million at December 31, 2021. Community Finance The Company makes various types of secured and unsecured commercial loans to for-profit, not-for-profit and local government borrowers in our primary 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 (i) a lending rate that is determined internally, or (ii) a short-term market rate index. 45 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) The following tables present the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the loans receivable by portfolio segment and based on impairment method: Individually evaluated for impairment Allowance for loan losses Collectively evaluated for impairment Total Individually evaluated for impairment Loan Balances Collectively evaluated for impairment December 31, 2021 One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases Consumer $ $ Net deferred loan origination costs Allowance for loan losses Loans, net — $ — 30 — — 30 $ 331 3,377 1,281 1,652 44 6,685 $ $ 331 $ 3,377 1,311 1,652 44 6,715 $ 1,299 $ 498 297 76 — 2,170 $ 28,834 $ 425,638 102,875 489,436 1,685 1,048,468 $ Individually evaluated for impairment Allowance for loan losses Collectively evaluated for impairment Total Individually evaluated for impairment Loan Balances Collectively evaluated for impairment December 31, 2020 One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases Consumer $ $ Net deferred loan origination costs Allowance for loan losses Loans, net — $ — 28 — — — 28 $ 518 $ 4,062 1,541 12 1,536 54 7,723 $ 518 $ 4,062 1,569 12 1,536 54 7,751 $ 1,718 $ 520 296 — — — 2,534 $ 39,973 $ 451,721 108,362 499 405,057 1,812 1,007,424 $ The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment: Total 30,133 426,136 103,172 489,512 1,685 1,050,638 284 (6,715) 1,044,207 Total 41,691 452,241 108,658 499 405,057 1,812 1,009,958 371 (7,751) 1,002,578 December 31, 2021 One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases Consumer December 31, 2020 One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases Consumer Beginning balance Provision for (recovery of) loan losses Loans charged off Recoveries Ending balance $ $ $ $ 518 $ 4,062 1,569 12 1,536 54 7,751 $ 675 $ 3,676 1,176 — 2,065 40 7,632 $ 46 (395) $ (718) (251) (12) 119 17 (1,240) $ (185) $ 292 393 12 (533) 76 55 $ (3) $ — (7) — (93) (29) (132) $ (9) $ — — — — (62) (71) $ 211 $ 33 — — 90 2 336 $ 37 $ 94 — — 4 — 135 $ 331 3,377 1,311 — 1,652 44 6,715 518 4,062 1,569 12 1,536 54 7,751 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) Impaired loans The following tables present loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans: Loan Balance Recorded Investment Allowance for Loan Losses Partial Charge- off Allocated Average Investment in Impaired Loans Interest Income Recognized $ $ $ $ 1,299 $ 498 83 1,880 1,299 $ 498 76 1,873 280 2,160 $ 297 2,170 $ 2,069 $ 520 2,589 1,718 $ 520 2,238 280 2,869 $ 296 2,534 $ — $ — 7 7 7 14 $ 363 $ — 363 — 363 $ — $ — — — 1,473 $ 509 7 1,989 30 30 $ 296 2,285 $ — $ — — 1,782 $ 594 2,376 28 28 $ 289 2,665 $ 29 30 — 59 — 59 42 31 73 — 73 December 31, 2021 With no related allowance recorded One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage - Illinois Commercial leases With an allowance recorded - nonresidential real estate December 31, 2020 With no related allowance recorded One-to-four family residential real estate Multi-family mortgage - Illinois With an allowance recorded - nonresidential real estate Nonaccrual loans The following tables present the recorded investment in nonaccrual and loans 90 days or more past due still on accrual by class of loans: December 31, 2021 One-to-four family residential real estate Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans Equipment finance - other December 31, 2020 One-to-four family residential real estate Nonresidential real estate Loan Balance Recorded Investment Loans Past Due Over 90 Days, still accruing $ $ $ $ 367 $ 280 — 83 730 $ 946 $ 280 1,226 $ 367 $ 297 — 76 740 $ 925 $ 296 1,221 $ — — 10 — 10 — — — Nonaccrual loans and impaired loans are defined differently. Some loans may be included in both categories, and some may only be included in one category. Nonaccrual loans include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans. The Company’s reserve for uncollected loan interest was $140,000 and $133,000 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. When a loan is on non- accrual status and the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is in doubt, all payments are applied to principal under the cost recovery method. Alternatively, when a loan is on non-accrual status but there is doubt concerning only the ultimate collectability of interest, contractual interest is credited to interest income only when received, under the cash basis method pursuant to the provisions of FASB ASC 310–10, as applicable. In all cases, the average balances are calculated based on the month–end balances of the financing receivables within the period reported pursuant to the provisions of FASB ASC 310–10, as applicable. 47 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) Past Due Loans The following tables present the aging of the recorded investment of loans by class of loans: December 31, 2021 One-to-four family residential real estate loans: Owner occupied Non-owner occupied Multi-family mortgage: Illinois Other Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases: Commercial Asset-based Equipment finance: Government Investment-rated Other Middle market Small ticket Consumer December 31, 2020 One-to-four family residential real estate loans: Owner occupied Non-owner occupied Multi-family mortgage: Illinois Other Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases: Commercial Asset-based Equipment finance: Government Investment-rated Other Middle market Small ticket Consumer $ $ $ $ 30-59 Days Past Due 60-89 Days Past Due 90 Days or Greater Past Due Total Past Due Loans Not Past Due Total 181 $ 2 189 — — — 26 3,160 290 3,015 — — 13 6,876 $ 250 $ 9 — — — — 6 4,718 1,201 — — — 4 6,188 $ 367 $ — — — 297 — 10 — — 76 — — — 750 $ 798 $ 11 189 — 297 — 42 23,333 $ 5,991 235,681 190,266 102,875 67,995 19,358 24,131 6,002 235,870 190,266 103,172 67,995 19,400 7,878 1,491 3,091 — — 17 13,814 $ 170,584 81,135 85,760 40,582 11,596 1,668 1,036,824 $ 178,462 82,626 88,851 40,582 11,596 1,685 1,050,638 30-59 Days Past Due 60-89 Days Past Due 90 Days or Greater Past Due Total Past Due Loans Not Past Due Total 252 $ 3 86 — — — 4,886 — 2,468 618 853 — — 6 9,172 $ 211 $ 132 — — — — — — — 225 2,487 — — 5 3,060 $ 48 834 $ 91 — — 296 — — — — — — — — — 1,221 $ 1,297 $ 226 32,078 $ 8,090 86 — 296 — 221,943 230,212 108,362 499 4,886 — 72,809 1,740 33,375 8,316 222,029 230,212 108,658 499 77,695 1,740 2,468 843 3,340 — — 11 13,453 $ 100,272 87,751 122,677 6,988 1,283 1,801 996,505 $ 102,740 88,594 126,017 6,988 1,283 1,812 1,009,958 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. Under the most recently published guidance, the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA") will forgive PPP loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. The following table presents the PPP activity: Paycheck Protection Program: Number of loans originated Loan balance originations Loan balance forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans Number of loans Loan balance COVID-19 Loan Forbearance Programs For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ 238 10,135 $ 16,272 $ 315 11,160 980 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 $ 76 4,043 $ 290 10,180 Section 4013 of the CARES Act provides that a qualified loan modification is exempt by law from classification as a Troubled Debt Restructuring ("TDR") pursuant to US GAAP. In addition, the Revised Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working With Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (“OCC Bulletin 2020-50”) provides more limited circumstances in which a loan modification is not subject to classification as a TDR and also defined the circumstances where the borrower’s loan is reported as current on loan payments. Pursuant to these new capabilities, we developed several loan forbearance programs to assist borrowers with managing cash flows disrupted due to COVID-19. Our Apartment and Commercial Real Estate COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement permitted borrowers who qualified under Section 4013 of the CARES Act to make an election to pay scheduled interest and escrow payments (if applicable) for a four-month period beginning in April 2020, and pay all deferred principal payments by December 2020. Our Small Investment Property COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement permitted borrowers with loan balances under $750,000 who qualified under Section 4013 of the CARES Act to make an election to pay scheduled interest and escrow payments (if applicable) for a four-month period beginning in April 2020, and pay all deferred principal payments by December 2020. In addition, the borrower could elect to defer the May 2020 loan payment entirely, with all deferred interest amounts due by December 2020 and all deferred principal amounts due by June 30, 2021. CARES Act Section 4013 and OCC Bulletin 2020- 35 forbearance agreements were available to qualified commercial loan and commercial finance borrowers, and to commercial equipment lessees. For residential mortgage and consumer loans, relief under CARES Act Section 4013 or OCC Bulletin 2020-35 forbearance agreements were available to qualified borrowers with terms consistent with secondary residential mortgage market standards established by Fannie Mae. Per the terms of the COVID-19 loan forbearance modifications program, all loan deferrals were paid in full as of June 30, 2021. The following table summarizes the remaining loan forbearance modifications at December 31, 2020: Small Investment Property COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement Multi-family mortgage Nonresidential real estate Apartment and Commercial Real Estate COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement Nonresidential real estate One-to-four family residential real estate Number of loans Principal Balance Remaining Amounts Deferred 8 $ 10 2 10 30 $ 3,092 $ 3,363 2,480 1,402 10,337 $ 17 22 6 8 53 49 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) Troubled Debt Restructurings The Company evaluates loan extensions or modifications not qualified under Section 4013 of the CARES Act or under OCC Bulletin 2020-35 in accordance with FASB ASC 340-10 with respect to the classification of the loan as a TDR. Under ASC 340-10, if the Company grants a loan extension or modification to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties for other than an insignificant period of time that includes a below–market interest rate, principal forgiveness, payment forbearance or other concession intended to minimize the economic loss to the Company, the loan extension or loan modification is classified as a TDR. In cases where borrowers are granted new terms that provide for a reduction of either interest or principal then due and payable, management measures any impairment on the restructured loan in the same manner as for impaired loans as noted above. The Company had no TDRs at December 31, 2021 and 2020. During the years ending December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no loans modified and classified as TDRs. During the years ending December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no TDR loans that subsequently defaulted within twelve months of their modification. A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms. To determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the foreseeable future without the modification. This evaluation is performed under the Company’s internal underwriting policy. Credit Quality Indicators: The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, including current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans based on credit risk. This analysis includes non-homogeneous loans, such as commercial and commercial real estate loans. This analysis is performed on a monthly basis. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings: Special Mention. A Special Mention asset has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the institution’s credit position at some future date. Special Mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification. Substandard. Loans categorized as substandard continue to accrue interest, but exhibit a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that may jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. The loans continue to accrue interest because they are well secured and collection of principal and interest is expected within a reasonable time. The risk rating guidance published by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency clarifies that a loan with a well-defined weakness does not have to present a probability of default for the loan to be rated Substandard, and that an individual loan’s loss potential does not have to be distinct for the loan to be rated Substandard. Nonaccrual. An asset classified Nonaccrual has all the weaknesses inherent in one classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable. Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered “Pass” rated loans. Based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans are as follows: December 31, 2021 One-to-four family residential real estate loans: Owner occupied Non-owner occupied Multi-family mortgage: Illinois Other Nonresidential real estate Commercial loans and leases: Commercial Asset-based Equipment finance: Government Investment-rated Other Middle market Small ticket Consumer Pass Special Mention Substandard Nonaccrual Total $ 23,396 $ 5,894 235,545 190,266 102,875 67,995 19,400 178,427 82,626 87,685 40,582 11,596 1,675 — $ — 325 — — — — 35 — 1,090 — — 4 368 $ 108 — — — — — — — — — — 6 367 $ — — — 297 — — — — 76 — — — 24,131 6,002 235,870 190,266 103,172 67,995 19,400 178,462 82,626 88,851 40,582 11,596 1,685  $ 1,047,962 $ 1,454 $ 482 $ 740 $ 1,050,638 50 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued) December 31, 2020 One-to-four family residential real estate loans: Owner occupied Non-owner occupied Multi-family mortgage: Illinois Other Nonresidential real estate Construction and land Commercial loans and leases: Commercial Asset-based Equipment finance: Government Investment-rated Other Middle market Small ticket Consumer NOTE 5 - FORECLOSED ASSETS Pass Special Mention Substandard Nonaccrual Total $ 32,089 $ 8,164 222,029 230,212 106,280 499 72,809 1,740 102,740 88,594 125,012 6,988 1,283 1,802 1,000,241 $ $ — $ 27 — — 1,998 — — — — — — — — 5 2,030 $ 452 $ 34 — — 84 — 4,886 — — — 1,005 — — 5 6,466 $ 834 $ 91 — — 296 — — — 33,375 8,316 222,029 230,212 108,658 499 77,695 1,740 — — — — — — 1,221 $ 102,740 88,594 126,017 6,988 1,283 1,812 1,009,958 Real estate that is acquired through foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure is classified as other real estate owned ("OREO") until 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 the 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. Assets are classified as foreclosed when physical possession of the collateral is taken regardless of whether foreclosure proceedings have taken place. Other foreclosed assets received in satisfaction of borrowers debt are initially recorded at fair value of the asset less estimated costs to sell. Foreclosed assets - OREO Other foreclosed assets December 31, 2021 Valuation Allowance Net OREO Balance Balance December 31, 2020 Valuation Allowance Net OREO Balance Balance $ $ — $ — $ — $ 157 $ 952 952 $ (227) (227) $ 725 725 $ — 157 $ — $ — — $ 157 — 157 The following represents the roll forward of foreclosed assets: Beginning balance New foreclosed properties Capitalized improvements Valuation adjustments Valuation reductions from sales Sales Ending balance Activity in the valuation allowance is as follows: Beginning balance Additions charged to expense Reductions from sales Ending balance At and For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ 157 $ 4,473 — (420) 193 (3,678) 725 $ 186 33 47 — — (109) 157 At and For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ — $ 420 (193) 227 $ — — — — At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the recorded investment of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process was $73,000 and $187,000, respectively. At December 31, 2021, other foreclosed assets consisted of non real estate collateral repossessed related to a previously classified Chicago area commercial loan. At December 31, 2020, the balance of OREO includes no foreclosed residential real estate properties recorded as a result of obtaining physical possession of the property without title. 51 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 6 – PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT Year-end premises and equipment are as follows: Land and land improvements Buildings and improvements Furniture and equipment Computer equipment Accumulated depreciation December 31, 2021 2020 12,261 $ 31,636 10,249 5,118 59,264 (34,221) 25,043 $ 11,989 31,145 10,111 4,798 58,043 (33,368) 24,675 $ $ Depreciation of premises and equipment was $2.0 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. NOTE 7 - LEASES The following table represents the classification of the Company's right of use and lease liabilities: Operating Lease Right of Use Asset: Gross carrying amount New lease obligation Accumulated amortization Net recorded value Operating Lease Liabilities: Right of use lease obligations Statement of Financial Condition Location December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 $ $ $ 6,805 $ 866 (2,794) 4,877 $ 6,694 111 (1,730) 5,075 4,877 $ 5,075 Other assets Other liabilities Lease amortization expense was $1.1 million and $882,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2021, the weighted-average remaining lease term for the Company's operating leases was 7.0 years and the weighted-average discount rate used in the measurement of the Company's operating lease liabilities was 2.83%. For each operating lease, the discount rate is the FHLB fixed rate advance rate for the term most closely aligning with the remaining lease term at inception. Lease cost: Operating lease cost Short-term lease cost Sublease income Total lease cost Other information: Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows from operating leases For the year ended December 31, 2021 For the year ended December 31, 2020 $ $ $ 1,064 $ 161 (38) 1,187 $ 882 152 (74) 960 1,110 $ 948 Future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases with terms longer than 12 months, are as follows at December 31, 2021. Future minimum payments on shorter term leases are excluded as the amounts are insignificant. Twelve months ended December 31, 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Thereafter Total future minimum operating lease payments Amounts representing interest Present value of net future minimum operating lease payments 52 $ $ 1,294 1,241 656 506 495 1,722 5,914 (1,037) 4,877 Table of Contents NOTE 8 - DEPOSITS Composition of deposits is as follows: Noninterest-bearing demand deposits Interest-bearing NOW accounts Money market accounts Savings deposits Certificates of deposit BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) December 31, 2021 2020 342,176 $ 404,335 333,369 201,633 206,918 1,488,431 $ 326,188 336,994 297,801 179,561 253,000 1,393,544 $ $ Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC Insurance limit of $250,000 were $22.5 million and $30.7 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Certificates of deposits include wholesale certificates totaling $3.5 million and $7.2 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit for the next five years as of December 31, 2021 are as follows: 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 $ $ 167,415 29,819 9,428 211 45 206,918 NOTE 9 — BORROWINGS Fixed-rate advance from FHLB, due May 9, 2022 Subordinated Notes, due May 15, 2031 Line of credit, due March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 2020 Contractual Rate Amount Contractual Rate Amount —% $ 3.75% 2.50% 5,000 19,590 — —% $ —% 2.50% 4,000 — — The Company maintains a collateral pledge agreement covering secured advances whereby the Company has agreed to 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. All of the Bank’s FHLB common stock is pledged as additional collateral for these advances. At December 31, 2021, $17.4 million and $296.8 million of first mortgage and multi-family mortgage loans, respectively, collateralized potential advances. At December 31, 2021, we had the ability to borrow an additional $274.8 million under our credit facilities with the FHLB. We also have the ability to pledge U.S. Treasury Notes of $75.0 million for FHLB advances. The Company also had available pre-approved overnight federal funds borrowing. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, there was no outstanding balance on these lines. On April 14, 2021, the Company entered into Subordinated Note Purchase Agreements with certain qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors pursuant to which the Company sold and issued $20.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 3.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2031 (the “Notes”). The Company incurred $441,000 of issuance costs associated with the Notes. These issuance costs are being amortized over the 10-year life of the Notes. At December 31, 2021, there were $410,000 in remaining unamortized issuance costs and they are presented in the Company's financial statements as a reduction of the principal amount of the Notes. The Notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 3.75%, from and including the date of issuance to May 14, 2026, payable semi-annually in arrears. From and including May 15, 2026 but excluding the maturity date or early redemption date, as applicable, the interest rate will reset quarterly to an interest rate per annum equal to Three-Month Term SOFR (as defined in the Notes) plus 299 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears. Under the conditions specified in the Notes, the interest rate accruing during the applicable floating rate period may be determined based on a rate other than Three-Month Term SOFR. The Notes have a stated maturity date of May 15, 2031 and are redeemable, in whole or in part, on May 15, 2026, on any interest payment date thereafter, and at any time upon the occurrence of certain events. Principal and interest payments due on the Notes are subject to acceleration only in limited circumstances in the case of certain bankruptcy and insolvency- related events with respect to the Company. The Notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company and generally rank junior in right of payment to the Company’s current and future senior indebtedness. The Notes qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes. In 2020, the Company established a $5.0 million unsecured line of credit with a correspondent bank. Interest is payable at a rate of Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal minus 0.75%, with a minimum rate of 2.40%. The line of credit has been extended since its original maturity date and the current maturity date is March 31, 2022. The line of credit had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2021 and 2020. 53 Table of Contents NOTE 10 – INCOME TAXES The income tax expense is as follows: Current expense Deferred expense Total income tax expense BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ 2,320 $ 28 2,348 $ 2,460 1,137 3,597 A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed at the statutory federal corporate tax rate of 21% for 2021 and 2020, to the income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations follows: Expense computed at the statutory federal tax rate State and local taxes, net of federal income tax effect Other, net Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets Effective income tax rate For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ $ 2,048 504 (4) (200) 2,348 $ 24.07% 2,680 720 (3) 200 3,597 28.18% Retained earnings at December 31, 2021 and 2020 include $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. The net deferred tax asset is as follows: Gross deferred tax assets Allowance for loan losses Alternative minimum tax and net operating loss carryforwards Lease liability Other Gross deferred tax liabilities Net deferred loan origination costs Purchase accounting adjustments Right of use asset Other Unrealized gain on securities Valuation allowance December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ 1,798 $ 3,938 1,306 854 7,896 (808) (1,516) (1,306) (1,475) (29) (5,134) — 2,762 $ 2,075 3,999 1,358 568 8,000 (873) (1,570) (1,358) (1,180) (78) (5,059) (200) 2,741 As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s net deferred tax asset (“DTA”) was $2.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively. A DTA valuation allowance is required under ASC 740 when the realization of a DTA is assessed and the assessment indicates that it is “more likely than not” (i.e., more than 50% likely) that all or a portion of the DTA will not be realized. All available evidence, both positive and negative must be considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance against the net DTA is required. Objectively verifiable evidence is assigned greater weight than evidence that is not objectively verifiable. The valuation allowance is analyzed quarterly for changes affecting the DTA. The Company’s ability to realize the DTA is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the tax attributes underlying the DTA become deductible. The amount of the DTA that will ultimately be realized will be impacted by the Company’s future taxable income, any changes to the many variables that could impact future taxable income and the then applicable corporate tax rate. As of December 31, 2020, a valuation allowance of $200,000 was attributed to the Illinois net loss deduction carryforwards, this was recovered in 2021 and there was no valuation allowance at December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, the Company had a federal net operating loss carryforward of $7.0 million relating to its acquisition of Downers Grove National Bank, which is subject to utilization limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and will begin to expire in 2030, and $225,000 of alternative minimum tax credit carryforward that does not expire and is subject to utilization limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. At December 31, 2021, the Company had a state net operating loss carryforward for the State of Illinois of $44.5 million, which will begin to expire in 2031 and fully expires in 2033. 54 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 10 – INCOME TAXES (continued) Unrecognized Tax Benefits A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows: Beginning of year Additions based on tax positions related to the current year Additions for tax positions of prior years Reductions due to the statute of limitations and reductions for tax positions of prior years End of year December 31, 2021 2020 277 $ 34 10 (38) 283 $ 244 61 2 (30) 277 $ $ The Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had immaterial amounts accrued for potential interest and penalties. The Company and its subsidiary are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of the various states where the Company does business. The Company is no longer subject to examination by the federal taxing authorities for years before 2018 and the Illinois taxing authorities for years before 2018. NOTE 11– REGULATORY MATTERS The Bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations, involve the quantitative measurement of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. The failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in regulatory actions. The final rules implementing Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's capital guidelines for U.S. banks (Basel III rules) became effective in 2015. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital. In addition, as a result of the legislation, the federal banking agencies developed a “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (the ratio of a bank’s tangible equity capital to average total consolidated assets) for financial institutions with assets of less than $10 billion. A “qualifying community bank” that exceeds this ratio will be deemed to be in compliance with all other capital and leverage requirements, including the capital requirements to be considered “well capitalized” under Prompt Corrective Action statutes. The federal banking agencies may consider a financial institution’s risk profile when evaluating whether it qualifies as a community bank for purposes of the capital ratio requirement. The federal banking agencies must set the minimum capital for the new Community Bank Leverage Ratio at not less than 8% and not more than 10%. Beginning in the second quarter 2020 and until the end of 2020, a banking organization that had a leverage ratio of 8% or greater and met certain other criteria could elect to use the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework; and qualifying community banks will have until January 1, 2022, before the Community Bank Leverage Ratio requirement is re-established at greater than 9%. Pursuant to Section 4012 of the CARES Act and related interim final rules, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio is 8.5% for calendar year 2021, and 9% thereafter. A financial institution can elect to be subject to this new definition, and opt-out of this new definition, at any time. As a qualifying community bank, we elected to be subject to this definition beginning in the second quarter of 2020. Prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If only adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, capital distributions are limited, as is asset growth and expansion, and capital restoration plans are required. The Company and the Bank have each adopted Regulatory Capital Policies that require the Bank to maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 7.5% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.5%. The minimum capital ratios set forth in the Regulatory Capital Policies will be increased and other minimum capital requirements will be established if and as necessary. In accordance with the Regulatory Capital Policies, the Bank will not pursue any acquisition or growth opportunity, declare any dividend or conduct any stock repurchase that would cause the Bank's total risk-based capital ratio and/or its Tier 1 leverage ratio to fall below the established minimum capital levels or the capital levels required for capital adequacy plus the capital conservation buffer (“CCB”). The minimum CCB is 2.5%. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank was well-capitalized, with all capital ratios exceeding the well-capitalized requirement. There are no conditions or events that management believes have changed the Bank’s prompt corrective action capitalization category. The Bank is subject to regulatory restrictions on the amount of dividends it may declare and pay to the Company without prior regulatory approval, and to regulatory notification requirements for dividends that do not require prior regulatory approval. The Bank's Community Bank Leverage Ratio was: December 31, 2021 Community Bank Leverage Ratio December 31, 2020 Community Bank Leverage Ratio Actual Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount Ratio Amount Ratio $ $ 165,599 9.91% $ 142,091 160,236 10.10% $ 126,964 8.50% 8.00% 55 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 12 – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN 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 provides a match of $0.50 on each $1.00 of contribution up to 6% of eligible compensation beginning April 1, 2007. The Company may also contribute an additional amount annually at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Contributions totaling $345,000 and $331,000 were made for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. NOTE 13 – LOAN COMMITMENTS AND OTHER OFF-BALANCE-SHEET 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. Financial instruments wherein contractual amounts represent credit risk Commitments to extend credit Standby letters of credit Unused lines of credit December 31, 2021 2020 $ 38,864 $ 6,937 184,343 31,131 6,668 200,240 Commitments to extend credit are generally made for periods of 60 days or less. The fixed-rate loan commitments totaled $14.1 million with interest rates ranging from 2.65% to 6.50% and maturities ranging from 20 months to 5 years. 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 customers. NOTE 14 – FAIR VALUE Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values: • • • Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date. Level 2 – Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument: Securities: The fair values of debt securities are generally determined by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2). 56 Table of Contents NOTE 14 – FAIR VALUE (continued) BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) Impaired Loans: The fair value of impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan losses is generally based on recent real estate appraisals. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the independent appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available for similar loans and collateral underlying such loans. Non-real estate collateral may be valued using an appraisal, net book value per the borrower’s financial statements, or aging reports, adjusted or discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of the valuation, and management’s expertise and knowledge of the client and client’s business, resulting in a Level 3 fair value classification. Impaired loans are evaluated on a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted in accordance with the allowance policy. Foreclosed assets: Assets acquired through or instead of loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. These assets are subsequently accounted for at lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Fair value is commonly based on recent real estate appraisals which are updated no less frequently than annually. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach with data from comparable properties. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the independent appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Foreclosed assets are evaluated on a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly. The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets that were accounted for at fair value and are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. December 31, 2021 Securities: U.S. Treasury Notes Certificates of deposit Mortgage-backed securities – residential Collateralized mortgage obligations – residential December 31, 2020 Securities: Certificates of deposit Municipal securities Mortgage-backed securities - residential Collateralized mortgage obligations – residential Fair Value Measurements Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Fair Value $ $ $ $ 76,553 $ — — — 76,553 $ — $ 2,728 4,833 1,580 9,141 $ — $ — — — — $ 15,117 $ 409 6,108 2,195 23,829 $ — $ — — — — $ — $ — — — — $ 76,553 2,728 4,833 1,580 85,694 15,117 409 6,108 2,195 23,829 The following table sets forth the Company’s assets that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis: December 31, 2021 Impaired loans Foreclosed assets December 31, 2020 Impaired loans Fair Value Measurement Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Fair Value $ $ $ — $ — $ — $ 267 $ — $ 725 $ 267 725 — $ — $ 268 $ 268 Impaired loans, which are measured for impairment using the fair value of the collateral for collateral–dependent loans, had a carrying amount of $297,000, with a valuation allowance of $30,000 at December 31, 2021, compared to a carrying amount of $296,000 and a valuation allowance of $28,000 at December 31, 2020, resulting in an increase in the provision for loan losses of $2,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to an increase in the provision for loan losses of $28,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. 57 Table of Contents NOTE 14 – FAIR VALUE (continued) BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) Foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less costs to sell. At December 31, 2021, foreclosed assets had a carrying value of $952,000 less a valuation allowance of $227,000, or $725,000. At December 31, 2020, there were no foreclosed assets with valuation allowances. There were $420,000 of valuation adjustments of foreclosed assets recorded in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to no valuation adjustment recorded for the year ended December 31, 2020. The following table presents quantitative information, based on certain empirical data with respect to Level 3 fair value measurements for financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis: December 31, 2021 Impaired loans Foreclosed assets December 31, 2020 Impaired loans Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range (Weighted Average) $ $ $ 267 725 Sales comparison Redemption value 268 Sales comparison Discount applied to valuation Discount applied to valuation Discount applied to valuation 22.0% 15.6% 22.0% The carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments are as follows: Financial assets Cash and cash equivalents Securities Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses FHLB and FRB stock Accrued interest receivable Financial liabilities Certificates of deposit Borrowings Subordinated Notes Financial assets Cash and cash equivalents Securities Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses FHLB and FRB stock Accrued interest receivable Financial liabilities Certificates of deposit Borrowings $ $ Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2021 Using: Carrying Amount 502,162 $ 85,694 1,044,207 7,490 4,648 206,918 5,000 19,590 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 448,552 $ 76,553 — — 75 53,610 $ 9,141 — — 17 — $ — 1,039,298 — 4,631 — — — 206,530 4,999 20,240 — — — 502,162 85,694 1,039,298 N/A 4,723 206,530 4,999 20,240 Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2020 Using: Carrying Amount 503,496 $ 23,829 1,002,578 7,490 3,941 253,000 4,000 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 480,574 $ — — — — 22,922 $ 23,829 — — 52 — $ — 1,004,854 — 3,889 503,496 23,829 1,004,854 N/A 3,941 — — 253,906 3,998 — — 253,906 3,998 Loans: The exit price observations are obtained from an independent third-party using its proprietary valuation model and methodology and may not reflect actual or prospective market valuations. The valuation is based on the probability of default, loss given default, recovery delay, prepayment, and discount rate assumptions. 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. 58 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 15 — REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS All of the Company's revenue from contracts with customers in the scope of ASC 606 is recognized within noninterest income. The following table presents the Company's sources of noninterest income. Items outside of the scope of the ASC 606 are noted as such. Deposit service charges and fees Loan servicing fees (1) Mortgage brokerage and banking fees (1) Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income Earnings on bank-owned life insurance (1) Other (1) Total noninterest income (1) Not within the scope of ASC 606 For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 $ $ 3,184 $ 731 35 1,136 114 489 5,689 $ 3,196 552 98 961 70 489 5,366 A description of the Company's revenue streams accounted for under ASC 606 follows: Deposit service charges and fees: The Company earns fees from its deposit customers based on specific types of transactions, account maintenance and overdraft services. Transaction-based fees, which include services such as ATM use fees, stop payment charges, statement rendering, and ACH fees, are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point in time the Company fulfills the customer's request. Account maintenance fees, which relate primarily to monthly maintenance, are earned over the course of a month, representing the period over which the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Overdraft fees are recognized at the point in time that the overdraft occurs. Service charges on deposits are withdrawn from the customer's account balance. Interchange income: The Company earns interchange fees from debit cardholder transactions conducted through the Visa payment network. Interchange fees from cardholder transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction value and are recognized daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder. Interchange income is included in deposit service charges and fees. Interchange income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income: The Company earns trust, insurance commissions and annuities income from its contracts with trust customers to manage assets for investment, and/or to transact on their accounts. These fees are primarily earned over time as the Company provides the contracted monthly or quarterly services and are generally assessed based on a tiered scale of the market value of assets under management (AUM) at month-end. Fees that are transaction based, including trade execution services, are recognized at the point in time that the transaction is executed, i.e., the trade date. Other related services provided include fees the Company earns, which are based on a fixed fee schedule, are recognized when the services are rendered. Gains/losses on sales of foreclosed assets and other assets: The Company records a gain or loss from the sale of foreclosed assets and other assets when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at the time of an executed deed. When the Company finances the sale of foreclosed assets to the buyer, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether collectability of the transaction price is probable. Once these criteria are met, the foreclosed assets asset is derecognized and the gain or loss on sale is recorded upon the transfer of control of the property to the buyer. In determining the gain or loss on the sale, the Company adjusts the transaction price and related gain (loss) on sale if a significant financing component is present. Foreclosed assets sales for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were not financed by the Company. NOTE 16 – COMPANY ONLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION Condensed financial information of BankFinancial Corporation as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the two years then ended are as follows: Condensed Statements of Financial Condition Assets Cash in subsidiary Investment in subsidiary Deferred tax asset Other assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs Accrued expenses and other liabilities Total stockholders’ equity December 31, 2021 2020 8,211 $ 166,856 587 1,502 177,156 $ 19,590 $ 100 157,466 177,156 $ 10,996 161,678 393 658 173,725 — 795 172,930 173,725 $ $ $ $ 59 Table of Contents BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) NOTE 16 – COMPANY ONLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued) Condensed Statements of Operations Dividends from subsidiary Interest expense Other expense Income before income tax and undistributed subsidiary excess distributions Income tax benefit Income before equity in undistributed subsidiary excess distributions Equity in undistributed subsidiary (excess distributions) Net income Condensed Statements of Cash Flows For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 3,500 $ 567 1,595 1,338 (761) 2,099 5,311 7,410 $ 13,713 — 1,625 12,088 (231) 12,319 (3,156) 9,163 $ $ For the years ended December 31, 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities Net income Adjustments: Amortization Equity in undistributed subsidiary excess distributions Change in other assets Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities Net cash from operating activities Cash flows used in financing activities Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes Costs paid for issuance of subordinated notes Repurchase and retirement of common stock Cash dividends paid on common stock Net cash used in financing activities Net change in cash in subsidiary Beginning cash in subsidiary Ending cash in subsidiary $ 7,410 $ 31 (5,311) (1,038) (695) 397 20,000 (441) (17,122) (5,619) (3,182) (2,785) 10,996 8,211 $ $ 60 9,163 — 3,156 1,622 783 14,724 — — (4,610) (5,982) (10,592) 4,132 6,864 10,996 Table of Contents ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. 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 period covered by this report (“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. (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 is set forth under “Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” under Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. As the Company is a non-accelerated filer, management’s report is not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that permit the Company to provide only the management’s report in this annual report. (c) Changes in internal controls. There were no changes made in our internal controls during the fourth quarter of 2021 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 included as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Annual Report. ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION Not Applicable. ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS. Not Applicable. ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Directors and Executive Officers PART III Information concerning directors and executive officers of the Company is incorporated herein by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement related to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”), specifically the sections captioned “Election of Directors; Information with Respect to Directors and Executive Officers.” Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance Information concerning Section 16(a) compliance is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the sections captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management - Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports.” 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 was attached as Exhibit 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2006. 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 Information concerning executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Executive Compensation.” 61 Table of Contents ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Information concerning securities ownership of certain owners and management is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE Information concerning relationships and transactions is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Transactions with Certain Related Persons.” ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES Information concerning principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.” ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES (a)(1) Financial Statements PART IV 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) Reports of Independent Registered Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 49) (B) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at December 31, 2021 and 2020 (C) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (D) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (E) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (F) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (G) 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 3.2 Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation 3.3 Articles of Amendment to Charter of BankFinancial Corporation 3.4 Restated Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation 4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate of BankFinancial Corporation 4.2 Description of Registrant's Securities 10.1 BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with F. Morgan Gasior 10.2 BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with Paul A. Cloutier Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004 Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004 Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004 Exhibit 3.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2014 Exhibit 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004 Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2020. Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2008 Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2008 10.3 Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement Exhibit 10.8 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 BankFinancial Corporation Employment Agreement with F. Morgan Gasior BankFinancial Corporation Employment Agreement with Paul A. Cloutier BankFinancial Corporation Employment Agreement with Elizabeth A. Doolan BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with Elizabeth A. Doolan 10.8 BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with Gregg T. Adams 10.9 BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with John G. Manos with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006 Exhibit 10.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2008 Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2008 Exhibit 10.28 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2009. Exhibit 10.29 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2009. Exhibit 10.30 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of the Company originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2010. Exhibit 10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of the Company originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2010. 62 Table of Contents Exhibit Location 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 14 21 Form of Extension of Term of Employment Period, for Named Executive Officers of BankFinancial FSB (pursuant to terms of existing agreements) Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial, National Association and F. Morgan Gasior Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial, National Association and Paul A. Cloutier Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial, National Association and John G. Manos Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial Corporation and F. Morgan Gasior Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial Corporation and Paul A. Cloutier Form of Extension of Term of Employment Period, for Named Executive Officers of BankFinancial, National Association (pursuant to terms of existing agreements) Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers Subsidiaries of Registrant Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2016 Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2017 Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2017 Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2017 Exhibit 10.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2017 Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2017 Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2018 Exhibit 14 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2006 Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004 23.1 Consent of RSM US LLP following Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002* The the BankFinancial financial statements Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, formatted in Inline Extensive Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) consolidated statements of financial condition, (ii) consolidated statements of operations, (iii) income, (iv)consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity, (v)consolidated statements of cash flows and (vi) the notes to consolidated financial statements. Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) comprehensive consolidated statements from of Filed herewith Filed herewith Filed herewith Furnished herewith Filed herewith Filed herewith 31.1 31.2 32 101 104 * ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY Not Applicable. 63 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. Table of Contents 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. Date: February 28, 2022 BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION 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 /s/ F. Morgan Gasior F. Morgan Gasior /s/ Paul A. Cloutier Paul A. Cloutier /s/ Elizabeth A. Doolan Elizabeth A. Doolan /s/ Cassandra J. Francis Cassandra J. Francis /s/ John M. Hausmann John M. Hausmann /s/ Terry R. Wells Terry R. Wells /s/ Glen R. Wherfel Glen R. Wherfel /s/ Debra R. Zukonik Debra R. Zukonik Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) Director Director Director Director Director 64 Date February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement (No. 333-127737) on Form S-8 of BankFinancial Corporation of our report dated February 28, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements of BankFinancial Corporation appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of BankFinancial Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2021. Exhibit 23.1 /s/ RSM US LLP Chicago, Illinois February 28, 2022 Exhibit 31.1 I, F. Morgan Gasior, certify that: Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 1. 2. 3. 4. a) b) c) d) 5. a) b) I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation; 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; 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; 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: 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; 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; 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; 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 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): 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 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: February 28, 2022 /s/ F. Morgan Gasior F. Morgan Gasior Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President Exhibit 31.2 I, Paul A. Cloutier, certify that: Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 1. 2. 3. 4. a) b) c) d) 5. a) b) I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation; 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; 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; 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: 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; 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; 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; 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 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): 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 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: February 28, 2022 /s/ Paul A. Cloutier Paul A. Cloutier Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 Exhibit 32 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, 2021 (the “Report”) and that to the best of his knowledge: 1. 2. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: February 28, 2022 Date: February 28, 2022 /s/ F. Morgan Gasior F. Morgan Gasior Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President /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. 

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