Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

cade · NYSE Financial Services
Claim this profile
Ticker cade
Exchange NYSE
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 5001-10,000
← All annual reports
FY2021 Annual Report · Cadence Bank
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
Washington, D.C. 20429
________________________________________

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________    to    ________________

FDIC Certificate No. 11813
CADENCE BANK
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Mississippi

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or 
organization)

One Mississippi Plaza, 201 South Spring Street
Tupelo, Mississippi

(Address of principal executive offices)

64-0117230

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

38804
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (662) 680-2000

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

Title of Each Class
Common stock, $2.50 par value per share
5.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value 
$0.01 per share

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Trading 
Symbol(s)
CADE
CADE Pr A

Name of Each Exchange on Which 
Registered
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý 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 ☒
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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) 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  the  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. Yes ☒ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No ☒
The  aggregate  market  value  of  the  registrant’s  common  stock  held  by  non-affiliates  of  the  registrant  on  June  30,  2021  was  approximately  $3.0 

billion, based on the last reported sale price per share of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2021.

As of February 24, 2022, the registrant had outstanding 185,118,079 shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share, and 6,900,000 shares of its 

5.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

To the extent stated herein, portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A to be used in connection with the registrant’s 2022 Annual 

Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled to be held April 27, 2022, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this annual report on Form 10-K.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

1

CADENCE BANK
FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Business
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Properties
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures

Market for the 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 Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial 
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Other Information

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

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Form 10-K Summary

4
17
40
40
40
40

41
43

44
76
79

168
168
168

168
169

169
170
170

170
172

PART I

Item
Item
Item
Item
Item
Item

PART II

Item

Item
Item

Item
Item
Item

Item
Item

PART III

Item
Item
Item

Item
Item

PART IV

Item
Item

1.
1A.
1B.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.
7.

7A.
8.
9.

9A.
9B.

10.
11.
12.

13.
14.

15.
16.

2

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements made in this annual report on Form 10-K (this “Report”) are not statements of historical fact and 
constitute  “forward-looking  statements”  within  the  meaning  of  Section  21E  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as 
amended  (the  “Exchange  Act”),  and  are  subject  to  the  safe  harbor  created  thereby  under  the  Private  Securities  Litigation 
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” 
“aspire,”  “assume,”  “believe,”  “budget,”  “contemplate,”  “continue,”  “could,”  “estimate,”  “expect,”  “forecast,”  “foresee,” 
“goal,”  “hope,”  “indicate,”  “intend,”  “may,”  “might,”  “outlook,”  “plan,”  “project,”  “projection,”  “predict,”  “prospect,” 
“potential,”  “roadmap,”  “seek,”  “should,”  “target,”  “will,”  and  “would,”  or  the  negative  versions  of  those  words  or  other 
comparable  words  of  a  future  or  forward-looking  nature.  These  forward-looking  statements  may  include,  without  limitation, 
discussions  regarding  general  economic,  interest  rate,  real  estate  market,  competitive,  employment,  and  credit  market 
conditions, including the economic impact of COVID-19 and related variants on our business; our: assets; business; cash flows; 
financial condition; liquidity; prospects; results of operations; deposit growth interest and fee-based revenue; capital resources; 
capital metrics; efficiency ratio; valuation of mortgage servicing rights; mortgage production volume; net income; net interest 
revenue;  non-interest  revenue;  net  interest  margin;  interest  expense;  non-interest  expense;  earnings  per  share;  interest  rate 
sensitivity;  interest  rate  risk;  balance  sheet  and  liquidity  management;  off-balance  sheet  arrangements;  fair  value 
determinations; asset quality; credit quality; credit losses; provision and allowance for credit losses, impairments, charge-offs, 
recoveries and changes in volume; investment securities portfolio yields and values; ability to manage the impact of pandemics 
and  natural  disasters;  adoption  and  use  of  critical  accounting  policies;  adoption  and  implementation  of  new  accounting 
standards  and  their  effect  on  our  financial  results  and  our  financial  reporting;  utilization  of  non-GAAP  financial  metrics; 
declaration  and  payment  of  dividends;  ability  to  pay  dividends  or  coupons  on  our  5.5%  Series  A  Non-Cumulative  Perpetual 
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, or the 4.125% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due November 20, 2029; 
mortgage  and  insurance  business  and  commission  revenue  growth;  implementation  and  execution  of  cost  savings  initiatives; 
ability to successfully litigate; resolve or otherwise dispense with threatened, ongoing and future litigation and administrative 
and  investigatory  matters;  ability  to  successfully  complete  pending  or  future  acquisitions;  dispositions  and  other  strategic 
growth  opportunities  and  initiatives;  ability  to  successfully  obtain  regulatory  approval  for  acquisitions  and  other  growth 
initiatives; ability to successfully integrate and manage acquisitions; opportunities and efforts to grow market share; reputation; 
ability to compete with other financial institutions; ability to recruit and retain key employees and personnel; access to capital 
markets;  investment  in  other  financial  institutions;  and  ability  to  operate  our  regulatory  compliance  programs  in  accordance 
with applicable law.

Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates 
made by, and information available to, management at the time such statements were made. Forward-looking statements are not 
historical  facts,  are  not  guarantees  of  future  results  or  performance  and  are  subject  to  certain  known  and  unknown  risks, 
uncertainties  and  other  factors  that  are  beyond  our  control  and  that  may  cause  actual  results  to  differ  materially  from  those 
expressed  in,  or  implied  by,  such  forward-looking  statements.  These  risks,  uncertainties  and  other  factors  include,  without 
limitation, potential delays or other problems in implementing and executing our growth, expansion and acquisition strategies, 
including  delays  in  obtaining  regulatory  or  other  necessary  approvals  or  the  failure  to  realize  any  anticipated  benefits  or 
synergies  from  any  acquisitions  or  growth  strategies;  the  risks  of  changes  in  interest  rates  and  their  effects  on  the  level  and 
composition of deposits, loan demand and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest sensitive assets and liabilities; the 
impact of inflation, the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible credit losses, fair value for 
loans and other real estate owned; changes in real estate values; the availability of and access to capital; possible downgrades in 
our credit ratings or outlook which could increase the costs or availability of funding from capital markets; the ability to attract 
new or retain existing deposits or to retain or grow loans; the ability to grow additional interest and fee income or to control 
noninterest expense; the potential impact of the phase-out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or other changes 
involving  LIBOR;  competitive  factors  and  pricing  pressures,  including  their  effect  on  our  net  interest  margin;  general 
economic,  unemployment,  credit  market  and  real  estate  market  conditions,  and  the  effect  of  such  conditions  on  the 
creditworthiness of borrowers, collateral values, the value of investment securities and asset recovery values; changes in legal, 
financial  and/or  regulatory  requirements;  recently  enacted  and  potential  legislation  and  regulatory  actions  and  the  costs  and 
expenses  to  comply  with  new  and/or  existing  legislation  and  regulatory  actions,  including  those  actions  in  response  to  the 
COVID-19 pandemic such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), the Economic Aid 
to  Hard-Hit  Small  Businesses,  Nonprofits,  and  Venues  Act  (the  “Economic  Aid  Act”)  and  any  related  rules  and  regulations; 
changes  in  U.S.  Government  monetary  and  fiscal  policy,  including  any  changes  that  may  result  from  U.S.  elections;  Federal 
Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (“FDIC”)  special  assessments  or  changes  to  regular  assessments;  possible  adverse  rulings, 
judgments, settlements and other outcomes of pending or future litigation or government actions (including litigation or actions 
arising from our participation in and administration of programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic (including, among other 
things,  the  PPP  loan  programs  authorized  by  the  CARES  Act  and  the  Economic  Aid  Act);  the  ability  to  keep  pace  with 
technological  changes,  including  changes  regarding  maintaining  cybersecurity;  the  impact  of  failure  in,  or  breach  of,  our 
operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties with whom we do business, including as a result of 
cyber-attacks  or  an  increase  in  the  incidence  or  severity  of  fraud,  illegal  payments,  security  breaches  or  other  illegal  acts 
impacting  us  or  our  customers;  natural  disasters  or  acts  of  war  or  terrorism;  the  adverse  effects  of  the  ongoing  global 

3

COVID-19 pandemic, including the magnitude and duration of the pandemic, and the impact of actions taken to contain or treat 
COVID-19  on  us,  our  employees,  our  customers,  the  global  economy  and  the  financial  markets;  international  or  political 
instability; impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets; adoption of new accounting standards or changes in existing 
standards; and other factors described in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Report or as detailed from time to time in the 
Company’s press and news releases, reports and other filings we file with the FDIC.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as 
of the date of this Report, if one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the Company’s 
underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or 
implied  by  the  forward-looking  statements.  Accordingly,  undue  reliance  should  not  be  placed  on  any  forward-looking 
statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report, and the Company does not undertake any 
obligation  to  publicly  update  or  review  any  forward-looking  statement,  whether  as  a  result  of  new  information,  future 
developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, 
and  it  is  not  possible  for  the  Company  to  predict  their  occurrence  or  how  they  will  affect  the  Company.  All  written  or  oral 
forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this section.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Cadence Bank (“We,” “Our,” or the “Company”), originally chartered in 1876, is a state chartered commercial bank 
with the bank headquarters in Tupelo, Mississippi and the corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas. The Company conducts 
commercial banking and financial services directly and through its banking-related subsidiaries. The Company operates over 
400  commercial  banking,  mortgage  and  insurance  locations  in  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Missouri,  Tennessee  and  Texas,  including  a  single  insurance  location  in  Illinois  and  a  single  loan  production  office  in 
Oklahoma.

Our common stock and our preferred stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “CADE” 
and “CADE Pr A”, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we changed our corporate name from BancorpSouth Bank 
to Cadence Bank in connection with our acquisition of Cadence Bancorporation on October 29, 2021. At December 31, 2021, 
the  Company  had  total  assets  of  $47.7  billion;  total  loans,  net  of  unearned  income  of  $26.9  billion;  total  deposits  of 
$39.8 billion; and shareholders’ equity of $5.2 billion.

On  October  29,  2021,  we  acquired  all  the  outstanding  stock  of  Cadence  Bancorporation  (“Legacy  Cadence”), 
headquartered in Houston, Texas, the bank holding company for Cadence Bank, N.A. Legacy Cadence shareholders received 
0.70 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for each share of Legacy Cadence Class A common stock, resulting 
in the issuance of 85.7 million shares of our common stock and a purchase price of $2.5 billion. The primary reasons for the 
transaction were to create a more diverse business mix, enhance our funding base, leverage operating costs through economies 
of scale, and expand our market presence in Georgia and other attractive southern markets.

The  Company’s  investor  website  address  is  https://ir.cadencebank.com.  The  Company  makes  available  its  annual 
reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports free 
of charge on its website on the Investor Relations webpage under the caption “Public Filings” as soon as reasonably practicable 
after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the FDIC. The FDIC maintains a website that contains reports 
and  other  information  regarding  issuers  that  file  or  furnish  information  electronically.  The  Company’s  websites  and  the 
information contained therein or linked thereto are not, and are not intended to be, incorporated into this Report.

PRODUCTS and SERVICES

LENDING ACTIVITIES

The Company’s lending activities include both commercial and consumer loans. Loan originations are derived from a 
number  of  sources  including  direct  solicitation  by  the  Company’s  loan  officers,  existing  depositors  and  borrowers,  builders, 
attorneys, walk-in customers and, in some instances, other lenders, real estate broker referrals and mortgage loan companies. 
The Company has established systematic procedures for approving and monitoring loans that vary depending on the size and 
nature of the loan, and applies these procedures in a disciplined manner.

Our loan portfolio includes commercial and industrial loans, residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans 
and  other  consumer  loans.  The  principal  risk  associated  with  each  category  of  loans  we  make  is  the  creditworthiness  of  the 
borrower.  Borrower  creditworthiness  is  affected  by  general  economic  conditions,  the  attributes  of  the  borrower  and  the 
borrower’s  market  or  industry.  Attributes  of  the  relevant  business  market  or  industry  include  the  competitive  environment, 
customer and supplier availability, the threat of substitutes and barriers to entry and exit.

4

Commercial Lending

The  Company  offers  a  variety  of  commercial  loan  services  including  term  loans,  lines  of  credit,  equipment  and 
receivable financing, energy, restaurant, healthcare, technology, Small Business Administration (SBA) and agricultural loans. A 
broad  range  of  short-to-medium  term  commercial  loans,  both  secured  and  unsecured,  are  made  available  to  businesses  for 
working capital (including inventory and receivables), business expansion (including acquisition and development of real estate 
and improvements), and the purchase of equipment and machinery. The Company also makes construction loans to real estate 
developers for the acquisition, development and construction of residential and commercial properties.

Commercial loans are granted based on the borrower’s ability to generate cash flow to support its debt obligations and 
other  cash  related  expenses.  A  borrower’s  ability  to  repay  commercial  loans  is  substantially  dependent  on  the  success  of  the 
business itself and on the quality of its management. As a general practice, the Company takes as collateral a security interest in 
any available real estate, equipment, inventory, receivables or other personal property, although such loans may also be made 
infrequently on an unsecured basis. In many instances, the Company requires personal guarantees of its commercial loans to 
provide additional credit support.

The  Company’s  exposure  to  agricultural  lending  is  minimal.  Agricultural  loans  are  generally  supported  by  the 

financial strength of the borrower and secured by the crops/livestock, crop insurance, equipment or real estate.

Residential Consumer Lending

A  portion  of  the  Company’s  lending  activity  consists  of  the  origination  of  fixed  and  adjustable  rate  residential 
mortgage loans secured by owner-occupied property located in the Company’s primary market areas. Home mortgage banking 
is  unique  in  that  a  broad  geographic  territory  may  be  served  by  originators  working  from  strategically  placed  offices  either 
within the Company’s traditional banking facilities or from other locations. In addition, the Company offers construction loans, 
second mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit.

The Company finances the construction of individual, owner-occupied houses on the basis of written underwriting and 
construction loan management guidelines. First mortgage construction loans are made to qualified individual borrowers and are 
generally supported by a take-out commitment from a permanent lender. The Company makes residential construction loans to 
individuals who intend to erect owner-occupied housing on a purchased parcel of real estate. The construction phase of these 
loans has certain risks, including the viability of the contractor, the contractor’s ability to complete the project and changes in 
interest rates.

Mortgage Lending serves to finance residential properties through long-term mortgages, both sold into the secondary 
market  and  retained  in  the  bank  portfolio.  Ongoing  efforts  to  grow  the  bank  portfolio  through  the  company’s  Right@Home 
product for low- to moderate-income borrowers have contributed to the department’s production. Revenue is primarily derived 
from loan originations and servicing fees paid to the company by government-sponsored enterprises and other investors who 
purchase the mortgages after origination. 

The  sale  of  mortgage  loans  to  the  secondary  market  allows  the  Company  to  manage  the  interest  rate  risk  related  to 
such lending operations. Generally, after the sale of a loan with servicing retained, the Company’s only involvement is to act as 
a  servicing  agent.  In  certain  cases,  the  Company  may  be  required  to  repurchase  mortgage  loans  upon  which  customers  have 
defaulted that were previously sold in the secondary market if these loans did not meet the underwriting standards of the entity 
that purchased the loans.

Non-Residential Consumer Lending

Non-residential  consumer  loans  made  by  the  Company  include  loans  for  automobiles,  recreation  vehicles,  boats, 
personal  (secured  and  unsecured)  and  deposit  account  secured  loans.  Non-residential  consumer  loans  are  attractive  to  the 
Company because they typically have a shorter term and carry higher interest rates than those charged on other types of loans.

The  Company  also  issues  credit  cards  solicited  on  the  basis  of  applications  received  through  referrals  from  the 
Company’s  branches  and  other  marketing  efforts.  The  Company  generally  has  a  small  portfolio  of  credit  card  receivables 
outstanding.  Credit  card  lines  are  underwritten  using  conservative  credit  criteria,  including  past  credit  history  and  debt-to-
income ratios, similar to the credit policies applicable to other personal consumer loans.

The  Company  grants  consumer  loans  based  on  employment  and  financial  information  solicited  from  prospective 
borrowers  as  well  as  credit  records  collected  from  various  reporting  agencies.  Financial  stability  and  credit  history  of  the 
borrower are the primary factors the Company considers in granting such loans. The availability of collateral is also a factor 
considered  in  making  such  loans.  The  geographic  area  of  the  borrower  is  another  consideration,  with  preference  given  to 
borrowers in the Company’s primary market areas.

Shared National Credits (“SNC”)

The federal banking agencies define a SNC as any loan(s) extended to a borrower by a supervised institution or any of 
its subsidiaries and affiliates which aggregates $100 million or more and is shared by three or more institutions under a formal 
lending agreement or a portion of which is sold to two or more institutions, with the purchasing institutions assuming its pro 
rata  share  of  the  credit  risk.  As  a  commercial  focused  relationship  bank,  we  may  participate  in  syndicated  loan  offerings 
because  of  the  size  of  the  customers  and  nature  of  industries  we  serve.  As  of  December  31,  2021,  we  have  $2.8  billion  of 
outstanding SNC, representing 10.5% of total loans.

5

DEPOSITS and OTHER FUNDING SOURCES

We offer our customers a variety of deposit products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market 
accounts, time deposits, and other deposit accounts through multiple channels, including our extensive network of full-service 
branches, drive-through branches, ATMs, ITMs, and our online, mobile and telephone banking platforms. As of December 31, 
2021,  our  total  deposits  were  $39.8  billion  and  were  comprised  of  34.2%  noninterest-bearing  deposits  and  65.8%  interest 
bearing deposits. We intend to continue our efforts to provide funding for our business from customer relationship deposits.

The  Company  has  been  able  to  compete  effectively  for  deposits  in  its  primary  market  areas,  while  continuing  to 
manage the exposure to rising interest rates. The distribution and market share of deposits by type of deposit and by type of 
depositor  are  important  considerations  in  the  Company’s  assessment  of  the  stability  of  its  funding  sources  and  its  access  to 
additional funds. Furthermore, management shifts the mix and maturity of the deposits depending on economic conditions and 
loan and investment policies in an attempt, within set policies, to minimize cost and maximize net interest margin.

For more information regarding the Company’s deposits, see “Management’s Discussion And Analysis of Financial 

Condition And Results Of Operations – Deposits.”

OTHER BANKING SERVICES

The Company’s insurance service subsidiary serves as an agent in the sale of commercial lines of insurance and a full 
line  of  property  and  casualty,  life,  health  and  employee  benefits  products  and  services  and  operates  in  Alabama,  Arkansas, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Illinois.

Through Linscomb & Williams Inc., a subsidiary of Cadence Bank, and Cadence Trust, we offer wealth management 
and  other  fiduciary  and  private  banking  services  targeted  to  affluent  clients,  including  individuals,  business  owners,  families 
and  professional  service  companies.  In  addition  to  generating  fiduciary  and  investment  management  fee  income,  we  believe 
these services enable us to build new relationships and expand existing relationships to grow our deposits and loans. Through 
our wealth management line of business and our relationships with Infinex Investments, Inc. and LPL Financial LLC, we offer 
financial planning, retirement services and trust and investment management by a team of seasoned advisors, providing access 
for  affluent  clients  as  well  as  mass  market  clients,  to  a  wide  range  of  certificates  of  deposits,  mutual  funds,  estate  planning 
products, insurance and annuities, individual retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, brokerage accounts, money market accounts, 
investment  advisory  services,  and  other  financial  products  and  services.  Although  we  do  not  limit  our  customers  to  affluent 
clients and business owners, the focus of our wealth management line of business is on the “mass affluent” ($500,000 to $2 
million in investible assets) and “highly affluent” ($2 million to $5 million in investible assets) markets.

Altera  Payroll  and  Insurance,  Inc.  (“Altera”),  a  subsidiary  of  Cadence  Bank,  provides  payroll  services,  human 
resources services, payroll cards and employee health insurance. Altera also offers employer liability insurance and workers’ 
compensation insurance through licensed insurance agents.

Cadence  Investment  Services,  Inc.,  a  subsidiary  of  Cadence  Bank  and  licensed  insurance  agency,  provides  financial 

planning, investment and insurance products and services. 

In addition to traditional banking activities and the other products and services specified above, we provide a broad 
array of financial services to our customers, including: debit and credit card products, treasury management services, merchant 
services, automated clearing house services, lock-box services, remote deposit capture services, foreign exchange services, and 
other treasury services.

COMPETITION

Vigorous competition exists in all major areas where the Company is engaged in business. The Company competes for 
available loans and depository accounts with banks, thrifts, insurance companies, credit unions, mortgage bankers and finance 
companies,  money  market  mutual  funds,  other  financial  services  companies  and  fintech  companies,  some  of  which  are  not 
subject to the same degree of regulation and restrictions imposed upon us. None of these competitors are dominant in the entire 
area served by the Company.

The principal areas of competition in the banking industry center on a financial institution’s ability and willingness to 
provide credit on a timely and competitively priced basis, to offer a sufficient range of deposit and investment opportunities at 
competitive prices and maturities, and to offer personal and business financial services of sufficient quality and at competitive 
prices. Management believes that the Company can compete effectively in all of these areas.

CREDIT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

In the normal course of business, the Company assumes risks in extending credit. The Company manages these risks 
through  underwriting  in  accordance  with  its  lending  policies,  loan  review  procedures  and  the  diversification  of  its  loan  and 
lease  portfolio.  Although  it  is  not  possible  to  predict  credit  losses  with  certainty,  management  regularly  reviews  the 
characteristics of the loan and lease portfolio to determine its overall risk profile and quality.

The provision for credit losses is the periodic cost (or credit) of providing an allowance or reserve for expected losses 
on  loans  and  leases.  The  Board  of  Directors  has  appointed  a  Credit  Committee,  composed  of  senior  management  and  credit 

6

administration staff which meets on a quarterly basis or more frequently if required to review the recommendations of several 
internal working groups developed for specific purposes including the allowance for credit losses, specific provision amounts, 
and  charge-offs.  The  Allowance  for  Credit  Losses  (ACL)  Group  bases  its  estimates  of  credit  losses  on  three  primary 
components: (1) estimates of expected losses that exist in various segments of performing loans and leases over the remaining 
life of the loan portfolio using a reasonable and supportable economic forecast; (2) specifically identified losses in individually 
analyzed  credits  which  are  collateral  dependent,  which  generally  include  loans  internally  graded  as  impaired  and  PCD  Loss 
loans; and (3) qualitative factors related to economic conditions, portfolio concentrations, regulatory policy updates and other 
relevant factors that address estimates of expected losses not fully addressed based upon management’s judgment of portfolio 
conditions.

The Company utilizes credit risk models to estimate the probability of default and loss given default of loans over their 
remaining life. Credit factors such as financial condition of the borrower and guarantor, recent credit performance, delinquency, 
liquidity,  cash  flows,  collateral  type  and  value  are  used  by  the  models  to  assess  credit  risk.  In  some  cases,  including  certain 
Commercial Real Estate loans and Credit Cards, a loss rate model is used where lifetime loss rates are analyzed with factors 
including  vintage,  Loan-to-Value,  delinquency,  and  economic  factors.  Estimates  of  expected  losses  are  influenced  by  the 
historical net losses experienced by the Company for loans and leases of comparable creditworthiness and structure. Specific 
loss  assessments  are  performed  for  loans  and  leases  based  upon  the  collateral  protection.  The  Company’s  reasonable  and 
supportable eight quarter economic forecast is utilized to estimate credit losses before reverting back to longer term historical 
loss experience The Company subscribes to various economic services and publications to assist with the development of inputs 
used in the modeling and qualitative framework for the ACL calculation. The economic forecasts consider changes in real gross 
domestic  product,  nominal  disposable  income,  unemployment  rate,  equity  valuations  and  related  volatility,  valuations  for 
residential and commercial real estate, and other indicators that may be correlated with the Company’s expected credit losses.

The  Company  excludes  accrued  interest  from  interest  income  when  it  is  determined  that  it  is  probable  that  all 

contractual principal and interest will not be collected for loans.

Economic disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic continued into 2021 as virus variants emerged and attenuated the 
economic recovery which began in the Fall of 2020. Interruptions in the return to school and workplace were accompanied with 
supply  chain  disruptions,  worker  shortages  and  inflationary  pressure.  Despite  significant  government  intervention  and 
improvement in economic conditions, the economic disruption continued to impact business operations which placed borrowers 
at additional risk due to reduced capacity. The emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants in late 2021 resulted in additional 
concern  that  similar  economic  conditions  may  continue  into  2022  and  the  heightened  risk  of  future  customer  loan  defaults 
remains. The ACL estimate includes both portfolio changes and changes in economic conditions experienced during the period. 
The unemployment rate has the highest weighting within the Company’s credit modeling framework. The Company’s forecast 
for unemployment includes a range between 4.46 % and 5.63% through the fourth quarter of 2023. The Company considers 
several  forecasts  from  external  sources  with  management  using  an  equal  weighting  of  a  base  case  and  severe  scenario.  The 
Company  recognizes  that  despite  vaccines  and  treatments,  a  recurrence  in  COVID-19  infections  may  occur  and  have  short-
term,  long-term  and  regional  impacts  to  the  economic  recovery.  In  addition,  qualitative  factors  such  as  changes  in  economic 
conditions, concentrations of risk, and changes in portfolio risk resulting from regulatory changes are considered in determining 
the adequacy of the level of the allowance for credit losses.

Attention is paid to the quality of the loan and lease portfolio through a formal loan review process. An independent 
loan review department of the Company is responsible for reviewing the credit rating and classification of individual credits and 
assessing  trends  in  the  portfolio,  adherence  to  internal  credit  policies  and  procedures  and  other  factors  that  may  affect  the 
overall adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. The ACL Group is responsible for ensuring that the allowance for credit 
losses  provides  adequate  coverage  of  expected  losses.  The  ACL  Group  meets  at  least  quarterly  to  determine  the  amount  of 
adjustments  to  the  allowance  for  credit  losses,  and  is  comprised  of  senior  management  from  the  Company’s  credit 
administration, risk and finance departments. 

The  Impairment  Group  is  responsible  for  evaluating  individual  loans  that  have  been  specifically  identified  through 
various  channels,  including  examination  of  the  Company’s  watch  list,  past  due  listings,  and  loan  officer  assessments.  An 
analysis is prepared to assess the extent the loan is collateral-dependent and whether a loss exposure exists, for review by the 
Impairment Group. The Impairment Group reviews all loans restructured in a troubled debt restructuring (TDR) if the loan is 
$1.0 million or greater to determine if it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the contractual principal and 
interest on the loan. The fair value of the underlying collateral is considered if the loan is collateral dependent. The Impairment 
Group  meets  at  least  quarterly,  and  is  made  up  of  senior  management  from  the  Company’s  credit  administration,  risk  and 
finance departments.

If financial concessions are granted to a borrower as a result of financial difficulties, the loan is classified as a TDR, 
with the amount of provision determined by estimating the net present value of future cash flows for TDRs that are not deemed 
to be collateral-dependent. TDRs are reserved in accordance with FASB ASC 326. Should the borrower’s financial condition, 
collateral  protection  or  performance  deteriorate  and  warrant  reassessment  of  the  loan  rating  or  specific  provision,  additional 
reserves and/or charge-offs may be required. 

7

Loans  of  $1.0  million  or  more  that  are  identified  as  collateral-dependent,  which  generally  include  loans  internally 
graded as impaired or PCD Loss loans, are reviewed by the Impairment Group which approves the amount of specific reserve, 
if any, and/or charge-off amounts. The evaluation of real estate loans generally focuses on the fair value of underlying collateral 
less estimated costs to sell obtained from appraisals, as the repayment of these loans may be dependent on the liquidation of the 
collateral. In certain circumstances, other information such as comparable sales data is deemed to be a more reliable indicator of 
fair value of the underlying collateral than the most recent appraisal. In these instances, such information is used in determining 
the  specific  provision  recorded  for  the  loan.  For  commercial  and  industrial  loans,  the  evaluation  generally  focuses  on  these 
considerations, as well as the projected liquidation of any pledged collateral. Our larger corporate and specialized industry loans 
are  underwritten  to  the  underlying  enterprise  value  of  the  borrower.  The  value  is  in  the  equity  of  the  business  as  a  going 
concern.  Many  valuation  approaches  are  used  in  these  situations  including  discounted  cash  flow,  multiple  of  cash  flow,  or 
comparable  sales  approaches.  The  Impairment  Group  reviews  the  results  of  each  evaluation  and  approves  the  final  specific 
provision amounts, which are then included in the analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses in accordance with 
FASB ASC 326.

A  new  appraisal  is  generally  ordered  for  loans  $1.0  million  or  greater  that  have  characteristics  of  potential  specific 
provision, such as delinquency or other loan-specific factors identified by management, when a current appraisal (dated within 
the  prior  12  months)  is  not  available  or  when  a  current  appraisal  uses  assumptions  that  are  not  consistent  with  the  expected 
disposition of the loan collateral. In order to measure a specific provision properly at the time that a loan is reviewed, a bank 
officer  may  estimate  the  collateral  fair  value  based  upon  earlier  appraisals  received  from  outside  appraisers,  sales  contracts, 
approved foreclosure bids, comparable sales, officer estimates or current market conditions until a new appraisal is received. 
This  estimate  can  be  used  to  determine  the  extent  of  the  specific  provision  on  the  loan.  After  a  loan  is  determined  to  be 
collateral-dependent,  it  is  management’s  policy  to  obtain  an  updated  appraisal  on  at  least  an  annual  basis.  Management 
performs a review of the pertinent facts and circumstances of each collateral-dependent loan, such as changes in outstanding 
balances,  information  received  from  loan  officers  and  receipt  of  re-appraisals,  at  least  quarterly.  As  of  each  review  date, 
management considers whether additional provision and/or charge-offs should be recorded based on recent activity related to 
the loan-specific collateral as well as other relevant comparable assets. Any adjustment to reflect further exposure, either as a 
result  of  management’s  periodic  review  or  as  a  result  of  an  updated  appraisal,  are  made  through  recording  additional  ACL 
provisions and/or charge-offs.

When a guarantor is relied upon as a source of repayment, it is the Company’s policy to analyze the strength of the 
guaranty.  This  analysis  varies  based  on  circumstances,  but  may  include  a  review  of  the  guarantor’s  personal  and  business 
financial statements and credit history, a review of the guarantor’s tax returns and the preparation of a cash flow analysis of the 
guarantor.

Any loan or portion thereof which is classified as “loss” or which is determined by management to be uncollectible 
because  of  factors  such  as  the  borrower’s  failure  to  pay  interest  or  principal,  the  borrower’s  financial  condition,  economic 
conditions in the borrower’s industry or the inadequacy of underlying collateral, is charged off.

REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

The  following  discussion  sets  forth  certain  material  elements  of  the  regulatory  framework  applicable  to  the  Company.  This 
discussion  is  a  brief  summary  of  the  regulatory  environment  in  which  the  Company  operates  and  is  not  designed  to  be  a 
complete discussion of all statutes and regulations affecting the Company’s operations. Regulation of financial institutions is 
intended  primarily  for  the  protection  of  depositors,  the  deposit  insurance  fund  and  the  safety  and  soundness  of  the  U.S. 
financial  system  and  generally  is  not  intended  for  the  protection  of  shareholders.  Changes  in  applicable  laws,  and  their 
implementation and application by regulatory agencies, cannot necessarily be predicted but could have a material and adverse 
effect on the Company’s assets, business, cash flows, financial condition, liquidity, prospects and results of operations.

GENERAL

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi and is subject to the applicable provisions of 
Mississippi banking laws, the laws of the various states in which it operates and federal law. The Company is subject to the 
supervision and examination of the FDIC and the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (the “MDBCF”). 
Violations of laws and regulations, or other unsafe and unsound practices, may result in regulatory agencies imposing fines or 
penalties, cease and desist orders or other enforcement actions. Under certain circumstances, these agencies may enforce these 
remedies directly against officers, directors, employees and other parties participating in the affairs of a bank. Like all banks, 
we are regulated extensively under federal and state law. Under federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the safety 
and  soundness  of  insured  depository  institutions,  the  FDIC  and  the  MDBCF  have  the  authority  to  compel  or  restrict  certain 
actions on our part if they determine that we have insufficient capital or other resources, or are otherwise operating in a manner 
that may be deemed to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices. Under this authority, our regulators can require us 
or  our  subsidiaries  to  enter  into  informal  or  formal  supervisory  agreements,  including  board  resolutions,  memoranda  of 
understanding,  written  agreements  and  consent  or  cease  and  desist  orders,  pursuant  to  which  we  would  be  required  to  take 
identified corrective actions to address cited concerns and to refrain from taking certain actions.

8

If we become subject to and are unable to comply with the terms of any regulatory actions or directives, supervisory 
agreements,  or  orders,  then  we  could  become  subject  to  additional,  heightened  supervisory  actions  and  orders,  possibly 
including  prompt  corrective  action  restrictions  and/or  other  regulatory  actions,  including  prohibitions  on  the  payment  of 
dividends  on  our  common  stock  and  preferred  stock.  If  our  regulators  were  to  take  such  supervisory  actions,  then  we  could, 
among other things, become subject to significant restrictions on our ability to develop any new business, as well as restrictions 
on our existing business, and we could be required to raise additional capital, dispose of certain assets and liabilities within a 
prescribed  period  of  time,  or  both.  The  terms  of  any  such  action  could  have  a  material  negative  effect  on  our  business, 
reputation, operating flexibility, financial condition, and the value of our common stock and preferred stock.

CHANGE IN CONTROL

Federal  law  restricts  the  amount  of  voting  stock  of  a  bank  that  a  person  may  acquire  without  the  prior  approval  of 
banking regulators. Under the Change in Bank Control Act and the regulations thereunder, a person or group must give advance 
notice to the FDIC before acquiring control of the Company. Upon receipt of such notice, the FDIC may approve or disapprove 
the acquisition. The Change in Bank Control Act creates a rebuttable presumption of control if a person or group acquires the 
power to vote 10% or more of our outstanding common stock. The overall effect of such laws is to make it more difficult to 
acquire a bank by tender offer or similar means than it might be to acquire control of another type of corporation. Consequently, 
shareholders of the Company may be less likely to benefit from the rapid increases in stock prices that may result from tender 
offers or similar efforts to acquire control of other companies. Investors should be aware of these requirements when acquiring 
shares of our stock.

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

We  are  required  to  comply  with  various  corporate  governance  and  financial  reporting  requirements  under  the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, the PCAOB, and the NYSE. In particular, we 
are required to include management and independent registered public accounting firm reports on internal controls as part of 
our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  in  order  to  comply  with  Section  404  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act.  We  have  evaluated  our 
controls, including compliance with the SEC rules on internal controls, and have and expect to continue to spend significant 
amounts  of  time  and  resources  on  compliance  with  these  rules.  Our  failure  to  comply  with  these  internal  control  rules  may 
materially adversely affect our reputation, ability to obtain the necessary certifications to financial statements, and the values of 
our securities.

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (“CFPB”)

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), created the CFPB, which 
is  granted  broad  rulemaking,  supervisory  and  enforcement  powers  under  various  federal  consumer  financial  protection  laws, 
including  the  Equal  Credit  Opportunity  Act,  Truth  in  Lending  Act,  Real  Estate  Settlement  Procedures  Act,  Fair  Credit 
Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Consumer Financial Privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act 
and  certain  other  statutes.  The  CFPB  has  examination  and  primary  enforcement  authority  under  the  consumer  financial 
protection laws with respect to depository institutions with $10.0 billion or more in assets. The CFPB has authority to prevent 
unfair,  deceptive  or  abusive  practices  in  connection  with  the  offering  of  consumer  financial  products.  As  noted  above,  the 
Company and Cadence Bank are subject to examination by the CFPB.

The CFPB has issued several regulations related to the origination of mortgages, foreclosures and overdrafts, as well as 
many other consumer issues. Additionally, the CFPB has proposed or will be proposing additional regulations, or modifying 
existing regulations, that directly relate to our business. Although it is difficult to predict at this time the extent to which the 
CFPB’s  final  rules  impact  the  operations  and  financial  condition  of  the  bank,  such  rules  may  have  a  material  impact  on  the 
bank’s compliance costs, compliance risk and fee income.

DIVIDENDS

Various federal and state laws limit the amount of dividends that the Company may pay to its shareholders without 
regulatory approval. Under Mississippi law, the Company must obtain the non-objection of the Commissioner of the MDBCF 
prior to paying any dividend on the Company’s capital stock. Further, the Company may not pay any dividends if, after paying 
the dividend, it would be undercapitalized under applicable capital requirements. The FDIC also has the authority to prohibit 
the Company from engaging in business practices that the FDIC considers to be unsafe or unsound, which, depending on the 
financial  condition  of  the  Company,  could  include  the  payment  of  dividends.  Under  regulations  controlling  state-chartered 
banks, the payment of any dividends by a bank without prior approval of the FDIC is limited to the current year’s net profits (as 
defined) and retained net profits of the two preceding years.

CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

We are required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to total assets 
and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the FDIC may determine that based on our 
size, complexity or risk profile, we must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks 

9

such as concentration of credit risks and risks arising from non-traditional activities, as well as the institution’s exposure to a 
decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s ability to manage those risks, are 
important factors that are to be taken into account in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. The following is a brief 
description of the relevant provisions of these capital rules and their potential impact on our capital levels.

We are subject to the following risk-based capital ratios: CET1 risk-based capital ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, 
which includes CET1 and additional Tier 1 capital, and total risk-based capital ratio, which includes Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. 
CET1 is primarily comprised of the sum of common stock instruments and related surplus net of treasury stock plus retained 
earnings, less certain adjustments and deductions related to goodwill, intangible assets, mortgage servicing assets and deferred 
tax assets subject to temporary timing differences. Additional Tier 1 capital is primarily comprised of noncumulative perpetual 
preferred stock. Tier 2 capital consists of instruments disqualified from Tier 1 capital, including qualifying subordinated debt 
and  a  limited  amount  of  loan  loss  reserves  up  to  a  maximum  of  1.25%  of  risk-weighted  assets,  subject  to  certain  eligibility 
criteria. The minimum capital to risk-weighted assets ratios are as follows: (1) CET1 of 4.5%, (2) Tier 1 capital of 6.0%, and 
(3)  total  capital  of  8.0%.  The  capital  rules  also  define  the  risk-weights  assigned  to  assets  and  off-balance  sheet  items  to 
determine the risk-weighted asset components of the risk-based capital rules, including, for example, certain “high volatility” 
commercial real estate, past due assets, structured securities and equity holdings.

The  leverage  capital  ratio,  which  serves  as  a  minimum  capital  standard,  is  the  ratio  of  Tier  1  capital  to  quarterly 
average  total  consolidated  assets  net  of  goodwill,  certain  other  intangible  assets  and  certain  required  deduction  items.  The 
required minimum leverage ratio for all banks is 4%.

In addition, the regulatory capital rules require a capital conservation buffer of 2.5%, comprised of CET1, above each 
of  the  minimum  risk-based  capital  ratio  requirements  (CET1,  Tier  1,  and  total  capital),  which  is  designed  to  absorb  losses 
during periods of economic stress. This buffer requirement must be met for the Company to be able to pay dividends, engage in 
share buybacks or make discretionary bonus payments to executive management without restriction.

In  2021,  the  Company’s  regulatory  capital  ratios  were  above  the  applicable  minimums  and  met  the  capital 

conservation buffer.

PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION

The  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  Improvement  Act  of  1991  (“FDICIA”)  requires  federal  bank  regulatory 
authorities  to  take  “prompt  corrective  action”  with  respect  to  depository  institutions  that  do  not  meet  minimum  capital 
requirements.  For  these  purposes,  FDICIA  establishes  five  capital  tiers:  “well  capitalized,”  “adequately  capitalized,” 
“undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” and “critically undercapitalized.”

•

•

•
•

•

An institution is deemed to be:
“well capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or 
greater,  a  Tier  1  leverage  ratio  of  5.0%  or  greater,  and  a  common  equity  Tier  1  risk-based  capital  ratio  of  6.5%  or 
greater, and is not subject to a regulatory order, agreement or directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for 
any capital measure;
“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 Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater, and a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5% 
or greater, and the institution does not meet the definition of a “well capitalized” institution;
“undercapitalized” if it does not meet the definition of an “adequately capitalized” institution;
“significantly undercapitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital 
ratio that is less than 4.0%, a Tier 1 leverage ratio that is less than 3.0%, and a common equity Tier 1 risk based capital 
ratio that is less than 3.0%; and
“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%.
Throughout  2021,  the  Company’s  regulatory  capital  ratios  were  in  excess  of  the  levels  established  for  “well 

capitalized” institutions.

FDICIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution, including payment of a cash 
dividend,  if  the  depository  institution  would  be  “undercapitalized”  after  such  payment.  “Undercapitalized”  institutions  are 
subject to growth limitations and are required by the appropriate, primary federal regulator to submit a capital restoration plan.

If  an  “undercapitalized”  institution  fails  to  submit  an  acceptable  plan,  it  is  treated  as  if  it  is  “significantly 
undercapitalized.”  “Significantly  undercapitalized”  institutions  may  be  subject  to  a  number  of  requirements  and  restrictions, 
including  orders  to  sell  sufficient  voting  stock  to  become  “adequately  capitalized,”  requirements  to  reduce  total  assets,  and 
cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks.

“Critically  undercapitalized”  institutions  may  not,  beginning  60  days  after  becoming  “critically  undercapitalized,” 
make any payment of principal or interest on their subordinated debt. In addition, “critically undercapitalized” institutions are 
subject to appointment of a receiver or conservator within 90 days of becoming so classified.

Under FDICIA, a depository institution that is not “well capitalized” is generally prohibited from accepting brokered 
deposits and offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing rate in its market. As previously stated, the Company 
is “well capitalized,” and the FDICIA brokered deposit rule did not adversely affect its ability to accept brokered deposits. The 
Company had $395.1 million in brokered deposits at December 31, 2021.

10

FDIC INSURANCE

The deposits of the Company are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”), which the FDIC administers, up 
to applicable limits, which currently are set at $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. 
To fund the DIF, FDIC-insured banks are required to pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC. The deposit insurance 
assessment  base  is  based  on  an  insured  institution’s  average  consolidated  total  assets  minus  its  average  tangible  equity.  The 
FDIC uses a “scorecard” system to determine deposit insurance premiums for institutions like the Company that have more than 
$10 billion in assets. Each scorecard has a performance score and a loss-severity score that is combined to produce a total score. 
The  FDIC  is  authorized  to  make  discretionary  adjustments  to  the  total  score  based  upon  significant  risk  factors  that  are  not 
adequately captured in the scorecard, which is translated into a premium rate.

Insurance  of  deposits  may  be  terminated  by  the  FDIC  upon  a  finding  that  an  institution  has  engaged  in  unsafe  and 
unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, 
rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that, in the event of the 
liquidation  or  other  resolution  of  an  insured  depository  institution,  the  claims  of  depositors  of  the  institution,  including  the 
claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors, and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver, 
will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution.

STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS

The  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Act  requires  the  federal  bank  regulatory  agencies  to  prescribe,  by  regulation  or 
guideline,  operational  and  managerial  standards  for  all  insured  depository  institutions  relating  to:  (1)  internal  controls;  (2) 
information systems and audit systems; (3) loan documentation; (4) credit underwriting; (5) interest rate risk exposure; and (6) 
asset  quality.  The  federal  banking  agencies  have  adopted  regulations  and  Interagency  Guidelines  Establishing  Standards  for 
Safety and Soundness to implement these required standards. These guidelines set forth the safety and soundness standards used 
to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. Under the regulations, if a 
regulator determines that a bank fails to meet any standards prescribed by the guidelines, the regulator may require the bank to 
submit an acceptable plan to achieve compliance, consistent with deadlines for the submission and review of such safety and 
soundness compliance plans.

INTERSTATE BANKING AND BRANCHING LEGISLATION

Federal law allows banks to establish and operate a de novo branch in a state other than the bank’s home state if the 
law of the state where the branch is to be located would permit establishment of the branch if the bank were chartered by that 
state,  subject  to  standard  regulatory  review  and  approval  requirements.  Federal  law  also  allows  the  Company  to  acquire  an 
existing branch in a state in which the Company is not headquartered and does not maintain a branch if the FDIC and MDBCF 
approve the branch or acquisition, and if the law of the state in which the branch is located or to be located would permit the 
establishment of the branch if the Company were chartered by that state.

Once a bank has established branches in a state through an interstate merger transaction or through de novo branching, 
the bank may then establish and acquire additional branches within that state to the same extent that a state-chartered bank is 
allowed to establish or acquire branches within the state. Current federal law authorizes interstate acquisitions of banks without 
geographic limitation. Further, a bank headquartered in one state is authorized to merge with a bank headquartered in another 
state, as long as neither of the states have opted out of such interstate merger authority prior to such date, and subject to any 
state requirement that the target bank shall have been in existence and operating for a minimum period of time, not to exceed 
five years, and subject to certain deposit market-share limitations.

AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS AND INSIDER LOANS

The  Company  is  subject  to  Regulation  W,  which  comprehensively  implements  statutory  restrictions  on  transactions 
between  a  bank  and  its  affiliates.  Regulation  W  combines  the  Federal  Reserve’s  interpretations  and  exemptions  relating  to 
Sections  23A  and  23B  of  the  Federal  Reserve  Act.  Regulation  W  and  Section  23A  place  limits  on  the  amount  of  loans  or 
extensions  of  credit  to,  investments  in,  or  certain  other  transactions  with  affiliates,  and  on  the  amount  of  advances  to  third 
parties collateralized by the securities or obligations of affiliates. Regulation W and Section 23B prohibit a bank from, among 
other things, engaging in certain transactions with affiliates unless the transactions are on terms substantially the same, or at 
least as favorable to the bank, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated companies.

The  Company  is  also  subject  to  certain  restrictions  on  extensions  of  credit  to  executive  officers,  directors,  certain 
principal  shareholders  and  their  related  interests.  Such  extensions  of  credit  must  be  made  on  substantially  the  same  terms, 
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties and must not 
involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.

COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT

The Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) provides an incentive for regulated financial institutions to meet the credit 
needs of their local community or communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe 
and  sound  operation  of  such  financial  institutions.  The  regulations  provide  that  the  appropriate  banking  regulator  will  assess 

11

reports under CRA in connection with applications for establishment of domestic branches, acquisitions of banks or mergers 
involving  financial  holding  companies.  An  unsatisfactory  rating  under  CRA  may  serve  as  a  basis  to  deny  an  application  to 
acquire or establish a new bank, to establish a new branch or to expand banking services.

The  Federal  Reserve,  the  Office  of  the  Comptroller  of  the  Currency  (“OCC”)  and  the  FDIC  implement  the  CRA 
through  their  respective  CRA  regulations.  The  agencies  have  considered  reform  proposals  to  modernize  the  CRA  in  recent 
years. The Company expects to monitor developments with respect to any CRA rulemakings and assess the impact, if any, of 
changes to the CRA regulations.

ANTI-TERRORISM AND MONEY LAUNDERING

Pursuant to federal law, the Company is required to: (i) establish an anti-money laundering program; (ii) establish due 
diligence  policies,  procedures  and  controls  with  respect  to  its  private  banking  accounts  and  correspondent  banking  accounts 
involving foreign individuals and certain foreign financial institutions; and (iii) avoid establishing, maintaining, administering 
or managing correspondent accounts in the United States for, or on behalf of, foreign financial institutions that do not have a 
physical presence in any country. The Company is also required to follow certain minimum standards to verify the identity of 
customers,  both  foreign  and  domestic,  when  a  customer  opens  an  account.  In  addition,  federal  law  encourages  cooperation 
among  financial  institutions,  regulatory  authorities  and  law  enforcement  authorities  with  respect  to  individuals,  entities  and 
organizations engaged in, or reasonably suspected of engaging in, terrorist acts or money laundering activities. Federal banking 
regulators are required, when reviewing bank acquisition and merger applications, to take into account the effectiveness of the 
anti-money laundering activities of the applicants.

On January 1, 2021, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (the “AML Act”) was passed. The AML Act includes 
significant  changes  to  anti-money  laundering  rules,  including  the  creation  of  a  national  registry  maintained  by  the  Financial 
Crimes  Enforcement  Network  (“FinCEN”)  that  banks  may  rely  on  to  comply  with  customer  due  diligence  requirements, 
enhancement of cooperation between banks and law enforcement, and improvement of corporate transparency. Passage of the 
AML Act started a rulemaking and policy development process that includes the Corporate Transparency Act and a proposed 
rulemaking that requires companies to report beneficial ownership to FinCEN for the first time in the history of federal law. 
The Company continues to monitor developments related to the enacted and proposed rulemakings.

CONSUMER PRIVACY, DATA SECURITY, AND OTHER CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS

Federal law generally prohibits disclosure of non-public consumer information to non-affiliated third parties unless the 
consumer  has  been  given  the  opportunity  to  object  and  has  not  objected  to  such  disclosure.  Financial  institutions  are  further 
required  to  disclose  their  privacy  policies  to  customers  annually.  Financial  institutions,  however,  will  be  required  to  comply 
with state law if it is more protective of consumer privacy than federal law.

Federal  law  also  directed  federal  regulators  to  prescribe  standards  for  the  security  of  consumer  information.  The 
Company  is  subject  to  such  standards,  as  well  as  standards  for  notifying  customers  in  the  event  of  a  security  breach.  The 
Company utilizes credit bureau data in underwriting activities. Use of such data is regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act 
and Regulation V on a uniform, nationwide basis, including credit reporting, prescreening, and sharing of information between 
affiliates and the use of credit data. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which amended the Fair Credit Reporting 
Act, permits states to enact identity theft laws that are not inconsistent with the conduct required by the provisions of that Act. 
Customers  must  be  notified  when  unauthorized  disclosure  involves  sensitive  customer  information  that  may  be  misused.  On 
November  18,  2021,  the  federal  banking  agencies  issued  a  new  rule  effective  in  2022  that  requires  banks  to  notify  their 
regulators within 36 hours of a “computer-security incident” that rises to the level of a “notification incident.”

The  federal  banking  regulators  regularly  issue  guidance  regarding  cybersecurity  intended  to  enhance  cyber  risk 
management standards among financial institutions. As a result, financial institutions are expected to establish multiple lines of 
defense and to ensure their risk management processes address the risk posed by potential threats to the institution. A financial 
institution’s  management  is  expected  to  maintain  sufficient  processes  to  effectively  respond  and  recover  the  institution’s 
operations after a cyber-attack. A financial institution is also expected to develop appropriate processes to enable recovery of 
data  and  business  operations  if  a  critical  service  provider  of  the  institution  falls  victim  to  this  type  of  cyber-attack.  Our 
information security protocols are designed in part to adhere the requirements of this guidance.

State  regulators  have  also  been  increasingly  active  in  implementing  privacy  and  cybersecurity  standards  and 
regulations. Recently, several states have adopted regulations requiring certain financial institutions to implement cybersecurity 
programs and providing detailed requirements with respect to these programs, including data encryption requirements. Many 
states have also recently implemented or modified their data breach notification and data privacy requirements. We expect this 
trend of state-level activity in those areas to continue and are continually monitoring developments in the states in which our 
customers are located.

The Company is also subject, in connection with its deposit, lending and leasing activities, to numerous federal and 
state laws aimed at protecting consumers, including the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures 
Act,  the  Equal  Credit  Opportunity  Act,  the  Truth  in  Lending  Act,  the  Truth  in  Savings  Act,  the  Fair  Housing  Act,  the  Fair 
Credit Reporting Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, the National 
Flood  Insurance  Act,  the  Flood  Protection  Act,  laws  and  regulations  governing  unfair,  deceptive,  and/or  abusive  acts  and 
practices, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, and the Credit Card Accountability 
Act, among others, as well as various state laws.

12

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are regulated by the insurance regulatory authorities and applicable laws and 

regulations of the states in which they operate.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LENDING CONCENTRATION REGULATIONS

The federal banking agencies have promulgated guidance governing concentrations in commercial real estate lending 
for  financial  institutions.  The  guidance  provides  that  a  bank  has  a  concentration  in  commercial  real  estate  lending  if  (i)  total 
reported loans for construction, land development and other land represent 100% or more of total capital or (ii) total reported 
loans secured by multifamily and non-farm residential properties and loans for construction, land development and other land 
represent 300% or more of total capital and the bank’s commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased 50% or more during 
the prior 36 months. If a concentration is present, management must employ heightened risk management practices including 
board  and  management  oversight  and  strategic  planning,  development  of  underwriting  standards,  risk  assessment  and 
monitoring through market analysis and stress testing and increasing capital requirements.

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION 

The  Dodd-Frank  Act  required  the  federal  banking  agencies  and  the  SEC  to  establish  joint  rules  or  guidelines  for 
financial institutions with more than $1 billion in assets, such as us, which prohibit incentive compensation arrangements that 
the agencies determine to encourage inappropriate risks by the institution. The federal banking agencies issued proposed rules 
in 2011 and previously issued guidance on sound incentive compensation policies. In 2016, the federal banking agencies and 
the  SEC  proposed  rules  that  would,  depending  upon  the  assets  of  the  institution,  directly  regulate  incentive  compensation 
arrangements and would require enhanced oversight and recordkeeping. As of December 31, 2021, these rules have not been 
implemented.

The scope and content of banking regulators’ policies on executive compensation are continuing to develop and are 
likely to continue evolving in the near future. It cannot be determined at this time whether compliance with such policies will 
adversely affect the Company’s ability to hire, retain and motivate its key employees.

THE VOLCKER RULE

Section 13 of the BHC Act, commonly referred to as the “Volcker Rule,” generally prohibits us and our subsidiaries 
from (i) engaging in certain proprietary trading, and (ii) acquiring or retaining an ownership interest in or sponsoring a “covered 
fund,”  all  subject  to  certain  exceptions.  The  Volcker  Rule  also  specifies  certain  limited  activities  in  which  we  and  our 
subsidiaries may continue to engage and requires us to maintain a compliance program. In 2020, amendments to the proprietary 
trading and covered funds regulations issued by the federal banking agencies, the SEC, and the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission took effect, simplifying compliance and providing additional exclusions and exemptions.

DEBIT INTERCHANGE FEES

Interchange fees, or "swipe" fees, are fees that merchants pay to credit card companies and card-issuing banks such as 
the Company for processing electronic payment transactions on their behalf. The maximum permissible interchange fee that a 
non-exempt issuer such as the Company may receive for an electronic debit transaction is the sum of 21 cents per transaction 
and 5 basis points multiplied by the value of the transaction, subject to an upward adjustment of 1 cent if an issuer certifies that 
it  has  implemented  policies  and  procedures  reasonably  designed  to  achieve  the  fraud-prevention  standards  set  forth  by  the 
Federal Reserve. In addition, card issuers and networks are prohibited from entering into arrangements requiring that debit card 
transactions be processed on a single network or only two affiliated networks and allows merchants to determine transaction 
routing.

EFFECT OF GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES

The Company is affected by the policies of regulatory authorities, including the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the 
MDBCF.  An  important  function  of  the  Federal  Reserve  is  to  regulate  the  national  money  supply.  Among  the  instruments  of 
monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve are: (i) purchases and sales of United States government and other securities in the 
marketplace; (ii) changes in the discount rate, which is the rate any depository institution must pay to borrow from the Federal 
11 Reserve; (iii) changes in the reserve requirements of depository institutions; and (iv) indirectly, changes in the federal funds 
rate, which is the rate at which depository institutions lend money to each other overnight. These instruments are intended to 
influence economic and monetary growth, interest rate levels, and inflation.

The  monetary  policies  of  the  Federal  Reserve  and  other  governmental  policies  have  had  a  significant  effect  on  the 
operating  results  of  commercial  banks  in  the  past  and  are  expected  to  continue  to  do  so  in  the  future.  Because  of  changing 
conditions in the national and international economy and in the money markets, as well as the result of actions by monetary and 
fiscal authorities, it is not possible to predict with certainty future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, loan demand, or the 
business and results of operations of the Company, or whether changing economic conditions will have a positive or negative 
effect on operations and earnings.

13

THE CARES ACT AND INITIATIVES RELATED TO COVID-19

 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 to provide national 
emergency economic relief measures. Many of the CARES Act’s programs are dependent upon the direct involvement of U.S. 
financial  institutions,  such  as  the  Company,  and  have  been  implemented  through  rules  and  guidance  adopted  by  federal 
departments  and  agencies,  including  the  U.S.  Department  of  Treasury,  the  Federal  Reserve  and  other  federal  banking 
agencies.Furthermore, as the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, federal regulatory authorities have issued additional guidance 
with  respect  to  the  implementation,  lifecycle,  and  eligibility  requirements  for  the  various  CARES  Act  programs  as  well  as 
industry-specific  recovery  procedures  for  COVID-19.  In  addition,  it  is  possible  that  Congress  will  enact  additional 
supplementary COVID-19 response legislation, including amendments to the CARES Act or new bills comparable in scope to 
the CARES Act.

OTHER PROPOSALS

Bills occasionally are introduced in the United States Congress and the Mississippi State Legislature and other state 
legislatures, and regulations are occasionally proposed by federal and state regulatory agencies, any of which could affect the 
businesses, financial results and financial condition of the Company. Generally, it cannot be predicted whether or in what form 
any particular proposals will be adopted or the extent to which the Company may be affected.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS AND TRANSACTION ACTIVITY

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding recent acquisitions.

HUMAN CAPITAL

We  recognize  that  our  most  valuable  asset  is  our  people.  One  of  our  top  strategic  priorities  is  the  retention  and 
development of our talent. This includes providing career development opportunities for all associates; increasing our diversity, 
equity,  and  inclusion;  training  our  next  generation  of  leaders;  and  succession  planning.  Our  goal  each  day  is  to  create  an 
environment that makes Cadence Bank a great place to work. We believe our relationship with our employees to be good. We 
have not experienced any material employment-related issues or interruptions of services due to labor disagreements and are not 
a party to any collective bargaining agreements.

Sourcing Talent

Our recruiting practices and hiring decisions are among our most important activities. In order to build a more talented 
and diverse organization, we do not rely only on our individual network for recruiting; instead, we utilize social media, local 
job fairs and educational organizations across the United States to find diverse, motivated and qualified employees.

Our Board of Directors recognizes the importance of succession planning for our CEO and other key executives. The 
Board annually reviews our succession plans for senior leadership roles, with the goal of ensuring we will continue to have the 
right leadership talent in place to execute the organization's long-term strategic plans.

Education and Training

We  are  dedicated  to  the  continual  training  and  development  of  our  employees  to  ensure  we  can  develop  future 
managers and leaders from within our organization. Our training starts immediately with on-boarding procedures that focus on 
safety, responsibility, ethical conduct and inclusive teamwork.

In addition to on-boarding training, we provide extensive ongoing training and career development focused on:

compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;
•
laws and regulations applicable to our business;
•
skills and competencies directly related to employees’ job duties;
•
•
commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace;
• management skills necessary to develop our next generation of leaders; and
responsibility for personal safety and the safety of fellow employees.
•

Health and Welfare

We  support  our  employees’  and  their  families’  health  by  offering  full  medical,  dental  and  vision  insurance  for 
employees  and  their  families,  life  insurance  and  long-term  disability  plans,  and  health  and  dependent  care  flexible  spending 
accounts.  We  also  provide  our  Employee  Assistance  Program  (“EAP”),  which  includes  confidential  services  that  can  help 
employees and their families with personal or work life issues. The EAP is available 24 hours a day, online or over the phone. 
During 2021, as a part of our merger integration, we evaluated the benefits at both legacy organizations and developed a health 

14

and welfare benefit package that provides options for coverage that meet each teammate’s needs. In order to make our benefits 
more  affordable  for  lower  compensated  teammates,  we  have  a  varying  contribution  structure  whereby  lower  compensated 
teammates pay less for coverage. We also provide benefit options for our part time employees. During 2021, we announced a 
new Parental Leave policy that provides up to eight weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

Retirement

We provide a variety of resources and services to help our employees prepare for retirement. We provide an employer 
funded  pension  plan  that  sets  aside  a  cash  contribution  for  all  employees  based  on  a  percentage  of  their  eligible  pay  and  a 
401(k) plan with a wide variety of investment options and a company match.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”)

We  have  taken  steps  to  expand  our  role  as  an  employer  that  champions  diversity,  equity  and  inclusion.  We  believe 
diversity is not about how we differ; it is about how we embrace one another’s differences and become the change we want to 
see in the world. Inclusion is diversity’s seat at the table while equity ensures we are all valued fairly.

Our DEI efforts at Cadence are grounded solidly in our core values. Key focus areas include:

Race, Power & Privilege
Strategic Purpose & Partnerships
Impediments to Inclusion and Culture Competence
Conscious Bias Training
Empowering Women in the Workplace
Allyship

•
•
•
•
•
•
• Measuring the Impact of Diversity & Inclusion

The  Diversity,  Equity  and  Inclusion  Council  is  a  multi-cultural  group  of  associates  from  varying  levels  and 
departments within the organization, nominated by management and their peers and serve voluntarily. The Council is chaired 
by our Chief Diversity Officer.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In  addition,  the  ability  to  access  and  use  technology  is  an  increasingly  competitive  factor  in  the  financial  services 
industry.  Technology  is  not  only  important  with  respect  to  delivery  of  financial  services  and  protection  of  the  security  of 
customer  information  but  also  in  processing  information.  We  must  continually  make  technology  investments  to  remain 
competitive in the financial services industry. Accordingly, we continually adapt to the changing technological needs and wants 
of our clients by investing in our electronic banking platform. We use a combination of online and mobile banking channels to 
attract  and  retain  clients  and  expand  the  convenience  of  banking  with  us.  In  most  cases,  our  clients  can  initiate  banking 
transactions from the convenience of their personal computer or smart phone, reducing the number of in-branch visits necessary 
to  conduct  routine  banking  transactions.  The  remote  transactions  available  to  our  clients  include  remote  image  deposit,  bill 
payment, external and internal transfers, ACH origination and wire transfer. We believe that our investments in technology and 
innovation are consistent with our clients’ needs and will support future migration of our clients’ transactions to these and other 
developing electronic banking channels. Further, we closely monitor information security for trends and new threats, including 
cybersecurity risks, and invest significant resources to continuously improve the security and privacy of our systems and data.

15

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Shares of Common Stock
Listed on the NYSE
NYSE Symbol: CADE

Shares of Series A Preferred Stock
Listed on NYSE
NYSE Symbol: CADE Pr A

Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Tel: (800) 368-5948
Internet address: www.computershare.com

16

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

SUMMARY OF RISK FACTORS

Our  operations  and  financial  results  are  subject  to  various  risks  and  uncertainties,  including,  but  not  limited,  to  the 
principal risks summarized below. Many of these risks are beyond our control although efforts are made to manage these risks 
while simultaneously optimizing operational and financial results. The occurrence of any of the following risks, as well as risks 
of  which  we  are  currently  unaware  or  currently  deem  immaterial,  could  materially  and  adversely  affect  our  assets,  business, 
cash  flows,  condition  (financial  or  otherwise),  liquidity,  prospects,  results  of  operations  and  the  trading  price  of  our  capital 
stock. A detailed discussion of our Risk Factors begins on page 19 following this Summary.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

Public Health and Impact of COVID-19

•

•

COVID-19 has adversely affected us and our customers, counterparties, employees and third party service providers, 
and;
COVID-19 vaccination mandates could adversely affect our ability to attract and maintain employees.

Credit Risk

•
•

If we do not properly manage our credit risk, our business could be seriously harmed;
Our  ACL  may  not  be  adequate  to  absorb  credit  losses  in  our  portfolio,  which  may  adversely  impact  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations;

• We make and hold in our portfolio real estate construction, acquisition and development loans, which are based upon 
estimates of costs and values associated with the completed project and which pose more credit risk than other types of 
loans typically made by financial institutions;

• Many of our loans are to commercial borrowers, which have unique risks compared to other types of loans;
• Our loan portfolio includes lending in energy and other specialized industries;
•

Sustained  low  oil  prices,  volatility  in  oil  prices  and  downturns  in  the  energy  industry,  including  in  Texas,  could 
materially and adversely affect us;
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is comprised of loan participations and Shared National Credits (SNC’s), 
which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to monitor such lending relationships and lead to an increased 
risk of loss;
The  amount  of  our  nonperforming  and  criticized  assets  may  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operations  and  financial 
condition, and;
The fair value of our investment securities may decline.

•

•

•

Market Risk

•
•

•

Changes in interest rates could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition;
Our  business  is  highly  susceptible  to  local  economic  conditions  as  a  result  of  the  geographic  concentration  of  our 
operations, and;
By engaging in derivative transactions, we are exposed to credit and market risk, which could adversely affect our 
profitability and financial condition.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition;

•
• We rely on customer deposits as a significant source of funding, and our deposits may decrease in the future;
•

The borrowing needs of our clients may increase, especially during a challenging economic environment, which could 
result in increased borrowing against our contractual obligations to extend credit, and;
Our indebtedness could affect our ability to meet our obligations and may otherwise restrict our activities, and;

•
• We rely on the mortgage secondary market for some of our liquidity.

17

Strategic Risk

• We compete with financial holding companies, bank holding companies, banks, insurance and other financial services 

•

companies;
Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions, which could adversely affect our net 
income;
Our growth strategy includes risks that could have an adverse effect on our financial performance;
If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our operations could be negatively affected;

•
•
• We face risks in connection with completed or potential acquisitions;
• We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Legacy Cadence;
• We may not be able to raise additional capital in the future, and;
•

If the goodwill that we record in connection with a business acquisition becomes impaired, it could require a charge to 
earnings.

Operational Risk

• We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our lending activities;
• We may be adversely impacted by the transition from LIBOR as a reference rate;
•

Technology is continually changing and we must effectively implement new innovations in providing services to our 
customers;
Our  business  is,  and  will  continue  to  be,  dependent  on  technology  and  an  inability  to  invest  in  technological 
improvements  or  obtain  reliable  technological  support  may  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operation  and  financial 
condition;

•

• We  are  subject  to  a  variety  of  systems-failure  and  cybersecurity  risks  that  could  adversely  affect  our  business  and 

financial performance;

• We may be adversely affected by the failure of certain third-party vendors to perform;
•

Our earnings could be adversely impacted by incidences of fraud and compliance failures that are not within our direct 
control;

• We  are  subject  to  laws  regarding  the  privacy,  information  security  and  protection  of  personal  information  and  any 
violation of these laws or another incident involving personal, confidential or proprietary information of individuals 
could damage our reputation and otherwise adversely affect our operations and financial condition, and;

• We may be adversely affected by the soundness of other financial institutions.

RISKS RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF OUR INDUSTRY

Regulatory Risk

•

•
•

•
•

The  banking  industry  is  highly  regulated,  and  current  and  future  legislative  or  regulatory  changes  could  have  a 
significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations;
Regulatory initiatives regarding bank capital requirements may require increased capital;
Changes  in  accounting  rules  applicable  to  banks  could  adversely  affect  our  financial  condition  and  results  of 
operations;
Regulators periodically examine our business and we may be required to remediate adverse examination findings, and;
The Company is operating under a Consent Order, and its failure to comply with the Consent Order could materially 
and adversely affect our business.

Compliance Risk

• We are subject to numerous laws designed to protect consumers, including the CRA and fair lending laws, and failure 

•

•

to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions;
Federal, state and local consumer lending laws may restrict our ability to originate certain mortgage loans or increase 
our risk of liability with respect to such loans and could increase our cost of doing business, and;
The expanding body of federal, state and local regulations and/or the licensing of loan servicing, collections or other 
aspects  of  our  business  and  our  sales  of  loans  to  third  parties  may  increase  the  cost  of  compliance  and  the  risks  of 
noncompliance and subject us to litigation.

18

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

Economic Conditions

•

•

•

The  fiscal  and  monetary  policies  of  the  U.S.  government  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  results  of 
operations;
The Federal Reserve has implemented significant economic strategies that have impacted interest rates, inflation, asset 
values, and the shape of the yield curve, over which the Company has no control and which the Company may not be 
able to adequately anticipate, and;
The current economic environment poses significant challenges and could adversely affect our financial condition and 
results of operations.

Investment in Our Common Stock

•

•

•

•

•
•
•

•

The  price  of  our  common  stock  and  preferred  stock  may  fluctuate  significantly,  which  may  make  it  difficult  for 
investors to resell shares of our common stock or preferred stock at a time or price they find attractive;
Securities analysts may not continue coverage on our common stock, which could adversely affect the market for our 
common stock;
The  rights  of  our  common  shareholders  are  generally  subordinate  to  the  rights  of  holders  of  our  debt  securities  and 
preferred stock and may be subordinate to the rights of holders of any class of preferred stock or any debt securities 
that we may issue in the future;
Adverse changes in the ratings for our debt securities or preferred stock could have a material adverse effect on our 
business,  financial  condition  and  liquidity  and  may  increase  our  funding  costs  or  impair  our  ability  to  effectively 
compete for business and clients;
Our ability to declare and pay dividends is limited;
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that could impede a takeover of the Company;
Shares of our common stock and preferred stock are not deposits insured by the FDIC and are subject to risk of loss, 
and;
The return on investment in our common stock is uncertain.

Other Risks

•

As  a  public  company,  we  incur  significant  legal,  accounting,  insurance,  compliance  and  other  expenses.  Any 
deficiencies in our financial reporting or internal controls could materially and adversely affect us, including resulting 
in material misstatements in our financial statements, and the market price of our common stock;

• We may be adversely affected by changes in U.S. tax laws;
• We depend upon key personnel and we may not be able to retain them or attract, assimilate and retain highly qualified 

employees in the future;

• We are required to make significant estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our financial statements. These 

estimates and assumptions may not be accurate and are subject to change;

• We are involved in legal proceedings and may be the subject of additional litigation or government investigations in 

the future; the actual cost of legal proceedings may exceed our accruals for them;
Reputational risk may impact our results;
Our framework for managing risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and any resulting loss;
The  effects  of  climate  change  could  include  increases  in  the  number  and  severity  of  hurricanes,  tornados,  tropical 
storms  or  other  adverse  weather  events,  which  could  in  turn  negatively  affect  local  economies  where  we  maintain 
branch offices or cause disruption or damage to our branch office locations, which could have an adverse effect on our 
business or results of operations, and;
Anti-takeover provisions may discourage a change of our control.

•
•
•

•

RISK FACTORS

Our  operations  and  financial  results  are  subject  to  various  risks  and  uncertainties,  including,  but  not  limited,  to  the 
material  risks  described  below.  Many  of  these  risks  are  beyond  our  control  although  efforts  are  made  to  manage  these  risks 
while simultaneously optimizing operational and financial results. The occurrence of any of the following risks, as well as risks 
of which we are currently unaware or currently deem immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of 
operations and/or financial condition. It is impossible to predict or identify all such factors and, as a result, the following factors 
should not be considered to be a complete discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect us.

19

In addition, certain statements in the following risk factors constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the 

section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 3 of this Report.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

Public Health and Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 has adversely affected us and our customers, counterparties, employees and third party service providers, 
and  continued  adverse  impacts  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  prospects  could  be 
significant.

The  success  of  the  Company’s  business  is  dependent  upon  the  willingness  and  ability  of  its  customers  to  engage  in 
banking  and  other  financial  transactions.  COVID-19  has  caused  severe  disruptions  in  domestic  and  global  economies  and 
financial markets which, in turn, has significantly disrupted the Company’s business and the businesses of its customers. As a 
result,  some  of  the  Company’s  customers  have  had  to  suspend  or  materially  limit,  and  in  some  circumstances  cease,  their 
operations.  COVID-19  has  also  led  to  emergency  actions  by  the  Federal  Reserve  and  other  federal  and  state  governmental 
authorities,  as  well  as  significant  declines  in  interest  rates  and  equity  market  valuations  and  supply  chain  disruptions.  While 
indications  of  economic  recovery  exist,  our  customers  continue  to  experience  varying  degrees  of  financial  distress,  which  is 
expected  to  continue  in  2022,  especially  if  COVID-19  variant  infections  are  not  adequately  contained  and  new  economic 
restrictions are mandated and implemented.

Because of the aforementioned consequences of the pandemic, and its ongoing and evolving impact on economies and 
financial  markets  in  which  the  Company  participates,  the  Company  cannot  predict  the  ultimate  impact  of  COVID-19  on  our 
business, financial condition or results of operations. COVID-19 has resulted, and may continue to result, in the following, the 
occurrence of any or all of which could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and 
results of operations. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic includes:

•

•

•

•

•

Reductions  in  net  interest  revenue  and  net  interest  margin.  The  current  interest  rate  environment  has  negatively 
impacted the Company’s net interest margin. The Company’s fully taxable equivalent net interest margin was 2.96% 
for 2021 and 3.36% for 2020 compared to 3.84% for 2019. The Company expects that as long as interest rates remain 
at or near zero, the Company’s net interest revenue and net interest margin could continue to experience downward 
pressure.  For  more  information  regarding  the  impact  that  changes  in  interest  rates  could  have  on  the  Company’s 
business, see “— Changes in interest rates could have an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and 
financial condition”.
Impact on the loan portfolio. The economic uncertainties resulting from COVID-19 resulted in decreased demand for 
loans in certain segments of the Company’s loan portfolio.
Increased  volatility  in  the  provision  and  the  allowance  for  credit  losses  (“ACL”).  Our  accounting  policies  have 
changed  significantly  with  the  adoption  of  the  current  expected  credit  loss  (“CECL”)  accounting  standard  as  of 
January 1, 2020. Because of CECL, our financial results may be impacted as soon as changes in economic conditions 
are forecasted and alter our expectations for credit losses on the various loan segments.
Increased  deposits.  Deposits  have  increased  significantly  in  2021  and  2020,  as  a  result  of  increases  in  customers’ 
liquidity in the current economic environment and as a result of fiscal stimulus.
Increased  systems-failure  risk  and  cybersecurity  risk.  In  response  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic  many  financial 
institutions and other businesses instituted work-from-home policies for much of their staff. The implementation of the 
Company’s continuity of operations plan led to a significant number of the Company’s employees working remotely. 
The  continuation  of  these  work-from-home  measures  introduces  additional  operational  risks,  including  increased 
cybersecurity  risks.  These  cybersecurity  risks  include  the  potential  for  greater  phishing,  malware,  and  other 
cybersecurity  attacks,  vulnerability  to  disruptions  of  the  Company’s  information  technology  infrastructure  and 
telecommunications  systems  for  remote  operations,  increased  risk  of  unauthorized  dissemination  of  confidential 
information,  limited  ability  to  restore  the  systems  in  the  event  of  a  systems  failure  or  interruption,  greater  risk  of  a 
security breach resulting in destruction or misuse of valuable information, and potential impairment of the Company’s 
ability to perform critical functions, including wiring funds, all of which could expose us to risks of data or financial 
loss, litigation and liability and could seriously disrupt the Company’s operations and the operations of any impacted 
customers.  Many  employees  have  returned  to  the  office,  but  issues  surrounding  their  return  may  arise,  including 
employee dissatisfaction regarding safety protocols including those regarding testing and vaccines, which may cause 
employee concern and reduction in employee work satisfaction. 

20

Any  ongoing  effects  of  the  pandemic  are  discussed  and  described  in  more  detail  throughout  Item  7,  Management’s 

Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

COVID-19 vaccination mandates could adversely affect our ability to attract and maintain employees

In  response  to  COVID-19,  we  implemented  significant  changes  that  we  determined  were  in  the  best  interest  of  our 
employees and which comply with government orders in all the states where we operate. In an effort to keep our employees 
safe and to maintain operations during COVID-19, we have implemented a number of new health-related measures, including 
cleaning  and  sanitizing  procedures  at  all  locations,  social-distancing,  restrictions  on  visitors  to  our  facilities,  and  limiting  in-
person  meetings  and  other  gatherings.  Additionally,  we  are  following  certain  government  policies  and  recommendations 
designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. We may not be able to attract or retain employees as a result of these protocols, and 
though we believe these actions are appropriate and prudent to safeguard our employees, contractors, suppliers and customers 
while allowing us to safely continue operations, we cannot predict how the steps we, our team members, government entities, 
suppliers or customers take in response to COVID-19 will ultimately impact our business, outlook, or results of operations. 

Credit Risk

If we do not properly manage our credit risk, our business could be seriously harmed. 

There are substantial risks inherent in making any loan or lease, including, but not limited to: 

•
•
•
•

 risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions;
 risks inherent in dealing with borrowers;
 risks inherent from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral; and
 the risk of non-payment of loans and leases.

Although  we  attempt  to  minimize  our  credit  risk  through  prudent  loan  and  lease  underwriting  procedures  and  by 
monitoring concentrations of our loans and leases, there can be no assurance that these underwriting and monitoring procedures 
will  reduce  these  risks.  Moreover,  as  we  continue  to  expand  into  new  markets,  credit  administration  and  loan  and  lease 
underwriting policies and procedures may need to be adapted to local conditions. The inability to properly manage our credit 
risk or appropriately adapt our credit administration and loan and lease underwriting policies and procedures to local market 
conditions or changing economic circumstances could have an adverse effect on our allowance and provision for credit losses 
and our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

Our  ACL  may  not  be  adequate  to  absorb  credit  losses  in  our  portfolio,  which  may  adversely  impact  our  business, 
financial condition and results of operations.

We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan and lease portfolio and utilize these 
assumptions  and  judgments  when  determining  the  ACL.  The  determination  of  the  appropriate  level  of  the  ACL  inherently 
involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires us to make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all 
of which may undergo material changes. Deterioration in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding 
existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, both within and outside of our control, may require 
an increase in the ACL. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review our ACL and may require an increase in the 
ACL or future provisions for credit losses, based on judgments different than those of management. Significant increases in the 
ACL  will  result  in  a  decrease  in  our  net  income  and  capital,  and  thus  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  financial 
condition and results of operations. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations – Results of Operations – Provision for Credit Losses and Allowance for Credit Losses” included herein for more 
information regarding our process for determining the appropriate level of the ACL.

We make and hold in our portfolio real estate construction, acquisition and development loans, which are based upon 
estimates of costs and values associated with the completed project and which pose more credit risk than other types of 
loans typically made by financial institutions.

At December 31, 2021, our real estate construction, acquisition and development loans represented 10.9% of our loan 
portfolio. These loans have certain risks not present in other types of loans. The primary credit risks associated with real estate 
construction, acquisition and development loans are underwriting, project and market risks. Project risks include cost overruns, 
borrower credit risk, project completion risk, general contractor credit risk and environmental and other hazard risks. Market 
risks are risks associated with the sale of the completed residential and commercial units. They include affordability risk, which 
means the risk that borrowers cannot obtain affordable financing, product design risk, and risks posed by competing projects. 

21

Real estate construction, acquisition and development loans also involve additional risks because funds are advanced upon the 
security of the project, which is of uncertain value prior to its completion, and costs may exceed realizable values in declining 
real estate markets. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs and the realizable market value of the 
completed project and the effects of governmental regulation of real property, it is difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds 
required  to  complete  a  project  and  the  related  loan-to-value  ratio.  As  a  result,  real  estate  construction,  acquisition  and 
development loans often involve the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent, in part, on the success of the 
ultimate project and the ability of the borrower to sell or lease the property, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor 
to repay principal and interest. If our appraisal of the value of the completed project proves to be overstated or market values or 
rental  rates  decline,  we  may  have  inadequate  security  for  the  repayment  of  the  loan  upon  completion  of  construction  of  the 
project. If we are forced to foreclose on a project prior to or at completion due to a default, there can be no assurance that we 
will be able to recover all of the unpaid balance and accrued interest on the loan as well as related foreclosure and holding costs. 
In addition, we may be required to fund additional amounts to complete the project and may have to hold the property for an 
unspecified period of time while we attempt to dispose of it. The adverse effects of the foregoing matters upon our real estate 
construction, acquisition and development portfolio could result in an increase in non-performing loans related to this portfolio 
and  a  resulting  increase  in  charge-offs,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition  and  results  of 
operations.

Many of our loans are to commercial borrowers, which have unique risks compared to other types of loans.

As of December 31, 2021, approximately 71.7% of our loan portfolio was comprised of commercial loans. Because 
payments on these loans are often dependent on the successful operation or development of the property or business involved, 
their repayment is sensitive to adverse conditions in the real estate market and the general economy. Accordingly, downturns in 
the  real  estate  market  and  economy  increase  the  risk  related  to  commercial  loans,  particularly  commercial  real  estate  loans. 
Commercial  loans  are  also  subject  to  loan  specific  risks,  including  risks  associated  with  construction,  cost  overruns,  project 
completion risk, general contractor credit risk and risks associated with the ultimate sale or use of the completed construction. If 
a decline in economic conditions, natural disasters affecting commercial development or other issues cause difficulties for our 
commercial loan borrowers, if we fail to evaluate the credit of these loans accurately when we underwrite them or if we fail to 
adequately  monitor  the  performance  of  these  loans,  our  lending  portfolio  could  experience  delinquencies,  defaults  and  credit 
losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our loan portfolio includes lending in energy and other specialized industries.

Our loan portfolio includes lending in energy and other specialized industries. As of December 31, 2021, 6.9% of our 
total loans outstanding were to companies operating in the restaurant and healthcare industries, and 5.4% were to companies 
operating in the energy sector. These industries and businesses are sensitive to economic conditions and complex factors (such 
as supply chain factors), which may expose us to risks unique to these industries. Oil prices can fluctuate widely on a month-to-
month basis in response to a variety of factors that are beyond our control. Factors that contribute to price fluctuations include 
instability in oil-producing regions, worldwide economic conditions, weather conditions, the supply and price of domestic and 
foreign oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, consumer demand, the price and availability of alternative fuels, the proximity 
to,  and  capacity  of,  transportation  facilities  and  the  effect  of  worldwide  energy  conservation  measures.  Adverse  economic 
conditions or business conditions relating to these industries could negatively impact our operating results more than if our loan 
portfolio was not concentrated in these industries.

Sustained low oil prices, volatility in oil prices and downturns in the energy industry, including in Texas and Louisiana, 
could materially and adversely affect us.

As of December 31, 2021, energy lending comprised approximately 5.4% of our loan portfolio. The economy in Texas 
and Louisiana significantly depends on the energy industry. A downturn or lack of growth in the energy industry and energy-
related businesses, including sustained low oil prices or the failure of oil prices to rise in the future, could adversely affect our 
results of operations and financial condition. The economic impacts of COVID-19 initially resulted in pricing pressure on oil 
and gas and weaker demand for energy lending. These factors and general uncertainty resulting from continued volatility could 
have  other  future  adverse  impacts  such  as  job  losses  in  energy-related  industries,  lower  borrowing  needs,  higher  transaction 
deposit  balances  and  other  effects  that  are  difficult  to  isolate  or  quantify.  Such  impacts  could  particularly  impact  states  with 
significant dependence on the energy industry such as Texas and Louisiana, all of which could have a material adverse effect on 
our business, financial condition and results of operations.

22

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is comprised of loan participations and Shared National Credits (SNC’s), 
which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to monitor such lending relationships and lead to an increased 
risk of loss.

We participate in loans originated by other institutions and in SNC’s, broadly defined as loans to larger institutions by 
a  group  of  participating  lenders  where  the  client’s  needs  are  larger  than  any  individual  lender  can  prudently  provide,  and  in 
which other lenders serve as the agent bank. Additionally, our specialized industries lending includes larger, national companies 
that tend to be served through SNC’s. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 10.5% of our total loans, consisted of SNC’s. 
For the vast majority of SNC’s, we are not the lead bank. Our reduced control over the monitoring and management of these 
relationships could lead to increased risk of loss, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

The amount of our nonperforming and criticized assets may adversely affect our results of operations and financial 
condition.

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, our nonperforming assets to total assets were 0.39% and 0.55%, respectively. Total 
criticized  loans  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  were  $675.7  million  and  $420.4  million,  respectively.  The  increase  in 
criticized loans is the result of our acquisitions in 2021. Increases in nonperforming assets and criticized loans could result in 
increased provisions for credit losses, lost income, and additional expenses to maintain such assets which could have a material 
adverse effect on our results of operations.

The fair value of our investment securities may decline.

As  of  December  31,  2021,  the  fair  value  of  our  investment  securities  portfolio  was  approximately  $15.6  billion. 
Factors beyond our control can significantly influence the fair value of our securities and can cause adverse changes to the fair 
value of these securities. These factors include rating agency actions, defaults by or other adverse events affecting the issuer, 
lack of liquidity, changes in market interest rates, and continued instability in the capital markets. A prolonged decline in the 
fair value of our securities could result in an other-than-temporary impairment write-down, which would affect our results of 
operations.

Market Risk

Changes in interest rates could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. 

Our earnings and financial condition are dependent to a large degree upon net interest income, which is the difference 
or spread, between interest earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities. When market rates 
of interest change, the interest we receive on our assets and the interest we pay on our liabilities may fluctuate. This can cause 
decreases in our spread and can adversely affect our earnings and financial condition.

Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors including: 

•
•
•
•

The rate of inflation;
Economic conditions;
Federal monetary policies; and
Stability of domestic and foreign markets.

Although we have implemented practices we believe will reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on 
our net interest income, these practices may not always be successful. Accordingly, changes in levels of market interest rates 
could  materially  and  adversely  affect  our  net  interest  income  and  our  net  interest  margin,  asset  quality,  loan  and  lease 
origination volume, liquidity, and overall profitability. We cannot assure you that we can minimize our interest rate risk.

In  addition,  the  Company  originates  residential  mortgage  loans  for  sale  and  for  our  portfolio.  The  origination  of 
residential mortgage loans is highly dependent on the local real estate market and the level of interest rates. Increasing interest 
rates  tend  to  reduce  the  origination  of  loans  for  sale  and  fee  income,  which  we  report  as  gain  on  sale  of  loans.  Decreasing 
interest rates generally result in increased prepayments of loans and mortgage-backed securities, as borrowers refinance their 
debt in order to reduce their borrowing cost. This typically leads to reinvestment at lower rates than the loans or securities were 
paying. Changes in market interest rates could also reduce the value of our financial assets. Our financial condition and results 
of operations could be adversely affected if we are unsuccessful in managing the effects of changes in interest rates.

23

Our  business  is  highly  susceptible  to  local  economic  conditions  as  a  result  of  the  geographic  concentration  of  our 
operations.

Our  business  is  primarily  concentrated  in  select  markets  in  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana, 
Mississippi,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Texas  and  Illinois.  Our  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  depend  largely  upon 
economic conditions in these market areas. Deterioration in economic conditions in the markets we serve could result in one or 
more  of  the  following:  an  increase  in  loan  delinquencies;  an  increase  in  problem  assets  and  foreclosures;  a  decrease  in  the 
demand for our products and services; and a decrease in the value of collateral for loans, especially real estate collateral, in turn 
reducing customers’ borrowing power, the value of assets associated with problem loans and collateral coverage. Our markets 
are also susceptible to severe weather. The occurrence of adverse weather and natural disasters could destroy or cause a decline 
in  the  value  of  assets  that  serve  as  collateral  and  increase  the  risk  of  delinquencies,  defaults,  foreclosures  and  losses  on  our 
loans,  damage  our  facilities  and  offices,  negatively  impact  regional  economic  conditions,  result  in  a  decline  in  local  loan 
demand,  loan  originations  and  deposit  availability  and  negatively  impact  our  growth  strategy.  Any  one  or  more  of  these 
developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

By  engaging  in  derivative  transactions,  we  are  exposed  to  credit  and  market  risk,  which  could  adversely  affect  our 
profitability and financial condition.

We  manage  interest  rate  risk  by,  among  other  things,  utilizing  derivative  instruments  to  minimize  significant 
unplanned  fluctuations  in  earnings  that  are  caused  by  interest  rate  volatility.  Hedging  interest  rate  risk  is  a  complex  process, 
requiring sophisticated models and constant monitoring, and is approximate. Due to interest rate fluctuations, hedged assets and 
liabilities will appreciate or depreciate in market value. The effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation will generally 
be  offset  by  income  or  loss  on  the  derivative  instruments  that  are  linked  to  the  hedged  assets  and  liabilities.  By  engaging  in 
derivative transactions, we are exposed to credit and market risk. If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk exists to the 
extent  of  the  fair  value  gain  in  the  derivative.  Market  risk  exists  to  the  extent  that  interest  rates  change  in  ways  that  are 
significantly  different  from  what  we  expected  when  we  entered  into  the  derivative  transaction.  The  existence  of  credit  and 
market risk associated with our derivative instruments could adversely affect our net interest income and, therefore, could have 
a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Failure to manage interest rate risk could have a 
material  adverse  effect  on  our  business.  See  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition. 

Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and 
other sources could have a substantial negative effect on the Company’s liquidity. Our access to funding sources in amounts 
adequate to finance our activities or on terms which are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically 
or  the  financial  services  industry  or  economy  in  general.  A  decrease  in  the  level  of  our  business  activity  as  a  result  of  a 
downturn  in  the  markets  in  which  our  loans  are  concentrated  as  well  as  adverse  regulatory  actions  against  us  could 
detrimentally impact our access to liquidity sources. In addition, our access to deposits may be affected by the liquidity and/or 
cash  flow  needs  of  depositors.  Our  ability  to  borrow  could  also  be  impaired  by  factors  that  are  not  specific  to  us,  such  as  a 
disruption  in  the  financial  markets  or  negative  views  and  expectations  about  the  prospects  for  the  financial  services  industry 
generally.

We rely on customer deposits as a significant source of funding, and our deposits may decrease in the future.

We rely on customer deposits as a significant source of funding. Competition among U.S. banks and non-banks for 
customer deposits is intense and may increase the cost of deposits or prevent new deposits and may otherwise negatively affect 
our  ability  to  grow  our  deposit  base.  Our  deposit  accounts  may  decrease  in  the  future,  and  any  such  decrease  could  have  a 
material adverse impact on our sources of funding. Any changes we make to the rates offered on our deposit products to remain 
competitive with other financial institutions may adversely affect our profitability. The demand for our deposit products may 
also be reduced due to a variety of factors such as demographic patterns, changes in customer preferences, including customers 
moving  funds  out  of  bank  deposits  and  into  alternative  investments,  such  as  the  stock  market,  that  may  be  perceived  as 
providing  superior  expected  returns,  reductions  in  consumers’  disposable  income,  regulatory  actions  that  decrease  customer 
access  to  particular  products  or  the  availability  of  competing  products.  In  addition,  a  portion  of  our  deposits  are  brokered 
deposits. The levels of these types of deposits that we hold may be more volatile during changing economic conditions.

24

The borrowing needs of our clients may increase, especially during a challenging economic environment, which could 
result in increased borrowing against our contractual obligations to extend credit.

A commitment to extend credit is a formal agreement to lend funds to a client as long as there is no violation of any 
condition  established  under  the  agreement.  The  actual  borrowing  needs  of  our  clients  under  these  credit  commitments  have 
historically  been  lower  than  the  contractual  amount  of  the  commitments.  As  of  December  31,  2021,  we  had  $9.0  billion  in 
unfunded  credit  commitments  to  our  clients.  Actual  borrowing  needs  of  our  clients  may  exceed  our  expectations  for  any 
numbers  of  reasons.  This  could  adversely  affect  our  liquidity,  which  could  impair  our  ability  to  fund  operations  and  meet 
obligations  as  they  become  due  and  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of 
operations.

Our indebtedness could affect our ability to meet our obligations and may otherwise restrict our activities.

Our  indebtedness  could  limit  our  ability  to  borrow  money  for  funding  loans,  capital  expenditures,  debt  service 
requirements  or  other  corporate  purposes;  require  us  to  dedicate  a  substantial  portion  of  our  cash  flow  to  payments  on  our 
indebtedness; increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and limit our ability to respond to 
business  opportunities,  including  growing  our  business  through  acquisitions.  In  addition,  the  instruments  governing  our 
indebtedness contain certain restrictive covenants including with respect to consolidating or merging the Company or the Bank 
into another entity or transferring substantially all of their respective assets or properties. Certain of the Company’s debt also 
contains restrictions on the Company’s ability to assign or grant a security interest in or otherwise dispose of any shares of the 
voting stock of the Bank. Failure to meet any of these covenants could result in an event of default under these agreements. If 
an  event  of  default  occurs  under  these  agreements,  the  lenders  could  elect  to  declare  all  amounts  outstanding  under  these 
agreements to be immediately due and payable.

As  of  December  31,  2021,  the  Company  had  $482.4  million  of  subordinated  and  long-term  debt  outstanding.  Total 
interest  expense  on  this  debt  was  $14.6  million  on  a  pre-tax  basis  for  2021.  An  increase  in  interest  rates  will  increase  our 
interest expense. See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” In addition, we may not be able 
to refinance our indebtedness on substantially similar terms, or at all, at or prior to the time that it comes due.

We rely on the mortgage secondary market for some of our liquidity.

We originate and sell a majority of our residential mortgage loans and their servicing rights. We rely on the Federal 
National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and other purchasers to purchase loans in order to reduce our credit risk and provide 
funding for additional loans we desire to originate. We cannot provide assurance that these purchasers will not materially limit 
their purchases from us due to capital constraints or other factors, including, with respect to FNMA, a change in the criteria for 
conforming  loans.  In  addition,  various  proposals  have  been  made  to  reform  the  U.S.  residential  mortgage  finance  market, 
including  the  role  of  FNMA.  The  exact  effects  of  any  such  reforms  are  not  yet  known,  but  may  limit  our  ability  to  sell 
conforming loans to FNMA. In addition, residential mortgage lending is highly regulated, and our inability to comply with all 
federal  and  state  regulations  and  investor  guidelines  regarding  the  origination,  underwriting  documentation  and  servicing  of 
residential  mortgage  loans  may  also  impact  our  ability  to  continue  selling  residential  mortgage  loans.  If  we  are  unable  to 
continue to sell loans in the secondary market, our ability to fund, and thus originate, additional residential mortgage loans may 
be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Strategic Risk

We compete with financial holding companies, bank holding companies, banks, insurance and other financial services 
companies.

The  banking,  insurance  and  financial  services  businesses  are  extremely  competitive  in  our  markets.  Certain  of  our 
competitors, many of which are well-established banks, credit unions, insurance agencies and other large financial institutions, 
have an advantage over us through substantially greater financial resources, lending limits and larger distribution networks, and 
are able to offer a broader range of products and services. Other competitors, many of which are smaller, are privately-held and 
thus benefit from greater flexibility in adopting or modifying growth or operational strategies than we do. If we fail to compete 
effectively for deposits, loans, leases and other banking customers in our markets, we could lose substantial market share, suffer 
a slower growth rate or no growth and our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity could be adversely affected.

25

Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions, which could adversely affect our net 
income.

Technology  and  other  changes  now  allow  parties  to  complete  financial  transactions  without  banks.  For  example, 
consumers can pay bills, transfer funds directly and obtain loans without banks. This process could result in the loss of interest 
and fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the income generated from those deposits.

Non-bank  financial  technology  providers  invest  substantial  resources  in  developing  and  designing  new  technology, 
particularly  digital  and  mobile  technology,  and  are  beginning  to  offer  more  traditional  banking  products  either  directly  or 
through  bank  partnerships.  Further,  clients  may  choose  to  conduct  business  with  other  market  participants  who  engage  in 
business  or  offer  products  in  areas  we  deem  speculative  or  risky,  such  as  cryptocurrencies.  Increased  competition  may 
negatively affect our earnings by creating pressure to lower prices or credit standards on our products and services requiring 
additional investment to improve the quality and delivery of our technology and/or reducing our market share, or affecting the 
willingness of our clients to do business with us.

In  addition,  the  widespread  adoption  of  new  technologies,  including  internet  banking  services,  mobile  banking 
services, cryptocurrencies and payment systems, could require substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our existing products 
and  services  as  we  grow  and  develop  our  internet  banking  and  mobile  banking  channel  strategies  in  addition  to  remote 
connectivity  solutions.  We  might  not  be  successful  in  developing  or  introducing  new  products  and  services,  integrating  new 
products or services into our existing offerings, responding or adapting to changes in consumer behavior, preferences, spending, 
investing  and/or  saving  habits,  achieving  market  acceptance  of  our  products  and  services,  reducing  costs  in  response  to 
pressures to deliver products and services at lower prices or sufficiently developing and maintaining loyal customers. 

Further, we may experience a decrease in customer deposits if customers perceive alternative investments, such as the 
stock market, as providing superior expected returns. When customers move money out of bank deposits in favor of alternative 
investments, we may lose a relatively inexpensive source of funds, and be forced to rely more heavily on borrowings and other 
sources  of  funding  to  fund  our  business  and  meet  withdrawal  demands,  thereby  increasing  our  funding  costs  and  adversely 
affecting our net interest margin.

Our growth strategy includes risks that could have an adverse effect on our financial performance.

An element of our growth strategy is the acquisition of additional banks, bank holding companies, financial holding 
companies,  insurance  agencies  and/or  other  businesses  related  to  the  financial  services  industry  that  may  complement  our 
organizational structure in order to achieve greater economies of scale. The market for acquisitions remains highly competitive. 
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that appropriate growth opportunities will continue to exist, that we will be able to acquire 
banks, insurance agencies, bank holding companies and/or financial holding companies that satisfy our criteria or that any such 
acquisitions  will  be  on  terms  favorable  to  us.  To  the  extent  that  we  are  unable  to  find  suitable  acquisition  candidates,  an 
important component of our growth strategy may be lost.

In  addition,  acquisitions  of  financial  institutions  involve  operational  risks  and  uncertainties  and  acquired  companies 
may have unforeseen liabilities, exposure to asset quality problems, key employee and customer retention problems and other 
problems that could negatively affect our organization. We may incur substantial costs to expand, and we cannot give assurance 
such  expansion  will  result  in  the  levels  of  profits  we  seek.  We  may  not  be  able  to  complete  future  acquisitions;  and,  if 
completed, we may not be able to successfully integrate the operations, management, products and services of the entities that 
we acquire and eliminate redundancies. The integration process could result in the loss of key employees or disruption of the 
combined entity’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our 
ability  to  maintain  relationships  with  customers  and  employees  or  achieve  the  anticipated  benefits  of  the  transaction.  The 
integration process may also require significant time and attention from our management that they would otherwise direct at 
servicing  existing  business  and  developing  new  business.  Our  inability  to  find  suitable  acquisition  candidates  and  failure  to 
successfully  integrate  the  entities  we  acquire  into  our  existing  operations  may  increase  our  operating  costs  significantly  and 
adversely affect our business and earnings. 

Further, our growth strategy requires that we continue to hire qualified personnel, while concurrently expanding our 
managerial and operational infrastructure. We cannot assure you that we will be able to hire and retain qualified personnel or 
that we will be able to successfully expand our infrastructure to accommodate future acquisitions or growth. As a result of these 
factors, we may not realize the expected economic benefits associated with our acquisitions. This could have a material adverse 
effect on our financial performance.

26

If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our operations could be negatively affected.

If we experience growth in the future, we could face various risks and difficulties, including:

finding suitable markets for expansion;
finding suitable candidates for acquisition;
attracting funding to support additional growth;

•
•
•
• maintaining asset quality;
•
• maintaining adequate regulatory capital.

attracting and retaining qualified management and personnel; and

In  addition,  in  order  to  manage  our  growth  and  maintain  adequate  information  and  reporting  systems  within  our 
organization,  we  must  identify,  hire  and  retain  additional  qualified  associates,  particularly  in  the  accounting  and  operational 
areas of our business.

If  we  do  not  manage  our  growth  effectively,  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  future 
prospects could be negatively affected, and we may not be able to continue to implement our business strategy and successfully 
conduct our operations.

We face risks in connection with completed or potential acquisitions.

Historically,  we  have  grown  through  the  acquisition  of  other  financial  institutions  as  well  as  the  development  of  de 
novo  offices.  During  2021,  we  completed  three  mergers,  including  our  acquisition  of  Cadence  Bancorporation  and  Cadence 
Bank, N.A. (collectively, “Legacy Cadence”). As appropriate opportunities present themselves, we have pursued and intend to 
continue to pursue additional acquisitions in the future that we believe are strategic and accretive to earnings. There can be no 
assurance  that  we  will  be  able  to  identify,  negotiate,  finance  or  consummate  potential  acquisitions  successfully  or,  if 
consummated, integrate such acquisitions with our current business. 

We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Legacy Cadence.

Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Legacy Cadence will depend, to a large extent, on 
our  ability  to  successfully  integrate  the  acquired  business.  The  integration  and  combination  of  the  acquired  business  is  a 
complex, costly and time-consuming process. As a result, we will be required to devote significant management attention and 
resources to integrating their business practices and operations with ours. The integration process may disrupt our business and 
the business of Legacy Cadence and, if implemented ineffectively, could limit the full realization of the anticipated benefits of 
the acquisition. The failure to meet the challenges involved in integrating the acquired businesses and to realize the anticipated 
benefits of the acquisition could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, our business activities or those of Legacy 
Cadence  and  could  adversely  impact  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  In  addition,  the  overall 
integration  of  the  businesses  may  result  in  material  unanticipated  problems,  expenses,  liabilities,  loss  of  customers  and 
diversion of our management’s and employees’ attention. The challenges of combining the operations of the companies include, 
among others:

•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Difficulties in achieving anticipated cost savings, synergies, business opportunities and growth prospects, including the 
potential adverse impact of the Company’s assumption of Legacy Cadence’s outstanding debt obligations;
Difficulties in the integration of operations and teams; 
Difficulties in the assimilation and retention of employees;
Difficulties in managing the expanded operations of a larger and more complex company;
Challenges in keeping existing customers and obtaining new customers;
Challenges in attracting and retaining key personnel, including personnel that are considered key to future success;
Challenges related to Legacy Cadence’s credit quality and credit risk; and
Challenges in keeping key business relationships in place.

Many  of  these  factors  are  outside  of  our  control  and  any  one  of  them  could  result  in  increased  costs  and  liabilities, 
decreases in expected income and diversion of management’s time and energy, which could have a material adverse effect on 
our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  Additionally,  even  if  the  integration  of  Legacy  Cadence  is 
successful, the full benefits of the transaction may not be realized, including the synergies, cost savings, growth opportunities or 
earnings  accretion  that  are  expected.  These  benefits  may  not  be  achieved  within  the  anticipated  time  frame,  or  at  all,  and 
additional  unanticipated  costs  may  be  incurred  in  the  integration  of  the  businesses.  Furthermore,  Legacy  Cadence  may  have 
unknown or contingent liabilities that we assumed in the acquisition that were not discovered during our due diligence. These 

27

liabilities  could  include  exposure  to  unexpected  asset  quality  problems,  compliance  and  regulatory  violations,  key  employee 
and client retention problems and other problems that could result in significant costs to us.

All of these factors could cause dilution to our earnings per share, decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the 
transaction,  negatively  impact  the  price  of  our  common  stock,  or  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial 
condition and results of operations.

We may not be able to raise additional capital in the future. 

We are required by federal regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. In 
addition, we may elect to raise additional capital to support our business or to finance any acquisitions or we may otherwise 
elect or be required to raise additional capital. As a publicly-traded company, a likely source of additional funds is the capital 
markets, accomplished generally through the issuance of equity, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depository 
shares,  rights,  purchase  contracts  or  units,  and  the  issuance  of  senior  or  subordinated  debt  securities.  Our  ability  to  raise 
additional  capital,  if  needed,  will  depend  on  conditions  in  the  capital  markets,  economic  conditions  and  a  number  of  other 
factors, many of which are outside our control, and on our financial performance. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurance of 
our ability to raise additional capital if needed or to be able to do so on terms acceptable to us. Any occurrence that may limit its 
access  to  the  capital  markets,  such  as  a  decline  in  the  confidence  of  investors,  depositors  of  the  Company  or  counterparties 
participating  in  the  capital  markets,  may  adversely  affect  our  capital  costs  and  our  ability  to  raise  capital  and,  in  turn,  our 
liquidity. Moreover, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may have to do so when many other financial institutions are 
also  seeking  to  raise  capital  and  would  have  to  compete  with  those  institutions  for  investors.  If  we  cannot  raise  additional 
capital  on  favorable  terms  when  needed,  it  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition  and  results  of 
operations.

If the goodwill that we record in connection with a business acquisition becomes impaired, it could require a charge to 
earnings.

Goodwill represents the amount by which the purchase price exceeds the fair value of net assets acquired in a business

combination. We review goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances 
indicate the carrying value of the asset might be impaired.

We evaluate goodwill for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying 
amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is 
recognized  in  an  amount  equal  to  that  excess.  Factors  that  could  cause  an  impairment  charge  include  adverse  changes  to 
macroeconomic  conditions,  declines  in  the  profitability  of  the  reporting  unit,  or  declines  in  the  tangible  book  value  of  the 
reporting  unit.  Future  evaluations  of  goodwill  may  result  in  impairment  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Operational Risk

We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our lending activities.

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may 
foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances 
could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well 
as  for  personal  injury  and  property  damage.  Environmental  laws  may  require  us  to  incur  substantial  expenses  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. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may be adversely impacted by the transition from LIBOR as a reference rate.

In  2017,  the  United  Kingdom’s  Financial  Conduct  Authority  announced  that  after  2021  it  would  no  longer  compel 
banks to submit the rates required to calculate the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). On March 5, 2021, LIBOR’s 
regulator,  the  Financial  Conduct  Authority,  and  administrator,  ICE  Benchmark  Administration,  Limited,  announced  that  the 
publication of the one-week and two-month USD LIBOR maturities and non-USD LIBOR maturities will cease immediately 
after December 31, 2021, with the remaining USD LIBOR maturities ceasing immediately after June 30, 2023. It is not possible 
to predict what rate or rates may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR, or what the effect of any such changes in views or 
alternatives may be on the markets for LIBOR-indexed financial instruments.

28

In  particular,  regulators,  industry  groups  and  certain  committees  (e.g.,  the  Alternative  Reference  Rates  Committee) 
have,  among  other  things,  published  recommended  fallback  language  for  LIBOR-linked  financial  instruments,  identified 
recommended alternatives for certain LIBOR rates (e.g., the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as the recommended alternative 
to  U.S.  Dollar  LIBOR),  and  proposed  implementations  of  the  recommended  alternatives  in  floating  rate  instruments.  At  this 
time, it is not possible to predict whether these specific recommendations and proposals will be broadly accepted, whether they 
will  continue  to  evolve,  and  what  the  effect  of  their  implementation  may  be  on  the  markets  for  floating-rate  financial 
instruments.

We have a significant number of loans, derivative contracts, borrowings and other financial instruments with attributes 
that  are  either  directly  or  indirectly  dependent  on  LIBOR.  The  transition  from  LIBOR  could  create  considerable  costs  and 
additional risk. Since proposed alternative rates are calculated differently, payments under contracts referencing new rates will 
differ from those referencing LIBOR. The transition will change our market risk profiles, requiring changes to risk and pricing 
models,  valuation  tools,  product  design  and  hedging  strategies.  Furthermore,  failure  to  adequately  manage  this  transition 
process with our customers could adversely impact our reputation. Although we are currently unable to assess what the ultimate 
impact of the transition from LIBOR will be, failure to adequately manage the transition could have a material adverse effect on 
our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company formed a working group to coordinate the orderly transition from the LIBOR to one or more alternative 
reference rates. The working group consists of senior management of the Company, and the working group provides updates to 
the Credit Committee of Management and the Credit Risk Committee of the Board on a recurring basis. Key initiatives of the 
working group include identification of LIBOR exposure, review of associated contract language to determine optionality for 
transferring  to  an  alternative  reference  rate,  and  review  of  system  capabilities  for  accommodating  alternative  reference  rates. 
The Company discontinued the use of new LIBOR-based production effective January 1, 2022. In addition, the Company is on 
schedule  to  transition  from  LIBOR  to  an  alternative  reference  for  existing  contracts  upon  the  cessation  of  LIBOR,  which 
includes an effective date for the 1-week and 2-months settings of January 1, 2022 and an effective date of July 1, 2023 for the 
overnight and 1, 3, 6, and 12-months settings.

As  of  December  31,  2021,  the  Company  has  identified  approximately  $6.2  billion  in  loans  for  which  the  repricing 

index is tied to LIBOR.

Technology  is  continually  changing  and  we  must  effectively  implement  new  innovations  in  providing  services  to  our 
customers.

The  financial  services  industry  is  undergoing  rapid  technological  changes  with  frequent  innovations  in  technology-
driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases our efficiency 
and enables us to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers 
using innovative methods, processes and technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for 
convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market areas. 

Our  business  is,  and  will  continue  to  be,  dependent  on  technology  and  an  inability  to  invest  in  technological 
improvements  or  obtain  reliable  technological  support  may  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operation  and  financial 
condition.

The  financial  services  industry  is  undergoing  rapid  technological  changes  with  frequent  introductions  of  new 
technology-driven  products  and  services.  In  addition  to  better  serving  customers,  the  effective  use  of  technology  increases 
efficiency  and  enables  financial  institutions  to  reduce  costs.  Our  ability  to  grow  and  compete  will  depend  in  part  upon  our 
ability to address the needs of customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy their operational 
needs,  while  managing  the  costs  of  expanding  our  technology  infrastructure.  Many  competitors  have  substantially  greater 
resources to invest in technological improvements and third-party support. There can be no assurance that we will be able to 
effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to 
our  customers.  For  the  foreseeable  future,  we  expect  to  rely  on  third-party  service  providers  and  on  other  third  parties  for 
services  and  technical  support.  If  those  products  and  services  become  unreliable  or  fail,  the  adverse  impact  on  customer 
relationships and operations could be material.

We  are  subject  to  a  variety  of  systems-failure  and  cybersecurity  risks  that  could  adversely  affect  our  business  and 
financial performance.

Our  internal  operations  are  subject  to  certain  risks,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  information  systems  failures  and 
errors, customer or employee fraud and catastrophic failures resulting from terrorist acts, data piracy or natural disasters. We 
maintain a system of internal controls and security to mitigate the risks of many of these occurrences and maintain insurance 
coverage  for  certain  risks.  However,  should  an  event  occur  that  is  not  prevented  or  detected  by  our  internal  controls,  and  is 

29

uninsured  against  or  in  excess  of  applicable  insurance  limits,  such  occurrence  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  business, 
financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

The computer systems and network infrastructure we use could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems. Our operations 
are  dependent  upon  the  ability  to  protect  our  computer  equipment  against  damage  from  fire,  severe  storm,  power  loss, 
telecommunications  failure  or  a  similar  catastrophic  event.  Any  damage  or  failure  of  our  computer  systems  or  network 
infrastructure  that  causes  an  interruption  in  operations  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations and liquidity.

In addition, our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect the computer systems and network infrastructure 
against  damage  from  physical  break-ins,  security  breaches  and  other  disruptive  problems  caused  by  Internet  users  or  other 
users. Computer break-ins and other disruptions could jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted through 
our computer systems and networks, which may result in significant liability and reputation risk to us, and may deter potential 
customers.  Although  we,  with  the  help  of  third-party  service  providers,  intend  to  continue  to  actively  monitor  and,  where 
necessary,  implement  improved  security  technology  and  develop  additional  operational  procedures  to  prevent  damage  or 
unauthorized access to our computer systems and network, there can be no assurance that these security measures or operational 
procedures will be successful. In addition, new developments or advances in computer capabilities or new discoveries in the 
field  of  cryptography  could  enable  hackers  or  data  pirates  to  compromise  or  breach  the  security  measures  we  use  to  protect 
customer  data.  Any  failure  to  maintain  adequate  security  over  our  customers’  personal  and  transactional  information  could 
expose  us  to  reputational  risk  or  consumer  litigation,  and  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations and liquidity.

Our risk and exposure to cyber-attacks and other information security breaches remain heightened because of, among 
other things, the evolving nature of these threats and the prevalence of Internet and mobile banking. As cyber threats continue 
to  evolve,  we  may  be  required  to  expend  significant  additional  resources  to  continue  to  modify  or  enhance  our  protective 
measures  or  to  investigate  and  remediate  any  information  security  vulnerabilities.  Disruptions  or  failures  in  the  physical 
infrastructure  or  operating  systems  that  support  our  businesses  and  customers,  or  cyber-attacks  or  security  breaches  of  the 
networks,  systems  or  devices  that  customers  use  to  access  our  products  and  services,  could  result  in  customer  attrition, 
regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, including litigation 
expense  and/or  additional  compliance  costs,  any  of  which  could  materially  and  adversely  affect  our  business,  results  of 
operations or financial condition.

We may be adversely affected by the failure of certain third-party vendors to perform.

We  rely  upon  certain  third-party  vendors  to  provide  products  and  services  necessary  to  maintain  our  day-to-day 
operations. These third parties provide key components of our business operations. Accordingly, our operations are exposed to 
the  risk  that  these  vendors  might  not  perform  in  accordance  with  applicable  contractual  arrangements  or  service  level 
agreements.  Any  complications  caused  by  these  third  parties,  including  those  resulting  from  disruptions  in  communication 
services provided by a vendor, failure of a vendor to handle current or higher volumes, cyber-attacks and security breaches at a 
vendor, failure of a vendor to provide services for any reason or poor performance of services, could adversely affect our ability 
to deliver products and services to our customers and otherwise conduct our business. Financial or operational difficulties of a 
third-party  vendor  could  also  hurt  our  operations  if  those  difficulties  interfere  with  the  vendor’s  ability  to  provide  services. 
Furthermore,  our  vendors  could  also  be  sources  of  operational  and  information  security  risk,  including  from  breakdowns  or 
failures of their own systems or capacity constraints. Replacing these third-party vendors could also create significant delay and 
expense.  Problems  caused  by  external  vendors  could  be  disruptive  to  our  operations,  which  could  have  a  material  adverse 
impact  on  our  business  and,  in  turn,  our  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  We  maintain  a  system  of  policies  and 
procedures  designed  to  monitor  vendor  risks,  including,  among  other  things,  (i)  changes  in  the  vendor’s  organizational 
structure, (ii) changes in the vendor’s financial condition, (iii) changes in existing products and services or the introduction of 
new products and services, and (iv) changes in the vendor’s support for existing products and services. While we believe these 
policies  and  procedures  help  to  mitigate  risk,  the  failure  of  an  external  vendor  to  perform  in  accordance  with  applicable 
contractual arrangements or service level agreements could be disruptive to our operations, which could have a material adverse 
effect on our financial condition and results of operations. 

Our earnings could be adversely impacted by incidences of fraud and compliance failures that are not within our direct 
control.

Financial institutions are inherently exposed to fraud risk. A fraud can be perpetrated by a customer of the Company, 
an employee, a vendor or members of the general public. We are most subject to fraud and compliance risk in connection with 
the origination of loans, automated clearing house transactions, ATM transactions and checking transactions. Our largest fraud 
risk,  associated  with  the  origination  of  loans,  includes  the  intentional  misstatement  of  information  in  property  appraisals  or 
other  underwriting  documentation  provided  to  us  by  third  parties.  If  any  of  the  information  upon  which  we  rely  is 

30

misrepresented, either fraudulently or inadvertently, and the misrepresentation is not detected prior to asset funding, the value 
of the asset may be significantly lower than expected, or we may fund a loan we would not have funded or on terms we would 
not have extended. Whether a misrepresentation is made by the applicant or another third party, we generally bear the risk of 
loss associated with the misrepresentation. A loan subject to a material misrepresentation is typically unsellable or subject to 
repurchase if it is sold prior to detection of the misrepresentation. The sources of the misrepresentations are often difficult to 
locate, and it is often difficult to recover any of the monetary losses we may suffer. Accordingly, the compliance risk is that 
loans are not originated in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and our standards. There can be no assurance that 
we can prevent or detect acts of fraud or violation of law or our compliance standards by third parties. Repeated incidences of 
fraud or compliance failures could adversely impact the performance of our loan portfolio.

We  are  subject  to  laws  regarding  the  privacy,  information  security  and  protection  of  personal  information  and  any 
violation  of  these  laws  or  another  incident  involving  personal,  confidential  or  proprietary  information  of  individuals 
could damage our reputation and otherwise adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

Our business requires the collection and retention of large volumes of customer data, including personally identifiable 
information in various information systems that we maintain and in those maintained by third parties with whom we contract to 
provide data services. We also maintain important internal company data such as personally identifiable information about our 
employees and information relating to our operations. We are subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations governing 
the  privacy  and  protection  of  personal  information  of  individuals  (including  customers,  employees,  suppliers  and  other  third 
parties). For example, our business is subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which, among other things: (i) imposes certain 
limitations  on  our  ability  to  share  nonpublic  personal  information  about  our  customers  with  nonaffiliated  third  parties;  (ii) 
requires that we provide certain disclosures to customers about our information collection, sharing and security practices and 
afford  customers  the  right  to  “opt  out”  of  any  information  sharing  by  us  with  nonaffiliated  third  parties  (with  certain 
exceptions); and (iii) requires that we develop, implement and maintain a written comprehensive information security program 
containing appropriate safeguards based on our size and complexity, the nature and scope of our activities, and the sensitivity of 
customer information we process, as well as plans for responding to data security breaches. Various state and federal banking 
regulators  and  states  have  also  enacted  data  security  breach  notification  requirements  with  varying  levels  of  individual, 
consumer, regulatory or law enforcement notification in certain circumstances in the event of a security breach. Ensuring that 
our collection, use, transfer and storage of personal information complies with all applicable laws and regulations can increase 
our costs. Furthermore, we may not be able to ensure that all of our clients, suppliers, counterparties and other third parties have 
appropriate controls in place to protect the confidentiality of the information that they exchange with us, particularly where such 
information is transmitted by electronic means. If personal, confidential or proprietary information of customers or others were 
to be mishandled or misused (in situations where, for example, such information was erroneously provided to parties who are 
not permitted to have the information, or where such information was intercepted or otherwise compromised by third parties), 
we could be exposed to litigation or regulatory sanctions under personal information laws and regulations. Concerns regarding 
the effectiveness of our measures to safeguard personal information, or even the perception that such measures are inadequate, 
could  cause  us  to  lose  customers  or  potential  customers  for  our  products  and  services  and  thereby  reduce  our  revenues. 
Accordingly,  any  failure  or  perceived  failure  to  comply  with  applicable  privacy  or  data  protection  laws  and  regulations  may 
subject us to inquiries, examinations and investigations that could result in requirements to modify or cease certain operations 
or practices or in significant liabilities, fines or penalties, and could damage our reputation and otherwise adversely affect our 
operations and financial condition.

We may be adversely affected by the soundness of other financial institutions. 

Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. We 
have  exposure  to  many  different  industries  and  counterparties,  and  routinely  execute  transactions  with  counterparties  in  the 
financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks and other institutional clients. 
As  a  result,  defaults  by,  or  rumors  or  questions  about,  one  or  more  financial  services  institutions,  or  the  financial  services 
industry generally, may result in market-wide liquidity problems and could lead to losses or defaults by such other institutions. 
Such occurrences could expose us to credit risk in the event of default of one or more counterparties and could have a material 
adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when 
the collateral we hold cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit or 
derivative exposure owed to us. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of 
operations.

31

RISKS RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF OUR INDUSTRY

Regulatory Risk

The  banking  industry  is  highly  regulated,  and  current  and  future  legislative  or  regulatory  changes  could  have  a 
significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

As  a  state  chartered  bank,  we  are  subject  to  extensive  federal  supervision  and  regulation.  Federal  regulation  of  the 
banking industry, along with tax and accounting laws, regulations, rules and standards, limit our operations significantly and 
control  the  methods  by  which  we  conduct  business.  In  addition,  compliance  with  laws  and  regulations  can  be  difficult  and 
costly, and changes to laws and regulations can impose additional compliance costs. Many of these regulations are intended to 
protect depositors, customers, the public, the banking system as a whole or the FDIC deposit insurance fund, not shareholders. 
Regulatory requirements and discretion affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and 
many other aspects of our business. There are laws and regulations which restrict transactions between us and our subsidiaries. 
These requirements may constrain our operations, and the adoption of new laws and changes to or repeal of existing laws may 
have a further impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects. The burdens imposed by 
federal and state regulations place banks at a competitive disadvantage compared to non-bank competitors. We are also subject 
to requirements with respect to the confidentiality of information obtained from clients concerning their identities, business and 
personal financial information, employment, and other matters. We require our personnel to agree to keep all such information 
confidential and we monitor compliance. Failure to comply with confidentiality requirements could result in material liability 
and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

Federal and state regulatory agencies may adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing 
regulations  are  applied.  We  cannot  predict  the  substance  or  effect  of  pending  or  future  legislation  or  regulation  or  the 
application of laws and regulations to our Company. Compliance with current and potential regulation, as well as regulatory 
scrutiny, may significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase 
our regulatory capital, and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner by requiring us to expend 
significant  time,  effort  and  resources  to  ensure  compliance  and  respond  to  any  regulatory  inquiries  or  investigations.  In 
addition,  press  coverage  and  other  public  statements  that  assert  some  form  of  wrongdoing  by  financial  services  companies 
(including  press  coverage  and  public  statements  that  do  not  involve  us)  may  result  in  regulatory  inquiries  or  investigations, 
which, independent of the outcome, may be time-consuming and expensive and may divert time, effort and resources from our 
business. Evolving regulations and guidance concerning executive compensation may also impose limitations on us that affect 
our ability to compete successfully for executive and management talent.

Regulatory initiatives regarding bank capital requirements may require increased capital.

Cadence is subject to risk-based and leverage capital requirements. We must maintain certain risk-based and leverage 
capital  ratios  as  required  by  our  banking  regulators,  which  can  change  depending  on  economic  conditions  and  our  particular 
condition, risk profile, growth plans, and regulatory capital guidelines. Failure to meet minimum capital guidelines and/or other 
regulatory  requirements  can  subject  the  Company  to  certain  mandatory  and  possibly  additional  discretionary  actions  by 
regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 
Additional  information,  including  the  Company’s  and  Bank’s  compliance  with  applicable  capital  adequacy  standards  is 
provided  in  Note  19  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations—Regulatory Capital.”

In  March  2020,  the  Basel  Committee  on  Banking  Supervision  announced  that  it  will  delay  the  implementation  of 
outstanding capital standards, commonly referred to as “Basel IV”, to allow banks to focus their resources on navigating the 
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The standards, originally set to be implemented on January 1, 2022, now have an 
implementation date of January 1, 2023.

Changes in accounting rules applicable to banks could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

From  time  to  time,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (the  “FASB”)  and  the  SEC  change  the  financial 
accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. These changes can be 
hard to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some 
cases,  we  could  be  required  to  apply  a  new  or  revised  standard  retroactively,  resulting  in  a  restatement  of  our  prior  period 
financial statements.

On  January  1,  2020,  we  implemented  FASB’s  Accounting  Standards  Codification  (“ASC”)  Topic  326,  Financial 
Instruments - Credit Losses. This guidance replaced the existing “incurred loss” methodology for financial assets measured at 
amortized  cost,  and  introduced  requirements  to  estimate  current  expected  credit  losses  (“CECL”).  Under  the  incurred  loss 
methodology, credit losses were recognized only when the losses were probable or had been incurred; under CECL, companies 

32

are required to recognize the full amount of expected credit losses for the lifetime of the financial assets, based on historical 
experience,  current  conditions  and  reasonable  and  supportable  forecasts.  This  change  requires  earlier  recognition  of  credit 
losses that are deemed expected but not yet probable, and we expect will result in higher reserves for credit losses and higher 
volatility in the quarterly provision for credit losses.

The CECL model also impacts the accounting for bank acquisition activity by requiring the recognition of expected 
credit  losses  on  acquired  loans  at  the  date  of  acquisition,  in  addition  to  the  purchase  discount,  if  any.  With  the  exception  of 
purchased loans with credit deterioration (“PCD”), this day-one recognition of the allowance for credit losses is recorded with 
an  offset  to  net  income.  For  PCD  loans,  the  initial  estimate  of  expected  credit  losses  is  recognized  as  an  adjustment  to  the 
amortized cost basis of the loan at acquisition (i.e., a balance sheet gross-up).

Regulators periodically examine our business and we may be required to remediate adverse examination findings.

The  FDIC,  the  MDBCF  and  the  CFPB  periodically  examine  our  business,  including  our  compliance  with  laws  and 
regulations, and we may become subject to other regulatory agency examinations in the future. If, as a result of an examination, 
a  federal  or  state  banking  agency  were  to  determine  that  our  financial  condition,  capital  resources,  asset  quality,  earnings 
prospects,  management,  liquidity,  or  other  aspects  of  any  of  our  operations  had  become  unsatisfactory,  or  that  we  were  in 
violation  of  any  law  or  regulation,  it  may  require  us  to  take  a  number  of  different  remedial  actions  as  it  deems  appropriate. 
These actions include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions 
resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in 
our capital, to restrict our growth by preventing us from acquiring other financial institutions or limiting our ability to expand 
our  business  by  engaging  in  new  activities,  to  change  the  asset  composition  of  our  portfolio  or  balance  sheet,  to  assess  civil 
monetary penalties against our officers or directors, to remove officers and directors and, if it is concluded that such conditions 
cannot  be  corrected  or  there  is  an  imminent  risk  of  loss  to  depositors,  to  terminate  our  deposit  insurance  and  place  us  into 
receivership or conservatorship. Any regulatory action against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition and results of operations.

The Company is operating under a Consent Order, and its failure to comply with the Consent Order could materially 
and adversely affect our business.

On  August  30,  2021,  Legacy  Cadence  Bank  and  the  U.S.  Department  of  Justice  (“DOJ”)  agreed  to  a  settlement  set 
forth in the consent order related to the investigation by the DOJ of Legacy Cadence Bank’s fair lending program in Harris, Fort 
Bend and Montgomery Counties located in Houston, Texas during the period between 2014 and 2016 (the “Consent Order”). 
Under  the  Consent  Order,  Legacy  Cadence  Bank  will,  among  other  things,  implement  a  mutually  agreed  upon  Fair  Lending 
Plan, invest $4.17 million in a loan subsidy fund to increase credit opportunities to residents of majority-Black and Hispanic 
neighborhoods and will devote $1.38 million toward advertising, community outreach, and credit repair and education. Legacy 
Cadence Bank will also open one full-service branch to serve the banking and credit needs of residents in a majority-Black and 
Hispanic  neighborhood  in  Houston.  In  addition,  Legacy  Cadence  Bank  will  employ  a  director  of  community  lending  and 
development  who  will  oversee  these  efforts  and  work  in  close  consultation  with  Legacy  Cadence  Bank’s  leadership.  The 
Consent Order was signed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, on August 
31,  2021.  Pursuant  to  Section  5.2  of  the  Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger  and  Paragraph  50  of  the  Consent  Order,  legacy 
BancorpSouth Bank approved the negotiated settlement, and subsequently, the Company agreed to accept the obligations of the 
Consent Order. The Consent Order is in effect for five years. For additional information regarding the terms of this settlement 
and the Consent Order, see Legacy Cadence’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on August 30, 2021.

The Company is operating under the Consent Order. Our Board of Directors and senior management team have been 
working diligently to comply with the Consent Order and believe that they have allocated sufficient resources to address the 
corrective actions required by the DOJ. Compliance with and resolution of the Consent Order will ultimately be determined by 
the DOJ. The Company’s failure to comply with the Consent Order and to successfully implement its requirements may cause 
us  to  incur  additional  significant  compliance  costs,  subject  us  to  larger  fines,  result  in  serious  reputational  consequences, 
additional regulatory enforcement actions, including the imposition of material restrictions on the activities of the Company or 
the assessment of fines or penalties against the Company and its officers and directors, which could prevent the Company from 
executing its business strategy and negatively impact its business, or additional enforcement of the Consent Order through court 
proceedings.  Any  of  these  results  could  have  a  material  and  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  results  of  operations,  financial 
condition, cash flows and stock price.

33

Compliance Risk

We are subject to numerous laws designed to protect consumers, including the CRA and fair lending laws, and failure to 
comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions.

The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations impose 
nondiscriminatory  lending  requirements  on  financial  institutions.  The  Department  of  Justice  and  other  federal  agencies, 
including  the  CFPB,  are  responsible  for  enforcing  these  laws  and  regulations.  A  successful  regulatory  challenge  to  an 
institution’s  performance  under  the  CRA  or  fair  lending  laws  and  regulations  could  result  in  a  wide  variety  of  sanctions, 
including damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity, restrictions on 
expansion, and restrictions on entering new business lines. As discussed in more detail above, the Company is subject to the 
Consent  Order  in  connection  with  Legacy  Cadence  Bank’s  compliance  with  fair  lending  laws.  In  the  case  of  the  CRA,  the 
performance of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its community and its overall CRA rating are factors that 
will be taken into consideration when the federal banking agencies evaluate applications related to mergers and acquisitions, as 
well as branch opening and relocations. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under 
fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition and results of operations.

Federal, state and local consumer lending laws may restrict our ability to originate certain mortgage loans or increase 
our risk of liability with respect to such loans and could increase our cost of doing business.

Federal,  state  and  local  laws  have  been  adopted  that  are  intended  to  eliminate  certain  lending  practices  considered 
“predatory.” These laws prohibit practices such as steering borrowers away from more affordable products, selling unnecessary 
insurance to borrowers, repeatedly refinancing loans and making loans without a reasonable expectation that the borrowers will 
be able to repay the loans irrespective of the value of the underlying property. It is our policy not to make predatory loans, but 
these laws create the potential for liability with respect to our lending and loan investment activities. They increase our cost of 
doing business and, ultimately, may prevent us from making certain loans and cause us to reduce the average percentage rate or 
the points and fees on loans that we do make.

The  expanding  body  of  federal,  state  and  local  regulations  and/or  the  licensing  of  loan  servicing,  collections  or  other 
aspects  of  our  business  and  our  sales  of  loans  to  third  parties  may  increase  the  cost  of  compliance  and  the  risks  of 
noncompliance and subject us to litigation.

We  service  some  of  our  own  loans,  and  loan  servicing  is  subject  to  extensive  regulation  by  federal,  state  and  local 
governmental  authorities  as  well  as  to  various  laws  and  judicial  and  administrative  decisions  imposing  requirements  and 
restrictions  on  those  activities.  The  volume  of  new  or  modified  laws  and  regulations  has  increased  in  recent  years  and,  in 
addition, some individual municipalities have begun to enact laws that restrict loan servicing activities including delaying or 
temporarily  preventing  foreclosures  or  forcing  the  modification  of  certain  mortgages.  If  regulators  impose  new  or  more 
restrictive  requirements,  we  may  incur  additional  significant  costs  to  comply  with  such  requirements  which  may  further 
adversely  affect  us.  In  addition,  were  we  to  be  subject  to  regulatory  investigation  or  regulatory  action  regarding  our  loan 
modification and foreclosure practices, our financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

Economic Conditions

The  fiscal  and  monetary  policies  of  the  U.S.  government  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  results  of 
operations.

Our business is significantly affected by fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. federal government and its agencies,

particularly  the  Federal  Reserve  Board.  Federal  Reserve  policies  determine  in  large  part  the  cost  of  funds  for  lending  and 
investing  and  the  returned  earned  on  those  loans  and  investments,  both  of  which  impact  our  net  interest  margin.  Federal 
Reserve policies may also adversely affect borrowers, potentially increasing the risk that they may fail to repay their loans or 
could adversely create asset bubbles which result from prolonged periods of accommodative policy. This, in turn, may result in 
volatile markets and rapidly declining collateral values. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve and other governmental 
policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do 
so in the future. Changes in any of these policies are influenced by macroeconomic conditions and other factors that are beyond 
our control. Adverse economic conditions and government policy responses to such conditions could have a material adverse 
effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

34

The Federal Reserve has implemented significant economic strategies that have impacted interest rates, inflation, asset 
values, and the shape of the yield curve, over which the Company has no control and which the Company may not be 
able to adequately anticipate.

In  recent  years,  in  response  to  the  recession  in  2008  and  the  following  uneven  recovery,  the  Federal  Reserve 
implemented  a  series  of  domestic  monetary  initiatives.  Several  of  these  have  emphasized  so-called  quantitative  easing 
strategies,  the  most  recent  of  which  ended  during  2014.  Since  then  the  Federal  Reserve  raised  rates  nine  times  during  2015 
through  2018,  and  reduced  rates  five  times  during  2019  through  2021.  Further  rate  changes  reportedly  are  dependent  on  the 
Federal Reserve’s assessment of economic data as it becomes available. The Company cannot predict the nature or timing of 
future changes in monetary, economic, or other policies or the effect that they may have on the Company's business activities, 
financial condition and results of operations.

The current economic environment poses significant challenges and could adversely affect our financial condition and 
results of operations.

We are operating in a challenging and uncertain economic environment. Financial institutions continue to be affected 
by  uncertainty  in  the  real  estate  market,  the  credit  markets,  and  the  national  financial  market  generally.  We  retain  direct 
exposure to the commercial and residential real estate markets, and we are affected by events in these markets. The uncertainty 
in  economic  conditions  has  subjected  us  and  other  financial  institutions  to  increased  regulatory  scrutiny.  In  addition, 
deterioration in local economic conditions in our markets could result in losses beyond that provided for in our ACL and result 
in increased loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures. This may also result in declining demand for products and 
services, decreased deposits and increased borrowings under our current contractual obligations to extend credit, all of which 
would adversely impact our liquidity positions, and declining values for loan collateral, which in turn would reduce customers’ 
borrowing power and the value of assets and collateral associated with our existing loans.

Investment in Our Common Stock

The  price  of  our  common  stock  and  preferred  stock  may  fluctuate  significantly,  which  may  make  it  difficult  for 
investors to resell shares of our common stock or preferred stock at a time or price they find attractive.

The price of our common stock and preferred stock may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, many 
of which are beyond our control. In addition to those described in “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements,” 
these factors include, among others:

•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•

•
•

actual or anticipated quarterly fluctuations in our operating results, financial condition or asset quality;
changes  in  financial  estimates  or  the  publication  of  research  reports  and  recommendations  by  financial 
analysts or actions taken by rating agencies with respect to us or other financial institutions;
failure to declare dividends on our capital stock from time to time;
failure to meet analysts’ revenue or earnings estimates;
failure to integrate acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions;
strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, restructurings, dispositions or financings;
fluctuations in the stock price and operating results of our competitors or other companies that investors deem
comparable to us;
future sales of our capital stock or other securities;
proposed or final regulatory changes or developments;
anticipated or pending regulatory investigations, proceedings, or litigation that may involve or affect us;
reports  in  the  press  or  investment  community  generally  relating  to  our  reputation  or  the  financial  services 
industry;
domestic and international economic and political factors unrelated to our performance;
general  market  conditions  and,  in  particular,  developments  related  to  market  conditions  for  the  financial 
services industry;
adverse weather conditions, including floods, tornadoes and hurricanes; and
geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts.

In addition, in recent years, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This 
volatility  has  had  a  significant  effect  on  the  market  price  of  securities  issued  by  many  companies,  including  for  reasons 
unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our capital 

35

stock, notwithstanding our operating results. We expect that the market price of our capital stock will continue to fluctuate and 
there can be no assurances about the levels of the market prices for our capital stock.

General  market  fluctuations,  industry  factors  and  general  economic  and  political  conditions  and  events,  such  as 
economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends, could also cause the stock price of our capital 
stock to decrease regardless of operating results.

Securities analysts may not continue coverage on our common stock, which could adversely affect the market for our 
common stock.

The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities analysts publish 
about  us  and  our  business.  We  do  not  have  any  control  over  these  securities  analysts,  and  they  may  not  cover  our  common 
stock. If securities analysts do not continue to cover our common stock, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect our 
market price. If our common stock is the subject of an unfavorable report, the price of our common stock may decline. If one or 
more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to publish regular reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, 
which could cause the price or trading volume of our common stock to decline.

The  rights  of  our  common  shareholders  are  generally  subordinate  to  the  rights  of  holders  of  our  debt  securities  and 
preferred stock and may be subordinate to the rights of holders of any class of preferred stock or any debt securities 
that we may issue in the future.

Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue debt securities as well as an aggregate of up to 500,000,000 shares of 
preferred stock without any further action on the part of our shareholders. Our Board of Directors also has the power, without 
shareholder approval, to set the terms of any debt securities or series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting 
rights,  dividend  rights,  and  preferences  over  our  common  stock  with  respect  to  dividends  or  in  the  event  of  a  dissolution, 
liquidation or winding up and other terms. The shares and subordinated notes have certain rights that are senior to our common 
stock. Any debt or shares of preferred stock that we may issue in the future may be senior to our common stock. Accordingly, 
you should assume that any debt securities or preferred stock that we may issue in the future will also be senior to our common 
stock.  Because  our  decision  to  issue  debt  or  equity  securities  or  incur  other  borrowings  in  the  future  will  depend  on  market 
conditions  and  other  factors  beyond  our  control,  the  amount,  timing,  nature  or  success  of  our  future  capital  raising  efforts  is 
uncertain. Holders of our common stock bear the risk that our future issuances of debt or equity securities or our occurrence of 
other borrowings may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.

In the event that we issue preferred stock or debt securities in the future that has preference over our common stock 
with  respect  to  payment  of  dividends  or  upon  our  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up,  or  if  we  issue  preferred  stock  with 
voting rights that dilute the voting power of our common stock, the rights of the holders of our common stock or the market 
price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

Adverse  changes  in  the  ratings  for  our  debt  securities  or  preferred  stock  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 
business,  financial  condition  and  liquidity  and  may  increase  our  funding  costs  or  impair  our  ability  to  effectively 
compete for business and clients.

The major rating agencies regularly evaluate us and their ratings of our long-term debt and preferred stock based on a 
number of factors, including our financial strength and conditions affecting the financial services industry generally. In general, 
rating  agencies  base  their  ratings  on  many  quantitative  and  qualitative  factors,  including  capital  adequacy,  liquidity,  asset 
quality,  business  mix  and  level  and  quality  of  earnings,  and  we  may  not  be  able  to  maintain  our  current  credit  ratings  and 
preferred  stock  ratings.  Our  ratings  remain  subject  to  change  at  any  time,  and  it  is  possible  that  any  rating  agency  will  take 
action to downgrade us in the future.

The ratings for our debt securities and preferred stock impact our ability to obtain funding. Reductions in any of the 
ratings  for  our  debt  securities  or  preferred  stock  could  adversely  affect  our  ability  to  borrow  funds  and  raise  capital. 
Downgrades in our ratings could trigger additional collateral or funding obligations, which may adversely impact our liquidity. 
Therefore,  any  negative  credit  rating  actions  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  results  of  operations, 
financial condition or liquidity.

Furthermore, our clients and counterparties may be sensitive to the risks posed by a downgrade to our ratings and may 
terminate their relationships with us, may be less likely to engage in transactions with us, or may only engage in transactions 
with  us  at  a  substantially  higher  cost.  We  cannot  predict  the  extent  to  which  client  relationships  or  opportunities  for  future 
relationships  could  be  adversely  affected  due  to  a  downgrade  in  our  ratings.  The  inability  to  retain  clients  or  to  effectively 
compete for new business may have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Additionally, rating agencies themselves have been subject to scrutiny arising from the financial crisis. As a result or 
for unrelated reasons, the rating agencies may make or may be required to make substantial changes to their ratings policies and 

36

practices. Such changes may, among other things, adversely affect the ratings of our securities or other securities in which we 
have an economic interest.

Our ability to declare and pay dividends is limited.

There  can  be  no  assurance  of  whether  or  when  we  may  pay  dividends  on  our  capital  stock  in  the  future.  Future 
dividends, if any, will be declared and paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors. 
Although  the  Company’s  asset  quality,  earnings  performance,  liquidity  and  capital  requirements  will  be  taken  into  account 
before we declare or pay any future dividends on our capital stock, our Board of Directors will also consider our liquidity and 
capital requirements. In addition, federal and state banking laws and regulations and state corporate laws restrict the amount of 
dividends we may declare and pay. See “Item 1. Business – Regulation and Supervision” included herein for more information. 
Finally, so long as any shares of our 5.50% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 (“Series A 
Preferred  Stock”)  remain  outstanding,  unless  we  have  paid  in  full  (or  declared  and  set  aside  funds  sufficient  for)  applicable 
dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, we may not declare or pay any dividend on our common stock, other than a dividend 
payable solely in shares of common stock or in connection with a shareholder rights plan.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that could impede a takeover of the Company.

Certain  provisions  of  our  certificate  of  incorporation  and  bylaws  could  delay,  defer,  or  prevent  a  third  party  from 
acquiring  control  of  our  organization  or  conduct  a  proxy  contest,  even  if  those  events  were  perceived  by  many  of  our 
shareholders as beneficial to their interests. These provisions:

•
•

enable our Board of Directors to issue additional shares of authorized, but unissued capital stock;
enable  our  Board  of  Directors  to  issue  “blank  check”  preferred  stock  with  such  designations,  rights  and 
preferences as may be determined from time to time by the board;
•
enable our Board of Directors to increase the size of the board and fill the vacancies created by the increase;
• may  prohibit  large  shareholders,  in  particular  those  owning  15%  or  more  of  our  outstanding  voting  stock, 

from merging or combining with us for a certain period of time;
provide for a plurality voting standard in the election of directors;
do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors;
enable our Board of Directors to amend our bylaws without shareholder approval;
do not allow for the removal of directors without cause;
limit the right of shareholders to call a special meeting;
require advance notice for director nominations and other shareholder proposals; and
require prior regulatory application and approval of any transaction involving control of our organization.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

These  provisions  may  discourage  potential  acquisition  proposals  and  could  delay  or  prevent  a  change  in  control, 

including when our shareholders might otherwise receive a premium over the market price of our shares.

Shares of our common stock and preferred stock are not deposits insured by the FDIC and are subject to risk of loss.

Shares of our common stock and preferred stock are not deposit accounts and are not insured by the FDIC or any other 

government agency and are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of your investment.

The return on investment in our common stock is uncertain.

An investor in our common stock may not realize a substantial return on his or her investment or may not realize any

return at all. Further, as a result of the uncertainty and risks associated with our operations, many of which are described in this 
“Risk Factors” section, it is possible that an investor could lose his or her entire investment.

37

Other Risks

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting, insurance, compliance and other expenses. Any deficiencies 
in our financial reporting or internal controls could materially and adversely affect us, including resulting in material 
misstatements in our financial statements, and the market price of our common stock.

As  a  public  company,  we  incur  significant  legal,  accounting,  insurance  and  other  expenses.  These  costs  and 
compliance with the rules of the SEC and the rules of the applicable stock exchange may further increase our legal and financial 
compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming and costly. SEC rules require that our Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer periodically certify the existence and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting 
and our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to attest to our assessment of our internal control over 
financial  reporting.  This  process  requires  significant  documentation  of  policies,  procedures  and  systems,  review  of  that 
documentation by our internal auditing and accounting staff and our outside independent registered public accounting firm and 
testing of our internal control over financial reporting by our internal auditing and accounting staff and our outside independent 
registered  public  accounting  firm.  This  process  involves  considerable  time  and  attention  from  management,  which  could 
prevent  us  from  successfully  implementing  our  business  initiatives  and  improving  our  business,  results  of  operations  and 
financial condition, may strain our internal resources, and increases our operating costs.

During our testing, we may identify deficiencies that would have to be remediated to satisfy the SEC rules for 

certification of our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is defined by the standards issued by the 
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial 
reporting that results in a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will 
not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Therefore, we would have to disclose in periodic reports we file with the FDIC 
any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. The existence of a material weakness would preclude 
management from concluding that our internal control over financial reporting is effective and would preclude our independent 
auditors from attesting to our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is effective. In 
addition, disclosures of deficiencies of this type in our FDIC reports could cause investors to lose confidence in our financial 
reporting, may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, and could result in the delisting of our securities from 
the securities exchanges on which they trade. Moreover, effective internal controls are necessary to produce reliable financial 
reports and to prevent fraud. If we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial 
reporting, it may materially and adversely affect us.

We may be adversely affected by changes in U.S. tax laws.

We  are  subject  to  federal  and  applicable  state  tax  regulations.  Such  tax  regulations  are  often  complex  and  require 
interpretation  and  changes  in  these  regulations  could  negatively  impact  our  results  of  operations.  In  the  normal  course  of 
business, we are routinely subject to examinations and challenges from federal and applicable state tax authorities regarding the 
amount  of  taxes  due.  Federal  and  state  taxing  authorities  have  become  increasingly  aggressive  in  challenging  tax  positions 
taken by financial institutions. These tax positions may relate to tax compliance, sales and use, franchise, gross receipts, payroll, 
property  and  income  tax  issues,  including  tax  base,  apportionment  and  tax  credit  planning.  The  challenges  made  by  tax 
authorities  may  result  in  adjustments  to  the  timing  or  amount  of  taxable  income  or  deductions  or  the  allocation  of  income 
among tax jurisdictions. If any such challenges are made and are not resolved in our favor, they could have a material adverse 
effect on our results of operations.

We depend upon key personnel and we may not be able to retain them or attract, assimilate and retain highly qualified 
employees in the future. 

Our success depends in significant part upon the continued service of our senior management team and our continuing 
ability  to  attract,  assimilate  and  retain  highly  qualified  and  skilled  managerial,  product  development,  lending,  marketing  and 
other personnel. We have an experienced senior management team and other key personnel that our board of directors believes 
is capable of managing and growing our business. The loss of the services of any member of our senior management or other 
key personnel or the inability to hire or retain qualified personnel in the future could adversely affect our business, results of 
operations and financial condition.

38

We  are  required  to  make  significant  estimates  and  assumptions  in  the  preparation  of  our  financial  statements.  These 
estimates and assumptions may not be accurate and are subject to change.

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make

significant  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosures  of  contingent 
assets  and  liabilities  at  the  date  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  and  the  reported  amounts  of  income  and  expense 
during the reporting periods. Critical estimates are made by management in determining, among other things, the accounting for 
business  combinations,  estimates  of  fair  value,  ACL  and  valuation  of  deferred  tax  assets.  If  our  underlying  estimates  and 
assumptions  prove  to  be  incorrect  or  if  events  occur  that  require  us  to  revise  our  previous  estimates  or  assumptions,  our 
financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

We are involved in legal proceedings and may be the subject of additional litigation or government investigations in the 
future; the actual cost of legal proceedings may exceed our accruals for them.

The  nature  of  our  business  ordinarily  results  in  a  certain  amount  of  litigation  and  investigations  by  government 
agencies having oversight over our business. Although we have developed policies and procedures to minimize the impact of 
legal  noncompliance  and  other  disputes  and  endeavored  to  provide  reasonable  insurance  coverage,  litigation,  government 
investigations and regulatory actions present an ongoing risk.

We cannot predict with certainty the cost of defense, the cost of prosecution or the ultimate outcome of litigation and 
other proceedings filed by or against us, our directors, management or employees, including remedies or damage awards. On at 
least a quarterly basis, we assess our liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings as well as 
certain threatened claims (which are not considered incidental to the ordinary conduct of our business) utilizing the latest and 
most reliable information available. For matters where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss cannot be estimated, no 
accrual is established. For matters where it is probable we will incur a loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we 
establish an accrual for the loss. Once established, the accrual is adjusted periodically to reflect any relevant developments. The 
actual cost of any outstanding legal proceedings and the potential loss, however, may turn out to be substantially higher than the 
amount accrued. Further, our insurance may not cover all litigation, other proceedings or claims, or the costs of defense. While 
the final outcome of any legal proceedings is inherently uncertain, based on the information available, advice of counsel and 
available  insurance  coverage,  if  applicable,  management  believes  that  the  litigation-related  expense  we  have  accrued  is 
adequate  and  that  any  incremental  liability  arising  from  pending  legal  proceedings,  including  class  action  litigation,  and 
threatened claims and those otherwise arising in the ordinary course of business, will not have a material adverse effect on our 
business  or  consolidated  financial  condition.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  future  developments  could  result  in  an  unfavorable 
outcome for any lawsuit or investigation in which we or our subsidiaries are involved, which may have a material adverse effect 
on our business or our results of operations for one or more quarterly reporting periods. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion 
and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations-Financial  Condition  -  Certain  Litigation  and  Other 
Contingencies” for more information regarding material pending legal proceedings and ongoing government investigations.

Reputational risk may impact our results.

Our ability to originate and maintain accounts is highly dependent upon customer and other external perceptions of our 
business practices and/or our financial health. Adverse perceptions regarding our business practices and/or our financial health 
could damage our reputation in both the customer and funding markets, leading to difficulties in generating and maintaining 
accounts as well as in financing them. Adverse developments with respect to customer or other external perceptions regarding 
the  practices  of  our  competitors,  or  our  industry  as  a  whole,  may  also  adversely  impact  our  reputation.  While  we  carefully 
monitor internal and external developments for areas of potential reputational risk and have established governance structures to 
assist in evaluating such risks in our business practices and decisions, adverse reputational impacts on third parties with whom 
we have important relationships may also adversely impact our reputation. Adverse impacts on our reputation, or the reputation 
of  our  industry,  may  also  result  in  greater  regulatory  and/or  legislative  scrutiny,  which  may  lead  to  laws,  regulations  or 
regulatory  actions  that  may  change  or  constrain  the  manner  in  which  we  engage  with  our  customers  and  the  products  and 
services we offer. Adverse reputational impacts or events may also increase our litigation risk. 

Our framework for managing risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and any resulting loss.

Our risk management framework seeks to mitigate risk and any resulting loss. We have established processes intended 
to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including liquidity, credit, market, 
interest rate, operational, legal and compliance, and reputational risk. However, as with any risk management framework, there 
are inherent limitations to our risk management processes and strategies. There may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we 
have  not  appropriately  anticipated  or  identified.  Also,  breakdowns  in  our  risk  management  framework  could  have  a  material 
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

39

The  effects  of  climate  change  could  include  increases  in  the  number  and  severity  of  hurricanes,  tornados,  tropical 
storms  or  other  adverse  weather  events,  which  could  in  turn  negatively  affect  local  economies  where  we  maintain 
branch offices or cause disruption or damage to our branch office locations, which could have an adverse effect on our 
business or results of operations.

We have operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and 
Texas,  which  include  areas  susceptible  to  hurricanes,  tornados  or  tropical  storms.  Such  weather  conditions  can  disrupt  our 
operations, result in damage to our branch office locations or negatively affect the local economies in which we operate. We 
cannot predict whether or to what extent damage caused by future hurricanes, tornados, tropical storms or other adverse weather 
events will affect our operations or the economies in our market areas, but such weather conditions could result in a decline in 
loan originations and an increase in the risk of delinquencies, foreclosures or loan losses. Our business or results of operations 
may  be  adversely  affected  by  these  and  other  negative  effects  of  devastating  hurricanes,  tornados,  tropical  storms  or  other 
adverse weather events. 

Anti-takeover provisions may discourage a change of our control.

Our governing documents and certain agreements to which we are a party contain provisions that make a change-in-
control  difficult  to  accomplish,  and  may  discourage  a  potential  acquirer.  These  include  a  classified  or  “staggered”  board  of 
directors,  change-in-control  agreements  with  members  of  management  and  supermajority  voting  requirements.  These  anti-
takeover provisions may have an adverse effect on the market for our capital stock.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

As  of  December  31,  2021,  the  physical  properties  of  the  Company  are  located  in  the  states  of  Alabama,  Arkansas, 
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Illinois. The Company maintains dual headquarters 
in Tupelo, Mississippi and Houston, Texas. The Company’s main office is located at One Mississippi Plaza, 201 South Spring 
Street in the central business district of Tupelo, Mississippi in a seven-floor, modern, glass, concrete and steel office building 
owned  by  the  Company.  The  Company  occupies  approximately  85%  of  the  space,  with  the  remainder  leased  to  various 
unaffiliated  tenants.  The  Company  also  owns  an  additional  340  buildings  that  provide  space  for  branch  banking,  computer 
operations,  lease  servicing,  mortgage  banking,  warehouse  needs  and  other  general  purposes.  In  addition  to  the  facilities  the 
Company  owns,  115  branch-banking,  mortgage  banking,  insurance  and  operational  facilities  are  occupied  under  leases  with 
unexpired terms ranging from one to twenty-six years. Of the owned and leased properties described above, 419 properties are 
used by the Community and Corporate Banking segments, 117 are used by the Mortgage segment, 29 properties are used by the 
Insurance  Agencies  segment,  40  properties  are  used  by  the  Banking  Services  segment,  and  14  properties  are  used  by  the 
General Corporate and Other segment. Management considers all of the Company’s owned buildings and leased premises to be 
in good condition. None of the Company’s properties are subject to any material encumbrances.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The  information  in  response  to  this  item  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  “Note  22  -  Commitments  and 
Contingent  Liabilities  -  Litigation”  in  the  notes  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  included  in  Part  II.  Item  8.  of  this 
Report.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

40

PART II

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

MARKET FOR CAPITAL STOCK

The common stock of the Company trades on the NYSE under the symbol “CADE,” and the 5.50% Series A Non-

Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “CADE Pr A.”

HOLDERS OF RECORD

As of February 24, 2022, there were 6,713 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.

DIVIDENDS

The Company declared cash dividends each quarter in an aggregate annual amount of $0.780 and $0.745 per share of 
common  stock  during  2021  and  2020,  respectively.  Future  dividends,  if  any,  will  vary  depending  on  the  Company’s 
profitability, anticipated capital requirements and applicable federal and state regulations. Under Mississippi law, the Company 
must obtain the non-objection of the Commissioner of the MDBCF prior to paying any dividend on the Company’s common 
stock. In addition, the Company may not pay any dividends if, after paying the dividend, it would be undercapitalized under 
applicable  capital  requirements.  The  Company  is  further  restricted  by  the  FDIC’s  authority  to  prohibit  the  Company  from 
engaging in business practices that the FDIC considers to be unsafe or unsound, which, depending on the financial condition of 
the Company, could include the payment of dividends. There can be no assurance that the FDIC or other regulatory bodies will 
not limit or prohibit future dividends. Finally, so long as any shares of our Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, unless 
we have paid in full (or declared and set aside funds sufficient for) applicable dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, we 
may not declare or pay any dividend on our common stock, other than a dividend payable solely in shares of common stock or 
in connection with a shareholder rights plan. See “Item 1. Business – Regulation and Supervision” included herein for more 
information on restrictions and limitations on the Company’s ability to pay dividends.

41

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company had repurchases of shares of common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 as follows:

Period

October 1 - October 31
November 1- November 30
December 1- December 31
Total

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1) (2)

Average Price
Paid per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs(2)

Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs(2)(3)

—  $ 
3,319,331   
957,467   

4,276,798 

—   
30.96   
29.58   

—   
3,314,026   
943,500   

4,257,526 
943,500 
— 

(1) This column included 5,305 shares redeemed in November 2021 and 13,967 shares redeemed in December of 2021 from employees for 
tax  withholding  purposes  for  stock  compensation  and  4,257,526  shares  repurchased  under  the  stock  repurchase  program  that  was 
completed in December 2021.

(2) On December 9, 2020, the Company announced a share repurchase program whereby the Company could acquire up to an aggregate of 
6,000,000 shares of its common stock in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions during the 
period between January 4, 2021 through December 31, 2021. The extent and timing of any repurchases depends on market conditions 
and  other  corporate,  legal  and  regulatory  considerations.  Repurchased  shares  are  held  as  authorized  but  unissued  shares.  These 
authorized but unissued shares will be available for use in connection with the Company’s equity incentive plans, other compensation 
programs, other transactions or for other corporate purposes as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 
2021, the Company had completed the repurchase of all 6,000,000 shares.

(3) On December 8, 2021, the Company announced a new share repurchase program whereby the Company may acquire up to an aggregate 
of 10,000,000 shares of its common stock in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions during 
the period between January 3, 2022 through December 30, 2022. The extent and timing of any repurchases depends on market conditions 
and  other  corporate,  legal  and  regulatory  considerations.  Repurchased  shares  are  held  as  authorized  but  unissued  shares.  These 
authorized but unissued shares will be available for use in connection with the Company’s equity incentive plans, other compensation 
programs, other transactions or for other corporate purposes as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 
2021, the Company had not repurchased any shares under this repurchase program.

RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

From  time  to  time,  the  Company  issues  securities  in  certain  transactions  that  are  described  in  its  period  and  current 
reports. The securities issued in these transactions are issued in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(2) of the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, because the sales involve securities issued by a bank.

STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The graph below compares the annual percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s 
common stock against the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index and the KBW Bank Index for a period of five years. 
The graph assumes an investment of $100 in the Company’s common stock and in each respective index on December 31, 2016 
and reinvestment of dividends without commissions. The KBW Bank Index is a modified cap-weighted index consisting of 24 
exchange-listed  National  Market  System  stocks,  representing  national  money  center  banks  and  leading  regional  institutions. 
The performance graph represents past performance and should not be considered to be an indication of future performance.

42

 
 
 
 
Index
Cadence	Bank
S&P	500	Index
KBW	Bank	Index

Period	Ending

12/31/16

12/31/17

12/31/18

12/31/19

12/31/20

12/31/21

100.00	 	
100.00	 	
100.00	 	

103.04	 	
121.82	 	
118.59	 	

87.32	 	
116.47	 	
97.59	 	

107.43	 	
153.13	 	
132.84	 	

97.08	 	
181.29	 	
119.15	 	

108.13	
233.28	
164.83	

This stock performance graph and related information shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” 
with the FDIC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C of the Exchange Act or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, 
except to the extent that the Company specifically requests that such information be treated as soliciting material or specifically 
incorporates it by reference into such filing.

ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

43

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total ReturnsCadence BankS&P 500 IndexKBW Bank Index12/31/1612/31/1712/31/1812/31/1912/31/2012/31/2150.00100.00150.00200.00250.00	
	
	
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

OVERVIEW

The  Company  is  a  regional  bank  with  dual  headquarters  in  Tupelo,  Mississippi  and  Houston,  Texas  with 
approximately  $47.7  billion  in  assets  at  December  31,  2021.  The  Company  has  commercial  banking  operations  in  Alabama, 
Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Tennessee  and  Texas.  The  Company’s  insurance  agency 
subsidiary also operates an office in Illinois. The Company and its insurance agency subsidiary provide commercial banking, 
leasing,  mortgage  origination  and  servicing,  insurance,  brokerage,  trust  and  payroll  services  to  corporate  customers,  local 
governments, individuals and other financial institutions through an extensive network of branches and offices.

On  October  29,  2021,  we  acquired  all  the  outstanding  stock  of  Cadence  Bancorporation  (“Legacy  Cadence”), 
headquartered in Houston, Texas, the bank holding company for Cadence Bank, N.A. Legacy Cadence shareholders received 
0.70 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for each share of Legacy Cadence Class A common stock, resulting 
in the issuance of 85.7 million shares of our common stock resulting in a purchase price of $2.5 billion. The primary reasons for 
the  transaction  were  to  create  a  more  diverse  business  mix,  enhance  our  funding  base,  leverage  operating  costs  through 
economies of scale and expand our market presence in Georgia and other attractive southern markets. The acquisition added 
$11.5 billion in loans and $16.4 billion in deposits as well as 99 branch locations throughout the southern United States.

Management’s  discussion  and  analysis  provides  a  narrative  discussion  of  the  Company’s  financial  condition  and 
results of operations. For a complete understanding of the following discussion, you should refer to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements and related Notes presented elsewhere in this Report. Management’s discussion and analysis should also be read in 
conjunction with the risk factors included in Item 1A of this Report. This discussion and analysis is based on reported financial 
information,  and  certain  amounts  for  prior  years  have  been  reclassified  to  conform  with  the  current  financial  statement 
presentation. The information that follows is provided to enhance comparability of financial information between years and to 
provide a better understanding of the Company’s operations.

The  financial  condition  and  operating  results  of  the  Company  are  heavily  influenced  by  economic  trends  nationally 
and  in  the  specific  markets  in  which  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  provide  financial  services.  Generally,  the  pressures  of  the 
national and regional economic cycle create a difficult operating environment for the financial services industry. During such 
times, the Company is not immune to pressures and any economic downturn may have a negative impact on the Company and 
its customers in all of the markets that it serves. Management believes that future weakness in the economic environment could 
adversely affect the strength of the credit quality of the Company's assets overall. Therefore, management will continue to focus 
on early identification and resolution of any credit issues.

The  largest  source  of  the  Company’s  revenue  is  derived  from  its  banking  operations.  The  financial  condition  and 
operating  results  of  the  Company  are  affected  by  the  level  and  volatility  of  interest  rates  on  loans,  investment  securities, 
deposits  and  other  borrowed  funds,  and  the  impact  of  economic  downturns  on  loan  demand,  collateral  value  and 
creditworthiness  of  existing  borrowers.  The  financial  services  industry  is  highly  competitive  and  heavily  regulated.  The 
Company’s success depends on its ability to compete aggressively within its markets while maintaining sufficient asset quality 
and cost controls to generate net income.

The  information  that  follows  is  provided  to  enhance  comparability  of  financial  information  between  periods  and  to 

provide a better understanding of the Company’s operations.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

In  addition  to  financial  ratios  based  on  measures  defined  by  U.S.  GAAP,  the  Company  has  identified  “tangible 
shareholders’  equity,”  “tangible  shareholders’  common  equity,”  “tangible  assets,”  “tangible  shareholders’  equity  to  tangible 
assets,” “tangible common shareholders’ equity to tangible assets,” and “tangible book value per share” as non-GAAP financial 
measures used when evaluating the performance of the Company. Tangible shareholders’ equity is defined by the Company as 
total  shareholders’  equity  less  goodwill  and  identifiable  intangible  assets.  Tangible  common  shareholders’  equity  to  tangible 
assets is defined by the Company as total shareholders’ equity less preferred stock, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, 
divided  by  total  assets  less  goodwill  and  identifiable  intangible  assets.  Tangible  assets  are  defined  by  the  Company  as  total 
assets  less  goodwill  and  identifiable  intangible  assets.  Management  believes  the  ratio  of  tangible  shareholders’  equity  to 
tangible assets and tangible common shareholders’ equity to tangible assets to be important to investors who are interested in 
evaluating the adequacy of the Company’s capital levels. Tangible book value per share is defined by the Company as tangible 
shareholders’ equity divided by total common shares outstanding. Management believes that tangible book value per share is 
important  to  investors  who  are  interested  in  changes  from  period  to  period  in  book  value  per  share  exclusive  of  changes  in 
intangible assets.

44

The  following  table  reconciles  tangible  shareholders’  equity,  tangible  assets  and  tangible  book  value  per  share  as 

presented above to U.S. GAAP financial measures as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements:

(Dollars in thousands)
Tangible assets:
Total assets
Less: goodwill

Other identifiable intangible assets

Total tangible assets

Tangible shareholders' equity:
Total shareholders' equity
Less: goodwill

Other identifiable intangible assets

Total tangible shareholders' equity
Less: preferred stock

Total tangible common shareholders' equity

Total common shares outstanding

Tangible shareholders' equity to tangible assets

Tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible assets

Tangible book value per common share

At or for the Year Ended December 31,
2020

2019

2021

$ 47,669,751 
  1,407,948 
198,271 
$ 46,063,532 

$ 24,081,194 
851,612 
55,899 
$ 23,173,683 

$ 21,052,576 
825,679 
60,008 
$ 20,166,889 

$  5,247,987 
  1,407,948 
198,271 
$  3,641,768 
166,993 
  3,474,775 
 188,337,658 

$  2,822,477 
851,612 
55,899 
$  1,914,966 
166,993 
  1,747,973 
 102,561,480 

$  2,685,017 
825,679 
60,008 
$  1,799,330 
167,021 
  1,632,309 
 104,522,804 

 7.91 %
 7.54 %

 8.26 %
 7.54 %

 8.92 %
 8.09 %

$ 

19.34 

$ 

17.04 

$ 

15.62 

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table presents financial highlights for each of the three year indicated:

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Common share data:

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
Cash dividends per share
Book value per share
Tangible book value per share (1)
Dividend payout ratio

Financial Ratios:

Return on average assets
Return on average shareholders' equity
Total shareholders' equity to total assets
Total common shareholders' equity to total assets
Tangible shareholders' equity to tangible assets (1)
Tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible assets (1)
Net interest margin-fully taxable equivalent

Credit Quality Ratios:

Net charge-offs to average loans and leases
Provision for credit losses to average loans and leases
Allowance for credit losses to net loans and leases
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans (“NPL”)
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming assets (“NPA”)
NPL to net loans and leases
NPA to total assets

Capital Adequacy:

Common Equity Tier 1 capital
Tier 1 capital
Total capital
Tier 1 leverage capital

At or for the Year Ended December 31,
2020

2019

2021

$ 

$ 

1.54 
1.54 
0.780 
26.98 
19.34 
 50.65 %

 0.65 %
 5.86 %
 11.01 %
 10.66 %
 7.91 %
 7.54 %
 2.96 %

 (0.03) %
 0.81 %
 1.66 %
 290.27 %
 238.96 %
 0.57 %
 0.39 %

 11.11 %
 11.61 %
 13.86 %
 9.90 %

$ 

2.12 
2.12 
0.745 
25.89 
17.04 
 35.12 %

 1.00 %
 8.37 %
 11.72 %
 11.03 %
 8.26 %
 7.54 %
 3.36 %

 0.18 %
 0.57 %
 1.63 %
 201.71 %
 184.37 %
 0.81 %
 0.55 %

 10.74 %
 11.74 %
 14.48 %
 8.67 %

2.31 
2.30 
0.710 
24.09 
15.62 
 30.76 %

 1.23 %
 9.90 %
 12.75 %
 11.96 %
 8.92 %
 8.09 %
 3.84 %

 0.02 %
 0.01 %
 0.85 %
 106.78 %
 100.68 %
 0.79 %
 0.56 %

 10.57 %
 11.60 %
 14.17 %
 9.69 %

(1) Non-GAAP financial measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations.”

The Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $185.7 million for 2021 compared to $218.6 
million for 2020 and $234.3 million for 2019. A primary factor contributing to the decrease in net income available to common 
shareholders in 2021 was an increase in the provision for credit losses from $89.0 million in 2020 to $138.1 million in 2021 
primarily as a result of the day one accounting provision required for loans and unfunded commitments acquired during 2021 
from the two acquisitions in the second quarter of 2021 and the one acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2021. The decrease in 
net income was also a result of the decrease in mortgage banking revenue from $86.3 million in 2020 to $58.1 million in 2021 
as a result of lower margins on loans sold in 2021. The decrease in net income was offset somewhat by the gain on sale of PPP 
loans of $21.6 million in 2021 with no such gain recorded in 2020. A primary factor contributing to the decrease in net income 
available to common shareholders in 2020 was an increase in the provision for credit losses from $1.5 million in 2019 to $89.0 
million in 2020 primarily as a result of the deterioration of economic factors included in the Company's allowance for credit 
losses methodology resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The primary source of revenue for the Company is net interest revenue. Net interest revenue is the difference between 
interest earned on loans, investments and other earning assets and interest paid on deposits and other obligations. Net interest 
revenue for 2021 was $805.7 million, compared to $691.0 million for 2020 and $649.9 million for 2019. Net interest revenue is 
affected by the general level of interest rates, changes in interest rates and changes in the amount and composition of interest 

46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
earning  assets  and  interest  bearing  liabilities.  One  of  the  Company’s  long-term  objectives  is  to  manage  those  assets  and 
liabilities to maximize net interest revenue, while balancing interest rate, credit, liquidity and capital risks. The 16.6% increase 
in  net  interest  revenue  in  2021  compared  to  2020  was  a  result  of  the  increase  in  interest  revenue  related  to  the  increasing 
balances  of  the  loan  and  lease  portfolio  and  the  available-for-sale  securities  combined  with  the  decrease  in  interest  expense 
associated  with  interest-bearing  demand  and  other  time  deposits  due  to  declining  rates.  The  6.3%  increase  in  net  interest 
revenue in 2020 compared to 2019 was also a result of the increase in interest revenue related to loans and leases due to the 
increasing  balance  of  the  loan  and  lease  portfolio  and  the  increasing  yields  on  the  loan  portfolio  more  than  offsetting  the 
increase in interest expense associated with interest bearing demand deposits and debt.

The Company attempts to diversify its revenue stream by increasing the amount of revenue received from mortgage 
banking operations, insurance agency activities, brokerage and securities activities and other activities that generate fee income. 
Management believes this diversification is important to reduce the impact of fluctuations in net interest revenue on the overall 
operating results of the Company. Noninterest revenue for 2021 was $378.2 million, compared to $336.5 million for 2020 and 
$280.7  million  for  2019.  One  of  the  primary  contributors  to  the  increase  in  noninterest  revenue  from  2020  to  2021  was  the 
$21.6  million  gain  on  sale  of  PPP  loans  during  2021.  This  gain  was  offset  somewhat  by  the  decrease  of  $28.2  million  in 
mortgage banking revenue to $58.1 million in 2021 compared to $86.3 million in 2020. Mortgage origination volume increased 
by $0.1 billion in 2021 to $3.3 billion from $3.2 billion in 2020. However, mortgage origination revenue decreased to $39.9 
million  in  2021  from  $90.3  million  in  2020  due  to  lower  margins  on  loans  sold  in  2021.  The  change  in  the  fair  value  of 
mortgage  servicing  rights  (“MSRs”)  somewhat  offset  the  decrease  in  mortgage  banking  revenue.  The  fair  value  of  MSRs, 
including the hedge, was a positive $10.1 million in 2021 compared to a negative $12.8 million in 2020 and a negative $14.5 
million in 2019. The change in noninterest revenue from 2019 to 2020 was due to an increase in mortgage banking revenue 
from $19.8 million in 2019 to $86.3 million in 2020. The increase in mortgage banking revenue in 2020 was primarily related 
to the increase in mortgage origination revenue to $90.3 million resulting from an increase in origination volume to $3.2 billion.
Credit card, debit card and merchant fees increased $7.3 million to $45.5 million in 2021 from $38.2 million in 2020 
as a result of an increased number of transactions after remaining relatively stable in 2020 compared to 2019. Deposit service 
charges  increased  $6.1  million  to  $44.0  million  in  2021  after  decreasing  $8.1  million  to  $37.9  million  in  2020  compared  to 
$46.0 million in 2019. The increase in 2021 compared to 2020 is primarily related to the activity from the three acquisitions in 
2021  coupled  with  increased  economic  activity  during  2021  and  the  decrease  in  2020  compared  to  2019  is  primarily  due  to 
waived  charges  and  fees  in  an  effort  to  assist  our  customers  during  the  pandemic  along  with  reduced  activity.  Insurance 
commissions  increased  $9.9  million  in  2021  to  $135.2  million  after  increasing  $2.0  million  to  $125.3  million  in  2020  from 
$123.3 million in 2019. The increase in insurance commissions is primarily a result of higher insurance premiums related to a 
firming premium market in addition to new policies and growth in coverage from existing policies.

Wealth  management  revenue  increased  to  $39.5  million  in  2021  from  $26.2  million  in  2020  which  was  an  increase 
from  $24.8  million  in  2019.  The  increase  in  wealth  management  revenue  is  related  to  increased  trust  income  and  brokerage 
commissions and fees related to activities from the three acquisitions in 2021.

Other noninterest revenue fluctuations in 2021 compared to 2020 included the increase of bank-owned life insurance 
of $3.0 million, or 36.7% as a result of higher life insurance proceeds recorded in 2021 than 2020. In 2020 compared to 2019, 
bank-owned life insurance decreased $1.5 million or 15.1% as a result of lower life insurance proceeds recorded in 2020 than 
2019. Other noninterest revenue increased in 2021 compared to 2020 as a result of earnings on limited partnerships, gains on 
the sales of fixed assets, gains on sale of SBA loans, payroll processing revenue and the successful termination of a previously 
accrued agreement. Other noninterest revenue decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 as a result of amortization of investments in 
historic tax credits coupled with decreased trading income and loan placement fees with this decrease offset somewhat by the 
$4.2 million gain associated with the sale of a book of business within the Company's insurance agency occurring in the first 
quarter  of  2020.  The  overall  reduction  in  future  insurance  commission  revenue  related  to  the  sold  book  of  business  is  not 
considered material.

Noninterest expense for 2021 was $798.9 million, an increase of 22.7% from $650.9 million for 2020, which was an 
increase of 3.4% from $629.6 million for 2019. The increase in noninterest expense in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily a 
result of increases in salaries and employee benefits of $54.0 million, or 12.9%, as a result of salary increases and increased 
commissions  and  compensation  costs  associated  with  the  three  bank  acquisitions  in  2021  as  well  as  annual  compensation 
increases. The increase in noninterest expense in 2021 compared to 2020 was also a result of the increase in merger expense 
which  represents  costs  to  complete  the  merger  with  no  future  benefit  to  the  Company.  Merger  expense  related  to  the  three 
acquisitions  in  2021  was  $59.9  million  and  was  primarily  comprised  of  advisor  fees,  legal  fees  and  compensation  related 
expenses. The Company recorded a charge of $3.1 million in 2021 in accordance with ASC 715, Compensation - Retirement 
Benefits to reflect the settlement accounting impact of an elevated number of retirements and related lump sum pension payouts 
during 2021. Occupancy, equipment, data processing, and computer software also increased from 2020 to 2021 as a result of 
the three bank acquisitions occurring in 2021.

The  increase  in  noninterest  expense  in  2020  compared  to  2019  was  primarily  a  result  of  increases  in  salaries  and 
employee  benefits  of  $21.3  million,  or  5.4%,  as  a  result  of  salary  increases  and  increases  in  commissions  and  compensation 

47

costs associated with the one acquisition in 2020 as well as annual compensation increases. The Company recorded a charge of 
$5.8  million  in  2021  in  accordance  with  ASC  715,  Compensation  -  Retirement  Benefits  to  reflect  the  settlement  accounting 
impact of an elevated number of retirements and related lump sum pension payouts during 2020. The increase in noninterest 
expense  in  2020  compared  to  2019  was  also  a  result  of  increases  in  occupancy,  equipment,  data  processing,  and  software 
related to the one acquisition previously mentioned. These increases were offset somewhat by a decrease in merger expense of 
$8.5 million due to one bank acquisition in 2020 compared to four acquisitions in 2019. The major components of net income 
are discussed in more detail in the various sections that follow.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a summary of our results of operations for the periods presented and includes the results of Legacy Cadence 
since the merger date of October 29, 2021:

(Dollars in thousands)
Earnings Summary:
Interest revenue
Interest expense
Net interest revenue
Provision for credit losses

Net interest revenue, after provision for credit losses

Noninterest revenue
Noninterest expense
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
Net income
Less: preferred dividends
Net income available to common shareholders

Net Interest Revenue

At or for the Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
2021

$ 

$ 

882,049  $ 
76,322 
805,727 
138,062 
667,665 
378,153 
798,890 
246,928 
51,766 
195,162 
9,488 
185,674  $ 

799,493  $ 
108,526 
690,967 
89,044 
601,923 
336,504 
650,882 
287,545 
59,494 
228,051 
9,488 
218,563  $ 

775,012 
125,068 
649,944 
1,500 
648,444 
280,681 
629,607 
299,518 
65,257 
234,261 
— 
234,261 

Net interest revenue is the difference between interest revenue earned on assets, such as loans, leases and securities, 
and  interest  expense  paid  on  liabilities,  such  as  deposits  and  borrowings,  and  continues  to  provide  the  Company  with  its 
principal source of revenue. Net interest revenue is affected by the general level of interest rates, changes in interest rates and 
changes in the amount and composition of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. One of the Company’s long-
term  objectives  is  to  manage  interest  earning  assets  and  interest  bearing  liabilities  to  maximize  net  interest  revenue,  while 
balancing  interest  rate,  credit  and  liquidity  risk.  Net  interest  margin  is  determined  by  dividing  fully  taxable  equivalent  net 
interest  revenue  by  average  earning  assets.  For  purposes  of  the  following  discussion,  revenue  from  tax-exempt  loans  and 
investment securities has been adjusted to a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis, using an effective tax rate of 21% for the 
years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents average interest earning assets, average interest bearing liabilities, net interest revenue-

FTE, net interest margin-FTE and net interest rate spread for each of the years presented:

2021

2020

2019

(Dollars in thousands)

ASSETS
Loans and leases (net of unearned income) 

(1)(2)

Average
Balance

Interest

Yield/
Rate

Average
Balance

Interest

Yield/
Rate

Average
Balance

Interest

Yield/
Rate

(Dollars in thousands)

$ 17,055,429  $  759,648 

 4.45 % $ 14,984,356  $  701,772 

 4.68 % $ 13,606,951  $  699,304 

 5.14 %

Loans held for sale, at fair value

278,447 

8,035 

 2.89 %  

246,007 

8,357 

 3.40 %  

134,211 

5,201 

 3.88 %

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:

Taxable
Non-taxable (3)

Other

  9,152,620 

  111,050 

 1.21 %   4,879,279 

85,466 

 1.75 %   2,746,780 

56,660 

 2.06 %

157,327 

638,559 

4,381 

 2.78 %  

131,099 

5,043 

 3.85 %  

187,874 

9,063 

 4.82 %

1,323 

 0.21 %  

375,443 

1,621 

 0.43 %  

360,802 

8,566 

 2.37 %

Total interest earning assets and revenue

  27,282,382 

  884,437 

 3.24 %  20,616,184 

  802,259 

 3.89 %   17,036,618 

  778,794 

 4.57 %

Other assets

Less: allowance for credit losses

Total

  3,001,809 

(289,543) 

$ 29,994,648 

  2,331,023 

(223,821) 

$ 22,723,386 

  2,108,170 

(117,144) 

$ 19,027,644 

LIABILITIES AND

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Deposits:

Demand - interest bearing

$ 11,114,242  $  33,251 

 0.30 % $ 7,859,680  $  47,692 

 0.61 % $  6,576,213  $  58,771 

 0.89 %

Savings

Other time

Short-term debt

Long-term debt

  2,946,629 

3,201 

 0.11 %   2,199,405 

4,117 

 0.19 %   1,873,309 

5,361 

 0.29 %

  2,784,733 

24,394 

 0.88 %   2,649,809 

38,940 

 1.47 %   2,450,350 

39,380 

 1.61 %

713,788 

341,170 

838 

 0.12 %  

837,036 

4,488 

 0.54 %   1,029,312 

19,810 

 1.93 %

14,638 

 4.29 %  

301,526 

13,289 

 4.41 %  

39,577 

1,746 

 4.41 %

Total interest bearing liabilities and 
expense

  17,900,562 

76,322 

 0.43 %  13,847,456 

  108,526 

 0.78 %   11,968,761 

  125,068 

 1.04 %

Demand deposits - noninterest bearing

  8,382,997 

373,514 

  26,657,073 

  3,337,575 

$ 29,994,648 

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Shareholders' equity

Total

Net interest revenue-FTE

Net interest margin-FTE

Net interest rate spread

Interest bearing liabilities to interest 
earning assets

  5,850,761 

299,624 

 19,997,841 

  2,725,545 

$ 22,723,386 

  4,419,258 

272,880 

  16,660,899 

  2,366,745 

$ 19,027,644 

$  808,115 

$  693,733 

$  653,726 

 2.96 %

 2.82 %

 65.61 %

 3.36 %

 3.11 %

 67.17 %

 3.84 %

 3.53 %

 70.25 %

(1)

Includes taxable equivalent adjustment to interest of approximately $1.5 million, $1.7 million, and $1.9 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, using an effective tax rate 
of 21% for 2021, 2020 and 2019.

(2) Nonaccrual loans are included in loans and leases (net of unearned income). Nonaccrual loans were $122.1 million, $96.4 million, and $78.8 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, 

respectively.

(3)

Includes taxable equivalent adjustment to interest of approximately $0.9 million, $1.1 million, and $1.9 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, using an effective tax rate 
of 21% for 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Net interest revenue-FTE increased 16.5% to $808.1 million in 2021 from $693.7 million in 2020, which represented an 
increase of 6.1% from $653.7 million in 2019. The increase in net interest revenue-FTE for 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily a 
result of the increase in interest revenue-FTE related to the increase in average earning assets offset somewhat by a decrease in rates 
earned  on  those  interest  earning  assets  combined  with  a  decrease  in  interest  expense  related  to  the  decrease  in  rates  paid  offset 
somewhat by an increase in the average balance of interest bearing liabilities. The increase in earning assets was primarily a result of 
increases  in  balances  in  available-for-sale  securities  and  the  loan  and  lease  portfolio.  Rates  paid  on  interest-bearing  liabilities 
decreased as a result of decreases in rates paid on all interest bearing categories. The increase in net interest revenue-FTE for 2020 
compared to 2019 was primarily a result of the increase in interest revenue-FTE related to the increase in average earning assets 
offset  somewhat  by  a  decrease  in  rates  earned  on  interest  earning  assets  as  well  as  a  decrease  in  interest  expense  related  to  the 
decrease in rates paid offset somewhat by an increase in the average balance of interest bearing liabilities. The increase in earning 
assets  was  primarily  a  result  of  available-for-sale  securities.  Rates  paid  on  interest-bearing  liabilities  decreased  as  a  result  of 
decreases in rates paid on all interest bearing categories.

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest revenue-FTE increased 10.2% to $884.4 million in 2021 from $802.3 million in 2020, which represented an 
increase of 3.0% from $778.8 million in 2019. The increase in interest revenue-FTE in 2021 compared to 2020 was a result of 
increases in balances in the loan and lease portfolio and available-for-sale securities related to the three acquisitions in 2021 
coupled  with  increases  in  available-for-sale  securities  associated  with  elevated  interest-bearing  deposits  due  to  various 
government stimulus programs. The increase in interest revenue-FTE was offset somewhat by the decrease in rates earned on 
interest earning assets. Interest revenue-FTE included approximately $26 million (0.15%) and $11 million (0.08%) in accretion 
related to the purchase discounts on acquired loans for 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in interest revenue-FTE in 
2020  compared  to  2019  was  a  result  of  an  increase  in  available-for-sale  securities  associated  with  elevated  interest-bearing 
deposits due to various government stimulus programs with that increase offset somewhat by the decrease in rates earned on 
interest earning assets. The yield on average interest earning assets decreased 65 basis points in 2021 compared to 2020 and 
decreased 68 basis points in 2020 compared to 2019. Average interest earning assets increased 32.3% to $27.3 billion in 2021 
compared to $20.6 billion in 2020 after increasing 21.0% in 2020 compared to $17.0 billion in 2019.

Interest expense decreased 29.7% to $76.3 million in 2021 from $108.5 million in 2020, after decreasing 13.2% from 
$125.1  million  in  2019.  The  decrease  in  interest  expense  during  2021  and  2020  was  a  result  of  decreased  rates  paid  on  all 
interest bearing liabilities more than offsetting the increase in the average balances of interest bearing liabilities resulting from 
the  three  acquisitions  in  2021  and  the  elevated  interest-bearing  deposits  due  to  various  government  stimulus  programs.  The 
overall rates paid on average interest bearing liabilities decreased 35 basis points from 2020 to 2021 after decreasing 26 basis 
points  from  2019  to  2020.  Average  interest  bearing  liabilities  increased  29.3%  to  $17.9  billion  in  2021  compared  to  $13.8 
billion in 2020 after increasing 15.7% in 2020 compared to $12.0 billion in 2019.

Net interest margin-FTE for 2021 was 2.96%, a decrease of 40 basis points from 3.36% for 2020, which represented a 

decrease of 48 basis points from 3.84% for 2019.

Net interest revenue-FTE may also be analyzed by segregating the rate and volume components of interest revenue and 
interest expense. The table below presents an analysis of rate and average volume change in net interest revenue from 2020 to 
2021 and from 2019 to 2020. Changes that are not solely a result of volume or rate have been allocated to volume.

(In thousands)
(Taxable equivalent basis)
INTEREST REVENUE
Loans and leases, net of unearned income
Loans held for sale
Available-for-sale securities:

Taxable
Non-taxable

Other

Total increase (decrease)

INTEREST EXPENSE
Demand deposits - interest bearing
Savings deposits
Time deposits
Short-term debt
Long-term debt
Total increase (decrease)
Total net increase (decrease)

2021 over 2020 - Increase (Decrease)
Total
Rate

Volume

2020 over 2019 - Increase (Decrease)
Total
Rate

Volume

$ 

92,246  $ 
936 

(34,370)  $ 
(1,258) 

57,876  $ 
(322) 

64,509  $ 
3,798 

(62,041)  $ 
(642) 

2,468 
3,156 

51,849 
731 
545 
146,307 

(26,265) 
(1,393) 
(843) 
(64,129) 

25,584 
(662) 
(298) 
82,178 

37,353 
(2,184) 
63 
103,539 

(8,547) 
(1,836) 
(7,008) 
(80,074) 

9,737 
812 
1,182 
(145) 
1,653 
13,239 

$ 

133,068  $ 

(24,178) 
(1,728) 
(15,728) 
(3,505) 
(304) 
(45,443) 
(18,686)  $ 

(14,441) 
(916) 
(14,546) 
(3,650) 
1,349 
(32,204) 
114,382  $ 

7,788 
610 
2,931 
(975) 
11,464 
21,818 
81,721  $ 

(18,867) 
(1,854) 
(3,371) 
(14,347) 
79 
(38,360) 
(41,714)  $ 

28,806 
(4,020) 
(6,945) 
23,465 

(11,079) 
(1,244) 
(440) 
(15,322) 
11,543 
(16,542) 
40,007 

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for Credit Losses and Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”)

An analysis of the ACL for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 is provided in the following 

table:

(Dollars in thousands)

Amount

%

Amount

%

Amount

%

Balance, beginning of period
Impact of adopting ASC 326 - cumulative effect adjustment
Impact of adopting ASC 326 - purchased loans with credit deterioration 
("PCD")

$ 

244,422 
— 

$ 

119,066 
40,000 

$ 

120,070 
— 

— 

22,634 

— 

2021

2020

2019

Charge-offs:

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

(7,213) 

 0.04 %  

(17,201) 

 0.11 %  

(3,176) 

 0.02 %

(1,912) 

 0.01 %  

(2,047) 

 0.01 %  

(268) 

 — %

Total commercial and industrial

(9,125) 

 0.05 %  

(19,248) 

 0.12 %  

(3,444) 

 0.02 %

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development

(1,024) 

 0.01 %  

(4,955) 

 0.03 %  

(71) 

 — %

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

(1,601) 

 0.01 %  

(3,939) 

 0.03 %  

(4,114) 

 0.03 %

(2,625) 

 0.02 %  

(8,894) 

 0.06 %  

(4,185) 

 0.03 %

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total charge-offs

Recoveries:

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total recoveries

Net recoveries (charge-offs)

Initial allowance on PCD loans

Provision:

Initial provision for acquired non-PCD loans

Provision for credit losses related to loans and leases

(1,509) 

 0.01 %  

(2,294) 

 0.02 %  

(2,053) 

 0.02 %

(5,462) 

 0.03 %  

(5,425) 

 0.04 %  

(6,908) 

 0.05 %

(6,971) 

 0.04 %  

(7,719) 

 0.05 %  

(8,961) 

 0.07 %

(18,721) 

 0.11 %  

(35,861) 

 0.24 %  

(16,590) 

 0.12 %

11,754 

 0.07 %  

4,140 

 0.02 %  

15,894 

 0.09 %  

1,688 

1,554 

3,242 

 0.01 %  

2,295 

 0.02 %

 0.01 %  

271 

 — %

 0.02 %  

2,566 

 0.02 %

1,831 

1,262 

3,093 

2,424 

2,624 

5,048 

 0.01 %  

 0.01 %  

 0.02 %  

 0.01 %  

 0.02 %  

 0.03 %  

24,035 

 0.14 %  

545 

439 

984 

 — %  

 — %  

 0.01 %  

 0.01 %  

 0.01 %  

 0.03 %  

1,946 

2,185 

4,131 

8,357 

1,841 

4,537 

6,378 

3,211 

1,931 

5,142 

 0.01 %

 0.03 %

 0.05 %

 0.02 %

 0.01 %

 0.04 %

 0.06 %  

14,086 

 0.10 %

5,314 

 0.03 %  

(27,504) 

 (0.18) %  

(2,504) 

 (0.02) %

75,124 

130,555 

(9,000) 

4,226 

1,000 

85,000 

— 

— 

1,500 

Balance, end of period

$ 

446,415 

$ 

244,422 

$ 

119,066 

Loans and leases, net of unearned income - average

Loans and leases, net of unearned income - period end

$  17,055,429 

$  26,882,988 

$  14,984,356 

$  15,022,479 

$  13,606,951 

$  14,089,683 

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans and leases:
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer

Total consumer

Total loans and leases charged off

RATIOS
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans and leases
Provision for credit losses to average loans and leases, net of unearned income
Allowance for credit losses to loans and leases, net of unearned income
Non-accrual loans to loans and leases, net of unearned income
Allowance for credit losses to non-accrual loans

2021

2020

2019

 (0.03) %
 (0.01) %
 (0.04) %

 — %
 — %
 — %

 (0.01) %
 0.02 %
 0.01 %
 (0.03) %

 0.10 %
 0.01 %
 0.11 %

 0.03 %
 0.02 %
 0.05 %

 — %
 0.02 %
 0.02 %
 0.18 %

 0.01 %
 — %
 0.01 %

 (0.01) %
 — %
 (0.01) %

 (0.02) %
 0.04 %
 0.02 %
 0.02 %

2021

2020

2019

 (0.03) %
 0.81 %
 1.66 %
 0.45 %
 365.60 %

 0.18 %
 0.57 %
 1.63 %
 0.64 %
 253.61 %

 0.02 %
 0.01 %
 0.85 %
 0.56 %
 151.11 %

Net  recoveries  were  $5.3  million  in  2021  compared  to  net  charge-offs  of  $27.5  million  in  2020  and  $2.5  million  in 
2019. Net recoveries as a percentage of average loans and leases were 0.03% compared to net charge-offs as a percentage of 
average  loans  and  leases  0.18%,  and  0.02%  in  2020  and  2019,  respectively.  Net  recoveries  in  2021  were  primarily  in  the 
commercial and industrial non-real estate and owner occupied categories. Net charge-offs in 2020 were primarily a result of the 
net  charge-offs  within  the  commercial  and  industrial-non  real  estate,  construction,  acquisition,  and  development  and 
commercial  real  estate  categories.  Of  the  $35.9  million  in  gross  charge-offs  in  2020,  $12.7  million  were  acquired  loans  that 
were  previously  recorded  as  purchased  credit  impaired  prior  to  the  adoption  of  ASU  No.  2016-13,  Financial  Instruments—
Credit Losses, and were subsequently classified as purchased credit deteriorated loans.

A release of provision for credit losses of $9.0 million was recorded in 2021 compared to an $85.0 million provision 
recorded in 2020 and $1.5 million provision in 2019. The release of provision for credit losses in 2021 was primarily related to 
improvements in overall credit quality. The elevated provision for credit losses in 2020 was primarily a result of the impact of 
the  COVID-19  pandemic  on  the  economic  factors  included  in  the  Company's  allowance  for  credit  losses  methodology.  An 
initial  provision  for  acquired  loans  (“non-PCD”)  of  $130.6  million  and  an  initial  allowance  on  loans  purchased  with  credit 
deterioration (“PCD”) of $75.1 million was recorded in 2021 due to the acquisitions of three banks in 2021. See the allocation 
of the ACL below. The initial provisions on acquired loans in 2021 was mainly attributable to the commercial and industrial 
and commercial real estate portfolios. An initial provision for acquired loans of $1.0 million and an initial allowance on loans 
purchased with credit deterioration of $4.2 million were recorded in 2020 due to the acquisition of one bank in 2020.

The provision for credit losses to average loans and leases increased to 0.81% in 2021 compared to 0.57% as a result 
of  the  initial  provision  for  non-PCD  loans  of  $130.6  recorded  in  2021.  The  provision  for  credit  losses  to  average  loans  and 
leases increased to 0.57% in 2020 compared to 0.01% in 2019 as a result of the elevated provision for credit losses in 2020 
resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic previously discussed.

The  ACL  increased  $202.0  million  to  $446.4  million  at  December  31,  2021  compared  to  $244.4  million  at 
December  31,  2020  and  increased  $125.3  million  from  $119.1  million  at  December  31,  2019.  The  increase  in  the  ACL  at 
December  31,  2021  compared  to  December  31,  2020  was  a  result  of  the  initial  provision  for  non-PCD  loans  and  the  initial 
allowance on PCD loans in 2021 due to the acquisition of three banks during the year. The increase in the ACL at December 
31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 was a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit 
Losses, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic factors included in the Company's allowance for 
credit losses methodology.

52

The ACL to nonaccrual loans increased to 365.6% in 2021 from 253.61% in 2020 after increasing from 151.11% in 
2019.  This  increase  in  coverage  during  2021  resulted  from  the  initial  provision  recorded  for  non-PCD  loans  and  the  initial 
allowance recorded on PCD loans. For more information about the Company’s classified, non-performing and impaired loans, 
see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Financial Condition – 
Loans and Leases” in this Report.

The breakdown of the allowance by loan and lease segment and class is based, in part, on evaluations of specific loan 
and  lease  histories  and  on  economic  conditions  within  specific  industries  or  geographical  areas.  Accordingly,  because  all  of 
these conditions are subject to change, the allocation is not necessarily indicative of the breakdown of any future allowance for 
losses. The following tables present (i) the breakdown of the allowance for credit losses by loan and lease segment and class 
and (ii) the percentage of each segment and class in the loan and lease portfolio to total loans and leases at December 31 of each 
of the years indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer

Total consumer

Total

Noninterest Revenue

2021

2020

Allowance for 
Credit Losses

% of Loans in 
Each Category 
to Total Loans

Allowance for 
Credit Losses

% of Loans in 
Each Category 
to Total Loans

$ 

$ 

138,696 
59,254 
197,950 

52,530 
98,327 
150,857 

85,734 
11,874 
97,608 
446,415 

 29.2 % $ 
 13.3 
 42.5 

 10.9 
 18.3 
 29.2 

31,906 
35,488 
67,394 

28,891 
64,291 
93,182 

 27.2 
 1.1 
 28.3 
 100.0 % $ 

70,493 
13,353 
83,846 
244,422 

 19.4 %
 17.3 
 36.7 

 11.5 
 21.4 
 32.9 

 29.0 
 1.4 
 30.4 
 100.0 %

The components of noninterest revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and the percentage 

change between such years are shown in the following table:

(Dollars in thousands)
Mortgage banking excluding MSR market value 

adjustment

MSR and hedge market value adjustment
Credit card, debit card and merchant fees
Deposit service charges
Securities (losses) gains, net
Insurance commissions
Trust income*
Annuity fees*
Brokerage commissions and fees*
Bank-owned life insurance
Gain on sale of PPP loans
Other miscellaneous income
Total noninterest revenue

2021

2020

Amount

% Change

Amount

% Change

2019
Amount

$ 

47,914 
10,139 
45,519 
43,986 
(395) 
135,183 
22,190 
586 
16,731 
11,180 
21,572 
23,548 
$  378,153 

99,067 
 (51.6) % $ 
(12,814) 
 (179.1) 
38,247 
 19.0 
37,929 
 16.0 
58 
 (781.0) 
125,286 
 7.9 
16,025 
 38.5 
215 
 172.6 
9,973 
 67.8 
8,181 
 36.7 
— 
NM
 64.2 
14,337 
 12.4 % $  336,504 

34,297 
 188.9 % $ 
(14,515) 
 (11.7) 
38,656 
 (1.1) 
46,015 
 (17.6) 
174 
 (66.7) 
123,291 
 1.6 
16,042 
 (0.1) 
830 
 (74.1) 
7,937 
 25.7 
9,632 
 (15.1) 
— 
 — 
 (21.7) 
18,322 
 19.9 % $  280,681 

•

Included in wealth management revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company’s revenue from mortgage banking typically fluctuates as mortgage interest rates change and is primarily 
attributable  to  two  activities  -  origination  and  sale  of  new  mortgage  loans  and  servicing  mortgage  loans.  Since  mortgage 
revenue can be significantly affected by changes in the valuation of MSRs in changing interest rate environments, the Company 
hedges  the  change  in  fair  value  of  its  MSRs.  The  Company’s  normal  practice  is  to  originate  mortgage  loans  for  sale  in  the 
secondary market and to either retain or release the associated MSRs with the loan sold. The Company records MSRs at fair 
value  for  all  loans  sold  on  a  servicing  retained  basis  with  subsequent  adjustments  to  fair  value  of  MSRs  in  accordance  with 
GAAP.

In the course of conducting the Company’s mortgage banking activities of originating mortgage loans and selling those 
loans in the secondary market, various representations and warranties are made to the purchasers of the mortgage loans. These 
representations and warranties also apply to underwriting the real estate appraisal opinion of value for the collateral securing 
these loans. Under the representations and warranties, failure by the Company to comply with the underwriting and/or appraisal 
standards could result in the Company being required to repurchase the mortgage loan or to reimburse the investor for losses 
incurred  (i.e.,  make  whole  requests)  if  such  failure  cannot  be  cured  by  the  Company  within  the  specified  period  following 
discovery.  During  2021,  nineteen  mortgage  loans  were  repurchased  or  otherwise  settled  as  a  result  of  underwriting  and 
appraisal standard exceptions or make whole requests. Losses of approximately $170,000 were recognized in 2021 related to 
these repurchased and make whole loans. During 2020, fifteen mortgage loans were repurchased or otherwise settled as a result 
of underwriting and appraisal standard exceptions or make whole requests. Losses of approximately $31,000 were recognized 
related to these repurchased and make whole loans.

At December 31, 2021, the Company had reserved $1.9 million for probable losses from representation and warranty 
obligations, compared to a reserve of $1.4 million at December 31, 2020. The reserve is based on the Company’s repurchase 
and loss trends, and quantitative and qualitative factors that may result in anticipated losses different than historical loss trends, 
including loan vintage, underwriting characteristics and macroeconomic trends.

Management  believes  that  the  Company’s  foreclosure  process  related  to  mortgage  loans  continues  to  operate 
effectively. Before beginning the foreclosure process, the Company reviews the identified delinquent loan. All documents and 
activities related to the foreclosure process are executed in-house by mortgage department personnel.

Origination revenue, a component of mortgage banking revenue, is comprised of gains or losses from the sale of the 
mortgage loans originated, origination fees, underwriting fees and other fees associated with the origination of loans. Mortgage 
loan  origination  volumes  of  $3.3  billion,  $3.2  billion  and  $1.8  billion  produced  origination  revenue  of  $39.9  million,  $90.3 
million and $24.3 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. While mortgage loan origination volumes remained consistent 
in 2021 compared to 2020, the decrease in mortgage origination revenue in 2021 compared to 2020 is a result of lower margins 
on  loans  sold  in  2021  as  compared  to  margins  on  loans  sold  in  2020.  The  increase  in  mortgage  origination  revenue  in  2020 
compared to 2019 was primarily a result of an increase in mortgage loan origination volumes.

Revenue from the servicing process, another component of mortgage banking revenue, includes fees from the actual 
servicing of loans. Revenue from the servicing of loans was $22.0 million, $21.5 million and $19.6 million for 2021, 2020 and 
2019, respectively.

Changes in the fair value of the Company’s MSRs are generally a result of changes in mortgage interest rates from the 
previous  reporting  date.  An  increase  in  mortgage  interest  rates  typically  results  in  an  increase  in  the  fair  value  of  the  MSRs 
while a decrease in mortgage interest rates typically results in a decrease in the fair value of MSRs. The fair value of MSRs is 
also  impacted  by  principal  payments,  prepayments,  charge  offs  and  payoffs  on  loans  in  the  servicing  portfolio.  Decreases  in 
value from principal payments, prepayments, charge offs, and payoffs were $14.0 million, $12.7 million and $9.7 million for 
2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company hedges the change in fair value of its MSRs. At December 31, 2021 and 2020 
respectively, there was a hedge in place designed to cover approximately 33.1% and 16.7% of the MSR value. The Company is 
susceptible to significant fluctuations in MSR value during changing interest rate environments. Reflecting this sensitivity to 
interest rates, the fair value of MSRs, including the hedge, increased $10.1 million in 2021 and decreased $12.8 million and 
$14.5 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

54

The following table presents the Company’s mortgage banking operations for 2021, 2020 and 2019:

(Dollars in thousands)
Production revenue:

Origination
Servicing
Payoffs/Paydowns

Total
MSR and hedge market value adjustment

Mortgage banking revenue
(Dollars in millions)
Origination volume
Mortgage loans serviced at year-end

2021

2020

Amount

% Change

Amount

% Change

2019
Amount

$ 

$ 

$ 

39,855 
22,020 
(13,961) 
47,914 
10,139 
58,053 

 (55.9) % $ 

 2.3 
 9.5 
 (51.6) 
 179.1 
 (32.7) 

$ 

90,293 
21,520 
(12,746) 
99,067 
(12,814) 
86,253 

 271.1 % $ 

 9.7 
 32.0 
 188.9 
 (11.7) 
 336.0 

$ 

24,332 
19,621 
(9,656) 
34,297 
(14,515) 
19,782 

3,303 
7,554 

 1.6 % $ 
 3.1 

3,250 
7,330 

 77.8 % $ 
 6.3 

1,828 
6,898 

Credit card, debit card and merchant fees increased $7.3 million in 2021 compared to 2020 and remained relatively 

stable in 2020 compared to 2019. The increase in 2021 compared to 2020 was a result of an increased number of transactions.

Deposit service charge revenue increased $6.1 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily as a result of activity from 
the  three  acquisitions  in  2021  coupled  with  increased  economic  activity  during  2021  and  decreased  $8.1  million  in  2020 
compared  to  2019  primarily  as  a  result  of  waived  charges  and  fees  in  an  effort  to  assist  our  customers  during  the  pandemic 
coupled with decreased activity in 2020.

Net securities losses of approximately $395,000, net gains of approximately $58,000, and net gains of approximately 
$174,000 were recorded in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts reflected the sales and calls of securities from the 
available-for-sale  portfolio  and  also  the  fair  market  value  adjustment  on  other  equity  investments.  Insurance  commissions 
increased 7.9% in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily as a result of higher insurance premiums related to the firming premium 
market and increased 1.6% in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily as a result of new policies and growth from existing customers.
Trust  income  increased  $6.2  million  in  2021  compared  to  2020  as  a  result  of  trust  related  activities  from  the  three 
acquisitions  in  2021,  while  trust  income  remained  relatively  stable  in  2020  compared  to  2019,  decreasing  approximately 
$17,000.  Annuity  fees  increased  approximately  $371,000  in  2021  compared  to  2020  after  decreasing  $615,000  in  2020 
compared to 2019 as a result of more annuity sales in 2021. Brokerage commissions and fees increased $6.8 million in 2021 
compared to 2020 after increasing $2.0 million in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to overall market appreciation resulting 
in more fee revenue during 2021 and 2020, coupled with activities from the three acquisitions in 2021. 

Bank-owned life insurance revenue increased $3.0 million in 2021 compared to 2020 and decreased $1.5 million in 
2020  compared  to  2019.  The  Company  recorded  life  insurance  proceeds  of  $2.6  million,  approximately  $744,000  and  $1.9 
million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The company recorded a gain on sale of PPP loans of $21.6 million in 2021. 
No such gain was recorded in 2020.

Other  miscellaneous  income  includes  safe  deposit  box  rental  income,  gain  or  loss  on  disposal  of  assets,  and  other 
miscellaneous  items.  Other  miscellaneous  income  increased  64.2%  in  2021  compared  to  2020  and  decreased  21.7%  in  2020 
compared  to  2019.  The  increase  in  2021  was  a  result  of  earnings  on  limited  partnerships,  gains  on  the  sales  of  fixed  assets, 
gains on sales of SBA loans, payroll processing revenue and the successful termination of a previously accrued agreement. The 
decrease in 2020 was a result of amortization of investments in historic tax credits coupled with decreased trading income and 
loan  placement  fees  with  the  decrease  offset  somewhat  by  the  sale  of  a  book  of  business  within  the  Company’s  insurance 
agency. The overall reduction in future insurance commission revenue related to the sold book of business is not considered 
material.

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest Expense

The components of noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and the percentage 

change between years are shown in the following table:

(Dollars in thousands)
Salaries and employee benefits
Occupancy and equipment
Data processing and software
Merger expense
Deposit insurance assessments
Pension settlement expense
Advertising and public relations
Foreclosed property expense
Telecommunications
Amortization of intangibles
Legal fees
Postage and shipping
Other miscellaneous expense
Total noninterest expense
NM = not meaningful

Amount
$  471,815 
81,394 
73,085 
59,896 
8,701 
3,051 
10,780 
4,548 
6,240 
12,616 
4,036 
6,050 
56,678 
$  798,890 

2021

2020

% Change

Amount

% Change

2019
Amount

 12.9 % $  417,809 
70,341 
 15.7 
58,170 
 25.6 
5,345 
NM
6,726 
 29.4 
5,846 
 (47.8) 
6,908 
 56.1 
4,074 
 11.6 
5,883 
 6.1 
9,605 
 31.3 
3,431 
 17.6 
5,256 
 15.1 
 10.1 
51,488 
 22.7 % $  650,882 

 5.4 % $  396,500 
65,841 
 6.8 
51,354 
 13.3 
13,871 
 (61.5) 
9,143 
 (26.4) 
— 
NM
8,557 
 (19.3) 
2,868 
 42.1 
5,663 
 3.9 
9,118 
 5.3 
3,555 
 (3.5) 
5,263 
 (0.1) 
57,874 
 (11.0) 
 3.4 % $  629,607 

Salaries and employee benefits increased $54.0 million in 2021 compared to 2020 and increased $21.3 million in 2020 
compared to 2019. The increase in salaries and employee benefits in 2021 compared to 2020 was a result of salary increases 
and increased commissions and compensation costs associated with three acquisitions in 2021, as well as annual compensation 
increases.  The  increase  in  salaries  and  employee  benefits  in  2020  compared  to  2019  was  a  result  of  salary  increases  and 
increased  commissions  and  compensation  costs  associated  with  the  one  acquisition  in  2020  and  a  full  year  of  the  four 
acquisitions completed in 2019, as well as annual compensation increases. 

Occupancy and equipment expense increased $11.1 million in 2021 compared to 2020 after increasing $4.5 million in 
2020  compared  to  2019.  The  increase  in  occupancy  and  equipment  expense  was  a  result  of  increased  number  of  properties 
related to the three acquisitions in 2021, one acquisition in 2020, and four acquisitions in 2019.

Data processing and software expense increased $14.9 million in 2021 compare to 2020 after increasing $6.8 million 
in 2020 compared to 2019. The increase in data processing and software expense was a result of increases in data processing, 
maintenance and depreciation expense recorded as a result of the three acquisitions in 2021, the one acquisition in 2020 and the 
four  acquisitions  in  2019,  coupled  with  increased  card  association  fees  resulting  from  the  increased  number  of  transactions 
processed.

Merger expense represents costs to complete the merger with no future benefit and is comprised primarily of advisor 
fees, legal fees and compensation related expenses. Incremental merger related expenses represent costs to complete the merger 
for which the entity receives a future benefit. Merger expense related to the three acquisitions in 2021 was $59.9 million, while 
merger expense related to the one acquisition in 2020 was $5.3 million. Merger expense related to the four acquisition in 2019 
was  $13.9  million.  Incremental  merger  related  expenses  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2021  totaled  $4.6  million  that  included 
primarily employee retention expense.

Deposit insurance assessments increased $2.0 million in 2021 compared to 2020 after decreasing $2.4 million in 2020 
compared  to  2019  as  a  result  of  movement  in  several  variables  utilized  by  the  FDIC  in  calculating  the  deposit  insurance 
assessment coupled with the consolidated financial information from the three acquisitions in 2021 and the one acquisition in 
2020 previously mentioned.

The  Company  recorded  a  charge  of  $3.1  million  in  2021  and  $5.8  million  in  2020  in  accordance  with  ASC  715, 
Compensation  -  Retirement  Benefits.  This  expense  reflects  the  settlement  accounting  impact  of  an  elevated  number  of 
retirements and related lump sum pension payouts during 2021 and 2020. No such charges were recorded in 2019.

Foreclosed  property  expense  increased  $0.5  million  in  2021  compared  to  2020.  During  2021,  the  Company  added 
$10.5 million to OREO through foreclosures of legacy loans and $1.7 million related to the three acquisitions in 2021. Sales of 
OREO  in  2021  were  $5.3  million  resulting  in  a  net  gain  on  sale  of  OREO  of  $0.2  million.  The  components  of  foreclosed 
property expense for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and the percentage change between years are shown 
in the following table:

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
(Gain) Loss on sale of other real estate owned
Write-down of other real estate owned
Other foreclosed property expense
Total foreclosed property expense

2021

2020

Amount

% Change

Amount

$ 

$ 

(212) 
1,899 
2,861 
4,548 

 (154.5) % $ 
 159.8 
 (3.1) 
 11.6 % $ 

389 
731 
2,954 
4,074 

% Change
 1,044.1 % $ 

 93.9 
 20.2 
 42.1 % $ 

2019
Amount

34 
377 
2,457 
2,868 

The  Company  experienced  fluctuations  in  various  components  of  other  noninterest  expense,  including  advertising, 
telecommunications, amortization of intangibles, legal fees and postage and shipping in 2021 compared to 2020 and in 2020 
compared to 2019 primarily as a result of the three acquisitions in 2021 and the one acquisition in 2020 previously mentioned. 
Other miscellaneous expense increased in 2021 compared to 2020 as a result of increased consulting, insurance and franchise 
taxes related to the three acquisitions in 2021 and the one acquisition in 2020, coupled with an increase in travel-related, meals 
and entertainment expenses in 2021 as restrictions related to the pandemic resulted in decreased similar expenses in 2020.

Income Taxes

The  Company  recorded  income  tax  expense  of  $51.8  million  in  2021  compared  to  $59.5  million  in  2020  and  $65.3 
million in 2019. The decrease in tax expense in 2021 compared to 2020 can be attributed to lower pre-tax income in 2021. The 
decrease  in  tax  expense  in  2020  compared  to  2019  can  be  attributed  to  lower  pre-tax  income  in  2020,  one-time  impacts  of 
implementing provisions of the CARES Act, described below and investments in tax credits.

The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 was negatively impacted primarily by the non-deductible 
merger costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2021. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2020 was favorably 
impacted  by  income  tax  benefits  recorded  during  the  first  quarter  of  2020  related  to  the  Company’s  tax  loss  carrybacks  as 
provided by certain tax provisions for corporations under the CARES Act.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The percentage of earning assets to total assets measures the effectiveness of management’s efforts to invest available 
funds  into  the  most  efficient  and  profitable  uses.  Earning  assets  at  December  31,  2021  were  $43.5  billion,  or  91.3%  of  total 
assets, compared with $21.8 billion, or 90.5% of total assets, at December 31, 2020. The increase in balances below reflect the 
business  combinations  closed  in  2021,  namely  the  merger  with  Legacy  Cadence.  See  Note  2  to  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements for additional information regarding our acquisitions and mergers.

(In thousands)
Year-End Balances:
Total assets
Total securities
Loans and leases, net of unearned income
Total deposits
Long-term debt
Subordinated debt
Total shareholders' equity
Common shareholders' equity
Average Balances:
Total assets
Total securities
Loans and leases, net of unearned income
Total deposits
Long-term debt
Subordinated debt
Total shareholders' equity
Common shareholders' equity

December 31,

2021

2020

$ 

47,669,751  $ 
15,606,470 
26,882,988 
39,817,673 
3,742 
478,669 
5,247,987 
5,080,994 

29,994,648 
9,309,947 
17,055,429 
25,228,601 
4,274 
336,896 
3,337,575 
3,170,582 

24,081,194 
6,231,006 
15,022,479 
19,846,441 
4,402 
297,250 
2,822,477 
2,655,484 

22,723,386 
5,010,378 
14,984,356 
18,559,655 
4,644 
296,882 
2,725,545 
2,558,545 

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities

The Company uses its securities portfolio to provide revenue, a source of liquidity, and to serve as collateral to secure 
certain  types  of  deposits  and  borrowings.  The  following  tables  show  the  carrying  value  of  the  Company’s  available-for-sale 
securities by investment category:

(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. Treasury securities
Obligations of U.S. government agencies
Mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. agencies (MBS)

Residential pass-through:
Guaranteed by GNMA
Issued by FNMA and FHLMC

Other residential mortgage-backed securities
Commercial mortgage-backed securities

Total MBS

Obligations of states and municipal subdivisions
Other domestic debt securities
Foreign debt securities

Total

2021

December 31,
2020

2019

$ 

1,496,465  $ 
2,638,442 

—  $ 

2,871,408 

— 
3,599,317 

113,427 
8,129,191 
243,357 
2,061,133 
10,547,108 
565,520 
63,645 
295,290 

57,460 
2,363,949 
— 
806,206 
3,227,615 
113,953 
18,030 
— 

$  15,606,470  $ 

6,231,006  $ 

70,020 
63,355 
— 
609,009 
742,384 
140,273 
— 
— 
4,481,974 

At December 31, 2021, the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $15.6 billion compared to $6.2 billion at 
December 31, 2020. These securities, which are subject to possible sale, are recorded at fair value. The increase from December 
31,  2020  was  primarily  due  to  the  merger  of  Legacy  Cadence.  Net  unrealized  losses  on  available-for-sale  securities  as  of 
December  31,  2021  totaled  $100.7  million.  Net  unrealized  gains  on  available-for-sale  securities  as  of  December  31,  2020 
totaled  $101.0  million.  At  December  31,  2021,  no  allowance  for  credit  losses  was  recorded  on  available-for-sale  securities. 
During  2021,  approximately  $564.0  million  of  securities  available-for-sale  were  sold  and  $2.2  billion  of  securities  matured, 
were called, or paid down. We purchased $7.9 billion in securities during 2021.

Maturity Distribution of Investment Securities - The following table shows the maturities and weighted average yields 

at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 for the carrying value of the available-for-sale securities:

58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities:
Due in one to five years

U.S. Treasury securities total

Obligations of U.S. government agencies:

Due in less than one year
Due in one to five years
Due in five to ten years
Due after ten years

Obligations of U.S. government agencies total
Obligations of states and municipal subdivisions:

Due in less than one year
Due in one to five years
Due in five to ten years
Due after ten years

Obligations of states and municipal subdivisions total

Other domestic debt securities:

Due in one to five years
Due in five to ten years
Due after ten years

Other domestic debt securities total

Foreign debt securities:

Due in one to five years
Due in five to ten years

Foreign debt securities total

Total securities due in less than one year
Total securities due in one to five years
Total securities due in five to ten years
Total securities due after ten years
Mortgage-backed securities
Total estimated fair value

Contractual maturities

2021

2020

Estimated 
Fair Value

Weighted 
Average 
Yield

Estimated 
Fair Value

Weighted 
Average 
Yield

$  1,496,465 
1,496,465 

 0.69 % $ 
 0.69 

— 
— 

 — %
 — 

1,056,035 
1,302,758 
99,418 
180,231 
2,638,442 

6,631 
20,835 
26,274 
511,780 
565,520 

28,064 
33,461 
2,120 
63,645 

54,451 
240,839 
295,290 

 1.83 
 1.32 
 1.11 
 2.00 
 1.56 

 2.82 
 3.24 
 3.06 
 2.36 
 2.43 

 0.64 
 4.20 
 4.50 
 2.64 

 0.75 
 0.35 
 0.43 

953,262 
1,918,146 
— 
— 
2,871,408 

5,493 
31,011 
26,789 
50,660 
113,953 

— 
16,020 
2,010 
18,030 

— 
— 
— 

 2.41 
 1.82 
 — 
 — 
 2.01 

 2.72 
 3.37 
 3.79 
 3.05 
 3.29 

 — 
 5.28 
 4.74 
 5.22 

 — 
 — 
 — 

1,062,666 
2,902,573 
399,992 
694,131 
  10,547,108 
$ 15,606,470 

 1.83 
958,755 
 0.99 
1,949,157 
 1.04 
42,809 
 2.28 
52,670 
3,227,615 
 1.27 
 1.29 % $  6,231,006 

 2.41 
 1.84 
 4.35 
 3.11 
 1.20 
 1.62 %

The yield on tax-exempt obligations of states and political subdivisions has been adjusted to a taxable equivalent basis 

using a 21% tax rate.

Loans and Leases

The Company’s loan and lease portfolio represents the largest single component of the Company’s earning asset base, 
comprising  62.5%  of  average  earning  assets  during  2021.  The  Company’s  lending  activities  include  both  commercial  and 
consumer loans and leases. Loan and lease originations are derived from a number of sources, including direct solicitation by 
the Company’s loan officers, existing depositors and borrowers, builders, attorneys, walk-in customers and, in some instances, 
other lenders, real estate broker referrals and mortgage loan companies. The Company has established systematic procedures 
for approving and monitoring loans and leases that vary depending on the size and nature of the loan or lease, and applies these 
procedures in a disciplined manner. The Company’s loans and leases are widely diversified by borrower and industry. Loans 
and  leases,  net  of  unearned  income,  totaled  $26.9  billion  at  December  31,  2021,  representing  a  79.0%  increase  from  $15.0 
billion at December 31, 2020. The increase in loan and lease portfolio from 2020 reflects the business combinations that closed 
in 2021 (see Notes 2 and 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information).

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  has  actively  participated  in  assisting  its  customers  with  applications  for  resources  through  the  PPP, 
which  is  administered  by  the  SBA  with  the  intent  to  help  businesses  keep  their  workforce  employed  during  the  COVID-19 
pandemic. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company sold PPP loans totaling $725.4 million which generated a gain on 
sale of $21.6 million. The Company believes that the remaining loans will ultimately be forgiven by the SBA in accordance 
with the terms of the program. The PPP loans are designed to be fully guaranteed by the U.S. government and as such should 
not present a credit risk. The remaining balance of PPP loans of $50.0 million is included in the non-real estate loan class.

The  following  table  shows  the  composition  of  the  Company’s  loan  and  lease  portfolio  by  segment  and  class  at 

December 31, 2021 and 2020.

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned (1)

2021

2020

$ 

7,847,473  $ 
3,567,746 
11,415,219 

2,924,343 
4,924,369 
7,848,712 

2,918,192 
2,599,121 
5,517,313 

1,728,682 
3,211,434 
4,940,116 

7,311,306 
307,751 
7,619,057 
26,882,988  $ 

4,356,338 
208,712 
4,565,050 
15,022,479 

$ 

(1) Total loans and leases are net of $103.2 million and $36.3 million of unearned income at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The following table shows the Company’s loan and lease portfolio by segment and class as of December 31, 2021 by 

geographical location.

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Alabama
and
Florida

Arkansas

Louisiana

Mississippi

Missouri

Tennessee
and
Georgia

Texas

Other

Total

$ 

750,919 

$ 

155,279 

$ 

294,943 

$ 

505,212 

$ 

69,959 

$ 

724,290 

$  3,627,559 

$  1,719,312 

$ 

7,847,473 

539,409 

1,290,328 

295,534 

719,156 

1,014,690 

1,495,780 

40,395 

1,536,175 

220,571 

375,850 

67,950 

289,039 

356,989 

363,519 

11,475 

374,994 

233,726 

528,669 

675,010 

1,180,222 

78,587 

148,546 

427,493 

1,151,783 

1,286,591 

4,914,150 

106,359 

3,567,746 

1,825,671 

11,415,219 

51,240 

218,860 

270,100 

214,688 

670,656 

885,344 

30,515 

209,986 

240,501 

482,721 

984,992 

1,467,713 

417,813 

1,039,206 

148,182 

9,383 

58,629 

905 

427,196 

1,097,835 

149,087 

838,440 

23,116 

861,556 

1,570,378 

1,686,124 

3,256,502 

2,897,122 

79,076 

2,976,198 

211,317 

145,556 

356,873 

111,244 

84,772 

196,016 

2,924,343 

4,924,369 

7,848,712 

7,311,306 

307,751 

7,619,057 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$  3,841,193 

$  1,107,833 

$  1,225,965 

$  3,163,401 

$ 

538,134 

$  3,481,052 

$  11,146,850 

$  2,378,560 

$  26,882,988 

Mergers and Acquisitions

In  connection  with  the  merger  and  acquisitions  (see  Notes  2  and  4  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements),  the 
Company acquired loans both with and without evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination. Acquired loans are 
recorded  at  their  fair  value  at  the  time  of  acquisition  with  no  carryover  from  the  acquired  institution’s  previously  recorded 
allowance  for  credit  losses.  Acquired  loans  are  accounted  for  under  the  following  accounting  pronouncements:  ASC  326, 
Financial Instruments—Credit Losses.

The fair value for acquired loans recorded at the time of acquisition is based upon several factors including the timing 
and payment of expected cash flows, as adjusted for estimated credit losses and prepayments, and then discounting these cash 
flows using comparable market rates. The resulting fair value adjustment is recorded in the form of premium or discount to the 
unpaid  principal  balance  of  each  acquired  loan.  As  it  relates  to  acquired  loans  that,  as  of  the  date  of  acquisition,  have 
experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination (“PCD”), the net premium or net discount 
is adjusted to reflect the Company’s allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) recorded for PCD loans at the time of acquisition, and 

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the  remaining  fair  value  adjustment  is  accreted  or  amortized  into  interest  income  over  the  remaining  life  of  the  loan.  As  it 
relates  to  acquired  loans  not  classified  as  PCD  (“non-PCD”)  loans,  the  credit  loss  and  yield  components  of  the  fair  value 
adjustment are aggregated, and the resulting net premium or net discount is accreted or amortized into interest income over the 
remaining  life  of  the  loan.  The  Company  records  an  ACL  for  non-PCD  loans  at  the  time  of  acquisition  through  provision 
expense, and therefore, no further adjustments are made to the net premium or net discount for non-PCD loans.

In addition, a grade is assigned to each loan during the valuation process. For acquired loans that are not individually 
reviewed  during  the  valuation  process,  such  loans  are  assumed  to  have  characteristics  similar  to  the  assigned  rating  of  the 
acquired  institution’s  risk  rating,  adjusted  for  any  estimated  differences  between  the  Company’s  rating  methodology  and  the 
acquired institution’s rating methodology.

The  following  table  represents  the  acquisition  date  fair  value  of  loans  acquired  in  the  Legacy  Cadence  merger  on 

October 29, 2021:

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

$ 

Fair Value

5,554,007 
818,068 
6,372,075 

1,067,155 
1,591,950 
2,659,105 

2,499,517 
86,813 
2,586,330 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 

11,617,510 

The estimated fair value of the non-PCD loans acquired in the Legacy Cadence transaction was $11.1 billion, which is 
net  of  a  $64.3  million  discount.  The  gross  contractual  amounts  receivable  of  the  acquired  non-PCD  loans  at  acquisition  was 
approximately $12.1 billion, of which $111.0 million is the amount of contractual cash flows not expected to be collected.

The following table shows the carrying amount of loans acquired in the Legacy Cadence transaction for which there 

was, at the date of acquisition, more than insignificant deterioration of credit quality since origination:

(In thousands)
Purchase price of loans at acquisition
Allowance for credit losses at acquisition
Non-credit discount (premium) at acquisition
Par value of acquired loans at acquisition

The following is a discussion of our segments and classes of loans and leases:

Commercial and Industrial

Carrying Amount

$ 

$ 

303,576 
64,576 
18,563 
386,715 

Non-Real Estate – The Company engages in lending to small and medium-sized business enterprises and government 
entities through its community banking locations and to regional and national business enterprises through its corporate banking 
division.  The  bank  acts  as  agent  or  participant  in  SNC  and  other  financing  arrangements  with  other  financial  institutions. 
Commercial and industrial loans are loans and leases to finance business operations, equipment and owner-occupied facilities 
primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises. These include both lines of credit for terms of one year or less and term loans 
which  are  amortized  over  the  useful  life  of  the  assets  financed.  Personal  and/or  corporate  guarantees  are  generally  obtained 
where  available  and  prudent.  Also  included  in  this  category  are  loans  to  finance  agricultural  production.  The  Company 
recognizes  that  risk  from  economic  cycles,  commodity  prices,  pandemics,  including  COVID-19,  government  regulation, 
supply-chain disruptions, product innovations or obsolescence, operational errors, lawsuits, natural disasters, losses due to theft 
or  embezzlement,  health  or  loss  of  key  personnel  or  competitive  situations  may  adversely  affect  the  scheduled  repayment  of 

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
business  loans.  In  addition,  risks  in  the  agricultural  sector  including  crop  failures  due  to  weather,  insects  and  other  blights, 
commodity  prices,  governmental  intervention,  lawsuits,  labor  or  logistical  disruptions.  Non-real  estate  loans  outstanding 
increased 168.9% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Excluding the fair value of acquired loans recorded at the 
time of acquisition, non-real estate loans outstanding decreased 25.8% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

Owner Occupied – Owner occupied loans include loans secured by business facilities to finance business operations, 
equipment,  agricultural  land  and  owner-occupied  facilities  primarily  for  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises.  These  include 
both lines of credit for terms of one year or less and term loans which are amortized over the useful life of the assets financed. 
Personal  guarantees  are  generally  required  for  these  loans.  The  Company  recognizes  that  risk  from  economic  cycles, 
pandemics,  including  COVID-19,  government  regulation,  supply-chain  disruptions,  product  innovations  or  obsolescence, 
operational  errors,  lawsuits,  natural  disasters,  losses  due  to  theft  or  embezzlement,  health  or  loss  of  key  personnel  or 
competitive situations may adversely affect the scheduled repayment of business loans. Owner occupied loans increased 37.3% 
from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Excluding the fair value of acquired loans recorded at the time of acquisition, 
owner occupied loans outstanding increased 2.0% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

Commercial Real Estate

Construction, Acquisition and Development – Construction, acquisition and development loans include both loans and 
credit  lines  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing,  carrying  and  developing  land  into  commercial  developments  or  residential 
subdivisions.  Also  included  are  loans  and  credit  lines  for  construction  of  residential,  multi-family  and  commercial  buildings. 
The  Company  generally  engages  in  construction  and  development  lending  primarily  in  markets  served  by  its  branches.  The 
Company recognizes that risks are inherent in the financing of real estate development and construction. These risks include 
location,  market  conditions  and  price  volatility,  demand  for  developed  land,  lots  and  buildings,  desirability  of  features  and 
styling  of  completed  developments  and  buildings,  competition  from  other  developments  and  builders,  traffic  patterns, 
governmental  jurisdiction,  tax  structure,  availability  of  utilities,  roads,  public  transportation  and  schools,  interest  rates, 
availability of permanent financing for homebuyers, zoning, environmental restrictions, lawsuits, economic and business cycle, 
labor  and  reputation  of  the  builder  or  developer.  Construction,  acquisition  and  development  loans  increased  69.2%  from 
December  31,  2020  to  December  31,  2021.  Excluding  the  fair  value  of  acquired  loans  recorded  at  the  time  of  acquisition, 
construction, acquisition and development loans outstanding decreased 1.0% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

The underwriting process for construction, acquisition and development loans with interest reserves is essentially the 
same as that for a loan without interest reserves and may include analysis of borrower and guarantor financial strength, market 
demand  for  the  proposed  project,  experience  and  success  with  similar  projects,  property  values,  time  horizon  for  project 
completion  and  the  availability  of  permanent  financing  once  the  project  is  completed.  The  Company’s  loan  policy  generally 
prohibits  the  use  of  interest  reserves  on  loans.  Construction,  acquisition  and  development  loans,  with  or  without  interest 
reserves, are inspected periodically to ensure that the project is on schedule and eligible for requested draws. Inspections may 
be  performed  by  construction  inspectors  hired  by  the  Company  or  by  appropriate  loan  officers  and  are  done  periodically  to 
monitor  the  progress  of  a  particular  project.  These  inspections  may  also  include  discussions  with  project  managers  and 
engineers.

Interest income is not recognized on construction, acquisition and development loans with interest reserves that are in 
nonaccrual status. Loans with interest reserves normally have a budget that includes the various cost components involved in 
the project. Interest is such a cost, along with hard and other soft costs. The Company’s policy is to allow interest reserves only 
during the construction phase.

Each construction, acquisition and development loan is underwritten to address: (i) the desirability of the project, its 
market viability and projected absorption period; (ii) the creditworthiness of the borrower and the guarantor. if applicable, as to 
liquidity,  cash  flow  and  assets  available  to  ensure  performance  of  the  loan;  (iii)  equity  contribution  to  the  project;  (iv)  the 
developer’s experience and success with similar projects; and (v) the value of the collateral.

Income  Producing  –  Commercial  loans  include  loans  to  finance  income-producing  commercial  and  multi-family 
properties. Lending in this category is generally limited to properties located in the Company’s market area with only limited 
exposure  to  properties  located  elsewhere  but  owned  by  in-market  borrowers.  Loans  in  this  category  include  loans  for 
neighborhood retail centers, medical and professional offices, single retail stores, warehouses and apartments leased generally 
to local businesses and residents. The underwriting of these loans takes into consideration the occupancy and rental rates as well 
as the financial health of the borrower. The Company’s exposure to national retail tenants is minimal. The Company has not 
purchased  commercial  real  estate  loans  from  brokers  or  third-party  originators.  The  Company  recognizes  that  risk  from 
economic  cycles,  pandemics,  including  COVID-19,  delayed  or  missed  rent  payments,  supply-chain  disruptions,  product 
innovations or obsolescence, operational errors, lawsuits, natural disasters, losses due to theft or embezzlement, health or loss of 
key  personnel  or  competitive  situations  may  adversely  affect  the  scheduled  repayment  of  business  loans.  Income  producing 
loans increased 53.3% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Excluding the fair value of acquired loans recorded at 
the time of acquisition, income producing loans outstanding decreased 3.3% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

62

Consumer

Residential  Mortgages  –  Consumer  mortgages  are  first  or  second-lien  loans  to  consumers  secured  by  a  primary 
residence or second home. This category includes traditional mortgages and home equity loans and revolving lines of credit. 
The loans are generally secured by properties located within the local market area of the community bank which originates and 
services the loan. These loans are underwritten in accordance with the Company’s general loan policies and procedures which 
require,  among  other  things,  proper  documentation  of  each  borrower’s  financial  condition,  satisfactory  credit  history  and 
property value. In addition to loans originated through the Company’s branches, the Company originates and services consumer 
mortgages  sold  in  the  secondary  market  which  are  underwritten  and  closed  pursuant  to  investor  and  agency  guidelines. 
Residential mortgages outstanding increased 67.8% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Excluding the fair value 
of acquired loans recorded at the time of acquisition, residential mortgage loans outstanding increased 5.3% from December 31, 
2020 to December 31, 2021.

Other  Consumer  –  Other  consumer  lending  includes  consumer  and  business  MasterCard  and  Visa  accounts  and 
installment loans. The Company offers credit cards primarily to its deposit and loan customers. Consumer installment loans and 
leases include term loans of up to five years secured by automobiles, boats and recreational vehicles.

The  Company  recognizes  that  there  are  risks  in  consumer  lending  which  include  interruptions  in  the  borrower’s 
personal and investment income due to loss of employment, market conditions, and general economic conditions, deterioration 
in the health and well-being of the borrower and family members, natural disasters, pandemics, lawsuits, losses or inability to 
generate income due to injury, accidents, theft, vandalism or incarceration. Other consumer loans outstanding increased 47.5% 
from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Excluding the fair value of acquired loans recorded at the time of acquisition, 
other consumer loans outstanding decreased 22.2% from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

63

Selected Loan Maturity and Interest Rate Sensitivity

The maturity distribution of the Company’s loan portfolio is one factor in management’s evaluation by collateral type 
of the risk characteristics of the loan and lease portfolio. The interest rate sensitivity of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio 
is important in the management of net interest margin. The Company attempts to manage the relationship between the interest 
rate  sensitivity  of  its  assets  and  liabilities  to  produce  an  effective  interest  differential  that  is  not  significantly  impacted  by 
changes  in  the  level  of  interest  rates.  The  following  table  shows  the  maturity  distribution  of  the  Company’s  loan  and  lease 
portfolio and the interest rate sensitivity of the Company’s loans and leases due after one year as of December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

One Year
or Less

Over One 
Year through 
Five Years

Over Five 
Years through 
Fifteen Years

Over Fifteen 
Years

Fixed 
Interest Rate

Variable 
Interest Rate

Rate Structure for Loans 
Maturing Over One Year

$  1,502,194  $ 

5,450,335  $ 

816,321  $ 

78,623  $  1,617,539  $  4,727,740 

263,444 

620,060 

1,827,232 

2,643,553 

857,010 

  1,505,700 

1,798,602 

935,633 

  3,123,239 

6,526,342 

Total commercial and industrial

  1,765,638 

6,070,395 

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development

  1,213,707 

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

891,924 

  2,105,631 

1,071,458 

1,329,323 

2,400,781 

418,348 

220,830 

1,264,217 

1,438,905 

270,450 

986,658 

1,440,186 

3,045,787 

1,682,565 

1,659,735 

  1,257,108 

4,485,973 

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

Asset Quality

Nonperforming Assets

630,262 

137,793 

1,336,669 

1,878,985 

3,465,390 

  3,882,598 

2,798,446 

140,473 

27,065 

2,420 

114,575 

55,383 

768,055 
$  4,639,324  $ 

1,477,142 
9,948,318  $ 

1,906,050 
2,853,829 
6,232,168  $  6,063,178  $  8,377,520  $  13,866,144 

  3,997,173 

3,467,810 

NPA consist of NPL, other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other repossessed assets. NPAs, which are carried either 
in the loan account or OREO on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, depending on foreclosure status, were as follows 
at the end of each year presented:

(In thousands)
Nonaccrual loans and leases
Loans and leases 90 days or more past due, still accruing
Restructured loans and leases, still accruing

Total nonperforming loans and leases

Foreclosed OREO and other NPA
Total nonperforming assets

NPL to total loans and leases
NPA to total assets

Nonperforming Loans

2021
122,104 
24,784 
6,903 
153,791 
33,021 
186,812 

$ 

$ 

2020

96,378 
14,320 
10,475 
121,173 
11,395 
132,568 

$ 

$ 

 0.57 %
 0.39 %

 0.81 %
 0.55 %

NPL consist of nonaccrual loans and leases, loans and leases 90 days or more past due, still accruing, and accruing 
loans  and  leases  that  have  been  restructured  (primarily  in  the  form  of  reduced  interest  rates  and  modified  payment  terms) 
because  of  the  borrower’s  or  guarantor’s  weakened  financial  condition  or  bankruptcy  proceedings.  The  Company’s  policy 
provides  that  loans  and  leases  are  generally  placed  in  nonaccrual  status  if,  in  management’s  opinion,  payment  in  full  of 
principal or interest is not expected or payment of principal or interest is more than 90 days past due, unless the loan or lease is 
both well-secured and in the process of collection.

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NPL increased 26.9% in 2021 compared to 2020 and increased 8.7% in 2020 compared to 2019. However, NPLs as a 
percentage of net loans and leases decreased from 0.81% at December 31, 2020 to 0.57% at December 31, 2021. Foreclosed 
OREO  and  other  NPA  increased  189.8%  in  2021  compared  to  2020  and  increased  68.9%  in  2020  compared  to  2019.  The 
increases in the dollar amount of nonperforming assets resulted from the merger with Legacy Cadence in the fourth quarter of 
2021.

Included in NPLs at December 31, 2021 were $25.2 million of loans that were internally risk rated impaired. These 
impaired  loans  had  a  specific  reserve  of  $4.5  million  included  in  the  allowance  for  credit  losses  of  $446.4  million  at 
December 31, 2021, and were net of $2.4 million in partial charge-downs previously taken on these impaired loans. NPLs at 
December 31, 2020 included $29.5 million of loans that were impaired and had a specific reserve of $0.8 million included in 
the allowance for credit losses of $244.4 million at December 31, 2020. Restructured loans and leases still accruing decreased 
34.1% in 2021 compared to 2020 and decreased 31.0% in 2020 compared to 2019.

The following table presents the Company’s NPLs by geographical location at December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)
Alabama and Florida
Arkansas
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
Tennessee and Georgia
Texas
Other
Total

Outstanding
$  3,841,193  $ 
1,107,833 
1,225,965 
3,163,401 
538,134 
3,481,052 
  11,146,850 
2,378,560 
$  26,882,988  $ 

90+ Days
Past Due,
Still Accruing

Nonaccrual 
Loans

Restructured,
Still Accruing

NPLs

NPLs as a
% of
Outstanding

5,934  $ 
1,617 
2,198 
4,171 
377 
3,468 
5,165 
1,854 
24,784  $ 

18,858  $ 
2,082 
5,107 
17,131 
1,580 
17,933 
43,746 
15,667 
122,104  $ 

188  $ 

2,076 
174 
3,030 
25 
243 
703 
464 
6,903  $ 

24,980 
5,775 
7,479 
24,332 
1,982 
21,644 
49,614 
17,985 
153,791 

 0.7 %
 0.5 
 0.6 
 0.8 
 0.4 
 0.6 
 0.4 
 0.8 
 0.6 %

The following table provides additional details related to the Company’s loan and lease portfolio and the distribution 

of NPLs by segment and class at December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Outstanding

90+ Days
Past Due,
Still Accruing

Nonaccrual 
Loans

Restructured,
Still Accruing

NPLs

NPLs as a
% of
Outstanding

$ 

7,847,473  $ 

2,966  $ 

33,690  $ 

530  $ 

3,567,746 

11,415,219 

2,924,343 

4,924,369 

7,848,712 

7,311,306 

307,751 

7,619,057 

— 

2,966 

535 

— 

535 

21,099 

184 

21,283 

22,058 

55,748 

5,568 

16,086 

21,654 

44,180 

522 

44,702 

1,801 

2,331 

127  $ 

756  $ 

883 

3,217  $ 

472  $ 

3,689 

37,186 

23,859 

61,045 

6,230 

16,842 

23,072 

68,496 

1,178 

69,674 

 0.5 %

 0.7 

 0.5 

 0.2 

 0.3 

 0.3 

 0.9 

 0.4 

 0.9 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 

26,882,988  $ 

24,784  $ 

122,104  $ 

6,903  $ 

153,791 

 0.6 %

The  total  amount  of  interest  recorded  on  NPLs  was  $5.6  million,  $7.0  million,  and  $4.1  million  in  2021,  2020,  and 
2019, respectively. The gross interest income that would have been recorded under the original terms of those loans and leases 
if they had been performing amounted to $6.8 million, $9.6 million, and $6.8 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2021 increased by $25.7 million or 26.7% to $122.1 million from $96.4 million at 
December 31, 2020 after an increase of $17.6 million or 22.3% from December 31, 2019. While nonaccrual loans increased in 
several  loan  categories  when  comparing  December  31,  2021  to  December  31,  2020,  the  primary  increase  is  in  the  non-real 
estate loan portfolio. Nonaccrual loans in the non-real estate portfolio increased by $20.6 million or 157.7% to $33.7 million at 
December 31, 2021. This increase is consistent with the increase in loans outstanding in the non-real estate portfolio as result of 
the acquisitions in 2021 as nonaccrual loans as a percentage of loans outstanding remained stable at 0.4% at December 31, 2021 
and December 31, 2020.

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table provides details regarding the aging of the Company’s nonaccrual loans and leases by segment and 

class at December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 

OREO and Repossessed Assets

30-59 Days
Past Due

60-89 Days
Past Due

90+ Days
Past Due

Total
Past Due

Current

Total
Outstanding

$ 

— 

$ 

228 

228 

— 

30 

30 

14 

— 

14 

— 

— 

— 

3,142 

42 

3,184 
3,442 

$ 

2,295 

139 

2,434 
2,448 

$ 

$ 

15,327 

$ 

15,341 

$ 

18,349 

$ 

33,690 

9,490 

24,817 

5,503 

10,370 

15,873 

31,758 

264 

32,022 
72,712 

$ 

9,718 

25,059 

5,503 

10,400 

15,903 

37,195 

445 

37,640 
78,602 

12,340 

30,689 

65 

5,686 

5,751 

6,985 

77 

22,058 

55,748 

5,568 

16,086 

21,654 

44,180 

522 

7,062 
43,502 

44,702 
$  122,104 

$ 

OREO  consists  of  properties  acquired  through  foreclosure.  Repossessed  assets  consist  of  non-real  estate  assets 
acquired  in  partial  or  full  settlement  of  loans.  OREO  and  repossessed  assets  totaled  $33.0  million  and  $11.4  million  at 
December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. OREO at December 31, 2021 had aggregate loan balances at the time of foreclosure 
of $23.9 million. 

OREO and repossessed assets increased by $21.6 million to $33.0 million at December 31, 2021 compared to $11.4 
million at December 31, 2020, and increased $4.6 million at December 31, 2020 from December 31, 2019. The increase in 2021 
was primarily the result of acquiring $14.5 million in repossessed assets as part of the Legacy Cadence merger. The decrease in 
2020 was primarily a result of sales and write-downs exceeding additions. Write-downs were the result of continuing processes 
to  value  these  properties  at  fair  value.  The  Company  recorded  losses  from  the  loans  that  were  secured  by  these  foreclosed 
properties in the allowance for credit losses at the time of foreclosure.

Because of the relatively high number of the Company’s NPLs that have been determined to be collaterally dependent, 
management  expects  the  resolution  of  a  significant  number  of  these  loans  to  necessitate  foreclosure  proceedings  resulting  in 
further additions to OREO. While management expects future foreclosure activity in virtually all loan categories, the magnitude 
of  NPLs  in  the  non-real  estate,  owner  occupied,  and  residential  mortgage  portfolios  at  December  31,  2021  indicated  that  a 
majority of additions to OREO in the near-term might be from those categories.

At  the  time  of  foreclosure,  the  fair  value  of  construction,  acquisition  and  development  properties  is  typically 
determined  by  an  appraisal  performed  by  a  third  party  appraiser  holding  professional  certifications.  Such  appraisals  are  then 
reviewed and evaluated by the Company’s internal appraisal group. A market value appraisal using a 180-360 day marketing 
period is typically ordered and the OREO is recorded at the time of foreclosure at its market value less estimated selling costs. 
For residential subdivisions that are not completed, the appraisals reflect the uncompleted status of the subdivision.

To attempt to ensure that OREO is carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs on an ongoing 
basis, new appraisals are obtained on at least an annual basis and the OREO carrying values are adjusted accordingly. The type 
of appraisals typically used for these periodic reappraisals are “Restricted Use Appraisals,” meaning the appraisal is for client 
use  only.  Other  indications  of  fair  value  are  also  used  to  attempt  to  ensure  that  OREO  is  carried  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  fair 
value. These include listing the property with a broker and acceptance of an offer to purchase from a third party. If an OREO 
property is listed with a broker at an amount less than the current carrying value, the carrying value is immediately adjusted to 
reflect the list price less estimated selling costs and if an offer to purchase is accepted at a price less than the current carrying 
value,  the  carrying  value  is  immediately  adjusted  to  reflect  that  sales  price,  less  estimated  selling  costs.  The  majority  of  the 
properties  in  OREO  are  actively  marketed  using  a  combination  of  real  estate  brokers,  bank  staff  who  are  familiar  with  the 
particular properties and/or third parties.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Troubled Debt Restructuring (“TDR”) 

The  Company  has  processes  in  place  to  review  credits  upon  renewal  or  modification  to  determine  if  financial 
concessions are being granted that meet the requirements set forth in FASB ASC 326. Loans identified as meeting the criteria 
set  out  in  FASB  ASC  326  are  identified  as  TDRs.  The  concessions  granted  most  frequently  for  TDRs  involve  reductions  or 
delays in required payments of principal and/or interest for a specified time, the rescheduling of payments in accordance with a 
bankruptcy plan or the charge-off of a portion of the loan. In some cases, the conditions of the credit also warrant nonaccrual 
status, even after the restructure occurs. TDR loans may be returned to accrual status in years after the restructure when the loan 
is  current  under  the  restructured  loan  terms  by  the  borrower  and  the  interest  rate  at  the  time  of  restructure  was  at  or  above 
market for a comparable loan. For reporting purposes, if a restructured loan is 90 days or more past due or has been placed in 
nonaccrual  status,  the  restructured  loan  is  included  in  the  loans  90  days  or  more  past  due  category  or  the  nonaccrual  loan 
category of NPAs. Total restructured loans were $9.2 million and $12.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 
Restructured loans of $2.3 million and $1.5 million were included in the nonaccrual and 90+ days past due, still accruing loan 
categories at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Internally Assigned Grades on Loans

Loans with an internally assigned grade of impaired are individually analyzed collateral-dependent loans for which a 
specific  provision  has  been  considered  to  address  the  unsupported  exposure.  Loans  with  an  internally  assigned  grade  of 
impaired, irrespective of TDR status, which were included in NPLs totaled $25.2 million and $29.5 million at December 31, 
2021 and 2020, respectively, with a valuation allowance of $4.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

At December 31, 2021, the Company did not have any concentration of loans or leases in excess of 10% of total loans 
and leases outstanding which were not otherwise disclosed as a category of loans or leases. Loan concentrations are considered 
to  exist  when  there  are  amounts  loaned  to  multiple  borrowers  engaged  in  similar  activities  which  would  cause  them  to  be 
similarly impacted by economic or other conditions. The Company conducts business in a geographically concentrated area and 
has a significant amount of loans secured by real estate to borrowers in varying activities and businesses, but does not consider 
these  factors  alone  in  identifying  loan  concentrations.  The  ability  of  the  Company’s  borrowers  to  repay  loans  is  somewhat 
dependent upon the economic conditions prevailing in the Company’s market areas.

The  Company  utilizes  an  internal  loan  classification  system  that  is  perpetually  updated  to  grade  loans  according  to 
certain  credit  quality  indicators.  These  credit  quality  indicators  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  recent  credit  performance, 
delinquency, liquidity, cash flows, debt coverage ratios, collateral type and loan-to-value ratio. See Note 4 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

The  following  table  provides  details  of  the  Company’s  loan  and  lease  portfolio  by  segment,  class  and  internally 

assigned grade at December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

Pass

Special
Mention

Substandard

Doubtful

Loss

Purchased
Credit
Deteriorated 
(Loss)

Impaired
(1)

Total

$  7,655,502  $ 

43,009  $  103,134  $ 

153  $  —  $ 

5,350  $ 

40,325  $  7,847,473 

  3,484,116 
  11,139,618 

3,440 
46,449 

55,247 
158,381 

  2,884,673 

  4,686,699 

  7,571,372 

  7,196,106 

300,175 

  7,496,281 
$ 26,207,271  $ 

441 

28,964 

29,405 

990 

— 

990 

31,263 

174,936 

206,199 

110,429 

7,381 

117,810 

76,844  $  482,390  $ 

— 
153 

— 

— 

— 

2,560 

137 

— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

11,229 
16,579 

13,714 
54,039 

  3,567,746 
  11,415,219 

3,765 

3,810 

7,575 

1,047 

— 

4,201 

  2,924,343 

29,960 

  4,924,369 

34,161 

  7,848,712 

174 

  7,311,306 

58 

307,751 

2,697 
2,850  $  —  $ 

— 

1,047 
25,201  $ 

232 

  7,619,057 
88,432  $ 26,882,988 

(1) Impaired  loans  are  shown  exclusive  of  $6.9  million  of  accruing  TDRs,  $1.8  million  of  non-accruing  TDRs,  and 

approximately $11 thousand of accruing TDRs that are 90 or more days past due.

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  table  provides  details  regarding  the  aging  of  the  Company’s  loan  and  lease  portfolio  by  internally 

assigned grade at December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)
Pass
Special Mention
Substandard
Doubtful
Loss
Impaired
PCD (Loss)

Total

Current

30-59 Days
Past Due

60-89 Days
Past Due

90+ Days
Past Due

Total

$ 26,141,589  $ 

76,188 
381,815 
945 
— 
15,148 
83,054 

$ 26,698,739  $ 

26,189  $ 
630 
36,150 
524 
— 
— 
— 
63,493  $ 

3,539  $ 
15 
19,635 
31 
— 
— 
39 
23,259  $ 

35,954  $ 26,207,271 
76,844 
11 
482,390 
44,790 
2,850 
1,350 
— 
— 
25,201 
10,053 
5,339 
88,432 
97,497  $ 26,882,988 

There  were  increases  in  every  internally-assigned  grade  category,  except  Impaired  which  decreased  by  14.7%  from 
December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. These increases were due to the merger with Legacy Cadence in the fourth quarter 
of 2021. Of the total loans and leases outstanding, 99.3% were current on their contractual payments at December 31, 2021.

Collateral for some of the Company’s loans and leases is subject to fair value evaluations that fluctuate with market 
conditions  and  other  external  factors.  In  addition,  while  the  Company  has  certain  underwriting  obligations  related  to  such 
evaluations, the evaluations of some real property and other collateral are dependent upon third-party independent appraisers 
employed either by the Company’s customers or as independent contractors of the Company. 

Deposits

Deposits originating within the communities served by the Company continue to be the Company’s primary source of 
funding its earning assets. The Company has been able to compete effectively for deposits in its primary market areas, while 
continuing to manage the exposure to rising interest rates. The distribution and market share of deposits by type of deposit and 
by type of depositor are important considerations in the Company's assessment of the stability of its fund sources and its access 
to additional funds. Furthermore, management shifts the mix and maturity of the deposits depending on economic conditions 
and loan and investment policies in an attempt, within set policies, to minimize cost and maximize net interest margin. 

The following table presents the Company’s deposits at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and the percentage change 

between years:

(Dollars in thousands)
Noninterest bearing demand
Interest bearing demand
Savings
Time
Total deposits

Amount
$ 13,634,505 
  18,727,588 
3,556,079 
3,899,501 
$ 39,817,673 

2021

2020

% Change

Amount

% Change

2019
Amount

 115.0 % $  6,341,457 
8,524,010 
 119.7 
2,452,059 
 45.0 
2,528,915 
 54.2 
 100.6 % $ 19,846,441 

 36.0 % $  4,661,821 
7,176,934 
 18.8 
1,937,985 
 26.5 
2,633,959 
 (4.0) 
 20.9 % $ 16,410,699 

The 100.6% increase in deposits at December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020 was primarily a result of the 
merger  with  Legacy  Cadence  on  October  29,  2021  (see  Note  2  of  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  more  details). 
Interest bearing demand deposits increased $10.2 billion, or 119.7%, to $18.7 billion at December 31, 2021 from $8.5 billion at 
December 31, 2020 and noninterest bearing demand deposits increased $7.3 billion, or 115.0% to $13.6 billion at December 31, 
2021 from $6.3 billion at December 31, 2020. The 20.9% increase in deposits at December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 
2019  was  primarily  a  result  of  the  impact  of  additional  customer  liquidity  associated  with  the  PPP  loans  and  government 
stimulus payments, organic growth, and the acquisition that was effective January 1, 2020 as interest bearing demand deposits 
increased $1.3 billion, or 18.8%, to $8.5 billion at December 31, 2020 from $7.2 billion at December 31, 2019 and noninterest 
bearing  demand  deposits  increased  $1.7  billion,  or  36.0%  to  $6.3  billion  at  December  31,  2020  from  $4.7  billion  at 
December 31, 2019.

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  table  presents  the  classification  of  the  Company’s  deposits  on  an  average  basis  for  each  of  the  three 

years indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)
Noninterest bearing demand deposits
Interest bearing demand deposits
Savings deposits
Time

Total deposits

2021

2020

2019

Average
Amount
$ 8,382,997 
 11,114,242 
 2,946,629 
 2,784,733 
$ 25,228,601 

Average
Rate

Average
Amount

Average
Rate

Average
Amount

Average
Rate

 0.30 
 0.11 
 0.88 

 — % $ 5,850,761 
 7,859,680 
 2,199,405 
 2,649,809 
$ 18,559,655 

 0.61 
 0.19 
 1.47 

 — % $ 4,419,258 
 6,576,213 
 1,873,309 
 2,450,350 
$ 15,319,130 

 — %

 0.89 
 0.29 
 1.61 

Uninsured deposits are defined as the portion of deposit accounts in U.S. offices that exceed the FDIC insurance limit 
and  amounts  in  any  other  uninsured  investment  or  deposit  account  that  are  classified  as  deposits  and  are  not  subject  to  any 
federal or state deposit insurance regimes. Total uninsured deposits were $17.8 billion and $6.3 billion at December 31, 2021 
and 2020, respectively, as calculated per regulatory guidance. The Company’s estimated uninsured time deposits include those 
in excess of $250,000, the standard maximum insured amount per account holder, as defined including certificates of deposits 
of $100,000 and greater, at December 31, 2021, had maturities as follows:

(In thousands)
Three months or less
Over three months through six months
Over six months through twelve months
Over 12 months
Total

Amount

268,530 
193,628 
254,720 
241,154 
958,032 

$ 

$ 

The  average  maturity  of  time  deposits  at  December  31,  2021  was  approximately  10.6  months,  compared  to 

approximately 13.7 months at December 31, 2020.

Borrowings

Short-term Borrowings

We utilize securities sold under agreements to repurchase to secure short-term funding needs and to meet the needs of 
our  customers.  Securities  sold  under  repurchase  agreements  generally  mature  within  30  days  from  the  date  of  sale.  We 
continually  monitor  collateral  levels.  Short-term  FHLB  borrowings  generally  mature  within  30  days  following  the  date  of 
purchase. All borrowings from the FHLB are collateralized by commercial, construction, and real estate loans pledged under a 
blanket lien arrangement as of December 31, 2021. See Notes 8 and 9 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. 
Additionally, we utilize federal funds purchased which generally mature the day following the date of purchase.

Long-term Borrowings 

Under the terms of the blanket floating lien security agreement of FHLB Dallas, the Company is required to maintain 
sufficient collateral to secure borrowings. At December 31, 2021, the remaining borrowing availability totaled $7.5 billion. At 
December 31, 2021, there were no call features on long-term FHLB borrowings.

Due to the merger with Cadence Bancorporation on October 29, 2021, the Company assumed subordinated notes with 
the par value totaling $145.0 million and junior subordinated notes par value totaling $50.6 million. The Company redeemed, at 
par, $35 million of the junior subordinated debentures in December 2021 and $15 million on January 3, 2022. On May 1, 2021, 
the  Company  assumed  $10.0  million  in  subordinated  notes  from  the  merger  with  FNS  Bancshares  Inc.  See  Note  2  of  the 
Consolidated Financial Statements for more details related to the mergers.

69

 
 
 
On November 20, 2019, the Company completed its public offering of $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 
4.125% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due November 20, 2029. Please see Note 9 to the Company’s Consolidated 
Financial Statements for further disclosures regarding subordinated debt. The following is a summary of our borrowings for the 
periods indicated:

(In thousands)

Advances from FHLB of Dallas

4.125% subordinated notes, due November 20, 2029, callable in 2024

7.250% subordinated notes, due June 28, 2029, callable in 2024

4.750% subordinated notes, due June 30, 2029, callable in 2024

6.250% subordinated notes, due June 28, 2029, callable in 2024

Junior subordinated debentures, 3 month LIBOR plus 1.75%, due 2037
5.000% fixed to floating rate, subordinated notes, due June 30, 2030, 
callable in 2025

Purchase accounting adjustment, net of amortization

Debt issue costs

Total advances and subordinated debt

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

$ 

$ 

3,742  $ 

300,000 

4,402 

300,000 

35,000 

85,000 

25,000 

15,000 

10,000 

10,717 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(2,048)   

482,411  $ 

(2,750) 

301,652 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

One of the Company's goals is to maintain adequate funds to meet increases in loan demand or any potential increase 
in  the  normal  level  of  deposit  withdrawals.  This  goal  is  accomplished  primarily  by  generating  cash  from  the  Company’s 
operating activities and maintaining sufficient short-term liquid assets. These sources, coupled with a stable deposit base and a 
historically strong reputation in the capital markets, allow the Company to fund earning assets and maintain the availability of 
funds. Management believes that the Company’s traditional sources of maturing loans and investment securities, sales of loans 
held for sale, cash from operating activities and a strong base of core deposits are adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity 
needs for normal operations over both the short-term and the long-term.

To provide additional liquidity, the Company utilizes short-term financing through the purchase of federal funds and 
securities  sold  under  agreement  to  repurchase.  All  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  are  accounted  for  as 
collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the amounts at which the securities were acquired or sold plus accrued 
interest.  Further,  the  Company  maintains  a  borrowing  relationship  with  the  FHLB  which  provides  access  to  short-term  and 
long-term  borrowings.  The  Company  also  has  access  to  the  Federal  Reserve  discount  window  and  other  bank  lines.  The 
Company  had  no  short-term  borrowings  from  the  FHLB  or  the  Federal  Reserve  at  either  December  31,  2021  or  2020.  The 
Company had federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase of $1.3 billion and $637.7 million at 
December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The  Company  had  long-term  borrowings  from  the  FHLB  and  other  long-term  debt  totaling  $3.7  million  and  $4.4 
million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company has pledged eligible loans to secure the FHLB borrowings 
and had $7.5 billion in additional borrowing capacity under the existing FHLB borrowing agreement at December 31, 2021.

The  Company  had  non-binding  federal  funds  borrowing  arrangements  with  other  banks  aggregating  $1.6  billion  at 
December 31, 2021. The unencumbered fair value of the Company’s federal government and government agencies securities 
portfolio may provide substantial additional liquidity.

The  ability  of  the  Company  to  obtain  funding  from  these  or  other  sources  could  be  negatively  affected  should  the 
Company experience a substantial deterioration in its financial condition or its debt rating, or should the availability of short-
term funding become restricted as a result of the disruption in the financial markets. Management does not anticipate any short-
or long-term changes to its liquidity strategies and believes that the Company has ample sources to meet the liquidity challenges 
caused by the current economic conditions. The Company utilizes, among other tools, maturity gap tables, interest rate shock 
scenarios  and  an  active  asset  and  liability  management  committee  to  analyze,  manage  and  plan  asset  growth  and  to  assist  in 
managing the Company’s net interest margin and overall level of liquidity.

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Sources and Uses

Cash equivalents include cash and amounts due from banks, including interest bearing deposits with other banks. At 

December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.3 billion compared to $417.4 million at December 31, 2020.

Operating activities provided $1.2 billion during 2021 compared to $236.6 million for 2020. The increase was driven 

by $1.0 billion in net paydowns and proceeds from sales of loans held for sale.

Investing  activities  used  $3.2  billion  in  cash  in  2021  compared  to  $2.4  billion  in  2020.  The  increase  of  $0.7  billion 

resulted primarily from an increase in the net purchases of investment securities offset by net cash received in the mergers.

Financing activities provided cash of $2.9 billion in 2021 compared to $2.3 billion in 2020. The 2021 increase resulted 
from an increase of $1.2 billion in short-term borrowings. This increase was offset by decreases of $501.6 million in deposits 
and decrease of $94.5 million in the repurchase of common stock.

The  ability  of  the  Company  to  obtain  funding  from  these  or  other  sources  could  be  negatively  affected  should  the 
Company experience a substantial deterioration in its financial condition or its debt rating, or should the availability of short-
term funding become restricted as a result of the disruption in the financial markets. Management does not anticipate any short- 
or long-term changes to its liquidity strategies and believes that the Company has ample sources to meet the liquidity challenges 
caused by the current economic conditions. The Company utilizes, among other tools, maturity gap tables, interest rate shock 
scenarios  and  an  active  asset  and  liability  management  committee  to  analyze,  manage  and  plan  asset  growth  and  to  assist  in 
managing the Company’s net interest margin and overall level of liquidity.

Cash Obligations

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2021. See Notes 1, 8, 9, and 

22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements Report for further disclosures regarding contractual obligations.

(In thousands)
Contractual obligations:
Deposits without a stated maturity
Deposits with a stated maturity
Subordinated debt
Long-term debt
Short-term debt
Operating lease obligations
Commitments to extend credit
Letters of credit
Limited partnership investments
Total contractual obligations

Payment Due by Period
One to Three
Years

Less than
One Year

Three to Five
Years

More than
Five Years

Total

—  $ 

—  $ 

$ 35,918,172  $ 35,918,172  $ 

— 
200 
478,669 
2,066 
— 
132,675 
789,692 
4,785 
1,618 
$ 51,475,207  $ 43,475,054  $  4,540,705  $  2,049,743  $  1,409,705 

171,657 
— 
1,426 
— 
29,597 
1,822,821 
23,833 
409 

783,572 
— 
250 
— 
31,589 
3,628,767 
79,242 
17,285 

3,899,501 
478,669 
3,742 
1,282,188 
210,059 
9,199,246 
360,514 
123,116 

2,944,072 
— 
— 
1,282,188 
16,198 
2,957,966 
252,654 
103,804 

The  Company’s  operating  lease  obligations  represent  short  and  long-term  operating  lease  and  rental  payments  for 
facilities,  certain  software  and  data  processing  and  other  equipment.  Purchase  obligations  represent  obligations  to  purchase 
goods and services that are legally binding and enforceable on the Company and that specify all significant terms, including: 
fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the 
transaction.

In  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  the  Company  enters  into  various  off-balance  sheet  commitments  and  other 
arrangements to extend credit that are not reflected on the consolidated balance sheets of the Company. The business purpose of 
these off-balance sheet commitments is the routine extension of credit. The Company also faces the risk of deteriorating credit 
quality of borrowers to whom a commitment to extend credit has been made; however, no significant credit losses are expected 
from  these  commitments  and  arrangements.  As  of  December  31,  2021,  the  Company  maintained  a  reserve  for  unfunded 
commitments of $23.6 million included in other liabilities.

71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regulatory Capital

Regulatory  capital  at  December  31,  2021  and  2020  was  calculated  in  accordance  with  standards  established  by  the 
federal banking agencies as well as the interagency final rule published on September 30, 2020 entitled “Revised Transition of 
the  Current  Expected  Credit  Losses  Methodology  for  Allowances”  which  delayed  the  estimated  impact  on  regulatory  capital 
stemming from the adoption of CECL. The agencies granted this relief to allow institutions to focus on lending to customers in 
light of the economic and other impacts from COVID-19, while also maintaining the quality of regulatory capital. Under the 
final rule, the Day-1 impact of the adoption of CECL and 25% of subsequent provisions for credit losses (“Day-2 impacts”) are 
deferred over a two-year period ending January 1, 2022. At that point, the amount will be phased into regulatory capital on a 
pro rata basis over a three-year period ending January 1, 2025.

The  actual  capital  amounts  and  ratios  for  the  Company  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  are  presented  in  the 
following table and as shown, exceed the thresholds necessary to be considered “well capitalized”. Management believes that 
no events or changes have occurred subsequent to the indicated dates that would change this designation.

(Dollars in thousands)
Common equity tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets)

December 31, 2021
Ratio
11.11% $  1,803,226 
1,970,219 
11.61
2,430,884 
13.86
1,970,219 
9.90

December 31, 2020
Ratio
10.74%
11.74
14.48
8.67

Amount
$  3,754,848 
3,921,841 
4,683,361 
3,921,841 

Amount

Federal  and  state  banking  laws  and  regulations  and  state  corporate  laws  restrict  the  amount  of  dividends  that  the 
Company may declare and pay. Under Mississippi law, the Company cannot pay any dividend on its common stock unless it 
has received written approval of the Commissioner of the MDBCF. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying 
dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking 
practice. Moreover, the federal agencies have issued policy statements providing that insured banks should generally only pay 
dividends out of current operating earnings.

Uses of Capital

Subject to pre-approval from the FDIC and MDBCF, the Company may pursue acquisitions of depository institutions 
and  businesses  closely  related  to  banking  that  further  the  Company’s  business  strategies.  Management  anticipates  that 
consideration for any transactions would include shares of the Company’s common stock, cash or a combination thereof.

On December 8, 2021, the Company announced a new share repurchase program whereby the Company may acquire 
up  to  an  aggregate  of  ten  million  shares  of  its  common  stock  in  the  open  market  at  prevailing  market  prices  or  in  privately 
negotiated transactions during the period between January 3, 2022 through December 31, 2022. The extent and timing of any 
repurchases  depends  on  market  conditions  and  other  corporate,  legal  and  regulatory  considerations.  Repurchased  shares  are 
held  as  authorized  but  unissued  shares  and  are  available  for  use  in  connection  with  the  Company’s  stock  compensation 
programs, other transactions or for other corporate purposes as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Impact of Inflation

The consolidated financial statements and related consolidated financial data presented herein have been prepared in 
accordance with U.S. GAAP and practices within the banking industry which require the measurement of financial position and 
operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over 
time due to inflation. Unlike many companies, virtually all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in 
nature.  As  a  result,  interest  rates  have  a  more  significant  impact  on  a  financial  institution's  performance  than  the  effects  of 
general  levels  of  inflation.  However,  see  “Part  I,  Item  1A.  Risk  Factors”  for  additional  discussion  regarding  the  risks  of 
inflation.

Certain Litigation and Other Contingencies

The nature of the Company’s business ordinarily results in certain types of claims, litigation, investigations and legal 
and administrative cases and proceedings. Although the Company and its subsidiaries have developed policies and procedures 
to  minimize  legal  noncompliance  and  the  impact  of  claims  and  other  proceedings  and  endeavored  to  procure  reasonable 
amounts of insurance coverage, litigation and regulatory actions present an ongoing risk.

The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  are  engaged  in  lines  of  business  that  are  heavily  regulated  and  involve  a  large 
volume of financial transactions and potential transactions with numerous customers or applicants, and the Company is a public 

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
company  with  a  large  number  of  shareholders.  From  time  to  time,  applicants,  borrowers,  customers,  shareholders,  former 
employees  and  other  third  parties  have  brought  actions  against  the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries,  in  some  cases  claiming 
substantial damages. Financial services companies are subject to the risk of class action litigation, and, from time to time, the 
Company  and  its  subsidiaries  are  subject  to  such  actions  brought  against  it.  Additionally,  the  Company  is,  and  management 
expects it to be, engaged in a number of foreclosure proceedings and other collection actions as part of its lending and leasing 
collections  activities,  which,  from  time  to  time,  have  resulted  in  counterclaims  against  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries. 
Various  legal  proceedings  have  arisen  and  may  arise  in  the  future  out  of  claims  against  entities  to  which  the  Company  is  a 
successor as a result of business combinations. The Company and its subsidiaries may also be subject to enforcement actions by 
federal or state regulators, including the FDIC, the CFPB, the DOJ, state attorneys general and the MDBCF.

When and as the Company determines it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted, it vigorously defends against 
such  claims.  The  Company  will  consider  settlement  of  claims  when,  in  management’s  judgment  and  in  consultation  with 
counsel, it is in the best interests of the Company to do so.

The  Company  cannot  predict  with  certainty  the  cost  of  defense,  the  cost  of  prosecution  or  the  ultimate  outcome  of 
litigation  and  other  proceedings  filed  by  or  against  it,  its  subsidiaries  and  its  directors,  management  or  employees,  including 
remedies or damage awards. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection 
with  outstanding  legal  proceedings  as  well  as  certain  threatened  claims  (which  are  not  considered  incidental  to  the  ordinary 
conduct of the Company’s business) utilizing the latest and most reliable information available. For matters where a loss is not 
probable or the amount of the loss cannot be estimated, no accrual is established. For matters where it is probable the Company 
will incur a loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company establishes an accrual for the loss. Once established, 
the accrual is adjusted periodically to reflect any relevant developments. The actual cost of any outstanding legal proceedings 
and  the  potential  loss,  however,  may  turn  out  to  be  substantially  higher  than  the  amount  accrued.  Further,  the  Company’s 
insurance policies have deductibles and coverage limits, and such policies will likely not cover all costs and expenses related to 
the defense or prosecution of such legal proceedings or any losses arising therefrom.

Although the final outcome of any legal proceedings is inherently uncertain, based on the information available, advice 
of  counsel  and  available  insurance  coverage,  if  applicable,  management  believes  that  the  litigation-related  liability  of 
approximately $0.6 million accrued as of December 31, 2021 is adequate and that any incremental change in potential liability 
arising  from  the  Company’s  legal  proceedings  and  threatened  claims,  including  the  matters  described  herein  and  those 
otherwise  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s  business  or 
consolidated  results  of  operations  or  financial  condition.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  future  developments  could  result  in  an 
unfavorable outcome for or resolution of any one or more of the legal proceedings in which the Company or its subsidiaries are 
defendants, which may be material to the Company’s business or consolidated results of operations or financial condition for a 
particular fiscal period or periods.

On August 30, 2021, Legacy Cadence Bank and the DOJ agreed to a settlement set forth in the consent order related to 
the investigation by the DOJ of Legacy Cadence Bank’s fair lending program in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties 
located in Houston, Texas during the period between 2014 and 2016 (the “Consent Order”). The Consent Order was signed by 
the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, on August 31, 2021. Pursuant to Section 
5.2 of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Paragraph 50 of the Consent Order, Legacy BancorpSouth Bank approved the 
negotiated  settlement,  and  subsequently,  the  Company  agreed  to  accept  the  obligations  of  the  Consent  Order.  The  Consent 
Order is in effect for five years. For additional information regarding the terms of this settlement and the Consent Order, see 
Legacy Cadence Bancorporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on August 30, 2021.

Statement Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

The Company prioritizes the health and safety of its teammates and customers, and it will continue to do so throughout 
the  duration  of  the  pandemic.  At  the  same  time,  the  Company  remains  focused  on  improving  shareholder  value,  managing 
credit  exposure,  challenging  expenses,  enhancing  the  customer  experience  and  supporting  the  communities  it  serves.  As  an 
SBA Preferred Lender, the Company participated in the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program for the betterment of its customers 
and the communities that it serves.

In this Report, the Company has sought to describe the historical and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 
Company's  assets,  business,  cash  flows,  financial  condition,  liquidity,  prospects  and  results  of  operations,  including  the 
discussions  regarding  the  increases  in  its  provision  and  allowance  for  credit  losses  and  the  discussion  regarding  negative 
pressure to its net interest revenue and net interest margin. Although the Company believes that the statements that pertain to 
future events, results and trends and their impact on the Company's business are reasonable at the present time, those statements 
are not historical facts and are based upon current assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections, many of which, by their 
nature,  are  beyond  the  Company's  control.  Accordingly,  all  discussions  regarding  future  events,  results  and  trends  and  their 
impact on the Company's business, even in the near term, are necessarily uncertain given the fluid and evolving nature of the 
pandemic.

73

If  the  health,  logistical  or  economic  effects  of  the  pandemic  persist  or  worsen,  or  if  the  assumptions,  expectations, 
estimates or projections that underlie the Company's statements regarding future effects or trends prove to be incorrect, then the 
Company's actual assets, business, cash flows, financial condition, liquidity, prospects and results of operations and the market 
prices of the Company’s capital stock may be materially and adversely impacted in ways that the Company cannot reasonably 
forecast. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Report.

Accordingly, when reading this Report, undue reliance should not be placed upon any statement pertaining to future 

events, results and trends and their impact on the Company's business in future periods.

Recent Pronouncements

Refer  to  Note  1  –  Summary  of  Significant  Accounting  Policies  for  a  discussion  of  accounting  standards  currently 

effective for 2021 and accounting standards that have been issued but are not currently effective.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP,  which  require  the 
Company to make estimates and assumptions (see Note 1 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements). Management 
bases our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under current 
circumstances.

These  assumptions  form  the  basis  for  our  judgments  about  the  carrying  values  of  assets  and  liabilities  that  are  not 
readily available from independent, objective sources. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis. The use of alternative 
assumptions may result in significantly different estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Accounting policies are an integral part of our consolidated financial statements. A thorough understanding of these 
accounting  policies  is  essential  when  reviewing  our  reported  results  of  operations  and  our  financial  position.  The  critical 
accounting estimates discussed below involve additional management judgment due to the complexity and subjectivity of the 
methods and assumptions used.

Allowance for Credit Losses

On  January  1,  2020,  we  adopted  ASC  326,  Financial  Instruments  -  Credit  Losses  (“Topic  326”):  Measurement  of 
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASC 326”), which uses the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model to determine 
the  allowance  for  credit  losses.  In  accordance  with  CECL,  the  allowance  for  credit  losses  (“ACL”)  is  calculated  in  order  to 
determine a reserve for current expected credit losses over the remaining contractual life of the loan portfolio.

The Company bases its estimates of credit losses on three primary components: (1) estimates of expected losses that 
exist in various segments of performing loans and leases over the remaining life of the loan portfolio using a reasonable and 
supportable economic forecast; (2) specifically identified losses in individually analyzed credits which are collateral dependent, 
which generally include loans internally graded as impaired and PCD Loss loans; and (3) qualitative factors related to economic 
conditions,  portfolio  concentrations,  regulatory  policy  updates,  and  other  relevant  factors  that  address  estimates  of  expected 
losses not fully addressed based upon management’s judgment of portfolio conditions.

The Company utilizes credit risk models to estimate the probability of default and loss given default of loans over their 
remaining life. In some cases, including certain Commercial Real Estate loans and Credit Cards, a loss rate model is used where 
lifetime  loss  rates  are  analyzed  with  factors  including  vintage,  Loan-to-Value,  delinquency,  and  economic  factors.  The 
probability of default settings in the models incorporate a risk grading process by utilizing pool-specific historical default rates. 
In addition, the loss given default settings in the models utilize historical losses for different types of collateral on defaulted 
loans while giving consideration for the loan-to-value at the time of default. The product of the probability of default and loss 
given default derives a base expected loss rate for each loan. The base expected loss rate is adjusted by way of econometric 
models  that  measure  the  direction  and  magnitude  of  change  in  expected  loss  rates  given  a  change  in  forecasted  economic 
variables.

The aforementioned credit risk models and econometric models were developed and are recalibrated upon the basis of 
historical  experience.  Credit  factors  such  as  financial  condition  of  the  borrower  and  guarantor,  recent  credit  performance, 
delinquency, liquidity, cash flows, collateral type and value are used by the models to assess credit risk. Estimates of expected 
losses  are  influenced  by  the  historical  net  losses  experienced  by  the  Company  for  loans  and  leases  of  comparable 
creditworthiness  and  structure.  Specific  loss  assessments  are  performed  for  loans  and  leases  based  upon  the  collateral 
protection.  The  Company’s  reasonable  and  supportable  eight  quarter  economic  forecast  is  utilized  to  estimate  credit  losses 
before  reverting  back  to  longer  term  historical  loss  experience.  The  Company  subscribes  to  various  economic  services  and 
publications to assist with the development of inputs used in the modeling and qualitative framework for the ACL calculation. 
The economic forecast considers changes in real gross domestic product, unemployment rate, interest rate spreads, valuations 

74

for  residential  and  commercial  real  estate,  and  other  indicators  that  may  be  correlated  with  the  Company’s  expected  credit 
losses.

Loans of $1.0 million or more that are identified as collateral-dependent are reviewed by the Impairment Group which 
approves the amount of specific reserve, if any, and/or charge-off amounts in accordance with FASB ASC 326. The Impairment 
Group is responsible for evaluating individual loans that have been specifically identified through various channels, including 
examination of the Company’s watch list, past due listings, and loan officer assessments. For all loans identified, an analysis is 
prepared to determine if the loan is collateral dependent and the extent of any loss exposure. The evaluation of real estate loans 
generally  focuses  on  the  fair  value  of  underlying  collateral  less  estimated  costs  to  sell  obtained  from  appraisals,  as  the 
repayment of these loans may be dependent on the liquidation of the collateral. In certain circumstances, other information such 
as comparable sales data is deemed to be a more reliable indicator of fair value of the underlying collateral than the most recent 
appraisal.  In  these  instances,  such  information  is  used  in  determining  the  specific  provision  recorded  for  the  loan.  For 
commercial and industrial loans, the evaluation generally focuses on these considerations, as well as the projected liquidation of 
any pledged collateral. Our larger corporate and specialized industry loans are underwritten to the underlying enterprise value 
of the borrower. The value is in the equity of the business as a going concern. Many valuation approaches are used in these 
situations including discounted cash flow, multiple of cash flow, or comparable sales approaches.

The ACL Group is responsible for ensuring that the ACL provides adequate coverage of expected losses. The ACL 
Group  meets  at  least  quarterly  to  determine  the  amount  of  adjustments  to  the  ACL.  The  ACL  Group  is  composed  of  senior 
management from the Company’s credit administration, risk and finance departments.

The ACL represents management’s best estimate, but significant downturns in circumstances relating to loan quality 
and economic conditions could necessitate additional provisions or a reduction in the ACL. Unanticipated changes and events 
could have a significant impact on the financial performance of borrowers and their ability to perform as agreed. One of the 
most  significant  judgments  used  in  determining  the  allowance  for  credit  losses  is  the  reasonable  and  supportable  economic 
forecast. The economic indices sourced from the economic forecast and used in developing the estimate include the national 
unemployment rate, changes in the U.S. gross domestic product, changes in commercial real estate prices and changes in home 
prices.  The  economic  series  for  unemployment  carries  the  highest  weighting  and  is  the  most  sensitive  component  of  the 
estimate. Each quarter, several economic forecast scenarios are considered by management. Management selects the economic 
forecast  scenario  that  is  most  reflective  of  expectations  at  that  point  in  time.  Changes  in  the  economic  forecast  could 
significantly impact the calculated estimated credit losses.

In addition to the economic forecast and acquisitions, the ACL is affected by the level of charge-offs and recoveries, 
changes  in  collateral  value  for  collateral  dependent  loans,  changes  in  the  financial  condition  and  payment  performance  of 
borrowers,  loan  growth,  and  prepayment  occurring  during  the  period.  See  Notes  1,  4  and  5  to  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The  acquisition  method  of  accounting  requires  that  assets  acquired  and  liabilities  assumed  in  business  combinations 
are recorded at their fair values. This often involves estimates based on third party valuations or internal valuations based on 
discounted  cash  flow  analyses  or  other  valuation  techniques,  which  are  inherently  subjective.  Business  combinations  also 
typically result in goodwill, which is subject to ongoing periodic impairment tests based on the fair values of the reporting units 
to  which  the  acquired  goodwill  relates.  The  amortization  of  definite-lived  intangible  assets  is  based  upon  the  estimated 
economic benefits to be received, which is also subjective. Provisional estimates of fair values may be adjusted for a period of 
up  to  one  year  from  the  acquisition  date  if  new  information  is  obtained  about  facts  and  circumstances  that  existed  as  of  the 
acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date. Adjustments 
recorded during this period are recognized in the current reporting period. Management uses various valuation methodologies to 
estimate  the  fair  value  of  these  assets  and  liabilities,  and  often  involves  a  significant  degree  of  judgment,  particularly  when 
liquid  markets  do  not  exist  for  the  particular  item  being  valued.  Examples  of  such  items  include  loans,  deposits,  identifiable 
intangible assets and certain other assets and liabilities.

Management  uses  significant  estimates  and  assumptions  to  value  such  items,  including  projected  cash  flows, 
repayment rates, default rates and losses assuming default, discounts rate, and realizable collateral values. The credit allowance 
for PCD loans is recognized within business combination accounting. The ACL for non-PCD assets is recognized as provision 
expense  in  the  same  reporting  period  as  the  business  combination.  The  valuation  of  other  identifiable  intangible  assets, 
including core deposit intangibles and customer list intangibles, requires assumptions such as projected attrition rates, expected 
revenue  and  costs,  discount  rates  and  other  forward-looking  factors.  The  purchase  date  valuations  and  any  subsequent 
adjustments  also  determine  the  amount  of  goodwill  or  bargain  purchase  gain  recognized  in  connection  with  the  business 
combination.  The  use  of  different  assumptions  could  produce  significantly  different  valuation  results,  which  could  have 
material positive or negative effects on our results of operations. The Company uses the best estimates and assumptions to value 
assets acquired and liabilities assumed, at the acquisition date, the estimates are subject to refinement.

Goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  the  consideration  paid  over  the  fair  value  of  the  net  assets  acquired  in  a  business 
combination. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, or more often if an 

75

event occurs or circumstances change which indicate there may be impairment. The impairment test compares the estimated fair 
value of each reporting unit with its net book value. The Company’s annual assessment date is during the Company’s fourth 
quarter.  The  fair  value  of  the  reporting  unit  is  estimated  using  valuation  techniques  that  market  participants  would  use  in  an 
acquisition of the whole unit, such as estimated discounted cash flows, the quoted market price of our common stock adjusted 
for  a  control  premium,  and  observable  average  price-to  forward-earnings  and  price-to-tangible  book  multiples  of  observed 
transactions.  If  the  unit’s  fair  value  is  less  than  its  carrying  value,  an  estimate  of  the  implied  fair  value  of  the  goodwill  is 
compared to the goodwill’s carrying value and any impairment recognized.

The Company performed a qualitative assessment to determine if it was more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair 
value was less than its carrying value during the fourth quarter of 2021. Based on this assessment, it was determined that the 
reporting units’ fair value exceeded their carrying value. Therefore, the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test was not 
deemed necessary and no goodwill impairment was recorded during 2021. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
for additional information on the Company’s goodwill balances and Note 2 for goodwill and intangibles recorded in the periods 
presented.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Interest Rate Risk Management

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from changes in interest rates and other relevant market prices. 
This risk of loss can be reflected in either reduced potential net interest revenue in future periods or diminished market values of 
financial assets.

The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk (“IRR”) that is inherent in its lending, investment 

and deposit taking activities.

The  main  causes  of  IRR  are  the  differing  structural  characteristics  of  our  assets,  liabilities  and  off-balance  sheet 
obligations  and  their  cumulative  net  reaction  to  changing  interest  rates.  These  structural  characteristics  include  timing 
differences in maturity or repricing and the effect of embedded options such as loan prepayments, securities prepayments and 
calls, interest rate caps, floors, collars, and deposit withdrawal options. In addition to these sources of IRR, basis risk results 
from  differences  in  the  spreads  between  various  market  interest  rates  and  changes  in  the  slope  of  the  yield  curve  which  can 
contribute to additional IRR.

We  evaluate  IRR  and  develop  guidelines  regarding  balance  sheet  composition  and  re-pricing,  funding  sources  and 
pricing, and off-balance sheet commitments that aim to moderate IRR. We use financial simulation models that reflect various 
interest rate scenarios and the related impact on net interest income over specified periods of time. We refer to this process as 
asset/liability management (“ALM”).

The primary objective of ALM is to manage interest rate risk and desired risk tolerance for potential fluctuations in net 
interest  income  (“NII”)  and  economic  value  of  equity  (“EVE”)  throughout  interest  rate  cycles,  which  we  aim  to  achieve  by 
maintaining  a  balance  of  interest  rate  sensitive  earning  assets  and  liabilities.  In  general,  we  seek  to  maintain  a  desired  risk 
tolerance  with  asset  and  liability  balances  within  maturity  and  repricing  characteristics  to  limit  our  exposure  to  earnings 
volatility  and  changes  in  the  value  of  assets  and  liabilities  as  interest  rates  fluctuate  over  time.  Adjustments  to  maturity 
categories  can  be  accomplished  either  by  lengthening  or  shortening  the  duration  of  either  an  individual  asset  or  liability 
category, or externally with interest rate contracts, such as interest rate swaps, caps, collars, and floors. See “—Interest Rate 
Exposures” for a more detailed discussion of our various derivative positions.

Our  ALM  strategy  is  formulated  and  monitored  by  our  Asset/Liability  Management  Committee  (“ALCO”)  in 
accordance with policies approved by the Board of Directors. The ALCO meets regularly to review, among other things, the 
sensitivity of our assets and liabilities to interest rate changes, the book and market values of assets and liabilities, unrealized 
gains and losses, recent purchase and sale activity, maturities of securities and borrowings, and projected future transactions. 
The ALCO also establishes and approves pricing and funding strategies with respect to overall asset and liability composition. 
The ALCO reports regularly to our Board of Directors.

Financial  simulation  models  are  the  primary  tools  we  use  to  measure  IRR  exposures.  By  examining  a  range  of 
hypothetical  deterministic  interest  rate  scenarios,  these  models  provide  management  with  information  regarding  the  potential 
impact on NII and EVE caused by changes in interest rates.

The  models  simulate  the  cash  flows  and  accounting  accruals  generated  by  the  financial  instruments  on  our  balance 
sheet,  as  well  as  the  cash  flows  generated  by  the  new  business,  we  anticipate  over  a  60-month  forecast  horizon.  Numerous 
assumptions  are  made  in  the  modeling  process,  including  balance  sheet  composition,  the  pricing,  re-pricing  and  maturity 
characteristics  of  existing  business,  and  new  business.  Additionally,  loan  and  investment  prepayments,  administered  rate 
account  elasticity,  and  other  option  risks  are  considered  as  well  as  the  uncertainty  surrounding  future  customer  behavior. 
Because of the limitations inherent in any approach used to measure interest rate risk and because our loan portfolio will be 
actively  managed  in  the  event  of  a  change  in  interest  rates,  simulation  results,  including  those  discussed  in  “—Interest  Rate 

76

Exposures” immediately below, are not intended as a forecast of the actual effect of a change in market interest rates on our NII 
or  EVE  or  indicative  of  management’s  expectations  of  actual  results  in  the  event  of  a  fluctuation  in  market  interest  rates; 
however, these results are used to help measure the potential risks related to IRR.

Interest Rate Exposure

Based upon the current interest rate environment as of December 31, 2021, our net interest income simulation model 

projects our sensitivity to an instantaneous increase or decrease in interest rates was as follows:

Interest Rate Sensitivity

Increase (Decrease)

(Dollars in millions)

Net Interest Income

Economic Value of Equity

Change (in Basis Points) in Interest Rates (12-Month Projection)

Amount

Percent

Amount

Percent

+ 200 BP

+ 100 BP

- 25 BP

$ 

82.4 

35.6 

(7.6) 

 6.52 % $ 

 2.82 %  

 (0.60) %  

573.2 

286.6 

(61.6) 

 8.27 %

 4.13 %

 (0.89) %

Both the NII and EVE simulations include assumptions regarding balances, asset prepayment speeds, deposit repricing 
and runoff and interest rate relationships among balances that management believes to be reasonable for the various interest rate 
environments. Differences in actual occurrences from these assumptions may change our market risk exposure.

Derivative Positions

Overview. Our Board of Directors has authorized the ALCO to utilize financial futures, forward sales, options, interest 
rate  swaps,  caps,  collars,  and  floors,  and  other  instruments  to  the  extent  appropriate,  in  accordance  with  regulations  and  our 
internal policy. We expect to use interest rate swaps, caps, collars, and floors as macro hedges against inherent rate sensitivity 
in our assets and our liabilities.

We currently intend to engage in only the following types of hedges: (1) those which synthetically alter the maturities 
or re-pricing characteristics of assets or liabilities to reduce imbalances; (2) those which enable us to transfer the interest rate 
risk  exposure  involved  in  our  daily  business  activities;  and  (3)  those  which  serve  to  alter  the  market  risk  inherent  in  our 
investment  portfolio,  mortgage  pipeline,  or  liabilities  and  thus  help  us  to  manage  the  effective  maturities  of  the  assets  and 
liabilities within approved risk tolerances.

The following is a discussion of our primary derivative positions related to IRR.

Interest  Rate  Lock  Commitments.  In  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  the  Company  enters  into  certain  commitments 
with  customers  in  connection  with  residential  mortgage  loan  applications  for  loans  the  Company  intends  to  sell.  Such 
commitments are considered derivatives under current accounting guidance and are required to be recorded at fair value. The 
change in fair value of these instruments is reflected currently in the mortgage banking revenue of the consolidated statements 
of income. The fair value of these derivatives is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other liabilities.

Forward  Sales  Commitments.  The  Company  enters  into  forward  sales  commitments  of  mortgage-backed  securities 
(“MBS”) with investors to mitigate the effect of the interest rate risk inherent in providing interest rate lock commitments to 
customers.  During  the  period  from  commitment  date  to  closing  date,  the  Company  is  subject  to  the  risk  that  market  rates  of 
interest may change. In an effort to mitigate such risk, forward delivery sales commitments, under which the Company agrees 
to deliver certain MBS, are established. These commitments are non-hedging derivatives in accordance with current accounting 
guidance  and  recorded  at  fair  value,  with  changes  in  fair  value  reflected  currently  in  the  mortgage  banking  revenue  of  the 
consolidated statements of income. The fair value of these derivatives is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in other 
assets and other liabilities.

Agreements Not Designated as Hedging Derivatives. The Company enters into interest rate swap, floor, cap and collar 
agreements  on  commercial  loans  with  customers  to  meet  the  financing  needs  and  interest  rate  risk  management  needs  of  its 
customers. At the same time, the Company enters into offsetting interest rate swap agreements with a financial institution in 
order to minimize the Company’s interest rate risk. These interest rate agreements are non-hedging derivatives and are recorded 
at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in noninterest income. The fair value of these derivatives is recorded on the 
consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other liabilities.

77

 
 
Risk Participation Agreements. The Company has both bought and sold credit protection in the form of participations 
on  interest  rate  swaps  (swap  participations).  These  swap  participations,  which  meet  the  definition  of  credit  derivatives,  were 
entered into in the ordinary course of business to serve the credit needs of customers. Swap participations, whereby Cadence 
has  purchased  credit  protection,  entitle  Cadence  to  receive  a  payment  from  the  counterparty  if  the  customer  fails  to  make 
payment  on  any  amounts  due  to  Cadence  upon  early  termination  of  the  swap  transaction.  For  contracts  where  Cadence  sold 
credit protection, Cadence would be required to make payment to the counterparty if the customer fails to make payment on any 
amounts due to the counterparty upon early termination of the swap transaction.

Mortgage Servicing Right Hedges. The value of our MSR is dependent on changes in market interest rates. In order to 
mitigate the effects of changes in rates on the value of our MSR, the Company has used various instruments as an economic 
hedge. MSRs are sensitive to changes in interest rates.

See  Note  21  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  additional  information  regarding  our  derivative  financial 

instruments.

LIBOR Transition

The Company formed a working group to coordinate the orderly transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate 
(“LIBOR”) to one or more alternative reference rates. The working group consists of senior management of the Company, and 
the working group provides updates to the Credit Committee of Management and the Credit Risk Committee of the Board on a 
recurring basis. Key initiatives of the working group include identification of LIBOR exposure, review of associated contract 
language  to  determine  optionality  for  transferring  to  an  alternative  reference  rate,  and  review  of  system  capabilities  for 
accommodating  alternative  reference  rates.  The  Company  discontinued  the  use  of  new  LIBOR-based  production  effective 
January  1,  2022.   In  addition,  the  Company  is  on  schedule  to  transition  from  LIBOR  to  an  alternative  reference  for  existing 
contracts upon the cessation of LIBOR, which includes an effective date for the 1-week and 2-months settings of January 1, 
2022 and an effective date of July 1, 2023 for the overnight and 1, 3, 6, and 12-months settings.

78

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

To the Board of Directors of Cadence Bank

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial 
reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting  is  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of 
financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP.  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 U.S. GAAP, 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. 

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

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief 
Financial Officer, the Company conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting  as  of  December  31,  2021.  In  making  this  assessment,  management  used  the  criteria  set  forth  by  the  Committee  of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on 
management’s assessment and those criteria, which excluded the operations of Legacy Cadence as noted below, management 
believes that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. 

In conducting the assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 
2021,  the  Company  has  excluded  the  operations  of  Cadence  Bancorporation  and  its  subsidiaries  (“Legacy  Cadence”)  as 
permitted  by  the  guidance  issued  by  the  Office  of  the  Chief  Accountant  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (not  to 
extend more than one year beyond the date of the acquisition or for more than one annual reporting period). In conducting the 
assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021, the Company has excluded 
those disclosure controls and procedures of Legacy Cadence that are subsumed by internal control over financial reporting. The 
merger was completed on October 29, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, Legacy Cadence's assets represented approximately 40 
percent of the Company’s consolidated assets. See "Note 2. Business Combinations" for further discussion of the merger and its 
impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  has  issued  a  report  on  the  effectiveness  of  the 

Company’s internal control over financial reporting. That report appears on page 80 of this Report. 

Date:

February 25, 2022

Date:

February 25, 2022

/s/ James D. Rollins III

James D. Rollins III
Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Valerie C. Toalson

Valerie C. Toalson
Senior  Executive  Vice  President  and 
Chief Financial Officer

79

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders, Board of Directors and Audit Committee
Cadence Bank
Tupelo, Mississippi

Opinion on the Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Cadence Bank’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on 
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). 

In  our  opinion,  the  Company  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.

As  described  in  management’s  report  on  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  the  scope  of  management’s  assessment  of 
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, has excluded Cadence Bancorporation (“Legacy Cadence”) 
and  its  subsidiaries  acquired  on  October  29,  2021.  We  have  also  excluded  Legacy  Cadence  from  the  scope  of  our  audit  of 
internal control over financial reporting, which represented approximately 40% of consolidated total assets as of December 31, 
2021.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(“PCAOB”),  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  our  report  dated  February  25,  2022,  expressed  an 
unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report 
on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control 
over financial reporting based on our audit.

We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in 
accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was  maintained  in  all 
material respects.

Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  assessing  the  risk  that  a  material 
weakness exists and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. 
Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our 
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

Definitions and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

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

80

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

/s/ BKD, LLP 

Jackson, Mississippi
February 25, 2022

81

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders, Board of Directors and Audit Committee
Cadence Bank
Tupelo, Mississippi

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cadence Bank (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 
and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each 
of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial 
statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the 
financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for 
each  of  the  years  in  the  three-year  period  ended  December  31,  2021,  in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally 
accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in 
Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework:  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission (“COSO”) and our report dated February 25, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the 
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Adoption of New Accounting Standard

As discussed in Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for allowance for 
credit  losses  in  2020  due  to  the  adoption  of  Accounting  Standards  Update  (“ASU”)  No.  2016-13,  Financial  Instruments  – 
Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.

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 PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in 
accordance  with  the  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 
audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to 
error  or  fraud.  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  include 
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 Credit Losses

The Company’s loan portfolio totaled $26.9 billion as of December 31, 2021, and the allowance for credit losses on loans was 
$446.4  million.  The  Company’s  unfunded  loan  commitments  totaled  $9.6  billion,  with  an  allowance  for  credit  loss  of  $23.6 
million. Together these amounts represent the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”). 

82

As  more  fully  described  in  Notes  1,  4  and  5  to  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements,  the  Company  estimates  its 
exposure to expected credit loss as of the balance sheet date for existing financial instruments held at amortized cost, and off-
balance  sheet  exposures,  such  as  unfunded  loan  commitments,  letters  of  credit  and  other  financial  guarantees  that  are  not 
unconditionally cancellable by the Company.

The determination of the ACL requires management to exercise significant judgment and consider numerous subjective factors, 
including (1) estimates of expected losses that exist in various segments of performing loans and leases over the remaining life 
of  the  loan  portfolio  using  a  reasonable  and  supportable  economic  forecast;  (2)  specifically  identified  losses  in  individually 
analyzed  credits  which  are  collateral  dependent;  and  (3)  qualitative  factors  related  to  economic  conditions,  portfolio 
concentrations,  regulatory  policy  updates,  and  other  relevant  factors  that  address  estimates  of  expected  losses  not  fully 
addressed based upon management’s judgment of portfolio conditions. The Company utilizes credit risk models to estimate the 
probability of default and loss given default of loans over their remaining life. The probability of default settings in the models 
incorporate a risk grading process by utilizing pool-specific historical default rates. In addition, the loss given default settings in 
the models utilize historical losses for different types of collateral on defaulted loans, while giving consideration for the loan-to-
value ratio at the time of default. The product of the probability of default and loss given default derives a base expected loss 
rate  for  each  loan.  The  base  expected  loss  rate  is  adjusted  by  way  of  econometric  models  that  measure  the  direction  and 
magnitude of change in expected loss rates given a change in forecasted economic variables.

We identified the valuation of the ACL as a critical audit matter. Auditing the ACL involved a high degree of subjectivity in 
evaluating  management's  estimates,  such  as  evaluating  management's  identification  of  qualitative  factors,  grouping  of  loans 
determined to be similar into pools, estimating the remaining life of loans in a pool, assessment of economic conditions and 
other environmental factors, evaluating the adequacy of specific allowances associated with individually evaluated loans and 
assessing the appropriateness of loan risk grades.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Obtained  an  understanding  of  the  Company’s  process  for  establishing  the  ACL,  including  the  implementation  of 
models and the qualitative factor adjustments of the ACL;

Evaluated and tested the design and operating effectiveness of controls, including those related to technology, over the 
ACL, including:

Loan data completeness and accuracy, 
Classifications of loans by loan pool, 

◦
◦
◦ Model  inputs  utilized  including  probability  of  default,  loss  given  default,  remaining  life  and  prepayment 

speed,
Approval of model assumptions selected, 
Loan credit risk ratings, and
Establishment of qualitative adjustments;

◦
◦
◦

Tested the ACL model’s computational accuracy, along with a review of validation procedures over the model;

Evaluated the qualitative adjustments to the ACL, including assessing the basis for adjustments and the reasonableness 
of the significant assumptions, including consideration of impact of COVID-19;

Evaluated credit quality trends in delinquencies, non-accruals, charge-offs and loan risk ratings;

Tested the internal loan review function and evaluated the reasonableness of loan credit risk ratings;

Considered the overall reasonableness of the ACL and compared to trends identified within peer groups;

Evaluated the reasonableness of specific allowances on individually evaluated loans;

Involved internal subject matter experts to review the appropriateness of the design and operation of the model;

Evaluated the accuracy and completeness of Topic 326 disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.

83

Business Combinations

As  described  in  Note  2  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the  Company  completed  mergers  with  three  bank  holding 
companies  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  resulting  in  the  expansion  of  the  Company’s  operating  footprint  and 
additional goodwill of approximately $556.3 million being recognized on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

As  part  of  the  acquisitions  completed  during  the  year,  management  determined  that  the  transactions  qualified  as  business 
combinations.  Accordingly,  all  identifiable  assets  acquired  and  liabilities  assumed  were  valued  at  fair  value  as  part  of  the 
purchase  price  allocation  as  of  the  acquisition  date.  The  identification  and  valuation  of  such  acquired  assets  and  assumed 
liabilities  requires  management  to  exercise  significant  judgment  and  consider  the  use  of  outside  vendors  to  estimate  the  fair 
value allocations.

We  identified  the  acquisitions  and  the  related  valuation  of  acquired  assets  and  assumed  liabilities  as  a  critical  audit  matter. 
Auditing  the  acquired  net  assets  and  acquisition-related  considerations  involved  a  high  degree  of  subjectivity  in  evaluating 
management’s  operational  assumptions  of  the  acquisitions,  fair  value  estimates,  purchase  price  allocations  and  assessing  the 
appropriateness of outside vendor valuation models.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Obtained and reviewed executed Agreement and Plan of Merger documents to gain an understanding of the underlying 
terms of the completed acquisitions
Obtained and reviewed management’s business combination memos to gain an understanding of the procedures 
performed to identify and fair value the acquired assets and liabilities
Tested management’s business combination analysis, focusing on the completeness and accuracy of the assets acquired 
and liabilities assumed and the related fair value purchase price allocations
Obtained valuation estimates prepared by the Company and the Company’s valuation specialists and challenged 
management’s analysis of the appropriateness of the valuations allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed; 
including but not limited to, testing of critical inputs, assumptions applied and valuation models utilized by the 
Company and the Company’s valuation specialists
Utilized BKD’s internal valuation specialists to assist with evaluating the related fair value purchase price allocations 
made to the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Tested the goodwill calculation resulting from the completed acquisitions, which is the difference between the total net 
consideration paid and the fair value of the net assets acquired
Reviewed and evaluated the adequacy of the disclosures made in the consolidated financial statements

/s/ BKD, LLP 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

Jackson, Mississippi
February 25, 2022

84

Consolidated Balance Sheets
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

ASSETS

Cash and due from banks

Interest bearing deposits with other banks and Federal funds sold

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

Allowance for credit losses

Net loans and leases

Loans held for sale, at fair value

Premises and equipment, net

Goodwill

Other intangible assets, net

Bank-owned life insurance

Other assets

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

Deposits:

Demand: Noninterest bearing

Interest bearing

Savings

Time deposits

Total deposits

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

Federal funds purchased

Subordinated debt

Long-term debt

Other liabilities

TOTAL LIABILITIES

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; authorized and issued - 6,900,000 shares for both years 
presented
Common stock, $2.50 par value per share; authorized - 500,000,000 shares; issued - 188,337,658 and 
102,561,480 shares, respectively

Capital surplus

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

Retained earnings

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

December 31,

2021

2020

$ 

656,132  $ 

284,095 

638,547 

133,273 

15,606,470 

6,231,006 

26,882,988 

15,022,479 

446,415 

244,422 

26,436,573 

14,778,057 

340,175 

786,426 

1,407,948 

198,271 

597,953 

1,001,256 

397,076 

508,147 

851,612 

55,899 

333,264 

508,765 

$  47,669,751  $  24,081,194 

$  13,634,505  $ 

6,341,457 

18,727,588 

8,524,010 

3,556,079 

2,452,059 

3,899,501 

2,528,915 

39,817,673 

19,846,441 

687,188 

595,000 

478,669 

3,742 

839,492 

637,715 

— 

297,250 

4,402 

472,909 

42,421,764 

21,258,717 

166,993 

166,993 

470,844 

2,841,998 

(139,369)   

256,404 

565,187 

11,923 

1,907,521 

1,821,970 

5,247,987 

2,822,477 

$  47,669,751  $  24,081,194 

85

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries

(In thousands, except per share amounts)
INTEREST REVENUE:
Loans and leases
Available-for-sale securities:

Taxable
Tax-exempt

Loans held for sale
Other

Total interest revenue
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits:

Interest bearing demand
Savings
Time deposits

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase
Long-term debt
Subordinated debt
Other

Total interest expense
Net interest revenue

Provision for credit losses

Net interest revenue, after provision for credit losses

NONINTEREST REVENUE:
Mortgage banking
Credit card, debit card and merchant fees
Deposit service charges
Security (losses) gains, net
Insurance commissions
Wealth management
Gain on sale of PPP loans
Other

Total noninterest revenue
NONINTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employee benefits
Occupancy and equipment
Data processing and software
Merger expense
Deposit insurance assessments
Pension settlement expense
Other

Total noninterest expense
Income before income taxes

Income tax expense

Net income

Less: Preferred dividends

Net income available to common shareholders

Earnings per common share:  Basic

Diluted

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

86

Year Ended December 31,
2020

2019

2021

$ 

758,180  $ 

700,065  $ 

697,425 

111,050 
3,461 
8,035 
1,323 
882,049 

33,251 
3,201 
24,394 
813 
168 
14,470 
25 
76,322 
805,727 
138,062 
667,665 

58,053 
45,519 
43,986 

(395)   

135,183 
39,507 
21,572 
34,728 
378,153 

471,815 
81,394 
73,085 
59,896 
8,701 
3,051 
100,948 
798,890 
246,928 
51,766 
195,162  $ 
9,488 
185,674  $ 

85,466 
3,984 
8,357 
1,621 
799,493 

47,692 
4,117 
38,940 
2,282 
2,430 
13,063 
2 
108,526 
690,967 
89,044 
601,923 

86,253 
38,247 
37,929 
58 
125,286 
26,213 
— 
22,518 
336,504 

417,809 
70,341 
58,170 
5,345 
6,726 
5,846 
86,645 
650,882 
287,545 
59,494 
228,051  $ 
9,488 
218,563  $ 

56,660 
7,160 
5,201 
8,566 
775,012 

58,771 
5,361 
39,380 
7,195 
12,875 
1,482 
4 
125,068 
649,944 
1,500 
648,444 

19,782 
38,656 
46,015 
174 
123,291 
24,809 
— 
27,954 
280,681 

396,500 
65,841 
51,354 
13,871 
9,143 
— 
92,898 
629,607 
299,518 
65,257 
234,261 
— 
234,261 

1.54  $ 
1.54  $ 

2.12  $ 
2.12  $ 

2.31 
2.30 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries

(In thousands)
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Unrealized losses (gains) on securities
Pension and other postretirement benefits
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Comprehensive income

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

Year Ended December 31,
2020
228,051  $ 

2021
195,162  $ 

2019
234,261 

$ 

(151,382)   

90 

(151,292)   
43,870  $ 

$ 

66,148 
8,438 
74,586 
302,637  $ 

21,445 
(3,617) 
17,828 
252,089 

87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Shares

Amount

Shares

Amount

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

Capital
Surplus

Retained
Earnings

Total

Balance at December 31, 2018

—  $ 

  99,797,271  $  249,493  $ 

484,482  $ 

(80,491)  $  1,552,253  $  2,205,737 

Net income

Change in fair value of available-for-sale 
securities, net of tax effect of $7,130

Change in pension funding status, net of tax effect 
of ($1,202)

Comprehensive income

Recognition of stock compensation

Issuance of stock in conjunction with acquisitions

Repurchase of stock

Issuance of preferred stock

Cumulative effect of change in accounting 
principles

Cash dividends declared, $0.710 per share

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

442,176 

  6,824,576 

1,106 

17,061 

14,207 

172,630 

  (2,541,219) 

(6,353) 

(65,343) 

 6,900,000 

  167,021 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

234,261 

234,261 

21,445 

(3,617) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

21,445 

(3,617) 

252,089 

15,313 

189,691 

(71,696) 

167,021 

(325) 

(325) 

(72,813) 

(72,813) 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 6,900,000  $  167,021 

 104,522,804  $  261,307  $ 

605,976  $ 

(62,663)  $  1,713,376  $  2,685,017 

Net income

Change in fair value of available-for-sale 
securities, net of tax effect of $21,990

Change in pension funding status, net of tax effect 
of $2,805

Comprehensive income

Recognition of stock compensation

Issuance of stock in conjunction with acquisitions

Repurchase of stock

Issuance of preferred stock

Cumulative effect of change in accounting 
principles

Preferred dividends declared, $1.375 per share

Cash dividends declared, $0.745 per share

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(28) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

465,798 

  1,039,243 

1,165 

2,598 

11,655 

30,045 

  (3,466,365) 

(8,666) 

(82,489) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

228,051 

228,051 

66,148 

8,438 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(33,500) 

(9,488) 

(76,469) 

66,148 

8,438 

302,637 

12,820 

32,643 

(91,155) 

(28) 

(33,500) 

(9,488) 

(76,469) 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 6,900,000  $  166,993 

 102,561,480  $  256,404  $ 

565,187  $ 

11,923  $  1,821,970  $  2,822,477 

Net income

Change in fair value of available-for-sale 
securities, net of tax effect of ($50,329)

Change in pension funding status, net of tax effect 
of $30

Comprehensive income

Recognition of stock compensation

Issuance of stock in conjunction with acquisitions

Repurchase of stock

Preferred dividends declared, $1.375 per share

Cash dividends declared, $0.780 per share

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

164,939 

412 

31,925 

  91,778,241 

  229,446 

  2,415,147 

  (6,167,002) 

(15,418) 

(170,261) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

195,162 

195,162 

(151,382) 

90 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(9,488) 

(151,382) 

90 

43,870 

32,337 

2,644,593 

(185,679) 

(9,488) 

(100,123) 

(100,123) 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 6,900,000  $  166,993 

 188,337,658  $  470,844  $  2,841,998  $ 

(139,369)  $  1,907,521  $  5,247,987 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

88

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries

(In thousands)
Operating Activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:

Depreciation and amortization
Share-based compensation expense
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
Provision for credit losses
Gain on sale of loans, net
Proceeds from paydowns and sales of loans held for sale
Origination of loans held for sale
Increase in interest receivable
Net (increase) decrease in prepaid pension asset
Decrease (increase) in other assets
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities
Other, net

Net cash provided by operating activities
Investing Activities:

Purchases of available-for-sale securities
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
Proceeds from maturities, calls, and paydowns of available-for-sale securities
Decrease in short-term investments
(Increase) decrease in loans, net
Purchases of premises and equipment
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment
Cash received in acquisitions, net 
Proceeds from disposition of foreclosed property

Cash paid for branch divestiture
Purchases of bank-owned life insurance, net of proceeds from death benefits
Other, net

Net cash used in investing activities
Financing Activities:

Increase in deposits, net
Net change in short-term borrowings
Repayment of long-term FHLB advances
Issuance of subordinated debt securities
Repayment of long-term debt
Issuance of preferred stock
Issuance of common stock
Repurchase of common stock
Cash dividends paid on common stock
Cash dividends paid on preferred stock
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Year Ended December 31,
2020

2019

2021

$ 

195,162  $ 

228,051  $ 

234,261 

175,935 
18,101 
(22,063)   
138,062 
(104,996)   
3,114,226 
(2,218,300)   
(35,922)   
(5,676)   
82,345 
(164,400)   

250 
1,172,724 

(7,909,743)   
564,029 
2,175,657 
— 

(202,667)   
(72,267)   
5,641 
2,665,485 
5,284 

(358,916)   
(648)   
(25,376)   
(3,153,521)   

2,564,043 
644,473 
(20,822)   

— 

(35,155)   

— 
— 

75,118 
12,820 

(240)   

89,044 
(82,333)   

3,265,771 
(3,249,670)   
(39,879)   
(49,022)   
(45,227)   
225,779 
(193,630)   
236,582 

(3,037,984)   
147,621 
1,263,960 
20,000 
(783,286)   
(65,952)   
2,109 
2,074 
11,225 

— 
795 
— 

(2,439,438)   

3,065,670 
(600,929)   

— 
— 
(392)   
(28)   
— 

(185,679)   
(99,264)   
(9,488)   

2,858,108 
877,311 
417,368 
1,294,679  $ 

(91,155)   
(76,460)   
(9,488)   

2,287,218 
84,362 
333,006 
417,368  $ 

$ 

43,075 
15,313 
1,502 
1,500 
(25,504) 
1,790,093 
(1,828,221) 
(4,143) 
4,621 
13,924 
158,437 
(165,277) 
239,581 

(2,590,913) 
119,233 
1,002,852 
38,646 
2,360 
(54,988) 
2,949 
172,612 
6,423 

— 
5,912 
— 
(1,294,914) 

1,016,822 
(279,025) 
— 
296,606 
(1,067) 
167,021 
— 
(71,696) 
(72,758) 
— 
1,055,903 
570 
332,436 
333,006 

89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries

(In thousands)
Supplemental Disclosures
Cash paid during the year for:

Interest
Income taxes
Amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

Non-cash investing activities (at fair value):

Acquisition of real estate and other assets in settlement of loans
Transfers of loans held for sale to loans
Transfers of loans to loans held for sale
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
Securities purchased with settlement after year end
MSR and hedge fair value adjustment

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Year Ended December 31,
2020

2019

2021

$ 

78,724  $ 
76,802 
17,332 

104,288  $ 
74,721 
200 

131,649 
55,828 
(72,399) 

12,047 
— 
9,346 
47,395 
— 
10,139 

16,995 
3,059 
— 
(1,407)   
(9,347)   
(12,814)   

5,654 
1,615 
— 
71,795 
(108,906) 
(14,515) 

90

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Cadence Bank and Subsidiaries
December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  follow  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of  America 
(“U.S.  GAAP”),  including,  where  applicable,  general  practices  within  the  banking  industry.  The  consolidated  financial 
statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have 
been eliminated in consolidation. The assessment of whether or not the Company has a controlling interest (i.e., the primary 
beneficiary) in a variable-interest entity (“VIE”) is performed on an on-going basis. All equity investments in non-consolidated 
VIEs are included in “other assets” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (Note 24).

In  connection  with  the  Legacy  Cadence  acquisition,  certain  amounts  reported  in  prior  years  in  the  consolidated 
financial  statements  have  been  reclassified  to  conform  to  the  2021  presentation.  These  reclassifications  did  not  materially 
impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company’s management has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition 
or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements through the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements. 
No subsequent events were identified that would have required a change to the consolidated financial statements.

Nature of Operations

The  Company  operates  under  a  state  bank  charter  and  is  subject  to  regulation  by  the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance 
Corporation  (“FDIC”).  The  Company  is  a  regional  banking  franchise  with  more  than  400  branch  locations  across  the  South, 
Midwest and Texas. Services and products include consumer banking, consumer loans, mortgages, home equity lines and loans, 
credit cards, commercial and business banking, treasury management, specialized lending, asset-based lending, commercial real 
estate, equipment financing, correspondent banking, SBA lending, foreign exchange, wealth management, investment and trust 
services, financial planning, retirement plan management, and personal and business insurance.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and 
assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at  the 
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results 
could  differ  from  those  estimates.  Material  estimates  that  are  susceptible  to  significant  change  in  the  near  term  are  the 
allowance for credit losses, valuation of goodwill, intangible assets, and deferred income taxes.

Business Combinations

Assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting 
and, accordingly, are recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The Company generally records provisional 
amounts  at  the  time  of  an  acquisition  based  on  the  information  available.  These  provisional  estimates  of  fair  values  may  be 
adjusted for a period of up to one year from the acquisition date if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances 
that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that 
date. Adjustments recorded during this period are recognized in the current reporting period. The excess cost over fair value of 
net  assets  acquired  is  recorded  as  goodwill.  On  January  1,  2020,  the  Company  completed  the  merger  with  Texas  First 
Bancshares Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Texas First State Bank, (collectively referred to as “Texas First”), pursuant to 
which  Texas  First  was  merged  with  and  into  the  Company.  On  October  7,  2020,  the  Company  completed  the  acquisition  of 
Alexander  &  Sanders  Insurance  Agency,  Inc.,  headquartered  in  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana.  On  May  1,  2021,  the  Company 
completed the merger with National United Bancshares Inc., the parent company of National United, (collectively referred to as 
“National  United”),  pursuant  to  which  National  United  was  merged  with  and  into  the  Company.  Also,  on  May  1,  2021,  the 
Company  completed  the  merger  with  FNS  Bancshares  Inc.,  the  parent  company  of  FNB  Bank,  (collectively  referred  to  as 
“FNS”), pursuant to which FNS was merged with and into the Company. On October 29, 2021, we completed our merger with 
Cadence Bancorporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, Cadence Bank, N.A., (collectively referred to as “Legacy Cadence”), 
pursuant to which Legacy Cadence was merged with and into the Company (see Note 2).

91

Securities

Available-for-Sale Securities

Securities classified as available-for-sale are those debt securities that are intended to be held for an indefinite period of 
time, but not necessarily to maturity. Any decision to sell a security classified as available-for-sale would be based on various 
factors,  including  movements  in  interest  rates,  liquidity  needs,  security  risk  assessments,  changes  in  the  mix  of  assets  and 
liabilities and other similar factors. These securities are carried at their estimated fair value, and the net unrealized gain or loss 
is  reported  as  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income,  net  of  tax,  until  realized  upon  sale.  Premiums  and  discounts  are 
recognized in interest income using the effective interest method.

Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities available-for-sale are determined by specific identification using the 

cost on a trade date basis and are included in securities (losses) gains, net in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

The Company evaluates available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the decline in the 
fair  value  below  the  amortized  cost  basis  (impairment)  is  due  to  credit-related  factors  or  noncredit-related  factors.  Any 
impairment  that  is  not  credit  related  is  recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income,  net  of  applicable  taxes.  Credit-related 
impairment  is  recognized  as  an  allowance  for  credit  loss  (“ACL”)  on  the  balance  sheet,  limited  to  the  amount  by  which  the 
amortized cost basis exceeds the fair value with a charge to earnings. In evaluating available-for-sale securities in unrealized 
loss positions for impairment, management considers the magnitude and duration of the decline, as well as the reasons for the 
decline,  whether  the  securities  are  issued  by  the  federal  government  or  its  agencies,  whether  downgrades  by  bond  rating 
agencies have occurred, whether the Company would be required to sell the securities before a full recovery of costs and the 
results of reviews of the issuers’ financial condition, among other facts.

Held-to-Maturity Securities

Securities classified as held-to-maturity are those debt securities for which there is a positive intent and ability to hold 
to maturity. These securities are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, computed by 
the effective interest method. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have any held-to-maturity securities.

Trading Account Securities

Trading account securities are securities that are held for the purpose of selling them at a profit. The Company had no 

trading account securities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Securities Purchased and Sold Under Agreements to Resell or Repurchase

Securities purchased under agreements to resell are accounted for as short-term investments and securities sold under 
agreements to repurchase are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the amounts at which the 
securities were acquired or sold plus accrued interest. The securities pledged as collateral are generally U.S. government and 
federal agency securities.

FHLB Stock

The  Company  has  ownership  in  Federal  Home  Loan  Bank  of  Dallas  (“FHLB”)  stock  which  does  not  have  readily 
determinable fair value and no quoted market value, as ownership is restricted to member institutions, and all transactions take 
place at par value with the FHLB as the only purchaser. Therefore, the Company accounts for this investment as a long-term 
asset and carries it at cost. Management’s determination as to whether this investment is impaired is based on management’s 
assessment  of  the  ultimate  recoverability  of  the  par  value  (cost)  rather  than  recognizing  temporary  declines  in  fair  value. 
Investment in FHLB stock is required for membership in the FHLB system and in relation to the level of FHLB advances.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative instruments are accounted for under the requirements of ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASC 
815 requires companies to recognized as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The fair value 
of  derivative  positions  outstanding  is  included  in  other  assets  and  other  liabilities  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance 
sheets and in the net change in each of these financial statement line items in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash 
flows. The Company does not speculate using derivative instruments.

Interest Rate Lock Commitments

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into certain commitments with customers in connection with 
residential  mortgage  loan  applications  for  loans  the  Company  intends  to  sell.  Such  commitments  are  considered  derivatives 
under current accounting guidance and are required to be recorded at fair value. The change in fair value of these instruments is 

92

reflected  currently  in  the  mortgage  banking  revenue  of  the  consolidated  statements  of  income.  The  fair  value  of  these 
derivatives is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other liabilities.

Forward Sales Commitments

The  Company  enters  into  forward  sales  commitments  of  mortgage-backed  securities  (“MBS”)  with  investors  to 
mitigate the effect of the interest rate risk inherent in providing interest rate lock commitments to customers. During the period 
from commitment date to closing date, the Company is subject to the risk that market rates of interest may change. In an effort 
to  mitigate  such  risk,  forward  delivery  sales  commitments,  under  which  the  Company  agrees  to  deliver  certain  MBS,  are 
established. These commitments are non-hedging derivatives in accordance with current accounting guidance and recorded at 
fair  value,  with  changes  in  fair  value  reflected  currently  in  the  mortgage  banking  revenue  of  the  consolidated  statements  of 
income. The fair value of these derivatives is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other liabilities.

Agreements Not Designated as Hedging Derivatives

The Company enters into interest rate swap, floor, cap and collar agreements on commercial loans with customers to 
meet the financing needs and interest rate risk management needs of its customers. At the same time, the Company enters into 
offsetting interest rate swap agreements with a financial institution in order to minimize the Company’s interest rate risk. These 
interest  rate  agreements  are  non-hedging  derivatives  and  are  recorded  at  fair  value  with  changes  in  fair  value  reflected  in 
noninterest income. The fair value of these derivatives is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other 
liabilities.

Foreign Currency Contracts

The  Company  enters  into  certain  foreign  currency  exchange  contracts  on  behalf  of  its  clients  to  facilitate  their  risk 
management strategies, while at the same time entering into offsetting foreign currency exchange contracts in order to minimize 
the  Company’s  foreign  currency  exchange  risk.  The  contracts  are  short  term  in  nature,  and  any  gain  or  loss  incurred  at 
settlement is recorded as other noninterest income or other noninterest expense. The fair value of these contracts is reported in 
other assets and other liabilities. The Company does not apply hedge accounting to these contracts.

Risk Participation Agreements

Cadence  has  both  bought  and  sold  credit  protection  in  the  form  of  participations  on  interest  rate  swaps  (swap 
participations).  These  swap  participations,  which  meet  the  definition  of  credit  derivatives,  were  entered  into  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  business  to  serve  the  credit  needs  of  customers.  Swap  participations,  whereby  Cadence  has  purchased  credit 
protection, entitle Cadence to receive a payment from the counterparty if the customer fails to make payment on any amounts 
due to Cadence upon early termination of the swap transaction. For contracts where Cadence sold credit protection, Cadence 
would  be  required  to  make  payment  to  the  counterparty  if  the  customer  fails  to  make  payment  on  any  amounts  due  to  the 
counterparty upon early termination of the swap transaction.

Mortgage Servicing Right Hedges

The value of our MSR is dependent on changes in market interest rates. In order to mitigate the effects of changes in 
rate  on  the  value  of  our  MSR,  the  Company  has  used  various  instruments  as  an  economic  hedge.  See  Notes  18  and  21  for 
further information. 

Counterparty Credit Risk

Derivative  contracts  involve  the  risk  of  dealing  with  both  bank  customers  and  institutional  derivative  counterparties 
and  their  ability  to  meet  contractual  terms.  Under  Company  policy,  institutional  counterparties  must  be  approved  by  the 
Company’s  Asset/Liability  Management  Committee.  The  Company’s  credit  exposure  on  derivatives  is  limited  to  the  net  fair 
value for each counterparty.

Refer to Note 21 for further discussion and details of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the transferred assets is surrendered. Control 
is generally considered to have been surrendered when 1) the transferred assets are legally isolated from the Company or its 
consolidated affiliates, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, 2) the transferee has the right to pledge or exchange the assets 
with no conditions that constrain the transferee and provide more than a trivial benefit to the Company, and 3) the Company 
does  not  maintain  the  obligation  or  unilateral  ability  to  reclaim  or  repurchase  the  assets.  If  these  sale  criteria  are  met,  the 
transferred  assets  are  removed  from  the  Company’s  balance  sheet  and  a  gain  or  loss  on  sale  is  recognized.  If  not  met,  the 

93

transfer  is  recorded  as  a  secured  borrowing,  and  the  assets  remain  on  the  Company’s  balance  sheet,  the  proceeds  from  the 
transaction are recognized as a liability, and gain or loss on sale is deferred until the sale criterion are achieved.

In  December  2021,  Cadence  Bank  completed  the  divestiture  of  seven  branches  to  The  First,  A  National  Banking 
Association, a wholly owned subsidiary of The First Bancshares, Inc., to satisfy regulatory requirements in connection with the 
Legacy Cadence merger. There were $41 million in loans and leases divested in this transaction. These loans and leases were 
divested subject to recourse and as such, did not qualify as a sales. These loans have been recorded as secured borrowings on 
the Company’s balance sheet.

Loans Held-for-Sale

Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale

The fair value of loans held for sale is based on commitments outstanding from investors as well as what secondary 
markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics. The Company has elected to carry loans held for sale at 
fair value. Loans held for sale are subjected to recurring fair value adjustments. Loan sales are recognized when the transaction 
closes, the proceeds are collected, ownership is transferred and, through the sales agreement, continuing involvement consists 
of the right to service the loan for a fee for the life of the loan, if applicable. Gains and losses on the sale of loans held for sale 
are  recorded  as  part  of  mortgage  banking  revenue  on  the  consolidated  statement  of  income.  Fees  on  mortgage  loans  sold 
individually in the secondary market, including origination fees, service release premiums, processing and administrative fees, 
and application fees, are recognized as mortgage banking revenue in the period in which the loans are sold.

Buyers  generally  have  recourse  to  return  a  purchased  loan  to  the  Company  under  limited  circumstances.  Recourse 
conditions may include early payment default, breach of representations or warranties, and documentation deficiencies. During 
2021, 2020, and 2019, an insignificant number of loans were returned to the Company. At December 31, 2021, the Company 
had reserved $1.9 million for probable losses from representation and warranty obligations.

Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) optional repurchase programs allow financial institutions to 
buy back individual delinquent mortgage loans that meet certain criteria from the securitized loan pool for which the institution 
provides  servicing.  At  the  servicer’s  option  and  without  GNMA’s  prior  authorization,  the  servicer  may  repurchase  such  a 
delinquent loan for an amount equal to 100% of the remaining principal balance of the loan. Under FASB ASC 860, this buy-
back  option  is  considered  a  conditional  option  until  the  delinquency  criteria  are  met,  at  which  time  the  option  becomes 
unconditional. When the Company is deemed to have regained effective control over these loans under the unconditional buy-
back option, the loans can no longer be reported as sold and must be brought back onto the consolidated balance sheet as loans 
held for sale, regardless of whether the Company intends to exercise the buy-back option. These loans are reported as held for 
sale in accordance with U.S. GAAP with the offsetting liability being reported as other liabilities. At December 31, 2021, the 
amount of loans subject to buy back was $91.9 million.

Commercial Loans Held-for-Sale

The Company originates certain commercial loans for which a portion is intended for sale. The Company also transfers 
certain commercial loans to held-for-sale when management has the intent to sell the loan or a portion of the loan in the near 
term.  These  held-for-sale  loans  are  recorded  at  fair  value.  At  the  time  of  transfer,  write-downs  on  the  loans  are  recorded  as 
charge-offs and a new cost basis is established. Any subsequent fair value adjustment is determined on an individual loan basis 
and is recognized as a valuation allowance with any charges included in other noninterest expense. Gains and losses on the sale 
of these loans are included in other noninterest income when realized.

Loans and Leases and Related Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses

Loans  and  leases  are  presented  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  at  amortized  cost.  The  components  of 
amortized  cost  include  unpaid  principal  balance,  unamortized  discounts  and  premiums,  and  unamortized  deferred  fees  and 
costs. Interest income is recognized based on the principal balance outstanding and the stated rate of the loan. Loan origination 
fees and certain direct origination costs are capitalized and recognized as an adjustment of the yield on the related loan. Loans 
acquired through acquisition are initially recorded at fair value. Discounts and premiums created when the loans were recorded 
at  their  estimated  fair  values  at  acquisition  are  accreted  over  the  remaining  term  of  the  loan  as  an  adjustment  to  the  related 
loan’s  yield.  In  the  event  of  a  loan  pay-off,  the  remaining  net  deferred  origination  fees,  and  unamortized  discounts  and 
premiums are automatically recognized into income. Where doubt exists as to the collectability of the loans and leases, interest 
income is recorded as payment is received.

The  Company's  policy  provides  that  loans  and  leases  are  generally  placed  in  nonaccrual  status  if,  in  management’s 
opinion, payment in full of principal or interest is not expected or payment of principal or interest is more than 90 days past 
due, unless the loan or lease is both well-secured and in the process of collection. Once placed in nonaccrual status, all accrued 

94

but uncollected interest related to the current fiscal year is reversed against the appropriate interest and fee income on loans and 
leases account with any accrued but uncollected interest related to prior fiscal years reversed against the allowance for credit 
losses (“ACL”).

The ACL is maintained through charges to income in the form of a provision for credit losses at a level management 
believes  is  adequate  to  absorb  an  estimate  of  expected  credit  losses  over  the  contractual  life  of  the  loan  portfolio  as  of  the 
reporting  date.  Events  that  are  not  within  the  Company’s  control,  such  as  changes  in  economic  conditions,  could  change 
subsequent to the reporting date and could cause the ACL to be overstated or understated. The amount of the ACL is affected 
by  loan  charge-offs,  which  decrease  the  ACL;  recoveries  on  loans  previously  charged  off,  which  increase  the  ACL;  and  the 
provision for credit losses charged to income, which increases the ACL.

Prior  to  the  Legacy  Cadence  merger,  on  January  1,  2020,  Legacy  Cadence  also  adopted  ASC  326  through  the 
development of multiple current expected credit loss models (ECL Models) which segmented Legacy Cadence’s loan and lease 
portfolio by borrower and loan type to estimate lifetime expected credit losses for loans and leases. Within each ECL Model, 
loans and leases were further segregated based on additional risk characteristics specific to that loan or lease type and the ECL 
Models used both internal and external historical loss data, as appropriate.

While there were significant similarities in the manner of adoption of ASC 326 by Legacy BXS and Legacy Cadence, 
numerous  steps  were  taken  to  align  the  Legacy  Cadence  process  to  ensure  that  the  ACL  reported  at  the  time  of  the  Legacy 
Cadence merger and in all subsequent reporting periods is consistent with the ACL policies as outlined in this section and Note 
5  –  Allowance  for  Credit  Losses.  This  included  conforming  certain  Legacy  Cadence  assumptions  (e.g.,  the  reasonable  and 
supportable forecast of future economic conditions and the reasonable and supportable forecast period, among others) to that of 
Legacy BXS. This was accomplished primarily through qualitative adjustments for alignment.

Further, ASC 326 eliminated existing guidance for purchase credit impaired (“PCI”) loans and provides special initial 

recognition and measurement for the Day One accounting for PCD assets.

• ASC 326 requires entities that purchase certain financial assets (or portfolios of financial assets) with the intention of 

holding them for investment to determine whether the assets have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in 
credit quality since origination.

• More-than-insignificant deterioration will generally be determined by the asset’s delinquency status, risk rating 

changes, credit rating, accruing status or other indicators of credit deterioration since origination.

• An entity initially measures the amortized cost of a PCD asset by adding the acquisition date estimate of expected 
credit losses to the asset’s purchase price. Because the initial estimate for expected credit losses is added to the 
purchase price to establish the Day One amortized cost, PCD accounting is commonly referred to as a “gross-up” 
approach. There is no credit loss expense recognized upon acquisition of a PCD asset; rather the “gross-up” is offset 
by establishment of the initial allowance.

• After initial recognition, the accounting for a PCD asset will generally follow the credit loss model.
•

Interest income for a PCD asset is recognized using the effective interest rate (“EIR”) calculated at initial 
measurement. This EIR is determined by comparing the amortized cost basis of the instrument to its contractual cash 
flows, consistent with ASC 310-20. Accordingly, since the PCD gross-up is included in the amortized cost, the 
purchase discount related to estimated credit losses on acquisition is not accreted into interest income. Only the 
noncredit-related discount or premium is accreted or amortized, using the EIR that was calculated at the time the asset 
was acquired.
Loans  of  $1.0  million  or  more  that  are  identified  as  collateral-dependent,  which  generally  include  loans  internally 
graded as impaired or PCD Loss, are reviewed by the Impairment Group which approves the amount of specific reserve, if any, 
and/or charge-off amounts. The evaluation of real estate loans generally focuses on the fair value of underlying collateral less 
estimated  costs  to  sell  obtained  from  appraisals,  as  the  repayment  of  these  loans  may  be  dependent  on  the  liquidation  of  the 
collateral. In certain circumstances, other information such as comparable sales data is deemed to be a more reliable indicator of 
fair value of the underlying collateral than the most recent appraisal. In these instances, such information is used in determining 
the  specific  provision  recorded  for  the  loan.  For  commercial  and  industrial  loans,  the  evaluation  generally  focuses  on  these 
considerations, as well as the projected liquidation of any pledged collateral. Our larger corporate and specialized industry loans 
are  underwritten  to  the  underlying  enterprise  value  of  the  borrower.  The  value  is  in  the  equity  of  the  business  as  a  going 
concern.  Many  valuation  approaches  are  used  in  these  situations  including  discounted  cash  flow,  multiple  of  cash  flow,  or 
comparable sales approaches. The Impairment Group, a cross-functional working group, reviews the results of each evaluation 
and  approves  the  final  specific  provision  amounts,  which  are  then  included  in  the  analysis  of  the  adequacy  of  the  ACL  in 
accordance with FASB ASC 326. These loans are internally classified as impaired.

A  new  appraisal  is  generally  ordered  for  loans  $1.0  million  or  greater  that  have  characteristics  of  potential  specific 
provision, such as delinquency or other loan-specific factors identified by management, when a current appraisal (dated within 
the  prior  12  months)  is  not  available  or  when  a  current  appraisal  uses  assumptions  that  are  not  consistent  with  the  expected 
disposition  of  the  loan  collateral.  In  order  to  measure  specific  provision  properly  at  the  time  that  a  loan  is  reviewed,  a  bank 
officer  may  estimate  the  collateral  fair  value  based  upon  earlier  appraisals  received  from  outside  appraisers,  sales  contracts, 
approved foreclosure bids, comparable sales, officer estimates or current market conditions until a new appraisal is received. 

95

This  estimate  can  be  used  to  determine  the  extent  of  the  specific  provision  on  the  loan.  After  a  loan  is  determined  to  be 
collateral-dependent,  it  is  management’s  policy  to  obtain  an  updated  appraisal  on  at  least  an  annual  basis.  Management 
performs a review of the pertinent facts and circumstances of each collateral-dependent loan, such as changes in outstanding 
balances,  information  received  from  loan  officers  and  receipt  of  re-appraisals,  at  least  quarterly.  As  of  each  review  date, 
management considers whether additional provision and/or charge-offs should be recorded based on recent activity related to 
the loan-specific collateral as well as other relevant comparable assets. Any adjustment to reflect further exposure, either as a 
result of management’s periodic review or as a result of an updated appraisal, are made through recording additional provisions 
for credit loss and/or charge-offs.

At December 31, 2021, loans with an internally assigned grade of impaired, irrespective of troubled debt restructured 
(“TDR”) status, totaled $25.2 million, which was net of cumulative charge-offs of $2.4 million. Additionally, the Company had 
specific  reserves  of  $4.5  million  included  in  the  ACL.  Impaired  loans  at  December  31,  2021  were  primarily  from  the 
Company’s C&I owner occupied and C&I non-real estate portfolios. Impaired loan charge-offs are determined necessary when 
management determines that the amount is not likely to be collected.

When a guarantor is relied upon as a source of repayment, the Company analyzes the strength of the guaranty. This 
analysis varies based on circumstances, but may include a review of the guarantor’s personal and business financial statements 
and  credit  history,  a  review  of  the  guarantor’s  tax  returns  and  the  preparation  of  a  cash  flow  analysis  of  the  guarantor. 
Management will continue to update its analysis on individual guarantors as circumstances change.

In the normal course of business, management may grant concessions, which would not otherwise be considered, to 
borrowers  that  are  experiencing  financial  difficulty.  Loans  identified  as  meeting  the  criteria  set  out  in  FASB  ASC  310  are 
identified as TDRs. The concessions granted most frequently for TDRs involve reductions or delays in required payments of 
principal  and  interest  for  a  specified  period  or  the  rescheduling  of  payments  in  accordance  with  a  bankruptcy  plan.  In  most 
cases, the conditions of the credit also warrant nonaccrual status, even after the restructure occurs. Other conditions that warrant 
a loan being considered a TDR include reductions in interest rates to below market rates due to bankruptcy plans or by the bank 
in  an  attempt  to  assist  the  borrower  in  working  through  liquidity  problems.  As  part  of  the  credit  approval  process,  the 
restructured loans are evaluated for adequate collateral protection in determining the appropriate accrual status at the time of 
restructure. TDRs recorded as nonaccrual loans may generally be returned to accrual status when the loan is current under the 
terms of the restructured loan. During 2021, the most common concessions that were granted involved rescheduling payments 
of  principal  and  interest  over  a  longer  amortization  period,  granting  a  period  of  reduced  principal  payment  or  interest  only 
payment for a limited time period, or the rescheduling of payments in accordance with a bankruptcy plan. 

In the normal course of business, the Company assumes risks in extending credit. The Company manages these risks 
through  underwriting  in  accordance  with  its  lending  policies,  loan  review  procedures  and  the  diversification  of  its  loan  and 
lease  portfolio.  Although  it  is  not  possible  to  predict  credit  losses  with  certainty,  management  regularly  reviews  the 
characteristics of the loan and lease portfolio to determine its overall risk profile and quality.

The provision for credit losses is the periodic cost (or credit) of providing an allowance or reserve for expected losses 
on loans and leases. The Board of Directors has appointed a Credit Committee, composed of senior management and lending 
administration staff which meets on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if required, to review the recommendations of several 
internal working groups developed for specific purposes including the allowance for credit losses, specific provision amounts, 
and  charge-offs.  The  ACL  group  bases  its  estimates  of  credit  losses  on  three  primary  components:  (1)  estimates  of  expected 
losses  that  exist  in  various  segments  of  performing  loans  and  leases  over  the  remaining  life  of  the  loan  portfolio  using  a 
reasonable  and  supportable  economic  forecast;  (2)  specifically  identified  losses  in  individually  analyzed  credits  which  are 
collateral  dependent;  and  (3)  qualitative  factors  related  to  economic  conditions,  portfolio  concentrations,  regulatory  policy 
updates,  and  other  relevant  factors  that  address  estimates  of  expected  losses  not  fully  addressed  based  upon  management’s 
judgment of portfolio conditions. 

The Company utilizes credit risk models to estimate the probability of default and loss given default of loans over their 
remaining  life.  The  probability  of  default  settings  in  the  models  incorporate  a  risk  grading  process  by  utilizing  pool-specific 
historical default rates. In addition, the loss given default settings in the models utilize historical losses for different types of 
collateral  on  defaulted  loans  while  giving  consideration  for  the  loan-to-value  at  the  time  of  default.  The  product  of  the 
probability  of  default  and  loss  given  default  derives  a  base  expected  loss  rate  for  each  loan.  The  base  expected  loss  rate  is 
adjusted  by  way  of  econometric  models  that  measure  the  direction  and  magnitude  of  change  in  expected  loss  rates  given  a 
change in forecasted economic variables. 

The aforementioned credit risk models and econometric models were developed and are recalibrated upon the basis of 
historical  experience.  Credit  factors  such  as  financial  condition  of  the  borrower  and  guarantor,  recent  credit  performance, 
delinquency, liquidity, cash flows, collateral type and value are used by the models to assess credit risk. Estimates of expected 
losses  are  influenced  by  the  historical  net  losses  experienced  by  the  Company  for  loans  and  leases  of  comparable 
creditworthiness  and  structure.  Specific  loss  assessments  are  performed  for  loans  and  leases  based  upon  the  collateral 
protection.  The  Company’s  reasonable  and  supportable  economic  eight  quarter  forecast  is  utilized  to  estimate  credit  losses 
before  reverting  back  to  longer  term  historical  loss  experience.  The  Company  subscribes  to  various  economic  services  and 

96

publications to assist with the development of inputs used in the modeling and qualitative framework for the ACL calculation. 
The  economic  forecast  considers  changes  in  real  gross  domestic  product,  nominal  disposable  income,  unemployment  rate, 
equity valuations and related volatility, valuations for residential and commercial real estate, and other indicators that may be 
correlated with the Company’s expected credit losses. 

The  Company  excludes  accrued  interest  from  interest  income  when  it  is  determined  that  it  is  probable  that  all 
contractual  principal  and  interest  will  not  be  collected  for  loans.  For  loans  with  available  commitments  that  are  not 
unconditionally cancellable, expected losses were calculated by applying comparable loss rates on funded loans to the unfunded 
commitment  balances.  In  addition,  the  weighted  average  maturity  and  relatively  stable  line  utilization  were  considered  when 
estimating losses on unfunded commitments.

Attention is paid to the quality of the loan and lease portfolio through a formal loan review process. An independent 
loan review department of the Company is responsible for reviewing the credit rating and classification of individual credits and 
assessing  trends  in  the  portfolio,  adherence  to  internal  credit  policies  and  procedures  and  other  factors  that  may  affect  the 
overall adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. The ACL group is responsible for ensuring that the ACL provides adequate 
coverage of expected losses. The ACL group meets at least quarterly to determine the amount of adjustments to the ACL. The 
ACL group is composed of senior management from the Company’s credit administration, risk and finance departments. The 
Impairment Group is responsible for evaluating individual loans that have been specifically identified through various channels, 
including examination of the Company’s watch list, past due listings, and loan officer assessments. For all loans identified, an 
analysis is prepared to determine if the loan is collateral dependent and the extent of any loss exposure to be reviewed by the 
Impairment  Group.  The  Impairment  Group  reviews  all  loans  restructured  in  a  TDR  if  the  loan  is  $1.0  million  or  greater  to 
determine  if  it  is  probable  that  the  Company  will  be  unable  to  collect  the  contractual  principal  and  interest  on  the  loan.  An 
evaluation  of  the  circumstances  surrounding  the  loan  is  performed  in  order  to  determine  whether  the  loan  was  collateral-
dependent. The fair value of the underlying collateral is considered if the loan is collateral-dependent. The Impairment Group 
meets at least quarterly. The Impairment Group is made up of senior management from the Company’s lending administration, 
risk, and finance departments.

If financial concessions are granted to a borrower as a result of financial difficulties, the loan is classified as a TDR, 
with the amount of provision determined by estimating the net present value of future cash flows for TDRs that are not deemed 
to be collateral-dependent. TDRs are reserved in accordance with FASB ASC 326. Should the borrower’s financial condition, 
collateral  protection  or  performance  deteriorate,  warranting  reassessment  of  the  loan  rating  or  specific  provision,  additional 
reserves and/or charge-offs may be required.

Any loan or portion thereof which is classified as “loss” or which is determined by management to be uncollectible, 
because  of  factors  such  as  the  borrower’s  failure  to  pay  interest  or  principal,  the  borrower’s  financial  condition,  economic 
conditions in the borrower’s industry or the inadequacy of underlying collateral, is charged off.

For all loans determined to be collateral-dependent, which generally include loans internally classified as impaired and 
PCD Loss, and all loans restructured in a TDR, an evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the loan is performed in order to 
determine if and in what amount the Bank expects to encounter a loss. For loans which are collateral-dependent, a reserve will 
be  established  to  cover  the  difference  between  the  loan  balance  and  the  fair  value  of  the  collateral  less  costs  to  sell  or  that 
difference may be charged off. Large groups of smaller balance homogenous loans that are collectively evaluated for specific 
provision are excluded from review by the Impairment Group.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the allowance for credit losses on loans was established to reserve for estimated 
probable losses on loans and leases. The allowance for credit losses included calculations in accordance with ASC Topic 310, 
Receivables, and allowance allocations calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 450, Contingencies.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Provisions for depreciation 
and amortization, computed using straight-line methods, are charged to expense over the estimated useful lives of the assets. 
Costs  of  major  additions  and  improvements  are  capitalized.  Expenditures  for  routine  maintenance  and  repairs  are  charged  to 
expense  as  incurred.  Upon  retirement,  sale,  or  other  disposition  of  property  and  equipment,  the  cost  and  accumulated 
depreciation are eliminated from the accounts, and any gains or losses are included in income.

Leases

The Company leases various premises and equipment. At the inception of the contract, the Company determines if an 
arrangement is or contains a lease and will recognize on the balance sheet a lease asset for its right to use the underlying asset 
(“ROU”) and a lease liability for the corresponding lease obligation for contracts longer than a year. Both the asset and liability 
are initially measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present 
value of lease payments, the Company uses our incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for the leases.

The  Company  has  elected  the  practical  expedient  to  not  separate  non-lease  components  from  lease  components  and 
instead  to  account  for  both  as  a  single  lease  component.  The  Company’s  leases  do  not  contain  residual  value  guarantees  or 

97

material  variable  lease  payments.  The  Company  does  not  have  any  material  restrictions  or  covenants  imposed  by  leases  that 
would impact the Company’s ability to pay dividends or cause the Company to incur additional financial obligations.

The Company elected to apply the short-term lease exception to existing leases that meet the definition of a short-term 
lease  (less  than  12  months),  considering  the  lease  term  from  the  commencement  date,  not  the  remaining  term  at  the  date  of 
adoption. Certain of the Company’s leases contain options to renew the lease therefore these renewal options are included in the 
determination of the capitalization period and calculation of the lease liability and ROU asset as they are reasonably certain to 
be exercised.

Leases  for  which  the  Company  is  the  lessor  are  substantially  all  accounted  for  as  operating  leases  and  the  lease 
components and non-lease components are accounted for separately. The remaining lease periods vary from one month to five 
years and the contractual maturities of gross lease receivables were not material to the financial position of our Company. See 
Note 22 for additional required disclosures under ASC 842.

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) consists of properties acquired through foreclosure. Repossessed assets consists of 
non-real  estate  assets  acquired  in  partial  or  full  settlement  of  loans.  OREO  and  repossessed  assets  totaled  $33.0  million  and 
$11.4 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These assets are recorded at fair value, less estimated costs to 
sell,  on  the  date  of  foreclosure  or  repossession,  establishing  a  new  cost  basis  for  the  asset.  Subsequent  to  the  foreclosure  or 
repossession date the asset is maintained at the lower of cost or fair value. Any write-down to fair value required at the time of 
foreclosure  or  repossession  is  charged  to  the  ACL.  Subsequent  gains  or  losses  resulting  from  the  sale  of  the  property  or 
additional valuation allowances required due to further declines in fair value are reported in other noninterest expense.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if 
an  event  occurs  or  circumstances  change  that  would  more  likely  than  not  reduce  the  fair  value  of  a  reporting  unit  below  its 
carrying amount. As part of its testing, the Company may elect to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more 
likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the results of the qualitative assessment 
indicate that more likely than not a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, the Company determines the fair 
value of the respective reporting unit (through the application of various quantitative valuation methodologies) relative to its 
carrying amount to determine whether quantitative indicators of potential impairment are present (i.e., Step 1). The Company 
may also elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and begin with Step 1. With the adoption of ASU No. 2017-04, effective 
January  1,  2020,  if  the  results  of  Step  1  indicate  that  the  fair  value  of  the  reporting  unit  is  below  its  carrying  amount,  the 
Company will recognize an impairment loss for the amount that the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds it’s fair value (up 
to  the  amount  of  goodwill  recorded).  A  reporting  unit  is  defined  as  an  operating  segment  or  a  component  of  that  operating 
segment.  Reporting  units  may  vary,  depending  on  the  level  at  which  performance  of  the  segment  is  reviewed.  Goodwill  is 
reviewed annually within the fourth quarter for possible impairment, or sooner if a goodwill impairment indicator is identified. 
If impaired, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. No impairment charges were recognized in any reporting unit 
through December 31, 2021. See Note 7, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for additional information.

Other identifiable intangible assets consist primarily of core deposit premiums and customer relationships arising from 
acquisitions.  These  intangibles  were  established  using  the  discounted  cash  flow  approach  and  are  being  amortized  using  an 
accelerated method over the estimated remaining life of each intangible recorded at acquisition. Additionally, trademarks and 
trade  names,  considered  finite-lived  intangible  assets,  are  reviewed  for  impairment  when  events  or  changes  in  circumstances 
indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable from undiscounted future cash flows or that it may exceed its 
fair value. No impairment to these intangible assets has been identified in any period presented.

Servicing Rights Assets

The  Company  recognizes  as  assets  the  rights  to  service  mortgage  loans  for  others,  known  as  MSRs.  The  Company 
records MSRs at fair value for all loans sold on a servicing retained basis with subsequent adjustments to fair value of MSRs in 
accordance with FASB ASC 860. An estimate of the fair value of the Company’s MSRs is determined utilizing assumptions 
about  factors  such  as  mortgage  interest  rates,  discount  rates,  mortgage  loan  prepayment  speeds,  market  trends  and  industry 
demand. Because the valuation is determined by using discounted cash flow models, the primary risk inherent in valuing the 
MSRs  is  the  impact  of  fluctuating  interest  rates  on  the  estimated  life  of  the  servicing  revenue  stream.  The  use  of  different 
estimates  or  assumptions  could  also  produce  different  fair  values.  The  Company  hedges  the  fair  value  of  MSRs.  At 
December 31, 2021, there was a hedge in place designed to cover approximately 33.1% of the MSR value. The Company is 
susceptible to fluctuations in their value in changing interest rate environments. MSRs are included in the other assets category 

98

of the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of MSRs are recorded as part of mortgage banking revenue on the 
consolidated statements of income.

Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance

The  Company  invests  in  bank-owned  life  insurance  (“BOLI”),  which  involves  the  purchasing  of  life  insurance  on 
selected  employees.  The  Company  is  the  owner  of  the  policies  and,  accordingly,  the  cash  surrender  value  of  the  policies  is 
included in total assets and increases in cash surrender values are reported as income in the consolidated statements of income. 
The cash value accumulation on BOLI is permanently tax deferred if the policy is held to the insured person’s death and certain 
other conditions are met.

Variable Interest Entities and Other Investments

The Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and required to consolidate a VIE if it has a variable interest in 
the  VIE  that  provides  it  with  a  controlling  financial  interest.  For  such  purposes,  the  determination  of  whether  a  controlling 
financial  interest  exists  is  based  on  whether  a  single  party  has  both  the  power  to  direct  the  activities  of  the  VIE  that  most 
significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb the losses of the VIE or the right to receive 
benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Conclusions reached regarding which interest holder is a 
VIE’s primary beneficiary must be continuously evaluated. The Company has determined that certain of its investments meet 
the definition of VIE.

The Company invests in certain affordable housing projects as a limited partner and accounts for these investments and 
the related tax credits using either the effective yield method or the proportional amortization method, depending upon the date 
of the investment. Under the effective yield method, the Company recognizes the tax credits as they are allocated and amortizes 
the initial costs of the investments to provide a constant effective yield over the period that the tax credits are allocated. Under 
the proportional amortization method, the Company amortizes the cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and 
other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income 
tax expense.

Equity  securities  with  readily  determinable  fair  values  not  held  for  trading  consist  of  marketable  equity  securities 

which are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in net income.

For  other  investments  in  limited  partnerships  without  readily  determinable  fair  values,  the  Company  has  elected  to 
account for these investments using the practical expedient of the fair value of underlying net asset value. For investments in 
other  limited  partnerships  without  readily  determinable  fair  values  that  do  not  qualify  for  the  practical  expedient,  these 
investments are accounted for at their cost minus impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in 
orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Any changes in fair value are reported in net 
income.

See Note 24 for more information about our variable interest entities and other investments.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The  Company  accounts  for  its  defined  benefit  pension  plans  using  an  actuarial  model  as  required  by  GAAP.  This 
model  uses  an  approach  that  allocates  pension  costs  over  the  service  period  of  employees  in  the  plan.  The  Company  also 
accounts for its other postretirement benefits using the requirements of GAAP. GAAP requires the Company to recognize net 
periodic  postretirement  benefit  costs  as  employees  render  the  services  necessary  to  earn  their  postretirement  benefits.  The 
principle underlying the accounting as required by GAAP is that employees render service ratably over the service period and, 
therefore,  the  income  statement  effects  of  the  Company’s  defined  benefit  pension  and  postretirement  benefit  plans  should 
follow  the  same  pattern.  The  Company  accounts  for  the  over-funded  or  under-funded  status  of  its  defined  benefit  and  other 
postretirement plans as an asset or liability in its consolidated balance sheets.

The discount rate is the rate used to determine the present value of the Company’s future benefit obligations for its 
pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The Company determines the discount rate to be used to discount plan liabilities 
at  the  measurement  date  with  the  assistance  of  its  actuary  using  the  actuary’s  proprietary  model.  The  Company  developed  a 
level equivalent yield using its actuary’s model as of December 31, 2021 and the expected cash flows from the BancorpSouth 
Bank  Retirement  Plan  (the  “Basic  Plan”),  the  BancorpSouth  Bank  Restoration  Plan  (the  “Restoration  Plan”)  and  the 
BancorpSouth Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Supplemental Plan”). Based on this analysis, the Company 
established  its  discount  rate  assumptions  for  determination  of  the  projected  benefit  obligation  at  2.73%  for  the  Basic  Plan, 
2.77% for the Restoration Plan and 2.41% for the Supplemental Plan based on a December 31, 2021 measurement date.

The Company offers a 401(k) defined contribution benefit plan to its employees. The plan provides for a 100% match 
of  employee  contributions  up  to  five  percent  of  employee  compensation.  All  contributions  and  related  earnings  are  100% 
vested.

99

As a result of the prior acquisitions, the Company has various legacy unqualified supplemental retirement plans. The 
plans allow for fixed payment amounts to begin on a monthly basis at a specified age. The annual cost charged to expense and 
the  estimated  present  value  of  the  projected  payments  was  determined  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  ASC  715.  The 
present value of projected payments is recorded as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company provides a voluntary deferred compensation plan for certain of its executive and senior officers. Under 
this plan, the participants may defer up to 25% of their base compensation and 100% of certain incentive compensation. The 
Company may, but is not obligated to, contribute to the plan. Amounts contributed to this plan are credited to a separate account 
for  each  participant  and  are  subject  to  a  risk  of  loss  in  the  event  of  the  Company’s  insolvency.  The  Company  made  no 
contributions to this plan in 2021, 2020, or 2019.

Stock-Based Compensation

The  Company  administers  several  long-term  incentive  compensation  plans  that  provide  for  the  granting  of  various 
forms  of  incentive  stock-based  compensation.  The  Company  values  these  units  at  the  grant  date  fair  value  and  recognizes 
expense  over  the  requisite  service  period.  The  Company’s  stock-based  compensation  costs  are  recorded  as  a  component  of 
salaries and employee benefits in the consolidated statements of income. See Note 14 for additional information.

Income Taxes

The Company and its significant subsidiaries are subject to income taxes in federal, state and local jurisdictions, and 
such  corporations  account  for  income  taxes  under  the  asset  and  liability  method.  Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are 
recognized  for  the  future  tax  consequences  attributable  to  differences  between  the  financial  statement  carrying  amounts  of 
existing  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  respective  tax  bases  and  net  operating  loss  and  tax  credit  carryforwards.  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  recognition  of  a  deferred  tax  asset  is  dependent  upon  a  “more  likely  than  not”  expectation  of  realization  of  the 
deferred  tax  asset,  based  upon  the  analysis  of  available  evidence.  The  deferred  tax  asset  recoverability  is  calculated  using  a 
consistent  approach,  which  considers  the  relative  impact  of  negative  and  positive  evidence,  including  review  of  historical 
financial performance, and all sources of future taxable income, such as projections of future taxable income exclusive of future 
reversals  of  temporary  differences  and  carryforwards,  tax  planning  strategies,  and  any  carryback  availability.  A  valuation 
allowance is required to sufficiently reduce the deferred tax asset to the amount that is expected to be realized on a “more likely 
than not” basis. Changes in the valuation allowance are generally recorded through income.

See Note 11 for more information about the Company’s income taxes.

Common Stock Repurchases

The Company purchases shares of its common stock pursuant to share repurchase programs authorized by its Board of 
Directors. Repurchased shares are available for use in the Company’s stock compensation programs and other transactions or 
for  other  corporate  purposes  as  determined  by  the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors.  At  the  date  of  repurchase,  shareholders’ 
equity is reduced by the repurchase price. See Note 19 for additional information.

Revenue Recognition

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts

Service  charges  on  deposit  accounts  consist  of  non-sufficient  funds  fees,  account  analysis  fees,  and  other  service 
charges on deposits which consist primarily of monthly account fees. Non-sufficient funds fees are recognized at the time the 
account  overdraft  occurs  in  accordance  with  regulatory  guidelines.  Account  analysis  fees  consist  of  fees  charged  to  certain 
commercial demand deposit accounts based upon account activity (and reduced by a credit which is based upon cash levels in 
the  account).  The  Company’s  performance  obligation  for  these  fees  is  satisfied  and  related  revenue  recognized,  when  the 
service is rendered.

Fees and Other Service Charges

Fees and other service charges primarily consist of debit and credit card income, merchant services and other service 
fees. These fees are earned at a point in time as the Company’s performance obligation for service charges are satisfied, and 
related revenue recognized, when the services are rendered.

100

Assets Under Administration and Asset Management Fees

The Company does not include assets held in fiduciary or agency capacities in the consolidated balance sheets, as such 
items are not assets of the Company. Fees from asset management activities are recorded on an accrual basis, over the period in 
which  the  service  is  provided.  Fees  are  a  function  of  the  market  value  of  assets  administered  and  managed,  the  volume  of 
transactions,  and  fees  for  other  services  rendered,  as  set  forth  in  the  underlying  client  agreement.  This  revenue  recognition 
involves  the  use  of  estimates  and  assumptions,  including  components  that  are  calculated  based  on  estimated  asset  valuations 
and transaction volumes. The Company does not earn performance-based incentives. The Company’s performance obligation 
for these fees is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, when services are rendered.

Advisory Fees for Brokerage Services

Advisory fees for brokerage services are collected monthly through a third party vendor at a predetermined rate in the 
contract. Revenue for such performance obligations are recognized at the time the performance obligations are satisfied and is 
reflected in the Wealth Management line in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Credit Related Fees

Credit  related  fees  primarily  include  fees  assessed  on  the  unused  portion  of  commercial  lines  of  credit  (“unused 
commitment fees”) and syndication agent fees. Unused commitment fees are recognized when earned. Syndication agent fees 
are earned to act as an agent for a period of time, usually one year. Arranger fees are earned to arrange a syndicate of lenders 
and are generally recognized when the transaction is closed.

Bankcard Fees

Bankcard fees include primarily bankcard interchange revenue, which is recorded when services are provided.

Payroll Processing Revenue

Payroll  processing  revenue  consists  principally  of  payroll  processing  fees,  property  and  casualty  brokerage  and 
employee  benefits  brokerage.  Payroll  processing  fees  are  charged  as  the  services  are  provided  and  the  Company  satisfied  its 
performance  obligation  simultaneously.  Property  and  casualty  brokerage  include  the  brokerage  of  both  personal  and 
commercial  coverages.  The  placement  of  the  policy  is  completion  of  the  Company's  performance  obligation  and  revenue  is 
recognized at that time. The Company's commission is a percentage of the premium. Employee benefits brokerage consists of 
assisting  companies  in  designing  and  managing  comprehensive  employee  benefit  programs.  The  services  provided  by  the 
Company are collectively benefit management services which are considered a bundle of services that are highly interrelated. 
Each  of  the  underlying  services  are  activities  to  fulfill  the  benefit  management  service  and  are  not  distinct  and  separate 
performance obligations. Revenue is recognized over the contract term as services are rendered on a monthly basis. Customer 
payments are usually received on a monthly basis. This revenue is reflected in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of 
Income.

SBA Income

Small Business Administration (“SBA”) income consists of gains on sales of SBA loans, servicing fees, changes in the 
fair value of servicing rights, and other miscellaneous fees. Servicing fee income is recorded for fees earned for servicing SBA 
loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal or a fixed amount per loan and are recorded as 
income when earned. This revenue is reflected in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Insurance Commissions

Insurance commissions consists of several types of insurance revenue related to insurance policy sales including direct 
bill commissions, agency commissions, installment and agency fee income, and contingency income. The Company acts as an 
intermediary  between  the  Company’s  customer  and  the  insurance  carrier.  For  agency  commissions,  the  Company’s 
performance  obligation  is  satisfied  upon  the  issuance  of  the  insurance  policy,  and  therefore  the  Company  recognizes  the 
revenue at the time of policy issuance. For direct bill commissions, the carrier remits the commission payment to the Company 
according to the policy statement and the Company recognizes revenue monthly as the performance obligation is satisfied and 
no significant material reversal of revenue based on policy cancellations are anticipated.

Installment and agency fee income is for revenue billed on a more frequent basis than annually. Contingency income is 
additional revenue based on insurance carriers’ profitability, loss ratios and production growth as determined by the insurance 
carriers.  These  fees  are  typically  collected  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  subsequent  year  following  the  calendar  year  of  service. 

101

Under  Topic  606,  these  are  recognized  during  the  calendar  year  of  service.  Due  to  the  volatility  of  the  income,  significant 
judgment is required to estimate revenue. The Company considers several quantitative factors deemed by management to be 
appropriate for the estimate and it is periodically reviewed for any changes throughout the year to adjust revenue recognized for 
contingency income. Topic 606 requires that even with variable consideration, an estimate of revenue should be recorded at the 
time that the performance obligation is completed.

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Basic  earnings  per  share  is  calculated  using  the  two-class  method  to  determine  income  attributable  to  common 
shareholders.  Nonvested  share-based  payment  awards  that  contain  non-forfeitable  rights  to  dividends  are  considered 
participating  securities  under  the  two-class  method.  Net  income  attributable  to  common  shareholders  is  then  divided  by  the 
weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution 
that  could  occur  if  securities  or  other  contracts  to  issue  common  stock  were  exercised  or  converted  into  common  stock  or 
resulted  in  the  issuance  of  common  stock  that  then  shared  on  the  net  income  of  the  Company.  Diluted  earnings  per  share  is 
calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the total of the weighted average number of common 
shares outstanding during the period, plus the dilutive effect of outstanding share-based compensation awards.

Comprehensive Income

Accounting  principles  generally  require  that  recognized  revenue,  expenses,  gains,  and  losses  be  included  in  net 
income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, 
pension  liability  and  cash  flow  hedges,  are  reported  as  a  separate  component  of  the  shareholders’  equity  section  of  the 
consolidated  balance  sheets,  such  items,  along  with  net  income,  are  components  of  comprehensive  income.  See  Note  16  for 
additional information.

Cash Flows

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and amounts due from banks, 

interest-bearing deposits with banks, and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are sold for one to seven day periods.

Cash  flows  from  loans,  either  originated  or  acquired,  are  classified  at  the  time  according  to  management’s  intent  to 
either sell or hold the loan for the foreseeable future. When management’s intent is to hold the loan for the foreseeable future, 
the cash flows of that loan are presented as investing cash flows.

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

In  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  the  Company  enters  into  off-balance  sheet  financial  instruments  consisting  of 
commitments to extend credit, credit card lines, standby letters of credit and commitments to purchase securities. Such financial 
instruments are recorded in the consolidated financial statements when they are exercised.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and other information 
about  the  Company’s  financial  instruments.  These  estimates  do  not  reflect  any  premium  or  discount  that  could  result  from 
offering for sale, at one time, the entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a portion of 
the financial instruments, fair value estimates are also based on judgments regarding estimated cash flows, current economic 
conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and 
involve  uncertainties  and  matters  of  significant  judgment  and,  therefore,  cannot  be  determined  with  precision.  Changes  in 
assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Management  employs  independent  third-party  pricing  services  to  provide  fair  value  estimates  for  the  Company’s 
financial instruments. Management uses various validation procedures to validate that the prices received from pricing services 
and  quotations  received  from  dealers  are  reasonable  for  each  relevant  financial  instrument,  including  reference  to  relevant 
broker/dealer  quotes  or  other  market  quotes  and  a  review  of  valuations  and  trade  activity  of  comparable  securities. 
Consideration is given to the nature of the quotes (e.g., indicative or firm) and the relationship of recently evidenced market 
activity to the prices provided by the third-party pricing service.

Understanding  the  third-party  pricing  service’s  valuation  methods,  assumptions  and  inputs  used  by  the  firm  is  an 
important part of the process of determining that reasonable and reliable fair values are being obtained. Management evaluates 
quantitative and qualitative information provided by the third-party pricing services to assess whether they continue to exhibit 
the high level of expertise and internal controls that management relies upon.

102

Fair value estimates are based on existing financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets, without attempting 
to  estimate  the  value  of  anticipated  future  business  and  the  value  of  assets  and  liabilities  that  are  not  considered  financial 
instruments.  Significant  assets  and  liabilities  that  are  not  considered  financial  instruments  include  deferred  income  taxes, 
premises and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. In addition, the income tax ramifications related to the realization 
of the unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities can have a significant effect on fair value estimates 
and have not been considered in any of the estimates.

For further information about fair value measurements, see Note 13.

Related Party Transactions

In the normal course of business, loans are made to directors and executive officers and to companies in which they 
have  a  significant  ownership  interest.  In  the  opinion  of  management,  these  loans  are  made  on  substantially  the  same  terms, 
including  interest  rates  and  collateral,  as  those  prevailing  at  the  time  for  comparable  transactions  with  other  parties,  are 
consistent with sound banking practices, and are within applicable regulatory and lending limitations. The aggregate balances of 
related party loans and deposits are insignificant as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

ASU No. 2018-12

In  August  2018,  the  FASB  issued  No.  ASU  2018-12  Financial  Services—Insurance  (Topic  944):  Targeted 
Improvements  to  the  Accounting  for  Long-Duration  Contracts.  This  ASU  is  effective  for  interim  and  annual  periods  after 
December  15,  2020.  The  Company  adopted  this  guidance  on  January  1,  2021,  with  no  material  impact  on  the  consolidated 
financial statements.

ASU No. 2018-14

In August 2018, the FASB issued No. ASU 2018-14 Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – 
General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. This 
ASU  is  effective  for  interim  and  annual  periods  after  December  15,  2020.  This  ASU  modifies  certain  disclosures  related  to 
defined benefit plans.

The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this ASU impacts disclosures only and did 

not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2019-12

In  December  2019,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2019-12,  Income  Taxes  (Topic  740):  Simplifying  the  Accounting  for 
Income Taxes. The ASU eliminates certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC 740 related to the approach for intra-period tax 
allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for 
outside basis differences. The new guidance also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in 
tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The Company 
adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021, with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2020-01

In  January  2020,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2020-01,  Investments—Equity  Securities  (Topic  321),  Investments—
Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)—Clarifying the Interactions between 
Topic  321,  Topic  323,  and  Topic  815  (a  consensus  of  the  FASB  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force).  The  ASU  clarifies  that  a 
company should consider observable transactions that require a company to either apply or discontinue the equity method of 
accounting under ASC 323 for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with ASC 321 immediately 
before  applying  or  upon  discontinuing  the  equity  method.  The  ASU  also  clarifies  that,  when  determining  the  accounting  for 
certain forward contracts and purchased options, a company should not consider, whether upon settlement or exercise, if the 
underlying securities would be accounted for under the equity method or fair value option. The Company adopted this guidance 
on January 1, 2021, with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2020-08

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables—
Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs. The amendments clarify that an entity should reevaluate whether a callable debt security 

103

is within the scope of paragraph ASC 310-20-35-33 for each reporting period. The Company adopted this guidance on January 
1, 2021, with no immediate material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2020-10

In  October  2020,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2020-10,  Codification  Improvements.  The  amendments  affect  a  wide 
variety of Topics in the Codification. They apply to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected accounting guidance. 
This ASU primarily contains amendments that ensure inclusion of all disclosure guidance in the appropriate Disclosure Section 
(Section 50). The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021. The amendments in this Update did not change GAAP 
and, therefore, did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2021-01

In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope. The amendments 
clarify that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to 
derivative  instruments  that  use  an  interest  rate  for  margining,  discounting,  or  contract  price  alignment  that  is  modified  as  a 
result of reference rate reform.

This guidance was effective for all entities upon issuance and generally can be applied through December 31, 2022, 
similar to existing relief provided under ASC 848. Entities may elect to apply the guidance on contract modifications either (1) 
retrospectively as of any date from the beginning of any interim period that includes March 12, 2020 or (2) prospectively to 
new  modifications  from  any  date  in  an  interim  period  that  includes  or  is  after  January  7,  2021,  up  to  the  date  that  financial 
statements  are  available  to  be  issued.  Entities  may  elect  to  apply  the  guidance  on  hedge  accounting  to  eligible  hedging 
relationships that existed as of the beginning of an interim period that includes March 12, 2020 and to those entered into after 
the  beginning  of  the  interim  period  that  includes  that  date.  The  adoption  of  this  guidance  had  no  immediate  impact  on  our 
consolidated financial statements.

Pending Accounting Pronouncements

ASU No. 2020-06

In  August  2020,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2020-06,  Debt—Debt  with  Conversion  and  Other  Options  (Subtopic 
470-20)  and  Derivatives  and  Hedging—Contracts  in  Entity’s  Own  Equity  (Subtopic  815-40):  Accounting  for  Convertible 
Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The ASU simplifies an issuer’s (i) accounting for convertible instruments 
by eliminating two of the three models in ASC 470-20 that require separate accounting for embedded conversion features and 
(ii)  application  of  the  derivatives  scope  exception  in  ASC  815-40  for  contracts  in  its  own  equity.  The  new  guidance  also 
requires enhanced disclosures. Further, for the diluted earnings-per-share calculation, the guidance requires entities to use the if-
converted  method  for  all  convertible  instruments  and  generally  requires  entities  to  include  the  effect  of  share  settlement  for 
instruments that may be settled in cash or shares, among other things.

The  guidance  is  effective  for  annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2021,  and  interim  periods  within  those 
fiscal years. The FASB specified that an entity should adopt the guidance as of the beginning of its annual fiscal year. As the 
Company  does  not  currently  have  any  convertible  debt  or  hedging  contracts  in  our  own  equity,  this  guidance  will  have  no 
impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2021-04

In  May  2021,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2021-04,  Earnings  Per  Share  (Topic  260),  Debt—Modifications  and 
Extinguishments  (Subtopic  470-50),  Compensation—Stock  Compensation  (Topic  718),  and  Derivatives  and  Hedging—
Contracts  in  Entity's  Own  Equity  (Subtopic  815-40):  Issuer's  Accounting  for  Certain  Modifications  or  Exchanges  of 
Freestanding  Equity-Classified  Written  Call  Options  (a  consensus  of  the  FASB  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force).  The  ASU 
clarifies  the  accounting  for  certain  modifications  or  exchanges  of  freestanding  equity-classified  written  call  options  (e.g., 
warrants)  that  remain  equity  classified  after  modification  or  exchange.  The  amendments  do  not  apply  to  modifications  or 
exchanges  of  financial  instruments  that  are  within  the  scope  of  another  Topic  and  do  not  affect  a  holder’s  accounting  for 
freestanding call options.

The  guidance  is  effective  for  annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2021,  and  interim  periods  within  those 
fiscal years. The amendments should be applied prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring on or after the effective 
date of the amendments. As the Company does not currently hold any freestanding equity-classified written call options, this 
guidance will have no immediate impact on our consolidated financial statements.

104

ASU No. 2021-06

This ASU incorporates recent SEC rule changes into the FASB Codification, including SEC Final Rule Releases No. 
33-10786,  Amendments  to  Financial  Disclosures  about  Acquired  and  Disposed  Businesses,  and  No.  33-10835,  Update  of 
Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants. These incorporations do not change the accounting rules as 
issued by the FASB. The SEC guidance that is included in the Codification does not originate with the FASB—it is provided on 
a “pass through” basis merely as a convenience to Codification users. The SEC Sections do not contain the entire population of 
SEC  rules,  regulations,  interpretive  releases,  and  staff  guidance.  For  example,  the  Codification  does  not  include  all  content 
related  to  matters  outside  the  basic  financial  statements,  such  as  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis,  or  to  auditing  or 
independence matters.

ASU No. 2021-08

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract 
Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The guidance primarily addresses the accounting for contract 
assets  and  contract  liabilities  from  revenue  contracts  with  customers  in  a  business  combination.  However,  the  guidance  also 
applies  to  contract  assets  and  contract  liabilities  from  other  contracts  to  which  the  provisions  of  Topic  606  apply,  such  as 
contract liabilities from the sale of nonfinancial assets within the scope of Subtopic 610-20, Other Income—Gains and Losses 
from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets.

The guidance does not affect the accounting for other assets or liabilities that may arise from revenue contracts with 
customers  in  accordance  with  ASC  606,  such  as  refund  liabilities,  or  in  a  business  combination,  such  as  customer-related 
intangible assets and contract-based intangible assets.

The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those 
fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. As this guidance is to be 
applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date, this guidance will have no immediate 
impact to our consolidated financial statements.

105

NOTE 2. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Texas First Acquisition

On  January  1,  2020,  the  Company  completed  the  merger  with  Texas  First  Bancshares  Inc.,  and  its  wholly  owned 
subsidiary, Texas First State Bank, (collectively referred to as “Texas First”), pursuant to which Texas First was merged with 
and  into  the  Company.  Texas  First  operated  six  full-service  banking  offices  in  Waco,  Texas  and  Killeen-Temple,  Texas 
metropolitan  statistical  areas.  Under  the  terms  of  the  definitive  merger  agreement,  the  Company  issued  approximately  1.0 
million shares of the Company’s common stock, plus $13.0 million in cash for all outstanding shares of Texas First’s capital 
stock. As of December 31, 2021, total goodwill related to the Texas First acquisition was $22.0 million. Goodwill is calculated 
as the excess of both the consideration exchanged and liabilities assumed as compared to the fair value of identifiable assets 
acquired, none of which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Additionally, the Company recognized $2.4 million of 
core deposit intangibles in conjunction with this acquisition. This acquisition was not considered significant to the Company’s 
consolidated financial statements and, therefore, pro forma data and related disclosures are not included.

The following table presents the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheet on the acquisition date of January 

1, 2020 for Texas First, showing the fair value as adjusted during the measurement period (in thousands):

Assets acquired:

Cash and due from banks
Interest bearing deposits with other banks
Available-for-sale securities and other equity investments
Federal funds sold
Loans and leases
Premises and equipment
Accrued interest receivable
Other identifiable intangibles
Other assets

Total assets acquired
Liabilities assumed:

Deposits
Accrued interest payable
Other liabilities

Total liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Consideration paid:

Market value of common stock
Total cash paid

Total fair value of consideration paid
Goodwill

Alexander & Sanders Acquisition

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

19,714 
139 
154,568 
20,000 
180,430 
10,869 
1,266 
2,445 
4,796 
394,227 

370,072 
138 
378 
370,588 
23,639 

32,643 
13,001 
45,644 
22,005 

On  October  7,  2020,  the  Company  completed  the  acquisition  of  Alexander  &  Sanders  Insurance  Agency,  Inc., 
headquartered  in  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana.  Alexander  &  Sanders  provides  risk  management  and  insurance  services  to 
professional firms across Louisiana. The acquisition is considered immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.

106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
National United Merger

On May 1, 2021, the Company completed the merger with National United Bancshares Inc., the parent company of 
National United (collectively referred to as “National United”), pursuant to which National United was merged with and into 
the  Company.  National  United  operated  six  full-service  banking  offices  in  the  Killeen-Temple,  Texas;  Waco,  Texas;  and 
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas metropolitan statistical areas. Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, the 
Company  issued  approximately  3.1  million  shares  of  the  Company’s  common  stock,  plus  $33.3  million  in  cash  for  all 
outstanding shares of National United’s capital stock. As of December 31, 2021, total goodwill related to the National United 
acquisition was $48.4 million. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of both the consideration exchanged and liabilities assumed 
as  compared  to  the  fair  value  of  identifiable  assets  acquired,  none  of  which  is  expected  to  be  deductible  for  tax  purposes. 
Additionally,  the  Company  recognized  $2.5  million  of  core  deposit  intangibles  in  conjunction  with  this  acquisition.  This 
acquisition was not considered significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and, therefore, pro forma data 
and related disclosures are not included.

Due  to  the  Company’s  evaluation  of  post-merger  activity  and  the  extensive  information  gathering  and  management 
review processes required to properly record acquired assets and liabilities, the Company considers its valuations of National 
United’s assets and liabilities to be provisional estimates as management continues to identify and assess information regarding 
the nature of these assets and liabilities for the associated valuation assumptions and methodologies used.

107

The following table presents the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheets on the acquisition date of May 1, 

2021 for National United, showing the fair value as adjusted during the measurement period (in thousands):

Assets acquired:

Cash and due from banks
Interest bearing deposits with other banks
Available-for-sale securities and other equity investments
Federal fund sold
Loans and leases
Premises and equipment
Accrued interest receivable
Other identifiable intangibles
Other real estate owned
Bank-owned life insurance
Other assets

Total assets acquired
Liabilities assumed:

Deposits
Accrued interest payable
Other liabilities

Total liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Consideration paid:

Market value of common stock
Total cash paid

Total fair value of consideration paid
Goodwill

FNS Merger

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

198,315 
3,963 
132,046 
30,300 
431,910 
9,802 
1,932 
2,541 
663 
6,651 
5,468 
823,591 

744,602 
138 
1,985 
746,725 
76,866 

92,018 
33,256 
125,274 
48,408 

On May 1, 2021, the Company completed the merger with FNS Bancshares Inc., the parent company of FNB Bank, 
(collectively  referred  to  as  “FNS”),  pursuant  to  which  FNS  was  merged  with  and  into  the  Company.  FNS  operated  17  full-
service banking offices in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, the Company 
issued approximately 3.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock, plus $18.0 million in cash for all outstanding shares 
of FNS’s capital stock. As of December 31, 2021, total goodwill related to the FNS acquisition was $56.2 million. Goodwill is 
calculated as the excess of both the consideration exchanged and liabilities assumed as compared to the fair value of identifiable 
assets  acquired,  none  of  which  is  expected  to  be  deductible  for  tax  purposes.  Additionally,  the  Company  recognized 
approximately $0.9 million of core deposit intangibles in conjunction with this acquisition. This acquisition was not considered 
significant  to  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  and,  therefore,  pro  forma  data  and  related  disclosures  are  not 
included.

Due  to  the  Company’s  evaluation  of  post-merger  activity  and  the  extensive  information  gathering  and  management 
review  processes  required  to  properly  record  acquired  assets  and  liabilities,  the  Company  considers  its  valuations  of  FNS’s 
assets  and  liabilities  to  be  provisional  estimates  as  management  continues  to  identify  and  assess  information  regarding  the 
nature of these assets and liabilities for the associated valuation assumptions and methodologies used.

108

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheet on the acquisition date of May 1, 

2021 for FNS, showing the fair value as adjusted during the measurement period (in thousands):

Assets acquired:

Cash and due from banks
Interest bearing deposits with other banks
Available-for-sale securities and other equity investments
Loans and leases
Premises and equipment
Accrued interest receivable
Other identifiable intangibles
Other real estate owned
Bank-owned life insurance
Other assets

Total assets acquired
Liabilities assumed:

Deposits
Accrued interest payable
Junior subordinated debt
Long-term debt
Other liabilities

Total liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Consideration paid:

Market value of common stock issued
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares
Total fair value of consideration paid
Goodwill

Legacy Cadence Merger

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

139,337 
3,842 
170,158 
453,035 
14,671 
2,531 
938 
1,023 
12,064 
12,079 
809,678 

721,462 
174 
10,000 
20,206 
8,011 
759,853 
49,825 

88,028 
18,003 
106,031 
56,206 

On  October  29,  2021,  the  Company  completed  its  merger  with  Cadence  Bancorporation,  the  parent  company  of 
Cadence Bank, N.A., (collectively referred to as “Legacy Cadence”), pursuant to which Legacy Cadence merged with and into 
the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity. Legacy Cadence operated 99 full-service banking offices in 
the  southeast.  Each  Legacy  Cadence  shareholder,  other  than  Legacy  Cadence  and  the  Company,  received  0.70  shares  of  the 
Company’s common stock for each share of Legacy Cadence Class A common stock. In addition, Legacy Cadence paid a one-
time, special cash dividend of $1.25 per share of Legacy Cadence Class A common stock on October 28, 2021. The merger is 
anticipated  to  build  a  stronger  banking  franchise  with  relationship-focused  financial  services  and  better  opportunities  for 
employees, customers, communities and shareholders. As of December 31, 2021, total goodwill related to the Legacy Cadence 
acquisition  was  $451.7  million.  Goodwill  is  calculated  as  the  excess  of  both  the  consideration  exchanged  and  liabilities 
assumed  as  compared  to  the  fair  value  of  identifiable  assets  acquired,  none  of  which  is  expected  to  be  deductible  for  tax 
purposes. Additionally, the Company recognized $25.0 million of core deposit intangibles in conjunction with this merger. The 
Company also recorded $78.6 million of customer relationship intangibles and $48.7 million for the Cadence trade name. 

Due  to  the  Company’s  evaluation  of  post-merger  activity  and  the  extensive  information  gathering  and  management 
review  processes  required  to  properly  record  acquired  assets  and  liabilities,  the  Company  considers  its  valuations  of  Legacy 
Cadence’s  assets  and  liabilities  to  be  provisional  estimates  as  management  continues  to  identify  and  assess  information 
regarding the nature of these assets and liabilities for the associated valuation assumptions and methodologies used.

109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents the preliminary allocation of merger consideration to the valuations of the assets acquired 

and liabilities assumed as of October 29, 2021 for Legacy Cadence (in thousands):

Assets acquired:

Cash and cash equivalents
Available-for-sale securities
Loans held for sale
Loans and leases
Allowance for credit losses
Premises and equipment
Other identifiable intangible assets
Other assets

Total assets acquired
Liabilities assumed:

Deposits
Borrowings
Other liabilities

Total liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Consideration paid:

Market value of common stock
Fair value of equity awards
Total cash paid

Total fair value of consideration paid
Goodwill

$ 

2,340,995 
4,172,313 
83,475 
11,534,035 
(64,576) 
197,214 
152,341 
580,332 
$  18,996,129 

$  16,350,287 
206,805 
411,969 
$  16,969,061 
2,027,068 
$ 

2,464,546 
14,236 
8 
2,478,790 
451,722 

$ 
$ 

In  relation  to  the  Legacy  Cadence  merger,  the  Company  recorded  $451.7  million  provisional  estimate  of  goodwill, 
representing the excess of the purchase price over the acquisition accounting value of net assets acquired, net of deferred taxes. 
See Note 7 for additional information. Due to the fact that back office functions (including loan and deposit processing) still 
have  not  been  integrated,  the  evaluation  of  post-merger  activity,  and  the  extended  information  gathering  and  management 
review  processes  required  to  properly  record  acquired  assets  and  liabilities,  the  Company  considers  its  valuations  of  Legacy 
Cadence’s assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be provisional as management continues to identify and assess information 
regarding  the  nature  of  these  assets  and  liabilities  and  reviews  the  associated  valuation  assumptions  and  methodologies. 
Accordingly,  the  amounts  recorded  for  current  and  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  also  considered  provisional  as  the 
Company continues to evaluate the nature and extent of permanent and temporary (timing) differences between the book and 
tax bases of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Additionally, the accounting policies of both the Company and Legacy 
Cadence are in the process of being reviewed in detail. Upon completion of such review, conforming adjustments or financial 
statement reclassification may be determined.

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  methods  used  to  estimate  the  fair  values  of  significant  assets  acquired  and 

liabilities assumed above.

Cash  and  due  from  banks  and  interest-bearing  deposits  with  banks:  The  carrying  amount  of  these  assets  is  a 

reasonable estimate of fair value based on the short-term nature of these assets.

Securities available-for-sale: Fair values for securities were based on quoted market prices where available. If quoted 
market  prices  are  not  available,  fair  value  estimates  were  based  on  observable  inputs  obtained  from  market  transactions  in 
similar securities. 

Loans:  Fair  values  for  loans  were  estimated  based  on  a  discounted  cash  flow  methodology  (income  approach)  that 
considered factors including loan type and related collateral, classification status, remaining term of the loan (in months), fixed 
or variable interest rate, past delinquencies, timing of principal and interest payments, current market rates, LTV, and current 
discount rates. The discount rate did not include an explicit factor for credit losses, as that was included as a reduction to the 

110

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
estimated cash flows. Large loans were specifically reviewed to evaluate credit risk. Additionally, purchased credit deteriorated 
(PCD) loans that were determined to have more-than-insignificant deterioration were generally identified by the delinquency 
status, risk rating changes, credit rating, accruing status or other indicators of credit deterioration since origination. Loans were 
valued individually although multiple inputs were applied to loans with similar characteristics as appropriate.

Unfunded commitments are contractual obligations by a financial institution for future funding as it relates to closed 
end or revolving lines of credit. The Company valued these unfunded commitments at $24.4 million and recorded a liability 
using the “Netback” method. Because the borrower can draw upon their credit anytime until maturity, the lender must increase 
its capital on hand to meet funding requirements. Therefore, the undrawn portion is considered a liability (or asset if the loan is 
valued above par) and is netted back against the asset or the drawn portion. Generally, amortization for revolving lines occurs 
straight-line over the life of the loan and for closed end loans using the effective yield method over the remaining life of the 
loan when the loan funds.

Allowance for Credit Losses: The allowance for credit losses of $65 million was recorded on the identified PCD loans. 
As discussed in Note 1, the adoption of ASC 326 impacted the way in which the allowance for credit losses is determined for 
acquired loans. Prior to the Legacy Cadence merger, on January 1, 2020, Legacy Cadence also adopted ASC 326 through the 
development of multiple current expected credit loss models (ECL Models) which segmented Legacy Cadence’s loan and lease 
portfolio by borrower and loan type to estimate lifetime expected credit losses for loans and leases. Within each ECL Model, 
loans and leases were further segregated based on additional risk characteristics specific to that loan or lease type and the ECL 
Models used both internal and external historical loss data, as appropriate.

While there were significant similarities in the manner of adoption of ASC 326 by Legacy BXS and Legacy Cadence, 
numerous  steps  were  taken  to  align  the  Legacy  Cadence  process  to  ensure  that  the  ACL  reported  at  the  time  of  the  Legacy 
Cadence merger in the table below and in all subsequent reporting periods is consistent with the ACL policies as outlined in 
Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 5 – Allowance for Credit Losses. This included conforming 
certain  Legacy  Cadence  assumptions  (e.g.,  the  reasonable  and  supportable  forecast  of  future  economic  conditions  and  the 
reasonable and supportable forecast period, among others) to that of Legacy BXS. This was accomplished primarily through 
qualitative adjustments for alignment.

Intangible assets: Core deposit intangible asset represents the value of the relationships with deposit clients. The fair 
value for the core deposit intangible asset was estimated based on a discounted cash flow methodology that gave appropriate 
consideration  to  expected  client  attrition  rates,  net  maintenance  cost  of  the  deposit  base,  alternative  costs  of  funds,  and  the 
interest costs associated with the client deposits. The core deposit intangible asset is being amortized over its estimated useful 
life  of  approximately  ten  years  utilizing  an  accelerated  method.  Client  relationship  intangibles  are  valued  using  a  discounted 
cash  flow  methodology  that  reflects  the  estimated  value  of  the  future  net  earnings  from  the  relationships  which  includes 
adjustments for estimated attrition. See Note 7 for additional information. Trade name assets are valued through the application 
of a relief-from-royalty method, which presumes a trade name owner would license the rights to use the trade name and would 
recognize revenues based on its use.

ROU Assets and Lease Liabilities: ROU assets and lease liabilities were measured using a methodology that involved 
estimating the future rental payments over the remaining lease term with discounting using a fully-collateralized discount rate. 
The  lease  term  was  determined  for  individual  leases  based  on  management’s  assessment  of  the  probability  of  exercising 
existing renewal options. The net effect of any off-market terms in a lease were also discounted and applied to the balance of 
the lease asset.

Premises:  Land  and  buildings  held  for  use  were  valued  at  appraised  values,  which  reflect  considerations  of  recent 

disposition values for similar property types with adjustments for characteristics of individual properties.

Deposits: The fair values used for the demand and savings deposits by definition equal the amount payable on demand 
at  the  acquisition  date.  Fair  values  for  time  deposits  were  estimated  using  a  discounted  cash  flow  analysis  applying  the 
prevailing  market  interest  rates  currently  offered  to  the  contractual  interest  rates  on  such  time  deposits  resulting  in  a  $3.4 
million premium to be accreted over a two-year period.

Borrowings:  The  fair  value  of  the  subordinated  debentures  were  estimated  using  a  discounted  cash  flow  calculation 

that used recent issuance rates for similar notes offerings for similar sized issuers.

111

Cadence’s operating results for the year ended December 31, 2021 include the operating results of the acquired assets 
and assumed liabilities of Legacy Cadence subsequent to the merger transaction on October 29, 2021. Due to various system 
conversions of Legacy Cadence during the fourth quarter of 2021, as well as other streamlining and integration of the operating 
activities  into  those  of  the  Company,  historical  reporting  for  the  Legacy  Cadence  operations  is  impracticable  and  thus 
disclosures of the revenue from the assets acquired and income before income taxes is impracticable for the period subsequent 
to acquisition.

The following table presents certain unaudited pro forma information for the results of operations for the years ended 
December 31, 2021 and 2020, as if Legacy Cadence had been acquired on January 1, 2020. The pro forma results combine the 
historical  results  of  Legacy  Cadence  into  the  Company’s  consolidated  revenue  and  net  income  available  to  common 
shareholders including the impact of certain acquisition accounting adjustments including loan discount accretion, investment 
securities  discount  accretion,  intangible  assets  amortization  and  deposit  premium  accretion.  The  pro  forma  results  have  been 
prepared  for  comparative  purposes  only  and  are  not  necessarily  indicative  of  what  would  have  occurred  had  the  acquisition 
taken  place  on  January  1,  2020.  No  assumptions  have  been  applied  to  the  proforma  results  of  operations  regarding  possible 
revenue  enhancements,  provision  for  credit  losses,  expense  efficiencies  or  asset  dispositions.  Merger-related  costs  of  $59.9 
million  recorded  by  the  Company  and  $56  million  recorded  by  Legacy  Cadence  in  2021  are  not  included  in  the  pro  forma 
statements below.

(In thousands)
Total revenues (net interest income and noninterest income) (1)
Net income available to common shareholders (2)

Pro Forma Information for the Years Ended

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

$ 

1,799,458  $ 

534,050 

1,952,681 

16,121 

(1) Includes accelerated hedge revenue of $169.2 million in Noninterest income, $129.5 million after tax that was recognized by Legacy Cadence in 2020.

(2) Includes the non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $443.7 million in noninterest expense, $412.9 million after-tax that was recognized by Legacy Cadence in 2020.

Merger-related expenses of $59.9 million incurred during 2021 are recorded in the consolidated income statement and 
include incremental costs related to the closing of the transaction, including legal, accounting and auditing, investment banker 
fees, certain employment related costs, travel, printing, supplies, and other costs.

Branch Divestitures

In  December  2021,  Cadence  Bank  completed  the  divestiture  of  seven  branches  to  The  First,  A  National  Banking 
Association, a wholly owned subsidiary of The First Bancshares, Inc., to satisfy regulatory requirements in connection with the 
Legacy  Cadence  merger.  The  branches  were  located  in  Mississippi.  There  were  $41  million  in  loans  and  leases  and  $410 
million in deposits divested in this transaction.

112

 
 
NOTE 3. AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES AND EQUITY SECURITIES 

A comparison of amortized cost and estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities follows:

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Estimated
Fair
Value

$ 

1,497,169  $ 
2,623,356 

124  $ 

828  $ 

22,618 

7,532 

1,496,465 
2,638,442 

113,028 
8,233,875 
244,440 
2,076,494 
10,667,837 
560,458 
62,693 
295,643 

1,073 
1,556 
155 
12,979 
15,763 
5,948 
971 
63 
45,487  $ 

674 
106,240 
1,238 
28,340 
136,492 
886 
19 
416 

113,427 
8,129,191 
243,357 
2,061,133 
10,547,108 
565,520 
63,645 
295,290 
146,173  $  15,606,470 

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Estimated
Fair
Value

$  2,805,581  $ 

65,827  $ 

—  $  2,871,408 

(In thousands)
December 31, 2021
U.S. Treasury securities
Obligations of U.S. government agencies
Mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. 

agencies (MBS):
Residential pass-through:
Guaranteed by GNMA
Issued by FNMA and FHLMC

Other residential mortgage-backed securities
Commercial mortgage-backed securities

Total MBS

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
Other domestic debt securities
Foreign debt securities

Total available-for-sale securities

$  15,707,156  $ 

(In thousands)
December 31, 2020
U.S. Government agency securities
Obligations of U.S. government agencies
Mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. 

agencies (MBS):
Residential pass-through:
Guaranteed by GNMA
Issued by FNMA and FHLMC

Commercial mortgage-backed securities

Total MBS

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
Other domestic debt securities

56,310 
2,365,641 
773,578 
3,195,529 
110,871 
18,000 

Total available-for-sale securities

$  6,129,981  $ 

1,184 
3,820 
33,050 
38,054 
3,082 
78 
107,041  $ 

34 
5,512 
422 
5,968 
— 
48 

57,460 
2,363,949 
806,206 
3,227,615 
113,953 
18,030 
6,016  $  6,231,006 

113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In  the  merger  with  Legacy  Cadence  on  October  29,  2021,  the  Company  acquired  additional  available-for-sale 
securities (see Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details). The fair value of the acquired portfolio is as 
follows:

(In thousands)
Obligations of U.S. government agencies
Mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. agencies (MBS):

Residential pass-through:
Guaranteed by GNMA
Issued by FNMA and FHLMC

Other residential mortgage-backed securities
Commercial mortgage-backed securities

Total MBS

Obligations of states and municipal subdivisions
Other domestic debt securities
Foreign debt securities

Total acquired available-for-sale securities

$ 

283,940 

70,649 
2,499,086 
268,253 
509,094 
3,347,082 
378,363 
12,136 
150,792 
$  4,172,313 

For  available-for-sale  securities,  gross  gains  of  approximately  $383.0  thousand  and  gross  losses  of  approximately 
$514.1 thousand were recognized in 2021, gross gains of approximately $88.0 thousand and no gross losses were recognized in 
2020,  and  gross  gains  of  approximately  $158.0  thousand  and  no  gross  losses  were  recognized  in  2019  on  available-for-sale 
securities.  No  allowance  for  credit  losses  was  recorded  in  2021  and  2020,  and  no  other-than-temporary  impairment  was 
recorded in 2019. Proceeds from the sales of securities available-for-sale totaled $564.0 million in 2021 and $147.6 million in 
2020 and $119.2 million in 2019.

Available-for-sale securities with a carrying value of $5.1 billion at December 31, 2021 were pledged to secure public 

and trust funds on deposit and for other purposes.

114

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  amortized  cost  and  estimated  fair  value  of  available-for-sale  securities  at  December  31,  2021  by  contractual 
maturity are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to 
call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

(In thousands)
Maturing in one year or less
Maturing after one year through five years
Maturing after five years through ten years
Maturing after ten years
Mortgage-backed securities

Total

Amortized
Cost

Estimated
Fair
Value

$  1,054,099  $  1,062,666 
2,902,573 
2,897,394 
399,992 
399,178 
694,131 
688,648 
  10,667,837 
  10,547,108 
$  15,707,156  $ 15,606,470 

As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, approximately 74% and 26% of securities were at a unrealized loss 
position, respectively. At December 31, 2021, there was 1 security that had been in a loss position for more than twelve months, 
and 806 securities that have been in a loss position for less than 12 months. A summary of available-for-sale investments with 
continuous unrealized loss positions for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded follows:

(In thousands)
December 31, 2021
U.S. Treasury securities
U.S. government agency securities
Mortgage-backed securities
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
Other domestic debt securities
Foreign debt securities

Total

(In thousands)
December 31, 2020
Mortgage-backed securities
Other domestic debt securities

Total

Less Than 12 Months
Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

12 Months or Longer
Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

$ 

996,290  $ 
574,877 
9,614,551 
74,629 
24,616 
205,227 
$ 11,490,190  $ 

828  $ 

7,532 
136,320 
886 
19 
416 
146,001  $ 

—  $ 
— 
5,815 
— 
— 
— 
5,815  $ 

— 
— 
172 
— 
— 
— 
172 

Less Than 12 Months
Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

12 Months or Longer
Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

1,579,010 
11,952 

$  1,590,962  $ 

5,967 
48 
6,015  $ 

885 
— 
885  $ 

1 
— 
1 

Management evaluates available-for-sale securities in unrealized loss positions to determine whether the impairment is 
due  to  credit-related  factors  or  noncredit-related  factors.  Based  upon  a  review  of  the  credit  quality  of  these  securities, 
management has no intent to sell these securities until the full recovery of unrealized losses, which may not be until maturity, 
and it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell the securities prior to recovery of costs. The fair 
value  is  expected  to  recover  as  the  securities  approach  their  maturity  date  or  repricing  date  or  if  market  yields  for  such 
investments decline. Management believes that the unrealized losses detailed in the previous tables are due to noncredit-related 
factors, such as changes in interest rates and other market conditions. Therefore, no allowance for credit losses was recorded 
related to these securities as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. No unrealized losses were recorded into income 
during 2021 and 2020.

Held in other assets, the Company also has investments in equity securities totaling $33.9 million as of December 31, 
2021. Included in these securities is an investment of $24.5 million in the Impact Shares Affordable Housing MBS EFT which 
is carried at fair value and an investment of $8.3 million in common stock of the FHLB of Dallas. The Company is required to 
own  stock  in  the  FHLB  of  Dallas  for  membership  in  the  FHLB  system  and  in  relation  to  the  level  of  FHLB  advances.  The 
FHLB stock does not have readily determinable fair value therefore the Company accounts for this investment as a long-term 
asset and carries it at cost.

115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 4. LOANS AND LEASES

The Company’s loan and lease portfolio is disaggregated into the following three segments: commercial and industrial, 
commercial real estate, and consumer. The commercial and industrial segment is further disaggregated into two classes: non-
real  estate  and  owner  occupied.  The  commercial  real  estate  segment  is  further  disaggregated  into  two  classes:  construction, 
acquisition,  and  development;  and  income  producing.  The  consumer  segment  is  further  disaggregated  into  two  classes: 
residential  mortgages  and  other  consumer.  The  increase  in  loan  and  lease  portfolio  from  2020  reflects  the  business 
combinations that closed in 2021 (see Note 2 for more information). The following table is a summary of our loan and lease 
portfolio by segment and class at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned (1)

2021

2020

$  7,847,473  $  2,918,192 
2,599,121 
5,517,313 

3,567,746 
  11,415,219 

2,924,343 
4,924,369 
7,848,712 

1,728,682 
3,211,434 
4,940,116 

7,311,306 
307,751 
7,619,057 

4,356,338 
208,712 
4,565,050 
$ 26,882,988  $ 15,022,479 

(1) Total loans and leases are net of $103.2 million and $36.3 million of unearned income at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The  Company  engages  in  lending  primarily  to  consumers,  small  and  medium-sized  business  enterprises  and 
government  entities  through  its  community  banking  locations  and  to  regional  and  national  business  enterprises  through  its 
corporate  banking  division.  The  bank  acts  as  agent  or  participant  in  Shared  National  Credits  (“SNC”)  and  other  financing 
arrangements  with  other  financial  institutions.  Loans  are  issued  generally  to  finance  home  purchases  and  improvements, 
personal  expenditures,  business  investment  and  operations,  construction  and  development  and  income  producing  properties. 
Loans  are  underwritten  to  be  repaid  primarily  by  available  cash  flow  from  personal  income,  investment  income,  business 
operations,  rental  income  or  the  sale  of  developed  or  constructed  properties.  Collateral  and  personal  guaranties  of  business 
owners  are  generally  required  as  a  condition  of  financing  arrangements  and  provide  additional  cash  flow  and  proceeds  from 
asset sales of guarantors in the event primary sources of repayment are no longer sufficient.

While  loans  are  structured  to  provide  protection  to  the  Company  if  borrowers  are  unable  to  repay  as  agreed,  the 
Company recognizes that there are numerous risks that may result in deterioration of the repayment ability of borrowers and 
guarantors.  These  risks  include  failure  of  business  operations  due  to  economic,  legal,  market,  logistical,  weather,  health, 
governmental and force majeure events. Concentrations in the Company’s loan and lease portfolio also present credit risks. The 
economic disruption resulting from the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, which developed during 2020 and has continued 
with  variants  through  2021  and  beyond,  had  a  substantial  impact  on  the  risk  that  businesses  may  experience  difficulty  in 
meeting  repayment  obligations  and  that  the  Company  may  experience  losses  or  deterioration  in  performance  in  its  loan 
portfolio. Economic conditions have improved in recent months now that COVID-19 vaccinations are available, however, some 
local governments and businesses reinstated restrictions after seeing an uptick in cases in the second half of 2021. Economic 
disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic continued into 2021 as virus variants emerged and attenuated the economic recovery 
which  began  in  the  fall  of  2020.  Interruptions  in  the  return  to  school  and  workplace  were  accompanied  with  supply  chain 
disruptions,  worker  shortages  and  inflationary  pressure.  Despite  significant  government  intervention  and  improvement  in 
economic  conditions,  the  economic  disruption  continued  to  impact  business  operations  which  placed  borrowers  at  additional 
risk due to reduced capacity. The emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants in late 2021 resulted in additional concern that 
similar economic conditions may continue into 2022 and the risk of future defaults remains.

The  Company  actively  participated  in  assisting  its  customers  with  applications  for  resources  through  the  Paycheck 
Protection  Program  (“PPP”),  which  is  administered  by  the  Small  Business  Administration  (“SBA”)  with  the  intent  to  help 
businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant portion of the Company’s PPP loan 
portfolio  was  sold  during  the  second  quarter  of  2021  and  the  Company  believes  that  the  remaining  loans  will  ultimately  be 

116

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
forgiven by the SBA in accordance with the terms of the program. The PPP loans are designed to be fully guaranteed by the 
U.S. government and as such should not present a credit risk. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company sold PPP loans 
totaling $725.4 million which generated a gain on sale of $21.6 million. The remaining balance of PPP loans of $50.0 million is 
included in the non-real estate loan class.

The  Company  has  identified  the  following  pools  of  loans  and  leases  with  similar  risk  characteristics  for  measuring 

expected credit losses:

Commercial and Industrial (“C&I”)

Non-Real Estate – The Company engages in lending to small and medium-sized business enterprises and government 
entities through its community banking locations and to regional and national business enterprises through its corporate banking 
division.  The  bank  acts  as  agent  or  participant  in  SNC  and  other  financing  arrangements  with  other  financial  institutions. 
Commercial and industrial loans are loans and leases to finance business operations, equipment and owner-occupied facilities 
primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises. These include both lines of credit for terms of one year or less and term loans 
which  are  amortized  over  the  useful  life  of  the  assets  financed.  Personal  and/or  corporate  guarantees  are  generally  obtained 
where  available  and  prudent.  Also  included  in  this  category  are  loans  to  finance  agricultural  production.  The  Company 
recognizes  that  risk  from  economic  cycles,  commodity  prices,  pandemics,  including  COVID-19,  government  regulation, 
supply-chain disruptions, product innovations or obsolescence, operational errors, lawsuits, natural disasters, losses due to theft 
or  embezzlement,  health  or  loss  of  key  personnel  or  competitive  situations  may  adversely  affect  the  scheduled  repayment  of 
business  loans.  In  addition,  risks  in  the  agricultural  sector  including  crop  failures  due  to  weather,  insects  and  other  blights, 
commodity prices, governmental intervention, lawsuits, labor or logistical disruptions.

Owner Occupied – Owner occupied loans include loans secured by business facilities to finance business operations, 
equipment and owner-occupied facilities primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises. These include both lines of credit 
for terms of one year or less and term loans which are amortized over the useful life of the assets financed. Personal guarantees, 
if  applicable,  are  generally  required  for  these  loans.  The  Company  recognizes  that  risk  from  economic  cycles,  pandemics, 
including  COVID-19,  government  regulation,  supply-chain  disruptions,  product  innovations  or  obsolescence,  operational 
errors, lawsuits, natural disasters, losses due to theft or embezzlement, health or loss of key personnel or competitive situations 
may adversely affect the scheduled repayment of business loans.

Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”)

Construction, Acquisition, and Development – Construction, acquisition and development loans include both loans and 
credit  lines  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing,  carrying  and  developing  land  into  commercial  developments  or  residential 
subdivisions.  Also  included  are  loans  and  credit  lines  for  construction  of  residential,  multi-family  and  commercial  buildings. 
The  Company  generally  engages  in  construction  and  development  lending  primarily  in  local  markets  served  by  its  branches. 
The  Company  recognizes  that  risks  are  inherent  in  the  financing  of  real  estate  development  and  construction.  These  risks 
include location, market conditions and price volatility, demand for developed land, lots and buildings, desirability of features 
and  styling  of  completed  developments  and  buildings,  competition  from  other  developments  and  builders,  traffic  patterns, 
governmental  jurisdiction,  tax  structure,  availability  of  utilities,  roads,  public  transportation  and  schools,  interest  rates, 
availability of permanent financing for homebuyers, zoning, environmental restrictions, lawsuits, economic and business cycle, 
labor and reputation of the builder or developer.

The underwriting process for construction, acquisition and development loans with interest reserves is essentially the 
same as that for a loan without interest reserves and may include analysis of borrower and guarantor financial strength, market 
demand  for  the  proposed  project,  experience  and  success  with  similar  projects,  property  values,  time  horizon  for  project 
completion  and  the  availability  of  permanent  financing  once  the  project  is  completed.  Construction,  acquisition  and 
development  loans,  with  or  without  interest  reserves,  are  inspected  periodically  to  ensure  that  the  project  is  on  schedule  and 
eligible for requested draws. Inspections may be performed by construction inspectors hired by the Company or by appropriate 
loan  officers  and  are  done  periodically  to  monitor  the  progress  of  a  particular  project.  These  inspections  may  also  include 
discussions with project managers and engineers.

Each construction, acquisition and development loan is underwritten to address: (i) the desirability of the project, its 
market viability and projected absorption period; (ii) the creditworthiness of the borrower and the guarantor as to liquidity, cash 
flow  and  assets  available  to  ensure  performance  of  the  loan;  (iii)  equity  contribution  to  the  project;  (iv)  the  developer’s 
experience and success with similar projects; and (v) the value of the collateral.

A substantial portion of construction, acquisition and development loans are secured by real estate in markets in which 
the Company is located. The Company’s loan policy generally prohibits loans for the sole purpose of carrying interest reserves. 
Certain  of  the  construction,  acquisition  and  development  loans  were  structured  with  interest-only  terms.  A  portion  of  the 
consumer  mortgage  and  commercial  real  estate  portfolios  were  originated  through  the  permanent  financing  of  construction, 

117

acquisition  and  development  loans.  Future  economic  distress  could  negatively  impact  borrowers’  and  guarantors’  ability  to 
repay their debt which would make more of the Company’s loans collateral dependent.

Income  Producing  –  Commercial  loans  include  loans  to  finance  income-producing  commercial  and  multi-family 
properties. Lending in this category is generally limited to properties located in the Company’s market area with only limited 
exposure  to  properties  located  elsewhere  but  owned  by  in-market  borrowers.  Loans  in  this  category  include  loans  for 
neighborhood retail centers, medical and professional offices, single retail stores, warehouses and apartments leased generally 
to local businesses and residents. The underwriting of these loans takes into consideration the occupancy and rental rates as well 
as  the  financial  health  of  the  borrower.  The  Company’s  exposure  to  national  retail  tenants  is  limited.  The  Company  has  not 
purchased  commercial  real  estate  loans  from  brokers  or  third-party  originators.  The  Company  recognizes  that  risk  from 
economic  cycles,  pandemics,  including  COVID-19,  government  restrictions,  delayed  or  missed  rent  payments,  supply-chain 
disruptions,  product  innovations  or  obsolescence,  operational  errors,  lawsuits,  natural  disasters,  losses  due  to  theft  or 
embezzlement,  health  or  loss  of  key  personnel  or  competitive  situations  may  adversely  affect  the  scheduled  repayment  of 
business loans.

Consumer

Residential  Mortgages  –  Consumer  mortgages  are  first  or  second-lien  loans  to  consumers  secured  by  a  primary 
residence or second home. This category includes traditional mortgages and home equity loans and revolving lines of credit. 
The loans are generally secured by properties located within the local market area of the community bank which originates and 
services the loan. These loans are underwritten in accordance with the Company’s general loan policies and procedures which 
require,  among  other  things,  proper  documentation  of  each  borrower’s  financial  condition,  satisfactory  credit  history  and 
property value. In addition to loans originated through the Company’s branches, the Company originates and services consumer 
mortgages sold in the secondary market which are underwritten and closed pursuant to investor and agency guidelines. 

Other Consumer – Other consumer lending includes consumer credit cards and installment loans. The Company offers 
credit cards primarily to its deposit and loan customers. Consumer installment loans and leases include term loans of up to five 
years secured by automobiles, boats and recreational vehicles.

The  Company  recognizes  that  there  are  risks  in  consumer  lending  which  include  interruptions  in  the  borrower’s 
personal and investment income due to loss of employment, market conditions, and general economic conditions, deterioration 
in the health and well-being of the borrower and family members, natural disasters, pandemics, lawsuits, losses or inability to 
generate income due to injury, accidents, theft, vandalism or incarceration.

118

The following tables provide details regarding the aging of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio, net of unearned 
income, at December 31, 2021 and 2020; the increase from 2020 reflects the business combinations that closed in 2021 (see 
Note 2 for more information):

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of 
unearned

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of 
unearned

2,966 

— 
2,966 

535 

— 

535 

308 

— 
308 

— 

— 

— 

1,375 
6,305 

1,628 

188 

1,816 

53,914 

1,458 

55,372 

4,335 
7,003 

650 

865 

1,515 

27,999 

1,157 

29,156 

30-59
Days
Past Due

60-89
Days
Past Due

90+ Days
Past Due

Total
Past Due

Current

Total
Outstanding

90+ Days
Past Due
still
Accruing

2021

$ 

4,930  $ 

3,652  $ 

18,293  $ 

26,875  $  7,820,598  $  7,847,473  $ 

123 
3,775 

9,489 
27,782 

10,987 
37,862 

  3,556,759 
  11,377,357 

  3,567,746 
  11,415,219 

5,109 

904 

6,013 

6,039 

10,370 

16,409 

12,776 

  2,911,567 

  2,924,343 

11,462 

  4,912,907 

  4,924,369 

24,238 

  7,824,474 

  7,848,712 

12,896 

52,857 

119,667 

  7,191,639 

  7,311,306 

21,099 

575 

449 

2,482 

305,269 

307,751 

184 

13,471 

53,306 

122,149 

  7,496,908 

  7,619,057 

21,283 

$ 

63,493  $ 

23,259  $ 

97,497  $  184,249  $ 26,698,739  $ 26,882,988  $ 

24,784 

30-59
Days
Past Due

60-89
Days
Past Due

90+ Days
Past Due

Total
Past Due

Current

Total
Outstanding

90+ Days
Past Due
still
Accruing

2020

$ 

2,668  $ 

1,203  $ 

8,325  $ 

12,196  $  2,905,996  $  2,918,192  $ 

621 
1,824 

8,278 
16,603 

13,234 
25,430 

  2,585,887 
  5,491,883 

  2,599,121 
  5,517,313 

2,092 

1,500 

3,592 

9,133 

403 

9,536 

8,073 

8,165 

10,815 

  1,717,867 

  1,728,682 

10,530 

  3,200,904 

  3,211,434 

16,238 

21,345 

  4,918,771 

  4,940,116 

35,036 

72,168 

  4,284,170 

  4,356,338 

13,743 

770 

2,330 

206,382 

208,712 

269 

35,806 

74,498 

  4,490,552 

  4,565,050 

14,012 

$ 

37,674  $ 

14,952  $ 

68,647  $  121,273  $ 14,901,206  $ 15,022,479  $ 

14,320 

119

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  utilizes  an  internal  loan  classification  system  that  is  perpetually  updated  to  grade  loans  according  to 
certain  credit  quality  indicators.  These  credit  quality  indicators  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  recent  credit  performance, 
delinquency,  liquidity,  cash  flows,  debt  coverage  ratios,  collateral  type  and  loan-to-value  ratio.  The  Company’s  internal  loan 
classification system is compatible with classifications used by regulatory agencies. Loans may be classified as follows:

Pass: Loans which are performing as agreed with few or no signs of weakness. These loans show sufficient cash flow, 
capital and collateral to repay the loan as agreed.

Special Mention: Loans where potential weaknesses have developed which could cause a more serious problem if not 
corrected.

Substandard: Loans where well-defined weaknesses exist that require corrective action to prevent further deterioration. 
Loans are further characterized by the possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not 
corrected.

Doubtful: Loans having all the characteristics of Substandard and which have deteriorated to a point where collection 
and liquidation in full is highly questionable.

Loss: Loans that are considered uncollectible or with limited possible recovery.

Impaired:  An  internal  grade  for  individually  analyzed  collateral-dependent  loans  for  which  a  specific  provision  has 
been considered to address the unsupported exposure.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (Loss): An internal grade for loans with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since 
origination that are acquired by completion of a transfer, and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor 
will  be  unable  to  collect  all  contractually  required  payments  receivable.  While  these  loans  are  generally  collateral-
dependent,  loans  purchased  with  credit  deterioration  that  are  not  collateral-dependent  are  initially  classified  as 
substandard but may improve or deteriorate in credit quality after acquisition with their ratings adjusted accordingly.

120

The following tables provide details of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio, net of unearned income, by segment, 
class and internally assigned grade at December 31, 2021 and 2020; any increases from 2020 reflect the business combinations 
that closed in 2021 (see Note 2 for more information):

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages

Other consumer

Total consumer

December 31, 2021

Pass

Special
Mention

Substandard

Doubtful

Loss

Purchased
Credit
Deteriorated 
(Loss)

Impaired
(1)

Total

$  7,655,502  $ 

43,009  $  103,134  $ 

153  $  —  $ 

5,350  $ 

40,325  $  7,847,473 

  3,484,116 

  11,139,618 

3,440 

46,449 

55,247 

158,381 

  2,884,673 

  4,686,699 

  7,571,372 

  7,196,106 

300,175 

  7,496,281 

441 

28,964 

29,405 

990 

— 

990 

31,263 

174,936 

206,199 

110,429 

7,381 

117,810 

— 

153 

— 

— 

— 

2,560 

137 

2,697 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

11,229 

16,579 

13,714 

  3,567,746 

54,039 

  11,415,219 

3,765 

3,810 

7,575 

1,047 

— 

1,047 

4,201 

  2,924,343 

29,960 

  4,924,369 

34,161 

  7,848,712 

174 

  7,311,306 

58 

307,751 

232 

  7,619,057 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 26,207,271  $ 

76,844  $  482,390  $ 

2,850  $  —  $ 

25,201  $ 

88,432  $ 26,882,988 

(1) Impaired  loans  are  shown  exclusive  of  $6.9  million  of  accruing  TDRs,  $1.8  million  of  non-accruing  TDRs,  and 

approximately $11 thousand of accruing TDRs that are 90 or more days past due.

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate

Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development

Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer

Total consumer

December 31, 2020

Pass

Special
Mention

Substandard

Doubtful

Loss

Purchased
Credit
Deteriorated 
(Loss)

Impaired
(1)

Total

$  2,859,157  $ 

7,202  $ 

41,117  $ 

172  $  —  $ 

1,949  $ 

8,595  $  2,918,192 

  2,518,980 

  5,378,137 

— 

7,202 

63,209 

104,326 

  1,686,907 

  3,062,894 

  4,749,801 

  4,269,938 
204,203 

  4,474,141 

1,534 

— 

1,534 

— 
— 

— 

32,363 

134,054 

166,417 

83,803 
4,442 

88,245 

— 

172 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

12,356 

14,305 

2,054 

10,780 

12,834 

2,406 
— 

2,406 

4,576 

  2,599,121 

13,171 

  5,517,313 

5,824 

  1,728,682 

3,706 

  3,211,434 

9,530 

  4,940,116 

191 
67 

258 

  4,356,338 
208,712 

  4,565,050 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 14,602,079  $ 

8,736  $  358,988  $ 

172  $  —  $ 

29,545  $ 

22,959  $ 15,022,479 

(1) Impaired  loans  are  shown  exclusive  of  $10.5  million  of  accruing  TDRs,  $1.0  million  of  non-accruing  TDRs,  and 

approximately $5 thousand of accruing TDRs that are 90 or more days past due.

121

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following tables provide credit quality indicators by class and period of origination as of December 31, 2021:

Non-Real Estate

Period Originated:

(In thousands)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Prior

Revolving 
Loans 
Converted to 
Term

Revolving 
Loans

Total

Pass

$ 2,070,476 

$  809,423 

$  525,299 

$  512,108 

$  314,026 

$  457,706 

$ 2,899,229 

$ 

67,235 

$ 7,655,502 

Special Mention

Substandard

Doubtful

Impaired

PCD (Loss)

Total

% Criticized

327 

4,951 

— 

462 

1,136 

110 

8,981 

— 

79 

— 

17,588 

8,960 

— 

733 

1,322 

18,301 

17,208 

— 

19 

70 

5,875 

— 

— 

8,761 

1,333 

103 

19,380 

153 

112 

3,728 

6,386 

35,734 

— 

3,945 

16,032 

124 

2,045 

— 

— 

8,013 

43,009 

103,134 

153 

5,350 

40,325 

$ 2,077,352 

$  818,593 

$  553,902 

$  556,397 

$  321,304 

$  481,182 

$ 2,961,326 

$ 

77,417 

$ 7,847,473 

 0.3 %

 1.1 %

 5.2 %

 8.0 %

 2.3 %

 4.9 %

 2.1 %

 13.2 %

 2.4 %

Owner Occupied

Period Originated:

(In thousands)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Prior

Revolving 
Loans 
Converted to 
Term

Revolving 
Loans

Total

Pass

$  769,207 

$  549,880 

$  448,641 

$  446,209 

$  332,441 

$  681,992 

$  215,568 

$ 

40,178 

$ 3,484,116 

Special Mention

Substandard

Impaired

PCD (Loss)

Total

% Criticized

195 

3,381 

— 

582 

1,426 

131 

— 

— 

369 

8,371 

8,208 

1,156 

— 

15,237 

— 

3,538 

— 

5,935 

— 

571 

1,450 

21,146 

3,021 

7,867 

— 

1,046 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

3,440 

55,247 

11,229 

13,714 

$  773,365 

$  551,437 

$  466,745 

$  464,984 

$  338,947 

$  715,476 

$  216,614 

$ 

40,178 

$ 3,567,746 

 0.5 %

 0.3 %

 3.9 %

 4.0 %

 1.9 %

 4.7 %

 0.5 %

 — %

 2.3 %

Construction, Acquisition, and Development

Period Originated:

(In thousands)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Prior

Revolving 
Loans 
Converted to 
Term

Revolving 
Loans

Total

Pass

$  709,675 

$  594,465 

$  266,438 

$  135,307 

$  72,082 

$  63,217 

$ 1,013,981 

$ 

29,508 

$ 2,884,673 

Special Mention

Substandard

Impaired

PCD (Loss)

Total

% Criticized

— 

6,133 

— 

— 

251 

2,076 

— 

— 

— 

2,431 

— 

— 

— 

10,847 

— 

399 

— 

880 

— 

— 

— 

345 

— 

— 

190 

2,791 

— 

3,802 

— 

5,760 

3,765 

— 

441 

31,263 

3,765 

4,201 

$  715,808 

$  596,792 

$  268,869 

$  146,553 

$  72,962 

$  63,562 

$ 1,020,764 

$ 

39,033 

$ 2,924,343 

 0.9 %

 0.4 %

 0.9 %

 7.7 %

 1.2 %

 0.5 %

 0.7 %

 24.4 %

 1.4 %

Income Producing

Period Originated:

(In thousands)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Prior

Revolving 
Loans 
Converted to 
Term

Revolving 
Loans

Total

Pass

$  908,543 

$  583,740 

$  655,504 

$  660,226 

$  466,154 

$  897,031 

$  454,843 

$ 

60,658 

$ 4,686,699 

189 

7,026 

— 

1,965 

— 

2,565 

— 

— 

— 

10,253 

— 

15,528 

5,073 

22,456 

— 

— 

12,134 

70,143 

— 

— 

11,568 

46,783 

3,108 

12,467 

— 

15,710 

702 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

28,964 

174,936 

3,810 

29,960 

$  917,723 

$  586,305 

$  681,285 

$  687,755 

$  548,431 

$  970,957 

$  471,255 

$ 

60,658 

$ 4,924,369 

 1.0 %

 0.4 %

 3.8 %

 4.0 %

 15.0 %

 7.6 %

 3.5 %

 — %

 4.8 %

Special Mention

Substandard

Impaired

PCD (Loss)

Total

% Criticized

122

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Mortgages

Period Originated:

(In thousands)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Prior

Revolving 
Loans 
Converted to 
Term

Revolving 
Loans

Total

Pass

$ 1,885,709 

$ 1,392,013 

$  754,576 

$  712,921 

$  478,856 

$ 1,046,689 

$  911,933 

$ 

13,409 

$ 7,196,106 

Special Mention

Substandard

Doubtful

Impaired

PCD (Loss)

Total

% Criticized

— 

2,902 

— 

— 

— 

54 

341 

— 

55 

15,040 

23,434 

19,047 

10,954 

— 

449 

— 

— 

— 

— 

523 

— 

— 

287 

— 

126 

540 

34,879 

1,730 

598 

48 

— 

3,430 

20 

— 

— 

— 

743 

— 

— 

— 

990 

110,429 

2,560 

1,047 

174 

$ 1,888,611 

$ 1,407,556 

$  778,351 

$  732,491 

$  490,278 

$ 1,084,484 

$  915,383 

$ 

14,152 

$ 7,311,306 

 0.2 %

 1.1 %

 3.1 %

 2.7 %

 2.3 %

 3.5 %

 0.4 %

 5.3 %

 1.6 %

Other Consumer

Period Originated:

(In thousands)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Prior

Revolving 
Loans 
Converted to 
Term

Revolving 
Loans

Total

Pass

Substandard

Doubtful

PCD (Loss)

Total

% Criticized

$  122,625 

$  37,696 

$  19,570 

$ 

9,126 

$ 

9,654 

$ 

3,993 

$  97,135 

$ 

376 

$  300,175 

620 

10 

— 

861 

— 

— 

3,527 

— 

58 

713 

3 

— 

391 

1 

— 

459 

1 

— 

730 

122 

— 

80 

— 

— 

7,381 

137 

58 

$  123,255 

$  38,557 

$  23,155 

$ 

9,842 

$  10,046 

$ 

4,453 

$  97,987 

$ 

456 

$  307,751 

 0.5 %

 2.2 %

 15.5 %

 7.3 %

 3.9 %

 10.3 %

 0.9 %

 17.5 %

 2.5 %

In connection with the acquisitions discussed in Note 2 – Business Combinations, the Company acquired loans both 
with and without evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination. Acquired loans are recorded at their fair value at the 
time of acquisition with no carryover from the acquired institution’s previously recorded allowance for credit losses. Acquired 
loans are accounted for under the following accounting pronouncements: ASC 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses.

The fair value for acquired loans recorded at the time of acquisition is based upon several factors including the timing 
and payment of expected cash flows, as adjusted for estimated credit losses and prepayments, and then discounting these cash 
flows using comparable market rates. The resulting fair value adjustment is recorded in the form of premium or discount to the 
unpaid  principal  balance  of  each  acquired  loan.  As  it  relates  to  acquired  loans  that,  as  of  the  date  of  acquisition,  have 
experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination (“PCD”), the net premium or net discount 
is adjusted to reflect the Company’s allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) recorded for PCD loans at the time of acquisition, and 
the  remaining  fair  value  adjustment  is  accreted  or  amortized  into  interest  income  over  the  remaining  life  of  the  loan.  As  it 
relates  to  acquired  loans  not  classified  as  PCD  (“non-PCD”)  loans,  the  credit  loss  and  yield  components  of  the  fair  value 
adjustment are aggregated, and the resulting net premium or net discount is accreted or amortized into interest income over the 
remaining  life  of  the  loan.  The  Company  records  an  ACL  for  non-PCD  loans  at  the  time  of  acquisition  through  provision 
expense, and therefore, no further adjustments are made to the net premium or net discount for non-PCD loans.

In addition, a grade is assigned to each loan during the valuation process. For acquired loans that are not individually 
reviewed  during  the  valuation  process,  such  loans  are  assumed  to  have  characteristics  similar  to  the  assigned  rating  of  the 
acquired  institution’s  risk  rating,  adjusted  for  any  estimated  differences  between  the  Company’s  rating  methodology  and  the 
acquired institution’s rating methodology.

123

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In  the  acquisition  of  Legacy  Cadence  on  October  29,  2021,  the  Company  acquired  additional  loans  (see  Note  2  for 
more  details).  The  following  table  represents  the  acquisition  date  fair  value  of  loans  purchased  through  the  acquisition  of 
Legacy Cadence by portfolio segment:

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

$ 

Fair Value

5,554,007 
818,068 
6,372,075 

1,067,155 
1,591,950 
2,659,105 

2,499,517 
86,813 
2,586,330 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 

11,617,510 

The estimated fair value of the non-PCD loans acquired in the Legacy Cadence transaction was $11.1 billion, which is 
net  of  a  $64.3  million  discount.  The  gross  contractual  amounts  receivable  of  the  acquired  non-PCD  loans  at  acquisition  was 
approximately $12.1 billion, of which $111.0 million is the amount of contractual cash flows not expected to be collected.

The  Company  purchased  loans  through  the  acquisition  of  Legacy  Cadence  for  which  there  was,  at  the  date  of 
acquisition,  more  than  insignificant  deterioration  of  credit  quality  since  origination.  The  carrying  amount  of  those  loans  at 
acquisition date was as follows:

(In thousands)
Purchase price of loans at acquisition
Allowance for credit losses at acquisition
Non-credit discount (premium) at acquisition
Par value of acquired loans at acquisition

Carrying Amount

$ 

$ 

303,576 
64,576 
18,563 
386,715 

The  Company’s  collateral-dependent  loans  totaling  $113.6  million  at  December  31,  2021  are  generally  considered 
impaired  and  include  loans  internally  classified  as  impaired  and  PCD  Loss.  The  majority  of  these  loans  are  within  the  C&I 
segment and are typically supported by collateral such as real estate, receivables, equipment or inventory, or by an enterprise 
valuation. Loans within the CRE and consumer segments are generally secured by commercial and residential real estate.

Loans  of  $1.0  million  or  greater  are  considered  for  specific  provision  when  management  has  determined  based  on 
current  information  and  events,  it  is  probable  that  the  creditor  will  be  unable  to  collect  all  amounts  due  according  to  the 
contractual terms of the note and that the loan is collateral dependent. The Company’s amortized cost in collateral-dependent 
loans at December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $113.6 million and $52.5 million, respectively. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, 
$92.5  million  and  $23.6  million,  respectively,  of  those  loans  had  a  valuation  allowance  of  $24.8  million  and  $5.7  million, 
respectively. The remaining balance of collateral-dependent loans of $21.2 million and $28.9 million at December 31, 2021 and 
2020, respectively, have sufficient collateral supporting the collection of all contractual principal and interest or were charged 
down  to  the  underlying  collateral’s  fair  value,  less  estimated  selling  costs.  Therefore,  such  loans  did  not  have  an  associated 
valuation allowance.

124

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonperforming loans (“NPLs”) consist of nonaccrual loans and leases, loans and leases 90 days or more past due and 
still  accruing,  and  loans  and  leases  that  have  been  restructured  because  of  the  borrower's  weakened  financial  condition.  The 
following table presents information concerning NPLs at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)
Nonaccrual loans and leases
Loans and leases 90 days or more past due, still accruing
Restructured loans and leases, still accruing

Total nonperforming loans and leases

2021
122,104  $ 
24,784 
6,903 
153,791  $ 

2020

96,378 
14,320 
10,475 
121,173 

$ 

$ 

The  Company’s  policy  for  all  loan  classifications  provides  that  loans  and  leases  are  generally  placed  in  nonaccrual 
status if, in management’s opinion, payment in full of principal or interest is not expected or payment of principal or interest is 
more than 90 days past due, unless such loan or lease is both well-secured and in the process of collection. At December 31, 
2021, the Company’s geographic NPL distribution was concentrated primarily in its Mississippi and Texas markets. 

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of loans on nonaccrual status and loans 90 days or more past due 

by segment and class at December 31, 2021:

December 31, 2021
Nonaccrual 
Loans with 
No Related 
Allowance

Loans 90+ 
Days Past 
Due, still 
Accruing

Nonaccrual 
Loans

December 31, 2020
Nonaccrual 
Loans with 
No Related 
Allowance

Loans 90+ 
Days Past 
Due, still 
Accruing

Nonaccrual 
Loans

$ 

33,690  $ 
22,058 
55,748 

5,579  $ 
11,038 
16,617 

2,966  $ 
— 
2,966 

13,071  $ 
20,796 
33,867 

2,481  $ 
12,356 
14,837 

(In thousands)

Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer

Total consumer

5,568 
16,086 
21,654 

44,180 
522 
44,702 

Total loans and leases, net of unearned $ 

122,104  $ 

308 
— 
308 

— 
— 
— 

3,765 
5,397 
9,162 

535 
— 
535 

9,738 
16,249 
25,987 

7,454 
12,513 
19,967 

1,173 
— 
1,173 
26,952  $ 

21,099 
184 
21,283 
24,784  $ 

35,608 
916 
36,524 
96,378  $ 

2,544 
— 
2,544 
37,348  $ 

13,743 
269 
14,012 
14,320 

125

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents the interest income recognized on loans on nonaccrual status by segment and class for the 

years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

2021

2020

1,295  $ 
2,527 
3,822 

524 
1,663 
2,187 

1,085 
102 
1,187 
7,196  $ 

190 
778 
968 

49 
323 
372 

1,016 
50 
1,066 
2,406 

$ 

$ 

The  total  amount  of  interest  recorded  on  NPLs  was  $5.6  million,  $7.0  million  and  $4.1  million  in  2021,  2020  and 
2019,  respectively.  The  gross  interest  income  which  would  have  been  recorded  under  the  original  terms  of  those  loans  and 
leases amounted to $6.8 million, $9.6 million and $6.8 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In the normal course of business, management may grant concessions, which would not otherwise be considered, to 
borrowers  that  are  experiencing  financial  difficulty.  Loans  identified  as  meeting  the  criteria  set  out  in  FASB  ASC  310  are 
identified as TDRs. The concessions granted most frequently for TDRs involve reductions or delays in required payments of 
principal  and  interest  for  a  specified  period  or  the  rescheduling  of  payments  in  accordance  with  a  bankruptcy  plan.  In  most 
cases, the conditions of the credit also warrant nonaccrual status, even after the restructure occurs. Other conditions that warrant 
a loan being considered a TDR include reductions in interest rates to below market rates due to bankruptcy plans or by the bank 
in  an  attempt  to  assist  the  borrower  in  working  through  liquidity  problems.  As  part  of  the  credit  approval  process,  the 
restructured loans are evaluated for adequate collateral protection in determining the appropriate accrual status at the time of 
restructure. TDRs recorded as nonaccrual loans may generally be returned to accrual status in years after the restructure if the 
loan  is  paid  current  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  restructured  loan.  The  most  common  concessions  that  were  granted 
involved  rescheduling  payments  of  principal  and  interest  over  a  longer  amortization  period,  granting  a  period  of  reduced 
principal  payment  or  interest  only  payment  for  a  limited  time  period,  or  the  rescheduling  of  payments  in  accordance  with  a 
bankruptcy plan.

126

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following tables summarize the financial effect of TDRs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

Number
of
Contracts

December 31, 2021
Pre-Modification
Outstanding
Amortized Cost

Post-Modification
Outstanding
Amortized Cost

6  $ 
6 
12 

1 
3 
4 

20 
3 
23 
39  $ 

403  $ 
492 
895 

3 
1,857 
1,860 

1,359 
44 
1,403 
4,158  $ 

400 
490 
890 

3 
1,819 
1,822 

1,352 
44 
1,396 
4,108 

Number
of
Contracts

December 31, 2020
Pre-Modification
Outstanding
Amortized Cost

Post-Modification
Outstanding
Amortized Cost

8  $ 
4 
12 

2 
— 
2 

13 
11 
24 
38  $ 

377  $ 

2,844 
3,221 

151 
— 
151 

1,039 
129 
1,168 
4,540  $ 

359 
2,843 
3,202 

151 
— 
151 

924 
128 
1,052 
4,405 

127

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following tables summarize TDRs modified within 2021 and 2020 for which there was a payment default during 

the indicated year (i.e., 30 days or more past due at any given time during 2021 or 2020):

(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

Year Ended December 31, 2021

Number of
Contracts

Amortized Cost

2  $ 
— 
2 

— 
1 
1 

8 
3 
11 
14  $ 

55 
— 
55 

— 
30 
30 

446 
35 
481 
566 

Year Ended December 31, 2020

Number of
Contracts

Amortized Cost

3  $ 
1 
4 

1 
— 
1 

4 
1 
5 
10  $ 

178 
2,465 
2,643 

26 
— 
26 

202 
3 
205 
2,874 

During 2021, 2020 and 2019, the most common concessions involved rescheduling payments of principal and interest 
over a longer amortization period, granting a period of reduced principal payment or interest only payment for a limited time 
period, or the rescheduling of payments in accordance with a bankruptcy plan or a reduction in interest rates.

128

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 5. ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The  following  table  summarizes  the  changes  in  the  allowance  for  credit  losses  (“ACL”)  for  the  years  ended 

December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
Impact of adopting CECL
Initial allowance on loans purchased with credit deterioration
Provision for credit losses
Recoveries
Charge-offs
Balance at end of year

2021
244,422  $ 
— 
75,124 
121,555 
24,035 
(18,721)   
446,415  $ 

2020
119,066  $ 
62,634 
4,226 
86,000 
8,357 
(35,861)   
244,422  $ 

2019
120,070 
— 
— 
1,500 
14,086 
(16,590) 
119,066 

$ 

$ 

The following tables summarize the changes in the ACL by segment and class for the years ended December 31, 2021, 

2020 and 2019:

2021

Initial 
Allowance 
on Loans 
Purchased 
with Credit 
Deterioration

Balance,
Beginning 
of
Period

Charge-
offs

Recoveries

Provision

Balance,
End of
Period

$ 

31,906  $ 
35,488 
67,394 

31,614  $  (7,213)  $ 
(1,912)   
7,597 
(9,125)   
39,211 

11,754  $  70,635  $ 138,696 
  59,254 
4,140 
  197,950 
15,894 

  13,941 
  84,576 

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

28,891 
64,291 
93,182 

6,323 
14,932 
21,255 

(1,024)   
(1,601)   
(2,625)   

1,831 
1,262 
3,093 

  16,509 
  19,443 
  35,952 

  52,530 
  98,327 
  150,857 

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

70,493 
13,353 
83,846 
$  244,422  $ 

(1,509)   
14,009 
(5,462)   
649 
14,658 
(6,971)   
75,124  $ (18,721)  $ 

  85,734 
317 
2,424 
  11,874 
710 
2,624 
5,048 
  97,608 
1,027 
24,035  $ 121,555  $ 446,415 

129

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

Construction, acquisition and 
development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of 
unearned

(In thousands)
Commercial and industrial

Non-real estate
Owner occupied

Total commercial and industrial

Commercial real estate

2020

Balance,
Beginning 
of
Period

Impact of 
Adopting 
ASC 326

Initial 
Allowance 
on Loans 
Purchased 
with Credit 
Deterioration

Charge-
offs

Recoveries

Provision

Balance,
End of
Period

$ 

19,509  $  13,372  $ 
15,563 
35,072 

  10,608 
  23,980 

1,043  $ (17,201)  $ 
(2,047)   
1,191 
  (19,248)   
2,234 

1,705  $  13,478  $  31,906 
  35,488 
8,619 
1,554 
  67,394 
  22,097 
3,259 

12,912 
22,297 
35,209 

1,091 
  12,891 
  13,982 

38,762 
10,023 
48,785 

  26,937 

(2,265)   

  24,672 

— 
1,920 
1,920 

69 
3 
72 

(4,955)   
(3,939)   
(8,894)   

(2,294)   
(5,425)   
(7,719)   

545 
439 
984 

  19,298 
  30,683 
  49,981 

  28,891 
  64,291 
  93,182 

1,946 
2,168 
4,114 

5,073 
8,849 
  13,922 

  70,493 
  13,353 
  83,846 

$  119,066  $  62,634  $ 

4,226  $ (35,861)  $ 

8,357  $  86,000  $ 244,422 

2019

Balance,
Beginning of
Period

Charge-offs

Recoveries

Provision

$ 

17,382  $ 
17,491 
34,873 

(3,176)  $ 
(268)   
(3,444)   

2,295  $ 
271 
2,566 

3,008  $ 
(1,931)   
1,077 

Balance,
End of
Period

19,509 
15,563 
35,072 

12,912 
22,297 
35,209 

Construction, acquisition and development
Income producing

Total commercial real estate

11,745 
25,485 
37,230 

(71)   
(4,114)   
(4,185)   

1,841 
4,537 
6,378 

(603)   
(3,611)   
(4,214)   

Consumer

Residential mortgages
Other consumer
Total consumer

Total loans and leases, net of unearned

$ 

35,801 
12,166 
47,967 
120,070  $ 

(2,053)   
(6,908)   
(8,961)   
(16,590)  $ 

3,211 
1,931 
5,142 
14,086  $ 

1,803 
2,834 
4,637 
1,500  $ 

38,762 
10,023 
48,785 
119,066 

The following table represents a rollforward of the reserve for unfunded commitments for the periods indicated. The 

reserve for unfunded commitments is classified in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

(In thousands)

Balance at beginning of year

Provision for unfunded commitments for loans acquired during the year

Provision for credit losses for unfunded commitments

Balance at end of year

2021

2020

$ 

$ 

7,044  $ 

13,007 

3,500 

23,551  $ 

4,000 

— 

3,044 

7,044 

130

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The initial ACL on PCD loans recorded in 2021 of $75 million includes $65 million related to the Legacy Cadence 
merger and $10 million related to the National United and FNS mergers. The 2021 provision for credit losses includes $132 
million associated with the day one post-merger accounting provision recorded for non-PCD loans and unfunded commitments 
acquired in the Legacy Cadence merger. See Notes 1, 2 and 4 for additional information.

Economic disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic continued into 2021 as virus variants emerged and attenuated the 
economic recovery which began in the Fall of 2020. Interruptions in the return to school and workplace were accompanied with 
supply  chain  disruptions,  worker  shortages  and  inflationary  pressure.  Despite  significant  Government  intervention  and 
improvement in economic conditions, the economic disruption continued to impact business operations which placed borrowers 
at additional risk due to reduced capacity. The emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants in late 2021 resulted in additional 
concern that similar economic conditions may continue into 2022 and the risk of future defaults remains.

The ACL estimate includes both portfolio changes and changes in economic conditions experienced during the period. 
The unemployment rate has the highest weighting within the Company’s credit modeling framework. The Company’s forecast 
for  unemployment  includes  a  range  between  4.46%  and  5.63%  through  the  fourth  quarter  of  2023.  The  Company  considers 
several forecasts from external sources with management utilizing a equal weighting of a base case and severe scenario. The 
Company  recognizes  that  despite  vaccines  and  treatments,  a  recurrence  in  COVID-19  infections  may  occur  and  have  short-
term,  long-term  and  regional  impacts  to  the  economic  recovery.  In  addition,  qualitative  factors  such  as  changes  in  economic 
conditions, concentrations of risk, and changes in portfolio risk resulting from regulatory changes are considered in determining 
the adequacy of the level of the allowance for credit losses.

NOTE 6. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

A summary by asset classification at December 31, 2021 and 2020 follows:

(In thousands)
Land
Buildings and improvements
Leasehold improvements
Equipment, furniture and fixtures
Construction in progress
Right of use - lease

Subtotal

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

Premises and equipment, net

Estimated
Useful Life
(Years)
N/A
10-40
10-39
3-12
N/A
N/A

2021
144,485  $ 
512,340 
19,021 
396,467 
57,463 
211,686 
1,341,462 
555,036 
786,426  $ 

2020
103,697 
444,695 
13,937 
354,990 
27,421 
70,388 
1,015,128 
506,981 
508,147 

$ 

$ 

Depreciation  expense  was  $31.6  million,  $27.9  million,  and  $25.2  million  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2021, 

2020, and 2019, respectively.

Included  in  other  assets  is  net  software  cost  totaling  $28.9  million  and  $26.2  million  as  of  December  31,  2021  and 
2020,  respectively.  Software  amortization  expense  was  $6.7  million,  $5.9  million,  and  $4.3  million  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

The Company leases various premises and equipment. At the inception of the contract, the Company determines if an 
arrangement is or contains a lease and will recognize on the balance sheet a lease asset for its right to use the underlying asset 
and  a  lease  liability  for  the  corresponding  lease  obligation  for  contracts  longer  than  a  year.  See  Note  22  for  additional 
disclosures related to our lease obligations.

NOTE 7. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

As  further  discussed  in  Note  20,  the  Company  reorganized  its  management  reporting  structure  during  the  fourth 
quarter of 2021 and, accordingly, its segment reporting structure and reporting units used for goodwill impairment evaluation. 
In connection with the reorganization, management reallocated goodwill to the new reporting units using a relative fair value 
approach.

Subsequent  to  the  merger  of  Legacy  Cadence  into  BancorpSouth  Bank  (“BancorpSouth”)  to  form  the  new  Cadence 
Bank, the Company made significant changes to the structure of our internal organization that resulted in the composition of our 
reporting units and operating segments to change. As such, prior period segment information has not been restated to conform 
to the current period presentation as required by GAAP because it would be impracticable to do so. In addition, current year 

131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
segment information has not been disclosed under the old basis of segmentation as required by GAAP because such information 
is not available and impracticable to maintain.

The following tables present the carrying amounts of goodwill assigned to each of the Company’s reporting units as of 
December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Due to the timing of the Legacy Cadence merger, the allocation of goodwill to the 
reporting units is considered a provisional estimate and is expected to be finalized during the remaining measurement period in 
2022. Refer to Note 2 for additional information on the mergers and acquisitions, and Note 20 for additional information on 
segments,  including  the  redetermination  of  both  the  operating  segments  and  the  reporting  units  as  a  result  of  the  Legacy 
Cadence acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2021.

(In thousands)

Corporate Banking

Community Banking

Mortgage

Insurance Agencies

Banking Services

Total

(In thousands)

Banking Services Group

Insurance Agencies

Total

December 31, 2021

259,101 

940,089 

40,716 

90,745 

77,297 

1,407,948 

December 31, 2020

765,147 

86,465 

851,612 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

The Company’s policy is to assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis or sooner if 
an  event  occurs  or  circumstances  change  which  indicate  that  the  fair  value  of  a  reporting  unit  is  below  its  carrying  amount. 
Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of that reporting 
unit.  The  Company’s  annual  assessment  date  is  during  the  Company’s  fourth  quarter.  The  Company’s  annual  goodwill 
impairment evaluation for 2021 was based on a qualitative assessment and indicated no impairment of goodwill for its reporting 
units.

Because of the volatile market conditions in 2020, the Company’s market value fell below book value. As such, the 
Company performed a qualitative assessment of whether it was more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value was less 
than  its  carrying  value  during  each  quarter  of  2020  including  a  goodwill  impairment  assessment  performed  by  a  third  party 
valuation  specialist  during  the  third  quarter  of  2020.  Based  on  these  assessments,  it  was  determined  that  the  Company’s 
reporting units’ fair value exceeded their carrying value and no goodwill impairment was recorded during 2020.

In  the  current  economic  environment,  forecasting  cash  flows,  credit  losses  and  growth  in  addition  to  valuing  the 
Company’s assets with any degree of assurance is very difficult and subject to significant changes over very short periods of 
time. Management will continue to update its analysis as circumstances change. As market conditions continue to be volatile 
and unpredictable, impairment of goodwill related to the Company’s reporting units may be necessary in future periods.

The carrying value of other intangible assets was $198.3 million and $55.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 
respectively. In connection with the mergers and acquisitions detailed in Note 2, the Company recorded core deposit intangible 
assets of $28.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. The core deposit intangible assets are being amortized over 
an  estimated  useful  life  of  ten  years  utilizing  an  accelerated  method.  In  connection  with  the  Legacy  Cadence  merger,  the 
Company also recorded $78.6 million of customer relationship intangibles and $48.7 million for the Cadence trade name. The 
customer relationship intangibles are being amortized over an estimated useful life of ten years utilizing an accelerated method. 
The trade name is considered indefinite-lived and is not subject to amortization.

132

 
 
 
 
 
The  following  table,  which  excludes  fully  amortized  intangibles,  shows  the  gross  carrying  amount  and  accumulated 

amortization of the Company’s other intangible assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

(In thousands)
Core deposit intangibles
$ 
Customer relationship intangibles  
Non-solicitation intangibles
Trade names (1)

Total other intangible assets

$ 

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Gross
Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Net
Carrying
Value

Gross
Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Net
Carrying
Value

112,378  $ 
126,371 
3,461 
49,388 
291,598  $ 

47,281  $ 
43,238 
2,808 
— 
93,327  $ 

65,097  $ 
83,133 
653 
49,388 
198,271  $ 

84,690  $ 
47,771 
3,461 
688 
136,610  $ 

39,995  $ 
38,779 
1,937 
— 
80,711  $ 

44,695 
8,992 
1,524 
688 
55,899 

(1) The trade names are considered indefinite-lived and are not subject to amortization.

The following table presents intangible asset amortization expense for each of the years in the three-year period ended 

December 31, 2021.

(In thousands)
Core deposit intangibles
Customer relationship intangibles
Non-solicitation intangibles

Total intangible asset amortization expense

Year Ended December 31,
2020

2021

2019

$ 

$ 

7,286  $ 
4,459 
871 
12,616  $ 

6,704  $ 
2,023 
878 
9,605  $ 

5,842 
2,288 
988 
9,118 

The following table presents the estimated intangible asset amortization expense for the next five years.

(In thousands)
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026

Core
Deposit
Intangibles

Customer
Relationship
Intangibles

Non-
Solicitation
Intangibles

$ 

9,408  $ 
9,104 
8,799 
8,451 
8,061 

16,258  $ 
14,416 
12,620 
10,824 
9,031 

653  $ 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Total

26,319 
23,520 
21,419 
19,275 
17,092 

NOTE 8. TIME DEPOSITS AND SHORT-TERM DEBT

Time deposits with a balance of $250,000 or more amounting to $1.1 billion and $794.1 million were outstanding at 

December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

At December 31, 2021, time deposits that will mature in under one year totaled $2.9 billion. For time deposits with a 
remaining maturity of more than one year at December 31, 2021, the aggregate amount maturing in each of the following five 
years is presented in the following table:

(In thousands)
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Thereafter
Total

Amount

580,175 
203,397 
85,686 
85,971 
— 
200 
955,429 

$ 

$ 

133

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following tables present information relating to short-term debt for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

2021

End of Period

Daily Average

(Dollars in thousands)
Federal funds purchased
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
Short-term FHLB advances

Total

Balance

$ 

595,000 
687,188 
— 
$  1,282,188 

Interest
Rate
0.12%
0.10
—

Interest
Rate
0.11%
0.11
0.13

Balance

$ 

$ 

5,438 
708,169 
3 
713,610 

2020

End of Period

Daily Average

(Dollars in thousands)
Federal funds purchased
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
Short-term FHLB advances

Total

Balance

$ 

$ 

— 
637,715 
— 
637,715 

Interest
Rate
—%
0.16
—

Balance

$ 

$ 

36,516 
635,042 
165,477 
837,035 

Interest
Rate
0.85%
0.31
1.35

Maximum
Outstanding
at any
Month End
$  1,595,000 
926,764 
— 
$  2,521,764 

Maximum
Outstanding
at any
Month End
$ 

100,000 
683,183 
450,224 
$  1,233,407 

Federal funds purchased generally mature the day following the date of purchase. Federal Reserve (“FRB”) discount 
window  borrowings  generally  mature  within  90  days  following  the  date  of  purchase.  Borrowings  from  the  FRB  will  be 
collateralized by $2.6 billion in commercial, agriculture, and consumer loans pledged under a borrower-in-custody agreement. 
At  December  31,  2021,  the  Company  had  established  non-binding  federal  funds  borrowing  lines  of  credit  with  other  banks 
aggregating $1.6 billion.

Short-term FHLB borrowings generally mature within 30 days following the date of purchase. All borrowings from 
the FHLB are collateralized by commercial, construction, and real estate loans pledged under a blanket lien arrangement as of 
December 31, 2021. See Note 9.

Additionally,  the  Company  utilizes  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  to  facilitate  the  needs  of  our 
customers  and  to  facilitate  secured  short-term  funding  needs.  Securities  sold  under  repurchase  agreements  generally  mature 
within 30 days from the date of sale. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are stated at the amount of cash received in 
connection with the transaction. The Company monitors collateral levels on a continuous basis and may be required to provide 
additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying securities.

134

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 9. LONG-TERM AND SUBORDINATED DEBT

The Company has entered into a blanket floating lien security agreement with the FHLB of Dallas. Under the terms of 
this agreement, the Company is required to maintain sufficient collateral to secure borrowings in an aggregate amount of the 
lesser the book value (i.e., unpaid principal balance), after applicable FHLB haircuts, of the Company’s eligible mortgage loans 
pledged as collateral or 35% of the Company’s assets. Loans totaling $12.8 billion at December 31, 2021 were pledged to the 
FHLB of Dallas. At December 31, 2021, the remaining borrowing availability totaled $7.5 billion. At December 31, 2021, there 
were no call features on long-term FHLB borrowings. The Company had long-term FHLB and other borrowings totaling $3.7 
million and $4.4 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The following table presents the details of the subordinated notes the Company has assumed through public offerings 

or mergers:

(In thousands)

Advances from FHLB of Dallas

4.125% subordinated notes, due November 20, 2029, callable in 2024

7.250% subordinated notes, due June 28, 2029, callable in 2024

4.750% subordinated notes, due June 30, 2029, callable in 2024

6.250% subordinated notes, due June 28, 2029, callable in 2024

Junior subordinated debentures, 3 month LIBOR plus 1.75%, due 2037 
5.000% fixed to floating rate, subordinated notes, due June 30, 2030, 
callable in 2025

Purchase accounting adjustment, net of amortization

Debt issue costs

Total advances and subordinated debt

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

3,742  $ 

300,000 

4,402 

300,000 

35,000 

85,000 

25,000 

15,000 

10,000 

10,717 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(2,048)   

482,411  $ 

(2,750) 

301,652 

$ 

$ 

On November 20, 2019, the Company completed its public offering of $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 
4.125%  Fixed-to-Floating  Rate  Subordinated  Notes  due  November  20,  2029  (“the  Notes”).  The  Company  received  net 
proceeds,  after  deducting  the  underwriting  discount  and  estimated  expenses,  of  approximately  $296.9  million.  Beginning 
November 20, 2019, the Notes began to bear interest at a fixed annual interest rate equal to 4.125%, payable semiannually in 
arrears commencing May 20, 2020. Beginning November 20, 2024, the interest rate will reset quarterly to an annual interest 
rate  equal  to  the  three-month  LIBOR  plus  2.47%,  payable  quarterly  in  arrears.  The  Notes  are  unsecured  obligations  of  the 
Company and will not be guaranteed by any of its subsidiaries. The Notes are subordinated and rank junior in right of payment 
to all of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness. There is no sinking fund for the Notes. The Company may on 
or  after  November  20,  2024,  and  on  any  interest  payment  date  thereafter,  redeem  the  Notes,  in  whole  or  in  part,  subject  to 
certain conditions. The Notes do not contain any covenants or restrictions restricting the incurrence of debt, or restrictions on 
the payment of dividends.

Due to the merger with Cadence Bancorporation on October 29, 2021, the Company assumed subordinated notes with 
the par value totaling $145.0 million and junior subordinated notes par value totaling $50.6 million. The Company redeemed, at 
par, $35 million of the junior subordinated debentures in December 2021 and $15 million on January 3, 2022. On May 1, 2021, 
the  Company  assumed  $10.0  million  in  subordinated  notes  from  the  merger  with  FNS  Bancshares  Inc.  See  Note  2  of  the 
Consolidated Financial Statements for more details related to the mergers.

135

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 10. PREFERRED STOCK

On  November  20,  2019,  the  Company  completed  its  public  offering  of  6,900,000  shares  of  5.50%  Series  A  Non-
Cumulative  Perpetual  Preferred  Stock,  par  value  $0.01  per  share,  with  a  liquidation  preference  of  $25  per  share  of  Series  A 
Preferred  Stock  (the  “Series  A  Preferred  Stock”),  which  represents  $172.5  million  in  aggregate  liquidation  preference  (the 
“Series A Preferred Stock Offering”). The Company received net proceeds from the Series A Preferred Stock Offering, after 
deducting  the  underwriting  discount  and  estimated  expenses,  of  approximately  $167.5  million.  Holders  of  the  Series  A 
Preferred  Stock  are  entitled  to  receive,  only  when,  as,  and  if  declared  by  the  Company’s  board  of  directors,  non-cumulative 
cash dividends based upon the liquidation preference of $25 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, and no more, at a rate equal 
to 5.50% per annum, payable quarterly, in arrears, on February 20, May 20, August 20 and November 20 of each year. The 
Series A Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provision. The Company 
may redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock at its option, subject to regulatory approval, at a redemption price equal to $25 
per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends. The Board of Directors declared total cash dividends of $1.375 per share of 
Series A Preferred Stock for a total of $9.5 million in 2021 and in 2020.

NOTE 11. INCOME TAXES

Total income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were allocated as follows:

(In thousands)
Income tax expense
Shareholders' equity for other comprehensive (loss) income

Total

2021

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

51,766  $ 
(50,299)   
1,467  $ 

59,494  $ 
24,794 
84,288  $ 

65,257 
5,928 
71,185 

The components of income tax expense attributable to operations were as follows for the years ended December 31, 

2021, 2020 and 2019:

(In thousands)
Current:
Federal
State
Deferred:
Federal
State

Total

2021

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

66,194  $ 
7,635 

51,229  $ 
8,505 

54,728 
9,027 

(17,847)   
(4,216)   
51,766  $ 

637 
(877)   
59,494  $ 

1,994 
(492) 
65,257 

The  Company  had  income  tax  receivable  of  $53.2  million,  $32.2  million  and  $13.3  million  at  December  31,  2021, 

2020 and 2019, respectively.

136

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income  tax  expense  differed  from  the  amounts  computed  by  applying  the  U.S.  federal  income  tax  rate  of  21%  to 

income before income taxes resulting from the following:

(In thousands)
Tax expense at statutory rates
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:

State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit
Tax-exempt interest revenue
Tax-exempt earnings on life insurance
Deductible dividends paid on 401(k) plan
Stock equity awards
Excess salary disallowance
Tax credits
FDIC disallowance
Nondeductible merger costs
Meals and entertainment
CARES Act benefit
Other, net
Total

2021

2020

2019

$ 

51,855  $ 

60,384  $ 

62,899 

2,701 
(1,783)   
(2,304)   
(492)   
(362)   
1,459 
(3,406)   
1,721 
3,449 
238 
41 
(1,351)   
51,766  $ 

5,625 
(2,101)   
(1,718)   
(546)   
134 
903 
(3,203)   
497 
582 
242 
(832)   
(473)   
59,494  $ 

6,635 
(2,839) 
(1,907) 
(530) 
(441) 
523 
(321) 
517 
256 
471 
— 
(6) 
65,257 

$ 

On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Section 2303(b) of 
the CARES Act allows for certain net operating losses generated after December 31, 2017, but before December 31, 2021, to be 
carried back to the five tax years preceding the loss. The Company recorded a benefit of $0.8 million due to the carryback of 
these net operating losses.

137

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax 

liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:

Loans, principally due to allowance for credit losses
Other real estate owned
Fair value adjustment on loans
Fair value adjustment on securities
Accrued liabilities
Net operating loss carryforwards
Lease liability
Investments
Other
Unrealized net gains on available-for-sale-securities
Unrecognized pension expense
Total gross deferred tax assets

Less: valuation allowance

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Lease transactions
Employment benefits
Premises and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation
Mortgage servicing rights
Intangible assets
Investments
Deferred net loan fees 
Right of use asset
Unrealized net losses on available-for-sale securities
Other

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

2021

2020

117,661  $ 
3,558 
19,434 
4,648 
23,918 
8,395 
50,412 
— 
7,265 
25,121 
21,211 
281,623 

(590)   

281,033 

410 
22,752 
22,368 
16,597 
51,920 
6,497 
21,734 
46,557 
— 
5,624 
194,459 
86,574  $ 

58,152 
2,406 
4,254 
— 
9,191 
25 
16,511 
160 
1,577 
— 
21,241 
113,517 
— 
113,517 

2,326 
30,337 
17,774 
11,318 
18,626 
— 
7,913 
16,099 
25,206 
8,652 
138,251 
(24,734) 

$ 

$ 

At December 31, 2021, the Company had a net deferred income tax asset of $86.6 million compared to a net deferred 
income tax liability of $24.7 million at December 31, 2020. The changes to gross deferred tax assets and liabilities during 2021 
was primarily due to deferred tax adjustments related to the Company's acquisitions.

Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which 
deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of 
these deductible differences existing at December 31, 2021 with the exception of a state net operating loss carryforward that 
will not be realized which resulted in a $0.6 million valuation allowance.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has federal net operating loss carryforwards of $35.9 million which will begin 
to expire in 2030. The Company has state net operating loss carryforwards of $4.8 million which will begin to expire in 2030. 
The  Company  believes  it  is  more  likely  than  not  the  benefit  from  certain  state  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  will  not  be 
realized, and accordingly, has established a pre-tax valuation allowance of $13.0 million, $0.6 million after tax, associated with 
those net operating losses at December 31, 2021.

The Company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as a component of other 
noninterest  expense.  The  Company  accrued  interest  of  approximately  $32,000  in  2021  and  none  for  2020  and  2019.  The 
Company's accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits was $0.5 million as of December 31, 2021. There was 
no  accrued  interest  and  penalties  on  unrecognized  tax  benefits  as  of  December  31,  2020.  Accrued  interest  and  penalties  are 
included in other liabilities.

138

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  the  balance  of  unrecognized  tax  benefits,  if  recognized  that  would  reduce  the 
effective  tax  rate  is  approximately  $71,000.  The  Company  does  not  anticipate  a  significant  change  to  the  total  amount  of 
unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

The following table presents a summary of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized income tax benefits:

(In thousands)
Balance at January 1

Additions based on income tax positions related to current year
Additions for income tax positions for prior years
Additions from acquisition
Settlements

Balance at December 31

Years Ended December 31,
2020

2021

2019

$ 

$ 

491  $ 
— 
— 
1,351 
(401)   
1,441  $ 

399  $ 
— 
92 
— 
— 
491  $ 

325 
74 
— 
— 
— 
399 

Note: Unrecognized state income tax benefits are not adjusted for the federal income tax impact.

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various states and local jurisdictions. The Company files a 
consolidated  United  States  federal  return.  Based  on  the  laws  of  the  applicable  state  where  the  Company  conducts  business 
operations, the Company and its applicable subsidiaries either file a consolidated, combined or separate return. The tax years 
that remain open for examination for the Company's major jurisdictions of the United States—federal, Mississippi, Arkansas, 
Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia and Missouri—are 2018, 2019 and 2020.

NOTE 12. PENSION, OTHER POST RETIREMENT BENEFIT AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS

The Basic Plan is a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan managed by a trustee covering substantially all full-
time employees who have at least one year of service, worked at least 1,000 hours and have attained the age of 18. For such 
employees  hired  prior  to  January  1,  2006,  benefits  were  based  on  years  of  service  and  the  employee’s  compensation  until 
January  1,  2017,  at  which  time  benefits  were  based  on  a  2.5%  cash  balance  formula.  For  such  employees  hired  on  or  after 
January 1, 2006, benefits accrue based on a cash balance formula, effective January 1, 2012. The Company's funding policy is 
to contribute to the Basic Plan the amount that meets the minimum funding requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement 
Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  plus  such  additional  amounts  as  the  Company  determines  to  be  appropriate.  The  difference 
between the plan assets and projected benefit obligation is included in other assets or other liabilities, as appropriate. Actuarial 
assumptions are evaluated periodically.

The  Restoration  Plan  provides  for  the  payment  of  retirement  benefits  to  certain  participants  in  the  Basic  Plan.  The 
Restoration  Plan  is  a  non-qualified  plan  that  covers  any  employee  whose  benefit  under  the  Basic  Plan  is  limited  by  the 
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any employee who elects to participate in the 
Cadence Frozen Deferred Compensation Plan, which reduces the employee’s benefit under the Basic Plan. For employees hired 
prior to January 1, 2006, benefits were based on years of service and the employee’s compensation until January 1, 2017, at 
which time benefits were based on a 2.5% cash balance formula. For such employees hired on or after January 1, 2006, benefits 
accrue based on a cash balance formula, effective January 1, 2012. The Supplemental Plan is a non-qualified defined benefit 
supplemental retirement plan for certain key employees. Benefits commence when the employee retires and are payable over a 
period of ten years.

The  Company  measured  benefit  obligations  using  the  most  recent  Pri-2012  mortality  tables  and  MP-2021  mortality 
improvement  scale  in  selecting  mortality  assumptions  as  of  December  31,  2021.  The  Company  uses  a  December  31 
measurement date for its pension and other benefit plans.

As a result of the merger with Legacy Cadence, three new participants were invited to participate in the Supplemental 
Plan. The merger also triggered certain change in control provision of the Supplemental Plan where existing active participants 
became fully vested in their benefits under the plan. The Company elected to recognize the fair value of the additional liabilities 
resulting from these plan amendments, totaling $5.7 million, immediately as a one-time charge to merger expense during 2021.

139

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A summary of the three defined benefit retirement plans at and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 

follows:

(In thousands)
Change in benefit obligations:
Projected benefit obligations at beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss
Benefits paid
Administrative expenses paid
Plan amendments
Settlements
Projected benefit obligations at end of year
Change in plans' assets:
Fair value of plans' assets at beginning of year
Actual return on assets
Employer contributions
Benefits paid
Administrative expenses paid
Settlements (1)
Fair value of plans' assets at end of year
Funded status:
Projected benefit obligations
Fair value of plans' assets
Net amount recognized

Pension Benefits
2020

2021

2019

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

303,319  $ 
7,363 
4,397 
29,009 
(10,870)   
(1,262)   
3,570 
(12,252)   
323,274  $ 

393,224  $ 
42,546 
2,681 
(10,870)   
(1,262)   
(12,252)   
414,067  $ 

309,007  $ 
7,411 
6,991 
10,500 
(10,254)   
(1,261)   
— 

(19,075)   
303,319  $ 

351,307  $ 
32,797 
41,613 
(10,254)   
(1,261)   
(20,978)   
393,224  $ 

278,201 
5,918 
10,436 
38,586 
(23,233) 
(901) 
— 
— 
309,007 

325,235 
47,592 
2,614 
(23,233) 
(901) 
— 
351,307 

(323,274)  $ 
414,067 
90,793  $ 

(303,319)  $ 
393,224 
89,905  $ 

(309,007) 
351,307 
42,300 

(1) The total lump sums paid during 2021 and 2020 were $12.3 million and $21.0 million, respectively, compared to a settlement threshold 
of $9.3 million and $12.8 million. As a result, a charge of $3.1 million and $5.8 million were recognized for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The  funded  status  of  the  Basic  Plan  improved  during  2021  due  to  asset  gains.  In  addition,  the  discount  rates  for  all 
plans  increased  during  2021,  decreasing  the  pension  benefit  obligation.  Finally,  census  data  updates  and  changes  to 
demographic assumptions based on an experience study resulted in losses on the pension benefit obligation for all plans. The 
weighted-average  interest  crediting  rates  for  both  the  Basic  Plan  and  the  Restoration  Plan  were  1.50%  in  2021.  The 
Supplemental Plan does not have a minimum interest crediting rate.

140

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consisted of:

(In thousands)
Prepaid benefit cost
Accrued benefit liability
Accumulated other comprehensive loss adjustment
Net amount recognized

Pension Benefits
2020
201,571  $ 
(26,530)   
(85,136)   
89,905  $ 

2021
207,855  $ 
(32,047)   
(85,015)   
90,793  $ 

$ 

$ 

2019
165,387 
(26,708) 
(96,379) 
42,300 

Pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consisted of:

(In thousands)
Net prior service benefit
Net actuarial loss
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

The components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

(In thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on assets
Recognized prior service benefit
Recognized net loss
Settlement loss
Net periodic benefit cost (1)

December 31,

2021

2020

$ 

$ 

218  $ 

84,797 
85,015  $ 

(264) 
85,400 
85,136 

Pension Benefits
2020

2021

2019

$ 

$ 

7,363  $ 
4,397 
(22,901)   
3,088 
6,916 
3,051 
1,914  $ 

7,411  $ 
6,991 
(20,409)   
(718)   
6,130 
5,846 
5,251  $ 

5,918 
10,436 
(19,108) 
(718) 
6,001 
— 
2,529 

(1) While service cost is included in salaries and employee benefits, the other components of net periodic pension costs are included in other 

noninterest expense in the consolidated statements of income for 2021, 2020 and 2019.

141

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  weighted-average  assumptions  used  to  determine  benefit  obligations  at  December  31,  2021  and  2020  were  as 

follows:

Discount rate
Rate of compensation increase

Basic Plan

Restoration Plan

2021
2.73%
3.00%

2020
2.26%
3.00%

2021
2.77%
3.00%

2020
2.32%
3.00%

Supplemental Plan
2020
2021
1.67%
2.41%
3.00%
3.00%

The  weighted-average  assumptions  used  to  determine  net  periodic  benefit  cost  for  2021,  2020  and  2019  were  as 

follows:

Discount rate-service cost
Discount rate-interest cost
Rate of compensation increase
Expected rate of return on plan assets

Discount rate-service cost
Discount rate-interest cost
Rate of compensation increase
Expected rate of return on plan assets

Discount rate-service cost
Discount rate-interest cost
Rate of compensation increase
Expected rate of return on plan assets

Basic Plan
2020
3.27%
2.59%
3.00%
6.00%
Restoration Plan
2020
2.77%
2.77%
3.00%
N/A
Supplemental Plan
2020
2.91%
2.44%
3.00%
N/A

2021
2.45%
1.42%
3.00%
6.00%

2021
1.64%
1.70%
3.00%
N/A

2021
1.81%
1.20%
3.00%
N/A

2019
3.64%
3.28%
3.00%
6.00%

2019
3.19%
3.22%
3.00%
N/A

2019
3.48%
2.84%
3.00%
N/A

The following table presents information related to the defined benefit plans that had accumulated benefit obligations 

in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation
Fair value of assets

2021

2020

$ 

42,871  $ 
39,125 
— 

38,082 
36,075 
— 

In  selecting  the  expected  long-term  rate  of  return  on  assets  used  for  the  Basic  Plan,  the  Company  considered  the 
average rate of earnings expected on the funds invested or to be invested to provide for the benefits of the plan. This included 
considering  the  trust  asset  allocation  and  the  expected  returns  likely  to  be  earned  over  the  life  of  the  plan.  This  basis  is 
consistent with the prior year. The discount rate is the rate used to determine the present value of the Company’s future benefit 
obligations for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

Plan assets are managed on a total return basis to meet future obligations. Risk is managed through asset allocation, 
diversification,  asset  valuation  analysis  and  maintaining  a  long-term  focus.  Assets  are  invested  in  multiple  asset  classes 
including,  but  not  limited  to,  domestic  equities,  international  equities  and  fixed  income  securities.  Factors  considered  for  the 
Plan’s  asset  allocation  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  the  Plan’s  funding  status,  long-term  expected  liabilities  and  expected 
long-term  investment  performance.  To  meet  the  Plan’s  obligation,  long-term  returns  take  priority  over  short  term  market 
volatility and uncertainty. The Plan asset allocation, diversification and long-term performance are evaluated by the Retirement 
Committee multiple times throughout each calendar year.

142

 
 
 
 
The Company’s pension plan weighted-average asset allocations at December 31, 2021 and 2020 and the Company’s 

target allocations for 2022, by asset category, were as follows:

Asset category:
Equity securities
Debt securities
Cash and equivalents
Total

Plan assets at December 31

2021

2020

 51 %
 47 %
 2 %
 100 %

 53 %
 45 %
 2 %
 100 %

Target for
2022
33-60%
40-67%

Equity  securities  held  in  the  Basic  Plan  included  shares  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  with  a  fair  value  of  $2.5 
million (0.59% of total plan assets) and $2.3 million (0.58% of total plan assets) at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 
An analysis by management is performed annually to determine whether the Company will make a contribution to the Basic 
Plan.

The following table presents information regarding expected future benefit payments, which reflect expected service, 

as appropriate:

(In thousands)
Expected future benefit payments:
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027-2031

$ 

Pension
Benefits

31,402 
31,388 
30,395 
28,825 
28,654 
105,998 

The  following  table  presents  the  fair  value  of  each  major  category  of  plan  assets  held  in  the  Basic  Plan  at 

December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)
Investments, at fair value:

Cash and cash equivalents
U.S. agency debt obligations
Mutual funds
Common stock of Cadence Bank
Brokered certificates of deposit
Total investments, at fair value

Accrued interest and dividends
Fair value of plan assets

2021

2020

$ 

$ 

10,013  $ 
21,806 
318,511 
2,451 
60,659 
413,440 
627 
414,067  $ 

5,574 
23,095 
284,480 
2,257 
77,044 
392,450 
774 
393,224 

Fair  values  are  determined  based  on  valuation  techniques  categorized  as  follows:  Level  1  means  the  use  of  quoted 
prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2 means the use of quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in 
markets  that  are  not  active  or  are  directly  or  indirectly  observable;  Level  3  means  the  use  of  unobservable  inputs.  Quoted 
market prices, when available, are used to value investments. Pension plan investments include funds which invest in various 
types of investment securities and in various companies within various markets. Investment securities are exposed to several 
risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Because of the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is 
at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes 
could materially affect the amounts reported.

143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following tables set forth the plan investments at fair value as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
U.S. agency debt obligations
Mutual funds
Common stock of Cadence Bank
Brokered certificates of deposit

Total

(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
U.S. agency debt obligations
Mutual funds
Common stock of Cadence Bank
Brokered certificates of deposit

Total

December 31, 2021

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

10,013  $ 
— 
318,511 
2,451 
— 
330,975  $ 

—  $ 

21,806 
— 
— 
60,659 
82,465  $ 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 
— 
—  $ 

10,013 
21,806 
318,511 
2,451 
60,659 
413,440 

December 31, 2020

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

5,574  $ 
— 
284,480 
2,257 
— 
292,311  $ 

—  $ 

23,095 
— 
— 
77,044 
100,139  $ 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 
— 
—  $ 

5,574 
23,095 
284,480 
2,257 
77,044 
392,450 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

The following investments represented 5% or more of the total plan asset value as of December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)
John Hancock Discip Value Fund
John Hancock Discip Value Mid Cap Fund
Curasset Capital Management Core Bond Fund
Curasset Capital Management Limited Term Inc Fund
JP Morgan Equity Income R6
Pioneer Multi-Asset Ultrashort Inc Fund
JP Morgan Strategic Income Opp Fund

$ 

2021

24,994 
21,773 
35,075 
35,000 
28,252 
24,946 
25,458 

The Company has a defined contribution plan (commonly referred to as a “401(k) Plan”). Pursuant to the 401(k) Plan, 
employees  may  contribute  a  portion  of  their  compensation,  as  set  forth  in  the  401(k)  Plan,  subject  to  the  limitations  as 
established  by  the  Code.  Employee  contributions  (up  to  5%  of  defined  compensation)  are  matched  dollar-for-dollar  by  the 
Company. Employer contributions were $16.7 million, $14.9 million and $12.6 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

NOTE 13. FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES

Fair value is defined by US GAAP as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in 
an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. US GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that 
prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires the Company to maximize the 
use of observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. 
Each fair value measurement is placed into the proper level based on the lowest level of significant input. These levels are:

•
•

•

Level 1: Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
Level 2: Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for 
identical  or  similar  instruments  in  markets  that  are  not  active,  and  model-based  valuation  techniques  for 
which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
Level 3: Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable 
in  the  market.  These  unobservable  assumptions  reflect  management’s  estimates  of  assumptions  that  market 
participants  would  use  in  pricing  the  asset  or  liability.  Valuation  techniques  include  use  of  option  pricing 
models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques.

144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transfers between fair value levels are recognized at the end of the fiscal quarter in which the associated change in 

inputs occurs.

Determination of Fair Value

Fair values are based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly 
transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following describes the assumptions and methodologies 
used  to  estimate  the  fair  value  of  financial  instruments  recorded  at  fair  value  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  and  for 
estimating the fair value of financial instruments for which fair value is disclosed.

Available-for-sale  securities  and  equity  investments.  Available-for-sale  securities  and  equity  investments  are 
recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company’s available-for-sale securities and equity investments that are traded 
on  an  active  exchange  are  classified  as  Level  1.  If  quoted  prices  are  not  available,  the  Company  obtains  fair  value 
measurements from an independent pricing service. These fair value measurements consider observable market data that may 
include  benchmark  yield  curves,  reported  trades,  broker/dealer  quotes,  issuer  spreads  and  credit  information,  among  other 
inputs. These securities are classified as Level 2.

Mortgage  servicing  rights.  The  Company  records  MSRs  at  fair  value  on  a  recurring  basis  with  subsequent 
remeasurement of MSRs based on change in fair value. An estimate of the fair value of the Company’s MSRs is determined by 
utilizing assumptions about factors such as mortgage interest rates, discount rates, mortgage loan prepayment speeds, market 
trends and industry demand. All of the Company’s MSRs are classified as Level 3.

Derivative instruments. Derivative instruments are measured at fair value based on modeling that utilizes observable 
market inputs for various interest rates published by leading third-party financial news and data providers. This is observable 
data that represents the rates used by market participants for instruments entered into at that date; however, they are not based 
on actual transactions, so they are classified as Level 2. Derivative instruments that are measured at fair value based on either an 
observable market price or a discounted cash flow valuation using the terms of a derivative agreement are classified as Level 3. 
Loans  held  for  sale.  Loans  held  for  sale  are  carried  at  fair  value.  The  fair  value  of  loans  held  for  sale  is  based  on 
commitments outstanding from investors as well as what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar 
characteristics. Therefore, loans held for sale are subjected to recurring fair value adjustments and are classified as Level 2. The 
Company  obtains  quotes,  bids,  or  pricing  indications  on  all  or  part  of  these  loans  directly  from  the  buyers.  Premiums  and 
discounts received or to be received on the quotes, bids or pricing indications are indicative of the fact that the cost is lower or 
higher than fair value.

Net interest profits. The fair value of the net profit interests in oil and gas reserves was estimated using discounted 
cash flow analyses applied to the expected cash flows from producing developed wells. Expected cash flows are derived from 
reports prepared by consulting engineers under established professional standards for the industry. These expected cash flow 
projections  contain  significant  unobservable  inputs  regarding  the  net  recoverable  oil  and  gas  reserves  and  forward-looking 
commodity prices. The Company classifies the net profit interests as Level 3. 

Investments  in  limited  partnerships.  The  fair  value  of  certain  investments  in  limited  partnerships  was  estimated 
using the practical expedient of net asset value. For other investments in limited partnerships that do not qualify for the practical 
expedient, we use a measurement alternative which measures these investments at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus any 
changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. 
The Company classifies these investments in limited partnerships as Level 3. 

SBA  servicing  assets.  The  fair  value  of  the  SBA  servicing  assets  was  estimated  using  the  gross  coupon  less  an 
assumed contractual servicing cost (CSC) of 40 basis points for Section 7a loans and 12.5 basis points for USDA loans. The 
Company classifies SBA servicing assets as Level 3. 

Other real estate owned and other repossessed assets. OREO is carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, 
less estimated selling costs and is subjected to nonrecurring fair value adjustments. Estimated fair value is determined on the 
basis  of  independent  appraisals  and  other  relevant  factors.  Appraisals  that  are  not  based  on  observable  inputs  or  that  require 
significant adjustments or fair value measurements that are not based on third-party appraisals are considered to be based on 
significant unobservable inputs. The fair value of other repossessed assets is determined using net orderly liquidation valuation 
on a nonrecurring basis. The Company’s OREO and other repossessed assets are classified as Level 3.

Collateral-dependent loans. Collateral-dependent loans considered for specific reserve are loans for which, based on 
current  information  and  events,  it  is  probable  that  the  creditor  will  be  unable  to  collect  all  amounts  due  according  to  the 
contractual  terms  of  the  loan  agreement.  Collateral-dependent  loans  include  impaired  loans  and  classified  purchased  credit 
deteriorated  (loss)  loans  (as  defined  by  management).  Collateral-dependent  loans  are  subject  to  nonrecurring  fair  value 
adjustments to reflect (1) partial write-downs that are based on the observable market price or current appraised value of the 
collateral, or (2) the full charge-off of the loan carrying value. All of the Company’s collateral-dependent loans are classified as 
Level 3.

145

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following tables present the balances of the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

(In thousands)
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities
Equity investments
Mortgage servicing rights
Derivative instruments
Loans held for sale
Investments in limited partnerships
SBA servicing assets
Net profits interest

Total
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments

(In thousands)
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities
Equity investments
Mortgage servicing rights
Derivative instruments
Loans held for sale
Investments in limited partnerships

Total
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

December 31, 2021

$ 

—  $ 

15,606,470  $ 

24,924 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
24,924  $ 

684 
— 
16,598 
340,175 
— 
— 
— 

15,963,927  $ 

—  $ 
— 
69,552 
6,749 
— 
46,750 
5,358 
2,000 
130,409  $ 

15,606,470 
25,608 
69,552 
23,347 
340,175 
46,750 
5,358 
2,000 
16,119,260 

—  $ 

7,279  $ 

1,787  $ 

9,066 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

December 31, 2020

—  $ 
230 
— 
— 
— 
— 
230  $ 

6,231,006  $ 

671 
— 
— 
397,076 
— 

6,628,753  $ 

—  $ 
— 
47,571 
22,542 
— 
3,497 
73,610  $ 

6,231,006 
901 
47,571 
22,542 
397,076 
3,497 
6,702,593 

—  $ 

—  $ 

5,700  $ 

5,700 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Level  3  financial  instruments  typically  include  unobservable  components  but  may  also  include  some  observable 
components that may be validated to external sources. The table below includes a roll-forward of the consolidated balance sheet 
amounts for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 for changes in the fair value of financial instruments within 
Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy that are recorded on a recurring basis. The gains or (losses) in the following table (which are 
reported in Other Noninterest Income in the consolidated income statements) may include changes to fair value due in part to 
observable factors that may be part of the valuation methodology.

146

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2020

Acquired in a business combination
Total net gains for the year included in:

Net (loss) gain

Additions
Contributions paid
Distributions received

Balance at December 31, 2021
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in net 
income for the year relating to assets and 
liabilities held at December 31, 2021

$ 

$ 

Mortgage
Servicing
Rights

December 31, 2021
Investments 
in Limited 
Partnerships

Net Profits 
Interests

SBA 
Servicing 
Assets

$ 

47,571  $ 
— 

—  $ 

2,278 

3,497  $ 
41,999 

—  $ 

5,135 

Derivative
Instruments
16,842 
— 

(1,946)   
23,927 
— 
— 
69,552  $ 

(278)   
— 
— 
— 
2,000  $ 

1,587 
— 
3,067 
(3,400)   
46,750  $ 

(285)   
508 
— 
— 
5,358  $ 

(11,880) 
— 
— 
— 
4,962 

12,015  $ 

(278)  $ 

1,587  $ 

(285)  $ 

(11,880) 

(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2019

Total net gains for the year included in:

Net (loss) gain

Additions
Contributions paid
Distributions received

Balance at December 31, 2020
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in net 
income for the year relating to assets and 
liabilities held at December 31, 2020

Mortgage
Servicing
Rights

December 31, 2020
Investments 
in Limited 
Partnerships

Net Profits 
Interests

SBA 
Servicing 
Assets

$ 

57,109  $ 

—  $ 

2,966  $ 

—  $ 

Derivative
Instruments
2,795 

(30,563)   
21,025 
— 
— 
47,571  $ 

$ 

— 
— 
— 
— 
—  $ 

266 
— 
275 
(10)   
3,497  $ 

— 
— 
— 
— 
—  $ 

14,047 
— 
— 
— 
16,842 

$ 

(17,816)  $ 

—  $ 

266  $ 

—  $ 

14,047 

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

From  time  to  time,  the  Company  may  be  required  to  measure  certain  other  financial  assets  at  fair  value  on  a 
nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of lower of 
cost  or  fair  value  accounting  or  write-downs  of  individual  assets.  The  following  tables  present  the  balances  of  assets  and 
liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis:

(In thousands)
Assets:
Impaired loans, collateral dependent
Purchased Credit Deteriorated (Loss)
Other real estate owned and 
repossessed assets

December 31, 2021

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Year ended
December 31, 2021
Net Losses

$ 

—  $ 
— 

—  $ 
— 

25,201  $ 
88,432 

25,201  $ 
88,432 

— 

— 

17,788 

17,788 

(1,300) 
(219) 

(1,534) 

147

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Assets:
Impaired loans, collateral dependent
Purchased Credit Deteriorated (Loss)
Other real estate owned

$ 

Unobservable Inputs

December 31, 2020

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Year ended
December 31, 2020
Net Losses

—  $ 
— 
— 

—  $ 
— 
— 

29,545  $ 
22,959 
11,395 

29,545  $ 
22,959 
11,395 

(3,075) 
(4,591) 
(351) 

The following table presents the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements for financial 

assets measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis:

(In thousands)
December 31, 2021
Measured at fair value on a recurring 
basis:

Mortgage servicing rights

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

Carrying 
Value

Valuation
Methods

Unobservable
Inputs

Range

Weighted 
Average (1)

69,552  Discounted cash 

flow

Discount rate

7.7%-11.1%

9.4%

Repayment speed 
(CPR)
Coupon interest 
rate
Remaining 
maturity (months)

Servicing fee (bps)

7.4-30.5

11.6

2.6%-9.2%

3.5%

117.0-445.9

332.0

21.0 bps-81.5 
bps

27.8 bps

Investments in limited partnerships

46,750 

Practical 
expedient

Net asset value

NM

NM

Contractual 
servicing cost (bps)

12.5 bps-40 
bps

26.3 bps

Discount rate

Discount rate

NM

10%

Discount to fair 
value
Discount to fair 
value
EBITDA multiples 
times sale multiples

0%-76%

0%-100%

5.00x-7.00x

6.44x

Discount rate

10%-11%

Estimated closing 
costs

7%

10%

7%

NM

10%

45%

43%

SBA servicing asset

Derivative instruments

Net interest profits

Measured at fair value on a 
nonrecurring basis:

5,358 

4,962 

2,000 

Coupon less 
contractual 
servicing cost
Discounted cash 
flow
Discounted cash 
flow

Impaired loans, collateral dependent

25,201 

Appraised value, 
as adjusted

Purchased credit deteriorated (loss)

88,432  Collateral value

Other real estate and repossessed 
assets

17,788 

Enterprise value

Discounted cash 
flow
Appraised value, 
as adjusted

148

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

Carrying 
Value

Valuation
Methods

Unobservable
Inputs

Range

Weighted 
Average (1)

(In thousands)

December 31, 2020
Measured at fair value on a 
recurring basis:

Mortgage servicing rights

$ 

47,571  Discounted cash flow

Discount rate
Repayment 
speed 
Coupon interest 
rate
Remaining 
maturity 
(months)
Servicing fee 
(bps)
Discount rate

7.2%-12.7%

6.9-38.0

2.7%-9.2%

9.5%

15.6

3.8%

177.8-440.1

332.0

17.2 bps-81.5 
bps
NM

27.5 bps

NM

Derivative instruments
Measured at fair value on a 
nonrecurring basis:

Impaired loans, collateral 
dependent
Purchased credit deteriorated 
(loss)

Other real estate owned

16,842  Discounted cash flow

29,545 

22,959 

11,395 

Appraised value, as 
adjusted
Appraised value, as 
adjusted
Appraised value, as 
adjusted

Discount to fair 
value
Discount to fair 
value
Estimated 
closing costs

19%-86%

5%-82%

7%

40%

46%

7%

(1) Weighted averages were calculated using the input attributed and the outstanding balance of the loan.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

GAAP  requires  that  the  Company  disclose  estimated  fair  values  for  its  financial  instruments.  Fair  value  estimates, 
methods, and assumptions that are used by the Company in estimating fair values of financial instruments that are not disclosed 
above are set forth below.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair values due to their 
immediate  and  shorter-term  maturities.  Cash  and  equivalents  include  cash  and  amounts  due  from  banks,  including  interest 
bearing deposits with other banks.

Net Loans. Loans are valued on an individual basis, with consideration given to the loans’ underlying characteristics, 
including account types, remaining terms, annual interest rates or coupons, interest types, accrual basis, timing of principal and 
interest payments, current market rates, and remaining balances. A discounted cash flow model is used to estimate the fair value 
of the loans using assumptions for prepayments speeds, projected default probabilities by risk grade, and estimates of prevailing 
discount  rates.  The  discounted  cash  flow  approach  models  the  projected  cash  flows,  applying  various  assumptions  regarding 
interest and payment risks for the loans based on the loan types, payment types and fixed or variable interest rate classifications. 
Estimated fair values are disclosed through the application of the exit price notion. The assumptions used to estimate fair value 
are intended to approximate those that a market participant would use in an orderly transaction on the measurement date. All of 
the Company’s loans and leases are classified as Level 3.

Deposits. The fair values disclosed for demand deposits are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at 
the  reporting  date  (that  is,  their  carrying  amounts).  Fair  values  for  time  deposits  are  estimated  using  a  discounted  cash  flow 
calculation  that  uses  recent  issuance  rates  over  the  prior  three  months  and  a  market  rate  analysis  of  recent  offering  rates  for 
retail  products.  For  wholesale  products,  brokered  pricing  offering  rates  were  used.  The  Company’s  deposits  are  classified  as 
Level 2.

Borrowings.  The  carrying  amounts  for  federal  funds  purchased  and  repurchase  agreements  approximate  fair  value 
because of their short-term maturity. The Company’s federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements are classified as Level 
1. The fair value of the Company’s fixed-term FHLB advances is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The 
discount  rate  is  estimated  using  the  prevailing  rates  available  for  advances  of  similar  maturities.  The  fair  value  of  the 
subordinated debentures was estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that uses recent issuance rates for similar notes 
offerings for similar sized issuers. FHLB advances and the subordinate notes are classified as Level 2.

Lending  Commitments.  The  Company’s  lending  commitments  are  negotiated  at  prevailing  market  rates  and  are 
relatively  short-term  in  nature.  As  a  matter  of  policy,  the  Company  generally  makes  commitments  for  fixed-rate  loans  for 

149

 
 
 
 
relatively  short  periods  of  time.  Therefore,  the  estimated  value  of  the  Company’s  lending  commitments  approximates  the 
carrying amount and is immaterial to the financial statements. The Company’s lending commitments are classified as Level 2. 
The Company’s off-balance sheet commitments, including letters of credit, which totaled $360.5 million at December 31, 2021, 
are  funded  at  current  market  rates  at  the  date  they  are  drawn  upon.  It  is  management’s  opinion  that  the  fair  value  of  these 
commitments would approximate their carrying value, if drawn upon. See Note 22 for additional information regarding lending 
commitments.

Limitations.  The  following  fair  value  estimates  are  determined  as  of  a  specific  point  in  time  utilizing  various 
assumptions  and  estimates.  The  use  of  assumptions  and  various  valuation  techniques,  as  well  as  the  absence  of  secondary 
markets  for  certain  financial  instruments,  will  likely  reduce  the  comparability  of  fair  value  disclosures  between  financial 
institutions. The fair values for loans involve the use of various assumptions due to market-illiquidity as of December 31, 2021 
and 2020. These assumptions are considered to reflect inputs that market participants would use in transactions involving these 
instruments as of the measurement date. This table only includes financial instruments of the Company, and, accordingly, the 
total  of  the  fair  value  amounts  does  not  represent,  and  should  not  be  construed  to  represent,  the  underlying  value  of  the 
Company. 

150

The following table presents carrying and fair value information of financial instruments at December 31, 2021 and 

2020:

(In thousands)
Assets:
Cash and due from banks
Interest bearing deposits with other banks
Available-for-sale securities, FHLB, and equity investments
Net loans and leases
Loans held for sale
Accrued interest receivable
Mortgage servicing rights

Investments in limited partnerships and other investments

Other assets

2021

2020

Carrying 
Value

Fair
Value

Carrying
Value

Fair
Value

656,132 
638,547 
  15,641,379 
  26,436,573 
340,175 
142,340 
69,552 

656,132 
638,547 
  15,641,379 
  26,587,853 
340,175 
142,340 
69,552 

284,095 
133,273 
6,239,897 
  14,778,057 
397,076 
106,318 
47,571 

284,095 
133,273 
6,239,897 
  15,226,569 
397,076 
106,318 
47,571 

227,229 

25,145 

227,229 

25,145 

29,254 

11,395 

29,254 

11,395 

Liabilities:
Noninterest bearing demand deposits
Savings and interest bearing demand deposits
Time deposits
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to 

repurchase and other short-term borrowings

Accrued interest payable
Subordinated debt and other borrowings

  13,634,505 
  22,283,667 
3,899,501 

  13,634,505 
  22,283,667 
3,915,733 

6,341,457 
  10,976,069 
2,528,915 

6,341,457 
  10,976,069 
2,557,269 

1,282,188 
8,483 
482,411 

1,282,188 
8,483 
475,614 

637,715 
10,885 
301,652 

624,536 
10,885 
302,599 

Derivative instruments:
Assets:

Risk participation agreements
Interest rate swap, cap, and floor position to receive
Held-for-sale interest rate lock commitments
US Treasury futures
Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans
Foreign exchange contracts

Liabilities:

Risk participation agreements
Interest rate swap, cap, and floor position to pay
Held-for-sale interest rate lock commitments
US Treasury futures
Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans
Foreign exchange contracts

20,150 
17,567 
4,675 
732 
218 
155 

3,518 
8,487 
21 
6 
371 
181 

20,150 
17,567 
4,675 
732 
218 
155 

3,518 
8,487 
21 
6 
371 
181 

— 
2,577 
16,800 
50 
3,115 
— 

50,640 
2,885 
21 
— 
2,794 
— 

— 
2,577 
16,800 
50 
3,115 
— 

50,640 
2,885 
21 
— 
2,794 
— 

151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 14. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (“Incentive Plan”), 1995 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-
Employees (the “1995 Plan”), 2021 Long-Term Equity incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated 2015 Omnibus Incentive 
Plan (the “2015 Plan” assumed from Legacy Cadence) permits the Company to grant to employees and directors various forms 
of stock-based incentive compensation. Performance shares entitle the recipient to receive shares of the Company’s common 
stock upon the achievement of performance goals that are specified in the award over a performance period. The recipient of 
performance  shares  is  not  treated  as  a  shareholder  of  the  Company  and  is  not  entitled  to  vote  or  receive  dividends  until  the 
performance conditions stated in the award are satisfied and the shares of stock are actually issued to the recipient. All of the 
performance shares vest over a three-year period and are valued at the fair value of the Company’s stock at the grant date based 
upon the estimated number of shares expected to vest. Restricted stock awards entitle the recipient to vote the shares of stock 
but the recipient does not actually receive the shares until they are fully vested. Restricted stock units enable the recipient to 
receive the shares once they are vested but with no voting rights until the shares are received.

Restricted Stock Awards (“RSA”)

The  following  table  summarizes  the  Company’s  restricted  stock  award  activity  for  the  years  ended  December  31, 

2021, 2020 and 2019:

2021

Year ended December 31,
2020

2019

Nonvested at beginning of year
Granted
Forfeited 
Vested 
Nonvested at end of year 

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Shares
1,647,282  $ 

— 

(85,672)   
(238,541)   
1,323,069  $ 

29.00 
— 
30.23 
25.03 
29.64 

Shares
1,696,597  $ 
366,850 
(94,130)   
(322,035)   
1,647,282  $ 

28.37 
28.96 
31.55 
24.86 
29.00 

Shares
1,474,959  $ 
481,592 
(72,308)   
(187,646)   
1,696,597  $ 

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

27.98 
27.67 
30.47 
23.46 
28.37 

RSA  grants  are  entitled  to  receive  dividends.  Compensation  expense  related  to  the  restricted  stock  awards  was  $8.1 
million,  $10.2  million  and  $9.7  million  for  2021,  2020,  and  2019,  respectively.  As  of  December  31,  2021,  there  was  $15.1 
million of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted 
average period of 2.59 years.

Performance Shares (“PS”)

The  Company  granted  performance  shares  of  394,508,  138,974  and  138,028  during  2021,  2020,  and  2019, 
respectively. The performance period for each of these grants is two years and each grant vests over a three-year period and are 
valued at the fair value of the Company’s common stock price at the grant date based upon the estimated number of shares to 
vest.

Additionally, in October 2021, the Company made a special retention grant of 581,068 performance-vesting RSU with 
a  weighted  average  fair  value  of  $30.16  per  unit  to  selected  executive  officers  of  the  Company  related  to  the  acquisition  of 
Legacy Cadence. The awards are eligible to vest based on the level of achievement (subject to a maximum of 150% of target 
level) of pre-established performance goals tied to return on average assets, operating efficiency and strategic measures, such as 
customer satisfaction, talent retention and systems integration during the three year period following the acquisition of Legacy 
Cadence. The number of shares of Company common stock subject to such award was determined by dividing the target grant 
date value by the product of (1) the average of the volume weighted average prices of a share of the Company’s Common Stock 
as reported by Bloomberg for the consecutive period of twenty (20) full trading days ending on the full trading day preceding 
the  date  of  consummation  of  the  acquisition,  and  (2)  the  exchange  ratio  in  the  acquisition,  with  such  number  of  shares  of 
Company common stock subject to the awards to be adjusted at the effective time to reflect the exchange ratio. Pursuant to the 
award  agreements,  the  awards  will  remain  outstanding  and  eligible  to  be  earned  based  on  the  level  of  achievement  of  the 
applicable goals, upon certain terminations of the award holder’s employment, including a termination without cause and/or for 
good reason following the effective time.

152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation  expense  related  to  the  performance  shares  was  $0.5  million,  $7.1  million  and  $6.2  million  for  2021, 
2020, and 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, there was $28.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to 
performance stock units that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.44 years.

Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”)

In  2020  and  2019,  the  Company  granted  RSU  covering  26,983  and  16,800  shares,  respectively,  to  directors  of  the 
Company. Each of the grants vest in one year. Also in 2021, the Company granted 595,470 RSU with a weighted average fair 
value of $28.75 per unit to officers and key employees. Additionally, in October 2021, the Company made a special retention 
grant of 554,679 time-vesting RSU with a weighted average fair value of $30.16 per unit to selected officers of the Company 
related to the acquisition of Legacy Cadence. Current year RSU grants are entitled to dividend equivalents.

Compensation expense related to the RSU was $7.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million for 2021, 2020, and 2019, 
respectively. As of December 31, 2021, there was $45.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock 
units that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.95 years.

Stock Options

Key employees and directors of the Company may be granted stock options. Compensation expense is measured using 
estimates  of  fair  value  of  all  stock-based  awards.  No  stock  options  were  granted  during  2021,  2020  or  2019.  However,  the 
Company assumed outstanding stock options from its acquisition of Legacy Cadence in October 2021. The outstanding options 
were converted according to the exchange rate used in the acquisition and became fully vested at that time. The options have a 
seven  year  life  and  will  expire  in  four  years.  At  the  acquisition  date  and  at  December  31,  2021,  options  outstanding  totaled 
1,121,994 and had a weighted average exercise price of $27.40.

The following table presents information regarding the vesting of the Company’s nonvested stock-based compensation 

grants at December 31, 2021:

Vesting in
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Total Nonvested Shares

RSA

Number of Shares
RSU

PS

167,172   
428,703   
384,012   
306,682   
—   
36,500   
1,323,069   

135,931   
222,467   
1,416,162   
—   
514,199   
—   
2,288,759   

125,452 
509,056 
581,068 
— 
— 
— 
1,215,576 

153

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 15. EARNINGS PER SHARE AND DIVIDEND DATA

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) are calculated in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic 
EPS is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares 
outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed using the weighted-average number of shares determined for the basic EPS 
computation plus the shares resulting from the assumed exercise of all outstanding share-based awards using the treasury stock 
method. There were antidilutive other equity awards of approximately 325 thousand shares excluded from dilutive shares for 
the year ended December 31, 2021. There were no antidilutive other equity awards for 2020 and 2019.

The  following  tables  provide  a  reconciliation  of  the  numerators  and  denominators  of  the  basic  and  diluted  EPS 

computations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS:
Net income
Preferred stock dividends
Income available to common shareholders
Dilutive effect of stock compensation
Diluted EPS:
Income available to common shareholders plus assumed exercise

(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS:
Net income
Preferred stock dividends
Income available to common shareholders
Dilutive effect of stock compensation
Diluted EPS:
Income available to common shareholders plus assumed exercise

(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS:
Net income
Preferred stock dividends
Income available to common shareholders
Dilutive effect of stock compensation
Diluted EPS:
Income available to common shareholders plus assumed exercise

Income
(Numerator)

2021
Shares
(Denominator)

Per Share
Amount

$ 

195,162 
9,488 
185,674 
— 

120,250  $ 
419 

1.54 

$ 

185,674 

120,669  $ 

1.54 

Income
(Numerator)

2020
Shares
(Denominator)

Per Share
Amount

$ 

$ 

228,051 
9,488 
218,563 
— 

103,023  $ 
282 

2.12 

$ 

218,563 

103,305  $ 

2.12 

Income
(Numerator)

2019
Shares
(Denominator)

Per Share
Amount

$ 

$ 

234,261 
— 
234,261 
— 

101,507  $ 
304 

2.31 

$ 

234,261 

101,811  $ 

2.30 

Dividends to shareholders are subject to approval by the applicable state regulatory authority.

154

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 16. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following tables present the components of other comprehensive income (loss) and the related tax effects allocated 

to each component for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

(In thousands)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:

Unrealized (losses) gains arising during holding period
Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains) realized in net income (1)

Recognized employee benefit plan net periodic benefit cost (2)
Other comprehensive loss
Net income
Comprehensive income

(In thousands)
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:

Unrealized gains (losses) arising during holding period
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses realized in net income (1)

Recognized employee benefit plan net periodic benefit cost (2)
Other comprehensive income
Net income
Comprehensive income

(In thousands)
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:

Unrealized gains (losses) arising during holding period
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses realized in net income (1)

Recognized employee benefit plan net periodic benefit cost (2)
Other comprehensive income
Net income
Comprehensive income

Before Tax
Amount

2021
Tax
Effect

Net of Tax
Amount

$ 

$ 

(201,843)  $ 
132 
120 
(201,591)  $ 

50,362  $ 
(33)   
(30)   
50,299  $ 

$ 

(151,481) 
99 
90 
(151,292) 
195,162 
43,870 

Before Tax
Amount

2020
Tax
Effect

Net of Tax
Amount

$ 

$ 

88,225  $ 
(87)   

11,243 
99,381  $ 

(22,012)  $ 
22 
(2,805)   
(24,795)  $ 

$ 

66,213 
(65) 
8,438 
74,586 
228,051 
302,637 

Before Tax
Amount

2019
Tax
Effect

Net of Tax
Amount

$ 

$ 

28,733  $ 
(158)   
(4,819)   
23,756  $ 

(7,169)  $ 
39 
1,202 
(5,928)  $ 

$ 

21,564 
(119) 
(3,617) 
17,828 
234,261 
252,089 

(1) Reclassification  adjustments  for  net  gains  on  available-for-sale  securities  are  reported  as  security  gains,  net  on  the 

consolidated statement of income.

(2) Recognized employee benefit plan net periodic benefit cost includes recognized prior service cost and recognized net loss. 

For more information, see Note 12 – Pension, Other Post Retirement Benefit and Profit Sharing Plans.

155

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Activity within the balances in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is shown in the following table for the 

years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

(In thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Net change
Balance as of December 31, 2019
Net change
Balance as of December 31, 2020
Net change
Balance as of December 31, 2021

Unrealized
gains (losses) on
AFS securities

Unrealized
gains (losses) on
employee benefit plan

Accumulated other
comprehensive
income (loss)

$ 

$ 

(11,776)  $ 
21,445 
9,669 
66,148 
75,817 
(151,382)   
(75,565)  $ 

(68,715)  $ 
(3,617)   
(72,332)   
8,438 
(63,894)   

90 
(63,804)  $ 

(80,491) 
17,828 
(62,663) 
74,586 
11,923 
(151,292) 
(139,369) 

NOTE 17. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The  Company  has  made,  and  expects  in  the  future  to  continue  to  make  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  loans  to 
directors and executive officers of the Company and their affiliates. In management’s opinion, these transactions with directors 
and executive officers were made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions 
with other persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present any other unfavorable features. A 
summary of such outstanding loans is as follows:

(In thousands)
Loans outstanding at December 31, 2020
New loans to related parties
Repayments
Changes in directors and executive officers
Loans outstanding at December 31, 2021

NOTE 18. MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS

Amount

15,815 
28,131 
(4,420) 
(23,137) 
16,389 

$ 

$ 

MSRs,  which  are  recognized  as  a  separate  asset  on  the  date  the  corresponding  mortgage  loan  is  sold  on  a  servicing 
retained  basis,  are  recorded  at  fair  value  as  determined  at  each  accounting  period  end.  An  estimate  of  the  fair  value  of  the 
Company’s MSRs is determined utilizing assumptions about factors such as mortgage interest rates, discount rates, mortgage 
loan prepayment speeds, market trends and industry demand. Data and assumptions used in the fair value calculation related to 
MSRs as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
Unpaid principal balance
Weighted-average prepayment speed (CPR)
Discount rate (annual percentage)
Weighted-average coupon interest rate (percentage)
Weighted-average remaining maturity (months)
Weighted-average servicing fee (basis points)

2019

2021

2020
$  7,553,917  $  7,330,293  $  6,898,195 
13.9 
9.5 
4.1 
335.0 
27.4 

15.6 
9.5 
3.8 
332.0 
27.5 

11.6 
9.4 
3.5 
332.0 
27.8 

Because the valuation is determined by using discounted cash flow models, the primary risk inherent in valuing the 
MSRs  is  the  impact  of  fluctuating  interest  rates  on  the  estimated  life  of  the  servicing  revenue  stream.  The  use  of  different 
estimates or assumptions could also produce different fair values. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company had 
an economic hedge in place designed to cover approximately 33.1%, 16.7% and 24.0%, respectively, of the MSR (see Note 21). 
The Company is susceptible to fluctuations in the fair value of its MSRs in changing interest rate environments.

156

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  has  one  class  of  mortgage  servicing  asset  comprised  of  closed  end  loans  for  one-to-four  family 

residences, secured by first liens. The following table presents the activity in this class for the years indicated:

(In thousands)
Fair value at beginning of year
Additions:

Origination of servicing assets

Changes in fair value:

Due to loans payoffs/paydowns
Due to change in valuation inputs or assumptions used in the valuation model
Other changes in fair value

Fair value at end of year

2021

2020

$ 

47,571  $ 

57,109 

23,927 

21,025 

(13,961)   
12,015 
— 
69,552  $ 

(12,746) 
(17,816) 
(1) 
47,571 

$ 

All of the changes to the fair value of the MSRs are recorded as part of mortgage banking noninterest revenue on the 
consolidated  statements  of  income.  As  part  of  mortgage  banking  noninterest  revenue,  the  Company  recorded  contractual 
servicing fees of $20.8 million, $19.3 million and $18.7 million, and late and other ancillary fees of $1.2 million, $6.8 million 
and $1.5 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

157

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 19. CAPITAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS

The  Company  is  subject  to  various  regulatory  capital  requirements  administered  by  the  federal  and  state  banking 
agencies. Regulatory capital ratios at December 31, 2021 were calculated in accordance with the Basel III capital framework as 
well as the interagency final rule published on September 30, 2020 entitled “Revised Transition of the Current Expected Credit 
Losses  Methodology  for  Allowances.”  Failure  to  meet  minimum  capital  requirements  can  initiate  certain  mandatory  and 
possibly  additional  discretionary  actions  by  regulators  that,  if  undertaken,  could  have  a  direct  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, 
the Company must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities and 
certain  off-balance  sheet  items  as  calculated  under  regulatory  accounting  practices.  The  Company’s  capital  amounts  and 
classification  are  also  subject  to  qualitative  judgments  by  regulators  about  components,  risk  weightings  and  other  factors. 
Quantitative measures established by the FDIC to ensure capital adequacy require the Company to maintain minimum capital 
amounts and ratios.

The  actual  capital  amounts  and  ratios  for  the  Company  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  are  presented  in  the 
following tables and as shown, exceed the thresholds necessary to be considered “well capitalized.” Management believes that 
no events or changes have occurred subsequent to the indicated dates that would change this designation.

(Dollars in thousands)
Actual:

2021

2020

Amount

Ratio

Amount

Ratio

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets)

$  3,754,848 
3,921,841 
4,683,361 
3,921,841 

 11.11 % $  1,803,226 
1,970,219 
 11.61 
2,430,884 
 13.86 
1,970,219 
 9.90 

 10.74 %
 11.74 
 14.48 
 8.67 

Minimum requirement:

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets)

Well capitalized requirement under prompt corrective action 
provisions:

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets)

1,520,353 
2,027,138 
2,702,850 
1,584,531 

2,196,066 
2,702,850 
3,378,563 
1,980,664 

 4.50 
 6.00 
 8.00 
 4.00 

 6.50 
 8.00 
 10.00 
 5.00 

755,349 
1,007,133 
1,342,844 
908,901 

1,091,060 
1,342,844 
1,678,554 
1,136,126 

 4.50 
 6.00 
 8.00 
 4.00 

 6.50 
 8.00 
 10.00 
 5.00 

On December 9, 2020, the Company announced a share repurchase program whereby the Company was authorized to 
acquire  up  to  an  aggregate  of  6,000,000  shares  of  its  common  stock  in  the  open  market  at  prevailing  market  prices  or  in 
privately negotiated transactions during the period January 4, 2021 through December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the 
Company had repurchased 6,000,000 shares under this repurchase program.

On December 8, 2021, the Company announced a new share repurchase program whereby the Company may acquire 
up  to  an  aggregate  of  10,000,000  shares  of  its  common  stock  in  the  open  market  at  prevailing  market  prices  or  in  privately 
negotiated transactions during the period January 3, 2022 through December 30, 2022.

The  extent  and  timing  of  any  repurchases  depends  on  market  conditions  and  other  corporate,  legal  and  regulatory 
considerations.  Repurchased  shares  are  held  as  authorized  and  unissued  shares.  These  authorized  but  unissued  shares  are 
available  for  use  in  the  Company’s  stock  compensation  programs,  other  transactions,  or  for  other  corporate  purposes  as 
determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Federal  and  state  banking  laws  and  regulations  and  state  corporate  laws  restrict  the  amount  of  dividends  that  the 
Company may declare and pay. Under Mississippi law, the Company cannot pay any dividend on its common stock unless it 
has received written approval of the Commissioner of the MDBCF. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying 
dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking 
practice. Moreover, the federal agencies have issued policy statements providing that insured banks should generally only pay 
dividends out of current operating earnings.

158

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  is  required  to  maintain  average  reserve  balances  in  the  form  of  cash  or  deposits  with  the  Federal 
Reserve Bank. The reserve balance varies depending upon the types and amounts of deposits. Effective March 26, 2020, the 
Federal Reserve Board reduced reserve requirement ratios to zero percent in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to 
help support lending. This action eliminated the reserve requirements for many depository institutions, such as Cadence.

NOTE 20. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company determines operating segments based upon the services offered, the significance of those services to the 
Company's  financial  condition  and  operating  results,  and  management's  regular  review  of  the  operating  results  of  those 
services. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company reorganized its internal management structure and, accordingly, its 
operating segment reporting structure. On October 29, 2021, Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) closed its previously announced 
merger  in  which  Legacy  Cadence  merged  into  BancorpSouth,  with  BancorpSouth  as  the  surviving  company.  Upon  the 
completion  of  the  merger,  BancorpSouth  was  renamed  Cadence  Bank.  This  transaction  prompted  organizational  changes  to 
better integrate and execute the combined Company's strategic priorities across all lines of business. As a result, the Company 
revised its operating segments as described below.

Historically, BancorpSouth had five operating segments: Banking Services, Mortgage, Wealth Management, Insurance 

Agencies, and General Corporate and Other.

•

Banking Services segment provided all traditional banking products and services, including commercial or consumer 
loans, and deposits.

• Mortgage segment included mortgage banking activities of originating mortgage loans, selling mortgage loans in the 

secondary market and servicing the mortgage loans that were sold on a servicing-retained basis.

• Wealth Management segment offered individuals, businesses, governmental institutions and non-profit entities a wide 
range  of  solutions  to  help  protect,  grow  and  transfer  wealth.  Offerings  included  credit-related  products,  trust  and 
investment management, asset management, retirement and savings solutions, estate planning and annuity products.
Insurance Agencies segment provided service as agents in the sale of commercial lines of insurance and full lines of 
property and casualty, life, health and employee benefit products and services.
General  Corporate  and  Other  segment  included  other  activities  not  allocated  to  other  aforementioned  operating 
segments.

•

•

During the finalization of the merger between BancorpSouth and Cadence Bancorporation, the new Cadence Bank's 
management  reviewed  the  existing  operating  segment  reporting  formats  for  each  legacy  entity  to  determine  how  Cadence’s 
business  would  be  managed.  After  review  and  discussion  including  key  members  of  senior  management,  it  was  determined 
effective October 29, 2021, Cadence will make operating decisions based on the following six operating segments as described 
below.

•

•

Corporate  Banking  segment  focuses  on  C&I,  business  banking,  and  commercial  real  estate  lending  to  clients  in  the 
geographic footprint.
Community  Banking  segment  provides  a  broad  range  of  banking  services  through  the  branch  network  to  serve  the 
needs of community businesses in the geographic footprint.

• Mortgage segment includes mortgage banking activities of originating mortgage loans, selling mortgage loans in the 

•

•

•

secondary market and servicing the mortgage loans that are sold on a servicing retained basis.
Insurance Agencies segment provides service as agents in the sale of commercial lines of insurance and full lines of 
property and casualty, life health and employee benefit products and services.
Banking  Services  segment  offers  individuals,  businesses,  governmental  institutions,  and  non-profit  entities  a  wide 
range  of  solutions  to  help  protect,  grow,  and  transfer  wealth.  Offerings  include  credit-related  products,  trust  and 
investment management, asset management, retirement and savings solutions, estate planning and annuity products. 
General  Corporate  and  Other  segment  includes  other  activities  not  allocated  to  other  aforementioned  operating 
segments. The disaggregation of General Corporate and Other better defines the results from the individual segments 
due to the direct relationship of the internal support provided by the strategic business units within the Bank.

Subsequent to the merger of Cadence Bancorporation and BancorpSouth to form the new Cadence Bank, the Company 
had  to  make  significant  changes  to  the  structure  of  our  internal  organization  that  caused  the  composition  of  our  operating 
segments  to  change.  As  such,  prior  period  segment  information  has  not  been  restated  to  conform  to  the  current  period 
presentation as required by GAAP because it would be impracticable to do so. In addition, current year segment information 
has not been disclosed under the old basis of segmentation as required by GAAP because such information is not available and 
impracticable to maintain.

159

Results of operations and selected financial information by operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2021, 

2020 and 2019 were as follows:

Corporate 
Banking

Community 
Banking

Mortgage

Insurance 
Agencies

Banking 
Services

General 
Corporate 
and Other

Total

$ 

69,509  $  562,302  $  57,349  $ 
9,832 
123,801 

4,429 

16  $ 
— 

4,648  $  111,903  $  805,727 
138,062 

— 

— 

552,470 
(54,292)   
84,864 
6,768 
287,697 
19,818 
349,637 
(67,342)   
74,093 
12,402 
(79,744)  $  275,544  $  60,296  $ 

  52,920 
  57,912 
  34,338 
  76,494 
  16,198 

16 
137,529 
114,272 
23,273 
4,760 
18,513  $ 

$ 

4,648 
42,705 
31,120 
16,233 
3,251 
12,982  $ 

667,665 
111,903 
378,153 
48,375 
798,890 
311,645 
246,928 
(151,367)   
51,766 
(58,938)   
(92,429)  $  195,162 

$  8,026,776  $ 15,593,803  $ 3,633,213  $ 

326,711  $ 

1,114,550  $ 18,974,698  $ 47,669,751 

Banking
Services
Group

Mortgage

Insurance
Agencies

Wealth
Management

General
Corporate
and Other

Total

$ 

664,722  $ 
— 

39,366  $ 
— 

39  $ 
— 

23  $ 
— 

(13,183)  $ 
86,000 

690,967 
86,000 

664,722 
81,792 
416,693 
329,821 
68,466 
261,355  $ 

39,366 
86,295 
27,227 
98,434 
20,884 
77,550  $ 

39 
130,739 
109,286 
21,492 
5,708 
15,784  $ 

23 
28,528 
18,508 
10,043 
2,131 
7,912  $ 

(99,183)   
9,150 
82,212 
(172,245)   
(37,695)   
(134,550)  $ 

604,967 
336,504 
653,926 
287,545 
59,494 
228,051 

$ 

$  20,450,240  $ 

1,586,658  $ 

296,495  $ 

51,606  $ 

1,696,195  $  24,081,194 

Banking
Services
Group

Mortgage

Insurance
Agencies

Wealth
Management

General
Corporate
and Other

Total

$ 

621,772  $ 
— 

30,449  $ 
— 

95  $ 
— 

112  $ 
— 

(2,484)  $ 
1,500 

649,944 
1,500 

621,772 
96,115 
379,112 
338,775 
75,228 
263,547  $ 

30,449 
19,786 
30,999 
19,236 
4,399 
14,837  $ 

95 
125,684 
110,201 
15,578 
4,242 
11,336  $ 

112 
27,362 
18,258 
9,216 
2,108 
7,108  $ 

(3,984)   
11,734 
91,037 
(83,287)   
(20,720)   
(62,567)  $ 

648,444 
280,681 
629,607 
299,518 
65,257 
234,261 

$ 

$  17,963,067  $ 

1,102,245  $ 

275,545  $ 

42,468  $ 

1,669,251  $  21,052,576 

(in thousands)
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2021
Net interest revenue
Provision for credit losses
Net interest revenue after 

provision for credit losses

Noninterest revenue
Noninterest expense
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net income
Selected Financial Information
Total assets at end of period

(in thousands)
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2020
Net interest revenue
Provision for credit losses
Net interest revenue after provision 

for credit losses
Noninterest revenue
Noninterest expense
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net income
Selected Financial Information
Total assets at end of period

(in thousands)
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2019
Net interest revenue
Provision for credit losses
Net interest revenue after provision 

for credit losses
Noninterest revenue
Noninterest expense
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Net income
Selected Financial Information
Total assets at end of period

160

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  table  shows  revenue  disaggregated  by  operating  segment  for  non-interest  revenue  type  as  of  the 

following years:

(in thousands)
Year ended December 31, 2021
Noninterest Income

In Scope of Topic 606

Credit card, debit card and 
merchant fees
Deposit service charges
Insurance commissions
Trust income
Brokerage commissions and 
fees

Total noninterest income (in-
scope of Topic 606)
Total noninterest income (out-
of-scope of Topic 606)
Total noninterest income

(in thousands)
Year ended December 31, 2020
Noninterest Income

In Scope of Topic 606

Credit card, debit card and 
merchant fees
Deposit service charges
Insurance commissions
Trust income
Brokerage commissions and 
fees

Total noninterest income (in-
scope of Topic 606)
Total noninterest income (out-
of-scope of Topic 606)
Total noninterest income

Corporate 
Banking

Community 
Banking

Mortgage

Insurance 
Agencies

Banking 
Services

General 
Corporate 
and Other

Total

$ 

76  $ 

2,600 
— 
— 

35,367  $ 
41,047 
— 
— 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 

—  $ 
— 
  135,183 
— 

—  $  10,076  $  45,519 
43,986 
188 
151 
  135,183 
— 
— 
22,190 
— 
22,190 

— 

— 

— 

— 

16,731 

— 

16,731 

2,676 

76,414 

— 

  135,183 

39,072 

10,264 

  263,609 

4,092 
6,768  $ 

$ 

8,450 
  114,544 
84,864  $  57,912  $  137,529  $  42,705  $  48,375  $  378,153 

38,111 

57,912 

3,633 

2,346 

Banking
Services
Group

Mortgage

Insurance
Agencies

Wealth
Management

General
Corporate
and Other

Total

$ 

38,247  $ 
37,929 
— 
— 

— 

76,176 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 

—  $ 
— 
125,286 
— 

—  $ 
— 
— 
16,025 

— 

— 

— 

9,973 

125,286 

25,998 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

38,247 
37,929 
125,286 
16,025 

9,973 

227,460 

5,616 
81,792  $ 

86,295 
86,295  $ 

5,453 
130,739  $ 

2,530 
28,528  $ 

$ 

9,150 
9,150  $ 

109,044 
336,504 

161

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Year ended December 31, 2019
Noninterest Income

In Scope of Topic 606

Credit card, debit card and 
merchant fees
Deposit service charges
Insurance commissions
Trust income
Brokerage commissions and 
fees

Total noninterest income (in-
scope of Topic 606)
Total noninterest income (out-
of-scope of Topic 606)
Total noninterest income

Banking
Services
Group

Mortgage

Insurance
Agencies

Wealth
Management

General
Corporate
and Other

Total

$ 

38,656  $ 
46,015 
— 
— 

— 

84,671 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 

—  $ 
— 
123,291 
— 

—  $ 
— 
— 
16,042 

— 

— 

— 

7,937 

123,291 

23,979 

—  $ 
— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

38,656 
46,015 
123,291 
16,042 

7,937 

231,941 

11,444 
96,115  $ 

19,786 
19,786  $ 

2,393 
125,684  $ 

3,383 
27,362  $ 

11,734 
11,734  $ 

48,740 
280,681 

$ 

NOTE 21. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company primarily uses derivatives to manage exposure to market risk, including interest rate risk, credit risk and 
foreign  currency  risk,  and  to  assist  customers  with  their  risk  management  objectives.  Management  may  designate  certain 
derivatives as hedging instruments in a qualifying hedge accounting relationship. The Company’s derivative instruments consist 
of  economic  hedges  that  do  not  qualify  for  hedge  accounting  and  derivatives  held  for  customer  accommodation,  or  other 
purposes.

The fair value of derivative positions outstanding is included in other assets and other liabilities in the accompanying 
consolidated  balance  sheets  and  in  the  net  change  in  each  of  these  financial  statement  line  items  in  the  accompanying 
consolidated statements of cash flows. For derivatives not designated as hedging instruments or determined to be an ineffective 
hedge under the accounting guidance, gains and losses due to changes in fair value are included in noninterest income and the 
operating  section  of  the  consolidated  statement  of  cash  flows.  For  derivatives  designated  as  hedging  instruments,  the  entire 
change in the fair value related to the derivative instrument is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income and 
subsequently  reclassified  into  interest  income  when  the  forecasted  transaction  affects  income.  The  notional  amounts  and 
estimated fair values as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

(In thousands)

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

 Fair Value 

 Fair Value 

 Notional 
Amount 

 Other 
Assets 

 Other 
Liabilities 

 Notional 
Amount 

 Other 
Assets 

 Other 
Liabilities 

Risk participation agreements

$  656,135  $  20,150  $ 

3,518  $  714,364  $ 

—  $  50,640 

Commercial loan interest rate swaps

 1,039,260 

12,725 

3,645 

89,492 

2,577 

2,885 

Commercial loan interest rate caps

Commercial loan interest rate floors
Mortgage loan held-for-sale interest rate lock 
commitments
U.S. Treasury futures (used to hedge MSR, see 
Note 18) 

Mortgage loan forward sale commitments
Mortgage loan held-for-sale floating 
commitments

Foreign exchange contracts

Total derivatives

162

  106,042 

  336,200 

44 

44 

4,798 

4,798 

— 

— 

— 

— 

  189,765 

4,675 

21 

  406,998 

16,800 

78,000 

  298,398 

337 

70,491 

732 

218 

— 

155 

6 

28,500 

50 

371 

  446,017 

3,115 

2,794 

— 

181 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

$ 2,774,628  $  43,497  $  12,584  $ 1,685,371  $  22,542  $  56,340 

— 

— 

21 

— 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company is party to collateral support agreements with certain derivative counterparties. Such agreements require 
that the Company maintain collateral based on the fair values of derivative transactions. In the event of default by the Company, 
the counterparty would be entitled to the collateral. At December 31, 2021, the Company was required to post $22.2 million in 
cash or securities as collateral for its derivative transactions, which are included in “interest-bearing deposits in banks” on the 
Company’s consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the Company had recorded the obligation to return cash collateral provided 
by  counterparties  of  $0.3  million  as  of  December  31,  2021  within  deposits  on  the  Company’s  consolidated  balance  sheet. 
Certain financial instruments, such as derivatives, may be eligible for offset in the consolidated balance sheet and/or subject to 
master netting arrangements or similar agreements. The Company’s derivative transactions with upstream financial institution 
counterparties are generally executed under International Swaps and Derivative Association master agreements which include 
“right of set-off” provisions. In such cases, there is generally a legally enforceable right to offset recognized amounts and there 
may be an intention to settle such amounts on a net basis. Nonetheless, the Company does not generally offset such financial 
instruments for financial reporting purposes.

The Company records gains and losses for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments in noninterest income on 
the consolidated statements of income. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, mortgage loans held for sale 
interest rate lock commitments incurred losses of $18.5 million, gains of $19.6 million, and gains of $2.9 million, respectively. 
The Company acquired foreign exchange contracts in the merger with Legacy Cadence during 2021. Foreign exchange contract 
gains totaled $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The Company enters into certain interest rate swaps, floors, and caps on commercial loans that are not designated as 
hedging instruments. These derivative contracts relate to transactions in which the Company enters into an interest agreement 
with a loan customer while at the same time entering into an offsetting interest rate agreement with another financial institution. 
In  connection  with  each  swap  transaction,  the  Company  agrees  to  pay  interest  to  the  customer  on  a  notional  amount  at  a 
variable interest rate and receive interest from the customer on a similar notional amount at a fixed interest rate. At the same 
time,  the  Company  agrees  to  pay  another  financial  institution  the  same  fixed  interest  rate  on  the  same  notional  amount  and 
receive the same variable interest rate on the same notional amount. The interest rate swap transaction allows the Company’s 
customer  to  effectively  convert  a  variable  rate  loan  to  a  fixed  rate.  The  interest  rate  cap  transaction  allows  the  Company’s 
customer to minimize interest rate risk exposure to rising interest rates. Because the Company acts as an intermediary for its 
customer,  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  the  underlying  derivative  contracts  for  the  most  part  offset  each  other  and  do  not 
significantly impact the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of 
nonperformance by the parties to the interest rate agreements. However, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by 
the counterparties. The estimated fair value has been recorded as an asset and a corresponding liability in the accompanying 
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

The  Company  has  both  bought  and  sold  credit  protection  in  the  form  of  participations  on  interest  rate  swaps  (swap 
participations).  These  swap  participations,  which  meet  the  definition  of  credit  derivatives,  were  entered  into  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  business  to  serve  the  credit  needs  of  customers.  Swap  participations,  whereby  the  Company  has  purchased  credit 
protection,  entitle  the  Company  to  receive  a  payment  from  the  counterparty  if  the  customer  fails  to  make  payment  on  any 
amounts  due  to  the  Company  upon  early  termination  of  the  swap  transaction.  For  contracts  where  the  Company  sold  credit 
protection, the Company would be required to make payment to the counterparty if the customer fails to make payment on any 
amounts due to the counterparty upon early termination of the swap transaction.

Other  derivative  instruments  held  by  the  Company  include  commitments  to  fund  fixed-rate  mortgage  loans  to 
customers and forward commitments to sell individual, fixed-rate mortgage loans. The Company’s objective in obtaining the 
forward  commitments  is  to  mitigate  the  interest  rate  risk  associated  with  the  commitments  to  fund  the  fixed-rate  mortgage 
loans.  Both  the  commitments  to  fund  fixed-rate  mortgage  loans  and  the  forward  commitments  to  sell  individual  fixed-rate 
mortgage loans are reported at fair value, with adjustments being recorded in current period earnings, and are not accounted for 
as hedges.

163

NOTE 22. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Leases

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases was 
14.1  years  and  13.7  years,  respectively,  and  the  weighted  average  discount  rate  used  in  the  measurement  of  operating  lease 
liabilities was 2.6% and 3.1% at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Lease costs were as follows at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)
Operating lease costs
Short-term lease costs
Variable lease costs
Sublease income
Total operating lease costs

2021

2020

11,150  $ 
— 
1,270 
(187)   
12,233  $ 

8,861 
— 
1,233 
(29) 
10,065 

$ 

$ 

There were no leveraged leases or lease transactions with related parties during the years ended December 31, 2021 

and 2020. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no leases that had not yet commenced.

For leases that may contain renewal options or options to extend the lease term, the Company is reasonably certain to 
do  so,  therefore,  these  extended  terms  are  included  in  our  lease  liability  calculation.  A  maturity  analysis  of  operating  lease 
liabilities is included in the table below as of December 31, 2021:

(In thousands)
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total future minimum lease payments
Discount effect of cash flows
Present value of net future minimum lease payments

Amount

21,218 
21,218 
19,403 
18,604 
18,602 
155,348 
254,393 
44,334 
210,059 

$ 

$ 

As  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  the  Company’s  operating  lease  ROU  assets  were  $194.8  million  and  $70.4 

million, respectively, and ROU liabilities were $211.0 million and $72.2 million, respectively.

Mortgage Loans Serviced for Others

The  Company  services  mortgage  loans  for  others  that  are  not  included  as  assets  in  the  Company’s  accompanying 
consolidated financial statements. Included in the $7.6 billion of loans serviced for investors at December 31, 2021 was $1.5 
million  of  primary  recourse  servicing  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  is  responsible  for  any  losses  incurred  in  the  event  of 
nonperformance by the mortgagor. The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of such nonperformance is the unpaid 
principal balance at the time of default. This exposure is limited by the underlying collateral, which consists of single family 
residences and either federal or private mortgage insurance.

Lending Commitments

The consolidated financial statements do not reflect various commitments and contingent liabilities which arise in the 
normal course of banking business and which involve elements of credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. Such financial 
instruments are recorded when they are funded. As of December 31, 2021, these included $360.5 million in letters of credit and 
$9.2  billion  in  extensions  of  credit  such  as  interim  mortgage  financing,  construction  credit,  credit  card  and  revolving  line  of 
credit arrangements.

Commitments to extend credit and letters of credit include some exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance 
of  the  customer.  Commitments  to  extend  credit  are  agreements  to  lend  to  a  customer  as  long  as  there  is  no  violation  of  any 
condition  established  in  the  contract.  In  addition,  the  Company  has  entered  certain  contingent  commitments  to  grant  loans. 

164

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The 
credit  policies  and  procedures  for  such  commitments  are  the  same  as  those  used  for  lending  activities.  Because  these 
instruments have fixed maturity dates and because a number expire without being drawn upon, they generally do not present 
any significant liquidity risk. The Company did not realize significant credit losses from these commitments and arrangements 
during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.

Other Commitments

The Company makes investments in limited partnerships, including certain low-income housing partnerships for which 
tax credits are received. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, unfunded capital commitments totaled $123.1 million and $27.1 
million, respectively. See Note 24 for more information.

Litigation

The nature of the Company’s business ordinarily results in certain types of claims, litigation, investigations and legal 
and administrative cases and proceedings. Although the Company and its subsidiaries have developed policies and procedures 
to  minimize  legal  noncompliance  and  the  impact  of  claims  and  other  proceedings  and  endeavored  to  procure  reasonable 
amounts of insurance coverage, litigation and regulatory actions present an ongoing risk.

The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  are  engaged  in  lines  of  business  that  are  heavily  regulated  and  involve  a  large 
volume of financial transactions and potential transactions with numerous customers or applicants, and the Company is a public 
company  with  a  large  number  of  shareholders.  From  time  to  time,  applicants,  borrowers,  customers,  shareholders,  former 
employees  and  other  third  parties  have  brought  actions  against  the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries,  in  some  cases  claiming 
substantial damages. Financial services companies are subject to the risk of class action litigation, and, from time to time, the 
Company  and  its  subsidiaries  are  subject  to  such  actions  brought  against  it.  Additionally,  the  Company  is,  and  management 
expects it to be, engaged in a number of foreclosure proceedings and other collection actions as part of its lending and leasing 
collections  activities,  which,  from  time  to  time,  have  resulted  in  counterclaims  against  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries. 
Various  legal  proceedings  have  arisen  and  may  arise  in  the  future  out  of  claims  against  entities  to  which  the  Company  is  a 
successor as a result of business combinations. The Company and its subsidiaries may also be subject to enforcement actions by 
federal  or  state  regulators,  including  the  FDIC,  the  Consumer  Financial  Protection  Bureau  (the  “CFPB”),  the  United  States 
Department of Justice (the “DOJ”), state attorneys general and the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance 
(the “MDBCF”).

When and as the Company determines it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted, it vigorously defends against 
such  claims.  The  Company  will  consider  settlement  of  claims  when,  in  management’s  judgment  and  in  consultation  with 
counsel, it is in the best interests of the Company to do so.

The  Company  cannot  predict  with  certainty  the  cost  of  defense,  the  cost  of  prosecution  or  the  ultimate  outcome  of 
litigation  and  other  proceedings  filed  by  or  against  it,  its  subsidiaries  and  its  directors,  management  or  employees,  including 
remedies or damage awards. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection 
with  outstanding  legal  proceedings  as  well  as  certain  threatened  claims  (which  are  not  considered  incidental  to  the  ordinary 
conduct of the Company’s business) utilizing the latest and most reliable information available. For matters where a loss is not 
probable or the amount of the loss cannot be estimated, no accrual is established. For matters where it is probable the Company 
will incur a loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company establishes an accrual for the loss. Once established, 
the accrual is adjusted periodically to reflect any relevant developments. The actual cost of any outstanding legal proceedings 
and  the  potential  loss,  however,  may  turn  out  to  be  substantially  higher  than  the  amount  accrued.  Further,  the  Company’s 
insurance policies have deductibles and coverage limits, and such policies will likely not cover all costs and expenses related to 
the defense or prosecution of such legal proceedings or any losses arising therefrom.

Although the final outcome of any legal proceedings is inherently uncertain, based on the information available, advice 
of  counsel  and  available  insurance  coverage,  if  applicable,  management  believes  that  the  litigation-related  liability  of  $0.6 
million  accrued  as  of  December  31,  2021  is  adequate  and  that  any  incremental  change  in  potential  liability  arising  from  the 
Company’s legal proceedings and threatened claims, including the matters described herein and those otherwise arising in the 
ordinary  course  of  business,  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s  business  or  consolidated  results  of 
operations or financial condition. It is possible, however, that future developments could result in an unfavorable outcome for 
or resolution of any one or more of the legal proceedings in which the Company or its subsidiaries are defendants, which may 
be material to the Company’s business or consolidated results of operations or financial condition for a particular fiscal period 
or periods.

On August 30, 2021, Legacy Cadence Bank and the DOJ agreed to a settlement set forth in the consent order related to 
the investigation by the DOJ of Legacy Cadence Bank’s fair lending program in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties 
located in Houston, Texas during the period between 2014 and 2016 (the “Consent Order”). The Consent Order was signed by 
the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, on August 31, 2021. Pursuant to Section 

165

5.2 of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Paragraph 50 of the Consent Order, Legacy BancorpSouth Bank approved the 
negotiated  settlement,  and  subsequently,  the  Company  agreed  to  accept  the  obligations  of  the  Consent  Order.  The  Consent 
Order is in effect for five years. For additional information regarding the terms of this settlement and the Consent Order, see 
Legacy Cadence’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on August 30, 2021.

NOTE 23. OTHER NONINTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE

The following table details other noninterest income for the three years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:

(In thousands)
Bank-owned life insurance
Other miscellaneous income

Total other noninterest income

2021

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

11,180  $ 
23,548 
34,728  $ 

8,181  $ 
14,337 
22,518  $ 

9,632 
18,322 
27,954 

The  following  table  details  other  noninterest  expense  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2021,  2020,  and  2019:

(In thousands)
Advertising and public relations
Foreclosed property expense
Telecommunications
Amortization of intangibles
Legal fees
Postage and shipping
Other miscellaneous expense

Total other noninterest expense

2021

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

10,780  $ 
4,548 
6,240 
12,616 
4,036 
6,050 
56,678 
100,948  $ 

6,908  $ 
4,074 
5,883 
9,605 
3,431 
5,256 
51,488 
86,645  $ 

8,557 
2,868 
5,663 
9,118 
3,555 
5,263 
57,874 
92,898 

NOTE 24. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Under ASC 810-10-65, the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and required to consolidate a variable 
interest  entity  (“VIE”)  if  it  has  a  variable  interest  in  the  VIE  that  provides  it  with  a  controlling  financial  interest.  For  such 
purposes,  the  determination  of  whether  a  controlling  financial  interest  exists  is  based  on  whether  a  single  party  has  both  the 
power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to 
absorb the losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. ASC 
810-10-65  requires  continual  reconsideration  of  conclusions  reached  regarding  which  interest  holder  is  a  VIE’s  primary 
beneficiary.

The Company is invested in several tax credit projects as a limited partner. The Company has determined that these 
structures meet the definition of a VIE but that consolidation is not required, as the Company is not the primary beneficiary. At 
December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss associated with these limited partnerships was limited 
to its investment. Most of the investments are in affordable housing projects. The partnerships have qualified to receive annual 
affordable  housing  federal  tax  credits  that  are  recognized  as  a  reduction  of  current  tax  expense.  The  Company  accounts  for 
these investments and the related tax credits using either the effective yield method or the proportional amortization method, 
depending upon the date of the investment. Under the effective yield method, the Company recognizes the tax credits as they 
are  allocated  and  amortizes  the  initial  costs  of  the  investments  to  provide  a  constant  effective  yield  over  the  period  the  tax 
credits  are  allocated.  Under  the  proportional  amortization  method,  the  Company  amortizes  the  cost  of  the  investment  in 
proportion  to  the  tax  credits  and  other  tax  benefits  received  and  recognizes  the  net  investment  performance  in  the  income 
statement as a component of income tax expense. The Company also has, to a lesser degree, investments in new markets tax 
credit and historic tax credit projects. These types of investments are accounted for by either the deferred method or the flow-
through  method.  The  Company  has  elected  to  account  for  these  investments  using  the  flow-through  method  which  reduces 
federal  income  taxes  in  the  year  in  which  the  credit  arises.  At  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  the  Company  had  recorded 
investments in other assets on its consolidated balance sheets of approximately $140.6 million and $16.4 million, respectively, 
related to these investments.

166

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Additionally,  the  Company  has  investments  in  other  certain  limited  partnerships  accounted  for  under  the  fair  value 
practical  expedient  of  net  asset  value  (“NAV”)  totaling  $46.8  million  and  $3.5  million  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020, 
respectively. The Company recognized gains of $1.6 million and $266 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 
2020, respectively, related to these assets recorded at fair value through net income. Other limited partnerships without readily 
determinable fair values that do not qualify for the practical expedient are accounted for at their cost minus impairment, plus or 
minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the 
same issuer. These investments totaled $4.6 million and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Other 
limited  partnerships  accounted  for  under  the  equity  method  totaled  $23.6  million  as  of  December  31,  2021.  There  were  no 
limited partnerships accounted for under the equity method as of December 31, 2020. The following table presents a summary 
of the Company’s investments in limited partnerships as of:

(In thousands)

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Tax credit investments (amortized cost)
Limited partnerships accounted for under the fair value practical expedient of 

$ 

140,619  $ 

NAV

Limited partnerships without readily determinable fair values that do not 
qualify for the practical expedient of NAV accounted for under the cost 
method

Limited partnerships required to be accounted for under the equity method

46,750 

4,563 

23,622 

Total investments in limited partnerships

$ 

215,554  $ 

16,395 

3,497 

526 

— 

20,418 

Equity investments with readily determinable fair values not held for trading are recorded at fair value, with changes in 
fair  value  reported  in  net  income  (see  Note  3).  Cadence  elected  a  measurement  alternative  to  fair  value  for  certain  equity 
investments  in  limited  partnerships  described  above  without  a  readily  determinable  fair  value.  During  the  years  and  as  of 
December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no downward and upward adjustments to these investments for impairments or price 
changes from observable transactions. The carrying amount of these equity investments in limited partnerships measured under 
the measurement alternative for the specified years are as follows:

(In thousands)

Carrying value, Beginning of Year

Legacy Cadence merger

Reclassifications

Distributions

Contributions

Carrying value, End of Year

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

$ 

$ 

526  $ 

3,668 

— 

(43)   

412 

4,563  $ 

337 

— 

255 

(73) 

7 

526 

The  Company  acquired  net  profits  interests  in  oil  and  gas  reserves,  in  connection  with  the  merger  with  Legacy 
Cadence.  The  Company  has  determined  that  these  contracts  meet  the  definition  of  VIE’s  under  Topic  ASC  810,  but  that 
consolidation is not required as the Bank is not the primary beneficiary. The net profits interests are financial instruments and 
recorded at estimated fair value, which was $2.0 million at December 31, 2021, representing the maximum exposure to loss as 
of that date.

167

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

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

CONCLUSION REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND 
PROCEDURES

The Company, with the participation of its management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Financial  Officer,  carried  out  an  evaluation  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  design  and  operation  of  its  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this 
Report.

Based upon that evaluation and as of the end of the period covered by this Report, the Company’s Chief Executive 
Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  concluded  that  the  Company’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  were  effective  in 
ensuring  that  information  required  to  be  disclosed  in  its  reports  that  the  Company  files  or  submits  to  the  FDIC  under  the 
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis.

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Company has included a report of management’s assessment 
of the design and operating effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting as part of this Report. The Company’s 
independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  reported  on  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting. Management’s report and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report are included in Item 8 of this 
Report  under  the  captions  entitled  “Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting”  and  “Report  of 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The  Company  is  working  to  integrate  Legacy  Cadence  into  its  overall  internal  control  over  financial  reporting 
processes. Except for changes made in connection with this integration of Legacy Cadence there have been no changes in the 
Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  that  occurred  during  the  fourth  fiscal  quarter  ended  December  31,  2021 
covered  by  this  Report  that  materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the  Company’s  internal  control 
over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The required information regarding our executive officers is included under the section captioned “Information about 

our Executive Officers” in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.

MATERIAL  CHANGES  TO  PROCEDURES  BY  WHICH  SECURITY  HOLDERS  MAY  RECOMMEND 
NOMINEES

The  Company  has  not  made  any  material  changes  to  the  procedures  by  which  its  shareholders  may  recommend 
nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors since the date of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual 
Meeting of Shareholders.

168

CERTAIN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS

The  Company  has  adopted  a  Code  of  Business  Conduct  and  Ethics  that  applies  to  its  directors,  officers,  and 
employees. The Company has also adopted Corporate Governance Principles for its Board of Directors. These documents, as 
well as the links to charters of the Audit Committee, Executive Compensation and Stock Incentive Committee and Nominating 
and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  are  available  on  the  Company’s  website  at  https://
ir.cadencebank.com on the Investors Relations webpage under the captions “Corporate Information - Governance Documents” 
and “- Board Committees,” or shareholders may request a free copy of these documents from:

Cadence Bank
Attn: Corporate Secretary
One Mississippi Plaza
201 South Spring Street
Tupelo, Mississippi 38804
(662) 680-2000

The Company intends to disclose any amendments to its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and any waiver from a 

provision of the code on the Company’s website within four business days following such amendment or waiver.

The  other  information  required  by  this  Item  10  will  be  presented  in,  and  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to, 
Cadence’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the FDIC within 
120 days of December 31, 2021.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The information required by this Item 11 will be presented in, and is incorporated herein by reference to, Cadence’s 
Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the FDIC within 120 days of 
December 31, 2021.

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

The  following  table  provides  information  as  of  December  31,  2021  with  respect  to  compensation  plans  (including 

individual compensation arrangements) under which shares of Company common stock are authorized for issuance:

Plan Category

Equity compensation plans approved 

by shareholders (1)

Number of Securities
to be Issued upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
(a)

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
(b)

Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance under
Equity Compensation
Plans (excluding securities
related to column (a))
(c)

— 

$27.40  

4,240,973 

(1) Excludes  1,323,069  restricted  shares  that  were  nonvested,  2,288,759  restricted  stock  units  that  were  nonvested  and 
1,215,576  performance  shares  that  were  unearned  as  of  December  31,  2021.  Equity  compensation  plans  approved  by 
shareholders include the BancorpSouth Equity Incentive Plan for Non-employee Directors, the BancorpSouth Bank Long-
Term  Equity  Incentive  Plan,  the  BancorpSouth  2021  Long-Term  Equity  Incentive  Plan  and  the  Legacy  Cadence  2015 
Omnibus Incentive Plan.

The  other  information  required  by  this  Item  12  will  be  presented  in,  and  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to, 
Cadence’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the FDIC within 
120 days of December 31, 2021.

169

 
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR 
INDEPENDENCE.

The information required by this Item 13 will be presented in, and is incorporated herein by reference to Cadence’s 
Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the FDIC within 120 days of 
December 31, 2021.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

The information required by this Item 14 will be presented in, and is incorporated herein by reference to Cadence’s 
Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed with the FDIC within 120 days of 
December 31, 2021.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(2)

(3)

(4)

a) Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of July 26, 2017, by and between BancorpSouth, Inc. and 

BancorpSouth Bank. (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC 
on July 27, 2017 (file number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

b) Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of August 15, 2017, by and between 
BancorpSouth, Inc. and BancorpSouth Bank. (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 
8-K filed with the SEC on August 15, 2017 (file number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference 
thereto).

c) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 12, 2021, and as amended on May 27, 2021, by and 

between BancorpSouth Bank and Cadence Bancorporation. (Filed as Annex A to the Company’s Definitive 
Proxy Statement/Prospectus on Schedule 14A filed with the FDIC on July 7, 2021 and incorporated herein by 
reference thereto).

a) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s 

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on November 1, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference 
thereto).

b) Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (Filed as 

Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the FDIC on November 20, 2019 and incorporated herein 
by reference thereto).

c) Articles of Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of the Company. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 
to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on October 29, 2021 and incorporated 
herein by reference thereto).

d) Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on 

Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on November 1, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
e) First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (Filed as Exhibit 3(d) to the 

f)

Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the FDIC on 
February 25, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on October 29, 2021 and incorporated herein by 
reference thereto).

a) Specimen Common Stock Certificate. (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K 

filed with the FDIC on November 1, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

b) Form of Certificate Representing the Series A Preferred Stock. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 

8-A filed with the FDIC on November 20, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

c) Fiscal and Paying Agency agreement, dated November 20, 2019, between BancorpSouth Bank and U.S. Bank 
National Association. (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the FDIC on November 20, 
2019 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

170

d) Form of Global Subordinated Note, dated November 20, 2019, made by BancorpSouth Bank. (Filed as 

Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the FDIC on November 20, 2019 and incorporated herein 
by reference thereto).

e) Description of the Company’s Capital Stock. (Filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with 

the FDIC on February 27, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

(10)

a) BancorpSouth, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated. (Filed with the SEC 

as Exhibit 10(A) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (file 
number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

b) Amendment to the BancorpSouth, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. (Filed with the SEC as 

Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 
2012 (file number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

c) Amended and Restated BancorpSouth Bank Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. (Filed as Exhibit 10(c) to the 
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the FDIC on 
February 25, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

d) BancorpSouth, Inc. Amended and Restated Executive Performance Incentive Plan., effective January 1, 2020 
(Filed as Exhibit 10(e) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the FDIC on February 27, 
2020 and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

e) Form of Performance Share Award Agreement. (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2007 (file number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference 
thereto). †
Form of Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Agreement. (Filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10(E) 
to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2013 (file number 
1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

f)

g) Amended and Restated BancorpSouth Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors. (Filed as Exhibit 
10(g) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the 
FDIC on February 25, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

h) Amendment to BancorpSouth, Inc. Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. (Filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10(D) 

to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (file number 1-12991) 
and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

i) BancorpSouth, Inc. Restoration Plan, as amended and restated. (Filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10(F) to the 

Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (file number 1-12991) and 
incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

j) BancorpSouth, Inc. Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan. (Filed with the SEC as Exhibit 

10(G) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (file number 
1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

k) Description of Dividend Reinvestment Plan. (Filed with the SEC as the Company’s prospectus pursuant to 
Rule 424(b)(2) filed on January 5, 2004 (Registration No. 033-03009) and incorporated herein by reference 
thereto). †
Form of BancorpSouth Bank Change in Control Agreement. (Filed as Exhibit 10(t) to the Company’s Annual 
Report on Form 10-K filed with the FDIC on February 27, 2020). †

l)

m) BancorpSouth, Inc. Deferred Directors’ Fee Unfunded Plan, as amended and restated. (Filed with the SEC as 
Exhibit 10(U) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (file 
number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

n) Employment Details for Chris Bagley. (Filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10(PP) to the Company’s Annual 

Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (file number 1-12991) and incorporated herein 
by reference thereto).

o) Consent Order. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on 

June 29, 2016 (file number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

p) Order Terminating Consent Order, dated January 27, 2020. (Filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10(aa) to the 

Company’s Current Report on form 10-K filed with the FDIC on February 27, 2020 and incorporated herein 
by reference thereto).

q) Retirement and Consulting Agreement, dated September 26, 2017, by and between BancorpSouth, Inc., 

BancorpSouth Bank and James R. Hodges. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 
8-K filed with the SEC on October 2, 2017 (file-number 1-12991) and incorporated herein by reference 
thereto). †

171

r) BancorpSouth Split Dollar Life Insurance Plan, as amended and restated. (Filed as Exhibit 10(gg) to the 

Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the FDIC on February 26, 2018 and incorporated herein 
by reference thereto). †

s) Cadence Bank, N.A. Consent Order, dated August 30, 2021.*
t) Letter Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2021, by and between BancorpSouth Bank and James D. Rollins, III. 
(Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on April 16, 2021 
and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

u) Letter Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2021, by and between BancorpSouth Bank and Chris A. Bagley. 

(Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on April 16, 2021 
and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

v) Letter Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2021, by and between BancorpSouth Bank and Paul B. Murphy, Jr. 
(Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on April 16, 2021 
and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

w) Letter Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2021, by and between BancorpSouth Bank and Rudolph H. Holmes, 

IV. (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on April 16, 
2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

x) Letter Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2021, by and between BancorpSouth Bank and Valerie C. Toalson. 
(Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on April 16, 2021 
and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †

y) Amendment to the BancorpSouth Amended and Restated Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. (Filed as Exhibit 

99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on March 11, 2021). †

z) BancorpSouth 2021 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current 

Report on Form 8-K filed with the FDIC on April 30, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto). †
aa) Form of Retention Award Agreement for Performance Units issued pursuant to the BancorpSouth Bank 2021 
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
with the FDIC on October 29, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

ab) Form of Retention Award Agreement for Performance Units issued pursuant to the BancorpSouth Bank 2021 
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
with the FDIC on October 29, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).

(21) Subsidiaries of the Registrant.*

(31.1) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Cadence Bank pursuant to Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002.*

(31.2) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Cadence Bank pursuant to Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002.*

(32.1) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Cadence Bank pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted 

pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**

(32.2) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Cadence Bank pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted 

pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**

† 

* 

** 

    Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Filed herewith.

Furnished herewith.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

None.

172

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.

SIGNATURES

DATE:

February 25, 2022

CADENCE BANK

By: /s/ James D. Rollins III

James D. Rollins III

Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act 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.

/s/ James D. Rollins III

James D. Rollins III

/s/ Valerie C. Toalson

Valerie C. Toalson

/s/ Paul B. Murphy Jr.

Paul B. Murphy Jr.

/s/ Larry G. Kirk

Larry G. Kirk

/s/ Gus J. Blass III

Gus J. Blass III

/s/ Shannon A. Brown

Shannon A. Brown

/s/ Deborah M. Cannon

Deborah M. Cannon

/s/ Charlotte N. Corley

Charlotte N. Corley

/s/ Joseph W. Evans

Joseph W. Evans

/s/ J. Richard Fredericks

J. Richard Fredericks

/s/ Virginia A. Hepner

Virginia A. Hepner

/s/ William G. Holliman

William G. Holliman

/s/ Warren A. Hood Jr.

Warren A. Hood Jr.

/s/ Keith J. Jackson

Keith J. Jackson

/s/ Precious W. Owodunni

Precious W. Owodunni

/s/ Alan W. Perry

Alan W. Perry

/s/ Marc J. Shapiro

Marc J. Shapiro

/s/ Thomas R. Stanton

Thomas R. Stanton

/s/ Kathy N. Waller

Kathy N. Waller

/s/ J. Thomas Wiley Jr.

J. Thomas Wiley Jr.

Chief Executive Officer (Principal

February 25, 2022

Executive Officer) and Chairman

Senior Executive Vice President

February 25, 2022

and Chief Financial Officer (Principal 
Accounting Officer

Executive Vice Chairman

February 25, 2022

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

173

 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 1 of 21

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA 
ATLANTA DIVISION 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CADENCE BANK, N.A, 

Defendant. 

) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
) 
_) 

Civil Action No. 

1:21-cv-03586-JPB 

CONSENT ORDER 

The United States of America and Cadence Bank, N.A. (“Cadence Bank,” 

“Cadence,” or the “Bank”) jointly submit this Consent Order for approval and 

entry by the Court to resolve the claims of the United States under the Fair 

Housing Act (“FHA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619 and the Equal Credit Opportunity 

Act (“ECOA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1691-1691f. 

I. 

Introduction and Background 

1. 

In the Complaint filed simultaneously with this Consent Order, the 

United States alleged that Cadence Bank engaged in a pattern or practice of 

unlawful redlining in violation of the FHA and ECOA, by discriminating on the 

basis of race, color, and national origin.  Specifically, the United States alleged that 

1 

Exhibit 10(s) 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 2 of 21

the Bank engaged in illegal redlining by avoiding providing home loans and other 

home mortgage services in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in and 

around Houston, Texas. 

2. 

There has been no factual finding or adjudication in this case. The 

parties enter into this Consent Order to voluntarily resolve the United States’ 

claims in a manner consistent with the Bank’s legitimate business interests and to 

avoid the risks, expense, and burdens of litigation. The Bank denies any liability, 

wrongdoing, or non-compliance with the provisions of the FHA and ECOA. 

3. 

The Bank represented to the United States that it improved its internal 

fair lending compliance and monitoring controls and increased its lending in 

majority-Black and Hispanic areas within the Houston assessment area through the 

development of new loan products, new marketing strategies, increased community 

investment, hiring of community lending specialists, strategic partnerships with 

local housing groups, and additional community outreach initiatives. The Bank 

adopted these strategies and initiatives before entry of this Consent Order. 

II.  Terms of the Order 

A.  Lending Practices 

4. 

The Bank, including all of its agents, successors, and assigns, is 

enjoined from engaging in any act or practice that discriminates on the basis of 

race, color, or national origin that: (1) violates the FHA in any aspect of a 

2 

 
 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 3 of 21

residential real estate-related transaction; or (2) violates ECOA in any aspect of a 

credit transaction. 

5. 

The Bank will ensure that it offers and provides all persons with an 

equal opportunity to apply for and obtain credit, regardless of the demographic 

composition of the area in which a person lives or the location of the property 

securing the loan. 

6. 

For purposes of this Consent Order, the Bank’s “Houston assessment 

area” consists of Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. 

7. 

For purposes of this Consent Order, a “majority-Black and Hispanic” 

census tract is one where more than 50 percent of the residents are identified as 

either “Black or African American” or “Hispanic or Latino” by the United States 

Census Bureau.  A “majority-white” census tract is one where more than 50 

percent of the residents are identified as “non-Hispanic white” by the United States 

Census Bureau. 

B. 

Fair Lending Compliance Consultant and Fair Lending Plan 

8.  Within 120 days of the date this Consent Order is entered (“Effective 

Date”), the Bank will submit to the United States a detailed evaluation of the 

Bank’s fair lending program as it relates to fair lending obligations and lending in 

majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area. The 

evaluation will include: (1) a review and recommended revisions, as necessary, of 

3 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 4 of 21

the Bank’s fair lending policies and practices; (2) an analysis of the Bank’s policies 

and practices related to selecting and maintaining branch locations; (3) an analysis 

of loan officers’ solicitation of applications, training, and oversight; (4) an analysis 

of marketing; (5) consideration of the Bank’s initiatives set forth in Paragraph 3 of 

this Consent Order; and (6) an analysis of existing fair lending compliance 

monitoring. 

9. 

The assessment will be conducted by an independent, qualified third- 

party consultant selected by the Bank and approved by the United States. Within 

60 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit the qualifications of the third- 

party consultant to the United States for approval. 

10.  Within 150 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit a Fair 

Lending Plan to the United States for approval. The Fair Lending Plan will explain 

which of the consultant’s recommendations it will adopt and when and how it will 

adopt and implement them. If the Bank declines to adopt or implement a 

recommendation, the report will include an explanation of the decision. 

11. 

The Bank will begin implementing its Fair Lending Plan within 14 

days of receiving approval from the United States. Any material changes to the 

Bank’s Fair Lending Plan must be approved by the United States. 

4 

 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 5 of 21

12.  The Fair Lending Plan will include a monitoring program that 

involves periodic statistical analyses of mortgage underwriting, pricing, and 

redlining risk. 

C. 

Fair Lending Training 

13.  Within 30 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will provide a copy of 

this Consent Order to all employees with substantive involvement in mortgage 

lending, marketing, or fair lending or CRA compliance, or who have management 

responsibility over such employees; senior management with fair lending and 

advertising oversight; and members of the Board of Directors (collectively, “the 

Relevant Bank Staff and Officials”). The Bank will provide an opportunity for the 

Relevant Bank Staff and Officials to ask any questions concerning the Consent 

Order and will provide answers. The Bank will implement a system for each 

individual to acknowledge that they received a copy of this Consent Order and had 

the opportunity to ask questions.  The Bank will provide a report that includes 

these acknowledgements to the United States within 45 days of the Effective Date. 

14.  Within 120 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will provide training 

to the Relevant Bank Staff and Officials on the Bank’s obligations under fair 

lending laws and this Consent Order. The training will be conducted by an 

independent, qualified third-party trainer selected by the Bank and approved by the 

United States.  Within 90 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit the 

5 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 6 of 21

qualifications of the third-party trainer and the proposed training curriculum to the 

United States for approval. The Bank will implement a system for each individual 

to acknowledge that they completed fair lending training. The Bank will provide a 

report that includes these acknowledgements to the United States within 150 days 

of the Effective Date. 

15.  The Bank will provide the training described in Paragraph 14 annually 

to the Relevant Bank Staff and Officials. The Bank will implement a system for 

each individual to acknowledge that they completed fair lending training.  The 

Bank will provide a report that includes these acknowledgements to the United 

States within 10 days of the training. Any proposed changes to the third-party 

trainer or the training curriculum must be approved by the United States. 

16.  Any individual who becomes a Relevant Bank Staff or Official will 

receive a copy of this Consent Order, with the opportunity to ask questions, as 

referenced in Paragraph 13, as well as the training referenced in Paragraph 14. The 

Bank will implement a system for each individual to acknowledge that they 

received a copy of this Consent Order, with the opportunity to ask questions, and 

that they completed fair lending training. The Bank will provide a report that 

includes these acknowledgements to the United States no later than 10 days after 

an individual becomes a Relevant Bank Staff or Official. 

17.  The Bank will bear all costs associated with the trainings. 

6 

 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 7 of 21

D.  Community Credit Needs Assessment 

18.  Within 120 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit a 

Community Credit Needs Assessment for majority-Black and Hispanic census 

tracts in the Houston assessment area to the United States. A Community Credit 

Needs Assessment is a research-based market study to help a lender identify the 

needs for financial services in an area. This assessment must include the following 

information about majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts within the Houston 

assessment area: (1) an evaluation of residential mortgage credit needs and current 

lending opportunities available in the area; (2) recent demographic information; (3) 

potential strategies to provide residential mortgage lending services in these census 

tracts; (4) a review of loan products offered by other lenders and their success in 

the market; and (5) an overview of federal, state, and local programs that are 

available to residents seeking and obtaining residential mortgage loans. 

19.  The Community Credit Needs Assessment will be conducted by an 

independent, qualified third-party consultant selected by the Bank and approved by 

the United States. Within 60 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit the 

qualifications of the third-party consultant to the United States for approval. 

20.  Within 120 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will provide a copy 

of the Community Credit Needs Assessment to the United States for approval. 

Once the United States has approved the Community Credit Needs Assessment, 

7 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 8 of 21

the Bank will present the assessment to all Bank committees and personnel 

responsible for overseeing fair lending compliance. 

E.  Director of Community Lending and Development 

21.  The Bank will designate a full-time Director of Community Lending 

and Development, whose primary responsibility will be overseeing the 

development of the Bank’s lending in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts 

(including in the Houston assessment area). The Director of Community Lending 

and Development will be an officer-level position that reports directly to the 

Executive Vice President of the Mortgage Division or similar officer. The Director 

of Community Lending and Development will provide reports on at least a 

quarterly basis to the Board of Directors and the Chairman and CEO regarding the 

following responsibilities: (1) monitoring loan officers’ solicitation and origination 

of loans in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment 

area, including the loan subsidy fund described in Section G; (2) coordinating the 

Bank’s involvement in community lending initiatives and outreach programs; (3) 

encouraging and developing more lending within majority-Black and Hispanic 

census tracts; (4) promoting financial education; (5) providing financial 

counseling; and (6) building relationships with community groups. 

8 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 9 of 21

F. 

Physical Expansion to Serve Majority-Black and Hispanic Census 
Tracts 

22.  Subject to appropriate regulatory approval, the Bank will open one 

new full-service branch located in a majority-Black and Hispanic census tract in 

the Houston assessment area within 12 months of the Effective Date. This branch 

will have signage that is visible to, and a location that is easily accessible to, the 

general public. The branch will provide the complete range of services offered at 

the Bank’s full-service branches and will accept first-lien mortgage loan 

applications.  The Bank will assign a mortgage loan officer to this branch full time. 

23.  The Bank will evaluate future opportunities for expansion within the 

Houston assessment area, whether by acquisition or opening new branches, and 

consider the goals of this Consent Order and the Community Credit Needs 

Assessment. The Bank must notify the United States of any plans to open or 

acquire any new branches or other offices within the Houston assessment area at 

the same time that it notifies its regulators. 

24.  Within 180 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will assign no fewer 

than four mortgage loan officers to actively solicit applications from majority- 

Black and Hispanic census tracts within the Houston assessment area. These 

mortgage loan officers must together cover all majority-Black and Hispanic census 

tracts within the Houston assessment area.  The compensation of mortgage loan 

9 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 10 of 21

officers working in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts should be 

comparable to the compensation of other mortgage loan officers. 

G.  Loan Subsidy Fund 

25.  The Bank will invest a minimum of $4.17 million in a loan subsidy 

program to increase the credit that the Bank offers for home mortgage loans, home 

improvement loans, and home refinance loans to residents in majority-Black and 

Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area. No more than twenty-five 

percent of the loan subsidy fund may be used for home refinances. The loan 

subsidy fund may be used for down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, 

mortgage insurance premiums, and any other appropriate assistance measures 

approved by the United States in writing. No applicant may receive a total subsidy 

greater than $10,000 per loan. 

26.  Under the loan subsidy fund, the Bank will subsidize loans made to 

“qualified applicants.” A “qualified applicant” is any applicant who: (1) qualifies 

for a loan under the Bank’s underwriting standards; and (2) applies for a loan 

secured by residential property located in a majority-Black and Hispanic census 

tract in the Houston assessment area that will serve as the borrower’s primary 

residence. 

27.  No provision of the Consent Order, including any loan subsidy or 

equivalent program, requires Cadence to make any unsafe or unsound loan or to 

10 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 11 of 21

make a loan to a person who is not qualified for the loan based upon lawful, 

nondiscriminatory terms; however, the Bank may choose to apply more flexible 

underwriting standards in connection with its programs under this Consent Order. 

The Bank’s underwriting standards applied to residents of majority-Black and 

Hispanic census tracts must be no less favorable than the standards applied in 

majority-white census tracts. 

H.  Community Development Partnership Program 

28. 

The Bank will partner with one or more community-based or 

governmental organizations that provide the residents of majority-Black and 

Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area with services related to 

credit, financial education, homeownership, and foreclosure prevention. The Bank 

will develop these partnerships in a manner consistent with achieving the goals of 

the Consent Order. Through these partnerships, the Bank must spend a minimum 

of $750,000 over the term of the Consent Order on services to residents of 

majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area that 

increase access to residential mortgage credit. 

29.  Within 180 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit a 

proposal to the United States describing how it will implement the requirements of 

Paragraph 28. The proposal will include an explanation of its proposed partner(s). 

The proposal should also describe, to the extent available, the Bank’s plans to 

11 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 12 of 21

implement the partnership(s). The proposal will be subject to the approval of the 

United States. 

30.  The Bank will evaluate the partnership(s) outlined in Paragraph 28 

annually, including by considering the Community Credit Needs Assessment, in 

order to identify any needed changes to the program or better assist residents of 

majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area in 

obtaining credit. The Bank will present a summary of its evaluation and any 

proposed changes to the United States as part of its annual reporting requirement 

under Paragraph 43. Any proposed changes will be subject to approval by the 

United States. 

I. 

Advertising, Community Outreach, Consumer Financial 
Education, and Credit Repair Initiatives 

31.  The Bank will spend at least $125,000 per year on advertising, 

outreach, consumer financial education, and credit repair counseling as described 

in this Section. 

32.  Within 90 days of the Effective Date, the Bank will submit an 

Advertising, Outreach, and Education Plan (“Outreach Plan”) to the United States 

detailing how it will spend these funds. The Outreach Plan will include an 

explanation of why the Bank selected certain strategies. The Outreach Plan is 

subject to the approval of the United States.  If the United States objects to any 

portion of the Outreach Plan, the Bank will make revisions and resubmit its 

12 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 13 of 21

proposal within 14 days of receiving the United States’ objections. The Bank will 

begin implementation of its Outreach Plan within 14 days of receiving approval 

from the United States. 

33.  The Bank will evaluate the strategies outlined in its Outreach Plan 

annually, including by considering the Community Credit Needs Assessment, in 

order to identify any changes necessary to better assist residents of majority-Black 

and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area in obtaining credit. The 

Bank will present a summary of its evaluation and any proposed changes to the 

United States as part of its annual reporting requirement under Paragraph 43. Any 

proposed changes will be subject to approval by the United States. 

i. 

Advertising 

34.  The Bank will endeavor to effectively advertise all of its residential 

loan products and the loan subsidy fund outlined in Section G to residents of 

majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area, and will 

target advertising to generate mortgage loan applications from qualified applicants 

in these census tracts. The Bank’s advertising may include print media, radio, 

Internet advertising, television, direct mail, and any other appropriate medium 

approved by the United States in writing. These advertisements must include 

similar information to other advertisements by the Bank. The Bank must advertise 

to majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in its Houston assessment area to the 

13 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 14 of 21

same extent, and by the same means, that it advertises to majority-white census 

tracts in its Houston assessment area. 

35.  The Bank will create point-of-distribution materials, such as posters 

and brochures, targeted toward majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts to 

advertise products and services. The Bank will place or display these promotional 

materials in its branch offices. Any promotional materials relevant to the seminars 

described below in Paragraph 40 will be translated into Spanish. 

36.  All of the Bank’s print advertising and promotional materials 

referencing residential mortgage loans will contain an equal housing opportunity 

logo, slogan, or statement. All radio or television advertisements will include an 

audible statement that the Bank is an “Equal Opportunity Lender” or “Equal 

Housing Lender.” 

ii. 

Outreach 

37.  The Bank will provide two outreach programs per year for real estate 

brokers and agents, developers, and public or private entities engaged in residential 

real estate-related business in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts to inform 

them of its products and services and to develop business relationships. These 

programs will be offered at a location reasonably convenient to the business 

operations of the attendees. 

14 

 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 15 of 21

38.  The Bank may underwrite or sponsor non-profit events in support of 

the majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area that 

are related to building relationships within those areas and designed to generate 

applications for home mortgages. 

iii. 

Financial Education and Credit Repair 

39.  The Bank will develop a consumer education program designed to 

provide information, training, and counseling services to individuals in majority- 

Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston assessment area about consumer 

finance and credit repair. 

40.  The Bank will provide a minimum of four seminars per year targeted 

toward residents in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in the Houston 

assessment area and held at a location convenient to those residents. At least one 

seminar per year will be conducted in Spanish and will contain similar information 

to the Bank’s other seminars.  These seminars will cover credit counseling, 

financial literacy, and other related education to help identify and develop qualified 

loan applicants. 

III.  Evaluating and Monitoring Compliance 

41.  The Bank will retain its records related to its obligations under this 

Consent Order.  The United States has the right to review and copy these records. 

15 

 
 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 16 of 21

42.  Every year, within 30 days of its submission of data to the Federal 

Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”) in accordance with the 

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, 12 U.S.C. §§ 2801-2811, the Bank will 

provide this data to the United States in the same format, including the record 

layout. 

43.  Beginning 12 months after the Effective Date, the Bank will submit 

annual reports to the United States on its progress in complying with the terms of 

the Consent Order and associated plans and programs. The final report will be 

delivered to the United States at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the Consent 

Order.  The reports will provide a complete account of the Bank’s actions to 

comply with the Consent Order, the Bank’s assessment of the extent to which each 

obligation was met, an explanation of why the Bank fell short of meeting its goals 

for any particular component, and recommendations for additional actions to 

achieve the goals set forth in the Consent Order and associated plans and 

programs. The Bank will attach to its reports copies of training materials and 

advertising and marketing materials distributed under this Consent Order. The 

Bank’s Board of Directors and Chairman and CEO will review and approve the 

reports. If the United States raises any objections to a report, the parties will have 

14 days to confer and resolve their differences. The parties may mutually agree to 

additional time to confer, if necessary. 

16 

 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 17 of 21

44.  All materials required by this Consent Order will be sent to the United 

States by email to the Department of Justice attorney(s) assigned to this matter, and 

by commercial overnight delivery service addressed as follows: 

Chief, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section 
Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice 
150 M Street NE, 8th Floor 
Washington, D.C. 20002 
Attn: DJ# 175-19-395 

IV.  Administration 

45.  The requirements of this Consent Order will remain in effect for five 

years, except as provided in Paragraph 46. 

46. 

If, within five years of the Effective Date, the Bank has not invested 

all money in the loan subsidy fund described in Section G, the Consent Order will 

remain in full effect until three months after the Bank has invested all the money in 

the loan subsidy fund and has submitted a final report to the United States that 

demonstrates the fulfillment of this obligation. 

47.  Any time limits for performance may be extended by mutual written 

agreement of the parties. Other modifications may be made only upon approval of 

the Court. If there are changes in material factual circumstances, the parties will 

work cooperatively to discuss and attempt to agree to proposed modifications to 

the Consent Order. 

17 

 
 
 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 18 of 21

48. 

If disputes arise about the interpretation of, or compliance with, the 

Consent Order, the parties will endeavor in good faith to resolve any dispute before 

bringing it to the Court for resolution. If the United States believes that the Bank 

has violated any provision of this Consent Order, it will provide the Bank with 

written notice and 30 days to resolve the alleged violation before presenting the 

matter to the Court.  If the Bank violates any provision of the Consent Order or 

fails to perform an act required by the Consent Order, the United States may move 

the Court to impose any remedy authorized by law or equity, including attorneys’ 

fees and costs. 

49.  Nothing in the Consent Order excuses the Bank’s compliance with 

any currently or subsequently effective provision of law or order of a regulator. 

50. 

If the Bank seeks to transfer or assign all or part of its operations to a 

successor or assign that intends to carry on the same or similar business, the Bank 

will obtain the written agreement of the successor or assign to obligations under 

the Consent Order as a condition of sale, merger, or other transfer. 

51.  The parties agree that litigation is not reasonably foreseeable. If any 

party implemented a litigation hold to preserve information, the party is no longer 

required to maintain it. 

52.  The parties to this Consent Order will bear their own costs and 

attorneys’ fees. 

18 

 
Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 19 of 21

Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 20 of 21

The undersigned hereby apply for and consent to the entry of this Consent Order: 

For the United States of America: 

KURT R. ERSKINE 
Acting United States Attorney 
Northern District of Georgia 

 /s/  Y. Soo Jo 
Y. SOO JO
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Georgia
75 Ted Turner Dr., S.W., Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 581-6000
Fax: (404) 581-6181
E-mail: Soo.Jo@usdoj.gov
GA Bar 385817

MERRICK B. GARLAND 
Attorney General 

KRISTEN CLARKE 
Assistant Attorney General 
Civil Rights Division 

SAMEENA SHINA MAJEED 
Chief 

/s/  Marta Campos 
LUCY G. CARLSON 
Deputy Chief 
MARTA CAMPOS 
ELIZA H. SIMON 
KATHARINE F. TOWT 
Trial Attorneys 
Housing & Civil Enforcement Section 
950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW – 4CON 
Washington, D.C. 20530 
Phone:  (202) 514-4713 
(202) 514-1116 
Fax: 
E-mail: Marta.Campos@usdoj.gov

Eliza.Simon@usdoj.gov 
Katie.Towt@usdoj.gov 

20 

Case 1:21-cv-03586-JPB   Document 4   Filed 08/31/21   Page 21 of 21

For Cadence Bank, N.A.: 

JEFFREY P. NAIMON 
Buckley LLP 
2001 M Street, N.W. Suite 500 
Washington, D.C. 20036 
Phone: (202) 349-8030 
Fax: (202) 349-8080 
E-mail: jnaimon@buckleyfirm.com

H JOSHUA KOTIN 
Buckley LLP 
353 N. Clark Street, Suite 3600 
Chicago, IL 60654 
Phone: (312) 924-9855 
Fax: (312) 924-9899 
E-mail: jkotin@buckleyfirm.com

21 

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

EXHIBIT 21

Name

Jurisdiction of Incorporation/
Organization

Holder of Outstanding Stock

Cadence Holdings, Inc.

Mississippi

Cadence Community Capital, LLC Mississippi

Cadence Investor, LLC

Mississippi

BXS Insurance, Inc.

Mississippi

Linscomb & Williams, Inc.

Texas

Cadence Investment Services, Inc.

Alabama

Altera Payroll and Insurance, Inc.

Delaware

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank

CADENCE BANK
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14 OR 15d-14 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 31.1

I, James D. Rollins III, certify that:

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Cadence Bank;

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:

(a) Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  or  caused  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  to  be 
designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, 
is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting 
to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 
conclusions  about  the  effectiveness  of  the  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  as  of  the  end  of  the  period  covered  by  this  report 
based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed  in  this  report  any  change  in  the  registrant’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  that  occurred 
during  the  registrant's  most  recent  fiscal  quarter  (the  registrant’s  fourth  fiscal  quarter  in  the  case  of  an  annual  report)  that  has 
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial 
reporting,  to  the  registrant’s  auditors  and  the  audit  committee  of  the  registrant's  Board  of  Directors  (or  persons  performing  the 
equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial 
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial 
information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in 

the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:

February 25, 2022

/s/ James D. Rollins III

James D. Rollins III
Chief Executive Officer

CADENCE BANK
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14 OR 15d-14 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Valerie C. Toalson, certify that:

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Cadence Bank;

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:

(a) Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  or  caused  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  to  be 
designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, 
is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting 
to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the 
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  registrant’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  and  presented  in  this  report 
our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report 
based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed  in  this  report  any  change  in  the  registrant’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  that  occurred 
during  the  registrant's  most  recent  fiscal  quarter  (the  registrant’s  fourth  fiscal  quarter  in  the  case  of  an  annual  report)  that  has 
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial 
reporting,  to  the  registrant's  auditors  and  the  audit  committee  of  the  registrant’s  Board  of  Directors  (or  persons  performing  the 
equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial 
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial 
information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in 

the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:

February 25, 2022

/s/ Valerie C. Toalson

Valerie C. Toalson
Senior  Executive  Vice  President  and 
Chief Financial Officer

CADENCE BANK
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 32.1

In  connection  with  the  annual  report  on  Form  10-K  of  Cadence  Bank  (the  “Company”),  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2021,  as  filed  with  the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  on  the  date  hereof  (the  “Report”),  I,  James  D. 
Rollins III, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify in my capacity as an executive officer of the Company, pursuant to 
18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1)
1934, as amended; and

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and 

results of operations of the Company.

February 25, 2022

/s/ James D. Rollins III
James D. Rollins III
Chief Executive 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 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its staff upon request.

CADENCE BANK
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 32.2

In  connection  with  the  annual  report  on  Form  10-K  of  Cadence  Bank  (the  “Company”),  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2021, as filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Valerie C. 
Toalson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify in my capacity as an executive officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 
U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1)
1934, as amended; and

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 

(2)

The  information  contained  in  the  Report  fairly  presents,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and 

results of operations of the Company.

February 25, 2022

/s/ Valerie C. Toalson
Valerie C. Toalson
Senior 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 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its staff upon request.